Beef Industry Interview
Cattle in Demand An Interview with Mr. Hector Padres, Mexico Mr. Hector Padres of Mexico, in partnership with four other men recently traveled all the way to the Dakotas in search of cattle that would fit into their ranches. There they located some 250 heifers for their herds back home. What did they travel so far for? Purebred Gelbvieh.
The strength of the purebred Gelbvieh Why Gelbvieh? What is so special about this breed? Hector responds, “We chose Gelbvieh cattle due to its adaptability to our type of terrain here in northern Mexico. We decided in going all the way up to North and South Dakota because the rain fall there is more or less the same as ours, and the roughness of the terrain is similar.” The ranches these men run are located in the Rocky Mountains of northern Mexico, so they also have
steep slopes and rolling hills. Hector says the Gelbvieh already in their areas respond well to the weather and terrain back home, which he believes indicates cattle from the Dakotas should adapt well, thus preventing additional stress on the animals. A high demand for the purebred Gelbvieh in northern Mexico, and a preference for the way the breed is put together is another very important aspect for these men. “We feel that was a very good choice that my brothers and I made in choosing Gelbvieh cattle for our ranches.” One big asset of the cattle they visited in the Dakotas was disposition. “We were very pleased with the cattle (in the Dakotas) because they have a whole lot better disposition and overall looks than cattle in other parts of the country we visited”, adds Hector.
1
There is currently a high demand for purebred Gelbvieh in northern Mexico
The Dakotas’ climate can be a harsh one, but the attitude of the folks, and the quality of the cattle that Hector Padres saw certainly had an impact. “Thumbs up to the producers, we would like to thank each and every one for their time and attention they gave us on our visit!” Hector, along with the four other men have this message to pass on: “We were very pleased with the treatment we received from everybody... we will continue doing business in the Dakota’s, with the fine people, and the producers. Our congratulations to all the producers we visited on their fine work in their genetics and management of the breed.”
Beef Industry Interview
Cattle That Walk Their Talk These cattle won’t lead you astray Bobby Hendrickson
An Interview with Bobby Hendrickson, Regional Director, National Farmers
Bobby Hendrickson was born and raised on his family’s three generation farm in Paynesville, MN. His passion for cattle is not only demonstrated in his career with National Farmers organization, but also with his own farm operation. He signed on with NFO more than 20 years ago and has been hooked ever since. In 1992 Bobby sold his dairy herd and began looking for a small herd of brood cows. He was first introduced to the Gelbvieh breed later that same year. The muscle mass of the animal was amazing. He found a herd in Debeka, MN. With one look at the producer’s fences, Bobby knew the herd had to be very docile. “It’s hard to work with high strung cattle, and these Gelbvieh proved to be the opposite.” Bobby was sold.
We need cattle that will fit each market. That’s where, once again, the Gelbvieh comes through. Bobby’s titles have changed as the years have passed, but he still modestly refers to himself as “a grunt”. This ‘grunt’, along with his co-worker, Julie Kunz, have established a reputation at the St. Cloud NFO Collection point. They’ve held a continual rank of either number one or number two in the nation (for quantity of product ran); each year. “Julie is my right and
left arm; she keeps me organized. It’s 100 percent team work,” says Bobby.
They walk their talk With the Gelbvieh breed, Bobby found that when crossed with a black Angus, premiums were earned just as with any F1 cross. Because of the great muscle tone, low percentage of body fat, and longer frame type of the animal, a 63 percent or higher yield could be attained. That’s extra money in the producer’s pocket. Bobby’s producers have made more money in yield grades 1 and 2s than could have been done with premiums from certified Angus. The cattle average 80 percent Choice and about 20 percent Select, as Gelbvieh seldom produce the YG 4s found in many other breeds. Their genetics produce lean meat, and lots of it. The higher the quality, the better the premiums for the producer, and the Gelbvieh cattle bring it every time! The markets continue to fluctuate and change. We need cattle that will fit each market. That’s where, once again, the Gelbvieh comes through. “The Gelbvieh fit all the packer’s needs,” says Bobby. “There’s nobody yet who says they don’t want these cattle. Packers that want these cattle chase us down, we don’t chase them. This makes my job much easier. That’s the part that blows me away. Gelbvieh walk their talk, and are getting the job done.”
