Beef Tour Set for Sept. 16 Visits Three Farms
MOUNT VERNON — The Southwest Missouri Cattlemen’s Association and University of Missouri Extension will host a tour of three beef operations on Saturday, Sept. 16. The tour hosts include Carrier’s Muddy Creek Angus, Gleonda Angus Farms and Shining Cross Cattle. Each farm is located near the Lawrence-Dade county line, off Missouri 97.
The tour begins at 1:30 p.m. at Carrier’s Muddy Creek Angus farm.
This family runs a purebred Angus beef, forage and row crops farm. They calve both winter and fall and sell bulls and heifers for breeding stock. Artificial insemination is used on heifers. Carrier’s use novel fescue and rotationally graze.
David’s dad, Arthur, began the Angus herd in 1947. About 60 yearling heifers, 20 fall calving cows and three herd bulls will be on display.
“Forage production and harvest is a big deal at Muddy Creek, and you’ll see an example of that with their McHale baler and red clover haylage entered in the Ozark Empire Fair,” said Eldon Cole, livestock specialist, University of Missouri Extension.
The Carrier’s farm is 1.25 miles south of S&H Farm Supply on Highway 97 or 1.75 miles north of the Dade-Lawrence county line.
Just a few miles south on Highway 97, the tour will visit Gleonda Angus Farms.
This farm is owned by Leon and Glenda Kleeman and managed by grandson Traves Merrick. They raise Angus breeding stock and will explain their interest in using genomic testing, artificial insemination and retained ownership to identify bulls that will work for their customers.
Traves uses technology and social media to market bulls. Extensive records are kept on Excel spreadsheets and through the American Angus Association. Freeze branding is now a common practice, and Traves will share his tips for getting a sharp brand.
“The cow herd at Gleonda Angus Farms has about 75 percent winter calves, with the rest born in the fall. They develop most of their bulls on the farm but send a few each test to Green Springs Bulls Test, Nevada,” said Cole.
The final stop is a five-minute drive west on Highway YY, then on Lawrence County 1040, to Shining Cross Cattle. The hosts are the McCann family who moved here 14 years ago from Arizona.
“Their original plan was to run cows, but five years ago they converted to a steer backgrounding program. They now background around 450 head that are purchased locally starting in December and usually are completed in February,” said Cole. “At that time they are forward contracted via video for July delivery.”
The McCanns buy steers averaging 550 pounds and sell them when they are in the 900s. Pastures are 10 to 15 acres, mostly fescue. They do not bale any hay, using stockpiling of fescue. They usually hand feed supplement.
The Southwest Missouri Cattlemen’s Association will provide beef burgers at the conclusion of the tour. For more information, contact the Lawrence County MU Extension office in Mount Vernon at 417-4663102.