June eighth marked the beginning of our calving season with a bull. He is a handsome fella and eighty-three pounds of spunk. Before the mamma cow had completely shed the afterbirth, this calf had already nursed and was prancing around with his tail cocked.

To some, June might seem like an odd time to start having calves. Our reasoning… We wean our calves at ten months of age which usually occurs in March or April of the following year. The cows have taken their calves through the winter months, and the spring pastures are ready for some quality grazing.

On my February 4th entry, I commented on an article about genetically modifying bulls to create an endless supply of semen from “superior” sires. This same article also specifically reasoned that heat tolerant bulls could be modified to make them more fertile. Basically, young, healthy bulls would be sterilized then spermatogonial stem cells, from highly fertile bulls, would be transplanted in them. I ended my entry by asking if cattlemen were even asking for this service.

I don’t run in the same circles as laboratory cattlemen, so I don’t have an answer to my question. I did, however, read an article in a cattlemen’s publication that was quite the opposite stance. It seems that a Texas rancher has a breeding objective of “maintaining a breed herd…of appropriate genetics for the region”. He utilizes bulls that are “smaller in frame size and had EPDs for low birth weight and maintenance energy”. This rancher also says that “selection is applied to promote high fertility and survival in a low input system”.

This I can side with. I would rather invest my dollars and time in stock that can make the grade on their own, not in cattle that have to be modified to be productive. What are your thoughts? Comment at redangus@sheribryan.com.

Durning pregnancy checks last week, Dr. V. commented on the good body condition of the girls. He knows our stock is exclusively grass-fed, and his next comment was about the longevity of grass-fed operations compared to the longevity and profitability of high input grain-fed operations. Dr. V.’s compliment on the cattle was appreciated, however the unspoken encouragement was appreciated even more.

Oftentimes, Don and I find ourselves in the minority. Have you ever been there? You start talking cattle with some folks and they ask about your farm. “We practice rotational grazing and have grass-fed breeding stock”, you answer. At that point, you get the look. The one that says, “Oh, you’re one of them.” Some even follow up by saying, “That’s a lot of work.” That’s why Dr. V.’s casual comment was encouraging. He sees what we are doing and thinks we have a good thing going. He didn’t say that producers feeding grain to their cattle is bad, just more costly than our approach.

To gather with like-minded people and talk about raising cattle on grass or reading an industry-related publication dedicated to the grass farmer is business is usual. However, hearing positive words from a person, related to the industry but with no care other than the health of your animals, is encouragement that we’re doing the thing.