the
BEEFMASTER Pay Weight
a publication dedicated to serving commercial cattlemen and produced by Beefmaster Breeders United SPRING 2021
Vol.7, No. 1
Section 1
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The Basics of Managing the New Calf by Dr. Stephen B. Blezinger, Reveille Livestock Concepts For cow-calf producers, there are few sights as satisfying as finding a new baby calf born early in the morning with no obvious problems for the cow or the calf. Virtually every cattleman will tell you that the success of his operation is dependent on producing healthy, productive calves. In many cases, unfortunately, producers often take health and performance of new babies for granted, until something goes wrong. In most cases producers assume the cow is minding the calf and that as long as it’s nursing and the cow is giving milk, all is right with the world. While this is largely true, the nutrition and health management of newborn calves is a significant topic of concern. Something to remember: Research indicates that 57 percent of calf death loss is seen in the first 24 hours and 75 percent within seven days of birth. This article will discuss some basics of managing the new calf to help
ensure its short- and longterm (lifetime) health and performance. Process Begins Before Birth The development, health and overall performance begins at conception. Fetal or developmental programming is a concept producers are beginning to recognize increasingly as more data emerges showing how important care of the pregnant cow truly is. Often, the producer’s focus is getting the cow bred. Once this happens, many breathe a sigh of relief and believe they can relax for the next nine months until the calf is born. Research and practice has shown that this is not the case. The care and nutrition of the cow directly effects the development of the fetus (cells, tissues, systems, processes) and it lays the groundwork for the rest of its life. A growing number of studies show that the nutrients provided – protein (particularly
amino acids), energy (from both carbohydrates and fats), minerals (macro and micro) and vitamins (fat and water soluble), all have very specific, important roles in the development of the embryo and the fetus. If even one of these is in short supply during that period, the development of the embryo and later the fetus can be impeded in some manner. This will affect how well the calf functions and performs later in life. In some cases, particularly for breeding animals, these effects may be
noted much later in its life and can affect future generations. Cow health is also a concern. The producer should work with a knowledgeable local veterinarian to establish a comprehensive vaccination program that will protect against those diseases that can negatively affect the calf and reduce the incidence of abortions. Of particular concern in many areas is Anaplasmosis, a disease caused by the organism Anaplasma marginale.
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Beefmaster Genetics Debut in Turkey by M. Doyle Sanders and Jeralyn Novak, Beefmaster Breeders United Beefmaster Breeders United (BBU) and DBL D BAR Beefmaster Ranch, Industry/New Ulm, Texas have successfully delivered 67 Beefmaster embryos to Kafkas University in Kars, Turkey. The embryos will be used to develop the foundation Turkish Beefmaster herd for crossbreeding with other native cattle such as; European Limousin, Charolais, Simmental and various breeds of dairy cattle. After four years of dedicated assistance from the Ankara Office of the USDA
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and the U.S. Embassy Agricultural Attaché, this project is now in full operation. On Monday, January 18 the delivery was confirmed by Sinem Duyum, Agricultural Specialist in the Office of Agricultural Affairs at the U.S Embassy in Ankara, Turkey. “The Beefmaster embryos have just arrived in Istanbul and the shipment was successfully cleared from the Istanbul Airport custom,” said Duyum.
The Turkish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (MinFAL) granted final import permit approval under European Union (EU) regulations. This will allow a new Beefmaster project to proceed under the guidance of Dr. Yavuz Öztürkler, Veterinary & Animal Science Department Professor at Kafkas University in the Kars Province of Eastern Turkey. “I would like to express my sincere special gratitude to Mr. Doyle Sanders and the BBU
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Letter From The Editor by Collin Osbourn Spring has sprung across much of cow country. Abundant new life is everywhere, reminding us of how bountiful God’s creation truly is. Many cattlemen are in the midst of calving season, which will quickly turn into breeding season. Consequently, sourcing bulls and replacement females are probably on your mind. In this spring 2021 edition of The Beefmaster Pay Weight you will find many topnotch quality sources of high performing Beefmaster genetics. Adding Beefmaster genetics to your breeding program will be the fastest
way to improve profits and reduce costs for any ranching business. 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.
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, Beefmaster bulls are the ultimate heterosis delivery system. Include Beefmasters in a terminal crossbreeding system and watch your bottom line grow. Below you will find a list of articles that are in this issue. They are full of information about cattle production basics and even the more complicated issues of EPDs. There is even an article to teach you more about the Beefmaster breed exceling in the feedyards.
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The advertisers in The Beefmaster Pay Weight are totally dedicated to producing functional, adaptable genetics. Please contact these breeders and Beefmaster Breeders United to learn more about our cattle or to locate bulls and females in your area. Enjoy. If you have any questions or comments please contact me at cosbourn@beefmasters.org
Collin Osbourn
Executive Vice President Editor, The Beefmaster Pay Weight
Articles In This Issue... Page 1 - The Basics of Managing the New Calf by Stephen B. Blezinger, Reveille Livestock Concepts Page 1 - Beefmaster Genetics Debut in Turkey by M. Doyle Sanders and Jeralyn Novak, Beefmaster Breeders United Page 9 - Inspired By The Land by Tahlia Warrick, Glades Electric Cooperative, Inc. Page 15 - Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Tips - Compiled from the Beef Cattle Browsing Newsletter by Jason Banta, Ph. D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Page 17 - Prepare for Drought with Regenerative Ag Mindset by Hugh Aljoe, Noble Research Institute Page 21 - Beefmaster Heterosis Can Impact Any Herd by Beefmaster Breeders United Page 25 - The Quality Breed in the Feedyard by Emily Pendergrass, Extra Dimension Marketing Page 29 - 2020 Across-Breed EPD Table and Improvements by Larry Kuehn and Mark Thallman, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center Page 33 - Expanding Opportunities and Overcoming Challenges by Rylee Barber, Beefmaster Breeders United Page 35 - NCBA Report Shows COVID-19 Impact on Beef Demand by National Cattlemen’s Beef Assocation & The Beef Checkoff Program Page 36 - Price-Taker to Price-Maker: The Importamce of Running a Breakeven on Your Herd by Emily Pendergrass, Extra Dimension Marketing
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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 Editor: Collin Osbourn Managing Editor: Jeralyn Novak Contributing Writers: Hugh Aljoe, Jason Banta, Rylee Barber, Stephen B. Blezinger, Larry Kuehn, National Cattlemen’s Beef Assocation, Jeralyn Novak, Collin Osbourn, Emily Pendergrass, M. Doyle Sanders, Mark Thallman, Tahlia Warrick Advertising Coordinators: Carey Brown, Lance Bauer, Jon Garza, Jeralyn Novak Graphic Designer: Jeralyn Novak Beefmaster Breeders United Staff Members Collin Osbourn: Executive Vice President Rylee Barber: Youth Programs and Membership Coordinator Lance Bauer: Director of Breed Improvement & Western Field Representative Melissa Becker: DNA Coordinator Brandi Feller: Registration and Transfer Coordinator Jon Garza: Director of International Programs Donna Henderson: Office Manager Jeralyn Novak: Communications Coordinator
For advertisement sales: Contact Jeralyn Novak 210-732-3132 or Carey Brown with Livestock Advertising Network at 859-278-0899 Contact BBU: 118 W. Bandera Road, Boerne, TX 78006 - (210) 732-3132 - info@beefmasters.org Beefmaster Breeders United reserves the right to refuse advertising in any publications. © 2021 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.
