California Cattleman July/August 2015

July/August 2015

TEHAMA ANGUS Ranch

DRIVEN BY PERFORMANCE SINCE 1943

In this 2015 bull Buyer’s ISSUe...

Special beef industry EPD Section News about CCA MEmbers Antibiotic Regulations Ahead July • August 2015 California Cattleman 1

e v i l s u n i o J line! ro on UPCOMING EVENTS...

CATALOG DEADLINE JULY 23

CATALOG DEADLINE AUGUST 28

bid online at www.wvmcattle.com For room reservations, please call (800) 687-8733 and use group code WVM 715

Family-owned and operated since 1989.

We invite you to become a part of our family legacy.

2 California Cattleman July • August 2015

Team Up With UsFor Your Next Sale Watch for us at a sale near you selling seedstock produced by these progressive breeders...

Teixeira Cattle Co. O’Neal Ranch Silveira Bros.

Tri-T Farms Toledo Ranches Vintage Angus Ranch Sierra Ranches Byrd Cattle Company Ray-Mar Ranches Five Star Land & Livestock Bar R Angus Schohr Herefords Genoa Livestock Donati Ranch O’Connell Ranch Wulff Bros. Livestock Camas Prairie Angus Crouthamel Cattle Co. Harrell Herefords

Harrell/Mackenzie Quarter Horses Red Bluff Gelding Sale Consignors Tehama Angus Ranch B•B Cattle Co. Arellano Bravo Angus Lorenzen Red Angus Oak Ridge Angus Thomas Angus Ranch Gonsalves Ranch Baker Angus Diamond Oak Cattle Co. Snyder Livestock Sale Consignors Flood Bros. Cattle Spring Cove Ranch Azevedo Livestock JBB/AL Herefords Rancho Casino RM Livestock Main Event Consignors Dal Porto Livestock Gardiner Angus Ranch Bruin Ranch Riverbend Ranch Circle Ranch Maag Angus McPhee Red Angus Oft Angus Eagle Pass Ranch Cook Herefords Hoffman Herefords Winnemucca Bull Sale Consignors Lambert Ranch Valley View Charolais Ranch Sonoma Mountain Herefords Memory Ranches Horse Sale Cal Poly Bull Test Consignors Red Bluff Bull Sale Consigners BT Herefords

Owner, Auctioneer and Representation of Your Cattle

THD©

John Rodgers

Rick Machado

(559) 734-1301 Office (559) 730-3311 Mobile

(805) 474-9422 Office (805) 501-3210 Mobile

The Stockman’s Market PO Box 948 • Visalia, California 93279

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 3

CALIFORNIA

CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION

OFFICERS PRESIDENT

Billy Flournoy, Likely

A VIEW FROM THE TOP

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT

by CCA President Billy Flournoy

David Daley, Ph.D., Oroville SECOND VICE PRESIDENTS

Mark Lacey, Independence Jack Lavers, Glennville Rich Ross, Lincoln TREASURER Rob von der Lieth, Copperopolis

STAFF

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

Billy Gatlin

VICE PRESIDENT GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Justin Oldfield

DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Kirk Wilbur

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

Lisa Pherigo

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Malorie Bankhead

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

Jenna Chandler

PUBLICATION SERVICES OFFICE & CIRCULATION

Office: (916) 444-0845 Fax: (916) 444-2194

MANAGING MAGAZINE EDITOR

Stevie Ipsen (208) 996-4922 stevie.ipsen@gmail.com

ADVERTISING SALES/FIELD SERVICES

Matt Macfarlane (916) 803-3113 mmacfarlane@wildblue.net BILLING SERVICES

Lisa Pherigo lisa@calcattlemen.org

Of all the current issues we are faced with the ranching business, one thing is for sure – there is never a dull moment when you are beef producer. Though all the things we are faced with surely aren’t in our favor, with the staff and officer team we have in place at the California Cattlemen’s Association, it is my feeling that things are going better than some might have expected.

One state issue that all of us cattlemen and women seem to have been watching is antibiotic use. Even though we have been worried about it for some time, it appears the changes coming at us are going to be something we can live with. We’ll have to be a little more prepared by having a prescription in place with our veterinarian to use the proper antibiotics and so forth, but it is certainly better than it could have been.

The big water issue – or lack of it – has been a main concern statewide.

With the passing of the state water bond, the new storage issues have been addressed even though it may not help us a lot in the short term. An Auburn Dam on the American River seems to be out of the question at this time with all its environmental concerns, and ground water issues are coming forward with lots of varied opinions.

Some people say, “It is my land I can dig a well on my property and use whatever water I want.” On the other hand, we are sitting on top of aquifers that don’t have property boundaries, and we should all be concerned about that. The counties have got to get in gear and get these groundwater districts

in place.

Similar to other water issues, a big concern of ours is the fact that we are losing thousands of acres of our watershed to orchards and vineyards and just plain development. This is a main concern to the groundwater, loss of wildlife habitat and our grazing land.

The cost of grazing is fast catching up with our good cattle prices.

At CCA, we face a problem of keeping our membership numbers up and ongoing. As the age of ranchers seems to keep going up, we have several members who have passed away and their property has been sold to bigger ranches or merged with an existing CCA member. One real bright spot is the California Young Cattlemen’s Committee. They are showing up at convention and are having successful fundraisers all over the state. We’ve got to keep those young people involved and help them to have a voice in our association.

Through all of this the staff at CCA are hustling every day to stay ahead of things along with the rest of our CCA officer team. You can give them a pop quiz at anytime, and you will find they are well prepared and eager to serve you as members. Should you ever need anything from any of them, call the CCA office and they are happy to help.

SERVING CALIFORNIA BEEF PRODUCERS SINCE 1917 Bolded names and businesses in editorial represent only current members of the California Cattlmen’s Association or California CattleWomen, Inc. For questions about your membership status, contact the CCA office at (916) 444-0845.

The California Cattleman is published monthly except July/August is combined by the California Cattlemen’s Association, 1221 H Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, for $20/year, or as part of the annual membership dues.

All material and photos within may not be reproduced without permission from publisher.

National Advertising Group: The Cattle Connection/The Powell Group, 4162-B Carmichael Ct, Montgomery, AL 36106, (334) 271-6100.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: California Cattleman, 1221 H Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

4 California Cattleman July • August 2015

ON THE COVER

JULY • AUGUST 2015 Volume 98, Issue 7

ASSOCIATION PERSPECTIVES CATTLEMEN’S COLUMN Perspective on hot beef production issues

4

BUNKHOUSE Multi-purposes of CCA membership meetings

8

YOUR DUES DOLLARS AT WORK 12 CCA keeping an eye on longstanding water diversion saga FROM THE SALE RING 16 Early bull sale projectiongs are promising VET VIEWS 18 Paying attention to pinkeye this year PROGESSIVE PRODUCER Keeping stockdogs part of the ranching team

20

COUNCIL COMMUNICATOR Working to keep your dollar working for you

22

BEEF AT HOME AND ABROAD Tapping export opportunity

30

CHIMES Tips for becoming your best beef blogger

92

RANGELAND TRUST TALK Teaming up to share ranch life with inner-city youth

110

CERTIFICATES OF ACHIEVEMENT Celebrating agriculture’s graduates

126

SPECIAL FEATURES

COOL still on fire Longterm herd implications of drought Understading EPDs: A SPECIAL SECTION Bucking the trend by using Beefmasters Producers prepare for antibiotic changes McGarva documentary wins Emmy WOTUS finalization leaves waters murky Young producers expands own roots Agriculture’s impact on the NorCal economy

READER SERVICES

Buyers’ Guide Obituaries, Wedding Bells and New Arrivals Advertisers Index

14 34 38 68 74 84 102 106 116

In long-standing tradition, this annual Bull Buyer’s Guide issue features Tehama Angus Ranch (TAR), which holds the longest-running production sale in California each September. In 2014, TAR celebrated its 40th annual “Generations of Performance” Bull Sale with a new video sale format with the bulls available on-site for previewing. On Sept. 11 the TAR tradition continues at the ranch in Gerber.

Tehama Angus is through-and-through a family operation. Now a fifth-generation ranch, four generations of the Borror family still call the ranch home.

TAR bulls are developed on the ranch with a high roughage ration resulting in ADGs of 3.5 lbs. per day. They are run in 60acre pens to exercise daily and ensure longevity. Bulls are evaluated in large sire and contemporary groups to collect meaningful data.

Bulls are sorted out at weaning as well as during the 120-day test for growth performance, feet and leg quality and docility.

TAR gathers “real world” data for customers to sort through, including calving ease, birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weights, as well as genomically-enhanced EPDs using Zoetis 50K on every bull. Their sisters and dams are measured for size, udder scores, feet and maternal ability to raise a worthy calf each and every year. Cows that do not fit this criteria leave the breeding herd.

The most recent Pathfinder® report published by the American Angus Association shows 31 active Pathfinder® dams currently working in the Tehama Angus program, the largest Pathfinder® herd in California.

Tehama Angus has over 70 years of breeding behind almost every bull in the sale! Continually improving the cowherd has created a foundation to breed consistency.

The Borror family welcomes visitors to the ranch to view the sale offering and the cowherd that stands behind them. For more information, view the ad on page 37, visit www.tehamaangus.com or call (530) 385-1570. The Borrors look forward to seeing you at Tehama Angus Ranch Sept. 11!

130 136 138

Col. Rick Machado sells the 40th Annual ‘Generations of Performance’ BullCattleman Sale in 2014. 5 July • August 2015 California

THE TIME TO i50K IS NOW i50K IS A COST-EFFECTIVE OPTION TO HELP ANGUS BREEDERS BEGIN TESTING OR TEST MORE ANIMALS FOR MORE INFORMED SELECTION, MATING AND MARKETING DECISIONS

If you’re looking for the beef industry’s most affordable, accurate and dependable genomic solution, the new i50K ™ delivers • At a young age, more about an animal’s genetic potential can be known than if that animal had 10 – 20 progeny records for many traits that are difficult, time consuming and expensive to measure • One sample for GE-EPDs from AGI, genomic percent ranks and parent verification • Exclusively enables Sire Match for GeneMax® Advantage™ and GeneMax® Focus™ • Effectively the same accuracy for GE-EPDs as HD 50K To learn more contact your Zoetis representative or visit i50K.com.

All trademarks are the property of Zoetis Inc., its affiliates and/or its licensors. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners ©2015 Zoetis Inc. All rights reserved. i50K-00002

i50K.com 6 California Cattleman July • August 2015

Celebrating 41 Years of Angus Tradition

‘Partners for performance’ bull sale wed., september 2, 1 p.m. • firebaugh, ca 125 Head of Low Birth, High Growth Angus Bulls Sell all with added carcass & retail value to earn CAB® & market premiums

Featuring 7 Sons out of One of the Top Dams for $B Jackie Y159 (at right) is the dam of the $80,000 Hoffman big ten 4056 and H Ms jackie 4032, which sold for $180,000 to express ranches.

Ten x

Prosperity

Selling 5 outstanding full brothers out of Jackie Y159, sired by Spur Prosperity 1036. Also selling 2 full brothers by A A R Ten X 7008 SA. ID

BW

WW

YW

MILK

CW

MARB

RE

$W

$F

$G

$B

4309 4307 4305 4306 4311

+1.1 +0.9 +2.4 +2.4 +1.7

+65 +65 +62 +62 +64

+112 +116 +110 +109 +113

+32 +29 +30 +30 +32

+58 +59 +56 +55 +54

+1.50 +1.27 +1.31 +1.30 +1.21

+1.30 +1.17 +1.09 +1.09 +1.20

$56.80 $53.12 $43.41 $43.87 $51.88

+65.67 +70.19 +63.16 +61.66 +67.36

+62.00 +54.27 +54.16 +54.45 +54.31

+153.34 +145.12 +142.28 +141.88 +141.66

4526 4370

-.7 +.8

+61 +65

+121 +124

+26 +28

+55 +58

+1.59 +1.52

+.87 +.93

$45.72 $53.26

+75.10 +77.78

+59.80 +55.63

+142.07 +140.91

schafer N5259 Jackie Y159

G A R 5050 New Design N5259 x G A R Predestined CED BW WW YW SC CEM MILK +2.0 +63 +121 +.01 +12 +34 +11 CW MARB RE FAT $W $F $G $B +43 +1.57 +1.07 +.031 +45.46 +73.92 +61.08 +130.51

BULLS SELL ...

ZOETIS HD 50K TESTED Tested PI Negative for BVD Semen Tested Fully Guaranteed

WATCH & BID LIVE

SALE MANAGER: matt macfarlane Owned with larry homen, king city, ca

Silveiras Priority 9419 Reg. No. 16562538

530 633-4184 916 803-3113

mmacfarlane@wildblue.net www.m3cattlemarketing.com

DOB: 8/18/2009

S S Objective T510 0T26 x Silveiras Total 5076 CED BW WW YW SC CEM MILK +10 +.8 +77 +140 +.97 +10 +20 CW MARB RE FAT $W $F $G $B +52 +.78 +.73 -.015 +64.47 +95.87 +42.97 +123.55

SILVEIRAS CONVERSION 8064 Reg. No. 16262077

RICK MACHADO JOHN RODGERS

Top 25% or Better as of 6/15/2015

CED BW WW YW SC CEM MILK +2 +4.2 +70 +122 +1.39 +7 +21 MARB RE FAT $W $F $G $B +.73 +1.35 -.022 +49.77 +85.35 +47.09 +150.00

CW +63

long-yearling and yearling bulls also sell sired by:

EXAR Denver 2002B, AAR Ten X 7008 SA, Silveiras Inspiration 9418, 2 Bar Assault 1876 of SB, summitcrest complete 1P55, Rito 9M25 of Rita 5F56 Pred and more.

Rick & Allison Blanchard ... 559 217-1502 Darrell Silveira .................... 559 217-1504 Garrett Blanchard .............. 559 978-2778 Carole Silveira ......................559 240-6004

DOB: 1/19/2008

BT Crossover 758N x BR Midland

AUCTIONEERS:

matt leo, herd Consultant..209 587-5338 website...............www.silveirabros.com E-mail .................... silveirabros@msn.com address ............ P.O. Box 37, Firebaugh, CA 93622

MARK YOUR CALENDAR 2015 ‘PARTNERS FOR PERFORMANCE’ ANGUS FEMALE SALE SAT., OCTOBER 10, 3 P.M.

Selling 75 Females, Pregnancies and Embryos

THD ©

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 7

BUNKHOUSE FACE TO FACE cca meetings serve broad purposes

by CCA Director of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur This June, I had the opportunity to attend my third CCA/CCW Midyear Meeting. My first experience with the Midyear Meeting was at the Thunder Valley Casino in Lincoln, one month to the day after I began working at CCA. It was there that I met many of you for the first time, and the social atmosphere of the event went a long way toward putting me at ease in my new job. Consequently, I always look forward to seeing some familiar, friendly faces as we gather to conduct midyear business every June.

Every year, CCA staff strives to improve our midyear and convention meetings. The major innovation this year was holding general “forums” on topics that impact our full membership, rather than requiring members to choose between speakers at committee meetings in competing timeslots. The result, I think, is that our members walked away from Midyear better informed on pressing policy issues than they arrived. In fact, I see a lot of value in the Midyear meeting.MFirst, there’s an inherently social aspect to the Midyear event, with hosted receptions, cocktail hours, games and more. We live in a vast state, with members scattered throughout, and I imagine the folks up in Siskiyou County don’t get to see the Ventura cattlemen all that often. Midyear meeting is another opportunity for friends and colleagues tMroughout the state to get together at a central location and catch up, maybe over a cold beverage.

From staff ’s perspective, it’s also a great opportunity to get some face time with our members. Even our most active members will sometimes forego the phone call to the office to ask us to follow up on an issue, but at Midyear I get a range of questions—simple ones I can answer on the spot, and complicated ones that require me to follow up with the Department of Fish and Wildlife or the State Water Resources Control Board. More importantly, perhaps, the discussions at Midyear help staff get a better sense of your priorities and to which issues we should be allocating our time and resources.

Just over two years in, I’m still relatively new at CCA, and I leave every meeting having gotten to know a few more of our state’s wonderful ranchers. And, of course, I also enjoy catching up with those I already know over a beer at those receptions.

Additionally, even if official policy isn’t set at Midyear, that doesn’t mean the meeting lacks serious implications for our policy agenda. The day before Midyear we hosted our Steak and Eggs Legislative Breakfast followed by lobbying at the Capitol, and there’s no greater opportunity all year for legislators to get a rancher’s perspective on the state of the state.

