0 or 2. Zero, because, why would you if you don't need to? 2 if you want to have a continuous supply of beef and don't know anyone else with cattle. 1 to butcher now, 1 to butcher in a year, after 1 is butchered get another. Repeat cycle. Depending on your family size, a quarter could last a whole year, so you could sell the extra 3 quarters to friends and get a lot of your money back.