Welcome to the Ranch!

Cross Creek Cattle Company had to raise our price per pound from $3.50 to $4.00 a pound based on hanging carcass weight. In order to stay in the grass fed business, we had to increase our price in order to make some profit on the sale of our beef. It was a decision that we did not take lightly, and it is one that we stand by. For more information on the particular reasons, please read “Necessary Price Increase.”

One factor that we have not shared with you that played a role in our decision-making process is the cattle population in the United States. As our human population continues to increase, our cattle population has fallen to the levels of the 1950s. If you do not believe me, please read this report out by AllGov. This is not good news for anyone who likes red meat, grass-fed or not. Based on the rules of supply and demand, the price for beef of any kind is going to rise.

Now I just read in the Drover’s Cattle Network about the prices of retail beef based on a study done for 2011. For the last four months of 2011, the price for choice beef set a new high. The month of December saw a record high of $5.02 a pound. There is no way to imagine how high the price for grocery store beef is going to climb this year.

I don’t want to make an argument for choosing grass fed beef over retail beef. I have shown in countless articles, videos, etc. the differences between the two choices. However, I do want to make the case that investing in a deep freezer and ordering a whole, half, or split quarter is a smart move for any family who loves beef.

A half from us requires approximately 9 cu ft of freezer space. A whole would be double the amount. A quarter if packed neatly could fill a refrigerator freezer with 4 to 4.5 cu ft of space. These are of course estimates and not exacts. Each animal is slightly different, but we have enough experience to be able to confidently publish these amounts.

We will begin harvesting beef, both grass-finished and grass-fed, in the early spring. We have several customers who have already secured their orders. If you are interested in our grass fed beef, please contact me. I will answer your questions to the best of my ability. We only require a $100.00 non-refundable deposit to secure your order; therefore, you will have plenty of time to find room in your freezer.

Not only does this video by Bryan Marcel accurately show the conditions on a committed grass fed ranch operation, but he is a big proponent on eating healthier as a lifestyle.  Beyond his catchy motto, “Look Better Naked,” he has a healthy diet plan that includes grass fed beef.  For more information, check out The Bryan Marcel Healthy Diet and/or read his article, “Unhealthy Americans.”

For most of our customers, they seek out grass fed beef because of a desire to eat healthier.  They instinctively know that the more naturally an animal lives the better.  They believe the adage, “You are what you eat.”  If you eat meat filled with antibiotics and growth hormones, then it stands to reason that the meat will eventually have an adverse effect on your health.

On Cross Creek Cattle Company, we raise our beef in a natural setting in Grimes County.  The herds graze natural grasses, and they are currently enjoying planted rye grass.  They have access to fresh water and loose minerals. There is no feed-lot setting on our ranch.

To see for yourself, we invite you to tour Cross Creek Cattle Company.  Contact me for an appointment so that I can make myself available to you and your family.

A storm came early Monday morning.  It woke us up in the middle of the night with swirling winds, lightning flashes, and rumbling thunder.  Our youngest boy, Andrew, knocked on our bedroom door as he sought our parental comfort.  Our puppy was whining.  Typically this scenario would not be welcome.  I mean, I treasure my sleep.  However after the year we have had, it was a sheer joy to wake up to the sound of the downpour on our metal roof.  I did not mind the inconvenience of a whining dog and scared child.

The storm was not short lived.  It lasted most of the day, but by noon the really hard rain had left.  Instead, a soaking rain set in for a few more hours.  We watched as puddles spilled into larger ones, which then eventually led to some minor flooding as the once dry creek beds filled and spilled over.

This was not our first rain during this drought.  We have been blessed this fall and winter with occasional showers.  They have had an incredible effect on our winter grass.  These rains have provided a steady soaking of the ground.  In spite of these showers, our ponds and lakes have been lower than we have ever witnessed.  Run-off had not really begun to refill them.

We cannot say that anymore.  Just look at the before and after photos of the same lake on our ranch.  If you will recall, we built the pier this summer in the hopes that we would once again have a full lake.

