Looking for advice re grazing cattle

[beowulf]

We live on 90 acres of rolling foothills - partially wooded. Years ago we had cattle- primarily to keep the grass down to mitigate the fire risk, and also to just enjoy having them. It was mostly uneventful - I was able to handle the fences, to lasso and band-castrate the young bulls, vaccinate, and handle the occasional problem. A few years ago - when I became older (now 78), I became less interested in fixing remote fences on sometimes steep areas, and was no longer so motivated to take down young calves (I was never very good at tying them up), we decided to lease the property for grazing. It was not to make money. The agreement is 1) he pays $800 a year for roughly 80 of the 90 acres, and 2) he has to regularly inspect and keep all fences in good repair, and 3) carry insurance. We provide water, let him know if we see any issues, e.g., if there will be snow that will affect his herd, etc., and we have repaired fences ourselves in emergencies and when he has neglected that task. And we get to move his cattle around from section to section to optimize the grazing related to fire mitigation in our discretion.

In 2021, he had to pull his cows in December because the grazing was gone. That was the first year that happened. In 2022 he did not bring cattle on until late May despite my telling him several times that we would need to bring other cattle to graze things down if he didn't due to fire mitigation. He promised to bring 15-20 head, delayed doing that and then brought 10. Ten head should be fine if they started at the first of the year, and actually, he missed the best of the grazing by waiting until May. He is also a bit lax inspecting the fence. Anyway, there is plenty of grazing left right now. He called today and said he will be pulling his cattle - I suppose to sell them. But I still need and want cattle here for the fire risk issue. I think I will now terminate the agreement (requires 90 days), check and repair all fences myself, and bring my own cattle in. It has overall been an amiable relationship.

Anyway, my apologies for all the details above - probably not necessary for my question - which is: I was never really a cattle "rancher" but managed it all fairly well when we had cattle - for a period of about 25 years - I just started with the herd that was here when we bought the property. If I get back into this now what is recommended for a start up where main interest if to graze things down and not to have a cattle business? Steers? Hefers? Both? Cow-calf pairs? Pregnant cows? A combination? I don't think I will bring in a bull with heifers but not sure. Just looking for some general advice. I will probably start with ten. I can go to the sale yard and likely find what I want, and can get one of the good-ole boys that are always down there to help me select, and can arrange for transport back here. Any suggestions will be appreciated. On my own, I will likely get ten young steers - Black Angus or Santa Gertrudis - which is what we had before - until the neighbor's bull visited. They are tolerant of heat and hardy.

 

[ultrarunner]

Following because fire suppression in the West is serious business...

Only 65 acres in one location had a couple of year round horses that were put out to pasture and it made a difference... the last departed at 38 years old... do looking into something to graze down the grass...

 

[beowulf]

Following because fire suppression in the West is serious business...

Only 65 acres in one location had a couple of year round horses that were put out to pasture and it made a difference... the last departed at 38 years old... do looking into something to graze down the grass...

Ultrarunner, we also have goats in fenced areas around the perimeter of the home-compound - with goat-fencing - maybe 100 feet plus out. They do an amazing job there. My wife prefers goats as the cows draw more flies. A guy kept a few mules here a while back for a few months - interestingly, the mules ate things that the cows wouldn't touch.

When we have had cows here year-round they eventually take the grazing down to almost nothing. It impressed the propane delivery guy - he said, 'man, you don't have to worry about fire do you?' He was wrong, but it highlights how helpful cows can be. I also see now that the CalFire or whoever it is - running ads on the radio are also suggesting grazing as a very effective mitigation choice.

 

[scootr]

Nice to have a grazing bunch of anything to mitigate the fire threat.
- I wish I had your troubles.

 

[ultrarunner]

One morning woke up to 20 head of cattle grazing on the hillside…

Park has a contract for grazing but some park visitors don’t like cows so the separating fence was cut and the cows moseyed on over…

The rancher very apologetic but not his fault…

 

[jyoutz]

Buy 400-500 pound steer calves in the spring. Sell them at 1000-1200# (keep one for your freezer).

 

[ponytug]

If you don't want to have an expanding herd, getting 10-12 steers sounds like a way to go. If it were me, I would consider a mule to keep an eye on them. They tend to be pretty fearless, and sensible. We have a retired horse that runs our cattle herd, and is the #1 calf sitter for the cows when they want a break.

Mixing in llamas has the advantage that they are browsers, and will do goat like browsing of twigs, which will help your fire protection, but they aren't cheap, and my impression is that they aren't as tough as cows. Our neighbor has had them for fifteen years, and he has gone through eight or so; in comparison, we still have our original cows, bought at the same time, who are both still in good health and fecund.

All the best,

Peter

 

[beowulf]

Buy 400-500 pound steer calves in the spring. Sell them at 1000-1200# (keep one for your freezer).

That's the kind of specific information I was looking for. Much appreciated.

