I have read the threads on raising a calf for beef, I learned a lot there was just one question left unanswered.

Be fore I post the question you should know I am a kind heart. I do a lot of volunteer work I mean a lot. I work with the Senior Citizens and if one of the ladies has something that needs fixed or anything done I can not say no.

Also being a homesteader for 11 years I have convinced myself that when doing a job my the cost of my time can not figure into the bill( I may have worded that wrong but I think most of you know what I mean.)

My question is this. We have three acres fenced in and we are planing or raising a calf for meat. My wives cousin wants to go in with us for half of the beef. That is good I was wanting someone to do that. They are city folks, they have money (I did not say that because I want to rip them off, just stating facts.)

They want to go half on everything. The cost of the calf and the feed. Water is not a problem, we have a watering hole. I know I should count my time here but how and how much.

I will be taking care of the calf, transporting it from the farm where I brought it and then to slater. I will be feeding it and all other things that go with it.

Part of me dose not mind doing all of this because I am also taking care of my half of the calf, but part of me says I should charge for that service also?

What would you do?

-- grant (organicgrange@yahoo.com), October 11, 2001

Answers

TRY THIS SPLIT-1/3 OF THE COST COULD BE FOR LABOR, 1/3+1/3 FOR EACH OF YOU ON THE FEED.

-- paul a coleman (wormfarmerone@yahoo.com), October 11, 2001.

Maybe they could pay for PART of your half of the processing fee. I have worked this out with relatives on raising hogs for butcher. I do the work and provide the feed, water, shelter, they pay to have the hog processed and I get half of the meat. I agree that you really do deserve something for your work. I know that you don't mind doing it, I love feeding the animals every day. Good luck!!

-- cowgirlone (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), October 11, 2001.

Since it's familiy, I'd be inclined to do the labor and not worry too much about it (especially if it was a case of them not being able to afford it), but I think I'd take the perk of having your cousins pay the full slaughter fee, and possibly the wrapping fee on your half. Around here that's about $15 for slaughter, and cut and wrapped for 27 cents a pound. So your fee for the labour that they are getting on their half would be $125 or so, ballpark on a 400 pound half. Now, that's you doing all of the trucking, you taking care of the fencing and insurance on the place the calf is on, etc. I think that's entirely reasonable. I always count my own labour at $25 an hour if I figure prices for anything I do, so I'm darned sure even at ten minutes a day your cousins would be getting a bargain. You can't buy that kind of meat in the store! And while it's nice to do things for other people, you have your own needs as well, and you say these people are well enough off to afford it.

-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (jlance@nospammail.com), October 11, 2001.

Personally, it is family and won't charge for your time regarless of whether they can afford it. You would have to do the same thing if you raised one yourself plus you get the experience and know-how from raising the animal and the companionship of the animal -- all of which you could never buy yourself! I would go 1/2 on the cost of the animal, vet bills, feed, hay and processing. Why tempt conflict?

-- Karen (db0421@yahoo.com), October 11, 2001.

It's a tough call, to be sure. I wouldn't be surprised if they're not putting a value on your efforts in this maybe assuming you're talking care of your half and theirs is just along for the ride. That's especially common in dealing with friends and relatives.

Do you actually need them to be your partner during the process? In other words, can you afford to raise and take care of the calf by yourself to or through slaughter? If you can, why not just offer them half the beef at a low market or below market price when everything is done. Granted, you'd have all the risk through the process of getting it to slaughter but you'd have eliminated what I'd consider a potentially nasty conflict with relatives. I hope this helps.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), October 11, 2001.

I sold half a beef at the price the butcher would have charged per pound for 1/2 calf, cut and wrapped.

That covered everything pretty well.

-- Rose (open_rose@hotmail.com), October 11, 2001.

I would not do it that way. If something happens to the calf, you would owe them money. And you would have to keep the calf's feed separtate from the rest. You would have to write down the cost of every bale and bag of grain. How do you figure salt? Or a tiny bit of wormer. They might want you to pick up feed somewhere else cheaper. Too hard on the brain.

Raise it yourself, it takes a long, long time. Don't use any feed with animal by-products. Then at slaughter time, charge them according to the "on the hoof" price (minus a little because they are relatives). Half of the weight of the calf. Then they pay for their own butchering, and they tell the butcher the kind of cuts they want on their half. You could ask for them to pay half of the kill fee if you wanted. Some places its up to 25 dollars. Or you could just pay that yourself.

Ours used to be 90 cents on the hoof. I don't know what it is right now, it might be more. I doubt it has gone down. But hey, they are getting Porterhouse, T-Bone, roasts, and tons more for under 1.50 a pound. Still a great deal for anyone.

-- Cindy in KY (solidrockranch@msn.com), October 12, 2001.

I only buy my beef by the half from my girlfriend who rasises 200 head of cattle. Anyway I pay her .85 a lbs on the hoof when it is weighted in at the butchers and then I pay half the killing fee and I pay the butcher .27 a lb for cutting and wraping the way I want it. I lose about 1/3 the weight for guts and bones. I am still ahead of what I would have given at the store and it tastes alot better. I am ahead and she is ahead. If she dosn't sell it to me her grown son gets half and he never pays her LOL She says let him butcher his own darn calf, he rasises them to.

-- Teresa (c3ranch@socket.net), October 14, 2001.

I raise beef that i share with family it just works well to have a set price per pound we sell ours at 1.00 a pound hanging half because it is to much work to weigh it before they slaughter it instead wait until its all ready to cut up as most kills are done on the farm.

-- leroy hamann (yorel_56714@yahoo.com), October 14, 2001.