Reflection

       While writing blogs over the past few months, I have learned a few things about being a cow/calf producer. Owing a cow/calf production farm requires one to have knowledge of management tactics and advertising means. 

Part One: What I Have Learned

Looking back on the blogs, I have found that management has been a theme. I wrote a lot about what it is like living on the farm and doing the work that I do. In a few of the blogs I read about some management tips. I watched a video about how to feed cattle. I learned about how cattle need a lot of protein in their diets in order for them to have a strong bone structure to withhold their body weight (Usfraonline). I also learned that you need help if you want to do well in the cattle industry. Two brothers found this out in an article that I read. The Denton brothers started their farm together and knew that they couldn't do it on their own (Stump Denton). This has taught me that asking for help is a necessity and that I can't run my farm on my own. 

While thinking about how to make my farm more known, I looked at some issues of advertising within the cattle industry. I learned about making things flashy and putting gut right words on paper. Matt Lautner uses a lot of bright colors and big bold letter to catch the attention of someone. In one of his flyers, the main point to get the name of a bull, Choppin' Wood, to be noticed. The name is simply placed in the middle of the page in big bold letters where it can be seen (Lautner). Another farm, Hartman Cattle Company, also uses the large letters and pictures idea. The idea of his flyer is to show that there is going to be a semen sale. It is noted at the top and pictures of the bulls are shown to catch everyones attention (Hartman Cattle Company). Now when I think about my own farm, I know that when I advertise for it, there needs to be a lot of color and flashy sayings that get straight to the point, along with pictures that will catch someones eye. 

Part Two: What Will I Do Now?

For my own farm, I now know a lot more about what I need to do to be successful in running a cow/calf operation. Having good management and good advertising under my belt is something that will help me do well with my farm. I know now that I will have to spend a lot of time figuring out who I might need to help me when I start running my family's farm. I will have to know what my limits are with who I hire and I will have to watch my budget carefully. I will also have to focus on the feed that I feed my animals and be sure to use a lot of proteins in the diet. 

I know that I will not make a profit or do well with my farm unless I put my name out there with advertising. Making flyers and posting them all over shows and sales and well as on the internet is a great way for me to advertise for my farm. I will have to make sure that I put the right words, information, and pictures on them to catch people attention and to have them remember my farm. 

After doing all the research for this project and contemplating what I will be doing for my own farm, I know that I really want to do this for the rest of my life. I do have a few question about things.I wonder about what a good size or number of cattle to have is. I'm also curious about certain types of feed to feed the cattle. Hiring people is also something I'm skeptical about and need to find out more about. But I know that i want to keep doing this and I plan on using what I have learned for my own farm. 

Im thankful to be able to do this blogging assignment. It has helped me to look at my field a analyze and learn from it a little more than I have in the past. I enjoyed looking for information about my field and picking it apart. I feel as though I have done a good job in teaching myself about how to blog and things about my field. I did struggle with the actually writing portion since I do not like writing. It was difficult to put down enough words and make the blog interesting. But I pushed through it and made a blog that would be interesting to those that are interested in starting and cow/calf operation. 

Works Cited

Hartman Cattle Company. "Broker Semen Sale." Hartman Cattle Company. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2012. <http://www.hartmancattleco.com/2012/8-28/99424_ContinentalLivestock_BrokerSemenSale_AD.pdf>.

Lautner, Matt. "News From The Road: Choppin Wood Semen Available $25/unit." News From The Road: Choppin Wood Semen Available $25/unit. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2012. <http://mattlautnercattle.blogspot.com/2011/04/choppin-wood-semen-available-25unit_26.html>.

Usfraonline. "Beef Documentary." YouTube. YouTube, 21 Sept. 2011. Web. 10 Nov. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onITAppbWyE>.

Stump Denton, Angie. "More Vigor." Www.hereford.org. American Hereford Association, Aug. 2012. Web. 10 Sept. 2012. <http://www.hereford.org/static/files/0812_MoreVigor.pdf>.

Matt Lautner Cattle Company Flyer

http://www.mattlautnercattle.com/

RAIDS

Revision- Club calves are the best to show, Lautner cattle has a lot to offer, Lautner cattle has many winners form its herd

Arrangement- Showing what it is and when very clearly, shows calves from the bull and then useful information

Invention- Splitting wood (bull name Chopping Wood), what I’m doing on that date, rednecks/lumberjacks (the picture)

Delivery- Flyer, colorful, flashy, noticeable

Style- Informational, business like, selling strategy, uses language that catches the attention of someone looking for show calves

This flyer is clearly meant for people who are looking for cattle to show. The usage of the information and names of some of the most used and top performing bulls in the country brings the attention to anyone in the cattle industry. Personally, this flyer does a good job and drawing people into looking at cattle from Matt Lautner and even has me considering buying calves from him. 

