What is RVF Cattle?

Our cow herd is comprised of two parts. Registered SimAngus and Registered Red Angus.

We are a seedstock operation selling breeding bulls, and replacement females. We pride ourselves in finding genetics that thrive in our customer’s environments. We are constantly searching for genetics that will accomplish our mission statements and work for our customers. Once we find those genetics we try to be very disciplined in how we use them. While we do try new genetics in our pursuit to find the best out there, we don’t chase the latest fads. It is very easy to get lost in the chase of better cattle. We breed the majority of our herd each year to highly proven sires that are backed by pedigrees full of great cows. If a bull’s pedigree isn’t stacked with Maternal Greatness, we don’t consider using him. We are extremely selective on what genetics we allow into our program, and we search throughout North America to find them. You can be assured that when you buy a bull or female from us that they are backed with the genetics to perform for the long haul. Our bulls and heifers both go through a strict development program where they are culled for any number of reasons. We test individual performance, look at the pedigree, the dam’s production, the sire’s production, EPDs, structure, feet and legs, pelvic measurements, frame score, fluidity and ease of movement, disposition and the list goes on. We work closely with our veterinarian on our herd health program, and everything we sell is triple or quadruple vaccinated before you get it. We only sell the best that we produce for seedstock.

We allow visitors to view the calf crop anytime after weaning. We typically offer our replacement females in the Fall, and our bulls as yearlings in the spring. We try to have bulls available year round as well. Typically our bulls and replacement females sell on a first come first serve private treaty basis. The best way to stay up to date with our program and what we have available is to follow our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/RollingValeFarms.

Our personal philosophy on the right kind of genetics for our customers and ourselves…

Breeding cattle is art and science. There are many, many traits a breeder can focus on. There are so many that it can become confusing and overwhelming. It is very easy to think you can “have it all.” While good cattle will be balanced in all aspects, we feel that there are certain traits that are most important to our customers. Those are what we focus on. Those are what drive our pedigree design and culling process. Those traits are Maternal Intelligence and Longevity. We feel that the most important qualities of a cow are to last a long time, raise a good calf every year on time, and do it while not creating extra work for their owner. No animal is perfect. But these are the traits that we are constantly working towards improving.

Maternal Intelligence. To us this is a cow that knows what she is doing. She knows how to raise a calf. She knows that when that calf hits the ground she is to get up and lick it off. She is to make sure there is no amniotic sack over its nose. She knows she needs to lick it until it gets up. Protect it from the wind. Stand still and let it nurse. Position herself properly and guide it to nurse if necessary. After it nurses it needs to lay down and be protected. She knows humans are not the enemy. She knows other things might be the enemy. She keeps track of her calf. She makes sure it is safe, and that it nurses throughout its life. These qualities cannot be quantified. They are what good cows do. These things are more prevalent in certain genetics than in others, and we select heavily for them.

Longevity. This is such an umbrella term. We use this term to cover so many things, but it is the correct term. This includes fertility. Breeding back every year, on time. Putting enough energy into milk to raise a good one, but not so much that her body condition suffers and she doesn’t breed back on time. Longevity includes foot and udder quality. Skeletal structure. Fluidity of movement. Longevity even includes temperament, as a bad tempered cow doesn’t have longevity around here.

Cows need to be trouble free and last. They need to raise a good calf every year. They need to know what they are doing, and get the job done with as few complications as possible. Those are the traits we select for. We feel that these traits are more important to our customers, and to the beef industry, than weaning and yearling weight. More important than carcass traits. While our cattle marble, and our cattle grow, we place the most emphasis on Maternal Intelligence and Longevity. In all other aspects we attempt to achieve balance.

An extra note on the eye appeal of cattle. We like masculine bulls and feminine females. We feel that a feminine cow will have masculine sons and masculine bulls will sire feminine daughters. We feel that the physical expression of these sex hormones translates directly to their non visual counterparts such as fertility and libido. We like our cows to be broody, with lots of rib shape and body capacity. We like them to have a big hip and a wide pelvis. We like them wide based and we like them to travel easily. We like them heavy, but not large framed. We like our bulls to have a high libido. We like them to be possessive of their females and keep track of them. We like them muscular and athletic. We like them to know their job and act like it.

As we said above, there are a lot of things that a breeder can focus on. Different operations have different goals. If you appreciate the traits that we emphasize, and the type and kind that our eye is attracted to, our genetics might be a good fit for you. We encourage you to get it touch with us to see how you can incorporate our genetics into your program.

Continually working to improve quality and consistency in the cattle we produce is a never ending journey. It is a lifelong pursuit. We like to think that every year we improve, but the most rewarding part of the process is seeing our genetics positively impact our customer’s lives.