Looking Forward to 2016

Another year.  They do seem to go by a little quicker each year.  Maybe Winter will too.

Last month we took our first animal to our new meat processor, Cabool Kountry Meat.  Our customers seemed to be pleased with the different packaging look;  I do not want to confuse anyone as it is still vacuum wrapped.  The beef was nice and lean dressing out at about 61 %.  We are currently planning on harvesting our next beef around the end of March.

It is Winter calving time and we have two new ones this month;  the next few months should see several more.

In the meantime we still have the 31 springer heifers for sale.  They should start calving in March.

In the absence of any more news I’ll bring this to a close and wish everyone all the best.

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.

Summertime

Summer weather has now arrived, hasn't it?  We still have plenty of pasture for the Beefalo, but the heat and lack of moisture is beginning to have an effect.  Personally, I notice the high humidity; it really saps the energy.

 

Our calf crop is not as "bunched" as much as it has been, or as much as I prefer, although it does mean I could have calves to sell the year around.  We are still having calves being born almost weekly and they and their mommies seem to be doing well.

 

It seems that more people are becoming aware of Beefalo.  Recently we were contacted twice about purchasing some of our yearling heifers as well as some steers. In addition, as many of you know Dr. Shealy who purchased ten cows with calves by side from our farm nearly two years ago donated his entire herd and farm to Missouri State University.  Earlier this month I visited briefly with Dr. Anson Elliott, the head of the Universities Agriculture Dept., who is excited about the Beefalo and their possibilities.  He feels they are perfectly suited for the forages common to southern Missouri.  The University already has Hereford cattle, so there is the potential of a "cross breeding" program to demonstrate the value of increasing hybrid vigor, not just between breeds, but species as well.  I believe this will be obvious as more people become aware of, and involved in Beefalo.

 

Switching gears. we are going to take three animals to the State Fair in August.  The National Show for Bedfalo has been moved from the Ozark Empire Fair to the State Fair this year.  The date for the Beefalo judging is August16th.  If you are at the fair August 15-18th please stop by.  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.