Volume 19 Issue 2 September 2020 What’s Inside Top Commercial Simmental Producer Strives To Improve Quality
Top Commercial Simmental Producer Strives To Improve Quality
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Aaron Hoffus says there is always room for improvement.
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From The Gate Post — 2020 Canadian Simmental Annual General Meeting, A “Virtual” Event / Assemblée Générale Annuelle 2020 De L’association Simmental Du Canada Un Évènement « Virtuel »
ven with a high performing beef herd developed over the past 30 years and a Saskatchewan Simmental Association Commercial Breeder of the Year Award to his credit, Aaron Hoffus says there is always room for improvement.
Breed Improvement — Green, Blue, Pink and 125 / Vert, Bleu, Rose Et 125
Hoffus, who along with family members, operates Hoffus Stock Farms near Bjorkdale, in east central Saskatchewan, about 80 km east of Melfort, says he is proud of the 350 head commercial cowcalf herd that Hoffus Stock Farms has developed on their 11,500 acre mixed farming operation.
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Vet’s Advice — Needle Selection & Usage
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What’s Happening
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Story By Lee Hart
It is great to see steers calves — mostly Simmental with a bit of Red Angus influence born in the February to April calving season — reaching average weaning weights in 700 to 800 pound range as of early November. And the good quality heifer calves are in demand for replacement heifers. “The herd is producing some quality calves in recent years,” says Hoffus. “So I am pleased with our program. But there are always some bottom-enders, so it would be good to work at reducing those numbers. We are working to develop a younger herd. There aren’t many 12-year-old cows around here. Simmental females have excellent production characteristics, but weaning an 800-pound calf every year takes its toll. So it is important to pay attention to performance and keep the cowherd young and vital.” While annual cropping about 9000 acres of grains and oilseeds is a big part of the Hoffus farm, the beef enterprise is anything but an afterthought. Careful records are kept on beef genetics and production, facilities for a commercial herd are said to be the envy of many purebred operations and management is always being fine tuned to optimize performance of the herd during the grazing season, as well as winter feeding period. THREE GENERATIONS ON THE FARM The Hoffus Stock Farm herd was started by Randy and Irene Hoffus, who remain active in the operation today along with their son Aaron and his family, wife Amber and their two children Grace and Vance.
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The farm raised Hereford cattle before switching to Simmental cattle about 30 years ago. In 2019 it was named the Saskatchewan Simmental Association Commercial Breeder Of The Year. “Hereford are good cattle, but we just weren’t getting the performance we wanted,” says Aaron. “So we switched to Simmental genetics and it has been an excellent breed. And I really have to give credit to Simmental breeders for producing cattle for a commercial
Commercial Country
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