Commercial Agriculture Program
University of Missouri Beef Tour
Vernon and Barton Counties
August 29, 2009
12:30 p.m.
Sponsors
Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Beef Industry Council
Missouri Corn Growers Association
Missouri Cattlemen's Association
FCS Financial
Stop #1 - Oak Knoll Ranch, Leon & Helen Kreisler
US Hwy 63 South of Rolla, to MO State Hwy 72 South, to DC (Dent County) Road 2090 West, 1 ½ miles on right.
Leon and Helen Kreisler established their first grazing system at Oak Knoll Ranch in 1991. They began with one single-acre paddock. Finding success they expanded to 15 paddocks covering 70 acres. The ranch now includes 480 acres.
The biggest challenge and expense for the Kreislers has been water sourcing the paddocks. The herd is commercial Angus based fall calving.
The Kreislers feed 123 cows, half on grazed forage, half supplemented with hay during two months in winter. They have met their original goal of greater production with less fertilizer cost.
Leon and Helen Kreiser will speak on their operation. Justin Sexten, MU Commercial Agriculture will discuss weaning management options using pasture.
Helen & Leon Kreisler
Stop #2 - Barnitz Farms, George & Frank Barnitz
East (left) out of Oak Knoll Ranch onto DC 2090, left at MO State Hwy 72 West, 1 mile to DC 2080 West, left to Barnitz Farms (stay left at Y intersection), turn right into Commodity Barn/Hay Storage.
Frank and his father George Barnitz operate their 142 year old farm with a 400 to 500-head herd of black and red Angus, calving in spring and fall. Barnitz Farms custom-backgrounds calves for the South Ozark Premier Beef Marketing Group (SOPBM).
Frank and George, as well as SOPBM, have participated in University of Missouri distillers grains experiments in their backgrounding operation.
Frank Barnitz will highlight the operation while Craig Evans of SOPBM, will discuss marketing options. Joe Zulovich, MU Commercial Agriculture structures engineer will conduct a demonstration of large animal composting on the property.
Frank Barnitz herding cows for weaning
Stop #3 - Glengrove Farm, Robert & Gretchen Thompson
Left from Barnitz Farms onto DC2080 East, to MO State Hwy 72 West, to Route F East (left), South on Road 4010.
Robert and Gretchen Thompson began breeding registered Herefords at Glengrove Farm in 1973. The Thompsons goal-their responsibilities to breed the best, very seriouslybreeding Herefords capable of contributing to the industry.
Thompson keeps approximately forty Spring and Fall calving cows on 160 acres. Glengrove Farms markets performance tested bulls in state and regional sales and also participates in total herd reporting with American Hereford Association.
Thompson will outline his operation and Bob Weaber, MU breeding and genetics specialist will give a presentation on Residual Feed Intake and genetic issues.
Bob Thompson with cows and calves at Glengrove Farm
Stop #4 - Pogue Farm, Denny & Mary Beth Pogue
From Glengrove Farm, Southeast (right) on Route F, 8 miles SE to 19749 State Route F. Pipe gates at driveway, woven wire fencing.
Denny and Mary Beth Pogue run a crossbred Angus herd of about 100 fall calving cows on 210 acres in a grazing system managed where cattle graze pasture 50 weeks a year. The Pogues prefer reducing the cattle numbers to feeding hay.
The operation's goals are to keep one cow per three acres in the grazing system, feed a minimum hay, and reduce fertilizer supplements to zero, while marketing 70 to 75 calves each year.
Denny Pogue will speak about high stock density grazing and Josh Wisdom, SWCD technician, will speak on EQIP and DSP 3.
Denny & Mary Beth Progue
Final Stop - Wurdack Farm, University of Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station
From Parry Polled Herefords, South (left) out of driveway onto State Route F, South (right) onto MO State Hwy 68, East (left) onto Route YY. Continue 2 miles Southeast of Cook Station on gravel road.
The last Tour stop will be at the MU Agricultural Experiment Station at Wurdack Farm where a complimentary beef dinner will be served.
Map of Program
