Cattleman’s Chronicle Flying H Genetics
Spring Newsletter
2015
Vol.17
Bulls — Cows — Calves
Size Matters
because
Pounds Pay
It doesn’t matter if you have big or small cows or sell calves, fed cattle or steaks; you get paid by the pound! A) A 96% conception rate vs. 94% gives you two more calves at birth and 98% live calves at birth vs. 95% gives you another 3 calves and weaning 99% instead of 97% will add another 2 calves for a total of 7 more calves to sell out of every 100 cows. Conception rates, calving ease, good health and management all pay because you have more calves and pounds to sell.
Do I make more money selling an 80 pound baby calf for $7.50 per pound or a 1,500 pound fed steer for $2.50 per pound carcass weight? Let’s say it costs you $800 to carry a cow for a year-including feed, vet., interest, labor, fixed costs etc. If it costs $700 to carry a cow and I sell her baby calf for $600 per head, I just lost $100. If I sell her calf at weaning weighing 600 pounds for $1500 with $150 more dollars cost in the calf, I make $550 per head. If I sell her calf as an 800 pound yearling costing me $200 more but selling for $1900 I make an additional $200 per head. And if I retain ownership through the feedlot and sell my calf as a 1500 pound steer on the grid at $2.50 per pound carcass weight my gross is $2437 for an additional profit of $47 per head. The point is, SIZE MATTERS because POUNDS PAY!
There are two ways to add profits to your calves: 1) SELL MORE POUNDS which come two ways— selling more calves and selling more weight per calf.
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Flying H Professor 22W Continued on page 2
Size Matters because Pounds Pay ... continued from page 1 B) More pounds also come from more weight per calf. That means genetics and/or feed. a) Genetics is where the quality of your herd bulls matter. Buying a bull that sires calves with the genetics to add 20 pounds to their weaning weight and utilizing crossbred vigor to add another 30 pounds with minimal cost could return an additional $100+ per calf in today’s market. If your bull sires 30 calves for four years that weigh 50 pounds more, that bull just made you an additional $12,000 dollars. Herd bulls should be considered an investment not an expense. b) Feed adds pounds. Feed costs money. So, you need to produce those pounds for less than you sell them for just like you do if you keep the baby calf and sell him at weaning. 2) REDUCE
COST PER POUND
Ben Franklin knew what he was saying when he said, “A penny saved is a penny earned”.
Reducing costs isn’t as glamourous as bigger weaning weights but costs affect your profits directly. Ben Franklin knew what he was saying when he said, “A penny saved is a penny earned”. If I can reduce my feed or vet or labor or fixed costs by 5-10% that amount goes directly to profits. For example: If I spend $100 for a ton of hay and it costs me $10 to feed it and I have 10% feed loss my total cost for that feed is $120. I can save $50 if I let the cow graze a ton of stockpiled grass costing me $70 per acre or I can save $70 if she grazes an acre of cornstalks that cost me $20 rent and $30 supplement.
Save a dollar—make a dollar, as long as you don’t decrease production. SIZE MATTERS because POUNDS PAY. Managing to have more pounds to sell from more live calves and heavier sale weights makes money. Controlling costs to produce those added pounds makes money. Why not do both?
What’s more important: calving ease, growth or carcass quality? A more complicated index, such as the All Purpose Index (API) for Simmental accounts for traits all the way from calving ease to carcass quality and is a true multitrait, dollar index. A more specific index, like the $Beef index for Angus, is designed to identify genetics that have a positive influence on profitability at the feedlot and packing plant. So, when you are looking to buy a bull, a lot of the work has been done for you. Just decide what type of genetics you need, select bulls that have the better numbers for those traits, then look at those bulls and pick the ones you like best. Pick out several because you won’t be the only one wanting bulls that excel in those traits. Flying H Genetics has made it even easier! We rank the bulls for several traits with our “Five Star System” so it is easy for you to find the bulls that fit your criteria without having to “know the numbers”.
Actually, everything involved with producing beef is important. Some have a higher dollar return—for instance, dead calves have no value—but the consumer will pay a premium for high quality beef so that is important too! That is where multitrait selection and indexes and our “Five Star System” come in. We are able to use super computers to analysis tremendous amounts of data for several important traits and using the economic value of those traits produce one number--an index-based on dollars. We can then compare one animal to another using this dollar index and know that all traits and the profits associated with each trait affecting this specific index have been evaluated. A simple example is calving ease, because the calculation for calving ease includes more information than the subject animals own birth weight, the calving ease number is a more accurate number to use in selecting genetics for calving ease.
