Different Viewpoint

[greybeard]

Check out Gardiner Angus Ranch {GAR} in Ashland , Kansas. They may be ahead of the curve on this type of thing. Also some other things that make you think if you download some of thier old newsletters.

[ValueChainFX]

The revolution has started! The vision has to be for success (how each individual sees it). The risk management needs to start at the strategy stage and so my suggestion for comment is, the primary producer needs to be looked after! To accomplish this whatever new system is developed, needs to make the whole industry from primary producer to the consumer strong and viable!

Got love when everyone starts to move in the same direction. Nice to see a positive thread!

[johnboy555]

Bye Bye cowman, you old relic you

You lucky dog, no more pain for you

Just one last govnt. check

[StrawBoss]

PureCountry—nice to see a positive outlook for the future, but make sure you have a backup plan to smooth out the bumps; also don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

[cropduster]

Hey,Cowman,on the vein of retirement,rent/beg/borrow a movie just out called "Second Hand Lions".Robert Duvall and Michael Caine play two old bachelors I`m sure everyone in this chatroom can associate with!!!! Good laughs ,no swearing or skin,which is refreshing in this day and age.Will make you think!I`ll be looking for a report!!!!

[PureCountry]

Strawboss: you bring up a good point, sir, and I've thought about it quite a bit. My Dad told me to get a written contract, as did several others, and I've also taken the time to find other buyers looking for the kind of cattle I'm going to raise. You see the biggest thing I realized about our ranch, is that, instead of trying to push the cows production, I need to push our per-acre-production. I have to give credit to Russel Horvey, Paul Froeler, Randy Kaiser, and although I haven't met the man, Don Campbell, for enlightening me to this way of thinking. Our place is hard-grass country at its finest, with a lot of native grass, bush and very rough hills. Big, extreme cattle are not going to be profitable here. Actually, I'm not afraid to say it, I don't know anyplace that big exotic cow herds are profitable anymore. Our type of operation is best suited to a super-hardy, low-maintenance cow herd, and nothing wraps that up in a single package like a Galloway cow. Stand back and watch the responses fly now, and bring them on I say! No other breed save the Highland, can match the hardiness of a Galloway for our climate. So, through the process of making that move to cut a new standard in low-cost production, I've been able to meet these people who are of a like mind set. I don't think my eggs are in one basket, but I must admit Strawboss, it has crossed my mind.

[Horse]

It was nice to see youthful enthusiam but after that comment about highland cattle boy do you have a lot of hurt coming before you go broke or change your way of thinking .
I can rember having warm and fuzzy thoughts but sooner or later you do have to come around to reality.

[PureCountry]

The reality sir is this: My belief is that Galloway are the best choice for my operation = no horns, easy-fleshing, easy-calving, milk and mothering instincts as good as my Angus if not better. My comment about the Highlands was only to acknowledge the TRUTH, that they are as hardy as the Galloway. The last time I checked, we live a long way North of the Equator, and people are finally realizing (myself included) that a hair coat is an essential trait in genetic selection. I've tried alot of different breeds, in my own herd as well as with my grandfather, great uncles and father. There are breeds that will always have their place in our industry, and there are breeds that have nothing to offer over and above the proven merits of others. My choice through experience and research is a Galloway, Angus and Shorthorn cross cow base. Maybe others work better for you, or give you that warm fuzzy feeling, but mine give me that feeling every time I walk out to see a calf up and sucking in under 10 mintues. They give me that feeling when I've come back from helping my neighbour hold 130lb. calves up to a teat, or help him milk out a teat the size of a beer bottle. They give me that feeling too, when I hear buyers and auction reps. ask when I want to bring them to town. Ya, I remember that fuzzy feeling, too. I'm reminded of it every day.

[magpie]

Strawboss it has been tough even when you have eggs in different baskets. I’m into cattle, hogs, grains, poultry and oilseeds. I’m as mixed as they come when it comes to agriculture sectors. Perhaps I should sell and invest in other sectors but when my sons are close to purecountrys age and want to continue as I want them to { should give my head a shake} there is no other option. We will climb up the food chain if we all work collectively together for common goal. Be back later got to go . Welcome purecountry

[magpie]

Even if you put your eggs in different baskets, you're still in the egg business.
Since good old Pure Country has laid his life on the line for all of us to see, I've decided to introduce myself as well without any sales pitch. I run a purebred and commercial cattle operation with a non agricultural partner. Our first step in diversity.
Our cowherd consists of about 150 purebred cows and 70 comercial. We cull hard to produce about 20 two year old bulls for sale each year. We market all of our cull steers and heifers through a private producer driven company providing Calgary restaurants and specialty shops with a hormone free, antibiotic free, quality product.It's not always roses but when has anything outside the box been all roses.

While reading Pure Country's opening comments I thought about how he likes the idea of farmers working together, but also coming up with ways to help themselves. If I were only out to help myself, I would not have spent hours talking with and writing to government and industry leaders trying to help find slotions to our BSE BS.
WHY
Because our little niche market has thrived because of this mess. Our cattle have all of a sudden become noticed. The young man who felt like the bullied geek at the trade shows 12 years ago with his funny little hairy cows has found a bunch of high class restaurant chefs who can't get enough. And a growing number of commercial cattle producers who see the merits in the phase "we get paid for the quality of our beef" instead of the old "we get paid by the pound for our calves" (Damn the expenses).
I believe that once these new rancher owned packing plants come on line the key will be verticle integration. Some may stay the course of 1600 lb carcasses with little or no marbling while making good use of barley with optimim growth genetics backed up with a six pack of hormones.

All the power to everyone like that or like us. All I can say, like I have for years is that there is room for all of us even if we have to look like radicals for now.