In order to have yearling bulls ready for our customers to use at grass turnout time, and for yearling heifers to develop ready to breed ahead of the cows, we time the artificial breeding to start calving by New Year’s Day. In 2007 we had 22 calves born in January, 16 in February, 36 calves in March, and a total of 85 by the end of calving season.

Through the common sense selection of balanced trait easy birth weight A.I. sires (we don’t go nuts), we have virtually eliminated calving problems. Of the 85 calves born in the Spring of 2007, 83 were born unassisted, and 2 required an easy pull by Michele and Kelly.

Heat detection is a whole family affair, and Gary does the actual A.I. work with backup assistance from Zach. 2008 calves are by Dr J Analyst, SS Objective T510, Mytty IN FOCUS, and direct sons of RITO 1I2, IN FOCUS, and Morgans Direction. We also have a couple calves by a Wagyu for reasons only Gary knows.

All newborn calves undergo a strict health regimen which includes two vitamin injections (BO-SE and vitamin A and D), oral Calf Guard for scours prevention, navels are dipped in iodine, and each calf is honestly weighed on a spring scale and then ear tagged and tattooed.
 

Voogt Farms Calving Sheds

Moises Jaimes weighs every calf

Cows in the snow	Warm Milk in January
Freeze Branding	Freeze Branding by dry ice/alcohol

Weaned and yearling cattle are raised in a combination feed manger/loafing barn and are weighed every month on a computerized scale.

We follow an intensive rotational grazing program. 16 paddocks now have water available. We built two portable water tub/mineral/fly control sleds. Cattle are divided into 2 groups, each with 40 cow / calf pair and a senior bull. At the end of June, cows stayed each paddock about 8 days. We are keeping records on how much N, P, and K they deposit as manure in each paddock. Early results show we are utilizing more forage and the manure is evenly distributed over the paddocks.

Pedro, Moises, Florencuo, Palemon and Juan - this hay crew is the best!