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and A.I. breeding. They pull off base herd by using several dif- The Midwest Cattleman · August 20, 2020 · P19
a bull sale each spring, with ferent Simmental sires,” Cason “We know our
work starting in January to said. cattle will work in
shoot catalog photos, take lot The cow families known by real world condi-
videos and get candidates in numbers like 28, 29, 8, or 32 are tions,” Cason said.
top condition. Last fall, after 40 not only recognized by Cason. “We graze on most-
years of marketing through the Buyers that have been with ly fescue in the
Hawkeye Simmental Sale, they him for 20 or 25 years will ask spring and sum-
launched yet another major for one of those particular cow mer, and winter on
event on the ranch – their own families by name, or number in grass hay. They get
Pride & Joy fall female sale! this case. mineral and clean
Cason, Iowa's 2019 Out- “I don't change my tagging water; and we vac-
standing Seedstock Producer system,” Cason said. “If a calf is cinate and provide
of the Year, attributes the use out of the 28 cow family, there's good parasite con-
of worthy A.I. sires on reliable, always a 28 in that tag some- trol. We take care
home-grown cow families as the where. But it is getting difficult, of them, but we
index to his success, making it because six digits in a tattoo is don't baby them.”
possible to have the quantity not fun.” About 35 cows
and quality for a production The goal all along has been per bunch are ro-
sale. In recent years it's been to breed like types to like types, tated through four
Cowboy Cut, CCR Santa Fe and according to Cason. “We have main pastures,
White Range impacting the ge- variance for customer demand, divided into two
netics. but we want consistency in our to four paddocks
“I do use a variety,” Cason offspring. I won't take a big bull on a grazing sys-
said, when it comes to sire se- and sire him to small cows, be- tem. “We found
lection. “I try to use three to cause genetics never cut exact- if you run more
five -- no more than five bulls, ly down the middle. I'd get some than that, the calves aren't as
so that I can have a big enough large and some small with that healthy.”
progeny group that will rep- kind of mating. Consistency in Beyond limiting the head
resent each sire to compare frame score and body type is the count, over the years the Casons
among themselves and against result when I breed like kinds.” have fenced all of their ditches
their peers.” Cason, who loved the breed and ponds and placed waterers
To escape being cut from the from its first introduction, re- on top of the ridges where cattle ment concern. There are a lot of
story, bulls go through some mains just as committed and can drink rural water. flies. To address that problem,
critical proof reading. “ proud of the breed today. “That has real value,” Cason the Cason's have positioned
“We have some pretty strong “Simmental has changed a said. “It's hard to put a dollar corrals in each pasture, so that
criteria to make a bull,” Cason lot over the years,” he said. “But figure on, but we've seen the im- he and Landon can gather each
said. “They have to be under a I couldn't be more happy with proved health and performance herd about every two to three
certain birthweight, and they their body type and EPDs as of cattle when they're drinking weeks to spray for fly control
can't be assisted. Every bull I am today. It shows, because good, fresh water that is easily and combat one costly thief of
is disposition graded at wean- Simmental is one of the hottest accessible whenever they want performance and productivity.
ing and shortly afterwards. breeds going, and has been for it. I've visited a lot of commer- “To do what I'm doing takes
We judge them on structural several years – including Si- cial herds of customers. One some discipline and you give up
correctness and performance, mAngus and Sim Hereford.” of the first things I've tried to other things in your life,” Cason
and we stick to our decisions Simmental Red Angus, an- recommend, if they don't have said. “We didn't have much to
and don't let a bull get through other one of the popular com- creeks with running water, is to start with, and to make it in
that doesn't fit. If he looks good, posites, actually comprises get them fresh water. Standing this business, it takes a lot of
but has a bad disposition, he's nearly 15% of CPJS's herd to in non-running creeks, in waste dedication and attention. The
out. Has a good disposition, but accommodate his customers and mud, will certainly hinder competition is tough. If you are
I had to pull him, we cut him. that prefer red cattle. But, it's the performance of a calf.” not doing it right, you are not
The older I get, the more I stick not just about color. The Cason In South East Iowa where it going to succeed.”
to the criteria.” philosophy is to put maternal can get so humid, clean running
Cason has seen a lot of ge- and performance traits first, water is not the only manage- continued on page 26
netics come and go and he con- believing everything else will
tended a lot of them have been then fall into place. Located in one of the top cattle feeding counties in the state of Kansas
good. “But, we've made a lot of “We try to do everything the
changes and are in a good place right way,” Cason said. “We run Where personal attentione personal attention
Wher
right now in the Simmental heavily on EPDs and believe in to every detail to every detail

breed, if we can continue to not them, but it is not 100 percent guarantees thatantees that
guar
stray too far from the middle. I numbers. You still need good Y
YOU & YOUR CATTLE OU & YOUR CATTLE
don't like extremes in body type phenotypes. So, I get out and CO
COME FIRST at TMCME FIRST at TMC
or numbers. I just need a little want to see the offspring. I don't
variety to meet the needs of my use a lot of brand new bulls; I 3500 Head
3500 Head
customers.” like for their accuracy to come Capacity
Capacity
As for the females, Cason up first. We rely on numbers,
said, “About five cow families sure, but we still want structur- lSteam Flake Ration TMC Feeders LLC
TMC Feeders LLC
have stood the test of time and ally correct animals that pass lConsulting Nutritionist 5010 Big Valley Drive
make up the bulk of our herd.” that trait on as well.” lOwner Management lOne-Load Pens Scott City, KS. 67871
Some of his cow families go It's important to the Casons Jim Miller
Jim Miller, Manager , Manager
clear back to Pride & Joy's dairy that they operate their cow lExcellent Pen & Equipment Maintenance 620-874-0591
Bob Thompson
cow and Angus females in the herd like a commercial cowman lRisk Management Bob Thompson
very beginning. “I bred up that does. 816-582-8363