Cattleman’s Corner Radio

Galen Fink is with us again today. He's a Kansas seed stock producer, has gone to strictly fall calving. What do you like about the fall calving?    "We started that several years ago. I probably, like Mother Nature, wasn't really smart. It's just me and my wife from a labor standpoint. So we went to fall calving. We AI everything, made it easier to collect the cows and breed them and never had to carry in a September calf yet due to cold weather and just lots of things like that. I know tradition is that the cost is a lot more and it probably is slightly, but I think probably the cover crops and everything that's come along the last 15 to 20 years, it may be fall calving could be a lot more reasonable for folks than what they might think at one time."   Do you do any spring calving?    "We're going to disperse all of our spring bred cows just to make room for more cows coming in, pasture, we're overstocked."     

The text details an interview between Hale Broadcasting and Kyle Shobe of Lewistown Livestock Auction in Montana. The discussion predominantly focuses on the operations of the auction, which mostly deals in cattle with occasional sheep sales. The auction conducts regular sales, emphasizing the robust cattle genetics in the region and investment in livestock marketing. Horses play a role primarily in moving cattle on sale days, whereas modern tools like four-wheelers are more common for efficiency.

Did you know... Tarentaise were first called Savoyarde?   The cattle were originally introduced in 1857 at the county fair in Mont Brison in Savoie with the breed name Savoyarde. In 1861, the Savoie Duchy again became part of France. So in 1861 the cattle became a French breed and it was named Tarentaise after the Tarentaise Valley above which most of the breed lived. In 1863, the Tarentaise breed was officially recognized by France at the French National Agricultural Fair. Work began in 1866 to decide the elements to select for in the Tarine/Tarentaise cattle. The first Herd Book was created in 1888, and the official name “Tarentaise” for the cattle breed was adopted at that time.   Tarentaise cattle descend from the domestic cattle of the Tarentaise valley in France where they were isolated from other breeds for many thousands of years. The cattle adapted in such a way as to allow them to exist in high altitudes and be able to range in very steep and rough terrain to forage.

Kory Ostrand of Ostrand Angus, located in Mason City, Nebraska, discussed the origins of his involvement in livestock. Kory detailed how he used money from selling a 4-H steer to purchase a registered Angus heifer at the age of nine, marking the beginning of his journey into registered cattle breeding. His family's ranch has been operational since 1884, making him the fifth generation to run it. They are strategically located about 50 miles northwest of Kearney or 30 miles southeast of Broken Bow, an area known for its quality cattle farming conditions.   The Ostrand program focuses on a balanced trait approach, offering a diverse range of bulls and heifers, including calving ease and power bulls. The interview highlighted their strategy to enhance buyer access through online platforms and emphasized maintaining buyer engagement even in variable weather conditions. Hale Broadcasting is assisting in promotional efforts for the sale, offering additional advertising services on their platforms.   Listen in to an interesting story on how Mason City, Nebraska Angus Breeder Corey Ostrand got his start with a wise investment.

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is a highly toxic, colorless, and flammable gas commonly found in oil and gas operations, wastewater treatment plants, sewers, manure pits, and other confined spaces. It is often recognized by its rotten egg odor, but relying on smell is dangerous because the gas can quickly deaden your sense of smell at higher concentrations.

Those from the panhandle of Nebraska will likely understand the reference to The Pink Palace. However, for those who are not from here... The Pink Palace is a landmark drinking and dining establishment in the small 'town' of McGrew, Nebraska (population ?)   Rockin' R Red Angus is located just a couple miles south of there. You can't miss it. Go out and tell Dan you saw this on the internet! Tell him Brian Hale says Hi.

