Is it profitable to raise gobies for meat at home?

Most people think at least once about running their own business related to agriculture, but which area of income to choose is a very difficult question. Raising gobies for meat at home is perhaps one of the simplest and fastest-paying types of entrepreneurship.

Raising gobies for meat

Where to start growing?

First you need to understand: for what purpose gobies will be raised. There are many options for selling the final product: own consumption, distribution to a narrow circle of people, the sale of meat in the kitchens of cafes and restaurants, the production of meat products and their further sale in stores or independent trade.

The first option can hardly be called entrepreneurship; rather, it will bring moral pleasure from keeping livestock and further consumption of meat, in the quality of which you will be completely sure.

After the final decision to engage in such an area as raising bulls, it will be time to purchase calves. You should contact farms specializing in the identical direction of your future business. The most popular beef cattle breeds are: Devonian, Russian Komoloy, Shorthorn, Galloway, Aberdeen-Angus and some others.

Diet of gobies

A good diet is an important part of fattening bulls. Not only the rate of weight gain of the animal, but also the quality of meat will depend on it.

One of the possible combinations of feed ration: corn silage, wheat straw, meadow hay, salt. You can add pulp, meal, other concentrates, such as bone or fish meal. Do not oversaturate feeding with a large amount of feed. The best solution would be to contact a specialist who will help you calculate the exact amount of giving the components of the diet.

Corn silage

Possible summer diet:

concentrates 2 kg;
green food 28-35kg.

For the winter period:

juicy feed 18-21 kg;
hay 4-5kg;
straw 2-4 kg;
compound feed 3 kg;
salt 50 g

If necessary, the animals are given various supplements to balance the nutrient content of the body.

Reference. Gobies need to be constantly given water or provide constant access to it.

Feeding technology

Nutrition should be monitored from the 20th day of the calf's life, that is, after weaning from the cow. At this age, they begin to form the correct work of the digestive tract, aimed at plant food, instead of the usual milk. Giving roughage at an early age will take away a lot of energy from the calves to digest them, so it is necessary to additionally feed enzymes.

Additional intake of enzymes will not only speed up the digestion of feed and increase weight gain, but also prevent undigested feed masses from "storing" in the intestines. Such stagnation of food can lead to serious intoxication of the body.

Going to hay

After a smooth transition from milk to hay, cereals and grass, from the age of 3 months, feed rich in protein is added to the diet. Upon reaching a live weight of 300 kg, the rearing period ends and fattening begins. If in the first the average daily gain can reach a maximum of 800 g, then for fattening this figure rises to 1250 g (in outstanding meat breeds it can be more).

Caring for bulls

Breeding bulls involves competent care, which includes not only balanced feeding and a warm room for the winter, but also the observance of the following points:

vaccination of calves and veterinary examination;
periodic examination by a veterinarian as the bull grows. The sudden onset of a disease, especially of an infectious nature, can deprive the expected profit from the sick animal;
start morning grazing after the dew has subsided;
observe zoohygienic conditions of detention: dry floors with replaceable bedding, sufficient lighting, no drafts, maintaining the optimum temperature (at least 10 degrees) of air and humidity;
providing animals with active exercise. If conditions permit, then the bulls should be grazed on a leash as little as possible.

How does castration of bulls affect the amount of meat?

During castration, the sexual function of males is disturbed, and, therefore, a hormonal failure occurs, affecting metabolic processes in the body. In castrated individuals, the formation of adipose tissue increases, while muscle growth is inhibited. That is why "untouched" animals benefit from the amount of meat.

Castration of bulls

From non-castrated bulls, tough and lean meat is obtained, and from castrated meat, fatty and tender, has a more pronounced taste. If you want to receive the second version of the product, then the recommended age for castration is 2 months. It is advisable to carry out the operation before the beginning of the grazing period.

Pros and cons of breeding

Positive sides:

a large number of options for the sale of products;
very small cash investments at the initial stages, especially if there is already a site and the minimum necessary inventory for elementary buildings;
the ability to independently control the bulls;
quick payback.

