This will be our last live auction sale, however I want everyone to know we are not getting out of the seedstock business. This past fall, we had a private treaty, major herd reduction sale. We sold 290 cows and now have 230 left to calf this spring. They are mainly 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd calvers, of which most are carrying bull calves. Next year we should be selling about 100 bulls and 150 bred heifers and young cows. We don’t have all the details worked out yet, but we still plan to have a catalog, DVD, feeding, fertility testing, delivery etc., like we’ve always done. They will just be sold in more of a silent auction format. I simply want to do what I enjoy most to make a living, but have more time for family and friends. One of our greatest blessings over the past 25 years is the wonderful people we have met, and the dear friends we have made in this business. We hope to continue to serve as many of you as possible, for several years to come.

We had a wonderful year in 2009, timely rains, lots of grass, and an excellent hay crop. We did creep the calves with 2/3 soy hull pellets and 1/3 gluten pellets.  We weaned the first part of September. They were on Headstart 70 for 4 days and then right onto a total mixed ration. They are currently receiving 2.5lbs of dry distillers, 2.5 lbs of peas, and 9lbs of corn screening, one pound of liquid supplement, 6lbs of chopped hay and 21 lbs of corn silage.  We feel feeding the bulls a high roughage growing ration like this, insures soundness, longevity, and fertility. The bulls are split into two pens, one red and one black, to try to cut down on riding and injuries.  Plus it has made it more convenient when people come to look. They are both very big pens, allowing them to get a lot of exercise, helping in their development. 

The past several years we have been selling around 100 cows and keeping that many replacements back into our herd.  This keeps our cowherd young, with some of the most up to date genetics.  Our entire cowherd is now several generations solid colored, smaller framed, and even easier fleshing.  Normally we graze our cows out until mid December. This has all been done without sacrificing performance.  This is something we are very proud of. We want cows that can calve easy, hold their condition, breed back early, and still raise a big calf. We have had many favorable comments from customers on the excellent daughters they are getting out of our bulls.

We have grown our Sim-Angus program, on both the sire and the dam side, long enough to get a feel for their value. We were concerned about how consistent and predictable they would be.  If you cut me I’d bleed Simmental blood and feel there will always be a demand for the purebreds.  We have spent a lot of time researching the Angus and Red Angus breeds and truly feel when you cross the best of both breeds; Simmental with Angus or Red Angus, very few purebreds of either breed can compete.  We are every bit impressed with our ¼ bloods and ¾ bloods.  They are proving to be extremely predictable.

With the uncertainly in our economy and the extreme movements in our markets it’s nice to know we are producing a product that’s in demand. Sim influenced, primarily Sim-Angus black or red, are some of the most sought after in sale barns and by order buyers, not only for placements in feedlots but also for replacements in cowherds. This is the strongest demand that we have seen since we have been in business. Simmental x Angus or Red Angus cattle can and do deliver a higher percentage of choice yield grade 1 and 2 carcasses than any other popular crossbred or straight bred. We are going to work hard with the help of the American Simmental Association to help our customer’s market cattle into feedlots wanting to take advantage of these premiums. I feel the residual effects will be amazing. The opportunity to simultaneously get premiums and reduce production cost by feeding high performance, efficient, Simmental x Angus will no doubt create its own demand.  You can also take advantage of SimList to list your Simmental influenced feeder cattle free of charge. Just go to www.simchoice.net