8 California Cattleman July • August 2015

Midyear is also a great opportunity to strengthen ties with agency officials.

This meeting was the first since I’ve been at CCA that Jim Kenna, State Director of the Bureau KIRK WILBUR of Land Management, attended to provide perspectives on matters affecting our federal lands ranchers from someone who has a significant hand in shaping those issues. We were also able to find some common ground with U.S. Forest Service officials, who were unaware that CCA and members in Modoc County had intervened in a lawsuit in order to defend the Service’s ability to manage wild horses from a challenge brought by the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign.

The policy forums were also enlightening. Dorene D’Adamo, a member of the State Water Resources Control Board, informed attendees of how effective their opposition to the Grazing Regulatory Action Project (GRAP) has been this past year, and signaled that the Board may not pursue a statewide GRAP regulation (though we may find ourselves engaged in regional battles on that issue). Moreover, with the legislature poised to act on legislation regarding antibiotic use in livestock, groundwater adjudication and other pressing issues, it’s important to have a forum to discuss and learn about those issues before it’s too late.

One of the most valuable aspects of Midyear, though, is that it remains a venue to discuss contentious issues. In the weeks leading up to Midyear, it was evident that many of our members in the northernmost counties were sharply divided on whether federal legislation ought to be passed to implement the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreements.

While CCA adopted no policy on the issue, an informal discussion at Midyear permitted each side to more fully understand the other’s perspective, to identify ideological areas of common ground and to better educate other ranchers (and staff) throughout the state (and staff) about the Agreements.

In short, I hope to see more of you at next year’s Midyear Meeting. It’s a great opportunity to strengthen your ties to your colleagues, your CCA staff and to the legislators and officials whose decisions so greatly impact your operations, and you’ll almost certainly get a better grasp on the issues that impact your bottom line.

In the meantime, I look forward to seeing you on the Fall Tour, maybe a bull sale or two and of course at the Annual CCA/CCW Convention in November!

CCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Zone 2 - Peach

Zone 1 - Yellow

1 2

Humboldt-Del Norte Mendocino-Lake Sonoma-Marin Napa-Solano

Siskiyou Modoc Lassen Fall River-Big Valley

Zone 3 - Light Blue Shasta-Trinity Plumas-Sierra Tehama Butte Glenn-Colusa Yuba-Sutter Tahoe (Placer-Nevada) Yolo

3

Zone 4 - Pink

San Mateo-San Francisco Santa Cruz Santa Clara Contra Costa-Alameda

Zone 5 - Green

5 4

Zone 8 - Turquoise Santa Barbara Tulare Kern Inyo-Mono-Alpine High Desert

Monterey San Benito San Luis Obispo

Zone 9 - Orange Southern California San Diego-Imperial Ventura

6 7

athena1@citlink.net • (530) 640-4717

Dave Daley, First Vice President

CALIFORNIA BEEF CATTLE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION

OFFICERS President: Cheryl Lafranchi, Calistoga Vice President: Rita McPhee, Lodi Secretary: Karen Sweet, Livermore Trearurer: Carole Silveira, Firebaugh CBCIA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Tim Curran, Ione Tracy Schohr, Gridley Kasey Deatley, Ph.D., Chico Lana Trotter, Porterville Karissa Koopmann Rivers, Winters Ryan Nelson, Herald

Jay Schneider, Zone Director 5

cowboyjay@gmail.com • (916) 837-4686

ddaley@csuchico.edu • (530) 521-3826

Vacant, Zone Director 6

Rich Ross, Second Vice President

Dale Evenson, Zone Director 7

richross@calcounsel.com • (916) 716-1907

osuzeq2@yahoo.com • (805) 712-2589

Jack Lavers, Second Vice President

Justin Greer, Zone Director 8

jackjlavers@gmail.com •(661) 301-8966

jgreer@gandgranches.com • (559) 289-0040

Mark Lacey, Second Vice President

Mike Williams, Zone Director 9

mjlacey@wildblue.net • (760) 784-1309

mbw61@aol.com • (805) 823-4245

Rob von der Leith, Treasurer

Trevor Freitas, Feeder Council Member

rvdlieth@aol.com • (916) 769-1153

trevfr8as@msn.com •(559) 805-5431

Bill Brandenberg, Feeder Council Chairman bill@melolandcattle.com • (760) 996-1032

Jesse Larios, Feeder Council Member

Mike Smith, Feeder Council Vice Chair

Myron Openshaw, At Large Apointee

msmith@harrisranch.com • (559) 301-0076

openshaw4@gmail.com •(530) 521-0099

Buck Parks, Zone Director 1

Mark Nelson, At Large Apointee

buckparks@yahoo.com • (530) 640-0715

kmarknelson@gmail.com •(916) 849-5558

Hugo Klopper, Zone Director 2

Rob Frost, At Large Apointee

hugoklopper@frontier.com • (707) 498-7810

rbmaf@juno.com •(805) 377-2231

Wally Roney, Zone Director 3

Darrel Sweet, At Large Apointee

bjr@billieweb.com •(530) 519-3608

dsweet@cattlemen.net • (209) 601-4074

Mike Bettencourt, Zone Director 4

Willy Hagge, At Large Apointee

mbteamroper@aol.com • (209) 499-0794

OFFICERS Chair: Heston Nunes, Cargill Beef

8 9

Billy Flournoy, President

ALLIED INDUSTRY COUNCIL

Merced-Mariposa Madera Fresno-Kings

San Joaquin-Stanislaus

Zone 7 - Tan

Affiliate leadership

Zone 6 - Purple

Amador-El Dorado-Sacramento Calaveras Tuolumne

CCA

CBCIA ADVISORS Keela Retallick, Ph.D., Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Aaron Lazanoff, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Randy Perry, Ph.D., CSU, Fresno Dave Daley, Ph.D., CSU, Chico Jim Oltjen, Ph.D., UC Davis Dan Sehnert, UC Davis Patrick Doyle, Ph.D., CSU, Chico Alison Van Eenennaam, Ph.D., UC Davis Ken Tate, Ph.D., UC Cooperative Extension

YOUNG CATTLEMEN’S COMMITTEE

lariosjess1@gmail.com •(760) 455-3888

wandnhagge@frontiernet.net • (530) 640-1023

OFFICERS Chair: Ashely Budde, CSU, Fresno Vice Chair: Kellie Mancino, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Secretary: Grace Tobias, UC Davis Publicity Chair: Juliet Conant, CSU, Chico

For more information on any of these groups or to contact any of their leadership, visit the CCA website at www.calcattlemen.org/affiliates

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 9

Vintage Angus Ranch 22nd Annual “Carcass Maker” Bull Sale CED BW WW YW SC Doc Milk CW MB RE $W $F $G $QG $B

VAR Foreman 3339

Breed +9 Ranking +1.3 +77 1% +134 1% +1.07 +13 +31 4% +72 1% +1.43 1% +1.14 1% +69.25 1% +85.92 1% +53.26 2% +49.90 1% +148.85 1%

Reg. No. 17607585 • DOB: 09/02/2013 Sire: AAR Ten X 7008 SA • Dam: Sandpoint Blackbird 8809

Breed Ranking

CED BW WW YW SC Doc Milk CW MB RE $W $F $G $QG $B

Vintage Commander 4152

+14 +.2 +70 +116 +.98 +9 +31 +54 +1.14 +.82 +66.88 +63.75 +45.80 +44.11 +128.61

2% 1% 2% 10% 4% 2% 10% 1% 5% 10% 1% 1%

Reg. No. 17793480 • DOB: 02/22/2014 Sire: Rito 9M25 of Rita 5F56 Pred • Dam: Sandpoint Blackbird 8809

Sandpoint Blackbird 8809 The donor dam of V A R Foreman 3339 and Vintage Commander 4152.

8809 dominates ranking in the top 1% for 11 traits; WW, YW, Milk, CW, Marbling, Ribeye, $W, $F, $G, $QG and $Beef.

8809 is the dam of:

V A R Reserve 1111 A featured bull at ABS Global

V A R Generation 2100

A featured bull for Basin Angus, Deer Valley Farms and Vintage Angus Ranch

V A R Index 3282

A featured bull at Accelerated Genetics Top-selling bull in 2014 to 44 Farms and Ray Mar Farms.

V A R Ranger 3008 A featured bull at Hillhouse Angus, Rimrock Productions and Vintage Angus Ranch

A Sample of the 50 Fall Yearlings in our Sale Reg. No.

Sire

ID

CED

BW

WW

YW

SC

DOC

Milk

CW

Marb

REA

$W

$F

$B

17906910

Discovery

4401

+9

+.6

+74

+125

+1.55

+17

+29

+61

+1.25

+.86

+76.76

+77.26

+139.02

17906919

Ten X

4412

+5

+1.5

+69

+129

+.68

+20

+28

+62

+1.09

+1.22

+60.59

+92.52

+152.98

17906871

Discovery

4361

+8

+.8

+69

+122

+1.21

+13

+26

+77

+.85

+.84

+60.62

+80.33

+146.04

17906918

Generation

4409

+14

+.5

+80

+133

+.66

+14

+37

+56

+.83

+.86

+72.57

+86.52

+130.97

17906876

Ten X

4366

+7

+1.7

+68

+123

+1.32

+24

+26

+59

+1.21

+.86

+64.41

+76.87

+136.50

17906884

Ten X

4374

+2

+2.3

+65

+124

+1.09

+5

+26

+70

+.97

+.91

+53.50

+80.47

+144.87

17906922

Generation

4415

+15

-.3

+74

+124

+.21

+17

+34

+50

+.86

+.94

+67.66

+74.11

+127.22

17906881

Discovery

4371

+5

+1.6

+69

+126

+1.36

+16

+34

+62

+.80

+1.09

+69.11

+82.99

+138.99

17906842

Ten X

4331

+4

+1.7

+68

+127

+1.09

+35

+31

+78

+.93

+1.03

+57.31

+83.20

+146.13

All 50 yearling bulls have an average WW & YW EPD in the top 2% of the breed, a CW EPD in the top 3%, a $Wean Value in the top 1%, a $Beef Value in the top 2%, while maintaining a BW in the lowest 35%.

Jim Coleman, Owner Doug Worthington, Manager Brad Worthington, Operations Manager 2702 Scenic Bend • Modesto, CA 95355 Office 209-521-0537 www.vintageangusranch.com Email: vintageangus@earthlink.net

Call, Email or Visit us online to receive your Vintage Sale Book 10 California Cattleman July • August 2015

Thursday, September 3, 2015 Selling 180 Bulls • At the foothill ranch La Grange, CA • Noon CED BW WW YW SC Doc Milk CW Marb RE $W $F $G $B

+2 +2.2 +68 +123 +.19 +25 +23 +57 +1.12 +.96 +53.04 +82.56 +53.62 +146.19

VAR Challenger 3323

CED BW WW YW SC Doc Milk CW Marb RE $W $F $G $B

+10 +.7 +75 +134 +.86 +10 +33 +79 +.77 +.91 +72.55 +86.19 +35.04 +133.06

CED BW WW YW SC Doc Milk CW Marb RE $W $F $G $B

+3 +2.2 +67 +115 +.61 +5 +33 +57 +.83 +.80 +67.58 +65.45 +43.46 +130.19

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Vintage Foremost 4011

+5 +2.2 +66 +109 +.33 +16 +27 +53 +.83 +.70 +60.13 +63.83 +44.40 +134.15

Vintage Long Range 4204

Reg. No. 17607570 • DOB: 08/12/2013 Sire: AAR Ten X 7008 SA • Dam: BoBo Rita 1132

Reg. No. 17762476 • DOB: 01/05/2014 Sire: EXAR Upshot 0562B • Dam: VAR Blackcap 9319

CED BW WW YW SC Doc Milk CW Marb RE $W $F $G $B

+8 +.9 +64 +114 +.85 +16 +29 +53 +.59 +1.08 +56.73 +68.25 +38.72 +124.19

Vintage Leverage B117

Reg. No. 17904339 • DOB: 02/22/2014 Sire: Connealy Consensus 7229 • Dam: VAR Blackcap 0390

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YOUR DUES DOLLARS AT WORK Verdict Is In

appeals court finds cdfw can require notice of diversions On June 4, the California Third District Court of Appeals affirmed the ability of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to require water diverters to notify CDFW—and potentially obtain a Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement—before exercising their water rights.

The case, originally filed by the Siskiyou County Farm Bureau, concerned section 1602 of the California Fish and Game Code.

Section 1602 states that a person “may not substantially divert or obstruct the flow of, or substantially change or use any material from the bed, channel, or bank of, any river, stream, or lake” unless that person notifies CDFW beforehand, pays any applicable fees and, if necessary, enters into a Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement with CDFW intended to protect fish and wildlife resources.

Originally, CDFW only enforced Section 1602 where action was likely to alter a streambed. However, on the Scott and Shasta rivers, CDFW began interpreting the law more widely, requiring permits simply to open an existing headgate or to activate an existing pump in order to irrigate crops, even where there was no likelihood of streambed alteration.

In December of 2012, a Siskiyou County Superior Court Judge found that DCFW had overstepped its authority by requiring permits even where no streambed alteration occurred. CDFW appealed the Superior Court decision to the Third Appelate District Court.

In May of 2014, CCA and the

Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF) submitted a brief in support of the Siskiyou County Farm Bureau to the appellate court. In the brief, CCA argued that California law properly vests supervision of water rights in the State Water Resources Control Board, and that CDFW was thus outside of its authority in requiring notice of diversions from water rights holders in circumstances where no streambed alteration was likely. CCA and PLF additionally argued that Section 1602 could not be applied to pre-1914 water rights.

The brief also demonstrated the significant burden diverters would incur in complying with Section 1602 prior to diverting: the compliance process is time-consuming and documentintensive, and the process must be renewed every five years. Additionally, CCA argued that because CDFW could place conditions on the use of one’s water rights, those rights necessarily diminished in value, which could amount to an unconstitutional taking.

Unfortunately, the appellate court was not persuaded by any of those arguments and found that CDFW does have the ability to require diverters to provide advance notice to the department of their intent to exercise their water rights.

The appellate court found that Section 1602’s language requires diverters to notify CDFW any time they plan to “substantially divert” water— regardless of the basis for diversion, regardless of whether the streambed is likely to be altered and regardless of the method of diversion. The court

12 California Cattleman July • August 2015

also determined what constitutes a substantial diversion depends on a caseby-case analysis of the facts, including “the amount of water taken relative to the supply, the use to which such water is applied, the historical usage by the diverter and predecessors, and the needs of the fish, given the palpable fact that—due to yet another in a series of recurring drought conditions in California—there simply is not enough water to satisfy all legitimate needs.”

If a diversion is deemed to be substantial, the court reasoned any mitigation measures required under the Lake or Streambed Alteration Agreement would not result in a regulatory taking, but instead would be “a proper exercise of regulatory police powers.”

The adverse ruling means that many agricultural diverters may become subject to costly permitting fees and time-consuming review with CDFW, though CDFW has said that diverters need not immediately apply for 1602 permits, as the department will need to prioritize who must apply and when.

In the meantime, Siskiyou County Farm Bureau is considering its options, including appealing the ruling to the California Supreme Court. Should Siskiyou County Farm Bureau appeal, CCA and PLF will likely consider, once again, offering our support to the organization in the form of an amicus brief.

CCA will continue to follow this issue and keep members informed on any developments or repercussions which arise as a result of the appellate court’s ruling.

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PO Box 40 • O’Neals, CA 93645 (559) 999-9510 CALL TO BE ADDED TO OUR MAILING LIST. July • August 2015 California Cattleman 13

objective analysis of country of origin labeling’s future

by CCA Vice President of Government Affairs Justin Oldfield

A

lthough the majority of The most recent ruling is actually the cattlemen and women across fourth ruling handed down from the the United States agree that WTO following a long series of appeals government intrusion in the market brought by the United States since a place and the vast array of federal and petition was first brought by Canada to state regulations stymie the growth of the WTO in December of 2008. small business, the debate surrounding COOL currently requires beef mandatory Country of Origin Labeling retailers, specifically grocery stores finds beef producers on both sides of and supermarkets, to identify the the issue. Where there is a disagreement origin of each piece of meat sold on on the merit or need for the law, there the label that includes the country in is no question that COOL, if left in which the animal was born, raised and place as written, will have a disastrous slaughtered. COOL has gone through economic impact on U.S. beef several iterations and Canada and producers and the national and state Mexico argue that the provisions of economy. the current regulation have actually International trade is extremely exacerbated the situation.

