Managing a Small Cattle Herd
There are many tricks to managing a small cattle herd, especially if you don't have a lot of land to work with. In this video I walk through how we manage 35 head of Dexter cattle throughout a typical year. This includes:
1. How much land is required per head to graze and provide hay
2. Our breeding schedule
3. How long it takes to grass finish beef going to the butcher
4. How we separate our 2 breeding bulls and make sure they are placed with the right cows to prevent inbreeding
5. The pros & cons of keeping bulls vs. artificial insemination
6. How we keep stable herd numbers via the selection of cull heifers
Note:
-We do not offer farm tours
-We do not ship our farm's products
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We just had to butcher our bull. He bred our 3 year old and our purchased heifer. They will have calves end of May and June. We also have a bull calf which we made into a steer. He will be our next butchered steer. We are in no hurry for meat because our bull gave us 963 pounds of meat. We also purchased a new bull that we get in August after he weaned. So now we will have 6 total. We are selling our 3 year old after she delivers and we fatten her up. We already have a buyer. We only have 5 acres of grass which we cut 3 times We get enough hay to winter cows over. We let them out on grass after last cutting. Then remove them when we start letting fields regrow. My brother and I grew up on a dairy farm in Illinois. We raise angus here in Colorado. We supplement all kinds of vegetables to feed cows thru summer. We sell produce at farmers markets and at house. No chemicals used on our farm.
@Trevor P Rowe our bull was getting too aggressive and he already breed cows again. We are raising 1 female which he can’t breed his own offspring. We’re waiting on heifer to give birth The other cow had a bull calf. We half to get bull calf fixed so he can be raised for beef or sold. We are buying a weaned bull to raise up to breed cows later. Our bull was named Cash Money. We have Dot, Lucy, April and Gus. Our new baby bull is Buddy. And we’re waiting on new calf from Lucy. We will get bull calf in July or August. Our bull we put down was approachable but he liked to tear things up. We butchered Cash and he gave us 963 pounds of meat and weighed over 1700 pounds. He was an angus who had a good life and was raised on vegetables, watermelons and cantaloupe. We loved him and miss him but that is why you raise them. I live with my brother and his wife on 9 acres where we raise 4 1/2 acres of crops for the Farmers markets in Colorado.
Where are you in Colorado?
Do you see a decline in meat quality when they get that big?
@@idablythe4847 This is my dream. I have 10 acres paid for in wine country. Would like to raise a few head and do some vegetable farming (in a commercial greenhouse). How many hours a week are you working on average (I know it probably varies a lot) and can this be a profitable venture? Where would suggest someone start learning?
@@johnnyripple8972 It’s not about the time you spend and the hay needed to raise animals. It’s about for us that we have our own meat no antibiotics. Animals all grass fed. We have extra animals so it’s like a savings account if we need money. I would suggest if you want to raise vegetable you need Toto research how and best way to grow in green house. It can be a lot of work , especially if you can’t control weeds with no chemicals. We have a plastic layer machine and a hiller to put rows in. We are trying to eliminate most weeds before we start. My brother has been doing this for many years. Plastic layer also put down drip line under plastic so we only water the plant. Also have a sand filter for water so drip lines don’t get plugged with dirt. My brother uses a chemilizer to add nutrients that plants need. We also companion plant other vegetables so you utilize every inch of land. I know it sounds like a lot of work. We grew up on a dairy farm in Illinois You half to be commuted once you start and you will run into problem’s, But don’t be discouraged. My brother is on Facebook and also Grand Junction Gatdening here in Colorado. His name is George Morehouse if you interested. He shows a lot of what he does so you can get an idea. I would start out small until you work out kinks. Good luck. 🍀
Pete, in this video you mentioned cull heifers and making decisions about sending certain animals off. If you make another video about herd management or such could you describe what your looking for in breeding stock and also cull animals?
You need to offer workshops for people that want to start farms. I ran 20-30 Beefmasters here in Texas for years, and the younger generation is starting to show interest in farming/cattle.
Im 29.... looking at land in TN to homestead and farm
Am 21, worked with horses and dogs my whole life. This year will be the year I purchase some land, trying to get ahead of the game as most people inherit their land
Coco would like one of those giant cow brushes. Looks like she is using you as a scratching post. =D
We already feed the bull in Washington, plus the bulls on the farm.
I'm happy you made a book pete ! Looking forward to it 😃
My compliments on your finely tuned and efficient operation! Every once in a while some turkey shows up and throws the operation into a tizzy, but this is really well done!
Love the connection you have with your cows,,
Thank you for answering all my questions about cattle.
Excellent video that is full of great information, as usual. Your teaching style and the information you share is fantastic. We are considering starting a small beef herd and you are 100% responsible for making us seriously consider going with Dexter's.
Thanks for sharing buddy god bless you and your family Thanks to all service members thank you for everything you have sacrificed for our freedom
Have a great Memorial day weekend and Thanks for sharing the Cow 🐄 being Baptized as well.
This is so helpful to know how to move forward with our sheep and cattle. Thanks Pete!
Perfect timing! I so enjoy your channel. Y'all have a Happy and safe, Memorial Day🇺🇸🇺🇸
Far and away the best starter video I've seen. I loved the annual plan explained.
