Beef - Strength in Numbers: "Doing It RIght" In Monroe County (5/10/2010)
Written By: Charlene McCauley, Promotions Coordinator for Accelerated Genetics, Baraboo, WI. Published in: Georgia Cattleman - April 2010
Working together to improve the reputation of the beef industry in Monroe County and Middle Georgia is the main objective of H.E.R.D producers who belong to the Monroe County Cattlemen's Association. This group's passion is to raise exemplary commercial cattle while improving their individual herds.
It all began in 2004 at a regular Monroe County Cattlemen's meeting where several of the H.E.R.D owners in attendance were looking for ways to market their extra heifers. Directed by their county extension agent, John Pope, producers compared notes, and decided to unite and sell their profitable animals at their own heifer sale.
"We found we had too many good heifers to keep in our herds. So why not offer them for sale to help build stronger herds in the area," says producer Jim Lynch, Shadydale Farm.
Pope then took it a step further by challenging the group to develop an on-farm producer program modeled after the highly successful University of Georgia heifer development programs currently conducted in both Calhoun and Irwinville, Ga.
"John has been the glue that holds the program together," says Phil Ham, chairman of the program. Through Pope's efforts, Monroe County has seen steady improvement in the quality of its cattle as well as the profitability of its cattle production operations over the past 20 years.
His foresight several years ago led directly to the development of Monroe County's own Heifer Evaluation and Reproductive Development Program (H.E.R.D.).
Those individuals involved in the program's inception designed it to address the following objectives:
1. To serve and educate the beef industry in the Middle Georgia area.
2. To demonstrate feeding and health programs that result in replacement heifers reaching target weights required for successful breeding performance.
3. To provide a method of evaluating heifers, including performance, reproductive traits and disposition.
4. To develop heifers that are source identified and genetically verified.
5. To demonstrate the benefits of cooperative efforts involving cattle producers, animal health professionals, the Monroe County Cattlemen's Association and the Monroe County Extension.
Members of the program can take advantage of substantial cost savings by joining forces. One area of particular significance is in artificial insemination. Ham is responsible for obtaining bids from each of the major A.I. companies. The selected company is used exclusively in every herd belonging to the program.
Ham states, "We look at bulls that are high-accuracy, proven calving ease bulls for the heifers. We also look for above-average bulls in growth, milk and carcass traits as well for our 'heifer' bull. We also bid out 'cow' bulls that are also proven for growth, milk, etc., but not necessarily calving ease for mature cows."
Not only is the bid based on bull criteria, but Ham also considers the service that is provided along with the product.
This cooperative purchasing power among the producer members also includes products to aid in herd health, such as vaccines, and feed and nutrition products.
The hard work of producing that perfect sale animal culminates each spring when the heifers are offered to the public in a Heifer Evaluation and Reproductive Development Sale. This year marks the fifth year of this successful sale to be held May 6, at Sleepy Creek Farm near Forsyth, Ga., beginning at 12:30 p.m.
Each heifer that enters the sale is run through a battery of tests to ensure reproductive soundness and is pregnancy tested. These tests are performed by Dr. Jeff Davis, DVM, who has played an integral part in the planning and operation of the H.E.R.D. program. Every heifer that comes to this sale is guaranteed pregnant on sale day. In addition, each heifer has been evaluated for pelvic area, frame, disposition and structure.
These Monroe County Cattlemen also pay particular attention to keeping the Association in the public eye. They place tremendous emphasis on "giving back" to the community. Every year, they sell rib-eye steak sandwiches as a fundraiser at the Forsythia Festival, held in early March. The money that is raised is used to help purchase heiferraising equipment, such as a calf table or working chute, that aids in the safe handling of their animals.
The Monroe County Cattlemen's Association boasts that it is the first of its kind in the area to "do things right." They work together in the community to provide a safe product for you and your families and a profitable animal for your herd.
Click Here To Download the Complete Article.
"...We did have very good weather, although it was very warm. Our sale was much stronger than last year averaging $1140/hd on 71 head. This is an increase of about $100/hd over last year. Robert (Whitacre) and Ron (Busby) were there to assist with the sale. The mood of the cattlemen was upbeat. We appreciate everything you [Accelerated Genetics] did to help give us visibility through the April press release. I'm sure that helped a lot. Accelerated has been tremendous to work with. Ya'll have gone well above and beyond..." - John Pope, Monroe County Georgia Extension
Working together to improve the reputation of the beef industry in Monroe County and Middle Georgia is the main objective of H.E.R.D producers who belong to the Monroe County Cattlemen's Association. This group's passion is to raise exemplary commercial cattle while improving their individual herds.
