Chuck & Annette Steffan, Proprietors

Third Party Verification:

Our grass and livestock management practices are a high priority to us.  We participate in several verification programs in order to offer our product and our herd management practices in the most sustainable and resourceful way that we can.  These programs will verify the practices and standards that we maintain.   We participate in the following programs:

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IMI Global.  IMI Global, is a division of Where Food Comes From, Inc., acts as the verification body, conducting the necessary audits to ensure productions meet the needs of a specific program.  Click on the IMI Global icon for more information.

  

G.A.P. (Global Animal Partnership).  The Global Animal Partnership (GAP) has set animal welfare standards within the meat industry. As one of the most extensive animal welfare food labeling programs in North America,  the framework they’ve developed rewards humane, sustainable practices.  Click on the Gap icon for more information

 

Red Angus Certification Program.  The Red Angus Feeder Calf Certification Program (FCCP) has seen many years of growth as a Genetic, Source and Age Program. The FCCP's "Yellow Tag" is recognized as the symbol of guaranteed "Angus" genetics and a trusted source for both feeders and packers filling "Angus" product lines.  Click on the Red Angus Certified icon for more information.

 

All of our cows, whether they are registered or commercial are treated the same.  Birth weights, weaning weights, cow weights and body condition scores are taken on individual animals.  Most of the female's will be presented for AI or for embryo implant before being turned out with bulls.  The 2 and 3 year old cows are not AI'd but are turned out with bulls.  Our commercial heifers will be AI'd to Hereford or Red Angus bulls.  Our ET program uses Red Angus genetics.  You will see black red carriers in our program also.  Through Heart River Genetics we are given the opportunity to flush a black Angus cow occasionally.  We have done this to try to expand our Red Angus gene pool with some black angus pedigrees.  Unfortunately, it takes a little time to get red cattle.

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Our calves are not creep fed.  Cows will generally not get supplement feed until sometime in December or when environmental conditions require it.  At weaning, the calves are started slowly until they are established on feed.  Bulls are developed slowly to maintain feet and yet achieve realistic yearling weights without giving up too much performance.  Heifers are developed on a heifer development program.

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Salt & Mineral:

Our cattle are fed iodized garlic salt year round.  We have found this to be a natural way to help with fly control through most of the summer.  At preg check time we do pour with a generic to get to frost.  We feed Vitaferm Concept Aid minerals.

 

Vaccination Program: 

We are very proud of our herd health program and have had minimal health issues.  We ask lots of questions about products and do a lot of research.   

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Birth: Calves are given Inforce 3.   

Branding: One Shot BVD, 7 way and boostered with Inforce 3

Preconditioning:  Calves are vaccinated with  Bovi-Shield Gold and 7 way.  Heifer calves are bangs vaccinated and bull and heifer calves are id tagged with FCCP EID tags.  Calves will be treated with a generic pour on at this time.  A preliminary calf weight is taken on all calves and then the calves are sent back out to pasture with their mothers.  The bull and steer calves along their mothers are separated from heifer calves and their mothers at this time and sent to separate pastures.  Calves are boostered at time of separation from their mothers.

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Females:  Yearling heifers are given Preg Guard in the spring and boostered in the fall.  Cows are on a fall vaccination program. 

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Pregnancy Check:  All females are pregnancy ultra-sounded, by the third week of August.  Females are given their cow shots and poured at this time.  Weights are taken on all females and body condition scores are done at this time.

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Bulls:  Bulls are vaccinated annually in the spring at semen test with Preg Guard and poured or given Dectomax or Dectomax Injectable.  Bulls are usually pulled from cows by August 1.

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Yearling Bulls:  Are semen tested and vaccinated with Preg Guard.  They are also given Dectomax Injectable.

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DNA Testing: 

Since 2012 we have committed to doing HD50k testing on all replacement heifers and bulls that are sold in our annual bull sale.  Our goal is to maintain integrity on parentage of all animals and to take advantage of enhanced genomic epd's.

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Rangeland Management:

In 2019, we started an extensive range land evaluation process in order to evaluate soil health, plant health and manage moisture on the ranch.  We sought the help of Dennis Froemke, though his company, Grazing Land Solutions LLC to help us reach reach the goal of sustaining and improving our grassland resources.  

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