Anybody raise cattle for profit?

   / Anybody raise cattle for profit? #51  
You are describing rotational grazing -- there is a wealth of Internet info on the topic.

Steve
 
   / Anybody raise cattle for profit? #52  
Thank you. I read stuff every chance I get, little tidbits here and there.

Does rotational grazing work, have you tried it?
 
   / Anybody raise cattle for profit? #53  
Thank you. I read stuff every chance I get, little tidbits here and there.

Does rotational grazing work, have you tried it?

I haven't tried it, but I know farmers that are sold on it. It is management intensive and you have to have a paddock design that gives the livestock access to water.

Steve
 
   / Anybody raise cattle for profit? #54  
I haven't tried it, but I know farmers that are sold on it. It is management intensive and you have to have a paddock design that gives the livestock access to water. Steve

That's the kicker right there - very time intensive.

Another word for it if you are looking for more reading materials is "mob grazing". Joel Salatin and Greg Judy are two very well-known cattle ranchers who use this method.
 
   / Anybody raise cattle for profit? #55  
That's the kicker right there - very time intensive.

I like your userid. Are you a teacher? A practitioner? I taught and practiced for 30 years.

BHAT = (X'X)[SUP]-1[/SUP]X'Y

Steve

PS: TBN should add math symbols.:)
 
   / Anybody raise cattle for profit? #56  
PS: TBN should add math symbols.:)
Lol, that would make us stats nerds happy!

I'm in biz with another guy who was a masters in economics. We both love stats and economics. Econometrics were my favorite undergrad classes back in the day.

I almost took a job out of college doing econometric modeling for a big power utility here in TX, but went into biz with my current biz partner instead.
 
   / Anybody raise cattle for profit? #57  
For rotational grazing to work best, you need to keep your grass in phase 2 of it's growth cycle. The cows like phase 1 grass best because it is young and tender, but there isn't enough leaves to make full use of the sun. If you keep them on a section too long, it takes longer for that section to recover. And you don't want to let any grass reach phase 3, where it is full grown. Then it is also wasting the sun.

The challenge on such a small lot is to make right number of paddocks, and making them the right size. The amount of water {rain or other wise} will determine how fast the grass rebounds after each grazing. The number of cows will determine how long they can safely graze each paddock. And the number of paddocks will determine how often they have to be grazed. You change any one of those factors, and it changes all the others. But it is the most efficient way to graze land.

Water and fencing are two things that can drain profits. But I have seen a central water source with the paddock fences laid out like spokes on a wagon wheel. And by using electric fencing, it keeps the cost down, and the paddocks can be changed without too much trouble.

Larro
 
   / Anybody raise cattle for profit? #58  
I found a couple videos on you tube about rotational grazing, and also mob grazing. Lots of great information.
 
   / Anybody raise cattle for profit? #59  
Yes: it is called rotational grazing and I did it for many years when I had cows. It adds labor to the situation and you need to have fencing for the sections. I used electric fencing with a single strand of tape. The number of cows per acre is related to where you live and what kind of grass and fertility you have in your pastures. It is hard to get more than 1 cow calf unit per acre of pasture even when you rotation graze. Also each year may be different depending on rainfall. Also you need a good source for hay for when the pasture is done. Every time you move the cows you should mow the just eaten pasture to cut down any weeds that the cows don't eat. Otherwise you will be raising just weeds in the future. Also if the season is dry the cows will try and get into the next section before you want them to. Fun and games...
 
   / Anybody raise cattle for profit? #60  
Yes: it is called rotational grazing and I did it for many years when I had cows. It adds labor to the situation and you need to have fencing for the sections. I used electric fencing with a single strand of tape. The number of cows per acre is related to where you live and what kind of grass and fertility you have in your pastures. It is hard to get more than 1 cow calf unit per acre of pasture even when you rotation graze. Also each year may be different depending on rainfall. Also you need a good source for hay for when the pasture is done. Every time you move the cows you should mow the just eaten pasture to cut down any weeds that the cows don't eat. Otherwise you will be raising just weeds in the future. Also if the season is dry the cows will try and get into the next section before you want them to. Fun and games...

If I remember correctly from my animal nutrition class a few semesters ago, by planting a good protein source like wheat you could increase the amount of cows per unit because the better quality of forage. Does that sound correct?
 

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