Taken in late August. The lake dropped another four feet, but I failed to take a picture of it.

Water level as on January 9th.

In literature, a rain like we experienced Monday symbolizes a rebirth or fresh start.  This is exactly how we feel.  It is like we have turned a corner.  Our land is on the mend from the devastating effects of such a severe drought.  To receive 6.6 inches in one day is truly a blessing.  Cross Creek Cattle Company is looking forward to watching as God heals our land and restores it.  What a wonderful way to start this new year!

Alton Brown, host of Good Eats on the Food Network, prefers grass fed beef to grain fed beef.  As usual, he presents his argument in a humorous way.  Enjoy this clip as Alton explains why he loves the texture and flavor of grass fed beef.

If you have never tasted the true flavor and texture of beef, there is no time like the present.  Cross Creek Cattle Company is still harvesting beef.  Please contact Lara DeHaven, our Business Manager, today.  Her phone number is 936-870-5798 or her email address is lndehaven@aol.com.

The drilling truck on site. We were thrilled when they began drilling our new water well.

If you are in a part of the world with adequate rainfall or in some place with too much precipitation, then you might get tired of hearing about how the drought is affecting Cross Creek Cattle Company.  For us, it is a reality.  Unfortunately we are reminded on a daily basis how badly our land thirsts for rain. You cannot walk across the pasture or look out your window without being reminded of the exceptional drought we find ourselves.   Believe me, I wish I was just reading about it too.

My family and I are reading through the Old Testament right now.  Today our reading was in Genesis about the Pharaoh’s dream, which was interpreted by God through Joseph.  The interpretation of the dream was that they would have seven years of drought and famine.  However, they had time to prepare for it with the prior seven years of bumper crops.

Now in the third consecutive year of a drought, I looked around trying to imagine four more years of it.  I cannot fathom the devastation that that would cause.  I simply cannot wrap my head around it.  Without the advance warning, I doubt the Egyptians could have withstood such a time.

If you read the article about us in the Bryan Eagle, then you know that we recently dug a water well.  We chose to in order to provide adequate fresh water to our herd.  We also want to begin the process of filling up our stock tanks for the health of our fish, family enjoyment, and to provide water for our livestock and wildlife.  You have to remember the wildlife are struggling in this heat and drought, too.

The temperatures in ponds are higher than normal.  Some people are trying to remedy the problem by running a water hose out to their small body of water and filling it like a swimming pool.  However, the water has to be aerated to be effective in keeping your fish population healthy and alive.  You can aerate two ways.  You can simply spray the water up into the air or it can dribble over rocks before reaching the main body of water.  Spraying the water seems the easiest way to ensure that plenty of oxygen is in your water.

You can see how low our biggest stock tank is. Lack of rain and evaporation has caused this during the drought. To give you an idea of how low it is, the drain is in the foreground and the pier is in the background. Hopefully with our new well, it will be back up to a normal level soon.

In the same above-mentioned article, I said of the drought, “You hope it is just a passing phase,” in regards to whether or not we were going to increase our prices.  Drilling a well is an additional expense that was not in our thoughts even a year ago.  However, it will benefit our ranching business for years to come.  Water is a necessary resource.

We also hope that the drought is a phase that will soon be broken.  We long for cooler temperatures and inches of precipitation.  We pray throughout the day that God will heal our land and bless us.

Regardless of the fact that it has still not rained, Cross Creek Cattle Company has many blessing to count.  One is the fact that our herd still looks good.  The cattle are in good condition and healthy.  Between the newspaper article and television show, we are enjoying the media attention.  Importantly, we are selling our grass fed beef, and getting great feedback from our customers.

We are a family owned and operated business struggling to overcome this drought.  We have had to employ different methods, which I have written about in the past.  Now we are proud owner of a new water well.  If success is measured by how hard you try and adapt, then we are a very successful.

