• Producers breed for improved genetics• Produce all breeding stock (Bulls and Heifers)• Raise purebred or registered cattle• Pay close attention to EPD’s or Expected

Progeny Difference (a calf’s genetic script)

• Producer has a permanent herd of cows to produce calves each year to sale

• Some heifer calves may be kept to replace older cows in the herd that become unproductive

• Other heifer prodigy and steers are usually sold at weaning to other cow/calf producers, feedyards, or as show prospects

• Someone who buys cattle, adds value to them, and sells them at a higher price

• Usually buy a cow/calf operators bottom end calves that don’t meet a producers expectation for a low price, add value to them by adding on weight, and sell those cattle at a higher price and weight making money for the stocker

• Must have a good health program or stockers will lose money

• Producers that feed high forage diets to gain weight on cattle between weaning and feedlot

• Cuts down on cost and implements growth on calves with land that is not being used for anything else

• Looked at as a training program to prepare cattle for the feedlot

• Producers whose primary goal is to produce cattle for herd replacement, feeding, and slaughter rather than breeding stock for sale to other producers

• Commercial cattle are not registered