October 20, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Fall 2014 Weaning and Gathering Cattle on Montana Ranches

They say a photo is worth a thousand words, and that’s an important part of sharing our stories of ranch life in Montana with those who want to learn more about where their beef comes from!

Over the past few weeks, we have been seeing several reports from ranchers bringing cattle home for the Fall, weaning calves and shipping! It’s a busy and rewarding season for ranchers across the state and we want to share a few of those scenes with you. Have photo of Montana ranch life to share with us? Include a brief description of what’s happening and send them to [email protected]. We love to share them with everyone!

(Click the photos below to enlarge)

Lee Gibbs captured this shot while trailing yearinglings in Circle.

Lee Gibbs captured this shot while trailing yearinglings in Circle.

Charley Nissen is practicing her driving skills during weaning 2014!

Charley Nissen is practicing her driving skills during weaning 2014!

Great shots of cattle on pasture from the Nissen family!

Great shots of cattle on pasture from the Nissen family!

Great shots of cattle on pasture from the Nissen family!

Great shots of cattle on pasture from the Nissen family!

Kayla Sandru captured some great photos in the Ruby Valley as her family brings the cattle down for the fall season.

Kayla Sandru captured some great photos in the Ruby Valley as her family brings the cattle down for the fall season.

Kayla Sandru captured some great photos in the Ruby Valley as her family brings the cattle down for the fall season.

Kayla Sandru captured some great photos in the Ruby Valley as her family brings the cattle down for the fall season.

Kayla Sandru captured some great photos in the Ruby Valley as her family brings the cattle down for the fall season.

Kayla Sandru captured some great photos in the Ruby Valley as her family brings the cattle down for the fall season.

Kayla Sandru captured some great photos in the Ruby Valley as her family brings the cattle down for the fall season.

Kayla Sandru captured some great photos in the Ruby Valley as her family brings the cattle down for the fall season.

Tamara Choat captured these cattle in the feedlot with a corn chopper running in the background at Homestead Cattle Company near Terry.

Tamara Choat captured these cattle in the feedlot with a corn chopper running in the background at Homestead Cattle Company near Terry.

Bridger Cunningham of the T Lazy Y Ranch is bringing the cows home across the Yellowstone river south of Emigrant, Montana.

Bridger Cunningham of the T Lazy Y Ranch is bringing the cows home across the Yellowstone river south of Emigrant, Montana.

Bridger Cunningham of the T Lazy Y Ranch captured this shot coming home off the forest service lease near Emigrant

Bridger Cunningham of the T Lazy Y Ranch captured this shot coming home off the forest service lease near Emigrant

Bruce Neumann is gathering pairs to precondition calves

Bruce Neumann is gathering pairs to precondition calves

Justine Kougl is starting her kids young at the ranch in the Wolf Mountains, South of Busby

Justine Kougl is starting her kids young at the ranch in the Wolf Mountains, South of Busby

A great scene captured by Justine Kougl on the ranch in the Wolf Mountains south of Busby.

A great scene captured by Justine Kougl on the ranch in the Wolf Mountains south of Busby.

A great scene captured by Justine Kougl on the ranch in the Wolf Mountains south of Busby.

A great scene captured by Justine Kougl on the ranch in the Wolf Mountains south of Busby.

Kaitlin Cusker sent us this great fall cattle scene on an early morning start.

Kaitlin Cusker sent us this great fall cattle scene on an early morning start.

Larisa Mehlhoff is working with her family, trailing yearlings home on the 5L ranch near Sheridan.

Larisa Mehlhoff is working with her family, trailing yearlings home on the 5L ranch near Sheridan.

October 13, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Managing Cow Body Condition At Fall Working

By Dr. Rachel Endecott, Extension Beef Cattle Specialist, Montana State University

cattle rampIt’s finally starting to feel a bit like fall, and with that come chores like weaning, shipping, and pregnancy checking.  While those cows are in the pen for fall work, it might be worth your while to evaluate their body condition.

Body condition scores describe relative fatness of a cowherd using a 9-point system, where 1 is “emaciated” and 9 is “obese”.  The main components of body condition scoring are visible bone structure, muscling, and fat cover. A body condition score 1 cow has shoulders, ribs, backbone, hooks, and pins that are sharp to the touch and easily visible.  She would exhibit no evidence of fat or muscling.  In contrast, the bone structure of a body condition score 9 cow is not seen or easily felt and her tailhead is buried in fat. My theory is that most body condition score 9 cows have names, not numbers!  Happily, neither body condition score 1 or 9 cows are common sights in Montana beef cattle herds.

