Yeehaw! Starting a cattle farm

There are many reasons you would want to own your own ranch or cattle farm: raise herds of cattle and sell meat and dairy afterwards, raise prize-winning cattle for show in events and festivals, and with the economy being what it is, raise cattle for your family’s personal consumption. Whatever the reason is, starting a cattle farm is hard work, and these tips will teach the basics of owning and starting a cattle farm.

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Know what you are getting yourself into

As with all things in life, knowledge is power. Think carefully and research about the cattle industry you want to get into and the kind of farm you want to have. Start small and don’t overspend. Buy only the equipment you need. Learn to prioritize the things you need to do over other things. This is the most important part.

Location, location, location

Choosing a good location is the key to a successful cattle farm, as factors like seasonal variances, vegetation, topography, climate, and markets differ. In addition, establishing your farm in a good location ensures that your cattle can grow healthier, faster.

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Choose between dairy or beef

Contrary to what most people think, there are two kinds of cattle you can raise in a cattle farm: dairy or beef cattle. Dairy cattle have huge udders. Compared to beef cattle, dairy cattle produce more milk, which can be made into dairy products. Beef cattle are raised for slaughter and people’s red meat consumption.

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People say that owning and operating your own cattle farm is one of the greatest joys you can get.

Charles Crispin owns the Hammock Walk Ranch in Okeechobee, Florida. Visit this Facebook page for more information about cattle ranching.

REPOST: Packers add to beef quality

This CattleNetwork.com article talks about how packing and cutting affects the overall quality of beef.

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Anyone who thinks ranchers and feeders are the only ones who work long hours in the beef business has not talked with a foodservice distributor or thought about a chef burning the midnight oil.

Anyone who thinks beef quality only rides on the production sector’s shoulders has not toured a packing plant or learned about aging and cut shops.

There are real people at every link along the beef chain, working to add value, ensure safety and make sure the meat that starts on the farm or ranch gets sold at the price point consumers demand.

During a Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) tour of ranch country last fall, foodservice professionals made a stop at the Cargill Meat Solutions plant in Fort Morgan, Colo.

“After the ranch visits [the attendees] were bubbling over with excitement about the down-to-earth, passionate people they met—and when we got to the packing plant, we found the same type of people,” says Deanna Walenciak, CAB director of marketing and leader of that excursion. “That made such an impression.”

Cargill’s Nicole Johnson-Hoffman welcomed the group and even told them to give her employees a “thumbs up” as a way to let them know their work is appreciated.

“Seeing every step is so important so they truly understand what an amazing and efficient business the packing plant is. To see the overwhelming amount of skilled work it takes to get it from animal to meat,” Walenciak says.

Packers also have a great influence on the quality of the cattle that come into their plants, and the beef that goes out.

South Dakota rancher Rich Blair once complained to a packer-buyer, saying producers are never told what kind of animal packers want. “He said, ‘Yeah we have. We’ve laid our grids out there. We’ve told you what we wanted.’”

“And I thought, ‘Holy smokes, he did,’” Blair says. “He told me he didn’t care if they were blue or green, but he’ll pay me if they grade Choice and he’ll pay me if they’re CABs and Primes.”

Procurement strategies and price signals tell producers they want quality, but once the ranchers and feeders have set them up for success, it’s up to the packers to maintain that potential.

“You only get one chance to handle them right,” says Phil Bass, CAB meat scientist.

Animal handling when the cattle arrive—things like letting them rest and not comingling groups so they have to establish new pecking orders—can impact stress level. That ultimately makes a difference in the number of dark cutters and meat tenderness.

Charles Crispin is a spirited outdoorsman and ranch owner. This Facebook page offers updates about Crispin, and many useful articles about ranching, farming, and lifestyle.

From concrete jungle to the wide open

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Beyond the concrete jungles, the ultimate creation of urbanity and modernization, lies a world often taken for granted—nature. Urbanites have gotten so caught up with the haste that they have forgotten to pause and breathe in its wonders.

Nature is said to be God’s greatest theater. It is where all majestic and beautiful things are supposed to be found: trees, birds, flowers. Sometimes, they are deemed insignificant or mundane for being too little. However, mundane or insignificant, nature offers various benefits that people should ponder. Some of these are the following:

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1. Nature makes one appreciative. Nature in all its glory makes people appreciative of life—of the sunlight, rain, and air. Reconnecting with nature seems to bring anyone back to the basics, to the origin of life.

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2.Nature nurtures. A study found at the Oxford Journals shows that nature nurtures and plays an important role in human health and well-being. It has been said that people who have closer access to nature are healthier than those who don’t.

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3. Nature restores. Studies have shown that nature offers relaxation, stress reduction, and mental restoration. Whether it is a simple walk along the riverbanks or a climb over the hill, the restorative effects of natural environment leads to a renewed attention and positivity.

Nature, hence, while it may be deemed as just a part of everyday living, is crucial. With the countless benefits it gives, it is therefore important to care or start caring for it.

Charles Crispin is a former CEO of Evergreen Re Optimal Reinsurance Analysis. He is an outdoor enthusiast and a rancher.

To know more about nature and its benefits, visit this Facebook page.