GENETICS:
1) YOU MUST START WITH THE RIGHT COW SIZE.
IN ARKANSAS WE JUST CAN NOT PRODUCE A PROFITABLE CALF FROM A 1400 LB. COW. HOW SMALL IS THE RIGHT SIZE ? AS SMALL AS POSSIBLE AND STILL HAVE A MARKETABLE CALF. OUR AVERAGE COW WEIGHS 1138 LBS, WHEN SHE IS WEANING HER CALF AT 205 DAYS OF AGE.
2) YOU MUST HAVE AN EFFICIENT COW: A COW THAT WILL WEAN IN EXCESS OF 50% OF HER BODY WEIGHT IN 205 DAYS. WE SHOOT FOR A COW EFFICIECY OF 60%. OUR CALVES FROM OUR MATURE COWS WILL AVERAGE 633 LBS FOR A 56% EFFICIENCY.
3) A FEED EFFICIENT COW: A COW THAT CAN RAISE THIS CALF WITH WHAT OUR PASTURES WILL PRODUCE WITH ONLY SUPPLMENTAL MINERALS. NO CREEP FEED, ONLY GRASS !
4) THE BULL AND COW SELECTION MUST PRODUCE A LIVE CALF: A DEAD CALF AT BIRTH DOES NOT WEIGH UP MUCH ON SALE DAY.
LOW INPUT:
1) WE FEED NO HAY TO OUR COWS--click here for pictures
2) WE DO NOT FERTILIZE OUR PASTURES
3) WE DO NOT FEED ANY SUPPLIMENTAL PROTEIN TO OUR COWS AND ONLY A MINIMUM TO OUR BULLS AT WEANING
PASTURE MANAGEMENT:
1) WHILE WE WOULD LIKE TO ROTATIONAL GRAZE, AT THE PRESENT WE ARE JUST ROTATING OUR PASTURES SEASONALLY
2) WE ARE CONTINUING TO INCREASE THE DISTRIBUTION OF LEGUMES IN OUR PASTURES TO FIX NITROGEN BACK IN THE SOIL IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY.
3) SPRAYING AS NEEDED TO CONTROL UNDESIRABLE PLANTS