Midwest Producer - Feb 13, 2008

Irish Black breed fits S.D. couple's needs

By Loretta Sorensen, Midwest Producer
Wednesday, February 13, 2008 9:38 AM CST

Valentine, Neb. - Larry and Julie Wagner weren't deterred by icy and snowy conditions that invaded Valentine during this year's Bull Bash. The Chamberlain, S.D., couple brings livestock to the event because they believe they can offer producers some effective options for making the most of their resources and time. Their Irish Black cattle and grassland management techniques have been an effective combination for them.

"When we became involved with Bootstraps, a South Dakota program that brings producers together to help each other, we knew we weren't accomplishing what we wanted with our cattle, but we weren't sure what needed to change," Julie said. "When we started analyzing and thinking about what could change, we realized we were working more for our cattle than they were for us."

The Wagner's discovered that their overall plan for feeding and calving as well as how they managed their grassland resources was based more on traditional practices than their individual situation.

"Since we started looking at better management practices, we've brought in cattle that do better on our grassland and require a lot less hands-on care," Julie said. "We changed the way we were using our grassland and reduced the amount of farming equipment we own. As a result, we're spending less time with our cows, but they're doing a lot better."

As the Wagner's began to scrutinize their production process about eight years ago, they realized they were attempting to raise cattle with large frames and small guts that had difficulty calving and required grain that didn't grow very easily on the Wagner's arid land.

Small-bellied cattle "can't eat enough to survive in the environment where we live," Julie said. "We needed cattle with big bellies so they could eat enough grass that fatty acids and carbohydrates they need could be absorbed when that fermented in their gut. If we wanted to avoid getting up every night and checking our cattle, we had to have a breed that was vigorous enough to push their calves out, lick them off and get that calf sucking so it gets the colostrum it needs."

In their search for a more suitable breed, the Wagner's settled on Irish Black cattle, which they found in Colorado. Among the desirable characteristics this breed possesses are strong maternal instincts, small udders and small teeth.

"They are also very fertile and pretty docile," Julie said. "They dress out well, about 60-70 percent. They have consistent sized ribeyes and big rumps. The meat is also very well marbled and very tasty."

In the process of revising their production process, the Wagner's also reorganized the way they manage their grassland. Calving in May and June made it possible for them to make better use of the energy in their grasses.

"We use a paddock system which Larry moves so grazing is rotated," Julie said. "The cows we're raising now have a strong desire to eat and a very large rumen. They eat all the time, and that's a good trait for us. It means they're taking in food and gaining all the time. By using the paddock system, we don't have to go in and cut and bale our grass, which saves us time and money. And the cattle are happier. They're able to graze and do what they want when they want. They're not standing around waiting for the tractor to come in so they can eat."

An added benefit of their management system is the natural fertilizer the cattle deposit over the grasslands as they graze. It means one less bill the Wagner's have to pay. "Larry installed a pipeline system last summer because there were some areas where the cattle were overgrazing the area around the water tank and undergrazing some other areas," Julie said. "With the pipeline, we can move the water to those areas that were undergrazed before."

The Wagner's have also found that they are less dependent on antibiotics because their cattle are more suited to their sometimes harsh environment.

"Our quality of life is much better," Julie said. "Larry really likes working with the cattle and since we changed from our farming practices to raising cattle more suited to our land conditions, we've all been a lot happier."