Ponderings

whiterock · #1 10/17/13, 10:11 AM

My dad died 20 years ago in August. A couple of years before that, I loaded the last of our cattle and took them to the sale. He was running out of money and I was teaching a full load, taking a full load in grad school and raising two kids as well as tending to parents, two houses, vehicles, and etc.
Dad rented the pasture to a neighbor, who let it grow into what is now a veritable forest of mesquite with a sprinkling of cedar. Over run with feral hogs as well.
I had a thought that I might take back the pasture and put some of my own stock on it. Neighbor is gettin old and his family dynamics are starting to flow onto my property, not good deal there.
Started checking beef prices, for the first time in years. MAN, what an increase! I think I got somewhere around $1500 for the last LOAD i took to auction, now that is the price of one pair.
Still an option to put some heifers out and let em chase what grass and water I have available and sell em off in the late fall. Could probably make more than the rent the neighbor throws my way.
I'm kinda busted up myself now, not up to doin a lot of winter feedin and such, son in law would probably like to help me.
Opinions?

Awnry Abe · #2 10/17/13, 10:14 AM

Load up on beef, is my opinion. There is work to do, it sounds like, but it also
sounds like you can deal with it.

Ozarks Tom · #3 10/17/13, 02:19 PM

Don't know if it's still viable, but Texas used to has a Mesquite Eradication program for ranchers. They'd pay you so much per acre to cut and stump kill your mesquite trees. Then you turn around and sell the mesquite to bbq chip people, there are several.

You'll have a bit of trouble raising cattle with mesquite, as they suck every drop of moisture within their drip line.

Interesting thing about mesquite, if you look at a map of the distribution of mesquite you'll see the routes of the old cattle drives. It starts in Mexico, and ends in Kansas at the railheads. The cattle would eat the berries, and leave the seeds behind properly fertilized.

poorboy · #4 10/17/13, 03:47 PM

A spray developed for Mesquite ,if me memory serves me right..

fordy · #5 10/17/13, 03:56 PM

.................What kind of shape are your fences in ? I'm assuming you have a windmill or water well at your main home with gathering pens and squeeze chute nearby . , fordy

whiterock · #6 10/17/13, 09:01 PM

some of the fences need some work, mostly a extra wire or two. only one tank has water in it now, i have community water and an extra meter for "the farm", KR and some costal left in open places, along with native grasses. some on the "hill" some on the slope and some under the hill. the hill is the escarpment just inside the Ellis Co line from the west. Thin rocky soil on top, yellow clay on the side and blackland on the bottom. I got some good grass right now, the place used to carry about 50 pair easily. 15 or 20 heifers should be a breeze most of the time.

Pens are in desparate need of repair, however. Do have a good head squeeze, just needs to be lubed up and used. Got a bit over 100 acres and family has land adjoining. About another 75 acres. Some inside the same fence. If they want to sell it off to someone else the line is straight and only requires a fence. Cousins would just as soon rent it and hold it for future anyway, same as my uncle did.

I'm guessing that just backgrounding some heifers would make me 3 or 4 times what the rent is giving me. Don't think he even turned in any cattle this year, kept em all on his own place. Just used mine to put his hay yard on.

fordy · #7 10/17/13, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whiterock

some of the fences need some work, mostly a extra wire or two. only one tank has water in it now, i have community water and an extra meter for "the farm", KR and some costal left in open places, along with native grasses. some on the "hill" some on the slope and some under the hill. the hill is the escarpment just inside the Ellis Co line from the west. Thin rocky soil on top, yellow clay on the side and blackland on the bottom. I got some good grass right now, the place used to carry about 50 pair easily. 15 or 20 heifers should be a breeze most of the time.

Pens are in desparate need of repair, however. Do have a good head squeeze, just needs to be lubed up and used. Got a bit over 100 acres and family has land adjoining. About another 75 acres. Some inside the same fence. If they want to sell it off to someone else the line is straight and only requires a fence. Cousins would just as soon rent it and hold it for future anyway, same as my uncle did.

I'm guessing that just backgrounding some heifers would make me 3 or 4 times what the rent is giving me. Don't think he even turned in any cattle this year, kept em all on his own place. Just used mine to put his hay yard on.

....................I'll bet SIL would partner up in a new York minute ! Natural evolution is to SIL anyway I'd think , and he sounds as if he is ready to get going once you issue a formal invite . Checking on your beef can be done with the window rolled up and the A\C running or the heater . , fordy

SteveD(TX) · #8 10/18/13, 04:58 PM

Go for it Ed! No Texan ever wants people to say they are "all hat and no cattle".

Sadly though, I also no longer own any cattle myself. But I seldom wear a big cowboy hat anyway.

whiterock · #9 10/19/13, 09:50 AM

Steve, you know my area. I won't give up my hats, cows or no, .... remember, some of the best old time cowmen never owned a beef of their own.

whiterock · #10 10/27/13, 12:14 AM

Well, son and DIL came down this weekend from Neb. Had a family meeting today at a local cafe after peewee football. All are in favor of taking the place back. Son in law told DD that the most important thing was to get the place cleaned up and said something about renting a skidloader. He grew up with big machinery and his dad has a place so he knows what needs doing and has no illusions about the work.

I figured he would be up to the task, as he has asked me several times over the last few years about why I didn't take it back. Son would be pretty much out of it as he is too far away to do anything except help out a couple weekends a year.

My main goal is to get my grandkids involved and give them positive direction. Plus keep the family tradition goin. I'm the third generation on this land and want it to be passed down as long as possible. Don't have any illusions there either, but if we/they get run off here, they will get enough to start over further out in the country.
Ed