Southwest Texas Cattle

[Stepbystep]

In the early stages of learning about ranching... Looking for a place in the Southwest or West of Fort Worth for a place to run some cattle and a place to take my son to hunt and ride. Have doing a lot of research to learn about which cattle to consider. Want to start our own herd and gorw it into something for the future. Started with Angus because everyone I spoke with said they are best for good price at the sales barn but after further research came across the Beefmaster or the Santa Gertrudis (and/or Santa Cruz) because they handle the Texas heat better then other breeds. Then After reading about the origins of the Beefmaster and the ranching style of free range, was leaning toward the Beefmaster. Would like to hear the thought of all the experienced ranchers out there. Thanks in advance

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

:welcome:

 

[bird dog]

Beefmaster cows bred to Black angus make some darn good calves. I run a few of these and would buy some more if I could find some reasonably priced cows. They sale a little better the farther south you go but good calves will sell anywhere. You might also consider land South of Ft. Worth. It is somewhat cheaper when you get 50 miles out.

 

[Caustic Burno]

In the early stages of learning about ranching... Looking for a place in the Southwest or West of Fort Worth for a place to run some cattle and a place to take my son to hunt and ride. Have doing a lot of research to learn about which cattle to consider. Want to start our own herd and gorw it into something for the future. Started with Angus because everyone I spoke with said they are best for good price at the sales barn but after further research came across the Beefmaster or the Santa Gertrudis (and/or Santa Cruz) because they handle the Texas heat better then other breeds. Then After reading about the origins of the Beefmaster and the ranching style of free range, was leaning toward the Beefmaster. Would like to hear the thought of all the experienced ranchers out there. Thanks in advance

I would lean towards Brangus or Beefmaster hard to beat a little Brimmer.
Don't really care for Angus at all and I have an Angus bull in my pasture.
I have a strong feeling he is going to be three Angus before it's over first, last, and only.
I don't care for Gert's anger issue's from my youth.
Now here comes the issue you had better have a real thick checkbook for the next few years to purchase heifers or cow's in Texas especially those that have Brimmer influence.

 

[ohiosteve]

Real stupid question, but what is a brimmer?

 

[Isomade]

Real stupid question, but what is a brimmer?

Slang for Brahman

 

[kenny thomas]

Southern slang for anything with Brahama in it.

 

[Isomade]

In the early stages of learning about ranching... Looking for a place in the Southwest or West of Fort Worth for a place to run some cattle and a place to take my son to hunt and ride. Have doing a lot of research to learn about which cattle to consider. Want to start our own herd and gorw it into something for the future. Started with Angus because everyone I spoke with said they are best for good price at the sales barn but after further research came across the Beefmaster or the Santa Gertrudis (and/or Santa Cruz) because they handle the Texas heat better then other breeds. Then After reading about the origins of the Beefmaster and the ranching style of free range, was leaning toward the Beefmaster. Would like to hear the thought of all the experienced ranchers out there. Thanks in advance

I would lean towards Brangus or Beefmaster hard to beat a little Brimmer.
Don't really care for Angus at all and I have an Angus bull in my pasture.
I have a strong feeling he is going to be three Angus before it's over first, last, and only.
I don't care for Gert's anger issue's from my youth.
Now here comes the issue you had better have a real thick checkbook for the next few years to purchase heifers or cow's in Texas especially those that have Brimmer influence.

I agree, I would lean stronger to Brangus than Beefmaster though. More of em and easier to get.

 

[Wild Cattle]

You would be wise to pic a breed or cross breed of cows that fit the country where you are going to run them. Cart before the horse. The Southwest is a big place and can require cows from one extreme to the other based on the location and range conditions. Ear might or might not be the best idea. I can't really invision a place that a beefmaster would be the first pick.

 

[Caustic Burno]

Southern slang for anything with Brahama in it.

Can also be Brammer.

 

[Stepbystep]

Thank you all for your input. As for "ohiosteve", why don't you go waste some others people time instead of throwing your rude and meaningless comments out here.

Bird dog, I am looking 3.5 hours southwest toward San Saba. You are all right, very expensive but I believe worth it.

 

[Roadapple]

Select your cows to fit your environment, then select a bull to fit the market.

