the
BEEFMASTER Pay Weight
a publication dedicated to serving commercial cattlemen and produced by Beefmaster Breeders United SPRING 2016
Vol. 2, No. 1
www.beefmasters.org
Better Performance Through Genetic Selection - Breed Differences on Endophyte-Infected Tall Fescue
Tall fescue is the most commonly used grass in the U.S. used to graze and feed cattle. Widespread throughout a majority of the country, fescue grass provides multiple benefits for pasture performance due to its persistence, long growing season, and nutritional quality as well as drought, insect and disease resistance. However, producers have a love-hate relationship with this seemingly desirable plant. The same fungal endophyte that makes the grass so hardy also contains some alkaloids that studies have shown are detrimental to the performance of grazing livestock. Common side effects of toxicosis include heat stress, suppressed appetite, poor growth or reduced calving rates, ultimately costing the beef industry approximately $500 million to $1 billion annually in losses due to
decreased reproductive and growth rates, according to an abstract from Richard Browning, Ph.D., Tennessee State University. Researchers have determined the endophyte can be alleviated using several forage management practices including replacing endophyte-infected tall fescue with low-endophyte strands, diluting endophyte-infected fescue with other grasses or legumes, ammoniating fescue hay, or increasing stocking rates to prevent plant maturation since the endophyte is highly concentrated in the seed head. However, due to high costs, vast amount of acreage covered in endophyte-infected tall fescue, along with reluctance to eradicate long-standing pastures, forage management for eradication purposes does not seem likely or advantageous.
By Brittni Drennan
A more practical, effective solution for alleviating
Recently, the University of Kentucky (UKY) conducted
the negative effects caused by high-endophyte fescue is with animal management practices by genetic selection. Browning pointed out heat stress is a known symptom of fescue toxicosis, causing increased panting, respiration rates, and time spent in the shade, which means cattle spend less time grazing and gaining.
a trial using 120 spring-born calves out of cows with varying degrees of Brahman-influenced genetics bred to Hereford bulls. Roy Burris, Ph.D., Extension Beef Specialist at UKY was the lead researcher on the study. “There’s five million acres in Kentucky and most of it is Continued on page 23
Beefmaster Value Added Feeder Cattle By Bill Pendergrass Requested in-home February 15-19, 2016
Profitability comes in different packages. Beefmaster has long been noted for their maternal excellence. On the cow side, Beefmaster females set the industry standard for fertility, longevity, functionality and efficiency. What many ranchers don’t realize is that Beefmasters also excel in the feedyard and on the rail. In the past 15 years there has been a strong tendency for the U.S., beef industry to focus strictly on one trait, and that is marbling. Admittedly, we had a lot of carcass
improvements to make in order to meet the consumer’s demand for high quality beef. Thank goodness the entire beef industry has been working to improve carcass quality over the past several years. Our reward is the re-emergence of beef as the consumer’s first choice in protein. As the beef industry has focused on marbling, other traits that impact profitability have not had the same attention and selection pressure applied to them at the same extent as carcass traits. Beef-
masters are rapidly gaining attention from cattle feeders and buyers for their ability to hit these often overlooked, but very valuable production targets. Several Beefmaster breeders have quietly began to retain ownership on their straight and crossbred Beefmaster steers to discover exactly how Beefmasters perform in the yard and in the plant. The data collected over the years is eye opening. Continued on page 10
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The Beefmaster Pay Weight
Letter From The Editor
If you have any questions or comments please contact me at bpendergrass@ beefmasters.org or 210-7323132.
By Bill Pendergrass Welcome to the spring 2016 edition of The Beefmaster Pay Weight. As the U.S., beef industry turns to the hard work of rebuilding our nation’s cowherd, beef producers are searching for maternal genetics that will anchor their herds moving forward. Beefmasters are uniquely qualified to bridge the gap between maternal excellence and eye opening performance. The headlong rush
toward carcass traits our industry has been on for the past decade has created the greatest supply of high quality beef in history, but at what cost? We are now seeing an erosion of maternal traits. Longevity, fertility, temperament and the ability to thrive in the harshest production environments have been overlooked as the industry has single trait selected for marbling. Beefmasters are your link to maternal excellence. The “just right” blend of Bos indicus genes in Beefmasters lead to the optimum blend of hardiness, maternal worth, raw performance and more efficiency than any other breed. Simply put,
the BEEFMASTER Pay Weight
Beefmaster bulls are the ultimate heterosis delivery system. Include Beefmasters in a terminal crossbreeding system and watch your bottom line grow. The advertisers in The Beefmaster Pay Weight are totally dedicated to producing functional, adaptable genetics. The editorial content of this issue points out the regional diversity of our cattle and how Beefmasters add value to herds in fundamental, but often overlooked areas. Please contact these breeders and Beefmaster Breeders United to learn more about these great cattle or to locate bulls in your area. Enjoy.
Bill Pendergrass
BBU Executive Vice President Editor, The Beefmaster Pay Weight
For more information about how Beefmasters can work on your cattle operation visit www.beefmasters.org!
Beefmaster Breeders United
The Beefmaster Pay Weight is a publication produced by Beefmaster Breeders United and dedicated to serving commercial cattlemen. The Beefmaster Pay Weight Team
Beefmaster Breeders United Staff Members
Editor: Bill Pendergrass Managing Editor: Jeralyn Novak, jnovak@beefmasters.org Contributing Writers: Brittni Drennan, Dr. Wesley Hood, Jeralyn Novak, Bill Pendergrass, Dr. Matt Spangler, Dr. Robert Williams Advertising Coordinator: Matt Woolfolk, mwoolfolk@beefmasters.org Graphic Designer: Jeralyn Novak
Bill Pendergrass: Executive Vice President Collin Osbourn: Chief Financial Officer Kelsey Crenshaw: Member Service Data Entry Sarah Davis: Membership Coordinator, Member Services & Transfers Donna Henderson: Office Manager Jeralyn Novak: Communications Coordinator Matt Woolfolk: Field Representative & Commercial Marketing Director
For advertisement sales: Contact Matt Woolfolk or Bill Pendergrass at 210-732-3132. Contact BBU: 6800 Park Ten Blvd., Suite 290 West, San Antonio, TX 78213 - (210) 732-3132 - info@beefmasters.org. Beefmaster Breeders United reserves the right to refuse advertising in any publications. © 2016 Beefmaster Breeders United. All rights reserved. The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or part, without prior written consent of Beefmaster Breeders United.
Triple Threat
BW: -3.5 WW: 23 YW: 35 Milk: -9 TM: 2 SC: 1.1 REA: 0.21 IMF: 0.2 Rib Fat: 0.12 Rump Fat: 0.40
Performance Tested Black & Red Beefmaster Bulls FOR SALE McKenzie’s Beefmasters Kendall & Vivian McKenzie 57426 Hilltop Church Road Angie, LA 70426 985-848-5468 985-335-7123 5M Beefmasters Geary & Ann McKenzie 54081 Hwy 62 Franklinton, LA 70438 985-848-5800 985-515-2306 Dedicated to Producing Quality Cattle with Outstanding Genetics!
Herd Bulls Also Include: Exodus - a CHRK Genesis son CJ’s Lead On - a CF Adrenaline son
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Trichomoniasis - The Silent Infection By Dr. Wesley Hood, D.V.M. - Pro-Vet of Siloam Springs, Ark. Much has been said over the past few years about Trichomoniasis or “Trich� as it is commonly referred to. However, there is still confusion and mystery surrounding exactly what it is and more importantly what it can do to decimate your herd. In the next few minutes of reading, hopefully those questions can be cleared up in order to help protect your herd from this silent infection. Trichomoniasis is a disease caused by the protozoal organism Tritrichomonas foetus. The organism lives
in the preputial folds of the male and around the cervical folds of females. It is considered a sexually transmitted disease, as bulls contract the infection from infected cows during breeding or vice versa. The organism is virtually undetectable in bovine semen evaluations, causes no harm to the fertility of the bull and has no obvious signs of infection in cows or bulls. Cows that contract the infection can clear the organism in about five months, however most bulls are considered permanently infected and cannot be salvaged. There is
a very small percentage of bulls under three years of age that may clear the infection after several months. The disease process occurs as the organism infects the lining of the reproductive tract of the female and causes early embryonic death, mild uterine infections and sometimes early abortion of fetuses, typically in the first trimester. The bull does not suffer from infertility and is mainly an asymptomatic carrier of the organism. The overlying problem is the organism does not cause any visible illness in the affected
VAUGHN Proven Beefmaster Genetics
All the Data. all the time. Scan Data Maternal Data Performance Data Commitment Integrity
Programs designed to offer increased carcass profitability without sacrificing maternal excellence and longevity.