The National Junior Hereford Association Board of Directors

Over this summer, I had the opportunity to run for a director position on The National Junior Hereford Association Board of Directors. This position is a leadership role within the American Hereford Association. Not only are the directors ambassadors for the breed, but also they are considered the backbone of the association. They are leaders, teachers, and role models for the youth. They also plan many of the national shows that the junior members will participate and show at. They also are in charge of the many activates for the juniors at these shows.

As far as the ambassador position, the directors must follow up with breeders and be informed with what is going on within the cattle industry. They must be able to hold conversations with breeders about what is going on in the cattle industry without any complications. They should be able to talk to PETA representatives about how showing cattle is not harming them at all. They must be respectful and presentable and remember that they are representing the Hereford Association wherever they go.

Being a part of the Board of Directors has been one of the best experiences of my life. I have met so many amazing people and made some of the best friendships I will ever have. I have learned so many things about the cattle industry and the Hereford breed alone. I have learned to be respectful more than I already was and learned to be civil and presentable no matter where I am, because you never know who might be watching. Having this position has been an honor and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. 

The Significance of a Name

After spending a lot of tim e at cattle shows and sales over the past few weeks, I have realized that the name of a farm or an animal has a lot of significance. When certain names come up in conversation with people in the cattle industry, wether it be a farm name like Upstream Ranch or a breeder like Matt Lautner or a bull like Monopoly, people always know who or what you're talking about. 

For some people, showing and raising cattle is their life. All they do is work with cattle. These are the people that have put time and money into making a statement with a particulate name. The name of a farm or a bull is something that you want people to remember. You want it to stick in their minds. It is a marketing tactic that is used by many people. The name Monopoly for a bull for instance is one that everyone in the cattle industry knows. Its easy to remember and has a significance to a childhood game played by many people. It is truly unforgettable. 

So as I think about what I name my cattle, I try to pick names that will be memorable to people. In this way, I can create a base for a good market for my farm and be able to get people to talk about it. 

Feeding The World

http://www.fox59.com/news/wxin-future-farmers-of-america-future-farmers-of-america-work-to-end-hunger-in-central-indiana-haiti-20121024,0,2300770.column

The Future Farmers of America is an American (FFA) youth organization, based on middle and high school classes that promote and support agricultural education. Over the years, they have been working to feed the world with American crops and livestock. This past week, they have focused on feeding local citizens in central Indiana and Haiti. At the National FFA Convention in Indiana, student FFA members worked to package food that would be sent to these countries. Over 500,000 meals were to be distributed to those in central Indiana and Haiti.

The importance of being a farmer here in the United States can be noticed in this article. As crop and livestock farmers, there is a consumed product made from the work that they do. This not only feeds the farmers family, but people throughout America and the whole world. Without farmers, a lot of people in the world would go starving everyday. But with their hard work and organizations like FFA, small and/or larger portions of the world can be fed. 

Hands On

For me, being hands on in my field of being a steer jock is simply something I do all the time. It is my life. Last weekend, I had to give shots, put in ear tags, weigh, and castrate all the calves on our farm. In farm lingo, this is called calf processing. This hands on experience is nothing to take lightly. 

All the calves need something special. It could be a heath concern, to be made a steer, a new tag, or a special shot. But all calves need to be thoroughly inspected. It is not an easy task. Giving shots and putting in tags even need to be put in a particular spot and done correctly to avoid future issues. 

During processing, there is almost always a problem. A calf has a sore and needs it to be cleaned and to have shots. Or one gets lose and needs to be run through the chute again. Even sometimes, the calf might go into shock or have a reaction to the shots or stress of being in the chute. There needs to be a lot of attention on the aftermath and health of the calf while in and out of the chute. 

I enjoy being hands on with the calve and doing processing since I know that what needs to get done gets done and it is done correctly. I also get to see the calves and pick what ones I want to keep to show, what ones I'm gonna sell, and what ones we'll keep as feeders. 

Being hands on and learning is so much easier than reading it from a book. From a book, you only would know how things would go in a perfect situation, but during processing, there are all sorts of scenarios that can happen that one needs to be aware of. It is also so much easier to see something be done and learn from it since one will know exactly what they need to do. 

