Yeah, but you won't come home to the neighbors German shepherds 25 smaller livestock of yours dead all over your pasture. Don't happen with cows.There is always a fad, for the surrounding subdivisions, in to small ranchettes, city folk buy. These can be anything from raising Emu Birds, to Pot Belly Pigs. These fads don't last long, and only the first involved make any money.
If your interest is really to maintain the AG tax advantage, there are less labor intensive animals to work with that satisfy the lower taxes. I would put Cattle on the wrong end of that decision of animal that satisfied the tax code. You can go exotic, with animals that require near no maintenance. And this is just opinion, and we all know what opinions mean.
It's been my experience that a few head are just as much trouble as thousands. Experienced with both sizes.
On animals that are handled every day, maybe.
I got concerned about that and all the junk we worked with. Built good setup and no problem now.I can agree with your sediment at times. Unfortunately, the only practical way to keep my AG exemption is cattle. The wildlife exemption is really even worse from the aspect of what you must do to continue having it AND it is confusing to navigate all the do's and do not's.
Strange but, I really have never had an issue at all with any bull I have owned. Steers, yes. But once they reach 500-600 lbs... gone if possible. The most problematic time is once they are in the pen and sorting to haul to an auction. You never know which heifer, cow or steer will decide to charge you. This does not happen much, but it only takes one time to ruin your day. Had a compound fracture in my right hand warding off one. Agree also they can be sneaky animals. Mostly STUPID, but at times they seem pretty crafty.
My papaw had them tiger striped brahma mix crazy cows. He kept a club handy. I said I'd never have mean cattle, and I haven't. I do worry about a black brangus bull we have now. He carries himself with both ends up and trots on his tip toes. We get cows caught up, he is the first one I let out. He is too smart for a bull. He has never been a problem, but gosh he could be. It'd be all over except for the crying if he did twist off one day.
I remember the emu, ostrich, Rhea craze. I don't want anything to do with any bird bigger than a turkey. Get one of them claws raked down your body. Have one of them 350 lb ostrich stomp on you repeatedly until you quit moving, then they eat your eyeballs first. Nope, I'm out."Yeah, but you won't come home to the neighbors German shepherds 25 smaller livestock of yours dead all over your pasture. Don't happen with cows."
Doesn't happen with Emu either.
Doesn't happen with Emu either.