More than Maternal
Offering marketing opportunities using proven Beefmaster genetics.
Jason Bates General Manager 417-616-9000 jason@vaughnfamilyfarms.com
Vaughn Family Farms Davin and Gail Vaughn Mount Vernon, MO www.vaughnfamilyfarms.com
animals and abortions occur early in pregnancy and are typically not observable. The first sign of an infected herd starts with repeated heat cycles of females that should be already bred. A large number of females showing heat cycles late in the breeding season is a very common finding, as well as females that have been serviced early in the season rebreeding late in the season with no heats in between. The most confounding issue is by the time a problem is detected, it is normally too late to stop the repercussions. The effects of Trichomoniasis can be crippling to a cow herd in conception rates. In herds with a defined calving season, conception rates can be decreased by up to 50% for that season. In herds that calve year round the effect can be seen as a high percentage of cattle calving every 18 months instead of every 12 months. Losing half a calf crop is obviously a financially crippling event. Not to mention the calves that do survive will typically be born much later in the calving season, decreasing weaning weights and subsequent rebreeding rates. As detecting the disease is so difficult, focus must be taken on prevention of infection instead of treating an outbreak. There has been a large push by states in recent years to prevent the spread of this disease. Almost all states have some type of Trichomoniasis testing protocols for both in state and out of state bull sales, both private treaty and auction. There are a few rules that are advisable when dealing with this disease. First and foremost is that ANY bull you use must be verified as a virgin bull with no breeding history or must Continued on Page 6
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The Beefmaster Pay Weight
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The Beefmaster Pay Weight
be tested for Trichomoniasis prior to use in your herd. There are trusted individuals that sell many bulls private treaty that can be verified as virgin bulls. However, if there is any question, have the bull tested by your veterinarian BEFORE placing with cows. Testing involves scraping the inside of the preputial folds and sending either a culture or PCR test to a laboratory for analysis. A single PCR test is satisfactory for most state requirements and is required by most states to travel across state lines if the bull is over 12 months of age. Prevention of the disease also involves screening any cows that are purchased out of herd. Unfortunately, testing of cows is not as efficient or accurate. Therefore the easiest way of prevention is to buy cows or heifers that are bred greater than four months, verified virgin open heifers or pairs that have not been exposed back to a bull. The chances of Trichomoniasis being present in these groups is extremely small. One of the main culprits of transmission is one that is hard to control. It has been said that good fences make good neighbors and this is extremely accurate in Tricho-
moniasis prevention. Some of the worst cases that have been seen involve the “traveling animal� whether male or female. If a neighbor’s farm is infected with Trichomoniasis and one of their animals is allowed to breed with one of yours, the results can be disastrous. It is imperative that you maintain strict biosecurity levels in your breeding herd and prevent introduction of this disease. In the event your herd does become infected, there are options for control. The first is all natural service bulls will most likely have to be sold. There is a chance some bulls will escape infection, but it will require three negative tests over a period of a few months to insure that. All cows must be held from breeding for a minimum of five months in order to clear the infection naturally. There is also a vaccine available that is somewhat effective in decreasing embryonic losses and is typically used in trying to clear already infected herds. Above all, please discuss with your local veterinarian if you suspect Trichomoniasis in your herd. Early detection is the key to keeping the economic losses manageable.
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Foundation 712
Hargis Ranch Chris & David Hargis
5710 E. 2030 Road, Waurika, OK 73573 David: 580.513.4577 Chris: 580.313.1356
hargisranch@yahoo.com
Come buy our consignments! Texoma Beefmaster Sale March 19, 2016 McAlester, Okla.
Beef On Forage Performance Bull Sale October 15, 2016 Brenham, Texas
Lasater 4248
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nsb
ters s a m f ee
e l a S n o i t c Produ 21, 2016 mmo ww.e
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Producing clean, heavily muscled bulls with performance data
Steve & Cindy Emmons Fairfield, TX (903) 879-4567 emsranch@gmail.com
Where good looking cattle perform!
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2016
Bull Sale October 8, 2016 Pickens, Mississippi
P661C
P2738 C
Robert williams general Manager
816.519.1179
rwilliams@caincattle.com
Owners: Ted, Julie, Logan & Evan Cain
P280CLike US on
f
www.caincattle.com info@caincattle.com
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Built from the Past... Bred for the Future
Red Bull 511
Sire: New Dimension 805 Dam: HS Heavenly Hattie
EPDs
BW: 1.2 WW: 21 YW: 21 Milk: 3 TM: 14
Efficient Productive Uniform Registered or Commercial Cattle For Sale 7C Anderson Cattle Co.
Steve & Michelle Anderson PO Box 2549 Victoria, TX 77902
V7 Beefmasters
Melvin & Marilyn Scherer 1495 Moritz Road Meyersville, TX 77974 361-877-2577 melvinscherer@yahoo.com
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Selection Indices for Beefmaster Breeders
By Matt Spangler, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Beef Genetics Extension Specialist, University of Nebraska-Lincoln An economic index is a collection of EPDs weighted by their economic value such that traits with greater impacts on production goals have a larger economic weight associated with them. The basic equation of an economic index is: I = EPD1 x a1 + EPD2 x a2 + EPD3 x a3 +… + EPDn x an Where: I is the index value; EPDn is the EPD for trait n; and an is the economic weight associated with trait n. This basic form was first published in the early 1940s. Note that EPDs are included in the selection index above. However, not all traits for which we have EPDs directly impact the profitability of cow/calf operations. Traits that directly impact a source of revenue or a cost of production are called Economically Relevant Traits (ERT). All traits that are not ERTs are indicator traits, or a trait that is genetically correlated
to an ERT but not an ERT itself. Classic examples of indicator traits include ultrasonic carcass measurements and birth weight. Producers do not receive premiums for IMF levels, rather premiums (and discounts) are applied to quality grades. Assuming that carcass maturity values are the same, actual carcass marbling is the driver of quality grade. Although IMF is genetically correlated to carcass marbling it is not the ERT. Birth weight is another great example of an indicator trait. Selection to decrease birth weight in an attempt to reduce the prevalence of dystocia is practiced by numerous commercial bull buyers. However birth weight does not have a direct revenue source or cost associated with it. The trait that does have a cost associated with it is calving ease (or difficulty). How are the economic weights derived? Using historical averages of input
costs and the value of sale weight and carcass premiums (and discounts) we use a simulated cowherd to ask the question “if all else is held constant, and we change one of the traits by one unit, how does this change our profitability”? These values become the foundation for the weightings of the EPDs in the index. The weightings are then modified based on the genetic relationship between the ERT and the indicator trait for which we have an EPD, as well as the genetic relationship between the trait and all other traits in the index (to avoid “double counting”). Below are some examples of proposed indices for the Beefmaster Breeders United. Terminal Index This index includes EPDs for yearling weight and ultrasound and traits and is designed to select bulls to be used only on mature cows. Producers wishing to en-
hance growth and simultaneously select for quality and yield grade should use this index. It is a terminal index and caution should be used if replacement females are retained to avoid increasing mature weights of females. Example: Bull A +60.0 Bull B +55.0 We would expect that the calves from Bull A would be worth $5.00/hd., more than those from Bull B if retained through a feedlot phase. Maternal Index This index assumes that the sire will be used on both cows and heifers and that heifers will be retained as replacements while all other offspring (cull heifers and steers) will be sold at weaning. Continued on page 19
Moulin Farms Building a Standard for Beefmaster & Beefmaster Advancer Genetics
Tim Moulin 1255 E Dade 132 Walnut Grove, MO 65770
Pictured is a Beefmaster Advancer bull at 16 months of age
417/849-1067 tmou10@gmail.com
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The Beefmaster Pay Weight
James and Mary Ann Skelton began feeding their Beefmaster sired/influenced steers with Irsik and Doll Feedyard of Garden City, Kansas in 2010. Initially, the Skelton’s tried retaining ownership to avoid discounts at the sale barn. Once they began, they quickly discovered the advantages that Beefmasters bring to the table. “The first thing we noticed is that our Beefmaster sired steers are very healthy. While we do have a good vaccination program at the farm and we background our calves, we have very little sickness on our steers while they are in the yard,” Skelton said. No one, especially Skelton, is surprised by this. The strength of an animal’s immune system is impacted by heterosis. The first step to profitability in the feedyard is keeping them alive and healthy so they can perform.
