John SD
Well-known member
I've had my grandmother's place 17 miles from home since the '80s. It does take an hour or better to get there with equipment, less with a vehicle.
Ran up to 100 pairs for summer pasture, and put up 200 acres of hay. Brought cattle home in the fall/early winter after calves were off. Some years cows came home in late Oct, sometimes after the first of the new year in Jan. Winter days were short, took most all daylight hours to trail cattle 17 miles but cold temps cooperated.
Drought in 2002 along my health problems forced my first near total herd dispersion (at the bottom of the price cycle ) I've rented the pasture out since then. Never got my herd built back up to need it myself and sold out my cows for good in 2012.
Still taking in 60+ pairs for summer/fall/early winter pasture from the same family. They usually take the cows home around Christmas.
I tell him to use his own judgement and take the cows home when the snow gets too deep to graze or it just gets too cold to run up there and chop ice. Not the best road in the wintertime it can be a real be nice :devil2:
The guy with the cattle is 10 miles away. He and his family now keep up the fence, check their cattle, and do whatever needs doing, instead of me ;-)
I still put up the 200 acres of hay with help from a good neighbor who keeps an eye on things. He gets a share of the hay to feed his sheep, and I now sell my share since I have no livestock anymore. Got half of my half of the hay sold. Lots of hay around this year, so might have some carryover.
I guess the point of my post is that an hour away is really no big deal. It can be done if you set your mind to it, and it sure doesn't hurt to have a good neighbor you can depend on nearby to keep an eye on stuff for you.
Ran up to 100 pairs for summer pasture, and put up 200 acres of hay. Brought cattle home in the fall/early winter after calves were off. Some years cows came home in late Oct, sometimes after the first of the new year in Jan. Winter days were short, took most all daylight hours to trail cattle 17 miles but cold temps cooperated.
Drought in 2002 along my health problems forced my first near total herd dispersion (at the bottom of the price cycle ) I've rented the pasture out since then. Never got my herd built back up to need it myself and sold out my cows for good in 2012.
Still taking in 60+ pairs for summer/fall/early winter pasture from the same family. They usually take the cows home around Christmas.
I tell him to use his own judgement and take the cows home when the snow gets too deep to graze or it just gets too cold to run up there and chop ice. Not the best road in the wintertime it can be a real be nice :devil2:
The guy with the cattle is 10 miles away. He and his family now keep up the fence, check their cattle, and do whatever needs doing, instead of me ;-)
I still put up the 200 acres of hay with help from a good neighbor who keeps an eye on things. He gets a share of the hay to feed his sheep, and I now sell my share since I have no livestock anymore. Got half of my half of the hay sold. Lots of hay around this year, so might have some carryover.
I guess the point of my post is that an hour away is really no big deal. It can be done if you set your mind to it, and it sure doesn't hurt to have a good neighbor you can depend on nearby to keep an eye on stuff for you.