Page 23 - MWC 02-25-2021s

From the Land Up and weed spray- what crossbreeding could do for
The Midwest Cattleman · February 25, 2021 · P23
“At that point, we realized
“Heterosis
er are two things our cow-calf operation,” Buford
that pay for them- shares. “…The calves ended up
A powerful cross and intentional stewardship clear selves more than weighing off heavier than the
the way for high stocking rates and high weaning any other thing purebred calves, so we decided
in the cattle busi- to buy a set of Angus bulls for
weights at Buford Ranches LLC, Hominy, Okla. ness,” Buford says. our Hereford cows. The weaning
“Through hetero- weight steadily climbed as we
by Diane Meyer sis, you get a stron- began crossbreeding.”
ger, more viable Rapid expansion began in
calf at birth. You 1997, when the Buford family
get a bigger calf at bought out the Dunkin side to be-
weaning, you get a come the overarching operating
bigger calf at year- company, Buford Ranches LLC.
ling.” Buford became partners with his
His firm belief sister, Sharon Linsenmeyer, and
in cultivating the brother, Stephen, and hopefully,
No signs are needed to distin- many neighbors and passersby domestic habitat supports the he hints, the fourth generation
guish Buford Ranches pastures have praised. longevity of the operation’s three- will be named operators in the fu-
from the surrounding country- “It’s your duty to treat the land pronged program of commercial ture.
side in northeastern Oklahoma’s well, to leave it better for the next cattle and registered Hereford Now, on any given day, 6,000
Osage County. Native big blue- generation,” says third-genera- and Angus herds. to 7,000 commercial cows roam
stem, little bluestem, switchgrass, tion manager, Sam Buford. the seven ranches under the
gamagrass and grama grass flour- “I love the cattle, and you Bedrock Buford umbrella. Close to 400
ish in this southernmost region of couldn’t work without the cat- On a fateful day in December registered Herefords call Osage
the Flint Hills at the operation’s tle, but I spend most of my time 1941, Buford’s relatives signed County home and 1,200 to 1,500
Bledsoe-Steakley and Dunkin di- cleaning up the land.” the papers for their first ranch the registered Angus are pastured
visions, due west of Hominy. The Buford crew has found day of the Pearl Harbor bombing. near Welch. The role of Hereford
Distinct as the Tallgrass Prai- the foragers best suited for this For the first couple decades, the
rie grasses they graze, uniform Oklahoma oasis are Hereford and Dunkin Ranch — as it was called and Angus genetics have since re-
versed from the olden days. Black
groups of cattle gather in color-co- Angus cross cattle. Baldy calves then — ran straightbred Hereford cows are mated to Hereford bulls
ordinated pastures of black bald- raised on these nutrient-dense cattle until a neighbor’s Angus and black baldy cows to Angus
ies, red baldies, Hereford cows limestone soils will weigh 15 to bull got into a heifer pen. Surely, bulls.
and black cows with baldy calves 20 pounds heavier than their the family thought, the outcome
at side. It is a sight to behold, straightbred counterparts. was going to be a disaster. continued on page 24

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