CALF_News_August_September_2019

31 CALF News • August | September 2019 • www.calfnews.net The industry is changing; it’s time to take cattle feeding down a new road. Recent advancements in cattle nutrition have opened new routes to help limit pulls, treatment and positively benefit the health of an animal. Adopting a new measure of prevention through the feed is an important first step to help minimize delays on the road ahead. Take a new road with ProTernative ® - a proven probiotic that positively activates the immune system of cattle during times of stress. ProTernative works in the lower gut to influence the animal’s natural immunity through an internal active process that only a specific, robust and active live yeast can deliver. The road you’ve always taken doesn’t cut it anymore. Feed ProTernative and take a new measure of prevention. PROTERNATIVE-THE NEW MEASURE OF PREVENTION LALLEMAND ANIMAL NUTRITION Tel: 414 464 6440 Email: LAN_NA@lallemand.com www.lallemandanimalnutrition.com Not all products are available in all markets nor are all claims allowed in all regions. ©2016. ProTernative is a registered trademark of Lallemand Animal Nutrition. manage? After a short while to think, Kory called Slagle back to turn him down. No one answered the phone; providence had intervened. Danielle questioned why he would pass on this once-in-a-lifetime oppor- tunity. The next day, Kory called Slagle again, and when the Sandhills rancher answered his phone, the two made a deal. Family was instrumental in get- ting the plan to work, to cope with the drought and move the transition for- ward. Their registered Angus herd now numbers 375 head. Slagles have continued to support the younger family with advice and customer service, sale management and friendship. Kory’s annual sale is now held at Slagle’s sale facility near Sargent. Sadly, Mark Slagle suffered a malignant brain tumor and passed away earlier this year. His wife and four daughters remain close to Kory and Danielle. A strong bond between the two families confirms the Slagles’ good judgement in selecting Kory to take over their legacy. Future plans Taking the herd into the future, Kory is most intent on maintaining cow numbers. He does his own AI work, and they calve their own stock. Keeping 80 head of replacement females each year is important, as the Slagle cows eventu- ally age out. The family is “maxed out” on labor, creating an additional factor in future decisions. It is fortunate that the couple enjoys being outside and physically working. Kory notes he was glad to have gone to college and had time away from home to realize and confirm his decision to go into production agriculture. No matter how difficult, he knows it was the right choice. The family plans to continue to raise their children and cattle in the tradi- tion of the family legacy. The Ostrand offspring are the sixth generation on the ranch. They also look forward to begin- ning 4-H with their kids where, it is reported, Kory will be in charge. SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION Continued from page 29 Big cattle In a time when some producers are downsizing their cows, these cattle remain big. Cows may weigh an average of 1,550 pounds with much of this influ- ence coming from the Slagle purchase. The Ostrands’ client base are people who want extra frame size, and their team is there to provide a product that is increasingly difficult to find. Care is taken to afford the added growth with- out sacrificing muscle and longevity. The family sells all of their bulls via an annual production sale as well as by private treaty in late spring, and they col- lect semen from top-end herd sires for in-herd use, although they do sell some privately. A goal for the operation is to be able to place a sire in a bull stud for public semen sales, one that can garner name recognition for the young herd. Kory’s first priority remains his com- mercial customers. He delivers most Continued on page 43 