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At Birth and Beyond As the calf is born, there are Anaplasmosis has been several things to keep in mind: identified in at least 40 states 1) The basics: and is quite common in a. Breathing – the first southern states. The disease can breaths the calf takes are cause death losses in the cow important (obviously). It may herd and abortions in pregnant be necessary to clear airways to cows. make sure breathing takes place Finally, reduction of stress of normally. the cow and control of internal b. The next step by and external parasites are all the cow is cleaning and important to create the most drying. Especially in colder productive environment for the temperatures, excess fluid/ cow and the unborn calf. mucous should be removed as soon as possible since it contributes to the loss of warmth by the calf. 2) Up and nursing – under normal circumstances, the calf should be up and nursing within two hours after birth, preferably sooner. The first milk the calf receives is rich in colostrum. Colostrum is rich in maternal antibodies (known as Immunoglobin G or IgGs) which convey the first stages of immune system and are particularly important in fighting bacterial and viral infections. It is important that the calf nurse adequately during the first few hours of its life as colostrum availability is reduced after about 12 hours and is largely unavailable after 24 hours. Colostrum is also high in critical nutrients, particularly energy that the calf needs for mobility and to stay warm in colder weather. 3) Processes – there are a variety of processes that the producer can apply at birth with the
new calf. Some of these include: a. Tagging – ear tagging at birth can save a lot of aggravation down the road. It provides a means of easily pairing the cows and calves, especially later when pairs are being worked. b. Treating the naval. Treatment of the naval helps prevent the entry of bacteria and other pathogens into young calves’ bodies and helps dry the naval more rapidly. Iodine has commonly been used, as well as products like Super 7 Ultra™ (Vetericyn® Animal Wellness). c. Vaccinations – a variety of vaccines are available for newborns to help prevent various infections both respiratory and digestive system. The vaccinations can be conventional injections or intranasal. Talk with your vet to determine which products might be most effective in your area. d. Nutritionally related treatments – Calves are born with the trace mineral status that will carry them for several months. Milk is not a good source of trace minerals such as Zinc, Manganese and Copper. For example, vaccinating with MultiMin 90™ (MultiMin USA®) can help improve the calf ’s mineral status for a prolonged period until it starts consuming free-choice mineral supplements. This can help support the developing immune system and improve calf health and performance.
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continued from page 1 organization for providing a valuable grant to our university of these embryos,” said Öztürkler. Marketing and education of the Beefmaster breed to Turkish agricultural leaders first started in 2016. The United States Livestock Genetics Export (USLGE) assisted BBU in funding articles and presentations to educate the Turkish beef industry on American beef genetics. This included focus missions to Texas for senior MinFAL officials and key veterinary geneticists. These missions included a delegation to the Texas A&M University Beef Cattle Short Course, visits to feedlots, packing plants and genetic collection centers in Texas. Other European Beefmaster breeders helped with field days near Rome, Italy to display Beefmaster cattle to key Turkish cattlemen, while discussing potential Beefmaster benefits for Turkey. Dr. Robert Wells, The Noble Research Institute; and Dr. Joe Paschal, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension also assisted in educating the Turkish cattlemen. In 2018, the Turkish Red Meat Producers
Images above and below are a sample of the BBU advertisements and articles published in Turkey agricultural magazines.
Association board of directors recommended that Beefmaster become the Turkey national beef cattle breed. The membership, along
with the Turkish Minister of Agriculture, accepted this recommendation for the industry’s future with Beefmaster cattle. Kafkas University agreed to manage the project of establishing the foundation herd in Kars. As the Beefmaster herd develops, their genetics will become distributed to other parts of Turkey to demonstrate adaptability to severely harsh environments and to educate Turkish farmers on the expected benefits of the Beefmaster breed in Turkey’s agricultural atmosphere. USDA FAS Ankara will monitor and report project progress. While this project progresses in Turkey, DBL D BAR Beefmaster Ranch and BBU will continue to support these Turkish agricultural leaders, cattlemen and the surrounding regions of Europe and Asia. “We look forward to seeing Beefmaster calves on the ground in Turkey by the end of 2021,” said Sanders. Special thanks to Dr. Anne Bea Kulp, Kulp Genetics in Manheim, Penn., who supervised the collection and processing of these EU qualified embryos at OvaGenix and completed the
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documentation for export. The genetics import firm of Anadolu Hayvancilik in Istanbul coordinated with the Turkish MinFAL and managed the tank import procedures through final customs clearance and delivery to Kafkas University. Sinem Duyum helped clear the hurdles for final customs acceptance, which officially allowed Beefmaster genetics to make their debut in Turkey. For more information about Beefmaster Breeders United and its international program please contact the BBU office at 210-732-3132 or visit www.beefmasters.org. Stay connected to BBU on Instagram and Facebook, view our videos on YouTube and follow us on Twitter.
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birth, in the months afterward and as the calf grows and Other digestive system matures. Proper handling and products can include pastes/ processing at birth has been gels which can deliver shown to improve the health supportive antibodies, of the young calf and reduce probiotics, etc. LifePrep™ treatment needs and medicine (Reveille Livestock Concepts®) costs. Subsequently this can is a paste designed for the help with calf growth and gains newborn to support the resulting in better weaning digestive system with specific weights. immunoglobins (IgYs), as Additional benefits have well as yeasts and yeast cell been seen as heifers get wall components, bacterial ready for breeding with probiotics and gut stimulating improvements in conception factors to promote growth and rates and overall better development of the intestinal pregnancies and finally the tissues. development into productive The products and processes cows. here are all commonly used, Similar benefits are seen but mention of specific in marketing cattle as they products does not imply an transition through various endorsement. All of these listed production stages, into the have been shown to improve feedyard and finally to the calf health and performance at
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Heritage Cattle Company
packer where improvements in carcass and meat quality has been observed. Finally, and of specific concern to the cow-calf producers, attention to details at calving and use of strategic management practices are inexpensive yet promote health and growth in the young calf and better profitability for the producer.
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Dr. Stephen Blezinger Animal Nutritionist
Reveille Livestock Concepts
Arrow T Farm Beefmasters Greg & Mandy Thomas Elkmont, Alabama 256-431-1872 thomasgreg@bellsouth.net
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Inspired By The Land
by Tahlia Warrick, Glades Electric Cooperative, Inc. Fisheating Creek winds through wetlands, prairies, hammocks and woodlands as it makes its way through Highlands and Glades counties to reach Lake Okeechobee in south central Florida. It is the last natural tributary to the lake. Through the years, the creek has inspired recreation, conservation, art and adventure. Most recently, the creek and its surrounding lands inspired a new author. Dr. Richard Karlson, a Beefmaster Breeders United member from Lake Placid, published his first book in summer 2020. “Impossible Quest: One Man’s Journey for Adventure on the Last Frontier” details accounts from Richard’s life as a conservationist, hunter and rancher along the creek’s basin outside Venus. Originally from Long Island, New York, Richard moved to Pompano Beach as a young man to open an orthodontic practice. An avid hunter and pilot, he frequently took to the skies in search of new places to hunt. He soon realized most of the wild lands surrounding
Pompano Beach would be lost to development. “It was getting so built up,” Richard says. “I used to go quail hunting with a friend of mine west of Pompano Beach. Pretty soon, the concrete jungle started going over everything, and we had no place left to hunt.” In search of a new place to land, Richard searched from the air, spotting the parcel of land along Fisheating Creek he would later buy and work to preserve. “The original purchase was 200 acres,” Richard says. “Now it’s over 500 acres. I kept adding on over the years.” Richard initially bought land along the creek to serve as a hunting camp for private use. But he eventually moved his family to Highlands County, and his use for the land evolved. “When I bought the land, it was just natural prairie grass, and everybody around was in the cattle business,” he says. “I was looking to do something productive with it, and cattle were a natural fit.”
“We planted Hermarthia grass (or Limpograss) with the help of UF/IFAS Extension Services,” he says. “We were the first ones to plant it in Highlands County. Our ranch is a perfect combination: half wetlands in the headwaters of Fisheating Creek and half higher ground. “During the winter dry months, the grass will support a herd of 140 cows—almost one cow per acre—in contrast to some of my neighbors on higher ground who have to buy hay to supplement.” Richard says he has faced many challenges through the years—from encounters with wildlife to dealings with real estate developers.
Today, Richard manages a portion of the land as a cowcalf operation and a portion as a natural wildlife preserve, which he has left untouched. His son manages citrus groves and a citrus nursery on drier parts of the property, away from the creek. “I didn’t want to bulldoze it all down and change it,” Richard says. “I wanted to leave something in its original state. That’s my hobby: trying to keep it as pristine as possible.” In managing his herd of Beefmaster cattle, Richard is intentional about selecting the most suitable forages and practices for grazing near the environmentally sensitive Fisheating Creek basin.
