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Paula live in the area and come out to the farm daily to check on the animals. Paula, who has retired from her full-time job, is now considered the main overseer of the animal well-being on the farm.

“With the embryo transfer we see more consistency,” Russ said. “To see the genetics and to meet the people behind other herds is the fun part.”

Austin looks for cattle with good feet and legs and a good udder. The ideal weaning weight is between 650 and 750 pounds.

“Weighing them is also a good way to see if they are performing well,” Russ said. “Our goal is to make better cattle.”

The bulls that get sold at the sale have good birth weight, weaning weight and good yearling weight.

The heifers that go towards the sale are the ones who calve too late in the season, therefore not fitting in with the rest of the herd.

Each year the Klaphakes get 55 to 60 new calves and in order to maintain the herd and overall herd heath, they sell off some of the extra animals. Typically calving season for the Klaphake’s is from the first week in Feb. to midApril.

Detailed records are kept on all of the animals.

Once a cow is about two weeks from calving, she is brought inside to the calving barn. After she has her calf, they are both monitored closely for 24 hours. At that time, if mom and baby seem to be happy and healthy, they are moved to another shed, where mom and baby will have time to bond and a little more room to move before heading back out to pasture.

In the summer, once things green up, the cattle will be moved out to pasture and enjoy the plethora of luscious green grass. They stay there until late September or early October.

The pasture has plenty of room for the cattle to keep clean, making sure they have plenty of space is important for the Klaphake’s to maintain cow calf health all year round.

Klaphake page 19

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