The Ridgefield Braunvieh Bull Deal

- "It will make you color blind" -

When you buy a bull from us, we give you a written guarantee to purchase 100% of your calves*, sired by our bull, for a minimum of three calf crops. We will pay you a premium of as much as $5/cwt above the auction barn prices. Plus, save on the auction barn commission, save on transportation and save on shrink. This program practically guarantees you $30-$50 more per calf than you are used to getting, no matter what the color. If you own 30 cows, you could put an extra $900 -$1, 500 in your pocket, per year!! If you own 300 cows, you could put an extra $9,000-$15,000 in your pocket, per year!! You will more than pay for the bull with the premiums alone.! As an added benefit, we feed out and harvest the calves, providing you with feedlot and carcass data with which to improve your cow herd.

This program is especially designed for the producer who doesn't have the desire, expertise, or enough cows to participate in a retained ownership program. Our offer is to pay you a premium of up to $.05 per pound more than the average selling price for like weight calves, same sex, paid the previous week at your normal public auction facility, or other mutually agreed upon public auction facility located within 75 miles of your farm**.  Pay weights for price determination will be the average weight of cattle sold by each seller, respectfully. To qualify for premiums calves must weigh at least 450 pounds, but less than 650 pounds.

To earn full premiums, all calves must be ear tagged and sire identified with accurate birthdates. Males must be castrated by knife at least four weeks prior to our taking delivery, or if banded, scrotal sacks must have fallen off. All calves must also have been vaccinated with a broad spectrum, seven way or nine way vaccine which covers at a minimum BRD, BVD, Lepto, etc. and Blackleg, administered a minimum of four weeks prior to our taking delivery. We highly recommend that a modified live vaccine be used, however, will accept calves that have been vaccinated with a reputable killed vaccine, administered according to the label instructions.

For farms located more than 100 miles from Brasstown, N.C., for purposes of shipping coordination, dates for picking up calves will be established so as to insure that full 50,000 pound trailer loads can be utilized for each pick up. Pay weights will be obtained at a mutually agreed upon set of certified scales with a 2% pencil shrink applied, as is common in the industry for cattle bought at the farm.

In the 2007 Kansas Empire Days Carcass Contest, one of the oldest and most prestigious events in the beef industry, heifer calves purchased by us under our Braunvieh Bull Deal, produced from commercial cows, bred to Ridgefield Farm Braunvieh bulls, placed 4 th, 6 th and 23 rd in overall carcass standings.

See contract for complete details

* Minimum number of animals per bull under this agreement is 15 with a maximum of 35 per bull per calendar year.

** All calves for which a premium is paid are subject to a DNA test for verification of sire.

*** Calf weights averaging from 651 - 675 pounds receive a $.04/pound premium. Those averaging 676 - 700 will receive a $.03/pound premium. Those weighing 701 - 725 will receive a $.02/pound premium. Loads averaging over 726 pounds will receive no premium.