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MCK FLINT ROCK 142 - C1103594 CE
BWT
WWT
YWT
MILK
MWWT
MCE
EPD
4.1
-0.4
53.1
84.2
8.4
34.9
2.4
%Rank
35
30
2
1
65
3
90
SC
REA
IMF
FAT
$T
$M
EPD
1.5
0.99
0.30
-0.008
149.50
32.58
%Rank
2
1
3
95
1
3
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That mission has sent him on many adventures, which Despite the obstacles, he inspired his book. remains determined to preserve “My efforts were to try and protect this unique piece of to preserve the pristine Florida. wildlife corridor that runs
along Fisheating Creek from Palmdale up almost to Highlands Hammock State Park,” Richard says. “It was a great effort to succeed in doing that. These are the stories that came from it.” When talking with friends and acquaintances, it wasn’t unusual for Richard to recount experiences of close encounters with alligators or unruly trespassers. He was often told his stories should be in a book. “These are all true stories that I thought people would
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find interesting, especially people familiar with the area,” Richard says. “A lot of our friends never even knew these things happened.” Richard worked with Melissa Main, his co-author, to bring the stories to life. “I learned that I wish I had kept a diary, a daily diary, of everything that’s happened in my life,” he says. “The hardest thing was trying to go back over 50 years and try to keep everything in perfect sequence. I was thankful I had someone like Melissa who would research and check things.” Richard’s stories come from a lifetime spent trying to preserve a piece of Florida’s heartland. He is not ready to give up the fight just yet. A proposed toll road has the potential to fall west of Fisheating Creek basin. Richard says he hopes the new road does not encroach on the pristine area surrounding the creek.
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Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Tips - Compiled from the Beef Cattle Browsing Newsletter
by Jason Banta, Ph. D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Beef Quality Assurance Coordinator BQA does more than just help beef producers capture more value from their market cattle: BQA also reflects a positive public image and instills consumer confidence in the beef industry. When producers implement the best management practices of a BQA program, they assure their market steers, heifers, cows, and bulls are the best they can be. Today, the stakes are even higher because of increased public attention on animal welfare. BQA is valuable to all beef and dairy producers because it: • Demonstrates commitment to food safety and quality. • Safeguards the public image of the beef industry. •
• Upholds consumer confidence in valuable beef products. • Improves sale value of marketed beef cattle.
component and one with a liquid diluent. These products should be mixed according to label directions and used within 30 minutes to 1 hour. Mixing vaccines that are not designed to mix together can reduce the efficacy (immune response) of the vaccine.
If feeding in bunks, make sure there is adequate space for all cows to eat at the same time.
Drought Unfortunately dealing with • Enhances herd profitdrought is part of being in ability through better the cattle business. During management. droughts it is important to make decisions with both the Here are some quick BQA short- and long-term success tips to get you started on your Feeding Cubes of the operation in mind. Take progam. Cubes are often used to inventory of forage and feed supply energy and protein Do Not Mix Vaccines resources and cow needs and supplementation during the When giving injections of consider if it makes sense to winter. When feeding cubes vaccines, dewormers, vitamins, on the ground it is best to feed purchase feed to stretch supetc., it is important to never plies or if some herd reduction cubes in small piles instead of mix any products together is needed. In most droughts feeding them in a continuous unless they are specifically deearly reductions in herd size line. Feeding in small piles signed and labeled to be mixed. will reduce waste and fighting. are best from a financial standThe only vaccines that should Ideally there would be enough point. Regardless of what decibe mixed together are products piles for each animal to have it’s sion is made be mindful of cow that come in the same box and own pile. In general, it is best Body Condition Scores and the the label states they should be impact it has on selling prices to feed in troughs or at least mixed together. In most cases avoid feeding on gravel or rock or future pregnancy rates. the box will contain two botroads or pads as this can intles: one with a freeze-dried crease tooth wear and breaking. continued on page 16
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continued from page 15 Squeeze Chutes When giving injections it is helpful to consider how the squeeze chute is designed, so that the best access to the neck of the animal is available. Some chutes are designed to provide access to the neck in front of the headgate (e.g. squeeze chutes with neck bars), while with others the neck is best accessed from behind the headgate. After closing the headgate make sure the animal is in the best position to access the neck with the chute being used before squeezing. This may mean waiting a few seconds to allow the animal to step back or forward before squeezing. Trace Minerals Meeting trace mineral requirements is important for cattle performance and health. However, exceeding trace mineral needs does not result in improved performance and depending on the amount of excess can lead to death or reductions in growth and reproduction. An increasing number of deaths associated with copper and other trace mineral toxicities are showing up. To meet animal requirements and help avoid trace mineral excesses it is a good practice to only use a single well-formulated mineral supplement. Using multiple products (e.g. loose mineral supplements, mineral tubs, etc.) at the same time is costly and can lead to excess.
Read The Label To get best response from vaccines it is important to always read and follow label directions. Don’t take for granted that you know what the label is going to say. For example, it may seem like all vaccines have a 21-day withdrawal time before slaughter there are some vaccines that have a 60-day slaughter withdrawal. Product labels can change over time so always take a few minutes to review labels of vaccines used in your operation. Deworming Deworming is important to maintain cattle health and performance. Timing and frequency of treatment will vary depending on geographic lo-
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cation, rainfall, stocking rate, age of the animal, and persistent activity of the product used. Producers in the southern United States in areas with higher rainfall and higher stocking rates may need to deworm twice a year (late-May or June and again November or December). Only one treatment may be needed in areas with 15-25 inches of rainfall and moderate stocking rates. Routine deworming might not be needed in areas with low rainfall and low stocking rates.
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lead to subacute acidosis and other problems. Test Your Hay Hay testing is important to determine what, if any, supplementation is needed. Hay quality can vary tremendously, so each load or cutting should be tested. Use a hay probe to collect samples from approximately 10% of the bales from each cutting. At minimum, hay should be tested for content of TDN (total digestible nutrients) and CP (crude protein). The appropriate tests can change depending on hay species, nitrate concerns, or if the hay was baled too wet. So, before sending samples to the lab, visit with a nutritionist for lab recommendations and the appropriate tests for your hay sample.
Learn More From BQA Going through the BQA certification program adds value to Cold Stress your operation. The BQA certiCold stress in cattle can refication program trains producduce weight gain, pregnancy ers on what needs to be done, rates, and calf survival. Hay intake will increase during cold how it should be done, and why it should be done. State BQA weather; providing extra hay programs are voluntary, locally can help reduce cold stress. led, and administered through Heat is produced from the diorganizations such as state beef gestion of hay that will help keep cows warmer. More heat is councils, Land Grant Univerproduced from the digestion of sities and state cattle associations. BQA certification is also hay than the digestion of concentrate feeds. Never suddenly offered online free of charge. To learn more about Beef increase the amount of rapidly Quality Assurance or to befermentable feeds in the diet (e.g. corn, soybean hull pellets, come a BQA certified producer, visit www.bqa.org. cubes, etc.) because this can
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Prepare for Drought with Regenerative Ag Mindset by Hugh Aljoe, Noble Research Institute Drought is a natural and regular event in grazing lands. A drought is a period of time when an area or region experiences below-normal precipitation. The lack of adequate precipitation can cause reduced soil moisture or groundwater, diminished stream flow, crop damage, and a general water shortage. For livestock producers and managers of grazing lands, this means lower forage production and potential livestock water shortages. In terms of climate, we experience alternating periods of dry and wet weather. The southern Great Plains in particular has experienced a favorable wet period over the last few years. However, meteorologists are now saying weather patterns are changing and the long-range forecast predicts drier conditions ahead, perhaps
for the next few years. Drought Resilience with Regenerative Ag In observing producers implementing regenerative agricultural practices, we
find a unique mindset toward drought. We find producers who routinely manage operations proactively, meaning they operate in relation with the weather conditions. They manage anticipating drought long
before it occurs. These producers usually have contingency plans in place to nimbly deviate from their “ideal� management plan and adapt to unfavorable weather patterns.
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(and floods).
Build Organic Matter The successful longterm application of regenerative agriculture and regenerative grazing results in improvements in the soil and plant communities that make the soils more resilient and drought tolerant. Managing soils regeneratively results in the building of organic matter above, at and below the soil surface. Regenerative grazing complements the soil health principles but only because the grazing is managed in a way that matches stock numbers to forage biomass, manages for short grazing periods, uses moderate grazing during the active growing season, leaves adequate plant cover after each grazing event, and follows each grazing event with adequate planned recovery. Over time, soil organic matter, soil health and water holding capacity improves. Pastures become more productive, vigorous, and more resilient during drought
distinction here that indicates a different, forward-thinking mindset. The distinct advantage regenerative grazing producers have over other livestock producers is they are prepared to adjust stocking rates with forage availability and growing conditions. At the onset of drought, they begin adjusting
their management plan and stock numbers based on preset As a bonus, producers pracManage Pastures with criteria and triggers outlined ticing regenerative agriculture Livestock, Not for Livestock in a drought contingency plan. and grazing typically manage Regenerative graziers through droughts more easiactually manage their pastures They actively monitor both moisture conditions and forage ly with fewer adverse impacts and forage inventories with production, and then they on their land and profitability. livestock instead of their Their grazing lands also recover pastures for livestock — pasture adjust stock numbers to reflect actual conditions. Regenerative more rapidly than other lands, and grazing management producers are both mentally where regenerative grazing is are the priorities. There is a not routinely practiced.
and logistically prepared to make sound, proactive management decisions for the short- and long-term benefit of the land resource and ranching operation when droughts occur.