Most industry recommendations suggest that mature cows be in condition score 5 at calving and that first-calf heifers be in condition score 6 for optimal reproductive performance and colostrum production.  Characteristics of a body condition score 5 cow include that her 12th and 13th ribs are only visible if she is shrunk, and she has visible muscling and some fat on each side of her tailhead.  On the other hand, the ribs of a body condition score 6 cow are fully covered and not visible, and she has noticeable springiness over her foreribs and tailhead.

Post-weaning is a great time to improve condition of thin cows because it coincides with their lowest nutrient requirements of their production cycle.  This phenomenon can often be observed when cows graze dormant forage pastures post-weaning and gain body condition going into the winter, and shows that even in late lactation, the production of milk requires a large proportion of nutrients.  Energy requirements decrease nearly 25% when a cow transitions from late lactation to a dry cow in mid-gestation, and protein requirements decrease by nearly a third from pre-weaning to post-weaning.

Three important times of the year to take a critical look at body condition would be at weaning/preg check, the start of the third trimester, and calving. Keep in mind that as time passes between weaning and calving, the opportunity to take advantage of lower nutrient requirements of the cow slips away. Post-weaning is usually the best time to put weight on thin cows in an economical and efficient manner.

October 7, 2014 1 Comment Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Montana Rancher Q and A Feature: Casey Coulter, Brusett

At the Montana Stockgrowers Association, we are very fortunate to have such a passionate group of young leaders. Casey Coulter of Brusett, Montana served as the Young Stockgrowers (YSG) president, helping to organize leadership events and educational opportunities for our YSG membership. Today, we learn more about life on the ranch for Casey and his family…

How long has your family been involved in ranching?

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A sign welcoming visitors to the Coulter Ranches.

My grandfather’s step-father homesteaded on the place we live now in 1914. He and two other bachelors came from Maiden, north of Lewistown and all took homesteads in the area. My granddad came here when he was about two years old and he and my grandmother started purchasing the place around 1950. They continued putting land together until about 1990 and were able to support three families on the operation. Currently my grandmother, Ruth, and my wife Lacey and I live on the southern end of the place, and my folks, Rod and Lorri live and operate the north part of the ranch. Each place is operated independently now.

What was your favorite part about growing up on the ranch?

The best part about growing up on the ranch was having a back yard that extended from our house to Ft. Peck Lake. There are countless miles to explore as a kid growing up. It was also a great experience to work and play next to friends and neighbors, a unique experience for sure. You have to live somewhere else for a while to appreciate growing up in a community like this.

Casey and Lacey Coulter

Casey and Lacey Coulter

Tell us about your ranch today.

Lacey and I have a commercial set of cows and we market steer calves and spayed yearlings from those cows. We also raise wheat and hay. I returned to the ranch several years ago and needed to get it fully stocked. We have purchased some sim/angus females, many straight angus, and a few red angus cattle. We are putting sim/angus bulls back on the cows and are having some decent results. On our cropland we are trying to continuous crop using a cover crop/wheat rotation and having mixed results with that program. Lacey and I operate this place by ourselves contracting some of the work out, such as combining wheat. At times we will hire some day labor, too. Lacey works 2 days a week in town as a Speech Language Pathologist, but the other 5 days she spends helping me outside or on home improvement projects (of which there are many). We are very blessed to be our own bosses! What have been some of the trials you’ve had to overcome? I would say the highest hurdle we have had to clear was a transition plan for the ranch Lacey and I live on. It took time, resources, and an emotional toll. I know of many families who have been through these transitions, but I didn’t appreciate how hard it was until going through one personally.

What is one thing you wish more people knew about life on the ranch?

There are so many things I wish urban people knew about our food chain, but a starting place would be that farm and ranch families are stewards to land and livestock. I am confused by the latest buzz word “sustainable.” I am not sure of any business who doesn’t want to be sustainable. Ranchers have to use stewardship practices on the land or the land will not sustain the livestock. They then have to be good stewards or livestock or they will not be able to market a healthy well managed animals. This translates into profits that allows the rancher to “sustain” in his/her business. I wish people from urban areas had easier access to see how well we treat our land and cattle.

Screen Shot 2014-08-25 at 9.12.32 AMWhat does it mean to you to be able to work with your family every day?

What does it mean to be able to bring Lacey into the business? I feel very blessed to have my family so close, my sister and brother in law live 12 miles south of our place, my parents are 12 miles north of us and my grandmother is across the barnyard. We work together a lot and are able to depend on one another for help on short notice, business decisions, or someone to go fishing with. It is a nice dynamic. Lacey is a very smart and capable woman and though she did not grow up in agriculture, she has had no trouble adjusting to ranch life. We talk about all business decisions and goals and she is able to see things from different angles which is very helpful.

