Circle 23 Ranch
Buena Vista, Colorado
27 Years of High Altitude Black Gelbvieh Genetics
Updated March 13, 2008
Circle 23 Ranch--What kind of cattle do we raise?
Not every cattleman is after the same objectives but for the most part we all want easy calving healthy calves that have the pop to make a good heavy weanling. We want calves that any feeder would want to bid on. We also want calves that have a future as herd replacements. Sounds easy-- right? Well let's see! That stuff about replacements---well that eliminates quite a few breeds right there. Huge cows, cows without milk, late breeding cows, and wild cows just don't cut it! Calving ease! ouch! That just eliminated a bunch of bulls--even within your own favorite breed. Weaning weights are really the easy part genetically but maybe the hard part environmentally. These days you can find bulls in almost any breed that have plenty of growth. The problem lies more in our environment and health programs. Calves with high growth EPD's that die of respiratory problems or Brisket Disease are worth just about the same as ones with low EPD's. It might be lack of grass, or mineral deficiencies, or poisonous weeds or some other thing but whatever it is, may be a bigger problem than lack of genetic growth.
What I am getting at? Balance. At Circle 23 Ranch we have chosen to use the Gelbvieh breed because we feel it balances growth production with the maternal side. Just taking the Gelbvieh breed as a whole just won't get the whole job done however! Huge gentle cows still eat too much! We've really had to use genetics within the breed to hold the mature cow size down. Choosing the Gelbvieh breed by itself won't give you easily born calves, but by selecting for birth weight, we have cut almost 10 pounds off our birth weights. What about performance? We are right on breed average for our EPD's. They aren't maximum, hopefully; they are optimum. Bells and whistles? Not many. We haven't been showing or selling at high profile sales. We have changed with the industry and turned our red herd to an all black herd-and we now are 90% polled.
Recently the industry is starting a wider acceptance of the hybrid bull. While many crosses are popular, the GelbviehXAngus cross, the Balancer is proving to be one of the very best. We have used crossbreeding for years in our cowherds to maximize heterosis but the use of the same, in bulls has been somewhat of a taboo in some circles. Well, the pendulum has swung! Balancers are some of the most sought after bulls in our area. The added Angus influence contributes in higher carcass quality and in higher hybrid vigor without sacrificing maternal and growth traits. Probably the biggest caution here is using Angus bloodlines that won't contribute to increased Brisket Disease. While virtually eliminating Beisket Disease in our herd, we realize that there is no place to compromise. Any sires we use will be below 40 on their PAP scores or proven to sire low PAP scores.
Are we the only breed to use? Nope. We just think the Gelbvieh breed and the Balancers have an awful lot to offer. Are we the only breeders to use? Nope. There's good cattlemen all over. We just think we may have what you need and would love a chance to see if our genetics wouldn't work for you! Look around and see what you think. If you have questions or need information give us a call.
The Bob Woolmington Family
16500 County Road 328
Buena Vista, Colorado 81211
719-395-2322
circle23@RealWest.com
"AffordableQuality"
Information on BSE--aka Mad Cow Disease
2005-6 Bull Performance Statistics
American Gelbvieh links and other information