In the above video, a reporter investigates the claims made by a grass fed rancher as to the health benefits of her beef.  This is not just any rancher, she is Dr. Whisnant, founder of American Grass Fed Beef.  She happens to also be a veterinarian.

The report contrasts the environment of the cattle in feedlots versus a grass-filled pasture.  I have to admit that some of the video is hard to watch.  But, I am comforted by looking out my window and seeing our herd grazing in a green pasture.

We have received a little rain in the last two weeks.  I believe if you added it all up, it would total just under an inch.  Even though we are far behind in our rainfall needs, the small rains have spruced up the grass a bit.

The report goes on to explain the cost difference between factory-raised beef and grass fed.  It is true.  It takes longer for the animal to reach a good harvest size.  For awhile there, Cross Creek Cattle Company was filling orders for grass fed beef one after another.  We have hit a lull as we wait for the rest of our grass fed candidates to mature.

In three weeks, I am going to weigh them again.  However, I think we will be ready to begin filling orders again in approximately 45 days.  We have some of the beef secured with deposits, but we still have some available for sale.

If you are interested in purchasing grass fed beef from Cross Creek Cattle Company, please let me know.  Contact me at lndehaven@aol.com.  All I will need at this time is your name, the size of your order, and a $100.00 non-refundable deposit to secure your order.  Then as the time approaches a definite harvest date, I will be in contact with you.

I found this video produced by Wellness Force on grass fed beef.  The video is short, but informative in nature on the health benefits of grass fed beef.  There are photographs of a grass fed ranch versus a feed lot.  I know from which one I would rather have my meat come, but that could be just my personal preference.  Decide for yourself.

In the video, a young man excitedly goes to a grocery store that has put grass fed beef on sale.  Their sale price is $3.99 a pound, which is a great price when buying individual cuts.  However, we sell our beef for $3.50 a pound.  I wonder how excited this man would be to have the opportunity to stock up his freezer with our grass fed beef.  It really does pay to buy your grass fed beef in bulk.

After watching the video, you will understand the title of my article.  I have never seen anyone so happy to have eight pounds of grass fed ground beef in my life.  Watching it made me laugh.

Unfortunately some of the beef that is sold in supermarkets as grass fed is only grass finished.  This means that ranchers are finishing the cattle on grass after they were fed grain while the animals were growing in order to sell the beef as grass fed.  There is a big difference in my eyes.

Grass finished is better than feeding grain and corn to the last day; however, any grain present in the bodies of cattle diminishes the health benefits of grass fed beef.  Our cattle are grass fed and grass finished, even through the weaning period.  Of course, our calves are raised on milk, but they are never given grain even as a supplement.

Organic beef is great too.  It is much better than regular meat as far as hormones, antibiotics, etc are concerned.  However this title does not mean grass fed.  Organic beef is fed in a feedlot or pasture with grain.  The grain just has to be organic.

Until we more closely define and understand these different types of meat, the consumer has to educate himself/herself.  It is simply a matter of buyer beware.

If you want to try grass fed beef or if you already love it like the gentleman in the video, contact me to be put on our waiting list.  Unfortunately for our customers, demand has far exceeded our supply.  It is obvious that more people are turning to more natural options.  More grass fed and finished beef without hormones, antibiotics, etc. will be available from Cross Creek Cattle Company in whole, half, and quarter options in the future.  Sign up today.

If you are a seasoned rancher or just beginning your ranching adventure, Texas A&M University holds a three-day short course for you.  It is almost always the first week of August, which I realize is late for you this year, but mark your calendars for next August.  This event is held on campus in College Station, Texas.

It is a great event in the ranching community that draws people from all over the world.  Dr. Jason Cleere, who grew up in the same area as we live, heads the whole course.  TAMU is known world-wide for its premiere agriculture and animal science programs and research.  At this short course, the university combines its knowledge and discoveries in various seminars with a trade show and social events.

The Beef Cattle Short Course is not only informative, but it is fun.  It is a way to meet and mingle with fellow ranchers and make contacts.  The trade show provides an opportunity to see and hear what is new in the cattle industry.

