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Putting a feed deal together again

PPRM

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 10, 2005
Messages
1,998
Location
NE Oregon
Several years ago, I had a feed deal where we hauled about 13 tons a week from a frozen Vegetabl Packaging facility. It was mainly corn, peas, carots, all kernals and cob and no stalks. Cattle fed well on it, but ost it. No contract. they forced it on the guy taking the silage from the Processing plant so they would get paid for it. Well, you have to leave a trailer and be Johnny on the spot picking it up. Not enough feed to make it worth a big guys while, so we got it back.

This time, I have a contract so they can't take it out from under me again without at least offering...Last time, I didn't know the top management was unhappy I wasn't paying for it until I got the call, "We have someone paying $3.00/ton for it.....I never got a chance..Different management BTW...

It never worked for anyone else, they are too big. It ended up costing the factory a bnch before someone said, "Why not get ahold of Pat again, we never had any troubles when he was taking the waste"

Losing that the first time made me cautious. I am trying to get rid of a lt of the risks. Gettting it under contract was a big start.

Last time, we did it on the cheap. But it wasn't on property we owned and several times I ended up having to move. Also, I would lose some calves. Some of it was choking on cobs. Some of it was actually we didn't have a way to mix feed. So, when starting calves, we would dump some into hat and start them that way. Some would get onto it to hard and get feed sick. Once on it, we had hay and this corn waste free choice. Like I said, we lost some, but it was really cheap.


So, this time, I needed a newpartner. A guy I have been buying calves for. Money to get some property for one. But it is leveraged buying of property. I also bought a JD 4230 with a loader, buchket and grapples (used but well taken care of) and a used Supreme Mixer that has been totally rebuilt at the local New Holland/Supreme dealer.....

This means those cost are hgiher, but I feel w got rid o some risk and the cost of gain will still be very cheap.....

Also, a different partner.My last one provided a place to feed on rented land. Howeve, he is hard on equipment and left a pretty sour taste in the landlords mouth.....He is also a friend and we both were left out in the cold when we lost the deal last time. I wanted to bring him back in (I am the contact that gets the feed in these deals).....But....He doesn't have Capital and is hard on equipment. He also is always in a hurry to get to a sale, so....I don't think he always made the est cattle health decisions....

The new partner provides capital and can conveniently haul the feed....But we may need a third. Time-wise to fed and also someone that knows cattle.......I am not sure the numbers will let that work....BTW, the feed will start not very hot, I can mix a lot of hay to begin with. Ultimately, I think it will be a cow calf deal and we feed out our own calves..

It is the part of this deal where you see a lot of the obstacles. They can be overcome...I am looking forward to actually feeding the cattle....That is where you see results, not just potential problems...I have more inveted, but I think it will be a better program...It was successful before even with its shortcomings...

Not sure why I am posting this here..I value your thots, but also it is a reason I haven't been here much, just been wrapped up in thisand selling my beef,

PPRM
 
In our experiance. The less people involved the better off we are.. Thus it's a priority deal.. Can you do this and someone who you trust do the beef thing?? Having a contract is a great start...
 
:D I have two rules about partnerships.

1. Never enter in to a partnership with someone who has more money than you. They have the upperhand and might run (me) out of money .

2. Never enter in to a partnership with someone who has less money than you. They can restrict your decision making because of their finances and ability to fund the project.

These aren't hard and fast rules. I have partnerships every now and then but you better be ready to give your partner the benefit of the doubt most of the time.
 
Red Robin said:
Thanks for posting . Do you feed this vegetable cocktail strait or do you use it as a part of your feed mix?

It is mixed with hay......Depends on what we are feeding it to as to what the hay mix is....Cows and starting calves, some alfalfa and lots of Bluegrass Straw....Fattening calves will be about 20 percent hay. I have found the hay is key in this last deal. good Alfalfa gets great gains, junk hay doesn't,

The guy I am partnering with I have known for 16 years. It is funny, he has a laundry and has told me to buy him calves before....Well.......He will hand me $10,000 in $20 dollar bills. I go to the bank abnd there is always more than that there. generally an extra twenty, but once it was $2,000 over. I go back to him and hand him the excess......I tell him, keep sending your money to me it seems to grow instantly, LOL...

I am not so sure he wasn't testing me, but I will always pass that one with flying colors...

We are contributing about the same assets to the deal.....The only difference is the cash for calves will be his contribution, the feed and knowledge of buying will be mine.....It is set so we each contribute and the LLC buys the assets as we go....

As far as a third person, it may be an older horse trainer we hire. He has cowboyed forever and has ran big equipment...

PPRM
 

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