home → articles → Producer Feature Stories | Email to a Friend

Gelbvieh Profit Partners, Decatur County Feeders host open house on Feb. 17

published: March 24th 2006

Gelbvieh Profit Partners LLC, in conjunction with Decatur County Feeders of Oberlin Kan., held an open house in Oberlin on February 17, 2006, to share information on creating value for cow-calf producers through the feedyard and Gelbvieh Profit Partners. Despite the cold weather, participants from as far away as Montana attended.

The audience of commercial cow-calf  and seedstock producers were treated to a prime rib lunch courtesy of Decatur Coun-ty Feeders. Dan Dorn, Manager of Supply Devel-opment with Decatur County Feeders, shared information on the various retained ownership opportunities available to cattle producers and explained the management system at Decatur County.

Wayne Vanderwert, American Gelbvieh Association Executive Di-rector, gave a brief history of the innovative approach the Gelbvieh breed has taken to support commercial cow-calf producers, including the Gelbvieh Profit Partners venture and the commitment to improving end product quality.

Susan Willmon, Ameri-can Gelbvieh Association Director of Breeder Im-provement, visited with producers about the AGA’s C.U.T. initiative. C.U.T., Carcass-Ultrasound-Tenderness, focuses on giving producers tools to improve the carcass traits and qualities of the Gelbvieh breed. She also explained the structured Sire Carcass Testing program and other breed improvement projects.

Following lunch, participants had the opportunity to see cattle being sorted using Decatur County’s ECM (electronic cattle management) system. The cattle being sorted were part of the American Gelbvieh Association carcass sire testing program. Rick, Clay and Clint Farlee, as well as Jon Holmes, all from Dupree, S.D., sold the cattle last fall to Gelbvieh Profit Partners and Decatur County Feeders. The producers also retained an equity stake in the cattle and were on hand for the event.

Rick, Clay and Clint Farlee, along with Jon Holmes run about 500 cows combined. Their cowherds are primarily Angus-based and have been using Gelbvieh and Balancer bulls for a number of years. “It’s real exciting to see your cattle and learn about how they perform in the feedlot,” explained Rick Farlee. “That’s why we do it, to improve on what we’re doing.”

Gelbvieh Profit Partners LLC is an investor-owned cattle feeding venture created to capture value for its investors by feeding Gelbvieh-influenced feeder cattle. Gelbvieh Profit Partners, operational since July 2005 has cattle on feed in Texas, Kansas and Colorado and has sourced cattle from the southeast, the northwest, as well as other cattle regions.

For more information on the open house or Gelbvieh Profit Partners, contact: Bryan Weech, Chief Operating Officer at 720-837-6713 or email bryanweech@hotmail.com.

SLS