Time is Money
This couple found an efficient way to handle cattle with the help of Southern States.

Andy McCall (right) reviews features of the American Farmland livestock-handling system with Sam and Kathy Akers. With Southern States, the Akers have found a system that fits their needs.

Time is a precious commodity for any farmer. But working cattle faster and harder won't pay off in the long run. An organized cow-pen system will save time and put cattle back to pasture faster. Southern States provides systems that will do just that--manage herds efficiently to maximize profitability. There are all kinds of systems to fit all kinds of operations.

Sam and Kathy Akers run a 55-acre pasture and livestock operation, and Sam holds a full-time job in town. This makes it necessary for the couple from Rural Retreat, Va., to use the time devoted to their operation wisely.

The Akers typically buy and raise anywhere from 35 to 70 head each year. This past year, they took 120 head to market.

Working cattle has always been one of their biggest chores; they didn't have an ideal or efficient way to handle and process their herd.

"We would round them up and work them individually in pens, which was time-consuming and involved a lot of awkward work," Sam says.

After a long search for a cattle-handling system to meet their needs, the Akers turned to their local Southern States retailer, Wytheville County Service. Store manager Andy McCall was very supportive in finding the perfect fit for us, Sam relates. The solution: a sweep tub and alley system from American Farmland.

"This is a great system with a lot of ideal features," McCall says.

And they didn't waste time building it. "I was surprised at how easy it was to put together," Sam says. "The instructions were simple, and we had it up and working in practically no time. I like the fact that it's made of such heavy-gauge metal tubing and that it has an extra bar, compared to many other systems we considered."

The Akers have found that the time-savings alone justified the cost of their new handling system. "This is especially helpful in the winter," Sam notes, "when I usually don't get home from work until after dark. I can now work three cows at a time--one in the squeeze chute and two in the alleyway--with eight or nine more waiting in the tub.

"I can move them in and out quickly. Before, I was limited to working a single cow; getting that animal in and out was a major chore."

Besides making it easier for her to help with working cattle, Kathy says she likes that the American Farmland system allows time for other things.

"We've learned to make the most of every minute," she explains. "But we enjoy working with cattle and being out in the country. Those benefits definitely make it all worthwhile."

For special year-end savings on American Farmland cattle-handling equipment, log on to www.southernstates. com.