Winter Time News

It is winter, but it hasn’t been bad so far, at least not in our area.  We feel really blessed as the ice storm went north and south of us.  We had a glaze on the grass, but nothing on the dirt roads at all.  The temperature hasn’t been bad either.  We did have some sub freezing temps, but only for about three days.  Even we Ozarkers can handle that.

In the past we  have been listing bred heifers for sale and at the end of November we sold ten of those heifers to Wedermeyer Farms in Nebraska.  Unbeknownst to me or Wedermeyer Farms all bred animals shipped into Nebraska must be bred at least 120 days.  Preg checking showed we had a few bred 80-100 days, so we have eight heifers still available for sale. 

In addition to the bred heifers we have 20 yearling to yearling plus open animals we would sell.  Also for sale, we have a purebred,  blonde colored bull ready for service.  He is 37.09% bison and a son of LNH Rondo who has been pictured on this site in the past.

Looking forward to Spring and new calves.  Everyone take care.

Fall 2016

We started the Fall season by taking four young heifers to the Ozark Fall FarmFest.  As usual there many animals on display this year including a total of twelve Beefalo. Circle Z and Fowler Beefalo were also displaying Beefalo.  We visited with a number of people who had an interest in Beefalo, both from a consumer and a  producers point of view. It is always gratifying to hear folks say how they enjoy the meat from Beefalo, but mystifying  that producers who understand the benefits of raising Beefalo are still reluctant to trying it. Education, that is a mission for us.  Better promotion too.

On the farm today we have 140 animals, everything included. We have a small group of steers we are planning to sell as well as a few open cows.  In addition, for anyone wanting to start with Beefalo or to increase the size of their herd, we have twenty heifers that have been exposed to a bull since the end of May.

Holidays are just ahead and we wish everyone all the best. Take care.

Spring?? We hope!

I meant to get out a posting last month, but hopefully I’m not too late.

It has been a very nice Winter here in the Ozarks, but like most everyone I am looking forward to Spring.  We are in the position on our hay supply that we haven't been in years and grass is starting to grow.  A little rain and some warm night and we could be off to the races.

I need to apologize to someone who was on our Facebook last Fall asking if we had some heifers to sell (we did and do),  but I was never on the page myself and missed it.  My wife informed me of my mistake so I have learned how to get on the page.  Our daughter-in-law, Gena, has been putting this posting online for me, on both the Blogspot and Facebook.  Obviously I need to start posting myself.

As noted earlier we still have springing heifers for sale.  They could start calving about April 20^th

Our cow have wintered well  also and are already calving.  I enjoy watching one week old, or younger, Beefalo  calves eating a mouthful of hay and chewing it like an old cow; that’s Beefalo for you.

Finally---Back on Line

I have to apologize for not posting any new information for a  long, long, long time.  We had computer problems initially, but after they were fixed the problem was just me.  No excuses.  I will try to do better in the future.

2015 has been a great year for good weather;  July and August provided plenty of rain, cooler than normal temperatures, and the grass was green and growing.  At the same time cattle prices stayed high.  Then the rain stopped and prices dropped almost in unison.  As of this date we are getting rain again, but cattle prices are still down from their highs and aren’t forecast to return.

Back in March we had to sell our big bull, Rondo, which we have pictured on this site in the past.  He had developed a foot problem in one of his hind feet about three years ago.  We placed him in a corral for six to eight weeks and he recovered.  Last Fall he had a similar ailment in the other foot, but never recovered.  He was the most gentle bull I have ever been around and a lot of his calves seem to have his docile disposition.  I miss him.

Currently we have 130 head of animals.  We have 32 heifers one and a half to two years of age running with a young bull we purchased from Larry Hacker.  In addition we have 21 more six months to one year.  Most of these are available for sale.

We are still selling packaged meat, but are going to be using a different processing plant.  The one we have used  previously  closed its doors a couple months ago.  We will be taking our next beef to Cabool Kountry meats, LLC , a certified USDA facility,  in Cabool, Mo. Hopefully we and our meat customers will be happy with our new provider.

