Building Uniformity from Within
By Lindsay Johnson, Public Relations Coordinator
Genex Cooperative
Located in northern Missouri, Chris and Cas Derks run approximately 650 cows and 90 heifers. For the past 15 years they have owned and operated the King City, Mo. farm.
In 1959 Chris' parents purchased 40 bred heifers to start their herd, since that time no females have been brought into the herd. Today, every cow in the Derk's herd can be traced back to those original 40 bred heifers which have helped build their uniform herd from within.
Chris and Cas have been artificially inseminating (A.I.) cattle for the last six years. They breed their cattle in groups with Cas doing all of the A.I. work herself.
To reach their goals of a uniform herd they have developed a unique breeding program based on sire selection. Every other year they purchase two years worth of semen on one sire from Genex Cooperative. The first selection was 1AN1010 Bushwacker. He was used for two years on both heifers and cows. For those Bushwacker daughters, 1AN1000 New Day was selected as the A.I. sire. This is the second year using New Day semen so another sire is soon to be selected.
Research is key when selecting the bull to use, the Derks do their research a year ahead in order to have time to make the correct selection. The bull must be a high accuracy, proven bull that will add both maternal and carcass value to the offspring.
"We use a strict sire selection, but use the same strictness as Genex uses when selecting bulls," Chris stated. "Looking back at the dam and past generations is a very important part of our research and we know Genex does this research as well."
Two hundred fifty heifers, two-year and three year old cows are A.I. bred to the sire selected, this includes both spring and fall breeding. Since this sire is used on both cows and heifers, pelvic measurements are taken to know if the cattle can handle the bull they have selected. This has been a very successful tool in developing their herd resulting in a decreased number of pulls and maintaining their birth weights.
Not only do they research the sire to A.I. their females to, they also research the clean up bulls that will be available to them. They purchase a group of flush brothers to use as clean up bulls from Fink Beef Genetics in Manhattan, Kan. These flush brothers are sons of the A.I. sire they have used. Currently there are seven flush brothers sired by New Day at the Derks farm.
"In addition to the seedstock producer, we rely on people like Matt Fischer, the Genex Area Sales Representative, who has been to other herds looking at calves. He knows what we're looking for and can help us in the sire selection," Chris stated. "The sire selection decision is really a team effort, between Cas and myself, the seedstock producer and Genex."
They have already begun planning for next spring's breeding selection. Remembering that the sire selections they make today will affect their program for years to come.
Marketing
On the farm sales works best for Chris and Cas Derks when selling replacement heifers. Their best marketing tool is having the opportunity to show the customer what a daughter looks like in production.
Last fall they began working with Meyer natural Beef Angus. To sell cattle to Meyer natural Angus, all cattle must be fed naturally with no ionophores in the feed, implants or other treatments. The Derks weaned 250 calves in 90 degree weather and had no problems. There is more labor involved, but it's worth it to Chris and Cas Derks. The calves were sent this spring and so far this new venture is going well.
"The relationship with Meyer natural Angus has worked out really well. They know exactly what they are getting from us and that can be attributed to the uniformity of our calf crop," Chris stated. "If our cattle continue to qualify we plan to keep working with Myer's natural Beef."
The unique breeding program Chris and Cas Derks have in place, is sure to be one that they utilize in the long run. They simultaneously comment that what makes their operation work so well is, "It's simple and common sense for us."
