Our Goal is to produce solid all-around Red Angus genetics that will benefit and enhance any producers program, registered or commercial. On the ranch we strive to provide genetics that perform in all environments and continually work to ensure customer satisfaction. We feel that the key factor is to concentrate on all phases of beef production with commitment from the ranch to the rail.

Jim Phillips oversees and manages all aspects of day to day operations, applying a holistic philosophy to resource stewardship. The registered herd has been accomplished through selective artificial insemination, an aggressive embryo transplant program and an intensive culling regiment. All with the final objective of developing functional and structurally correct cattle, with consistency in their offspring.

PERFORMANCE

We must keep in mind that reproduction is the number one performance trait. One of our goals is to help other producers make genetic progress and maintain a herd that is reproductively efficient. One of the big questions today is, "Can we have it all, reproduction, growth, and carcass traits?" Our answer, Yes!

The key to making a profit in today's current market system is to have good performance production within the herd. Your cattle not only need to perform at the ranch but in the feedlot and on the rail to obtain the best price possible each year. To accomplish this we have to work on bringing together two antagonistic traits, growth and femininity into one package. The key to performance and profitability in the future will be a combination of selecting quality genetics that meet or excel expectations with proper management and marketing skills. We address these issues each year to provide a product that will help our producers reach their goals. With Meyer Company Ranch genetics you get performance from conception to consumption.

THE HARVEST

Our cattle are involved in an intensive rotational grazing system year-round to include both calving and breeding season. All livestock here are only worked and moved by horseback -- no dogs, motorcycles, 4-wheelers, etc. We feel that we have to be good stewards of this land and part of our business is actually in the harvesting of grass. The herd is broken up into groups ranging from 100 head to 400 head with each group assigned to specified grazing cells. Rotational moves occur every three to 10 days, depending on the size and range conditions of each pasture. This has resulted in a much more efficient utilization of our forage while decreasing scours and health problems.

Fencing was placed to protect riparian areas along the river and tributary streams. Cattle access to waterways is limited to carefully developed and maintained water-gaps. Cattle are rotated into the river and stream areas mainly in the winter when the ground is frozen to prevent any erosion problems.

It's a rugged country where much of the scant 12 to 14 inches of annual precipitation comes in the form of snow. Within 5 to 10 days after calving, pairs are moved up to graze the hardy mountain grasses at 5,500 to 6,000 feet. In the fall and spring, and as much as possible in the winter, cattle graze the valley, some 1,500 feet below. Irrigation of valley meadows helps to augment production of grazed and harvested forage. Alfalfa is grown under six center-pivot systems providing two cuttings and supplemental grazing as well.

The feed we raise goes mostly for backgrounding calves and some for supplementing the yearling heifers and 2-3 year old cows in the winter. Mature cows are expected to tough it out with limited supplementation throughout the winter. Since we don't start calving until the first of June, winter feed costs are kept pretty low.

WITH THE ELK AND THE DEER

In 1997, we initiated a summer calving program on green grass with the target date to begin calving set at June 1st. We feel this is more natural to this environment. The results have been very advantageous both environmentally and economically. Both heifers and cows are set to start calving at the same time and are put on a 45 day breeding window. A few of the benefits are:

For our breeding program we A.I. all the registered females and a group of commercial females for one cycle. This is followed up with clean-up bulls for the 2nd cycle. Many of our A.I. bulls are our herd sires and are bred naturally for clean up on the registered herd.

None of this is successfully accomplished without first having the most desirable body condition possible within the herd during given times of the year. Nutrition is the number one focus within our program. From proper feed sources for the time of season, to adequate clean water, to an excellent mineral program, nothing will breed, settle and get a live calf on the ground unless nutrition is the main focus!