Last year, the short course actually told ranchers to not get involved with grass fed beef.  They claimed that it was a fad and was hurting the cattle industry.  My husband just rolled his eyes.  Sometimes it takes people a long time to accept change.

This year they put on an entire seminar explaining the differences between organic, all-natural, and grass fed beef.  A woman rancher spoke about her grass fed operation in Texas.  I think the tide has turned.  Perhaps, TAMU is seeing that consumers want an opportunity to purchase beef that is raised naturally on the range.  They want a healthier alternative to traditionally raised beef.  Maybe they realize that grass fed beef is not a fad, but here to stay.

Regardless of TAMU’s stance on grass fed beef, the Beef Cattle Short Course is a valuable tool for the modern-day rancher.  You learn a vast amount of information.  You take home an immense volume that includes all the slides and information from each seminar.  This way you get all the information and do not worry about missing something or choosing the wrong seminar to attend.

My husband said there were about 1300 ranchers in attendance.  If you are interested in attending the 2011 Beef Cattle Short Course, check out course’s website for all the information and the dates.  I will try my best to remind you in an article here on “Welcome to the Ranch.”

For years someone from Cross Creek Cattle Company has attended the short course.  We feel it is a small investment in our future.  We have been ranching for so long in our family, but there is always something new to learn.  The cattle market and industry change, and we like to keep abreast of the climate to better serve our ranch and, of course, our grass fed customers.  We highly recommend the three-day course for anyone interested in ranching.

A mama cow watching several calves.

Observing a herd of cattle is a great tool of ranchers.  You can learn a lot about the behavior of the herd and the behavior of the cows as individuals.

For example, there is always a lead cow.  A cow that is in charge.  As a rancher, your job is much easier when you figure out which animal is in charge of the herd.  Then you only have to be in charge of that cow.  The rest will follow.  We have trained our leader, Fatty, with a sing-song call.  We can be two pastures away and call, “C’mon cow, let’s go!”

Seconds later we will hear a “Moo.”  Then a minute later, we will hear a chorus of “Moos.”  Soon we will see the cows headed towards us with Fatty in the lead.

In addition to our leader, Fatty, our herd bull, Romeo, plays an important role.  His job is protector of the herd.  And, he takes it seriously.  Fortunately for us, our cattle are docile.  This is the main reason that we chose to raise Beefmasters, which are known for their good dispositions.

On cattle working day, we sort the calves from their mothers.  Then we run them in the chute to await their branding, de-horning, and in some cases castration.  Instead of grazing with the rest of the herd, Romeo stands on the other side of the pen watching his calves.

I have to be honest.  On occasion, his presence has been a little intimidating.  After all, he weighs about two thousand pounds.  He waits until the last calf has been worked.  As they are released back to the herd, he greets them with a reassuring nudge of his nose.  Only when his herd has been reunited, Romeo resumes grazing.

Another behavior that intrigues me is the way that cows baby-sit for each other.  Sometimes it is a new mother who is in charge of all the calves.  Sometimes they recruit or train an older heifer to watch the calves.  The cows have a system and they trade off responsibilities.

If you don’t believe me, simply spend some time observing cattle.  They don’t have to yours.  They don’t have to be on our ranch.  Cattle are cattle.  However, they do need to be a multi-generational herd.  In a pen of only calves, there will not be a baby-sitter.  But in the natural setting, cattle share these responsibilities.

This is what you will see.  The whole herd seems to be randomly grazing in a grassy pasture.  All the heads are down and they are steadily, but slowly eating their way through the grass.  A few cows might be full.  They have laid down together and are chewing their cud.  All the calves seem to be grazing together.  Or, they are tired of eating grass and are exercising and playing with head butts.

If you watch closely, there is one cow/older heifer in charge of these calves.  She keeps them together.  She is not grazing as steadily as the other cows.  She keeps her eyes on the calves.

