I know, I know!! I don't know what I'm talking about, BUT some things just make sense. Jim Garrish, a cattleman and ag professor originally from Missouri, now working in Idaho says "write a job description for every animal and see to it that they get the job done or get out. Number 1 on his list is "Rustle your own grub". Most successful ranchers I am in contact with make this a top priority.
Think of your animals as employees; they work for you, you don't work for them. Every time you find yourself doing something for an animal ask yourself "Is this something she could be doing for herself?"
When in doubt ask yourself "Who did it for the buffalo?" Who fertilized the prairie? (they did it themselves) Who mowed the weeds? (they ate what was in front of them or the weeds were grazed by deer, antelope or other ruminants--Get some goats or sheep)
Who brought them hay? (they dug through the snow to get to the grass) Who chopped the ice in the streams in winter? (they ate snow for water) Who vaccinated them? (genetics built immunity) Who sprayed for flies? (they kept moving ahead of the hatch, birds ate the maggots) Who assisted in a difficult birth? (Cow or calf or both died thus eliminating the weak from the herd--which is what you have to do after you have saved your investment--cull cow and calf from your herd. General rule: cull any animal that requires extra attention.)
We can't let our cows roam free as the buffalo did because of private land ownership and fences, so we have to provide certain things such as , well, the fence for one and water, salt and minerals. And we have to transport them to certain places as necessary. Beyond that you are taking a job away from an honest, hardworking cow who doesn't want to be on welfare.
Any time you get the urge to do something for your cows, take a cold shower, then go fishing.
Another general rule "Never have more machines than fishing poles (or golf clubs)
