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more predictable – not as much varia tion and attitude. It may have been the sire groups we used, but we were quite pleased with it, so we’ve continued to add them to the composite.” In addition to concerns with the mature size of the herd, Prosser notes other challenges Bar T Bar was facing in terms of productivity. With market trends pressuring continental and English cattle to have increased growth, Prosser shares how that “explains why we were having challenges with [those cattle] losing productivity at seven and eight years.” According to Prosser, Bar T Bar was not the only operation in the Southwest that was unveiling these concerns. The ranch’s commercial customers were also sharing how their cow herd was not lasting as long as they used to in the pasture. As a method of addressing these issues, Prosser affirms the use of American breeds and Brahman-influ enced cattle to bring longevity back to the equation. “Anybody who has ever run an American breed animal or Brahman influenced cattle knows that once you sort through fertility at a young age, those cows will last a long time,” he says. “It’s not uncommon to find some of those cows out there, still productive at 14 years of age.” For Bar T Bar, Santa Gertrudis genet ics were used as a heterosis tool that not only limited the mature size of the herd but also increased the productivity and longevity of those influenced cattle. This combination was game changing for operational sustainability. “With tremendous development costs of replacement heifers, longevity just really adds to the bottom line because it reduces your replacement rate by not having to replace cows as often,” Prosser explains. CONTINUED ON PAGE 25 

SANTA GERTRUD I S THE COMPLETE PACKAGE Maternal Quality Carcass Merit Maximum Heterosis

Santa Gertrudis Data Driven. Profit Proven. 361-592-9357 | santagertrudis.com

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DECEMBER 2022 • WWW.SANTAGERTRUDIS.COM