What Do Cows Eat?

This morning while mom and I were out feeding cubes to our commercial cattle, it dawned on me that some people might be interested in seeing just exactly what cows eat!

Disclaimer: this is just on our dairy, of course, not all dairies feed the exact same thing (it's very similar in some aspects). A dairy in New York and a dairy in Texas feed two different rations to best benefit their cows in their specific environment.

So, here's how it all started. Mom and I feed "range cubes" or basically protein packed, nutritious cubes to cows that are out on pasture - primarily our beef cows. These cows live on spacious pastures and are supplemented with hay. They are not calving, nor are they in "stressful" months (too hot or too cold), therefore, they do not need full-time feed; range cubes are just an additive because we love our cows!

These girls are pigs! Most of these registered Brangus are old show heifers and are used to a life of luxury, they're pretty gentle and find the need to RUN and bump into you if you don't get the cubes out of the bag quick enough. Refer to these cows as the "upper class snobs" they think they're better than all the other cows. Yes, yes, I know, cows have personalities.

Run Mom run! Even the babies think they need some too...

This is our trusty hound dog, Sally. She opted to stay in the gator on this pasture!

Sally eats Purina dog chow for large dogs...in case you were wondering.

Here's a couple more pictures of our commercial cows chowing down on some grubbage. You can refer to these cows as "old faithfuls". They produce calves year after year and are just happy living life in a big pasture.

Now, for what the dairy cows eat! We have over 1,200 head of dairy cows, and they get fed every day, twice a day, so we mix our own feed for them.

It all starts with home-grown silage....also known as corn and corn stalks chopped up into teeny tiny bits. Our silage pit is the size of a football field, and well, you can see how tall it is.

So, we scoop out a couple truck loads of silage into a mixing wagon, which is basically like a giant mixing bowl attached to a tractor, then add in extra vitamins and ingredients depending on what group of cows it is going to - reference prior blog, first calf heifers vs milk cows.

This is our commodity barn. It's nice and dry to keep the ingredients from getting wet. Here's a couple additives we will mix into the rations to help with health and wellness in our cows.

And last but not least, hay. Growing up on a farm, climbing on top of hay bales was probably one of the first sports learned - is it in the olympics yet?. I'm pretty sure my parents kept my brother and I occupied for hours by putting us on top of the hay bales and telling us "count these bales". Now that I'm older and know we have a computer in tractors that actually counts the bales, I'm certain it was an evil plot to keep my parents entertained when Connor or I would mess up around bale 200 and have to start over.

First you get a running start, jump, and then crawl like a cheetah to the top of the bale.

This "old timer" had to try a few times before finally succeeding, ignore my "winning" face.

Hay, hay, hay for days!

This is how you count bales:

And that's a wrap! In conclusion: remember, dairy farmers have special nutritionist that formulate special diets for each cow. Dairy farmers are honored to uphold the commitment of a healthy product.

A Very Eligible Bachelor

So, in case you haven't seen the 2014 Chevy Super Bowl Commercial, promoting agriculture, check it out, it's grand:

I think it's safe to say that is my favorite commercial of all time.

But, back to the main point of this blog: I have a very eligible bachelor myself.

His name is Mr. EJ Lubbock 8Y, sired by the 2009 NJBS Grand Champion Bull Mr. EJ Laredo. Not only is he thick, great balanced and sound, he ranks in the top 10% for BW and top 4% for CE.

He sells Wednesday, February 12th in the San Antonio All Breeds Bull Sale. Don't miss this opportunity to purchase your next great herd sire!

Flashback: Brangus Edition

Alright folks, I have hit gold. I must admit, yesterday was my very first time entering the doors of the Texas Tech library - I know, I know, it's sad. But, man, I have GOT to go there more often. I found pure gold. That's right, after searching mindlessly up and down the agriculture section trying to find resources for my research paper, I found a section entitled "Brangus". It held EVERY SINGLE Brangus Journal ever published, dating back to the 1950's.

Here is where it all started my friends

Then, I decided to pull out the 19(insert date unknown, I think I would get in trouble) to try and find some pictures of my mom and her sister/brother during their glory days. And man, I hit the jackpot. So, let it begin.

Before you scroll down and see all these fantastic pictures, please say a prayer for me that my mother and aunt don't skin me alive for posting these on the world wide web. But, I mean hey, they're already in print.

It all started when I found this glorious picture of my mother - showmanship winner at the American Royal, and her sister, who was the International Brangus Queen at the time.

Man, I wish I could've lived in the 70's.

Then, I flipped a couple pages back and found my aunt, being crowned the very first International Brangus Queen. Cue the emotional, sappy, "my roots run deep in the Brangus breed" moment.

Things were grand back then - roses and cowboy hats, it doesn't get much better.

Here's a picture I found rather entertaining. Now, granted I know cattle were a smidge taller in the 70's, and I know my aunt is not the tallest person in our family, but this picture really puts it into perspective!

P.S. In case you were wondering, this was the Grand Champion Bull at Houston!

Now, for a little queen break. I switched to the next edition, and found an article about a young man, freshly graduated from South Dakota State University, named ranch manager of a new herd. Today, this man should be known as one of the most influential individuals in the Brangus breed.

Comment below if you can name this founder of Gene Trust!

And then a moment that made me proud to be a Brangus breeder! Check out this bull who sold for 1/6 interest and 1/2 possession in 1979 for $95,000.

If you're in the Brangus breed, you have probably heard of Titan.

And then! Here is where it began to become a tear jerker, my mother was selected as the second International Brangus Queen.

My aunt crowning my mom; one of my favorite pictures!

In her article after being crowned queen, my mother writes about the positives of raising and exhibiting Brangus, including this excerpt:

"Brangus are adequate in size but but are not too big

 - like some exotics and other crossbreds - 

where they aren't fertile and can't produce calves annually."

If you know my mother, you know some things never change. She still has a deep rooted love for Brangus and unwavering positivity about their strengths. 

But, in all reality, I'm not really sure who was queen at this time. I think Aunt Gaye and mom wanted to share queen duties:

New Mexico State Fair 1979 Grand Bull - Gaye is queen

New Mexico State Fair 1979 Grand Heifer - Jodi is queen

Also, if you notice in the Grand Heifer picture, the showman has a cigar in his mouth. When you win, you do as you please.

I know some people will enjoy this blog post more than others. But, to me, it really is special. My family roots run generations deep in this breed, and I will forever be proud of the way I was raised, and these wonderful critters I got to grow up around.

Thanks mom. Thanks family. Thanks to everyone who makes this wonderful life oh so better when it's filled with cows.