Landlord in the Arctic

Chapter 298 - 247: Cattle and Sheep (2)

"Even if you raise them to slaughter, it’s not guaranteed that every cow will develop marbled meat. This will affect your profits to some extent."

"If you don’t have particularly high standards for meat quality, then the Simmental cattle, which are dual-purpose for meat and milk, are definitely the most suitable. Under ideal rearing conditions, Simmental cattle usually reach a suitable slaughter weight in about 10 months, with a meat yield of 60%."

"As for Hereford Beef Cattle, they’re known for their strong constitution and excellent cold resistance. Their growth cycle isn’t too long either; they can be slaughtered at around 12 months. The meat is also tender and juicy with a great texture, it’s just that the quality is slightly inferior to Angus cattle."

At this point, Tushen couldn’t hold back his thoughts any longer. He frowned, his tone becoming a little agitated.

"Honestly, a place like the Far North Tundra is completely unsuitable for raising beef cattle. It doesn’t matter how much money you throw at it; it’s useless. Only a madman would make such a decision."

Hearing this, Jeff, who was standing to the side, immediately felt it was inappropriate and quickly interjected, "Manager Tushen, calm down."

"Is that so!" Feng Shan frowned and fell into deep thought.

Considering the environment of the Crown Territory.

If he were to raise Angus cattle, that would certainly be the best choice.

’With the blessing of the tribe’s Fire Seed, the beef produced would definitely be full of marbling. But the time it takes for Angus cattle to be ready for slaughter is just too long—it takes 30 months. A huge amount of manpower and resources would have to be invested during that period.’

’On the other hand, Simmental cattle seem more cost-effective. This breed is dual-purpose for meat and milk, which could bring in more income during the rearing process. Plus, they’re ready for slaughter quickly, reaching a suitable weight in just 10 months. Considering both the time cost and rearing efficiency, the advantage is quite clear.’

Just as Feng Shan was mulling it over, Tushen seemed to realize his earlier words had been a bit too harsh and softened his tone.

"Mr. Feng, let me show you the sheep. Compared to raising beef cattle, sheep are relatively more adaptable, their environmental requirements aren’t as strict, and they’re even more cold-resistant than cattle."

Hearing this, Feng Shan looked up. "I’ll have to trouble you then, Manager Tushen."

So, the group followed Tushen out of the livestock shed.

Compared to the meticulous management of the beef cattle, the sheep’s treatment was worse by more than just a little. They were kept in a semi-open enclosure, completely exposed to the wind and snow blowing in from outside.

The sheep were huddled together, their fleece more or less flecked with snowflakes. Some had their heads down, searching for edible fodder in the few piles of hay inside the pen, while others lay in a corner, snuggling together for warmth.

Tushen watched the sheep from the side and began his introduction.

"Horned Ranch raises Suffolk Sheep. This breed grows extremely fast. Under good rearing conditions, their daily weight gain can reach 300 to 400 grams. They have excellent meat production performance, a high lean meat percentage, and tender, fresh meat. They are an important breed in the Alaska lamb market."

"Mr. Tushen, I have a tundra pasture in the Crown Territory. If I were to let them graze freely, how should I control the number of cattle and sheep?" Feng Shan asked with a serious expression, seeking his advice.

Hearing Feng Shan’s question, Tushen frowned slightly and thought for a moment. He understood that the client before him was dead set on starting a ranch on the Far North Tundra.

"For a high-quality natural pasture, each cow generally needs about 2 to 3 acres of pastureland to ensure it has enough space to graze and move around. For an average pasture, each cow might need 4 to 5 acres or even more. If the pasture conditions are very poor, each cow might need around 5 acres."

"When raising Suffolk Sheep, each sheep needs about 1 acre of pastureland on a high-quality pasture. On an average pasture, each sheep will need around 1.5 to 2 acres."

"You also have to consider the breed and growth stage of the livestock. Different breeds have different appetites. Beef cattle eat a relatively large amount, while Suffolk Sheep eat comparatively less."

"Moreover, the fodder requirements for livestock at different growth stages are not the same. Young animals eat less, while adults eat more. So all of this needs to be taken into account when calculating your stocking numbers."

