If you intend to spend the night before Bull Walk, please contact the following hosts.  Paso Robles is having a large wine event on the weekend of April 27-28 and lodging is in short supply.

We have negotiated a discount rate for you at the following hotels.

Accommodations:  Ask for Bull Walk Rate*

*Courtyard by Marriott: $149.+ Tx 120 S. Vine, 805-239-9700

*Hampton Inn:$149.+ Tx  212 Alexa Court, 805-226-9988

*La Quinta Inn: $113.90 + Tx 2615 Buena Vista  Drive, 805-239-3004

Coco

Look for our advertisements of Bull Walk and Bull Sale in the Western Livestock Journal, California Cattlemen’s Magazine and Western Cowman, our leaders in print!

In a nut shell, the industry will figure out that it really is more economical to feed steers on grass then on corn and grain: Less inputs, less labor, less herd health, less loss and less financial exposure equaling a shorter turn-a-round for the big guys at the end of the day. http://www.cattlenetwork.com/cattle-resources/cow-calf/BeefTalk-Grass-vs-grain—-Steer-gains-128952248.html

FACT: The Industry will be moving towards purchasing older cattle and the cow-calf producer will become the new ‘Frontline’ back-grounder (holder of yearlings) for as long as possible.

Drover’s “ With the increased cost of feedlot inputs, should producers be adding 2.80 pounds a day to their calves as yearlings or selling the calves at weaning time?  Technically, the calves that were sent to market in early May would be classified as yearlings.  However, is the additional gain on grass worth it?  How much time in the feedlot will be reduced by the weight the calves’ added while on grass? Will the perceived benefits of calves on grass carry through to the producer’s pocketbook? “

FO TIP:  Yes, you can be in the game for profit…if you take the right steps.  Profitabitly of a herd really means staying power and that my friend is your cow herd efficiency score and not the fat calf score. A range efficient cow brings home the bacon; cows are your measuring stick.  As for keeping long steers, it takes more than casual logistics. Consider enhancing pastures with water facilities, realigning pastures with hot fences and laying away standing fields for winter forage.

Adding a grass fed component is best done by ‘chunking’ the project.  Minimize the financial strain of retaining cattle that would normally be your bankroll.  Start easy… retaining 1/3 of your market cattle into a grass fed program and get the feel for it. Retain the good-dooers and sell the heaviest 2/3’s of the weaners for capital. Check to see if calves from high milking mama’s can hold their own on the pasture to finish.  If they are weak, cull the mom or check your bull battery.  Oh, you don’t single sire mate?  Umm, there are ways around that conundrum.

FO TIP Herd inventory made simple: We call it… feet-first, dump the bad ones now.  Second, check hips and general darn good structure meaning a full bodied and medium framed cow.  No long hotdogs walking on four tall sticks.  Next, retain on fertility and ability to retain condition.  Your our report card will be self-evident  years 2 & 3. 

Drover’s made another good point and it is one where Fair Oaks Ranch ~ Grass Based Genetics can fill the gap…Drovers: “Producer efforts already are in place and offer real examples of how producing and direct marketing grass-finished beef can work. 

However, that brings up more questions;

Just where is the grass-fed industry?

What are the genetic opportunities?

How does grass-fed beef fit with soil health?

How do chefs feel grass-fed beef fits in with American tastes?”

ANSWER: 

Fair Oaks Ranch Angus Grass Based genetic is working on the ranch with beef history to prove the product. We have a fully functional 100 yr old herd designed to finish steers on native forage and grass.  Our Angus genetics are outside the American gene pool and our cattle finsih on grass. These genetics are old and are the working type cattle upon which Angus industry was founded.  Fair Oaks Genetics excel at functionality with a great end product component.

The grass fed industry is here and you can see it with independent growers working their own programs across America and selling out each year. www.eatwild.com

Opportunities?  You really can recapture 56% profit back to the ranch by selling direct to consumers…on the internet!

Soil health?  In my humble opinion there is nothing better for the ranch than managed grazing and a good steward is always kind to the land.

Chefs?  Chefs are crying for locally grown superior product, just ask them.  The real chefs are the ones making dinner at home.  For tips on cooking grass fed beef check out  www.pioneerwoman.com .

 You are welcome to ask our bull buyers how our genetics have improved their programs and tell them we said hello!. 

Morris Grass Fed Beef (San Juan Batista, CA)

V-6 Ranch (Jack Varian Parkfield CA)

Johansing Farms (Paso Robles, CA)             

Lots more of our genetics will be in Californian as well as Wyoming and Oregon this year.  Stay tuned!

