PHARO CATTLE COMPANY CHEYENNE WELLS, COLORADO PHONE

Transcription

1 PHARO CATTLE COMPANY CHEYENNE WELLS, COLORADO PHONE Buy your bulls from someone who raises cattle the way you ought to. Sept./ Oct NEWSLETTER Looking Back It s hard to believe that Pharo Cattle Company has been selling bulls for nearly eighteen years. We started out as a commercial ranch on leased land with a very specific goal in mind. We wanted to maximize ranch profits by improving the land under our care and by producing the type of cattle that could survive strictly on what our ranch produces with minimum or no inputs. We experienced moderate success after changing a few of our management practices (e.g., implementing a year-round rotational grazing system and calving in sync with nature). The biggest problem we encountered, though, was finding a seedstock producer who could provide the genetics we needed to produce environmentally adapted cattle. For the most part, they simply did not exist. Most of the bulls we were using seemed to take us farther and farther away from our goal. Many (perhaps most) seedstock producers think that, because they have registered cows and sell high priced bulls, they can justify overfeeding and pampering their cows as well as giving them a second or third chance. Most seedstock producers also have cows that are at least 200 to 400 pounds bigger than the cows commercial ranchers can afford to own. Consequently, we quickly realized that our seedstock producers would never have cows as good as our commercial cows. How were they going to be of any help to us? Being opportunists, we promptly decided to take advantage of this situation by entering the seedstock business and the rest is history. Looking back, we can tell you it has not been easy, but it has been fun and it has been rewarding. Nearly everything we did went against conventional ways of thinking. Many of the so-called experts in the beef industry said we couldn t do the things we wanted to do. They jokingly said we should raise pronghorn antelope if we wanted to raise environmentally adapted animals. They said we would be taking giant steps backwards if we required our cows to live within their means. They said we were naïve and didn t really understand the seedstock business. They said we wouldn t be able to sell bulls that had not been fed (fattened) on a hot feedlot ration. They said we wouldn t be able to sell bulls that had a frame score under 5. They said we would have very few repeat customers, and they said we would never be able to sell more than 20 or 30 bulls per year. Had it not been for the support and encouragement from a core group of trusted friends and customers, we probably would have given up years ago. Those friends and customers challenged us to do what was right, even though it was not popular. The longer we persevered, the more convinced we became that we were definitely on the right track. Everything the so-called experts said we couldn t do has been successfully done. We went from selling 6 bulls per year to a few friends and neighbors to selling over 600 bulls per year to repeat customers from at least 30 different states. We are still a little naïve when it comes to understanding the mainstream, status-quo seedstock business but that is precisely the way we want to keep it. We started out with very little, but we had a big vision and a driving passion to become the type of seedstock producer commercial ranchers need. Our focus has never changed. We have never strayed off course. We have never compromised our integrity. We did not try to chase every new fad that came along. The harder we worked, the more God blessed our efforts. Our goal continues to be to help commercial ranchers put more fun and more profit into their business. Pharo Cattle Company continues to be Different for all the Right Reasons. We would like to invite you to attend our Fall Bull and Heifer Sale November 5 th and 6 th. Come see what all the whoop-la is about. We want you to check out our cattle and meet our people. Kit & Deanna Pharo 1

