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Watch for information coming March 2023.
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Black AN & Black SmAN Yearling Bulls
The bulls are weaned and started on test as of 11/28/2022. Our test is designed with our nutritionist to let the bulls show differences in their potential without getting fat. Fat bulls have a lot of appeal come sale day, but they don't do us or YOU any good. Fat bulls may have sub-clinical damage to their feet, livers, rumens, etc. and have deposited fat in their scrotums. Come the tough days of breeding season, this could result in you having more open cows.
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General Information about raising bulls @ DRI:
All calves are born on range with the exception of 1st calf heifers who are kept closer to home and turned out on range after calving. Calves spend their spring & summer grazing native range with only momma's milk and grazing available: NO creep! After weaning, the heifers are turned back out on to dormant native (not fed in a lot; after all, their jobs with be foraging for themselves when they're cows!) and bulls are brought into traps for performance testing. Bulls are fed a forage-based ration with silage, DDGs, hay & supplement targeting about 3.5-4 lb ADG. This lets them express differences in their potential without becoming fat. WE WON'T PRODUCE FAT BULLS! We collect full data off test, including weights, genomics, ultrasound carcass traits, hip height, foot scores, and docility scores.
All calves are born on range with the exception of 1st calf heifers who are kept closer to home and turned out on range after calving. Calves spend their spring & summer grazing native range with only momma's milk and grazing available: NO creep! After weaning, the heifers are turned back out on to dormant native (not fed in a lot; after all, their jobs with be foraging for themselves when they're cows!) and bulls are brought into traps for performance testing. Bulls are fed a forage-based ration with silage, DDGs, hay & supplement targeting about 3.5-4 lb ADG. This lets them express differences in their potential without becoming fat. WE WON'T PRODUCE FAT BULLS! We collect full data off test, including weights, genomics, ultrasound carcass traits, hip height, foot scores, and docility scores.