calling folks with farm knowledge

[thatotherperv]

gah, so while I'm here, I need a lil help. I'm writing this uh, thing. hahaha. set on a cattle ranch in Texas.

what I need is for you to throw me some regular upkeep things for that kind of operation if you will. not necessarily just daily chores, I mean, things like...well, like on occasion you might have to clear brush, or check fencelines, or whatever. if they correspond with a particular season, I'd love it if you could clue me in to timing.

but if you can also give me things that would get done on a daily basis, that would help too.

*smooches*

Comments

[yanagi-wa.livejournal.com]

Ok
Food and water: If penned, feed and water twice a day
If free range: check that the water is free flowing and clean every day also check that hay bale is in reach or needs new.

Check fence daily if penned. if free range run fence line once a week.

'eye-ball' all cattle for open wounds, insect bite irritation or bites from other animals every week. (daily is better)

Inoculate on schedule, probably twice a year. Cut in spring? some cut in fall. Watch pregnant animals (they should be checked daily) Foaling/calving animals should be moved if possible to a barn or other shelter.

I know I'm forgetting something. (thank god we don't keep stock anymore, way too much work for this ol' gal.)

[thatotherperv.livejournal.com]

awesome, thank you for that! by "cut" you mean what, cull for slaughter?

when are pregnant animals separated out from the herd? as soon as it's discovered they're pregnant, or late term, or...I dunno, when they're about to calve?

[yanagi-wa.livejournal.com]

Cut means castrate. Pregnant animals are usually kept with the heard until they're about to 'drop' the calf/foal/ whatever. Cull is cull, most don't do that around here. They sell every calf.

[darklingdawns.livejournal.com]

Okay, let's see what this city-slicker remembers:

Along with checking the fences weekly, fence posts will usually need to be replaced as needed.

Newborn cattle need ear tags put on, usually within the first month after birth, sometimes receive a tattoo in the ear as well. Branding can be done with this, but my grandfather didn't brand, as he sold the hides for leather after slaughter, and brands reduce the value there.

For free-range cattle, during the winter, water needs to be checked 2-3 times a day to break ice if any's formed on the surface, and feed at least twice a day to make sure it's within range and under shelter. Cattle are rounded up and shipped off during the fall, calving is usually during the spring, although there may be some in mid to late summer.

Think that's about it... although my grandfather always said he swore by three things: his wife, his truck, and his dog.

Hope that helps, even a little bit!

[thatotherperv.livejournal.com]

it does, thank you!

[hellziggy.livejournal.com]

I think the only thing I know about cattle ranches is one thing: Hire hot cowboys to work it and then sex them up every night! Of course, that wouldn't really be considered a daily "chore"

[thatotherperv.livejournal.com]

*snerk* yeah, I have that part down, pat :)

[grave-tidings.livejournal.com]

If you're feeding horses, it's twice a day and at the same time each day.

Fee only hay if the horses aren't working. 1 flake per feeding per horse. Hay and grain if they are working - 1 flake per horse and a scoop of grain morning and night (that's... um... about 4 cups - am guessing here, I've always used plastic scoops).

Feed them in their stalls so you can control who's eating what. If you don't, the dominate animals chase off the more submissive ones.

Water available at all times unless you want a colicking mess on your hands. Worm each horse once a month, trim hooves every six weeks. If they're shod, I think that's every six weeks too? Worming means go to the feed store, buy the Ivermectin or other wormer, and set the plunger to the weight of the horse. Then grab the horse by the halter, steady its head, and plung the wormer into the side of its jaw. Fun!

Shots once a year, in the early summer.

If you want to talk about foaling, that's a whole 'nuther universe.

If it freezes in your story, we could talk about feeding bran mash to horses....

Also, if your ranch has a windmill (some still do, to pump water for stock ponds and even for homes in some ancient cases), you have to service it every year. That means climbing up to the top of the thing, checking the oil and I can't remember what else. I do know you have to furl/unfurl the blades in case of storms unless you want a heavy wind to rip them off.

Maybe you could google windmills if you want your hero or heroine to climb up there and terrify the readers.

[thatotherperv.livejournal.com]

thanks for all that!

so uh, post-windmill, how to they pump into the stock ponds?

[grave-tidings.livejournal.com]

Here's a basic illo:

http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/water/wind_e.htm

If you need more info, just Google "windmills pumping water" or "windmills pump water". You'll also run into windmills generating electricity if you don't specify water.

One windmill next to a homestead would be enough (with a good well) to pump water for humans and livestock (into a holding tank, with a system for directing the water to a cistern and/or a pond.

You can also have a windmill out in the middle of nowhere that feeds directly into a pond. I've seen both. And if you don't want a windmill to supply the house, then you can set up an electric pump inside a shack to protect it, which will pump water via electricity whenever you flush a toilet/turn on the tap. Windmills pay for themselves in only a few years. An electric bill is ongoing. Welcome to "on the grid" and "off the grid."

But I digress. Let me know if you think I can be of further help. I lived on a horse farm for seven years in Florida and grew up in Arizona amid cowboys.