Market for Lowline /miniature cattle?

3 posts
Fri, 07/03/2015 - 08:02 #1

Member for

9 years 4 months
rderri01
Last seen: 07/03/2015 - 08:08
Joined: 07/01/2015 - 14:47

Market for Lowline /miniature cattle?

Hi there, I am tentatively looking at stocking Lowline cattle (or something similar) on our 30 acres at Bell, near the Bunya Mountains. Coming from a beef producing family, I have had a few giggles from family members as to their profitability! Have purchased 'Small cattle for small farms' and waiting for it to be delivered. In the meantime, I would love hear from others about their experience running miniature cattle. Do you do it just for your own meat supply or also sell at market? Do you have to arrange private sales or can you sell at the commercial cattle market? Would it be better pocket money to fatten a few (regular size) steers each year? (I have access to family cattle trucks, yards etc). Any input welcome. :) Thank you!
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Sun, 07/05/2015 - 18:04 #2
barb
Last seen: 09/17/2019 - 18:07
Joined: 11/23/2011 - 09:38

Hi and welcome,

Personally I breed regular beef cattle, as you used to do. However, my friend bred and marketed Dexters for several years and here is what she told me. The main market for the offspring is to people who have small acreages and there is a breed society where you can contact other owners.

 

My friend found that cattle sales didn't want to put them in, although your area might be different, and the best way to sell them was either through advertising in rural newspapers or magazines or to other members in the breed society. Sometimes advetising them on community notice boards was also successful.

 

I guess the advantage to the small breeds is that they are easily handled and transported. You can put a crate on the back of the Landcruiser and transport 3-4 of them with no problem.

 

Maybe some of the other members may have more and beter ideas or experience than me on this, but I hope this might have helped a bit.

 

cheers,

Barb

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Sat, 08/01/2015 - 15:10 #3
Wanamara Farm
Last seen: 08/01/2015 - 15:10
Joined: 11/12/2014 - 10:33

Hi

 

I am a Lowline breeder in Victoria, selling steers direct from the farmgate to be grown on, via the saleyards & as Certified Lowline Beef privately.

We have been breeding them for 20 years & know that you have to research your markets to make any money.

 

I have had many other breeds running with my Lowlines but when the times get tough, the other breeds end up at the saleyards because they are to costly to feed. Lowlines are great feed converters & easy to manage so that's why I have kept them for all this time.

 

You can fatten a Lowline steer in a shorter time than larger breeds as they are early maturing so start laying down fat to finish at an earlier age. They will also finish on grass, if you have plenty of it. If you sell at the saleyards you need them to 'hit the grid' in weight (usually 350+kg liveweight) so you get good money for your animal & they need to be 'finished'. Some people will sell you small Lowlines which wont grow decent steers (350+kg) so these aren't any good as steer producers for saleyard steers- just to produce pets or 'lawn mowers' for those who have small hobby farms. These smaller steers are great for home freezers though. The steers we sell privately are usually to people with a small farm that want to grow their won beef for the freezer.

If you are thinking of selling via the saleyards you need to source larger framed Lowline genetics.

 

We sell some of our steers privately as Certified Lowline Beef - a trademark which has been established by the Australian Lowline Cattle Association (ALCA) to promote this premium beef. Some Lowline breeders sell their beef direct to butchers & restaurants as Certified Lowline Beef. Networking with other breeders is also a way to sell your steers to butchers.

 

As I have mentioned, you have to do some research to work out which markets will work for you. You can find more information & find members in your area on the ALCA website http:/www.lowlinecattleassoc.com.au

Best wishes

Julie

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