Beef packers must keep cattle born important to maintain individual carcass and/or raised in Canada and Mexico values and benefits each segment of completely segregated which has the beef industry. In 2014, exports of resulted in significant price discounts U.S. beef accounted for a total value of $7.135 billion according to the Meat for live cattle. Beef packers are not the only industry segment to suffer Export Federation. economically because of COOL. International demand for beef has California beef producers who finish steadily increased each year since 2005.

Mexican feeder cattle have also Since that time the U.S. beef industry experienced direct economic losses has exported 9.639 million metric solely due to the fact that marketed tons of beef, of which Mexico and Canada fall within the top five countries livestock were born in Mexico.

Additionally, producers have also had importing our product. In 2014, the a significant challenge in finding beef value of U.S. beef exported to Mexico packers will purchase finished cattle of equated to $1.16 billion and beef exported to Canada was valued at $1.03 Mexican origin.

With all available measures billion. At the end of 2014, the export extinguished by the United States to value per fed animal was $340.69. up appeal the decision before the WTO, substantially from 2013.

Canada and Mexico are preparing to The final decision from the World retaliate with sizeable tariffs on U.S. Trade Organization (WTO) released goods. Tariffs will not be confined on May 18, ruled against the United to U.S. beef but can be expanded States in favor of Canada and Mexico to numerous agricultural and nondetermining that COOL violates our agricultural products. In 2014, Canada treaty obligations and unfairly harms Canadian and Mexican beef producers. and Mexico together imported $552 14 California Cattleman July • August 2015

billion worth of U.S. goods. Canada has signaled that tariffs on U.S. goods in 2015 alone could equate to over $3.3 billion.

Canada imports nearly $4.4 billion of California agricultural products and stands alone as the largest export market for California grown food. Relative to beef, the California Department of Food and Agriculture estimated that in 2013 international beef exports from California totaled $436 million in cash receipts. Of that $436 million, Canada accounted for nearly half the total export value at $255 million.

Given the looming economic impacts that will be associated with tariffs on U.S. goods, other agricultural and non-agricultural organizations are taking a strong stance against COOL. The Wine Institute based in Sacramento has also called on the federal government to provide a permanent fix to COOL that would stay any future action by Canada or Mexico to administer retaliatory tariffs.

In a statement released June 10, the Wine Institute President and CEO Robert Koch encouraged Congress to take swift action to repeal COOL stating, “Retaliation by Canada and Mexico would do hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to the U.S. wine industry virtually overnight and it would take years to reclaim this lost market share.”

The release of the final WTO ruling on May 18 did spur Congress to act with retaliatory tariffs on the horizon as early as the summer of this year.

Representative Mike Conoway (TX11), Chair of the House Committee on

Agriculture, and Representative Jim Costa (CA-16), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture, immediately authored HR 2393 which will repeal the COOL statutes for beef, pork and chicken. HR 2393 received overwhelming bipartisan support from committee members on vote taken in favor of the bill 38-6 just two days after the final WTO ruling.

HR 2393 now has over 80 co-sponsors including several members of California’s congressional delegation. In addition to Costa, co-authors from California include Representatives Ken Calvert (R-42), Jeff Denham (R-10), Sam Farr (D-20), Doug LaMalfa (R-1), Tom McClintock (R-4), Devin Nunes (R-22), Eric Swalwell (D-15), Mike Thompson (D-5), David Valadao (R-21) and Juan Vargas (D-51).

On June 10, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved HR 2393 with a bipartisan vote of 300-131. The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate for debate where support to avoid a trade war with Canada and Mexico appears strong, yet the legislative pathway to take similar action remains less clear.

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) released a statement following the publication of the final WTO ruling that she would work with

the Senate Agriculture Committee to find a fix that, in her words, “…doesn’t destabilize California exports.”

Some policy makers have suggested alternative amendments to COOL that could include the adoption of a “North American” label or transitioning the rule to an entirely voluntary program.

While the House overwhelmingly voted to repeal COOL, these ideas are more likely to be considered in the Senate, however proponents of HR 2393 will continue to push for a full repeal of the law. Canada and Mexico are likely to continue their support for full repeal. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack is also on record stating that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is not able to change the regulations in such a way so as to comply with the WTO ruling.

At the time of press, the U.S. Senate has still yet to vote on the measure. Pressure on the Senate to act will continue to mount as more time with COOL in place translates to a greater likelihood of retaliatory tariffs. In Congress the debate has clearly shifted from the merits of COOL to a strong agreement that something must be done to avoid a pending trade war. With any hope, action by the Senate will preempt a trade war and what will likely be billions in lost revenues for U.S. businesses.

FROM THE SALE RING HOT SALE SEASON LIES AHEAD

SEEDSTOCK OPERATORS HAVE TOP BULLS IN ARSENAL

by California Cattleman Advertising Representative Matt Macfarlane, M3 Marketing They say time flies when you are having fun! We must The genetic improvement from year to year is a joy for be having some fun, because this summer is blowing by at me to watch. I love seeing the excitement these cattlemen a rapid pace and we will be into our fall sale season before and women have in their face when I am fortunate enough we know it. to talk about their next bull crops and what has worked and This Bull Buyer’s Guide is our best issue yet, and we what hasn’t. Please do not hesitate to call them if you see would like to thank all of the loyal advertisers and all of an ad with something you are looking for.. They are willing the new ones that continue to make this magazine a such a and happy to talk with you about the genetics they are vital part of the cattle industry here on the West Coast. The working so hard to get into your pastures.

California Cattleman and California Cattlemen’s Association I am blessed to get to be in the line of work that I am. continue to be the sole publication and organization, So blessed, in fact, that there are many days when it doesn’t respectively, working diligently every day for California beef feel like work at all. That said, as we all prepare for the next producers. I am honored to be part of a great organization couple of crazy months that lie ahead, I am excited for the that continues to be battling the issues that affect the annual reunions that will take place and the cameraderie people I work with and for each and every day. that will be reignited.

Whether you are a member or not, you are reaping the Though the fall sale season is my busiest time of the benefits of their continued effort to keep you in business. year, it remains my favorite. I hope to again see many CCA I strongly urge joining the fight; it will pay dividends to members and bull customers on the bull sale trail this year, your bottom line and long-term sustainability of your cattle and it is my prediction that with more heifers being retained ranching operation. this year and plenty of rain on the horizon, we are going to Producing commercial cattle and seedstock in California have another barn burner of a year! has many unique obstacles and pressures that do not fall in line with the rest of the country. The resilience of these producers is impressive as we have to do things a little different here on the “left” coast. The precedent set by our leadership in the California cattle industry in how to deal with the issues that put pressure on the way we do our daily business has molded our beef producers to be some of the most adaptive, progressive, profit-driven and open-minded in the country.

You, as commercial producers, have more data, more tools and more selection criteria than ever before in the cattle business. The technology used to get a bull unloaded into your fields continues to amaze me. One of the many issues I continually get asked is about expected progeny differences (EPDs) and how to utilize them in your programs. We have a number of great articles regarding the use of EPDS in this issue that I feel will answer some of these questions about what is on the horizon for genetic predictors. Feel free to continue to contact me if you have any questions. If I cannot help you, I can put you in contact with the correct person in each of the breed associations that can.

I have been around the state and have seen many of the bulls that will be available this fall. I am very excited about the offering coming up in all breeds across the board. I believe the California seedstock Matt Macfarlane takes bids during the 2014 Tehama Angus producers are some of the best I am fortunate to Ranch 40th Anniversary Bull Sale. work for.

16 California Cattleman July • August 2015

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Galt, california July • August 2015 California Cattleman 17

VET VIEWS Preventing a Popular Problem tackling pinkeye in beef cattle

from the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine Pinkeye – or infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis – is the most common eye disease of cattle in California, and throughout the U.S. Pinkeye causes both economic losses to cattle producers as well as pain and suffering in affected animals that negatively impacts overall animal welfare.

Caused by infection of the cornea with Moraxella bovis (M. bovis) bacteria, pinkeye results in painful corneal ulcers and inflammation of the eye and skin surfaces lining the eye (conjunctiva).

Another organism, Moraxella bovoculi (M. bovoculi), first reported in 2007 by Professor John Angelos and his research team at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine (UCD SVM), is also frequently isolated from cattle with pinkeye. At this time M. bovoculi has not been proven to cause pinkeye, however, it is possible that this organism is a risk factor for the disease.

If not properly treated, corneal infections can result in corneal scars, or even eyeball ruptures, leading to permanent blindness. Pinkeye is most common in summer months with increased exposure to sunlight and dry, dusty conditions.

Plant awns such as foxtails can also predispose to disease by getting caught in the eye and damaging the cornea. Flies also increase the chances of exposure and spread of M. bovis bacteria by feeding around the face and eyes of affected cattle and then transferring infected eye fluids to other animals.

The disease can also be spread by humans, particularly when they are not wearing disposable gloves or applying disinfectants to halters or other objects involved in handling affected animals.

18 California Cattleman July • August 2015

Professor John Angelos, DVM, has spent more than 15 years researching causes and potential treatments for this costly disease.

“Controlling pinkeye in your herd can be a challenge,” said Angelos. “It’s important to practice preventative measures like vaccination before there is an outbreak.”

Angelos cites some common signs of disease and offers cattle producers these tips on prevention: Common Signs: Excessive tearing Frequent blinking or squinting Decreased appetite due to eye pain Corneal ulceration and cloudiness Potential blindness or eye rupture Can affect one or both eyes Younger cattle typically more susceptible Tips on Prevention: Fly control: Controlling flies should help to reduce the risks of disease spread between animals in a herd. Traditional methods have included the use of insecticide-containing ear tags, dust bags and systemically – or topically-applied parasiticides.

Practice good sanitation/hygiene: To avoid inadvertently spreading infective bacteria between animals, use of disposable gloves is recommended when handling pinkeyeaffected cattle. These gloves should be changed or at least

disinfected between animals. In addition, consider changing clothes or disinfecting plastic aprons and halters between cattle. One commonly used disinfectant is 10% household bleach made by mixing one part of regular strength household bleach to nine parts water (or ~1-1.5 cups regular strength bleach per gallon of clean water). If using concentrated bleach you will only need ~1/2 cup per gallon of clean water. This mixture should be made fresh daily to maintain effectiveness. Also, bleach becomes less effective when it becomes heavily soiled with dirt or manure and other organic material. For that reason it may need to be refreshed more frequently, depending on use and working conditions.

Promote optimal health and immunity & vaccinate before there’s a problem: According to Angelos, vaccination is the main crux of prevention, although producers can still experience variable results with today’s vaccines. When vaccinating animals, it is important to vaccinate well in advance (ideally at least four weeks) of the anticipated summer onset of pinkeye in your herd, so that cattle will have enough time to mount an effective immune response following vaccination.

Because young animals tend to be most affected, it is critical that young stocks are part of the vaccination program.

Finally, it is important to make sure that cattle have adequate levels of trace minerals such as copper and selenium for a properly functioning immune system. Dr. Angelos and his team continue to do research at UCD SVM to develop better pinkeye vaccines that will be more effective than currentlyavailable vaccines.

UC Davis’ John Angelos, DVM, inspects a calf for pinkeye.

Treatment: According to Angelos, M. bovis is susceptible to a wide variety of antibiotics; however, only two are specifically labelled for the treatment of pinkeye: tulathromycin and oxytetracycline. Other antibiotics are known to be effective, but the use of these drugs for pinkeye treatment is considered “off-label,” according to Angelos, who stressed that all treatment programs should be overseen by a herd veterinarian who can assess the situation and recommend the best treatment protocol.

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 19

PROGRESSIVE PRODUCER Caring For Man’s Best Friend ensuring your stockdogs are ready for the job from the California Beef Cattle Improvement Association As the is sun rising and you are walking to your truck with a coffee mug hand, you look down and see your partner wagging his tail, excited for whatever may be on the day’s agenda. As excited as he is for the day that lies ahead, perhaps you should be asking, is he ready for tasks that lie ahead that day?

A typical summer day for a stockdog may include jumping on and off the flatbed truck as you change irrigation water. This gives him a chance to cool off in the water and rehydrate. However, there are other days that will cause you and your trusty sidekick to exert more energy.

An intense day may include you on horseback and your dog running alongside as you move cows to the top of a mountain, or maybe you are gathering stockers in from the back pasture for processing. Whatever may be on the agenda for the day, it is important to take a moment to consider how you can improve your stockdog care, performance and longevity – since they are an essential component to your ranching operation.

CBCIA recently took a few moments with Lauren Huggins, DVM, a veterinarian at Bear Mountain Veterinary Associates in Bakersfield to provide some tips to ranchers on stockdog care. Huggins is a graduate of the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinarian Medicine. Huggins is also a past California Young Cattlemen’s Committee (YCC) Chair and a recipient of CCA scholarships.

What do you recommend as a core vaccination program for stockdogs?

The core vaccinations for all dogs need to commence when they are puppies. These vaccinations include canine parvovirus (CPV), canine distemper virus (CDV), canine adenovirus (CAV) and rabies. Puppy vaccination should begin between 6 to 8 weeks of age and be boostered every 3 to 4 weeks, until the dog is 14 to 16 weeks of age. A booster should also occur at one year, and I would recommend a revaccination every three years thereafter.

This is something you can talk to your large animal veterinarian about providing. Booster shots can often coincide with a vet site visit when a rancher needs to bangs vaccinate heifers or semen test bulls before turning them out for the season.

Are there other vaccinations that ranchers may want to consider?

The Crotalus Atrox Toxoid (rattlesnake vaccine) should be considered by owners whose ranches are known to have rattlesnakes. This vaccine will not completely prevent all reactions to envenomation by rattlesnakes, however, it will reduce the symptom severity and duration. Vaccination 20 California Cattleman July • August 2015

includes two initial vaccines one month apart and boosters thereafter annually.

I would recommend asking your veterinarian about the prevalence of leptospirosis in your area. This disease is harbored in standing water, reservoirs and stockponds. It is not highly prevalent throughout California but more so in certain counties.

What are key stockdog illness prevention tools ranchers should consider?

In addition to a well-rounded vaccine protocol, your stockdog should be protected from internal and external parasites. As puppies they should receive a dewormer that covers roundworms, hookworms and tapeworms as early as 2 to 3 weeks of age or at time of vaccination. It is also important, especially in areas with mosquitoes, to start your dog on heart worm prevention as early as 6 to 8 weeks of age, but no later than 6 months of age. After 6 months of age, the dog will have to be tested for heart worms before they can be put on any preventative medication to minimize complications.

Fleas and ticks are not only a nuisance but can be very life threatening, especially in young dogs. Prevention is as easy as flea/tick baths, topical solutions to be placed on the skin or with your heart worm prevention in oral tablet form. By treating your dog you can prevent anemia and lyme disease.

What tips to do you have for oral care of stockdogs?

It is a good habit to look at your dogs teeth regularly.

Think of this task in the same was as you mouth your older cows for production and performance. Inspect the gums for redness and the teeth for yellow plaque, and there shouldn’t be any foul odor.

One option that is simple and economical to enhance canine oral health by decreasing dental disease is to provide chew treats, rawhide products, rubber chew toys or boil cut beef long bones. The latter, not only helps minimize tarter, but gives them quality nutrition through bone marrow.

Regardless, prevention of tarter and plaque buildup is easier than removal and less expensive than taking him in to get a dental cleaning under general anesthesia.

Can you provide some daily care tips for a stockdogs on a working day?

As dogs age, is there anything ranchers can give them to help make them last longer before retirement?

Just like you, your dog needs a healthy and nutritious diet, along with water and shade to recuperate. It is also important that you let your dog rest and recover after a long day’s work. This is specifically necessary to consider during the busy seasons when you are shipping and gathering, asking a lot from your dog and requiring a substantial amount of energy to be exerted day in and day out. Another option for consideration on long, hot and busy days is to provide your dog electrolytes to improve their performance and give them a boost later in the day. You can typically find electrolytes at your local farm supply or through your veterinarian.

Besides a good quality dog food, made from whole food ingredients, there are many products on the market that help maintain joint health. These stock dogs are athletes and hard on their bodies, working animals 10 to 20 times their size.

All the rapid movements and rough terrain they navigate throughout the day takes a toll on their bones, specifically their joints.

Talk with your veterinarian about products available. including: glucosamine, chondroitin, and hyaluronic acid.

These compounds are the fundamental parts that make up a healthy joint and will maintain your dog in their active state longer.

Do you recommend micro-chipping stockdogs?

Ranchers must remember their stockdog are an investment and a critical asset to their operation. I would recommend ranchers, especially those near urban areas, to invest in the one-time cost associated with micro-chipping.

