About Marshall Cattle Co.
Tim Marshall, owner
How it all began
With a purchase of the first registered Gelbvieh cow in 1993, Tim Marshall’s then 4-H and FFA project has since grown into a diversified cattle operation that includes three breeds of registered cattle, commercial cattle, a custom AI technician service, and a custom grazing enterprise.
Breeding philosophies
From the start, the main goal has been to produce phenotypically correct cattle that excel in practical production traits and do so in an efficient manner, without the excessive inputs required by many of the cattle being produced and marketed by other seedstock providers.
Individual data is collected on all calves, including birth weights, weaning weights, and carcass data when available. In addition, every cow is weighed at weaning so that a percent body weight may be calculated as a measure of efficiency. The commercial cow herd is often used as a testing ground for new AI sires and the data from those calves is used to determine if a sire should be utilized in the registered cow herd.
Grass Management
Grass management is another area in which Marshall Cattle Co. has demanded efficiency. In 2005, the JJ Ranch was divided into 12 smaller grazing cells of approximately 200 acres each and new water sources were developed that allow for better utilization of the native grass.
By forcing cattle into areas that they might normally avoid and providing rest for areas which are prone to overgrazing, the health of the rangeland has improved while maintaining a higher stocking rate than the traditional season long system.
More crop acres were planted to native grass to provide more protection from the weather while calving in January and February. By utilizing different forages in an intensive rotational grazing system at different stages of production in the cows’ annual nutritional requirement cycle, and relying less upon harvested forages, the annual carrying cost for each cow has decreased substantially.
An evolving business model
Tim believes that as a seedstock producer, it is paramount that his cattle are subjected to production pressures to allow for genetic selection to take place. Through ongoing experimentation and refinement, both the genetic foundation of the cow herd and the overall business model will continue to evolve and improve. Marshall Cattle Co. is growing by trying new ideas, diversifying, and continuing to strive for maximum efficiency in all aspects of beef production.
Family
Tim’s family is essential to the success of Marshall Cattle Co. These family photos were taken in 2016.