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Free Bulls!! It happened at the March 1st Flying H Genetics sale in Nebraska. Longtime customers Stan and Ann Farr were given their 100th bull purchase free!! Stan and Ann Farr are the first Flying H Genetics customers to purchase 100 bulls and ended the day at 102. They purchased their first two bulls in 2001. Stan commented that he appreciated the bull but not the notoriety. He also said that he has tried buying bulls from other outfits but always comes back to Flying H because of the quality, selection and service. “Flying H bulls have made our cattle better and made us a lot of money”. The Farr’s retain heifers for replacements and know that their crossbred cowherd is more productive and profitable than before. They like the Gelbvieh/Angus cross genetics because of the advantages of crossbred vigor and the genetic compliment of the two breeds. “We have market topping steers and heifers that make great cows,” Stan said. Stan and his wife Ann manage a large farm and cattle operation in southwest Nebraska. All five of their
Stan and Ann Farr
Longtime customers Stan and Ann Farr were given their 100th bull purchase free!!
sons and their families have started their own operations in the area and all five have purchased bulls from Flying H Genetics. Flying H Genetics is proud to be part of the legacy created by Stan and Ann Farr and their family. Great people and Great cattle—it doesn’t get any better! Who is going to get the next free bull? Several Flying H customers are close.
WHAT CAME FIRST—THE COWS OR THE GRASS? Most people that have cows consider themselves cowboys. And they are, but cows eat grass, right? So, does that mean cowboys are grazers too? But what does grass need? Dirt, rain and sunshine, right? So, does that mean that cowboys are really grazers that use cattle to harvest sunshine? The answer is, YES!
ages and grass. As more management is applied more time is needed so time constraints usually determine how intensive one manages their resources—land and cattle. If you can commit the time, more intensive rotational grazing and fertilization will harvest more sun and produce more forage from the same land. If you take the time, more intensive management of genetics, herd health and forages will produce more pounds of beef from the same land.
Sunshine is free, land and cattle are not but we need all of them to work together to make money. Plants are amazing; they turn sun, rain and dirt into forage. Cattle are amazing animals; they take grass/forage and turn it into delicious beef. How well this process works depends on us. Grazing cattle means you are also managing the sun, dirt and grass. How well you manage the grass affects how well your cows do. Over graze the grass and you damage the plants, hurt the soil, waste sunlight and limit the performance of your cattle. To maximize profits on your cows, you must manage the land also. Just as people apply different levels of management to cattle, there are different levels of management applied to for-
With the high prices for land and cattle, time spent managing your land and cattle better is paying bigger returns than ever before. WHAT CAME FIRST? CATTLE AND GRASS COME TOGETHER!
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FLYING H GENETICS
The Tradition Continues
Every family has their unique story. The Helms Family Story starts in Germany, moves to America in 1867 with my Great Grandfather when he was eighteen years old, then to a homestead where my grandfather was born in 1889 northeast of Arapahoe, Nebraska.
Agriculture, crops, cattle and horses, has been our occupation for generations; seed stock production was added by my father Clarence in 1948 with the purchase of one registered heifer for $385. He showed and sold her first bull calf at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, CO for $4975 and he was hooked. Clarence and Lois moved to the current Nebraska Flying H Genetics sale site after World War II, living and raising a family, crops and registered cattle for 60 years before selling to Kyle and Kayla in 2006, the fifth generation of Helms’s to carry on the family tradition. Their daughters are number six. In 1976, Dick and Bonnie moved back to the farm/ranch after graduating from the University of Nebraska with degrees in Animal Science, Ag. Economics and Ag. Journalism. They purchased the farm where Dick’s mother was born and developed it into the bull development headquarters for the operation. Dick and his three brothers were members of 4-H and FFA with their experience and profits paying for their cars, education and first heifers to start their herds. In 1968, as part of an FFA project, they purchased a scale and took their first weaning weights. That was followed by breeding their first cows with Artificial Insemination in 1971 and utilizing the new technology of Embryo Transfer in 1973. Dad always said, “If you’re going to do it, do it the best you can”. The demand for good bulls and females continued to grow as the industry continued to change. This lead to the addition of Gelbvieh genetics in 1982, the development of Gelbvieh X Angus hybrids in 1995 and the addition of Simmental genetics in 2008. These additions allow Flying H Genetics to offer their customers more genetic choices to utilize heterosis (crossbred vigor) and complimentary breeds and
TRUSTWORTHY
“My Dad bought his first bulls from Helms family in the 1960s. Over the years we have been impressed with the improved quality and value of the bulls each year. Using Flying H Genetics bulls has improved our cowherd and made us a lot of money. We have only been to the Flying H Ranch one time and always buy our bulls sightunseen on the phone. The one word I would use to describe Flying H is Trustworthy.”
