Flying H Genetics
Cattleman’s Chronicle
Fall Newsletter
2017
Vol.19
Tired of Fat Bulls That Fail? WHEN YOU BUY A BULL YOU SHOULD EXPECT three THINGS—Superior Genetics delivered by a bull that is physically sound, aggressive and ready to work! There are lots of bulls with good genetics but most are not ready to work. Many are fed corn fat and/or are bad footed and poor structured and really struggle to do the job you bought them to do. Many buyers have told me they have bought bulls where they had to shrink the fat off before they could even use them. SO, WHY ARE BULLS FED FAT—it makes them and their numbers look better than they really so they sell for more money. SO, WHY DO PEOPLE BUY FAT BULLS—because they look really nice and thick and smooth and have impressive weights.
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hen you purchase cattle from Flying H Genetics, you can be assured you are getting cattle that are both “Bred 4 Profit” and “Built 2 Work.” That’s because we offer a number of trademarked services that are designed specifically to ensure our customers receive the very best cattle, regardless of which breed they select. We want customers to be satisfied with the cattle they buy, so we developed our 17 Quality Standards to make sure we eliminate the unacceptable and multiply only superior cattle. Then we Guarantee Calving Ease on every bull sold. Plus our Money Makin’ Mamas, Roughage N Ready and Fescue Adapted/Grown-
A specialty with our Missouri Bull Development Center is our Fescue Adapted/Grown on Grass Bulls ... that eliminates the Fescue issue for ranchers and provides bulls that are athletic and ready to work, and not fed corn fat.
On-Grass Development Programs assure our customers functional, hardworking bulls and cows. In addition, we cull heavily on structure and soundness, and have included an excellent article on page 2 to help explain these traits.
No cattleman wants to experience calving difficulty, so identifying bulls and cows with bred-in calving ease allows Flying H Genetics to offer animals that are Guaranteed for Calving Ease. Flying H Genetics uses the Calving Ease EPD and other factors to identify bulls that are guaranteed for use on first calf heifers also. Everything from genetics to the environment and the cow influences calving ease , and every animal we offer comes with our Calving Ease Guarantee. A specialty with our Missouri Bull Development Center is our Fescue Adapted/Grown on Grass Bulls. These bulls are mob grazed on Fescue and those that can’t handle the endophyte are culled leaving us with bulls that are athletic, adapted and ready to Continued on page 7
Evaluating feet and leg structure: A lost and important skill Progressive Cattleman Editor Cassidy Woolsey Published on 17 April 2017 Illustrations by Corey Lewis, provided by Shane Bedwell.
“If you buy a $4,000
or $5,000 yearling bull and he doesn’t breed any cows next year
because he’s got bad feet, you’ve got a big problem,” Weaber
said. “If they’re not
made right, you find out pretty quick.”
The challenge Weaber referred to was lameness, a hot topic in the industry today affecting both profitability and animal welfare. Most seedstock and commercial producers can relate to the scenario where a bull or cow was culled because of bad feet; that’s money lost, and in some cases, a lot of money. “If you buy a $4,000 or $5,000 yearling bull and he doesn’t breed any cows next year because he’s got bad feet, you’ve got a big problem,” Weaber said. “If they’re not made right, you find out pretty quick.”
The basics It is important to select and breed animals for a balance of phenotype and genotype.
Selection used to be entirely phenotypic.
Everybody was an expert in structural evaluation and based decisions off what was seen by the naked eye. Then came the performance movement of the 1960s and ’70s, and the industry shifted to modern evaluation systems and selection tools such as expected progeny differences (EPDs) as a large part of their selection.
Shane Bedwell, chief operating officer and director of breed improvement at the American Hereford Association, echoed Weaber’s remarks, saying, “A balance of phenotype and genetic emphasis is where the industry needs to be.” With that said, he detailed four fundamentally important selection points to watch for: • Topline – A simple trick Bedwell uses to determine if an animal is correct in its structure or not is to look at its topline. They don’t have to be perfect in their topline, he said, but when animals are too straight in their shoulder, they will roach up in their back, or there will be some noticeable deviations. He said they will likely drop their head if they are too straight in their front-end because it’s physically and naturally more painful to get their neck and head up out of the top of the shoulder.
Most recently, genomic technologies have enabled producers to determine how efficient an animal will be in the feedlot, how it will serve as a replacement in a breeding program, and if it is susceptible to certain diseases. But with these prolific advancements, is it possible the industry lost a simple, yet important skill along the way? Addressing the topic of lameness and cattle structure at the Cattlemen’s College during the 2017 National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Cattle Industry Convention in February, industry professionals proposed just that: The industry has lost the necessary skill to evaluate proper feet and leg structure. “I suspect in some ways [genetic advancements] contributed to the challenge we have now,” said Bob Weaber, an associate professor of breeding and genetics at Kansas State University. “We only have so many things to select for and only so much selection pressure we can apply. Maybe we’ve diluted that a little too much and avoided some of the traits that have a functional connotation to them that we should be thinking about.”
