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times a year – early spring, to carry sale bulls a full 18 The Midwest Cattleman · August 11, 2022 · P21
summer and fall. When you months.
spend $40,000 on a bull, it “Our goal for growing bulls
helps spread our money a lit- a little more slowly on pasture
tle farther.” instead of pushing the feed,”
As Kelly and Brent take on Kelly said, “is to let their joints
more and more responsibil- develop slower, so they don't
ities, it is still their down-to- have so much weight on them
earth perspective that keeps in the early stages. It also gets
all of the work in the family. them out covering ground and
“We don't want to get to a grazing, not locked up. That
point where we are so big that keeps them more athletic, so
we aren't the ones doing day they should last longer for the
to day care,” he said. “We are customer.”
expanding, and the next gen- While the buyer may get
eration already has cows, but the better end of the deal by
it's still strictly a family oper- owning one bull that can ser-
ation. And we run it like they vice more cows instead of hav-
are commercial cows, so we ing to buy two younger bulls mix as well when wives, kids
can understand what our cus- to cover the same number, and a 75-year-old are out
tomers do.” the bull breeder takes on the there working the herd.
Work at home has achieved risks. “Brent and I aren't 15 any-
success. Namely, seven Grand “We are sitting on those more,” Kelly said. “Our kids
and Reserve Grand Champi- bulls another year, but willing are out there working them
ons at the National Western to take that sacrifice,” Kelly through the chute and push-
over the past 15 years. said. “We are leaving them ing them up the alley, so any
“We've enjoyed a lot of suc- on pastures where we could bull or cow that gets sold has
cess in the show ring,” Kelly be running cows, to produce passed the kid test. We can't
said, “but, the business has a hardier product for our cus- have crazies when we have to
been, and will always be, mak- tomer -- a bull that works bet- drive them up and down the
ing commercial cattle to keep ter for him. Obviously, they road, sometimes for a 7-mile
our customers in business.” have to bring more than a stretch, to get to new pas-
Like many other purebred yearling bull or you can't jus- tures.”
and commercial cattlemen, tify it. And you hope too many One more trait the Over-
the Overmillers have made don't fall out fighting around
some hard decisions to stay in in the summer. That's some of continued on page 23
business, especially in a dry the risk involved. We still sell
year. some yearlings, but we hope
“We've culled down,” Kelly our customers will see the
said. “We sent a pot load of benefit of these coming two-
cull cows, because we didn't year-olds.”
think we would have enough Right now, Overmiller cat-
grass to get through. Some tle are grazing wheat stubble
were bred, and some we hated to give pastures a chance to
to see go. But, if they are going rebound. Hot wires are going
to be late or have poor produc- up to utilize anything palat-
tion, they got on the trailer.” able.
Another semi-load of most- “Most of these fields have
ly older females shipped the some waste ground in them,”
end of July. Some could have he said. “Cows can turn that
run a little longer, according into milk. You just have to be
to Kelly, if grass had been resourceful.” A Program Built on Maternal Power
plentiful. An inch of rain the The Overmillers breed
very next week brought hope hardiness and easy keeping Since 1996, we’ve been unyielding pounds to your breeding program,
on breeding the best red genetics
we urge you to check out our reds.
and growth on crops sown for into the herd. The cows un- our breed has to offer. We’ve
feed. derstand they have to forage. selected our females carefully and We offer bulls, heifers, semen and
“Honestly, we were a week Kelly thinks one reason why mated them to top A.I. Sires. embryo packages private treaty at
away from starting to swath they can carry bulls longer the farm in Kansas City.
all of our silage,” Kelly said. is because the dams to those If you are looking for seedstock that Give us a call today!
“One rain's timing is so key. bulls hold their own when will bring added muscle, length and
We still have hope for our they have to run them on
corn.” wheat stocks a little longer. Small Group
Pastures, alfalfa and mixed “We need cattle to adapt of Young A.I.
grass hay fields, corn, wheat, and work with what we have,” Sired Bulls
and silage, along with Sudan he said. “Our cows have to Available
and Triticale, are the home- breed at a consistent time
grown resources that the every year. They have to have at the Farm.
Overmillers rely on. The same the right shape in udder and
pastures and feedstuffs that teat size. I refuse to milk bad
develop heifers and supply uttered cows out. Feet and Contact Bob Hart for information • Cell (816) 225-8530 • Email: bhart@hartfarm.net
nutrition for spring and fall legs have to be sound.”
calvers, also are expected Docility is critical to the SMALL HERD POWERFUL GENETICS

2022 Hart Farm-MWC quarter-1.indd 1 8/2/22 12:15 PM