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2012 has been our best year! Another year of 100% live calves with 19 of
them this year; that's a 27% increase. Our 10 bull calves averaged 81 lbs. and our 9 heifer calves averaged 63 lbs. The heaviest
calf at birth was our ET bull CDF Bill's Predestined weighing in at 95 lbs., that ties the record for Circle D Farms. The
smallest calf was the last one born, CDF Maggie's Pearl Rose out of Rito 1i2 weighing only 44 lbs., a new record. Our
goal is to have calves arriving at 75 to 85 lbs. and the majority do. 37% of our calves this year were a result
of AI breeding, 5% was a result of our ET program, and the remaining 58% was from natural breeding. Our goal has not
changed, we would like for 75% of our calves to come from our AI & ET programs with the other 25% resulting from
natural breeding. 9 different bulls were used this past year; the ET calf was out of GAR Predestined (an embryo purchased
from Subiaco Abbey Angus), one from a TOSU Hawk son, one from TOSU Hawk, two from LD Redirect, one from GAR Yield Grade,
one from UI Peer Review, one from Woodhill Foresight, and ten from our highest selling bull CDF Bill's Mandate. CDF Maggie's
May U07 is still waiting for her flush, however, she has a beautiful Foresight bull at her side now and is bred back
to Foresight again. Look for the flush to happen the end of 2013. We plan to cull some "old genetics" and add some
"new genetics" in 2013, so there may not be as many calves as this year; but look for a big increase in 2014!!
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We continue to use ultra sound data and genomic profiles to better assess our genetic progress. In 2012 we had our first
15+ inch ribeye recorded and are now using that bull (CDF Bill's Reliable) as one of our clean-up bulls. In 2013 we plan to
use the 50K DNA profile as we feel it will give us a better "look" at the genetic potential of the animal. We feel
being "BLACK" is not enough, one must consider the genetic potential or you may just be buying a color.
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| May X01 is due to have our first 2013 calf...a BR Ambush 28 calf. |
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Circle D Farms Angus herd started in 2005 with purchases of open heifers bought at the Northeast Arkansas
Angus Sale in Charlotte, Arkansas. Later cows were added along with a 208 son from Subiaco Abbey Angus. The other
major contributor to our herd was cows from Carol's Ranch in Claremore, Oklahoma. The major source of our AI sires
is Select Sires, a relationship developed when Circle D Farms was a Dairy farm. We are greatful for all the
quality cattle provided to us, but most greatful for the advice given and friendships formed.
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Every cow in our herd has a story. CDF Maggie's Rose S01 (pictured below) has an outstanding story! She is the first
Angus heifer born on Circle D Farms and gave birth to the first AI calf. Then she became a recip for our first ET calf, CDF
Bill's Mandate X09. Our expectations were realized when Bill's Mandate was sold in the NEAR sale in March to our first out-of-state
buyer for $4,700, the highest priced bull we have sold to date. With all these firsts in her life it is no wonder that we
feel S01 is one of our special cows. Oh, did I mention she was also a showring "girl" and that her last calf will
be a member of the pen of three at the Cleburne County Fair in September. What a record for such a young
lady!!
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| Rose S01, our first heifer born on Circle D Farms, has developed into quite an asset. |
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