Flaws:

you will need to invest a lot of physical labor or additionally spend on hired workers;
the risk of possible competition in the “meat” market.

How much can you earn?

Before you can make money, you have to invest. If you have a large land plot, this will greatly facilitate the task, but otherwise you will have to spend money on:

land acquisition;
construction of premises for keeping cattle;
arrangement of the barn (feeders, drinkers, floor coverings);
purchase of young animals (price category from 5 to several tens of thousands of rubles, depending on the breed);
feed costs (approximately 15-20 thousand rubles per animal per year).

As a result, the investment can vary from 250 to 500 thousand rubles. Large costs are not excluded.

Gobies for slaughter

Breeding bulls for meat lasts from 18 to 20 months. It is at this age that they reach their optimal live weight, after which they can be sent for slaughter. Estimated weight of bulls at the end of feeding is 450-650 kg. The meat yield from each carcass will be 60-70%.

For example, your goby turned out to be not the most outstanding and weighs 450 kg, then you will get about 270 kg of meat from it. With an average price of veal for 1 kg of 300 rubles, one head will get 81 thousand rubles. Multiply this figure by the planned number of heads in the herd - this is only a net yield from meat. The remaining parts of the carcass can also be sold - also additional income. According to such calculations, the agricultural business will pay off within 1-2 years.

Reference.If it is planned to sell meat to large points of sale, then registration of entrepreneurial activity and control of meat by a veterinary sanitary examination will be required.

Conclusion

Growing bulls at home can bring tangible profits to the owner of this business. The main thing is not to be afraid to start a "farming" business, to provide proper care for animals, to find in advance the most profitable option for selling meat, and not to forget about the use of physical labor, which will be necessary to maintain the economy, especially at the initial stage.

Where to begin?

The initial organization of any business requires certain actions to be followed. Among them - an adequate assessment of their own strengths and capabilities (breeding calves requires dedication and time). It is also important to take into account the conditions of the region, since raising large animals requires large areas. It is impossible to organize the process in an urban area.

When planning the supply of meat to catering facilities and shops, compulsory business registration will be required.

An important question, on which the specifics of the case depend: "What does the farmer choose: the purchase of young animals or independent breeding?" Buying individuals eliminates a number of problems:

the acquisition of bull semen (or the maintenance of a breeding bull);
fertilization;
organization of a separate building.

REFERENCE! In order for the bull to gain weight, optimal conditions should be created. Growth and development will depend on the amenities created.

Calves should only be kept in dry barns. Stalls should have a solid and secure floor. Daily cleaning is compulsory. It is recommended to clean the floor with a stiff brush and rinse it under running water in warm weather.

Features of the case

The activity is specific. Calves need to be actively fed until a certain age, then slaughtered (or sell by live weight). The peculiarity of the case is a small investment.

The main difficulties are associated with the time and effort spent on caring for the animals. There are usually no problems with the sale of meat products: a wide sales market allows you to quickly sell the finished product.

Among the features of keeping gobies, the following are distinguished:

The right choice of leash. The animals will cut off the thin rope. A suitable option is a metal chain made of rings welded together. A piece of cloth should be placed under the collar of the bull to minimize injury to the metal.
When growing, you should pay attention to the character of the individual. Aggressive, wayward and easily excitable males should be discarded as their keeping is unsafe.
To guarantee safety and convenience at 12 months, the animal needs to have a nose ring installed.

Is it profitable?

The growth period of meat for slaughter is 12 to 20 months. The average weight of one bull is 350 kg. The cost of meat and profit figures will depend on the conditions of each specific region. The case will fully pay off in 1-2 years. Work will only generate income if it is done correctly. To start such a business is necessary for people who are not afraid of physical labor.

ADVICE! If you donate meat directly to shops or restaurants, then the income will be significantly higher than selling it to wholesalers.

Characteristics of a suitable site

The preferred area for growing meat gobies is a plot with a large and free area of land. It can be a mini farm, an old cottage, a private courtyard. There must be a place for organizing a corral and walking the livestock.

