Newsletter
Sept. 24
We would like to invite everyone to attend our Black Grove female sale on Saturday, October 26th at the farm in Newberry, SC. This will be our 51st year in the registered Angus business, and our first sale since being designated a historic herd by the Angus Association last year.
Last week we mentioned our longevity index, and this week we wanted to share a little bit more about why we spent so much time developing the index and tracking cattle life spans.
We believe that the Angus cow is the most efficient and productive manufacturing plant in the cattle industry. The average brood cow in the U.S. lives to be nine years old. Breeding cattle that live and produce for 12-15 years dramatically reduces turnover in the cow herd and the huge capital cost of raising replacement heifers. A nine year old cow that calved every year before being culled produces seven calves. A fifteen year old cow that calved every year before being culled produces 13 calves. A herd full of cows that were culled as nine year olds has a replacement cost 85% higher than a herd full of cows that remained productive until they reach fifteen years old. As we all face challenges to increase the profitability of our cow herds, we feel that cutting into the amount of money required to raise replacements is a logical place to start. We have ranked all of the cows in our herd for predicted longevity, and included the results in our catalog. Check it out on the web at www.blackgrove.com or in our catalog to be included in your October Angus Journal.
Our breeding program, combining proven sires and dams with longevity in their pedigrees, led us to say “Make a Long-Term Investment with Black Grove Angus”.
The two cow families that we are featuring this week are the Polly and Chloe families.
The Polly family has been a mainstay in the Black Grove herd over the past 20 years. The cattle are extremely maternal, milk well, and are adapted to the hot humid summers and infected fescue endemic in the southeast. All eight Polly cows in the sale (lots 27-33) trace back to the famous VDAR Polly 215 and her daughter VDAR Polly 836. Black Grove Polly 819, who is in the pedigree of five of the animals in the sale, sold at private treaty ½ interest for a $35,000 valuation. The other three Polly animals in the sale trace to past Black Grove donor M H Polly 906. She was bought from Monty Howry after producing what at the time was one of the top two marbling Emblazon daughters, MH Polly 254, who is still going strong in the Black Grove donor program with two daughters in the sale.
Lots 40-43 include two cows and three heifers that all trace back to Basin Chloe 940A. This cow was purchased as a ten year old donor, and was the first Basin Rainmaker 654X sired cow ever sold by Basin Angus. 654X was sold to Argentina in the 1990s, and became the all time highest semen selling bull in the history of Argentina. All five cows are AI sired by Ohlde Cattle company owned bulls, including D H D Traveler 6807, O C C Emblazon 854E, and O C C Missing Link 830M. These cows are all out of dams with progeny weaning ratios of 104 or more in the AHIR program.
When you head our way, there are many things to do in the area that can make your trip to the Black Grove sale a weekend to remember.
If you are coming up or down I-95 to get to Newberry, you should consider spending a night in Charleston, SC. It is one of the oldest cities on the east coast, and was the largest city in the US until the 1800’s. Charleston is home to the most pre-revolutionary housing in the country and has many other important historical sites from the revolutionary and civil wars. There are many beautiful beaches nearby and areas to spend the day in the old section of the city. Charleston is also the home of some of the best restaurants along the southeastern coast, featuring southern cooking and seafood. If you get a chance to try the low country boil or shrimp and grits, don’t miss it!
Be sure to look for our email next week, when we feature our focus on choice of sires, more cow families, and another spot to visit in the Carolinas. As always, if you would like to know more, please visit our website at www.blackgrove.com.
Feel free to call if we can be of assistance.
The Shealy family,
Walter (803)924-1000
Dixon (803)629-1174
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