£*3—r?£l ,F i *,! PB—Lancaster Faming, Saturday, April 9,1983 McVEYTOWN - Raymond Bratton is not just another Charolais breeder. He is into it in a big way with 140 purebred Charolais cows on his 400 acre farm and ambitious plans to ex pand herd size to 160. Bratton first became interested in this breed when on a big game hunt in Wyoming. Bratton saw a herd of Black Angus cows with their grey colored calves rounded up by cowboys. Later he was told that the cows were bred to a Charolais bull. “I couldn’t believe the size of those calves,” he said. “They were almost as big as the cows.” The memory of those calves left its impression on Bratton and before long he had Charolais calves of his own. The Bratton herd is now split into Limousin breeders to meet COLUMBUS, Oh. The Eastern Limousin Breeders Association will hold its annual show and sale Saturday, May 7, at the Ohio State Fairgrounds, Columbus, Oh. This event will be held in Cooper Arena with the show to start at 2 p.m. and the sale to start at 6 p.m. Approximately SO to 60 head will be selected to sell. There will be purebreds, full bloods, and per centage bulls, cows, bred heifers and open heifers. t tfl Just one of the important benefits you get with Safeguard equipment! At Eastertime, a lot of parents buy bunnies or chicks for their children. But as the fun of the holiday fades comes the inevitable question: What are we going to do with them now 7 Tins year you can keep the smiles on your children's bees by giving your new bunnies or chicks the proper protection of Safeguard science-engineered cages and accessories. Safeguard has everything from sanitary, all metal enclosures to watering systems, feeders and nest boxes. Even 100 ft. Charolais breeder sold on big round bales three groups of 40 cows each and one group with 20 head. One bull can efficiently service a group. The grouping system is working well according to Bratton, who is experiencing a better than 90 percent conception rate by pasture breeding. He estimates that another eight percent, the problem breeders of the herd, are being serviced by AI. Weaning weights for bulls last year averaged 750 pounds with one bull tipping the scales at 840. Heifers average 650 pounds and the average weaning age is 185 to 188 days. His feeding program consists of green-chopped rye fed in April. Cows are sent to pasture during May and remain there until late November. Bratton feeds a mixed hay of 15 The annual meeting of the Association will be held Friday evening May 6 at the Ramada Inn North (sale headquarters). The dinner will begin at 6:30 pm with the meeting to follow. The meeting will be for the purpose of electing three directors and open business to the members. Other items on the agenda are the discussion of Association sponsored shows, summer field day and Fall sale. The new directory will be described. rolls of welded wire-mesh Just about ev erything you need for the proper care and protection of your small qnimals and gamebirds And it all sells at low, direct-to-you prices. For a firsthand look stop in at the Safeguard Factory Showroom. 114 Earland Industrial Park, Building #l..Just east of New Holland. PA off Route 23. Phone (717) 354-4586. Safeguard percent high quality alfalfa and 85 percent grass during late spring and summer. In late fall and winter the cows get first-cutting hay fed free choice plus 25 to 40 pounds of corn silage daily. Good quality hay is used to supplement the pasture in later months and vitamins and minerals are fed during the winter. Calves are creep fed from 300 pounds until weaning. At this time a grain ration of between 12 and 13 percent protein is fed free choice. As yearlings, the heifers are fed the same roughage diet as the cows. Of the 150 acres of com grown last year, 100 acres were used for silage and the remaining acres were in ear com. Next year he hopes to decrease his com operation to 100 acres of silage com while increasing his hay crop to 300 acres. Open Weekdays: 7 30 AM to 4:30 PM Saturdays; 7 30 AM to 11:30 AM HENRY K. FISHER INC. SANDBLASTING AND SPRAY PAINTING Aerial Ladder Equipment 667 Hartman Station Rd. Lancaster, PA 393-6530 Sollenberger Silos Corp. A Nitterhouse Company Box N Chambersburg, Pa. 17201 [7l7] 264-9588 A Producer of Quality Concrete Products Since 1923 “I got pretty good com yields," he said, “100 to HO bushels per acre, but the heart of this operation is hay, not com.” With 3 00 head to feed a basic diet of hay, Bratton is a firm believer in large, round bales. He found that cattle waste less hay if they have to pull a mouthful at a time from the large bale as opposed to picking the loose hay of a small bale from the ground. Bratton said he can’t afford to pay the labor costs of baling small since he only employs one hired man. The mechanized work enables him to move bales to the pasture daily with little labor. “The key to getting good quality hay from large bales year round,” he said, “is to get good hard shell bales for water runoff.” Bratton claims the large bale is the best way to feed a cow-calf Sollenbereer and Laidip - The two best names in bottom unloading silos team up to give you the best structure and unloader for your money. • Solid 6” thick high strength concrete walls, over twice the thickness of some other concrete structures. • 60,000 P.S.I. Steel reinforcing • Over 75 years experience • White color reflects 3 times better than blue...much less heat damage •Leasing available Early Order Discounts Now In Effect herd. They eliminate costs in storage facilities and assure good quality, unmoldy hay at a low cost per ton. Last year Bratton baled five hundred 1800 pound bales for himself and another two-hundred bales for his neighbor, as well as baling 100 acres of com stover. He uses a New Idea round baler. A diversified market for his cattle has made his beef operation highly successful. Most heifers are sold to kids for FFA or 4H projects and bulls are sold to purebred or commercial breeders. Last summer he was able to sell 80 head of steers at 84 cents per pound when local prices were at 63 cents. Bratton said there is plenty of managing connected with running a profitable cattle operation but that he is looking forward to a successful future with his Charolaisherd. Enjoy the AFFORDABLE prices are security of STRONG, LONG- hard t 0 bcat! LASTING HIGH TENSILE FENCES by KENCOVE £[«sTrel GUIDE Call these toll free numbers: . Outside PA, 800-245-6902 In PA, 800-442-6823 RD 01 Blairsville KENCOVE FARMS Master Card Visa The Fence Of UPS Delivery The Future Laidig 98 and 198 for Forage Laidig 43 and 143 for Grain Kencove
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