Cattle questions

[RayIN]

I don't think that is required and/or enforced yet. I try to keep up with it but don't know all the details. I could send my entire herd to the local(across state line) auction house with no issues. If it is "law" somewhere it would be based on herd size.


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New EID Ear Tag Requirements for Cattle 2024

New cattle ear tagging rules will impact those sending cattle across state lines. Be informed and ready.

www.merck-animal-health-usa.com

Added: Like I said, a farmers got more than enough to keep him busy without hours a day tracking and recording cattle lineage.
Now if you only want to fatten out a few steers, they're exempt.
This all evolved from the mad cow disease epidemic.

 

[kenmac]

Heck I just had typical post/rail fencing with a wire strand on top and never lost a calf/cow. I prefer woven wire fabric, but that’s not how the paddocks were set up.


Lots of variables there. True hay will hold up much onger stored inside, but outside storage on pallets with a tarp for a few months is perfectly fine. Did this for many years.
Some of my biggest buyers store beef cattle hay outside. I wouldn’t suggest feeding milking cows outdoor stored hay, but beef? Heck that’s how 75% of the hay is stored here. Outside, maybe with a tarp on rock or pallets.

When I put a bale in the feeder, it’s sitting outside for at least 1-2 weeks. Hay in net wrap holds up very well outside.

Heck I just had typical post/rail fencing with a wire strand on top and never lost a calf/cow. I prefer woven wire fabric, but that’s not how the paddocks were set up.


Lots of variables there. True hay will hold up much onger stored inside, but outside storage on pallets with a tarp for a few months is perfectly fine. Did this for many years.
Some of my biggest buyers store beef cattle hay outside. I wouldn’t suggest feeding milking cows outdoor stored hay, but beef? Heck that’s how 75% of the hay is stored here. Outside, maybe with a tarp on rock or pallets.

When I put a bale in the feeder, it’s sitting outside for at least 1-2 weeks. Hay in net wrap holds up very well outside.

I have seen calves walk right through widely spaced barbed wire. I have helped several neighbors catch calves and get them back in the fence. They learned to place the strands closer together.
Better to do all you can to prevent them getting out to start with, than to have to be out on a cold and rainy night trying to catch one ..

Wood Post / rails are fine if your rails are close enough together.
on my front, I have steel rail but the rails are close so a clave can't just get through

I agree fabric rolls are much better, but also costly of doing a lot of acres.

I also agree that hay will be ok stored out in the weather if covered with a tarp, But not uncovered.

My 4x5 rolls only last about 3 days in the hay ring, so If they do get a little wet, it's not for long like storing a lot of bales out in the weather uncovered that may not be fed for some time .
They will only waste more than they already do .

 

[kenmac]

I'm not locked in on exactly how I want to fence the additional areas yet. Barb is cheap and fast, but I haven't completely decided. We ran electric when I was young, but the world moved away from that until maybe last 5 years, it seems more popular again for new set ups.

I also have one strand of electric ... this is the charger I have

Cyclops BOSS 32-Joule AC EnergizerDefault Title

Cyclops 30 Joule BOSS Energizer

powerflexfence.com

 

[geteh]

Got a couple stupid questions, but I'll give background first. We are planning on getting a couple steers, not right now, but down the road a few months. We want weened, and I'm not above banding intact males, or frankly having heifers. Don't want to jump in too deep, but eventually, for personal use, and tax reasons, want to get upto the magic 6 number. I'm strongly leaning towards Red Baldie (Red Angus/Hereford cross), based on what I've been reading. No specific, logical reason for Red vs Black, but I'm contrarian... I have some experience, but more with sheep as a kid, and some around cattle more recently, but I'm gonna ask the stupid questions.

So, the Black (and Red) Baldies seem to be praised for health, meat, vigor, ect. Is there a difference in breeding a baldie bull to a baldie heifer; vs a Hereford bull to Angus heifers. Is there a reason it's typically a hereford bull and Angus heifers vs a Angus bull and hereford heifers?

For a guy buying the first couple, are weened steers (and/or heifers) the best bet?

Also, have had some friends pick up male dairy-beef cross for dirt cheap. Would that be a smarter starter step https://erome.news/camilla-araujo-erome/

Breeding a Baldie bull to a Baldie heifer vs. a Hereford bull to Angus heifers generally doesn’t make much difference in terms of health and vigor. The common practice of using a Hereford bull with Angus heifers is due to hybrid vigor, where the crossbreeding of different breeds can lead to better offspring. For a beginner, buying weaned steers is typically the best bet as they’re easier to manage. Male dairy-beef crosses can also be a good starter option, as they are cheaper, grow quickly, and are manageable for personal use, though they won’t have the same meat quality as purebred beef cattle.