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We treat our SimAngus and Simmental cattle like our customers treat theirs. RCF cows are expected to calve unassisted, rebreed on grass without grain and wean a calf, or they are culled. We cull relentlessly.
- Unproductive cows are sent to the sale barn.
- Bull and heifer calves that don't meet our strict standards become feeders in our feed lot.
We select for the traits that have the greatest economic value to our customers.
- Calving Ease - Has been are #1 priority for over 30 years, you have to have a live calf to sell.
- Fertility and Fleshing Ability - We expect our 300 head cow herd to rebreed on grass without grain.
- Maternal (Milk, Udder Quality, Disposition) - We don't have time to work with problem cows, they go to the sale barn.
- Growth - We expect calves out of our bulls to come unassisted, be vigorous and thrifty, and gain efficiently to optimum harvest weight.
- Carcass Traits - We have been collecting ultrasound data on the bulls for ten years and market our culls on the IBP grid. 30 Purebred steer mates to our 2005 sale bulls graded 83% choice and 100% yield grade 1's and 2's with a 835# HCW average.
The RCF cow herd is run similar to a commercial operation. All cows go to grass during the summer and graze cornstalks during the winter with silage and alfalfa hay when necessary.
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