Next years meat

[nztimb]

I don't have any livestock, living in the city as I do. But I will be buying probably a lamb and goat at the livestock auction after our livestock show and rodeo in February. If you buy the ones that didn't make it to the final rounds, usually you can get them for about 2 USD on the hoof.

Is that $2 /lb or for the animal. Smart way to get meat though.

 

[sgt_zim]

well, then you have to pay to have them butchered and packaged. still isn't a lot of money. about 250 USD for 1 each of a lamb and goat, plus slaughtering/butchering.

now these are the culls, not grand champions/reserve grand champions or any of the animals that were in contention for that.

the 4H and FFA kids really do a lot of work trying to get these animals in great show condition - they're generally handfed with yogurt and sorghum and so forth.

 

[Ragman]

I have a few cows left over from before my Dad retired from farming that I am not ready to give up yet. Haven't been able to keep a calf to raise for beef as for the last couple of years I've been keeping a couple of heifer calves back as replacements. The rest have had to go to the sale barn so I can keep feeding their mamas! When one of our cows gets too old or is starting to show signs of regressing either physically or in her calf, if our hamburger supply is low I'll butcher her and grind her into nice lean burger. It's tough though as nearly all my cows were born on our place and I've known them their entire lives. With a small herd like mine it is impossible for me not to get emotionally attached. But I figure it's better that those ones die quickly at home than be shunted around from here to there on a cattle liner before they get to the slaughter plant.
@ActionBob I'd love to see your place!

 

[sgt_zim]

when i was a kid, we had a neighbor who would pick out the young male to castrate and fatten up. He would always name the goat "BarBQ". I guess it helped him get over that goat being a pet of sorts.

 

[Inline6]

The heifers we have we 8 months old when we bought them. Their names Ribeye, Sirloin, and Tenderloin. One Ribeye was pregnant when we bought her we just did not know it. The bull that breed her was a huge beef master. I had been keeping an eye on her waiting for the calf to drop. Checked on her before we went to bed everything was fine. Next morning calf was stuck, it was hip locked. Calf had been dead for a while, I used an OB chain and got it pulled. It took me a couple hours working with her to get her on her feet. This was Saturday of Father's Day weekend, her uterus prolapsed I called every vet in 125 miles everyone was short staffed. One vet said they would come out that was at 0915 at 1230 they called and said they could not make it.

I called my butcher and I asked if he could process her. I got the nod from him. So I tried out the 416REM. She had suffered enough. My youngest 8 was okay with it was not happy about it. I had been telling him from the start if we need meat that what we eat.

 

[JimP]

I was having Sunday dinner with a friend and his family years ago when his 4 year old daughter looked up at him and asked if we were eating Sam?

He replied that it was Sam and got ready for her reaction since she had played with that steer his whole life. After taking another bite of the roast she proclaimed that Sam tasted real good and we went on with dinner.

 

[ActionBob]

The heifers we have we 8 months old when we bought them. Their names Ribeye, Sirloin, and Tenderloin. One Ribeye was pregnant when we bought her we just did not know it. The bull that breed her was a huge beef master. I had been keeping an eye on her waiting for the calf to drop. Checked on her before we went to bed everything was fine. Next morning calf was stuck, it was hip locked. Calf had been dead for a while, I used an OB chain and got it pulled. It took me a couple hours working with her to get her on her feet. This was Saturday of Father's Day weekend, her uterus prolapsed I called every vet in 125 miles everyone was short staffed. One vet said they would come out that was at 0915 at 1230 they called and said they could not make it.

I called my butcher and I asked if he could process her. I got the nod from him. So I tried out the 416REM. She had suffered enough. My youngest 8 was okay with it was not happy about it. I had been telling him from the start if we need meat that what we eat.

Bryan so sorry that happened. I've certainly had my share back in the day. A prolapse uterus is not always all that difficult to replac. Especially if you can get the animal standing. Of course the earlier after it happens the better. Warm water and a mild disinfectant to clean. Then your fist up the middle being careful not to punch through the uterine wall, the cervix is tough, the uterus itself is soft. But use a non irritating lube or mild soap if you have non. Clean and gently keep working it in with one arm up the middle and the other hard stuffing it in around the edges. Get it started and keep at it just holding when she strains and working it in more in between. Eventually it will just flop right back in. If you can, sew up the outer vagina with a wide ribbon type thread. Heck I've seen it done with sterilized twine. But leave the bottom open for urination. Cut those ties out in a day or two. One the uterus shrinks down it is safe.

If she won't stand you have to pull both legs back so she is Essentially on her knees. You will be fighting a very difficult battle if she is lying down.

It's a lot worse thinking about than doing Of course putting her in the freezer asap is a good alternative as well.

 

[Inline6]

Bryan so sorry that happened. I've certainly had my share back in the day. A prolapse uterus is not always all that difficult to replac. Especially if you can get the animal standing. Of course the earlier after it happens the better. Warm water and a mild disinfectant to clean. Then your fist up the middle being careful not to punch through the uterine wall, the cervix is tough, the uterus itself is soft. But use a non irritating lube or mild soap if you have non. Clean and gently keep working it in with one arm up the middle and the other hard stuffing it in around the edges. Get it started and keep at it just holding when she strains and working it in more in between. Eventually it will just flop right back in. If you can, sew up the outer vagina with a wide ribbon type thread. Heck I've seen it done with sterilized twine. But leave the bottom open for urination. Cut those ties out in a day or two. One the uterus shrinks down it is safe.