Feng Shan listened to Tushen’s detailed explanation, nodding continuously and mentally taking note of these key points.

’You have to find a professional for a professional job. To carry out the plan of grazing cattle and sheep on the tundra pasture of the Crown Territory, every aspect must be considered. The tribe’s Fire Seed can’t just endlessly accelerate the growth of mosses. Whose pasture grass grows back the day after it’s been eaten? Based on the current area of the tundra pasture on the riverbank, grazing 100 cattle and 100 sheep shouldn’t be a major problem.’

After pondering for a moment, Feng Shan said, "Mr. Tushen, I plan to purchase 50 Angus, 30 Simmental, and 20 Hereford from Horned Ranch. And also 100 Suffolk Sheep."

Hearing Feng Shan’s words, Tushen was first taken aback, then he frowned.

"Mr. Feng, I hope you will reconsider. Your ranch doesn’t even have any farm structures built yet. Given the current weather on the Far North Tundra, the beef cattle won’t be able to withstand the extreme cold of minus 40 degrees. The investment in manpower, materials, and finances will be no small sum."

Although Feng Shan understood very well that Manager Tushen’s persistent attempts to dissuade him came from a place of goodwill.

After all, from Tushen’s perspective, starting a livestock operation in the harsh environment of the Far North Tundra presented far too many difficulties and risks.

But Tushen didn’t know that he had the special advantage of the tribe’s Fire Seed.

Therefore, Feng Shan stuck to his decision and even secretly resolved that if the Cow Horn Tribe was unwilling to sell him the livestock, he would just buy from another ranch.

Seeing this, Jeff, who was standing nearby, quickly stepped between the two men. With a gentle smile on his face, he tried to ease the somewhat tense atmosphere.

"Manager Tushen, I think we can agree to Mr. Feng’s purchase request. What we need to consider now is how to transport the cattle and sheep to the Crown Territory."

The moment Jeff spoke, Tushen knew in his heart that this deal probably couldn’t be refused.

He couldn’t help but turn his head to look at the livestock sheds. The thought of the cattle and sheep he had raised with his own hands being sold and sent to the icy Far North Tundra was even more painful than sending them to the slaughterhouse.

But business was business.

Jeff was a high-ranking member of the Wild Bull Tribe. From a ranch operations perspective, Jeff’s opinion carried a lot of weight, and he could indeed make certain decisions on behalf of Horned Ranch.

So, Tushen took a deep breath, trying his best to compose himself and quickly switch into a professional mindset.

"Mr. Feng, since we’ve decided to do this deal, let’s talk about the price. The prices for different breeds of cattle and sheep will vary. I’ll give you a detailed price list."

"For an un-fattened beef bull, the price is about 75 US Dollars per 100 pounds. Horned Ranch can provide 50 of them, with each having a standard weight of around 900 pounds."

"For a bred cow, the price is about 165 US Dollars per 100 pounds. Horned Ranch can provide 30, with each having a standard weight of 800 pounds."

"For beef calves, a 550-pound bull calf is priced at about 155 US Dollars per 100 pounds, and a 520-pound heifer calf is priced at about 145 US Dollars per 100 pounds."

"Suffolk Sheep are 200 US Dollars a head. If you need registered breeding ewes, the price is 300 US Dollars a head."

Feng Shan didn’t really have any particular thoughts on the prices of the livestock.

He trusted Jeff not to rip him off. Besides, with just this many cattle and sheep, how much could he possibly be overcharged?

"Mr. Tushen, just charge me the ranch’s prices. I trust that you’ll give me a reasonable price. There’s no need to worry about that."

"Alright then..." Tushen secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The prices he had just quoted were already the lowest at the Mackenzie Town cattle market. If Feng Shan had tried to bargain for a lower price, it would have been difficult for him to handle.

The two sides were just about to discuss the details of the livestock handover.

Suddenly, a frantic and hurried commotion shattered the peace.

From another livestock shed, a cacophony of noise erupted first.

Immediately after, a worker scrambled out, looking utterly disheveled. His face was filled with terror, and he was shouting something as he ran, but he was too far away for anyone to make out what he was saying.

...