Have a Plan As stated earlier, meteorologists have begun providing evidence that the favorable precipitation patterns are now changing, shifting to what is expected to be a drier period. Producers practicing regenerative grazing for many years are monitoring their forage production now and know the capabilities of their pastures to withstand short- or long-term dry spells. They are prepared to implement drought plans to protect the land resource when severe drought sets in. They have managed their pastures and stocking rate proactively and are accustomed to balancing livestock demand to forage production. As a result, their grazing lands are more resilient with improved soil health and soil organic matter, increased water holding capacity, and enhanced forage production capabilities. Rainfall that occurs during a drought is more effective. Once drought breaks and favorable precipitation patterns return, these grazing lands that have been managed according to the soil health principles and regenerative grazing will respond much more readily to rainfall events with little or no evidence of adverse effects from the drought.
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Selling 1 Bull & 3 Heifers Sired By PD 501 at Beef On Forage Texoma March 20 - McAlester, OK
(two polled)
LL MR PD 501 C1053958
EPD %Rank
polled/scurred son of Double L semen available low birth weight
EPD %Rank
CE 4.11 35 SC 0.8 15
BW -1.2 10 REA 0.48 20
WW YW MILK 29.0 54.6 12.2 30 20 10 FAT MARB $T -0.027 -0.10 94.08 65 80 20
19
MCE MWWT STAY 2.3 26.7 -0.2 95 20 50 $M 20.71 20
LARRY LAIRMORE 903.278.7623 HEBER SPRINGS, ARKANSAS LAIRMORE72@YAHOO.COM
AFC 0.2 85
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The Beefmaster Pay Weight
continued from page 19 The mindset of a producer practicing regenerative grazing is certainly better prepared for drought. What Is Regenerative Ag? Regenerative agriculture is the process of restoring degraded soils using practices based on ecological principles. Regenerative agriculture promotes: - Building soil organic matter and biodiversity - Healthier and more productive soil that is drought- and flood-resilient - Decreased use of chemical inputs and subsequent pollution
- Cleaner air and water - Enhanced wildlife habitat - Capturing carbon in the soil to combat climate change The above listed outcomes result from strategically applying management practices based upon the five principles of soil health, which are: - Keep the soil covered - Minimize soil disturbance - Keep living roots in the soil all year - Increase plant diversity
What Is Regenerative Grazing? As one can deduce, regenerative grazing complements the soil health principles. It is the essence of the principle, “integrate livestock properly.� On grazing lands, regenerative grazing means:
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- Adjusting stock numbers to match forage biomass. In other words, the grazing is planned, managed and in sync with the growing conditions at any given period of time.
- Grazing for short periods.; - Grazing moderately in the growing season. - Leaving adequate plant cover followed by adequate, planned recovery that is facilitated by effective multipaddock grazing management protocols.
Hugh Aljoe
Director of Producer Relations
Noble Research Institute
- Integrate livestock properly
BERACHIAH BEEFMASTERS Breeding Polled Beefmasters since 1982
Lawrence and Connie Shuey Dale and Karen Shuey
Cassville, MO 65625 417/826-5881 417/773-0151 berachiah1941@gmail.com
@ berachiah.beefmasters
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Beefmaster Heterosis Can Impact Any Herd by Beefmaster Breeders United Beefmaster is a beef breed developed in America that improves beef quality and production efficiency when crossed with any other cattle breed for commercial beef production. The breed originated in Southern Texas in the late 1800’s into the early 1900’s. The Lasater family originally developed a large herd of Hereford cattle carefully selected to withstand the heat and insects of the Texas Gulf Coast region, but they were still not perfectly suited to
that difficult environment. So Lasater began to experiment with incorporating Bos indicus or Zebu genetics, in the form of Gyr and Guzerat bulls from India and Nelore from Brazil. While the practice of crossbreeding was virtually unheard of at the time, they immediately saw a tremendous jump in productive traits, such as weight gain and reproductive rates. This is genetic advantage known as heterosis or hybrid vigor. By the early 1930’s, the ranch also incorporated Milking Shorthorn genetics, to augment milk production and carcass quality. They could immediately see that the three-
The Six Essentials: Fertility Weight Conformation Milk Production Hardiness Disposition
way hybrid was far superior to the two-way crosses. The final composite ended up at roughly 50% Bos indicus and 50% Bos taurus (25% Hereford and 25% Shorthorn). As Lasater developed the breed, he also formed a unique selection philosophy known today as The Lasater Philosophy. The concept is to only select cattle for economically relevant traits, which he distilled to these Six Essential traits. It is the only breed in history to be selected only using pressure for productive traits, as opposed to aesthetics.
Beefmaster Advantages: Heat Tolerance Insect Resistance Earlier Fertility Fast Growing Feed Efficiency Low Maintenance Excellent Carcass Yields High Quality Carcass Docile Longevity
In 1937, the herd was closed to outside genetics with continued internal development to cull low-performers and upgrade all traits together equally. By 1954 the foundation herd was recognized by USDA under the name of Beefmaster. The breed has rapidly grown around the world and has become known as the prime maternal cow for serious commercial cattlemen that appreciate their production
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continued from page 21 excellence, particularly in harsh desert or tropical environments. The breed has excelled across most regions of the United States and is the leading breed of choice for commercial cattlemen in Mexico, South Africa, Thailand, Panama, Columbia and several other Latin American regions. With global demand for higher-quality beef growing geometrically, Beefmasters provide the perfect breed to cross on native cattle to improve production efficiency and carcass quality, while not sacrificing adaptability. Commercial cattlemen have noted substantial economic gains from using Beefmasters to provide an average increase of 66 lbs., or more at weaning when compared with other breeds. They excel post-weaning as well, with faster weight gains, excellent feed conversion and carcass yields around 64%. In a time when sustainability is becoming increasingly critical, Beefmasters have repeatedly demonstrated that they are highly efficient converters of both forage and feeds into lean, tender, high-quality Beef. A recent study at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Meat Animal Research Center (MARC) demonstrated Beefmasters dominance when compared to 18 of the most widely used beef breeds in the United States. The results can be found in the table provided below.
Beefmaster Breeders United (BBU) is headquartered in Boerne, Texas. Beefmaster ranks fifth in the U.S. in terms of membership and is the largest of the American breeds. The association has over 3,000 members registering around 19,000 calves annually. Beefmasters also enjoy a rapidly growing international footprint, with established associations in eight countries worldwide. These innovative cattlemen have seen the tremendous strengths Beefmasters bring to their own genetic improvement programs. For more information about what Beefmasters can do for your operation, please visit us at www.beefmasters.org/ international.
