Binding legal contracts which cover all possibilities in the appropriate language are probably desirable but not practical. A more practical approach is to discuss the responsibilities in table 1, define in writing who is responsible for what, who pays for what, and how disagreements will be resolved. Then keep payments regular and the commitment open to permit both parties the opportunity to end the agreement on appropriate notice. Typical custom heifer raising programs in Ontario today, start at 3 to 4 months of age and return the heifers 1 month before calving. I know of no custom calf feeding agreements, although the concept of a specialist, perhaps with white veal facilities and experience, custom raising calves from 3 days of age has definite possibilities.
Payment is monthly and is usually defined on a per head per day basis only.
Usually these rates include feed, bedding, routine health care, labor and housing. Semen, vaccines, specialized health needs are extras billed at product cost with the labor supplied by the custom operator. Typical physical quantities of resources consumed by heifers, suitable for use in developing a budget, are attached as table 2. As pointed out earlier, costs vary with age and this may be a factor in defining the fee schedule and the age and stage of pregnancy at which the heifer is returned. An illustration of how costs vary is given in table 3.