What has being a part of Young Stockgrowers meant to you?

Why is a group like YSG important for the Montana ranching community? YSG is a great group within a great group. YSG provides young ranchers with all of the benefits of MSGA, plus information and a network of people dealing with issues that pertain to young ranchers. Also, people can be as involved as they want to in the organization. It is a great low pressure group made up young people with similar backgrounds.

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Presenting during MSGA Mid-Year Meeting 2013 as president of the Young Stockgrowers.

Do you have any advice for fellow young Montana ranchers about the beef cattle business?

I am usually the one listening to advice about the cattle business, I don’t feel I am one to be giving anyone advice. One thing I would say is to get the business transition things figured out now! No matter how awkward it may be, get the conversation at least started, it will be easier in the long run.

What’s your favorite beef dish?

Rib steak. No dish.

Is there anything else you can share with us?

I would encourage all MSGA members to visit with your non-member neighbors and friends about the organization and how much MSGA does on our natural resource issues. I feel like the west is on the ropes right now with sage grouse, bison, and water. Ranchers are in short supply, so even if folks do not want to be involved in MSGA, a membership would help fight their battles for them while keeping them informed on many of these issues.

October 1, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Ranchers Reflect on Community One Year After Atlas Blizzard

Image courtesy of Weather.com

Image courtesy of Weather.com

It’s hard to believe, but this weekend marks the one year anniversary of the Atlas Blizzard. The unexpected early-season storm targeted a region surrounding western South Dakota, burying thousands of ranches below feet of snow, killing thousands of livestock, and leaving hundreds of ranchers devastated, cleaning up the aftermath. The event, largely going unnoticed by national media, resulted in the national ranching community gathering in support, raising millions of dollars toward cleanup and recovery efforts, along with many ranchers donating replacement heifers to aid those who had lost nearly everything.

While many ranchers and communities from the region are far from complete recovery after the storm, many are thankful for the support from their peers and reflect on the reactions as we approach this anniversary. The following is a letter sent out by those affected and we want to share those with you today.

Thank you from those impacted by Atlas…

As we near the one-year anniversary of winter storm Atlas, the ranching people and communities devastated by the storm would like to say “thank you” to everyone who rallied behind us and extended such kindness and generosity toward us over the course of the past year.

It is an indescribably humbling, blessed experience to be on the receiving end of such grace and giving as that which poured into western South Dakota and the surrounding area in the weeks and months following the storm. You have impacted our lives in the most powerful, positive way, restoring our faith in humanity and increasing our love and appreciation for our lifestyle and those we share it with.

To those who donated livestock or money to the cause, we did receive them but at times without the original donor’s name attached. As you likely know, there is no greater gift to a rancher than a good bred heifer or cow, and while we found it difficult to accept such a costly and incredible gift, they have made all the difference. The same can be said of the monetary donations that found their way to our mailboxes. We are the independent type, as you likely are, and we hold ourselves accountable for making it on our own. But, those dollars came at critical times for us and covered bills that would have been difficult to find funds for otherwise.

There are those who donated their craft to auctions to generate funds, the communities and individuals who organized and delivered amazing Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets, and those who took the time to write, call or email personal words of encouragement. There were the people who traveled to areas impacted to help rebuild following the storm, the businesses who donated their goods and services, and those who developed online resources to help both those impacted and those wishing to help.

This is only a smattering of the countless acts of kindheartedness executed on our behalf. A glimpse into the hours individuals, families and companies put into helping us make it through the effects of the storm. Because of these efforts we are going to make it, and if you didn’t hear it from someone personally, please take it from all of us – thank you! You have made a magnificent difference in our present and future success, and we thank God for each and every one of you who took the time to help us in your own way. While we hope to never have to repay the favor, we stand ready with the example you set in our minds eye should the time ever come. May God bless you and American agriculture.

Sincerely,
The ranching families and communities hit by winter storm Atlas in Oct. 2013

Immediately following the storm, ranchers in the area's hit hardest by the Oct., 2013 winter storm Atlas searched and were devastated to find a staggering number of animals had succumbed to the record breaking snow, wind and cold wrought by the storm.

Immediately following the storm, ranchers in the area’s hit hardest by the Oct., 2013 winter storm Atlas searched and were devastated to find a staggering number of animals had succumbed to the record breaking snow, wind and cold wrought by the storm.