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• Angle of the shoulder – The ideal angle for the shoulder in relation to the ground is approximately 45 degrees. This angle allows for the appropriate range of motion. As the angle becomes larger, it restricts the movement in the animal, resulting in shorter steps. Bedwell said the animal should be able to “fill their track,” meaning they place their hind foot where their front foot had just been. The stride up front is important, but where the track is measured is at the hind leg, he said. • Leg structure – There are a number of terms used to describe the leg structure of an animal. There is pigeon-toed or bowlegged, splayfooted or knock-kneed, cow hocked, sickle hocked, post legged and buck kneed. Bedwell suggested the easiest way to look for these structural imperfections is to study the animal’s dewclaws from behind. He said if the dewclaws are pointing out, you probably have a bowlegged problem. If they are pointing in, the animal is probably cow hocked. Of these, Bedwell said he would choose cow hocked over bowlegged because a bowlegged animal is going to put too much pressure on the outside of the animal’s hoof wall, causing the hoof wall to grind down with the outside toe becoming small and the inside toe growing out. He would also choose sickle hocked over post legged because those animals will have better longevity. • Feet structure – A critical aspect to consider is the depth of the heel, Bedwell said. If there is not enough depth in the heel and strength in the pastern, it starts to grow out. Producers just don’t have the time to be trimming feet, especially in larger operations. The hoof should be dense and able to support the weight of the animal. He also explained that the ideal hoof should have two symmetrical claws that both point forward. A producer should look for a big, even, square foot, he said. Weaber also told producers that KSU is currently working on developing a scoring system and is investigating what genetic associations feet and leg structure has with other traits. He expects feet and leg structure can one day be incorporated into a selection index. “Having an EPD for a trait – whether your breed has a problem or not – tells your customers it’s important,” Weaber said. “We expect to improve longevity and welfare of our animals, and certainly the economics associated with [replacing breeding stock]. I encourage you if you’re a seedstock producer to start collecting this data because it’s going to be important long-term.”
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Saturday, October 28th, 2017 • at the Bull Barn, East of Butler, MO
85 Age Advantaged & Fescue Adapted Bulls & 50 Commercial Spring Bred Heifers Sell!
Gelbvieh ARPS 546D AMGV 1347607
FusionTM BABG 39D AMGV 1372363
FusionTM FHG 014D AMGV 1347197
Balancer® FHG 090D AMGV 1347369
Balancer® FHG 134D AMGV 1347412
Balancer® FHG 156D AMGV 1360833
Gelbvieh FHG 295D AMGV 1348757
Red ANGUS FHG 308D AMAR 3536336
Sale Starts at 1:00 pm CST October 28th Join us for lunch at 12:00 pm
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Balancer® FHG 349D AMGV 1379846
For more , videos information ok, scan and sale bo go to the code or our website
www.flyinghgenetics.com
FusionTM FHG 384D AMGV 1349811
Balancer® FHG 402D AMGV 1349880
Simmental KB D662 AMSM 3162212
Simmental KB D668 AMSM 3162230
Simmental KB D676 AMSM 3162222
Balancer® KOBG 66D AMGV 1372361
SimAngusTM T2 BR211-D AMSM 3108712
SimAngusTM T2 OR775-D AMSM 3120349
SimAngusTM T2 RD808-D AMSM 3103867
Flying H Genetics—17 Quality Standards Flying H Genetics developed our 17 QUALITY STANDARDS in order to guarantee the genetic quality of every animal we market. EVERY Standard must be met or exceeded by EVERY bull/female or they are culled: When available, we use EPD’s, Indexes and DNA to more accurately analyze the genetics that influence all of these Quality Standards. We score and cull every animal for disposition and then guarantee their disposition to the satisfaction of the buyer.
1. Calving Ease: must be primary – nothing else matters if the calf is
DOA. We use a 1-5 calving ease score: 1 = no assistance; 2 = easy pull; 3 = hard pull; 4 = Caesarean Section; 5 = abnormal presentation. We also watch the genetics, body conformation and bone structure to help eliminate difficult births. We feel so strongly about the importance of calving ease that we guarantee every bull we sell for calving ease.
11. Conformation and Soundness: relates to ability and function.
The best bull is no good if he can’t travel and breed cows, and what good is a cow that looks good but can’t perform her duties? Longevity and productivity have to start with a solid foundation. We also DNA test for known genetic defects and eliminate all lethal or unsound structure carriers.
2. Birth Weight: is relative to calving ease and performance. There are
MANY different factors that affect birth weight; therefore, a bull’s own birth weight is not an accurate indicator of his calves’ birth weights. Acceptable birth weights will vary depending on what the rancher is asking the bull to do. Higher growth or performance will increase birth weights because the same genetics that help the calf grow after birth are also at work in the womb.
