Land and Livestock Post

February February 2015 2015 —— Issue Issue 2

Stock market Boosting cattle prices PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BRYAN, TX 77802 PERMIT # 23

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JAMES THOMPSON SOUND INVESTMENT

JAMES THOMPSON SHOWING OFF

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JAMES ALL IN THOMPSON THE FAMILY

JAMES THOMPSON CLASSY SPEAKERS

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Straight from Soundness exams the horse's boost herd mouth. performance.

Straight How to keep from heirs the horse's involved mouth. in the ranch.

Straight from Teaching livestock the horse's show animal mouth.health.

Straight Fox, Laura from Bush thetohorse's address mouth.

TSCRA meeting.

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February 2015 — Issue 2

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The Land & Livestock Post

News From the General Manager

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remember going to the sale barn with my grandfather when I was a little kid. Being a child, I didn’t really know what was going on. I just knew there were animals, a guy talking fast and a lot of people waving. As I got a little older, I began to realize what a sale barn really was: a place JESSE WRIGHT for old men to go and drink coffee and tell lies to each other.

I’m just joking, of course, sometimes they drink iced tea.

Now that I work in the ag industry, I know a bit more, not that my childhood estimation was wrong. In our cover story we take a look at how the

sale barn can help you market your cattle, and go step-by-step through the entire operation.

We also have some news about breeding soundness exams as well as information about upcoming programs and workshops, as well as other news from around the industry.

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The Land & Livestock Post

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February 2015 — Issue 2

located just off Hwy. 6 and OSR 1415 East OSR • Bryan, Texas 77808 Office: (979) 776-5760 • Fax: (979) 776-4818 Website: www.circlexbrangus.com Steve Densmore, Cattle Mgr., (979) 450-0819, cell • (979) 778-1055, home Chris Duewall, Operations Mgr., (979) 777-6803, cell

3

News Soundness exams, genetic testing improve herd performance

By Kay LedBetter Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

AMARILLO — The value of a herd bull is determined not just by his genetic merit, but also by the number of calves he may or may not sire, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialist.

Emerging DNA technolog y offers the opportunity to identify genetic markers for traits of interest and identify individual sires used in multiple-sire breeding pastures, said Bruce Carpenter, livestock specialist in Fort Stockton.

“We know there is a lot of variability that we can’t manage in our herds, so let’s do what we can, and that begins with an annual breeding soundness exam of all herd bulls,” Carpenter said.

Carpenter, speaking at the recent Southwest Beef Symposium in Amarillo, said, “The thing we know about managing bull fertility is the breeding soundness exam performed by a qualified vet is the best and most practical predictor of potential fertility.”

It is not a fertility guarantee, however, he said.

There are reasons some bulls don’t perform, Carpenter said, and with new genetic testing technolog y, researchers are learning more about this.

“It is often said the bull is half the calf crop, but that’s not always true — he can be more or less,” Carpenter said. “And if he is genetically superior, that is great if he is more. But if he provides less desirable traits, but is siring 70-80 percent of the calves, that may not be so good.”

He said in the past few years, large-scale studies coming from California and Australia have shed some light on which bulls may be doing their job out in the breeding pasture and which ones may not.

“If you are just hauling pounds of beef to the sale ring, the most valuable bull may not be the one with the best genetics,” Carpenter said. “It’s the one that puts the

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most calves on the ground.”

In all these studies, he said the bulls passed a breeding soundness exam, so that potential variable was removed, or bull prolificacy might have been even more inconsistent.

There were some bulls in California that sired a lot of calves, which made them more valuable than those which possessed superior genetics but provided fewer calves to sell, he said. In another California study, steers from 16 different bulls were sold at 10 monthS. Carcass premiums averaged $721 and were similar for all bulls.

“The premiums, due to good carcass g enetics sired by all these bulls, were sure nice for the producers to be able to put in their pockets,” Carpenter said.

“But when researchers identified which bulls were actually ‘doing the work,’ that ranged from a low of seven to a high of 77 steers sold per bull over five calf crops.”

Because of the variability among individual bulls in number of calves sired, contributions to g ross income ranged from $4,881 to $55,889, he said.

In a 5,000-calf study, the average number of calves sired across all bulls was 19, but it found that 4 percent of all the bulls sired no calves and one bull sired 62 calves in one calf crop. In 20 percent of all the herds they looked at, there was one bull in the bull battery that sired only one calf. But, in another 20 percent of the herds, there was one bull that sired 50 or more calves.

