So now that the house is done and I can see the finish line on Mrs Inor's She Shack, it is time to start thinking about next few projects...
One idea that I have been toying with since moving to AZ is raising a steer. I think I may have committed to the idea this weekend without even meaning to.
Obviously, Mrs Inor and I alone, cannot eat a whole steer by ourselves in a year (before it starts to get freezer burn and go bad). So we were at a gathering of some folks around us and I threw out the idea, if we did this, would anybody be interested in buying the other half. Two other couples jumped at the opportunity and each agreed to buy 1/4. I ran the numbers and for what I am going to have to pay for the calf, what sweet grass and grain will cost to raise it and the butchering, we will end up getting a side of beef for about $400 - a little less than half if we just bought it outright. For the amount of work it will be, is it worth it? Definitely not! But the experience is worth something too. So I am inclined to move forward.
But now it is a matter of figuring out how to do the whole process, since I have never raised anything but kids and dogs before!
Mrs Inor (who grew up on a cattle ranch), thinks it would be best to butcher it in late October or early November of next year. We both think the optimal weight, to get the best quality of meat and the most quantity, should be about 1200 pounds. (Quality is FAR more important us than quantity.)
The breed of the calf is Balancer. So they do grow pretty fast. The fall roundup (when I will buy it) is scheduled for 10/15. I am thinking I should pick one that was a wiener at the mini-roundup that we had late last June. So the steer will be just under 1 1/2 years when he is butchered.
We will be moving the herd into the mountains in October, so I can let it graze on open range by M.T. Acres until April - so no feeding or watering costs until then. (Our rancher friend has already said she is cool with that since she has the grazing rights on the land by us.) After that, I will have to pen it up and pay for sweet grass and grain until we butcher.
So it this a good idea? Crazy idea? Colossally stupid idea?
Please advise...
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