Camps

[HDRider]

I have been on this board for a while, but I still do not even qualify as a beginner. I have no cattle. Yet.

I came here to learn stuff about cattle. I have learned stuff about cattle. Plus made a few friends, and that is a big bonus.

One of the things I have learned here is there is no one right answer on most things when it comes to cattle. Some use the tried and true. They have success. Some try new things. They have success. In the end success is what matters, ever how you might define it.

Breeds. I want even go into all the right reasons why one breed suits some.

I said all this to say just how confusing it can be to someone like me. I really dig in and try to understand why one thing is mo' better than another thing. When it should be done this way and not that way.

Beyond confused, I am afraid. I have worked in my chosen vocation since graduating college. Did OK. Saved my money. Always had this big hole in my soul, longing to get back on the land.

I have saved my money, got a little pile. Not a big pile, but it is my pile. I don't have much debt. What I do have is at a interest rate that makes it free for me to carry that debt. Manage cash flow and all that. Gives me more liquidity to pursue cattle.

I am leaving my current career after 35 years. I ain't old, but I ain't as young as I was.

I know of many ways to make money. I know even more ways to lose money. I hope I can make money with cattle.

I wanted to first say thanks to those that have shared the knowledge and perspective.

Second, I wanted to list the different philosophies I have uncovered during my quest to learn about cattle and trying to make money. I am not going to express a preference on these camps. I don't have to just yet. Time is coming when I will. Time will tell if I made the right choices. The big thing I have learned on here is that experiences is the real teacher. I just hope to survive such an unforgiving instructor. :hat:

Camps
Fence - Barb vs. High Tensile
Grazing - Continuous vs. Rotational
Feeding - Grain vs. Grass Only
Breeds - Angus vs. Everything Else
Bull Frame Size - 3 or 4 vs. 5 or 6
Type - Stockers vs. Cow/Calf vs. Everything Else
Markets - Sale Barn vs. Niche
Calving - Spring vs. Fall vs. Continuous
Bulls - On the Cow Year Round vs. a Breeding Window
Forage - Monoculture vs. Multiple Species

What camps did I miss? See where my confusion comes in? God help me with this next chapter in my life.

Thanks again all. I do enjoy this board. I really do. Like minded for the most part when it comes to the big things in life, like,, God, family and country. I will say we can take some hard turns and be tough on each other, but that is OK. I don't think too many are really trying to hurt anyone.

I hope as time goes on I can come see some of your operations, to learn and to put a real name and face to these cyber names and cutesy pictures of our alter egos. Please invite me. 2016 is going to be a big year of changes for me. God Bless.

 

[M-5]

climate - north vs south desert vs rain forest
terrain mountains vs flatland

 

[cowmilker]

I would add AI as a third choice to your bull camp. Best of luck to you. Craig

 

[Bigfoot]

Fertilizer vs no fertilizer.

 

[Lucky_P]

minimal 'iron' vs. $$$ invested in machinery/equipment
putting up hay vs. grazing everything and buying in harvested forages

 

[cow pollinater]

Epd vs. visual phenotype is another one.

You and me are going to be a lot closer to each other next year. I'm always happy to drive a while to help a neighbor so stay in touch.

 

[Gunner]

How about:
Registered vs Commercial
Raising replacements vs buying them

 

[HDRider]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29BoqCMRBFk

 

[dun]

I think you've learned the one most important thing. There is no one right or wrong way.
Like the old saying, "you pays your money and you takes your chances"

 

[HDRider]

Epd vs. visual phenotype is another one.

You and me are going to be a lot closer to each other next year. I'm always happy to drive a while to help a neighbor so stay in touch.

I saw you said your house is for sale in Cali. Where you moving to?

 

[HDRider]

I think you've learned the one most important thing. There is no one right or wrong way.
Like the old saying, "you pays your money and you takes your chances"

No truer saying there Dun.

I do try to hedge my bets and spread my losses, not to mention knowing the cost of admission before I pony up.

 

[Bestoutwest]

We live in the desert. It's good in that the winters are pretty mild. It's good weather to grow hay in that there isn't a lot of moisture when you're trying to get it cut. We got three cuttings last year on alfalfa. Some got four. The bad part is that the soil is pretty poor and that there isn't as much moisture as there is in other parts of the country in the spring to set you for that first cutting and not a whole lot in the fall to set you up for winter grazing.

 

[fenceman]

Come on. Your welcome anytime, call first please. We won't try to sell you nothing. You can see a keep it simple outfit and do as you please.

 

[highgrit]

You ever come back around Georgia your welcome at our place HDRider.

 

[HDRider]

You ever come back around Georgia your welcome at our place HDRider.

I'll make a point. Thanks.. My partner riding down never been to Savannah. He fell in love with it. He had never seen the Spanish moss in the trees.

I paid a street singer $20 bucks. He was pretty good and sang the whole time we drank and ate dinner down by the river.

I can't remember now who it was, I don't think it was you, that asked if I bought that trailer from the place I did. I said yes, but he never said any more. I hope I didn't buy a bad trailer. Seems OK with me.

Anyway. Thanks. I'd like for you to stop by if your are up my way, and you will be for some reason some day.

 

[SJB]

I'm in the same boat. I figure I'm three years before I buy the first animal. There sure is a lot of good information on here, and a bunch of you have gone out of your way to answer what I'm sure are my same old questions.

 

[HDRider]

I'm in the same boat. I figure I'm three years before I buy the first animal. There sure is a lot of good information on here, and a bunch of you have gone out of your way to answer what I'm sure are my same old questions.

What are you thinking of doing?

 

[Karin]

I have to say I'm in the same boat as well, but as far as when I get there that's an unknown as of yet. I'm just hoping it won't take me another 20 or 30 years to get there. God willing, I'm hoping it'll be a bit sooner than that. I've been on here long enough to already know quite a bit, but I'm still learning. And I can only learn so much reading stories, advice and opinions on an Internet forum like this one: experience gives so much more.

There's a very good reason why I have my siggy as it is, and it's because I really want to get back to the land and get back into cattle again. The land is still there, it's just waiting for me to take it back. At least that's what I want to believe.

Alright, I'm off my soapbox.

 

[HDRider]

I have to say I'm in the same boat as well, but as far as when I get there that's an unknown as of yet. I'm just hoping it won't take me another 20 or 30 years to get there. God willing, I'm hoping it'll be a bit sooner than that. I've been on here long enough to already know quite a bit, but I'm still learning. And I can only learn so much reading stories, advice and opinions on an Internet forum like this one: experience gives so much more.

There's a very good reason why I have my siggy as it is, and it's because I really want to get back to the land and get back into cattle again. The land is still there, it's just waiting for me to take it back. At least that's what I want to believe.

Alright, I'm off my soapbox.

Good luck to you. I believe if you have a goal and you work toward it, odds are you will make it.

 

[dun]

Plans and goals are necessary, but you can spend too much time analyzing. I've always been a jump in and get started. Studying on things too long can eventually make the studying and planning a move can sometimes become the mission without ever really accomplishing anything other then studying and planning.