In this episode, James looks back on his first year transitioning from traditional feedlot management to try his hand at pasture calving. He breaks down the steep learning curve of managing 52 cows, sharing everything from unexpected events (like a cow struck by lightning) to the ultimate rewards of getting his fifth-grade son involved in the herd’s day-to-day life.
Highlights from this episode’s conversation include:
- The Highs and Lows of the Calving Season: James and Bill compare their results from the year, including Bill’s first-ever set of triplets and James’s mental hurdle of missing a difficult delivery.
- The Birds and the Bees: How raising cattle on the range organically sparks some necessary, if awkward, family talks about the cycles of nature.
- Looking Ahead to Next Year: James lays out his ambitious future plans, from moving his calving schedule up to May, testing an AI breeding program for bulls, and hunting down a four-passenger side-by-side for family pasture tours. Meanwhile, Bill shares his thoughts on expanding his pasture and shopping for fall cows.
- The Fescue Debate & Finicky Eaters: A look at the behavioral differences between steers and cows when grazing, and how the guys manage uneven pasture growth.
Will James retain his title as an “A-minus” cattleman? And who will pull ahead in a neck-and-neck cribbage finish? Tune in to find out!
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