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Brood Herd

                                                                                Generally speaking, we try to keep 400 brood cows

                                                                            on hand year round. Because of our strict culling 

                                                                            requirements, this requires us to keep approximately

                                                                            50-60 replacement heifers each year. Recently we

                                                                           have begun utilizing artificial insemination as a way

                                                                           breed, which will hopefully allow us to maintain only

                                                                           20-24 bulls for natural breeding. As a general rule, the

                                                                           bulls are put in with the cows the first week January and remain in their respective herds for 75 to 90 days. Pregnancy checking takes place during the first two weeks of June, and the calves are weaned at the same time. Any cow or replacement heifer that is not bred is culled immediately. In addition, any cow or replacement heifer that has developed a bad disposition, bad feet, bad udders, or any other negative quality is culled as well. There are no second chances for the cattle because of the financial obligation that is in place to carry a cow through the next year without her being a productive part of the farming operation.

    Calves typically start hitting the ground during

the month of September, and Richard, along with

an employee, checks on these herds at least once a

day, and sometimes up to three times a day. As

soon as a calf is born, an eartag is applied, when

the calf will be assigned a number that matches his

mother. Bull calves are castrated at the same time,

and given a dose of Ralgro. From there, a strict

health program begins. The cattle on the entire

farm are given medicines and vaccinations pursuant to the Pfizer Select Vac Program. The calves are worked in basically March of each year, and again in May or early June of each year. The cows and replacement heifers are worked in March of each year and August or early September of each year. The livestock at Cleveland Land and Cattle are well familiar with the cattle working facilities and what happens in there. Thus it can sometimes be a challenge to get them corralled for the August and/or early September working.

                                                                                      We believe in a stress free working environment

                                                                                  for the livestock. This involves strong working

                                                                                  facilities including the use of guard rail and a

                                                                                  sweep tub. The employees are reminded not to yell

                                                                                  and/or frighten the cattle, but rather be calm and

                                                                                  patient. Many different techniques have been

                                                                                  adopted over the years by and through those

                                                                                  standards set forth with the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program. Cleveland Land and Cattle is also a proud member of the local BCIA and has received several awards such as "Most Improved Large Herd". There are also many "Gold Star" cows that are a part of the brood herd and this number seems to grow each and every year.