Our cattle feature genetics from many of the most renowned sires in the breed, including EXT,, New Design 878, Alliance I87, In Focus, Special Focus, Rito 6EM3, Hoover Dam and others, We started our purebred Angus herd in 1994 with some heifers we bought from my Dad, Carl Fahlgren. He had purchased short term cows from Knudsen Angus of Bainville, MT and Ichtiana Ranch, Malta, MT. They were very go
od Angus cattle but having grown up on a dairy where Mom and Dad relied on AI to develop a top producing herd: I wanted to use AI to develop a herd of really great cows. In 1995 we started AI using NBAR Emulation 5522, the last year he was available, we followed him with NBAR EXT and were amazed how these two sires improved an already good bunch of cows. We used EXT for as many years as he was available, all our cows have EXT in their lineage. He sired cows with depth and length and wonderful udders, on a 5 frame, good doing cattle, excellent mothers. We used numerous sires on these EXT cows, Venture, New Design 036 and 878, Boyd New Day, Traveler 9161, Directive, New Standard but finally made real progress when we started using In Focus in 2005, we really liked the disposition, and every thing else about the In Focus cow. We used In Focus heavily as long as he was available then started to use Special Focus on all non-on In Focus cows. So today our primary genetic influences are EXT and In Focus. Other sires we have used in recent years are Rainmaker 9723, K205 (EXT son), HA Program, Conneally Final Product, Rito 6EM3, EF Complement,and Absolute. I have relied heavily on ABS sires, in part because of the excellent help our ABS rep Jeff Hould is. Jeff has been my adviser each year and has kept me from making a number of mistakes. I always wanted a moderate framed, deep bodied cow with good disposition and an udder that would still be perfect at 12 years of age. I am getting close to having 65 head that look and do that. A couple of my 7 year olds really disappointed me this spring by having udder sagging, big teats, etc. EXT cows just did not do that, so I am always wanting to know the unknowable.. when I decide on a bull it will be 10 years before anyone knows how great of udders he will put on a cow. It has been a wonderful learning experience working to improve our cattle. Selling bulls is a challenge for me, not being an extrovert.. it is not a comfortable thing to sell. But the best part of the business is the customers, the relationships, friendships and trust that develops; and what I learn from them. As a part-timer, who has always had a town job..I can learn from all those who rely on their cattle for a living. Most of all I just enjoy working with cattle, writing this on a peak day of calving 2016; it seems to me that the only thing better than watching a heifer proudly become a mother is to watch one of your own kids or grandkids come into the world.
