Herd Quitter™ Blog
How Do They Work in the Feedlot ?
Over the years, I have probably had over 200 people say, “I know PCC genetics work great on the ranch – but how do they work in the feedlot?” I don’t get asked that question nearly as often as I did just five years ago – but often enough that I feel the...
Use Your Head –
Low-input ranching uses thinking (management) to solve problems – instead of money. What could be more cost effective? Those who sell inputs – whether pharmaceuticals, equipment, machinery, feed supplements, chemicals, etc., etc. – are NOT at all concerned with how...
TOP FIVE Reasons for Buying Bulls in the Fall –
1. Bulls sell for less in the fall because there is less demand. 2. Fall is the best time to move cattle from one environment to another – especially if you are moving them into a hotter, more humid environment (south and/or east). 3. Spring-calving producers have...
Grassfed Beef… The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (part 1) –
As stated in previous PCC Updates and Newsletters, the grassfed sector is the only bright spot in today’s beef industry. It has had an annual growth rate of 25% for the past 20 years. In contrast, the commodity beef sector has shrunk nearly 20% over the last 15...
Times Have Changed –
The status quo beef industry is the result of a time when land was unbelievably cheap – at least by today’s standards. It is also the result of cheap feed and cheap fuel. Gasoline could be purchased for 25 cents per gallon in the early 1970s. Labor was cheap –...
Grass Efficiency
PCC ICE Colorado Magua 5417A Johan Zietsman once said, “Grass-efficient animals look like eight pounds of sugar in a 5-pound sack.” We believe that is an accurate analogy. We have provided a grass-efficiency score for all of the bulls selling...
No Downside
As you know, the genetics that work best for the feeders and the packers do NOT work best on the ranch. They are too tall, too lean and too late-maturing. They grow and grow and continue to grow. They are way too big before they start putting on fat. This has...
Nearly One In Four
Someone shared an internet article with the PCC Discussion Group that was entitled “Nearly One-In-Four have Tried Meatless Fast Food.” This group loves to discuss things that most cow-calf producers would rather not acknowledge – much less talk about. That’s just...
Flavorless Beef
One month ago, we had a busload of farmers and stockman from Argentina stop by PCC Headquarters for a visit. I have heard from a few of them since they returned home. If you are a beef producer, the following email from Pen Gunningham should will give you...
The Dreaded Horn Fly
Many of the problems we encounter in the cow-calf business have a genetic factor. Genetic selection is the only way to provide a permanent solution to many of our problems. Horn flies are no exception. It doesn’t take a genius to...