“OPPORTUNITY
IS KNOCKING” IN THE CATTLE BUSINESS
Opportunities come along once in a
while. Some will see
the opportunity before it
happens and most, will say, “I should have got into that before
it happened.” A good opportunity may
arise in the cattle industry by
having struggles, market changes and timing of a good solution.
It is a very good time for purebred
cattleman and top commercial cattleman to take a good look down the road for
the next five years and plan for their future. If you are a cattle producer you
are always looking for a way to make money in the cattle business.
The purebred industry relies
totally on the demands of commercial cattleman. The commercial cattlemen buy
the bulls that keep the purebred producer alive.
The big demand in the cattle
industry in the last stretch of years has gone from breeding terminal breeds to
using maternal breeds as the main herd sires. This has been a full pendulum
swing. For the first while, breeding in
this direction will still
give hybrid vigour, but
by continuously breeding one direction, the
vigour depletes along with
weaning weights. For the commercial
producer, heavy weaning weights are very important especially when you combine
them with a market that is not very strong. Also the owners of feedlot cattle
like to see their cattle grow.
Cattlemen have come to like the
maternal traits as they are highly important in their operation. These cattlemen have also found over the
years, that crossbreeding is one of the quickest ways to add hybrid vigour and to
put more pounds back on their weaning weights.
What is needed in the cattle industry
today and the next few years, is a breed of cattle that are in the middle of
the road. A maternal based breed
will keep those maternal traits and also have the ability to cross well with
other breeds. This breed must have excellent weaning weights, with the ability
to go to the feedlot and make money for its new owner.
Here is your opportunity. What I
have just described to you are the traits of the Gelbvieh breed. Gelbvieh cattle fit
the needs of cattle producers today.
I have been watching the Gelbvieh
breed grow over the last 20 years. A fellow once told me that the Gelbvieh
breed is a slow burning breed. No
big investors really got them off the ground like the earlier breeds that came
from Europe. Gelbvieh have progressed along at
a steady pace on the merit of its traits and the enthusiasm of the cattlemen who
use them.
Over the years Gelbvieh has gone
from a breed that people didn’t know much about, to now where great
respect is growing for the breed.
This respect is building,
throughout the livestock sector. Not only cattlemen but livestock sales yards,
feedlots, Hutterite Colonies, embryo transplant centers, and the industries
media are all recognizing Gelbvieh.
The opportunity will come to the
cattlemen who take a serious look into the Gelbvieh breed. Cattlemen with a
good eye for cattle should go and check out the purebred Gelbvieh cattle on the
established breeders farms, go to the Gelbvieh Bull & Female sales, and also check out the
quality of Gelbvieh that are at the
purebred cattle shows. By going to these places you can
investigate for yourself. Ask the question, “Why do these people like
Gelbvieh?” Find out the reasons
cattlemen are looking to put Gelbvieh into their programs for the very first
time.
The quality of the Gelbvieh breed
is improving every year. The Gelbvieh Associations are very progressive and are
looking for new ways to promote the breed.
The best promotion of all is when you hear industry leaders and
cattlemen talking:
“I am
pleased with the way my Gelbvieh calves grow, since I got my Gelbvieh herd. I
don’t chase my cows I call them. They are sure nice to handle.
“I was very impressed with the
Gelbvieh calves in the Gelbvieh feeder calf sale. This year we had liner loads of good
ones. Those Gelbvieh steers were the big boys!”
“I got into Gelbvieh after seeing
my neighbour’s Gelbvieh calves over the fence.”
“I am stopping the sale for
the moment; I invite the crowd to take a good look at these good strong topped
Gelbvieh steers.”
“You know as bad as the
market was in the fall of 2007 my Gelbvieh steers still averaged $700.00
each.”
“If you like big strapping
calves in the fall, buy these Gelbvieh cross cows bred Gelbvieh.”
Talk like this spreads through the
coffee shops neighbours to neighbours, and at Gelbvieh calf sales. The Gelbvieh
Breed is ready for today’s livestock industry.
Gelbvieh genetics will really help
the commercial cattlemen. They cross very well with the major breeds in Canada.
Gelbvieh genetics will help boost weaning weights and they will go on and work
well in the feedlots. Gelbvieh is the maternal based breed that is made to
order for today’s market place.
As a business minded cattleman, you can see that if only 10% of the
commercial cattlemen in the country decide to use Gelbvieh, the demand would be stronger than the number
of Gelbvieh bulls available. More Gelbvieh bulls will be needed. Prices will be
at a premium. Can you see a good opportunity here?
Investigate the Gelbvieh breed. Visit
the Gelbvieh breeders and go to the Gelbvieh sales. Purchase some top quality Gelbvieh
females and get your purebred Gelbvieh herd established. If you have purebred Gelbvieh, when the
demand hits, your opportunity, will be fulfilled.
“OPPORTUNITY IS KNOCKING”
The Gelbvieh Breed’s Turn Is Just Around the
Corner.
Wade Davidson
Ponteix, Sask.
Director: The Man- Sask Gelbvieh Association
