No matter how small or large your livestock operation is, good record keeping is important. You would think with only one or two cows you would be able to remember when a calf was born, or when you bred your cow, but I have received so many messages over the years from customers asking when
As many of you have already learned, having cattle is expensive. Although I can not make it to where having cattle is not expensive, I can sure give you advice to save money. There are certain stages of a cow’s production cycle where it is very critical to spend the money on nutrition and annual
If any of you have been to our farm, you have seen our non-traditional livestock watering tanks. This was a design that I learned about and utilized in Nebraska years ago, and have adopted at our place in Texas.The obvious advantage is they are very economical to build due to the fact many feed stores
I know I am a little late posting this winter storm checklist after what we experienced here in Texas in 2021, but it never hurts to be archived for future winter events. As they say, “Prepare for the worst, and hope for the best”In this blog, I will list some key issues that need to
With many cattle-owners breeding their cattle now for fall calving, pregnancy testing is the crucial final step. We spend so much time in the management of our small herd to getting our cows in correct body condition, picking the perfect bull to breed them to, and getting them bred at the right time.
Early weaning calves can save money, improve conception rates, and increase stocking rates. If you are located close to an urban setting, typically the price of land limits the amount of pasture available for natural grazing, leaving you to supplement with harvested feeds. In our own operation, we feed hay year-round, so early weaning allows
The most important equipment considerations if you are going to own cattle are pens (corral), a chute, and a trailer.It is a lot of fun looking out into a pasture and seeing your cattle grazing, but the day will come when you need to catch, transport, or restrain that peaceful looking cow. Here are my
I know many of you are just starting the fall calving season, but as the calves hit the ground, it is never to early to start planning to re-breed those cows and heifers. Here is a list of things that can make your fall breeding go the best it can. For me, it can be broken