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2021
Lone Star Beefmaster Breeders Association Events & Sales June 19, 2021 Female Sale Sulphur Springs, Texas
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August 14, 2021 Field Day & JBBA Show Sulphur Springs, Texas December 4, 2021 Fall Sale Sulphur Springs Texas Lone Star BBA members are continually striving to offer sound, phenotypically correct, performance data females and bulls for your herd. The sales will be fully graded by a panel of judges and ready to go into your operation as great working cattle. Please join us this year! Lone Star BBA Leadership & Board of Directors: Robert Williams - President - 817-946-4431 Randy Cook - Treasurer - 214-507-2889 Debbie Cheatham - Secretary - 972-979-8556 Kelly Cupp - Sale Chairman - 903-453-5735 Jerry Davis - Sale Chairman - 214-802-4913 Chris Fannin - Director - 903-456-1556 Justin Harrison - Director - 903-497-1279 Howard Hunt - Director - 903-738-5588 Eric Rodriguez - Director - 469-236-9496 Jimmy Simmons - Director - 903-649-2054
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The Beefmaster Pay Weight
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BEEFMASTER Pay Weight The Beefmaster Pay Weight
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the
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a publication dedicated to serving commercial cattlemen and produced by Beefmaster Breeders United SPRING 2021
Vol. 7, No. 1
Section 2
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The Quality Breed in the Feedyard by Emily Pendergrass, Extra Dimension Marketing “At one time, Beefmasters were the animal that if you put them on live, you were going to take a $1.00 to $2.00 hit… Now they’re showing premiums as high as $100 per head or better,” said Mark Sebranek, chief operations officer for Nextgen Cattle Feeding’s Riverbend Feedyard. From docility to dry-matter conversion and dressing percent, Sebranek says Beefmaster x Angus cattle are “the quality breed in the feedyard.” “For the longest time, I thought there wasn’t anything better than an Angus x Charolais cross in the industry,”
Sebranek said. “I thought the ‘smokey’ was the best animal out there. But over the last few years working with the Beefmasters, I have a hard time not picking the Angus x Beefmaster as the quality breed in the feedyard.” Sebranek said genetic traits are easily passed on when breeding to Beefmaster. He explained when crossing with Angus cattle, “the IMF seems to really influence them coming off the Angus side into the Beefmasters.” “From there the Beefmasters bring the Angus genetics a whole bunch of quality in other places like the dressing percent,
performance, as well as the size and scale of the animal,” Sebranek said. “It all goes back to the hardiness of the animal, their heterosis. Due to that heterosis they’re not as much maintenance. Whether we’re down in the south or further north like here in Kansas, they acclimate just fine to the weather. Ultimately, without issues caused by linebreeding like we may see in some other breeds, on average Beefmasters are just stronger, stouter, and healthier.” Lawrence Makuakane of Ella Mae Farms is a Beefmaster breeder in Kentucky who runs calves through Riverbend
Feedyard. Makuakane began introducing Beefmaster genetics into his commercial herd in 2016. He now runs a cooperative of local commercial producers. Within a 20-month timeframe, the co-op will have run six pot loads of cattle through Riverbend Feedyard. At Riverbend Feedyard, very few health issues are seen in the Beefmaster and Beefmastercrossbred cattle with only an occasional respiratory issue. Sebranek says these occasional issues are uncommon and much more infrequent than those in standard English breeds.
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continued from page 25 “One of the biggest reasons I initially transitioned my herd from just running all black cattle was the Beefmaster’s resistance to disease,” Makuakane said. “They’re less susceptible to disease, to bugs, and to the climate. All those things really play out in the feedyard. Those are variables you have to consider passing on in your herd as intrinsic value, especially for retained owners.” In addition to being known for their health and heartiness, Beefmasters have earned a reputation in feedyards for their disposition. Makuakane said “Beefmasters are more docile, and that docility translates into more profitability.” “If a calf can get up to the bunk and eat, then go lay down and not burn off all that weight, he’s doing his job,” Makuakane said. “The Beefmaster influence does that for us.” Sebranek echoed Makuakane explaining just how much of a difference
disposition can make on gains and therefore profitability in the feedyard. “Disposition is huge in the feedyard, because we really have to watch the high-headed cattle,” Sebranek said. “I mean we’ll see them come off the trucks and a lot of cattle will have their heads up in the air and you’ve got to be prepared because they’re going to eat you. Usually with a higherheaded animal that animal is not eating like he’s supposed to because he’s always running to the back of the pen if someone goes by or is washing tanks, etc. Then he’s running back up to the front. If he’s running, he’s wasting energy and taking weight off. When animals are that high-headed, they’re really only comfortable when we’re shut down at night and no one is around. We don’t see that in the Beefmasters. These cattle are easy to move, easy to work, they’re just easy. You may see the occasional high-headed individual, but we have less problems with bad attitudes in
Beefmasters.” Beyond their heartiness and docility, Beefmasters are also known for their gains, conversions, quality grades and dressing percent. Feedyard managers and producers alike are taking note and looking to increase the profitability of their operations by utilizing Beefmaster genetics. “Beefmasters are really strong on dry matter conversions. We’ve seen good performance on Beefmaster cattle as well as gains and conversions,” Sebranek said. “They’re looking awfully good on the quality grade side and hanging them up too.” Sebranek attributes the improved quality grade to more and more Beefmaster breeders retaining ownership through the feedyard and consistently making more informed breeding decisions. “With more Beefmaster breeders retaining ownership and feeding them, breeders are paying more attention to performance and selecting bulls
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that will better their animals’ performance in the feedyard,” Sebranek said. “Because of that, we’re seeing the breed improve. Plus, the bos indicus side of Beefmasters really helps with the dressing percent which makes a big difference. You know with every one percent increase over the plant average for dressing percent is $1.20 per pound back on the live price. That’s huge when you start hanging cattle up! “When we hang them up on the grid, and the plan average is 63.5 and a lot of these Beefmaster/Beefmastercrossbreds are doing 65… They’re 1.5 percent over the plan average. On that side of it they’re getting about $1.60 to $1.70 per pound or $15 to $18 over the market just for that. On a 1350 lb. animal, that’s $23 per head roughly. That’s what you’ll get on dressing percent alone. Not counting on grade or anything. On dressing percent alone, you’re adding $23 per head in value.”
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Makuakane said. “But really where we see the greatest Makuakane is seeing margin of improvements in just these results in his herd the raw data, is when we look at and other local producers’ the yield grades of Beefmasterherds who have started sired calves, specifically that using Beefmaster bulls. The are crossbred. With this next producers in Makuakane’s coload the co-op is sending op utilize the data collected to Riverbend Feedyard we by Riverbend Feedyard to run artificially inseminated heavy to cross comparisons between Beefmaster bulls. The benefit of their purebred Beefmasters, artificially inseminating using crossbred Beefmasters, as well Beefmaster genetics is twoas the operations running fold for my co-op members. entirely black-hided cattle. One, they didn’t have to go out “Riverbend Feedyard and buy a Beefmaster bull and collects data and provides two, they will be seeing the feedback to us,” Makuakane translation of profitability in said. “One of the big things for their herds due to the benefits us, that we notice is straight off of Beefmaster genetics. the top, was a consistency in “Previously, most of my your yield grade. We noticed guys were getting yield grade that Beefmaster-sired calves three to four,” Makuakane consistently, yield grade said. “One of my guys got higher than other breeds and some yield grade fives and even other crossbreds. After that meant $900. So, he was comparing and contrasting that looking at a $17 loss on that data, the general consensus calf. Another one of my guys within our co-op was that used Beefmasters on 50 percent everyone needed to add some of his herd last year and on 100 Beefmaster genetics into their percent of his herd this year. herd so they can gain the He hit yield grade two on 100 advantages of heterosis and percent of his Beefmaster-sired improve their yield grades.” calves. Makuakane said you “Yield grade pays. Yield don’t have to give up blackgrade can actually out pay hide premiums when using prime, because prime animals Beefmasters. Especially are lighter, but if you can get on angus-based cows, you choice yield grade two, all maintain a high-rate of blackday long, you’re talking about hided calves which can easily another $50 to $70 extra profit. reach CAB premiums as high Basically, you can out bid as $40 per head. prime just by more yield. At “You can still achieve the end of the day, pounds on those CAB premiums by the ground and pounds on the using Beefmasters on black hook, that’s what we get paid breeds because the majority of for, that’s where the money is them are homozygous black,” at.”
MOUNTAIN VIEW RANCH B E E F M A S T E R S
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Makuakane said his biggest complaint with Beefmasters is when it comes to buying calves back. Once producers see what these calves can do, they don’t want to sell them back. “The hardest thing is when you say to your customers, ‘I’m interested in buying your calves back,’ but when it comes down to it and they see the calf crop they get and those Beefmastercrossed calves are 50 to 70 pounds heavier at weaning…They say ‘well we’ll just see what we get in the market,’” Makuakane said. “If you tailor your animals right, with just that touch of ear, it’s wide open. I mean your buyers in the feedlot or backgrounders putting those loads together they recognize these animals and it gets crazy. It turns into a price-chasing escapade and I don’t get a chance to buy calves back. They’re just that good.”
Mark & Leesa Blau PO Box 906 Menard, TX 76859 blauranch@gmail.com 325-656-2222
Emily Pendergrass
March 20, 2021 McAlester, Okla.