The costs is typically $50 for a veterinarian to microchip your dog, and this fee includes registration in a pet recovery database. In the unfortunate instance your dog gets lost and ends up at a shelter, there is a way for him to get back to you and working on the ranch.

What do you recomment for prevention of foxtails infeet, ears and nose?

What final advice do you have for ranchers to improve stockdog care, performance and longevity?

The health of your dog will reflect in their ability to perform. If you give them the right tools, through nutrition, vaccination, and making sure they get time to rest and recuperate, they have the ability to show their true potential. They are considered man’s best friend for a reason. Take care of them like the right hand man they are.

Foxtails are a springtime nuisance that just can’t be avoided; however, you can minimize your dogs risk of picking up foxtails by clipping, especially long haired dogs. Although time consuming, inspecting your dogs coat by brushing their hair back against the direction of growth is a good way to find the foxtails already embedded. Since they are barbed they easily work their way between their toes and in their ears, so make sure to inspect everywhere!

If your dog is sneezing continuously, they may likely have a foxtail working its way up the nasal cavity. You will need to call your veterinarian to remove it with forceps.

With the summer heat, what do ranchers need to consider with stockdogs?

Heat stress, or overheating, can become very serious quickly in animals that do not dissipate heat well, like the ever so typical black long haired cow dog. Granted these dogs are less predisposed than the typical obese pet dog in the backyard, these dogs are also taxed much harder and exposed to the elements while helping you get chores done.

With summer temperatures rising, be cognizant of the signs of overheating: excessive panting, salivating, heart rate, red or pale gums, weakness, dizziness, vomitihighng and/or diarrhea.

Hot surfaces can also be problematic to stockdogs. If you ask your dog to “load up” into the back of the pickup, make sure they have a non-metal surface to stand/sit on or make sure the metal bed isn’t scalding to the touch.

Foot pads can be burned by hot surfaces like truck beds, tool boxes and pavement.

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 21

COUNCIL COMMUNICATOR Checking In On Your Beef Checkoff

Beef Council Positively infuences consumer perception from the California Beef Council An Immersive Experience: Foodservice and Nutrition Professionals Get a Behind-the-Scenes Look at Beef As consumers are more interested than ever before in knowing where their food comes from, the CBC makes it a priority to engage key influencers in understanding the beef production process. As part of that effort, the CBC recently held a Pasture to Plate Beef Tour geared toward top-level foodservice professionals and Registered Dietitians.

The three-day experience immersed attendees in the beef lifecycle production process, providing opportunity for an open and transparent conversation about the beef industry. Attendees got to learn first-hand about each phase More than 30 foodservice industry leaders and nutrition of the production process, its role, and what each sector professionals attended the Pasture to Plate Tour in late April. of the industry does to ensure a safe, healthy and nutritious where CBC board member and dairyman Brian Medeiros product. provided an in-depth tour of his family operation, along with Participants on the tour ranged from CEOs of national insight about the importance of animal care for both the restaurant chains to purchasing directors for major dairy and beef industries. The dairy tour was a perfect segue foodservice distribution companies. Also in attendance to Grimmius Calf Ranch, where attendees learned the ins were Registered Dietitians representing a variety of health and outs of calf ranches, their role in the beef industry, and organizations. the amount of care and effort that goes into ensuring the “In my estimation, these Pasture to Plate tours are very safety, health and comfort of the calves. important events for our industry to educate customers Rounding out the tour, the attendees headed to Harris and partners about beef production, and shed light on Ranch & Feedyard, Coalinga, for a review of the feeding factors such as environmental impact, water use, antibiotic sector, and a glimpse of how cattle are cared for in that use, and other issues that these influencers might have questions about,” said Mark Lacey, a cow-calf rancher from setting. Reviewing everything from the painstaking work put into cattle nutrition, to herd management and handling, Independence and former CBC chairman. helped attendees understand more fully the amount of Starting out at Rancho del Rio in Sanger, the tour kicked animal care that goes into every sector of beef production. off with a behind-the-scenes look at a cow-calf operation.

Finally, the tour concluded with a comprehensive look Ranchers Steve and Michelle McDonald, Sanger, shared at Cargill Meat Solutions, showcasing the practices and insight about what it takes to ensure healthy calves, from procedures of a packing plant – including the importance genetics and breeding selection, to care and nutrition of of food safety in every step of processing – to truly breeding stock, to responsible use of antibiotics for sick cattle, among other factors. The ranch tour also included a get a full-circle perspective of how beef gets from discussion on the importance of Beef Quality Assurance pasture to plate. practices and how they benefit the end product, as well as “This a live animal handling demonstration done by renowned tour is a stockman Curt Pate. great way for Following the Rancho del Rio tour, the group started some of our off a second day of beef immersion by first visiting Tulare foodservice County Stockyard for a look at how livestock markets and nutrition operate. This stop included an insightful presentation by partners to gain Fresno State University Animal Science Professor, Randy a more in-depth Perry, Ph.D., Prather, about some of the challenges that understanding of how exist for the beef industry when it comes to perception and beef is misinformation.

The next stop was Medeiros & Son Dairy in Hanford, ...CONTINUED ON PAGE 24 22 California Cattleman July • August 2015

‘commitment to performance’ bull sale sat., september 5, 2015

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offering 95 Head angus and balancer® bulls 75 long-yearlings plus 20 yearlings reFerence sIres: • Baldridge Waylon W34 • G A R Prophet • EXAR Denver 2002B • EF Complement 8088 • Connealy Consensus 7229 • AAR Ten X 7008 SA • Hoover Dam • Silveiras Conversion 8064 • Basin Excitement • PA Power Tool 9108 • R/M Man Up 746-09 • R/M Turning Point 1C94 • SandPoint Final Answer X801

sale manager

Matt Macfarlane, 916 803-3113

auctioneer

Rick Machado, 805 501-3210

sale information

Ray Alger, 209 652-9601 Ray & Mary Alger, 209 847-0187 6064 Dodds Rd., Oakdale, CA 95361

escalon liVestock market, escalon, california looking for outcross calving-ease genetics?

Selling a group of powerful herdsire prospects out of G A R 5050 New Design 1199 – some of the last progeny to be offered by the now deceased sister to GAR Ingenity.

To our knowledge, she was the only clean, full sister to the great Ingenuity – a leader for calving ease, growth and carcass merit.

Ingenity has produced some of the industry’s top young herdsires, including V A R Index 3282 (pictured above), which we own with Vintage Angus Ranch and 44 Farms. Index’s combination of growth and carcass merit is at the pinnacle of the Angus breed.

Watch for these bulls, plus many other top matings, selling in Escalon. We feel these herdsire prospects are unlike any other offered for sale in the West this fall ...

r/m sierra cut 4n43

Sire: D R Sierra Cut 7404 • Born 9-2-14 Dam: G A R 5050 New Design 1199 bW WW

YW

Milk Marb

re

$b

I+.9 I+61 I+112 I+30 I+.93 I+.71 +104.57

r/m sierra cut 4n51

Sire: D R Sierra Cut 7404 • Born 8-29-14 Dam: G A R 5050 New Design 1199 bW WW

YW

Milk Marb

re

$b

I+.9 I+61 I+112 I+30 I+.93 I+.71 +104.57

r/m last chance 4n47 Sire: AAR Ten X 7008 SA • Born 8-30-14 Dam: G A R 5050 New Design 1199

bW WW

YW

Milk Marb

re

$b

I+.3 I+63 I+118 I+26 I+1.10 I+.84 +135.99

r/m ten X 4n59

Sire: AAR Ten X 7008 SA • Born 9-6-14 Dam: G A R 5050 New Design 1199 bW WW

YW

Milk Marb

re

$b

I+.3 I+63 I+118 I+26 I+1.10 I+.84 +135.99

Selling many other top matings, including sons out of the now deceased Sitz Henrietta Pride 657T, a full sister to Sitz Upward 307R. We look forward to seeing you Sept. 5!

for photos of featured bulls and our fall sale book, Visit us at:

www.raymarranches.com

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July • August 2015 California Cattleman 23

...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22 produced, allowing them to make informed choices when it comes to buying product, as well as better answer questions that are asked of them by customers and clients,” said Christie Van Egmond, Director of Retail Marketing.

Foodservice Marketing for the CBC Based on post-surveys conducted after the tour, attendees found the experience to be of value. “What surprised me most about the beef production process would probably be how much care is involved in each step to make a quality product,” said participant Brigette Serafin, who is Product Technical Services Manager, Supply Chain for Jack in the Box and Qdoba. “I didn’t realize how heavily involved each aspect is, from the day the animal is bred to the end of its lifecycle.

It’s amazing!”

None of this would have been possible without the partnership of several producers who provided the time and space to carry out the tour. The CBC sincerely thanks Steve and Michelle McDonald, Col. Jon and Summer Dolieslager with Tulare County Stockyard in Dinuba, Randy Perry, Ph.D., of Fresno State, Medeiros and Son Dairy in Hanford, Grimmius Cattle Company in Hanford, Harris Ranch in Coalinga, and Cargill Meat Solutions in Fresno.

Perceptions about Beef Improve When it comes to perceptions about the product California’s ranchers and beef producers work so hard to get to the consumer’s plate, it’s always nice to hear some good

news. According to the latest Consumer Beef Index (CBI) – a Checkoff-funded resource that tracks changes in consumers’ perceptions of and demand for beef relative to other meat proteins – there have been some highly positive changes in perceptions, attitudes and beef use.

The March 2015 CBI notes that the percentage of consumers who say that the positives of beef outweigh the negatives reached a four-year high of 77 percent.

What’s more, according to the March 2015 CBI, the percentage of consumers who stated that they serve beef three or more times per week was 35 percent, a return to highs recorded in 2012. Beef use by millennial parents exceeded general-population numbers, with 38 percent of them noting consumption of three or more beef meals weekly.

A strong interest in knowing more about beef preparation also was clear, with a strong majority of millennial parents interested in getting more information about: how to make a great burger; cook beef in a way to provide servings at two or more meals; cook a steak; and cook a roast – all things being address through checkoff resources and through CBC efforts.

For more on the Consumer Beef Index, visit www.beefresearch.org.

Keep up with your Beef Checkoff by visiting www.calbeef. org, www.mybeefcheckoff.org, or signing up for the CBC’s monthly producer update, the CBC Roundup. E-mail jill@calbeef.org to be added to our e-mail list.

A Tip of the Hat It is with sincere congratulations and a great deal of sorror that the California Cattlemen’s Association tips its hat to two outstanding supporters fo the ranching community.

Glenn Nader, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) Cooperative Extension livestock and natural GLENN NADER resources advisor in Sutter and Yuba counties, and Jim Sullins, director of UC ANR Cooperative Extension in Tulare and Kings counties each retired this spring after each giving 32 years to the iconic California cattle ranching industry.

“I feel blessed to have been able to be in an organization that allows you to come to work each day and use the power of the University of California system to solve local problems and help improve people’s lives,” Nader said.

During his career, Nader has been known for his dedication to rancher outreach in his area through the use of various communication mediums. Some of his most notable work has been on the Pine Creek Coordinated Management Plan and the Yuba and Butte counties coordinated pre-fire management plan and numerous other fire management projects as well as extensive nutrition reseach on rice straw.

24 California Cattleman July • August 2015

Sullins said some of the more noteable events in his career centered around relief efforts during the devastating citrus freeze of 1998 and development in 2001 of a new agricultural complex for UC ANR Cooperative Extension and the Tulare County Department of Agriculture. Sullins worked with the Tulare County Board of JIM SULLINS Supervisors, the Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner and industry support groups to build a modern and highly visible facility across Laspina Street from the World Ag Expo grounds in Tulare County.

“I believe that Cooperative Extension is the very best organization of its kind on earth,” Sullins said. “I have worked with committed and highly trained professionals who make a difference in the lives and livelihoods of the people they serve.”

In retirement, Sullins said he and his wife will ride California’s highways and byways on his Harley motorcycle – a hobby he recently revived after a 30-year hiatus. He also looks forward to dooing some writing, spending time with grandchildren and continuing to be involved in the local agriculture and civic community.

During retirement he plans to spend more time with his wife Marie and son Alan on their Modoc County ranch.

sepTemBeR 6

selling 65 value -added angus Bulls

At The Heritage Bull Sale, you will see consistent quality, outstanding performance, fertility, soundness and superior EPDs. With productive cows behind every bull, each is loaded with tremendous value.

bw +4.1

$F +88.52 $g +55.70

MilK

$b

+15

+148.73

baldridge waylon w34

re

SC

+.92

+.60

bw +.5

$w +74.78

gar-egl Protege X woodhill Foresight

All BullS SEll PErformAncE-TESTED, ulTrASounDED & ZoETiS HD 50K TESTED.

Bull Videos Available Online in August

ww

$F

+70 yw +133

+90.39 $g +51.19

MilK

$b

+20

+148.99

Marb +1.31

$en +4.54

re

SC

+1.31

+1.56

bw +3.0 ww +61 yw +114

$w +46.14 $F +62.47 $g +41.24

a a r Ten X 7008 Sa

Mytty in Focus X S a V adaptor 2213

MilK

$b

+25

+118.72

Marb $en +.70 -16.19

The

heriTage bull sale

ww +75 yw +133

Marb $en +1.26 -15.40

The 2015 offering features bulls by some of the breed’s leading sires listed at right. Selling long-yearlings and fall yearlings, including many heifer bulls!

Remember ... at The Heritage Bull sale, you are not just buying a bull, you are buying the program behind him!

$w +40.20

re

SC

+1.21

+.91

bw +4.8 ww +77 yw +132

$w +48.01 $F +97.88 $g +38.20

eXar UPShoT 0562b

Sitz Upward 307R x ISU Imaging Q 9111

Sunday, September 6

Five Star Land & Livestock Wilton, California • 1 p.m.

MilK

$b

+15

+137.67

Marb +.87

$en -7.99

re

SC

+.67

+.84

Connealy earnan 076e Connealy Consensus X Connealy Tobin Matt Macfarlane Marketing

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mmacfarlane@wildblue.net www.m3cattlemarketing.com

5I I I

I

watch & bid Live

(530) 633-4184 (916) 803-3113

I

auctioneer john rodgers (559) 730-3311

Bar r angus Craig & J.J. reinhardt

(916) 354-2962 • Cell (916) 712-3696 Email: barr6925@sbcglobal.net 6925 Bisbee Drive • Sloughhouse, CA 95683

Five star Land & Livestock Mark & abbie nelson & Family

12211 Pear Lane, wilton, ca - abbiernelson@gmail.com

home: (916) 687-7108 abbie: 916-804-4990

ryan, hailey, jhett & cort nelson: 916-804-6861 hilario gomez, ranch operations: 916-804-8136

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 25

COMPETETIVE LIVESTOCK MARKETING FOR OVER 30 YEARS! Sales every Monday, Wednesday and Friday plus small animal and poultry every Friday

VISIT US ONLINE AT: ESCALONLIVESTOCKMARKET.COM

MIGUEL A. MACHADO, PRESIDENT

OFFICE (209) 838-7011 • MOBILE (209) 595-2014

FIELD REPRESENTATIVES

JOE VIERA ...........................(209) 531-4156 THOMAS BERT .....................(209) 605-3866 TONY LUIS ..........................(209) 609-6455 CJ BRANTLEY .......................(209) 596-0139

Pay us a visit...We’re 2 miles north of Escalon 25525 LONE TREE RD. • P.O. BOX 26 • ESCALON, CA 95320 • OFFICE (209) 838-7011 • FAX (209) 838-1535

Historic cattle Ranch For Sale in Mariposa, California This ± 262-acre working cattle ranch with a 3-bedroom home has a large corral with working facilities and loading chutes, along with a barn.

A seasonal creek provides water, along with 2 working windmills.

The entire property is mostly level to slightly rolling native, grazing ground.

2257 White Rock Road, Mariposa, Calif.

3 Bedroom > 1 Bathroom Home 2 Windmills > 2 Storage Sheds > School House > Barn > Corrals

Historic Central California Cattle Ranch offered at

$606,825

GMA LAnd coMpAny, inc.

George M. Avila, broker/owner dRE #01041517 209-725-2110 > cell 209-777-3786 > gma propertyconnection@yahoo.com 860 W. 19th Street > Merced, California 95340

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26 California Cattleman July • August 2015

FSA Direct Farm Ownership Loan Program Deadline Sept. 30 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) California Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director, Oscar Gonzales, announced in early June that farmers and ranchers still have time to apply for low interest loans available through the FSA direct farm ownership program.

Applications must be approved by Sept. 30, to take advantage of the funding available.

