I am new here and I need some assistance. I'll outline my situation and what I am looking.
New to owning cattle. Been around them most of my life. Worked them for friends, but mainly "hired" help with vaccinating and moving them from pasture to pasture. I understand the difficulty of working them and know what to expect with regards to them being brilliant one minute and dumb as a box of rocks the next. Friend is running 50+ head of Beefmaster on 300+ acres in central TX as "hobby" to his regular job. I am in the same situation. Recently purchased 30 acres 1 hr east of Austin, TX. Close enough I can be there in 45 mins, but I travel for a living and need self sufficient animals. I will have fence completed at the end of the month. My place had cows on it for years from my north neighbor, I recently removed all animals October 1 as he never rotated them and IMO was over grazing the place. He was running 42 head on 76 acres(30 of it mine) of which 36 was grass, the rest all thick unproductive brush. I have 15 acres of costal, 15 acres of brush, just had stock tank rebuilt to hold more than 5' of water. Tank is half full and I can haul water if needed. My calculations the tank will be 3/4 acre when full, 12' at deepest point holding ROM 2 MIL gals. I should have water covered as it is 1/3 full now.
I've spoken to my south neighbor(running 100+ head on 400 acres) and by friend on how to get started with minimal effort. Both recommend starting with an older bred cow, preferably on her second calf. As before I bought my place it apparently was the place the three neighbors bulls would crash fences to get at each others cows. So there is a history I want to avoid. I have fixed the fences, but I know if they want in there is nothing I can do but watch. They both claim that with a bred cow the bulls in the area, although fenced off, will be less likely to crash the party if she is already bred and give them a chance to get used to her.
What I want:
5-6 animals maximum.
Practically pets as I have a 7 yr old that gets a kick from feeding them. - I'll cube feed them in a pen everytime I am there to get them on the program.
Large frame Heifers for easier calving-I want easy calving as I may not be there enough to assist if needed. I have pulled calves and don't want that misery.
Polled - no horns
No mini cattle as I fear a full size bull getting in when I am not there and causing injury.
SPOTS.... I really like the look of Longhorns, however, I don't want the horn hassles. Prefer red & white or orange & white
I am good with solid colored cows now if I know they will throw a spotted calf.
My Plan:
I want to purchase 2-3 bred cows on their second calf, due in 6 months.
I'll AI for the next breeding to get the color and size I want, if this is even possible.
Any animal that doesn't meet requirements will be sold or eaten once old enough. I'll never have more than 6 total animals at one time in the event we hit a massive drought and I have to feed constantly. My math on the available grass/rain tells me I can support 1 animal per 4 acres of grass and likely never have to feed. Therefore, I don't want to exceed 6 animals total. If they all throw twins I am making burger for everyone in the family.
I am not concerned with sale value or fast growth. The ROI is not $ driven, more enjoyment and ease of use.
Thinking Polled Beefmaster cow bred by a Polled Shorthorn bull to get the color I want? I don't know enough about it to make an intelligent decision.
What I need:
Input from the forum on what breeds will get me the desired result
Recommendations from those with the gray hair to speak intelligently to my situation.
No concerns from me on different opinions or comments. Until I am on the floor bleeding, fire for effect.
New to owning cattle. Been around them most of my life. Worked them for friends, but mainly "hired" help with vaccinating and moving them from pasture to pasture. I understand the difficulty of working them and know what to expect with regards to them being brilliant one minute and dumb as a box of rocks the next. Friend is running 50+ head of Beefmaster on 300+ acres in central TX as "hobby" to his regular job. I am in the same situation. Recently purchased 30 acres 1 hr east of Austin, TX. Close enough I can be there in 45 mins, but I travel for a living and need self sufficient animals. I will have fence completed at the end of the month. My place had cows on it for years from my north neighbor, I recently removed all animals October 1 as he never rotated them and IMO was over grazing the place. He was running 42 head on 76 acres(30 of it mine) of which 36 was grass, the rest all thick unproductive brush. I have 15 acres of costal, 15 acres of brush, just had stock tank rebuilt to hold more than 5' of water. Tank is half full and I can haul water if needed. My calculations the tank will be 3/4 acre when full, 12' at deepest point holding ROM 2 MIL gals. I should have water covered as it is 1/3 full now.
I've spoken to my south neighbor(running 100+ head on 400 acres) and by friend on how to get started with minimal effort. Both recommend starting with an older bred cow, preferably on her second calf. As before I bought my place it apparently was the place the three neighbors bulls would crash fences to get at each others cows. So there is a history I want to avoid. I have fixed the fences, but I know if they want in there is nothing I can do but watch. They both claim that with a bred cow the bulls in the area, although fenced off, will be less likely to crash the party if she is already bred and give them a chance to get used to her.
What I want:
5-6 animals maximum.
Practically pets as I have a 7 yr old that gets a kick from feeding them. - I'll cube feed them in a pen everytime I am there to get them on the program.
Large frame Heifers for easier calving-I want easy calving as I may not be there enough to assist if needed. I have pulled calves and don't want that misery.
Polled - no horns
No mini cattle as I fear a full size bull getting in when I am not there and causing injury.
SPOTS.... I really like the look of Longhorns, however, I don't want the horn hassles. Prefer red & white or orange & white
I am good with solid colored cows now if I know they will throw a spotted calf.
My Plan:
I want to purchase 2-3 bred cows on their second calf, due in 6 months.
I'll AI for the next breeding to get the color and size I want, if this is even possible.
Any animal that doesn't meet requirements will be sold or eaten once old enough. I'll never have more than 6 total animals at one time in the event we hit a massive drought and I have to feed constantly. My math on the available grass/rain tells me I can support 1 animal per 4 acres of grass and likely never have to feed. Therefore, I don't want to exceed 6 animals total. If they all throw twins I am making burger for everyone in the family.
I am not concerned with sale value or fast growth. The ROI is not $ driven, more enjoyment and ease of use.
Thinking Polled Beefmaster cow bred by a Polled Shorthorn bull to get the color I want? I don't know enough about it to make an intelligent decision.
What I need:
Input from the forum on what breeds will get me the desired result
Recommendations from those with the gray hair to speak intelligently to my situation.
No concerns from me on different opinions or comments. Until I am on the floor bleeding, fire for effect.
