Page 21 - MWC 4-20-2023s

ing stock every time. of the five out there with me, The Midwest Cattleman · April 20, 2023 · P21
4.A cow has to be quiet ages 4, 6 and 8. I was A.I.'ing,
enough, so you don’t worry while one was getting the
about the kids getting hurt. straw of semen, one was run-
5.A great carcass without ning the head gate, and one
high performance is not much on the tail gate. I sure didn't
good. want them getting hurt, so
6.High performance with- our cows had to be pretty
out a great carcass is not quiet.”
much good. It takes more than good
7.A big, dead calf won’t pay looks and a gentle disposi-
any bills (except for the ren- tion to stay in the Leonard
dering outfit). cow family. If Leonard has to
8.If a cow can’t walk, her castrate a bull calf because
calves won’t either. Just get he isn't good enough to land
rid of her. in the top 2/3 in the bull crop,
9.A cow should work hard- then he sells the mother too.
er for you than you do for her. He'd rather keep heifers with
10.Treat your customers better prospects, in order to
like your best friend — be- get cows that generate more
cause they are. dollars.
“Some of that came about “If cows don't make money,” business, but almost no one days when he didn't eat. It
even when I was pretty Leonard said, “there's no good does anything about it,” Leon- evens out little events that
young,” Leonard said. “And all reason to have them. Even ard said. “After being alive, could alter the outcome.”
I could think about was hav- more important is that my the most single impact on According to Leonard, the
ing more cows.” customers make money. If profitability is the cost of gain feedlots that have fed calves
One time, Leonard had a they don't, I didn't do them and maintenance. In either sired by Leonard bulls look
cow that had generated quite any good.” the Limousin or Angus breed, for more to buy and bid more
a few dollars in her life. She'd Leonard Limousin's pure- we are the only one that tests when they see them in the
won several championships bred philosophy is built on one every single bull individually ring. But, what about the pro-
and was dam of the highest simple concept, said Leonard. for 120 days for daily feed in- ducer who doesn't sell to feed-
selling bull at the 1978 Iowa “When you buy a drill, it isn't take. That gets us a good av- ers? Leonard said there are
Beef Expo. the drill you want, or even the erage spread on the timeline, other advantages for the cow
“By the time she was five holes. You want what the hole instead of a short time frame calf man.
years old, her feet were ter- can do for you. When cattle- where a bull may be eating
rible,” Leonard said. “I was men buy bulls, they don't re- a lot or have a couple of sick continued on page 22
going to trim her feet so she ally want a bull or even the
could produce longer. My dad calves...it's the profit and suc-
said, 'Why would you do that, cess they are after. I'm never
to then produce something going to have an unhappy
with bad feet?' That got me customer. I'll do whatever it
to thinking that if I got rid of takes to make them success-
her, it would save myself a lot ful. That's why 80% of our
of headaches.” sales are to repeat buyers.”
Leonard expanded his cull Even with this kind of
philosophy to include several pressure on producing cows
more key components, includ- and bulls to perform, Leon-
ing docility. ard Limousin takes it up yet
“Sheryl and I had five kids another notch. He tests every
who were working with me single bull he sells for feed ef-
every single day around the ficiency.
cattle,” Leonard said. In the “Everybody likes to talk
summer of '88, I had three about efficiency in the cattle

LIMOUSIN & LIM-FLEX BULLS FOR SALE

Yearling and Two-Year Olds

PERFORMANCE TESTED • EXCELLENT DISPOSITION • SEMEN TESTED

William, Sarah, Riley, Peyton, Emmet and Maria Long
2251 Kingfisher Avenue, Afton, Iowa 50830
641-782-3770 or 641-340-1676
Website: longandsonscattle.com • Facebook: Long and Sons Limousin