Page 30 of 39

How do you get control of cedar?

how do you get control of cedar?Cedar, more accurately known as juniper, can be a very difficult plant to control. It is a very aggressive woody plant that grows here in Texas. It is often viewed as invasive because if left unchecked it can quickly take over a pasture chocking out any grass growth.

Along with quickly taking over a pasture it has been shown to be a very thirsty plant. I knew a rancher near here that when he started removing cedars on his place he had a spring start producing water again.

While getting control of cedar is possible it is not a one-and-done type of thing. It will take many applications to get this little pest under control.

Continue reading

Getting cows ready for breeding season

getting cows ready for breeding seasonBreeding season preparations is a very important task for a cow/calf producer’s bottom line. The steps that they take now will determine if they will have a good calf crop or not. Having good quality calves to sell is the defining factor between a successful and a not successful rancher.

Creating a successful breeding season starts with making the right management decisions before and during calving season. The steps that you take now will determine if you will be going into the season on the right footing or you having to play catch up (which will be more expensive in the end).

In order for a cow to produce a calf every year she will need to be rebred 80 days after she has calved. Now this may not seem like that short of a time but you will have to remember that she will not be going into estrus for at least 30 days after that calf is born so your window is a little shorter.

So what can you do to prepare for an outstanding breeding season? Well here are 3 things that you can look at to improve your chances of having a large calf crop.

Continue reading

How do you control flies on cattle?

how do you control flies on cattle?Trying to control flies that are on your cattle can be a very frustrating endeavor to say the least. It can often feel like an uphill climb with no rest in sight. No matter what you seem to do they just keep coming back year after year.

As we move into the warmer time of the year these pests will be coming out in full force. They will be coming out of their dormant stage to feast on your cattle negatively affecting your herd’s production. But what is a rancher to do?!

Though you will never fully get rid of them there is a way to get them under control. In order to be the most effective it will require a multi-prong approach. It will require all of them because just using one will not get the results that you are looking for.

Continue reading

Does creep feeding pay?

does creep feeding pay?Creep feeding can be an excellent tool for improving the overall weaning weights of your calves. It can be a good management and economic option for improving your bottom line.

There are many factors to consider when looking at creep feeding such as calf prices, price of the feed itself, and the labor you are able to commit to it. Since this is not a one-and-done type of thing it is something that you will have to look at every year. This is because the factors involved, such as market prices, will change from one year to the next.

It is important to look at the factors that will matter to you because like many other things that are involved with raising beef cattle it is not a blanket option. What works for one operation will not always work for another.

So what are the options that you should look at when deciding to start creep feeding? Well here are some things that you can look at to decide if it is right for you.

Continue reading

What mineral supplement is best for cattle?

what mineral supplement is best for cattle?Using a mineral supplement is one of the most important yet overlooked parts of cattle management. Sure, we all are concerned with the amount of protein or energy they are getting but what about meeting their mineral needs?

Though the amount that cattle need is very small it can play a very important role in their overall production and their well being. Selecting a correct mineral supplement is needed for optimal growth and reproduction health.

When mineral requirements are not being met cattle do not perform as efficiently as they could. One problem here is that the signs of a deficiency may not be visible till it becomes a serious problem.

When a deficiency is present you will see things like decreased weaning weights, decreased milk production, and lack of cows being bred to name a few.

But what type of mineral supplement should I be providing you may ask. Well I may not be able to tell you exactly which one will work because I do not know your operation. I can however give you some tips to look for when trying to decide which one will work best for you.

Continue reading

What’s that hay bale worth?

what's that hay bale worth?Using a hay bale to supplement your cattle is a tried and true method that many producers use. It is reasonably priced compared to other feedstuffs. Though just like other feedstuffs the quality can vary depending on many different factors.

While looking at using a hay bale many people tend to just look at the upfront cost. While this may be good initially it is not always best to be the only way. You will want to look at how much that particular will cost per unit of energy or protein.

Like with other feedstuffs it is always a good idea to break the price down into these simple units so you can compare apples to apples. This is because though a hay bale may look to be a good deal initially it may not be really. Once you have broken down the price into those units you will find it will actually cost you more.

Continue reading

How to Start Ranching

how to start ranchingPerhaps it has been a dream of yours to start ranching. You want to be able to wake up in the morning and see cows grazing in a pasture. You could also want to raise a family in more wide open spaces.

Raising cattle can be a viable option for people that own some property. They can utilize certain types of pastures that are not suitable for other types of animals.

Though it may be seem like an easy life it is not without it’s issues and problems. The thing to remember is that even though it may seem like an easier life it is still a business. Like a business it requires some planning on your part in order to get it off the ground. Here are some things to consider when looking to start ranching.

Continue reading

Beginners Guide to Fencing

beginners guide to fencingThere is one constant in the livestock industry, if you have animals then you will have to build fencing. Fencing is a barrier to both keep your animals where you want them and to keep predators out.

It has been said that good fences make good neighbors and that is certainly true. As a responsible animal caretaker it is your responsibility to keep them out of your neighbor’s place as well as getting out on the road and cause an accident.

When it comes to fencing there are many options that you can go with and that can be confusing to someone who doesn’t have much experience with it. Now which is the best to go with? Well that is up to the individual but here are some things for you to consider the next time you are shopping for a new fence.

Continue reading

5 Tips to Prepare Bulls for Breeding Season

5 tips to prepare bulls for breeding seasonBreeding season is a very important time on the ranch. In order to have a good calf crop you will need to make sure that all of your cows will be bred.

While many focus on getting their cows ready for this time of year it is also a good idea to get the bulls that you will be using ready too. After all 50% of the genetics that each of your potential calves will have comes from just that one animal, the bull.

With the important role they will play you may be wonder just how you can go about making sure that he will be ready to service the cows. Well, here are 5 tips that you can follow that will do just that.

Continue reading

How to Treat Grass Tetany

How to treat grass tetanySpring weather has finally arrived to many parts of the country. The snow (if you got any) has started to melt away and things are starting to grow again.

With the warmer weather and the winter moisture forage grasses have started their “spring Greenup”. It is during this time that forages come out of their dormant stage and begin growing rapidly again.

Though this may seem like the greatest time of the year, what with all of the green across the pasture, it is not without it’s own challenges. It is during this time of year a particular problem know as grass tetany can cause issues with your cowherd.

For those who are not in the know you may be asking “what is grass tetany?”, “what kind of problems can it cause in my operation?” and “How do I treat or even prevent it from happening?”. Well in regards to those questions here are some things that you should consider.

Continue reading

« Older posts Newer posts »