Joe Reese with Dream-of-Me-Sally, a multishow champion Limousin cow that's an integral part of his embryo donor program.

Genetics are the foundation of most successful beef programs. But Joe Reese has learned that genetics will only take you so far.

Without proper fuel, in the form of the right nutrition program, you may not be coaxing peak performance from your herd.

Reese, a Limousin seedstock producer from Boonsboro, Md., has partnered with Colby Ferguson, a livestock nutritionist and field services associate from Southern States. Working through Martin's Elevator, a Southern States retailer and feed manufacturer for the co-op in Hagerstown, Md., Ferguson has helped Reese custom tailor a feed program for his cow/calf herd.

"Joe's program demonstrates that the most expensive feeding program may not always be the best," Ferguson points out. "Buying a complete feed does not necessarily mean you have to have the most expensive feeding program around. We've worked to fine-tune the program to reduce the supplement mix in his feed while actually enhancing feeding efficiency."

Joe Reese, with cap, and Colby Ferguson, a Southern States livestock nutritionist, discuss herd records and the feeding program on Reese's Maryland livestock operation.

The result is a cost reduction of 40 cents per head per day and better performance from his herd. "My goal is to have my bull calves gain at least 3 pounds per day and heifers 2 pounds per day from when I wean them until they're yearlings," Reese notes.

Last year's calf crop exceeded those goals, with bulls averaging 3.6 pounds per day and heifers 2.5 pounds per day.

Remarkably, Joe is getting these great results on a feeding program of 1.5% of body weight in supplement plus free-choice grass hay for bull calves, and 1% of body weight in supplement plus hay for heifers.

Reese buys all of his feed from Southern States in bulk deliveries averaging 9 tons every two weeks. It's a complete feed, including a complete mineral program that precludes the need for additional feeding of minerals.

"Including the mineral mix in the feed formula is one of the best things I've done in this program," Reese says. "By including it in the feed, I know that each animal is getting the right amount of minerals."

A complete mineral program is especially important for his pure-bred heifers, Reese explains, because keeping them in top condition is critical for a successful A.I. program. His embryo transfer program uses Angus heifers to carry embryos from Limousin cows.

"I still make minerals available free choice, but they eat very little," he adds.

Creep feeding is another key to such impressive weight gains on calves. "I creep feed all calves from three to seven months of age; I believe it means at least a 100- to 150-pound difference at weaning," Reese says. "My latest group of bulls weaned at averages of 730 pounds, and the heifers averaged 620 pounds. That's under a program costing just $42 per head."

Reese and Ferguson emphasize that the program's success relies on having the right genetics.

"After a couple of years in the business, I began to realize the value of good heifers," Reese acknowledges. "When I started upgrading my herd, my goal was to never sell a calf for less than $750. I've far exceeded that goal.

"After paying more than I ever dreamed of spending on my first two registered Limousin heifers, I sold their first calves for $2,500 each," he continues. "That sold me on the value of selling my grade cows and investing in good genetics."

Ferguson says the progress of herd transformation in such a short time has been amazing. "His program has come from basically a registered commercial herd in 1998 to a purebred herd in 2001 to an elite seedstock producer this year.

"And he has enhanced a reputation for quality with recognition on the show circuit and by doing a tremendous job of marketing his calves," Ferguson adds.

Unlike some seedstock enterprises, Ferguson continues, this isn't a tax writeoff for Reese.

"I firmly believe Limousins are the Cadillac breed of the industry," he says. "And Joe is one of the premiere operators in this region. He's not afraid to try a practice, and he's quick to adapt when something doesn't work. That's why he was so open to the idea of working with me to reduce his feed costs."

All indications, from feeding efficiency to weaning weights, are that it's a move that has certainly paid off.