About BLACK WARRIOR FARMS

About BLACK WARRIOR FARMS

The commercial cattle are allowed in the pastures most of the year. Approximately 1/2 of the hay for

winter is grown on Black Warrior's fields. The rest is purchased from local farmers. Minerals are

provided free choice the entire year. Just prior to calving the cows are housed inside the barn with

access to an outside pen. Calves are immunized immediately after birth. After cow and calf have

bonded in about a week, they are introduced back into the herd; weaned heifers are put in with the

registered herd for artificial insemination when they are of age. The bull calves are castrated and

immunized. At weaning time, they are segregated and tagged to be sold as feeders. This year, they

were sold at ACA/MSU special feeder auction in Breckenridge, Michigan and sold for top dollar. The

registered herd is maintained in a separate field and is maintained in the pasture all year long with

access to two barns. The bulls are either sold through MSU bull test program, kept for the

commercial herd, or sold to area farmers for herd improvement. Artificial insemination is done the

second heat after calving, or later, with no regard to the time of year. All registered and first-time

commercial heifers remain at Black Warrior Farms to be artificially inseminated with semen from

top- rated bulls. Calves are immunized and tagged immediately after birth. After the commercial

heifers are due to be bred for their second calf, they are re-introduced into the commercial herd to

be bred by one of Black Warrior's bulls. MSU provides much information on pasture management,

cattle management, hay field maintenance, and marketing of cattle. We stay current with the latest

trends and continuously try to improve.

FARM MANAGER, C.M. ANDERSON