Utilizing herd bulls raised in our own herd, A.I. sires and an ET program coupled with a cowherd that has been productive, predictable and paying their way for over four decades displays our long term goals and devotion to cattle that we believe can survive, are predictable and perform under a variety of conditions and resources.
EPD and Performance Records __________
Our herd has been enrolled in the Canadian Angus Association's Performance Program since its initiation. EPD's can be an important tool. Although they are not perfect or absolute, as the convenience traits; fertility, fleshing ability, soundness, disposition, etc are not measured by EPD's.
The above traits - the ones with direct economical value are the ones, we as breeders use in our cattle selection. When push comes to shove, it's the ones that produce more - on less .... those are the animals which will "have a history" around here and are economically important to our commercial customers.
Show Records_______________________________________
We are fully aware that show records are used very successfully by many breeders as a merchandising tool. It is a path we haven't chosen to follow except for two local Pen Shows in Medicine Hat (3rd weekend in Dec) and Swift Current (3rd weekend in Sept).
2009 Swift Current Pen Show: Cow with a Heifer Calf: 3rd - Boundary Ranch - (Simmental entry)
(from Great Grandparent's: John & Florence Delorme)
Tattoo: IJS Est: 2009
Herd Name: Kay Dee Angus ; Kalee & Benny Hofer
Tattoo: KD Est: 1999
Daughter, Nevaeh's Herd Name:Prairie Pride
(from Great Grandparent's: Alfred & Josephine Wardberg)
Tattoo: NPP Est: 2009
The Foundation Herd ~ Jay En Dee Angus
John and Florence Delorme
Tattoo: IJS Est: 1963
The South Shadow registered Black Angus program began in ernest in 1993, with the purchase of an elite set of thirty Jay En Dee foundation females from Don's parents, John and Florence Delorme.
This herd was established in 1963 and had long been associated with quality breeding stock. Jay En Dee cows still walk our fields attesting to their longevity and value.
All but one cow family have pedigrees that reflect the Jay En Dee cows of the 1960's. Of these, 60 plus are sired by home-raised bulls. Thirteen broodcows have also been identified by the CAA as Elite Cows.
The herd sire selection for your appraisal this spring.
Jay En Dee Blackbird 11W raising a $3600.00 bull calf at 16 years of age ..... at 17 & 18, she gave us two A.I heifer calves !! Seventeen calves born to two generations of the Delorme Angus program.
The program is committed to producing moderate birth weights, strong maternal, cost efficient, performance cattle that are easy fleshing and require minimum maintenance while working in our sometimes harsh conditions of long, cold winters and hot, dry summers here in the shortgrass area of S.W. Saskatchewan.
Our appreciation for this type of cattle evolved over the years of working with our own commercial angus herd.
The working cowherd consists of approx. 125 head plus the replacement females. The purebred herd continues to be progressive by using natural service by home-grown bulls, A.I. sires and more recently, an embryo transplant program. The first calvers are pulled from the commercial breds as they bag up. The (really) heavies are moved to the barn corral with access to the barn as the weather warrants. Cows are A.I.'d, one cycle for a mid-January calving. The females are then grouped for a cleanup mating to one of two or three bulls.
Grazing
The pairs are moved to summer fields of tame grass (optimally) in early May. Come June they hit the native grasses. We've made the decision not to creep feed while at mother's side. A management decision that isn't practical for us as it would mean creep-feeding the commercial calves that share their fields. Weaning takes place mid-September. The cows go back with the commercial pairs on native fields until the commercial calves are weaned. October through December they graze stubble and marginal lands.
Health
All the cattle have year round, free-choice mineral and are poured with a parasite treatment in the late fall. Calfhood vaccinations include 7-way, IBR, P1-3, BRSV; boostered in fall. Bred females receive Scour Bos 9.
Wintering
The purebreds share a winter feed ration with the commercial herd. Early winter feeding is rolled out dryland grass/hay and greenfeed bales. As calving time draws near, they are sorted from the commercial herd, bunks are moved to their field and a similar ration is tub-ground for higher energy and nutrient value.
The weaned heifer and bull calves are bunk broke on a straight roughage ration of dryland grass/hay bales. About 3 weeks after weaning we pail feed home grown rolled barley twice a day. This grain ration is always kept between 2 to 5 lbs /head/day over the next 4 mths. Come calving time the pails are thrown in the corner and a tub ground ration of dryland hay/greenfeed bales and straw is given. Dependent on the feed value and winter weather this tub ground ration will get a top coat of rolled barley. The heifers may get up to 4 lb/day and the bulls; 6 to 7 lbs/day. as they pass their yearling birthdates and over the next 3 months until sold or heading out to pasture.
Utilizing herd bulls raised in our own herd, A.I. sires and an ET program coupled with a cowherd that has been productive, predictable and paying their way for over four decades displays our long term goals and devotion to cattle that we believe can survive, are predictable and perform under a variety of conditions and resources.
