Big Sandy, MT - Steer Calves

The IX Ranch is a large cow/calf operation in Northern Montana supporting over 3,500 mother cows. They are offering a very even set of calves all born in a tight calving window. These calves stand on a lot of bone with good length and you can see the muscling throughout.

This set of calves runs on a separate part of the ranch from the biggest group, no difference other than location. Ship October 20th. About 165 head will come to the scale. With them all being born in a 30 day window, they'll require less of a sort but we'll sure sort them up right for you! excess cattle go to the later dliveries.

Below is information from the Ranch Manager Richard Roth-

Our goals are to produce a healthy, uniform steer calf that weans 565 lbs. each fall. This animal must perform well in the feedlot as well as on the rail. Likewise, our heifer cows must perform as mothers. We strive to have a mature cow that weights no more than 1250 lbs., can winter on less than a ton of hay and breed back 94-96% in a 50-55 day breeding season. In order to attain these goals we utilize proven key performance indicators (ranchkpi.com) and the Leachman Cattle of Colorado $Profit™ indexing system.

The IX Ranch is BQA certified and the 2020 BQA Cow Calf Operation of the Year. Therefore, they take pride in raising an animal that has been well cared for and is ready to go to work. Our cattle are grazed on a contiguous operation with little to no interaction with neighboring cattle. IX cattle are healthy and have good immune systems while being able to react quickly to medication when needed. This set of steer calves was born in the 1st cycle (21-30 days). IX Ranch documentation shows that 75% of all IX calves are born in the 1st cycle.

Our number one selection criteria when choosing sires is disposition but we also pay keen attention to muscling, scrotal size, feet and bone structure. We also use $Ranch and $Profit indexes formulated by Leachman's of Colorado. Avg $Ranch = $54.95; Avg $Profit = $11,905

The IX Ranch has purchased composite bulls from Leachman's of Colorado for over 12 years. We select sires for moderate weight and frame score cows. Our average mature cow weight is 1238 lbs and we select no sires bigger than a frame score 6. For more information on Leachman genetics please contact Lee Leachman at (970) 568-3983.

We offer free choice salt and mineral year-round to all our cattle. The mineral used is formulated based on summer and winter forage. Grass and Alfalfa hay, produced on our own ranch, is provided during the winter months to sustain a 5.5 BCS.

We use Ralgro implants because we can consistently add 25-30 lbs to our calves. The IX Ranch has a 100% Home-raised Cow Herd and uses DVM Lance Hughes from Central Montana Vet Clinic as their veterinarian. He may be reached at (406) 350-8381.

All calves will be weighed on ranch, on a state certified Fairbanks scale, no Frozen ears will be brought to the scale. Delivery dates are set as Oct 18,19 & 21 at the Whitcraft location (5 miles from Big Sandy, MT). These lot load calves come from big country and have the genetics and frame to grow at whatever the buyer demands.

The second cycle calves (~ 500 steers) and all the heifers (1,500 head) are always kept and backgrounded at Centana Feedlot in Fromberg, MT. Our feedlot mortality rate is less than 1% and morbidity less than 10%. For more information on our feedlot performance please contact Farron Frost at Centana Feedlot (406) 860-8052.