Red Hot and No Bother by Rudy Pooch for the Red Angus Magazine
Summertime can be a vile season for cattlemen in southern states. Producers must manage hot temperatures and high humidity. These factors can cause severe cases of heat stress for cattle resulting in reduced intake and gains. Simultaneously, producers must manage fescue endophytes. Fescue serves as a large portion of the grazing forage that many producers throughout southern states have available. In northwest Arkansas, along the southern edge of the Ozark Mountains, the topsoil is shallow and rocky. All of these added stressors can leave producers with second-rate cattle performance in the summer months if not managed properly. Rolling Hills Farms of Boone County, Arkansas, has found a leg up on their environment’s tough conditions thanks to the power of Red Angus genetics. “They work really well for the type of environment we have,” said Laura Wilburn. Robert and Laura Wilburn, along with their children Katie and Hunter, are the rst and second generations of Rolling Hills Farms. Robert and his father ran a commercial cowcalf operation until he and his wife, Laura, purchased their rst parcel of land in 2013. A few years later, they had the opportunity to purchase additional land with a breeder hen operation included. Another breeder hen house was added two years later and is now housing its third ock. They also raise a few show goats. “We are unique because we are diverse. The Red Angus genetics add to that,” mentioned Laura. Why Red Angus Angus breed turned Wilburn Thee Re Th Red d An Angu guss br bree eed d ha hass tu turn rned ed tthe he W ilbu il burn rn family fam amil ily y lifestyle into a more efcient endeavor – more results with Before off Re Angus genetics, less le s iinput. ss np putt. Be B efo fo ore tthe hee iinclusion nclu nc lusi lu sion si on no Red An Red Angu gu g us ge g neti ne t cs ti cs,, “II started regular cattle barn st taarrteed with w th wi h some som omee re regu gula gu ulaar old olld ca cat att ttle ffrom ttle rom th ro the sa the salee b sale aarrn off arn every not knowing eev ver ery color, ery colo co lor, lo r, n ott k no n owi wing win ng exactly exxaact ctly ctl ly what wha hat breeds hat brree eed dss they they hey were he weere we re re
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Hunter, Laura, Robert and Katie Wilburn made up of,” said Robert. He had tried many breeds, at one time leaning toward a Charolais cross and chasing bull sales across the country. “Where we live, it’s very steep and a lot of the ground is pretty rough. I had trouble keeping bulls more than a couple of breeding seasons. Their feet couldn’t handle it,” stated Robert. Lo and behold, their solution was found with the purchase of Red Angus bulls from a local breeder. “The cattle were raised in the same environment without being pushed, and were ready to work from the moment of purchase. These bulls could handle the environment without falling apart,” said Robert. Built for Work Rolling Roll Ro llin ing g Hills Hill Hi llss Farms Farm Fa rmss ha hass be been en satis sat atis is ed with wit ith h the the breed’s bree br eed’ ds very low maintenance requirements, easy eshing ability and and high hiigh g fertility. ferti errti t li lity ty y. Red Red Angus Angu An g s have gu have excelled exc xcel elleed in the elle thee summer sum umme merr me Arkansas work well on Arka Arka Ar kans kans nsas a cclimate as lima li mate aand nd dw ork or k we w ell ll o n en eendophyte-infected ndo doph ph phyt hyt ytee-infe e-in ein nffeectteed d fescue. fesc fe scue cue ue. ue.