Pete! You went in depth of this stuff before but not this good! I learned new terminology and learned what is best! Thank you for this informative video Pete.
Thank you nice break down on your farm planning process
Very fascinating ! I’m a city boy raised , secret prepper and live my homesteading life through a few great channels! Thank you for sharing
Your channel is always educational Pete,good stuff keep them coming plz
Great video! I love how informative your channel is :) I also love how tiny your Dexters are! My neighbors keep very large Herefords and the other farms around me primarily raise Angus. I'm concentrating on sheep at the moment, but one day I'd love to get some dairy cows.
Excellent primer on raising cattle on a relatively small farm. Continued success. 👍
Thanks for all of the info Pete! It sounds like I shouldn't hesitate to buy a 2 year old steer in the spring to grass finish in order to butcher in the fall. I've always thought I needed yearlings for better meat. That definitely would open up more options for me in my area.
This was awesome. Thanks, Pete!
Great video! New to cattle farming and getting our first herd of angus tomorrow. This video is so helpful! Hello from Australia!
Love the information you share with us. The cows must have been thrill when you let them move to a new pasture area. Be well.
Such a great lesson, love the channel, always a nice view!!
Another great video Pete!
I really like these informational videos I'm interested in starting a farm because has about 70-80 acres of land that is unused. I've always been interested in this career field. I'm 14 by the way I just wanted to say that so you know you have young fans out there.
Hi another young guy(16) interested in farming here. Im from the netherlands. My parants have a 150 acre farm. What other farm channels are you watching, i really like richard perkins and ive watched some of joel saletin videos.
Thanks for going through the process. Very informative.
Hi Pete. Great information. You’ve helped me tremendously. Thank you.
Love your little farm
Incredibly informative post. Thank you Pete!👍👍👍
Thank you for educating me as a city boy and now at 55 retiring to start being a type rancher lol thx
Yes, we stay away from grain also. Can,t wait for our first beef
We end up leasing a bull every year for breeding purposes. With our more mild climate we get them in the off season so our calves are born early spring. We only have 2-3 to be bred. And not enough space for a bull anyway.
Great video Pete.
Thanks for the break down on cattle.i knew some stuff but u made a good pkg.
Great video, Mr. Pete. You always explain things in an understandable way that gives me confidence to try new things. We raised a few goats and sheep for a couple of years and harvested our own calf once. We are considering buying a bred cow or two calves. Thanks for sharing this.
Thanks Pete. Great advice.
Always informative Professor Pete.
Every now and again, a You Tube recommendation thows up a gem. I work in IT and live in about as town environment as possible (London, UK) but this channel is wonderful. Pete, you have a wonderful way of explaining things that is rare. Great channel.
Thank you Vannor!!
We appreciate you giving up the goods. 🙂
Great Job! Nice video on the subject of raising beef!
Hello pete you are a master peace. God bless you sir keep on rockin
EXCELLENT INFORMATION FOR A LAYMAN LIKE MYSELF!!! U BROKE DOWN EVERY ASPECT FOR THE BEGINNER IN MY OPINION…. THANK YOU FOR SUCH VALUABLE AND MUCH APPRECIATED INFORMATION!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿
They were so adorable.
Great video. My Dad and Grand Dad were both cattlemen. They had an AI business in the early 60s, very early in the AI technology. They were both pilots and had several airplanes for the business and went all over the country inseminating cows. We were a 100% Black Angus operation. Again great video.
I went into a really bad bar the other day. It was a real vile inn!!
I think a great "Small Farmer Sunday" video would be a discussion on where to go for help and support, particularly if you're starting out. You're a great storyteller and I'd love to hear that story (admittedly you may have covered this I haven't seen 100% of your videos yet). I don't know what kind of farming your dad did, is he one of your resources? This sort of info would be particularly helpful to families with no farm roots on where they can go beyond family to get questions answered if they're stuck.
I worked on a dairy farm about 35 years ago in central New york. The farmer I worked for had holsteins. He had quit using bulls years earlier because they were so unmanageable and dangerous. Even his milking cows were bossy and mean. I would get beat up pretty good by them. I can only imagine the attitude that the bulls must have had for him to get rid of them. I was only 14 years old at the time. My experience with them was bad enough that I wouldn't even consider them as a breed to raise in the future.
great education thanks a heap.....you always give us the real deal it is so refreshing...
Very informative as usual!!! Thank you 😊
Thanks Pete for the information. We are just about to pick up our first bull for our small belted Galloway stud, 4 cows. Even though we are in a different country & climate you have such practical advice that has helped us on our journey. 🍻
Hi Peter, great video. I'm a new subscriber, and I'm finding your presentations enjoyable and informative. I'm at the startup in my farming venture. I decided I needed a lifestyle change after a lifetime career of combined military and security protection. I'm 2 generations removed from an ancestorial dairy farming legacy, so I thought I would return to my heritage, so to speak. I'm located in rural NSW Australia, which once was prime cattle grazing country, but is now mainly planted out with viticulture and has become one of Australia's premier wine regions. I have managed to secure a blank 40-acre grass land block with a good water supply. I plan to establish a small Lowline Angus breeding herd, which I believe is similar in characteristics to your Dexters. From this foundation herd, I hope to generate income through a boutique paddock to plate butchery providing organic grass fed angus to the table. Thank you for your generosity in putting out these informative videos.