Soon another cow stops grazing or stands up from her rest and walks over to a calf.  The calf runs to meet her.  They smell each other and the cow licks the calf on the forehead.  The calf goes straight to nursing.  Here comes another mama cow.  Soon all the calves are nursing.  When the calves are full, the mama cow will lick them down their necks and sometimes on their sides.  If it is a brand-new calf, she will lick the navel to clean it.

Then the mother leaves to resume grazing.  If it is her turn to baby-sit, then she stays and the prior baby-sitter is relieved of her post.  She can now graze steadily and fill her belly with confidence that her calf is being watched.

Cattle are smart creatures.  They are also interesting to study.  I have often marveled at the way they work together as a herd.  I am glad that Cross Creek Cattle Company raises cattle in the natural way.  I am not sure that these observations can be found when cattle are not raised naturally.  I personally think that it is the best way to raise cattle for the rancher’s sake and for the sake of the herd.

Yesterday I received a text message from my aunt.  It said, “Can you say global warming?”  As most of you are experiencing, an artic cold front is making about 60% of the mainland United States experience freezing temperatures.  The temperature outside is dropping steadily.  It is already well below freezing with a chance of sleet today and snow flurries tomorrow.  Temperatures are expected to be well below freezing for at least 48 hours.  We are not used to this kind of winter weather.

If we are not used to it, then neither are our animals.  We took extra special precautions yesterday by rounding up horse blankets.  Stores all over the area were selling them like hotcakes.  I personally had to call three different stores and have them hold blankets for us until one of us could make it to town.  Using our fingers to do the walking worked.  We were able to find enough blankets for all of our horses.

Some of the horses were not too enthused about having a blanket strapped around their body.  But, I bet they are thanking us later today.  It is rather awkward to wear a blanket.  Straps go in front of the chest, under the heart girth, and between their back legs.  The latter is the most strange to the horses.  They are not used to feeling straps around and between their legs.  Some of our horses rolled around on the ground trying to lose the blanket.  After several attempts at rubbing the blanket off, they gave up.

In addition to putting blankets on the horses and ensuring that they have plenty of fresh, unfrozen drinking water, we are also increasing the amount of feed they receive.  We expect them to shiver and shake, which burns more calories.  We are trying to account for this by providing them with more fuel for their bodies.

The cows are fine, but they are going through the hay at a much faster rate.  The best part of this time of year (and I say this sarcastically in light of our weather this week) is that it is calving season.  Usually this is not a bad time to be born in Southeast Texas.  The temperature is cool.  The fire ants are down in the ground.  In the dog days of summer, calves have to fight not only extremely high temperatures; fire ants can prove to be fierce predators.  They have been known to blind calves and occasionally even kill them in these parts.  Fortunately, Cross Creek Cattle Company has not lost any calves this way.

But I digress, this week will be unlike most winter weather patterns we experience.  This is not good when cows are having babies.  The calves can literally go into shock.  Think about it.  Calves have been happily enjoying living in an “oven” at about 103 degrees.  Suddenly they are pushed out, hit the ground, and it is 15 degrees.  Not only is their body having trouble adjusting to the rapid change in temperature, but the wind chill is in the single digits.  It can be a potentially dangerous situation for the health of the newborn calf.

What does this mean for my husband, the ranch manager?  It means keeping close watch over the herd.  It means being ready to intervene with blankets, colostrum, etc. as needed.  It means walking quite a distance in below freezing conditions off and on all day long for days.  He has to walk now because he almost got stuck this morning.  The rain that came before the front soaked the already saturated ground.  It means discomfort for the ranch manager.

As my dad always says when things on the ranch don’t go smoothly, “Welcome to the ranch!”  It is part of the life of a cowboy.  It is part of the life of anyone running a ranch.  The animals are our livelihood.  You have to take care of them regardless of the weather.  Thankfully, it will be 40 degrees again soon enough.  I don’t know how the ranchers do it in Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, or everywhere else where this weather pattern is the usual.

I just hope that everything does go well for us, our home, and our animals.  I will let you know.