I am often inspired to write about things that I read, see and/or hear. This time, Steve Campbell inspired me to write about genetic potential. Follow me for a second as I provide some background information.
One of the first talks I give to my wrestlers, as a coach, is to watch what they eat. I use the analogy of a Lamborghini sports car. If somehow you had a Lambo, would you fill it with 85 octane gas? I hope not because it would run like crap! You would use premium, ethanol-free fuel and probably add some octane-boost to get the best driving experience.
The same goes for your body. You can’t expect to push your body to the limits by eating fast food and drinking pop. It just doesn’t work that way! Yes, you can survive on a poor diet, but you will never excel.
This same analogy works for your new PCC bull. If you want your new PCC bull to reach its genetic potential, then you need to eliminate the “junk food” from his diet. The obvious “junk food” for bulls would be grain, silage and other feed additives. Most PCC customers are low-input and have already removed most of these expensive and unhealthy inputs.
A more common and widely used source of “junk food” is the average livestock mineral. Most cheap, feedstore minerals are sourced from China and loaded with heavy metals and other contaminants. While a naturally available (or organic) mineral may cost more, it is something that has always paid dividends for me.
The same can be said for salt. White, refined salt can cause a myriad of health problems, while a sea-salt provides many health benefits. Similarly, artificial protein supplements like dried distillers grains (DDGs), biuret, and urea are quite toxic. Symptoms are not always immediate, but chronic exposure can leave lasting impacts including infertility, sickness, and even death.
PCC bulls are tough as nails and can survive on a “junk food” diet. However, they will excel and push the limits of production and fertility if you get the poisons out of their diet. Your PCC bull is an investment worth protecting and getting the most out of!