Cattle questions

[Car Doc]

C4, the fly stuff we are using in the pasture is a powder and I am using it on a 10' long 6" diameter big stuffed snake for lack of a better word that I believe is intended for oil but guys use them for powder also not as handy as pouring a fluid on but a little cheaper.

Its situated where they have to walk under it every time they come in for water they make oilers (expensive) and bags/snakes for powder (cheap). Now when I had them at the vet he poured some long lasting stuff down the middle their back that's the 30 day treatment it was $1.50 each animal and he put a couple fly repellant ear tags on the one that had eye surgery while he had him in the chute. fwtw

 

[Western]

Car Doc, the vet probably poured Ivermectin down the cows back, that would be my guess. I did that myself since it is cheaper that way.

 

[jinman]

Soo, you got 160 acres but no clear business plans.

Keep the day job. Get some learning about ranching. Learn about feeding the critters and what your land can provide. Learn about selling and buying the stock. Set up a business plan that has actuall numbers backed by facts
. Check in with the banker boys. Keep the day job and take a holiday. Use the ranch as a rental property or just play on it!

Be sure to plant some trees. Makes good windbreaks and shelter.

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: I think you have a grasp of the cattle business, Egon. I have a buddy who swears that you won't really make money in the cattle business unless you can run a couple thousand head. Anything less is break-even at best. You can supply yourself and family with meat and sell enough to keep a good turnover in your herd, but don't expect to do any real money making. I think I'd looks at hay or grain crops on 160 acres with maybe a dozen cattle at most just so my kids had something to do. Big heards require lots of attention and care in all kinds of weather and sickness. A few coyotes can devastate you at calving time. If you go into cattle as a hobby and good experience for you and your family, you'll be happy. If you want to make money, I think you'd be better off growing a big vegetable garden and carry the produce to a local flea market. Just my pessimistic opinion. . .

 

[foreman Etexas]

Yeah jinman to make money would have to have 100head,thousand acres and all it paid for already. It would be tough to have cattle that far away,specially calving time but could look for close by cowboy that could higher out to feed and check cows during that time. Im more the farmer type then qoute a cowboy but i do it for folks around here in trade for couple heifers a year,only check and feed,may patch fence if they are gone but that manual labor I have plenty on my own place that keeps me busy. I myself have what you call a fine selection of you name IT CATTLE,I couldnt tell you what everyones % of what is but I can tell you they calve good and have a great disposition. I just havent got into the registered cattle,I do have some charolias that could be but I like putting them with angus bull and throw the smoke colored calves,thats just me. I believe your place is just north of stephenville? If so maybe some cattle with some ear would be better,thats Hill country right? As for making money at it,I think more of tax exempt,break even,never boried,lose alot of sleep,learn to work on everything, and great for the kiddos kinda adventure,you'll never know what tomorrow will bring.. Good luck on whatever you deside,theres always the option to lease and let them have all the fun...

 

[Egon]

Thanks Jinman!

Unfortunately my cattle knowledge is about 50 years past so just another ancient spouting off about Water long since gone over the falls.

 

[sellercreek]

I am 45 minutes away from my herd and that works for the most part. Somebody needs to check cattle at least every other day and more often in winter. I have carefully culled and otherwise dealt with genetics, feed ration, vaccination, etc. of my cattle for twelve years now and have far fewer problems than I did when I started. It takes time and experience. There are many things I do now that are completely opposite of what I did in the beginning.

All that being said, be aware that you are going to be learning while your boys are learning. That may prove to be a very positive experience all around, but be prepared for unforeseen consequences.

Good luck in your endeavors.

 

[Car Doc]

Car Doc, the vet probably poured Ivermectin down the cows back, that would be my guess. I did that myself since it is cheaper that way.

Yup that sounds like what he poured on them alright and I am here to tell ya its working real good there isn't a fly anywhere but on their legs.

To the OP C4- fwtw We are or at least a lot of us are talking about equipment you will need this may help- I picked up a nice used 6x16 bumper pull Hillsboro stock trailer on Nextech classifieds yesterday for 2 grand everything works good tires and all its an 1989 I can afford to own it easy. good luck

 

[farmgirl19]

Is there any advantage/disadvantage of Longhorn?

Anyone with thoughts on buffalo?

Biggest disadvantages on Longhorns is their horns. They can be sllinging their head to get a fly, and get you in the same swat. Might not be intentional, but can be a serious hurt, none-the-less. I prefer polled cattle.

Being 2 hours away, I would not want bred cows. Better to either raise steers for 6-12 months, depending on water and pasture conditions. If a heifer or cow goes into labor, and you are 2 hours away, it could be more than a day before you realize there is a problem. Not only do you lose the calf, but the cow can get septic from a calf now rotting inside her, and you lose her too. Yes, that is a life lesson for the kids to learn, but not really how one wants to teach it, IMO.

Buffalo take much better fences, and are not always as easy to work. While buffalo meat is pricey in the stores, I don't know that htere is a big market for them. Brings us back to asking if this is to be a business, or just a hobby.

I used to run a cow/calf operation, until the drought began, a few years ago. Sold off the cattle, and last year, bought some commercial calves. Raised them for a year, and sold all but one. Hoped to put him in the freezer, but might sell him too. My neighbor has someone bring him some heifers to grow out each April 1, and has them hauled off every Oct. 31. Keeps his Ag, exemption, and he makes a little money, but doesn't have to worry about feed, hay and water, in the winter. Many ways to go with your property.

 

[greasemonkeyok]

Lots of good information in this thread for someone just starting out.

From a big picture point of view, think of the business as selling forage, and the cattle are just the containers you use to transport that forage to market. That's how you make money if there is any money to be made in the casino called the "cattle business."

If you are mainly buying hay and feed to fatten up the cattle for market, you are really just buying forage to sell forage. It's hard to beat the big boys (they call it economies of scale) at that game.

Another thing needs to be mentioned, sale barns will steal from you just like anybody else. It is best if you can get a seasoned seller to help you come sale time.

 

[farmgirl19]

BTW, check with your other neighbors who raise Cattle and find a good VET who works with Cattle. Same relationship as with finding a good Mechanic. When you find one, keep a good relationship.

I think Walker Brooks, DVM is in Eastland County. You might look for him. Also, I think Paul Duncan, DVM is still out there too.