Beefmasters excel in this area. Beefmasters have an immune system advantage because of their genetic makeup which is a combination of Hereford, Shorthorn and Bos indicus (Brahman influence). Adding clout over and above crossbreeding using only Bos taurus (British and Continental breeds), Bos indicus cattle have an even greater hybrid vigor effect because of the principle of genetic diversity. The more unrelated parents are, the greater the heterosis or crossbreeding effect. Beefmasters are unique in that they carry more retained heterosis than any of the other American breeds. Beefmaster sires used on Angus cows yield a “just right” blend of Bos indicus influence. “One of the first things we noticed about our Beefmaster steers was their perfor-
mance and feed efficiency,” Skelton said. “Our first pen of steers gained a 3.7 and converted on a dry matter basis at 5.15. From there we had a couple of pens of steers gain and convert pretty close to that, but our best pen gained a 4.0 and converted at 4.81.” To date the Skelton steers are averaging 3.6 average daily gain rate (ADG) with a 5.11 dry matter conversion rate. Anyone who has ever fed cattle can tell you that those kind of performance and conversion figures are truly special. Spotlighting that profitability can come from areas other than carcass quality and the last set of Skelton steers closed out in December 2015 with remarkable figures. Skelton compared the November 2015 national average to his steers and arrived at the following conclusion.
Tank 376 C1031779 High Selling bull at 2014 Beef on Forage Sale Top 1% WW, YW, SC - Top 15% REA BW
WW
YW
MILK
TM
EPD
1.7
38
52
ACC
.44
.50
.47
-3 .21
16 -
SC
FAT
REA
IMF
RUMP
EPD
1.2
-0.05
0.22
-0.1
-0.01
ACC
.47
PE
PE
PE
PE
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“Our steers gained 3.8 and the national average was 2.8. Our steers converted on a dry matter basis at 5.5 versus the national average of 6.1. Finally the cost of gain on our Beefmasters was 65 cents versus 92 cents,” Skelton said. Good solid performance coupled with true efficiency always positions a set of steers for profit. The manager of Irsik and Doll Feedyard in Garden City, Kansas, Mark Sebranek, has fed some of the very best cattle of almost every breed in a wide variety of progeny tests, including Beefmasters. Sebranek’s retained ownership customers are demanding. Over the years Irsik and Doll Feedyard has developed a devoted clientele that appreciates his knowledge of cattle feeding and grid marketing. Sebranek has had Continued on page 11
Tank & Doce Doce Sons For Sale at Beef On Forage Sale Brenham, Texas Texoma Beefmaster Sale McAlester, Oklahoma
Commited to your bottomline Beefmaster Bulls = more calves, more pounds, more productive years and great dispositions.
Miller Rocking M
Doce doce 1212 C1017783 High Selling bull at 2012 Beef on Forage Sale Top 15% BW & REA EPDs
Larry & Janet Miller 512.303.1216 ldmiller57@yahoo.com
Ensor Beefmasters Derick & Ashley Ensor 979.575.4092 derickensor@gmail.com
BW
WW
YW
MILK
TM
EPD
-0.8
10
16
ACC
.58
.58
.54
4 .23
9 -
SC
FAT
REA
IMF
RUMP
EPD
0.3
0.00
0.23
-0.1
0.06
ACC
.51
PE
PE
PE
PE
www.beefmasters.org
several positive experiences with feeding Beefmaster influenced cattle. “Live performance on the Beefmaster steers is good. They consistently gain in the high threes to low fours on an ADG basis, right where they need to be. Conversions on the Beefmasters are really good with some of the better pens converting in the high 4 lbs., of feed to a pound of gain, with low fives being pretty common. These ADGs, conversions and really good cattle health make feeding Beefmasters easy,” said Sebranek. Tom Jones of Hi Plains Feeders in Montezuma, Kansas has had similar experiences with Beefmaster steers that come through their yard. According to Jones, Beefmaster steers typically convert on a feed to gain basis in the top 30%, with conversions in the upper 5 lb., range not being
The Beefmaster Pay Weight
uncommon. “Beefmasters are very healthy, as a matter of fact we pencil in a three-quarter percentage death loss (very low) when running breakevens. They gain well, convert well and we are not afraid to sell them on a grid,” said Jones. In regards to grid marketing steers, Beefmaster breeders are serious about improving carcass quality. From 1998 to 2003, Beefmaster Breeders United (BBU) in cooperation with Texas A&M University conducted an extensive progeny test utilizing 15 Beefmaster sires on commercial Angus cows from the Texas A&M Research Station in McGregor, Texas. At the time, no one probably realized how relevant the Beefmaster x Angus crossbred mating would be 14 years later. To no one’s surprise, the cattle produced carcass data Continued on page 12
Colvin Beefmasters National Champion Open Heifers - 2004 E6 Sale 2015 Miss South Texas Grand Champion
Building From The Best Dr. Jim and Pam Colvin Colvin Beefmasters 1555 Still Meadow
Seguin, TX 78155
Home: 830-372-2624 Cell: 830-401-1647 ckkcolvin@yahoo.com
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The Beefmaster Pay Weight
that are still very acceptable by today’s standards. Will Beefmaster sired steers hang up acceptable carcasses? Absolutely. Beefmaster sired calves out of the commercial Angus cows from the McGregor, Texas station posted impressive numbers. Seventy-two percent of the cattle produced carcasses that were USDA Prime or USDA Choice. Forty-nine percent of the carcasses earned an impressive Yield Grade 1 or 2. Given this kind of knowledge, you can confidently sell your Beefmaster influenced steers on the right grid. Given how much Beefmaster and Angus carcasses have improved
since the progeny test referenced above, one could reasonably assume that the carcass traits of today’s Beefmaster x Angus crossbreds will be even better in the plant. While everyone is emphasizing quality and yield grades as the focal point for carcass traits, Beefmasters offer a counterbalance trait that can help equalize the quality grade difference. Hot yields or dressing percentages on Beefmaster sired cattle are impressive, handily exceeding plant averages. James and Mary Ann Skelton have been seeing impressive hot yields on their steers averaging over 65% with one
harvest group coming in at 65.74%. Mark Sebranek points
plant average on dressing percentage, you will be discounted. That’s what I like
out that “even though we are selling these cattle on a grid, at the end of the day we are still selling pounds. Pounds of carcass that is. You can have cattle that light up a grid, but if they are below
about the Beefmasters I have fed. They have enough quality grade to keep them marketable and their hot yields mean more carcass weight to sell. It’s an important thing to remember.” Today’s cattleman has a lot to consider. Given the rapid improvements in carcass quality the industry has seen over the past decade, it could be argued that as an industry we have injected a tremendous amount of marbling into America’s cow herd, and that is a good thing. If we know the cattle will work in the plant, is it not time to refocus our efforts on building functional, fertile and efficient cow herds? Now, more than at any time in our history, the American commercial cow herd will receive the biggest returns at almost every sector by simply crossbreeding and letting heterosis add value to the industry. The selling points of crossbreeding are that more calves are born, healthier calves are born, more pounds of pay weight are produced, and cows have longer, more productive lives. Beefmasters are uniquely qualified to add that all important heterosis punch. The impressive performance, conversion, health and economic traits seen by James and Mary Ann Skelton can be achieved by
Silver State Beefmasters FALLON, NEVADA
MISTER MAJESTIC
Johnny Cash X Bayoubelle Semen at $20 per straw. Certificate $30 extra. Discounts on orders of 100 straws. Free freight on orders of 200. Call Dalton Lowery if interested in purchasing a Semen Share on this PROVEN BULL
SILVER STATE PROVIDES SEMEN - MODERATE FRAMED AND MODERATE EPDS - $12 PER STRAW - DISCOUNT TO $10 ON 100 + ORDERS - CUSTOM BREEDING SERVICE - NITROGEN & SHIPPING SERVICE FOR BEEF AND DAIRY INDUSTRY - VIEW OTHER BULLS ON WEBSITE
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CALL DALTON LOWERY 775.745.8074
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Continued on page 22
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Advancing with Beefmaster Advancers By Jeralyn Novak, Beefmaster Breeders United Somewhere in Texas between San Antonio and Laredo, there is an impressive cattle operation. Just off southbound interstate 35 outside of Moore, Texas, Rancho Dos Vidas sits surrounded by mesquite trees and cactus. The picture perfect image of a South Texas ranch, bustling with wildlife. Most of the ranch visitors are seeking the exciting dove and deer hunts, however on my visit I was seeking the beautiful cattle. Rancho Dos Vidas and its ranch manager, Lane Roberson, are focused on producing profitable and high quality cattle. When Roberson isn’t guiding hunts, he is working cattle. The cattle found on this 4,000 acre ranch are primarily Beefmaster and Red Angus cross.