My 365 Day Job

Ever since I've lived on a farm, everyday is a day of work for me. Early mornings and late nights have been no new news to me. Getting up at the break of dawn almost every day of my life to feed calves is a joy to me. I wouldn't trade seeing the beautiful faces of my cows every morning for anything. 

Even though working with calves is a lot of hard work, it is definitely what makes me the most happy. Rinsing all my show calves, feeding them, working their hair, blow drying them, and then clipping them everyday, twice a day is a tedious task, but it is my life. It is what I do. And I wouldn't trade it for the world. 

From the day the babies on my farm are born, to the day that they go to the sale barn or the slaughter house, I give them some sort of attention. Whether it be a simple look to make sure that everything is okay, to a wash, a dry, a clip, and a feeding twice a day, every cow, calf, bull, steer, and heifer gets some attention. This is a timely and laborious task, but it is something that needs to be done in order for the farm to be healthy and running smoothly. 

Controversy

http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/10/04/what-the-explaining-exactly-how-the-beef-recall-became-a-hot-political-issue/

Controversy in the cattle industry? Yes it is possible. And this particular one affects everyone who has any interaction with beef cattle; more specifically, what they produce. 

E. Coli had been an issue around the world for around 30 years, and continues to be an issue today. E. coli is a bacteria that lives in the stomachs of humans and cattle. It is potentially harmless, unless certain types of E. coli enter ones systems. These types can make one very sick and could eventually kill ones kidneys. One can simply be infected by E. coli by eating beef that has the bacteria in it or drinking water that has been infected with bovine feces. 

In this article, a plant in Canada had an e. coli infection in it's beef in September. The plant had to recall all of the meat that they knew was infected with the bacteria and all that went through the plant after since it was in the machines being used. They then had to disinfect all their equipment and sterilize everything. 

The real controversy is that the plant did not report the infection right away. U.S. and Canadian packing plants are also complaining about over inspection and inspection too often since it slows down production. But, these inspections need to happen since the E. coli bacteria can cause sickness and death. As one can see, it is the difference between making money and losing money because of being sued. 

Cattle Sales

This past weekend, I spent quite a bit of time at some cattle sales. Cattle sales, or livestock auctions, are really just something else. These sales are the beginning of a showing season and the main social attractions to those in the cattle industry. There are bargains, sales, politics, and simple friendships that are made at these events. 

Cattle sales bring forth a plethora of politics for the industry. From bidding wars to behind the backdrop sales, there is always controversy about who bought what and who should have bought what at particular prices and so on. Most people walk away from an auction happy, but there are many that have smoke steaming out their ears. 

My favorite part about cattle sales is getting to see all my friends and many of my mentors. We all simply get to look at who is buying what and talk about cattle for a day. We analyze every lot being sold and pick what ones we might buy that day or what we would put on our dream list. It is simply a wonderful social event where some people strike it rich or come out empty handed. 

Beef Cattle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onITAppbWyE

I watched this documentary to try and find some opinions about what to feed cattle. Right away, the farmer talks about what he puts into his feed. He uses a nutritionist to evaluate what his cattle need. The nutritionist, like any good nutritionist, has told him that he needs to gives his cattle a lot of protein in order to build muscles and bones used for carrying a fetus during pregnancy or for providing meat to the country. The farmer was also told to use plenty of grains, grasses, and forages needed to give the cattle nutrition for growing and maintaing and healthy body in his feed. 

Personally, I would agree with what the nutritionist is saying. Would I use a nutritionist? No. Why? They are costly and they are often unnecessary for the amount of cattle that I plan to be dealing with. They are used mostly for very large dairy farms and feeder calf lots. In regards to what he is feeding them, proteins are key. Cattle need to have the muscle to help them do their  jobs as either a feeder going to become meat, or a cow being used to produce calves.

The other part about the video is about cattle management and how one must be careful about checking each calf to make sure that they are healthy and gaining weight. One must also make sure that all calves are properly being fed and watered.

On my farm, I am very particular about each calf on my property. They are treated like royalty. It is rare to have an unhealthy calf on my lot. I know that they best way to do well in the cattle business is to have a healthy herd and good management. 

