We are a family operation which consists of Klint, Lori, our son Austin and daughter Bree along with Lori’s mother Marilyn Williamson. Everything on our ranch is done by us, our dogs, horses, some limited part time help and some very good friends.
We currently run 570 cows, of which half are registered. Our cows winter and calve at home on Clear Creek in the spring. Then all the pairs are hauled 30 miles to spend the summer and fall in the Bear Paw Mountains south of Lloyd, MT. From there the calves are weaned and shipped. Our cows remain until December 1st before they are trailed back home. Once our cows are home they typically graze until mid January or until the snow gets to deep. Our cattle need to be structurally sound and adapted to climbing the steep and rocky terrain. Our bulls and females can go on to their new owners and adapt easily to any environment.
We currently run 570 cows, of which half are registered. Our cows winter and calve at home on Clear Creek in the spring. Then all the pairs are hauled 30 miles to spend the summer and fall in the Bear Paw Mountains south of Lloyd, MT. From there the calves are weaned and shipped. Our cows remain until December 1st before they are trailed back home. Once our cows are home they typically graze until mid January or until the snow gets to deep. Our cattle need to be structurally sound and adapted to climbing the steep and rocky terrain. Our bulls and females can go on to their new owners and adapt easily to any environment.
We take great pride in running our registered and commercial cattle together year around. There is no special attention or excuses given to the registered cows. We cull on disposition, fertility, mothering ability and performance. Absolutely no hoof trimming is done here. Registered cows are the role models for commercial cows. We believe they ought to be treated the same in order to identify the type of cow that produces traits to keep today’s ranchers in business. We are going to try to work with our environment instead of against it and let our cows be cows. The later calving cows require a lot less attention than the earlier ones. It’s obvious in this industry, we need to adapt in every way that we can in order to stay profitable.
We A.I. most of our mature registered, and commercial cows, as well as all of our yearling heifers. They are A.I.’d once and then put with clean up bulls. Each year, we flush a few cows and put embryo’s in our own recip cows here at the ranch. Our donor cows are chosen after they have proven to us that they are outstanding cows. Most of them are pathfinders. Our donor cows are flushed with a calf at side and are expected to breed back right after flushing. They are run right alongside the rest of our cows. The A.I. and clean up bulls that we use have to be very complete. We do not use a bull for a single trait. If you look through our bull battery, you won’t find many “holes” in their EPD’s. Our clean up bulls are also expected to breed cows in large rugged pastures.
This year we have made the decision to calve later. Our heifers are due to start in March and our cows in April. Instead of having to push our yearling bulls to grow quickly for breeding, we are going to slowly grow them out for a fall sale of coming two-year olds.
We enjoy working for our cowherd every day of the year. Klint personally knows each and every cow that we own. We are not into “show cattle” but if you would like to see our cattle, we will gladly saddle the horses and take a ride through the hills and “show” you our cattle, gritting it out in the tough country. If you have any questions on any of our animals, you will get a quick, honest answer.
Give us a call or stop by anytime, the coffee's always on!
This year we have made the decision to calve later. Our heifers are due to start in March and our cows in April. Instead of having to push our yearling bulls to grow quickly for breeding, we are going to slowly grow them out for a fall sale of coming two-year olds.
We enjoy working for our cowherd every day of the year. Klint personally knows each and every cow that we own. We are not into “show cattle” but if you would like to see our cattle, we will gladly saddle the horses and take a ride through the hills and “show” you our cattle, gritting it out in the tough country. If you have any questions on any of our animals, you will get a quick, honest answer.
Give us a call or stop by anytime, the coffee's always on!
Klint & Lori Swanson - 2265 Gooseberry Lane * Chinook, Montana 59523 * (406) 357-2492 * (406) 357-2298 Fax
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Shipwheel Cattle Company - All Rights Reserved - Copyright 2008 - Klint & Lori Swanson
2265 Gooseberry Lane - Chinook, Montana 59523 * (406) 357-2492 * Fax (406) 357-2298 * Email us Here
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Shipwheel Cattle Company - All Rights Reserved - Copyright 2008 - Klint & Lori Swanson
2265 Gooseberry Lane - Chinook, Montana 59523 * (406) 357-2492 * Fax (406) 357-2298 * Email us Here
Site Design by Montana Grafix - Chinook, Montana
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