Roberson and ranch owner, Don Mullins, began their crossbred program back in
size and encompassing good milk production. Banner suggested crossing Beefmas-
ground that this cross was something great. When their first calf crop
2008. The two of them, along with the help of Jim Banner of Southern Livestock Standard, were seeking a cross that would be hardy enough for the South Texas ranch, while also being moderate in
ter with Red Angus and that is when the successful cattle program began. The ranch had their first Beefmaster X Red Angus calf crop in the fall of 2009 and they knew as soon as the calves hit the
were just mere newborns, the crossbred program offered by Beefmaster Breeders United (BBU) was brand new and not yet on the ranch’s radar. Continued on page 14
BAR G RANCH BEEFMASTERS
EPDs
BW: 1.6 SC: .20
WW: 20
YW: 25
REA: .06 IMF: .20
TM: 10 FAT: .04
Adjusted Weights & Measurements followed by ratios in parentheses
365 Wt: 1031 (105)
BW: 81
205 Wt: 610(105)
YWDA: 2.72
REA: 13.7 IMF 365: (110) 3.3 (122)
ADG: 2.5 FT 365: .24 (114)
Look for our consignments to the 2016 Beef on Forage Sale
October 15, 2016 Brenham, Texas
Darrell, Shannon, Jeannette, Trenton, Trevor, Travis & Troy Glaser P.O. Box 194, Rogers, TX 76569 . 254-721-1497 . darrell_glaser@yahoo.com
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The Beefmaster Pay Weight
However, as more successful Beefmaster crossbred calves hit the ground Roberson saw an advantage in registering the cattle in BBU’s crossbred program, Beefmaster Advancer. From the beginning of their crossbreeding program, Rancho Dos Vidas had used purebred, registered Red Angus bulls and purebred, registered Beefmaster females; so it only made since to add more value to
in Columbus, Texas. Beefmaster Advancer cattle, by definition, are animals of fifty percent (50%) or more registered Beefmaster breeding and fifty percent (50%) or less of other registered and DNA genotyped non-Beefmaster beef cattle breeding. These animals may be certified in BBU provided they are produced from breeding of one of the following:
the cattle and register them as Beefmaster Advancers. The BBU Board of Directors approved the registration of Beefmaster Advancer cattle on March 28, 2009
1. Known registered Beefmaster sire mated to a DNA genotyped, registered dam from another breed association.
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2. Known registered Beefmaster dam mated to a DNA genotyped, registered sire from another breed association.
Beefmaster Advancer program and, with no pun intended, are advancing their cattle breeding program through utilizing Beefmaster Advancers. Advancing with 3. A known progeny of a Beefmaster Advancers! 50% - 74% Beefmaster Ad“Plain and simple fact, vancer and a known regisanytime you can crossbreed tered Beefmaster sire or dam. you are ahead with heterosis,” said Roberson. “It’s the 4. Known progeny from increased hybrid vigor and animals recorded in the Beef- increased gains that are hard master Advancer Program to beat with straight bred cattle.” According to Roberson, the Beefmaster and Red Angus cross has produced him stronger offspring and the female offspring hit puberty earlier. He says they typically can start breeding these crossbred females at 11-13 months, have a calf on the ground by 24 months and are ready to breed back at 24 months. This cross of Beefmaster and Red Angus provides Roberson with the ideal mother cow that has meeting all Association resuperior milk production, quirements for registration clean underlines and is range that are 50-87% Beefmaster hardy. breeding. Rancho Dos Vidas has been on the forefront of the Continued on page 17
Red Angus X Beefmaster Replacement Females Owner: Don & Gwen Mullins Manager: Lane Roberson (210) 846-6747 robersonj7bar@gmail.com
Grand Champion Pen of Females 2013 & 2014 San Antonio All Breeds Sale
a 1/2 Beefmaster cow with
er heifer calf
Red Angus x Beefmast
Red Angus X Beefmast
er 1/2 blood hfr with
3/4 Red Angus calf
Bulls, Bulls, Bulls
For Sale
T5 Ranch Selling this pen of five registered bulls through private treaty, complete performance data included. These bulls were at the Rosebud, Arkansas feed test and are BSE and Trichomoniasis tested.
More bulls with complete performance data for sale at ranch! Sires of these bulls include T5’s 397 (Who Dat x Silky Satin), Who Dat (Black Bayou x Sugar Pie) and the sought after Magic Coffee (Mr. Coffee x Magic Lee)
Interested or have questions? Please call or text Owner/Ranch Manager: JC Thompson 979-777-8859 Ranch Manager: Collin McMaster 281-755-6416
T5 Beefmasters
JC and Teri Thompson Bedias, Texas 979-777-8859 jct.t5ranch@hotmail.com
PerfoRmancE BeEFMAsteR GENeTiCS f r o m t h e FO u N d i n g fa M I Ly
55th BEeFMAstEr bulL SAlE October 1, 2016 san ANgeLo, TExaS 140 BeEFMAsteR bulLS
Range developed • Performance and Trich tested • Free delivery available
Private TrEAty BulLs aVAilabLe MARch 2016 Lorenzo Lasater
325.656.9126 lorenzo@isabeefmasters.com
www.isabeefmasters.com
FEmales, SemEn & eMBRyOs PrivaTe tREAty
BERACHIAH BEEFMASTERS
Beefmaster Cross Cattle
Cassville, MO 65625 417/826-5881 417/773-0151 berachiah@centurylink.net
Home: 479-751-0095 Cell: 479-530-3099 maskelton@yahoo.com
James Skelton Louie Skelton Joe Skelton Springdale, Ark.
