Riverbend Ranch Blog
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Summer's in full swing, and we've been blessed with plenty of rain! The millet I planted last month is looking great, and will be a huge help to the calves we just weaned last week.
One of the most common questions I get asked at farmers markets is whether or not I raise the beef that I sell. While I do raise beef cattle and sell all that beef to my customers, I’m limited with the number of animals I can raise each year. Florida grasses typically only allow for a stocking rate of 5 acres per cow/calf pair, and I’m at maximum capacity.
When Riverbend beef is processed, the entire carcass is hung in a temperature and humidity-controlled room for 21 days. In this room, the constant supply of fresh oxygen from the air and enzymes from within the meat will start to work on
A routine practice this time of year is to work the calves that were born the previous calving season. In my case, that calving season was from November 1st-December 31st, so those calves range from 1-3 months of age now. Many Florida ranchers have similar calving seasons, meaning February and March is usually full of day’s that I get to work calves with other folks, which I love! (If you don’t already, be sure to find me on social media @RiverbendCattleCo so you can follow along for all the fun!)
In order for cattlemen to be successful, each of their cows need to raise one calf per year. Some ranchers use natural breeding for their herd (selecting bulls with the right genetics for their goals, and keeping their bulls with the cows during the breeding season each year). Others opt for using artificial insemination (A.I.). This method is more of the standard for dairy cattle, but when it comes to beef cattle, it just depends on whether or not it's practical for that operation.
Being stewards means paying attention to one critical element: the grass! One of the first things I learned from other cattleman when I began as a cattlewoman is that if I wanted to be a good rancher, I’d have to be a good grass farmer. And how right they were. Grass is the lifeblood of maintaining a healthy brood cow. The diet of the typical brood cow is all forage, plus some minerals supplemented if necessary. In less desirable circumstances, the cow will eat the forage in the Florida scrub or swamps.
Bees are a crucial part of our ecosystem. These vital contributors can pollinate about 80% of flowering crops including alfalfa, which the beef and dairy industries use for feed. And if we didn’t have bees, one-third of the food we eat would not be available. Unfortunately, the wild bee populations are in jeopardy, decreasing their beneficial impact and opening the door for more aggressive Africanized colonies to spread.
Sometimes you have to do a little off-roading on the ranch. These pictures were taken recently when I was trying to find a break in the fence where some calves escaped. It is a part of the Riverbend Ranch property that’s marshy, and can be harder to access. I can really only get there by horse or on foot, depending on how wet it is. Despite having to be on constant watch for a camouflaged gator or water moccasin, it’s still one of my favorite places to be, down by the river.