Who Am I

Who am I and why am I doing this? Fair question to ask. I am a cattle rancher located in Eastern Montana. My operation is a cow-calf operation and I sell calves every fall to the highest bidder. I have over 500 head of mother cows and all my cows were born and raised on the place. The only outside cattle that come onto the place are strays and the seed bulls I buy.

What does this mean? This means my herd health is extremely high since I am introducing no foreign cattle and their disease in to the herd. I never confine my animals in a feedlot or small pen, they are all born, raised and live in open pastures so disease concerns from overcrowding are not an issue. Almost all feed, unless I buy hay because of a drought, is raised on the farm so possible contamination of the feed they eat is not a major concern.

These health issues are one of the reasons I oppose "mandatory" National Animal Identification System (NAIS). A well taken care herd of animals has no health problems that need to be watched and tracked. Also the state I live in has a perfectly good animal track back system in place to take care of such issues. The brand and movement papers for cattle provide a 48 hour track back of cattle that makes the NAIS not needed and an expense not worth it to the average cattle producer.

I keep hearing how the whole NAIS is going to be good for the big producers. With the number of cattle I run I am considered a big producer and I see no advantage to me in the system. I don't see how it will stimulate export demand and bring me a higher price for my calves. All I can see is the extra expense this mandate is going to cause me with no appreciable gain.

The last thing to know about me is my nom de plume, Sarpy Sam. My ranch falls on Sarpy Creek in Eastern Montana and ever since I started on the Internet I have used Sarpy Sam as identity on the Internet. It is not my real name. I have been posting as Sarpy Sam on my personal blog, Thoughts from the Middle of Nowhere for over two years now and after a while you wear an identity for so long you become it. That's what has happened to me, I am Sarpy Sam anymore. I'm not hiding anything. If a person really wants to find out who I am they can. Quite a few people all ready know. But I hear somebody call for Sam anymore and I turn to look. The name has become me. I hope you understand.