Sean Brenner, Colorado
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genetics to produce better cattle. In 2005, to better serve their customers in the southeastern United States, Flying H Genetics added a ranch in “the fescue” belt. This production and marketing center is currently located in Lowry City, MO. “Grown On Grass” bulls are developed grazing fescue grass with some supplementation to identify bulls that can tolerate entophyte infected fescue grass and are muscular, athletic and ready to go to work. This niche has grown into sales the third Saturday of March
s Dick and Bonnie Helms
Clarence and Lois Helms. 1949 - 1st bull sold
Left to right: Kayla, Abby, Lilly and Kyle Helms
IMPRESSIVE
CONSISTENCY
Jeff Grabill, Nebraska
Jason and Kelsey Kunkel, Nebraska
“Between my Dad and me, we have bought bulls from FHG for over 30 years. Disposition, calving ease and weaning weight are the top 3 traits that are very important to us since we sell our calves off the cow in the fall. We are impressed with the continued improvement in the bulls each year. Not only are the bulls from FHG Impressive, but Dick and his crew have been a very impressive and caring group of people to work with.
As a young family starting our cattle program, Flying H Genetics has really helped us make tremendous progress with both their advice and their high quality genetics. We bought our first bulls from Flying H in 2004 and the last few years our calves have been either the high selling or next to high selling group for their weight class. When they come in the ring it is quite noticeable they are heavier muscled than straight Angus calves. What we really like is the consistency and high quality of their bulls and it shows up in our calves.
and the fourth Saturday of October plus private treaty sales providing over 250 “Grown On Grass” bulls annually. “Doing our best” always means utilizing the best tools available. While taking and processing thousands of weights and measurements every year and extensive use of AI and ET, today’s tools include ultrasounding for carcass traits, EPD’s and Indexing and DNA testing. Flying H Genetics spends thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours every years utilizing these tools to identify and cull genet-
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ics that are not “industry improvers” and identifying and developing the genetics that make the cattle better and our customers more money. We believe that a quality product is the first part of great customer service. And, our 65 years of experience has taught us how to take care of our customers after the sale. Flying H Genetics 17 Quality Standards that every animal must pass before being sold, coupled with our industry-leading warranties and guarantees means our customers get Continued on page 6
Making Them Work for a Living ... Flying H Genetics “HEIFER CHALLENGE”!!! Our theme, MONEY MAKIN MAMAS, was chosen for a reason, we expect our cows to work for a living. Sure, they need to be managed and taken care of, but the more they work the less we have to. And it starts at weaning. How you develop your heifers can affect how they perform as a cow. For instance, standing in the pen and eating from a feeder verses grazing corn stalks or winter graze can influence their grazing behavior. Several years ago, based on some initial research from the University of Nebraska, we changed our breeding weight targets and made our heifers rustle for their grub as much a mother nature allowed. We found that supplementing protein and energy for only 1 pound of gain per day and forcing the heifers to forage for the rest, even with snow on the ground, helped train them to graze and assured they were structurally sound, athletic, “easy fleshing” and adapted to our environment. Now, when we do our prebreeding exams, take yearling weights, body condition scores, ultrasound and DNA test; we make another cull based on how they have performed under this challenging environment. The thin, rough haired, poor doing heifers are culled while the ones that did well are kept for breeding. This heifer challenge has done three things: decreased our cost of production, identified and removed the heifers and their genetics that can’t handle our environment and it improved the rebreeding of our first calf cows by eliminating the
poor doers before breeding the first time. After the prebreeding exam, we do increase the heifer’s level of nutrition for a 2-3 pound gain through AI—approximately 60 days—and then turn out to pasture. This process has lowered our heifer pregnancy rate by an average of 4% but has increased the pregnancy rate of our first calf heifers by 5% or more—a profitable trade-off. We also save over $50 per head in feed costs, more than offsetting the lower pregnancy rate, and the cull heifers sell great and go to the feedlot where they belong. We have learned that keeping more heifers as replacements, challenging them to fit the environment and culling the ones that don’t has improved the genetics and profitability of our cowherd.
The Tradition Continues ... continued from page 5 great genetics and great service. Sixty-five (65) years is a long time. A lot has changed and many things have gotten better. I am amazed at how much different seed stock production and the genetic business is today than when Clarence sold his first bull in 1949. Tools like EPD’s and DNA genetic testing allow us to more accurately identify an animal’s true genetics. This helps us get our customers the exact bulls they want to get their specific job done. Although not perfect, todays tools help us build better bulls and females and identify their genetics so our customers can buy what they want, in the color they want, with the specific traits they need. As Flying H Genetics transitions into this high tech era of seed stock production, it is exciting to think about the future. But, knowing that our future is grounded on a solid foundation of family heritage, honesty and integrity and a vision of providing superior genetics and service is what makes me smile. Dick and Bonnie are current owners of Flying H Genet-
As Flying H Genetics transitions into this high tech era of seed stock production, it is exciting to think about the future. But, knowing that our future is grounded on a solid foundation of family heritage, honesty and integrity and a vision of providing superior genetics and service is what makes me smile.
