OUR PROGRAM

 “To comprehend the present and predict the future you must understand the past.” The History section about our farm, offers valuable information about our program.  For those of you who have not read it here is a brief overview. Our first registered herd and program began in the 60’s and lasted until the mid-80’s.  We don’t know when the commercial herd started but has been around a long time and adapted as needed to stay profitable with the resources available.  A new registered herd was started in 2013 and the technology advancements now available, a new program was created for both herds at that time. It was tailored to our style of management and can be ran basically by two people, and not necessarily at the same time.

Our production program has two simple goals for our registered and commercial cattle

Goals:

• Goal #1) Own average size ~1100-1400 pound Momma’s that produce a calf at least every 12 months, without assistance, maintain her body condition without becoming overly thin or fat, and raise a calf with an average weaning weight of at least half of hers, and that can pass traits to offspring to better position us to target Certified Angus Beef (CAB) Sales, or have greater returns at stockyard sale, or feedlot direct sales when bred to a quality sire.

• Goal #2) See that someone eats or makes pets of the ones that don’t meet the conditions above.

We meet these goal using a two-step process, both are equally important

• Initial Cattle Selections, Retaining Replacements, and Selective Breeding

We insist on above average traits of fertility, longevity, udder quality, disposition, structural soundness, production efficiency and fleshing ability.

We value and use performance records, EPD's and other evaluation tools, however, selecting cattle is more than just reading numbers, but if you don’t allow bad genetics in the herd then no bad genetics should be passed to the offspring.

• We use proven and tested genetics (EPD’s) along with performance records as the starting tool for selection of our mommas. If they don’t fall within our practical real world numbers, we don’t consider them. Then we visually inspect the cow, and the parent/offspring/siblings if available, and finally talk with the owner about performance and docility.   We place equal importance on things we SEE, including structure, udder quality, fleshing ability, disposition, and feet. We don’t buy any we are not certain of. We allow NO compromises. 
• We use the same principles for retained animals.

To produce offspring we use an AI pairing or use our high quality bull to meet goal #1. (Unless we are really hungry- see goal #2)

For our registered cattle we have two defined breeding and calving seasons. Calves are due the fall, September 1st to December 15^th and in the spring from February 15 to April 15. For the first breeding season we one chance AI around thanksgiving then the bull goes in, bull comes out March 15^th. April 15 we pregnancy check and turn the bull back in.  We pull the bull around July 1^st.   We then pregnancy check using blood samples around the first week in August.   Cows not bred go to the market.  We try to buy or retain all our dames so that they can initially be breed in the fall season.

For the commercial cattle a bull or two runs year round but we use records to meet goal #1.

Sometimes even the best pick or paring doesn’t preform so well, we cull them on performance or structure defects.

We are very happy with the dames we have but…

“We don’t care who your dam and sire are, where you placed in a show or what  your last calf did, you have to add to the bottom line and do it on grass, if not your out of here.” Elliott Farm quote

• Herd Health Management

We follow BQA guidelines in the treatment of our cattle and are committed to practicing bio security to maintain a healthy herd.

We DNA test all our cattle and calves. That gives us the best tool in planning for the future of that animal.

In addition, all animals are tested for Johne’s, BVD, BlV and Anaplasmosis.

Annually Cows, Calves and Bulls get dewormed and lice treatments. Cow and Bulls with Booster shots for IBR, BVD, PI3, BRSV, Lepto, Vibriosis, Blackleg 7-Way at the appropriate time

We keep records on each animal.

We practice rotational grazing to better use the resources of our fields and keep fields clean.

Sometimes we will creep feed the calf’s and sometimes we will not, it depends on several factors but we lean toward not creep feeding when possible. We consider herd health when making this decision.

When needed, we feed high quality hay produced by us.

Our cattle are gentle and handled frequently making them easy to work and move, this makes them less likely to injury or injury to other cattle or humans.

Specialty Program (Marty’s)

Marty’s Specialty Program is basically my hobby experiments, and if money is made conducting them then great.  Don’t confuse this program as being only a hobby experiment it is functional.  I use the same principles and philosophy as the production program with a little more risk and investment involved.  The reality is there is a market for these “special cows and bulls” as functional animals in people’s herds, ours included if the results are right. Dad don’t always agree that it’s practical but I enjoy it.

How the program works, usually I get curious or a special request is made to produce something someone wants. I first do extensive research on possible outcomes, the risk and cost involved. From there I estimate the time and cost and then decide to do it or not based on the current state of our resources and how deep the pockets of the costumer are. I’m not overcharging, I basically just want to break even and make enough to fill up the truck once or twice.

No, I’m not making 5 legged cows just stuff like Embryo transfer, Sexing offspring, crossbreeding, AI breeding for combination of specialty traits, producing offspring with show cattle traits and offspring for “specials” sales.  I enjoy the results and hope to make some of the practices practical for our herd.

For now, only animals that can meet goal #1 of our production program are retained.