Extra Zip for Cows

Mineral mix helps ensure that prize-winning cows produce a calf every year.

Jenni Blackwell and her father, Jim, rely on advice and Southern States feed from Will Baxley (right), the co-op's local field sales representative.

Jim Blackwell laughs that he got into the beef business more by chance than by plan.

"The kids came home from a 4-H Club meeting one night and said they wanted to buy two sheep," he recalls. "Those two sheep turned into two cows, and two cows turned into 10, then 20 and now 30 cows."

Blackwell may be exaggerating just a bit, but one thing is certain. Nothing is left to chance regarding the prize-winning herd of purebred Gelbvieh cattle that he and his wife, Beth, along with their daughter Jenni manage near Gibson, N.C.

To ensure good health and productivity, they give their animals free access to Beef Breeder Mineral with Zinpro 4-Plex™ bought from Lumberton Service, their local Southern States retailer.

That's part of the intensive breeding and management program the Blackwells follow. The program also includes embryo transfer and artificial insemination. They use some of the highest quality genetics in the breed to produce heifers and cows for other breeders and bulls for the commercial market. That program has paid off both in the show ring and the sales ring.

"With our investment, we can't afford to miss any calves," says Jim. "This mineral mix contributes to the overall health and fertility of our females."

Jenni Blackwell has earned a reputation as a top groomer and competitor.

Mike Peacock, Southern States corporate beef sales and marketing manager, explains that Beef Breeder Mineral contains calcium, phosphorus, other major minerals and vitamins, and an above-standard concentration of magnesium.

"This, combined with Zinpro 4-Plex™ [an organic trace mineral complex that includes zinc, manganese, copper and cobalt] yields a fortified mineral mix that meets all known needs of reproducing beef cows," he says. "It's formulated for maximum absorption.

"Getting a cow to rebreed in a timely manner is crucial," Peacock adds. She must breed back within 90 days of delivering her previous calf to wean a calf every year.

"Every 30 days of delay in getting her bred equals 60 pounds of weaning weight that is lost," he continues. "That's costly, whether you have a purebred operation or you're a commercial cowman."

Peacock says Beef Breeder Mineral with Zinpro 4-Plex also significantly improves the immune response capacity of calves and cows. In other words, they respond better to vaccinations and other animal-health practices.

The Blackwells feed Beef Breeder Mineral with Zinpro 4-Plex free choice in the pasture.

"I checked with several veterinarians before I started feeding this product. They recommended the organic-sourced ingredients that Southern States uses," Blackwell says.

Those recommendations are based on a study by North Carolina State researchers showing that feeding an organic trace-mineral complex improved conception rates by 15.7%. Weaning weights increased by 24 pounds.

Peacock estimates that the cost of feeding Beef Breeder Mineral with Zinpro 4-Plex is $3 to $6 more per cow per year than with some competitive mineral mixes. But the improvements in productivity more than pay the difference.

Blackwell says the Southern States formula is palatable, and he likes that he can feed the same mineral year round. That's most important in late fall with the move from warm- to cool-season grasses and as cattle feed primarily on hay. High magnesium levels head off problems with grass tetany in fast-growing forages.

In addition to his confidence in the products Southern States sells, Blackwell appreciates the customer service he gets from Will Baxley, his Southern States feed sales associate.

Passing It On

Jenni Blackwell is a veteran of the show ring. While her dad coordinates the overall management of the family's purebred Gelbvieh herd and her mom handles the AI work, Jenni does most of the grooming and showing.

Based on the number of awards she has won, she does a bang-up job of showing breeding cattle to their best advantage. She has won at least one class in the National Gelbvieh Junior Association Show each year since 1998. Two years ago, she showed the Grand Champion Female at the Eastern Regional Gelbvieh Show in Batesburg, Miss. And last year her entry in the North Carolina Junior Beef Roundup was judged supreme champion over all breeds.

Now Jenni is passing on her experience with showmanship as mentor for a group of 4-H Club kids. She teaches them the fine points of grooming and showing cattle. A junior studying elementary education at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, Jenni drives 60 miles round trip several times a week to work with the youngsters.

The Blackwells assign a heifer to each participant. During show season, youngsters come out to the farm each day to work with their animals. They're taught the fundamentals of breeding, feeding and animal health, as well as how to cope with both winning and losing.

"I really enjoy watching and helping the kids," says Jenni, who has not given up on her longtime ambition to be a 4-H agent.

"Most of them would not have the opportunities that I had if it weren't for this program," she says. "It is great to see their personalities change and their self-esteem grow as they take care of their animals and do well in the show ring."