Breeding Polled Beefmasters since 1982 Lawrence and Connie Shuey Dale and Karen Shuey
SKELTON FARMS
GOOGLE Hennegin’s Beefmasters
Hennegin’s Beefmasters OHOA Member
HOME OF RED POLLED BREEDING STOCK 660-927-3682 EMail: rjhenegn@outlook.com
21244 STATE HWY 148 Maryville, MO 64468
DOMINANT TRAITS FOR GROWTH & POWER
CF Oasis Lowell, Rick, Scott, Abe, Owen & Derrick Stonecipher 971 Old Bells Rd., Jackson, TN 38305 (731) 664-7400 Cottage Farm Genetics (731) 616-7702 Rick’s Mobile ricks@praxiscompanies.com
Top 1% EPD for WW, YW & SC, with an EPD accuracy of .9, which is unheard of for a dam. “Big Spread” genetics very small BW EPD with huge WW & YW EPD. -1 BW EPD stacked against top 1% WW & 1% YW EPD. Gary & Rhonda Lindsey
BEEFMASTERS
4060 Kimbro Lane Madisonville, TX 77864 936.348.5127 Home 936.355.2253 Mobile 903.707.7975 Office lindseyranch@ymail.com Your Black Beefmaster Connection
Your Black Beefmaster Connection
405-650-0675
Advertise in e Beefmaster Pay Weight 210-732-3132 info@beefmasters.org
www.beefmasters.org
“With these Beefmaster Advancers their fertility is higher and they get re-bred quicker. The Beefmaster cow and these Beefmaster crossbred cattle bring a lot to the table for today’s market,” said Roberson. Not only does the ranch see an increase in maternal attributes, these crossbred calves weigh on average 80 lbs., more per head than the straight bred cattle raised in the past by Rancho Dos Vidas. The combination of solid maternal performance and weight gain performance has been the perfect cattle cross for Rancho Dos Vidas in the pasture and also in the sale ring. Rancho Dos Vidas has been named Grand Champion Female two years in a row with their Beefmaster Advancer cow/calf pairs at one of most prestigious sales in the South. Each year the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo hosts the All Breeds Bull and Heifer Sale that features purebred bulls and commercial heifers consigned by premier Texas ranches. In 2013 and 2014, Rancho Dos Vidas won the top honor at the All Breeds Sale and are vying for another top award in 2016. The ranch also won Reserve Champion Females at the 2015 National E6 Commercial Replacement Female Sale in Columbus, Texas. Success in the pasture is what really matters to Rancho Dos Vidas, but taking home these honors just verifies that this crossbreeding program is one of the best. Before the awards, Roberson always knew that as a whole the Beefmaster and Red Angus cross produced a very solid set of cattle. These red hided cattle are even solid in a cattle industry dominated by the black hide. It is predicted that red hided cattle will grow in popularity over the com-
ing years because the cattle market is flooded with black hided cattle. The cattle industry currently lacks the needed heterosis in order to produce heavier weights and high quality replacement females. However, a program like Beefmaster Advancer is introducing this needed heterosis by producing crossbred cattle that outperform and outweigh other cattle. “I love this cross and there is nothing I would change, it produces a very high quality female. Such a high quality female that our ranch cannot keep up with the demand for our crossbred females,” said Roberson. When asked what final thoughts he had, Roberson simply said it is the combination of heterosis, fertility, udder quality and moderate frame size that makes the cow/calf producer more money. The crossbreeding at Rancho Dos Vidas is profitable and “crossing with Beefmaster takes it to that next level.”
Jeralyn Novak
Beefmaster Breeders United Communications Coordinator
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA GET CONNECTED
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17
Central stateS
Beefmaster Breeders Association PRESENTS
:
The Heart of Oklahoma Beefmaster Sale
Saturday
May 14, 2016 Locust Grove, Oklahoma Sycamore Springs Ranch www.sycamorespringsranch.net
5-1/2 miles south of Locust Grove, Oklahoma on Hwy. 82
APPROX. 70 LOTS Elite Females Select Breeding Age Bulls Also watch for our
Performance
Tested Bull Sale November 6, 2016 Joplin, Missouri For catalogs and additional information: WWW.CSBBA.ORG SALE MANAGER: TOM HOOD (918) 456-1199 • Email: hhh89@lrec.org
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The Beefmaster Pay Weight
www.beefmasters.org
Ozark & Heart of AmericA Spring Sale
APRil 9, 2016 Springfield, MisSouri Springfield livestOck Marketing Center
Over 120 lotS • BReeding age bullS • Yearling Bulls • Open & BRed HeiferS • Pairs • 3-n-1 s
sPonSored bY ozark & Heart of AmericA BeefmaSter Marketing grouP PReSident: Sam dRyeR Vice PReSident: CRaig Johnson SecretARy: Alex Magee
OhoAbeeFmAsters.Com for More inFORmAtiOn or tO request a sAle cAtalog cOntAct Sale ManAger
tom Hood 918-456-1199 hHh89@lrec.org CatAlog will be online tHRee weekS Prior tO Sale at
OhoAbeeFmAsters.Com
www.beefmasters.org
Example: Bull A +130 Bull B +120 We would expect that the calves from Bull A would be worth $10/hd., more than those from Bull B. Over a span of 4 years Bull A could generate $1,200 more revenue than Bull B if mated to 30 females/yr. ($10/hd x 30/ hd x 4 yrs.).
Choosing an Index to Use When making selection decisions based on economic indices, it’s important to consider your particular breeding objective and the traits that will achieve desired production goals. For instance, if your production goals included retaining replacements and selling cull heifers and steer progeny at weaning, then an index that assumes all offspring are retained through the
feedlot and no replacements are retained is inappropriate for your operation. It is also important to know the breed average values for particular indexes and to use percentile ranks to determine how far above or below average a particular animal is compared to the rest of a breed.
The Beefmaster Pay Weight
Matt Spangler, Ph.D. Associate Professor and Beef Genetics Extension Specialist, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
CHRK BB King x JG Legacy (Sold as #1 out of 160 Central States BBA graded bulls) C1039314 BW: +1.6 WW: +20 YW: +25 Milk: +0 TM: +10 SC: +0.2 Scan: 13.28 in REA, 3.3% IMF
GLOR BEEFMASTERS Jerry Glor
2157 E 460th RD., Halfway, MO 65663
417-445-3828 • 417-840-6471 • jglor@windstream.net
CHRK BB King x Black Belle
C1030608 BW: +0.9 WW: +28 YW: +32 Milk: +3 TM: +17 SC: +0.6 Scan: 15.88 in REA, 3.68% IMF
19
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The Beefmaster Pay Weight
www.beefmasters.org
RING OF FIRE Bonfire X EMS Color Me Sugar
EPDs: BW +1.1 • WW +16 • YW +25 • Milk +2 • TM +10 We would like to invite you to join us at the
Clark Jones & Cottage Farms
SOUTHERN TRADITION XVI SALE June 25, 2016 Savannah, Tennessee
Jones Beefmasters – Clark Jones
PO Box 1060 • Savannah, TN • 731/926-1721 jonesbeefmasters.com • cashcj@aol.com Ranch Manager - Justin Williams 731/926-6459 Herd Consultant Bruce Robbins 210/861-5136 • robbinscattle@att.net
KREGER RANCH BEEFMASTERS Since 1977
SUPPLYING CATTLEMEN WITH: Hardy, Performance, Range Bulls Fertile, Heavy Milking, Efficient Females Beefmaster/Angus Commercial Replacements
Contact us for you r range bull and replacement fem ale needs .
