| Breeder:
Kiowa Creek Ranch
Principal Contact: Ric Miller Ranch Location: Elbert, Colorado Number of Angus Cows: 2200 Participation in PMB Program: Since 1992 Bulls Sent to PMB Annually: 400 - 450 Female Sales: @ National Western Stock Show & Private Treaty Utilizes Artificial Insemination: Yes, Heavily, including owned herd sires Utilizes Embryo Transplant: Yes Industry Participation:
Other Related Activities:
Breeding Philosophy: In addition to our registered Angus herd, we run several thousand commercial cows. Our breeding goal is relatively simple. We STRIVE TO BREED registered cattle that will produce BULLS that WE CAN USE IN OUR COMMERCIAL COWHERD to OPTIMIZE our total INPUT COSTS with the MARKET VALUE of beef in the carcass. This means cow/calf costs and feeding to finish costs. Our EMPHASIS is on MULTI-TRAIT SELECTION. Our selection PRIORITIES PARALLEL the relative ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION of each. FERTILITY IS FIRST. We like average to above average testicle size in sires, and we strive to balance milking ability with available feed resources. With the cowherd, our goal is to INCREASE weaning WEIGHTS through genetic selection as much as is possible WITHOUT negatively IMPACTING FERTILITY or ADDING to cowherd maintenance COSTS. On the feeding side, FEED CONVERSION EFFICIENCY is by far the MOST IMPORTANT economic trait. There is a strong correlation between rate of gain and cost of gain. This is why we place lots of emphasis on testing our bulls, not only within our own herd, but also in competition with bulls from other strong breeding programs. On the carcass traits, we place slightly MORE EMPHASIS on YIELD GRADE than on quality grade. We believe that GENETIC IMPROVEMENT can only be made THROUGH SELECTION. Skilled SELECTION REQUIRES KNOWLEDGE. We work at accumulating knowledge about our cattle continuously. This includes bull test comparisons, feedlot close outs and carcass data, as well as analysis of cow herd performance and maintenance costs. Our GOAL is for the registered herd TO PRODUCE QUALITY BULLS in quantity that can both MEET OUR NEEDS and those of other COMMERCIAL CATTLEMEN who use our bulls. Contacting Kiowa Creek Ranch:
|