“That’s direct proof of what we’ve always suspected, that stocking should be at about one mature bull per 25 cows, and one to 15 if using yearling bulls,”Carpenter said. “If you don’t know much about a group of bulls, this would be a good rule of thumb.”

He said there can be a lot of variability on the male side that is hard to manage, but it is certainly worth being aware of. And genetic testing, while not cheap, may be a consideration in some situations; the most common

probably being for multiple-sire registered operations. A sire test for paternity is about $18 per sample per calf and bulls.

“That can get expensive, but if things aren’t going the way they should and you are seeing low calf crops, and you’ve eliminated the usual suspects like disease and poor semen quality, sire testing is an option that might help explain what might be going on in the pasture,” Carpenter said.

“It might be useful to determine who did his job that year and who may not have.”

For the most part, bulls in the California study remained as they were assessed at the initial paternity test. But testing in following years revealed that some yearlings — and even older bulls — can and do change from their

See BULLS Page 18

Texas A&M AgriLife Communications photo Genetic testing can be done on breeding herds to identify which bulls are getting the job done, according to Bruce Carpenter, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension livestock specialist in Fort Stockton.

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February 2015 — Issue 2

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The Land & Livestock Post

The Land & Livestock Post

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February 2015 — Issue 2

5

News Academy for Ranch Management burn schools set for February and March

By Kay LedBetter Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

SONORA — The Academy for Ranch Management will host two rangeland burning schools in February and March at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Station located on Texas 55 between Sonora and Rocksprings.

A Prescribed Rangeland Burning School will be offered Feb. 19-21 and the Advanced Rangeland Burning School on March 6-8, according to Ray Hinnant, an AgriLife Research senior research associate in College Station.

The February workshop will provide an overview of prescribed burning and includes in-

formation on the history of fire, weather, planning a burn, fuels and fuel moisture, and equipment.

The March training will build on the previous school, providing more information on fire behavior, fire effects, and planning and conducting a prescribed burn, Hinnant said.

The cost for each event is $395, which will include meals and lodging. In addition, Hinnant said, there will be a $45 facilitiesuse fee due upon arrival for each school.

The Academy for Ranch Management is a program of AgriLife Research and the Texas A&M

See BURN, Page 9

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February 2015 — Issue 2

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Extension tackles how to get involved in the family ranch

By Rod Santa ana Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

CORPUS CHRISTI — The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has arranged two-day schools this spring for adult children and grandchildren of landowners who want to get involved in the family ranch.

Generation Next: Our Turn to Ranch School will be held at three locations in the state beginning in early March, according to Megan Clayton, AgriLife Extension range management specialist in Corpus Christi.

“The schools are for anybody interested in starting an agricultural business,” Clayton said, “but we especially want to provide this opportunity for children and grandchildren of landowners.

“Staying connected to the family ranch is difficult, especially when there’s not an obvious way to make a profit.”

Many young people end up needing to find careers outside the property, making it difficult for them to return to the ranch when their parents or grandparents are ready to retire, she said.

“As a result, we’ve seen a decline in the number of agricultural properties staying in the family,” Clayton said. “So this school helps heirs explore profitable enterprises to supplement existing ranching operations.

This two-day school is a great place to start for those wanting to get into or stay involved in the ranching business.”

The schools will be held March 5-6 in San Angelo, March 12-13 in Stephenville and April 9-10 in Corpus Christi.

The registration fee is $100 per school up to two weeks prior to the course and $175 thereafter.

Students currently enrolled in college can attend for $75. The fee includes two days of classes from expert instructors, a resource notebook and a jump drive containing resource publications

and materials, five meals and a certificate of completion at the end of the course.

Registration will be limited to the first 50 participants, so early signup is encouraged.

“The first day will be spent learning how to set up a new business,” Clayton said. “We’ll discuss drawing up effective wildlife and livestock leases, marketing agricultural products and protecting one’s investment by understanding insurance and tax opportunities.

“The second day will explore cutting-edge land management techniques, ecotourism opportunities and other alternative ranching operations that could be coupled with existing practices,” she said.

Topics to be addressed by expert speakers include: • How to start an agricultural business.

• Understanding business taxes.

• Marketing your products and yourself.

• Using technology to your benefit.

• How to set up grazing and wildlife management leases.