KRE G E R R A N C H
Ranch—Tonkawa, Oklahoma Office—6301 Waterford Blvd., Ste. 440, OKC, OK 73118 Joe Kreger—405.340.0852 • kreger.ranch@gmail.com
Karen Hall
Micky Tate
COVERTSIDE FARM 2622 Charlie Thomas Road Cornersville, TN 37047
karenhall431@gmail.com
931-637-6554 931-652-0138
Sierra’s Love
Billy & Laura J. Richerzhagen Falkville, Alabama 256.990.5615 billyal2@aol.com “We don’t sell what we don’t love”
BREEDING FOR QUALITY & PERFORMANCE
SINCE 1989
JOHN & SUE PIERSON 707.718.4199 Call for availability of bulls or females private treaty
12 long yearling bulls selling at the
Texoma Beefmaster Performance Sale McAlester Union Stockyards McAlester, OK - March 19, 2016 P.O. Box 6897, Vacaville, CA 95696 piersons@castles.com
www.cherryglenbeefmasters.com
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The Beefmaster Pay Weight
almost any progressive cattleman. True, heterosis influences all of the profitability traits but that is the point Beefmaster breeders are trying to make. Heterosis works and Beefmasters used on high percentage Angus cows yield the crucial balance of maximum production, acceptable carcass and just enough “ear” influence. Beefmaster bulls used on Angus cows result in a calf crop that is 75% British and 25% Bos indicus. This percentage of Brahman influence is optimum for performance and the carcass still has enough punch to add significant value to your replacement females. If you have kept back continental heifers as replacements, you will be amazed at how productive Beefmaster sired females out of these cows will be. Remember, profitability comes in different packages. Beefmaster genetics will help you take advantage of the inherent efficiencies many ranchers have been overlooking. Beefmasters produce truly superior females with healthier, higher performing and higher yielding steers that will definitely keep you profitable.
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N Z E E R L F
F
BEEFMASTERS
• Performance testing for over 35 years • Producing thick, heavy muscled, easy fleshing cattle with breed leading EPDs and carcass traits • No nonsense, grass based genetics • 30 year consignor to the Beef “On” Forage Bull Test and Sale • Performance bulls for sale private treaty • Keeping the “BEEF” in Beefmasters
Frenzel Beefmasters 7163 FM 3117 Temple, Texas 76501
www.frenzelbeefmasters.com Call Gary Frenzel at 254-721-2214 Email : gary@frenzelbeefmasters.com
RWG Twin Oaks Randall, Brenda and Matthew George 38 Twin Oaks Lane Flintville, TN 37335 931.581.1127 Mobile twinoaksfar@aol.com
Find us on Facebook @ Randall George!
Pride’s Prediction - U 1/2, Homozygous Black SEMEN AVAILABLE
RWG Twin Oaks has black calves from Pride’s daughters available at the farm. We are also proud of our black calves available from the following genetics: Spartacus, Cavalier, Crimson Warrior, Sugar Bear, Cherokee Tiger, Painted Tiger, Captain Jack, Walker Red, Logan and others.
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high-endophyte fescue. When dealing with fescue endophyte, there’s a lot we don’t know and pastures vary,” Burris said. “What we found from the trial is an improvement in the adjusted weaning weights. We did see better performance on those calves with Brahman influence, and they gave us higher adjusted 205-day weaning weights.” Burris reported the results from those calves having zero Brahman influence had an adjusted weight of 499.2 pounds, calves out of 3/16 Brahman influenced cows were 512.5 pounds, and calves out of the 3/8 percentage cows were 533.9 pounds. Burris said there was no significant difference between findings on the high-endophyte versus the low-endophyte fescue. The better performance from Brahman-influenced calves might be attributed to their natural ability to tolerate heat better than Continental breeds. Burris said calves raised on fescue grass tend to be a little woolier and hairier, and Brahman-influenced cattle tend to be slicker hided, allowing them to more effectively dissipate excess body heat caused by fescue toxicosis. “We sent the resulting calves to the feedlot, and there wasn’t much difference in the results between the different sets of calves out of the feedlot, and there wasn’t any difference in carcass data
between the calves.” Burris said. “We did, however, make more money off the Brahman-influenced cattle
because they were evaluated lower initially because of their Brahman-influenced characteristics.” Fescue toxicosis has an impact on more than just performance to weaning in cow-calf operations. Browning also noted studies in which the average daily growth rates (ADG) in Bos indicus crossed steers were less affected by fescue toxicosis (Table 1). To briefly summarize, Goetsch et al. (1988) demonstrated the reduction in ADG of Brahman cross steers was comparable to the reduction of British cross steers in a 12-week period in the spring as well as fall. An exception was noted during the first half of the fall season when the ADG of Brahman crosses was statistically less affected by the endophyte. McMurphy et al. (1990) tested Angus, Brahman x Angus, and Simmental x (Brahman x Angus) steers and found the half-blood Brahman steers’ post-weaning ADG were less affected by high endophyte levels than the straight Angus or quarter-blood Brahman
The Beefmaster Pay Weight
23
steers. “Collectively, a consistent trend is apparent,” Browning said. “High endophyte levels in the tall fescue diets invariably reduced ADG of Brahman-cross steers to a lesser degree than when steers did not possess the Brahman influence. Brahman genetics reduced the adverse effects of endophyte-infected tall fescue on post-weaning ADG by 26 percent on average (range = 10 to 65 percent) across the studies.” These studies also demonstrate another important factor for producers to recognize. It’s not about fighting fescue and completely eliminating toxicosis; it’s about doing what it takes to reduce loss and decrease the
by maintaining 50 percent Brahman influence, 25 percent Hereford and 25 percent Shorthorn. Currently, the UKY cowherd is fall calving, and Burris has found Brahman-influenced cattle perform just as well in the winter months as they do in the summer. There is a misconception among producers in the beef cattle industry that Beefmaster cattle or cattle with Bos indicus genetics will not perform in colder climates, but that simply could not be farther from the truth. In the colder seasons and environments found in northern areas of the country, Bos indicus cattle thrive just as well in the winter months due to their hardiness and natural
negative impacts caused by high-endophyte fescue. Having worked with Beefmaster cattle and other Brahman-influenced cattle since 1974, Burris is very familiar with the benefits these kinds of cattle provide, aside from their ability to thrive in areas with high-endophyte fescue. Beefmasters are a stabilized composite breed developed
adaptability characteristics. Burris said Brahman-influenced females, in particular, are in high demand because of their performance and especially their mothering abilities. “What we found most of the time in cross-breeding programs, some Brahman influence has proved to work very well in the south as well as the north,” Burris said. “What we see here is that a lot of people like, and there’s a lot of demand for, F1 heifers due to their longevity and their performance. Most people in this area aren’t used to looking at Brahman-type cattle, so they don’t necessarily love the phenotype, but they find they do perform well.” Continued on page 25
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The Beefmaster Pay Weight
www.beefmasters.org
McManusBeefmasters.com Lake Charles, Louisiana 337/526-5717 Fused Silk X HS Heave
nly Hannale
Heifers Selling at South Texas BBA Houston Classic Sale March 4, 2016
312
CF Adrenaline X SM 7
SWB Black Powder X T5 335-0 Double Sugar
Selling at Haltered Houston Sale March 5, 2016
wel
Buckey X Precious Je
Vision X Miss Jackpo
t Joy
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Regardless of production stage or industry sector, Burris said producers would benefit from evaluating their own cattle and breeding those cattle to genetics that will complement their herd. “Breed to improve structure and soundness or breed to improve carcass or performance,” Burris said. “Find those weaknesses within your herd and work to eliminate those weaknesses.” It comes down to using the tools available to select genetics that will compliment a producer’s herd, coincide with his production goals, and work well in his environment, not against it. Burris also said disposition of Bos indicus cattle was a concern among cattlemen. Let’s be realistic. Docility was a problem in the past for producers raising Brahman-influenced cattle. Although, since Beefmaster producers in cooperation with Beefmaster Breeders United (BBU) have recognized the issue, they have worked to effectively minimize the problem by selecting for
improved disposition within their operations. “Disposition seems to be more of a problem in some other Brahman-influenced breeds than in the Beefmaster breed,” Burris said. “I always look at docility and disposition and select for that. When I bring a bull in, I want to be sure I’m not bringing in problems, and I do the same thing with Angus cattle. If my herd has a problem, that’s what I’m going to try to take care of first.” In regards to the perception that all Brahman-influenced cattle have problems with disposition, Burris said it would be a mistake for producers to affirm those negative perceptions and give critics something else to pick apart. “In my experience, Brahman-type cattle tend to respond better and more quickly to the way they’re handled and the way they’re treated,” Burris said. “There are always some outliers, but they need to be culled and disposition needs to be
looked at within all Bos indicus breeds.” Burris keeps approximately 200 brood cows at the University of Kentucky Research and Education Center and tries to maintain some Brahman-influenced cattle in the herd. He keeps a few purebred Angus and Brahman-influenced bulls and breeds replacement females to uphold a 3/16 Brahman-cross. Because of their hardiness and adaptability, longevity is an indirect advantage of Bos indicus cattle. “Longevity, to me, is the biggest benefit of Brahman-influenced cattle—their ability to stay structurally sound, stay in the herd and continue producing,” Burris said. Ultimately, implementing Beefmaster and/or Brahman-influenced genetics provides tremendous profit potential for cow-calf producers as well as stockers, introducing benefits from heterosis, more longevity and improved performance on high-endophyte fescue. “Infusion of Brahman
The Beefmaster Pay Weight
25
genetics seems to offer an alternative means of reducing the impact of fescue toxicosis on both cow-calf and stocker performance,” Browning said. “Use of Brahman genetics to overcome challenging environmental conditions is not a new concept. Somewhat overlooked, however, may be the potential of Brahman germplasm to enhancing cattle performance in another challenging production environment, the high endophyte-infected tall fescue pasture.” For more information about Brahman-influenced genetics or to find a Beefmaster seedstock provider, visit www.beefmasters.org.
