MOBeef Update

We had a great time and great weather last Thursday at the Jeff and Chanda Case farm! The Case family fed us barbque brisket with all the trimmings! Guests learned about the life of a young family with an average Missouri beef herd (thirty cows). Jeff works off the farm, as many Missouri farmers do. Chanda cares for their two young children and works from home to bring in additional income. Jeff explained that managing his time between the farm and his off-farm employment can be challenging. Early mornings and late nights are the rule as the family works to build and improve their farm.

Guests were treated to pictures of the family and the farm as Jeff spoke about their family farming heritage.

The Jeff and Chanda Case Family

He really emphasized their desire to provide their children with a rural upbringing, while improving the land they own. Most of the land improvements include methods to minimize soil erosion and improve forage production which also helps hold the soil, and serves as the primary feed for their cows and calves.

Case cows and calves on spring pasture

This week’s report from the Missouri Beef Industry Council features comments from Leslie Grace of Henderson Ranch and Benton County Cattlemen’s Association president Marvin Dickman about the first Missouri Lunch and Learn program of the 2009 series.

You can hear the report here: MBIC Report 5-21-09 (5 min MP3)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

We had a great crowd at our first Lunch and Learn program this year. Our hosts, the Henderson Ranch, near Warsaw, provided grilled beef burgers for the more than 120 guests who came to visit. Leslie Grace (Henderson) greeted the crowd and introduced the entire family and all the ranch hands. Leslie shared the heritage of the ranch which now spans five generations. Focused on superior animal health and well-being along with grass and water management, the family is able to care for over 12,000 animals a year on the several thousand acre spread. They focus on bringing in young cattle and making sure they are healthy, are able to eat from feed bunks, and ready to move on to other pastures or feedlots. Additionally, the Hendersons have their own lab for detecting BVD, a disease that inflicts cattle. By detecting and treating only infected animals, they are able to minimize the use of antibiotics and improve overall herd health. Their lab is available to other beef producers as well!

MBIC provided detailed information about local cattle numbers, the Missouri beef industry in general, and tools available for siting livestock farms in Missouri.

Did I mention that the ranch headquarters is directly across the road from the local elementary school? The school principal joined us for lunch and declared that they were going to start bringing students over to see the lab and cattle and learn more about environmental protection. Those children are going to get a real treat as Leslie and the rest of the Henderson family teach them about the beef business!