View From the Range

REDFIELD, Iowa (DTN) -- Properly managing pasture and range can make all the difference for a cow-calf producer, especially when cattle graze all year long like at Copeland & Sons Herefords.

Copeland & Sons Herefords in Nara Visa, New Mexico, is participating in DTN's View From the Range series, where DTN will follow a year at the ranch to give readers an inside look at how the ranch operates and cares for its animals.

This segment in the series looks at pasture and range management on the ranch and how weather can affect all parts of the operation.

"We don't use rotational grazing or any elaborate system here," said Cliff Copeland. "We have large pastures and use the resources we have within those pastures." Some new fence is built but most is already in place, and water sources are already in place as well.

"We know out here we need 30 to 35 acres per cow per year for grazing," he said. "And then we can make adjustments based on the amount of moisture we have. Our grazing plan is really pretty easy."

RANGE TAKES CARE OF ITSELF

The natural prairie of northeast New Mexico mostly will take care of itself. During times of drought or wet winters, challenges can occur with unwanted weeds or brush. One noxious weed they have dealt with is locoweed. Cliff said it is more of a problem when there has been a wet winter. Much research has been done on locoweed to see if there is any way to make it edible without causing side effects, but nothing has been found to prevent cattle having neurological reactions.

"The locoweed is high in protein, and it seems like once a cow starts eating it, it's almost addicting," he added. These plants contain swainsonine, an indolizidine alkaloid which inhibits a-mannosidases, which are key enzymes responsible for the primary steps in processing and degrading glycoproteins, according to New Mexico State University College of Agriculture sources. Swainsonine can cause a variety of toxicological problems, including neurological, cardiovascular and reproductive effects, and there is no treatment for livestock poisoned by this toxin. Cliff said they have not dealt with many cattle that have consumed the plant, but those that have will gradually lose weight and act differently -- sometimes out of control. These cattle are quickly culled from a herd.

"We make sure our cattle have good grass to consume and a good mineral available, so they are not looking for another source of nutrients," he said.

During drought conditions, broom snakeweed can be a nuisance, but they have learned to manage around this weed. Cholla cacti also must be controlled, as they can become very invasive on rangeland and spread easily if they are not managed.

GOOD GRAZING PRACTICES HELP COWS

"We just want to be sure to have good grazing practices and know our cows have the proper nutrients throughout the year," he added.

Very little farming is done on the Copeland ranch, but one area is used to grow hay for weaned calves and first-calf heifers. An irrigation pivot is used to provide the moisture needed for growing the hay, and after it is harvested, winter wheat is planted. The wheat provides a grazing source for weaned calves from November through April.

Being in an area where less than 20 inches of rainfall is seen during an average year means water sources are important in pastures. Cliff said most of the water wells date back 100 years and are run by windmills, but any new ones that are added use a solar panel to pump the water into the tank.

"We are a little bit limited as far as where to put cows based on where the water source is. We can't rely on ponds for water here," he explained. "We do like the solar-powered pumps because, in August, there is no wind, which is also when we need the most water."

Another challenge for the windmill-powered waterers is finding someone who can fix them if there is a problem or even finding the proper parts for repairs. Due to these challenges, they have even converted some of the windmill-powered waterers into solar power.

"We have to do what will work for us out here. It's really not that difficult as long as everything is working properly," Cliff said.

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Editor's Note: To see previous stories in this series, go to:

-- "New Mexico Ranch Shares View From Range," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

-- "Copeland & Sons Herefords Raise Cattle to Provide for Family, Customers, Environment," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

-- "New Mexico Ranch Relies on Cows with Good Mothering Ability," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

-- "New Mexico Ranchers Have Recorded Performance Data to Measure Herd's Progress," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

-- "New Mexico Ranch Branding Tradition Unites Generations," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

--"New Mexico Ranchers Strategically Breed Cows to Advance Herd," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

--"New Mexico Ranch Sets Cattle Health Program for Optimal Herd Performance," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

Jennifer Carrico can be reached at jennifer.carrico@dtn.com

Follow her on social platform X @JennCattleGal

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