Good video, really enjoyed it.
Pete first, I thoroughly enjoy your videos. They are extremely informative, thought provoking, humorous (yes I do cringe at some) and really, really well put together. I have watched this video a few times and every time I learn more. I have about 15+ acres of pasture in southwest Virginia. I am in the process of ordering/buying 4 or 5 heifers (hopefully a spread of age, but still less than 4 years). I am getting Red Ruby Devon (more of a rare breed - but VERY gentle, grass eating/converting genetics and good mothers) so I will be using AI ( which due to rarity of breed will be $$) for a while as my herd builds (and hopefully I can find more land). I am new to this... so I will be gluing myself to your videos. Thank you!!
Dude! looking like a gentleman farmer in those new threads!
Great video!
Excellent information indeed! Excellent video! TY
The video and information I’ve been looking for, thank you.
Nice explanation! Now I know how it works.
Very informative and concise Great job.
Congrats on a 100 thousand subs!!!
The cattle are beautiful. 👍👍💞
Dad is tell you did a great job 👏.? Have a great week and be safe. Thank you from us.
Thank you Stephen!
Very very very informatiive and thank you to share your calendar
Great info. Nicely done. Thank you.
Just came across your channel. Thanks for your excellent work. You've done an amazing job creating a comprehensive, rigorous, and definitive guide to small sustainable grass-fed livestock farming. But the most important part is your sharing the heart, the love, the culture that is farming. I was in school in the early 80s when waves of family farms were "failing" (financially). My right wing roommate coldly said "If they can't compete in the free market, they shouldn't be farming. " While I thought to myself "Farming is the very foundation of civilization. If a farmer can't support their family farming, we are all in trouble. "
Thank you! Large-scale industrial farming left the free market long ago...
The small farms didn't "fail," it was a designed corporate takeover.
Another very informative video.
I’m learning so much from your channel. I dream to be a farmer
Very informative, thank you.
Thanks so much
Love your Dexters
Very informative - thanks!
Never realized you were in central nys. Where abouts are you? Love your channel and the way you farm. Reminds me of my dad and grandfathers way of farming. Easy to see you care for your animals. Also,we use similar machinery. (Old and worn out but still gettin it done). 656&574 gasers. 477 nh haybine,276 nh baler
More of a “meat” greet than a meet and greet.
Man, I love your videos. We're getting 2 heifers and a bull at the end of this month. I'll be in the exaxt situation you talked about. We have just 10.7 acres right now too. We'll need to buy some of the adjacent tracts of land if we can.
Excellent video.
Like #587 Thanks for the video! Life is a learning curve! HINDSIGHT is 20-15!
Great info. Thanks.
Great video on managing cattle on a smaller ranch. We got some gems from here. We artificially inseminate now and determining if that's the best route for us.
Excellent.
Thumbs up from The Dooley's of Michigan
hi i want to be a farmer like you btw i love your vids
fantastic video so informative. Thank you so much for this excellent video
Very good Pete. But the other option/s are to buy in weaner calves or yearlings (if you are really small &/or don't want to breed your own) or partner up with another farmer (or two...) and share a bull (or two, three...) Both of these are a bit tricky, but as Joel says "there's no perfection this side of eternity."
Great info, I am starting small with Santa Gertrudis cattle on 69acres with 10 heifers AI bull #1, the offspring will be breed to second AI bull #2 I will keep some cavs heifers for replacements, the rest will sale to feedlot. Small cattle ranch in Texas
Very good system, yrs ago, 40 or so, my father RIP, kept polled Herefords, bulls travelled between growers, is it just untraditional or lack of nearby other Dexter growers that prevents this in your area. Great channel, reminisce a lot watching it.
Very informative
Marty and Doc from Back to the Future😊
Great information.
We have spayed our feeder heifers for the last number of years and I wish I had started this 20 years ago. The gains are substantial (100+ pounds & we grass finish) and the ease on fences and herd management is SO worth it. We pay our vet to come out and by the end of the day we average about $15-$20 a head to accomplish. A decent head gate or preg shoot is all you need. I was stubborn and fought my vets advice for years, but I assure you once you start the program you will never go back. Great job on your herd management!
Why spay them if you don’t mind me asking?
Very interesting topic. I don't eat meat or dairy but no denying, cows are way cool. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much.
This was very informative thank you
Great tips!!!
Just ordered his book on Amazon. Check out his website for link. Happy to support guys like this.
Are you related to the Larsons in Wells, Vermont? They grass feed dairy and meat. Shared Stockman's Grass Farmer with me. Doing the right work.
Pete can't wait to see the baby calves. How are the piglets? Love the videos and info. Tell the family hi. ❤️💜💙💚
I have 1.90 acres and want to take 1 acre and use it for a small 3 sided barn and some grazing grass for two cows. My only down fall is not having a winter pasture spot and a spot to dump the manure.