HMS Hi-Cliffe HMS Hi-Cliffe

Bulls Available at Premium Genetics Bull Sale

March 18, 2023

Glenlees

THANK YOU TO OUR 2022 BUYERS!

Blake & Rikki-Jean Wilson

Dwayne & Glenna King

Koberstein Farms

Stacy Keith

Roger & Kirk Pederson

JRK Farms

Serena Griffin Mortensen Farms Ltd.

Mike & Kaitlyn Hammel

Matthew Charlton

JHF Herefords

Powell Ranching

Junior Herd Sires

Warynca Land & Cattle

JRP Livestock

Brian Gehlert

Jay Belmont Corp Creek Herefords

Sinnibar Stock Farm

A selection of bulls, females, and embryos are available for sale at the ranch

Hunter, Morgan & Sydney | Carmen & Brenda Millham Box 382 Outlook, SK S0L 2N0 carm.dvm@sasktel.net | hmshicliffe.com

In a new feature column in the Cattle Call, the Saskatchewan Hereford Association will be featuring cattle operations across the province that have found value in utilizing the Hereford breed within their herd. These operations will be presented a slate of questions to further learn about their unique farming business, marketing decisions and future goals. We have created a list of producers that are newly established in the cattle industry. These operations are forward thinking, advocates for agriculture and have seen value in using Hereford to better their operations. If you have someone in mind that fits this description and would like to nominate them for a focus article, please email skhereford@sasktel.net.

PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR OPERATION, LOCATION AND FAMILY MEMBERS INVOLVED?

We live in the SE corner of Saskatchewan and along with our sons Dane and Kade we own and operate Twisted T Cattle Company where we breed approximately 400 females annually. Grass cattle as well as a direct-to-consumer beef business are also a large part of our operation on top of the cow calf side of things.

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT BREEDING PROGRAM IN TERMS OF BREEDS UTILIZED, BREEDING SEASON AND ANY DIFFERENCES IN MANAGEMENT APPROACH BETWEEN HEIFERS AND MATURE COWS?

We have a predominantly angus-based herd that is then crossed with Herefords as well as some Simmental. We start to calve at the end of April. Heifers run with the main herd year-round except for breeding season.

WHAT ARE YOUR SUMMER AND WINTER FEED RESOURCES?

Cows are calved out on stockpiled native pasture with some supplemental hay as well. After branding in the first part of June cattle are moved through rotational grazing paddocks through the summer months then residual grazing farmland in the fall after harvest and the winter is spent going through the corn grazing paddocks as well as fed hay, straw and greenfeed cocktail mixes that are sewn in rotation with the corn to fix nitrogen and help reduce fertilizer costs.

HOW AND WHEN DO YOU MARKET YOUR STEER/HEIFERS OR REPLACEMENT/BRED FEMALES?

Steers are typically sold in the fall via online auction or live auction while select groups of replacement heifers are sold private treaty off the farm as well as kept for us while the rest move into our grass program where they will be sold late the next summer or put on feed to be marketed as beef through Amy’s direct to consumer beef company where she sells Halves quarters as well as select cuts.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU UTILIZED HEREFORD GENETICS AND WHAT STRENGTHS DO THEY CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR BREEDING PROGRAM?

We have had Hereford influence in our herd for over 15 years mainly with bulls, but a few females have been purchased as well.

HOW DO YOU THINK THE BREED COMPLIMENTS OTHER BREEDS IN A COMMERCIAL CROSSBREEDING SCENARIO?

We feel that the Hereford cross works excellent in our operation as costs continue to rise, driving inputs down is a focus and the Hereford influence helps us as they are a very efficient animal that can utilize and convert forage to lean meat very well. Along with the docility of the breed that makes them very easy to handle and work with year-round as our boys are 13 and 11 having cattle that are easy to work with is a must.

ARE THERE CHARACTERISTICS ABOUT THE BREED THAT YOU THINK ENHANCE PROFITABILITY IN A TIME OF INCREASING INPUTS, FEED COSTS, ETC.?

The ability of the Hereford cattle to survive and thrive in our harsh winter environments enable us to continue to challenge them to work harder for us and increase profitability to our operation along with our angus we feel that either as open calves or the following year as bred heifers.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE BREEDERS CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OR EMPHASIZE IN ADVANCING THE BREED?

I feel that breeders should continue to emphasize on the characteristics that make the breed successful witch are do ability, docility and efficiency to name a few whiles continuing to improve on foot and udder structure which is critical in the longevity of the animal.

WHAT SHORT-TERM GOALS OR OPPORTUNITIES DO YOU ENVISION FOR YOUR OPERATION IN THE NEXT 5 YEARS?

In the next 5 years our goal for our operation is to continue to expand and diversify while finding new ways to lower inputs while increasing the profit per acre as well as expanding the finished beef side of the business and find new ways to market and promote the best quality protein on the planet.