• Multi-generational ranching.

• Understanding market fluctuations.

• Land management techniques.

• Coping with invasive species.

• Alternative operations to add to the business.

“Staying connected to the land and finding your place in the family ranch can be difficult, but these schools are specifically designed to provide ideas and direction to make multi-generational ranching successful,” Clayton said.

To register, go to agriliferegister.tamu.edu/ESSM or call 979845-2604.

For more information, contact Clayton at Megan.Clayton@ ag.tamu.edu, call 361-265-9203 or contact your local county AgriLife Extension office.

The Land & Livestock Post

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February 2015 — Issue 2

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News

$

TEMPLE — Agricultural producers in the Lampasas River Watershed soon will be eligible for financial assistance to help implement best management practices in their water quality management plans, according to a research associate with Texas A&M AgriLife Research.

“AgriLife Research aided the Hill Country Soil and Water Conservation District in Burnet and Lampasas counties in obtaining a grant from the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide both technical and financial resources to landowners within the Lampasas River Watershed,” said Lisa Prcin, AgriLife Research associate in Temple.

The Lampasas River rises in western Mills County, 16 miles west of Hamilton, and flows southeast for 75 miles, according to Prcin. The river flows through Hamilton, Lampasas, Burnet and Bell counties. In Bell County, the river is dammed 5 miles southwest of Belton to form Stillhouse Hollow Lake.

Prcin said AgriLife Research and the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, established the Lampasas River Watershed Partnership in November 2009 to assess and improve water quality within the watershed.

“Through this project, historic water quality data was analyzed and future water quality conditions were modeled, and a watershed protection plan was developed,” she said. “The development of a watershed protection plan was a stakeholder driven process facilitated by AgriLife

Research. With technical assistance from AgriLife Research and other state and federal partners, the steering committee identified water quality issues that are of particular importance to the surrounding communities.”

The water protection plan, which includes a 10-year timeline for full implementation, was approved by the partnership and accepted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2013./ “The five years of hard work by the stakeholders, AgriLife Research and the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board has now paid off,” Prcin said. “We are now in the beginning phase of implementing the Lampasas River Watershed Protection Plan.

“Plus, we now have some funding to hire a conservation technician to work with landowners in

See LAMPASAS, Page 9

s

sue 24 Is

Lampasas Watershed Protection Plan set to begin

By RoBeRt BuRns Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

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February 2015 — Issue 2

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News Burn, from Page 6 University department of ecosystems science and management in College Station. The Sonora facilities provide a teaching laboratory for hands-on experience.

Instructors will be Hinnant; Charles “Butch” Taylor, superintendent of the research station; Mort Kothmann, Texas A&M department of ecosystems science and management professor; and Nick Garza, an AgriLife Research associate at Sonora.

Enrollment is limited, so Hinnant said participants should register early. Persons interested in attending either school should go to www.agrilife.org/arm for

Lampasas, from Page 8 Bell, Burnet, Coryell, Hamilton, Lampasas, Mills and Williamson counties.”

Prcin said the Hill Country Soil and Water Conservation District

a registration form, and mail it and payment to Jeanne Andreski, department of ecosystem science and management, 2138 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-2138.

Hinnant also asked those planning to attend to send him an email at ray.hinnant@gmail.com or call 979-820-1778 so he can get them on the list.

Successful completion of both courses and the exam will provide the educational component to begin application for either a private, commercial, government or not-for-profit certified prescribed burn manager through the Texas Department of Agriculture, Hinnant said.

will be taking applications until Feb. 18 for the district technician position. For more information about the project, contact the soil and water conservation board at 512-756-4651 or hillcountryswcd@ tx.nacdnet.org .

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February 2015 — Issue 2

9

News

Making the grade The market ticket is your report card

A

By RoBeRt FeaRs Special to The Post

market ticket is the report card for our marketing abilities.

How many of us take calves or culled breeding stock to an auction sale, unload the trailer, go inside to watch them sell and then go by the pay window to pick up our money without ever looking at the market ticket attached to the check? These actions are selling, not marketing.

A producer must employ marketing skills and understand marketing systems to obtain the best price for cattle. Information on the market ticket is the result of the marketing program and the return on our investments.

Ronald and Steven Lastovica, owners of the Milano Livestock Exchange explain how the information on the market ticket is generated and added some of their marketing philosophies.

