New RAncher looking on advice.

[Astonmartin2003]

Hello everyone, just dropping a few words on my visit to Rays auction this pass Jan.7th.
I'm just starting out in the Black angus realm and was pointed in the direction to Rays auction.
With a 101 in ranching/cattle in about a 2 months time, via the computer and many great pepole here in Russellville, Alabama I went in knowing what I needed.
I got what I wanted with the 2 (brothers) of the top selling bulls, for my foundation bulls. There 3rd dam sold for 114,000.00 <ACF Queen 8192>. Excellent history with the the sire as well <B/R New Desing 036> Everyone that has seen these 2 bulls have had there knees nearly buckel. I cant say enough of the top quality of bulls they had there. Top knotch offit, not to mention them free burgers:) <salute>
Cant wait to breed them come spring.
Will be at there April sale, God willing.

With that said, I have 25 none regisiterd all black angus<avg. weight was 500-600lbs. with some mixs of charlois that I got for about a tad over 1.00 a lb at a local weekly auction near Russellville Al. Some of them look much better than others and thinking of breeding them to my registerd bulls <above noted>.
Will that make my commercail calvs standout at auctions and sell for better prices?
2nd. I'm in the process of looking for 2 more foundation class bulls,<like ones listed up top, no more than 2 years old so I can have veriaty when it comes to my registerd cows, or will that be over kill?
Or will it just be wise to buy a $900-1,200 registerd bull for the none registerd cows?
3rd Is it a good avenue to run both a commercial heard along with a registerd one? I have some great land with over 200 acres of grazing area in blocks of 40 acres each.
Thanks for any info fellow cowboys!
Any advice would be helpful.

 

[Beef11]

i would look at the info provided on your bulls to see if they are suitable for breeding to heifers, Epds actual BW. How many registered cows do you have? it seems that one bull should be able to cover those heifers. Another option is AI. If you Ai once then you will cut your need for bulls in half and have proven genetics as well as names close up on the pedigree that people will recognize. Make sure to transition your bulls to a forage based diet before they go out on grass for duty. As far as your calves go if they are real good try and sell the heifers into replacement duty for a little extra cash. Good luck.

 

[Astonmartin2003]

Thank you for responce, This is a new realm for me, however, buisness is what Im about and sold my 2 companies in Miami, Fl to come to Alabama to retier, however, deer hunting and fishing just isnt enough for me with what I ended up with as far as land.
Ok now to the bulls. Lot 1 Ray Design 4036: birth date 8-10-2004,BEPD l+3.0,,,WEPD l+44,,,YEPD l+86,,,Milk l+27,,,,BW 85,,,ADJ205 843,,,,ADJ IMF 3.07,,,,ADJ UREA 14.4
#9 adjusted UREA,,,#8 WEPD,,,#9 for milk,,,#9 for $F,,,,top4% UREA?EPD top 4% for $B,,top 10% for milk EPD top 10% for $G
Brother about( Ray Design 4067) the same and wieght nearly 1700lbs.
The cows I have now are 25 I bought at an auction and are about 700-800 lbs now and wont be ready for a sire till May.
They are not registerd and spent about a dollor a pound a months or so ago. They are all black angus, however,
I was told they had "about" an 8 to 1 ratio of angus in them.
This is going to be the commercial part of my ranch and figured since I was getting into the registerd end of this wonderful realm, that I would use these fine bulls to just have a better stock of commercail cows/calves. Then my next step is to find some fine registerd "Foundation" quality cows and use the AI method with them with the Foundation bulls.
Thank you for your help.

 

[Mahoney Pursley Ranch]

Sounds like ya did some home work for someone who is new to cattle. ;-)

 

[Astonmartin2003]

Yes I did some homework, as with anything I love, and have always loved animales. Onething that I was told to me when I was just a kid still wet behind the ears, "If you get a job you love, you wont work a day in your life:)"
How can I post some pictures on this sight? Once again, pardon the ignorance.
Thank you

 

[Texas PaPaw]

Check out this link:

http://www.stockmangrassfarmer.net/cgi- ... id=362.htm

I highly recommend "Knowledge Rich Ranching" for everyone in this business. It is a book about the businees side of ranching.

Lots of good experience on these boards, also

Regards

Brock

 

[Astonmartin2003]

Thanks, looks great!!

Check out this link:

http://www.stockmangrassfarmer.net/cgi- ... id=362.htm

I highly recommend "Knowledge Rich Ranching" for everyone in this business. It is a book about the businees side of ranching.

Lots of good experience on these boards, also

Regards

Brock

 

[Beef11]

I have read knowledge rich ranching and liked it. I need to read it again now that i have alittle more experience and education. I might get some more out of it. I would recomend it also.

As far as your breeding program goes what exactly are you breeding for? Size? Build? Structure? temperment? Maternal? YW?
If i was just getting into a registered outfit i would right down my goals, my selection criteria and method as well as my culling criteria. If you are going to be a relatively small breeder you might want to be real specialized in what you raise so that you can offer sire groups and don't forget to cut the dinks.

these are just my suggestions, thanks

 

[Astonmartin2003]

I have read knowledge rich ranching and liked it. I need to read it again now that i have alittle more experience and education. I might get some more out of it. I would recomend it also.

As far as your breeding program goes what exactly are you breeding for? Size? Build? Structure? temperment? Maternal? YW?
If i was just getting into a registered outfit i would right down my goals, my selection criteria and method as well as my culling criteria. If you are going to be a relatively small breeder you might want to be real specialized in what you raise so that you can offer sire groups and don't forget to cut the dinks.

these are just my suggestions, thanks

I have two objectives: 1. To have a great commercail herd to sell at local auctions, presently have 25 that I'll let my bulls (The two registerd Foudation bulls) sire them and keep records of the calves as far as only the sire is concernd. The bulls have a pretty good BW ratio and if I lose a few of the none registerd cows it really wouldnt hurt me in return, due to the monies the calves will bring having a grand sire. My thinking they will auction for more monies and re-coop any lost if any on deaths of none registerd cows. This commercial end will be no more than 100 none registerd black angus on the ranch at any given point.(50 heifers 50 calves)
2nd. Is to specialize in the Realm of Registerd Angus Breeder of the very best of the best. I'm just starting out int his and have no idea wher eit will lead, however, I love the way its going thus far. I will let the publics demands dictate what direction I go. Thats why I spent the kind of moinies on the 2 foundation bulls, and maybe a few more to come along with registerd cows with great simmular pedigree as my bulls.
I owen the land this is taking place on and it has one of the best winter pastures around the area with pleanty of good eatting/water. So my cost are only on the stock <thank god> and feed, (which isnt much) Hence my interest in this grand realm.
If you have any comments possitive/negitive I'll love to listen and learn.
Thank you all again, this is really helping a fellow rancher.

 

[denoginnizer]

Did you happen to notice about what the average bull sold for at the Ray auction?
Thanks Ed

 

[Astonmartin2003]

Did you happen to notice about what the average bull sold for at the Ray auction?
Thanks Ed

Around the 3 grand range.. sevral sold for over 5 grand and the top bulls between 12,000 and 7,500.00 and by far where the better bulls there. Even though, the stock had some hidden "Gems" in the range of 2,000-3,000 grand.

 

[CopeMan]

What is the Ray Auction? Is it a cattle market or a sale put on by a certain ranch?