dairy heifers

I am seriously looking at custom raising heifer calves. I would like to get them from the farms as wet calves and raise them to 6 months of age. I would like to eventually raise them from wet calves to prefreshening, but don't have the land base to do this yet. Is there a demand for this type of business? I'm in NE Iowa.

My two biggest concerns are....

1. Finding producers to raise calves for. What is the best way to get in touch with people who need my service?

AND

2. Writing a contract that is simple and fair to both parties.

Your thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated!

Thanks
Jake

Contact Brian at Pipestone Livestock, Pipestone Mn. He can tell you as much about dairy heifers as anyone. 507-825-3306 google www.pipestonelivestock.com

About the only way to test the waters is to approach individual dairymen in your area to see if they're interested. Very few new dairies starting up, and those in business obviously already have something set up, either doing it themselves, or contracts with others. You're going to have to have a pretty good resume of experience in raising cattle to get a tumble with them, due to the value of the cattle they would be entrusting to you (most will want you to custom raise their own calves, rather than they just buy heifers that you acquired "who knows where"). You will probably find that most want you to raise them all the way to springer size- they either want to be in the heifer raising business, or not- no advantage to them to get them back at 6 mos. (and little advantage to you- I'm always amazed that at the local auction, I seldom see a 6 month old sell for enough more than a baby calf that you could have raised it for that). Do you have a local auction with a lot of dairy heifer calves going through it?

Hi,I don't doubt that if you get in touch with the right people it will be a great venture for both parties.If you mean wet calves as in day old,I would be very very carefull.They can get scours very very easily at less than 2 weeks old,especially if you have animals coming in on a regular basis from other farms.If you could pick them up all at 2-3 weeks of age,you will be ahead of the game big time.It won't be cheap either,most/all will want individual housing till they are likely weaned,most wean them at 6-8 weeks,some go to 12.You may want to get prices on milk replacer,or what ever you are planning to use for milk,it's gotton expensive.Also calf starter is pricey now too.The first 6 months on a dairy calf is the most expensive,labour intensive of her entire life,so keep in mind it won't be cheap.But if you can come up with a fair cost recovery for you and your customer,and do a good job of it,you will likely have no problem of getting all the borders you want to over a few years.pd.

People have been doing this for a long time. I would suggest getting aquainted with a Heifer Producer and pick his Brain for opinions about this venture. It would be a labor consuming effort and would not be for the weak of mind or ability I think. When I Dairy Farmed I took a Magazine called "Hoards Dairyman" and I saw Adds all the time for this kind of Venture.

Maybe I jumped the gun a bit here and need to fill you guys in a bit.

I started my own dairy herd as a sophmore in high school and ran them with my dads dairy cattle and was 100% in charge of any mgmt for my cattle. I graduated, went to a local community college, got a degree in Dairy Science and returned home. Due to family reasons I'm looking at leasing out my dairy herd (11 head), and starting my own business. (raising heifers)

I started raising my brother in laws calves this spring at my grandpas farm. It was more of a "volunteer" sort of thing than anything as he didn't have the space to raise them properly. So far I have raised over 20 with a 0% death rate. (knock on wood) Therefore, I'm well informed of the health issues, expenses, etc. I have really enjoyed this and want to start a business out of it.

If I can't find and producers is there any profit in buying calves from a good source and selling as springers or whatever age?

I like the contract idea because I wouldn't have to deal with fluctuating livestock markets, but on contract I have a boss in a round about way which I don't really like but could live with.

Jake

Being a contract grower can be a hard bussiness to get into because the dairy farmer is trusting his livelyhood in your hands. (all his replacments)

With that said I think you know the answers you just want someone other than family to give it to you. You did say both your dad and BIL own dairies; RIGHT.

If I were to give you advise the first thing I got to say is ask for and trust your dads point of view. I know that is hard at 20 but you will come to find out it is most likely dead on.

The trouble with buying calves is they are high priced. You can buy a lot of 6 or 12 yearlings for much less than you can buy calves one by one and raise them to yearlings.

Contracts are better if you have the training and a farmer can trust you to do a good job. The problem with contracts is most farmers do not want their calves housed are even yarded with calves from another farm. This limits you to one farm so it must be a large one.

If you do make a go of it you might even get your kids to help you one day.