r/Ranching

The part that's always made me nervous isn't the treatment itself. It's the countdown.

You pull a calf, give a shot, and write it on the calendar. Or a feed sack. Or nowhere. Then three weeks later you're at the loading chute trying to remember if she's clear.

I've seen withdrawal records kept a dozen ways. The honest notebook. The whiteboard in the barn that a good rain wipes out. A text sent to yourself. A spreadsheet column nobody trusts. They all work fine right up until someone's in a hurry at eleven at night.

What I keep coming back to is the record has to be where you are when you need it, not back at the house. And it has to survive getting entered badly.

How are folks actually handling this? Notebook people, app people, spreadsheet diehards, whatever you're running. Curious what's held up through a real busy season.

Question for ranchers and cattle handlers: Have you ever accidentally been shocked by a cattle prod yourself, or known someone who has? What happened? Did you have any injuries beyond immediate pain? I’m trying to understand real-world experiences from people who have actually used these devices

(yes i ready the note first, still have some questions someone may be able to help with) I live in Texas, 22 M, My current job is with internet, installing at houses, building towers, climbing, etc…

I have lately been wanting to change my job and life up by starting the ranching life. I’m currently renting a place out, but getting to the point where I need to either buy a house or move to find something else. Before I commit to a location (buying a house) I want to get into ranching and move somewhere else to work on a big ranch. I already know it’s going to be a tough and not pleasant lifestyle but it’s what I want to do to be honest (work with cattle, take care of the ranch, anything and everything I’m able to) I just don’t know where to start, I just turned 22, 2 months ago and i’ve looked on indeed for ranch hand positions, etc.. but most options or listings I’m finding are requiring prior experience with welding, cattle, fencing, etc, and as I said before, my only job experience is installing internet and such (I am more than willing to learn what I need to anyway I can) How should I find a ranch willing to accept me and teach me the skills so i can make it a year round thing, or what would be the best step for me to take myself to have a little experience so I can get to a ranch and then learn the rest of the trade. I know it will be way different work but I already spend all day just about outside working or in attics so im not scared to be in bad situations and push through to get the job done (again I know it will be way different conditions than I currently work in, just mentioning that I don’t care and will do what it takes to finish). I honestly want to learn the trade and make this my lifestyle (ik not the best decision but it’s the one i’m wanting to make) I had no experience in the internet industry but after a week or so of following someone and training i became a full time tech working for over 3 years and am currently the only tech so I know i can learn what to do it relatively fast

Honestly I just want to know if I have a shot at getting into this or if I should just put it on the back burner and continue with my life as is. (I don’t need comments saying I will hate it, I know how most people feel about it, please give me tips on how to get into this life or be honest and tell me I don’t have a shot, thank you in advance.)

I got some land for a cow-calf operation and want to start a commercial herd. I want Charolais bulls but wonder if Angus or Brangus is better for me. I’m in northern Mexico and from experience European breeds do OK here, weatherwise.

But this new land is like 70% flat land and the rest hilly or broken. Should I stick with Angus or is Brangus a better fit?

Talkin solely about the hilly terrain, not temp or humidity.

Does anyone have insight on the typical price per day per head for a BLM Off Range Pasture horse contract? I am a newbie and considering bidding on an opportunity but am hearing a wide swing on what price is typical to win a contract award. I have heard anywhere from $1.75 per head per day to $3.49 per head per day. I can do the math on what I “need” but also don’t want to leave money on the table.

I got a box full of the be-fast brace kits for free but not sure how much i trust them.

Only used gripples on cable once before and it didn't go well.

Idk if this is even the right thread for this but want opinions, thoughts, suggestions, anything….

Have a very very good friend who’s interested in purchasing a large property with me. He has a wife and one child, I have a wife and 2 children. Both former military and 100% P&T. His goal is to ranch cattle enough to get by with his disability and cattle profits. My goal is to run my business remotely with my va benefits and farm enough to feed the families and maybe sell a bit here and there at markets and farm stands.

That’s super vague and I know it so ask whatever you must but I guess I’m looking for opinions on what’s the best area to purchase for a goal like this and why is some advice from people who really live this kind of life.

How much acreage for something like this? How feasible is it? I don’t intend to ranch full time with him but happy to help. Would plan to purchase land that has two properties or build two homes on the land and he could start an LLC and lease the land to the ranch for the cattle.

Excuse the naïveté but I’m trying to understand more about public lands grazing for things I’m writing. Do ranchers ever resent other ranchers? And if so what would make you resent another rancher?

Do some private lands ranchers resent public lands ranchers who graze cheaper and get the perks that come with big public lands allotments, or that don’t take care of their allotments? Or is it basically a tribal kind of bond like ranchers vs everyone else ?

Is there a growing resentment from independent ranchers of the cattlemen’s lobby (like ncba)? Seems like I’ve seen posts like that.

Anyone resent a kind of rancher for giving the industry a bad name? Like billionaire public lands ranchers? Or more boutique ranchers or landowners? Or is it all in the family so to speak?

I do not come from a ranching background, but I do know that ranchers have a certain way of communicating with eachother that blunt, concise, and often a little crass.

How would someone who speaks formally be able to interact with someone who uses a different way of speaking?

Example: I find your efforts fascinating and fortituous.

Rancher: I think you work well.

Person: Dear Mr. M. I admired your efforts last week at the competition, I am looking forward to seeing you excel in the next one.

Rancher: Dear John, you were doing great last week. I hope to see you do your best in the next competition.

​