5 am Chores

Call me crazy, but getting up at 5am to feed my cattle is one of my favorite things to do. Yes its earlier than many of you have ever gotten up and sometimes can be the time that a few of you go to bed, but I wouldn't trade those early mornings for anything. Getting up at the crack of dawn and getting to see the sunrise as your cattle come running with joy at you because they know you are about to feed them, is probably one of the most humbling experiences in the world. These creatures are so dependent on me for food and for care that they come running, yes cows can run, at the wee hours of the morning just for some grain. It's amazing. Often times, my cattle with nudge me with their noses in the hopes that I have some food on me. What a blessing. 

Talks With Dad

It is often that you will catch me on the phone or in a conversation with my dad. Our conversations are not like many others. Most talk about school, the future, or sports even. Not for me. When my dad and I talk, we talk about cattle.

My dad is the smartest man I know. He has taught me everything I need to know about cattle. When it comes to thinking about what I'm going to do with my life, my dad has all the answers. He's been doing this cattle with me ever since we started thirteen years ago, but he has all the "ins" with everyone in the cattle industry. He knows all the little perks about raising calves and what calves to choose from. He knows what is best to feed them and at what times it is best to feed them certain hings. My dad is a genius to me.

Ever since I can remember, I've been out there helping my dad on the farm. Whether it be holding a light, bringing him water, or handing him a wrench, I've been there right by him learning anything and everything I can about what it takes to run a farm or fix this thing or do that thing. Without my dad, I wouldn't know what to do when the waterer or the tractor breaks. Without him, I wouldn't have had such a passion for showing and raising cattle.

Ethics

https://www.msu.edu/~bbclub/index.htm

As being a member of the MSU Block and Bridle Club, I have stumbled upon what their ethics might be. On the home page for the group, I found this:

"The B&B Club at MSU strives to provide members an opportunity to promote agriculture and forge new relationships through multiple livestock, social and community service events."

I think that this is a very ethical statement in that it states the words "opportunity and relationship". The club clearly sees that being involved and having the chance to be involved in as many things as possible in order to broaden ones horizon is crucial to learning and a helpful tool in life. They also seek to make relationships between others that have the same interests which is something that I take very seriously. 

In comparison to my own beliefs, I agree completely with taking up opportunities and being given the chance to enhance ones knowledge and experience with something that they are passionate about. I also believe that some of the best relationships and friendships that I have made have been within the showing aspect of my life. Some friendships are the best with those that have the same interests as you. 

Throughout college, I am trying to find things that will help me when I start my career as a cattle jock. Becoming part of this club will be very helpful since I will have more experience with people, planning, and my knowledge will increase about livestock. I also am taking many Animal Science classes which not only enhance my knowledge of the animals, but what I know about what is happening in agricultural current events. I also am taking many Agribusiness classes which will help me manage my farm. Besides school, I am continuing to show throughout the country and am using my position as a National Junior Hereford Association Director to extend my knowledge about agriculture and the industry.

Block and Bridle

https://www.msu.edu/~bbclub/index.htm

Today I went to a meeting for the Block and Bridle Club. This is a livestock club with kids on campus that organizes shows and events for those interested in livestock. I found on their website what their goal would be: 

"The B&B Club at MSU strives to provide members an opportunity to promote agriculture and forge new relationships through multiple livestock, social and community service events."

I like this goal a lot. Being a farmer and a livestock showman, I believe that building relationships with other involved in showing livestock is a great thing to strive to do. I have many friends that I show cattle with and frankly, my best friends show cattle. 

Their objectives go as follows:

-To promote a higher scholastic standard among students.-To promote agriculture, emphasizing all areas of animal science.-To bring a closer relationship among all individuals.-To provide a social organization for students of Michigan State University who share a common interest in livestock.

I also cant agree with these more. I desire to teach and promote livestock to all ages and to become friends with many more people who have the same interests that I do. 

I really enjoyed going to the meeting today and have already signed up to be a part of the Block and Bridle Club. The people involved are very kind and friendly and are easy to talk to about livestock which is something that I love to do. 

Cattle Sales

One of my favorite things about fall is the start of the cattle sale season. Once the summer is done, cattle sales are constantly being done. I receive sale catalog after sale catalog in the mail and spend hour after hour studying the calves that are being sold. 

After being in my writing class at Michigan State, I have grown to analyze how people write in different situstions. When it comes to livestock sales and the catalogs, those that write them are really just stating a sales pitch. They use data and all sorts of cattle lingo to draw the reader or potential buyer into the information about the calf in the hopes that they might want to buy it. They are normally very informal with their writing and always short and sweet and to the point. People wanting to buy cattle only want the facts and do not want to read all the flowery things that can be put into a piece of literature.

