Pricing Cattle

[Pat]

BE careful selling other than live stock. You can get cross threaded with the Feds.

Incident:

A buddy of mine was selling beef out of his herd to private individuals and was using the services of a processor/butcher and storing the beef in a commercial locker. US Gov descended on him and insisted he have USDA inspector. His little operation could not pay for a full time inspector so they folded their operation.

My understanding is that I can sell beef on the hoof to anyone and what they do with it is their affair but if I slaughter it or have it slaughtered then I am subject to rules and regulations.

Be careful.

Pat

[eccentricfarmer]

Yes, i am very careful and am getting out of the business since the herd is down far enough that the land can handle it. The only cattle should be the calves and maybe one oldster that does not come up but just munches in the back fields and probably would not sell anyway. 9 to ship, getting some $ for them but not nearly enough to cover costs.