It took 16 days for power to be restored to every household in western South Dakota following the Atlas blizzard. West River Electric Association employees as well as over 100 additional helpers worked tirelessly to get power back on in both rural and more populated areas.

It took 16 days for power to be restored to every household in western South Dakota following the Atlas blizzard. West River Electric Association employees as well as over 100 additional helpers worked tirelessly to get power back on in both rural and more populated areas.

Numerous thoughtful donations found their way into the homes of those impacted by Atlas, including a complete Thanksgiving feast organized and delivered by North Dakota communities. From homemade pies and loaves to bread to a turkey, thermos and hope inspired artwork, gifts such as this touched the hearts of those on the receiving end.

Numerous thoughtful donations found their way into the homes of those impacted by Atlas, including a complete Thanksgiving feast organized and delivered by North Dakota communities. From homemade pies and loaves to bread to a turkey, thermos and hope inspired artwork, gifts such as this touched the hearts of those on the receiving end.

T-shirts made by the Lauderdale County Junior Cattlemen's Association of Alabama to commemorate their trip to South Dakota to help families in the Union Center area in the summer of 2014. More than 30 young people stayed with area ranching families, providing free labor in addition to 21 donated yearling heifers.

T-shirts made by the Lauderdale County Junior Cattlemen’s Association of Alabama to commemorate their trip to South Dakota to help families in the Union Center area in the summer of 2014. More than 30 young people stayed with area ranching families, providing free labor in addition to 21 donated yearling heifers.

A first-calf heifer donated to a ranching family who lost livestock in the Atlas blizzard takes a peak outside with her newborn calf in the spring of 2014.

A first-calf heifer donated to a ranching family who lost livestock in the Atlas blizzard takes a peak outside with her newborn calf in the spring of 2014.

Heifers for South Dakota was started immediately following the storm, and had donated more than 1,000 bred heifers or cows to ranching families who lost livestock in the blizzard as of June, 2014. Many families also received livestock donations directly from friends or family in the months following the storm.

Heifers for South Dakota was started immediately following the storm, and had donated more than 1,000 bred heifers or cows to ranching families who lost livestock in the blizzard as of June, 2014. Many families also received livestock donations directly from friends or family in the months following the storm.

Yearling heifers who survived Atlas as calves, as well as a handful of donated heifers, enjoy the lush summer grass of 2014. Their generation will significantly help in rebuilding herds who suffered losses in the storm.

Yearling heifers who survived Atlas as calves, as well as a handful of donated heifers, enjoy the lush summer grass of 2014. Their generation will significantly help in rebuilding herds who suffered losses in the storm.

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September 30, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Montana Rancher Q and A: John Henry Beardsley, Miles City

Like many Montanans, cattle ranching goes back several generations in the family’s history. One of these ranchers is John Henry Beardsley of Miles City, Montana. John Henry grew up on his family’s ranch and recently, graduated from Montana State University. Today, we learn what his next steps are and how the family ranch plays a role in his future….

What is the history of your family’s ranch? 

The ranch was homesteaded in 1910 by my great-grandpa John Henry Beardsley. My Grandpa, John Henry, kept slowly building the ranch by raising crops, kids, cattle, horses, pigs and sheep. My dad, Jim Beardsley, has expanded what my grandpa had to where we are today.

John Henry on his working horse.

John Henry on his working horse.

What is the ranch like today?

Our cow herd consists of Angus and Red Angus cows that we have developed through 40+ years of artificially inseminating (A.I.). We use Hereford bulls on the cows now and still have an A.I. program in place.  Recently, we started doing a terminal cross and have been really pleased with it for its marketing and maternal aspects. We strive to raise a very low input, productive cow that will make a living for herself. We have a rotational grazing program in place and have developed water to enhance grazing.

Can you describe a hardship that your family had to overcome on the ranch? 

The process of trying to keep the ranch in the family and pass it on to the next generation…while having it be a successful business.

Can you recall any advice your grandparents gave you about ranching? 

I was never fortunate to meet either of my grandpas, but people tell me stories of my grandpa Beardsley and how he started with nothing…but went on to build an operation to support his family and make a manageable business. It shows me that with hard work and dedication, you can achieve anything.

John Henry Beardsley 2What are a few things you’ve learned growing up on a ranch?

  • Taking care of the land. I have learned from a very young age that if you take care of the land it will take care of you.
  • How to be a entrepreneur. When I was little I would always get frustrated of why dad wouldn’t just do something and it seemed as easy as just writing that check to pay for something. When you get behind the books and see how its done, you lose that mindset in a hurry.
  • Not everything is wine and roses, but there are so many little things in everyday ranch life that makes you stop and enjoy what you are doing.