In the summer, animals will begin to actively gain weight - this will require daily walking (keeping in a stall will increase aggressiveness and cause illness). There should be meadows or grazing fields near the barn.

We equip the building

Area for 1 head - 10 sq.m. (includes a place for storing food). A brick or slab is suitable for building a barn (inexpensive, but high-quality material).From an economic point of view, it is more profitable to rent a ready-made complex with everything you need.

Bulls are clean animals, therefore The barn should be designed so that it is easy to clean. Attention should be paid to the selected area: water should not accumulate on it.

Barn organization

The characteristics of a suitable building are warmth (at least 8 degrees), good ventilation and the ability to ventilate. Drafts are strictly prohibited - they provoke disease. If the herd size is more than 10 heads, it is better to automate the process of feeding water and feed.

It is important that animals have constant free access to feeders and drinkers (but it is undesirable to put them on the floor, the optimal height is 8-10 cm from the floor level). To clean the air inside the building, farmers use ash - it absorbs ammonia and gases. You can put it on the paths or fall asleep in boxes.

How to choose animals?

When choosing a breed, you need to consider several important indicators:

Live weight: whether the calf meets breed standards.
Development level, general physique, presence of defects or deficiencies.
Calf pedigree (mother's productivity and father's weight).

Purchase of young animals

When selecting individuals, one should pay attention to weight (optimal 90-100 kg) and age.

It is preferable to buy young animals on special farms that are engaged in breeding. You can also purchase calves from breeders.

Dairy gobies have a low purchase price (they need to be fed with milk for up to 3 months).

Recommendation! It is better to buy individuals that have already switched to independent consumption of grass and feed. It is preferable to purchase calves in May, then by the fall of next year it will be possible to hand over the money.

Common types

Some characteristics of cultivation and the payback period depend on the breed. Farmers recommend buying fast-growing young animals, but do not forget about the taste characteristics of the meat.

Before choosing a breed, you need to find out which individuals are suitable for keeping in the region of residence (expensive breeding bulls may not take root in a certain area). List of the best breeds:

charolais;
Kazakh white-headed;
simmental;
hereford.

Content

Young animals should be kept separate from adult bulls (a separate barn should be built for the calves). It is allowed to keep bulls with cows - so the temper of the males will be more calm.

In the summer, it is possible to keep gobies in the open air, but the pens will need to be additionally equipped with special plastic booths. Manure is removed 3 times a day, immediately after feeding.

IMPORTANT! The growth of the hoof horn should be controlled. Hooves should be trimmed and trimmed 2 times a year.

The walking area should be fenced with as strong materials as possible. It is allowed to release adult bulls into the street with a special stick and leash. The stick is fixed in the nose ring of the individual. Simultaneous walking with females or young animals is not recommended.

Food

In productive gobies, the meat index is not less than 70%. To achieve this result, you need to provide intensive feeding. Hay and juicy herbs will not achieve high performance: the diet must contain the following foods:

forage beet;
carrots and potatoes (calves need to cook and crush them);
grain crops;
salt;
food waste.

The addition of concentrates will allow the body to replenish the supply of vitamins and microelements. The basis of the diet in winter is hay, compound feed and root crops. In summer, the main product is juicy and fresh grass. Individuals should spend at least 15 hours in the pasture.

About reproduction

How to breed bulls? A breeding bull fertilizes up to 50 cows per year. You can keep it on your own farm or use the services (manual mating - a cow is led to the bull). When mating individuals of different breeds, crossing or crossbreeding occurs. Among natural breeding technologies:

manual (mating under control);
cooking method;
free method.

Note! Today, methods of natural reproduction are practically not used.

Business

Selling meat is a profitable business that will provide a stable income. The main model of activity is the lease of a plot and the purchase of young stock, its rearing and subsequent sale.

For a payback, the herd size should not be less than 10 heads. It is especially important to create suitable housing conditions and maintain a balanced diet for the animals. Up to 15 heads can be handled on their own, over 15 - hired personnel will be required.

