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Our 200 acre farm is located 160 kms northwest of Toronto, just below Owen Sound and the Bruce Peninsula. The terrain consists of wetlands, woodlands and hills. The soil base is varied, from loam to sand to gravel. Climactic conditions are also as varied. Our winters are windy and cold with snow accumulations up to a meter or more in places. In a severe winter, our temperatures can dip as low as -30 degrees Celsius, but usually average around -15. In the summer, we can have 35 plus with the average being around 25-30 degrees Celsius. Our rainfall can vary from year to year. The last few years have unfortunately been very dry. All of our land is utilized for pasture and hay dependent on the rainfall. Hay is our primary source of feed and supplemented only if there is a need or a cost factor. There are designated watering areas along the 2 streams that meander through our property.
Our cattle have to adapt to this variation and still produce. The main cow herd is wintered in the back forties with a wooded area as their protection. Feed and bedding is brought to them as required. They have to walk to the watering areas. They are brought up to the main barn, which is an open concept, a month before calving and then moved into the calving pens for calving, but are fed at feeders outside. After calving, the cows move into a drylot adjacent to the barn and only the calves have access to the barn when needed. Our heifer calves are developed in a pole barn along with the 1st calf heifers. This barn is also open concept. We have no closed facilities for calving or feeding. However, our drylot areas are high and dry with windbreaks. Calving takes place in January and February for the heifers and March and April for the majority of cows. Our bulls are kept outside on a bed of straw and corn stover.
Our animals have to be structurally correct and efficient in their feed conversion to remain productive. They have to be able to walk to their feed, their water and their protected areas even through the coldest of winters. If they adapt well to our environment, we know that they have the ability to do well for you.
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We are located 3 miles (5 km) west of Varney, off Highway #6,
north of Mount Forest.
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Home - History - Polled Factor - Manta Bloodline Advantage - Genetic Principles - Females/Sires
Our Environment - Erich's View
KERN SIMMENTALS, RR # 1, Hanover, Ont. N4N 3B8
Tel/Fax: 519-369-6447 Email: dek@bmts.com
Copyright © 2006, 2007 Kern Simmentals. Design by Andreas Viklund