CALF_News_Feb_March_2019

31 CALF News • February | March 2019 • www.calfnews.net   Improved chute design to improve your cattle performance  Safe, efficient and strong – The Brute Way! BruTe DouBle & SIngle WIDe Alleys • Tubs • loAdouTs “Turning your dreams into reality ... it’s what we do.” Dodge, Neb. 68633 402.693.2221 Cattle Friendly – Performance Driven. Brute Cattle equipment celeBraTIng 50 yearS In BuSIneSS! FolloW uS on: www.dodgemfg.com Dan says.“We have an audit to measure for air pollution every year and have to turn in records to the county and state air and water control boards annually. That helps us remain good neighbors to others in the area. “Feedlots here have a good relationship with our communi- ties. We sponsor many scholarships and take part in many community barbecues and other activities to help our schools, churches and other entities.” Mesquite and other feedyards sponsor FFA production classes to teach kids about cattle.“A lot of kids can’t afford to buy a show animal,” Joe Dan says,“so local feedyards provide animals for them at a lower cost. They are allowed to select a 600-beef or Holstein steer that is bought at a fixed cost. They then feed them out using feed procured from local feedyards.We teach them how to handle cattle, implant cattle and feed cattle. “Then, the cattle are judged in the ring and on carcass quality. They learn about our business. This is one way we get more community members involved. Ag is our area’s biggest employer. Other than that, the only other major employers are the county government, irrigation district and prisons. So it’s important that we help our local kids learn about cattle and crop production.” Joe Dan admits it can be tough to deal with the many added environmental regulations that interfere with cattle feeding. “But even though we have all of these regulations, this remains a very good place to feed cattle.  MESQUITE CATTLE FEEDERS Continued from page 29 “The climate is perfect for feeding cattle eight to nine months of the year, when temperatures are extremely mild. Our corn basis is high, but we have easy access to a lot of good quality roughage and other feed ingredient. “I love the feedyard business. I grew up in it. I love work- ing alongside my dad every day and hope my son is the fourth generation. I love our area and I love to travel throughout the Midwest to look at other feedyards and learn new things. “I’m proud to be part of our family operation and to be a cattle feeder.”  The vast Imperial Valley Irrigation District fuels a mega agricultural production system. Why not learn more? ® BY CONNOR AGRISCIENCE SILAGE BARRIER FILMS www.connoragriscience.com 559-779-5961 More. Better. Safer. Feeding silage or high moisture corn? Protect your feed investment with Sealpro ® Silage Barrier Film You might be losing more dollars than you think