Approximately 85% of U.S. Grazing Lands Are Unsuitable For Growing Crops
Utilizing cattle and other livestock to turn inedible plants into quality protein not only feeds people, it helps the environment when the grazing is managed responsibly.
Category Archives: Education
The Truth Is: Below Market Is Okay With Me!
So we got dinged. One calf–a fullblood–was super-small, expected out of a first calf heifer that was bred for extra-extra calving ease for her first calf, the bull she was bred to shrinks everything. Because the super-small calf came in with the other calves–which in past years have topped the sale–the buyers made the connection and we wound up getting $1.50/lb ($150… Read more »
Share this:
Ideal Cow Size
Still on cow size. It’s a big deal when speaking of profitability and sustainability. It is also a highly debated topic. I always find it interesting that sometimes when I’m thinking of a certain topic that I want to do a post on and share information about, information starts just landing in my lap that reinforces information or brings up… Read more »
Share this:
What the Heck Is A Moderate Frame Cow
And what does that mean anyway?! What the heck is a moderate Frame cow? Reiterating: “Moderate” is a relative and subjective term. In Extreme Cattle Ranching, I clarified how there are things to be extreme in and things that should be “moderate.” Moderate, in talking about cattle genetic traits, could be taken to mean median, but there again it is… Read more »
Share this:
Extreme Cattle Ranching
I caught some flack for my extremism in Balance Is Bull. It was known it would; the post was to start a conversation and it served it’s purpose. A little clarification may be in order. Everything with cattle is intertwined. There are so many factors and variables that it is difficult to say that one thing is always going to… Read more »
Share this:
ProfitABILITY’s Biggest Denominator of For A Cow/Calf Operation
“We wean off 600-pound calves.” It is said with pride, listeners should be impressed. Or should they? Weaning 600-pounds can be impressive, but it is commonly mistaken as a measure for success. An operation that weans off 600-pound calves is presumed to be better than an operation that weans off 500-pound calves. 600-pound calves bring in more total money, right?… Read more »
Share this:
The Invisible–But Super-Important–Trait To Be Considered In Cattle Selection
“They grow better with love.” I’ve said it for years. It’s not just some saying to be cute, it’s the truth. In recent years, producers and all segments of the cattle industry have started paying attention to cattle disposition. Some bull producers have started to rate each bull and score them on their docility, notably Kit Pharo, who explains his… Read more »
Share this:
But She’s A Good Cow!
I really appreciate the conversations on Facebook! If you haven’t read or joined in on some, please come and check them out!! One of the individuals I’ve really been enjoying conversation with is a producer in Canada that has larger frame cows. We’ve been having great conversation about large cows, cow selection, profitability, etc. She’s the one that I got… Read more »
Share this:
Increases in Cattle Size and How It Affects Cow/Calf Profitability
Calves sell by the pound. More pounds at weaning means more income. Higher income, the more the business can grow. Sound logic, right? Maybe in some other business, but not in cattle. I mean, it does make sense…sort of. A 600-pound calf will sell for more than a 400- or 500-pound calf, right? Let’s just say yes, simply because of… Read more »
Share this:
Shrinking Elephants
Jangles, a cow maker bull with added bonus of super tenderness. I received an email from a friend, he forwards me stuff from a forum that he thinks I may find of interest. This particular email was talking about a producer that had elephants–1800-2000 lb cows–and how he was trying to reduce the size of his cows. He’d bought a… Read more »
