Agricultural News
Teamwork Makes for Premium Cattle
Wed, 10 Oct 2012 12:09:32 CDT
Raising cattle to qualify for the Certified Angus Beef brand takes a lot of teamwork.
Anne Burkholder of Will Feed, Inc., in Cozad, Nebraska, says even though cattle producers can be fiercely independent, it is important to collaborate.
"The product that we make is beef and so it's going to take grass and it's going to take cattle and it's going to take a lot of things to make that end product."
Healthy cattle with a strong foundation have an advantage as they transition from the cow-calf operation to the feedlot.
"I do a lot of things here at the feedyard to help the calves acclimate and transition from a life of running on grass to a life in a feedyard with other animals from other sources, but I need the cow-calf operator to help me out and make sure that good, modified live vaccines are being given in a timely manner on the ranch," Burkholder says.
She also says that assistance goes far beyond vaccinations.
"From a nutrition standpoint, that calf needs to be able to have what he needs to grow and to marble. And from a mineral standpoint we need to have a good mineral history on board to stimulate that immune system and compliment that with a great vaccine program."
When good management is coupled with Angus genetics, premium prices follow.
"I think it's important for all of us in the beef industry to constantly set our animals up for success. And that means we need to provide that calf with everything he needs so that he can attain his genetic potential."
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