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Date Posted: 08:36:03 06/14/06 Wed
Author: ZD Ranch
Subject: Our average rainvall is near 35" but it is NORMAL to get less than average. Rainfall distribution is the main problem. This year I have more grass on less rain because we got a good rain at the right time. More inside:
In reply to: Varmit 's message, "How many cows can you run to an acre year around?" on 16:21:36 06/13/06 Tue

I have plenty of stock water too.

In a normal year I can produce well over 50,000 lb of beef on 300 acres. If I want to increase my labor & fertilizer I can pretty much double that. I have no need nor desire to produce much more than 50,000 lb. though.

I keep my ground absolutely covered with grass all the time. I find it is more efficient for me to do that. It takes less fertilizer and less weed spray. I do not produce the highest quality of grazing this way but it levels out the production curve and that is important to me.

I have 8 pastures and 3 traps. Because of this I can do an almost cell grazing program with high intensity; low frequency grazing program. I run a stocker program because I have to be efficient with my money more than with my grass. Cows are not efficient for me because the value of the cow herd just involves too much money. I can buy a calf for about $150.00 more than I can raise him. I can graze that calf for 300 days and get 400 lb. of gain. That 400 lb of gain will nearly always make over $200.00 and I can run twice as many of them and still not graze my grass so hard. In addition I can get cows to graze on a fee basis when grass is plentiful and that brings a little more income.

I am in it for the money and need to do it in a manner that requires the least amount of work. Stockers work well for me and leaves me time and money to invest in the stock market.

I was just thinking about your deal and wondering just how hard it is to sit on such valuable land when you could sell out and move to cheaper land and still make a good living and increase the family wealth several times in another generation or two. I'll bet it is hard to just stay put. Not many kids want to do this kind of work and land is sure worth more than money. I doubt if nay of my kids or grand kids will ever run my ranch. I am slowing down and don't know how much longer I am going to want to do it.

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