Grazing with Shade Haven at Twinfield Farm

Shade Haven welcomes new SH600 owner James Corker

After 42 years as a veterinarian, James Corker of Lake City, South Carolina, traded clinics for cattle and launched a second career on his family’s farm. “I decided I was either going to retire or raise cows,” says Corker.

He chose the latter and went to work converting 20 acres of former row-crop land into pasture—planting grass and building fences for a starter herd of eight Red Angus cows.

This spring that herd grew to 15 head with the birth of 7 calves – five heifers and two bull calves. The herd now moves through Corker’s newly established rotational grazing system. “I got the pasture split, and I started to rotate,” he says. “But I needed supplemental shade to make rotational grazing possible.”

Enter the SH600 Shade Haven mobile shade system. Corker purchased his Shade Haven in March and immediately appreciated its durability, portability, and ability to keep his cattle comfortable and grazing.

As a veterinarian, Corker knows the importance of providing shade for livestock. “It is critical,” he stresses. “It’s not unusual to be 95 degrees with 90% humidity here in July and August. The Shade Haven lets the cattle stay cool out in the open where they can catch a breeze—unlike wooded areas where air doesn’t circulate.”

With plans to expand his herd and improve grazing efficiency, Corker expects the Shade Haven will help him reach his goal of increasing both his stocking rate and the time his cattle graze throughout the summer months. “With the Shade Haven, they have the opportunity to cool down, so they can get back to grazing earlier.” He adds, “The Shade Haven is well built and simple to move with my truck or Gator. I’m impressed.”