Agricultural News
Tom Brink and David Trowbridge Say Genetics and Management Make Ideal Calves
Tue, 03 Apr 2012 17:51:57 CDT
How do you define the ideal cow? David Trowbridge of Gregory Feedlots and Tom Brink of J&F Oklahoma Holdings take a stab at that definition.
"You need cattle that have high performance and you need cattle that have high carcass quality because the most profitable cattle are going to be the ones that have maximum performance and have maximum carcass quality," Trowbridge says.
How does a cattleman know he is producing those? The keys are in genetics and management says Brink.
"We like an animal that is 50 to 75 percent Angus maybe 25 to 50 percent continental and maybe up to 25 percent something else. If it's a southern-based animal and you need a little ear and some heat adaptability, then having some Brahman influence. We like to keep that Brahman down to an eighth or less in the feeder steer."
Trowbridge says his ideal cattle start with a solid pre-conditioning program.
"We like to see all the calves have at least two rounds of modified live vaccine administered before they come to the feedlot. We like to see them fed during that period so they're gaining so they can gain the maximum amount they can gain during that time."
He also says, "We like calves to never have a bad day. To never have a bad day is a good thing for a calf.
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