PrimeTime spring 2018

open, she’s gone. If she fails to produce herd-average progeny for a trait, perhaps weaning weight or yearling weight, cull her. If she has a bad udder, poor eye or bad disposition, it doesn’t matter if you paid $50,000 for her, she needs to go. Select and cull your replace- ment heifers. Replacement heifers are crucial. If you’ve used the right bulls, their daughters are better than the cows that produced them. If your replace- ment heifers are open the first breeding sea- son, regardless of what they are, cull them. There are only three ways to make genetic improvement: use the right bulls, cull the right cows and keep good daughters. Execute your breeding plan and stay focused. A lot of breed- ers like to use the “bull of the month.” They pick up the magazine and see a brand-new bull that’s never had a calf, get all excited and start using him. That’s not the way to go. Set your strategy, get rid of all the noise and stay hooked to your plan. If you’re focused, you will see long-term success. PT 1/4 Vertical, 4 color Prime Time Crosswinds Ranch Winter 2018 C R O S S W I N D S R A N C H No. 9 No. 10

SEEDSTOCK BREEDER Continued from page 25

Make informed decisions. In your mind, figure out what is

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“best.” What do breeders consider to be “the best”? Know what the best is in terms of size, weights and expected progeny differences. When you know what best is, you can strive for it. What traits, what pedigrees are the buying public willing to spend money for and how much will they spend? Keep in mind what the commercial cow man wants: fertility, calving ease, ma- ternal traits, growth, feed efficiency and carcass merit. – with accurate numbers. Data is only as valuable as its accuracy. It behooves you to be honest in your data collection. Your state in the industry depends on accurate data. You have to be able to differentiate the good ones from the bad ones, and to do so, you have to have data. tant animal on your farm. If you can’t af- ford a good one, then use semen from the best ones you can use. Your sire power is the cornerstone of your program. It’s going to make the most genetic change in your herd. Additionally, it’s a major promotional avenue for you. When you’re looking for your herd bull, make sure you’re looking at his dam. If she’s not a great cow, he’ll never be a great bull. Procure a foundation cow- herd. When you’re buying fe- males private treaty to build your founda- tion, aim to get as many half-sisters as you can, because you will want to use one bull to breed your group of cows and have com- mon offspring that you can then use in a breeding group. This will give you a more predictable group. Cows produce sons. When you buy cows, you want to look at the sires of those females. Cull your inferior females. Any female that’s not in the top 50 percent of your herd should be culled if she’s open. You should rank your cows from best to worst on some criteria. If she’s No. 5 No. 6 No. 7 No. 8 Establish a recordkeeping sys- tem and maintain it religiously Select your herd bulls wisely. Herd bulls are the most impor-

Breeder/Producer of fullblood cows, heifers and young bulls for sale private treaty.

1/2 and 3/4-blood Akaushi/Angus cross also available.

DarylWest | 806-382-0704

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www.akaushi.com • Spring 2018