Case Study #2 Fact Sheet
NCBA-Pfizer’s Cattlemen’s College
“Genetics for Cowboys”

Situation Statement - what are your goals for the operation for the future?
1.	Maintain profitability to assure that the ranch can remain in the family and pass to the next generation.
2.	Balance the production of market progeny with the ability to produce functional replacement females.
3.	Better fit the cattle to grids that reward both marbling and cutability without sacrificing feedyard performance.
4.	Sell Gelbvieh-sired females to other commercial breeders to diversify income.

Number of Cows:
The present herd size consists of 1000 cows and 200 first calf heifers. There is no future plan for major expansion, but the owner does indicate that, depending upon the cattle cycle and precipitation, the inventory could shift 10 to 15%.

Breeds Utilized:  
The herd’s foundation was straight-bred Hereford.  Hereford bulls are still used to produce females to be mated to Red Angus sires to generate replacement F1 females. Gelbvieh bulls are crossed on the F1 females starting with their second breeding.  With the exception of about 200 Hereford females, the remainder of the mature cowherd is RA x H crosses. 

Breeding System:
All matings are accomplished via natural service.  Heifers are bred to Red Angus bulls in several breeding pastures, the Hereford cows are grouped in one pasture rotation, and the crossbred females are mated in several forest permit pasture rotations.
	
What do you consider to be the best type of cow for your farm resources?
“A crossbred female that is medium in frame, weighing 1100 to 1200 lbs is ideal for our environment.”  They should have enough milk to raise a decent calf, but they don’t have to be exceptionally heavy at weaning; because I usually retain ownership and having efficient growth in the feedlot is important.”

Feed Resources: 
There are 6500 acres of deeded and leased ground plus approximately 3,000 AUMs in grazing permits.  The operation is spread over a radius of nearly 30 miles.  Hay production ranges from 1 to 3 ton per acre depending on irrigation, fertilizer, and soil type.  Native grasses including timothy, brome, and clover comprise much of the hay meadows.  The other grasses, forbs, and browse depend on the range site beginning with lower elevations (Western wheat grass, needle and thread) to more mountainous sites including Mountain Brome, Arizona fescue, Rabbit brush, a variety of Sagebrush species, and sedge grass varieties.

Replacement Strategy:  
This operation raises its own replacement females exclusively because of disease prevention especially “brisket disease”.

Calving Season:
March 15th through May 30th is the planned calving time for this herd.  There is no interest in changing the season in this operation.

Calving Distribution (1999-2003)
Interval	Cows	Heifers	
March		20%	70%
April		65%	30%
May		14%
June		 1%

% Calf Crop: (last 3 yr average)	
SPA records maintained on this operation show that % Calf Crop weaned based off the number of exposed cows is averaging 88%. 

% Open: (last 3 yr average)  
SPA records on the herd indicate 92-96 % pregnancy rate.

% Calving Difficulty (last 5 yr average)
Heifers: generally ranges from 10 to 15% each year (10% easy pulls, 2% mechanical pull, less than 1% c-section).
Mature Cows: seldom any, estimates of 1-2% of cows require assistance usually for abnormal presentations.

Castration Time: 
Calves are branded typically about May 15th and vaccinated (7-way), steers are banded and implanted with Ralgro.

Calf Vaccination Program: 
Preconditioned Calf program is used with additional vaccinations prescribed by herd’s veterinarian.
Product	Date  Vac	
7 way		May 		 
7 way		October (2-3 wks pre-weaning)
4 way		October (2-3 wks pre-weaning)
		Boosters are administered at 
weaning.

Age at Weaning:
This is usually done in late October/early November with calves being 160 to 240 days of age.  

Calf Marketing Program:
Currently steer and heifer calves are finished out at custom feedlots.  However, in some years heifers are backgrounded and sold as heavy feeders.  
	Steers Heifers
% Sold after finishing		  70	   45
% Sold at weaning		  10	   10
% Sold as grass yearlings	  20	     5
% Retained for Breeding		   40

Feedlot Program:
This herd positions itself to feed most of its calves as calf feds.  Thus, finished cattle are 
marketed by late May or at 12 to 14 months of age.  

Ration Level: 	    Start	Finish
NE-Gain (Mcal/cwt)       53		   63
Protein Level (% CP) 	   14.9% 	 15.0%
(High protein levels due to corn gluten feed use.)

Implant Program (Feedlot):
Synovex plus a Revalor.

Feedyard Morbidity/Mortality:
Cattle have experienced an average death loss of 1.75% in the feedlot with a range of 0.5% to 3.0%.  Pull rates have never exceeded 8% of the cattle with the average treatment rate at 4%.