|
ML
Cattle was started in 2004. We began with a base group of Mark Donald / Line 1 pedigrees purchased from Mill Creek Ranch in Kansas which included several
donor and embryo transfer females. Our first herdsire CJH 767 Advance 431 was one of the top five high selling Bulls purchased
from the legendary Harland Herefords at their dispersal sale. We utilize Artificial Insemination (AI), Expected Progency
Differences (EPD's), Total Performance Records (TPR) and National Hereford Feedout (formally known as the Genetic Outreach
Program) as tools to continue genetic development. Mike was raised on a farm and ranch south of Abilene where the family has raised cattle and sheep since
1886. Being a former county agent in Texas, he developed a devotion to the gentle & efficient Hereford Breed
in part to the wonderful people he met through 4-Her's showing Hereford cattle as their livestock projects.
LaReshia is a different story. She was raised in the custom harvesting business, then became a CPA and started her own firm
in 1998. Although they had horses growing up, cattle are a new adventure for her. LaReshia is Mike's partner and is involved
with every aspect of ML Cattle.
|
Cattle
are raised in the northwestern corner of Texas Panhandle on nearly 1800 acres of owned & leased short grass prairie
consisting of predominately blue grama, buffalo grass, and western wheatgrass. Our cowherd makes a living on native grass,
in a dry southern plains environment, so taking care of the range and the cattle go hand in hand. Management practices
that benefit native grass production are implemented seasonally. The nutritional requirements of cattle and the availability
of that nutrition are continually monitored. With that in mind we must have moderate framed, efficient & functionally
sound (reproductively & structurally) cattle to makeup the herd. We also have a considerable emphasis on
pigmentation and udder quality. Individuals that fall short in these areas are culled. We make extra efforts to insure
all cattle are gentle and easy to handle, have a complete herd health program, collect TPR on every individual and utilize
performance, ultrasound and economic data to guide genetics. A combination of utilizing genotypic and phenotypic strengths
is a major focus in our breeding program. Customer satisfaction is our main goal, so we utilize a variety
of industry standard tools to represent the cattle on what we know about them.
|
