July 2, 2009 - Derrell Cox has spent his years in the dairy business adapting to an ever-changing industry.
"My granddad bought 84 acres in Winnsboro in 1953, and ran a few beef cows and milked a few Grade B dairy cows," said Cox, owner of Cox Dairy Cattle, Incorporated. "In 1968, my dad got a Grade A permit and milked cows on the same land. Then in 1980, I bought a few cows and became partners with my dad."
Through the 80s and into the 90s, Cox and his father traded a few cattle, but it was mostly to local dairymen. In 1994, Cox bought out his father and increased production.
"When I took over the dairy, we still had the original 84 acres that my granddad purchased in the 50s, but I had also added an additional 300 acres of leased land," Cox recalled. "I topped out at milking about 400 cows, twice a day. Most of my dairy cattle are Holstein, but I do have a few crosses as well. Altogether, I have about 500 dairy cows, including dry cows out on pasture."
In 1995, Cox decided to start trading cattle to supplement his income.
"My father and I had traded cattle on and off for a few years, and in the time doing so, we met a few folks up in Kansas that were in the dairy business," he said. "We saw the opportunity to be able to trade cattle to other dairies throughout our region and up into the Midwest.
"We started by trading and selling dairy replacement heifers and entire dairy herds. Now, we move about 2,500 to 3,000 dairy cows a year. Most of the replacement heifers come from dairies up in Oklahoma and Kansas. We also buy some locally as well. We develop the heifers and then sell them to dairies throughout the country. We are kind of like a middle man for buying replacement heifers or dairy herds."
In 2005, Cox began trading contracted cattle.
"After a few years of trading cattle to several dairies throughout the country, we saw another opportunity to trade contracted cattle," he said. "We would buy young heifers from dairies, develop them out and then contract them back to the dairies that we bought them from. The heifers are usually six to seven-months bred when we contract them back to the dairies. We used to artificially inseminate all of the heifers, but we don't anymore."
Altogether, the business ventures create a large volume of business.
"On top of the 3,000 cattle a year we were already working, the contracted cattle added another 2,000. Although we move about 5,000 cattle through our operation throughout the year, we do not have that many cattle on our place at one time."
Cox Dairy Cattle, Incorporated trades and contracts cattle all over the nation.
"We trade cattle all over," Cox said. "We haul cattle to West Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas and several states in the Midwest, including Wisconsin and Minnesota. Restrictions on hauling cattle across state lines is continuously getting more strict. We have to have all cattle tuberculosis tested and bangs vaccinated."
Cox and his wife Brenda, along with their son Wayne, 29, and daughter Sheree, 26, still milk 400 cows twice a day.
"Our operation has grown quite a bit since I got started in the 80s," Cox said proudly. "We now own 800 acres and lease 1,200 acres. Our milk herd is a closed herd, and we do not use any of our own cattle in the trading or contracting part of our business."
Cox said they work cattle a little different now as well.
"Running as much cattle as we do on such a wide range of land, we found it easier and more pleasurable to work on horseback," he stated. "All of our pastures are cross-fenced, so it is easier to rope and doctor a sick cow in the pasture than having to run her up, as well as several other cows, through numerous gates just to get her to a working pen."
Running more cattle requires managing pasture and forages as well.
"We raise all of our own silage and keep adequate pastures for grazing year-round," he said. "We raise Elborn rye grass and Milk-A-Lot sorghum for silage. We also use rye for winter pastures as well. During the spring and summer, we rotate pastures and manage forage to ensure that it will last throughout the season.
"Along with keeping our cattle on pasture, we supplement them as well. Our open heifers receive a 14 percent heifer feed and added mineral. Our cows and heifers that are at least two-months bred receive a total mixed ration with a balanced blend of numerous ingredients."
Cox said, with the economy suffering like it is, his business will probably only sell half the cattle it has sold in years before.
"Times are tough, but we are hanging in there," he said. "We have started selling hog hunts on our land and hosting pasture ropings to make a little extra money. It is also a great way to get to know people and have a little fun as well."
For more information about Cox Dairy Cattle, Incorporated, visit www.CoxDairyCattle.com .
