Treasuring Their Traits
Ron, DyAnna and Sheldon Shaver’s registered Angus herd has its roots as Sheldon’s Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) when he was an FFA member at Norwood High School. “We got into that in my freshman year of high school for my FFA project. We have continued it and grown since then,” said Sheldon, who has just completed his second year at College of the Ozarks. “We started by selecting some cows out of a couple of production sales. We kept animals with traits we like.” The Shavers now run about 40 head on 84 acres in Wright County.
The Productivity of the Land
It has been often stated that one of our most precious natural resources is the land, and it should be used and cared for as stated in ancient medical tradition – 'First, do no harm.' This is the philosophy of Ash Grove, Mo., farmer, Gayer Dixon. “We must preserve our farm lands for future generations,” he said with heartfelt sincerity. Due to urban development and limited government regulations our priceless farms are disappearing. Conservation and protection of our nation’s farmlands should be of the utmost importance to everyone.
Higher Yields in Stocker Calves
On the north and east slopes of the tenth highest hill in Missouri's Douglas County is a sea of fescue and clover dotted with Angus cattle hugging the shade of the trees.
Consider Grazing
Missouri and much of the Midwest has, for the most part, been blessed with good weather this year for pasture and hay growth. If favorable climate conditions continue, producers should consider grazing weaned calves this fall as an option to add weight to feeder calves before marketing. Autumn is quickly approaching and we are getting closer to weaning spring-born calves, so now is the time to make decisions regarding the fall calf crop.
A Feedlot Relationship
As a cow herd operator, you can produce a quality calf. The feedlot manager knows what it takes to finish that calf on feed so it can earn carcass premiums.