Striving For Success

Mike Vann made some changes in his business three years ago and one of the changes was to incorporate Brangus genetics.

Vann has 30 years of experience in the business and for most of those years operated a successful cow-calf operation. Then in 2002, he decided to begin raising and supplying high quality replacement bred heifers.

As he made plans to switch gears, he also began analyzing breeds and making plans as what type of heifer he was going to sell. He also started researching what breed of black bulls he would utilize. He used Angus bulls the first year, then switched to Brangus.

“About that same time, I had a customer in Georgia, who wanted me to help him select Brangus bulls. We came to Texas and visited a few operations. One of those operations was Camp Cooley Ranch®. I was impressed with the not just the quality of their bulls, but how deep the quality ran,” recalls Vann.

Today, Rocking V Cattle Company, headquartered in Pike Road, Alabama buys open heifers, which are predominantly black and weighing 550-750 lbs.. These heifers are developed and then sold to customers throughout the Southeast.

“Our program includes putting the heifers through a pelvic examination by a reproduction specialist, and when they reach 750 lbs., we synchronize and breed to low birth weight Camp Cooley Brangus bulls. We never even consider breeding a heifer till she weighs a minimum of 750 lbs.,” he explains.

In addition, the heifers are worked on horse back for 30 days.

“We stress that our heifers offer our customers superior genetics, desired temperaments and that they are broke to a horse, truck and feed,” he says.

Vann markets 1,000 to 1,500 head annually and is quick to tell you that the worst thing that can happen to his customers and ultimately his business is calving problems.

“Probably sixty percent of my customers buy less than 100 head of heifers. In fact the majority would buy 20-40 head. If they have calving problems, they are not satisfied customers and I have built my business on repeat customers. This is a critical area for me. Owning these heifers has to be a pleasurable experience for the owners,” he stresses.

He likes Brangus bulls because they produce black calves for his customers and the calves are are long and narrow at birth and then start growing. The shape of the calf at birth is what Vann likes about the Brangus over the Angus sired calves.

“I have been buying bulls from Camp Cooley for two years now and I have their people select them for me. Birth weight is my first criteria. Then I need bulls with solid growth numbers and good temperaments. Most of my customers sell their calves by the pound, so this is important. I have been very pleased with the bulls I have received and my customers are pleased with the resulting calves,” he adds.

He has initiated a buy back program for his customers’ calves, but says that most have not taken advantage of it.

“I will buy the steer calves back and send them to a feedlot. I wish more of my customers brought the heifers back as I know the quality of these calves and would like to have them in our program, verses just buying them across the South,” he says.

Vann has chosen to be part of Camp Cooley Ranch®’s Cooperator program, which provides a broad range of services, including genetic consulting and management and marketing options.

In the recent Camp Cooley Customer Appreciation Sale, Rocking V consigned 100 head of heifers that were sorted into four uniform groups. These heifers ranged in weight from 1,000 to 1,100 lbs. and all were bred to Camp Cooley Brangus bulls with ultrasound verification.

“We were impressed with Camp Cooley’s genetics on the first trip here. Now we are equally as impressed with the performance of the bulls we have purchased and we feel our association as a cooperator is a profitable partnership. We work hard at making our program successful and feel its imperative that we be involved with a successful operation like Camp Cooley. They are second to none when it comes to customer service and providing marketing options. We are proud to be in an aligned with them and have access to their total program,” he concludes.