So You Want to Be a Farmer – Part 2
Our First Animals. One of the very first things we learned is that the cattle business is like many others, and it can be a “caveat emptor” experience. In some respects, it is like buying a used car with legs. Most cattlemen we met initially did not keep detailed written records of each animal, much less the medical or breeding history of each animal. We came from an industry where you created and signed contracts for the benefit and protection of both parties and where your word and reputation were paramount. We saw very little of that in the cattle business, so this was a cultural adjustment we had to make.
Some of the best advice we got from one breeder, however, was to initially start out with a few Devon crosses rather than the much more expensive pure registered breeding stock. We elected to do that, as we were not entirely sure we would like the cows. We didn’t want to overspend and regret that decision.
So we started with the purchase of two cow-calf pairs and a yearling heifer; all Devon crosses. This was the beginning of our humble little herd. While our small group of five animals didn’t really make a dent in our grass the first year, they were still quite entertaining. One of the most enjoyable aspects of owning the cows was watching and learning their behaviors. Cows are very social animals – much more than horses and almost as much as dogs. They are quite maternal and have a very distinct hierarchy. Family units are sacrosanct and remain in tact for several generations. Our cows seemed to get along well. With two older adult cows and two youngsters and just the one yearling heifer, there were few squabbles. All were pretty sure of their place in the herd and got along well. It was a nice quiet herd. We would learn a great deal during their stay with us.
Nutrition. Livestock nutrition was an early issue we faced. It took us months to understand it, and even today we are still learning. Nutrition is critically important to the health, growth, and reproductive capacity of animals. Usually, once you have proper and adequate nutrition, very few medical or veterinary problems will occur. We had learned this in spades with our horses and dogs. Nutrition first, everything else, second.
We have purchased animals that were on very poor or nonexistent mineral programs. When you’re visiting a farm or ranch for a prospective bull or cow, look around and inquire as to the mineral program used by the seller. What kind of minerals do they use? Are they organic or the cheapest minerals at the local farm store? Do you see free choice mineral feeders in the field? If not, ask how the animals get their minerals.
Closely related to a good mineral program is a source of clean water. High iron content water will create problems with animals getting the right amounts of available copper, sulfur, and zinc – all key to reproductive health. Are there clean stock tanks or are the cows drinking from a fetid stream full of animal waste? We’ve seen the gamut.
One startling example of the effect of nutrition occurred with a much older cow we found. She was purchased in April 2006, had not rebred the previous winter, and retained a heavy winter coat throughout that summer. According to many experts, this is a sign of an improperly working endocrine system. Minerals and vitamins are critical to helping the endocrine system work properly. After being on our mineral program for a year (consisting of high quality certified organic minerals) the same cow was able to shed her coat properly and be rebred via AI and “took” on the first try. We have learned much along the way – essential minerals and homeopathy help keep the animals in top condition.
Soil testing. The most cost-effective and one of the most valuable things we did was extensive soil testing when we first moved in. We had no earthworms or dung beetles in the soil. The ground only had about two percent organic matter and was very acidic with a pH of 4.5. The fields were overrun with weeds such as horse nettle, thistle, and foxtail millet. Our soil tests indicated the fields were quite mineral deficient. We re-mineralized our pastures with basic and trace minerals such as boron, copper, rock phosphate, sulfur, and potassium. We did not use nitrogen or other commercial petrochemical fertilizers. We made a point of using only certified organic minerals from a reputable dealer. While the initial investment was somewhat expensive, the end result was spectacular. Within three years, we had a soil pH of 6.5 - 7.0 and organic matter at nearly ten percent, along with a very active worm and dung beetle population. The weed population had decreased to an insignificant presence.
Another pasture management technique we employed was judicious over-seeding of red, white, and crimson clovers. After two years, we achieved a 35-50% clover density in each of six paddocks. This allowed nitrogen to be fixed in the soil so that commercial nitrogen would not be required. We also sowed crabgrass varieties – “Red River” and “Quick and Big”; excellent summer forages when the cool season grasses (fescue, orchard, timothy, blue) go dormant during the hot summer months. After three years, our pastures have an even mixture of blue grass, fescue, orchard grass, clover, crabgrass, vetch, rye (annual and perennial), and timothy.
By the end of 2006 our pastures were in prime nutrient condition. Our cows’ behavior reflected that because they seldom visited the mineral feeders. We were saving a huge amount of money by not having to purchase minerals – they were already in the soil and thus in the plants. Animals will search for what they need when they need it. We also stocked each paddock with various herbs the cows could use as a source of minerals as well as medication so that they could choose what they needed when they needed it. We use Wormwood (an artemesia) for natural worming.