What does Montana family ranching mean to you?

Montana ranching is one of the biggest conservation groups that I have been around. Every rancher is a steward of the land while sustaining a viable operation that helps supply the world with a great source of protein and creating an environment that is appealing to families and making memories.

John Henry looks over the 2014 piglets.

John Henry looks over the 2014 piglets.

What do you hope the ranch (or business) will look like in 10 years? 50 years?

I hope to keep expanding the ranch. The future excites me in not knowing what it will hold. We recently went back to our roots with raising sheep on the ranch. I hope to follow in past generations footsteps and keep expanding and moving forward.

Is there anything else you would like to share? 

I recently signed on as a representative for Superior Livestock Auction, with my partner John Andras of Big Timber, MT. We operate as J&J Cattle Marketing LLC. This past year has been one full of windshield time, but at the end of the day I couldn’t ask for a better job. I am very excited about this position and the network of people I have met over my short time here has been incredible.

I am very proud to say that my four siblings and I are all involved in agriculture. My family is great to have around, because we are all different enough that we look at a situation in five different ways, and definitely makes you keep an open mind. I have five nieces and three nephews that make it so there is never a dull moment.

To participate in a future Q&A or to recommend someone from the Montana ranching community, please contact [email protected].

September 23, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Longevity of Ladies and Livestock

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(By Lauren Chase, author of the new photography book, Ladies and Livestock, to be released October 1 exclusively on the Apple iBooks store.)

When I began traveling across Montana and collecting content for the Montana Family Ranching Project, I had no idea what all I would get to see and experience on the ranches. I went from knowing absolutely nothing about cattle production to being able to discuss topics like heterosis without just nodding along. Beyond gaining knowledge of beef and a better understanding of agriculture, something else stuck me as important: the longevity of Montana’s ranches. While many Americans can no longer relate to multi-generational family businesses, it’s still viewed with high esteem and awe.

Vicki Olson on her family's ranch near Malta, Montana.

Vicki Olson on her family’s ranch near Malta, Montana.

It’s hard for me to comprehend what fifth and sixth generations actually mean. However, many of the women featured in Ladies and Livestock wear that title with pride. Their ranches have been within their families for more than 100 years…through droughts, fires, blizzards, poor economic times, and even differences in opinions on how the ranch should run. They have gone from log cabins and no electricity to some of the largest and most efficient ranches in the country…and all kept in the family name.

“We have had parts of the ranch in the family for almost 100 years. Each generation has loved it and the lifestyle as much as the next,” said Vicki Olson of Malta, Montana.

This attitude of ranch life is shared by women all across Montana.

“I get to spend every day with the love of my life and together we raise our children to appreciate this life as much as we do. Breeding good black cattle, riding great ranch horses and conserving the beautiful nature around us is not what we do…it’s who we are,” said Lori Swanson of Chinook, Mont.

Ladies and Livestock coverReflecting on stories from grandparents and parents, women learn to appreciate their heritage and livelihood on the ranch, and work hard to raise their children with the same upbringing and passion for cattle ranching. It’s important to remember that beef production is a business, but ran by families who hope that for many generations to come will still be raising healthy, wholesome and nutritious beef for the world.

You can read more stories about Montana ranch women in the Montana Stockgrowers Association’s new digital photo book, “Ladies and Livestock: Life on the Ranch,” which will be available for download on the Apple store for $14.99 starting October 1, 2014. Be sure to flip through the pages to watch video interviews with some of the ladies and follow MSGA’s social media sites for daily updates about Montana ranchers.

September 16, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Montana Rancher Q and A: Tyrel Obrecht

Many of us in Montana got to know Tyrel Obrecht pretty well while he was interning for the Montana Stockgrowers Association two summers ago. But today, we learn more about his family’s ranching background, some of the obstacles faced on a Montana ranch, and his advice for other young ranchers. Read today’s Q&A feature:

Tyrel Obrecht of Turner, Montana.

Tyrel Obrecht of Turner, Montana.

How long has your family been involved in ranching? 

My great-great Grandpa, George Petrie, got off the train in 1901 in Harlem, MT. From there, he headed north, and ran sheep on the ranch that is ours today. Today, my dad (Sam), and grandpa (Sonny) run cows. The ranch headquarters are exactly where they were when the ranch started

What was your favorite part about growing up on the ranch?