2 If your vision doesn t cost you something, it s a daydream. John Maxwell Vision and Action... A vision without action is nothing more than a dream. Action without a vision is simply passing the time away but action with a vision can change the world. Extraordinary things are being accomplished daily by ordinary people who are driven to make their dreams come true. I challenge and encourage people of all ages to dream BIG and then to create a plan of action to make their dreams come true. A plan of action is nothing more than an ongoing series of actions (steps) that must take place before the vision can be reached. For example, if my vision or goal is to eat an elephant, I might see this as an impossibility. However, upon further thought, I will realize that I really can eat an elephant one bite at a time. The sooner I get started, the sooner I Git-R-Done. Unfortunately, too many people are afraid to dream BIG and/or afraid to take action. It seems to me that they allow their fear of failure to keep them from accomplishing great things. THE PHARO CATTLE COMPANY NEWSLETTER Published bimonthly by: Pharo Cattle Company County Road Z Cheyenne Wells, CO Editor: Kit Pharo Phone: Kit@PharoCattle.com Website: Our Mission: To help ranchers put more fun and profit into their business. Call or for a Free Subscription 2 Annie Rooney... Meet the newest member of the Pharo Phamily, Miss Annie Rooney. Deanna had been watching all the classified ads for a small companion dog but she did not want to pay much for such a dog. She eventually found an ad for a free Miniature Schnauzer in a neighboring town. It didn t take Deanna long to go take a look. She and Annie have been inseparable ever since. All of this took place while I was in Montana. When I got home I took one look at Annie s bushy eyebrows and called her Annie Rooney because she reminded me of Andy Rooney of the 60 Minutes TV show. Annie is definitely Deanna s dog. If she doesn t get to go with Deanna to check cows, she whimpers and scampers back and forth from door to door. On a Sad Note I recently lost Cookie, my Border Collie. She was hit by a vehicle and we had to euthanize her. For a Border Collie, Cookie was very affectionate. She loved to work and she loved to play. She could chase a rubber ball, a frisbee, or a pine cone for hours. I m gonna miss her. WANTED: Your Address If you have not yet sent us your address, you are missing out on everything we provide in our weekly s: Industry Discussions and Commentaries Weekly Happenings here at PCC Market and Weather Comments Guest Editorials and Funny Stories Links to Interesting Stories and Articles Updates to our Classified Ad Page PCC Internet Auction Announcements Shared s from other Subscribers Sunday Morning Inspirations Send your address to Kit@PharoCattle.com

3 BIGGEST Sale of its Kind Monday & Tuesday, November 5 th th & 6 Over 400 bulls that were 100% Forage-Developed on Grass. Over 700 Pharo-Influenced Heifers (sired by PCC bulls and/or bred to PCC bulls). Affordable Heifer Delivery to 40 central locations. Our bulls will NOT melt and fall apart when you take them home. Thickness and Fleshing Ability have been bred in NOT fed in. Our bulls will service More Cows for More Years than most bulls. Our bulls have been ultrasounded for Marbling and Tenderness. Many of our bulls are GUARANTEED for Calving Ease. FREE Bull Delivery to many central locations. Some Featured Angus and Red Angus Sires: Magua Colorado Hobo Idaho Also selling some BEEFY Hereford and Composite bulls. Déjà vu DVAuction Bulls@PharoCattle.com PHARO CATTLE COMPANY Cheyenne Wells, CO Phone: Website: Call or for a Sale Catalog

4 Thinking Out Loud...about the Next Generation I am more than just a little concerned about the next generation. I suppose every generation has had similar concerns since Adam and Eve, but I believe we have more reason for concern today than any time in history. The two cartoons (below) speak volumes. Children of the 21st Century are constantly exposed to and bombarded by strong and exciting visual stimulation starting at a very young age. Remember the TV show called Sesame Street? I ve been told that there is now a TV show specifically designed for little babies. Good grief, what s this world coming to? So what s the problem? I have visited with several parents and teachers about this, as well as read a few research studies. I think we have a BIG problem! One highly-respected and gifted teacher, who has taught school for 20 years, told me, I think watching a lot of visually stimulating screens interferes with a child's ability to develop mental images. A child that can t develop mental images has trouble comprehending what he or she reads, When most people of my generation read a book or a story, they automatically create images in their heads to go along with the words they are reading. I liken this to watching a movie in my mind. This teacher went on to say, Students have a lot more trouble paying attention in class now than they did when I started teaching. Today s students are spending much more time on activities like watching TV and/or playing computer and video games. This type of activity doesn t help a student pay attention to a boring teacher who doesn't blink, blow things up, or make weird noises. I now have to jump around and be more dramatic just to get the students to look at me. I also have to ask a lot more questions to try to keep them involved. Furthermore, the length of my lessons is much shorter. If a lesson is going to take awhile, I have to give the students a break. Not surprisingly, research studies show an adverse effect in reading skills among students who watch a lot of TV. According to Susan B. Neuman, reading scores diminished sharply for students who watch more than four hours of TV a day. Some researchers, including Jane Healy, think that watching TV instead of reading may affect how a child's brain develops. We hear a lot about ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit & Hyperactivity Disorder). When I was growing up, I don t think these terms even existed. Today, however, 18 to 20 percent of Caucasian boys in the fifth grade are being treated for ADHD with medication. This is a prime example of how today s society treats the symptoms while ignoring the problem. In his book, Ritalin Nation, Richard Degrandpre theorizes about what he calls a sensory addiction phenomenon. He feels that many of the behaviors seen in ADHD people stem from a sensory bombardment from TV programs, movies, computers, etc. He feels that early exposure to this sensory bombardment, especially at a time when the brain is just forming connections and synapses, may result in biological or neurological effects, including, but not limited to, ADHD. Folks, it is time for us to WAKE UP and take action before we completely lose the next generation. This problem wasn t created by them. They are just victims of a problem created by our generation. 4

