Ok cattlemen, need some tips

[Jamesl]

and Cattlewomen. My buddy and I recently purchased one (momma cow) and 10 small heifers and put them out on his 178 acre ranch in Zavala County. Our plan is to sell all but the momma cow and one or two of the young ones in the fall to possibly breed to one of the neighbors bulls.This is our first time dealing with cattle that we own. So any advice for us beginners? Besides water, fencing and grass (which we have), what else do we need to do?

We have thick brush and grass fields on the property. I would say 70% brush and 30% field/food plots. Is this a reasonable amount of land for what we got? I know rain helps.

Thanks in advance.

[stickman]

Sounds like plenty of land for the number of cattle you have. You will also need a pen to separate mommas and babies when the time comes. A squeeze chute with make life easier when you have to worm and castrate. Also, a Dry storage shed for range cubes and molasses tubs. Lastly, find a reputable vet in the area and keep his number on hand, never know when you'll need one.

[Hawkins]

Since you are beginners. Do what you said, except sell all the heifers and keep the momma cow. Use the money you made on the gain of the heifers and buy more cows that have already had calves. Calving heifers is something somebody with some experience should do. They need to be bred to a low birth weight bull that will throw small calves and checked often around calving time. Good luck

[txpanhandle32]

since you are beginners. Do what you said, except sell all the heifers and keep the momma cow. Use the money you made on the gain of the heifers and buy more cows that have already had calves. Calving heifers is something somebody with some experience should do. They need to be bred to a low birth weight bull that will throw small calves and checked often around calving time. Good luck

x10

[doghouse]

Since you are beginners. Do what you said, except sell all the heifers and keep the momma cow. Use the money you made on the gain of the heifers and buy more cows that have already had calves. Calving heifers is something somebody with some experience should do. They need to be bred to a low birth weight bull that will throw small calves and checked often around calving time. Good luck

Absolutely ^^^^^^

[M16]

I would not run more than a cow per 50 acres down there. As long as the rain continues you will be fine but when it quits be ready to feed.

[jbonney1986]

Catch pens and a chute are gonna be necessary. Wish I was a little closer is come out and help yall, it's a lot of work, but worth it. We look at our cattle everyday
Multiple times, but we run a registered herd. Just make sure you keep an eye on them, your fences are good so the neighbors bull doesn't come over unwanted. If you have horses, prowl through them when you can to get them used to the horses, makes it easier to gather them when your vaccinating them(which I think is very important). Also get them use to a truck or whatever your gonna use to supplement their feed with, range cubes, etc. our cattle come to a siren, also makes it easy to get them into pens if we need to use a truck in bad weather. Lots of stuff to learn, but its all sure enough a blast and you will enjoy it. Let me know if you ever have any questions. 817-821-3984

[jbonney1986]

Since you are beginners. Do what you said, except sell all the heifers and keep the momma cow. Use the money you made on the gain of the heifers and buy more cows that have already had calves. Calving heifers is something somebody with some experience should do. They need to be bred to a low birth weight bull that will throw small calves and checked often around calving time. Good luck

Good idea, or breed the heifers and sell them as bred...more money than a dry heifer

[Chasin Bacon]

What breed are they

[Jmh05]

If you are going to bread the heifers go with something that throws small calves, like a longhorn bull, then sell as bred. I agree I wouldn't calve out yourself until you get that experience with some help.

Also may want to have the neighbors bull tested for C/G before he breeds your heifers.

[Bumpy]

Put an Angus bull on those heiffers. Will throw small calfs but gain good. What kind of cattle do you have?

[tex4k]

Feed them all a handful of those cubes at least once a week just to keep them used to coming out of the brush to visit you, it'll make them much easier to get in the pen when necessary. Chasing wild crazy heifers through the brush isn't fun for anybody, except maybe us when you post up pics of your battle scars/blood loss adventure.

[Jamesl]

Sounds like plenty of land for the number of cattle you have. You will also need a pen to separate mommas and babies when the time comes. A squeeze chute with make life easier when you have to worm and castrate. Also, a Dry storage shed for range cubes and molasses tubs. Lastly, find a reputable vet in the area and keep his number on hand, never know when you'll need one.

We got everything but the chute and Vet's #.

[Jamesl]

Since you are beginners. Do what you said, except sell all the heifers and keep the momma cow. Use the money you made on the gain of the heifers and buy more cows that have already had calves. Calving heifers is something somebody with some experience should do. They need to be bred to a low birth weight bull that will throw small calves and checked often around calving time. Good luck

So things don't allow come out as easy on the first time births? Did not know that. Good advice. Thanks.

[Jamesl]

I would not run more than a cow per 50 acres down there. As long as the rain continues you will be fine but when it quits be ready to feed.

Except for the momma cow, these are basically calves. So I think the property can handle it. If not, they will go to sell.