the
BEEFMASTER Pay Weight
a publication dedicated to serving commercial cattlemen and produced by Beefmaster Breeders United FALL 2017
Vol. 3, No. 2
Section 1
www.beefmasters.org
Proper bull selection can increase return on investment By Dr. Robert Wells, Noble Research Institute
The past few years have seen a dramatic downturn in calf prices from historic highs to the lowest prices in four or five years. Unfortunately, some input prices are slow to come down while other inputs still remain high; thus causing a strain on budgets. This has greatly reduced the net profit of most cattle raisers. There is a desire and justifiable need by producers to reduce costs proportionally with the reduced calf prices to remain economically viable in the next few years until prices improve again. One area some producers have considered cutting back on is the amount spent for replacement bulls. This can translate to using a bull
of reduced quality. Prices for bulls have moderated along with the calf market, but some producers are extremely hesitant to pay for quality bulls. Rather, they opt for lower priced and lower quality bulls. However during times like now, bull quality is not an area that should be shorted. Bull selection will impact profit for many years to come in the form of the following potential adverse impacts: heavier birth weights, lower weaning weights, lower carcass quality or less desirable heifers to be kept for replacements. Beef producers who continue to produce quality calves with desirable genetics and value-added traits will have the greatest likelihood
of remaining profitable during the low of the cattle cycle. Those who do not will likely be in the red and will be “paying to stay in the business� for the next few years.
two scenarios. Scenario 1: use an average quality bull that cost $2,750 to purchase. Scenario 2: purchase a high quality bull in the top 20 percent for weaning weight expected progeny difference (EPD) that So the question becomes, cost $3,500 to purchase. how can one justify spendBoth bulls will remain in ing more on a quality bull the breeding herd for four in difficult economic times? years and breed 25 For the rest of the article, we will use the following continued on page 4
Beefmasters Excel in Feed Efficiency Study By Bill Pendergrass, Beefmaster Breeders United Requested in-home September 9 - 16, 2017
The United States Desexes in this study and they Beefmasters. partment of Agriculture were below the mark set by continued on page 18 (USDA) Agricultural ReRank Breed Steers ADG, DMI Rank Breed Heifers ADG,DMI search Service (ARS) con1 Limousin 0.206 1 South Devon 0.203 ducted a feed efficiency 2 Beefmaster 0.203 2 Beefmaster 0.096 3 Chiangus 0.13 3 Hereford 0.094 evaluation at the U.S. Meat 3 Maine Anjou 0.13 4 Maine Anjou 0.031 Animal Research Center 4 Santa Gertrudis 0.119 5 Charolais 0.03 (USMARC) in Clay Cen5 Gelbvieh 0.107 6 Shorthorn 0.025 ter, Neb., on 18 beef cattle 6 Brahman 0.1 7 Limousin 0.017 7 Herefird 0.099 8 Santa Gertrudis 0.012 breeds. The feed efficien8 Braunvieh 0.073 9 Chiangus 0.008 cy test results ranked the 9 Charolais 0.07 10 Salers 0.002 Beefmaster breed second 9 Salers 0.07 11 Angus 0 for Average Daily Gain 9 Shorthorn 0.07 12 Simmental -0.004 10 Tarentaise 0.05 12 Red Angus -0.004 (ADG) and Dry Matter In11 Simmental 0.027 13 Brahman -0.023 take (DMI) in both steers 12 Angus 0 14 Gelvieh -0.027 and heifers. Only one other 13 Brangus -0.002 15 Brangus -0.049 breed ranked in the top five 14 Red Angus -0.014 16 Braunvieh -0.078 15 South Devon -0.041 17 Tarentaise -0.081 in ADG and DMI for both