I will bring this posting to a close and promise not to be so delinquent in the future.

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas.  

Fall Update

We meant to make a posting immediately after the Fall Farmfest, but as you can see immediate is not as fast as you might think.

 

We have been busy selling cows, heifers, and a bull.  Also we have harvested one animal.  Our stock of packaged meat was very low, but starting 10-26-13 we will have an ample supply of hamburger, roasts, and steaks.

 

In addition to packaged meat we have for sale several heifers that have been exposed to a bull all summer, weaned calved and  older cows if that is your desire.

 

The holidays are here and so is winter; we hope we will be ready for them.  Until then, take care.

Fall Farmfest

The Ozark Fall Farmfest will get underway October 4th and run through October 6th.  No admission and free parking on the Ozark Empire Fair grounds are a couple of postives.  In addition there will be an abundance of animal and machinery exhibits and an E-Plex filled with all kinds of goodies.

 

We are planning on being a part of the Beefalo contingent which will probably consist of about twelve animals.  We will be taking four and will be joined by Fowler Beefalo of LaMont, and Circle Z of Bourbon, Mo. 

 

Beefalo had a good Show at the State Fair llast mlonth.  Unfortunately we had to cancel at the last moment due to family health issues.  Hopefully and prayerfully those issues are receding and everyone will be in the pink soon.

 

Back to the Farmfest, it is always a good time to visit and even to educate some of our urbanites who are 1-3 generations removed from the farm and are unaware of the value and importance of agriculture and its individual components.  Beefalo, being a hybrid species, raises lots of questions. Do they reproduce? Do you use a Buffalo bull or Buffalo cows? Are they tame?  How do they taste?  We will do our best to answer those questions and provide a pleasant atmosphere for all who come by our area.  We look forward to seeing you October 4-6.

Here are a couple links for more information about Farmfest:

http://farmtalknewspaper.com/ozarkfallfarmfest/x546173799/Ozark-Fall-Farmfest

http://www.ozarkempirefair.com/events/event-calendar?view=event&event_id=372

http://springfieldmo.org/events?day=2013/10/04&detail=13735

RAIN, RAIN, RAIN

Can you believe all the rain recently?  Just unbelievable.  We had started to get a little dry and then the deluge.  We had gotten a couple of real nice rains when suddenly it was rain about every day.  At this writing we have received 11.35 inches in the last six days.  The only bad thing for me is that I will have to mow the yard again, and again.

The Beefalo are certainly enjoying the benefits of the rain.  Pastures are unusually good for August and hopefully will carry through Fall to Winter.

Next week we will be going to the Missouri State Fair.  The Beefalo National Show has relocated to Sedalia.  Judging of Beefalo will be Saturday August 17th.  We are taking three animals;  two bulls and one heifer.  It is my understanding there will be thirty two Beefalo at the Show.  We hope to see many of you at the Fair and the Show.  It should be a pleasant time.  Until the next time take care.

Spring???

This past Winter has not been especially hard, but by stretching out until May it has been a long season.  Most of us have been ready for a normal Spring for the last six to eight weeks, but not this year.  Two days of Summer; next two days thirty to forty degrees cooler.  Life in the Ozarks!  But at least we are getting plenty of rain; I've had washed out water gaps and a fence line to show for that.

 

Our cows seem anxious to consume a lot of grass, and it is trying to grow, but temperature fluctuations has slowed its growth.  Region wide (central U. S.) the weather has alternately aided (rain), and retarded growth (cold).  Overall though, because of the good rains the outlook is better than last year.

 

With that thought in mind more heifers are being retained nationally instead of going to slaughter.  There seems to be a tepid effort to rebuild the nations beef herd.  We have several replacement females on hand and are offering twenty (20) open yearlings for sale.  In addition we have fourteen (14) older heifers that may or may not be bred that are also available.  With one exception all thirty four (34) heifers are sired by LNH Rondo who is pictured on this blog.

 

Until the next time everyone take care and best of luck.

SPRINGTIME???

It seems Mother Nature can't make up her mind; one day it is hot, the next day it is cold.  Grass tries to grow, but not as fast as the cows want to eat it.  Maybe next week.

