Buy, raise, feed the best
Learning from the past to improve performance, Galen Reece of Sawyer, Kan., bought a variety of cattle over the years before shifting to high-quality cattle with proven genetics.
Recently a harvest group of 36 steers he bought on Superior Livestock Auction and fed at Pratt Feeders made better than 94% CAB and Prime. They also performed exceptionally well in the feedlot, gaining 4.05 lb. per day with a 5.40 conversion rate of feed to gain.
“In our 40,000-head-capacity feedlot, his cattle are in the top 10% to 15%,” says Pratt Feeders manager Jerry Bohn.
Reece stresses the importance of bulls with the genetics to produce high quality, and makes it a practice to buy only calves sired by Gardiner Angus Ranch bulls. Along with the added value of premiums and greater efficiencies, Reece says the cattle generally have better health as well.
“It doesn’t cost much more to own a really good calf,” Bohn says. “And the benefits at the end more than offset the upfront costs.”
Taking that to heart on his ranch, Reece started his own herd a couple of years ago using the same brand of genetics, while continuing to buy from repeat sources on the video auction.
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