Do you need clearance?

Business registration is a prerequisite for sales and deliveries. The farmer becomes an individual entrepreneur and receives the appropriate quality certificates. Several other options are suitable for registration:

personal farming (not related to business);
peasant-farm plot (requires the involvement of partners).

We recruit staff

Assistants need to choose people who know how and love to watch the animals. It is also important to pay attention to personal qualities (responsibility, discipline).

For a livestock of 20 bulls, 2-3 helpers are enough. Be sure to have a veterinarian on staff. This can be a permanent position or an invited specialist.

Quantitative indicators: spending and profit

Initial costs are spent on equipping the barn, purchasing young stock and purchasing a forage base. On average, it will take up to 500 thousand rubles to open a farm and form a herd of 20 heads.

The cost of feed will be up to 20 thousand per year per 1 bull. Additional costs will appear later: mini-tractor, refrigerator, automatic feeders.

Attention! The initial investment will pay off in 16-18 months. The average amount of net profit is from 400 thousand per year.

Making a plan

The document contains the goal, directions of activity, calculation of costs and benefits. A business plan for raising bull calves for meat, breeding and keeping a herd of 20 heads includes the following expenses:

Buying young animals.
Rent and subsequent arrangement of the barn.
Veterinary control and purchase of feed.

Is it profitable to breed gobies for meat? Revenues are calculated based on current prices. The estimated amount and the period of partial and full payback must be included in the business strategy.

Raising calves for meat is an economically profitable undertaking. Remember that these activities are time consuming, costly and physically demanding. With the right organization and reasonable distribution of processes, you can establish a customer base and get a stable profit.

Useful video

We watch a video about raising bulls for meat:

Recently, many people in rural areas have become attracted to raising gobies. The essence of this project is to organize a home mini-farm. You buy young animals, fatten them up and sell them for meat.

Growing features

Breeding gobies for meat is a business that has many benefits:

relatively small start-up costs;
wide sales markets;
decent income.

Every enterprising person understands that the success of any business largely depends not only on the idea, but also on the correctly chosen strategy of action. Therefore, before you start breeding bulls at home, you need to find a suitable land plot and calculate your financial capabilities.

Experienced farmers argue that raising bulls is quite profitable, but it requires significant labor, time and financial investments. Despite the fact that prices for beef are constantly growing, few farms are engaged in fattening cattle. It is believed that raising calves during the dairy period is too troublesome, so they are sold at the age of 1–2 months.But there are also some farmers for whom bull breeding is the main source of income. They buy up dairy calves, raise them, feed them and sell them for meat.

Diet for young animals

The hardest part is keeping newborn calves. This is a rather troublesome business that requires certain knowledge and skills. Of course, a domestic bull raised on milk will differ from its relative both in weight and in appearance. But if for some reason you do not have the opportunity to feed the bull with milk, you can prepare a colostrum substitute. This will require 1 liter. boiled water, 2 tsp. common salt and 2 eggs. All this is mixed and the calf is fed through a teat cup. At one week of age, you can enter into the diet a mineral supplement consisting of chalk, bone meal and salt.

It is added to concentrated feed.

Vitamin hay can be given from 5-6 days of age. Leftover feed should be removed from the trough after each feeding, as it can acidify after the goby saliva gets on the hay. The farmer must carefully monitor the feeding, otherwise unpleasant consequences may arise. In addition to hay, the calf can be given oatmeal jelly. 1 kg of high-quality oatmeal is poured into 2.5 liters. boiling water and let it brew for 30–45 minutes. Strain the finished chatterbox, add a little salt and hold over low heat until thickened.

The first gum (regurgitation, re-chewing and ingestion of feed) appears in calves at the age of 25–45 days. If you feed the bull with hay from 5 days of age, the animal's stomach will fully work in 10-15 days.

Concentrated foods should be introduced into the diet 10-12 days after birth.

Whole grain is used to make porridge. It can be given with milk. From the age of one month, root crops, for example, carrots, begin to give.