Analyzing these catalogs and other newsletters regarding livestock sales has helped to realize how I will need to advertise my farm for sales. Short and sweet, but hitting the right points seems to be the way to go. 

My Recent Farm Visit

This past Thursday, I had the opportunity to visit a hog farm. I was very impressed at how clean and organized they were there. It made me think about how I can make my farm a better place to be visited and managed. They do a lot of power washing and a bleaching to make sure that new hogs coming in will not be contaminated by particular diseases or bacteria that the previous hogs might have brought into that barn. It is something that I personally do not do on my farm and find it very intelligent for heath safety. They also have a specific painting system to tell what sows and gilts come into heat what days, what days they are bred, and what farrowing (birthing) barn they will have to be moved in to. It is brilliant. Such a simple and easy to follow system even for a visitor. It is something that I might start using on my cattle to tell when they come into heat and what days that I have bred them so that it is easier for me to tell from a distance and to watch for a heifer or a cow coming into heat. It was a fun experience and very informational and helpful for me and my farming.  

My Mentor

After speaking with one of my role models, Bobby Goble, I learned a few things about what it means to be a real cattle jock. Bobby owns a cow/calf production just like myself, but his is about three times the size of mine. Their farm, Ridgeview Farms, is located only a few miles from mine and is one of the top Hereford productions in the state of Michigan. 

Bobby told me a lot about management and how he promotes his farm. Management includes a lot of gathering of information, record keeping, and manual labor. He does the same things that I do on my farm. As far as promotion goes, Bobby does a fair amount of ads, newsletters, and catalog articles in order to help his farm. He typically uses a lot of numbers, weights, birth dates, EPD numbers, as well as names of dams and sires that are used at Ridgeview. His style is typically very formal and infromational. Nothing too clever, he just simply needs to get the information about the farm out there. People who are interested in farms and cattle normally are drawn to numbers and names of sires and dams. 

Bobby really helped me to learn what I will need in order to be successful in promoting my own farm. It needs to be simple and full of information about my cattle and what is for sale. It does not really need a whole lot of flowery words and style to it. Plain, simple, and to the point will do someone wonders in the cattle industry, unlike what we have read in class. Articles that we have read in class tend to be very personal and have a moral to the story. For what Bobby writes, it is short and informational, not long and full of a flowery, specific, and special style that will keep the readers attention for a long time. 

"May You Find All Your Ear Tags"

http://www.cattlenetwork.com/cattle-news/BeefTalk-May-you-find-all-your-ear-tags-168907146.html

In this news paper article, Ringwall uses a lot of catch phrases for those in the cattle business such as "comes off the cow" and "late-summer and fall roundups." as well as the title "May You FInd All Your Ear Tags". These draw in the reader and credit him as being very clever and witty with his words. The fact that he delivers this in a newspaper, a magazine, and on the web makes his article very accessible to everyone. 

http://www.steerplanet.com/bb/index.php?topic=41795.msg354044#msg354044

This blog simply comes out very personal and points out that the writer himself struggled with the idea of being barn blind. He is very honest and clear in his presentation. The writer also reflects on his past a lot. Delivery wise, it simply is on a blog that many people look at for help with little things in their herd. It is very accessible and credible. 

http://www.animal-science.org/content/86/5/1223.short

This article is very scientific and a little hard to understand. But, that does make him very credible. Erickson is very straight forward and does have some very useful information about the topics. It is available not only online, which is very accessible, but also in the Animal Science Journal. 

"More Vigor"

http://www.hereford.org/static/files/0812_MoreVigor.pdf

Stumbling upon this article in my favorite magazine/newspaper, I realized how much it spoke to me about my dream job. The newspaper article is solely about how a man and his brother started a partnership with another farm. Together, the two farms found ways to create outstanding genetics from two rival breeds, Angus and Hereford. When they started to use Hereford bulls, they noticed a higher performance in vigor, reproduction, and longevity. They were very impressed with their results.



As a formal and soon to be future Hereford breeder, this article spoke to me about how blessed I am to be using Hereford genetics. The way that Denton draws the audience, those within the cattle industry, into this article by her ways of crediting the farmers really made me confident in my choice of cattle. The way Denton uses facts, history, and top named farms gives her the credibility that is needed to keep cattle breeders such as myself interested in continuing to read. 

What it Means to Be a Cattle Jock

A cattle jock. Most of you have no idea what that is. Well here is where you can find out what it means to live in my shoes. 

What does it mean to show cattle?

