Drovers Journal – June 2024 Despite the smallest U.S. cowherd in 73 years and corresponding tight feeder cattle supplies, the largest cattle feedyard north of the Rio Grande is under construction in Nebraska. When complete, Blackshirt Feeders near Haigler in the far southwest corner of the state, will have a capacity of 150,000 head, all standing on a concrete pad
June 23, 2021 Manhattan, Kansas The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) presented Lee Leachman, Fort Collins, Colorado, a BIF Continuing Service Award June 23 during the group’s annual meeting and symposium in Des Moines, Iowa. Read the full article here.
Listen to economists, geneticists, and ranchers talk about the keys to leaving a profitable legacy. Lee Leachman explains the five step process to turn your herd into an industry leading herd using genetics and DNA testing.
ON THE RANCH: ● Cows that eat less. ● Calves that weigh more. ● Higher fertility. ● More pounds weaned per acre! IN THE LOT AND ON THE RAIL: ● Gain 4 or more and convert 4.9 or less. ● Grade over 80% choice. ● Reach 900+ lb. carcass weights. ● Feeders that earn big premiums! $Profit™ – works on
What do we call a top 10% rancher? This is a rancher who is on top of his (or her) game – a professional manager of grass and livestock. He implements the best technologies available. He knows his cost of production. He markets his output. He works with a long term plan in mind. By being better than 90% of
In an 1,800 head feed test of Full Circle Jersey cross calves, the Leachman sired feeders returned the most profit. More than Limousin AND Angus! The Stabilizer advantage starts at conception and builds through harvest: shorter gestation, less dystocia, more live calves, heavier carcass weight, MUCH better feed conversion, and MUCH higher red meat yield! “We have raised and fed out thousands
Born in the same herd. Born during the same month. Raised in the same calf ranch and fed at the same feedlot. Reduction of frame and addition of thickness and muscle shape! Feed efficiency improved from 7:1 down to 6:1 – as measured in individual feed intake bunks. Create calves that can be sold on beef grids at a premium! Average
Low PAP is #1 for us. Leachman’s PAP EPDs have virtually eliminated brisket disease in our herd. Our cow size is decreasing, weaning weights are up, and fertility is up. Plus our feedlot performance on gain, conversion, and carcass quality are all improving. By using AI, $PROFIT® and PAP EPDs we are building more efficient, profitable, and satisfying cattle. Doug
We are putting less feed into the cows and getting better production. The entire calf crop graded 93% Choice and over 50% CAB and higher. Out of our first calvers, 100% graded choice or higher. That’s progress! ~ Eddie Clement, Manager Stirrup Bar Ranch Crawford, CO The herd is wintered at 6,900’ elevation near Maher, CO. The cows then head up
The bulls are good – the people are great – we’re perfectly pleased. ~ Tim Erickson, La Junta, CO Pictured are pairs being trailed 40 miles to the National Forest. Tim makes his bulls work. “We use them two seasons a year – early spring in CA and summer in CO.” The Erickson’s started with Herefords and have long preferred the red
Leachman/TopLine Angus Bulls Have Turned Our Herd into Premium Cattle! “By using high $PROFIT® Angus bulls from Leachman/TopLine, we turned our Brahma based cow herd into cattle that earn premiums. It’s one of the best business decisions we have ever made! We plan to be at the sale in California again this fall – Mike Browning always makes us feel like family.” ~
Feed:Gain: Difference in the amount of feed a bull’s progeny will consume to produce one pound of gain. Example: A -0.50 F:G EPD means this animal’s progeny will consume 1/2 pound less feed per pound of gain than would progeny of a 0.00 F:G EPD sire. Feed Intake: Difference in feed consumption of each of a bull’s progeny in a
What does that mean to you as a bull buyer? 1. More accurate EPD’s — our genomically enhanced EPDs are backed by our 1.3 MM database and the research team at Zoetis. In rough terms, they are nearly TWICE as accurate as the previous EPD’s that we printed. 2. Parentage on every bull selling has been verified. This ensures that
Leachman financial indexes allow you to HAVE IT ALL! $Ranch: Profit from birth through weaning. Includes: • Fertility, Milk, Growth • Cow feed intake and mature size $Feeder: Profit from weaning to harvest. Includes: • Feed conversion • Carcass value • Carcass weight $Profit: Puts it all together. $Ranch + $Feeder. • One number that predicts your bottom line! The
Dare to compare: You cannot afford to make mistakes in your breeding program! Choosing to use sires with incomplete or low value data can unknowingly make your herd less profitable – same work, same cost, poor results – unacceptable. Leachman ABC’s are the most reliable and comprehensive EPD’s in the industry. They are backed by a large (nearly a million),
1. Reg#: the registration number of the animal. Nt Reg means the animal is not registered. Pending means that a registration number has been applied for, but was not issued at the time of catalog printing. 2. Brd: breed of the animal if two breeds or less are involved. If more than two breeds are in the animal, then the
Lee shares his thoughts on what the future of the beef cattle industry looks like in the age of meat alternatives.
