What Trees to Cut - What Trees to Keep??
 

I bought my first homestead three weeks ago. Sitting on 12 mostly wooded acres.

I bought my first cow three days ago. Bred red angus heifer from EXCELLENT genetics. Paid $3200 at auction. Pretty penny, but she's registered, off a internationally known ranch, and is carrying a female due in April. No sale barn garbage to start off with.

Now I have 12 acres of mostly oak, juniper and a couple real nice large Bois d'arc trees.

I have been every weekend dropping a juniper or two, dropping the handful of dead oak, and picking up horse apples from under the bois d'arcs.

Is it just a common practice to cut down bois d'arc trees in a cow pasture?

I hate to lose them...but I would hate it even more if I came home and my $3200 heifer was dead with a horse apple in her throat.

Some people will disagree, but I'd surely keep the mature oaks. Their nuts benefits my livestock and also the areas wildlife. Plus if your ever in a pinch have them logged for profit. I just had 55 acres select cut and the value is still worth the destruction...My quick thoughts....Topside

I don't know about juniper, but I do know that acorns can be toxic to cattle especially if there isn't anything else to graze on, and you are already aware of the dangers of osage orange. But this website might help you:

http://wric.ucdavis.edu/PDFs/plants%...%20animals.pdf

Pretty hefty investment you have there, just starting out, and an unproven heifer at that. I'd be taking precautions with her surroundings and learning as much as possible about calving before April!!!

Gale is right about the acorns, mine eat acorns but only as a snack. Acorns and oak leaves are a natural wormer. Your eventual pasture needs palatable variety. Enjoy your new place.....Topside

Buy a pasture.

Never lost a cow to a hedge apple but never owned a $3200 heifer either just sale barn garbage.

Guess I shouldn't have referred to ALL cows bought at a sale barn as garbage...

I just got scared off by all the horror stories. Plus, it seems like for every ad on Craigslist, there is another post that looks like an ad, warning viewers about dishonest sellers.

It just all seemed like a gamble.

I probably paid too much....but I am starting off with great genetics and something I can breed and market to a special niche of buyer....

But then again...........I really don't know what I am doing here. I am just making this up as I go and trying to figure out how anyone makes money at this...

Well look at it this way Rollochrome someone else in the auction stands thought she was worth $3150. Lets just hope it wasn't the owners neighbor...Kidding of course....Topside

Right! Yes! And the ones I was bidding on were the CHEAP ones...

Most of the lots sold for around $20k per head.

I want to see pictures of this heifer!

Interesting how different people approach things. We started with Dexters about the same time as friends of ours. Now, they have way more money, twice the property, 3 times the house, brand new vehicles..., but we saved up and drove 10 hours and to buy a heifer that was registered and just what we wanted. They bought 3 locally for the same price, not registered, definitely purebred, but not sure the parents, not sure of the genetics. We each got what we wanted.
And so that I'm not completely off topic, I have read the same as previously advised regarding the oak trees. There is a farm on the Dexter board that actually pastures in an old apple orchard, they don't seem to have any trouble.

Osage Orange/Horse apple used to be used extensively for livestock fencing. I would think your cow should be smart enough to not eat thing things that are poisons if well fed. I have a couple poisonous species in my sheep pasture, but they also get more hay than they want in the barn each night, and so far, so good.

$3,200.00 for 1 unproven heifer ? On new pasture ? An new to the game too boot ? WOW ! I'd have to move her into the spare room and get her an on call vet 24/7 Good luck I hope everything works out great for you ,I also would love to see a few pictures I don't get to see many $3,200.00 cows around here . I just bought 2 cow bull calf pairs for $2,000.00 for all of them .

Grumpy, your cows have it mighty good too....Enjoying a can of coke after a long day grazing in the pasture. Where's the cooler? Topside

I knew as soon as I posted that picture someone would ask ,That's why I stopped the tractor there it flew off and I stopped to pick it up and decided to take a couple pictures :cowboy: No cooler but a stocked frig sits in the barn with more relaxing adult beverages !:buds:

lol

Nice looking cattle and pasture.:thumb:

Larry
A World Away

Those are the "new" ones I keep them separated for a bit until I'm sure of them ,I have a "few" more .

I have a feeling your idea of a few is more than mine. :gaptooth: Well lets see more pictures. Love pictures.

Larry
A World Away

Sorry ,Sometimes I get carried away , I really don't encourage anyone to post too many pictures it's just TMI on an open site . But I like pictures too !

Well....I do have an on call vet 24/7..

He was with me when I won the auction....and he runs approx. 30 head on his 400 acre ranch.

And I do have a spare room.....but I'm going to let her have the barn and 12 acres instead.

Can't wait to see a photograph of your new heifer. Good choice on the barn, suffering builds character....Topside