Page 20 - MWC 8-10-2023s

The Midwest Cattleman · August 10, 2023 · P20
MLM Gelbvieh Transfers Their Legacy By Brenda Black

A handful of years ago Cole ing in the family,” Meyer said. share a mindset
Epley hinted to a distant rela- “And spreading it over three of forging their
tive that he'd be interested in years means I don't have to own way and set-
his herd should Marlin Meyer take all of the income at once ting their sights
of MLM Gelbvieh, Superior, and he doesn't have to pay all on success.
Neb., ever want to sell. Mey- at once. It benefits both buyer While attending
er's wife Lorri had hinted to and seller. I would think more college, Epley
her husband that when he hit older guys would be willing to started picking
65, it was time to retire and do help out younger producers up more grass
some traveling. Meyer prom- and work with them.” and buying more
ised each a sweet deal. Epley In addition to the cattle, cows. He rented
would get the cattle by pur- Epley is going to rent some of 80 acres from a
chasing them over the course the grass Meyer has been leas- neighbor, but it
of three years, and Lorri would ing. And he agrees that the was late in the
hear Marlin say he's out of the transferral hits very close to spring when offi-
registered business come Au- home. cially acquired. Gelbvieh breed, only 2.8% on
gust 20, his 65th birthday. "I am one of his closest rel- “I didn't want to buy any average qualify for Dam of
“Next January will be the atives participating in the ag- more cows at that point but Merit. Meyer added 13 more
third year,” Meyer said. “I start- riculture business," he said, hinted to Marlin that I was of MLM's females to the roster
ed with 150 cows. Cole is buy- "so, yes, it's kind of a way to interested in taking over his for high achievers in the Dam
ing close to 50 each year. We keep it in the family. It would herd some day. I first asked if of Distinction category, which
calved out 45 this year with a be pretty much impossible to he wanted to partner on some recognizes cows that meet the
few more bulls in the calf crop. start out with nothing in to- calves. That's where we devel- same high standards for su-
So this was the first year he day's world. When I started, I oped the plan.” perior, long-term productivi-
had bulls of his own to sell in only had 120 acres of pasture The first year, Epley bought ty with at least 8 calves. Just
our private treaty open house and 30 cows. But with cattle, 20 heifers. About the same .6% of all active Gelbvieh cows
sale in March.” I didn't need much for equip- number the next year, plus all qualify for this elite group. In
Epley, who is Meyer's cous- ment other than a tractor, of the older cows. Last year, he total, 28% of MLM Gelbvieh's
in's grandson, has been buying pickup, trailer, 4-wheeler, and acquired heifers that he bought herd cuts the muster!
off the herd incrementally by some hard work. I started row- from Meyer, raised some of his “We have always culled hard
age groups. crop farming in 2020, but my own, and bought two more age over the years,” Meyer said.
“I like that it is kind of stay- passion is still with the cattle. groups of cows. This fall, he'll “While others were wanting big
Marlin help- finalize the deal by buying the ones in the 80's, I wanted mod-
ing me buy remaining 4-year-olds at MLM erate framed. I stayed middle
the cows over Gelbvieh. of the road and didn't push for
time is huge! “There is no one else I'd rath- any one trait. Of course, we al-
And it is good er be doing this with,” Epley ways bred for calving ease and
for both of us. said. “Marlin is pretty dang at least average growth. With
He wants to humble for a guy who moved Gelbvieh, I never had to worry
see the herd 10 miles west of his family and about milk.”
carry on and started his own thing and built Meyer is passing along ad-
not have a it from nothing.” vice where he sees fit to Epley,
complete dis- Marlin developed his envi- as he relinquishes his premium
persal." able herd from the ground up herd. Culling hard is at the top
Whereas by starting with his first Gel- of his short list of wise counsel.
Meyer has a bvieh bulls over 40 years ago. “Cole is willing to listen,”
couple of gen- Significant research coming Meyer said. “Last year when
erations on out of the Meat Animal Re- sorting through our calves to
Epley, the two search Center at Clay Center, save as bulls, I told him it was
Neb., piqued Meyer's interest. better to sell a few good ones
“It got me looking at the Gel- than saving too many medio-
bvieh breed,” Meyer said, “plus, cre bulls. Cull hard and you'll
I could build the genetics pret- sell them all and leave people
ty fast by using A.I.” wanting more, instead of leav-
Meyer began registering his ing bulls standing out there
herd in 1990 and continued es- that nobody wants. And they
tablishing a pretty impressive got to have some decent EPDs.
set of stats. To MLM's credit, The numbers and the bulls
the brand is 8th in the nation themselves gotta go together.”
for Dam of Merit Gelbvieh fe- With a Bachelor's in Agricul-
males with 38 cows qualifying ture Economics from the Uni-
by meeting strict selection cri- versity of Nebraska, Lincoln,
teria including early puberty Epley knows how to count the
and conception, regular calv- cost, and he's learned how to
ing intervals, and above-av- cull in the toughest of times.
erage weaning weights on “We culled hard this year
at least three calves. In the because I wanted to, and the