MT. VERNON, Mo. The Southwest Missouri Cattlemen’s Association will hold an educational tour in Barry County on Sept. 17.
“Three unique farms have agreed to serve as tour hosts,” said Eldon Cole, livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension.
The first stop at 1:30 p.m. is at Anderson Ranch, Seligman. Owner, Gary Anderson and farm manager Lindell Mitchell will discuss their 300 Angus-based cow herd (with a small amount of Gelbvieh and Simmental in them).
“The herd has been built on buying top-performing bulls and retaining outstanding heifers. A combination of Bermudagrass and novel fescue round out their forage program. About 90 percent of their hay is barn-stored,” said Cole.
To reach the first stop take Missouri 37 south of Seligman to Arkansas 62. Follow 62 about one mile west to Gann Ridge Road take it to the right and follow the signs to the Anderson corral.
The second stop at 3:30 p.m. will be south of Exeter off of MM. A & W Brooks Farm with Phillip and his children Audra and Will features 220 breeding females. The forage is primarily Kentucky 31 fescue with some sudan raised to background fall calves. Heifer calves are evaluated and handled according to the Missouri Show-Me-Select. Several of these heifers will be in the SMS sale Nov. 18 at Joplin Regional.
“The Brooks have followed their cattle in the feedlot, being sold on video auctions and sold direct off the farm. A key feature in the farmstead is a corral under roof with several fans to provide relief in hot weather. The farm’s cattle records were developed with their banker’s help,” said Cole.
The final stop will be Schallert Brothers Farms, just west of Purdy on State Road B, then north on Farm Road 1055. Their operation embraces family and modern technology that works. It is a Century Farm with fescue and 900 to 1000 head of stocker cattle a year.
“The Schallerts pioneered the use of anhydrous ammonia to treat fescue stubble hay in southwest Missouri. They use row crops and small grains to convert Kentucky 31 fescue to novel varieties of fescue,” said Cole.
For more details, contact the MU Extension Center in Mt. Vernon at 417-466-3102.