 

[beowulf]

If you don't want to have an expanding herd, getting 10-12 steers sounds like a way to go. If it were me, I would consider a mule to keep an eye on them. They tend to be pretty fearless, and sensible. We have a retired horse that runs our cattle herd, and is the #1 calf sitter for the cows when they want a break.

Mixing in llamas has the advantage that they are browsers, and will do goat like browsing of twigs, which will help your fire protection, but they aren't cheap, and my impression is that they aren't as tough as cows. Our neighbor has had them for fifteen years, and he has gone through eight or so; in comparison, we still have our original cows, bought at the same time, who are both still in good health and fecund.

All the best,

Peter

Thanks Peter, I think that is what we will do. I did love having the mules here for a time - one issue was that they would not tolerate any dog they did not know. The guy that brought them had three heelers and that was no problem but we had to watchout for our dogs.

A while back I looked into a BLM(?) wild burro adoption program. There was a 'distribution' center in California as I recall. I think you had to take two, and convince them you had appropriate facilities and would take care of them properly. I may look at that again or find a mule. The mules that were here were - I think - retired park pack animals. Very affectionate - which surprised me.

 

[jyoutz]

That's the kind of specific information I was looking for. Much appreciated.

For your needs, this would be both easy and profitable. No messing with bulls, mother cows, and calving or castration.

 

[LouNY]

I have not been around animals that were utilized as grazers for fire mitigation.
I am assuming that you are trying almost bare ground grazing.
The beefers that I'm familiar with will live and survive under such conditions,
but to gain weight and retain desirableness beef charateristics requires good digestible
protein, otherwise they will be 3 or 4 year olds before attaining butcher weight.
At that age and being used to keep ground cleared they are going to be tough and chewy.

 

[Hay Dude]

Keep rotating in new stock and selling off the older. Artificially inseminate the ones you want for new calves.

 

[oosik]

I have the neighbors cows on about 50 of my acres. He installed a barbed wire fence to restrict their access. There is no contract - no payment. It's simply to reduce the amount of grass.

He rotates his cows on various grazing lands all year. They are on my land two or three times a year. It presents no restrictions to any of my activities on my land.

 

[jyoutz]

I have not been around animals that were utilized as grazers for fire mitigation.
I am assuming that you are trying almost bare ground grazing.
The beefers that I'm familiar with will live and survive under such conditions,
but to gain weight and retain desirableness beef charateristics requires good digestible
protein, otherwise they will be 3 or 4 year olds before attaining butcher weight.
At that age and being used to keep ground cleared they are going to be tough and chewy.

He would have to grain them later in the fall to make weight within 18 months.

 

[newbury]

OP - Since your prime objective seems to be to keep grass short with minimal expense and effort have you looked into "Miniature cattle" like the Dexter?

My memories of dairy farming in Vermont include many hours of having to move almost 1 ton Holsteins where they didn't want to go. It wasn't too bad when I was a strapping 20 yr old, but at 72 I'd be pushing it.

 

[EddieWalker]

I have no personal experience owning cattle. I went with goats, which are a pain to keep in, but just like you mentioned, they do a great job of eating everything. My favorite thing is how they keep the lower part of my trees cleaned up!!!! Fencing is the biggest issue with goats.

I have several clients that raise cattle, and all of them have a list of injuries they have had dealing with them. I just know that if I had cattle, I'd end up getting hurt eventually.

Having said that, my wife really wants us to raise a few steers for the freezer. My current thinking is to go with a smaller breed like Belted Galloway's. From what I've read, their meat is exceptional. They have a very mild temperament, and they are only 400 pounds, give or take.

 

[newbury]

Belted Galloway's. From what I've read, their meat is exceptional. They have a very mild temperament, and they are only 400 pounds, give or take.

Are you sure? I just looked them up

Mass: 1,700 – 2,300 lbs (Male, Adult), 990 – 1,500 lbs (Female, Adult)

from the wicki
Maybe they were 400kg give or take.
/edit
Belted Galloway - Wikipedia

 

[EddieWalker]

Thanks, I have only glanced at their information and read some comments from people on here. I have never seen one in person. I have a friend in CA that has about a dozen of them, but I haven't spoken to her about them. I also watched some Youtube videos about them, but mostly those are all in Great Britain. They have some around here in my area of Texas for sale, but it's too early for me to put any time into that yet.

Those weights are a lot bigger then I was thinking!!!

 

[Eagle1]

400 kg is about right for Belties, unless you are talking minis. Still about half the size of full sized cattle.
I have Dexters and they eat most anything except mint and pawpaw. Mine are in 500 to 600 lbs range for cows and most steers. The bull is right at 1K. He carries the mini gene so get some minis, those I can carry in the bucket of a BX full grown when it's time for freezer camp. Less than 450 lbs.

 

[EddieWalker]

Dexter's are also on our radar. My wife has had a Dexter steak years ago and remembers it as being the best steak she's ever eaten. Something about being double muscled, I think. How is their temperament? Any danger working with them?