We Have A Destination. For years, Pharo Cattle Company has been breeding cattle for optimum production. We want a cow that can make the most efficient use of our available resources with minimum inputs. Our cows are required to run on short native grass year-round with very little supplemental feed.
     
       We try to keep enough pressure on our cows to force 10 to 15 percent out of the herd each year. If we get over a 90 percent pregnancy rate, we figure that we either understocked our grass or over-supplemented our cows. The type of momma cow that performs best in our program will look something like this:
-1– Moderate Size. Frame score of 2 to 4, with a mature weight of 1000 to 1250.
-2– Easy-Fleshing. Ability to maintain good body condition, even on limited feed resources.
-3– Volume & Capacity. Able to efficiently convert low quality forages into milk and meat.
-4– Structurally Sound. Good feet, legs, teeth, muzzle, eyes, udder, hair coat, etc.
    
Stay on Target. Since we know the type of animal we want to produce, we are able to make the appropriate breeding decisions. We have discovered there are certain boundaries we must stay within to stay on target. For example, we can only select for so much growth without negatively affecting birth weight and cow size. It takes an extreme amount of discipline to stay within these boundaries. We have to pass over those real flashy bulls that other seedstock producers use, but the results are worth it.

     Even though our breeding program consists of four different breeds, we have achieved unbelievable uniformity within our herd. We have less variation in our herd than many seedstock producers have in herds that consist of just one breed. No matter what the breed is, we always select for the same biological type and stay within the same boundaries. Our herd averages (bulls and heifers) are posted below. They do not change much from year to year because our breeding program does not change from year to year.
     By design, our cattle are what they are. We don’t pretend to be all things to all people. We do, however, believe we are producing the right kind of bulls for most cowherds, especially those that are producing their own replacement heifers.
~ Kit Pharo
Buy your bulls from someone who
raises cattle the way you ought to.