Nutrition, health protocols and genetics are key for Jim Singleton

Keys for Success

By Terry Ropp Jim Singleton believes nutrition, strong health protocols and genetics are important for his herd

Farmers are aware of the com- he graduated, he served an internship with plexity and diversity of agricul- the Federal Land Bank, a turning point in tural. Jim Singleton of Gravatt, Ark., his life. He was offered a full-time position uses that complexity to his best advantage. even though his degree was in ag education.

Jim was raised within a mile and a half The Federal Land Bank’s highest priority in of where he now lives. When he was 5, he hiring was finding someone who was both would sometimes go to his grandfather’s knowledgeable and comfortable talking with Grade C dairy farm where he was expected farmers. Jim accepted the offer and never to bucket feed calves. looked back. Eventually, the Federal Land

“I realized that the calves were depend- Bank evolved into Farm Credit Services. Jim ing upon me for their food and that made was employed by FCS for 17 years, before reme feel valuable and important,” Jim said. locating to Arvest Bank as Community Bank

He nad wife Lisa raised two children on President of the Gravette bank, a position he their farm, daughter Jordan and son Jacob. has held for more than 19 years. They now have a young grandchild named An advantage of Jim’s job is that the Wells to introduce to the marvels agriculture. constant flow of economic, political, social

Jim’s original intent was to become an ag and technological information keeps him teacher and FFA advisor. up to date for both his farm career.

He belonged to both 4-H and FFA and held In 2020, his family was named the Benvarious offices, including serving as Gravette ton County Farm Family of the Year. SinFFA Chapter president his senior gleton Brangus Farms is comyear. He attended the University of Arkansas and completed a deGravette, Ark. prised of 115 acres, though Jim leases and farms a total of 350 gree in ag education. acres with a herd of 110 cows.

Prior to graduating college, Half of the Brangus are Ultra however, Jim realized he really Black commercial Brangus, while “The Brangus combination of Angus and wanted to own and operate his the other half are registered Brangus Brahman brings together Angus maternal own farm. The summer before breeding stock. traits and carcass merit with Brahman heat tolerance and disease resistance,” Jim said. Jim also keeps 15 to 20 replacement heifers and markets 15 breeding bulls every year. His home place has good working facilities and is where most of the registered stock are kept for AI breeding purposes. Jim breeds on natural heat cycles, using a cellular connected heat detection system that sends text messages to his cell phone once a cow comes into heat. This system has led to higher conception rates, and less time checking heats on cows. Jim’s primary selection criteria for AI use on the main cow herd are maternal characteristics, as well as weaning and yearling growth while AI bulls for heifers are selected for calving ease, pedigree and performance data. However, bull traits for use on the remaining herd are length, as well as heavy bones and muscles. A strict 60day calving window is employed. Breeding bulls are on the leased land Submitted Photos 18 Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com with no heifers. They are kept for five or six years, with females being culled earlier if they have health issues, show up open at preg check or calves are not of good quality.

Local technician Amanda Price preg checks all females on site using ultra sound 30 days after bulls are pulled. Breeding bull calves and high-quality replacement heifers are sold off the farm at approximately 15 months old. The remaining bull calves are kept as market steers, processed under the Beef Quality Assurance Program criteria, and sold at 600 to 750 pounds at auction.

Jim believes success in beef cattle production comes from applying three important practices. The first is providing good nutrition, which is dependent on the animal’s production stage. In order for a calf to live up to its genetic potential, it must receive proper and adequate nutrition.

Annual hay quality testing powers the nutrition program. Jim’s hay usually tests at 15 to 16 percent protein, with 75 percent total digestible nutrients, thereby re-

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quiring minimal grain. However, last year’s cold, wet spring resulted in poorer quality hay and more grain usage than usual. Additionally, high-quality mineral is available to the cow herd year-round.

The second practice is following strong health protocols, including vaccinating and worming all breeding age females twice a year, which wards off disease, limits abortions, and provides excellent immunity to newborn calves. The last important practice is utilizing high quality, predictable genetics through evaluating EDDs on all AI and natural service bulls.

Quality water is also extremely important in cattle production. Jim was one of the first participants the Beaty Creek Watershed Project, first of its kind where two states, Oklahoma and Arkansas, formed a partnership to improve water quality. The program helped Jim install 5,500 feet of water lines leading to freeze proof water tanks and high tensile electric wire fencing to promote rotational grazing according to the time of the year and grass growth rates. In full rotation periods, his home farm acres can be transposed into 50 individual grazing paddocks, each with water access.

Jim not only produces hay for his own herd but also sells Bermuda hay locally. He uses a combination of poultry litter and commercial fertilizer in accordance to the Spavinaw Watershed Program poultry litter application regulations. Soil samples are pulled each year to determine how much litter can be used, with commercial fertilizer making up the difference.

Jim overseeds 70 percent of the Bermuda grass pastures with small grains and ryegrass. The result is high early spring growth. The land typically produces horse quality hay in three or four cuttings per year marketed to small horse and cattle farmers. To maintain the high quality, he fertilizes after every cutting.

County Agent Robert Seay was a mentor who worked with Jim on the Benton County Bermuda Grass Program. This program emphasized cleaning up the fields and spraying weeds early before the weather turns warm. That process prepares the grass to be set on go and ready to take off as early as possible.

“It’s been said before, but using best practices in all areas of farming is important and necessary for the highest efficiency possible, especially in today’s economy and environment,” Jim explained. WINTER ISN’T

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