Oldtimer
Well-known member
Today the wind wasn't blowing for a change- (snowing again but not blowing) so I decided to snap some pics while I was feeding....The other day on one of the other websites someone made the insinuation that "low input" meant starving your cattle- and cattle in poor shape...
Since I consider myself pretty low input- it kind of stuck in my craw... I see low input as not owning shares in local feedstore/elevator, or a grain mill or silage pits-- or hillsides covered with protein tubs and creep feeders....And having cows that can go out and calve on their own without babysitting chores and work for you- not you for them...
For several years now- the only grain my cows see is the replacements when they are weaned and lotted for about two/three weeks- after that they are turned back into the herd and begin learning to live and socialize with their older sisters... And about the only reason I grain them then- is to gentle them down walking thru them hauling grain to them in buckets- and to get them to eating grain in case I decide to synchronize them for AI...
Over the years of survival of the fittest- and use of more efficient genetics- I have gotten to the point where the cows I used to have to feed 30-40Lbs of hay a day to maintain good condition in winters like this can now easily do it on 20-25 Lbs ...
I had planned on grazing until at least well into January-- but the early snow- heavy snow (57 inches since fall) - and crusting made me have to begin feeding the 1st of Dec with half feed- and full feed (20-25 Lbs a day) starting about mid Dec...
And to me they sure don't look like they're starving....Altho I'm sure they are as excited about seeing spring and all that grazing left under the snow as I am.... Snow's getting so deep I'm running out of places I can get into to feed-- and room to stack the snow we clean off the feed areas....
A few of the poor mistreated old girls
Magnitude X Bannon of Wye heifer calf... The baldy is one of the last I have-- and probably the biggest frame size cow left on the place (7 frame)... Out of a little hereford cow- she sure grew- but inherited her mothers ability to pick all winter and maintain her condition- and raise a big old baldy calf so earned her right to stick around....
Legacy 726T X Juanada calf (mggs-Cole Creek Goldmere 31N)
Even the Shoshone Felix granddaughter (OCC Prestige daughter) I bought looks like she isn't being too mistreated in her new hi-line home
Front one is a Prime Time D806 X Juanadamere 2 year old daughter
Another D806 2 year old
A Juanada Lad 81T second calver daughter
Since I consider myself pretty low input- it kind of stuck in my craw... I see low input as not owning shares in local feedstore/elevator, or a grain mill or silage pits-- or hillsides covered with protein tubs and creep feeders....And having cows that can go out and calve on their own without babysitting chores and work for you- not you for them...
For several years now- the only grain my cows see is the replacements when they are weaned and lotted for about two/three weeks- after that they are turned back into the herd and begin learning to live and socialize with their older sisters... And about the only reason I grain them then- is to gentle them down walking thru them hauling grain to them in buckets- and to get them to eating grain in case I decide to synchronize them for AI...
Over the years of survival of the fittest- and use of more efficient genetics- I have gotten to the point where the cows I used to have to feed 30-40Lbs of hay a day to maintain good condition in winters like this can now easily do it on 20-25 Lbs ...
I had planned on grazing until at least well into January-- but the early snow- heavy snow (57 inches since fall) - and crusting made me have to begin feeding the 1st of Dec with half feed- and full feed (20-25 Lbs a day) starting about mid Dec...
And to me they sure don't look like they're starving....Altho I'm sure they are as excited about seeing spring and all that grazing left under the snow as I am.... Snow's getting so deep I'm running out of places I can get into to feed-- and room to stack the snow we clean off the feed areas....
A few of the poor mistreated old girls
Magnitude X Bannon of Wye heifer calf... The baldy is one of the last I have-- and probably the biggest frame size cow left on the place (7 frame)... Out of a little hereford cow- she sure grew- but inherited her mothers ability to pick all winter and maintain her condition- and raise a big old baldy calf so earned her right to stick around....
Legacy 726T X Juanada calf (mggs-Cole Creek Goldmere 31N)
Even the Shoshone Felix granddaughter (OCC Prestige daughter) I bought looks like she isn't being too mistreated in her new hi-line home
Front one is a Prime Time D806 X Juanadamere 2 year old daughter
Another D806 2 year old
A Juanada Lad 81T second calver daughter
:lol: 
