My Uncle had some Brahman cross Cattle, and I remember watching them browse on trees & other bushes that the English Cattle wouldn't touch. And during a dry spell one summer the grass dried up & the Angus & Hereford Cattle were struggling so my Uncle had to put out hay. But those Braford & Brangus were still eating out in the pasture because they could browse on the trees & such. They remind me of Goats, a Goat would rather be in a brush covered wooded pasture than be in a all grass pasture. Along with Cattle I've raised Goats since I was a kid, I got my first Goat a few years after my first Heifer I think around 1982. Rnning Goats with Cattle here works out great, they don't compete for the same thing. The Cattle eat their grass, and the Goats keep the brush ate back so it doesn't take over on the steep parts of the pasture & that lets the grass keep growing. So everybody's happy, me included.
That's one of tge reasons I got brahman crosses! They are heat adapted, a little wild and they keep condition better than most breeds! I'd love to keep goats but they get stolen quicker than you could blink!
Hi Shane, enjoying your videos, good work on raising quiet cattle. We have the same grass here in Australia in the Northern Tablelands, African Lovegrass. There’s a few varieties some more palatable than others, in optimum conditions it can run at 22percent protein but when frosted off not much value. It does set up a monoculture especially if it’s burnt.
Hey Rob thanks for the comment! You guys have some of the most beautiful country on this planet! Yes I like my animals calm - but not too tame. We have very similar grazing conditions - our grass drops to around 5% protein in the winter. What cattle you running?
Shane we are currently fattening a mix of Angus and Hereford steers additionally we have Red Brahman and Droughtmaster heifers with the plan being to join these to Hereford next season. Take care.
First "takkie/wig" shown I believe is a "Honey locust" ... An exotic Acacia spp from Oz... We have them here ... pros and cons Pros their seed pods produce some good protein over winter early spring ... Cons they prolificat if left un checked... SpatanX 25th/11
Hey John, I'm not sure. They certainly didn't browse much before I got the ngunis! However, it was mid winter which might have had an effect. Either way, if they learn to browse I have more forage options! It will be interesting to see if there is any difference in condition between the browsers & non- browsers!
@@shanecotty3275 my father brought home an Angus heifer when I was a kid and I don’t remember the cows browsing before her but after she was here a couple of months the cows were what I called bush monkeys they all were browsing. New cows brought in didn’t at first but picked it up. Talked to other cattle people and they believe it’s learned.
Shane I wjust want to thank you for the videos you put up, thank you man thank you I wish you nothing but success may the Lord bless you with all that your heart desires for your farm and family. One quick ask do you have other social media platforms where we can follow an support you like facebook and TikTok? I really want wish to meet you an I wish one day you come an profile my animals one day
Hi Tebogo, Wow! Thanks for the love man! No, I only post on UA-cam. I've considered Tiktok but haven't quite got there yet. Where you based? Maybe I can make a turn at your herd sometime?
True! I once read a paper on how a group of stabled horses were put on grazing and how certain ailments cleared up over time. The point of tge paper was, if left to their own choice, animals will graze certain plants to cure certain problems. It's why diversity of plants is so important!
Animal instincts are amazing. They know what they need to survive and learn new grazing techniques from other cattle which makes you think they aren't mindless animals there always thinking and I think that's pretty cool.
My Uncle had some Brahman cross Cattle, and I remember watching them browse on trees & other bushes that the English Cattle wouldn't touch. And during a dry spell one summer the grass dried up & the Angus & Hereford Cattle were struggling so my Uncle had to put out hay. But those Braford & Brangus were still eating out in the pasture because they could browse on the trees & such. They remind me of Goats, a Goat would rather be in a brush covered wooded pasture than be in a all grass pasture. Along with Cattle I've raised Goats since I was a kid, I got my first Goat a few years after my first Heifer I think around 1982. Rnning Goats with Cattle here works out great, they don't compete for the same thing. The Cattle eat their grass, and the Goats keep the brush ate back so it doesn't take over on the steep parts of the pasture & that lets the grass keep growing. So everybody's happy, me included.
That's one of tge reasons I got brahman crosses! They are heat adapted, a little wild and they keep condition better than most breeds!
I'd love to keep goats but they get stolen quicker than you could blink!