The following standards must be met by the bull’s dam: 12. Teat and Udder Quality: look to the bull’s mother to tell you what his daughters might be like. Bulls pass along genetics for traits that can’t be measured on the bull himself - what good are his daughters if they have to be sold at four or five years of age because of balloon teats or bad udders? This trait is especially important when trying to build your own factory of functional productive, problem-free cows.
3. Weaning Weight: is utilized as a measure of genetic growth/perfor-
mance. Most calves are weaned at 6-10 months of age when they weigh 450-700 lbs. That weight is then adjusted to a 205 day weight to allow for more accurate comparison between calves of different ages.
13. Milk Production: on bulls? Yes – this is another trait for which we
4. Weaning/Yearling Hip Height: is used as a tool to help quantify
look beyond the bull for the answer. How much milk do you want? Ideally, you want all of the milk you can get and have the cow rebreed without additional feed. Only you know what your ranch can provide, but milk is better than creep feed. The “ideal” milk EPD will vary by breed and environment.
growth and mature size. Experience shows that cattle that score frame four (4) and below may not have adequate frame for acceptable growth for some environments and that cattle above frame seven (7) may have more frame and growth than needed when retaining replacement heifers. Each rancher must determine the level of growth and frame that fits his needs – at FHG you will find most cattle range between frames 4 and 7.
14. Fertility: of the bull’s daughters is influenced by his genetics. How his
mother and the dam of his sire performed provides good insight as to what his daughters might be like. At FHG, our cows must breed and rebreed without fail; if not, the factory is only consuming and not producing. Research tells us that reproduction is ten times more important to the bottom line than carcass quality, and five times more important than growth. Everything else is meaningless if the calf is never conceived. One way to look at it is, “every cow produces something to sell every year – either a calf, or herself.” FHG bulls pass along fertility because our breeds are noted for very strong fertility, early puberty, and excellent rebreeding – and we have bred and culled those same traits.
5. Yearling Weight: is also utilized as a measure of genetic growth/
performance. Our bulls, grown in large pens in our ROUGHAGE N’ READY program in NE or developed grazing Fescue in our GROWN ON GRASS program in MO, are muscular and athletic with sound feet and legs and are ready to work.
6. Weight per Day of Age: most cattlemen get paid by the pound,
so growth is very important. With our minimum standards we eliminate the poor-doing cattle while maintaining calving ease or moderate mature size. By adding length, depth, and thickness rather than fat and frame, we’re adding real pounds of beef that translates into more pounds to sell for more profit.
15. Efficiency: of the bull’s mother. In order to produce efficient facto-
ries, you need to use the right building materials. If you are trying to produce cows that consistently wean over 50% of their body weight, why not buy bulls from cows that are doing it without the aid of creep feed or irrigated pastures? We are not talking about 8 or 9 month old calf weights but, rather, 205 day weights. Real pounds of calf divided by real pounds of cow equals efficiency.
7. Yearling Scrotal: FHG’s minimum is 32 cm. Research has shown a
direct correlation between a sire’s scrotal circumference and age of puberty of his daughters. Since over 90% of our customers retain heifers, it is very important to assure adequate scrotal size.
8. Yearling Pelvic: because calving ease is so important to us and our
customers, we have culled for pelvic size for enough years that small pelvis is not a problem. Generations of selection for this and other traits assure our customers of a more predictable genetic package – we have worked to eliminate the problems.
16. Carcass: carcass trait measurements are taken by ultrasound or
DNA. Utilizing carcass EPDs allow us to select and produce genetics that produce Marbling scores of “Choice” or higher and Ribeye Areas above 1 sq. inch/cwt while increasing carcass weight and maximizing overall carcass value.
9. Breeding Soundness Exam: either you have it or you don’t. We
will not sell a bull until he passes a BSE, including adequate scrotal size, morphology, motility and reproductive tract examination. We make sure our bulls are physically able to do what our customers are buying them to do. Every bull we sell is guaranteed to breed and settle cows.
17. Disease Prevention: FHG has always used an aggressive herd
health program, including vaccinations for BSRV, IBR, PI3, BVD, Lepto, Vibrio, Brucellosis and parasite control. With the discovery and spread of two very costly diseases – Persistently Infected BVD and Johne’s – we have added negative tests for both to our herd health protocol. Now, more than ever, “BRED 4 PROFIT—BUILT TO
The following standards must be met by the bull or female, their sire and their dam: 10. Disposition: it is not worth the risk. Wild cattle not only cost more in time and material, but are a health and safety risk that is not acceptable.
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WORK” means the Best Genetics, Development Programs and Disease Prevention packages available.
