>1.0 From: "Pam DeTray" To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Wed, 29 May 2002 >14:21:00 +0800 Subject: Re: Cows As my new place has historically been a >cow pasture, I am keeping it that way instead of tearing into it for a >market garden. My plan was to buy a cow/calf pair, and some young Black >Angus steers to raise for beef. Apparently all the calves around here have >been weaned, but I can buy an Irish Dexter cow due to calve in September >for $800. Is that a normal price?
In Canada CDN $1500 is the norm for registered Dexter cow/calf so perhaps a little high. Maybe you can negotiate ? Dexters are low impact animals ie they forage on their own, need little to no shelter,seem quite hardy, and are nice animals to work with. ensure that the vendor has them check for parasite etc. prior to moving to your place. Also, a friend told me today that I could >buy a steer from a dairy herd for $15 or so and the beef would be just as >good, just not as salable. Diary steers can make fine beef for your family. As your friend mentioned the bone to muscle/meat ratio isnot the same so it looks "different" from grocery store beef. I consider this to be a good thing :-) You need to be concerned however with the residual drugs in a diary calf. Also what you get for $15 is not a weaned calf, it needs to be pail fed. Either that or nursed by a foster mother. Pail feeding means purchased/commercial formula .... for a small holder I'd go with the Dexters , just don't name the bull calves. Laura Sabourin Feast of Fields Inc Demeter Certified Vineyard & Farm http://www.ragdolls.net/vineyard.htm Ragenesque Ragdoll Cattery http://www.ragdolls.net/ragenesq.htm R R # 1 St Catharines, Ontario L2R 6P7