Animal care

If the conditions for keeping the calves are properly organized and the diet is correctly selected, a small farm will bring an excellent income. In order to immediately put the animals for grazing, young animals need to be purchased not in winter, but in early spring, preferably in early April. If there are no pastures in your area, you need to equip a corral.

The most common methods of raising calves are stall and free-range. In the stall, cattle gain weight faster, but the animals become more aggressive and their immunity decreases, so each bull needs to be periodically walked. Calves are taken out to graze until puberty. Anyone, even a domesticated adult bull, is dangerous to others, so grown-up calves should not be taken outside the mini-farm. In winter, the street is not the best place to keep bulls, so you need to equip an insulated barn. In the summer, the animals are transferred under a canopy. Remember to secure each animal with strong chains. Caring for calves includes regular veterinary examinations. The specialist must do all the necessary tests and vaccinations.

In addition, the farm needs to be cleaned regularly and disinfected.

Cold keeping bulls

This is one of the most effective ways to raise calves for meat. Daily gobies are placed in special houses with an aviary, installed in an open area. Since such boxes are not insulated, it is necessary to correctly organize the bedding in them. According to experts, keeping calves cold has many benefits:

The animals will get enough vitamin D.
If you use the cold method of raising calves, all of their body reserves will be mobilized for productive growth.
The likelihood of infectious diseases decreases.
The cold keeping of gobies contributes to the correct development of their body. They grow rapidly and gain weight.

It is worth noting that this method of raising calves at home has its drawbacks:

Construction costs of individual boxes.
In cold weather, the rate of milk consumed by calves increases by 25%.

You can switch to cold keeping bulls at any time of the year. This method is used by many farms. But before raising the calves in separate boxes, you need to make sure that the animals are completely healthy. Houses for bulls are best made of plastic. This will make it easier to sanitize them. Periodically, the boxes are transferred from one place to another so that pathogenic microflora does not accumulate under the structure.

It is important to know that raising gobies at home using this method is only suitable for strong, healthy young animals.

Fattening of adult calves

If you want bull breeding to be profitable, you need to provide them with quality feed. As mentioned above, it is better to feed dairy calves with milk. After they are 1 month old, you can release them to pasture. In addition to fresh grass, calves should be given:

fodder beets;
leaves and ears of corn;
silage;
corn.

On green forage, bulls gain weight very slowly, so hay and succulent forage must be present in the diet. The simplest technology for raising calves involves feeding them according to the following scheme:

juicy feed - 20 kg;
hay - 4–5 kg;
straw - 2-3 kg;
compound feed - 3 kg;
salt - 50 g.

The main condition for a good weight gain of the bull is the correct diet. The animals need to be fed 3 times a day. If grain is included in the diet, it must be crushed or boiled with boiling water. Potatoes are boiled, cooled and kneaded. The green grass must be slightly dried before feeding. At first, it should be given in small quantities.

With abundant feeding, animals quickly gain weight, and with limited food, they may lag behind in development.

Costs and Benefits

Let's try to calculate whether it is profitable to breed gobies for meat. To provide adequate care for the calf, you will need a special room and land for walking. For each bull, you need to allocate 8-12 m² of area. If you don’t have the money to build a barn, you can rent a goby farm. After that, you can start purchasing young animals. You will have to pay 8000-9000 rubles for each bull. Dairy calves are sold cheaper. But you need to buy milk for them. This is a good option for beginners who have a pet like a cow. In this case, you can safely take newborn calves and thereby save a lot on the purchase of young animals. If you take proper care of the animals, in 1.5 years their weight will reach 350-500 kg.

After that, bulls can be sent for slaughter and delivered in bulk to a butcher shop for 36,000–40,000 rubles per carcass.

Summarize

Now you know how to raise a calf and sell it for meat. As you can see, this is quite a profitable business, but it takes a lot of time and effort. Every person who wants to start breeding gobies should understand that he will have to take care of the animals every day. If you are not afraid of hard physical labor, feel free to start organizing your own farm.