Brittni Drennan Freelance Writer
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The Beefmaster Pay Weight
www.beefmasters.org
Rancho Tres Hijos
Raising Quality Beefmasters in the Brush of South Texas www.3Hijos.com 713.898.8044
Our Beefmaster bulls are pasture raised in the toughest of conditions to adapt and thrive in any environment. Our many years of using proven Beefmaster genetics allow us to produce gentle bulls that deliver excellent performance. Our bulls are sold at the ranch after they have passed their BSE test and also in Beefmaster sales. You are welcome to come see them at any time.
Double L
Selling several sons at the Texoma Beefmaster Sale on March 19, 2016
The PROVEN Bull Producer
Selling several sons at the Beef On Forage Sale on October 15, 2016
Pictured at 8 years old
Double L has Produced:
TANK - Record setting $42,500 bull at Beef on Forage Sale Sired by Double L Owned by Ensor & Miller Beefmasters
Seven 2015 Beef On Forage Sons Averaged Over $9,000 $13,000 Record Setting Yearling Bull at Texoma Beefmaster Sale $42,500 Record Setting Beef On Forage Bull C941847 • 2/13/2007 EPDs: BW 0.9, WW 35, YW 47, TM 7, SC 1.1, REA 0.22 Trait leader for WW, YW, SC
Co-Owners: Larry Lairmore
903/278-7623 Foreman, Arkansas
lairmore72@yahoo.com
Whiskey River - Ron Sanko 620/249-9335 Pittsburg, Kansas
sankoron@gmail.com
www.beefmasters.org
The Beefmaster Pay Weight
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Genotyping: Improving EPD Accuracy By Dr. Robert Williams
For century’s livestock producers have used variation which exists between animals for making directional changes in their herds for various traits. Those traits for example might be for color patterns, breed character, reproductive traits, feet and leg soundness or selection for increased growth. The more we understand about the trait in regards to its heritability the faster progress we can make. Progress however is further complicated because of relationships between traits that may be favorable or unfavorable depending on the goals of the selection program. When selection decisions are made there are expectations of a response to those choices of animals that will produce the next generation. The better understanding we have regarding the variation, heritability, and genetic correlations between traits for example the better tools we can build for selection. Applying these tools correctly can impact the accuracy of our selections and thus the response to those selection decisions. Going back in history
there have been key events; the importation of beef genetics, establishment of research, education and extension programs, and the introduction of beef cattle performance programs leading to the collection of phenotypic data in the form of birth and weaning weights followed by a broader array of traits where today we are collecting phenotypic data for feed intake, health, and soundness among others. About the same time performance data collection was expanding statistical methods for evaluating the data were being explored by the research community. This lead to the first statistical genetic evaluations and publication of Expected Progeny Differences (EPD); where only differences in sires were evaluated. This was quickly followed by the introduction of comprehensive statistical models which allowed for EPD to be computed for all animals in the population and across herds. For the first time an objective method to more accurately account for environmental differences across years and herds for several economically import-
our increased focus on performance and genetics has been responsible for significant gains as well. Development of methodologies and new technology has lead to improved production and efficiencies for the nations cow herd. New technology often takes a building-block approach where new discoveries are based on earlier discoveries and increased knowledge. We are a witness to this today as genomic technologies continue to improve and increased optimism that it will play a larger role in the genetic characterization of our cattle. The question whether to use genomic information has been replaced by how to use it efficiently and effectively. A New Frontier On January 24, 1848 James W. Marshall discovered gold at Sutter’s Mill in California. News of the gold spread rapidly and is an amazing story of American History. Tens of thousands of gold seekers and others rushed to California. At the Continued on page 28
We have followed
E
EVANS Beefmasters
ant traits were available to producers. Additionally producers now had an effective tool to more accurately select for two or more traits that are antagonistic to each other, birth weight and weaning weight for example. Each of these steps and others has lead to improvements in the accuracy of selection and thereby has had a profound impact on the U.S. beef population increasing value and production. American beef producers historically have responded aggressively to an increasing demand for our product with increased production levels. Historically increased production was accomplished by an expansion of the nation’s cowherd. This was true until the 1970s when we began to see cow inventories decline while red meat production continued to climb. While current beef cow inventories have returned to levels of the 1950s beef production has more than doubled over the same period of time. While much of the improvements can be traced to the migration of genetics and changes in management it has been since the 1970s that
evansbeefmasters.com Mark, Don & Gayle Evans
Enterprise, Utah Call Mark Evans at 435.231.2461 Don Evans: 775.722.8500 donald_evans1@yahoo.com
The 6 Essentials Disposition, Fertility, Weight, Conformation, Hardiness, and Milk Production
for over 60 years and are living proof that if followed,
The 6 Essentials will work.
Bulls and females available from a program dedicated to breeding Beefmasters since 1953
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The Beefmaster Pay Weight
time there was no law regarding property rights in California, there were many hardships and struggles for those seeking their riches in California. However, by 1850 there was a state constitution, a Governor, a state legislature and California officially became a state on September 9, 1850. In a similar way the discovery of the structure of DNA by Watson and Crick in 1953 began a new chapter in the field of genetics. We now knew how it was possible for genetic code to be held and passed from generation to generation. Although progress hasn’t been as rapid as it was for California, progress has been made even though there have been struggles and miss-steps along the way. But with each of those struggles and miss-steps we have learned and advanced the technology to where it is now part of our daily lives.
