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Strommen Ranch
We believe. . . It’s not enough to solely manage for forage production. Quality genetics – cattle that can efficiently convert forage into pounds of high-quality beef – are a critical part of managing for a ranch’s bottom-line. Strommen Ranch cows must calve annually and wean a calf that is a high percentage of its dam’s bodyweight. They must also possess the basic phenotypic traits to cover country, breed on time, have the smarts and mothering ability to do it on their own, all the while performing under the conditions that Mother Nature has dealt us. We select for fertility, longevity, sound structure and realistic performance in the cowherd - traits that, when combined, result in Maternal POWER™.
Strommen Ranch calves grow out on grass. We DO NOT creep feed. We want your calves to perform in your environment. That's why we ask our bulls and females to shine in a similar one. We are proud of the fact that for 11 years straight, we've increased weaning weights, while maintaining downward pressure on input costs. We are continually asking our cattle to do more with less.
Chasing fads or using one-trait selection is a really good way to hurt the important traits we all need to survive in the beef industry: fertility, longevity, sound feet, legs and udders. That’s why we use proven, balanced-trait bulls that have daughters in production and have made Pathfinder status.
This decision gives us the opportunity to evaluate the bull’s calves and daughters in production before we use him. Many of the bulls we are using are still alive and producing semen at 10 to 15 years of age - a true sign of fertility and longevity that they have likely passed on to their daughters.
Our herd dates back to 1942 when Aaron’s grandfather, Ernest Strommen, bought his first registered Angus female. His herd consisted of moderate-framed, highly-fertile, low-input cattle that calved with little assistance and produced good milk in a grass-based environment.
We are continuing that tradition, starting with two heifers from Grandpa’s last calf crop in 2001. This winter we will calve 200 head of Angus females we’ve selected for their fleshing ability on native range, fertility, longevity and sound udder and leg structure. To maintain their place in the herd, they must exhibit Maternal POWER™. Our cattle have to survive – and thrive – in a low-input, grass-based environment of the Northern Plains.
These cattle don’t live by a feed bucket. They simply can’t. We have no feed base and choose not to put up feed. Every acre of this ranch is grazed and we purchase all of the supplemental feed we need to get through a typical North Dakota winter.
This situation has quickly taught us the value of managing our natural resources so that our cattle can graze quality, un-harvested forages well into January or early February. And it has reinforced the value we place on cattle that successfully convert grass and forage into pounds of beef.
It’s not enough to solely manage for forage production. Quality genetics – cattle that can efficiently convert forage into pounds of high-quality beef – are a critical part of managing for a ranch’s bottom-line.
Strommen Ranch cows are expected to wean stout calves that are a high percentage of their mama’s bodyweight, and the cows must maintain their flesh and re-breed quickly in the spring, preferably to select A.I. sires. Selecting for efficiency, fertility and longevity in the cowherd simply returns more dollars to our bottom-line and to our customers’.
We feel fortunate that we can raise a family doing what we love to do most. We are hopeful that the management decisions we make today will enhance the next generation’s opportunities in both forage and beef production.