Bred 4 Profit Built 2 Work
Continued from page 1
breed cows. Fescue Adapted/Grown on Grass Bulls from Flying H Genetics eliminates the Fescue issue for ranchers and provides bulls that are not corn fat and ready to work. The Roughage N’ Ready service provided by Flying H Genetics is designed to identify bulls and cows that are prepared to make it in the real world. Our cattle are developed on roughage diets that consist of grass, straw, hay, silage, corn stalks and more. We train the bulls and heifers to forage on their own which helps identify the hard doing cattle that can’t survive without being fed corn so they can be eliminated. This is important to profitability and provides customers with breeding stock that are self-sufficient and live with minimal supplementation.
Flying H Genetics also understands that customers want cows that make them money. Money Makin’ Mamas are designed for just that. We start with our 17 Quality Standards to identify the best genetics available, utilize heterosis when possible and then test them with Flying H Genetics’ “Heifer Challenge”. Those that are structurally sound and show they can make a living with minimal supplementation are allowed to pass on their genetics to new generations. We monitor Money Makin’ Mamas closely throughout their lives to make sure they have the traits our customers expect. Flying H Genetics is committed to SATISFIED CUSTOMERS and only sell cattle that are “BRED FOR PROFIT and BUILT TO WORK!”
Comments from our customers — the growth and performance of the calves sired by my Flying H bulls is phenomenal. I contract all of my calves to a yard in Illinois and, after analyzing their data, the owner has contracted both my spring and fall born calves for three years in a row. Also, Flying H Genetics goes above and beyond with their customer service, their Limited Free Delivery, and their standard Quality Guarantee. I also utilize their Death and Injury Warranty on every bull that I purchase so I know that my investment will be covered 100%. Throughout the years I have purchased bulls from all over the country and I know that the bulls sold by Flying H Genetics are second to none.”
Elliott Smalley in Missouri says…. “ I grew up on my family’s farm with a purebred Angus herd. As I
started working in the industry for other breeders, I noticed how utilizing heterosis really improved growth within their calf crop. I decided using Gelbvieh-influenced bulls would help produce the added pounds I was looking for in my calves. I purchased my first Flying H Genetics bull in 2015 and his calves hit the ground healthy and have kept growing. This is the biggest set of calves I have ever raised, and I have not had to assist any of my cows in calving. I like the fact that the bulls are Fescue Adapted and not feedlot fed. Flying H bulls are out on pasture growing naturally on Fescue, which is the main grass available, so if they aren’t adapted and can’t perform on it they aren’t worth the money you pay for them. From pasture to pasture, the quality of their bulls is consistently good and they stand behind every bull they sell.”
Raymond Jones in Alabama says…. “ My family has been in the commercial cattle business since 1939.
We raised Hereford and Hereford x Santa Gertrudis cattle for many years, and we started using Red Balancer bulls in the late 90’s. We started buying Flying H Genetics bulls over 17 years ago because hardly anyone was producing Red Balancer bulls at the time, and, when you did find them, the depth of quality was not there. Anyone can sell a good bull, but in my mind the depth of quality they offer and the fact that they are good, honest people is what sets Flying H apart. After more than 17 years of working with them, I have yet to attend a sale in person; I have bought over thirty plus bulls from them - all sight-unseen and we have developed a relationship based on trust. Flying H is built around people who do what they say they are going to do, and, in this day and age, that is very important. My bull battery is made up of entirely FHG bulls, and I plan to continue to buy my bulls from them for many years to come.”
John Clemons of Missouri says…. “ As a third generation cattleman, I migrated our family operation from registered Angus to a commercial Angus based herd by crossing them with Simmental bulls. I used to buy feed-tested bulls until
about five years ago when I decided that I needed bulls that would stand up and stay together when turned out on cows. The ‘Grown on Grass’ program that Flying H develops their bulls under produces bulls that keep their condition and do their job. Good feet and legs are important to any cattlemen and, since switching to Flying H Genetics bulls, I haven’t had to battle feet issues like I had in the past. Additionally,
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Gelbvieh
Red ANGUS
ARPS 546D AMGV 1347607
FHG 308D
AMAR 3536336
Simmental KB D676 AMSM 3162222
Balancer®
FHG 066D AMGV 1347294
FusionTM
Balancer®
FHG 341D AMGV 1379843
Balancer®
Simmental
KB D662
AMSM 3162212
SimAngusTM
FHG 014D
AMGV 1347197
FHG 369D AMGV 1349799
T2 RD808-D
AMSM 3103867
Selling 85 Age Advantaged/Fescue Adapted Bulls... and 50 Commercial Spring Bred Heifers
Saturday, October 28, 2017 • Flying H Bull Barn – Butler, MO • 1:00 PM CST The Tradition Continues...
www.FLYINGHGENETICS.com For more information, scan the code or go to our website, call or text us.
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