2 minute read
TOOLS OF THE TRADE:
SOUTHWEST BULL TEST AND HEIFER DEVELOPMENT CENTER
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ARTICLE BY AMBER MORIN PHOTOS BY PAUL RAMIREZ
Matt Herrington, the visionary behind the Center, grew up in Graham County and earned his degrees from BYU-Idaho and New Mexico State University before returning home to put his education to work. Matt is the owner of Herrington Cattle LLC, a business dedicated to providing a wide range of services all aimed at helping beef producers thrive.
The Center is a forward-thinking bovine feed efficiency business open to producers in the Southwest. It is dedicated to improving cattle in Arizona and New Mexico by bringing bulls to Safford, Arizona for a 120-day period to measure feed intake in real-time, followed by a 60-day period for heifers. Cattle on test are fed free choice in smart feeders. The feed ration is high fiber with very low grain content. Cattle fed this way will have improved feed adaptation to desert ranches. Using mechanized feeders with weigh scales and Wi-Fi and cellular connection capabilities, called SmartFeed systems, the Center can easily measure total daily feed intake from each individual and accurately measure animal efficiency. Each animal is tagged with an RFID (radio frequency identification) tag allowing the SmartFeed system to measure feed intake per visit per animal.
Southwest ranches often have sparse browse and seasonal grasses, so identifying feed efficient cattle is an important factor for beef producers. Matt has established a unique facility here in Arizona capable of improving herd genetics, furthering business operations and bottom lines, and providing data for smaller seed stock producers and commercial beef producers. “We are excited to provide a public testing and development center to producers of all sizes. The information we collect is critical for the improvement of our industry.” Overall, however, Matt’s vision for Southwest beef doesn’t stop there. He is working on enhancing the overall reputation of Arizona beef by establishing Copper Star Beef.
Copper Star Beef is a voluntary quality standards program focused on genetics for efficiency and marbling, optimal livestock health with select vaccinations at key life stages, and low stress management coupled with Beef Quality Assurance practices. Matt envisions a label for Arizona beef that helps consumers identity and select a local product that all Arizonian’s can be proud of. “We live in a state that can consume all of the beef we can produce here. The demand for a quality local product is here, it’s just a matter of working together at each step of the production chain and logistically putting it all together.” He is already producing Copper Star Beef Jerky and other cuts are on their way.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Amber Morin, Southeastern Arizona rancher, writer, and podcaster.