 

[HomePlaceAngus]

Welcome :welcome:

 

[JSCATTLE]

It's also gonna take a lot of land to run a few cows the farther south and west you go !

 

[BC]

As others have mentioned, in southwest Texas you need some Brahman influence in the cow. Brangus, Beefmaster, Red Brangus or Santa Gertrudis cows can be bred a lot of different ways. About the only thing that wouldn't work well for calves selling at the at the sale barn would be a dairy bull or a Longhorn.

Caustic - I am not questioning your statement on the disposition on Santa Gertrudis, but the breed as well as other Brahman- influenced breeds have made improvements. When I was a young man back in the early 70's working at the sale barn in Nacogdoches, Carthage, Center, Crockett and Lufkin, we had a lot of rough cattle. As producers aged, their tolerance for bad dispositions went down and culling pressure was applied for "being an idiot". I know that I don't put up with a cow or bull that is difficult to pen or sort in the pen. That wasn't the case 10 years ago. Just don't move as fast after both hips have been replaced.

 

[James T]

In the early stages of learning about ranching... Looking for a place in the Southwest or West of Fort Worth for a place to run some cattle and a place to take my son to hunt and ride. Have doing a lot of research to learn about which cattle to consider. Want to start our own herd and gorw it into something for the future. Started with Angus because everyone I spoke with said they are best for good price at the sales barn but after further research came across the Beefmaster or the Santa Gertrudis (and/or Santa Cruz) because they handle the Texas heat better then other breeds. Then After reading about the origins of the Beefmaster and the ranching style of free range, was leaning toward the Beefmaster. Would like to hear the thought of all the experienced ranchers out there. Thanks in advance

I would lean towards Brangus or Beefmaster hard to beat a little Brimmer.
Don't really care for Angus at all and I have an Angus bull in my pasture.
I have a strong feeling he is going to be three Angus before it's over first, last, and only.
I don't care for Gert's anger issue's from my youth.
Now here comes the issue you had better have a real thick checkbook for the next few years to purchase heifers or cow's in Texas especially those that have Brimmer influence.

I agree, I would lean stronger to Brangus than Beefmaster though. More of em and easier to get.

??? Beefmaster are already 50% Brahman. Maybe it would be wise to learn what is overall game plan is?

 

[Isomade]

I'm pretty sure I know a Beefmaster has brimmer in it, so does Brangus. Whats your point?

 

[cross_7]

probably going to step on some toes but here it goes anyway.
go to the sale barn and do you own research.
first thing you will notice good black calves bring more than others(check and see for yourself)
a cattle buyer will dock calves for frost bit ears, a tail that has been cut off and painted cattle(some beefmaster sired calves will be paints) or whatever to buy them cheap.(even if it has no effect on performance)
in texas heat tolerance is an issue, so eared momma's do better here.(i've always like brangus)
you can breed those cows to a terminal angus bull or a black limo or whatever you desire to appeal to the buyers
just my :2cents:

 

[Stepbystep]

probably going to step on some toes but here it goes anyway.
go to the sale barn and do you own research.
first thing you will notice good black calves bring more than others(check and see for yourself)
a cattle buyer will dock calves for frost bit ears, a tail that has been cut off and painted cattle(some beefmaster sired calves will be paints) or whatever to buy them cheap.
in texas heat tolerance is an issue, so eared momma's do better here.
you can breed those cows to a terminal angus bull or a black limo or whatever you desire.
just my :2cents:

Cross_7, thanks for your candied response. If you don’t mind me asking, what do you run and why?

 

[cross_7]

also when i was a kid we lived/worked on the beck ranch in dalhart tx and the owner brought in a bunch of santa gertrudis.
i'm not sure why i was only 11 yrs old and i wasn't as smart then as i am now :dunce:
they trucked them in from south texas, unloaded them,processed them and chowsted them around and turned them out to pasture.
we had several that jumped cattle guards, busted fences and tried to leave the country.
we spent the summer trying to keep them hemmed up and they calmed down some but you really had to take it slow with them.
then we had a bad winter and lost a bunch, but that was years ago and maybe if you handled different it might have better results.
still wouldn't be my choice though.