The herd is located on the Castle Nugent property on the southeast end of St. Croix, which is the dry end of the island.  The cattle are grazing on approximately 1,500 acres.  Forages consist primarily of guineagrass (Panicum maximum) and luecana, aka tan-tan, (Lucaena leucocephala) with some hurricane grass (Bothriochloa pertusa) and Casha (Acacia spp).  The herd is managed to have two calving seasons (spring and fall).  Breeding takes place using natural service in single sire groups with a bull to cow ratio of 1:25 for 60 days.  Calves are weaned around 205 days of age.  Because of the problem of ticks, cattle are dipped once a month.  Bull calves are not castrated because there is a local market for young bulls as meat.