My father had cows as an excuse to ride his horses. He was a "real cowboy" but probably made more money working cattle for other people than he did raising them himself. It was something he did out of the romance of the adventure than for making a living. When he and my mother passed, we kids had to sell all of them to pay probate and estate expenses. My brother, sister and I share 54 acres of vacant pasture now. FWIW the rate is $15/acre/year in Ellis county.
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I didn't say YOU could do it, heck I didn't say I could do it. I said OTHERS have done it. To say NOBODY can just isn't true.Originally posted by rvd View PostComment
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River Rat
Running cattle is a business. To do it right, you need to check your cattle often and know your cattle. Especially in the winter when grass goes dormant.I would really really do your homework before jumping in. I was raised with cattle, worked on cattle ranches in Missouri and Texas and owned my own small registered heard and I can tell you this, it is anything but easy money. Too many factors. Feed prices, weather, nature,cattle prices, fences, working facilities, your experience and knowledge. Its no different than any other business. But like any other business, the more of a passion you have for it, the more successful it will be....Comment
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i got cows............i hate cows!
easy money??????????? WOW?
if you have a lot of extra time on your hands and need a full time hobby.....go for it. i have 2 businesses and 40-50 head of momma cows at any given time...........i hate cows.
with what feed prices will be this year i know i will be cutting back by 50% very soon.
good luckComment
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The tone of my response was intended to be light. I agree that I am wrong for implying it can't be done. What I meant was I haven't seen it done. Once upon a time I was an ag lender in the largest ag producing county in our state, I do not know everything about the cattle business but I do know (based on my own and others experience) it is a very difficult business to grow wealthy (Wealthy can be a very subjective term) in. I apologize for any previous negative post, I am not generally a negative person.Originally posted by curtintex View PostComment
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Behind every successful rancher is a wife who works in town.
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Settle down LOL
I was just asking a simple question. Thanks for the replies though.
Once I buy land I will just buy a few goats. Who cares if they run off or die LOLComment
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The first thing is to define "Wealth " . To some people doing something they love and making ends meat is " Wealth " . I have family back in Kansas that have ran cattle , hogs , chickens , and farmed throughout my lifetime . All ventures were cyclical , and the key was staying out of debt . All they do now is run a few cattle , for enjoyment . I do know it took " other jobs " to keep the farms afloat over the years . My best friend is a Ranch Manager on one of the biggest ranches in Oklahoma . It and some of the other large ranches back there are running Wild Mustangs now and have few if any cattle . I think that will tell you how profitable cattle are . These ranches get " Government Money " to house and maintain The Mustangs . I really doubt if there are any large ranches left that are being maintained by just cattle in today's economy . Diversification is the only way they could be kept afloat ; be it oil and gas , hunting leases , or whatever else they can come up with . . .Comment
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And I will probably want to shoot them myself after a while LOL. I used to both like and hate goats when I was a kid. My dad always had 5-20 goats. Stupid things.Originally posted by Philip-TX View PostYou might be able to sell hunts for 'em....
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There you go, then you can practice some of that blood trailing with your dog.....LOLOriginally posted by RiverRat1 View PostComment
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Oh don't forget to manually supply water in emergency from town in a storage container (that you should rent) and (somehow) get into your truck. Should last all of a couple days....
Oh and be johnny-on-the spot when the windmill, sucker rod or pump breaks. Cattle like 15 gallons per day per head, more when it's hot....
And make sure to keep the brush off your fences and repair any gaps.
And give 'em lots of hay, like a bale every other day, when in drought conditions....
And be sure to build your feeder pens solid....
And have some vet experience....Comment
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