Eligible farmers and ranchers can borrow up to $300,000 to buy farmland, construct or repair buildings, pay closing costs, or promote soil and water conservation. The interest rate can be as low as 1.5 percent with up to 40 years to repay.

“If you are thinking about purchasing or expanding your farm or ranch, our affordable loans can help,” said Gonzales.

“There are no backlogs or waiting for funds, so give us a call today.”

New farmers and ranchers, military veterans, and underserved farmers and ranchers also are encouraged to apply. Each year Congress targets 80 percent of available loan funds to beginning and targeted underserved farmers and ranchers. Targeted underserved groups include American Indians or Alaskan Natives, Asians, Blacks or African Americans, Native Hawaiians, or other Pacific Islanders, Hispanics and women.

For more information about farm loan, visit www.fsa. usda.gov/farmloans, or contact your local FSA office. To find your local FSA county office, visit https://offices.usda. gov.

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 27

First Generation Ranchers Engineer Green Practices A first-of-its-kind environmental and economic equalizer award California State Board of Equalization (SBOE) Member Fiona Ma awarded the first of its kind Environmental and Economic Equalizer Award to John and Judy Ahmann of Napa County on June 10 in Sacramento. The Environmental and Economic Equalizer Award provides an opportunity for the agricultural industry to showcase the stewardship of the environment and best business practices that work together on farms and ranches.

As one of the state’s largest contributors of economic revenue, SBOE’s role includes the sharing of information and recommendations for business owner success. This award recognizes the commitment to excellence and best business practices that all businesses should strive to meet.

“California is fortunate to have ranchers like John and Judy Ahmann who not only help sustain California’s agricultural industry but are also stewards of the Earth,” stated board member Fiona Ma. “Through ingenuity, perseverance and investment in land management and water conservation, they are paving the way for other ranchers in California to follow in their footsteps.”

Though water conservation and sustainable ranching practices have recently become a priority due to California’s drought, John and Judy Ahmann have been forward thinking, entrepreneurs for more than 50 years. With a background in mechanical engineering, John was hired by IBM to work on voting machines. Through this professional opportunity John and Judy were relocated several times in two years, and during this time frame the Ahmanns had the foresight to purchase land in San Juan Bautista, which came with one bull and 30 head of cattle.

With his engineering background and this newfound opportunity, John Ahmann sought to bring innovative touches to ranching. High on his list of priorities was land management and water conservation. Through trial and error and adjustments, the Ahmann’s now run a hugely successful operation with more than 600 cattle on multiple properties in California and Oregon.

JOHN AND JUDY AHMANN WITH FIONA MA.

Some of the forward thinking and innovative changes the Ahmanns have adopted for their ranches include: • The Ahmann’s started their first specialized herd by breeding Romagnola cattle, which are known as resilient massive “draught beasts” with mild temperament, powerful legs and oxen hoofs.

• Their Napa property is now run exclusively by solar power.

• Their Berryessa land is irrigated by watershed, and John engineered a 42-foot deep reservoir to hold the watershed run-off. This practice is environmentally friendly and requires no pumping costs.

• John started a waste-water irrigation district in Napa County in 1976, which finally broke ground this spring to bring water to agricultural users.

• The Ahmann’s created a one mile tree and hedgerow of blue oaks, valley oaks, walnut trees, native shrubs and wild roses that are irrigated by watershed through a drip system. This has created a natural habitat for all area wildlife, including bees.

• Other conservation projects include acquiring concrete pipes at no cost that fail commercial inspection criteria and repurposing them for use in his watershed flood irrigation system in California and Oregon.

Aerial View of the Ahmann’s Running Deer Ranch near Napa.

28 California Cattleman July • August 2015

• Always considering the Earth first, they have replaced over 1,000 acres of Juniper trees that drink up to 25 gallons a day in eastern Oregon. This has made way for a very moisture rich soil for grass to feed their cattle and establishes better habitat for Sage Grouse.

Measures such as this have helped sustain them during drought conditions.

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 29

BEEF AT HOME AT ABROAD EXAMINING EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES, CHALLENGES from the U.S. Meat Export Federation At the May 21 meeting of the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Beef and Allied Industries Committee in San Antonio, producers and exporters discussed challenges facing the U.S. red meat industry in key export markets, strategic plans for meeting those challenges and a number of unique and customized approaches to increase both export volume and value of U.S. beef around the world. The committee is chaired by Kevin Kester, a fifthgeneration rancher from Parkfield, California.

Among the goals for the U.S. industry as a whole: Get more aggressive in Asia – especially Japan and South Korea – as Australia potentially faces a decline in its beef supply; continue to build demand in leading volume market Mexico; maintain work in the smaller markets with growth potential; and be prepared to compete in China if and when the market reopens to U.S. beef.

The committee was provided with a status update on the China market, which presents great potential for U.S. beef if the industry can gain access to it. Traceability continues to be a major stumbling block to reopening the Chinese market. A collective effort by all levels of the industry – from producers to packers – is needed to establish a system to meet requirements set forth by the Chinese government.

On a positive note, there appears to be steady progress with Saudi Arabia, which closed to U.S. beef following the 2012 BSE case in California. A recent meeting with Saudi officials that included USMEF staff was encouraging, and a positive outcome could be on the horizon. Prior to closing, Saudi Arabia was a $30 million-per-year market for U.S. beef.

The committee also discussed trade with Egypt, a critical market for U.S. beef variety meat. Egypt alone accounted for 78 percent of last year’s U.S. liver exports, but has adopted a new standard for use of hormonal growth promotants (HGPs) that is of great concern to the U.S. industry. In an effort to keep the market on course, USMEF met with Egyptian government

officials to educate them on the science surrounding HGPs and the international standard-setting process. The goal is to lead the country’s regulatory officials to develop science-based standards that will ease concerns about maintaining access to the market.

A number of USMEF staff members from key markets reported to the committee, providing a “boots on the ground” perspective of challenges and opportunities for U.S. beef.

Access to China still eludes the U.S. beef industry, even as most other principal beef-producing countries have signed access protocols and are growing their exports to China. Australia, Uruguay and New Zealand are currently China’s leading suppliers. Domestic production is small and has not kept pace with growing demand.

Meanwhile, Korea continues to be a growing customer for U.S. beef, as consumer confidence in U.S. food safety grows. The percentage of consumers who believe U.S. beef is safe has risen from just 5.3 percent in 2010 to 44.7 percent last year.

As part of its strategy to increase the export of chilled beef to Korea through expanded coordination with retailers, USMEF continues to introduce U.S. chilled and value-added beef items in top Korean retail and foodservice chains, contributing to a 12 percent increase in export volume in 2014. In January, retail giant E-mart launched the new store brand “Rocky Mountain Steak” using U.S. beef, and sales have already surpassed $1 million.

USMEF strategies for Mexico include emphasizing the origin of U.S. beef – which is a strong selling point in Mexico — educating chefs and consumers about the quality of U.S. beef and promoting USDA Choice beef at retail outlets. The major challenges in Mexico are high U.S. prices and tight supplies resulting from lower U.S. production. Demand has held up well, but larger supplies of pork and poultry make the protein market increasingly competitive in Mexico.

USMEF staff also summarized efforts to promote underutilized U.S. beef cuts on a global scale and detailed

30 California Cattleman July • August 2015

Past CCA President Kevin Kester, Parkfield, chairs the USMEF Beef and Allied Industries Committee. a cut promotion training workshop held at the Iowa State University Meats Laboratory attended by buyers from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Vietnam.

As chairman of the committee, Kester offered a resolution that encourages those organizations that support expanded trade with Cuba to advocate for the statutory and regulatory changes necessary to allow USDA program funding and checkoff funding to be used for market research and market development activities in Cuba. The resolution was unanimously approved by the committee and adopted the following day by the USMEF Board of Directors.

With the U.S. reestablishing diplomatic relations with Cuba, many U.S. agricultural sectors are hopeful that new export opportunities will emerge.

While Cuba is currently open to U.S. red meat, exports have declined over the past few years.

“The objective of the resolution is not to facilitate large investments of USDA or checkoff funding in Cuba in the near term,” Kester explained.

“But rather to accommodate the basic research necessary to evaluate the Cuban market and allow USMEF to assist companies interested in exporting to Cuba.”

sELLing stout, AtHLEtiC BuLLs BrEd to fit ALL typEs of CoMMErCiAL & sEEdstoCk opErAtions Auctioneer: Martin Machado

sale: 12 noon LunCH foLLoWing tHE sALE sponsorEd By

Bring a friend and you both receive $200 off each bull purchased when you mention this ad.

AnGus BuLL sALe WEdnEsdAy, sEptEMBEr 9

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Dameron First Class • Dameron First Impression • AAR Ten X 7008 S A • EXAR Upshot 0562B • Connealy Heat 0234

shane M. Avila

george M. Avila

209-261-8478 shane@gmaangus.com

209-777-378 george@gmaangus.com

GMA AnGus RAnch, LLc 7750 S. Combs Road • Merced, CA 95341 • 209-777-3786 • www.gmaangus.com

AA-BAr Angus Merced, California

EBony fArMs Merced, California

Manuel, Mitchell & Scott Avila James D. White & Family 209-723-6276 209-722-6277 abarangus@yahoo.com janell.white@gmail.com

H & H Angus

Merced, California

John P. Huie & Family 209-564-2240 babyhuie25@yahoo.com

3L fArMs, LLC CoLBurn CAttLE Co. Merced, California

Visalia, California

Linda D. Viani 209-617-9235 viani.linda@yahoo.com

Ron & Lisa Colburn: 559-269-3175 Matt Avila: 559-967-4599 www.colburncattle.com

For Your Free Reference Sale Booklet, Contact Anyone in the Office of the Sale Manager TOM BURKE, KURT SCHAFF, JEREMY HAAG, AMERICAN ANGUS HALL OF FAME, at the WORLD ANGUS HEADQUARTERS, Box 660, Smithville, MO 64089-0660, Phone: 816-532-0811, Fax 816-532-0851, E-mail angushall@earthlink.net

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July • August 2015 California Cattleman 31

Extra Fancy, Fall-Calving Cows Sell Monday, July 20 • 12 noon

Famoso Opportunity bred cow special

500 FAll-cAlvING ANGUS cOWS: 3 & 4 yEArS OlD

These Fancy Females Sell Bred to High-Powered Angus Bulls from Leachman Cattle of Colorado.

They are Bangs Vaccinated and have also had Lepto-Vibro 5, 8-Way and Ivomec®.

Do Not Miss This Opportunity ... Call for More Information Join us for these feeder specials: Mondays - July 20 and July 27 ExpEcTING lArGE rUNS OF TOp qUAlITy cAlvES AND yEArlINGS

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Your Southwest Livestock Market Leader

Western stockman’s market 31911 Highway 46, m farland, california c

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DWIGHT MEBANE ........................................................ 661 979-9892 JUSTIN MEBANE ...........................................................661 979-9894 Frank Machado .......................................................805 839-8166 Bennet mebane.........................................................661 201-8169 Office ..................................................................................661 399-2981 WEBSITE .....................www.westernstockmansmarket.com

32 California Cattleman July • August 2015

TODD RENFREW • BROKER/OWNER

707 Merchant St., Suite 100, Vacaville, CA 95688 Office: (707) 455-4444 • Fax: (707) 455-0455 info@caoutdoorproperties.com

KEENE RANCH

The 8,940±-acre Keene Ranch is located just 8 miles from Tehachapi, 2 hours from downtown Los Angeles, between Golden Hills and Bear Valley, making this a prime development opportunity. A cattle ranch with oak covered grasslands, pine trees, and year round springs. Equestrian ranch with amazing trails and beautiful valleys: a ranch teaming with wildlife, deer, elk, bear, quail, and more. *Video available on You Tube. Kern County, California $11,635,000 – Price Reduced!

BRISCOE CREEK RANCH

SHILLING YOSEMITE RANCH

8,184 +/- deeded-acre property is located in Glenn County about 5 miles from Stonyford, CA. The ranch has 7 year round ponds and in the northern end of the property you have over one half mile of Briscoe Creek, a year round creek with trout. The headquarters has a great barn, shop, guest cottage and caretaker home.

Runs 200 pair for the season or 100 pair year round. *Video available on You Tube. Glenn County, California / $6,250,000

3,680 +/- acres, 19 parcels, 16 acres Mountain Preserve and 3 parcels are zoned exclusive agriculture and in the Williamson act. 25 miles from Yosemite. Fenced for livestock, with springs and ponds supplying year round water. Raise livestock, horse back riding, hiking, hunting, vineyards and of course gold mining. Located in the D-6 zone, hunt for trophy game as well as turkey, quail and doves and the golfer will be happy with several golfing choices! *Video available on You Tube. Mariposa County, California $4,999,000

CROOK RANCH

BV4 RANCH

SUNSHINE RANCH

This is your classic California winter grass ranch. 5,101 deeded acres that usually run 300 pair or 1,000 yearlings from Nov. 15 to May 15. It is 21 miles from Red Bluff, CA and is currently in the Williamson act. The ranch sits at 1,000 ft. elevation and rises to a high of 1,520 ft. Miles of trails and beautiful scenery make the camping, hunting, fishing, swimming and horseback riding possible all without ever leaving your own ranch! *Video available on You Tube.

Tehama County, California $ 3,999,500

Organic alfalfa ranch located just outside of Dorris, CA. Certified Organic. 553 acres with 525 acres under irrigation. Four Reinke 3 wheel drive automated Pivots with phone link remote, 700 ton capacity pole barn, well w/new 300 HP Turbine, new pump, new 350 Hp VFD & all new electrical & power systems. Alfalfa, clover & rye planted in 2013 and 2014. Soil deep ripped & amended for high yield performance. Siskiyou County, California $3,900,000 – Price Reduced!

288 acres with 185 acres of irrigated cropland growing high altitude alfalfa hay. There are 3 wells, all tied together with underground mainline. Main home & 2 additional homes, hay barns, livestock barn, shop, equipment storage and several outbuildings. You can run about 50 pair for the summer in the east field, more or less depending on rainfall. Video available on YouTube. Shasta County, California $3,495,000

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Longterm Impacts of

on your herd’s reproductive health from Boehringer Ingelheim, Vetmedica, Inc. After a drought everyone wants to forget, processing time can help cow-calf producers evaluate the mature weights and body condition scores of cows to help avert long-term damage to a good breeding program, says a leading beef cattle specialist at Kansas State University.

Bob Weaber, Ph.D., Kansas State Extension cow-calf specialist, says this can help ranchers determine which changes may be needed in their supplement feed program and whether non-performing females need to be culled before additional money is spent.

Doug Ensley, DVM, Professional Services Veterinarian (PSV) with Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., added that early detection of problems before it’s time for cows to begin cycling can help keep calving rates from dropping drastically after the summer’s dry, hot weather has taken its toll on cows.

“The biggest threat to long-term reproduction from cows is the lack of good forage and energy during the drought that can impact their ability to cycle,” Ensley says. “Poor forages may be low in trace minerals which can lead to a reduced ability to cycle reducing the ability to breed back and have a live healthy calf.”

“You could start seeing herds with 50 to 60 percent pregnancy rates. You need to build up their internal fat and overall body condition to help get them cycling on a regular basis,” he said.

Focus on nutrition

Zinc, copper, selenium, Vitamin A and other micronutrients are likely deficient in cattle coming out of a severe drought. “Those need to be part of a good forage, supplement and mineral program,” Ensley says. “We need to be good grass farmers and do a good job of testing forage and what we’re using as a supplement.”

“Feed is 65 percent of the cash cost in maintaining a cow. You can hold costs down by testing what you feed. We receive a lot of calls from ranchers who are seeing high nitrates (potential carcinogens) in their hay. So test to make sure you’re not feeding nitrates, especially in drought areas,” said Ensley.

Most regional Extension outlets provide forage-testing services. Private forage consultants can also provide the service. “Also, look at your mineral program,” Ensley advises. “the whole micro-mineral, not just salt.”

Rangeland specialists also recommend that producers give pastures plenty of time to replenish the surface forage, as well as the root system so plants can take advantage of soil nutrients. A good fertilizer program may be needed to restore nutrients lost during a drought. And a good herbicide program may be needed to control weeds that will rob precious grasses of rainfall and snow when it finally comes.

