The Angus Journal® is a monthly magazine known for in-depth coverage of American Angus Association® programs and services; the Angus business; herd management; and advertising reflecting genetics and herd philosophies.
Issue link: http://angusjournal.epubxp.com/i/529629
58 n ANGUSJournal n July 2015 together without the use of melengestrol acetate (MGA) because cattle from the same ranch are all penned together and kept pleasantly full all day. "We feed cattle a little longer than normal, and rate of gain is a little lower because we feed a lower-starch, lower-energy diet," Moore said. "We don't use Lutalyse® or MGA with our heifers, and we don't have any issues because we keep them happy." Capture your value After the cattle are fnished, Cattleman's Choice Feedyards markets the natural- program cattle for their owners to the packers. "I have different cattle that go to different packers based on breed and based on genetic potential," Moore said. "Based on breed, weight and time of the year, I market the cattle based on which packer they ft best, and I market to all of the major packers." Mourer said Cattleman's Choice Feedyard helps market natural cattle to packers to ensure the producer receives the value associated with program cattle. "You can market to larger companies, and that eliminates some of the very hands-on marketing aspects of natural beef," Mourer said. "After they complete the process once, it becomes much easier to market your beef year after year." Gerken said the simplest take-home message for producers is they have been raising their calves right for years, and natural programs just capture the added value of their work. "The unknown is the most frightening," Gerken said. "Once cattlemen realize that they have been doing something valuable all along, it gets a lot easier." Raising natural beef includes a connection between producer and consumer that is becoming increasingly more important and more valuable. "Right now one of the most critical values to capture is to be able to tell your story," Gerken said. "It is critical to tell our story before someone else does it for us." Natural Beef CONTINUED FROM PAGE 57 Angus and Charolais Cattle 18441 Capri Place • Harrold, SD 57536 Harry (605) 973-2417 Troy (605) 973-2448 E-mail: thomas@venturecomm.net Pheasant Hunting – Private Web site: www.thomasranchcattle.com THOMAS RANCH ADVERTISE HERE!!! Contact: Rod Geppert • Regional Manager • rgeppert@angus.org (605) 295-3673 or Doneta Brown, Marketing Coordinator • dbrown@angusjournal.com (816) 383-5232 3 So. 1/2 East of Dante, SD Annual sale 3rd Monday in February at the Ranch Herd Sires: Duffs Amigo 815 • Duffs Special Edition 811 OCC Unmistakeabull • Koupal MVP 200 Koupal Juneau 797 Koupals B&B; Colossal 9052 Koupal Brulee 698 • Koupal MoCo • Koupals B& B Marathon 8031 • Sitz Upward 307R Semen Available • Visitors Welcome For more information Contact: LaVern & Alice 605-384-5315, mobile 605-491-1768 • 605-491-0354 lakoupal@cme.coop www.koupalangus.com Bud & Bernie 605-384-3481 mobile 605-491-2102 bkoupal@cme.coop Koupal Angus — Angus Cattle – Quarter Horses – Guided Hunting spearu2@msn.com • www.shearerranch.com Shearer Ranch Greg & Lori Shearer 18870 222nd Street Wall, SD 57790-6205 605-279-2456 SOUTH DAKOTA Spring Performance Sale 2nd Monday in April 1 p.m. (MDT) • Sale at St Onge Livestock Visitors welcome! Ranch located 5 miles west of St. Onge on Hwy 34 or 6 miles east of Belle Fourche on Hwy 34. www.bakerlemarangus.com • lemarangus@gmail.com Mike Baker 11446 Angus Lane St. Onge, SD 605-642-9785 Leo J. Baker 11440 Angus Lane St. Onge, SD 605-642-5793 Annual Bull Sale third Saturday in February. Mick & Lynn 605-337-2261 Ross & Kelly 605-337-9896 29208 374th Ave. Geddes, SD 57342 www.varilekangus.com