As we enter our 9
th
year with the GENETRUST marketing
alliance we still get questions from our customer base
as to how the bulls are handled within our system. We
currently hold three bull sales per year. Chimney Rock
Cattle Co., Concord, AR; Cavender Ranches, Jacksonville,
TX and here at Suhn Cattle Co. These three locations are
where the majority of our bulls are fed and developed.
The late fall and early spring bulls are developed at Suhn
Cattle Co. for sale at that location. The later spring bulls
are developed at Chimney Rock and Cavender’s to be
sold the following fall as 18 month old bulls. The early
born fall bulls are developed at those two locations plus
Suhn Cattle Co. and Draggin M Ranch. Although some
bulls may be fed at a different location than they are sold
we strive to keep that to a minimum and if numbers are
needed for a particular sale we endeavor to make that
transition at least 30 days and preferably 45 days prior to
the sale.
Although we feed at three different locations it is our
goal to mimic the feed programs as close as possible
at all locations. For this reason, since the inception of
GENETRUST, we have utilized almost exclusively Purina’s
Intake Modifying Feeds for our primary feed source
along with the grasses that the feed traps provide plus
free choice long stem hay. The bulls have access to free
choice minerals and the traps are large enough to provide
ample room to travel and exercise. Bulls are received at
these locations approximately three weeks prior to the
development stage starting to give them time to adjust
to the new environment and to fill up and acclimate to
the new surroundings. All candidates that arrive have
gone through an extensive health protocol to minimize
the amount of health issues once they arrive. The
development period lasts for approximately 90 days and
at the end weights are taken along with ultrasound and
scrotal measurements. The Purina Intake Modified Feed is
fed in self feeders and is designed, depending on weather
conditions etc., for the bulls to gain 3.25 to 3.5 pounds
per day. Our goal is not to grow these bull for maximum
gain and yearling weights but to feed them at a level that
will emphasize and accentuate their genetic differences
without harming their future usefulness and longevity in
the pasture. With 30 plus years of experience feeding bulls
and part of that time spent trying to feed these bulls for
maximum gain and performance it has become evident,
to us and our long term customer base, that our present
program is much better for the long term longevity of the
breeding stock we present to our buyers. We continue to
refine and fine tune our approach to bull development.
We appreciate our customers feedback and opinions.
Hotel Accommodations
Blue Stem Lodge, Eureka
| 620-583-5531
Holiday Inn Express, El Dorado
| 316-322-7275
Candlewood Suites, Emporia
| 620-343-7756
Holiday Inn Express, Emporia
| 620-343-1111
Air Transportation
The closest major airport is Wichita Mid-Continent
Airport and is 69 miles from Eureka, KS. Other
airports are Kansas City International Airport which
is 174 miles from Eureka, KS or Tulsa International
Airport which is 150 miles from Eureka, KS. Wichita,
Kansas City and Tulsa are serviced by Southwest
Airlines.
Private Air Transportation:
Eureka, KS Airport
| 620-583-7732
Located approximately 10 miles from the ranch.