Don’t forget about bull nutrition. “Drought is going to affect their production of semen,” Ensley says. “Like with cows, keep their body condition score (BCS) in the 5-to-6 range. It’s like a broken record. Don’t let them get too fat. Again, semen quality can go down. Don’t wait until a week before breeding to check them.” ...CONTINUED ON PAGE 36 34 California Cattleman July • August 2015

D R 4925 in Focus B021

DOB: 2-22-2014 Sire: Connealy In Focus 4925 • Dam’s Sire: B/R New Day 454

O’Connell Capitalist 4211

DOB: 2-27-2014 Sire: Connealy Capitalist 028 • Dam’s Sire: Werner War Party 2417

BW +1.4

BW +.6

WW +68

WW +59

YW +112 MILK +30

YW +104 MILK +27

MARB +.57

MARB +.73

RE +.69

RE +1.25

$W +62.79

$W +59.57

$B +106.97

$B +111.92

D R Ten X B028

DOB: 3-9-2014 Sire: A A R Ten X 7008 S A • Dam’s Sire: G A R New Design 5050

O’Connell ten x 4209

DOB: 2-19-2014 Sire: A A R Ten X 7008 S A • Dam’s Sire: B/R 65R Genesis

BW -2.1

BW +.8

WW +55

WW +62

YW +105 MILK +24

YW +114 MILK +26

MARB +1.31

MARB +1.29

RE +.85

RE +.57

$W +60.66

$W +61.70

$B +135.93

$B +127.75

reference SIRES Connealy Black Granite Baldridge Waylon W34 A A R Ten X 7008 SA

Connealy Confidence 0100 Rito 12E7 of 5F56 Sitz Top Game 561X

PA Fortitude 2500 Connealy In Focus 4925 Connealy Capitalist 028

Connealy Consensus 7229 Rito 9Q13 of Rita 5F56 Sydgen Trust 6228

VDAR Really Windy 4097 DFA Hero 6017 VDAR Black Cedar 8380 All bulls

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Culling decisions

Weaber says spending a little extra time to identify problem cows will improve a cow-calf program. “If you find that you need to further reduce your cow inventory due to drought, do it in a strategic way,” he says. “Evaluate them for pregnancy status, udder quality and adequacy of teeth and feet structure.

“Strategic culling plans should be developed to first cull cows that are least productive to conserve as many ‘good’ cows expected to be entering their prime producing years as possible. Open cows should be marketed in a timely fashion to reduce nutrient demand if you are in a drought condition.

“Cull cows with poor udder quality or dry quarters.

Also cull cows with no teeth or worn teeth. These should be followed by old cows that are at or near the end of their productive life. Next, consider selling open and bred replacement heifers. Culling these females, although they represent the newest genetics in your herd, will reduce overall herd nutrient demands above just maintenance requirements, as they are still growing.

“However, if the open cows are thin and you have grazing pasture or feedstuffs available, consider feeding supplement to the cows to regain some condition before marketing. This will generally increase sale weight of cows and the price received for them.”

Weaber says conserving cows that are expected to be most productive will set up future marketing opportunities of future calf crops on markets that are expected to be short on supply and strong on demand resulting in high calf prices.

But after drought, those females may need a revised nutritional and animal health program to achieve their fullest ability to produce a good calf. Ensley says obtaining a female BCS of 5 to 6 is essential in overcoming the impact of drought.

“One of the easiest tools for most producers is to get females into the 5-to-6 range to go into breeding,” he says.

“The ability to cycle will be less for those cows that are below 5 BCS. They need to be in a positive energy balance going into the breeding season.”

Weaber notes that cow weights alone are not particularly good indicators of energy reserves. BCS is a subjective method that helps estimate differences in body weight and fat composition. Cow weights should be corrected for both age and BCS. “The Beef Improvement Federation provides guidelines

36 California Cattleman July • August 2015

on adjustments of these records to a constant BCS of 5,” he says. “As a general rule, each full score is equivalent to approximately 80 pounds of live weight. For example a 1,200-lb. cow in BCS 4 would adjust to a 1,280-pound cow at BCS 5.

“Mature weights should be used in computing nutrient or forage requirements for the coming months to assure you’ll have adequate feed on hand.”

Replacements?

A good nutritional program will help expedite the breeding cycle of females bought as replacements for cows liquidated during a drought. Stan Bevers, Texas AgriLife Extension economist in Vernon, Texas, says producers looking for replacements often select young females, two to three years old, for longevity. But that may not be the correct decision if you want a calf next year.

“We know that those females don’t have the highest probability for reproduction in the near term,” he says.

“A middle-aged female probably has a higher calving probability than either a younger female or an aged female.”

When replacement heifers are worked into a herd, Ensley says they should be fenced off from older cows.

“Keep them isolated, get their health status to where it needs to be,” he says. “You want to get them on the same health program your cows are on, but try to keep them separated from mature cows. If not, you know who is going to beat out whom at the feed bunk. Heifers won’t get nutrition they need.”

Develop a drought plan

Prevention of long-term effects on a cow-calf operation should include early planning, says Denise Schwab, Iowa State University Extension beef cattle specialist.

“Develop a plan before the drought conditions get any worse,” Schwab says, adding that the plan should provide for emergency feed in the short-term, as well as winter feed in the longer term. “This requires an inventory of feed currently available and an inventory of the cowherd.

“You can often purchase hay less expensively during the growing season than in the winter. You also have the option now to incorporate silage into your winter feed supply.”

Unfortunately, recent drought years have provided unwanted on-the-job training to many. But lessons have been learned. Weaber encourages producers to seek additional information from their consulting veterinarian or nutritionist and from Extension to learn more about how to limit the impacts of drought on a herd.

TEHAMA ANGUS Ranch A program and the people committed to customer success

• RANCH-RAISED BULLS: Our bulls are developed on the ranch with a high roughage ration resulting in ADG’s of 3.5 lbs. per day. They are run in large 60 acre pens to exercise daily and ensure longevity. They are evaluated in large sire and contemporary groups to collect meaningful data. Bulls are sorted out at weaning as well as during the 120 day test for growth performance, feet and leg quality, and docility.

• DATA: We gather and publish all “real world” data for our customers to sort through. This includes calving ease, birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weights, as well as genomically enhanced epd's using Zoetis 50K on each and every bull. Their sisters and dams are measured for size, udder scores, feet, and maternal ability to raise a worthy calf each and every year. All cows that do not fit this criteria leave the breeding herd.

• MATERNAL BACKING: The most recent Pathfinder® report published by the American Angus Association shows 31 active Pathfinder® dams currently working in the Tehama Angus program - the largest Pathfinder® herd in California. Tehama Angus continues to select on production, not on the current trend of the year.

• HISTORY: Tehama Angus has over 70 years of breeding behind almost every bull in the sale! Continually improving our cowherd has created a foundation to breed consistency.

Please Join us for our 41st Annual “Generations of Performance” Bull Sale Featuring 100 Fall Yearlings Highlights 40 Spring Long-Yearlings

Also selling 30 commercial heifers and the pick of a spring bred heifer

September 11, 2015 Gerber, California

Call or write today for a sale catalog Kevin and Linda Borror (530) 385-1570

Driven by Performance Since 1943

Bryce and Erin Borror (530) 526-9404 www.TehamaAngus.com tehamaranch@gmail.com July • August 2015 California Cattleman 37

A GENETIC REVOLUTION

producers take advantage as performance data evolves

By Jim Oltjen, Ph.D., beef extension specialist, University of California, Davis; and Stevie Ipsen, managing editor, California Cattleman magazine The process of bull selection in the beef cattle industry has drastically changed in the last few decades. Prior to the 1970s, ranchers – whether they raised commercial cattle or purebred cattle – had a few key influencers when it came to making bull-buying decisions. Visual appraisal was the most common. While visual appraisal – phenotype – of an animal was and remains very important in bull selection, it is not a fine science and in the late 60s, it was evident among beef producers that something more was needed in order to accurately evaluate a bull’s potential value to a beef herd.

Many of the more progressive seedstock suppliers took the initiative of performance testing their bulls and keeping good records on their cattle, including each animal’s birth weight, weaning weight and yearling weight, which along with visual inspection, became critical selection tools for commercial cattlemen. They could guess which bulls would make good heifer bulls and which would produce heavier calves at marketing. Those records proved to be invaluable as the science of genetic evaluation would explode in coming decades.

Borror, because of the strides made in EPD development, the quality of today’s commercial cattle is much more superior in terms of consistency in growth and carcass traits.

“The most significant thing EPDs did was allow us to select bulls across herds,” Borror said. “We can compare Bull A with Bull B even if they are across the country from one another.

Before, you could only compare animals within the same herd.”

Borror said looking back to the 60s and 70s, the majority of commercial cattlemen didn’t pay attention to records at all. As a seedstock producer who kept tedious records, Borror said he was pleased with the reaction of commercial cattlemen to the idea of EPDS because all the records he’d diligently kept could be put to good use.

In addition to seeing improvement in the consistency of cattle quality, Borror said EPDs helped the Angus breed gain popularity. The data that was available with EPDs influenced feedlot managers toward a preference for Angus, they saw they fed better and carcass quality was higher. It was no longer just about which cacass was bigger.

John Crouch, Taos, N.M., retired from his post of chief executive officer Bill Borror, of California-based of the American Angus Association Tehama Angus Ranch, is touted by in 2008, a capacity he had served in many to be before his time when it since 2001. Prior to his tenure as CEO, came to tracking herd data and utilizing he was in charge of performance artificial insemination. According to programs at AAA since 1981 and had

The Arrival of EPDs

38 California Cattleman July • August 2015

spent 1974 through 1981 as a breed representative covering the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida.

During his tenure with the Angus breed, Crouch witnessed many of the changes that took place in the evolution of genetic selection in the beef industry.

“Simply put, EPDs are nothing more than a numerical way of expressing how much of a trait is passed on from one generation to the next. Generally, EPDs are expressed in pounds, making it more simple for producers to understand,” Crouch explained. “That didn’t mean it was simple for them to understand initially.”

According to Crouch, Charles Henderson, Ph.D., at Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., created an EPD model for use in the dairy industry in the 1950s. In the early 1970s, Richard Willham, Ph.D., from Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, built on Henderson’s work, adapting it to the beef industry. Initially weaning weight and yearling weight were the traits Willham and and his colleagues focused on.

Willham, who is considered by many to be the father of modern genetic cattle evaluation, credits a great deal of support to AAA and the Beef Improvement Federation for their eagerneeto propel the beef industry forward. In 1971, the American Simmental Association released the first sire summary, which included just 13 bulls. With the help of Willham’s

model AAA released its first sire evaluation in followed 1972, which included far more bulls.

After starting a research project around the country, in which young sires were mated against proven sires, AAA released its first set of EPDs in 1974. In 1980, AAA published the first field data sire evaluation report along with the structured sire evaluation. In 1981, the two reports were combined.

Other breed associations soon started to follow suit, consulting folks like Willham and others to begin creating their own systems for withinbreed cattle comparisons.

Gino Pedretti, who has raised Hereford cattle for decades credits the Simmental and Angus breeds with getting a jumpstart on creating EPDs but says most breeds have made up ground.

“Early on, it took a very progressive mind to see the potential of EPDs. Many were resistant to the idea that genetic science could tell us more than what our trained eyes could.”

Pedretti said. “But eventually the more popular breeds found ways to tailor EPDs to the needs of their producers to complement their cattle and their traits they possess.”

Implementing New Tools

In 1982, Angus introduced its first performance registration certificate. For $2, Crouch said a producer could get a performance pedigree for every registered animal, and every time someone registered an animal, their registration came back with data on it.

“People saw those numbers and thought ‘what the heck are these?’,” Crouch laughed.

That is when Crouch said he started traveling 200 nights a year all over the country to explain what the numbers meant and how producers could apply them.

Understandably, all the numbers and letters can take some time to get familiar with, which is why Crouch said teaching about EPDs from the onset was challenging.

“Prior to EPDs a producer would buy a bull because he had a better rump, longer back or a better looking head.

But those traits told absolutely zero about what that bull would transmit to his calves,” Crouch said.

The expected advantage (or disadvantage) of a trait estimated by

an EPD for a bull’s calves over those sired by another bull is a powerful bit of information to have when making bull purchases. Of course, the physical ability to breed and survive, often related to conformation, is also important and should be taken into account. The advantage of EPDs is that they work over herds, regions, and as of more recent, they even work across breeds in some cases.

Unfortunately, Crouch says some breeders fail to understand that EPDs can be misused, particularly if only one or a small few are used as the basis for decisions. Their misuse is no different than that for any single trait selection.

“Prior to EPDs a producer would buy a bull because he had a better rump, longer back or a better looking head. But those traits told absolutely zero about what that bull would transmit to his calves.”

— JOHN CROUCH Originally, an EPD was defined as one-half the genetic breeding value of an individual, since the genetic makeup of offspring is the average of their sire and dam. So one-half is from each parent. In most cases, if the environment was constant, the calves, on average, would perform at exactly the average of their parents (ignoring heterosis or hybrid vigor).

But, as we know, the environment plays a part in how an animal performs, and with a varying degree. This has been defined as heritability, with higher values of heritability for those traits for which the environment plays a lesser role. So, in a somewhat complex calculation, EPDs are estimated based on the observed trait in the bull and its relatives weighted by heritability. For example, fertility is far more heritable than a trait like milk production, which is much more likely to be influenced by environmental conditions.

So, generally speaking, EPDs are an estimate of how a particular bull’s calf will perform in certain traits compared to another bull’s, in that particular breed and when bred to similar females, before the mating ever occurs. The actual EPD is calculated using information submitted to the breed associations and provides a basic representation of the pedigree for that particular bull for a particular trait of interest.

In reading EPDs, it is important to note EPDs do not represent an actual value. For example, an EPD doesn’t look like 75 for birth weight (BW) or 850 pounds for weaning weight (WW).

They are generally plus or minus something. They are deviations, meaning they only have value when comparing them against another animal, in most cases an animal of the same breed.

As another example, an EPD value of +10 for weaning weight in one breed may reflect an entirely different level of genetic merit than a +10 weaning weight EPD in a different breed. EPDs are reported by each breed association as a plus (+) or minus (-) value in units consistent with the traits measured.

Traits such as birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW) and yearling weight (YW) are expressed in pounds, but EPDs for scrotal circumferences are in centimeters, EPDs for hip height are in inches and marbling is recorded in degrees.

For example, a bull with an EPD weaning weight of +25.0 would produce progeny that should average 25.0 pounds more at 205 days of age than the progeny of a bull with an EPD for a weaning weight of 0.0.

Do EPDs work?

University trials over the years have conclusively shown that EPDs do work. However, what is potentially problematic is that the plethora of currently available EPDs make sire selection difficult and quite sophisticated.

By 1989, nearly 20 breed associations were conducting genetic evaluations and collecting data to publish for their producers and cattle buyers.

Each breed has made great strides in tailoring their EPDs to what their producers need. For commercial producers, there are two basic priorities ...CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 39

...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 39

But another number is important here, the “accuracy” of the EPD estimate.

If a bull has a low accuracy (which when it comes to bull selection. occurs when there it little information Generally speaking, they need either a available to calculate the EPD), then calving-ease bull for their heifers or a the usefulness of the EPD is low. performance bull for their cows. These basic needs have spread the spectrum of However, even that EPD takes account EPDs that can be utilized by producers. of that bull’s own birth weight, so it Initially, EPDs helped producers choose still provides more information about calving ease than the bull’s own birth the bull that would help them get the weight alone. size of calves they were seeking but EPDs have been developed for today there are a variety of EPDs that several of the most important traits for help producers raise the kind of calves beef cattle, and they may be grouped the consumer market is looking for as into growth, calving ease, maternal well. performance and carcass. Growth EPDs How does one determine which for weaning and yearling weight were EPDs are most important for their some of the first ones and relied on cowherd? It depends on both the many within herd measures of weights current status of the herd and the that were routinely being recorded for perceived needs towards a goal. Once within herd ratios. The relatively large these have been stated and quantified, then bull(s) can be chosen to meet those number of individuals with weight data were then used to estimate EPDs when needs. Alternatively, indexes for typical herds have been developed which weight relationships between bulls used in multiple herds were taken into account. the different traits appropriately for Similarly, birth weights served as most production goals. These indexes an indicator of calving ease, and the can be grouped into those more useful for those selling calves, or for those also birthweight data provided EPDs as well. Maternal performance, mostly concerned with post-weaning growth an indicator of milk production, also and carcass value. provided an estimate of the genetic Indisputably, more performance contribution to weaning weight. Then information on beef seedstock is available today than at anytime in history. later, carcass EPDs for marbling and backfat were developed, originally based To make efficient use of this resource, producers must know what information on carcasses of progeny, but more recently on ultrasound measures of bulls is available and how to interpret it. themselves, as well.

Rather than go it alone, Pedretti Crouch said in addition to EPDs recommends producers who are unsure of how to use EPDs in their herd reach becoming an influential part of cattlebuying decisions, they have also helped out to more experienced cattlemen for lead the beef industry to a new level. help.

