What's Happening at Kerr Ranch: Livestock
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Cattle play a crucial role in the ecology of the Kerr Ranch, where they graze and their manure enriches the soil. The ranch employs techniques like electric fencing and portable shade structures to manage livestock and cope with environmental conditions. Various cattle breeds are used, with a focus on balancing heat tolerance, growth potential, and market value through careful breeding practices.
What's Happening at Kerr Ranch: Livestock
- 1. Cattle are an important part of the ecology...
- 2. …of the Kerr Ranch.
- 3. Around the ranch, cattle graze.
- 4. Livestock are moved from paddock...
- 7. The animals' manure returns nutrients to the soil.
- 8. Electric fencing is used throughout the ranch.
- 9. Solar electric fence charger
- 10. Tractor tire watering tanks
- 11. A welded base for a hoophouse frame creates portable shade to help cattle deal with summer heat.
- 12. We feed as little hay as possible...
- 13. ...but filling the barn when the grass grows...
- 14. ...is still good insurance against cold winters and prolonged droughts.
- 15. Pineywoods cattle, a heritage breed, are heat-tolerant...
- 17. ...and are good mothers...
- 20. ...but bring less at market.
- 25. Angus cattle, with their high growth potential...
- 27. ...bring a higher price...
- 28. ...but are less heat-tolerant and require more inputs.
- 30. ...to Gelbvieh bulls improves heat tolerance...
- 31. ...but to further increase hardiness, we are experimenting...
- 32. ...with a Pineywoods x Angus/Gelbvieh cross. Results so far are encouraging...
- 33. ...but careful recordkeeping will show whether one breed has an economic advantage over the other.
- 35. ...are what we aim for on the Kerr Ranch!