“A marketing plan needs to be written no later than when cows calve,” Steven Lastovica said.

“The marketing plan should firmly state how and where you intend to sell your cattle.

We like to work with our clients throughout the year so that we can suggest management practices that bring them better prices at the market. At the very least, call us a few days before you bring cattle to the sale so that we can discuss how the animals have been managed and what we can do to increase their sales value.”

“Shrinkage is the one of the largest cost components in a livestock marketing situation,” Chris Baistian of the University of Wyoming said. “It’s your responsibil-

10

ity, as the seller, to reduce shrink as much as possible, because it takes money out of your pocket. A general rule of thumb is cattle will shrink 1 percent of their bodyweight per hour for their first few hours off feed and water, and continue to shrink at a lower percentage after those first few hours. The first two hours are primarily excretory shrink, followed by tissue shrink.”

Research has shown that you can lose as much as 5 percent to 5½ percent body weight in about eight hours, which is approximately 27.5 pounds on a 500-pound steer.

On Jan. 20, 400- to Photos by Robert Fears

Talk with the livestock exchange manager to identify value added practices such as dehorning, castrating, or certain vaccinations.

On the cover: Shrink can be reduced by delivering cattle to the sale 24 to 48 hours early and having them put on feed.

500-pound, medium and large steers averaged about $252 per hundredweight at the Milano Livestock Exchange. Eight hours of shrinkage would have cost the producer about $69.30 per animal.

Would it pay to deliver weaned cattle to the market 24 to 48 hours prior to the sale, so that they can be put on feed and water to regain their shrinkage? This is a conversation that needs to take place between the producer and a livestock exchange representative to determine if money can be made by paying for the feed required to restore weight lost due to shrinkage. Many livestock exchanges inventory a variety of rations and hay so that animals can be fed the same or similar feeds to which they are accustomed. Exchanges often have pastures available for cattle unaccustomed to being fed. ”When a seller or contract hauler unloads cattle at Milano Livestock Exchange, a ‘drive-in’ ticket is completed,” Ronald Lastovica said. “An employee enters

the date of delivery and name, address and telephone number of the seller on the drive-in ticket.

“Total number of head delivered by the seller and the license number of the delivery truck are also recorded.

Listed in the columns below this block of information are the back tag number of each animal, their description (color, breed, and sex), and any number applied at the ranch, such as an ear tag, tattoo or brand.”Services requested by the seller are noted on the ticket as well.

“Upon completion the customer or truck driver is asked to sign the ticket.”

Vet station “At a customer’s request, cows can be pregnancy tested and aged while at the vet station. Bulls can be tested for fertility,” Ronald Lastovica said. “Each one of these tasks can add value to the animal and each customer needs to calculate whether it will be less costly to complete these management practices at home rather than paying our fees.

See MARKET, Page 11

February 2015 — Issue 2

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Market, from Page 10 “Determine if the added value will pay the extra costs.

In most cases it will, especially with today’s cattle prices and demand.”

Every animal that leaves the Milano Livestock Exchange has an USDA identification ear tag with a recorded number. This provides traceability and adds value to the cattle.

A health chart is completed for each group of animals that goes through the vet station.

Each animal is identified on the health chart by both their back and ear tag numbers. The breed and sex of each animal also is recorded.

Months of pregnancy are written on the health chart and that number also is stamped on the cow’s side. The cow’s age is entered on the chart either

as its age from two to eight, “solid”, “short and solid (SS)” or “broken mouth (XX).” A solid mouth cow has all its teeth and they are in good condition.

An animal with a full set of worn teeth is a short and solid mouthed cow. A broken mouth cow has teeth missing.

“Tasks completed at the vet station usually add value,” Steven Lastovica said. “A certified Trich-free, fertile bull will always sell for more money than an untested bull of equal quality and age class. Values always start at what the animal is worth for processing into beef. If an opportunity exists for someone to get a good return on his investment, then that animal will sell for a higher price.

“For example someone may buy a broken mouth cow,

See ADD VALUE, Page 12

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News Add value, from Page 11 known to be pregnant, to obtain the calf. A producer may buy an old cow at a higher value than slaughter prices if they know her teeth are good and she can continue to raise calves. Bred cows are worth more money than open cows because the breeding costs have been paid.”

Not all livestock exchanges operate vet stations, so they don’t offer some of the above mentioned services.

