How To Develop A Functional, Profitable Beef Cow Herd
BILLINGS, MT “Maybe it
is tintfe for the commercial man to
re-evaluate heterosis,” said Mer
lyn Carlson, rancher and past pres
ident of the National Cattlemen’s
Association. “We have been
crossbreeding for the past seven
years. Now with the improve
ments in the Angus breed, and the
reliability of EPDs, our records
show that there is no added value
to crossbreeding.”
Carlson and two other cow-calf
producers met recently at the
American Angus Association
Conference to discuss with atten
dees how to develop a functional
and profitable cow herd. The
speakers were Merlyn Carlson,
Lodgepole, Nebraska; John Coo
ney, Harlowtown, Montana; and
Jim Berger, Saratoga, Wyoming.
The panel was moderated by Dr.
Art Linton, head of the animal sci
ence department at Montana State
University.
Carlson explained that the
move to a straightbred herd has
helped eliminate costs in breed
ing, management, sorting and
extra feed.
The Carlsons have used careful
bull selection to build their cow
herd. “We emphasize EPDs for
birth weight, maternal traits, car-
We Specialize In
Aerial Work
Using Our Twin
Bucket Boom
Truck
ELECTRICAL \
Extends 1
CONTRACTING \
55Ft I Specializing In
\ / AGRICULTURAL
A J WIRING
Also Residential Industrial j
And Commercial Work /
Free Estimates
C. M. HIGH CO.
320 King St *
Myerstown PA 17067
Phone 717-866-7544
We Have Poles In
Stock _25,30 -35-A45
I Think Irrigation^jF*!
\ Remember The Drought Last « t
\ Summer, Buy Early While || \
x There Is Still A Good Supply II |
| Early Order Program 1 \
\ Order And -f., || \
$ Pay By i| f
$ 15 For i i »%. \
h These j. W '-\
\ Discounts
il 8% discount on 8 & 10 ml
\ chapin drip /
\ 15% discount on all irrigation fittings x
sls% discount on layflat and all sizes
$ PVC pipe
$lO% discount on new & used
$ irrigation pipe, 3”-4"-6” over 2
\ mile of pipe in stock
\15% discount on all Nelson guns &
? sprinklers
We have a large Inventory In stock
and encourage you to buy early
before spring rush comes.
It will pay you to do so!!
(Call us for a free catalog)
L Zimmerman Irrigation
RD #3, Box 186
Mlffllnburg, PA 17844
717-966-9700
cass quality and yearling weight in
our bulls,” Carlson said. “In fact,
we emphasize carcass traits the
most."
“Feedlot growth and carcass
traits are twice as heritable as is
weaning weight,” Carlson said,
“so we think we are making
strides a little faster with these
selection procedures.”
Although we are headed toward
genetic trim of beef, Carlson
warned that, “As we take waste fat
off, we must not take taste fat
out.”
At Cooney Ranch cows must
calve on their own, without much
human assistance, John Cooney
told the group.
Their herd has been built upon
careful bull selection. “Buying
good bulls is the best thing you
can do for your herd,” he said. The
last three years the Cooneys have
paid an average of $4,000 each for
their registered Angus bulls. Here
is how they pick them. Two fami
ly members go to the bull sale.
They inspect bulls in the lots and
mark the animals with an “X” or
WOR
Nothing worj
than a Kubota B
tractor. And there
are ten different
B-Series models,
ranging from 12
to 22.5 horsepowe;
With that much variety, you’re sure (o find one that
meets your needs. Plowing, spraying, hauling, tilling,
mowing and more. There’s a Kubota just right for the job.
You can also choose features to make the work go
T a hydrostatic
on, 3-point hitch,
ve mid or rear PTO
drive.
So if you’re looking
a hard worker,
ook no further than
a Kubota B-Series
IDKUBOin
Nothing like it on earthT
See Us At The Kubota Booth At The Farm Show...
Full Line of Kubota Equipment Available At:
NICARRY EQUIPMENT CO.
RD #2, Box 2008, Reading, Pa. 19605 215-926-2441
Located; 4 Miles North of Reading On Rt. 61 - 3 Miles South of Leesport
Hours: Mon. thru Frl. 8 to 5; Sat. 8 to 3
Ask About Our Farm Show Specials!
“XX” if they have the correct vis
ual appearance. Then the men sit
down and look at the records.
“When we see a bull with an X or
double X that has good EPDs for
growth and milk, and is as big as
any bull in the sale for his age,
then we know that bull is going to
be awful high priced,” Cooney
said. And more often than not,
they buy him.
Females are the most important
part of his cow herd, Jim Berger
said. “Steers are the by-product
and we hope they pay the bill.”
The best cows (all straighlbred
Angus) are bred A.I. Today, Ber
ger wants cows of moderate size.
“In the 1960’s we were selecting
the larger bulls, then in the 70’s
and 80’s we have selected more
moderate size bulls,” Berger said.
To remain in the herd the cows
must undergo rigid culling. Every
cow is individually identified.
Then if they have to “mess” with a
cow she is culled. “We don’t have
the labor to take care of cows. We
keep our labor inputs just as low
as po-sible,” Berger said.
tractor.
See Us For...
★ SALES
★ RENTALS
★ PARTS
★ SERVICE