Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
If you are buying animals, you also have flexibility in the ages of animals you buy. You can
buy cows with newborn calves, weaned calves that have been taken off milk, or yearlings,
which are between 1 and 2 years old. You can keep these animals just through the growing
season and then sell them, or you can keep them until they reach their ideal weight for
slaughter.
Appearance of a healthy animal
Farmers always are looking for certain traits when purchasing cattle. You want a masculine-
looking bull with large, rounded shoulders and a big scrotum; these features signify appropri-
ate testosterone levels and virility. He also needs to have no injuries or problems with his legs
so he can safely mount females. You also want fertile cows with feminine traits, such as wide,
calf-bearing hips. You want your breeding stock to produce calves that can grow quickly and
mature early but are not born so heavy that birth is difficult on the mother. These traits can be
predicted based on the animal's own growth statistics and the statistics of all the calves
fathered by its parent. After you have farmed for a while, you also will be able to see which
mothers produce the best or fastest-growing calves.
At an even more basic level, you want animals that look healthy. A healthy cow has clear
eyes, erect ears, a healthy coat, clean muzzle and nostrils, and a good appetite. Consider hav-
ing a veterinarian check out animals before you buy them from a private seller. You or a vet
can take an animal's temperature with a rectal thermometer; its temperature should be around
101.5 degrees F. Animals should be able to move effortlessly and without pain. If they favor a
leg or seem to have pain when they move, they could have injuries or illnesses you do not
want to deal with. If you are buying animals, stay away from the sick ones because you do not
want to bring illnesses onto your farm. Look for reputable sellers who vaccinate their animals.
They should be able to show you records of what they vaccinated for and when the vaccina-
tions were given.
Where to find animals
Before you buy cattle, get an idea of the fair market value of the animals you are planning to
purchase by checking prices in newspapers or online or by talking to experts that you trust.
The USDA has a website (
http://marketnews.usda.gov
)
dedicated to market reports that
shows up-to-date prices farmers are getting for their cattle. This will vary by breed and by
current market conditions. If you have a fair price in mind before you purchase your cow, it is
