Recent content by rocfarm

I believe it. I think I read some A&M fact sheets that talked about wcs being the most cost efficient. Definitely give up a bit of profit using tubs. But my goal is BCS 6 or more at calving with a tub out around then. We’ll see if it works. Will preg test mine in July. I was interested in...

In central Texas the most efficient seems to be liquid protein/molasses followed by cubes. But if you’re not there, tubs. But I don’t know about cottonseed. Never asked to price that here. You’re right on the hay. It doesn’t pencil most of the time. Add in labor, almost never. As far as body...

I was thinking about trying to buy hay, store it for up to three years inside, and only feed it if it started to get old or was needed. Was going to start this summer if hay prices were low. But after seeing my fields this past week, decided to risk not buying any. I think maybe be willing to...

I'm with @Brute 23. The argument I had to have 3 to 5 times with family this last winter over not feeding any hay was tough, but I finally won it. I was accused of abusing cattle more than once when I said it's OK to let them lose a point on their BCS during the winter if they were in good...

Because it didn’t rain from July to October last year. I destocked instead of buying hay. Had around 12000 lbs that would have grown to about 15000 by now. Wasn’t sure I’d get spring rains and didn’t want to try to feed through it. Hope I don’t have to find out. But if I buy a thin cow anytime...

Cydecitn highly toxic to aquatic life, BTW. Still think I’ll pass unless it is an absolute necessity. Like looking at all the critters in my pond and little creek.

Because it didn’t rain from July to October last year. I destocked instead of buying hay. Had around 12000 lbs that would have grown to about 15000 by now. Wasn’t sure I’d get spring rains and didn’t want to try to feed through it. I sold my heavy bull and heaviest cows, along with one that...

Grass not sparse, for sure. Grazed this field all winter. This is yesterday. Was going to rest it for the rest of the spring and into summer but the 8" rain washed out 100 feet of fence along the southwest side of my place, so had to lock them back up in the northeast side. But I think we have...

Have written my tractor equipment off, but only need a good squeeze chute at this point and to maintain fences. Also, not sorry I decided to go for year-round grazing with low inputs. Definitely easier on the pocketbook. And not tempted to buy expensive cattle right now. At most I will buy a...

I’m not against deworming, but as my stocking rate is 1000 lbs to 26.6 acres right now, I feel like my cattle’s exposure to worms is not enough to warrant it. I think a big test on this one will be to see what my calves’ weaning weights are. Of the three I kept, one on going to auction in...

Promised everyone updates on how this went. I’ll probably do one or two more and then call it. But the model I adopted seems to still work ok. A new bull calf arrived about two weeks ago (we weren’t there to see it, so unassisted). The bull is out of a first calf heifer that we purchased on...

You’re right about the market looking good for the next few years. I don’t think dairy/beef can make up for the low ranch cattle numbers. But never say never. I think inflation will also stay high, so that should prop up the market. I haven’t really looked at whether or not cattle prices...