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Value in Miniature Cattle
Smiles for a Change (The Smart thing to do)
Data Reports
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  Perfect Small Acreage Animal
The Perfect Small Acreage Animal PDF PDF 4.2MB
Breeding American Aberdeen (Lowline) Cows for Everyone
Breeding American Aberdeen (Lowline) Cows for Everyone PDF 2MB
Beef For Everyone
Beef For Everyone PDF
In Search of the Perfect Beef
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Perfect Beef, Part I
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Lean Red Meat
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in Your Pasture
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What the Heck is a Jer/line? PDF

Why Miniature Cattle and
Ways to Start
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Beeftalk: With Cow Size, One Can't Forget Production
Potential. What Size Cow is Right?
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Positive Change and Real
Hope for Cattle in the Future
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American Live S.E.M.E.N PDF
Inexpensive and Easy Small Cattle
Inexpensive and Easy Small Cattle PDF
American Aberdeen (Lowline) Angus FAQs
American Aberdeen (Lowline) Angus FAQs PDF 6.2MB
 
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Corporate Cattle PDF 4.1MB
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We Recommend the Beef PDF 1.7MB
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Feeding to Manipulate CLA's in Dairy Products PDF 1.7MB
 

Value in Miniature Cattle
(Have I Convinced You Yet?)

We touted miniature American Aberdeen Angus cattle, (Lowlines), as "The cattle of the future" when we imported the first group of breeding heifers to the USA shortly after the research program in Australia released this new breed. To quote them, we were "Spot on" for our target market. These were the many small acreages cropping up as a result of the subdivision of larger farms and ranches and land development. We anticipated additional markets in 4H projects and practical pets. There was no way we could have predicted the health and economic trends that have greatly enhanced the value and need for safety, added nutrition, and efficiency in red meat production.

The left over land after building and landscaping offered an ideal home for small easy to manage and profitable American Aberdeen (Lowline) cattle. Adding to this base was the existence of the large number of small farms looking for an opportunity to add income and provide some tax relief for their holdings.

No longer will an acreage owner have to sit a lawn mower to control weeds and grass on the un-landscaped breathing room beyond the house, in the pasture, or on his speculative land. Nor will he have to pay to have some one else do it for him. Rather the tax advantages of breeding livestock will add to his return from American Aberdeen (Lowline)s as they mow for him.

With easy to manage, gentle, and easily trained cattle the problem of a small youngster trying to lead an 1100 pound steer into the show ring goes away in a very positive way. This same person does not have to choose a smaller pig or sheep unless he really wants to do so.

There are many choices for alternative livestock. Some choices have peaked, some are hobby only, and some require more effort than the value they return. Others are highly speculative. In the following paragraphs, with the help of some news releases, I hope to convince you that breeding American Aberdeen (Lowline)s works.

American Aberdeen (Lowline) Angus cattle offering seed stock profit, as well as pasture to plate, safe and nutrient dense, beef, grown naturally, humanely, and more efficiently, on forage only are the top choice. Pardon a complicated way of saying that nothing can touch them in this niche. You have only to determine if they are correct for you. Here goes.

FORK TRUCKS, PITCHFORKS AND POLITICIANS by Alan Guebert (Farm and Food File). "Time is money-the fastest is the most profitable. The American public is horrified when the system they allowed the packers to build breaks down as it did recently in California." Mass production of traditional commercial beef is not without it's hazards. Add in the facts that we no longer produce all of the processed animals in America. Without labeling there is no source code. Much of what we now eat is grown under different standards, imported, and lightly inspected. Each new scare from downer cows, mad cow, and e-coli reinforce the added value of pasture to plate beef. Smaller isolated pastures free of confined feeding and mixing from many sources with different standards have no need or desire for either hormones or preemptive antibiotics and avoid these problems. Grass fed cows, have a lower ph balance and therefore a diminished climate for e-coli growth. The proper genetics also avoids the need of hormones to stimulate growth, appetite, and size. Ever wonder, why the age of puberty keeps dropping? Commercial beef in itself is probably ok, but why add to the overall exposure from all the other sources including community water supplies, cosmetics, and perfumes.

Here's more. TAKING ANTIBIOTICS OUT OF OUR MEAT, government watch. "Congress has decided to weigh in on what your meat eats. (What effect is their food having on you)? Senators introduced a bill to end the practice of feeding antibiotics used to cure human illnesses to chickens, cattle, sheep, and pigs. Studies have linked animal use to increased antibiotic resistance in humans".

Scott Nash, a good, dedicated, general for local Bingham County 4Hers writes, "Raising a steer for the fair has always been an expensive venture". This year with the cost of feed increases, "the total feed cost will be $551". This is just the finishing program! Too bad these kids are limited to 1100-pound market animals at fair time. American Aberdeen (Lowline) steers finish to choice on forage only with back fat in the low 10ths of an inch and rib eye areas per hundredweight far above large framed cattle. In addition they do this on "natures salad bar" allowing a nutritional profile commercial beef cannot come close to matching. For example Utah State research shows an Omega3 to Omega6 ratio of + 4:1 for American Aberdeen (Lowline) cross steers on grass only. Salmon and chicken eat your heart out.

