Comments for Welcome to the Ranch!

Comment on Wonderful Way to Start the Year by Susan Lea

Susan Lea — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 04:09:29 +0000

What better way to begin the new year! WET!

Comment on Necessary Price Increase by Lara DeHaven

Lara DeHaven — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:46:48 +0000

Thank you, Susan. I love how you calculated the cost of your pastured pork. Nothing in life is free.
Lara

Comment on Necessary Price Increase by Susan Lea

Susan Lea — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 17:40:32 +0000

It seems extremely reasonable to me! We calculated the cost of our pastured pork, including curing and smoking our own hams (minimal cost), and it came out to $2.83/lb. They didn’t have to be kept near as long as a steer, and we didn’t have to feed them hay. Considering that we did all our own work to get them at that price, it hardly seems unreasonable for someone who didn’t have to do any work to get beef for $4.00/lb!

Comment on Twas the Night Before Christmas by Terry

Terry — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 16:07:09 +0000

Love it! You are sooooo creative! Merry Christmas, Y’all!

Comment on We are Thankful for… by Susan Lea

Susan Lea — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 04:42:10 +0000

So glad for you that you got some rain! What a blessing!

Comment on Annual Trail Ride by Susan Lea

Susan Lea — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 18:03:33 +0000

I wish I was a kid and lived near you!

Reading about limbs knocking peoples’ hats off made me think of something . . .

My husband’s family are ranchers in West Texas in the Alpine/Ft. Davis area. Our kids spent many happy hours trail riding with us when we visited them. They always gave us the safest old horses, and yet we had people fall off or get crashed into a branch on a running horse. By God’s grace, no one was ever seriously injured.

Some years later, we lived in France and took “English” riding lessons. No kid EVER is allowed on a horse without a helmet. Two of our kids and I are all in full possession of our faculties today because we learned to never get on any horse, even our tamest and most familiar personal horses, without a helmet. I know that is simply not “the thing” in Texas, but I am absolutely committed to safety above all else after having had a helmet save my life. NO horse is bomb-proof, especially in groups with unfamiliar horses on unfamiliar territory.

I have been told that in England, it is a national law that no one may ride without a helmet, and it becomes like bicycle helmets for kids and seat belts in cars. No one would even think of getting on a horse without one. I hope and pray for the day, not that we have a federal law mandating it, but that the riding community adopts SAFETY as the “In” priority. We adults have to model what we expect our kids to learn. If it could save one life–or even keep one person able to use all four limbs–each year, it would be worth it!

Comment on Weaning Grassfed Calves by Lara DeHaven

Lara DeHaven — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:51:38 +0000

Kay,
Thanks for your question. However, I find it ironic that you are asking a grass fed operation this question. With that said, 14 % protein grain should be fine for these young steers. I know that goats and lambs cannot eat the same feed because of copper. I would read the label on your feed and research what is in it. Most likely, it is fine. I just don’t know what are the ingredients of your feed to say definitively. I definitely would not put the calves on straight corn.
Hope this helps.
Lara

Comment on Weaning Grassfed Calves by Kay M Zirkel

Kay M Zirkel — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 18:23:13 +0000

Hi, I am a Prime meat goat producer in WA state. I acquired two 4mo. old steer calves and am running them with my herd on natural pasture and organic mix grains ( 14% protein). My question is can these calves be fed the same grain I feed my meat goats or should I feed them on ground corn? The calves were started on corn and grass hay. I feed alfalfa/ orchard grass hay in winter, but my pastures are in good shape with a lot of grass. ( goats like weeds rather than grass). I have had the calves only for a week and they were banded and pulled off the cows just before I got them. Also should I mix dry milk replacer with the grain, if so how muck. Thanks Kay

Comment on Coverage in The Eagle by Lara DeHaven

Lara DeHaven — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:57:11 +0000

Kathy,

Great question! I only wish I knew the exact reason. We use fly predators in the horse barn, but I highly doubt that that would make a difference amongst the herd. I can tell you that the cows have free-choice minerals made from diatomaceous earth. This might be doing more than keeping away internal worms.

Lara

Comment on Coverage in The Eagle by Kathy McWhorter

Kathy McWhorter — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 15:54:07 +0000

I have a tiny homestead in Krum, Texas (just outside Denton) in north central Texas. I noticed in the pictures that there were no flies on your cattle. Could you tell me what you are doing to keep the flies away. We have tried the fly predator bugs, fly traps, and the mineral block but nothing seems to help.

Thank you,
Kathy