5 We can t thank you enough for all your help. The two bulls we purchased sight-unseen look like the best of the best. Your delivery system works great. Peggy Espy Wyoming Across-the-Fence Weaning This is the time of year we like to talk about the across-the-fence weaning strategy that has worked so well for so many people. This will be our fourteenth year to use it. Since over half of our 24,000 newsletter subscribers have already been introduced to this concept, I am going to attach the article to one of our weekly s. If you re not receiving our weekly s, send us your address. No Excuses When we combined our 3 Stay-At-Home options with our FREE and very Afforda-BULL delivery, we pretty much eliminated all of the excuses people give for not being able to own a no-nonsense, forage-tested, range-ready bull from Pharo Cattle Company. Over half the bulls in our spring sale were purchased through our 3 Stay-At-Home options. They ended up going to 30 different states and Canadian provinces. Call or for a Catalog The sight-unseen bulls we purchased arrived on schedule and in excellent condition. Steve Stamate Missouri Fall Advantages Most of you probably have spring-calving cowherds and prefer to buy your bulls in the spring. However, there are some BIG advantages to buying your bulls in the fall and I would like to share a few of them with you. Fall is by far the best time to move cattle from one environment to another especially if you are moving them into a hotter, more humid environment (south and/or east). By the time breeding season rolls around, your new PCC bull will be well-adapted and ready for a heavy workload. Unlike most young bulls, our forage-developed bulls do not require much in the way of winter feed and care. In most cases, we recommend you throw them out with your older bulls. Don't be surprised if your young PCC bulls come through the winter in better shape than your older, non-pcc bulls. Most spring-calving producers have much more time to select and purchase bulls in the fall than they do in the spring. Since selecting herd sires is one of the most important management jobs you have, you should do it when you have sufficient time. This will be our BIGGEST bull sale ever QUALITY in QUANTITY. We hope to have enough bulls (over 400) in this sale to keep our sale prices in an afforda-bull range. If you need to buy something for year-end tax purposes, it makes a whole lot more sense to buy bulls than it does to buy expensive equipment that depreciates and burns expensive fuel. Talk to your tax advisor about the Section 179 Expense (accelerated depreciation). NOTE: The Section 179 Expense also applies to the purchase of replacement heifers. ALSO There won t be any spring-born, forage-developed bulls selling in our Spring Bull Sale. Therefore, if you like our older, forage-developed bulls, you need to make plans to attend our sale on Tuesday, November 6 th. Consider yourself warned. Don't call up next spring hoping to buy a 2-year-old, forage-tested bull. NOTE: There won t be any Composite bulls in our spring sale either. Want a Catalog? Call or send an to Bulls@PharoCattle.com with Fall Sale in the subject line. Be sure to provide your name and correct mailing address. 5

6 Meanwhile... Back on the Ranch by Rod Pelton I thought I would let you people know a little bit about what happens in getting the bulls to PCC headquarters to evaluate, ultrasound, fertility test, video tape, etc. We have to gather the bulls up twice before the sale and again at sale time. The bulls are scattered out in several different pastures in a radius of about 8 miles of PCC headquarters. PCC has a set of Rawhide portable corrals, which makes the task a lot faster and easier on the bulls and the crew. Three men set off to the pasture with corrals, loading chute, 4-wheeler and cattle pot. We set up the corrals and chute, gather the bulls, load them in the pot, tear down and take that group to PCC to be processed. The bulls are in groups of 35 to 45 head which works good and gives them plenty of room. It usually takes one to two hours per group to do this. Multiply this by 8 groups here at PCC and you can see that it takes a while to get bulls here and ready for processing. We have three more groups of bulls grazing pastures on the Rhoades Ranch north of Burlington, Colorado. PCC FREE Bull Delivery... I survived the drought. I survived the blizzards. I survived the ice storms, and I survived the stress of being run with over 100 of my brothers. I did all of this on forage alone! To 25 central locations following our Fall Bull Sale. PCC Bull & Heifer Sale November 5 th & 6 th Call or to Request a Catalog 2-Year-Old Forage-Tested Angus & Red Angus Bulls Bulls@PharoCattle.com The Elusive 1100-Pound Cow While everyone else in this business is starting to talk about all the advantages of the 1100-pound cow, Pharo Cattle Company continues to be your source for bulls that can produce efficient and profitable 1100-pound cows. We invite you to come see how well our cows maintain their condition on very short native grass with NO grain, NO hay and NO protein. We are doing what others are only talking about. If your ranch can support 100 head of 1400-pound cows, it should be able to support 120 head of 1100-pound cows. That s 20% more cows producing 20% more calves. I guarantee those 120 smaller cows will ALWAYS produce MORE total pounds of beef on the SAME forage resources. Not only will the smaller cows produce MORE total pounds of beef, but their calves will be worth MORE per pound. MORE total pounds that are worth MORE per pound! Folks, this is a no-brainer! 6

