PHOENIX, Ariz. – About a half hour west of Phoenix is a sea of black and white in the midst of citrus, cotton and cactus.
Heiden Land and Cattle Company finishes about 6,500 Holstein steers on feed year round, providing an outlet for dairy bulls that come from as far away as California.
“We’re probably one of the last of what you consider a farmer feeder,” said owner Les Heiden, who is also president of the Arizona Cattle Feeders Association.
At one time this area had about 600,000 head on feed, but as urban development sprawled in all directions from Phoenix, the numbers dropped to 250,000.
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Heiden’s father and grandfather started the farm in 1947 by feeding beef animals, but they wanted a more consistent steer supply.
“Holstein cattle are available year round,” Heiden told a tour group Jan. 27.
The company also feeds a few crossbred beef calves used for cutting horse competitions over the summer, but prefers the Holsteins because they are quiet and finish well.
The calves arrive at the lot when they are six to seven months old and weigh about 275 pounds. Lighter calves do not thrive.
The animals eat a ration of one-third corn, one-third durum, roughage and supplements. Water is added to bring the ration up to 15 percent moisture.
Arizona is a major durum producer but has also been troubled with karnal bunt, so feedlots buy the downgraded grain.
The steers are fed for about 330 days to get the desired red meat yield and quality and leave when they weigh 1,200 lb. About 60 percent achieve the Choice grade from a 650 lb. carcass. Most are sold to Brawley Beef in California or a local plant, Sunland Beef.
Heiden believes his steers’ weight gain compares well with beef types.
“If you look at the heads and the conformation of the cattle, actually if you painted them all black or red or yellow, you’d probably think they weren’t too bad,” he said.
Animals are implanted with growth hormones twice and all wear plastic dangle ear tags for management purposes. Heiden hopes these can dovetail into the Arizona Cattle Feeders Association identification program that is expected earlier next year.
Canadian feedlots provide windbreaks but in hot climates like Arizona, the pens have overhead shades to protect animals from the burning sun. In summer the temperatures can exceed 45 C. Last summer the thermometer went even higher and the calves were stressed.
“They just bawled and bawled,” Heiden said.
Waste management is also a challenge in the heat. Manure tends to dry out quickly in the hot, dry air but the farm is still likely to install a lagoon for runoff.
While the runoff will probably evaporate before it is spread on the surrounding farmland, increasing urban encroachment is forcing the company to look at upgraded manure management plans.