The next big step for genomics has come within the last 10-15 years. What was available at a cost of $100 Million in 2001 was available at a cost of $10 Million by 2007 and for less than $10,000 today! This technology has continued to advance with 50K platforms and others now available for commercial use at costs below $100. This made the advancement of the science much more rapid as we could now afford to do research on larger numbers of animals than we could before. DNA and Beef Cattle First we started using DNA for parentage verification before moving along to simply inherited traits such as coat color or specific genetic defects. Those tools alone have been a boon to livestock production making
it easier and more cost effective to determine matting’s and make selection decisions for animals at younger ages rather than relying on progeny tests to make the same determinations. Simply inherited traits are those traits which are controlled by one or only a few genes (known as qualitative traits), such as coat color, horned/polled and genetic defects. Other traits such as growth and carcass traits are controlled by many genes (known as quantitative traits) and are much more complicated to predict and implement into useful selection tools. In the early days of use some anticipated that genomics might/would replace EPD as we know them today. Early on some of the first tests available to producers only had a few markers and for good reason there were many skeptics. There are
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many genes which determine how an animal actually performs for the quantitative traits and prediction models are much more complicated. Estimating the genetic value of those “many” genes which determine the performance and transmitting value of an animal is the goal of producers. In the early stages of selection that determination was simply based on how an animal performed compared to other animals. We quickly learned though that an animal’s phenotype for growth and other traits was determined by the animals genetics and the environment they were raised in, hence, Phenotype = Genetics + Environment. Expected Progeny Differences were the answer to this problem. Through contemporary grouping of animals and reporting of Continued on page 33
Heritage Cattle Company
E6 Commercial Beefmaster Females & Beefmaster Bulls for the Commercial Cattleman Chris Kauffman 501-279-8505 ckauffman@stephensgroup.com
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The Beefmaster Pay Weight
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Red & Black Polled Bulls For Sale
HOOD BEEFMASTERS Hidden Hollow Tom & Deidra Hood Tahlequah, OK 918.456.1199 918.316.6710 hhh89@lrec.org
Diamond Hollow Dr. Wes & Carlinda Hood Siloam Springs, AR 479.549.3161 479.228.8264 hooddvm@gmail.com
hoodbeefmasters.com
SCHNEIDER 0481 - C994584 BW: -2.3 WW: 19 YW: 31 Milk: 1 TM: 11 SC: .2 REA: .25 IMF: .2 FAT: .07 RUMP: .18
C
C
J
J
David & Beverly Staggs
412 Honey Hill Road Searcy, AR 72143 HOME: (501) 268-6222 or WORK: (501) 268-3232 www.newcanaanbeefmaster.com David Cell: 501-278-1700 dlblstaggs@gmail.com
Casey, Amy & Lexi Ballard Ballards4B@gmail.com
979-574-5372
Cattle a nd emb ryo for sale at all tim s es! Raising quality, functional Beefmasters for the pasture and the show ring!
Raising quality, functional Beefmasters for the pasture and the show ring!
D& D BEEFMASTERS Dwight & Dianna Raburn Athens, Alabama 256.777.8568
dr20975@charter.net
Arrowhead Ranch Siddons Beefmasters Casey and Amy Ballard
Ballards4B@gmail.com 979-574-5372
Ranch Located in Tilden, Texas
BOB & BONNIE SIDDONS 512/261-5327 Home 361/274-3700 Ranch 512/217-3400 Mobile
BBU Env
ironmen tal Award Winner 2005 Back to Bac Perform k McAllen ance Aw ard Winner 2007-08
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performance data it was now possible to account for the effect of the environment on an animal’s performance and assign genetic values to individual animals. EPD more accurately characterized individual animals for their genetic merit. The statistical models to compute EPD takes into account all the available information we have for an animal and combine that into one value used for selection That information included their pedigree, their own performance, the performance of contemporaries, the performance of related animals (collateral relatives), and progeny information. The more information we have available the more accurate genetic prediction; its’ like playing with a stacked deck of cards.
Improving Accuracy Improvements in technology have led to improvements in the accuracy of genetic prediction. Better computing power for example has given rise to more advanced statistical models. Likewise improvements in genomic technology has given researchers the opportunity to explore methods of incorporating information from genomic tests into genetic evaluations further improving the accuracy of those genetic tools. But genomics is limited to the accuracy and quality of the performance information used to build genomic tools. Current methodology is to estimate the effect of thousands of DNA variants using data from animals with both DNA and records for the traits of interest. Those genomic predictions are then used to predict the genetic
merit of newly genotyped animals. These genomic prediction values are combined with traditional pedigree based EPD to create genomic enhanced EPD. By incorporating genomics, accuracy of EPD for those animals is then improved, especially for those animals with no or few progeny records. In fact, this is where the real value of genomic tools comes into play. By incorporating genomics we can now improve our level of confidence in an animal to one that has already sired from 1 to 20 progeny, depending on the accuracy of the genomic prediction. The Bottom Line As much improvement in technology we’ve seen in recent years accuracy of genetic/genomic prediction as before still relies on performance databases. It’s
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important that breeders stay focused on reporting phenotypic data for a multitude of traits. Genomic prediction will only be as strong as the phenotypic database used to build the genomic estimates. The more animals genotyped and correctly phenotyped, the more precise genomically enhanced predictions become.
Dr. Robert Williams Cain Cattle Company, Advanced Solutions Network and Advanced Video Auctions.
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Taking Advantage of Benefits Offered by AI By Brittni Drennan
In the last issue of The Beefmaster Pay Weight we introduced Greg Montgomery and the research being conducted at the University of Arkansas Southeast Research and Extension Center
(SEREC) located at Monticello, Ark., one of the few designated centers for cattle research specific to cattle with Bos indicus influenced genetics. The SEREC has a Beefmaster foundation herd on which research trials are conducted, gathering valu-
able performance and carcass data which could potentially provide useful data and information to the Beefmaster Breeders United (BBU). Montgomery, Program Technician and SEREC Farm
Manager, ensures studies are conducted according to specific protocols and takes measurements throughout the trial period. The development of the foundation herd began with the use of artificial insemination (AI) using Beefmaster semen. The
AI program and its success are critical to Montgomery and the research trials being conducted at the SEREC. “The key reason we AI is to raise quality replacement females,” Montgomery said. “Having a quality, productive female is important to the success of our program, just as it is in any cow-calf operation.” The second reason is to maintain a timely calving season and produce more uniform calves. “The most misleading number is the 205-day average adjusted weaning weight. A late calver may raise a great calf, but it won’t be as old as the others and will not wean as much,” Montgomery said. “By tightening your calving season, you have a more uniform calf crop and less variability.” When it comes to marketing calves, buyers are looking for uniform calves to put together large loads. Implementing AI allows producers
to group their calves more similarly. With a 45-day calving window, Montgomery is able to better manage
the operation because of the benefits an AI program provides. “In most AI scenarios, you’re going to use one bull, and you can use that one bull on hundreds of cows,” Montgomery said. “You’ll have a higher chance of getting a more uniform calf crop. You just can’t do that with natural service.” In addition, Montgomery said their AI program allows Continued on page 35
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them to produce additional research results to producers, demonstrating practices that work and which do not. After almost 20 years of working with the herd at the SEREC, Montgomery has seen how management practices can impact an AI program, both positively and negatively. Montgomery uses fixedtime AI 7-day CO-Synch + CIDR® synchronization protocol which consists of GnRH and implanting CIDR on day one, PG on day seven when CIDR is pulled and breeding on day 10 with additional GnRH. Using this protocol, Montgomery is able to achieve a 60 percent con-
Put the
ception rate initially and then comes come back 18-21 days later to AI those that didn’t catch. Beyond selecting the right protocol, Montgomery said his key focus is on nutrition to obtain maximum conception rates. “I want to maintain a body condition score (BCS) of at least 5, and I like for them to calve at a 6 or 6.5, especially when you’re taking a warm weather animal and calving her in the fall like we do,” Montgomery said. As much planning that is involved when implementing a good AI program, Montgomery said there are always surprises.
BEEF
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“I don’t care what kind of animal you’re talking about, they don’t like extremes—extreme cold, extreme hot, extreme wet, extreme dry. You have to be prepared for issues to arise,” Montgomery said. Coming out of an extremely dry fall and an unusually wet summer, Montgomery ran into issues he had never had to deal with previously, like vaccinating for diseases and taking additional measures to ensure his cows would be ready for calving. “I vaccinated for black leg twice this year due to abnormal environmental conditions which I’ve never had to do before,” Montgomery said. “Because of a wet summer in 2014, the worm count and internal parasite count was unusually high. So when fall hit, I was already behind. Which meant he had the lowest conception rates he had ever recorded. Numerous variables can impact conception rates and determine the success of an AI program. Foremost, Montgomery makes certain the nutritional requirements
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of his cows are met and they are properly maintained, making them easier to breed back and better able to raise a healthy calf. “You can’t cut corners,” Montgomery said. “But the number one factor is nutrition. It’s cheaper and easier to maintain than it is to try and make up ground.”
Brittni Drennan Freelance Writer Photos by: Brittni Drennan
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