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“There’s no better female than the F1 baldie,” says Matt
McKinney, Bently Agrowdynamics cattle operations manager. “The
maternal aspects of the baldie female are unbeatable. She will
work harder than any other cow.”
McKinney joined the staff at Bently
Agrowdynamics, Minden, Nev., in 2001. At that time the cow herd
was 100% straight Angus-based. Wanting to add hybrid vigor and
improve the maternal characteristics of the herd, he
incorporated Hereford genetics into the Bently breeding program.
He credits the addition of
Hereford genetics and the effect of heterosis for improved
growth and livability of calves and fertility of the cow herd.
“The calf’s livability in a F1 is extremely high, the calves
want to get up and suck right away,” he explains.
Since Bently has implemented a
crossbreeding program and incorporated Hereford genetics, its
calf crop has seen an increased average weaning weight of 75 lb.
The Bently Herd
Today the Bently herd is roughly 1,800 head of Angus and
Hereford-based mother cows. McKinney says the herd is about 75%
black and 25% black whiteface. The bull battery includes Angus,
Hereford and Charolais bulls. The Bently breeding plan is to use
Hereford bulls on the Angus cows, Angus bulls on the baldie cows
and Charolais bulls as a terminal cross on the older cows.
Cattle summer on private
irrigated and Forest Service-owned high mountain meadows in both
California and Nevada. The company also manages cattle on the
high desert and mountains of the Pine Nut range in a combination
of private ground and Bureau of Land Management managed lands.
Bently winters the herd in California west of Red Bluff and near
the ranch headquarters in Minden, Nev.
Calving season starts in
mid-January and the calves are weaned in September.
Finding Bulls
McKinney says he thinks the Hereford breed has really
progressed. “Hereford genetics have transitioned from big and
tall with no guts to now more moderate with improved carcass
merit. Hereford breeders have also fixed the negative issues
that were at one time associated with the breed such as prolapse
and cancer eye.”
He also is glad to see an
increasing number of Hereford bulls available, but he thinks
there is still a demand for Hereford breeders who are committed
to producing bulls that meet the needs of Western commercial
producers.
Most herd bulls are kept for five
years. With this practice Bently keeps a young bull battery that
is aggressive and not too big, McKinney explains.
New genetics
Bently keeps about 250 heifers each year. The selection process
starts visually, first looking for moderate frame, correct feet
and legs, and broodiness with a lot of capacity. Another
selection tool is if the heifer is out of a first-calf heifer.
“These are our newest genetics and they should be the best if we
made good decisions,” McKinney explains.
The Bently crew also looks at the
age of calf. “If a heifer was born in the first half of calving
season, that shows her mom got bred and calved first, so that
heifer is more likely to do the same,” McKinney says.
All replacement heifers are
artificially inseminated (AI bred) to calving-ease bulls. After
development the heifers are synchronized and watched for heat.
Those that do not show signs of heat are resynchronized and then
time-bred.
Marketing Angles
The Bently marketing strategy is to maximize opportunities and
earn the premiums available today in the marketplace. The ranch
has become non-hormone treated cattle (NHTC) compliant and
participates in age-and-source verification and all-natural
programs. Staff is also looking into green certified and what
marketing opportunities that represents.
McKinney explains half of the
Bently calf crop is sold by video. After weaning, calves are
sorted by size and type and then backgrounded for 45-60 days.
McKinney says he groups red baldies with the Charolais-cross
calves. He says the two make a great package.
The first groups are sold on the December video. The
lighter-weight calves are shipped to the Red Bluff, Calif., area
to run as stockers. They will gain about 2.75 lb. per day on
grass and be sold in May on the video, averaging about 900 lb.
McKinney has been able to get
carcass data on the calves sold. The last groups have been
averaging 75-95% Choice.
Heifers that do not make the
selection as replacements or that don’t breed are sent to Open
Space Meats in Newman, Calif., which is a grass-fed beef
program. This past year the heifers graded 100% Choice off of
grass.
Challenge to Hereford Breeders
McKinney admits there are a lot of breed choices. He says he
thinks the commercial cattle industry as a whole has gone
straight black for too long.
“Hereford is the best choice for
commercial producers who have used a straight-Angus breeding
program,” he says. “Incorporating Hereford genetics into the
herd will add hybrid vigor, which will get you more livability,
increased production, improved health and fertility, and baldie
calves will get you a premium in any market.
“The Hereford-Angus cross cow has
always been the benchmark in the commercial industry. They raise
the best calf each year, stay in good shape and breed back year
after year. Plus it doesn’t matter what you breed her to; she’ll
always give you a good product,” he adds.
McKinney challenges Hereford breeders to continue to produce and
provide the type of bulls that work in the West. He also says
the breed needs to work on making AI semen more accessible and
less costly for the commercial industry.
“There is a huge opportunity for
the Hereford breed today,” McKinney says. “The Hereford bull and
the Angus commercial cow make the perfect pair.” HW
About Bently Agrowdynamics
Bently Agrowdynamics employs advanced technology using processes
that are compatible with environmental, ecological and economic
goals throughout the world. The company includes 50,000 acres of
land and reservoirs for the production of alfalfa, small grains
and cattle. The Bently program also includes improved rangeland
and compost production.
Bently Agrowdynamics also engages in leasing arrangements with
other ranchers to utilize excess grass and feed. |
