Just short of being a century farm, Crystal Springs Limousin, knows cattle with great quality and has been raising such cattle, for some time. Bill Burch’s family started not in the beef cattle business, but the dairy industry when they moved to the Neosho, Mo., area in 1919.
“In 1984, the year we started raising Limousin, they were the hottest thing going. The cattle are lean, have healthy meat and they are good foragers.” Bill said.
Bill chose the name of his operation because Crystal Springs was the name of the dairy his dad was born and raised on and Bill grew-up on.
Currently, Crystal Springs Limousin has 90 head of cows and 50 head of heifers. Bill also raises bulls and heifers to sell to cattlemen for commercial use. He keeps three separate herds for different bloodlines, so when a customer comes back wanting an animal that is not related to a previous purchase, he has the ability to do that.
Bill said, “I try to cater individually to each customer and to what they want to add into their own herd, that is what makes raising cattle fun. It is important to me to see each person who purchases a heifer or cow from me to be happy. I do stand behind my animals 100 percent.”
Something unique about Bill and his operation is that he will deliver his bulls and heifers to the buyer. “I like being able to see where they are going,” Bill said.
Besides raising cattle to go straight into a herd, Bill has sold many calves for 4-H and FFA projects. “Showing with kids is fun, getting to help them with their progress, and receiving an update on how they have done in the show ring is part of what it is all about.”
“Currently,” Bill explained, “the heat has been rough on all livestock and pastures, and early this summer I baled hay, which is a large part of my operation. In the fall I bale wheat and follow with hay grazer and bean stubble.”
For feeding Bill does very little to make his cattle fat because Limousin are very good foragers and he expects the stock he sells to be able to “hold their own” in the pasture. He does suggest feeding small amounts in the area you work the cattle.
“Many people think the Limousin breed can be aggressive, but that’s not completely true. I handle my livestock with respect and they respect me the same way, I don’t have time to handle animals that are aggressive towards people. They protect their young while out in the pasture against predators which makes my job easier. They really do have a friendly disposition,” Bill mentioned other traits about the breed. “They are easy calving cows and you can rely on and expect a cow to be in your herd for sometime because of their longevity,” Bill said.
“I am growing my herd and will stick with it. A lot of breeders have fallen to the wayside but I will continue to raise quality Limousin cattle,” Bill concluded.