Showing cattle can be best related to a dog show. The cattle are shown with halters and walked around in a circle. They are then set-up, which means that their feet are set a certain way using a show stick, with their front feet square and their back feet staggered with the back right foot more forward than the left (Phillips). The head is held rather high and the belly scratched with the show stick. The cattle, steers in this market example, are then judged by the quality of meat that has been produced and mostly on their looks (Thomas). In breeding classes, the objective is to judge on if the calf would be good at producing calves. Looks are also a factor but for both instances, the structure of a claves bones and muscle are the key to ones placing. Finally, there is showmanship with is where the quality of how the showman shows the calf is judged (Thomas).

How does one come about showing cattle?

Most people start showing at the 4-H level or at county fairs. Many youth only show one calf, a steer in most cases, and then sell that steer at the county fair livestock auction (Phillips). But others, like myself, show at a state, regional, and national level. This involves a lot more preparation and work to be done.

What makes a good show calf?

Bone and muscle structure are the key components to a good show calf. A deep bodied and muscular legged calf is good quality (Phillips). Having a tame and well-marked calf can also help one to do well. Also, working with a calves hair can really help in making a calf look bigger and better than it might be (Thomas).

How does a show work?

There are market, breeding, and showmanship classes (see first question). For market, the steers (castrated bull) are divided into classes depending on their weights (Phillips). The winners from each class are brought in for the final drive. Sometimes there are semi-finals and then the final. For heifers, cow/calf pairs, and bulls, the birthdate of the calf is how the classes are divided. As far as showing go, showmen walk their calves in single file and set-up side by side in the front of the ring (Thomas). They then walk around the ring in a single file line ending up head to tail. The judge will place then first, second, third, etc. as he/she thinks that they should be placed (Thomas).

What preparations are needed?

Working with the hair, taming the calf, feeding them correctly, teaching them how to walk, washing, and blow-drying them (Thomas).

How do sales work?

Cattle sales are done auction style. One calf, a cow and a calf, or sometimes a pen of steers will be brought into a sale ring. They auctioneer then will start the bid (Thomas). For selling cattle as beef, the sale is a price per pound. But for selling calves for breeding or showing use, the prices go by the dollar (typically in the $1,000 range). Buyers have bidder numbers and will raise those if they want to bid on the calf. Callers watch for them and point them out by a high pitch scream (Phillips). Bidders will drop out at a price to high and eventually, there will be a winner or the highest bidder.

What is a typical day like as a cattle jock?

Tie-up, feed, wash, blow-dry, brush, and put the calves in the cooler or under fans so that the hair will grow. This is normally done both morning and night (Thomas). Other jobs include feeding and processing (weighing, weaning calves, giving shots, ear tagging, worming, and branding) the calves, and well as moving them to be in particular pastures (Phillips). Making sure fences and waterers are working is also a daily task.

What does show day/week look like?

Wash the calves in the morning and blow-dry them out, blowing and brushing the hair forward to try for the most volume. Calves are then fed morning and night as well as watered regularly. The calves are normally lying on bark or shavings with fans blowing on them (Thomas). On show day, the same things are done, but roughly 10 classes before yours one must fit the calf. This includes pulling the hair on the legs forward and up in order to make the legs look more muscular and like the calf is carrying more weight (Phillips). The tail head is also pulled up to make the calf look squarer. Clipping and painting is done to try and correct flaws of the calf. This technique is very difficult to prefect (Thomas).

What is the exact role of a cattle jock?

To raise calves to sell or show. They can help those who buy calves form them prepare at shows by washing, drying, and fitting for them (Thomas).

How do you raise beef cattle?

Cattle must be born, weaned, processed, possibly shown or sold, slaughtered, or used for breeding. Calves that are born are weaned from their moms and used for showing, selling, breeding, or for feeding out for slaughter (Thomas). When processed, shots, ear tags, tattoos, brands, and worming medicine is given to calves, bulls, and cows. All animals must be fed whether it is grass, hay, grain, creep feed, or any combination of these (Phillips). They also must continue to check the cattle in case of any medical issues. Cows will produce one calf a year and it will either be naturally made or by artificial insemination or embryo transplant. Fences, watering systems, and pastures must always be made, working, and available for the farmer (Thomas).

Works Cited

Phillips, C. J. C. Principles of Cattle Production. Wallingford, Oxon: CABI Pub., 2001. Print.

Thomas, Heather Smith. Storey's Guide to Raising Beef Cattle. Pownal, VT: Storey, 1998. Print.