Pasture Management. We made a point of studying intensive rotational grazing techniques and applying those principles to our farm. We knew that proper pasture management could accommodate a significantly higher number of animals per acre than set stocking. This was a perfect management method for a small acreage farm. We could still be very productive and not have the expense and upkeep of a larger property.
In addition to talking to other successful farmers, we took advantage of grazing and grass conferences, AI conferences, and other related training opportunities. Some things we learned by the tried and true method of trial and error. Very few things resulted in failure. While we were perhaps naively optimistic, we were realists and didn’t just jump into something without figuring it all out from several different angles. We tried different pasture management techniques until we found what worked, not only for our soil and grasses, but for the classes of animals we had – horses and cows.
We broke up our six main paddocks into smaller grazing divisions. The size of these smaller areas was based on weather, number of animals, and temperature. We did not have animals grazing grass down to nothing when it was in the middle of a drought and 100 degrees outside. We would have had bare dirt. So, we modified our grazing plan to accommodate the conditions at the time.
Livestock Handling. One of the most interesting adventures was learning how to properly handle livestock. We witnessed the cowboy approach of whizzing ATVs, whooping, and hollering at cows that our neighbors employed when moving their animals. They would panic and trample one another in an attempt to avoid capture. Fortunately, we also had friends who knew how to handle animals in a very quiet, calm, and controlled fashion. That would be our approach!
We also read quite a bit on cattle handling and spoke with several veterinarians to gain insight into cattle in general and specific breeds’ handling characteristics. One of the reasons we chose Devon was their calm disposition. It would later be the key trait we would breed into our animals. We’d had one ornery heifer who was always a problem child. She was no longer with us. We also had the experience of handling horses and that isn’t a whole lot different than cows. Slow and quiet is the key to both, as well as understanding what cows do and do not like. Again, Temple Grandin’s materials were immensely helpful in that area.
It was actually fun to be able to herd the cows from one field to the next. Over the years, our experience would grow and we’d be able to actually show other folks how to handle their animals. Not everyone who owns cows knows how to care for them or handle them properly, to our surprise. We just assumed that they would have researched and learned as much as we had done over the years before making that commitment. It is tough to have cows if you don’t have the handling equipment, an idea of how to move them, and what it takes to keep them in proper health. Maybe not a recipe for failure, but certainly not an optimum return on your investment.
Breeding. At the end of year two (2007) we had several calves on the ground for a total of sixteen animals. We purchased four additional steers and jumped into the retail beef business. It was an exciting time to sell a product that we had lovingly raised and cared for ourselves. Unfortunately for us, the final phase of the steer’s finishing was during the severe drought of 2007. We had to purchase a substantial quantity of hay to feed all of the hungry mouths. However, we really enjoyed the interaction with our customers and the positive comments they had for our product.
We had rented a bull and it was a less than desirable experience. He was gentle enough but tore up our pasture trees and ate enough for four animals. It was not cost effective. We decided to exclusively AI our cows. That way, we had top pick of bull semen and could tailor the bull to each cow and her frame size, rather than putting one bull on all cows. This worked out much better and we got a much more consistent set of calves the following year. And, it was much more cost effective – always a consideration.
Our approach was becoming more refined and we were gaining in experience with each year and each new adventure. All in all, it was fun and exciting, with only a few disappointments along the way. Again, before you jump into anything, do your homework, get everything in writing and in detail, don’t assume anything, and know your market if you are doing beef or seed stock. Always try to buy the best animal you can afford and breed up from there.
Stay tuned for part 3.
NOTE: you can contact Linda Maurer by writing Linda@northamericandevon.com
Web resources -
Soil Tests: Kinsey Agricultural Services, www.kinseyag.com and Agri-Analysis, Inc., www.agrianalysis.com
Forage Tests: Cumberland Analytical Services Inc., Hagerstown, MD
Cattle Handling: Temple Grandin, www.grandin.com Countryside
Natural Minerals, www.countrysidenatural.com Helfter Certified Organic Minerals, www.helfterfeeds.com or www.a-b-c.com
Cattle Breeds, www.ansi-okstate.edu/breeds/cattle
Noble Foundation, www.noble.org
Bovine Engineering, www.bovineengineering.com
Ask the Meat Man All About Beef, www.askthemeatman.com
Books -
Moving 'Em - A Guide to Low Stress Animal Handling by Burt Smith Keeping a Family Cow by Joann S. Grohmann Management
Intensive Grazing by Jim Gerrish
Color Atlas of Diseases and Disorders of Cattle by Roger W. Blowey and A. David Weaver
Natural Cattle Care by Pat Coleby
Homeopathic Treatment of Beef and Dairy Cattle by Christopher Day
A Veterinary Materia Medica and Clinical Repertory by George Macleod
North American Meat Buyer's Guide, available from the North American Meat Processor's Assn.
