There is an unspoken level of social pressure that goes with anything in life. Most of the time we are unaware of it, but it is present all the same. Jessie and I pride ourselves on not being overly given to the opinions of man, but even in its trimmed back nature, social pressure still subconsciously exists. We live in an area of the country that predominantly raises two varieties of animals. There are dairy cows and beef cows. Yes, some people get away with raising the odd goat, but they are immediately labeled, well, "weird". They usually carry around the commonly ascribed name of "crazy goat lady" for females, and "the guy with all the goats" for males. Bovines are the only quickly accepted and even appreciated animal in our neck of the woods. There is a sense of pride that accompanies telling folks that you are in the "cattle bidness". You are a part of a heritage that has provided incomes, meat, and quality of life for the generations that have gone before you. We raise beef because that's what my daddy does. It is also what Jessie's daddy does. It is what all of the respectable, down-to-earth men of this tiny sub-culture do. Therefore, I raise beef.
Being that cows are such a large part of this sub-culture, there is already a large system in place that provides the opportunity for us to buy/sell our animals as commodity. This means that we find animals pretty easily when the price per-pound of beef is down and we would like to buy. It also means that we have an idea as to how much we will get when we want to sell them. The system is so large that it would be unlikely for us to be stuck with a cow that we could not sell. This would not be the case if we were trying to sell our cow locally to a direct market. It would be up to us to find the rancher, settle on a price, and come to terms with the shipment of the animal. The huge commodity market around us means, at the very least, that we have cattle movement options. At anytime the infrastructure is in place to accommodate our needs. Therefore, I raise beef.
Let me caveat the entire previous point by saying that, I think there is an even larger market developing. The future is in direct sale organic. There is something about the generations following the Boomers that presses for a simpler time. They look for things that develop in a much more authentic fashion. These millennials and X'ers want to be connected to their food. This means that they want to know where it came from, how it was handled, and participate with the cycle of life. Whether one agrees with this sentiment or not, it sure makes for a bright future for farms like mine. We represent farms that cannot produce the scale of other operations, but could fetch a better profit margin through higher quality beef. I would love to get in on the direct sale market of organic beef as it develops. The major impediment for me is that I fall into the stereotype of most people who raise cows. I'm not a great salesman. I like to raise cows, not convince others to buy them. This is true of my job as a pastor in town. I have the greatest product in the world, transformed lives. However, it is hard for me to attempt to convince people that a choice must be made. There is a bit of salesman that must prompt a decision. I am working to develop this skill, but in the mean time I will stick to emphasizing the value of the product. Even with my personal shortcomings, I look forward to the opportunities that could open with this emerging market. Therefore, I raise beef.
On a purely monetary level, cows are per-pound the best bang for your buck. This assumes that your land can support them. The reality of having a number of cows that both bring in a salary and sustain your family is very much dependent upon your land/geography. Many old/grumpy cattlemen would disagree with the statement that cattle can bring in an income, but if managed well it's true! The variables are water and being able to forage cows throughout the winter. If it rains to replenish your plant life and you do not have to bring in alot of outside hay, you should be able to turn a profit. I'm sure this will be the topic of many posts in the future. For now, suffice it to say that cows woo you with the opportunity for financial benefit. At least, they have to me. Therefore, I raise beef.
Probably the most significant reason that answers the "Why Cows?" question is that I simply like being around cows. Yes, they are predictably slow witted and find themselves doing exactly what you don't want them to...But I find those attributes charming. Regardless, of their mental capabilities, I like them. It must be something that mothers/fathers experience with young children. The cows are dependent upon me for everything. They learn to wait upon me for their morning snack. They know that when I open up the next paddock they are allowed to rush in and scout it out (this is particularly rewarding for me, as their excitement is contagious). They grow in what they perceive to be threatening or not. For example; my very presence with them in the paddock was threatening. Now it is not. The hay fork used to mean imminent danger. Now it does not. The blue snake was initially thought to be a messenger of certain death. Now, it brings fresh water from its mouth into the trough. There is something extremely satisfying about watching them grow in all aspects of life. They physically report to me their current nutrient condition. I can tell by their "gut fill" whether or not they are getting enough to eat (more on that later). Daily we play a game of matching their feed desires with the pressure I would like to place upon the land. The balance between the soil health and the prosperity of the cows changes daily. It must be constantly observed and tweaked. Many in the permaculture, sustainable living, and hippie cultures lose me when the focus is solely upon the plants. Don't get me wrong... I'm all about taking care of the soil and plants entrusted to my care. But if it weren't for the emotional/psychological link between myself and the cows, I wouldn't be as passionate about farming/ranching. I can literally see the benefits of taking care of the soil through proper management because it yields better grass for my herd. A cycle is created where I care for my cows, they care for me (or at least my feeding of them), and it in turn causes me to care about the land that provides for them. My eyes get opened to a whole world that I would not normally be aware of through our relationship with the cows. Therefore, I raise beef.
"Why Cows?", the city slicker may say... Because cows are the socially preferred, most productive per-pound, fastest growing in both the commodity and the organic markets, earth healing, docile human companions for your farm. Cows are an essential element to both my culture and my heritage. I can't wait to see how cows effect our family and the culture around us.
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