It’s something different everyday. The type of work changes with the seasons, and you are able to be your own boss and be outdoors whenever you want.  I’m also very fortunate the ranch was located in Turner, MT.  Small communities are like one big family. Neighbors always come help, and we return the favor.

Haying in full swing during the summer of 2014.

Haying in full swing during the summer of 2014.

Tell us about your ranch today.

We run Black Angus cattle.  I’m proud that the operation has been in my family for as long as it has and has been able to succeed through hard times.

What have been some of the trials you’ve had to overcome?

Weather is a big issue for cattle ranchers in Montana.  In the late early 2000s, the summers were dry and we spent a lot of time pulling black plastic pipe across our pasture to pump water for our cattle.  This also led to low hay production, so that added more stress to look for hay to purchase. There have also been a few harsh winters that require a lot of work to feed the cattle, break ice so they can drink, and plow snow.  Montana is certainly a land of extremes, and ranchers are exposed to every one of them.

What is one thing you wish more people knew about life on the ranch?

The time that ranchers put in to care for the animals.  There is a lot of negative media out there about animal cruelty, and agriculture seems to be in the spotlight for it.  What people don’t see is the rancher who is outside saving a calf when it’s cold in the spring or taking extra time at branding to examine an animal who appears sick.  These animals are how Montana ranchers make their living, so it is the rancher’s best interest to take the best care of them they can.

Tyrel and his father, Sam.

Tyrel and his father, Sam.

What does it mean to you to be able to work with your family every day? 

Working with family can be very hard, but it’s also a great learning experience.  By working along side another generation, you are able to learn what worked for them, and what didn’t.  Nobody knows more about an operation than the owner themselves, so being able to work alongside them is a great learning experience.

Tell us about your job now and how you keep connected to the ranch.

Being involved with Ag-lending with Wells Fargo has enabled me to meet producers from different areas and see what they do differently, as well as what they do the same as my family.  Majority of the bankers I work with came from an agricultural background, so everyone has similar roots, interests, and knowledge base.  Through building a network in banking, I’m able to continually share ideas with my dad.  Living in a place centrally located like Billings has also made it easy for me to come home on weekends from time to time and help.

Tyrel participated in the NCBA internship program during the Cattle Industry Convention.

Tyrel participated in the NCBA internship program during the Cattle Industry Convention.

After spending a summer as the MSGA intern, what did you learn from that experience? About Montana cattle ranching?

Just like my experience at Wells Fargo, working with MSGA enabled me to meet cattle ranchers from all over in Montana and learn about their success and trials.  The MSGA staff really showed me the importance of networking, and being able to meet as many people as you can.  That has really helped me so far in banking.  Knowing as many people as I can expands my knowledge base, which enables me to assist customers as efficiently as possible.

Do you have any advice for fellow young Montana ranchers about the beef cattle business?

Get to know as many people as possible, and treat people properly.  You never know obstacles you might meet in the future, and knowing as many people as possible could help make those obstacles much easier to overcome.  Also, when doing business or working with someone, treat them properly.  If they had a good experience working with you, chances are they’ll call back again.

What’s your favorite beef dish?

All beef dishes are good!  But barbequed t-bone steak is my favorite.

 To participate in a future Q&A or to recommend someone from the Montana ranching community, please contact [email protected].

September 4, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Montana Young Stockgrower Spends Summer Down Under

Written by Kelsey Haughian

Kelsey in the lead of 500 weaner calves to trail across the river.

Kelsey in the lead of 500 weaner calves to trail across the river.

Gidday all! I am Kelsey Haughian, a senior animal science student at Montana State University, who has recently returned to Montana after 3 months on a remote cattle station in South Central Queensland, Australia. I was asked to give a little break down of my internship and experience down under!

I interned with Australian Agriculture Company (AACo), a company that is on its way to becoming fully integrated in the beef industry (from breeding/genetics to feedlots to slaughter facilities). AACo owns about 600,000 cattle across wide areas of Australia‘s Queensland and Northern Territory. The property I was at, Wylarah Station, is the breeding and genetics base for AACo. They operate on 30,300 hectares (about 117 sections) with a carrying capacity of 7,000 head on 550mm (22 inches) of rain a year.

Trailing 700 Wagyu cows in the dust to the next paddock.

Trailing 700 Wagyu cows in the dust to the next paddock.

