ILC Feature
Fillmore’s have had anywhere from 100
has, disposition is a big deal. “A lot of
to 1,700 cows. This fluctuation is largely
disposition is handling,” Brent states.
due to drought and land availability.
However, due to the pasture size
Since 1917, when Fillmore Ranch was
needed, handling only works to a certain
established,
extent. If there is a wild
they have had
cow, “they just won’t let
to ship cattle
you get a good look at
...they
love
the
Limousin
twice to other
them,” which adds to
states so they
the challenge of getting
genetics and their
would survive. In
good disposition. On
hardiness and ability
2002 cattle were
an average rainfall
to adjust to the harsh
shipped to Texas
year, it takes about
climates.
and Oklahoma.
40 acres per animal.
Then once
Structure and longevity
again in 2011
are also two important
up to Montana
factors in the cattle
and South Dakota because
at Fillmore Ranch because of the
of severe droughts.
landscape and the need to sometimes
travel two miles before they find water.
When you have the type of climate and
This is why they love the Limousin
the rough pasture land that Fillmore
genetics and their hardiness and
ability to adjust to the harsh climates.
Even though the cactus could be
considered a pest, Fillmore Ranch does
not spray them. Instead, the cows
will use them as protection from the
weather during calving because there
are no trees. Fillmore Ranch will AI about
300 females each year in their spring-
calving program, they do all spring
calving. There isn’t much room for error,
so if a cow is open after breeding, she
is sold. Being this picky makes it so that
they have a high weaning percentage
of the bred cattle. Coyotes and even
the occasional mountain lion will
account for about three percent of
lost calves during the year. From there,
the ranch picks out bulls to be sold at
an annual auction. The two-year-old
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