Another stocker/pasture question
Long time reader, first time poster
Background-usually maintain 3 cow/calf setups on 20 acre homestead, mainly for kids to be involved in animal production and reap the associated benefits.
Proposition
Recently renewed a 5 year hunting lease in west Texas- Haskell and Throckmorton counties, great lease, good terms etc. Absentee landowner advises he has 2 properties in Denton and Cooke counties set up mostly for cattle operations. 1-640 acre pasture, another 400 acre pasture. Both look to be in decent to good shape, have not been grazed since fall of '03 due to continuing problems with old lessee.
Grass looks good, decent tree coverage for shade, at least 3 5-6 acre tanks, several mud tanks that are currently holding water. Probably ¾ of the acreage is pasture, supposedly sprayed in spring of '04 for weeds.
Questions
Given the info,
• what would be the carrying capacity range for a stocker setup ( would rather not go to local AG agent, although Denton/Cooke guys maybe great)
• What would be the best time of year to run a stocker set up-spring to fall, April –June , etc given this setup
• What do stocker setups look for as an ADG to be profitable.
Issues
• Financial strength, while always an issue, isn't a deal killer by any stretch
• Big worry about cattle prices sustainability
• Landowner probably wants more safeguarding of property than top dollar for lease, long term lease definitely available
Any suggestions as to what a decent $/acre price for lease would be, any other suggestions, potential issues etc?
What would stocking strategy be over a 2-3 window?
Thanks
Long time reader, first time poster
Background-usually maintain 3 cow/calf setups on 20 acre homestead, mainly for kids to be involved in animal production and reap the associated benefits.
Proposition
Recently renewed a 5 year hunting lease in west Texas- Haskell and Throckmorton counties, great lease, good terms etc. Absentee landowner advises he has 2 properties in Denton and Cooke counties set up mostly for cattle operations. 1-640 acre pasture, another 400 acre pasture. Both look to be in decent to good shape, have not been grazed since fall of '03 due to continuing problems with old lessee.
Grass looks good, decent tree coverage for shade, at least 3 5-6 acre tanks, several mud tanks that are currently holding water. Probably ¾ of the acreage is pasture, supposedly sprayed in spring of '04 for weeds.
Questions
Given the info,
• what would be the carrying capacity range for a stocker setup ( would rather not go to local AG agent, although Denton/Cooke guys maybe great)
• What would be the best time of year to run a stocker set up-spring to fall, April –June , etc given this setup
• What do stocker setups look for as an ADG to be profitable.
Issues
• Financial strength, while always an issue, isn't a deal killer by any stretch
• Big worry about cattle prices sustainability
• Landowner probably wants more safeguarding of property than top dollar for lease, long term lease definitely available
Any suggestions as to what a decent $/acre price for lease would be, any other suggestions, potential issues etc?
What would stocking strategy be over a 2-3 window?
Thanks