“Show records?
From 1997 until 2011, the $Profit average of our calves went from $3,599 to $7,451 or an increase of about $2.75 per head per year. Since then, we have moved up to $9,137 – that’s $8.43 per head per year. We are making incredible progress. My father, Robert, started breeding composites in the 70’s. We started out with RX3 cattle from Pioneer. They were a mix of Red Angus, Hereford, and Red Fresian. The composite theory was similar, but the cattle were no comparison to what we have today. My wife, Debbie, and I started crossing with Leachman genetics in 1997. At first, we used the Range Makers. They were a combination of South Devon, Salers, Tarentaise, and Angus. Then, we eventually migrated to the Stabilizers. We have tremendous hybrid vigor in our herd and try to keep it that way. We are always looking for outcross hybrids. We collected performance records from the beginning. Gerald Parks helped us with sire selection. We performance tested all the bulls and picked the high performers to come back into the herd. When Lee started helping us with matings, we focused on adding muscle and reducing birth weight. That’s a tall order – but we’ve made tremendous progress. Now, with the power of $Profit, we are making huge improvements. It’s fun….”
~ Marc Rieger Rieger Ranch, Plevna, MT Born in eastern in Montana, UX437 is a six breed composite. Despite weighing under 1200 pounds, she has quite a production record having produced two herd sires: the $29,000 Big Gene and the $19,500 Stability. She is now a donor in the Leachman elite herd.
Running on short grass country, just south of Plevna, MT, the Rieger cows are the picture of maternal productivity.
16
Big Gene could have been named “Big Hip” as pictured at 2 years of age after natural service use.
L E AC H M A N C AT T L E OF C OL OR AD O | www.leachman.com · (970) 568-3983