Thank you for replies.
Zone 6b
Typical midwest temperate climate, hot humid summers
Primarily fescue in the fields, but do have a mix of clovers, ryegrass, some johnsongrass etc. It's not a monoculture by any means. Currently I purchase all of my hay. I don't have equipment, don't really want it either as it takes money to operate and own etc, and as I'll explain next I am trying to use all my available forage for my animals. If I can buy someone else's hay, that just brings additional organic matter onto my property, which over time, will accumulate. Not a bad thing imo.
I currently have 8 commercial cows plus calves and one bull. Have no intention of going registered anytime, as it's not realistic. My goal is to get to 15 mama cows and one bull, all supported on grass and hay alone. I also provide loose salt and mineral, but no grains or supplemental feed. If they don't raise a calf or otherwise can't make it on what we're doing here, they take a ride to town. I believe with the rotational daily grazing that I started in May of 2019 that supporting this many animals is possible. We were able to extend our grazing season more than a month this year which saved at least $240 in hay costs, which is exciting for me as well as encouraging to keep at it. At that number of cattle my cows alone would be providing meat for my family, and enough calves at current prices to pay the annual mortgage on our place with some left over. That is enough cows for me. I am not trying to maximize the number of cows on this place, I have a goal I want to get to, while also making my small farm a place that we love living on.
I have watched lots of Greg Judy videos trying to learn all I can. I am hoping to make it to his farm for the South Poll annual event in June. His videos have been a great resource and inspiration to me already, and I would love to go to one of his grazing school, but its not exactly in my budget. As for his cows/bulls, they aren't exactly in my budget either. I love his herd, but so do many others so of course the price isn't easy for this smaller operator to get involved. I do like the South Poll, and I'm definitely not opposed to them, but when the commercial business is all about the black hide, its hard to understand why I would want to pay more for red cows that I'm going to have to take less for at market. I know many people say "market your beef to individuals" and that's great, but that also means taking all of your animals to finish weight. There are very real costs and time involved in doing that, some not easily seen at first. So it's not exactly easy for me to do on this small acreage. In fact, with my end goals, its truly not feasible. Every year I intend to have one cull heifer that we keep for our own personal beef, other than that the calves are going to market. I won't have room, so I need to maximize the price of the animals that I'm taking. A ten cent dock (minimum) at market adds up to real money. My take is I don't really believe that the heat tolerance is only in the red coat. Look at the Mashona cattle Elizondo has down in Florida. Those are black. Living in hot tropical conditions. I believe heat tolerance is genetic, exists in many animals not just red ones, so I need to concentrate on finding those that will thrive and do well in my environment and my management style.
I am hoping to purchase some OCC commercial heifers this spring, and will be looking to buy a Senegus bull, or Mashona. OCC has been in the grass only business for a long while, hopefully combining his genetics with a good heat tolerant breed will provide the type of animal I'm looking for, easy fleshing heat tolerant females that raise a calf every year unassisted on grass and hay alone.
As for infrastructure, I have, what I call semi-permanent, high tensile electric fence dividing my pasture into 4 unequal quadrants, as I have an abnormal lot shape. This finally got completed just last month. It will make daily moves much easier going forward.
I am experimenting with cereal grains broadcast into my pasture in the fall to help extend grazing. I had some success even as late as I started on it, and I'm looking forward to using what I'm learning.
As for shelters, hopefully the trees that I'm discussing will provide a lot of what I'm looking for. Evergreens would theoretically block a lot of wind and rain. That is why I'm asking about the specific shape of my tree formations, as well as which ones to use. Depending on exactly how I sited the trees in relation to each other and our prevailing winds, they could become living shelters if you will, rather than ones that I build and maintain. That was my idea anyway. I could also dot the landscape with trees, and I may put one here or there, but I'm hoping that the windbreak/fodder formations that I'm considering would do the job that I need. That's why I want to put one in every quadrant of my pasture. Does anyone have any thoughts on that, or anything else? Hopefully this long response answered the questions you asked :)
A few other formations that I've been considering below.
With prevailing winds and weather from the west, trying to allow cows to get some shelter at different times of the year on each side of the trees, and with coldest winter winds from the north, also allow additional reprieve from that.
#2 West
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E E
E E A A A A A North
A A A A A E E
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#3 West
A A A A A E E
E E North
E E
E E
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#4 West
A A A A A E E A A A A A
E E North
E E
E E
E E
E E
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