Page 16 - MWC 08-19-2021s
P. 16

A MASTER PLAN                                                                       The Midwest Cattleman · August 19, 2021 · P16


         FOR SIMANGUS AT


                IRVINE RANCH


                                  by Brenda Black

         Irvine family history with  included  AI'ing a group of
      Simmental cattle meanders  Hereford cows to Simmental.
      back  nearly  as  far  as  the  Benefits for growth rate and
      breed's arrival to  America.  docility of those early Sim-
      On the cutting edge of uti- mental sired calves inspired
      lizing artificial insemination  him to entirely re-draft the
      (A.I.) in the mid 1960's, Paul  operation to Simmental by
      Irvine's forward thinking  the mid-1970's.
      and willingness to exper-             Paul is 92 years young now      farming and Irvine Ranch  he said.  “Simmental excel
      iment with new practices  and has spent his life farming              (IR) operation. Both brothers  in muscle, efficient growth,
                                                          and ranching.     live on the ranch, near Man- fertility, and longevity. In
                                                          Today,      his   hattan, Ks. - John and Holly  our view, blending these
                                                          penchant for      with their four children; Ber- strengths results in the ideal
                                                          progress      is  nard and Emily with their  animal  for every  phase of
                                                          being passed      seven children.                   beef production.”
                                                          along to his        The younger Irvines are            Another strength of Angus
                                                          youngest          following in the patriarch's  is their large, diverse popula-
                                                          of six, John      footsteps for always pursu- tion. It is easy for the Irvines
                                                          and the next      ing what is most beneficial  to find animals with the right
                                                          y o u n g e s t ,   for their's and their custom- combination of traits they
                                                          Bernard, who      ers' herds. John and Bernard  seek to complement their
                                                          are actively      agree hybrid vigor is once  Simmental.
                                                          involved      in  again  the  best  course  of  ac-    At present, the IR herd
                                                          carrying     on   tion for the Irvine Ranch pro- is about 25% purebred Sim-
                                                          the      family   gram in this generation.          mental, 75% SimAngus. Ir-
                                                                              “While we still have many  vine Ranch customers ideally
                                                                            purebred Simmental, the  have a cowherd and calf crop
                                                                            shift to SimAngus was cus- that is near 50% SM 50% AN.
                                                                            tomer driven,” said John,  So, the family has fashioned
                                                                            who is presently  serving on  the Irvine Ranch herd to sup-
                                                                            the Beef Improvement Feder- ply genetics to help their cus-
                                                                            ation Board. “The benefits of  tomers hit that target.
                                                                            heterosis are well document-         To guarantee customers of
                                                                            ed in a cow/calf operation.”      the Simmental ingredient,
                                                                              Given their desire to help  the Irvines take advantage of
                                                                            customers improve profit- ASA's open herd book allow-
                                                                            ability, John said the Sim- ing for the registry of PB or
                                                                            mental,  Angus cross was a  percentage Simmental.
                                                                            natural choice.                      “All purebreds of any other
                                                                              “We initially introduced  breed we have had  through
                        Call Now for                                        Angus genetics to bring their  the years are also registered
                          Dormant                                           calving ease, marbling, and  through  ASA as foundation
                          Plantings                                         udder  quality  to the table,”  animals.”













                 www.gamagrass.com
   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21