The foundation of our program focuses on efficiency. Pairs are turned out to grass in the early spring and supported with rotational grazing all summer. The rotational grazing allows cows access to the best nutrition while allowing regrowth that supports pasture longevity. This method of grazing also allows us to move cattle away from areas with built up manure and allows us to better manage fly control.  A mineral supplement that is made to support breeding cattle is supplied as free choice all year- round. Using a cow/calf focused mineral has resulted in great calf vigor at birth. Calves are raised with mother's milk, fresh grass, and access to mineral. We do not offer creep feed in order to see the true potential of a growing animal. The results have been impressive. Weaned calves are brought home to stock piled forages near the home site and are offered a cool complete pellet that takes the place of milk. They continue on this diet of grass, mineral, and complete pellet through the winter and until they leave the farm. Mother cows are out on pasture until October and are brought home to graze any available corn stalks, cover crops, or soybean stubble. If the winter allows grass bales are unrolled when we reach the time frame of two months from calving. All body condition scores are taken at time of calving, out on summer pasture, preg-check/ weaning and two to three months prior to calving. BSCs allow us to monitor how each cow is performing at major production times. This also allows us to make any forage and feed adjustments to offer the appropriate nutrition at the appropriate time. After calving the cows are maintained on grass hay and supplementation that is aimed at filling in the gaps according to forage analysis. When the winter breaks, and grass greens up the cows head back to pasture to start the cycle over again.