Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Troy and Brandi Carruthers
started Carruthers Cattle
Company together in 2009.
Troy grew up helping and working
on his parents' family farm, until
he went off to college.
"After college I began a career
as a financial planner with intentions
to return to ranching at some
point," Troy said. "And my parents'
endeavors had changed, so it was
wonderful to have met a girl (his
wife, Brandi) who shared my goals
as was equally excited to jump
in with both feet to purchase our
place together."
Troy added that he continues to
assist clients with their financial
planning in addition to working on
the ranch. He said that the teamwork
with Brandi is "essential" in
accomplishing this work.
The Carruthers have 100 head
of commercial black Angus mother
cows, which are bred to Hereford
bulls by means of artificial insemination
- or A.I. They then follow
that up with putting the Angus
cattle with Hereford herd bulls to
ensure pregnancies.
"We are creating F1 Black
Baldies, where we sell the steer
calves at weaning time and purchase
back an equivalent group of
Baldies heifer calves that will be
grown to maturity with our home
raised heifers," he said. "As yearlings
they will then be A.I.-bred to
a proven calving ease Black Angus
bull and sold as bred heifers."
Carruthers stated they are purely
a ranching operation, and do not
farm their own feed for the cattle.
The daily tasks or chores that
occur on the ranch will vary greatly
with each season, according to
the rancher.
"As mentioned before, our teamwork is
essential, but truly loving all we do doesn't
hurt," said Troy. "We love cattle, we love talking
cattle, we love working cattle, we love the
people in the business and the family time it
allows for. How is it said? If you love what you
do, it's not work? We feel so blessed that God
has provided us with these opportunities and
way of life."
The Carruthers' mother cows calve starting
in the beginning of May through June, where
they must check, feed, tag and record keep on
the cattle – and both man and wife share these
responsibilities.
"This is one of our girls' favorite times of
year," said Troy. "They love to spot cows in
labor or new calves and they love telling all
what this ranch life entails."
Carruthers explains that their daughters
have a few cows of their own that will help pay
for college some day, and said that either one
or both of their girls are there involved in the
daily chores of the ranch.
"Even at the young ages of 3 and 5, our children
have real life experience of life, death,
business and understand that there are times
taking care of all these critters comes before all
else," said Troy. "It has been a wonderful opportunity
to teach them about the sovereign nature
of our great God through it all. They love getting
dirty and being outside. Nothing can compete
with the values they'll learn through selflessness,
responsibility and hard work in what
God has given us."
The rancher explained that because their
calving time is between May and June, that it
has allowed them to custom calve heifers from
January through April.
"These cattle have come from clients we
have bred heifers for the previous year. One
our favorite parts of our business is our A.I.
arm services and seaman sales. Brandi and I
work with Genex. Both of us are certified A.I.
Technicians, and together in our 2015 season
bred 2,000-plus head of cows and heifers.
"A.I. season goes from April to July for
spring calves and October to December for fall
calves. In winter months there are feed and
water chores as well as temporary fence for
winter grazing. Summer months fence maintenance
and water. In each season herd management
including branding, vaccinating and seeing
to it that overall herd health and nutrition
requirements are met."
Troy added that both he and his wife have
responsibilities outside of the ranch work. He
has meetings with his clientele and is required
to spend time in his office. Brandi homeschools
their daughters and takes care of all the book
work for the ranch.