Freelance Writer Extra Dimension Marketing
Look for our Beefmaster bulls @
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The Beefmaster Pay Weight
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The Beefmaster Pay Weight
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2020 Across-Breed EPD Table and Improvements by Larry Kuehn and Mark Thallman, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center Across-Breed EPD (ABEPD) Adjustment Factors: National Cattle Evaluation (NCE), and the resulting Expected Progeny differences (EPDs), have resulted in substantial genetic change since their conception in the 1970s. However, EPDs are generally only comparable within breed because of differences in the genetic base. Since 1993, the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) has produced a table of factors to adjust the EPDs of cattle so that the merit of individuals can be compared across breeds. Adjustment factors for carcass traits have been calculated since 2009 and carcass weight was added in 2015; to be included, breeds must have carcass data in the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) database and report their carcass EPDs on an actual carcass basis using an age-ad-
justed endpoint. Bulls of different breeds can be compared on the same EPD scale by adding the appropriate adjustment factor to the EPDs produced in the most recent genetic evaluations for
each of the eighteen breeds. Normally, the EPDs of animals from different breeds cannot be compared because many breed associations compute their EPDs in separate analyses and each breed has a different base
point. The across-breed adjustment factors allow producers to compare the EPDs for animals from different breeds for these traits; these factors reflect both the current breed difference
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continued from page 29 (for animals born in 2016) and differences in the breed base point. The AB- EPDs are most useful to commercial producers purchasing bulls of more than one breed to use in crossbreeding programs. For example, in terminal crossbreeding systems, AB-EPDs can identify bulls in different breeds with high growth potential or favorable carcass characteristics. The factors are derived by estimating breed differences from the USMARC germplasm evaluation program and adjusting these differences for the EPDs of the sires that were sampled in the system. The traits for which factors are estimated are birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weight, maternal weaning weight (milk), marbling score, ribeye area, backfat depth (fat), and carcass weight (Table 1). These factors adjust the EPDs to an Angus base (chosen arbitrarily). As an example, suppose a Red Angus bull has a yearling weight EPD of + 90.0 lb and a Hereford bull has a yearling weight EPD of + 92.0 lb. The across-breed adjustment factors for yearling weight (see Table 1) are -28.9 lb for Red Angus and -41.3 lb for Hereford. The AB- EPD is 90.0 lb – 28.9 lb = 61.1 lb for the Red Angus bull and 92.0 lb – 41.3 = 50.7 lb for the Hereford bull. The ex-
pected weaning weight difference of offspring when both are mated to cows of another breed (e.g., Braunvieh) would be 61.1 lb – 50.7 lb = 10.4 lb. Brahman EPDs for marbling score are reported on a different scale than the other breeds with marbling score EPDs. For Brahman 400 = Sl00 and 500 = Sm00 whereas for the other breeds, 4.00 = Sl00 and 5.00 = Sm00 meaning the Brahman EPDs are reported on a scale that is 100 times higher. As a result, EPDs from other breeds need to be multiplied by 100 after being adjusted to Brahman, and Brahman EPDs need to be divided by 100 prior to applying the adjustment factors. For instance, to adjust a Simmental bull with
a marbling score EPD of 0.15 to compare to Brahman bulls using the factors from Table 1, add the Simmental factor, subtract the Brahman factor, and then multiple by 100: ( 0.15 + ( -0.19 ) - ( -0.69 ) ) * 100 = 65. Similarly, to adjust a Brahman bull with a marbling score EPD of 40 in order to compare to Simmental bulls using the same factors, first divide by 100, then add the Brahman factor, and subtract the Simmental factor: 40 / 100 + ( -0.69 ) - ( -0.19 ) = -0.10. It is important to note that the table factors (Table 1) do not represent a direct comparison among the different breeds because of base differences between the breeds. They should only be used to compare the
EPDs (AB-EPDs) of animals in different breeds. To reduce confusion, breed of sire means (i.e., one half of full breed effect; breed of sire means predict differences when bulls from two different breeds are mated to cows of a third, unrelated breed) for animals born in 2019 under conditions similar to USMARC are presented in Table 2. The adjustment factors in Table 1 were updated using EPDs from the most recent national cattle evaluations conducted by each of the eighteen breed associations (current as of December 2020). The breed differences used to calculate the factors are based on comparisons of progeny of sires from each of these breeds in
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Future Release of ABEPD Factors: Following a BIF the Germplasm Evaluation working group recommendaProgram at USMARC in Clay tion, these factors are released Center, Nebraska. These analnear the beginning of each year yses were conducted by USto facilitate the use of these MARC geneticists Larry Kuehn tools during spring bull buy(email: Larry.Kuehn@ars.usda. ing. Additional updates may gov; ph: 402-762-4352) and be released throughout the Mark Thallman (email: Mark. year, particularly if breeds are Thallman@ars.usda.gov; ph: aware of significant changes to 402-762-4261).
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their evaluations, such as base adjustments. The most current version of the factors will be always be reported on the BIF website: beefimprovement.org.
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WHISKEY RIVER BEEFMASTERS 40 years of buying herd bulls based on performance indices is paying BIG DIVIDENDS! 136 Bulls Tested For Texoma Bull Sale
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Joe Wittenburg,
Home: 361-782-2882 Mobile: 361-782-8122
Home: 361-782-7318 Mobile: 361-782-1898
Owner
Manager
P.O. Box 1005 • Edna, Texas 77957
Cattle For Sale At All Times Visitors Always Welcome Established 1968
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Expanding Opportunities and Overcoming Challenges By Rylee Barber, Beefmaster Breeders United While 2020 certainly provided everyone with some challenges, it also allowed the chance for growth and new opportunities. The Junior Beefmaster Breeders Association has taken what 2020 threw at us and turned it into endless possibilities for youth involved in the Beefmaster breed. The Junior Board of Directors have discussed their goals for 2021 and what they hope to accomplish this year, and every goal centered around expanding opportunities and overcoming challenges. Many junior members around the country in 2020 had to change some aspect of their daily life. Whether that was virtual learning, an extracurricular activity cancelled, or spending more time with their Beefmaster animals, it was an adjustment in their life that happened suddenly. With all these changes and challenges that they were facing, many JBBA members turned to the world of agriculture to get their sense of normalcy. When it came time for the 36th Annual JBBA National Show and Convention many exhibitors and families expressed their gratitude that they were able to compete and be surrounded by
friends and families and have a sense of normalcy. Looking at 2021 we wanted to continue the normalcy that we could provide for the JBBA membership and improve upon their experiences. The JBBA is known for their complete and well-rounded slate of programs, which were expanded for 2021. The directors and ambassadors sat down and looked at different contests and different events that they could add to improve the program. What they ended up adding was an additional six contests based around professional development and improving necessary life skills, a program for younger JBBA members to feel included and a series of events to help welcome and reach more members. With the addition of the Professional Development Contest juniors have an advantage preparing for the “real world” after college or high school. This new contest provides juniors with three different agricultural job descriptions and the junior member must prepare their resume based on the description. Each junior member must use information on their resume so that they may use their resume for
future use. Once resumes have been submitted, the top applicants will be placed in an interview setting to help them prepare for a job interview situation. The addition of this contest was to give senior age members applicable realworld experience before they are thrown into the job or internship market. Another contest that the directors were enthusiastic to add to the schedule was the Individual and Team Sales competitions. These contests are focused on the juniors “selling” their Beefmaster projects. In doing so, they learn about marketing techniques and relevant selling points that are pertinent to the Beefmaster breed. This also requires the juniors to study different Beefmaster pedigrees and learn everything they can about a single animal in a short period of time. The Marketing Design and the Creative Essay Contest are two new contests that will also take place in 2021. Both contests are targeted for our members that prefer to express themselves more creatively in an artistic fashion. The Marketing Design contest allows junior members to showcase their computer
design talents in designing a marketing or promotional piece for JBBA. With the amount of marketing that is going digital, this is a valuable skill set for members that are wanting to promote agriculture and Beefmaster cattle. The Creative Essay contest targets juniors that have an interest in journalism or writing about agriculture. Each contestant will draw a unique topic related to Beefmaster cattle and the agricultural industry and will have the allotted time to write an essay related to the topic. These essays will be featured in the JBBA Journal and possibly other Beefmaster publications. While the Junior Board and Ambassadors focused heavily on adding educational contests to our existing line-up, they also didn’t want to leave out the younger JBBA members. They decided to revamp the PeeWee program and add more activities to the week of the National Show and Convention specifically for them. This will allow younger JBBA members and younger siblings of JBBA members to have their own time to meet other members their age and complete projects of their own.
