Useful Information

Delay weaning Fall Calves

For the last several years we have switched how we use our largest resource base (Warm Season Native Pasture) and have stocked in a way we can time the flush of early growth with fall unweaned pairs. The cycle these calves go on is the following: calve in large native pastures in September-October-move to cool season fescue improved pasture in November-begin supplemental feed only after stockpiled fescue is out hopefully in February-return to native grass following green up on May 1-wean middle of July.

From this point on the both sets of calves will stay on native for another month to 45 days. The bull calves will go to Growsafe bunks to be intake tested and later move to the quarry pens until the March bull sale and then to YOUR ranches.

Why does this matter to you? These bulls have TIME on their side. The first year of their life they grow to 900 pounds or more without ever receiving corn, DDG’s or other concentrates that can affect bull longevity. Once they are on Growsafe bunks and in the quarry, there is no need to push them at all. High forage rations that can get 2 pounds a day performance is all they need to become a fit athlete that won’t be losing corn and baby fat during your first heat cycles. Its a win for us making them, and a bigger win for the buyer who is realizing VALUE by purchasing a superior product.

The heifers will stay on native until November when they will move to rye covercrops. Much like their mothers, hopefully they can get deep into winter before needing any additional feed. Isolating the heifers that work in this system means their sons will fit our low input approach for years to come.

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