high stocking rate plus the scattered nature of our pastures and the high mountain ground, means the cattle are moved frequently. We once calculated that by the time she is five, our average cow has been trailed (not trucked) over 100 miles. Our product is a package of genetic improvements which contribute to the production efficiency of other growers, both commercial and purebred. The value of our product derives from the information we can provide about its likely performance, combined with the reliability and consistency of our quality control. We use random mating almost exclusively to get meaningful and statistically unbiased data. We believe that the most important livestock component of a commercial ranch is its cowherd, the focus of nearly all ranch costs. The cow is a production unit, with a set of costs attached, so the data we collect has to relate to the economics of that unit. The overwhelming share of operating costs depends on the quantity of feed required, not on the number of cows being run. For example, the cost of building and maintaining fence depends on the size of the pasture, not on the number of cows within the pasture. A focus on production efficiency has kept our cow size quite stable over the years. Birth EPD’s give us an effective selection tool for managing mature size. We have also steadily improved the post-calving, pre-slaughter growth rate. In summary, we have four basic production goals; to maximize the validity, usefulness and repeatability of our genetic information; to maximize the health and lifetime production capabilities of the animals we sell; to maximize the sustainability of our own natural resources, and to do all these things in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible. Ultimately, our success is measured by the success of the commercial beef producers who use our genetics.
Beckton house/office in 1899. The antlers are still on the porch, and it is one of the oldest buildings in Sheridan County.
Sal and Waldo enjoyed square dancing.
Young Sal Forbes up on the mountain.
1960s Beckton Sale with Berdon’s broadcast van.
Beckton Fall Production Sale
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