It has been a long ride folks, ten years in all but we did it from concept to reality. CCAC leased the unit to J & R Meats and Sausage Co in Paso Robles a newly USDA certified processor. J & R is a locally owned and operated by Laird Foshay and Jim Fogel and ranch harvests began today.

I am proud to say that I have been on the founding board of the project and have been on the entire ride to success. I get lots of calls from ranchers on how to make it work …selling beef locally or how to build a mobile harvest unit. First, you have to know that there are lots of regulations however most of them are for the safety of your product. Find out the rules, get serious and take action and contact sources like NMPAN.

The USDA is very pro small rancher and the Department of Rural Development is ‘way’ on board with helping local farmers. Call or visit your local agencies, they are there to help you.

Stay tuned for posts on my blog, press releases and links.

I am off to Alaska to go ‘fishin’ tomorrow. Back to the blog late July.

Coco

P.S Remember, lots of people in our industry said it couldn’t be done. Don’t let another opinion get in the way of your dreams.

FYI:    Lauren Gwin at Niche Meat web site How to receive NMPAN e-mails as an e-mail Digest – no more than one e-mail a day. 1. Go to the NMPAN google groups page and sign in: http://groups.google.com/group/nmpan

It has been a whirlwind since Bull Walk and I am now “back on point” with our blog. We all had a great event day and made lots of new friends from as far north as Willits on the California coast to Klamath Falls and Lakeview, Oregon.
Bull Walk 2011 started ~with a short program, introduction of guest and how to do “The Walk”. On display were Cows with calves by different sires, Foundation sires, 2013 class of yearling bulls and heifers and this year’s 2011 Sale Bulls. All in all, Bull Walk gave everyone time to kick the tires and take a close up view of what we have produced over these many years.
At end of day ~ David and I made a decision on the spot to open up the bulls for sale. Our customers had traveled a long way and it was just the right thing to do. We sold 6 bulls 5 of which went to northern CA and Oregon. Next year’s Bull Walk will end with a 1 hour silent auction so we can ‘Get’er done’ and our guests can get back on the road.
Bull Pricing: I have to say that David does a super job pricing the bulls and there is no hassle. The price is the price. Buyers had quality discovery time and free choice conversations with David about the valuation of the bulls and pricing. An extra bonus is that the cow that produced the bull is still working in our program and she is standing in the pen next door with her new whopper calf.
We had a great group of buyers. They carefully selected bulls that would do the job for in their ranches while adding foraging genetics as well as proven fertility in one shot.
Stay tuned for our web site update that will link you to these ranchers in your area for an up close view of people who are on the cutting edge!
For those of you who came for the day, “Thanks for coming!” and we look forward to seeing you again next year. If you missed Bull Walk, feel welcome to give us a call as we DO have bulls available! They are in their prime and ready to be turned out to work. See their pictures & profiles on our web site www.forbeef.com
Well, have to get back to loading up the pictures…
Have a wonderful summer!

Congratulations and thank you to Pete and Pam Talbott for their purchase

There is a huge wine event in Paso Robles and I am getting reports that hotels are full.  My suggestion is Cambria or Morro Bay. 

We can put you up here is you have accommodations and wheels,  just let me know in advance.  

See you April 29!   Coco

I am posting pictures from last year here in the blog.  Am having trouble this morning getting the Gallery up on the web.

Friends at Bull Walk 2010

Bull Walk 2010 guest viewing Semen Sire Bulls

Come join us for our annual livestock exhibit featuring our semen sires & their progeny!

Ranch Manger David Foss will present 2011 bulls and give the inside scoop of what is new in our outcross genetics for your program. This year we are targeting practical information including breeding and year round care for your bulls. Coco will update current affairs on pasture-to-plate grass-fed beef industry.

Grab a ringside seat and get a handle on deciding where you are headed in our industry!

Guests are welcome, so bring a friend along to enjoy lip-smakin’ BBQ while gathering with a herd of great minds & experience in the grass-fed beef industry.

See y’all there!

RSVP for FREE tickets go fast, so email to reserve a space today… space is limited. For more information call Coco at the ranch (805) 238-3811

Leave your pocketbooks at home, it is NOT a sale day.

Ranch manager David Foss with Fair Oaks Ranch owner Coco Collelmo

We invite you to stop in to our booth at Klamath Falls Bull Sale for a visit. If you have always wondered why a rancher steps outside the norm with their program, there is usually a very good reason. You decide, we are here to share.

For those of you who are shy, just take a look at the photos of our genetics. The pictures are only the beginning.

Have a great time everyone! Coco Collelmo David Foss