If she won't stand you have to pull both legs back so she is Essentially on her knees. You will be fighting a very difficult battle if she is lying down.

It's a lot worse thinking about than doing Of course putting her in the freezer asap is a good alternative as well.

Thank you for the advice. I know you know what you are talking about.

Yes sir I have definitely been more educated in that process now. Unfortunately for her I did not know and most people like myself that have it more as a hobby than a business. They all did not know what to do other than call a vet. I have talked to a few people that do know and all have said the same thing you have. I know it was a Saturday and everyone said it would be Monday and I had a little time to think about it. I paid 600 for her the vet was probably going to run me that give or take. Most things I did read said it was a good chance it would happen again.... she eats good.

I have learned a lesson, always something to learn when you are raising animals.

 

[ActionBob]

Well if shecil s good eating it was a good decision. I agree the odds of her doing it again were high. You would have wanted to breed her back to Angus or something that would likely throw a small calf.

You did good with what you had

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I'm still eating on meat from a couple of years ago.

So next week when I head out on a muzzle loader hunt in Utah I'll be hunting antlers again.

I found that as I get older the less meat that I eat. Now 20-30 years ago I could go through a elk and a deer a year besides buying pork and beef at stores or bulk.

@JimP
Happens to us all mate but I still like a good feed of meat.
Fortunately I don't have that problem with my 17 year old, the more meat the better for him.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Ok...to be clear here...I delivered that baby and I am not eating it.
View attachment 426606

@Just Gina
Gina just call it pot roast a few times you will change your mind.
Just look at it as Nd imagine a nice big T bone with all the trimmings and a new skin for a rifle case for you double. A nice black hair cow hide case lined with either red or green velvet to nestle that lovely rifle in.
Problem solved
Bob

 

[nztimb]

@Just Gina
Gina just call it pot roast a few times you will change your mind.
Just look at it as Nd imagine a nice big T bone with all the trimmings and a new skin for a rifle case for you double. A nice black hair cow hide case lined with either red or green velvet to nestle that lovely rifle in.
Problem solved
Bob

These little Highland cattle are not black so no black cow hide for gun case. They are a light brown and with their long hair it would not make a good hair on leather so Gina and my wife can continue to enjoy these cattle without the meat bit intruding. All others are fair game though and of course the highland cattle were always bred for meat so someone somewhere will have the job of pulling the trigger on them at some stage.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I wont show that pic to my wife as she has a real thing for the highland cattle.

@Von Gruff
Gary what people don't realise is with heeland cattle is that they are the reverse of normal cattle for some unknown reason.
According to the CSIRO Highland cattle get more tender the older they get whereas normal beef the younger the more tender.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

@Bearbait1
How could you eat those? They look like pets, something you keep around the house because mini cows are cool.

I like steak, I like meat but I also like pets.

@CBH Australia
Chris, silly question how could you eat one of them.
Eating Highland cattle is no different than eating an elephant.
You just do it one mouthfull at a time. Hopefully with all the fixings
Bob

 

[Just Gina]

@Just Gina
Gina just call it pot roast a few times you will change your mind.
Just look at it as Nd imagine a nice big T bone with all the trimmings and a new skin for a rifle case for you double. A nice black hair cow hide case lined with either red or green velvet to nestle that lovely rifle in.
Problem solved
Bob

Lol! Well all the babies I delivered those 2 days, I told the guys they all have to go to a special pen and not get eaten and they smiled and nodded and although I knew better, I took what I could get and all was good.

 

[nztimb]

@Von Gruff
Gary what people don't realise is with heeland cattle is that they are the reverse of normal cattle for some unknown reason.
According to the CSIRO Highland cattle get more tender the older they get whereas normal beef the younger the more tender.
Bob

Thast is a new one on me Bob. Always something to learn.

 

[Ray B]

I'm not sure that I buy that older = tender idea. the aspects of tender in the animals I have dealt with had more to do with the amount of fat marbled in the muscle and the absence of whoremoans,

 

[CBH Australia]

@CBH Australia
Chris, silly question how could you eat one of them.
Eating Highland cattle is no different than eating an elephant.
You just do it one mouthfull at a time. Hopefully with all the fixings
Bob

I don't eat Elephants either.

I tried Koala last week. Nice but I could not eat a full one.

 

[nztimb]

I'm not sure that I buy that older = tender idea. the aspects of tender in the animals I have dealt with had more to do with the amount of fat marbled in the muscle and the absence of whoremoans,

And stress at the time of killing which is why the slaughter house killing loads up the meat wit adrenalin which is bad for the best eating meat. An animal that is killed on the property with the least amount of stress is always the best meat.

 

[Shootist43]

I'm not a farmer or rancher, but I've spent a little time on my wife's cousins place in Tennessee. I helped "pull" calves and watched prolapsed uterus reinsertion and stitching. However one of the things mentioned previously is contrary to what I've been led to believe in the past. That being that Beef-master calves are generally smaller at birth than other breeds. Resulting in less calf loss as well as the loss of or damage to the cow. The bulls on Jim's place push 3,000 lbs. or better.