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 Our
Cowherd:
We can run about 170 cows on our 1280 acres of rolling land; and
grow most of the feed. So this is very fertile land, but with harsh
winter conditions, and a short growing season. The best use for
this land is grass or forage, so most of our ground is in tame or
native pasture or hayland ; or cover crop for new hay. This area
is best suited to a moderate-sized, easy fleshing, dark uddered
cow because of the snowfall in winter and spring and the harsh prevailing
West Winds. Abundance of grass and forage provide good nutrition;
but the good soil means MUD in the spring!
Simmental-Angus Cross: Both Simmental and Angus have accepted
Red & Black genetics within their respective breeds to supply diverse
genetics to their customers and to satisfy the markets that each
breed shares. In our "mixed marriage", we are experiencing the advantages
of both breeds. Black & Red Baldies have set the pace each fall
the last few years for commercial replacement females. Our customers
tell us repeatedly of the advantages of eye and udder pigmentation,
more milk and growth from the Simmental, and the fleshing and mothering
abilities of the Angus- not to mention the eye appeal of that color
combination; either Black or Red. From this F1 female, your options
are unlimited. That is why we have only a two breed rotation: we
leave you the option of adding a third breed for your maximum heterosis
advantage. Or you can breed her back to either parent breed. We
run about half of our herd as a cross: anywhere from 1/2 Simmental
1/2 Angus; up to Purebred Simmental (7/8 Simmental 1/8 Angus).
 Purebred:
About 25% of our herd is made up of Fullblood Simmental cows that
we breed to Fullblood Simmental bulls. The same with our Purebred
Angus cows; both Red and Black; they make up about 25% of the herd
and are bred AI to Angus bulls. Due to the upgrading policy of the
Simmental Association; only the Angus are turned in with a different
breed bull (Simmental) for clean up after AI. These calves are then
the base for our valuable 1/2 blood cowherd. The reason that we
breed both these strains Pure: some of our customers prefer to do
their own cross-breeding at home; ie. they buy Purebred bulls and
cross them on their Purebred base herd ( Hereford) and then  introduce
a third cross (Red Angus).
Commercial: The remainder of our herd (50%) is made up of our
"commercial" herd, i.e. the half-blood cows and all the percentage
cattle. These are the base for our "Bar 15 Bestcross" bulls, and
also the base for our upgrading program to ultimately produce our
Purebred Simmentals; with several generations of solid color and
the polled trait. To us the most important aspect of our program
is to produce cattle that will work for our commercial customers
and make them money! If this means a smaller mature cow, less growth
and more maternal traits, optimum milk but so much that the cow
doesn't rebreed; then the Bestcross bulls are the answer. If however,
a customer wants maximum growth, higher weaning weights, more milk
in his cowherd; we steer him towards a Fullblood Simmental bull.
Climate and Landbase: Located 2.5 hours South of Calgary,
Alberta on the Eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains, we live in
a truly temperate climate of average rainfall. Most of our precipitation
comes in the form of snow in the winter and spring, which makes
a rather short growing season (maximum 60 days between frosts).
Our elevation of 4500' above sea level also creates a micro-ecosystem
of cool nights and warm days; a climate best suited to forage production,
not cereal crops. Our cattle graze on tame and native pasture from
approx June 1st to October 15th; after that they are supplemented
with hay or silage. All of our cultivated ground is to renew our
hayground, and rotate cereal silage. Tame pastures are fertilized,
as is the hayland. Average production on the hayland is 3 Tons/acre
put up in large round bales or 5 Tons silage/acre put up as bagged
silage. Our place is rolling, with no trees or natural shelter;
good # 2 soil with good drainage. All of our prepared bull rations
and creep feed are purchased ready mixed. Salt and mineral are fed
free-choice.
 Herd
Management: Cows are calved early (late December to mid February)
so that bulls have maximum growth by December for our Annual Production
Sale (1st Friday of December). This means a little extra feeding
and bedding to prepare for re-breeding in April; and to keep calves
healthy; but in our country we are better to calve on frozen ground
than when it gets warm and muddy (for scours prevention when we
are in a confined calving area). AI starts end of March; usually
we flush one cow at this time to have some early embryo calves.
Only one cycle of AI is followed by clean-up bulls. Heifers get
45 days to breed, open ones go to feedlot after Preg testing in
early June. Cows get 60 days total to re-breed; opens are culled.
We cull 20% (minimum) of our cowherd annually; for fertility, feet,
udders, disposition. That is our BEST management tool!!! Cows go
out onto tame grass mid-May; and are on small paddocks and rotational
grazing. Cows with heifer calves are run separately from cows with
bull calves. Bull calves are on creep feed from about 3 months of
age. Heifer calves don't get creep feed. Cows have access to salt
and mineral free-choice. Water is in dug-outs. Herd health protocol
is in conjunction with our local veterinarian. Annual vaccination
for IBR-PI3-BVD-BRSV and Leptospirosis occur between calving and
breeding; double vaccination on all calves. Parasite control is
with Ivomec twice a year (spring & fall). All pregnant females are
vaccinated with a Scour preventative in December. We calve in January,
wean in September, and sell in December.
Marketing: Our main market is our annual Production
Sale in December. This is mainly a bull sale; once in a while
we have a herd reduction where we sell all of one group of cows
(age group, or Breed group). The sale is held at our own place so
that the customers can see our cowherd, etc. We also sell embryos,
semen, select females or 4-H prospects, privately. All of our cull
bulls, steers, cull heifers are fed out at a custom feedlot; sent
to a packing plant where we can get carcass data.
In 1996 15 Steers Went To The Feedlot
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