Brangus Cattle Operation
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Watson Land & Cattle consists of a herd of quality Brangus cattle. The ranch has been an operating cattle ranch with my family for over 100 years. Our Brangus cows are large framed cows bred to be black without scurs weighing between 1200 and 1400 lbs. The bulls are registered Brangus with good EPDs. They are low birth weight (75-80 lbs.) with good milk genes. Most of the cows in our cow-calf operation are not registered but are bred to be good mama cows.
I started in the cow business when I was 12 years old with a cross bred Angus cow that was bred to a $100,000 bull from the Lonnie DeWees Angus Ranch in Willis, Texas. During my high school years, I showed a prize Angus bull from the DeWees Ranch. In later years, my father and I both bought cross bred Brangus cows and bred them to our own registered Brangus bulls. In 1985, when my father retired, we both sold all our herd and leased out the ranch. It did not take me long to realize I missed being in the cattle business. So, in 1990, I began raising the best large Brangus cattle once again. After a few years of breeding good quality cattle, we started offering registered scramble heifers and show calves including replacement heifers and bulls. When the 4H and FFA kids started buying the scramble heifers, I sold only for the amount of the scramble certificates asking for no extra payment from the kids. I followed the kids through their showing careers. They seemed to enjoy the personal attention that we gave them, almost as much as I did as the breeder. Several herds were established from my herd when people bought their first cattle from our ranch. |
We had registered cattle with the Brangus Association until the cost became prohibitive so we discontinued registering and began raising commercial Brangus cattle. I continue to enjoy raising my Brangus cattle for replacement heifers and bulls.
For many years now, I have raised my own hay here on the ranch. I carry out soil test on my fields and fertilize them accordingly on an annual basis. Our hay contains 12-15% crude protein. I am able to feed my cows this hay and mineral each winter. The only sack feed the calves receive is some creep feed during the harshest winter months. |