Pretty cow eating those leaves.
I’ve seen cows enjoying our autumn leaves.
Thanks Dawny. I really enjoy watching them browse - not something I see very often.
Hi Shane, Those bushes look like what we in Australia call Prickly Mimosa.
Hi Bruce,
Thanks for the tip! I'll look it up. I really need to learn more about the bushes & grasses!
Hi Shane, enjoying your videos, good work on raising quiet cattle.
We have the same grass here in Australia in the Northern Tablelands, African Lovegrass. There’s a few varieties some more palatable than others, in optimum conditions it can run at 22percent protein but when frosted off not much value. It does set up a monoculture especially if it’s burnt.
Hey Rob thanks for the comment! You guys have some of the most beautiful country on this planet!
Yes I like my animals calm - but not too tame. We have very similar grazing conditions - our grass drops to around 5% protein in the winter.
What cattle you running?
Shane we are currently fattening a mix of Angus and Hereford steers additionally we have Red Brahman and Droughtmaster heifers with the plan being to join these to Hereford next season.
Take care.
Thanks Rob. Do you have a channel that you post on? I would love to see your animals. I tried searching but couldn't find anything.
Cheers 🍻
Excellent work sir thank for sharing
Glad you enjoyed it!
opionion on this years rainy season the rains came early and seem strong,im in zimbabwe just across the limpopo
Hi Jack,
Thanks for the comment!
We have had a slow,dry start. Had our first proper rains today! Hope the other guys get some too!
I appreciate your videos so much. Thank you for sharing your knowledge 😊
Thanks Ritshila!
First "takkie/wig" shown I believe is a "Honey locust" ... An exotic Acacia spp from Oz...
We have them here ... pros and cons
Pros their seed pods produce some good protein over winter early spring ...
Cons they prolificat if left un checked...
SpatanX
25th/11
Hi Spatan,
Sorry - don't know how I missed your comment!
Thanks for sharing. Hope you amd your family are blessed!
I’ve been told browsing is a learned behavior.
Hey John,
I'm not sure. They certainly didn't browse much before I got the ngunis! However, it was mid winter which might have had an effect. Either way, if they learn to browse I have more forage options! It will be interesting to see if there is any difference in condition between the browsers & non- browsers!
@@shanecotty3275 my father brought home an Angus heifer when I was a kid and I don’t remember the cows browsing before her but after she was here a couple of months the cows were what I called bush monkeys they all were browsing. New cows brought in didn’t at first but picked it up. Talked to other cattle people and they believe it’s learned.
Well that's great news! Hopefully the rest will all pick it up! Thanks for the info!!!
💯 it's most definitely a learned behavior
Thanks for the videos, Where are you farming ,nearest town?
Thanks Neo,
For security purposes I refrain from posting the farm location on social media. I'm sure you understand?
Shane I wjust want to thank you for the videos you put up, thank you man thank you I wish you nothing but success may the Lord bless you with all that your heart desires for your farm and family. One quick ask do you have other social media platforms where we can follow an support you like facebook and TikTok? I really want wish to meet you an I wish one day you come an profile my animals one day
Hi Tebogo,
Wow! Thanks for the love man! No, I only post on UA-cam. I've considered Tiktok but haven't quite got there yet.
Where you based? Maybe I can make a turn at your herd sometime?
@@shanecotty3275 am in the North West in Mareetsane, I really love your content your an inspiration
I'll have a look to see how far that is from me!
Research shows that cattle self-medicate with plants which are rich in certain minerals and nutrients
True! I once read a paper on how a group of stabled horses were put on grazing and how certain ailments cleared up over time. The point of tge paper was, if left to their own choice, animals will graze certain plants to cure certain problems. It's why diversity of plants is so important!
That bush is usaku or izinsaku in plural, its an evergreen plan plentiful in the biome we call ihlanze or highveld.
Thanks!
Animal instincts are amazing. They know what they need to survive and learn new grazing techniques from other cattle which makes you think they aren't mindless animals there always thinking and I think that's pretty cool.
There is a lot more to them than people realise! These are things you pick up when spending time with them.
Hi Shane, which province are you based? I like the grass
Free State.
Looks more like Ngongoni.
Thanks Sbu, I thought so too!
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