The producers and Bobby Bobby enjoys the relationships he cultivates with his producers. For example, if he’s bought calves from Montana producers, he then finds Minnesota feeders to purchase them. 2
When the calves are fed out and matured, they return to his facility. When Bobby receives the carcass data on each animal, he shares this information with the original owner. They are always tickled to find out how their calves did. This information not only tells the producer what they’re doing right, but more importantly, how they can improve their genetics.
Gelbvieh sell themselves It’s fun when a load of Gelbvieh calves come in and the producer looks in the pens and sees them for the first time. Bobby likens it to showing folks a brand new fully loaded truck on the show floor! “The producer walks out the door, turns right around and walks back in ... then the questions begin, it’s great”! Hendrickson notes that on any given day, if a producer observes a finished Gelbvieh, they’re interested. “Once they raise a Gelbvieh themselves, states Bobby, they almost always request more. The Gelbvieh’s reputation is growing by the year, and they’ve earned it.” Minnesota is known for purple pride, but it seems Gelbvieh pride is taking over a large portion of the midwest territory!
Beef Industry Interview
A Quality Product is the ‘Golden Rule’ An interview with Chris Mitchell, Mitchell Marketing Service Where do cattlemen go to purchase “new blood” or genetics to maintain a high quality product? There’s one sale that should be of particular interest to any seedstock or commercial producer who has a hankering for strong Continental breed genetics. The North Dakota Golden Rule Sale showcases some of the best purebred Gelbvieh around. And it has for the past 27 years.
From commercial level to purebred level, you’ll have cattle with a lot of high maternal value, and you’ll see cattle with a lot of carcass value. The sale offers approximately 65 lots each year, with an average of 50% bulls, and 50% females, and traditionally produces mostly purebred genetics. For the past two years, the sale has been managed by Mitchell Marketing Service, run by Chris Mitchell and Randy Sienknecht. Both bulls and females have sold through this sale to purebred breeders nation wide, and herd sire prospects are also sold thru this sale to numerous purebred programs within the Gelbvieh breed. The Golden Rule Sale offers a variety of top quality cattle that will work in many different aspects of the beef industry. From commercial level to
purebred level, you’ll have cattle with a lot of high maternal value, and you’ll see cattle with a lot of carcass value. In addition, this state sale opens up marketing avenues for some of the small breeders that don’t have enough cattle to have their own production sale on an annual basis. It has a very good reputation in the commercial industry for the bulls, and the market is good. The biggest change over the past two years has been the screening process and selection of cattle on the ranch―which has helped increase the quality, and hence the demand for the cattle that are being sold. Cattle are selected from a quality standpoint, using a combo of EPDs, pedigree and soundness of the cattle.
Viewing & purchasing options Probably the greatest benefit to potential buyers is the ability to view video of individual sale lots online. Videos can be viewed online via the North Dakota Gelbvieh Association web site or MMS web site. Additionally, the sale animals get exposure to
Golden Rule Sale Monday, January 30, 2012 Kist Livestock Auction Mandan, ND at 1:00 pm CT. All cattle are available for viewing at the sale facility on Sunday, January 29.
3
High selling 2011 Bull
2nd high selling 2011 Bull
purebred breeders at the American Gelbvieh Association National Convention and National Show in Denver each January, via a DVD that the ND Gelbvieh Association runs continuously in the hotel of the National Convention in Denver. Chris Mitchell sums it up: “The breeders in ND are some of the most progressive concerning quality, genetics and marketability in their cattle.” If you can’t make the sale, check the animals out ahead of time online. The Golden Rule Sale allows for both on site and off site buying. For any producer unable to make the sale, MMS offers a sight-unseen purchase guarantee. For more information on the Golden Rule Sale, please contact either the North Dakota Gelbvieh Association (www.ndgelbviehassociation.com) or Mitchell Marketing Service at (www.mms.biz).