It all began in 2004 at a regular Monroe County Cattlemen's meeting where several of the H.E.R.D owners in attendance were looking for ways to market their extra heifers. Directed by their county extension agent, John Pope, producers compared notes, and decided to unite and sell their profitable animals at their own heifer sale.
"We found we had too many good heifers to keep in our herds. So why not offer them for sale to help build stronger herds in the area," says producer Jim Lynch, Shadydale Farm.
Pope then took it a step further by challenging the group to develop an on-farm producer program modeled after the highly successful University of Georgia heifer development programs currently conducted in both Calhoun and Irwinville, Ga.
"John has been the glue that holds the program together," says Phil Ham, chairman of the program. Through Pope's efforts, Monroe County has seen steady improvement in the quality of its cattle as well as the profitability of its cattle production operations over the past 20 years.
His foresight several years ago led directly to the development of Monroe County's own Heifer Evaluation and Reproductive Development Program (H.E.R.D.).
Those individuals involved in the program's inception designed it to address the following objectives:
1. To serve and educate the beef industry in the Middle Georgia area.
2. To demonstrate feeding and health programs that result in replacement heifers reaching target weights required for successful breeding performance.
3. To provide a method of evaluating heifers, including performance, reproductive traits and disposition.
4. To develop heifers that are source identified and genetically verified.
5. To demonstrate the benefits of cooperative efforts involving cattle producers, animal health professionals, the Monroe County Cattlemen's Association and the Monroe County Extension.
Members of the program can take advantage of substantial cost savings by joining forces. One area of particular significance is in artificial insemination. Ham is responsible for obtaining bids from each of the major A.I. companies. The selected company is used exclusively in every herd belonging to the program.
Ham states, "We look at bulls that are high-accuracy, proven calving ease bulls for the heifers. We also look for above-average bulls in growth, milk and carcass traits as well for our 'heifer' bull. We also bid out 'cow' bulls that are also proven for growth, milk, etc., but not necessarily calving ease for mature cows."
Not only is the bid based on bull criteria, but Ham also considers the service that is provided along with the product.
This cooperative purchasing power among the producer members also includes products to aid in herd health, such as vaccines, and feed and nutrition products.
The hard work of producing that perfect sale animal culminates each spring when the heifers are offered to the public in a Heifer Evaluation and Reproductive Development Sale. This year marks the fifth year of this successful sale to be held May 6, at Sleepy Creek Farm near Forsyth, Ga., beginning at 12:30 p.m.
Each heifer that enters the sale is run through a battery of tests to ensure reproductive soundness and is pregnancy tested. These tests are performed by Dr. Jeff Davis, DVM, who has played an integral part in the planning and operation of the H.E.R.D. program. Every heifer that comes to this sale is guaranteed pregnant on sale day. In addition, each heifer has been evaluated for pelvic area, frame, disposition and structure.
These Monroe County Cattlemen also pay particular attention to keeping the Association in the public eye. They place tremendous emphasis on "giving back" to the community. Every year, they sell rib-eye steak sandwiches as a fundraiser at the Forsythia Festival, held in early March. The money that is raised is used to help purchase heiferraising equipment, such as a calf table or working chute, that aids in the safe handling of their animals.
The Monroe County Cattlemen's Association boasts that it is the first of its kind in the area to "do things right." They work together in the community to provide a safe product for you and your families and a profitable animal for your herd.
Click Here To Download the Complete Article.
"...We did have very good weather, although it was very warm. Our sale was much stronger than last year averaging $1140/hd on 71 head. This is an increase of about $100/hd over last year. Robert (Whitacre) and Ron (Busby) were there to assist with the sale. The mood of the cattlemen was upbeat. We appreciate everything you [Accelerated Genetics] did to help give us visibility through the April press release. I'm sure that helped a lot. Accelerated has been tremendous to work with. Ya'll have gone well above and beyond..." - John Pope, Monroe County Georgia Extension