Rainy Day in Texas

When we receive visitors at Falster Farm they are often curious about how I have the operation of this farm/ranch set up. I point out first of all that it is important to me to have it so that one man can pretty much move all the animals to where they should go during the certain appointed seasons.

This post is pointing out that our home is positioned in the middle of the property with the breding pastures to the South and West and the calving pasture to the North side of the house. With this in mind one can easily imagine how lovely it is to get up in the morning and walk from one end of the Front Porch observing and cataloging the breeding activity of the Herd Sires to the South and West and check to see which dropped a calve last night!

This morning I observed KNF CIBOLO tending POR ROXIE SPICEWOOD to the South while in the North, RD MISS KATY (an Investment Program Cow) is completing the ejection of after-birth of her bull calf  KING GEORGE III two days ago. What an interesting morning, and I haven't even left the front porch yet!

Hope you day is going as well -- KEF

Here is a view to the North West showing the calving yard or pasture.

1st Live Cover of 2010 Accomplished

We have a number of customers that bring their cows and heifers to us for Live Cover, that is to say, stud service. In early NOV 2009, three cows arrived to be sequestered with KNF CIBOLO. Typically what our procedure requires is a breeding of exposure of 60 - 90 days. These days are days of observation by a ranch hand - usually Falster - looking for the bull to pay attention to the cow or heifer - called Tending. Cibolo is very affectionate in his mating approach, often wooing to her as she goes into estrous.

In times past we had to guess she was bred if she didn't cycle some 21 days or so after the Tending days. The owner then will wait 90 days and then “palpate” her to see if she was “settled.” This act of palpation is a physical manipulation of the ovarian cavity, entered through the rectum. While not frequently, sometimes the procedure can cause the short breed embryo to abort.

But within the last few years a new non invasive procedure – a simple blood test – has been developed by a company called BioTracking the maker of BioPRYN, a blood pregnancy test for cattle, elk, sheep, goat, bison, and deer. This is our preferred procedure these last months, and we have been delighted with the ease and effectiveness of it; particularly on our smaller sizes of cattle.

We use D’s Diagnostic Services in Cumby, Texas. She is prompt, pays close attention to details, and cost effective.

Reporting what people do, not what they say they will do.

Small cattle make big impression


Karl Falster and his wife Nancy own Falster Farm and Cattle, where they raise organic Miniature and standard Herefords, seven miles South of Winnsboro, in Wood County...Falster said the Miniature Herefords has been successful because they can be profitable, while still requiring less maintenance than a modern, or standard-sized, cow...

Found this artice at Agricultural Economic News Blog by Kalpa

Time to End - Time to Begin

My daddy was fond of saying that all things come to an end at the end of all things. As Nancy and I wrap up 2009, we are seeking to find closure on all kinds of projects we started in 2009 so we can start new ones as January begins.

I'm fond of saying that all things have a beginning and if properly planned should bloom and grow. So, the new project for 2010 is a Falster Farm Cow/Calf Investment Management Program. Designed for the individual that is desiring to profit from ownership in speciality livestock but yet to be ready to take full posession: for any reason, and I can appreciate all of them, especially the getting out and busting the frozen water tanks this time of year - know what I mean?