Hotlanders are moderate-sized cows with high reproductive efficiency. Courtesy photo
Hotlander bulls can be used on any breed of cow to improve growth, fertility and reproductive efficiency. Courtesy photo
Mitchell Technical Institute 1800 E. Spruce St. Mitchell, SD 57301
calves before sending them to the feedyard, tracking weight and performance throughout that phase. “Weaning weights range from 575 to 725, depending on the kind of year we have,â€? Gill said. “Due to the dry conditions we often have, weaning weights are pretty inconsistent.â€? Another Hotlander trait Gill appreciates is the medium-frame size. He notes that larger cows require too many acres of what is often scant forage on his ranch. “At the time that Rob Brown developed the Hotlander breed, a lot of producers were turning to black hides, but I find the red cattle do better for me,â€? Gill said. “We still have some productive black cows on our operation. However, we have been weighing calves at weaning for many years and our red calves average about 40 pounds higher weaning weights than my black calves, even when they’re sired from the same bull. I certainly don’t say everyone would have the same result, but it’s pretty consistent on our operation.â€? Brown said Hotlander bulls can be used on any breed of cow to improve growth, fertility and reproductive efficiency. “They work great on Beefmaster, Brangus, Braford, and Santa Gertrudis,â€? Brown said. “The cross improves carcass quality, yield and tenderness. The beautiful part of using the Hotlander bulls is that they allow you to keep heat tolerant replacement females that will work very well in your environment. With a planned breeding program like this, calves will be uniform and stay that way generation after generation. Within three generations, your cattle will be bred up to purebred Hotlander status. “In tough environments, Hotlander cattle do more things right than any other breed of cattle we’ve ever known,â€? Brown added. “I believe a lot of continental English composites like the ones developed by Clay Center would be more climatically adapted to the northern region. Understanding genetics isn’t easy, but this kind of composite offers great potential.â€? More information about Hotlander™ cattle is available at www.rabrownranch.com/hotlander.html.
The South Dakota Center for Farm/Ranch Management at Mitchell Technical Institute is an organized program dedicated to assisting agriculture producers in South Dakota to become better business managers. Our goal? To help you learn better business methods and build technical skills, and practice methods to help you keep it all organized. Now available in western South Dakota! Our West River instructor will come to your farm or ranch. Contact David Koupal today to learn how you can enroll and get started in 2013!
David Koupal, Instructor, West River Farm/Ranch Business Management DFMM t t TEDGSN!NJUDIFMMUFDI FEV XXX NJUDIFMMUFDI FEV TEDGSN
2012 Fall Cattle Journal ★ Tri-State Livestock News ★ 83