I'm going to buy a cow. I've been saying it from the moment we signed the contract to buy Lantanaland, but only now is it anywhere near close to reality. Getting the goats has forced my into purchasing some infrastructure, so now i have the means to contain them. If the fence will hold the goats it'll frighten the cows.
I have always been keen on Dexters, a smaller breed much beloved by smallholders, because they have good beef and good milk. Being smaller, you don't have to deal with as much meat at one time, which is much better for home use. What I'd really like is a small herd of three or four, but one is probably all I can afford. That was until I was at dinner with some mates and the suggested buying a few lambs and running them on my place until they were ready to eat and I slapped myself. Herdshare!
Surely there are a few of you out there who are interested in owning your own cow for some beef or butter or cream or cheese? Keeping them with me has a few advantages. I know a whole heap of butchers to help with the slaughter and breaking of a beast. I make awesome sausages, the likes of which you'd be hard pressed to buy in a shop. I know nothing about making cheese, but do know that if you get a group together it is much cheaper to do Graham Redheads excellent cheese course, which you could do with your own milk!
Now i could have completely misread this and you might all think that I am insane, in which case I'll be just buying the one cow as planned, but who knows? If only two more people are interested, i'll have a herd not a cow, to share!
Cattle are hard on fences, so be sure they're right. Onsite butchering is easiest but you need a coolroom (can be portable and hired) to hang the meat as well as a large freezer to store the beastie (well ex beastie now) in. Also when butchering work out where the parts you don't want to use are going. Good luck.
ReplyDeletePS the parents and my sister both run sheep on small properties.
Awesome.
ReplyDeleteIf my boyfriend didn't own a cattle property, this would be a fabulous idea.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great idea. So, what's the process - as an investor, I put up cash up front, you grow the beast until slaughter and then what? Sell the carcass and split the profit? Or just strictly for domestic consumption?
ReplyDeletePretty much. You invest in the herd and the feed and infrastructure to keep it. Be more for consumption, plus i can value add, package and get the meat to you pretty well. Cheese and butter as well if you want it, cause i'd be milking all the cows, killing the male calves.
ReplyDeleteMeat is good. Bedes
ReplyDeleteYAY i am all in for Dolores! Let me know the finer details when you have figured out the logistics and finances
ReplyDeleteJessica xox
Beez, what about getting a few calves? Mick (katie's bro) buys in 10-20 at a time, feeds them up and then sells them a year later. From memory i think he told me he buys them per head for around $100 for lightweight heifers...
ReplyDeleteTop Idea im interested and would help.
ReplyDeleteTony B