When to send to slaughter

[Rose Ellen Farm]

It's been quite some time that I have raised cows for slaughter and have always had beef critters. At the moment I have 2 holstein steers and 2 Jersey bulls. Time and life got away from me, so the Jerseys are well past the elastic age and size.
I'm tempted to just send them now as to not to put $$ in to them for castrating.
They are around 8 months of age now. My other half has it in his brain that the meat isn't good until 18 months of age. I have no idea where he is coming up with ideas like that. To me, the only reason not, is the small amount yielded at this time.
Thoughts?
I don't want Jersey bulls on my property. They've been behaving well enough, yet don't want to push it!
One definitely looks like a mini as they are both the same age. They came to us 2nd hand so no idea where they originally came from. We've had them here for about 4 months.

 

[Baymule]

They would make good hamburger or tenderized steaks, tenderized cutlets. I’m on your side, NO JERSEY BULLS. Me, I’d take them to slaughter too. Keep the soup bones. What is the Veternarian cost to castrate?
@farmerjan what say you?

 

[Rose Ellen Farm]

They would make good hamburger or tenderized steaks, tenderized cutlets. I’m on your side, NO JERSEY BULLS. Me, I’d take them to slaughter too. Keep the soup bones. What is the Veternarian cost to castrate?
@farmerjan what say you?

Between farm fee, tranquilizer, procedure about $250

 

[farmerjan]

Does anyone in your area have beef cattle? See if any have and use a callicrate bander..... we routinely do 6-800 lb bulls with the bander... Use TETANUS TOXOID shot when you band them. Ask an area beef farmer if they have the Callicrate bander. You get them in the chute, someone holds the tail up and the person banding them puts the band up on them and then it is ratcheted tight. You give them a tetanus shot... 1 ml.... and then they will act like they hurt for about an hour ???? then go back to acting like normal. We have done hundreds over the years. I think there is also one that does the same thing that is called a "california" bander.

Or a beef farmer that will come and just cut them there. They will hurt and you have to be careful about not doing them leading up to or during the full moon or they will bleed profusely. Cut just before the new moon.... when the sign is in the thighs going down into the knees. I am not superstitious, but it has been proven over and over again.... blood flows are slower/easier when going from last quarter to the new moon.... We don't cut anything anymore, except for a couple of odd ones that we buy and that were banded and they did not get a nut and so they are a stag now... they are the ones that you beef.... they will sometimes get more "bullish" but normally will not be fertile due to the high heat temp of the body with the nut still up inside. That is why they have sacks and they hang... for temp control for the production of viable sperm.

I don't know what your market is there. They will have very little actual edible meat at 8 months. You will pay more for the processing than they are worth to do. Spend the money, get them cut, feed them out to a weight and size that will make killing them practical.

Jersey bulls will get aggressive but they are honestly no worse than any other dairy breed bull. It depends on how you raise them and how you respect them, and if there are any females near them to come into heat to cause them to start getting their hormones going. They tend to mature younger, and are quicker on their feet so they are perceived to be worse. If yours are quiet and calm. and you are not going to castrate them, get rings in their noses and they will be much more controllable if they start to feel their "bullness". But to me, castrating would be the only practical way to go.... $125 each and then feed for another year and then kill when they have meat on their bones.

 

[farmerjan]

I normally kill my jersey steers at 27 +/-months... in order to get the backbones and stuff back as per federal requirements on Mad cow disease..... Killing before 18-24 months is a waste of money for the amount of meat in return for the cost.
The problem around here is there is at least A YEAR backlog for kill dates.... We have one in August, and Oct and 2 in Dec... and I have have July, Aug, and Sept booked for 2022.....
If you sold them I don't know what the sale barn there would do, but someone would buy them for $.50-.60 lb as bulls, cut them and then be able to sell them for $.80-1.00 lb as soon as they are healed, for osmeone to feed out as a beef. Too bad you aren't close as we could do them for you for about $25/30 each... bands, shot, and our time included.

 

[CLSranch]

The problem around here is there is at least A YEAR backlog for kill dates.... We have one in August, and Oct and 2 in Dec... and I have have July, Aug, and Sept booked for 2022.....

I'd call the butcher/processor and set a date ASAP then figure out what to do, in case it's a year long wait. With 4 to butcher it depends on how much your keeping or if your splitting them with someone.
I'd get the bigger Jersey bull in as soon as I could. If you have time to band/cut do so. 4 beeves is a lot of meat (impossible at once and maybe your only option if you have a 1.5-2 year weight to get them in) and having 1 small and young isn't a problem if you have 3 more to get rid of before they're to old.
A few weeks ago I took a bull in that I didn't want to mess with and a mini breed. $80 kill fee and 85cents a pound for any size animal.

 

[Simpleterrier]

I'd listen to farmerjan. Beef them up and do it right if u don't want to beef them then butcher them your self and grind it all. Four feedout beef is alot of meat. If u don't have kill dates and don't have a working relationship with the butcher good luck. Like Jan said I have 2022 kill date already booked and there is a waiting list. If they call u u better be ready to drop off that day.

Just wondering why you got four or why u don't want to finish them out was it a panic buy? I know in our area people have steers in all kinds of makeshift pens right know from panic buying. They are also taking way under weight beef in.

Not finishing them out is more expensive than doing it right

 

[Grant]

Use a California binder and castrate the bulls then finish them out. Get date for the butcher like farmerjan said at about 24-27 months. But get appts now! Sell 3, keep 1, enjoy. The California banner will run about $50 with bands. But do it soon.

 

[Baymule]

I found a couple that sells 2 year old Devon steers out of the pasture for $500 and they come with a slaughter date next March. They had one left. I reserved it, can pick it up in December and grain finish it. One of my meat customers is interested in buying beef from me. We are going to buy some meat from them next month after they get their meat back, to try the meat, I’ll give some to customer and see if they like it. The steers dress out at 400-450 pounds. The couple even mentioned trading for pork since they don’t like raising pigs.

 

[farmerjan]

Way to go @Baymule .......