Ketchup arrived

[rkaiser]

Yip grassfarmer, we're still working on the fertility figure every day. Those S.C. numbers in most catalogs refer to centimeters, ours are still in Imperial measurement.- Wink yourself -

[cowman]

Somehow or other I always get shots about how I am anti-anything not mainstream! And maybe I have helped that along by playing the devils advocate, whenever I get a chance!
However that isn't really the case at all! Hey boys I'm listening and have actually picked up a few things here and there from this site!
And yep, I think the cattle business is changing and you either change or die? In the perfect world we'd all still be raising those good old stout horned herefords and flogging the barley to them! But those times are gone.
And despite Mr. Kaisers contrary statements I have always thought Welsh Black cattle were very interesting cattle and built right...and that from a very limited exposure to them...my buddy runs a bull test and he used to have Welsh Blacks on feed there.
Now I will admit I don't think I've ever seen a Luing other than in a few books. I have on book on modern beef production from England that talks highly of them.
And finally I think I said there was a guy out by Delburne Alberta who had a herd of Galloways....and I said they looked like good functional cattle?
Now when the day comes that my customers(the feedlot) starts demanding these type of genetics...that will be the day I'll change? Does that make sense? When the market said "Those straightbred herefords just don't cut it anymore"...I changed! When the market said "We don't want those Simmies" ...I changed! And when the market said "we want more Angus in the mix" I changed!
Sometimes reluctantly...I will admit.
Now often people like to portray their particular choice of breed or crossbreed as being superior in utilizing feed and there is a lot to that! Obviously when you get too much Simmental in them they have a hard time competing with a red baldie...by the way some of those old Char cross cows can be as tough as the best!
I think you can find "tough cows" in many breeds and crosses that can get out and rustle and get the job done!
Now I'm not saying some of these minor breeds aren't superior when it comes to getting by on less feed? The fact is I just don't know?...but I do enjoy listening to you guys when you talk about it! Don't know how much is fact, wishful thinking or just plain old BS...but keep doing it.

[rkaiser]

Cheers cowman. And we all know that you and I will keep coming back for more due to the thickness of each of our own skins.

By the way, I have a good freind who can't wait to see my next bull sale catalog each year. He calls me the Ernest Hemmingway of Bull Shit. But bull shit in this industry does not always mean lies. More a way of exposing the best of what you have and making that exposure more appealing than the next guy. There are Ernest Hemmingways in every breed, including Simmentals, and God love - em I say.

Every breed in Canada has a place in this wonderful diverse industry we call the cattle industry. The longer we can keep em all going, the longer we stay away from the goal of the mutinationals to turn our industry into what what is called the chicken or pork industry.

[cowman]

And without a doubt Randy selling is the name of the game in no matter what business you are in and "BS" is just part of the public relations involved? And by "BS" I don't mean misrepresnting the facts or anything like that...just putting the best spin on things!
And I do agree with you that every breed has its place and what is popular today, might not be tommorrow and visa versa?
I also believe the old purebred game can be a very enjoyable life and without a doubt you are always engaged in it and you meet and get to interact with a ton of people from all over the place.
Eventually the beef industry will be "chickenized"...but not today! So enjoy your days just like the old Blackfoot Indians did before the buffalo were gone!

[rkaiser]

Just call me Sitting Bull cowman.....

I love that "BS" thing you came up with. Best Spin - you're a thinker cowman.

[rkaiser]

BS might be the tool to make a sale in the first place but repeat customers are ones who like the product, believe in the program and feel they have been well treated and their support is appreciated.

[rkaiser]

Exactly emerald. And within you see the trends of business.

For example, I know that if I were a bit less brass I could satisfy the needs of Mr. Wilson's ranch. Best spin to start and then confidence that my bulls would work in his situation.

However, that spin part has not always been my best feature. At times sheer honesty and guns from the hip can hold back that initial sale, but in the long run ------

15 years in this purebred business, and I now know that continuing to raise bulls like Ketchup and treating my cutomers right will give me a business until I decide to retire.

[rkaiser]

randy I thought you were retired, going to the gym everyday and living the life of a country gentleman !!!!
LOL

[rkaiser]

Not quite yet emerald. Setting some feed in today and filling the propane tank on my 12 foot motorhome. 150 cows come home for calving on the weekend. Wish I had a laptop to keep up on the news, but hey two months --- what could happen in two months.

[rkaiser]

glad you have the cows home randy, would hate for you to forget which end to check in calving time !!! Hope you have good luck with calving, and that everything turns to gold on the new place.
You work hard for the industry and as a producer I appreciate it, even though I don't raise the same breed of cattle.We all are in this business together.