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ics. With the help of family and friends they operate two locations in NE and MO marketing semen, females and around 400 bulls per year to over 1000 customers in almost every state and some foreign countries. They are proud of the fact that they are helping over 20 families participate in and build the beef seed stock industry of the future.
Calving Ease Guaranteed For over 30 years, Flying H Genetics has guaranteed calving ease on every bull we sell. It’s quite simple, no one buys dead calves. So, you don’t want to buy a bull that causes calving difficulty and we don’t want to sell you one. Flying H Genetics utilizes every tool available to identify and eliminate hard calving bulls and guarantees every bull we sell to not cause above normal calving difficulty due to genetics. Things like breech births and abnormal presentations create calving problems but are not caused by genetics. Flying H Genetics also identifies and guarantees some bulls for use on virgin heifers. Bulls identified as 3, 4 or 5 star Heifer Bulls are guaranteed for use on heifers. Even though there are 15 things that affect calving difficulty, birth weight or calf size is the most common cause. Today, the best way to select for acceptable calving ease is to utilize the Calving Ease EPD. This EPD is better to use than either the Birth Weight EPD or the Actual Birth Weight because it utilizes actual calving data in calculating its ratio. At Flying H Genetics we also incorporate visual appraisal and environmental influences in our analysis.
Flying H Genetics also identifies and guarantees some bulls for use on virgin heifers. Bulls identified as 3, 4 or 5 star Heifer Bulls are guaranteed for use on heifers.
Remember, there are two components to calf birth weights—genetic and environmental. 1) When we talk about the genetic influence on calving ease and specifically birth weights we know we cannot be 100% accurate in our selections. But, with all the data and research and tools available, our accuracy is above 99%. So, for the less than 1%, we cover them with our Calving Ease Guarantee! And we need to remember that the cow has more influence on the birth weight of her calf than the bull does. She has the same influence from her genetics for birth weight but she had the added “maternal” influence that the bull does not. Some cows influence may over power the bull’s genetics—some cows have big calves no matter what bull is used.
birth weight of each individual calf. The only constant is their sire and that is why the genetics for calving ease of the sire is so important. But, his genetics are not the only influence so one big calf is probably not the fault of the bull. Several big calves’ means there is a problem and it could be the bull. That’s where Flying H Genetics steps up and helps our customers determine the cause of the calving problem. If it is the bull, he is eliminated and replaced with one of equal quality and value that does not cause calving problems.
2) The environmental influence on birth weight is even greater than the combined genetic influence of both the bull and the cow. Birth weight is estimated to be 44% heritable (genetic) which means 56% is influenced by other or environmental effects. Influences such as age of dam, sex of calf, temperature the last 30 dates of gestation, nutrition and % protein in the diet, condition of the cow, etc. There are many things that affect the
If you want guaranteed calving ease on every bull you buy, Flying H Genetics is your partner for profits.
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S I Z E M AT T E R S — P O U N D S PAY
Size Matters because Pounds Pay... Carry your program forward with Flying H Genetics’ Bulls and Females
Flying H Professor 22W — Sons Sell!
ThesE Bulls Sell! Flying H Mr. Traction 45B Purebred Gelbvieh
AGA# 1278896 Traction 7412 x Flying H Black Jack 12L
Mr FHG Statement 403B
Flying H Mr. Sand 322B
SimAngusTM
Balancer ®
AGA# 1281772 Mr. Sandman 115Y x H A Power Alliance 1025
ASA# 2925108 Pelton Statement 245W x KBSR S56
250 Head of
Roughage ’N Ready Bulls Sell! The Tradition Continues...
Elite Donor Cows and prospects Sell in Nebraska Sale Ms 51P 171Y — Top Selling Cow from FHG 2014 NE Sale
MARCH 2015 Sale Dates Nebraska
Sat. March 7th
Missouri
Sat. March 21st
Call, TEXT, or email us for information or see our website!
Check out our sale prospects.on the web!
Gelbvieh | Balancer ® | AnguS | SimAngus TM | Simmental
FLYING H GENETICS Kyle & Kayla Helms, NE 308.962.6940 Cody & Casie Helms, MO, NE 303.842.9071 Brent Gillaspy, NE 417.861.4117 Dick and Bonnie Helms 308.962.6500
www.flyinghgenetics.com