Beginners Board

[rgv]

Hey Caustic -

Not to stir up the pot, but I wondered if you noticed that this section is called the beginners board (Hobby Guys Section).
Seems that your knowledge may help some folks to become better cattleman insted of ranting and raving.
Sure I have a full-time job. However -
1. I have three boys - currently 14,14 (Twins) and 16.
2. I had cattle years ago before them. Sold to develop my current business.
3. Bought the current ground we live on 8 years ago. It was all row cropped at the time.
4. My kids & I have taken this place from raw ground to completely fenced, barn built, corral fences built by working almost every weekend on this place. It took two years from the day we started cutting back all the overgrown tree lines, tearing out some old fence lines from who knows when, etc etc.
They worked knowing that the result would be for them to have cattle and I can tell you thay are like proud peacocks when they show the place to thier friends and family.
I don't think I could ever replace the responsibility they have learned from this and currently taking care of thier animals still.

So while I understand that some post that seem crazy.
Remember there does need to be a place for people to look for information. My kids read this and ask questions all the time.
I had not had cattle in 10 years and this forum was great to help learn remember things, learn new stuff and just helps many time to reinforce whatt I think is the right (or wrong) decision.
Sure we are not full-time - but I can tell you they made a decision when one of the bred cows we bought aborted a calf. They sat down and I explained they could feed the cow for a year and she may breed and be fine. That it probably was not the cows fault or take the loss and move on.
They put the pencil to it and made the decision to cull her.
They started with xxx amount of dollars with a loan back to me and my wife and they have to run it like a business.
Sure I don't charge them with tractor, equipment cots - but I can tell you they get charged for replacment parts, maintainence etc..
Yes - I run a business and I agree- the return on investment from any farm is out of whack. I admire anyone that can make a go full-time - because there is no room for error or ignorance.

Sorry for the long winded post.
Just hate to see the bickering on a great site like this.

RGV

 

[rc]

I noticed you post and that no one had replied. I am kinda in the same boat as you. I have younger children that I hope to leave somewhat of a legacy to. They sure have learned a lot so far. I also own and train horses. I can say first hand that there sure ain't no money in horses, some in training but none in selling. I have 75 acres in good grass and see no reason why a partial living can't be made with cattle. I currently have 30 head with some calving now. I come to this board daily for the advice. I have gotten some good advice from Caustic and just read between the lines on some of the posts where some of the ones been in it longer than me get a little touchy. I think all are really trying to help. The ones that loose me are ones like Many Horses..........you may not remember him. Good Luck to you and the boys.

 

[backhoeboogie]

Don't go running Caustic off. He's amusing and has a great deal of knowledge.

I guess the truth doesn't hurt any in my case. When he tells it like it is, I can deal with it.

I do like getting all different perspectives. Caustic definately has his own and he is actually very practical. Technically, he seems to know what he speaks of most of the time too. When I see certain posts, where I can't believe someone would ask such a question, I can't wait to see his reply.

You just have to accept that everyone here has something to offer and the more perspectives we get, the better informed we are.

Besides he hates liberals, doesn't like to see animals suffer, and he hates ferral hogs. I can relate to all of those too.

 

[Hasbeen]

I think us newbies need someone like Caustic. Pull no punches and let us know when we're doing something dumb. If he looks down a little on me, I can live with it as long as I'm getting a benefit from his experience. I look at him as pilot of a commercial airliner with me as the recreational pilot of a Cessna. What we do is different, yet in many ways the same.
Keep it coming.

 

[cypressfarms]

I don't want to speak for Caustic, but since Crowder has nominated me speaker of the house, I feel some responsibility.

When I signed up, which wasn't that long ago, the first thing I did was read up on the old posts so I would get a feel for the board. That would help a lot of newbies out. Many questions have already been answered, and you will also get a sense of the characters that we have here.

While this is definitely the place for newbies, some questions/statements that people post are so way off that an experienced cattleman/woman instantly knows that they are either flat out lying or seriously embellishing.
As an example, rarely have I seen anyone jumping on someone who is new and asking a genuine question because they are ignorant about the subject. (Don't take offense to ignorant, just means that you don't know - I'm ignorant about things quite often) However, when someone makes a statement like they have calculated the costs of keeping a cow year round, and it's $150, then that is "open season" for interogation. Maybe I'm way off here, but I don't think Caustic, or any of the other extremely experienced people on the board mind new people; but to put on a show and act like you know it all will get you nailed. Too many experienced people here for that.

My recommendation is to be honest, ask whatever questions you want, and be prepared for advice you don't like. Doesn't mean you have to take it; it's FREE. Take which parts you need and make yourself a better rancher.