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All these additions to the National Show and Convention are just the beginning of the opportunities available to members through JBBA. Shortly we will be kicking off the 2021 JBBA A.I. Program which will feature leading A.I. sires in the breed that JBBA members will be able to use for a discounted rate. This allows juniors the chance to interact with more BBU breeders and learn about the value of using different bulls. Through this program each year juniors can get their hands on some of the best genetics in the Beefmaster breed and advance their herd.
This program in the past has been extremely successful with over 1,000 straws of semen selling in the last few years. While all these additions were important parts to our organization, the addition that I am personally proud of the most is the JBBA Ambassador program. This new addition started in 2020 and we received a tremendous amount of interest only moments after announcing it. The Ambassador program allows JBBA members the opportunity to serve in a leadership role at a younger age. Juniors aged 11- 14 are eligible to be elected to this position and they learn
valuable life skills and prepare for their future in JBBA and the Beefmaster breed. These seven individuals that were elected this past year have jumped in headfirst and helped with member relations, fundraising, writing articles, and everything else that has been asked of them. I could not be prouder of the group of individuals that this Ambassador program has produced, and I cannot wait to see the next generation of Beefmaster leaders continue. With all the changes that 2021 brings, JBBA is growing bigger than ever. With membership nearing 800, awarding 25,000 dollars
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in scholarships each year and more opportunities than ever, Junior Beefmaster Breeders Association is expanding opportunities and overcoming the challenges that arise in the agriculture industry. Clearly, JBBA is moving with the Beefmaster breed to the forefront of the beef cattle industry.
Rylee Barber Youth Programs Coordinator Beefmaster Breeders United
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NCBA Report Shows COVID-19 Impact on Beef Demand by National Cattlemen’s Beef Assocation & The Beef Checkoff Program The number of consumers who say they intend to eat beef at least weekly increased from 67 percent to 72 percent compared to 2019, and consumer positive perceptions of beef reached 70 percent for the first time1, according to a new report released by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, that examines the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on consumer attitudes, behaviors and perceptions. “The impact of the pandemic has been transformative in every corner of our economy,” said Buck Wehrbein, 2020 NCBA Federation Division Chair. “The good news is that consumers are choosing beef more often as they adapt to cooking more at home.” The report outlines what consumer behaviors have changed, what behaviors may be permanent and how the beef industry has and continues to respond. With support from the 44 state beef councils and the Beef Checkoff program, current market and consumer research provides insight into the past year and helps inform programming and response in order to keep beef as the top protein choice for consumers.
“NCBA’s checkoff-funded market research program allows us to evaluate and understand the consumer landscape, especially as its dynamics continue to shift,” NCBA Senior Director of Market Research Shawn Darcy said. “As a result, this helps all checkoff programs be more efficient, whether through promotion, education or information distribution.” With unemployment rates climbing higher during the pandemic than they have in decades, 65 percent of consumers remain very concerned about the impact of COVID-19, especially with its effects onto the economy. Despite not knowing how this pandemic will continue to shape the consumer landscape, the “State of the Consumer” report provides valuable information to help the beef industry better understand the quickly changing environment. Key take-aways include: - Online ordering for both groceries and meal ordering is likely here to stay. It is expected online ordering and delivery will grow at a more rapid pace than originally projected due to COVID-19. Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner., managed by NCBA, will continue to
complete first-of-its-kind exploratory e-commerce marketing campaigns to help the supply chain accelerate the sales of fresh beef in this rapidly changing environment. - Consumers are cooking more meals at home now and they are searching for information to help them cook at home. Though expected to continue for the short term, a long-term shift is difficult to assess. NCBA will continue to utilize a variety of techniques by pushing out cooking information and recipe inspiration through social media and traditional media and leveraging impactful, highprofile influencers or thought leaders to teach consumers how to cook. - Consumers are spending more time at home and online. Along with that comes the rise of more TV and movingstreaming platforms and the decline of in-person movie theater watching experience, which could signal a long-term shift in consumers using more media “inside of the home” compared to “out-of-home.” NCBA will continue to utilize a variety of marketing platforms to continuously reach the consumer through paid, earned and owned digital, social and traditional media platforms.
- Currently, consumers are more focused on spending their money on essential needs, such as groceries, household supplies and personal care and cleaning products. This will likely adjust back at some point; it is just a matter of when. - Positive consumer perceptions of beef and beef production increased during the pandemic and will likely remain higher for the next several months. Consumers may return to expressing concerns about food production when focus evolves from current concerns. NCBA will continue programs that educate consumers about beef and beef production. - Beef demand has remained strong to-date. Consumers increased weekly beef eatings and were willing to pay more for the product. With strong domestic consumer demandbuilding programs Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner., and other demand building programs, NCBA will keep focused on keeping this strong demand going through innovated checkoff-funded programs.
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Price-Taker to Price-Maker: The Importance of Running a Breakeven on Your Herd by Emily Pendergrass, Extra Dimension Marketing “Not knowing the breakeven on your herd is a dangerous way to live,” said Russell Carrell, PhD student in the Animal Science Dept. at Auburn University. “It’s the price you have to get for your calf crop to play the game again next year.” Determining your breakeven might seem like a daunting task, but Carrell breaks it down into a manageable process. “You don’t have to build this elaborate spreadsheet on day one,” Carrell said. “Your first budget can be built on a piece of scratch paper.” The first step to determining your breakeven is to determine your expenses per head. “Now, when considering costs to figure into a breakeven, I start with big categories and work my way down. Let’s start with fixed costs and variable costs. Fixed costs are going to be things like your lease or bank notes, salaries that you have to pay, equipment notes, and things like that. Fixed costs are things that are pretty consistent on a year-to-year basis. They don’t fluctuate. “Variable costs are going to be associated with
production costs, things like your vaccination program, your nutrition program, your reproductive program, whether it be turning a bull out or more advanced reproductive technologies, there’s a cost associated with that. Variable costs are costs that fluctuate year-to-year,” Carrell said. Carrell explained once you determine your overhead it’s time to divide that overhead by how many cows you run. From there, Carroll suggests breaking those categories down into smaller, “secondary budgets.” These smaller categories should include expenses such as nutrition, health, reproduction, and/or other production costs on a per head basis. “We’ll then compile all those fixed and variable costs together based on one head. By doing this we’re determining how much it costs on a per animal basis to produce one weaned marketable calf.” Carrell also recommends figuring interest into your breakeven. “I like to include interest on everything,” Carrell said. “Most of us are typically operating on lines of credit. Once you count your fixed costs, variable
costs, and add the appropriate interest per head that tells you the cost to operate one cow. “But what a lot of people forget is that you also have some non-cash costs that you have to incorporate into this budget. Perhaps the most commonly overlooked expense is the cost of space and forage. It costs money to grow forages, and it costs money for that animal to be there take up space in your pasture. If she’s non-productive, that’s an opportunity cost that a productive animal could be taking advantage of. You have to make sure to account for land and forage as a variable cost.” Non-productive animals must be accounted for in your breakeven as well. “The bottom line is, someone’s got to pay the bill,” said Dwight Bertrand, instructor of agriculture at McNeese State University. “You’ve got to remember, cows are like employees, you wouldn’t continue paying an employee who only worked 50 percent of the time. Every cow needs to wean a healthy calf and breed back on schedule. If she doesn’t do that she needs to
go.” Carrell recommends taking the percentage of nonproductive animals you’re carrying and tacking that percentage onto your cost per head. “If you have 100 cows and 95 of them wean a calf, you’re going to take whatever your cost was per cow and you’re going to add 5% to it because those productive cows now have to pay for the five nonproductive cows. “A lot of folks may only count those cows that didn’t get bred, but if your cow is not weaning a calf, she’s essentially doing the exact same thing. Plus, a lot of the time, you can get rid of an open cow a lot quicker and a lot earlier than you can a cow that had a calf and loses it part way through the process. There’s a lot more cost in that cow than there is in the open cow that’s been pregchecked and then sent straight to the sale barn,” Carrell said. Bertrand echoed Carrell as he explained the importance of keeping accurate records and holding cattle to a standard of productivity.
