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| Spring 2005 | Spring 2005
We had a great Purebred Simmental Bull and Commercial Heifer Sale on 2/19/05 at the ranch. The weather and the people were wonderful- really good to see old friends and meet new ones.
There was great grazing in our winter pasture Maton Rye and TAM 90 Rye grass. However, the spring rains are off about 60%, so we do not have the excess forage we normally have. Because of this, we will not make our usual silage crop. We are fortunate to have enough silage to make it this winter. The price of fertilizer and fuel are making us look at all our options. Since we are grass farmers; we will be very judicious in our fertilizer application.
Our whole herd Brucellosis bleed was done, as we have done the last 30 years, as well as, the whole herd TB test at the request of the Texas Animal Health Commission. Hopefully, we can get enough purebred herds for the state to be TB free again. The actual testing is paid for by the state, but they do not pay for the cow work or the wear and tear on the cattle that result from repeated trips through the chute.
The grey, horned and heavy birth weigh bull calves are castrated during this working. The four month plus heifers were bang vaccinated. All of the cows and calves over 300 pounds are given Cattle Master Gold FP5 (contains modified live virus) and approved for pregnant and lactating cows: Spirovac (Pfizer)- only vaccine for Lepto Hardjo Bovis available, and One shot Ultra 8- contains all clostridia (Black Leg) also contains the Leucotoxin for Pasturella Hemolytica and they say Pfizer is the only one with the Leucotoxin, the only effective vaccine for the Pasturella hemolytica according to Dr. Steve Wikse, of Texas A&M University
The calves will be weaned about three weeks after the vaccinations and booster vaccinations with Cattle Master Gold FP5, Spirovac, and One Shot Ultra8 are given. After weaning, the calves will start on alfalfa, good water and keeping the dust down by watering if necessary. We try real hard to decrease the stress of weaning by having the calves healed from dehorning and castration while on their mothers. By doing this last year, there were strong weight gains by day 45. Soon, we will do a study comparing our weaning program with Purina’s program. I will let you know our results.
250 commercial heifers will be synchronized with MGA for 16 days and then let them have a heat and 17 days later give Lutalyse and place KMars on them and breed them when they come in heat. They will AIed using calving ease Angus semen from McKellar Ranch (a Bon View Bando 598 son from Connealy Angus Whitmar, NE). We will clean up with a son of the AI Angus sire, we used and other registered Angus bulls to have them start calving two weeks after our Spring February Sale. The heifers are Brangus, Brangus Baldie, Simbrah F1s, and Braford F1s. This program should allow for more AI pregnancies and one less trip through the chutes- we will advise of the results. The fall calves look really good and should wean heavy. Breeding will be complete by 6/15/05. We are through calving- none since 3/20/05.
Our purebred cattle are being selected for our Fall Combined Bull and Female Sale which is 10/29/05. Our bulls have returned to the ranch from SFASU in Nacogdoches and they should be in good shape for the sale. We will let you know how summer treats us in our next letter. Hope all is well with you and yours.
Thanks,
Joe
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