I had the opportunity to work with the world’s largest herd of Wagyu cattle as well as elite Brahman/Santa Gertrudis/Bonsmara/Senepol/Charolais composite herds owned by AACo. The Wagyu stud herd (female sires) are now the largest herd of Wagyu in the world and produce offspring for AACo’s branded beef product that is sold mostly to Japan. This beef is very unique as the feeder cattle are on feed anywhere from 400 to 700 days! This length of time is for adequate marbling and growth time for the best quality of Wagyu. These cattle are fattened at one of the company’s feedlots (I had the opportunity to visit it during my stay and it is quite impressive!). At my station (Aussie term for ranch), we had about 2,000 Wagyu studs that were monitored like any registered herd in the US ­ records on performance are highly extensive!

The elite Composite herds at the station have been closely monitored for economically important traits (high fertility, adaptability, fast growth, feed conversion efficiency, as well as carcass traits) to increase efficiency and productivity of the company. My station provides the base genetics of Composites for the larger stations in the northern region of Australia, including bulls and replacement heifers to keep optimal levels of each breed within the Composite breeds itself.

Kelsey at the backgrounding paddocks with "re-hydrating" bullocks in the background.

Kelsey at the backgrounding paddocks with “re-hydrating” bullocks in the background.

One of the most unique aspects of the my internship was the actual handling of cattle. As is well known, cattle have distinct flight zones, and a good grasp on these zones makes for easier, more efficient processing/gathering/etc. Wylarah hires a contractor who specializes in “breaking” cattle; “teaching” them to work with people, horses, and dogs as well as process through yards (known as corrals to us!). The contractor works with the newly weaned calves for a couple weeks. The idea behind this “breaking” is to increase efficiency and decrease stress. If the cattle are relaxed and stress free, performance is increased. It is also used on the genetic side; to cull the flighty and keep the calm cattle, which is important with the large scale of the company. The low stress handling was a constant learning experience for me; the cattle work for you, you don’t work for them. I will miss mustering(also known as gathering) with a couple packs of dogs!

Looking out over the bush at the far end of the station.

Looking out over the bush at the far end of the station.

I can’t say enough how exhilarating this “holiday” was for me! The personal growth and cultural experience was just as beneficial as the livestock experience. I can’t express how thankful I am to the Wylarah Station staff who accepted me as one of the “family.” This internship would not have been possible if it wasn’t for the financial assistance from scholarships, grants, and family. MSU’s Exc.e.ed Grant helped tremendously with airfare and transportation; I am very appreciative to receive their financial assistance to fulfill a life long dream. I have so many stories and experiences to share, so feel free to contact me with questions!

Call it an internship, working holiday, or an experience of a lifetime…either way, I had the most amazing opportunity in Australia on a working cattle station!

September 2, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Montana Rancher Q and A: Hollyn Cardani, Havre

 Hollyn Cardani isn’t an average college student. Between balancing classes, homework, and extracurricular activities, she is running her own cow herd (with her boyfriend) and trying to make it a  successful business in northern Montana. Hollyn has been an instrumental part of the Collegiate Stockgrowers at MSU-Northern club and today we learn more about her in the follow Q&A:

Hollyn Cardani and her horse.

Hollyn Cardani and her horse.

How long has your family been involved in ranching? 

Surprisingly, the Cardani ranch has not been around as long as most of the family ranches throughout Montana. My family is originally from the east coast and my father, Steve Cardani, always dreamed of owning a Montana cattle ranch. After high school he moved to Montana, married and had three kids, he worked as contractor, building homes in the Flathead Valley. It wasn’t until the early 90s that he was able to acquire his first batch of black Angus cows and the first time the DS/ brand was ever used. In 1996, my dad bought each of his kids their own cow. Every yearwhen he sold the calves from those cows, my sister, brother and I received our calf check. In the early 2000s, my dad was able to buy a ranch in Teton county between Fairfield and Augusta, Montana. It didn’t take long for the ranch to grow into a small heard of about 130 head of registered black Angus cattle.

What was your favorite part about growing up on the ranch?

My favorite part about growing up on a ranch was being with the animals, the open space and the hard, rewarding work. Before I could walk, I was on a horse, and to this day that it is still my favorite place to be. Growing up on a ranch, you’re always outside from dawn until dusk and I love that way of life. I’m so thankful for all the work we had to do growing up…at the time, it wasn’t always what I wanted to do, but now, I’m very appreciative of the life lessons I have learned from it.

Tell us about your herd.

In 2012 my boyfriend and I bought 15 cows from a ranch that I had worked for south of Chinook. Most of the cows were Red Angus and a few Black Angus. It was one of the toughest decisions we have made financially and trying to go to college while running a cow herd is harder than one might think. Calving has proved to be the toughest part…not because of the cows, but because of classes and homework. We have been very fortunate to be able to lease pasture south of Chinook for the past two summers so as we can run them close to home. We are very lucky to have the support that we do from family and friends because without them we could not have ever made it our first year in the cattle business.