Sales ring and business office While cattle are in the auction ring, a clerk sitting near the auctioneer writes the buyer’s number and the sales price on a weigh ticket. Cattle are weighed immediately after leaving the ring and their weight is auto-

matically stamped on the weigh ticket. Some exchanges weigh cattle just prior to their entering or while they are in the ring.

At Milano Livestock Exchange, the person operating the scales assigns a buyer pen number and writes it on the weigh ticket. He then sends the weigh ticket to the business office through a pneumatic tube. As completed forms are received by the business office from the pens and auction ring, clerks enter the information into the computerized data base.

Customer invoices (market tickets) and purchase receipts are printed by the computers.

At the top of the customer invoice is the weight ticket number. Underneath are the seller’s number, name of the ranch, sale date, and possibly a customer permanent file number.

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February 2015 — Issue 2

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Forms, from Page 12 In the columns from left to right are the number of head in each sales group, back tag numbers, descriptions (color and sex), ranch animal identification numbers if used, buyer’s code, buyer’s number, weight of each animal, price per hundredweight, and total amount. Total number of head, total weight and total sales amount is presented at the bottom of the respective column.

In a second table, information is presented by sex which includes number of head, total weight, average weight and average price.

At the bottom of the invoice are the fees deducted from the gross sales amount. They might include any of the following: • Insurance carried on the animals while they are on the exchange premises. This fee is always on the market ticket because insurance is important protection for the customer. If a cow gets excited, runs into a gate and breaks her neck, the value of the animal will be covered by the insurance company and it will not be a lost to the producer.

• Veterinary fee for all services rendered.

• Feed if animals were fed on premises.

• Sales commission. This amount is always printed on the market ticket.

• USDA sheep or goat predator control fees if these animals

are sold.

• Brand inspection fee is always on the market ticket and is passed through to the Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Association.

• Freight if hauled by the exchange from the ranch or if the exchange hires a contract hauler to pick up your cattle.

This charge is usually a passthrough fee to the contract hauler.

• Beef Council fee, always collected for use in beef promotion and passed through to the Texas Beef Council.

• Pregnancy testing, if done.

• Yardage fee is a rate per animal and is a charge for handling and transferring animals through the yard.

• Miscellaneous charges.

Most livestock exchanges don’t use this category because they want to be transparent by showing exactly how the producer’s money is spent.

Total fees are subtracted from the gross sales amount to derive the net sales amount which is printed on the invoice.

A printed check for the net amount is attached to the bottom of the invoice.

A principle part of the customer invoice is the sales price per pound, the true market tested value of an animal. The producer should compare the received values against the average market prices for that day. Differences between the two values are the report card for the producer’s management

techniques. They are a measure of management success.

Equally important is the total weight of each animal, which is printed on the invoice. Compare the price per pound paid for your animals with the current market prices of different weight animals. Would your animals have sold for a higher total value if they had been lighter or heavier?

Total weights also can be used to calculate shrinkage, particularly if the cattle were weighed just prior to loading at the ranch. Use the customer invoice to calculate how much premium was received for services rendered at the vet station.

If carefully studied, the market ticket can show how to improve management techniques for better economical Pregnancy testing heifers and cows may add value at the sale. returns.

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February 2015 — Issue 2

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February 2015 — Issue 2

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News

Livestock show animal health focus of workshop

By Blair Fannin Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Preventive care and treatment tips for livestock show projects were the subject os a recent workshop held at Texas A&M University and also made available to online participants.

Workshop organizers were Tom Hairgrove, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service livestock and food systems coordinator; Jason Cleere, AgriLife Extension Service beef cattle specialist; and Billy Zanolini, AgriLife Extension 4-H Youth Development specialist. The program featured perspectives from livestock show officials, veterinarians and an AgriLife Extension meat specialist.

The workshop attracted participants from across Texas and was a joint effort by the Texas A&M department of animal science, AgriLife Extension and Texas 4-H. “Last year we had a similar program where veterinarians came from all across the state and heard similar presentations,” Hairgrove said. “We had lots of parents, Agrilife Extension agents and ag science teachers express interest in this type of training, and we are glad that this came together.”

In all, Hairgrove said the program reached 200 individuals on campus and online. He said all of the program discussion and information was well received by participants.

Allyson Tjoelker, executive director of agricultural exhibits with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, opened the program, providing an overview of carcass residues in livestock projects.

