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What are stocker and feeder cattle?
Stockers and feeders are young steers or heifers, weighing approximately 400-800 pounds. These animals may be on pasture and/or a maintenance or warm-up ration until being put on full feed for slaughter market or being selected as herd replacement stock.
What is a stocker animal?
In the broadest sense, stocker cattle are animals to which producers can add value. Most often, the term “stocker cattle” refers to 300- to 900-pound calves grazed on pastures after being weaned. The main value added to these cattle is weight gain.
How do stocker calves make money?
Obviously, to make money raising stocker cattle you have to sell the cattle for more than you put in them. Carefully controlling input costs like feed, medication, supplements, etc. and making sure that these items result in added benefits that are worth the cost is crucial.
How much can you make on stocker cattle?
A producer who is buying Holstein stockers that will gain 2 pounds per day and sell for $0.65 per pound in fall can pay up to $1.09 per pound in spring and break even. Daily rate of gain has an important impact on the profitability of the operation.
What is a one year old cow called?
Young cattle of both sexes are called calves until they are weaned, then weaners until they are a year old in some areas; in other areas, particularly with male beef cattle, they may be known as feeder-calves or simply feeders. After that, they are referred to as yearlings or stirks if between one and two years of age.
How old is a stocker cow?
6 to 9 months
What’s a Stocker? The University of Kentucky describes a stocker calf as a steer or heifer that is 6 to 9 months of age and weighs 400 to 700 pounds. After weaning from its mother, a stocker is put on grass or some other type of forage to promote growth and weight gain.
What weight should I sell stocker cattle?
In general, the value of gain on 300-400 pound calves tends to be higher than for 500-600 pound calves. Use the light-weight feeder steers as a base to view the price differences as you add weight to various endpoints. This measurement is commonly used by stocker operators.
When should I buy a stocker calf?
You can also buy stocker calves in the spring and graze them until your pastures run out. But that means another off-farm purchase with potential health issues. With fall calving, your own calves are ready to go on grass the next spring about the time you would normally wean them.
What can I feed stocker cattle?
The importance of a good high quality mineral fed at all times cannot be stressed enough. In most situations, a good overall beef mineral will be sufficient for pasture production of stockers. Yet, there are some instances when special attention might be paid to cattle needs.
Why are steers more expensive than heifers?
Steers are cheaper to feed and gain faster than heifers. Since it costs more to feed the heifer, it is implied that to make the same profit as a steer, the heifer must be cheaper to buy. The heifers must be 10 to 12 cents per pound cheaper than steers otherwise it becomes expensive to feed heifers (M.
What is the difference between stocker calves and feeder calves?
Stockers Refers to weaned calves grazing pasture to enhance growth prior to finishing and slaughter; they are usually younger, weigh less, and are of lower condition (finish) than “feeders.”
How do stocker operations work?
Stocker operations look for “bargain” cattle, put weight on them and then sell them to a feedlot for finishing, according to Dale Blasi, a professor/extension specialist at the Kansas State University Beef Stocker Unit. The school’s 1,120 acres of native warm season grass is divided into 20 paddocks.
How to get started with stocker cattle?
– Can you handle bulk commodity ingredients? If the answer is no, the cost of premixed feed will make it difficult for you to make a full-feed stocker ration work. – Can you consistently source feed ingredients and substitutes for a ration that is consistently cost competitive? – Do you have the labor this type of program requires?
Where to buy Stocker calves?
Find Cattle for Sale by Breed
What is the best selling cattle?
Profit. Their horns sell for$200 to$1200. The hides sell for$400 to$700.
What horses are good at cattle work?
EquineNow listing of working cattle horses. Kat is one awesome filly. Dam has Peppy San Badger, Mr San Peppy, and Doc Bar on papers.