As usual the cattle are ready for Spring and the new lush green grass  that comes with wet and warmer weather.  Baby beefalo start eating forage just days after birth and we have several calves already on the ground with more on the way.  It's also that time of the year when farmers often purchase new stock for the upcoming season.  We have a variety of classes availableat this time:  yearling heifers, bred and open older heifers, and some with calves by their side.  We have older cows as well if that is someone's preference.

In addition we have a two year old scurred, black purebred bull and a one year old scurred, buffalo colored, purebred bull for sale.  Both of these animals are halter broken to lead.  As we have mentioned before the quickest, easiest, and cheapest way to get into beefalo is to use a purebred or fullblood bull;  all of their offspring will qualify to be beefalo.

If any of our readerss are students at MSU, or have children at MSU you are probably aware the the Aguculture Dept. (Darr Agricultural  Center) recently received a donlation of a farm, and a small herd of beefalo, from Dr. Norman Shealy.  These are the beefalo we sold to Dr. Shealy in 2011.  We congratulate and commend Dr. Shealy on his generous gift. You can read more at Ozarks First dot com.

That is about the extent of our information for this posting.  Until the next time everyone take care.

A Christmas Note

We at Ussery Beefalo want to wish all our bloggers a very Merry Christmas and the best of New Years, and all of 2013. The tragic events in Connecticut remind us of the invaluable
 importance of family and the need for "Peace On Earth". We urge you to keep those devastated family members, whose lives will never, ever, be the same, in your thoughts and prayers. Take care and all the best.

Another New Sale

This week we sold a young bull, but not one of the two we have pictured on this blog (they are still available).  Laszlo and Kathy Nemeti of Rogersville, Mo. wanted a red bull and we had a younger one.  When we delivered the calf we saw why they wanted red;  they have some beautiful, great looking red animals.  This is the second bull the Nemeti's have purchased from us;  the first was probably about eight years ago.  We say "thanks" and wish them continued success.

Ussery Beefalo Update

My daughter-in-law, Gena, who posts this blog for me asked some time ago if I didn't think it was time to make another posting; I agreed, but am just now getting the information to her.

 

We are certainly enjoying the nice Spring weather and eagerly looking forward to the coming of lush green grass.  We now have over 20 new calves who should be ready to take off on the new grass.

 

We sold five cows to Roger and Kathy Cady of Ozark, Mo. last month.  They located the cows at Greenfield, Mo. and already have some new additions.

 

Cattle are still selling quite well at the sale barns and we sold thirteen last week.  Also, we delivered one animal to our local processing plant (Forrest Meat Processing) earlier this week.  That animal was purchased by John Waddell of Springfield, Mo.  For anyone interested in purchasing a beef we have a steer ready for harvest as of this writing.  He will probably weigh approximately 950 lbs.  In addition we have some younger males ready to turn out on grass and some young heifers  we would be willing to sell.

Finally, we have two young virgin bulls we feel would make good herd sires.  They are pictured at the end of this posting.  We will try to be less tardy in the future.

Yellow Jacket--DOB: 2-16-11,  37.09 % bison

Yuri--DOB: 2-24-11, 37.16 % bison

BEEFALO SALES!!!!!

Recently we have experienced a small flurry of sales activity.  We were pleased to hear from one of our previous meat customers, Dave and Traci Hanson of Aurora, MO.  The Hansons, along with Dave's parents, purchased some roasts, steaks, as well as ground beef.  In addition the Jerry Bobey family near Diggins, Mo. has made a repeat purchase of meat.

 

We have sold a few animals as well.  David Stromberger of Windsor, Co. bought three weaned heifers and is locating them at the Four Aces Cattle Connection near Osceola, Mo.  Today, Dec. 22, Jerry McThompson of Seymour, Mo. purchased two older heifers.  It is always gratifying to see new beefalo producers getting into the business and we wish them well next year and every year. 

 

Ussery Beefalo wishes all of our readers and customers a very Merry Christmas and and Happy New Year!

