Cattle have been a part of my life since I was three years old with the exception of two periods of time, while I was in college and for the first eleven years after I joined the faculty of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University. My grandfather gave me my first cow. When I finished high school, I sold 16 descendents of that cow. After completing veterinary college in 1972, I opened a veterinary practice in my home town. While I was in practice, I had a commercial cattle operation on the family farm. In 1981, I sold those cattle when we moved to the Mississippi State community.
 

Little Creek Farm became a reality in 1992 when Mary Cheek and I purchased nine purebred Simmental cows along with six Polled Hereford cows. Our early experience with these cattle led to some decisions about the next cattle we would buy. We wanted cattle that had frame scores between the traditional Simmental and the polled Hereford cows and cattle that fleshed easily and were “easy keepers” during the winter months. We also wanted cattle that exhibited excellent body thickness and depth along with well defined muscle conformation.

We found those characteristics in Fullblood Fleckvieh Simmental cattle. Since 1994, when we made our first significant Fleckvieh purchase, we have been fortunate to assemble what we believe is a quality group of embryo transfer (ET) donor females. The donor cows are complemented by a group of artificial insemination (AI) bred cows and a herd of embryo recipient cows.

Our breeding program focuses on three areas: AI, ET, and pasture breeding. Our embryo transfers utilize embryos from our donor cows and purchased select embryos that bring genetic diversification to our herd. We utilize semen from old line traditional Fleckvieh sires as well as the newer, most promising sires to produce our embryos and to breed the AI herd. We have purchased semen shares on several bulls including DDD Broadway G534 and BHR Three Sixes SA L666E. We are one of the partners who purchased CF-DDD Hollywood M200 and a partner in the US semen rights of Shawacres Jahari 50L.

During the fall 2003 and spring 2004 breeding seasons we utilized BHR Renmor Benz SA L567E. This was made possible through a lease agreement with Buzzard Hollow Ranch (BHR). Renmor Benz is a full South African bull whose dam was flushed for the first time at age 17 by BHR. At 16 years of age, her udder was as sound as the best udder you have ever seen on a 4-year old cow. Renmor Benz’s sire is the calving ease bull, Benz, who has proven his genetic traits at BHR. His first calves are due in October. Our plan is to keep a nucleus of Renmor Benz’s heifers to begin our next phase of herd improvement.

In May 2004 we purchased BHR Vanderbilt M875E, a BHR Doorn G629E son out of BHR Lady Susi J067E (Kykso Hadau X Congosim Susi). To say we are excited about the potential that this young, dark red, double goggled herdsire brings to our herd would be an understatement. Vandy was mated to a limited number of cows and heifers after his purchase. He will be mated to some of our very best cows during the next breeding season.

Other herd bulls include Little Creek Knight 120K (HVR Goldilocks 435F X DDD Broadway G534), and Mezcal Jr.(Mezcal [Zeus] X MC Ygelig Gelb Y6E [Iglhoff]). Mezcal Jr was purchased from Mr. Vernon Hoffman, owner of Hickory Grove Farms.

“If you stand still, you are backing up.” With that in mind, Little Creek Farm is in the early stages of a new breeding program that will demonstrate the impact of Fleckvieh genetics when used in a cross breeding program. This year we utilized two Red Angus sires to breed a select group of Fleckvieh heifers and cows. The Fleckvieh heifers and cows we selected were light red and/or broken patterned individuals. Additionally, we have purchased a small herd of Red Angus cows, part of which we will breed to Fleckvieh bulls. In addition to demonstrating the advantages of utilizing Fleckvieh genetics, our plans include building an ET recipient cow herd from the Fleckvieh Simmental – Red Angus matings.

Give us a call. Come see us. Visitors are always welcome.