A key reason the U.S. has seen an “Purebred cattlemen understand improvement on cattle across the board these numbers and how they are to be is because the artificial insemination applied better than almost anyone,” (AI) studs picked up on EPD use Pedretti says. “In addition, breed immediately and started the trend of associations have experts whose job canvasing for the outliers and buying is specifically to help you put these those bulls. numbers to good use. Breed field “For $6 to $8, you could buy semen representatives are also invaluable and on the best bull in America cheaper than always on the leading edge.” you could buy him,” Crouch said. “Studs EPDs for birth weight and calving bought proven bulls and producers ease are much better estimates of how could use them for little of nothing and calves sired from that bull will cause dystocia than the bull’s own birth weight. the returns paid many times over as they

40 California Cattleman July • August 2015

saw a wide degree of improvement in the performance of their herd.”

“The multitude of ways EPDs have moved us ahead has been mindblowing,” Crouch continued. “I don’t think any of us had any idea just how much this industry could change in a couple of decades, but it sure has been exciting.”

More Change Ahead

Over the years, breed associations have been responsible for acquiring data, analyzing it and providing EPD estimates. Breed averages provide a reference value to compare a bull with the rest of his breed. However, EPDs change continuously as new bulls enter the database and more cattle hit the ground.

Though invaluable on a breed-bybreed basis, a criticism of both EPDs and the current trend in beef cattle selection is that crossbreeding, a proven benefit for beef cattle selection, is not increasing (note the high proportion of straightbred, or nearly straightbred Angus), nor are the tools of EPDs appropriate for evaluation of bulls of different breeds (which might be used for crossbreeding). However, more recently both the academic underpinnings and the first attempts by breed associations to do true multi-breed analysis have been forthcoming.

Previously one could use breed averages and a base (often supplied by USDA Agriculture Research Service) to try to categorize/rank the bulls, but now tools that accurately allow these comparisons have been introduced in a few breeds (Gelbvieh, Balancer®, Simmental, SimAngus and Red Angus can be directly compared to one another). With leadership in the industry this trend may be expanded, as it has been in other countries.

The information age and the creation of the Internet has also moved things along at near lightspeed.

What once would have been thought impossible ...CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

a SaMPle oF the QUalIty oF PerForManCe-teSted, lonG-yearlInG anGUS BUllS SellInG SePteMBer 12 ...

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July • August 2015 California Cattleman 41

...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 40 is now hardly even time-consuming.

Information is now generated so fast that EPDs, in some cases, change and are reported to producers weekly.

New EPDs are also popping up left and right as criteria from both producers and consumers evolve. No longer are EPDs just about seeing the smallest calves born or will grow the biggest and fastest. Today we see EPDs based on economically-relevant traits like probability of calving ease and heifer pregnancy rates. Producers now have available to them more commodity-based dollar value indexes to help measure how likely future progeny are to perform well on feed and in branded beef programs like Certified Hereford Beef®.

“Buyers are becoming increasingly interested with dollar indexes and how their calves will perform long after they have left the ranch. I think down the line genomic-enhanced EPDs will bring us traits that we never fathomed we’d be selecting for,” Pedretti says.

Looking ahead to what science could mean for the beef business, Borror says genomic testing is something that all breeders are starting to do in order to attract buyers to their programs.

“Initially, I wasn’t sure how reliable the field of genomics was because the accuracy seemed to be hit and miss, but as the technology has been fine-tuned, we are seeing much more accurate data come from the genomic testing that we did initially, “ Borror said. “As that technology becomes more available and more widelyutilized, we will see generations of cattle that will change a lot faster.”

As for Crouch, he says he believes we are still in the infancy of utilizing gene markers and gene mapping to determining true breeding value in beef cattle.

“I think that technology offers tremendous promise in scientific beef cattle improvement. I think it’s possible that we have just seen the tip of the iceberg.” Crouch said.

Though Borror said he too is certain we will look back in 20 years and be even more amazed at what technology has continued to do for commercial and purebred cowherds,

he warns that producers can’t ignore the basics that were relied upon before EPDs were around.

Phenotype, Borror stresses, is still vital to bull selection today and can’t be overlooked. If producers don’t consider how structure will impact their herd down the road, they damage their herd in ways that are hard to reverse.

“We’ve seen herd managers who have focused too much on genetic evaluations and end up with bad feet and crooked legs throughout their herd,” Borror said. “When you breed cattle like that, it doesn’t matter how big their ribeye is or how good of a mama they are. If they can’t travel and get the job done, their numbers don’t mean anything.”

42 California Cattleman July • August 2015

While understanding and correctly implementing EPDs is crucial to a any successful beef operation in today’s industry, Borror, Crouch and Pedretti all agree that embracing age-old selection criteria mixed with an open mind for potential selection tools that may still lie ahead is the best equation for success.

EDITOR’S NOTE: In this special EPD section of this bull buyer’s guide readers can find a variety of EPD information from respective breed associations. This information includes the latest EPD news from those breed associations and may help breeders, both commercial and seedstock, understand how to make the most of EPD tools in their herd.

The very best line one Her efor d genetics

CL 1 DOMINO 105Y

GB L1 Domino 177R {CHB} {Dlf, HYF, IEF} AHA#: 43193863

Calved: 4/1/11

Tattoo: BE177

Sire: GB L1 Domino 8143M

MGS: GB L1 Domino 175E

CE

BW

WW

YW

MM

M&G

MCE

MCW

SC

FAT

REA

IMF

BMI$

CEZS

MIIS

CHB$

6.0

0.8

68

99

25

59

0.8

99

1.2

0.007

0.54

0.16

24

19

19

36

Owned with Hoffman Ranch & Cooper Herefords

Semen: $35/straw; $75/certificate

The perfect addition to any Angus-based herd for the most superior cross –The Baldy.

• Outstanding breeding bull • Calving ease deluxe with tremendous growth, milk and carcass numbers • Many calves are short marked and red-necked other bull CL 1 Domino 105Y GB L1 Domino 207T GB L1 Domino 268T

• Balance and eye appeal • First daughters are now in production • Being used by many of the top herds across the country

battery CL 1 Domino 216Z 1ET GB L1 Domino 311 W GB L1 Domino 328W

Gino Pedretti ����������������������������������������������������209/756-1609 Mark St� Pierre �������������������������������������������������209/233-1406 Gino Pedretti Jr� �����������������������������������������������209/756-2088 Gino Pedretti III������������������������������������������������209/756-1612 Nick Brinlee ������������������������������������������������������209/233-1403 Justin Sandlin ��������������������������������������������������209/233-1404 E-mail���������������������������������������GBL1domino@sbcglobal�net

Registered Herefor ds Since 1946

1975 E ROOSEVELT RD • EL NIDO, CA 95317 July • August 2015 California Cattleman 43

Zoetis Introduces i50K Genomic Test

Next generation technology brings even greater value to the benefits of genomic testing to producers for use on more animals A new genomic test from Zoetis enables producers to more affordably and accurately predict genetic merit of registered Angus animals.

The new test, named i50K™, leverages historic adoption of HD 50K and the latest advances in cutting-edge genotyping and imputation (i) technology. The i50K test delivers effectively the same improvements in the accuracy of GE-EPDs as that inform a variety of selection, mating and marketing decisions as HD 50K. i50K is an evolution of HD 50K, the trusted pioneer genomic testing platform from Zoetis. HD 50K was introduced in 2010 and is now widely recognized as the gold standard. Since its introduction more than 170,000 beef seedstock animals have been tested with HD 50K, resulting in a vast reference population of genotyped animals. This widespread adoption of HD 50K and the resulting data bank of tested animals have fueled i50K development.

“The new i50K genomic test is a result of HD 50K adoption, primarily by Angus breeders, weekly genetic evaluations delivered by Angus Genetics Inc., advances in genotyping and a process called imputation,” said Kent Andersen, Associate Director Global Technical Services, Animal Genetics, Zoetis. “As a result, Zoetis and our breed association partners are able to offer i50K at an even more cost-effective price, and we believe that will facilitate even greater adoption and advances in productivity for the beef industry.”

That reduction in cost is attributable largely to a process called imputation used extensively in the dairy industry and which Zoetis relies on for i50K. The imputation process uses pattern recognition to effectively determine (impute) higher density genotypes from a subset of lower density, strategically selected genetic markers. A practical example of the pattern recognition concept is people’s ability to easily read sentences even when some letters or words are missing from the sentence. i50K has been demonstrated to be highly accurate and dependable in generating genomically enhanced EPDs (GE-EPDs), indexes, accuracy values and associated progeny equivalents that are effectively the same as those from HD 50K. Breeders and their bull buyers can use i50K, associated GE-EPDs and parentage verification, as well as genomic percentile ranks for difficult, time-consuming and expensive to measure traits (i.e., dry matter intake, tenderness, etc.), to make more informed decisions about young animals. Early in life, more information about an animal’s genetic potential can be known than if that animal had 10 – 20 progeny, daughter and carcass records contributing to its traditional EPDs.1 Knowing more, sooner, about an animal’s genetic 44 California Cattleman July • August 2015

potential helps breeders make selection, mating and management decisions with greater efficiency. Early on, breeders can dependably know, for example, if animals should be selected to enter the breeding herd as replacement females, further developed and marketed as open or bred females, used as donor females in embryo transfer and in vitro fertilization programs, or culled for feeding purposes. i50K also guides decisions on whether bull calves should be performance tested and eventually sold as bulls for a variety of more clearly determined purposes, or castrated for feeding. i50K is currently available for registered Angus animals through the American Angus Association. The test includes parentage verification, and also enables sire assignments for commercial black Angus users of GeneMax® Focus™ and GeneMax® Advantage™, as the markers used in those tests are also included in the i50K genotyping platform.

Zoetis anticipates i50K will eventually be available from a broader range of breed associations that incorporate genomic results into their genetic evaluations for the delivery of GE-EPDs. Mike Amos, Marketing Director, Cow-Calf, Zoetis, says the imputation process that drives the accuracy and affordability of i50K is dependent on maintaining and adding to the population of HD 50K-genotyped animals.

“We anticipate many breeders will transition from HD 50K to i50K, and we have developed a strategy to ensure new HD 50K genotypes are introduced on an ongoing basis to maintain the resource population necessary for highly accurate imputation.” i50K is the latest addition to the Zoetis portfolio of cattle health and management tools that includes leading biologicals, parasiticides, anti-infectives and estrous synchronization, and products that promote animal performance, well-being and associated operational success for producers.

To order a test and learn more about i50K and how it can be used to help improve the accuracy, scope and profitability of breeding decisions, contact a Zoetis representative, visit www.i50K.com or contact your breed association representative.

REBUILD FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS. Angus Means Business: Demand for Quality is Up

The next couple of years will see unparalleled opportunities to expand your cow herd.

But considering the investment it will take to rebuild numbers, why make it a risky proposition?

Angus females are the industry’s best-known risk reducers, allowing you to rebuild with confidence — not guesswork.

They’re backed by the industry’s largest and most comprehensive genetic-evaluation program, providing you with unmatched capabilities to expand your herd with precision, reliability and peace of mind.

Plus, the Angus breed does a better job of helping you balance calving ease, growth and quality.

The wholesale beef demand index was developed by Kansas State University to accurately estimate demand by accounting for changes in price, sales volume, inflation and population. Each year, it’s expressed as an index or percentage value relative to the base index value of 100.

Since 1990, registered Angus cattle have shown a rapid genetic increase in weaning weight and yearling weight accompanied by a documented improvement in calving ease, while offering milk genetics to match a variety of environments.

And, Angus females have proven that consistent, reliable maternal genetics can be accompanied by improved carcass merit. That’s opened the door to value-based marketing opportunities for producers who’ve embraced the quality revolution.

Want proof?

3201 Frederick Ave. • St. Joseph, MO • 64506 www.ANGUS.org To subscribe to the Angus Journal ®, call 816.383.5200.

Consumer demand for Certified Angus Beef ® has grown by nearly 80% since 2004, and a growing worldwide middle class is driving demand for quality.

Watch The Angus Report on RFD-TV every Monday morning at 7:30 CST. © 2013-2014 American Angus Association®

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 45

Hereford EPDs Providing Predictability & Reliability from the American Hereford Association

W

HEREFORD

ith the implementation of Whole Herd Total Performance Records (TPR™) in 2000, the American Hereford Association (AHA) took a big step. Because of Hereford breeders’ commitment, the AHA now has a dependable, predictable database that allows the breed to research and develop profit ($) indexes and traits such as heifer calving rate and survivability.

An expected progeny difference (EPD) is a measure of the genetic merit of an animal using relevant performance and pedigree information in a process called best linear unbiased prediction. EPDs are expressed in the units of measure. For example, birth weight is expressed in lb. and ribeye area in square inches. EPDs come from performance data that producers submit on their cattle. From this data, researchers look at the differences between animals raised in the same environment (contemporary groups) and ascertain the portion of that difference that is due to genetics (heritability).

How the different traits relate to each other and interact together (correlations) is also accounted for in the analysis. They can then directly compare genetic differences among animals using the pedigree information. The result is a value that can be directly compared between animals and across environments — an EPD. “EPDs offer beef producers a tremendous opportunity to improve genetics within their herds,” says Scott Greiner, Virginia Tech Extension animal scientist. “With the vast number of EPDs that are available for use, selection goals must be carefully established to determine which EPDs are of primary importance.

“Additionally, EPDs should be combined with other selection criteria, including structural and reproductive soundness, to determine which sires are most suitable for the operation.”

AHA measures 14 traits and calculates four profit ($) indexes. The Hereford Sire Summary, which is distributed each spring, provides breeders with a tremendous amount of information on a large population of Hereford sires. A comprehensive sort of Hereford sires can also be done online at Hereford.org.

The current suite of Hereford EPDs and $ indexes includes: Calving Ease – Direct (CE) CE EPDs are based on calving ease scores and birth

46 California Cattleman July • August 2015

weights. More positive EPDs are favorable and indicate easier calving. The EPD for direct calving ease indicates the influence of the sire on calving ease in purebred females calving at 2 years of age.

Birth Weight (BW) Progeny of the sire above can be expected to weigh an average of 3.2 lbs. more at birth than progeny sired by a bull with an EPD of -1.0 lb. (2.2 minus - 1.0 = 3.2 lbs.). Birth weight is an indicator of calving ease. Larger BW EPDs usually, but not always, indicate more calving difficulty. The figure in parentheses found after each EPD is an accuracy value or reliability of the EPD. Weaning Weight (WW) WW EPD reflects pre-weaning growth. Calves sired by a bull with a +30 WW EPD should have a 20 lb. advantage in 205-day adjusted weaning weight compared to calves sired by a bull with an EPD of +10 lb. (30 minus 10 = 20 lb.).

Yearling Weight (YW) YW EPD reflects differences in the 365-day adjusted yearling weight for progeny. It is the best estimate of total growth.

Maternal Milk (MM) The milking ability of a sire’s daughters is expressed in pounds of calf weaned. It predicts the difference in average weaning weights of sires’ daughters’ progeny due to milking ability. Daughters of the sire with a +14 MM EPD should produce progeny with 205-day weights averaging 24 lb. more (as a result of greater milk production) than daughters of a bull with a MM EPD of -10 lb. (14 minus -10.0 = 24 lb.).

This difference in weaning weight is due to total milk production during the entire lactation.

Maternal Milk & Growth (M&G) Maternal Milk & Growth reflects what the sire is expected to transmit to his daughters for a combination of growth genetics through weaning and genetics for milking ability. It is an estimate of daughters’ progeny weaning weight. A bull with a 29 lb. M&G EPD should sire daughters with progeny weaning weights averaging 19 lb. heavier than progeny of a bull’s daughters with a M&G EPD of 10 lb. (29 minus 10 = 19 lb.). It is equal ...CONTINUED ON PAGE 48

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Sire: S A V Bismarck 5682 Dam’s Sire: S A V 8180 Traveler 004 BW +.2 • WW +53 • YW +93 • MILK +29 MARB +.40 • RE +.69 • $W +55.47 • $B +79.65

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Bulls for Cattlemen, by Cattlemen

REGISTERED HORNED HEREFORDS 79337 Soto Lane • Fort Rock, OR 97735 www.huffordsherefords.com Ken & Leslie Hufford: 541-576-2431 541-403-1044 Cell • ijhufford@yahoo.com Jesse: 541-576-3541 • 541-810-2460 Cell

Brad and Buckley cox

1881 Brophy Road • Eagle Point, OR 97524 541-826-3650 • 541-840-5797 Cell www.traynhamranch.com THD © info@traynhamranch.com

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 47

y • August 2015

...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 46

of sire A, compared to sire B.

to one-half the sire’s weaning weight EPD, plus all of his MM EPD. No accuracy is associated with this since it is simply a mathematical combination of two other EPDs. It is sometimes referred to as “total maternal” or “combined maternal.”

