Looking for advice re grazing cattle

[beowulf]

We live on 90 acres of rolling foothills - partially wooded. Years ago we had cattle- primarily to keep the grass down to mitigate the fire risk, and also to just enjoy having them. It was mostly uneventful - I was able to handle the fences, to lasso and band-castrate the young bulls, vaccinate, and handle the occasional problem. A few years ago - when I became older (now 78), I became less interested in fixing remote fences on sometimes steep areas, and was no longer so motivated to take down young calves (I was never very good at tying them up), we decided to lease the property for grazing. It was not to make money. The agreement is 1) he pays $800 a year for roughly 80 of the 90 acres, and 2) he has to regularly inspect and keep all fences in good repair, and 3) carry insurance. We provide water, let him know if we see any issues, e.g., if there will be snow that will affect his herd, etc., and we have repaired fences ourselves in emergencies and when he has neglected that task. And we get to move his cattle around from section to section to optimize the grazing related to fire mitigation in our discretion.

In 2021, he had to pull his cows in December because the grazing was gone. That was the first year that happened. In 2022 he did not bring cattle on until late May despite my telling him several times that we would need to bring other cattle to graze things down if he didn't due to fire mitigation. He promised to bring 15-20 head, delayed doing that and then brought 10. Ten head should be fine if they started at the first of the year, and actually, he missed the best of the grazing by waiting until May. He is also a bit lax inspecting the fence. Anyway, there is plenty of grazing left right now. He called today and said he will be pulling his cattle - I suppose to sell them. But I still need and want cattle here for the fire risk issue. I think I will now terminate the agreement (requires 90 days), check and repair all fences myself, and bring my own cattle in. It has overall been an amiable relationship.

Anyway, my apologies for all the details above - probably not necessary for my question - which is: I was never really a cattle "rancher" but managed it all fairly well when we had cattle - for a period of about 25 years - I just started with the herd that was here when we bought the property. If I get back into this now what is recommended for a start up where main interest if to graze things down and not to have a cattle business? Steers? Hefers? Both? Cow-calf pairs? Pregnant cows? A combination? I don't think I will bring in a bull with heifers but not sure. Just looking for some general advice. I will probably start with ten. I can go to the sale yard and likely find what I want, and can get one of the good-ole boys that are always down there to help me select, and can arrange for transport back here. Any suggestions will be appreciated. On my own, I will likely get ten young steers - Black Angus or Santa Gertrudis - which is what we had before - until the neighbor's bull visited. They are tolerant of heat and hardy.

 

[ultrarunner]

Following because fire suppression in the West is serious business...

Only 65 acres in one location had a couple of year round horses that were put out to pasture and it made a difference... the last departed at 38 years old... do looking into something to graze down the grass...

 

[beowulf]

Following because fire suppression in the West is serious business...

Only 65 acres in one location had a couple of year round horses that were put out to pasture and it made a difference... the last departed at 38 years old... do looking into something to graze down the grass...

Ultrarunner, we also have goats in fenced areas around the perimeter of the home-compound - with goat-fencing - maybe 100 feet plus out. They do an amazing job there. My wife prefers goats as the cows draw more flies. A guy kept a few mules here a while back for a few months - interestingly, the mules ate things that the cows wouldn't touch.

When we have had cows here year-round they eventually take the grazing down to almost nothing. It impressed the propane delivery guy - he said, 'man, you don't have to worry about fire do you?' He was wrong, but it highlights how helpful cows can be. I also see now that the CalFire or whoever it is - running ads on the radio are also suggesting grazing as a very effective mitigation choice.

 

[scootr]

Nice to have a grazing bunch of anything to mitigate the fire threat.
- I wish I had your troubles.

 

[ultrarunner]

One morning woke up to 20 head of cattle grazing on the hillside…

Park has a contract for grazing but some park visitors don’t like cows so the separating fence was cut and the cows moseyed on over…

The rancher very apologetic but not his fault…

 

[jyoutz]

Buy 400-500 pound steer calves in the spring. Sell them at 1000-1200# (keep one for your freezer).

 

[ponytug]

If you don't want to have an expanding herd, getting 10-12 steers sounds like a way to go. If it were me, I would consider a mule to keep an eye on them. They tend to be pretty fearless, and sensible. We have a retired horse that runs our cattle herd, and is the #1 calf sitter for the cows when they want a break.

Mixing in llamas has the advantage that they are browsers, and will do goat like browsing of twigs, which will help your fire protection, but they aren't cheap, and my impression is that they aren't as tough as cows. Our neighbor has had them for fifteen years, and he has gone through eight or so; in comparison, we still have our original cows, bought at the same time, who are both still in good health and fecund.

All the best,

Peter

 

[beowulf]

Buy 400-500 pound steer calves in the spring. Sell them at 1000-1200# (keep one for your freezer).

That's the kind of specific information I was looking for. Much appreciated.

 

[beowulf]

If you don't want to have an expanding herd, getting 10-12 steers sounds like a way to go. If it were me, I would consider a mule to keep an eye on them. They tend to be pretty fearless, and sensible. We have a retired horse that runs our cattle herd, and is the #1 calf sitter for the cows when they want a break.

Mixing in llamas has the advantage that they are browsers, and will do goat like browsing of twigs, which will help your fire protection, but they aren't cheap, and my impression is that they aren't as tough as cows. Our neighbor has had them for fifteen years, and he has gone through eight or so; in comparison, we still have our original cows, bought at the same time, who are both still in good health and fecund.

All the best,

Peter

Thanks Peter, I think that is what we will do. I did love having the mules here for a time - one issue was that they would not tolerate any dog they did not know. The guy that brought them had three heelers and that was no problem but we had to watchout for our dogs.

A while back I looked into a BLM(?) wild burro adoption program. There was a 'distribution' center in California as I recall. I think you had to take two, and convince them you had appropriate facilities and would take care of them properly. I may look at that again or find a mule. The mules that were here were - I think - retired park pack animals. Very affectionate - which surprised me.

 

[jyoutz]

That's the kind of specific information I was looking for. Much appreciated.

For your needs, this would be both easy and profitable. No messing with bulls, mother cows, and calving or castration.