North Dakota Gelbvieh Association Members For more information contact one of the following progressive breeders. Adam Hereford & Gelbvieh Farm Don Adam Drake, ND (701) 465-3922
Ellison Gelbvieh Mitchel & Edna Ellison Lemmon, SD (701) 376-3238
Kriegh Family Farm Kevin & Lois Kriegh Crookston, MN (218) 281-5151
Anderson Gelbvieh Mark & Julia Anderson Towner, ND (701) 537-5950 manderson@srt.com
Gaugler Ranch Roger & Ardella Gaugler Almont, ND (701) 843-8126 rgaugler@westriv.com
Larson Gelbvieh Conrad Larson Noonan, ND (701) 925-5812
Auch Gelbvieh David Auch Mandan, ND (701) 663-2893 dauch@bis.midco.net
Golden Buckle Gelbvieh Dwight & Christina Dockter Medina, ND (701) 486-3494 gbgelb@daktel.com www.golden-buckle-gelbvieh.com
Babcock Ranch Zane & Tessa Shumway Sentinel Butte, ND (701) 872-4024 tkszls@yahoo.com Bohrer Gelbvieh Ranch Dwight & Sandra Bohrer Stanton, ND (701) 748-6749 Brandvold Gelbvieh Wayne Brandvold Edinburg, ND (701) 993-8185 Chimney Butte Ranch Doug & Carol Hille Mandan, ND (701) 445-7383 chimneybutteranch@westriv.com www.chimneybutteranch.com Chimney Butte Ranch Stephanie Hille Mandan, ND (701) 445-7383 (h) (701) 400-5315 (c) Cranview Gelbvieh Rob Arnold Minot, ND (701) 624-2051 rlagelbvieh@aol.com D Bar D Kelly & Michelle Dahl Hazelton, ND (701) 782-6813 Dean’s AI Service Joe & Myrna Dean Keldron, SD (605) 374-5212
Lazy RT Gelbvieh Darrel & Heidi Schulte Hebron, ND (701) 878-4286 dschulte@westriv.com Ledoux Gelbvieh Gary & Deborah Ledoux Antler, ND (701) 267-3620
Gross’ Range Line Farm John & Debbie Gross Hines, MN (218) 243-3265 d.gross.2@hotmail.com
Martin Gelbvieh Jeremy Martin & Josh Martin Rock Lake, ND Jeremy (701) 266-5212 jeremy_04@hotmail.com Josh (701) 697-5365 www.martingelbvieh.com
Gustin’s Diamond D Gelbvieh Al & Peggy Gustin Mandan, ND (701) 663-1230 GPegust@yahoo.com www.gustinsdiamondd.com
Miller Gelbvieh Farm Lee Miller Glen Ullin, ND (701) 348-3419 Millerlj@westriv.com
Gustin’s Diamond D Gelbvieh Dennis & Sherry Gustin Mandan, ND (701) 663-7266 gustindd@wildblue.net www.gustinsdiamondd.com
Miller Gelbvieh Farm Matt Miller Glen Ullin, ND (701) 348-3420 Millerlj@westriv.com
Kal Kota Ranch Ed & Ann Kalianoff Steele, ND (701) 475-2694 kalkota@bektel.com
Mill Iron C Ranch Arlan & Nicole Anderson Dickinson, ND 701-290-4456 ajanderson@ndsupernet.com
Kathrein Gelbvieh Raymond & Carol Kathrein Little Falls, MN (320) 632-5606 rckathrein1@clearwire.net
Moe Gelbvieh Larry Moe Walcott, ND (701) 998-2452 (h) (701) 371-1352 (c) moegelbvieh2@aim.com
Ketterling Gelbvieh Mike Ketterling Ellendale, ND (701)535-0205 (c)
Person WE Ranch Gelbvieh Rose Person White Earth, ND (701) 755-3353 dakota58794@yahoo.com
Kraft Gelbvieh Farm Chad Kraft Turtle Lake, ND (701) 448-2104 ckraft96@hotmail.com
4
Prairie Hills Gelbvieh Klint Sickler Gladstone, ND (701) 483-5250 klintsickler@hotmail.com www.prairiehillsgelbvieh.com Rosehill Gelbvieh Farm Doug Klien Munich, ND (701) 682-5243 Schock Ranch Verrick & Sarah Schock Carson, ND (701) 622-3522 sschock1@hotmail.com Stanoch Gelbvieh Kevin Stanoch St. Joseph, MN (320) 248-7069 Swenson Gelbvieh Dean & Mary Swenson Little Falls, MN (320) 632-5848 swen@clearwire.net Ternes Gelbvieh Marvin Ternes Raleigh, ND (701) 597-3592 Thorstenson Lazy TV Ranch Vaughn Thorstenson Selby, SD (605) 649-6262 vwthor@sbtc.net www.balancerbulls.com Wehri Gelbvieh Harvey Wehri Hebron, ND (701) 878-4315 Wohl Farms John Wohl Baldwin, ND (701) 673-4644 jjjwohl@yahoo.com