We run a stocker operation along with our traditional cow/calf operation. The stocker designation means that in addition to keeping our own calves and raising them to yearlings; we also buy calves from other ranches. We do this because we raise more feed during the summer months than we will need to feed our own calves throughout the winter. We will also have pasture for the calves to graze next spring and summer. We could sell the extra feed, but feel that buying stocker calves is the best business decision for our ranch.

By mid to late summer we have an estimate of how much feed we will have for the coming winter. Based on that amount, we decide how many additional calves to purchase in the fall. We decide which calves to buy based on a few factors: weight, genetics, location, and care.

Weight. We try to purchase calves that weigh between 400-500 pounds.

Genetics. We buy mostly English-Continental cross cattle. These types of cattle thrive in the area where we live. They adapt well to our climate and the available forage in our area. Also, English-Continental cross cattle are highly marektable in our area of the country.

Location. When we purchase calves, we pay to ship them (via cattle trucks) to our ranch. It makes good business sense for us to minimzie our shipping costs and purchase calves that are located in our region. We try to stray no farther than 300-350 miles from home.

Care. How the calves have been cared for is the final item we consider when we buy calves. We want to make sure that they are healthy and have been handled properly. The seller tells us the type of vaccination program he used and what type of feed the calves have been on prior to the shipping date. We want to make sure that the calves are healthy and in excellent condition.

After we have purchased the calves, we schedule a shipping day just like when we shipped our yearlings a few weeks ago, except this time we are receiving cattle. On this day, my husband goes to the ranch the calves are from and assists in weighing and loading trucks. We want to ensure that the calves are what we are expecting. We need to see for ourselves that the calves are healthy. Joe, our foreman, and the rest of the crew will be at the corral to unload the calves when the trucks arrive.

The calves will spend two or three days in the pens at our feedlot to make certain there aren't any sick ones and to give them a chance to adjust to a different feed than they are used to. On their second or third day, we process them and the following day they are turned out on either grass or crop aftermath.