Cattle have been part of VanaTee Farm since its inception. We started with purchasing and raising a few steers a year for locker beef, until our daughter Chana purchased and raised steers for her FFA projects in 1998 and 1999.
In 2005, VanaTee Farm expanded to with breeding cattle. We started with one Simmital/Angus cross heifer, named Sabrina, who produced one calf annually. This was not enough to meet our needs so we continued to expand our breeding cows to include Murray Grey/Angus cross, Hereford/Angus cross and Red Angus.
For the male genetics we have decided to forego artificially inseminating our cows and heifers and have decided to lease Registered Purebred Black Angus Bulls. These bulls, because they are leased, come to us in late November/December and stay with us through the winter until they are needed out on the range in the Oregon Outback.
The calves produced start arriving in late August with the latest arriving the first of October. They then winter with their mothers on our dry pasture being fed high quality hay and are weaned at approximately 6 months of age in the Spring. They then spend the summer on our lush Cental Oregon Irrigated Pastures growing like weeds. In the fall at a year old they are then sorted into three different categories: retained heifers for future breeding at 2 years of age, retained steers for feeding out and becoming locker beef at 15-18 months of age and steers and heifers to be sold.
When we have selected the steers for locker beef we immediately settle them into our large dry pasture and begin feeding them high quality grass/alfalfa hay and sweet feed. These beef are finished on Sweet Feed for 3-5 months to ensure a tender, well marbled good tasting product that scores between Choice+ and Prime.
For the latest news and events with our Cattle please check out our Farm Life blog!