Give Mr. Nash kudos because he also has written this. "Historically, the beef industry has not attempted to select cattle for improved feed efficiency because of the difficulty and expense of measuring feed intake in cattle". Studies have shown that steers that ate more may have more weight, but the difference may be in the thickness of the fat not the rib eye area beneath it. Guess what! American Aberdeen (Lowline) Angus researchers addressed this in the 1990s. Feed to gain ratio is related to genetics, growth, and size. It is a double waste if the size is mostly fat. This is a waste to the producer in production cost, and to the consumer in price and health values.

At the risk of going on too long please permit me a parting shot. The shrinkage of available land for beef production will force efficiency. These two articles are an example. DEAL ENDS GRAZING ON FEDERAL LAND NEAR DUBOIS WYO. "The deal was agreed on to stop conflicts between livestock and predators. Ranchers have agreed to retire grazing rights on 35,000 acres." FACING CHALLENGES MEANS COLLABORATING. "Idaho was the fourth fastest growing state. Idaho lost 145,000 acres of range and cropland". Unfortunately, this is common throughout the country. In summary we will have to do more with what is left if we are to remain food independent.

This is another reason for efficient animals. If you think foreign dependency on energy is a problem, reflect for a moment on the source of future meals, imported to your plate with foreign control of cost, content, health, and production standards. For more information on profitable and efficient cattle please visit our web site.

Gene R. Kantack
Minicowswest.com
Easy4s@msn.com

 

Smiles (For a Change)
(The Smart Thing To Do)

There is a lot of political rhetoric in the air about change. Much of it may only be campaign talk. Here is a change you can bet on to deliver some economic help.

With rising energy and feed costs many smiles are rapidly fading from the faces of cattle producers. The slim margin between cost of production and profit is becoming uncomfortably slim.

The real challenge involves the courage to change. This change may bring smiles or laughter from the real world. We've seen both with a radical change in transportation and cow size.

No one was smiling at the gas pumps until we drove up in our Smart car. It looks Smart Carfunny and brightens everyone's day a bit. They would be even happier if their cars also made sixty miles per gallon. $3 + gas is no laughing matter.

This is precisely the same scene we faced when we first showed our imported American Aberdeen (Lowline) Angus at the National Western stock show in Denver, and state fairs in the late 90s. These highly efficient and radically different animals also brought smiles. We called them the "Cattle of the future". Our optimism is now a fact. The University research has proven their worth. They are more efficient on forage along with several other characteristics that add to the bottom line of the producer. Today you can look up both the Smart cars, (smartusa.com), and American Aberdeen (Lowline) Angus, (minicowswest.com) on the internet and see the proof.

LtlOneLarge framed commercial cattle require a great amount of feed for long periods to satisfy a slow growth curve and high metabolic rate. The ability to finish on forage has largely been bred out. Large bones and high energy demands do not work well on pasture only; "Nature's heart healthy salad bar". At today's cost of finishing these animals face a bleak future. Large framed "Grass Guzzlers" will still have their place in the pastures of those who want them, do not care about profit, or who resist change waiting for the return of $45 oil, $2 corn, $80 hay, and $4 wheat. The good news is that the genetic ability to produce quality pasture to plate grass fed beef still exists in the genetically pure American Aberdeen (Lowline) Angus breed.

Some producers will continue to drive their SUVs, Hummers, and empty one ton trucks to town for mail and not take a moment to look up alternatives on the internet. I doubt any will smile when they see triple digits on the pump at their next fill up. 25 gallons will = $100 when gas goes to the $4 price $100 oil will demand when it comes.

The cattle cycle is changing. The demand for smaller cuts, less fat, less chemicals, and a natural background is increasing faster than production. This is the kind of healthy beef most should be feeding their families. Our Utah State University studies show more than four times as much Omega 3 as Omega 6. Fat thickness is 2-3 tenths of an inch and the grade is mid choice. All this with no hormones, antibiotics or exposure to confined feeding pathogens.

Small numbers of more profitable animals can yield a high return. Small acreages or a portion of a larger outfit can work well for American Aberdeen (Lowline)s. Small, quiet cattle that come to you are easy to care for. Look them up. Do your own research, and decide if a change to American Aberdeen (Lowline) Angus beef and seed stock and their positive benefits can put a smile on your face.

Gene Kantack
Minicowswest.com
Easy4s@msn.com

 
 
Please email us at Easy4S@msn.com for more information about Minicows West
*** World's Most Efficient, Cutest & Tastiest Cows! ***
5405 Long Cove Dr Idaho Falls, ID 83404.
Phone: (208) 523-5959 / Cell: (208) 521-9603
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