Overview
• Diversified agricultural operationo Primarily cow-calf
• Established in 1950o Long-time Central Florida
landowner
• Owned by Farmland Reserve, Inc., affiliated with LDS Churcho Deseret Ranches of Florida
o Deseret Cattle & Citrus
Location
• 295,000 acreso A county-sized piece of
property
• Located in Osceola, Orange, and Brevard countieso Between Orlando and the
Space Coast
• Borders the St. Johns River
History
• Why Florida?
• Late 1940so Church looking for ag
property
o Henry D. Moyle, Heber Meeks on assignment
• Purchased 1950-52o Cut-over timber ground
o Few homes, roads
• Began improvemento Decades-long project
• Started cow herd and breeding
History
• Why Ranches?o Church has a long history of
industry
o Church emphasizes self reliance for itself and its members
o Ranches support Church’s mission and worldwide humanitarian efforts
Mission
• Why Ranches?
“We have felt that good farms, over a long period, represent a safe investment where the assets of the Church may be preserved and enhanced, while at the same time they are available as an agricultural resource to feed peopleshould there come a time of need.”
– Gordon B. Hinckley
Current Operations
Cattle
• One of the premier US cow/calf operationso First step in beef supply chain
o Low-intensity grazing
• Approx. 7 acres per pair
• Productiono 42,000 cows
o 35,000 calves weaned
• Approx. 500 pounds each
o 4,800 replacement heifers
o 1,300 bulls
Current Operations
Cattle
• 60 years of cattle developmento Selected for adaptability,
production efficiency, and marketability
• Three breed rotational crosso Brangus, Simbrah, Deseret
Red
• 14 operational unitso Approx. 3500 cows,
20,000 acres each
Current Operations
Cattle
• What’s unique? o Scale
o Efficiency
o Process controls
o Closed herd
o Genetics
Current Operations Cattle
• Approx. 40 cowboys and foremen
• Cowboyso Each cowboy in charge of
approx. 1200 cows
o Use traditional techniques and latest technology
o Still work on horseback
o Manage cattle, rotate herds, mend fences, care for horses, manage pastures
Current Operations
Citrus
• 400 acres o Mostly juice varieties
• Precision irrigation
• Industry faces challenges
Current Operations Other
• Row crops
• Harvest palm and timber
• Grow sod
• Mine shell deposits
Community
• 80 employeeso Cowboys, mechanics,
equipment operators, agronomists, accountants…
o Some are third-generation
• Most live on rancho Great place to raise a family
• Value placed on community and tradition
Environment
• Over 60 years of environmental stewardshipo Work with natural resources
every day
o Livelihood depends on it
• Implement a multiple-use philosophy
• Manage natural resources in a sustainable manner
Environment
• Integrated wildlife management programo Game and non-game species
o Wildlife biologist on staff
• Focal species and habitato Wood Stork Rookery
o Jug Island Reservoir
o East Point Reservoir
Water Resources
• Decades-long focus on water quality, quantityo Millions of gallons taken
from the Ranch each day
• Qualityo Stormwater treatment
reservoirs
o Best management practices
• Quantityo Donated Taylor Creek
Reservoir easements
o Efficient irrigation
o Conservation measures
Future
• We will keep ranching for generations to come
• We are planning for the futureo Agriculture
o Environment
o Water
o Land use
o Transportation
• Our future is tied to that of the region
Cattle Production
Area of Focus Adaptability- Cows
that fit the environment where they live.
Efficiency- at all stages of production.
Marketability-Meeting consumer
expectations
Breeding System Impact
Appropriate breeds and heterosis are primary factors in adaptability.
Heterosis and breed complementarity improve efficiency.
Breed complementarity improves marketability.
Traits Selected for:
Birth Weight Residual Feed Intake
Post Weaning Gain
Marbling Tenderness
Cull Poor Performers:
Frame Milk Production
Weaning Weight Scrotal
Circumference
Rib-eye Area Fat
Genetic Strategy
• Three breed rotation: Brangus, Simbrah, Deseret Red (South Devon, Red Poll, Brahman)
• Angus Calving Ease and Terminal Sires
• Seedstock Program
– Elite herds in each breed
– Multipliers
Breeding System
Seedstock System
Efficiency
• ADG
• Residual Feed Intake
Residual Feed Intake
Efficiency
• ADG
• Residual Feed Intake
Marketability
• Primary Selection:
– Marbling*
– Tenderness*
– Rib eye area
– Fat
Progeny Data
EPDs
• Livestock Genetic Services
– Database
– Genetic Evaluation
• Single Step methodology used to incorporate genomic information
• Economic Model
• Maternal
– Considers all three areas of focus
• Adaptability
• Efficiency
• Marketability
• Terminal
– Focus on Efficiency and Marketability
Selection Index
Heifer Development
Profitability
Cause and Affect
Manage Grass and Cattle
Thank you.DESERET RANCHES OF FLORIDA