Can I do cattle farm without a tractor?

MFL · Jul 4, 2004

Spain's conquistadors and the Spanish colonies of what is now California and northern Mexico did herd cattle with a pike or staff, so it's a pretty valid interpretation, but I don't now that it would have survived two languages and 300 years. Course I could certainly be wrong. The western lexicon is full of co-opted Spanish words and phrases, so anything is possible. That's the great thing about reading history, unless you were there, it's all somebody's interpretation of what THEY think happened! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Incidentally, about 5 years ago I was in Spain and had the chance to visit a horse breeding facility about an hour SE of Seville. The outfit also raised some beef cattle, and for the most part they still herded them with a long, pointed pike. Modern day "cowpokes". /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Elkoboy · Jul 5, 2004

( I haven't figured how to move hay around. )

Keep in mind that some 30 hp CUTs might be too small to move large round and square bales around safely and/or easily. The smaller tractors would limit one to lifting large round bales with a 3 pt bale spear at best, since they might be too heavy to lift with a loader spear. (Large round bales can weigh anywhere from 600 to 2000 lbs. +.)

3 point spears aren't really made to lift large square bales at all. And that limits options as to storing that type of bale as well (you can't stack large square bales in a barn for instance with a tractor that can't lift them on a loader spear). And if you can't stack them, you lose one of the big advantages of large square bales - efficient storage. (I think the large square bales run about 2000 lb)

Many people moving and selling hay around here use skid steers and loader spear to move large square and round bales.

I'm running 6 head of cattle on our small farm and one of my hay guys makes me smaller round bales (750-1000 lbers) that I can move with my B2910 on a 3 pt spear. However, I can also push around (slide) larger round bales that I can't lift with my loader/bucket.

Moving large square bales is beyond my tractor's capability since I can't lift them with my loader. But the times we've bought the large square bales the hay seller brought a skid steer to unload them and stacked them for us in the barn as well.

We usually feed the cattle round bales only when they're off pasture though (in the winter - we have that up here in Minnesota /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif). The square bales we use for our horses.

EastTexFrank · Jul 5, 2004

( they still herded them with a long, pointed pike )

Probably because most Spaniards are frustrated bullfighters. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

By the way, I met a bullfighter in Spain once who told me a charging cow is more dangerous that a charging bull. I don't know why I mentioned that but I thought I'd just throw in some totally useless trivia.

Bird · Jul 5, 2004

( a charging cow is more dangerous that a charging bull )

I remember hearing long ago that a charging bull closes his eyes just before he gets to you, so he doesn't see you step aside, but that a cow keeps her eyes open and will turn with you. Talk about useless trivia, 'cause when I was dodgin' those critters, I never looked to see whether their eyes were open or not. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

cowboydoc · Jul 5, 2004

I don't know about more dangerous but a momma cow is JUST as dangerous as any bull I've been around.

EastTexFrank · Jul 6, 2004

That's basically what he told me ... that a bull closes its eyes and tends to hook in one direction. When a bullfighter works a bull a couple of times, he knows which is the safer side to work from and can pass the bull closer on that side. A cow keeps its eyes open and will hook in both directions so there is no safer side. I can't honestly say I believed him and I was never dumb enough to do my own research, but hey, he annoyed cattle for a living so there may be a grain of truth in it ... who knows. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

I promise, no more useless trivia!!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

cowboydoc · Jul 6, 2004

I would have to disagree with that statement. I rode bulls for almost 20 years and I can tell you that they will go at you from every which way and will change directions on a dime at a dead run towards you. A mexican fighting bull may be different but a regular bull will hook you right, left, or straight up the gut. I've got the scars to prove it. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

EastTexFrank · Jul 6, 2004

Ah !!!!!! You know I semi-believed what he told me for well over 10 years. Another illusion shattered. I don't have many left. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif There goes another urban legend down the tubes.

My own experience is a lot like Bird's, when one came after me I was too busy running to see if he had his eyes closed or not. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

ljh2 · Jul 7, 2004

Hey rlee,
I'm a little late to the party here, but I wouldn't apologize for asking the stated question. Actually if you can hire hay and such done, it is fairly feasible to raise cattle without a tractor.

Your indirect statement that you are considering raising cattle 1.5 hours away has me WAY more concerned! They aren't just something that you can walk away from for days at a time. I don't know much about Florida winter pasture grass, but up north, you have to be able to feed your animals EVERY day in the winter, usually twice a day. What protections do you have in place if your animals get out of your pasture? With a 1.5 hour drive, they could do a lot of damage before you get there to put them back in, assuming anyone would know to call you.

Before you try to raise animals, I think you should probably be living there - OR at least have hired help there to look after them.

As to the tractor, it will make a lot of tasks easier, but I wouldn't say that you'd HAVE to have one. Like others have said, you would be pretty much limited to small square bales since it's not too easy to move the big round ones without a tractor.

Good luck with your adventure, but take your time and prepare for all of the responsibilities before you get into cattle.
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

dixiedrifter · Jul 7, 2004

I dunno how cool it gets down there, but if you intend to feed hay (which normally comes in round bales due to less labor) your gonna need a tractor with a spike on it to move bales and set them in hay rings.

If not your gonna have a lot of hay tromped into the ground.

You also need a tractor in the summer to do your mowing. If the grass gets too tall, it gets in their eyes when the cattle eat and causes pinkeye, IMO.