Then the Rains Came

[mnmtranching]

Couldn't rain all Summer. Now, Every little front that goes through, rain, rain, rain. To late to help crops, but puts water back in our 10,000 lakes. :roll:

 

[Jogeephus]

Need to keep those lakes filled! Best fishing I ever experienced was in Lilly Pad Lake somewhere north of Ely. I think it was about 25 miles into Canada or it seemed so. Man that is some beautiful country. I wish I had photos but I left my camera hanging from a tree. :oops:

 

[BrianL]

I wish I could trade with you. We still haven't gotten any rain. The dirt is as dry as I have ever seen it. Ain't any grass left.

 

[Sir Loin]

Then the Rains Came MY BUTT they did.
Does this look like we have had any rain in the last 3 months?
And don’t even mention GRASS, there ain’t none!

This is my main spring fed pond for 175+ cows
and around 200 calves and feeders.
The water should be half way up my truck,

The 4th pic is the other spring fed pond
for the same animals and should be over their backs.
SL

 

[Sir Loin]

Then there is this one that waters 25 cows and calves.
For these we are now paying a neighbors water bill
for allowing us to run a hose from his house to a watering troth.
It’s only about 6 inches deep.

 

[Jogeephus]

Your pastures look rather bleak there Sir Loin. Reminds me of mine a few months ago. I know its discouraging. I'll pray for rain for you. Good luck and hang tough!

 

[Sir Loin]

Then there is this one that waters 55 cows and calves.
It’s only about a foot deep.
Fortunately by using dowser rods I found a
underground spring and dug it out with the loader.
So they also have about a 50ft diameter hole to drink out of.

 

[Sir Loin]

Then there is this one----------
Well, now there is no one getting water here.

All the feeders that were her took a ride on Taco’s
bull wagon to Kansas just to pay for all the feed
and hay we have been buying to feed this ungrateful bunch of animals.

And that doesn’t include the 3,000 gal per day
we are trucking in for two other herds.

And yes, I’m still praying for a hurricane to come through.
Like it or not!
SL

 

[Sir Loin]

While I try to find my missing photo.
Take a look at this one.
I was trying to snap the pic when mom was giving her little girl a face full of hoof, but I wasn’t fast enough.
Momma is due in about 45 days and is now starting to wean this little guy.

 

[Brandonm2]

I would go ahead and get all those calves GONE. All they are doing in this drought is sucking those cows down and beating up on those pastures even more with their grazing. You can supplement dry cows with grain. Wet cows will just turn it into milk.

 

[Sir Loin]

Brandonm2
Re:

I would go ahead and get all those calves GONE.

I would too except for the fact that we are in business to make money.
This is not a hobby operation.

All they are doing in this drought is sucking those cows down

Nope, those cow are doing just fine.

and beating up on those pastures even more with their grazing.

Wrong again. They haven’t been grazing for over 60 days because there is nothing to graze on.
All they do is wake up eat supplemental feed and hay, lay in the shad, go for a drink and a swim and eat some more.

You can supplement dry cows with grain. Wet cows will just turn it into milk.

RIGHT! Now you got it. That’s exactly what we want them to do. And the calves will turn that milk into $$$$$$$$$$$.

And that my friend is the name of the game! ;-)
SL

 

[TheBullLady]

I feel your pain.. all of us in Texas went through that last year.

The weather is a fickle thing. Sure makes raising cattle a crap shoot at best.

 

[Oldtimer]

While I try to find my missing photo.
Take a look at this one.
I was trying to snap the pic when mom was giving her little girl a face full of hoof, but I wasn’t fast enough.
Momma is due in about 45 days and is now starting to wean this little guy.

Why isn't that calf/yearling (?) in a feedlot somewhere and momma dried up to get in shape to have another one?.....

Do you run them on the cows year around?

 

[showmomof2]

That ground looks like ours in North Arkansas. We are in the process of trying to sell our place. The person that is making offers on it was griping because we had cows on the part that we said we would close them out of when it went under contract-it's not under contract so we will use it and our spring fed pond until it does! We did get some rain this weekend and the other ponds finally have some water in them, but a week of dry weather will take care of them again.

 

[cfpinz]

Sir Loin - Please refer to my "Cattle Experts" post in the Everything Else Board. You're not fooling anyone.

The cattle in the photos, do they belong to you personally or someone else?

cfpinz

 

[Beefy]

While I try to find my missing photo.
Take a look at this one.
I was trying to snap the pic when mom was giving her little girl a face full of hoof, but I wasn’t fast enough.
Momma is due in about 45 days and is now starting to wean this little guy.

Why isn't that calf/yearling (?) in a feedlot somewhere and momma dried up to get in shape to have another one?.....

Do you run them on the cows year around?

for real that "little guy"/big heifer yearling would have been long gone if she were mine and i was in that situation. but i guess you learn something new everyday on here from the experts. i'll make a note of this one: when grazing drought stressed pastures, leave calves on the cow until they are yearlings and supplement the wet cow. dont worry about the cow getting ready for the next calf or the pasture needing a rest, thats what the supplement is for (and for the yearling). seems like not long ago that that silly Caustic Burno was telling us to do the exact opposite.

 

[mnmtranching]

We have been short of grass/feed three out of the last four years.
I wean early sell calves early, get the calves off the cows.

It is beyond debate, Feeding cows to produce milk is nowhere near as efficient as putting the feed directly into the calf. In drought conditions calves should be weaned early, 5-6 months. After calves are weaned dry cows will maintain on poorer quality and less feed. Put the good feed into the calves to make pounds.

 

[flaboy?]

Why isn't that calf/yearling (?) in a feedlot somewhere and momma dried up to get in shape to have another one?.....

Do you run them on the cows year around?

That is the first thing I thought too. Mamma due to calve in 45 days and there is a calf still on her :?: :?: :?:

 

[grannysoo]

We were totally dry until late June. Lost 2 cuttings of hay, no grass for the cows to eat. Fortunate that I maintained enough reserve of hay to keep the alive.

Everyone here baled all of the wheat they could find, but that's just a temporary solution due to the extra feed that must go along with it.

Got hot and dry again in August with 100 - 110 degree days and no rain for a month. Finally got 5 inches a week and a half ago, but it was gone in 24 hours.

Hay availability is going to be terrible this winter and prices thru the roof....

 

[Sir Loin]

Cfpinz,
Re:

The cattle in the photos, do they belong to you personally or someone else?

I thought I made that perfectly clear several times but I will be happy to do it again.
They are not my cattle. I’m retired and only take care of them.
I’m just a fender (that’s what catches the crap the wheels sling) around here and I’m on a need to know basis. That is why I can’t answer a lot of operational questions. I don’t have a dime in this operation nor do I get one out.
But I do have several rescue calves (6?) and 4 horses.

Is there something special you want me to read in that thread? It’s awful long and boring to read just for the fun of it?
SL