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cattle have to go to get from the cow-calf operator to a feed yard “Be honest with yourself, and a packing plant,” Carrell don’t fudge on your calf crop said. percentage,” Bertrand said. Understanding where your “This isn’t all about bragging cattle are headed and knowing over coffee. You know which what you need to make per cows are efficient and if they head to meet your breakeven aren’t, they need to be culled is the basis of your overall because they’re ultimately marketing plan. hurting your breakeven. You’ve “You can’t make a true got to be ruthless. You also marketing plan without a need to match your cattle to breakeven,” Carrell said. “One their environment. Just because is useless without the other. It a cow is fat and pretty doesn’t doesn’t matter if you go to all mean she’s going to perform the trouble to determine your well in the gulf coast region.” breakeven if you’re just going Carrell said the gulf to haul them all to the sale barn coast faces more obstacles one at a time. At the same time, affecting the bottom line than it doesn’t make sense to send a just unique environmental load of cattle to an order buyer challenges. if you don’t know how much “Another thing cattlemen you need to ask for them.” need to consider is the basis Know your breakeven. that they’re getting on their Determine your marketing cattle. What’s the premium plan. Use the tools you have or discount that you’re going available to make informed to get on your cattle based on decisions and prepare for your your management program, future. your health status, your “Knowing your breakeven, animals’ temperaments, and transitions you from being a their breed type and location? price-taker to being a priceLook at a futures market; a maker,” Carrell said. “The great Brahman calf out of South thing about knowing your Louisiana, isn’t going to bring breakeven for the past year is the same thing as a solid black that you can then more easily Angus steer out of Kansas. And run projected-breakevens for a lot of the times it has to do the coming year. with just the distance that those
“Look into projected rainfall so you know where you’re going to stand on forage. Then look at the futures markets so you know what to expect there. You can then figure a projected-breakeven based on fixed costs and projectedvariable costs. This allows you to make better management decision because you’ll know if it’s time to sell some cows and get ready for rough times or time to begin expanding your operation. Essentially, running a breakeven gives you more management power.” Whether you’re writing out figures on scratch paper, filling out excel spreadsheets, or using a purchased program there are endless resources you can use to better manage your operation’s finances. Carrell said contacting your local extension specialists is a great place to start. “Most state extension teams have budgeting tools you can use,” Carrell said. “But the best thing you can do is to contact an extension specialist directly. They will help you start organizing the things that you need to put together to determine your breakeven and begin planning for the future. It isn’t always easy to
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figure this stuff out, it’s okay to ask for help and start small. Plus, extension specialists are state funded employees. Your tax dollars are going towards paying them. It’s their job to come out and help you. I encourage people to use those resources. We love getting out and helping producers.”
Emily Pendergrass
Freelance Writer Extra Dimension Marketing
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2021 Beefmaster Sale Calendar February 20, 2021 - Beefmaster Border Classic III, Edcouch, TX February 27, 2021 - STBBA Houston Futurity Sale, Brenham, TX February 27, 2021 - Houston Magic XXI Sale, Brenham, TX March 20, 2021 - Beef on Forage - Texoma Bull & Female Sale, McAlester, OK March 20, 2021 - Live Oak Spring Sale, Three Rivers, TX March 27, 2021 - Emmons Ranch Annual Bull Sale, Groesbeck, TX April 03, 2021 - Louisiana BBA Spring Sale at Landon Hays Memorial Arena, Arcadia, LA April 10, 2021 - Ozark & Heart of America Spring Sale, Springfield, MO April 10, 2021 - Collier Farms Advantage Sale, Giddings, TX April 17, 2021 - East Texas and Lousiana BMG Sale, Crockett, TX April 23, 2021 - Spring Flint Hills Classic Sale, Paxico, KS April 24, 2021 - 5th Annual Midwest Beefmaster Bull & Heifer Sale, Exeter, MO April 24, 2021 - Springtime in Texas Sale, Brenham, TX May 01, 2021 - The Cowboy Heritage Beefmaster Sale, Oklahoma City, OK May 08, 2021 - Central States BBA Sale, Locust Grove, OK May 15, 2021 - Red River Beefmaster Female Sale, Paris, TX May 15, 2021 - Swinging B and Friends Sale, Salado, TX May 22, 2021 - Southern Alliance Beefmaster Marketing Group Sale, Cullman, AL June 12, 2021 - Wallen Prairie Ranch Production Sale, Lockwood, MO June 19, 2021 - Lone Star BBA Female Sale, Sulphur Springs, TX June 26, 2021 - Clark Jones & Cottage Farm Southern Tradition xxi, Savannah, TN July 10, 2021- Complete Dispersal San Gabriel Beefmaster, Rockdale, TX August 07, 2021 - J & T Farms 7th Production Sale, Lexington, TN August 21, 2021 - Emmons Ranch Production Sale, Bryan, TX August 28, 2021 - SEBBA Convention Sale, Lexington, TN September 04, 2021 - Beefmaster Breeders Harvest Sale, Location TBA September 11, 2021 - Arkansas BBA Razorback Classic, Damascus, AR September 24, 2021 - Beef on Forage - Florida Bull Sale, Arcadia, FL September 24, 2021 - Flint Hills Classic Female Sale, Paxico, KS September 25, 2021 - 4th Annual Flint Hills Classic Bull Sale, Paxico, KS October 02, 2021 - Isa Beefmasters 60th Performance Test and Sale, San Angelo, TX October 16, 2021 - Beef on Forage Bull Sale, Brenham, TX October 16, 2021 - Bill Carr & Others Fall Sale, Floresville, TX October 23, 2021 - Red River Beefmaster Bull Sale, Paris, TX November 05, 2021 - Beefmaster E6 Commercial Female Sale, McAlester, OK December 04, 2021 - Lone Star BBA Fall Sale, Sulphur Springs, TX
sale catalogs posted online a few weeks before sale date at www.beefmasters.org/purebred/calendar
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Advertisers’ Index Breeder Advertisers Alabama Arrow T Beefmasters..................................................................................7 D&D Beefmasters.....................................................................................32 Arkansas Lairmore Beefmasters..............................................................................19 Heritage Cattle Company...........................................................................7 Hood Beefmasters.......................................................................................7 Idaho Johnson Beefmasters................................................................................17 Kansas NextGen Cattle Co....................................................................Back Cover Whiskey River Beefmasters.....................................................................32 Kentucky Ella Mae Farms..........................................................................................25 Louisiana Louisiana BBA Spring Sale........................................................................9 Rhodes Ranch...........................................................................................36 Rocking D Beefmaster..............................................................................37 Missouri Berachiah Beefmasters.............................................................................20 Cedar Springs Beefmasters......................................................................29 Headings Beefmasters..............................................................................25 Midwest Beefmaster Sale.........................................................................34 Mountain View Ranch..............................................................................27 Ozark & Heart of America Spring Sale....................................................20 Wallen Prairie Ranch................................................................................31 Mississippi 4G Farm.....................................................................................................39 Cain Cattle Co...........................................................................................18
North Carolina Adam Taylor Farms..................................................................................33 Oklahoma Beef On Forage Texoma Sale ....................................................................3 Dance Creek Beefmasters........................................................................27 Hargis Ranch...............................................................................................4 Hood Beefmasters.......................................................................................7 Simon Creek Beefmasters..........................................................................5 Tennessee J2 Beefmasters...........................................................................................34 Jones Beefmasters.....................................................................................35 Texas 3B Beefmasters..........................................................................................32 Arrowhead Ranch Siddons Beefmasters...................................................7 Blau Beefmasters.......................................................................................27 Buckner Polled Beefmasters......................................................................7 Buena Suerte Ranch..................................................................................20 Cate Ranch Beefmasters.............................................................................7 Collier Farms....................................................................................12 & 13 Colvin Beefmasters...................................................................................26 Dancing G’s Beefmasters.........................................................................16 Emmons Ranch.........................................................................................11 Flying B Ranches......................................................................................15 Frenzel & Meacham, LLC.........................................................................24 Golden Meadows Ranch...........................................................................14 Isa Cattle Co. Beefmasters.......................................................................21 Lone Star BBA...........................................................................................23 Red River Beefmaster Bull Sale.................................................................28 Red River Beefmaster Female Sale............................................................8 Swinging B Ranch.......................................................................................6 Wittenburg Beefmasters..........................................................................32
Industry Advertisers
AgAmerica Lending.................................................................................30 Elgin Breeding Service.............................................................................10 Norbrook...................................................................................................22
