The Old Folks Home

[perchie.girl]

Deb, that was a good description of the dry land over by your place.

Texas varies like crazy... and even though I studied the entire state, I am from the Hill country, and that runs between 12 acres per cow to 25 or more acres per cow.

oops... I almost started a lecture on grasses and soil.

DG is our dirt. I say dirt because its not really soil. There are only a few places around here that have perminant pastures. Green year round because of ground water is close to the surface. One such is not too far from my place its about a hundred acres. They run about twenty momma cows and about ten horses. Thats it ... and I know they supplement because I see the livestock wandering in to the ranch area where the corrals are about twice per day....

I am certain even though its permanent pasture it hasnt been firtilized ever. Even I know plants cant be consumed like that with out a feeding every so often. Best I could do is plow in all my chaparal and medicinals and Grow Oat hay. One crop per year planted about now so it will be harvestable by February or march. Twenty acres and Maybe two tons worht of hay...

I wont destroy the ecology for that. Though I would allow my critters out to browse on a strict rotation. Just for their piece of mind.

My land has Loco weed on it though. I have to do a search and destroy for that. when the seeds are sprouting before they germinate or destribute the seeds they make.

Medicinials/Edibles I have Identified through books or Native American input from the area.
Yerba Santa respiratory
Ribbon wood anti inflamatory
Chamise anti inflamatory
Yucca digestive
Mormon Tea digestive
Mesquite pods can be made into diebetic flour
Manzanita berries edible
Elderberry wine

There is much more that they are used for I dont have my books here.

deb

 

[bamadude]

You left out the most important medicinal deb

 

[bamadude]

Is morman tea ephedrea? Thats a precurser chemical here

 

[perchie.girl]

You left out the most important medicinal deb

LOL Growing Naturally.

Actually when I bought the house there was a green house across the back. Setup with humidifiers and temperature control lots of water South facing.... Were thinking major recreational horiculture going on there... Since I didnt want to get involved it has now been turned into a patio room No glass.

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

Is morman tea ephedrea? Thats a precurser chemical here

Actually no its ephedra LIKE. but its technical name is Ephedra Fasciculata It has some of the same medicinal qualities though without the bad effects.

The plant is found in the Mojave Desert and Colorado Desert of California, the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, Nevada, southern California, and Utah.[1][2][3] Ephedra fasciculata grows in Creosote-bush scrub

Not the herb that grows in China
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephedra

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

Woo Hoo yesterday at 9pm I was officially noticed as being on BYC 5 years... got a cool calendar and a one year Golden feather membership.

deb

 

[WVduckchick]

Woo Hoo yesterday at 9pm I was officially noticed as being on BYC 5 years...  got a cool calendar and a one year Golden feather membership.

deb

Sweet! Congrats!

 

[Mutt Farm]

Woo Hoo yesterday at 9pm I was officially noticed as being on BYC 5 years... got a cool calendar and a one year Golden feather membership.

deb

Congratulations Deb! I'm reading all the posts regarding acres per cow for pasture, richness of soil etc. Alaskan fussing about not enough acre/cow.

He would blow a gasket here! I live just where the City Slickers move to become "farmers"! My neighbor moved from the city has 1 acre and raised 2 beef cows in a 24X24 corral.

That was awful for me with the filth and flies and an expensive disaster for him!

 

[Outpost JWB]

My grandpa raised Holstein cows. He had 100 head on a 200 acre farm. They were milked at 6am and 6pm. Then they would eat silage, feed, hay, whatever. The rest of the day they roamed the farm and ate grass. Guess it depends on how much they want to spend on supplement feed. I wouldn't raise one on 5 acres. Just for the fact the land is beat up so badly in the process.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
Yup... Actually Alaskan has a Masters I believe in pasture management? He could go in and assess your land and give you help in setting up and maintaining your Livestock venture.

For what its worth If your neighbors do that do you again. Invest in some fly predators. They work....

FLY PREDATORS
Amazon souce

I plan on doing fly predators when I get started with chickens again. Also Phoneix flys do a great job keeping Regular nuisance flies at bey. Phoneix fly or AKA:Soldier fly larvae are an excellent source of protien for your chickens as well as being Stellar at compost break down.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermetia_illucens

http://www.blacksoldierflyfarming.com/



I could raise cattle in a 24 x 24 but it would be difficult to keep them healthy. I dont know how much exercise Cattle need.

I have had horses almost fifty years now. and all but fifteen of that was within a boarding facility. Mostly 24 x 24 corrals with minimal turn out. Actually NO unsupervised turn out at all. I contended with horses that didnt know how to cross water or go down hill or up hill. Later on when I grew into more experience I realized it all was Partially a failure on my part and of the system in place with boarded horses.

If I were to get into cattle I would research their needs not only from a diet and health point of view but from a management point. What to do with manure... Fly management... Worming regumines... Hoof trimming.... Yes hoof trimming. Vaccines antibiotics.... What feeds to stay away from. I have never been around cattle with the exception of petting one at the fair. Therefore I would NEED to know these things before I could even try.

For instance while you can run sheep and goats together they have different mineral needs. Sheep cant have Copper Goats need it.... Goats need Aluminium Sulfate Or an equivalent to keep from developing urinary calculi.

deb