Okay, I can't believe I'm writing this. I can't believe I'm considering it. I'm embarrassed for myself. That said, I am in need of help. Help that I never thought I would need or want. Here it is, Jeff wants to buy a cow. Not a cow as a pet or anything weird like that, but a cow to eat.
Go ahead, laugh, call each other and talk about how I've lost my mind, I'm cool with it.
Okay, get serious now. We know nothing about cows. I'm aware this is a bad sign. Never fear though, I know that my peeps (Rich County, I'm counting on you!) can help. There is a place for it to live, food (grass) and water available. We want to eat it in the fall. (Because we are freaking Little House on the Prairie.) We may have found an appox 600lb beef calf for purchase. Here are my questions.
1. What is a good price?
2. Can it just eat grass or does it need corn and grain through the summer?
3. Is it going to die or get sick? Is this a high maintenance undertaking?
4. Does it need a friend? What I mean is, will it moo all day if it is alone or just with the horses?
5. General warnings or advice?
6. Should we just say "f-it" and buy the meat at the store? I'm serious.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Cows?
Posted by Audrey at 8:59 PM
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12 comments:
You crack me up! Won't you get attached to this cute little cow roaming around in your backyard? hahahaha!
I have no knowledge of what it takes to have a cow but this is my experience.
I bought meat from the company I used to work for, they had a farm with TONS of cattle on it. They just roamed the mountains and ate whatever...lets just say the meat was very gamey. So I am assuming you do need to feed them something specific depending on how you want the meat to taste.
What happens when you load up the cow on it's last day and it looks at you with its sad eyes and says MOO (Audrey) MOOOOOO (Please) MO MO MOO (I love you)!
Then what??
I have no helpful hints, but I think that is awesome. Can you buy two, take care of it for me and then I will slaughter it this summer when I come down?
Perfect solution. Beth will slaughter the cows and then I won't have to deal with the mooing problem that Monica is concerned with :) Hell...what are we thinking? I just don't want to pay money for the dumb thing and then have it get some disease and die and us get no meat. grrrrrr
Aren't there farmers who will see you a slaughtered cow - so you don't have to mess with the whole attachment - you know the kids will become attached since you are not farmers. Call my dad - he might know a little, but I think he has blocked some from his memory on purpose. You know he went to college on a 4H scholarship! Let us know what you find out!
I am at a loss...I have no advice for you but will your boys look at the cow as a pet or a filet mignon?
Audrey,
I don't know the answers myself, but I can call a couple of people for you and get the answers. Maybe Erin would know she is a farmer that deals with cows. I will let you know what I find out for you. I think I would just worry about becoming attached to it and then have to kill it. I know know attached to a cow?? It can happen just ask all those 4-H kids that do beef. My niece cried all day when they had to send it to slaughter it.
We've bought a side of beef that was raised naturally. The whole pet thing scares me a little. But hey...you won't have to mow your lawn! Do you mind if I add you to my blog list?
oh audrey! GO VEGAN! just kidding! i love having the meat in my freezer but once my freezer got left open or the breaker went out, i can't remember- i then had no meat. (remember the line from greek wedding-you don't eat no meat!) so make sure you have a good reliable freezer with a lock and keep an eye on it so you don't see melting.
What the #^%$&?
Sorry girl call me if you want to go shoe shopping. :)
Mike suggests feeding it nothing but apricots and sugar cubes.
A little story I will share with you of my childhood home grown beef--My brother once raised a cow in 4h. I would go with him to feed and water it. He was so cute, I named him Buddy. One day Buddy got loose, my dad and Jake tried to get Buddy back home by tying a rope around his neck and leading him home behind the truck. After a few blocks Buddy got tired and decided he needed a rest. Jake and dad didn't notice until after 100 feet or so later. Buddy was buggered up beyond repair. I was devasted! A couple of weeks later Jake had his friends over for a BBQ, I thought that that was fun having big brothers friends over for dinner. Until one of his friends happily announced to me I was biting into a BUDDY BURGER! Needless to say I went vegitarin for 5 years after that. True story!
Hey Audrey,
You can buy a beef cow that is about to go into slaughter, so you don't have if for the few months. If you do buy one, you will want to grain it, it makes the meat taste much better. Also make sure how long they age the beef after slaughter, the longer the better the meat taste. Good luck,
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