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James and Magan Henderson, pictured with their children, Preston, Paige and Payton, believe cattle producers must be aware of changing trends in the industry.
A Step Ahead By Cheryl Kepes
James and Magan Henderson are keeping an eye on the future of the cattle industry
James and Magan Henderson strive to stay a step ey, time and acreage on a recip herd. They discovered it is more cost effective and efficient to utilize a satellite herd. ahead in the ever-changing cattle industry. “What we pay for a satellite herd is actually pretty reasonable The Hendersons continually evaluate their herd, research breeding decisions, and network with fellow producers in order to be compared to having to go and buy land and cattle and having to at the forefront in the beef cattle market. “It is really important hire someone to take care of it,” James said. When the Hendersons make breeding or replacement decisions to stay up with the times and current with what cattle producers they place significant consideration on an animal’s EPDs and pedwant,” Magan said. The Hendersons, along with their children, Paige (13), Payton (11), igree. In addition, the animal is evaluated for structural soundness and Preston (7), raise registered Hereford and Simmental cattle at their and its ability to adapt well to fescue pastures. “Where we live fescue is our grass and not all cattle live on fescue farm in Buffalo, Mo. James also manages Bonebrake Herefords, a regisgrass. So, they have to be able to live here in Southwest Missouri,” tered polled and horned Hereford farm located in Springfield, Mo. Between both farms, the Hendersons care for about 175 head of James explained. In order to help the Herefords and Simmentals thrive on mostmature cattle on more than 350 acres. “A big part of our life is taking care of those cattle (Bonebrake Here- ly fescue grass, the Hendersons feed orchard grass and brome hay. They also plant other grasses to balance the large fescue base. Plus, fords). It is all one big group with what we do,” James explained. The herds are split into two calving seasons, spring and fall. The the Hendersons rely on a solid mineral program. “We work our cattle twice a year, we use MULTIMIN in the process cows are synchronized in order for the groups to calve in February and March, or September and October. The Hendersons utilize AI, and that helps a lot too,” James stated. MULTIMIN is an injectable embryo transplant and invitro fertilization in order to produce cat- mineral supplement containing zinc, copper, selenium and manganese. One of the Hendersons’ management goals is to obtain quality tle with current, popular genetics. – that means quality animals and quality nutrition and care. Recently, James started using satellite herds to “We are coming up on a time in the beef industry where raise some of the embryo calves. Another producer buyers are going to pay a little more attention to where implants the embryo in a recip, calves out the recip, these cattle came from and what cattle feed better. If they and raises the calf to about 6 months old. After that, the have a set of cattle that are fed well and they get more Hendersons bring the calves to the farms to join the rest Buffalo, Mo. out of that product, then they are going to want to of the herd. The use of a satellite herd helps with their goal of main— Continued on Next Page taining a large, registered herd. Instead of investing monMARCH 8, 2021
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