Oh yeah, and hijacks will happen. If it gets you mad, sorry. You can always re-post or try to bring the content back to your subject matter. Sometimes doing a search on a subject will prevent this. There are only so many times that one can say some things.

Oh yeah, and have a good time!

 

[MoGal]

I have found the best way to learn something is to close one's mouth and open the eyes and ears. Some people have it backwards.

Newbies could do a search for their question first and then if they can't find the answer then post (for instance, scours and pinkeye comes up every month, there are a multitude of posts on that) but that requires a referral back to my first sentence.

Some people post pictures and then get all goofy when someone gives their opinion. I'd rather have the honesty of their opinion than them to sugar coat. Life is not sugar coated, its full of hard knocks and one learns, gains experience, by those hard knocks.

As far as Caustic, I don't know the man or his family personally, but I somehow think that although he's a little rough around the edges, he has a heart of gold on the inside. I could be wrong, you'd have to ask his close friends and family to know for sure. But many times, those type people are just like I said and I'd want them on my side in a crisis as they would bend over backwards to help a friend in need.

Just my .02

 

[Mahoney Pursley Ranch]

Very well said MoGal. And your 100% right about Ole Caustic. ;-)

 

[Caustic Burno]

Hey Caustic -

Not to stir up the pot, but I wondered if you noticed that this section is called the beginners board (Hobby Guys Section).
Seems that your knowledge may help some folks to become better cattleman insted of ranting and raving.
Sure I have a full-time job. However -
1. I have three boys - currently 14,14 (Twins) and 16.
2. I had cattle years ago before them. Sold to develop my current business.
3. Bought the current ground we live on 8 years ago. It was all row cropped at the time.
4. My kids & I have taken this place from raw ground to completely fenced, barn built, corral fences built by working almost every weekend on this place. It took two years from the day we started cutting back all the overgrown tree lines, tearing out some old fence lines from who knows when, etc etc.
They worked knowing that the result would be for them to have cattle and I can tell you thay are like proud peacocks when they show the place to thier friends and family.
I don't think I could ever replace the responsibility they have learned from this and currently taking care of thier animals still.

So while I understand that some post that seem crazy.
Remember there does need to be a place for people to look for information. My kids read this and ask questions all the time.
I had not had cattle in 10 years and this forum was great to help learn remember things, learn new stuff and just helps many time to reinforce whatt I think is the right (or wrong) decision.
Sure we are not full-time - but I can tell you they made a decision when one of the bred cows we bought aborted a calf. They sat down and I explained they could feed the cow for a year and she may breed and be fine. That it probably was not the cows fault or take the loss and move on.
They put the pencil to it and made the decision to cull her.
They started with xxx amount of dollars with a loan back to me and my wife and they have to run it like a business.
Sure I don't charge them with tractor, equipment cots - but I can tell you they get charged for replacment parts, maintainence etc..
Yes - I run a business and I agree- the return on investment from any farm is out of whack. I admire anyone that can make a go full-time - because there is no room for error or ignorance.

Sorry for the long winded post.
Just hate to see the bickering on a great site like this.

RGV

The reason they call it the beginners board is it is a place you can come to for advice depending on the question or get your head pulled out of your butt by crusty old cattlemen.

 

[rgv]

OK - I'm in.
I agree with all of the above

RGV

 

[Central Fl Cracker]

RGV
How ironic I also have twin 14 year old boys. I am also just getting started so the twins can live in the country and maybe learn some better values. Caustic is very sharp on cattle and I think he just likes to mess with people which I can deal with being a hobby rancher myself.

 

[Alan]

I have always said you need a bit of a thick skin to be on this board. But it is the best place for info I know and I'm, for one, am very satisfied with all that is on it. In the old days Caustic and I butted heads but I kind of like his attitude now that I understand him better. The real jerks like Blackpowder and manyhorses are gone. Those kind of guys get ran out...by the posse.

JMO,
Alan

 

[Beef11]

All i wanted was to go pig hunting. Nobody will take me and my weaponry under their wing and show us the ropes.

 

[backhoeboogie]

All i wanted was to go pig hunting. Nobody will take me and my weaponry under their wing and show us the ropes.

If you are serious about hogs, go to Texasboars.com and you'll get a host of info.

Beginner hog trappers are bad about not making their traps strong enough and the hogs get out. Then they become trap smart and don't get themselves caught. They then have a good criminal career of fence wrecking and pasture rutting.

There are many farmers around gut shooting them out of their creep feeders. If they gut shoot them, the hogs run off and die and they don't have to drag them out of ther pens.

There is no closed season on hog hunting. Those hogs are ferals. Once trapped and penned they are no longer feral, by law. We all hate them and want rid of them.