Cleere provided a parent’s perspective on exhibiting livestock.

Cleere said the youth livestock project’s primary goals are to develop a better understanding of livestock production and help them build character.

“It teaches us work ethic, responsibility and understanding,” Cleere said. “Work is what life is all about. These show projects also teach kids that they will win some and lose some as well.

It’s also a financial commitment to take on these projects, and it takes big parent involvement.

Overall, it’s an investment in the kids.”

Cleere said in addition to a time investment, there’s also considerable financial investment.

“You will pay $1,500 for a calf right now out of the pasture,” Cleere said.

There’s also an emotional aspect to the project as kids get attached to the animals, Cleere said, as well as potential for disappointment.

“Your child works hard to maintain the animal, and it gets down to the last two months, and the calf gets sick,” Cleere said.

“We are not going to give you all the answers or tools to diagnose and make treatment decisions,” he said. “The key is to have a valid relationship with a

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working veterinarian.”

Davey Griffin, AgriLife Extension Service meat specialist, discussed the different aspects of a show animal becoming a meat product.

“There are all kinds of different issues we face,” he said.

“There are a lot of different processes in making that show animal into a meat product.”

Griffin provided an overview of issues, such as injection-site tissue damage, that affect the quality of the show animal once harvested. He also discussed the impacts of withdrawal times and random sampling tests done at the livestock show.

Additionally, Griffin gave attendees insight from a packer’s perspective and some of the things they look for when processing carcasses.

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The veterinarians discussed preventive health practices that youth should implement after they purchase their calves and provided an overview of common ailmentsanimals may face.

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Other featured speakers during the workshop were Dr. William Edmiston of Eldorado Veterinary Clinic, Dr. Steve Kennedy of Muleshoe Animal Clinic, Dr. Gary Warner ofElgin Veterinary Hospital, and Dr. Virginia Fajt of Texas A&M’s College of Veteri-

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News LIVESTOCK MARKET REPORT Milano Results of the Milano Livestock Exchange’s Jan. 27 sale: Steers: 300-400 lbs., $272-$325; 400-500 lbs., $260-$287; 500600 lbs., $242-$253; 600-700 lbs., $210-$219.

Heifers: 300-400 lbs., $239-$285; 400-500 lbs., $200-$247; 500600 lbs., $185-$219; 600-700 lbs., $181-$219.

Slaughter bulls: $125-$132.

Slaughter cows: $85-$117.

Bred cows: $1,200-$1,900.

Cow/calf pairs: $1,500-$2,900

Brazos Valley Results of the Brazos ValleyLivestock Commission’s Jan. 27 sale: Head: 437 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $285-$360;

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300-400 lbs., $275-$350; 400500 lbs., $245-$295; 500-600 lbs., $215-$262; 600-700 lbs., $205-$230; 700-800 lbs., $202-$217.

Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $265-$350; 300-400 lbs., $245-$290; 400500 lbs., $215-$250; 500-600 lbs., $204-$242; 600-700 lbs., $185-$222; 700-800 lbs., $185-$196.

Slaughter bulls: $121-$143.

Slaughter cows: $80-$113.

Bred cows: $1,300-$2,050.

Cow/calf pairs: $1,425-$1,975.

Buffalo Results of the Buffalo Livestock Marketing’s Jan. 24 sale: Head: 561 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $300-$375; 300-400 lbs., $275-$345; 400500 lbs., $245-$315; 500-600 lbs., $225-$265; 600-700

lbs., $205-$223; 700-800 lbs., $195-$205.

Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $275-$335; 300-400 lbs., $245-$310; 400500 lbs., $215-$270; 500-600 lbs., $195-$265; 600-700 lbs., $185-$200; 700-800 lbs., $165-$205.

Slaughter bulls: $105-$135.

Slaughter cows: $60-$110.

Stocker cows: $1,250-$2,650.

Cow/calf pairs: $1,100-$2,700.

Caldwell Results of the Caldwell Livestock Commission’s Jan. 28 sale: Head: 352 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $325-$425; 300-400 lbs., $280-$350; 400500 lbs., $250-$280; 500-600 lbs., $225-$255; 600-700 lbs., $220-$240; 700-800 lbs., $200-$215.

Heifers: 268-330 lbs., $300-$385; 300-400 lbs., $260-$320; 400-

500 lbs., $240-$315; 500-600 lbs., $225-$280; 600-700 lbs., $220-$260; 700-800 lbs., $200-$215.

