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Our new Mini Dexters
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PorkChopsMmm
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29 Jan ’16 - 9:42 am
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That's expensive bro. I am having second thoughts about getting cattle... the amount of fencing, work, running water and electricity, caring for them, etc.

I still think fencing off the old Christmas tree field and putting in 2 little goats (I was offered 2 pygmy male castrated goats that were raised by a nearby family) to eat off all of the roughage in that field. After running some numbers I don't think we would make much, if at all, from running cattle. When I compare that to Christmas trees we make a whole lot more money going with the trees.

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groinkick
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29 Jan ’16 - 10:00 am
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KVR said
Just got a phone call from the processor, the boys are ready to be picked up, total is $940.40. Now I have to weigh everything.

wow!  for the processing?

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K
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29 Jan ’16 - 10:02 am
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Agreed, once you add in all the auxiliary costs it can be pretty pricey. But this was also a learning experience for me, the next ones we get will be much less, no carrots and we will go with grain by the ton plus run them out in the woods to graze, I won't save the hides so I think we can come in around 4-4.50 a pound.

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K
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29 Jan ’16 - 10:04 am
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groinkick said

KVR said
Just got a phone call from the processor, the boys are ready to be picked up, total is $940.40. Now I have to weigh everything.

wow!  for the processing?

yes, .70 cents a pound hanging weight, they were almost 1000 pounds combined, plus the 70 dollar kill fee per animal and 60 dollar fee per animal for keeping the hides.

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Gravel Road
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29 Jan ’16 - 10:57 am
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I know it's top quality, but the end cost is the big thing.  Just looking at fencing material scares me a bit, plus installing it. 

A lot of factors to consider if starting from scratch.

"The universe is wider than our views of it." -HDT
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K
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29 Jan ’16 - 10:59 am
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If you run them in the woods they have the insulators for electric that screw right into the trees, I think that is the route we are going to take.

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29 Jan ’16 - 11:13 am
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PorkChopsMmm said
That's expensive bro. I am having second thoughts about getting cattle... the amount of fencing, work, running water and electricity, caring for them, etc.

I still think fencing off the old Christmas tree field and putting in 2 little goats (I was offered 2 pygmy male castrated goats that were raised by a nearby family) to eat off all of the roughage in that field. After running some numbers I don't think we would make much, if at all, from running cattle. When I compare that to Christmas trees we make a whole lot more money going with the trees.

Honestly pork, I would start with pigs, the investment is a fraction and you only have them for several months. And they are very personable as long as you and the kids spend time with them, I wouldn't let the kids go in with them by themselves though, a 200 pound pig coming for a rub against your legs can do enough potential damage to an adult let alone a child.

I'll have to go over my records but 2.50 to 3.00 bucks a pound has been our average including feed, cost of piglet and processing.

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Gravel Road
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29 Jan ’16 - 11:15 am
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The nice about the woods for me is that the stream is there, so there would be no water to haul or ice to break.  Bad part is that the land there is soft, almost mucky, might be a big risk for breaking a leg. Also, not a lot to eat in there.  

And there is a lot to be said for investing in a couple of good fenced in pastures. There is value down the road.

"The universe is wider than our views of it." -HDT
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