I am very partial to Red Angus cattle…I like their temperament…how they handle the heat and the bugs…their hardiness and their overall beef traits. I am very proud of the type of cows we have, most of the time due to my boyfriends work schedule, I do most of the cattle handling myself. Therefore, it is imperative that the cows are easy to handle.

Riding through the Red Angus herd.

Riding through the Red Angus herd.

What have been some of the trials you’ve had to overcome?

The most difficult trial of all has been the challenge of not owning any of our own land to run the cows on. Finding pasture to lease was extremely hard our first year and there were times when we thought we would have to give up and sell the cows. But thank God for the support of our friends and family that were always able to provide us with places to fall back on.

What is one thing you wish more people knew about life on the ranch?

I wish the public knew how much money was spent every day on cattle operations…to make sure the cattle are healthy, safe and productive. The cost of fencing supplies, vaccines, feed, leases, fuel, equipment, facilities, vet bills etc, have all increased and made it harder on the family rancher. For us specifically, our costs don’t even come anywhere near to what most farmers and ranchers spend that have anywhere from 100 to 1,000 head of cattle, yet we can hardly keep up.

What does it mean to you to be able to work with your family every day?

I really like working with my family but unfortunately, unlike many family run ranches, I usually only work on my dad’s ranch on certain times of the year. Typically, I’m only there for calving, branding, weaning/shipping, haying and a few times to move or trail cows. But during those times I really enjoy it.  He has been so supportive and open minded to all of my new ideas that I bring home from college. Having a father that encourages my Red Angus interest is amazing and knowing that he is proud of his daughter that shares the same love in cattle means more to him than what breed of cattle I have.

 

Hollyn and her Red Angus cow.

Hollyn and her Red Angus cow.

What do you hope the future looks like for you?

I will be graduating from MSU Northern next spring with a degree in Agricultural Operations Technology and a minor in Ag Mechanics. I am hopeful we will be able to find a piece of land to raise and increase our cattle herd where I can put my degree to good use. With the cattle market at the highest its ever been, there’s never been a better time to be in the cattle business and that’s just where I plan on staying.

What would you say to encourage other young ranchers in Montana?

Don’t be afraid to do something different. I thought my dad would be disappointed that I chose the Red Angus breed over Black Angus, but he wasn’t…he embraced it. Experimenting with new ideas is how we learn and grow, you might be pleasantly surprised with the reaction you get.

What’s your favorite beef dish?

A nice tender grilled beef steak!

To participate in a future Q&A or to recommend someone from the Montana ranching community, please contact [email protected].

August 28, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Cattle Health and FDA rule changes for antibiotics labeling | Podcast

MSGA 2nd Vice President, Bryan Mussard, helped attendees learn more about the services MSGA offers Affiliate members across the state.

MSGA 2nd Vice President, Bryan Mussard, helped attendees learn more about the services MSGA offers Affiliate members across the state.

On today’s podcast, we’ll follow up on discussions held during the recent summer cattle industry conference held in Denver Colorado. In this section we’ll focus on several issues related to cattle health.

The Cattle Health and Well-Being committee passed policy regarding foreign animal diseases, which could cause a widespread quarantine and possible massive depopulation of the U.S. cattle herd. A resolution was passed to oppose the importation of live cattle, beef, and/or beef products into the U.S. from foreign countries with histories of significant chronic animal diseases and lack of strict animal disease control and eradication measures.

This committee also focused on discussion and explanation of changes in FDA rules regarding feed through antibiotics use in livestock production. This would include label changes on antibiotics, feed additives and veterinary feed directives, which would make access to these medications more difficult for ranchers. MSGA’s 2nd Vice President, Bryan Mussard from Dillon attended the meeting and has more comments in the podcast below.

Conference attendees also had the opportunity to receive an update from CattleFax senior market analyst, Kevin Good, which described the industry as transitioning from a liquidation to an expansion phase. Good said the industry is accelerating the rate of expansion, and “it’s a great opportunity to take advantage of the trend.” However, while the fundamentals are “friendly,” he said, “the market will have a correction.” And that correction could be soon. “Something needs to give,” he said. “You have to be prepared for that ceiling.”

Bryan also provides us with a great take-home message coming out of the meetings in Denver which should serve as an encouragement for Montana ranchers working with MSGA. Find out more about these topics in the podcast below, and be sure to listen to parts 1 and 2 shared in posts earlier in the week.