Keeping livestock on a weekend only farm.

It is common in West Virginia to put the cattle on summer pasture on the high ground. Most farmers do it as we need the flat ground for making feed. The cattle live on flat ground in the winter where they can be fed hay more regularly. That way they also fertilize the feed making ground all winter. Making hay on extreme rolling hills is hard on the farmer. We've had bales come out of the baler and roll down over electric fences and on down into the creek. I don't want to see my dh roll his tractor either. It's better to let the hills be used for grazing. See if you want to stump over those hills everyday to check your cattle. Get one leg shorter first cause some of these hills are too dangerous to ride your 4-wheeler over too. It's how it works in this part of WV. We take all of the precautions we can and trust in God for the rest. It's worked so far without any cattle loss. Or horse loss. It's only been round bale loss so far We've had Long Horns too with out any escape problems but Black Angus brings more money so that's what we mostly raise along with Simmental. Keep your fence in good repair. Vaccinate for pink eye and check your cattle as often as you can. It works

Didn't you buy a horse awhile back? Or was that someone else....

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"Perhaps I'll have them string a clothesline from the hearse I am in, with my underwear waving in the breeze, as we drive to the cemetary. People worry about the dumbest things!"
by Wendy

HA! I get worried if both my husband and I are gone from the farm for more than a few hours!!!!!!! Vacation? Whats a vacation?

Dianne

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Jezebel, Mommie to the Boogie-man 11/07 Blogging at www.14acresplusorminus.blogspot.com
www.hyenacart.com/euconline maternity, infants and childrens resale boutique, wool and fleece diaper covers

Some people probably do this, but they're prepared for a certain amount of loss as a tradeoff. That's not a tradeoff I'm willing to make, since I accept full responsibility for my animals' welfare.

True story: ONE NIGHT I decided to slack off on putting the turkeys "to bed" in their secure shelter. We were getting home very late from somewhere or other, and I figured they'd be OK for one night. NOT. A predator got in and killed my favorite - my only pet turkey, Sugarplum. Ripped her head off.

NEVER AGAIN!

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"I'm not mean. You're just a sissy." - Happy Bunny

"I think you should be able to flush anything you want. Just don't call me when your toilet clogs." - BlueHeron Farm

If you are thinking about goats to clear the brush - maybe you can rent some goats. Not kidding. Not sure about other places, but here in California they have goat rental companies where the goats can come and eat up the brush on your land and then they go on back home or to their next job. The company takes care of all the fencing needs too and watches out for the goats. I have been thinking about that for my place. Some of it is a little too rocky and brushy for much but a weedwhacker or goats and I would rather rent a goat then weedwhack all of that! If rental goats aren't around, maybe there is a nearby neighbor that could put their goats on your place for a while - maybe you could make a deal?

I'd be more worried about them getting out or just stolen.

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"Only the rocks [and really embarassing moments] live forever"

"When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands..." tick-tick-tick

In some areas it isn't unusual for people to turn their livestock loose in the spring and forget about them until the next fall. Cattle will raise a calf and the calf will be large enough to sell when they gather the cattle in the fall. There will be losses but you have to figure the savings of completely no care for part of the year.