All our registered and commercial heifers are developed together in large groups on a cost effective ration designed to grow them sensibly. We allow for the competition of the large group and the conservative ration to weed out any genetics that wouldn’t gain and be fertile.

Our belief is too apply economically relative conditions, mother nature, competition, accurate data, and good cow sense to decide which genetics move forward in our breeding program as well as yours.

Economically Relative Conditions

We are continually looking for new methods and technology to help us produce pounds of beef more efficiently. True with anything in agriculture, it is easier to focus on the revenue as opposed to costs.We strive to maximize efficiency not just revenue.

Mother Nature

Living in Western New York we are fortunate to have a climate that is one of the best selection tools for feed efficiency and survivability. Our climate and the way we simply run cows will not allow any genetics that are high maintenance or predisposed to heath problems survive or breed back. Our harsh environment is a great asset for developing genetics that will adapt and prosper in many different locations.

Competition

Another selection tool that we feel is extremely important for identifying genetics that will make money in different locations is competition.

Obviously cattle in a feedlot situation, a large cowherd, or performance test need to be aggressive at the feed bunk. We try to achieve the maximum efficiency of output, not just maximum output.

Accurate Data

We continue to put emphasis on EPD’s and performance ratios to produce better genetics. For example, in our registered herd, we annually bring in a high accuracy reference sire to add more validity to the EPD’s of our Hereford cattle. Because it is our Herefords which are producing our commercial cattle. With respect to performance ratios we tend to put more emphasis on large sire group averages rather then just individual performance ratios or measurements.

Good Cow Sense

All the data and wonderful EPD’s wouldn’t help much if they’re not good cattle. Performance information goes a long way for improving cattle, but you still need more then just numbers. 90% of cattle are still bought and sold on how they look. Why be in the cattle business if you don’t like to look at your cattle? Disposition, maternal ability, calf vigor, etc. still takes the eye of a good cowman to notice.

The base of our commercial herd is from the original Forrestel Farm’s registered Hereford herd that had it registrations let go. When Phil Keppler took over management of the herd it was just commercial grade Hereford cows (with the horns still on!) that he began to crossbreed with first Angus and then Simmental bulls. The Simmental cross females quickly culled themselves out due to their inability to handle the harsh winters just grazing on corn stalks.

Then we implemented the crossbreeding program that our friends at the Padlock Ranch were using, the Hereford X Red Angus X Shorthorn rotational cross. This cross really worked well and maximized heterosis. We still have some of these females left in our herd.

In the late nineties we decided to bring Angus bulls back in to fill the demand for black baldie females that we started to experience.

Today we run roughly 200 commercial cows and also breed a portion of our registered females to Angus bulls. Recently, commercial cattlemen are rediscovering crossbreeding, and the demand for our crossbred females has never been better.

Crossbreeding - Works every time it's tried!