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  1. R

    Best Cattle Crosses For Unassisted Calving

    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...
  2. R

    Best Cattle Crosses For Unassisted Calving

    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...
  3. R

    Best Cattle Crosses For Unassisted Calving

    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...
  4. R

    Best Cattle Crosses For Unassisted Calving

    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...
  5. R

    Best Cattle Crosses For Unassisted Calving

    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...
  6. R

    Best Cattle Crosses For Unassisted Calving

    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.
  7. R

    Best Cattle Crosses For Unassisted Calving

    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...
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    6557371f-1f6f-426d-9f3e-85047ecbd97e.jpeg

  9. R

    Best Cattle Crosses For Unassisted Calving

    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...
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    a87fcdb8-a432-4467-8065-974ba7d78ebb.jpeg

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    e063275a-dd1f-4cd5-bf12-1fe539dd86cb.jpeg

  12. R

    Best Cattle Crosses For Unassisted Calving

    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...
  13. R

    Best Cattle Crosses For Unassisted Calving

    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...
  14. R

    Best Cattle Crosses For Unassisted Calving

    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...
  15. R

    Calf prices

    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...
  16. R

    Calf prices

    Yup. Hamilton Texas actually has a Corriente auction. But I’m just not in a hurry. Looked at all the financials yesterday and it seems that central Texas had a good year in spite of the drought. I just looked at a satellite picture of my place from September 4th. Man, did it look dry. I still...
  17. R

    Calf prices

    Glad cattle folk are making money. But you’re also making my point. I think I’m officially priced out this market. @Warren Allison, I think I’m gonna be forced to go the Corriente route for replacements:).
  18. R

    Calf prices

    Tubs really work. Have been using them for the past 18 months. First during winter and then during the drought. They are expensive, but so far I have found that, in central Texas, you can get by on winter stockpile and 30% cooked protein tubs and a bit of winter green just fine. And the tubs...
  19. R

    Calf prices

    Well, I was poor when I started because of COVID issues at my other job. But now no debt and don't need the bank. But, for me, I just see risk in these high prices. I'm a tiny operation. Max I could run 13 head and not push my place. If industrialized, could try for 19 head. But I like...
  20. R

    Calf prices

    What this all means is that I’d be dumb to buy some cattle right now, correct? You old timers wouldn’t enter into the market at a time like this, would you? Will there be a summer slump on prices in Texas? I need some bred cows, but I can’t really see how I’ll make money on 1600 to 2000 for...
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