This is strictly a spring calving operation and high birth weight heifers are not retained as replacements. Replacement heifers are bred to calve at 24 months of age on the same schedule with the cows. Any that do not rebreed on schedule for the second calf earn a trip to the sale barn. Heifers must raise a calf as a 2 year old in order to stay - no exceptions. Any older cow that fails to wean a healthy calf usually goes to town, though a few exceptions have been made for 'special' cows that have previously exhibited exceptional performance.

The cows are pastured on brome/native grass summer and fall and wintered on native grass hay. The only supplemental feed used is range cubes when the pastures are checked. Such a 'low maintenance' program over several generations has resulted in easy fleshing, moderate framed cows that calve easily and recycle quickly.

For the last several years the cow herd has averaged over 90% conception rates in a 70 day breeding season. This spring every cow (heifers included) calved unassisted. The calves are started on creep feed about a month before weaning so the weaning weights reflect the mother's milk and the growth potential of the genetics.

Over the last 10 years the average actual birth weight of heifer calves has ranged from 78 to 85 lbs. and the bull calves 86 to 91 lbs.

Last spring all the cows were weighed while vaccinating before going to grass. The average weight of all the Feltons Sounder daughters 4 years of age and older (n=22) was 1246 lbs. The average weight of all the JDB F21 Delaware H12 daughters 4 years of age and older (n=10) was 1284 lbs.

A group of the FELTONS SOUNDER 957 daughters

A JDB F21 DELAWARE H12 daughter

another JDB F21 DELAWARE H12 daughter (mother of AWS JUICE 360

one of the FELTONS JUICE 146 daughters