7 Pharo-Influence Female Sale Tuesday, November 5 Over 700 Heifers Sired by PCC Bulls and/or Bred to PCC Bulls Call or for a Catalog Delivery Available to 40 Locations This Little Light of Mine... There is a cute little song that goes like this: This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. Kids, when they sing this song, will hold up their index finger like a candle. Jesus said, Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16) I am often criticized for sharing my faith in our newsletters and weekly s. Critics say, You shouldn t mix business with religion. Why not? If you are a Christian, you should let your light shine in all that you do. People should easily be able to know that you are a Christian. I am much more concerned about people who claim to be a Christian but try to hide it most of the time. Can you be a true Christian just one or two days a week? For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. (Galatians 3:27) Can we put Christ on when we go to church and then take him off and hang him in a closet like an old coat the rest of the week? If that is what you are trying to do, then you are deceiving yourself and you are in great danger. I can understand why some people don t appreciate my spiritual devotions. No one is forcing them to read what they don t want to read. I do have a problem, though, when selfproclaimed Christians don t think they should mix business and religion. th 7 Big EPD Numbers Many of the promoters of bigger and bigger EPD numbers seem to believe you can get extra pounds of beef simply by using bulls with bigger EPD numbers. Cowboy Logic, however, plainly tells me you can't get something for nothing. Extra pounds of beef require an energy input, and energy is NOT free. Your ranch and your environment can only support so much milk, growth and size without reducing stocking rates and/or increasing feed expenses. Many PCC customers are telling us they get as much or more growth (weaning weight) from our bulls as they did from the highgrowth bulls they used to use. How can that be? Their environment simply could not support the high-growth genetics they used to use. It's like trying to shoot a 30 caliber bullet out of a 22 caliber rifle. It ain't gonna work! We all know that bigger is not always better, and yet there continues to be a mad push to produce animals with more and more extreme EPDs. Folks, there is an optimum level for every trait we select for in beef production, and it will seldom, if ever, be found near the extremes. There are antagonisms between many traits that make it impossible for animals with extreme EPDs to function long-term in a realworld, ranch environment. What are the best EPDs? The answer to this question can be found in a set of old, unpampered cows that reside in your area. I m referring to cows that have done everything right, without missing, for 10 or more years. When you find those good old grandma cows, check out their pedigrees and see what kind of EPDs they have. I ll guarantee their EPDs won t be very impressive but they have exactly what works best for their environment. Breeding the right kind of cattle is easy once you know what to select for. When we saw Colorado Hobo and his son in that dry short grass pasture, you gained another convert in using your genetics. Herbert Cook Texas

8 PHARO CATTLE CO. PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 28 Grand Island, NE County Road Z CHEYENNE WELLS, CO PHONE Kit@PharoCattle.com Deanna@PharoCattle.com WEBSITE ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Cowboy Logic: For the real winners, there are no finish lines. 18-month-old bulls being naturally developed on native grass Selling on Tuesday, November 6 th Our forage-developed bulls have never been shut up in a corral and they have never been fed any grain. Because of the way they have been bred and developed, we expect them to be able to breed more cows for more years than most bulls. 210 ANGUS 102 RED ANGUS 46 COMPOSITE 42 HEREFORD 4 TARENTAISE I n addition to EPDs, Weights and Ratios, we provide Star Ratings on all of our bulls for Calving Ease, Disposition, Fleshing Ability, Thickness, Muscling, Masculinity, Hair Coat and Fly Resistance. No one else in the industry provides their customers with evaluations like this. We believe you should have more than EPDs when selecting your next herd sire or set of herd sires. To Request a Catalog, Call or Send an to Bulls@PharoCattle.com 8