New Beefalo Producer

Dr. Norm Shealy of Brindabella Farms, west of Fair Grove, Mo. has just purchased ten cows with calves by side from Ussery Beefalo.

 

Last week Mr. Shealy, his daughter Laurel, and grandaughter Natalie came to our farm to pick out the cows they would purchase.  It is always comforting and reassuring to see your cows trust their new owners, but young Miss Natalie had our cows practically sleepwalking.  I  couldn't believe how so many cows let a complete stranger pet them.  We know the cows have a fine new home and we wish Mr. Shealy and his family all the best in the future.

Cattle Sale

We recently sold some heifers to Donny and Jueanita Booth of Millerton, Oklahoma. They are going to be selling their herd of Black Angus cattle in January of 2012 and want to replace them with Beefalo. Donny says he is looking for bred cows that will freshen from February to May, or heifers due to freshen in that time period. Also, he would interested in cows with calves by their side. January is when he would be able to make the transactions. If anyone reading this blog has what Mr. Booth is looking for, you can reach him at (580) 212-7103.

Weaned Heifers For Sale

We have now weaned all seventeen (17) heifers born in February and March.  They will soon be calfhood vaccinated, wormed, and given their other shots.  At that time they will be available for sale.  These 17 are all sired by LNH Rondo who is pictured on this blog; they should make fine beefalo cows in the future.
To a picture of Rondo, click here.

Farm Fest 2011

The 2011 Ozark Fall Farm Fest has been put to rest. The weather was beautiful from start to finish; cool, crisp mornings and pleasant sunshine all day. I thought the crowd was down a little from last year, but still a sizable number. We saw some old friends and hopefully made some new ones. 

There are still a lot of questions about beefalo; How do you get a beefalo? What is their meat like? Are they all this gentle? We still have a lot educating to do and if asked will try to answer everyone's questions.

Getting Ready for Farmfest 2011

The 2011 annual Fall Farmfest will soon be upon us.  The public can attend for three days, October 7th, 8th, and 9th all with FREE admission and Free parking.  Agri business vendors from all over will be attending to display their wares, as will farmers with their animals; goats, sheep, hogs, horses, mules, and cattle will be on hand; maybe even chickens.

 

We are taking four February born calves; two bulls and two heifers which are pictured below.  We are looking forward to renewing old acquaintances and meeting new folks who want to learn more about Beefalo.  See you at the Farmfest. 

 Yellow Jacket DOB:  2-16-11  37.09% bison

 Yoga DOB: 2-15-11 37.09% bison

Youngblood DOB: 2-21-11  37.30% bison 

 Yuri DOB: 2-24-11 37.16% bison

 

 

 

 

The Fair is Over!

From L-R: Yoko, Cleveland Williamson, Yellow Jacket, Gena Ussery, X-Man, Eugene Ussery

We always enjoy taking animals to the fair, but like the other exhibitors we are glad when we get home. As we mentioned on Facebook earlier (Red, White & Blue! Ussery Beefalo brought home one 3rd place, one 2nd place and TWO 1st places from the National Beefalo Show.We had a great time at the Ozark Empire Fair! -Pictures and commentary to come...) each of our four animals recieved a ribbon and we are happy about that!
Our bull, X-Man, never made it home as we transferred him to his new owner, Mark Cox. Mark has been a cattle judge and exhibitor in the past so we might see X-Man, or some of his off-spring at the fair in the future.
It will soon be weaning time time for our February calves and we will be selecting our entries for the 2011 Fall Farm Fest at he Ozark Empire Fairgrounds from that group. The days for the Farm Fest this year will be October 7th-9th, 2011. Remember: No admission or parking fees! We hope you can come!

Good Bye, Bulls

We have recently sold two of our young bulls. Mark Cox and his family, south of Norwood, near Skyline, have purchased our X-Man bull who will be showing at the Ozark Empire Fair on August 6th.
At the same time we were contacted by Mr. Cox we received a call from Laszlo Nemeti of Rogersville. Laszlo bought a beefalo bull from us a few years ago and now needed another one. He likes to get them young and raise them himself. We say "thanks" and "all the best"!