Welcome to the Cattleman's Corner. I'm Brian Hale, sitting in for the late Howard Hale, as we continue his legacy of speaking with cattlemen and women from around the globe.    We're talking to Ted Delagana.   Ted is now from Conrad, Montana, but used to be in, was it the Central Valley in California?    "Central Coast, is what we call it."   You were involved in agriculture down there?    "Yep, all my life."   What kind of things did you do?    "We always had cattle, and then worked for different places that had cattle, and always raised our own hay for the cattle up until when we left. And then I worked for a large place that we farmed about 3,000 acres of dryland grain and hay. Hay there is all oats and barley hay, so it's all just grain hay."   On this side of the Madison line, my dad always called it green feed.   "Pretty much. We had a whole different world there, a lot of rain down there. So, why did you have the cereal grains for hay, or green feed as we call it up here, instead of like something, perennial grass? Not many, we hardly had, a lot of alfalfa hay, a lot of alfalfa, but perennial grass like they have here, almost zero. The ranch I worked for we summer followed, but where I lived, we planted winter so every year. It was just a rain thing, I think, you know, the amount of rain we get."   Could you get more tons per acre off of doing green feed?    "There was alfalfa ranches around and they would get a ton and a half per cutting or so, I'd say, and cut five, sometimes six cuttings. But with our grain hay, we'd get as much as five times the acre on grain hay. You know, we were all selling to cattlemen, feedlots, and then we got fancy stuff. We started growing what they called forage mix. It was a mix of beardless barley, beardless wheat, and a couple varieties of oats. And we'd sell those to the racetracks like Santa Anita and a lot of horse people."   Ted Dalagana from Conrad, Montana with our co-host David Woodruff.

We're talking Travis Haslam, and let's see, what's the closest town to you again in Wyoming?    "Opal, Wyoming, with a population of about 50."   Grass getting green?    "Yeah, it's getting green, and we've had some pretty timely rains, and it looks good."   So, what's your elevation there?    "We're at 6,500 feet."    Do you calve out early, or are you in the middle of it, or what?    "We're most of the way through it. We're working through branding, getting things branded, and getting turned out. A lot of our stuff we can turn out here this week and next week."   Your terrain, are you close to some high mountains, or is everything fairly flat like, say, Cheyenne?    "We have a lot more mountains than Cheyenne. We're kind of surrounded by high desert here, but it's probably 40 miles to the forest, and we'll take some cows up to the forest, but they can't go on until the first of July. It's high enough."   And that'll be, what, 9,000 and above?    "Yeah. And you said you're at 6,000? Yeah, we're at 6,500."    

Ranching Conditions and Livestock Management: Jim Jensen discusses the challenges of cattle ranching at high elevations and the impact of high mountain disease on cattle, particularly Angus breeds, which suffer from a condition known as high mountain disease or brisket disease. This involves a lack of oxygen leading to heart failure in animals. Despite the prevalence among Angus cattle, it's suggested that multiple breeds could be affected under specific environmental stresses. Ranching Lifestyle and Efficiency: The conversation elaborates on ranching as a lifestyle choice rather than just an occupation, emphasizing the efficiency and self-reliance required. Jim's family operates a highly efficient ranch with a focus on feed efficiency and minimal labor, relying heavily on family members. They manage extensive lands including those under BLM and Forest Service leases while using advanced techniques for livestock management to maintain financial stability.

Today we have Roger Olson, a Gelbvieh breeder from Colorado. How did you get started in the Gelbvieh, Roger?    Well, in 1970, my dad bought a group of three-quarter blood Gelbvieh cattle from a gentleman in South Dakota. There was 75 head there. The Gelbvieh breed has always been really, really good for us. We've always just stayed with it.    Why do you think that is?    They check all the boxes, as far as maternal traits, feed gain, their do-ability as far as pastures are concerned, docile disposition, very fertile cattle. We have just a super breed up every year. The cows have just not ever let us down. Even drought years, like we are having this year, just having phenomenal calves. Like I said, they've always treated us very well. They've never disappointed. We have an annual bull sale, pot of gold bull sale, over in Montrose, Colorado, every year, last Friday in February. I have been doing that for 35 years and have just been a successful bull sale and sell feedstock. They've always just been really good for us.    What kind of country is that where you are? Is that good for raising cattle?    It was good at one time. We're being invaded by subdivisions and investment groups and stuff like that, so we're having a hard time as far as finding pasture and feed. It's becoming a challenge.    Your location is Platteville. Where is that?    Fifteen miles south of Greeley, up in the north central.    That was Roger Olson from northeastern Colorado's Mill Iron Lazy V Cattle Company.    That's going to do it for today's Cattleman's Corner.

Each year the Colby Community College does a great job conducting and annual bull sale. Listen in as Don Edwards of Hyde Gelbvieh explains...