Education is one of the most valuable resources and the investment that pays the highest dividend. Being able to produce top quality beef in today’s world requires a rancher to be a life long learner.
With the wide selection of information available out there in books and on the internet it can be a little confusing trying to find the correct information out there. Here I compiled a list of the 5 best books that could help you in improving your operation.
Although it is just February it is not too early to begin planning ahead for the upcoming grazing season. Your grazing plan should include the stocking rate, as well as the planned turn out dates. If you will be using multiple pastures a pasture sequence should also be planned out. Here are some things to consider when drawing out your plan.
The lull before calving season begins is a good time to ensure that your cows are up to date. You should work them about 1 to 3 months before calving in order to ensure they will be on the right foot. This is also a good time to make some observations and to begin planning ahead. Here are some things to do before calving season begins.
There is a long debate on which season is best for calving either spring or fall time. Calving in the spring could be the most economical because you will be selling the calves before winter. Fall calving could get you a higher price however because calf prices are generally at their season highs when you wean them. While they both have their benefits, as well as the problems, there are some factors you will need to consider in order to decide which one would be best for you.
We are officially into 2019 along with all of the promises that comes with the new year. During this time many people are starting their resolutions in order to improve their lives and overall well being. Going along with that thought process you can develop resolutions to help improve your ranch going forward in the year. Here are a few examples you could use:
Nutrition is a big factor affecting your herd’s health during the cold winter months. In order to meet this need producers should plan ahead when it comes to their fall and winter forages. There are many factors to consider when figuring out how much hay will be needed.
With weaning right around the corner for most operations it is a good time to define what you can do to help being successful at weaning. Weaning is one of the most important times because it shows how successful the producer was all year. It shows if all those late nights pulling calves or working in the hot summer sun was worth it. Here are 4 steps you can take to determine if it was a successful year.
No matter what type of operation you are, whether cow/calf or stocker, utilizing your pasture as efficiently as possible is critical. Correct pasture management is necessary to ensure that pounds produced will overcome your costs. One way to boast grazing efficiency is to achieve better grazing distribution.
As with most of the country summertime here in Texas tends to be hot and dry. Along with the weather your pastures can suffer during this time. Two common types of pasture grass people use are either a type of fescue or bermudagrass. Here are some tips for both of those to help them survive.
According to the 2012 USDA census of agriculture report 86% of Texas’ cow/calf operations had 100 head or less. There has been a continuing trend over the last couple of decades where cattle operations have shrunk in size but increased in total number. You may think just because you are a small ranch that you don’t matter. But know that every producer contributes to the safest most wholesome food supply in the world. As a member of this group there are some points to consider:
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