ga. prime":2frchn9s said:
Thanks for the well reasoned responses to my query, DOC and Badlands. DOC, you probably are familiar with similar sales as the Tifton HERD sale coming up April 17. Heifers are given reproductive tract maturity scores, pelvic area taken, WDA, frame score, and so forth and AI bred to a low bw Angus bull for fall calving(this year to a bull called Mytty In Focus.) The reason I'm saying all this is that a person could go there and buy made to order heifers. Sim-Ang, Gelb-Ang, Char-Ang, Brangus, etc. From that point, get youself a terminal bull and you're in business for the long haul without having to have several pasture areas. You could do it with any number of heifers great or small. What say you?
ga.prime -
Your ". . .made-to-order heifers" plan tells me that you have spent a lot of time thinking about the Beef Cattle Business! I applaud you for being innovative! I have seen similar types of programs such as this put into practice and, with a few minor exceptions, it works very well -
IF - you pay strict attention to a few GIVEN preliminaries and prerequisites:
1- You have the necessary capital available to be able to acquire optimal Genetics - which is mandatory for the project to operable AND SUCCESSFUL!
2- You have the physical plant and functional management assignments established IN ADVANCE before you are required to place them in operation - cattle management facilities, chutes, necessary medical equipment, rotational pastures, dependable fences and buildings sufficient enough to preclude your wasting time and effort which should be unnecessary with a well organized operation.
3- The idea is so operational in concept that it must be managed in an optimal manner,so that it can work like a smooth machine!
4- The producer must be so knowledgeable of his COW'S genetics that his selection of Sires must be close to PERFECTION in phenotype and genotype regarding all traits so as to be compatible with his cow herd - particularly Carcass characteristics and specifically IMF and REA EPD's!
5- Utilize an EarTag program which easily and readily identifys each animal so as to prevent breeding errors.
There are many ideas and practice technics which will make a program such as this perform smoothly, and you can work it out to the degree that it is as easy and enjoyable to put into practice as possible, and can be a paradigm to the industry!
Badlands has mentioned several options which would work very well. One important caveat I feel I should mention: it will not be cheap or inexpensive to enter into this operation in the beginning. Nothing worth while is. If you are going to do it - - DO IT RIGHT to begin. Plan your work - and work your plan. I am excited for you, and please keep us up to date with your progress!
DOC HARRIS