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What do customers say about Nutrition Plus?
“We continue to do business with Nutrition Plus because they have their priorities in the right place.” states Mike Kuhlman.
Kuhlman and Sons Family operation in Canyon, Texas is located in the heart of the Panhandle. They have been in the ranching and farming business since the early 1900’s. The operation is now run by Mike and Gary Kuhlman. They are also part owners of Dawn Feeders, a 20,000 head capacity yard located in Randall County, Texas. The Kuhlman family is well known in their community for their generosity and support of the 4H, High School rodeo, and West Texas A & M University.
Currently, the Kuhlmans run approximately 740 cows; Black Angus, Herefords and a few Black Baldies. Pete Kvanvig has worked with Kuhlmans for over 10 years. The Nutrition Plus mineral has helped the conception rate as well as the health and condition of the cows. It has also boosted the weaning weight and the health of the calves. The mineral is left out year round, therefore the cows eat a little more or a little less than the 4 ounce recommended consumption, depending on the range conditions.
Their bulls consist of Angus, Hereford, and Charolais and are turned out in the first part of June. Cows typically start calving about the 15th of March. Last year (2005) they left their bulls out 86 days because of the dry conditions.
Out of 740 cows calving the spring of 2005, 521 calves were on the ground the first 21 days. 92% of the cows calved in 42 days and the remainder went to 63 days. In total, they had a 98% calf crop. Nutrition Plus currently supplies Kuhlmans with a custom mix to meet their specific needs – Plus 2 CTC with added iodine.
 Mike and Gary are very conscious about genetics. They feed all their own cattle so they look for stock that will wean good and convert well in the feedyard. They wean calves at the ranch for 45 days. Last year they doctored 7 calves at weaning with NO death loss. They also fed 561 head last year and the top steers gained 4.11 lbs/day—a 5.31 conversion. Top heifers gained 3.62 lbs/day—a 5.65 conversion. Death loss included 5 respiratory and 7 bloat. Mike and Gary are very good operators and are pleased with the results they obtain from using NutritionPlus mineral.
“If you have a good mineral that works for you, you better stay with it,” says Scharbauer.
 Scharbauer Cattle Company has been in business since 1885. It is a 4th generation, family owned ranching operation with ranches located in Moore and Oldham counties in the Texas Panhandle, and in Martin, Midland, and Andrews counties in West Texas. They first started their ranching business in the Midland area. They purchased the Alamocitos Ranch in Oldham County in 1952.
Chris Scharbauer purchased the Five S Ranch, located in Moore County, in 1988. He became the President and first sole owner of Scharbauer Cattle Company in 120 years.
Chris believes in a good quality supplemental program. He has been using Nutrition Plus products on both the Five S Ranch in Moore County and the Alamocitos Ranch in Oldham County which total about 2200 head of cows. Pete Kvanvig, Area Sales Manager for Nutrition Plus, has been actively involved in the nutritional program for Scharbauer’s cow/calf operation in the Texas Panhandle for the past 7 years. Pete grew up on a ranch in South Dakota and has many years experience in the ranching and cow/calf industry.
Scharbauer has seen many benefits from the use of Nutrition Plus mineral. They have improved the conception rate, increased the live calf crop, improved the general health of the calves and obtained better overall condition on the cattle year round.
Since the ranches have been using Nutrition Plus mineral, Chris says the cows are getting bred on the first heat cycle and he has not seen any retained placentas following birth. Because genetics are a very important factor in the success of the business, Chris is always looking to buy the best bulls. He uses primarily Angus, Hereford, and Charolais bulls on Hereford, Angus, and Black Baldie cows. His breeding period is from May 1st thru August 15th. He sees his first calves around February 15th. Cows will calve thru March, with 80 – 85% of calves born within 60 days. He has very few calves born in April. This year he had a 97% live calf crop. Chris also says the health of the calves at birth is improved, and is even better at shipping because the calves have been on the mineral as well. Calves are marketed at 7 months of age. Pay weights on the Charolais Cross steers were 664# and the heifers weighed 630#. The black white faced steers weighed 638#.
 Another benefit Scharbauer attributes to Nutrition Plus mineral is uniformity. Chris has been very successful at marketing his calves because of the uniform weights and is generally at the top of the market.
Chris knows it takes several things to make a ranching operation successful and profitable. He believes in being a steward of the land and spends a lot of time on range management. He sprays mesquite and lays pipeline to ensure an adequate water supply for his cattle. He also believes in supplying mineral to cattle all year long. Chris says that the Nutrition Plus mineral stays in the trough better and it is not affected by moisture.
Because of an openness to new ideas, excellent management, the desire to make his business more profitable, and the love for what he does, Chris Scharbauer and Scharbauer Cattle Company have become a very successful part in the ranching industry today.
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