“We are not high-cost producers,” Zach says. “We try to minimize our expenses. And Co-op minerals help us accomplish our goal.”

In Lexington, First Farmers Cooperative customer James Beaty and his son, Jesse, use Co-op Supreme Repro Mineral (#96678) and Co-op Balancer Cattle Mineral – Mon (#649) to support the AI (artificial insemination) breeding program on their registered Angus operation, Beaty’s Double J Angus Farms. On the 450-acre property, the Beaty’s raise around 100 head of cattle and 15-20 bulls, all registered, and generally retain their heifers while selling the bulls to regional registered and commercial operations. They also produce ryegrass for haylage.

James says that their mineral usage is a direct reflection of the farm’s breeding program.

“Every year, we AI everything once in a very tight timeframe,” says James, who also works as a fisheries technician for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. “We try to stay within a 35- to 40-day calving period, which is really tight. We don’t always maintain that, but that’s our goal. If you have all those calves at the same time, it keeps the bulls consistent and the heifers breeding at pretty much the same time. This is important because, when you put them back into the herd, you can still maintain that calving window.”

Jesse adds that the tight calving window also makes day-to-day farm chores more efficient.

“It allows you to do your farm chores at the same time,” says Jesse, who also works for the City of Lexington Street Department. “If you get [the calving] done within 40 days, when you’re done calving, you’re done. And even when we’re breeding, it’s all at one time. We always shoot for breeding on December 12.”

James explains that if the AI doesn’t “stick” within the first cycle, they can try again 21 days later.

“This gives us two cycles within a 42-day period to get them bred,” he says. “Any cows that are not bred within that window for whatever reason are gone; we just don’t keep them.”

He reports that out of 70-80 cows, they will probably have only six or seven calves that are not conceived via AI, an impressive number that James largely attributes to his mineral program.

“We might feed a little hi-mag mineral in the spring depending on the conditions, but for the most part, those cows are on the Supreme Repro mineral year-round,” he says. “The high phosphorus content is important because the soils in this part of the country are a little deficient in phosphorus, so we have to make up for that. The mineral keeps them in excellent body condition.”

In Springfield, Freddie Edwards has experienced similar benefits in his herd. He has a cow-calf operation of about 100 mama cows along with a row-crop operation. His farm consists of 600 acres, of which about 200 are pasture and hay and the majority of the rest is for row-crops. He typically buys older cows rather than heifers in the hopes of avoiding calving difficulties with the younger animals. He says his strategy is to manage the herd to provide two calving groups each year.

“I have a spring group and a fall group,” he says. “ I will keep the calves born in the fall until next June. Those born in the spring are usually sold in September or October. I usually sell them at 600 to 700 pounds. Sometimes I like to keep them a little longer in the fall, but the grass is usually beginning to get weak around that time, so it depends on the season.”

He relies on a bull for natural breeding and strives to keep the calving interval as tight as possible. This past fall, his 60 cows in the group had 40 calves in 32 days. But he says he doesn’t stress over the calving interval.

“A late calf is better than no calf,” he says.

His mineral program is key to helping meet his goals, as he manages his operation with little extra labor, and strives to keep his production efficient. The herd receives Co-op Supreme Hi-Mag Mineral (#638) from fall through April, which, he says, has led to good results. From April to October, he transitions to Co-op Foundation Cattle Mineral-Altosid (#962306). He also uses Co-op Hi-Mag Mineral during the critical grass tetany season and relies on Co-op 32% Hi-Pro Cattle Supplement Tubs (#900581) for convenience. The 200-pound tubs offer 32% crude protein to support muscle development and overall health.

“I don’t have full-time help, so I look to these [tubs] as a way to help me manage while reducing labor and providing the cattle with the protein they need,” says Freddie. “I think the cattle look good. Their reproduction has been excellent and their body condition looks good.”

If you would like assistance in setting up a mineral program for your herd, visit with your local Co-op. They can design a program that fits with your particular circumstances. They offer a wide selection of Supreme (Zinpro®️ Verified) and Foundation Cattle Minerals to set your beef herd on the best track for productivity and profit.