Slaughter bulls: $110-$133.

Slaughter cows: $85-$115.

Stocker cows: $1,500-$1,875.

Jordan Results of the Jordan Cattle Auction’s Jan. 29 sale: Head: 4,796 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $300-$340; 300-400 lbs., $285-$350; 400500 lbs., $255-$325; 500-600 lbs., $235-$297.50; 600-700 lbs., $220-$270; 700-800 lbs, $200-$225.

Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $285-$320; 300-400 lbs., $270-$320; 400500 lbs., $250-$303; 500-600 lbs., $200-$278; 600-700 lbs., $195-$253; 700-800 lbs., $180-$200.

Slaughter bulls: $120-$137.

February 2015 — Issue 2

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Slaughter cows: $96-$119.

Bred cows: $1,600-$3,200.

Cow/calf pairs: $3,000-$4,450.

Navasota Results of the Navasota Livestock Auction Co.’s Jan. 24 sale: Head: 436 Steers: 150-300 lbs., $225-$435; 300-400 lbs., $225-$335; 400500 lbs., $185-$317.50; 500600 lbs., $175-$260; 600-700 lbs., $170-$230.

Heifers: 150-300 lbs., $195-$355; 300-400 lbs., $185-$300; 400500 lbs., $185-$300; 500-600 lbs., $175-$265.50; 600-700 lbs., $170-$225.

Slaughter bulls: $90-$131.

Slaughter cows: $75-$110.

Stocker cows: $1,300-$1,975.

Cow/calf pairs: $1,500-$2,150.

— Special to The Post

The Land & Livestock Post

News Vicente Fox, Laura Bush to address Cattle Raisers meet Special to The Post

Fort Worth — Vicente Fox, president of Mexico from 2000 to 2006, will deliver the keynote speaker at the opening general session of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association’s 138th annual Cattle Raisers Convention.

The convention, the biggest ranching industry event of the year, is scheduled for March 27-29 at the Fort Worth Convention VICENTE FOX Center.

Fox will share stories of his experiences working to build a strong relationship between the United States and Mexico. Fox also will take questions from cattle raisers at the close of his speech.

Former First Lady Laura Bush has been invited to speak at the opening general session of the convention. Bush actively is involved in issues of national and global concern, with a particular emphasis on education, health c a r e, h u man rights and the p re s e r va tion of our nation’s h e r i t a g e . LAURA BUSH Bush will discuss her role as a founder of Taking Care of Texas, an organization that promotes successful land, water and wildlife conservation practices.

Sylvia Longmire, author of Border Insecurity, also will speak at the general opening session on the challenges of border security and illegal immigration.

Longmire is a retired Air Force captain and former special agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations.

Additionally, the School for Successful Ranching and issues sessions will feature 25 educational programs and a worldclass lineup of subject matter experts who will provide insights into current ranching topics and practical tools attendees can take back to their ranch.

The Cattle Raisers Expo is the largest annual ranching exposition in the region and will play host to more than 200 companies bringing their newest products and services to ranchers and landowners. An addition for the 2015 Expo will be live cattle handling demonstrations, which will take place inside the Fort Worth Convention Center. The demonstrations will teach attendees

how to handle cattle in a safe, low-stress manner.

Rounding out the program are entertainment options such as the Cattle Raisers Dinner and Dance, Young Cattle Raisers’ After Party, the Texas Beef Council Fun Run and Walk, and the closing Luncheon Swing Riders Show featuring Doc and Mike Blakely.

“We’re looking forward to another great Cattle Raisers Convention,” said Pete Bonds, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association president. “The unique combination of speakers and educational programs, focused on issues of importance to ranchers, makes this a can’tmiss event for any cattle raiser or landowner.”

Day registration begins at only $100. The Cattle Raisers Convention full registration includes:

• Access to the Cattle Raisers Expo, including lunch on Friday and Saturday, and Friday’s welcome reception • Opening General Session and closing General Session luncheon • All School for Successful Ranching programs • All information sessions hosted by Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association committees • Cattle Raisers Dance and Dinner The Cattle Raisers Convention hotels are within easy walking distance of the Convention Center. Rooms are expected to book quickly, so those interested should register as soon as possible.

More information and registration links are available at www.tscra.org/convention.

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February 2015 — Issue 2

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News BULLS, from Page 4 initial test.

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