Sunday, March 16, 1997

Abilene Cattle Feeders adds two key employees

By J.T. SMITH / Farm Editor

In efforts to keep improving its feedyard operation, Abilene Cattle Feeders has added two new employees in key roles, says General Manager Gary Craig Gentry.

Gentry says they already are helping ACF do a better job of feeding cattle.

Bud Schmittel is the new mill manager.

Schmittel was the mill manager for a 40,000-head feedlot for seven years, and for a 65,000-head feedlot for 15 years.

Bud's program has been featured in two national magazines. Most recently, an article covering his quality control program was published.

"We steam flake both corn and milo, and Bud tests both flake and ration quality daily," Gentry notes. "He records the moisture on all our incoming grain and measures the amount of moisture that we add to our flake every day."

Schmittel also closely monitors the amount of cook time the grains receive before they are rolled.

"His management of both the cook time and steam have improved our starch gelatinization test results," Gentry reports.

Bud also measures the amount of fines among the feed particles every day. He sorts the feed in three different particle sizes and has met his goal each day he's been on the job.

Schmittel also measures the whole grain in the ration each day. His goal is to have less than 1 percent whole grain in the ration and his average has achieved that objective consistently.

ACF uses two corn rolls and three grain sorghum (milo) rolls.

"Our roll operator test weighs the flaked grain in each roll every hour," Gentry notes. "Bud has made sure that these test weights are very consistent."

Gentry says because of Bud's work, he can feel very confident in taking visitors out on the yard and letting them examine the feed in the bunks.

Bill Frederick also joins ACF team

At the same time Schmittel was hired to manage the ACF mill, Bill Frederick was hired as feeding foreman.

"One of Bill's responsibilities as feeding foreman is to see that the cattle consume the amount of energy they want - while at the same time - holding the daily consumption on a level plane," Gentry explains. "He graphs the average daily consumption three times a week, and his lines are looking great."

Gentry notes that it's no secret how it rained and rained in February. During two weeks of rainy period, there was enough rain that the bunks had to be cleaned on three different days.

"During this period, Bill kept the average daily consumption range for all steers on finishing ration at one pound per head, and the range on all heifers on finishing ration at three-quarters of a pound per head," Gentry notes. "At the same time, he fed the cattle at their regularly scheduled feeding times."

Closely checks ACF computer data

Frederick closely checks the computer printouts every day at ACF to see if any pen of cattle is even approaching what's called an "over consumption/crash pattern."

If Bill spots such a potential for a cattle pen, he pays extra close attention to the way these cattle respond to their first feeding of the day - and to their bunk condition before the second feeding.

It is a process that is working well, Gentry observes.

The ACF nightman runs the bunks every night at 8 p.m. to see if any of the feed bunks were "slick at eight."

Bill uses that information each day at 5:30 a.m. when he first runs the bunks.

"This process has really helped us keep our consumptions within an excellent range," Gentry notes.,

Having Bud and Bill on the team is making ACF even more competitive, Gentry notes.

About three weeks ago, ACF bought some corn at the same price that feedyards in the Panhandle were paying and also purchased some milo at lower than the Panhandle price.

Gentry says this will make the ACF ratio price very competitive with the Panhandle feedyards throughout March.

When cattlemen call Gentry to inquire about breakeven prices for feeding their cattle, he can run a breakeven projection on his computer in about 60 seconds.

To learn more about ACF, cattlemen in the immediate Abilene area can call the local number (915) 692-5945. Others can can (800) 757-5945.

Or, Gentry would be glad to visit in person with you at your ranch.

"I always seem to learn a little something when I get to see another man's operation," Gentry says.