5L was the brand chosen for a family of 5 L's - Lawrence, Lillian, Larry, Linda and Lenny Mehlhoff.  Descending from a long line of farmers and ranchers, they began raising Red Angus cattle 34 years in North Dakota.  Previous to that time, they raised registered Shorthorns and commercial cattle.  In 1977 they purchased a few registered Red Angus.  They took these along when they moved to Paradise Valley south of Livingston, MT in 1979.  In 1979, they purchased the Centurion Cattle Co. Red Angus herd from Nebraska.  Larry purchased some Red Angus females after graduating from high school in 1979 and started his own herd of reds.  When his dad, Lawrence, was forced to sell out in 1985, Larry purchased some of his cattle.  From that point we have expanded primarily by using an extensive A.I. program and retaining most of the heifer calves.  It has been a long journey, with 3 changes in location along the way.  We thank the Lord for all He has brought us through and for His provision along the way.

The 5L's have now expanded to 7 L's in the 2nd generation.  Larry married Lisa Stands in Paradise Valley in 1983 and they now have the 5 L children:  Laramie (25), Larisa (23), Landon (20, Larinda (18) and Logan (14).  They are all a very vital part of our ranch operation, working in all phases of it,from haying and irrigating, to all aspects of the cattle work.  Much of the year, they are our only help and of course they are always our best help.  What a blessing they are!
At 5L we are currently running around 1500 mother cows, breeding 2000 head every spring.  Our cattle are a combination of 1A, 1B, and black-red carriers, along with a few registered Black Angus and commercial cows.  In the spring of 2001 we purchased 1/2 of the XXX Red Angus cow herd and their replacement heifers.  We purchased the rest of the XXX cow herd in 2008, along with Les Woldstad's herd and most of the Calwlfield herd.  All of our cattle are run like the commercial cattle in our area on a variety of pasture ground from the valley floor to the mountains.  We don't have time or resources to pamper our cattle, so those that don't work hard for a living, go to town.

As our logo has said for years, we focus on balanced females here at 5L.  The cows  are the bread and butter of the cattleman.  A cow that can't raise a good calf on her own, or comes up open, goes to town.  Moderate-sized, good uddered, easy fleshing, structurally correct, fertile, wedge shaped females with a lot of body, adequate milk and a calm disposistion  are what we strive for.  It takes a good, balanced cow to produce great bulls and females consistently.  Instead of following fads or focusing on extremes, we breed for balanced, functional cattle that will perform in any environment.  Middle of the road in all traits will make you  more money in the long run, than chasing extremes or big numbers.

Calving ease is also an important factor at 5L.  Calving ease does not necessarily mean low birth weight.  A heavier calf that is made right will come easier that a lighter one that isn't.  Remember, too, that length also adds birthweight, but doesn't affect calving ease.  Birthweight EPD's may not always be indicative of calving ease.  Calving Ease Direct and Calving Ease Total Maternal EPD's are very important numbers to watch as well.

Our calves are contemporaried in large birth contemporary groups.  We only use 4 groups total, separating the heifer calves from the bull calves and the 1st calf heifers from the rest of the cow herd.

Weaning contemporary groups are large as well and are contemporaried according to the type of pasture they run on.  The more calves there are in a group, the more accurate your data will be.  Accuracy and integrity are of top priority to us.

We feed our own bull calves here at the ranch and they are fed a high roughage ration after weaning for a 2.8#/day target gain.  This is enough to adequately test them without over conditioning them.  Over conditioned bulls are not ready to go to work and tend to have more feet and fertility problems. The February and March born calves are sold in the spring sale and they are put on test at weaning.  The April, May & June born calves are fed a roughage only ration until late summer when some concentrate is added.  They are the bulls we sell in our fall sale.

At our annual production sales we sell red angus bulls and black-red carrier bulls we call our Profit Plus bulls.  These Profit Plus bulls are a result of adding top Black Angus genetics to our herd.

Location:

5L Red Angus is located 1 mile west of Sheridan, Montana in the heart of the
beautiful Ruby Valley in southwestern Montana.

Thank you for your interest.  You are always welcome to come and visit us.
The
5L Gang
2011
Larry & Lisa Mehlhoff
Laramie, Larisa, Landon, Larinda, & Logan
97 Duncan District Road
Sheridan, MT  59749
406-842-5693
406-596-1204
5lranch@3rivers.net
The .Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him and He helps me.  My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him. 
Psalm 28:7
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6