Selective Genetics
Our main cattle are commercial black and black baldies that have a Brahman, Hereford, and Brangus background.The Brahman influence adds longevity to your herd. Brahman cattle can produce up to 20 years of age. The Brahman background gives the cattle a natural resistance to insects as well as the great maternal qualities you want in every cow. The Brahman background also gives the cattle better heat resistance from our hot Georgia summers. The Hereford and Brangus background gives a high yield of quality beef with the efficiency of production on grass. We are continually trying new breeds and genetics to get the most productive cattle to produce top quality heifers that produce. Our newest addition is the Super American that adds Santa Gertrudis and Brangus cross. – Back to Top…
Humanely Kept
Our cattle are treated in the most humane way possible which means no confinement in feed lots. They have plenty of pasture so that they have a clean area to rest and eat. We use heavy use areas that keep from the cattle forming muddy spots where cattle tend to congregate, like around waterers and hay rings. This keeps the cattle out of the mud and manure. In turn, they have less feet problems. We use frost proof waterers so that in the winter they always have fresh water that never freezes, and in the summer the water is kept cool. The water the cattle drink comes straight from a well. It is clean and fresh as opposed to ponds and streams where cattle tend to eliminate in. We recently added a winter feeder barn where the cattle can stand out of the cold wind and rain to eat hay. With this shelter, they can put the energy to growing instead of keeping warm. – Back to Top…
We Harvest Our Own Hay
deGraan The hay the cattle eat during the winter is produced off our own hay fields. We work with the local extension office to analyze our soil and hay to produce the highest quality hay to feed our stock. By doing this, we know the type of hay they are eating as well as what has been put into that hay.
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Environmentally conscious
deGraan Farms is focused on our cattle’s impact on the environment around us. Our farm is actively involved in the water and soil conservation programs with the USDA CRP and NRCS. This includes fencing off the river, creek, and ponds on our farm so that our cattle cannot get into the communities water supply and pollute it. By fencing off the river and creek, we added a ‘natural’ buffer to help keep the banks from eroding and giving shelter to wildlife. Also by fencing off these natural water sources to the cattle, they are drinking the same water you and I drink which keeps bacteria and pests from spreading thru our herd. Our cattle are not confined to a small area as with feed lots. This keeps down pollution from run off from manure piling up. We care about soil erosion by rotating pastures and having USDA designed heavy use areas for heavily used areas by the cattle, such as around water troughs, hay rings, and gate openings. We also use a rotational grazing program to better utilize seasonal grasses for more efficient production and less environmental impact.
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