Scrotal Circumference (SC) Measured in centimeters and adjusted to 365 days of age, SC EPD is the best estimate of fertility. It is related to the bull’s own semen quantity and quality, and is also associated with age at puberty of sons and daughters. Larger SC EPDs suggest younger age at puberty. Yearling sons of a sire wth a .7 SC EPD should have yearling scrotal circumference measurements that average 0.7 centimeters (cm) larger than progeny by a bull with an EPD of 0.0 cm.

In the Hereford genetic analysis, a multiple-trait model was used for scrotal circumference. Weaning weight was used as a predictor variable to increase the prediction accuracy of SC EPDs. Therefore, an animal with a weaning weight EPD should also have a SC EPD.

Maternal Calving Ease (MCE) The MCE EPD indicates how easily a sire’s daughters will calve at 2 years of age when compared to the daughters of other sires.

Mature Cow Weight (MCW) The MCW EPD was designed to help breeders select sires that will either increase or decrease mature size of cows in the herd. The trait was developed after years of cow weight data collection and the EPD relates directly to the maintenance requirements of a cow herd. An example of how the MCW EPD allows breeders to compare sires: If sire A has a MCW EPD of 100 and sire B has an EPD of 85, then you would expect the females of sire A, if mated to similar cows, to be 15 lb. heavier at mature size.

HEREFORD

Udder suspension (UDDR) Scores range from 9 (very tight) to 1 (very pendulous) and represent assessments of udder support. Weak udder suspension results in pendulous udders that make it difficult for a calf to nurse. Weak suspension in the udder indicates a lack of support in the ligament that ties the udder to the cow’s body wall. Over time, weakness in this ligament will allow the udder to hang down too far from the body and may subject the udder to serious problems and increased potential for injury.

UDDR EPDs are reported on the scoring scale.

Differences in sire EPDs predict the difference expected in the sires’ daughters’ udder characteristics when managed in the same environment. For example, if sire A has a UDDR EPD of 0.4, and sire B has a UDDR EPD of -0.1, the difference in the values is 0.5, or one-half of a score. If daughters of sires A and B are raised and managed in the same environment, you would expect half a score better udder suspension in daughters of sire A, compared to sire B. Teat size (TEAT) Scores range from 9 (very small) to 1 (very large, balloon shaped) and are subjective assessments of the teat length and circumference. Oversized teats are difficult for newborn calves to nurse, and the calf may not receive adequate colostrum. This could lead to a higher incidence of scours or decreased immunity levels in the newborn calf.

TEAT EPDs are reported on the scoring scale.

Differences in sire EPDs predict the difference expected in the sires’ daughters’ udder characteristics when managed in the same environment. For example, if sire A has a teat size EPD of 0.4, and sire B has a teat size EPD of -0.1, the difference in the values is 0.5, or one-half of a score. If daughters of sires A and B are raised and managed in the same environment, you would expect half a score smaller teat size in daughters

48 California Cattleman July • August 2015

Rib Fat (FAT) The FAT EPD

reflects differences in adjusted 365-day, 12th-rib fat thickness based on carcass measurements of harvested cattle. Sires with low, or negative FAT EPDs are expected to produce leaner progeny than sires with higher EPDs. Ultrasound measures are also incorporated into this trait and have been shown to be highly correlated with the performance of slaughter progeny.

All data is expressed on a carcass scale.

Ribeye Area (REA) REA EPDs reflect differences in an adjusted 365-day ribeye area measurement based on carcass measurements of harvested cattle. Sires with relatively higher REA EPDs are expected to produce better-muscled and

higher percentage yielding slaughter progeny than will sires with lower REA EPDs. Ultrasound measurements are also incorporated into this trait and have been shown to be highly correlated with the performance of slaughter progeny. All data is expressed on a carcass scale.

Marbling (MARB) MARB EPDs reflect differences in an adjusted 365-day marbling score (intramuscular fat, [IMF]) based on carcass measurements of harvested cattle. Breeding cattle with higher MARB EPDs should produce slaughter progeny with a higher degree of IMF and therefore higher quality grades.

Ultrasound measurements are also incorporated into this trait and have been shown to be highly correlated with the performance of slaughter progeny. All data is expressed on a carcass scale.

Baldie Maternal Index (BMI$) BMI$ is a maternally focused index that has a production system based on 1,000-Hereford x Angus females with a progeny harvest endpoint directed toward Certified Hereford Beef (CHB$). This index is more critical of CE than the Brahman Influence Index (BII$) and also has significant weight on fertility. There is positive weight on WW and a slightly negative weight on YW, which promotes early growth and then a slow down on growth to keep mature size manageable.

The emphasis of IMF is greater than the emphasis of REA. This is true because of the price difference of the Choice-Select spread and the fact that there is very little incentive to produce cattle better than a Yield Grade 3. This index is geared to service any commercial program that has

Oak

British-cross cows.

Calving Ease Index (CEZ$) This is a general purpose index that focuses on identifying bulls that can be used on heifers and then ultimately the calves will be marketed through the CHB program. As you might expect, CE and MCE carry significant weight in this index along with fertility. There is very little weight put on growth traits and less emphasis on carcass. Remember, this is a general index that is specifically designed to be used in a heifer program.

Brahman Influence Index (BII$) BII$ is a maternally focused index that is based on a 1,000-head cow herd of Brahman x Hereford cows. The progeny for this index will be harvested in a commoditybased system since CHB does not accept Brahmaninfluenced cattle into the program. This index has less emphasis for CE than any of the other indexes.

There is emphasis on both REA and IMF since the cattle will be harvested through a commodity market. The largest emphasis is in fertility, which is measured solely by SC at the present time. Obviously, the target for this index is the producers in the Southern regions of the U.S. where the bulls are typically sold to commercial cattlemen that have Brahman-influenced cow herds.

Certified Hereford Beef Index (CHB$) This is a terminal sire index that is built on a production ...CONTINUED ON PAGE 50

Knoll

HEREFORDS

Introduces the Class of 2015

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OK 637S DOMINO 2053 • OK 0118X DOMINO 2161 OK 1098Y DOMINO 2184

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July • August 2015 California Cattleman 49

HEREFORD

...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 49

HEREFORD GENOMIC-ENHANCED EPDS

system where Hereford bulls sire calves for the CHB market.

There is some pressure put on CE and then positive weight on both WW and YW. Remember that all offspring in this index are harvested, so they need to be born alive and then grow fast at all stages of life.

Of course, we have much more emphasis on fat in this index, as we want the cattle to stay lean. There is also a significant weight on both REA and IMF with more emphasis again on IMF. This index would be used by producers who have a target of producing bulls for a terminal breeding program.

It could be used heavily in the Midwest where bulls are used in rotational breeding programs to produce cattle in a retained ownership program or are simply sold to backgrounders.

This is the only index that has no emphasis on fertility.

Remember that nothing is retained in the herd.

In August 2012, the American Hereford Association (AHA) was the first beef breed to develop and market its own genomic predictions. AHA’s approach was the first of its kind to work with the scientific community and the National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium (NBCEC) to build its own training and validation population.

This approach is important because AHA now has access to all of the genotypes, phenotypes and pedigrees, which will allow the Association and its members to continue to train and build the Hereford-specific panel.

“The Association’s role is to give our members tools to make improvement in beef production,” Jack Ward, AHA Executive Vice President, says. “Genomicenhanced EPDs are the next phase in breed improvement strategies that will allow our members to continue to improve the genetics they produce. GE-EPDs will allow Hereford producers to make even more accurate and more rapid genetic improvement.”

Producers can find animals with GE-EPDs by visiting Hereford.org. In the “EPD Search” section of the site, producers can search for animals with GEEPDs. Animals with genomic information collected will have a GE-EPD logo below their EPD profile on the details screen.

“Although the process to get to Hereford GE-EPDs took time, the process developed by AHA will greatly benefit the Association and members for years to come,” explains Dorian Garrick, Iowa State University Lush Chair in animal breeding and genetics and NBCEC executive director. “AHA is the first beef cattle breed association to develop and market its own genomic predictions, and with this process in place, the Hereford breed will be able to continually add to its training data and improve the accuracy of Hereford genomic predictions.”

Ward says it is important to remember that genetic testing is a tool that complements and enhances, but does not replace, conventional pedigree and performance recording.

For more information about AHA’s genomic testing and GE-EPDs, contact Ward at 816-842-3757 or jward@hereford.org.

The Kind We Produce...The Kind We Use! M 5162r paying back 1331 et Sire: H PAYBACK 807 ET • MGS: L1 DOMINO 96943 BW

WW

YW

MILK

MARB

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This up and coming herd sire is stout, attractive, thick and powerful! We anxiously look forward to his progeny next year!

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50 California Cattleman July • August 2015

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July • August 2015 California Cattleman 51

Understanding the New Base for Limousin EPDs

by Bob Weaber, Ph.D., Associate Professor/Cow-calf Extension Specialist, Kansas State University

T

LIMOUSIN

he decision to join the collaborative evaluation undertaken by International Genetic Solutions (IGS) will bring a number of advantages to commercial cow-calf producers and other participants in the beef value chain. The IGS system now includes over 15 million animals and 35,000 genotypes making it the largest and most powerful beef cattle genetic evaluation in the world.

The IGS system provides EPDs for the American and Canadian Simmental Associations, American and Canadian Gelbvieh Associations, American Maine Anjou Association, American Chianina Association, American Shorthorn Association, Canadian Angus Association and the Red Angus Association of America.

In early 2015, NALF and the Canadian Limousin Association released their first EPDs from this new collaboration. In addition to forming the largest multibreed, multi-association genetic evaluation in the world, several of the breeds have agreed to report their EPDs on a common base.

Use of a common base makes the EPDs from Simmental, Red Angus, Gelbvieh, Shorthorn and soon Limousin, directly comparable without the use of any adjustments. This makes mating decisions in a planned crossbreeding system much easier for commercial producers using genetic inputs from these breeds.

A number of other technical advancements come to the Limousin genetic evaluation through participation in the IGS system. The IGS system computes multibreed EPDs for a full range of EPD traits including EPDs for Calving Ease, Maternal Calving Ease, Birth Weight, Weaning Weight, Yearling Weight, Milk, Carcass Weight, Yield Grade, Marbling, Rib-eye Area and Fat Thickness. The system accounts for both direct and maternal heterosis effects as well as breed effects. After performance records are adjusted for these effects, breed composition is eliminated from the contemporary group definition. This realignment of contemporary groups

into larger groups contributes to higher accuracy EPDs for animals in these groups. The inclusion of a large amount of Angus and Red Angus genetics represented in many of the cooperating breed databases effectively ties all the data sets together.

Correlations between IGS test run and NALF published EPDs were high indicating a strong relationship between the two different genetic evaluation systems. Due to changes in contemporary group structure, differences in models used for calving ease and carcass traits and a large number of related animals providing genetic information from other sources, correlations of 1 were not expected.

Adoption of the common base used by a number of participants in IGS will require that Limousin breeders and end users of Limousin influenced genetics recalibrate their ‘eye’ to the new averages. To assist in the transformation, a number of tables have been assembled that illustrate the differences between the existing NALF EPDs and those coming from the new IGS collaboration.

Table 1 below includes the average EPDs for active Limousin sires, dams and calves as well as LimFlex sires and calves reported on the base used for NALF Fall 2014 EPD release as well as the IGS Fall 2014 base. As you study the values, you note that many of the changes in the averages are fairly modest.

Naturally, Limousin breeders want to understand where the breed ranks compared to other participants on the common base. The average EPDs of active sires from Limousin (Limousin and LimFlex), Simmental, Red Angus and Gelbvieh from the Fall 2014 IGS run are reported in Table 2. In general, the Limousin influenced sire groups are competitive with the other breeds. This is evidence that NALF members have been pursuing genetic improvement across a range of economically

...CONTINUED ON PAGE 54

TABLE 1. Comparison of average EPDs by animal class and genetic evaluation source for animals evaluated in the published NALF Fall 2014 EPD release and the test run results from the Fall 2014 International Genetic Solutions evaluation (reported on common base).

CLASS

EVALUATION

CE

BW

WW

YW

MILK

MCE

CW

REA

YG

MARB

Sires

NALF Fall 2014

8.3

1.8

46.6

82.6

22.6

4.1

21.2

0.53

-0.09

-0.03

IGS Fall 2014

5.9

1.8

63.5

88.6

21.6

4.4

24.7

0.40

-0.15

-0.09

LimFlex Sires

NALF Fall 2014

8.8

0.4

50.4

94.4

26.7

3.4

31.4

0.0

0.31

0.26

IGS Fall 2014

9.0

0.8

64.4

98.2

22.3

5.2

29.2

0.39

-.06

0.28

Dams

NALF Fall 2014

7.8

1.9

43.3

77.3

22.0

3.9

16.3

0.48

-.10

-.04

IGS Fall 2014

5.6

2.0

60.0

82.8

21.3

4.5

21.5

0.37

-0.17

-0.11

NALF Fall 2014

9.1

1.5

47.2

83.9

23.0

4.8

25.9

0.55

-0.07

0.0

IGS Fall 2014

6.7

1.4

64.6

90.9

21.8

4.9

25.5

0.40

-0.14

-0.07

NALF Fall 2014

9.0

0.2

50.2

94.3

27.3

3.7

30.3

0.03

0.28

0.24

IGS Fall 2014

9.1

0.6

64.6

98.5

23.2

5.4

29.2

0.39

-0.07

0.26

Calves LimFlex Calves

52 California Cattleman July • August 2015

...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 52

LIMOUSIN

important traits using the best science and technology available.

Finally, Table 3 reports the EPDs of several widely used Limousin, LimFlex and Angus bulls represented in the NALF data.

Evaluation of this data should lead to an increased understanding of the differences in EPD base between the Fall 2014 evaluation and the new common base from the IGS evaluation.

TABLE 2. Average EPDs for active sire groups by breed for IGS participating breeds: Limousin, Simmental, Red Angus and Gelbvieh.

Sire Breed

CE

BW

WW

YW

MILK

MCE

CW

REA

MARB

Limousin

5.9

1.8

63.5

88.6

21.6

4.4

24.7

0.04

-0.09

LimFlex

9.0

0.8

64.4

98.2

22.3

5.2

29.2

0.39

0.28

Simmental

9.0

2.0

63.5

92.1

23.3

10.3

27.2

0.77

0.13

Red Angus

5.0

-1.6

55.0

86.0

19.0

4.0

18.0

0.08

0.41

Gelvieh

8.0

1.2

66.0

91.0

29.0

6.0

25.0

0.44

-0.21

TABLE 3. EPDs of high use Limousin, LimFlex and Angus bulls from the published Fall 2014 NALF and IGS test run genetic evaluations.

NAME

EVALUATION

DHVO DEUCE 132R

NALF Fall 2014

CE

BW

WW

YW

MILK

MCE

CW

REA

YG

MARB

7

.4

70

116

21

-1

68

0.93

-0.01

-0.14

Limousin

IGS Fall 2014

6

2.7

91

129

23

3

49

0.69

-0.10

-0.26

RUNL STETSON 8505

NALF Fall 2014

12

-1.8

57

104

18

14

37

0.59

-0.05

0.07

Limousin

IGS Fall 2014

13

-2.2

81

123

21

8

39

0.59

-0.08

0.05

LH ROSEMASTER 338R

NALF Fall 2014

14

1.0

65

119

30

9

67

-0.11

0.69

0.40

LimFlex

IGS Fall 2014

9

1.1

88

133

27

3

50

0.51

0.10

0.46

MAGS WINSTON

NALF Fall 2014

14

-1.2

51

106

23

7

48

-0.44

0.62

0.80

LimFlex

IGS Fall 2014

12

-1.9

68

111

19

9

33

0.31

-0.01

0.55

MYTTY IN FOCUS

NALF Fall 2014

17

-5.5

55

110

34

2

40

-0.81

0.91

0.71

Angus

IGS Fall 2014

21

-4.1

67

112

24

12

30

0.13

0.11

1.00

CONNEALY CONFIDENCE 7229

NALF Fall 2014

9

-1.9

65

119

48

1

37

0.07

0.22

0.44

Angus

IGS Fall 2014

12

-0.8

75

123

38

5

42

0.87

-0.18

1.29

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Effective Evaluation Charolais breed develops comprehensive genomic-enhanced EPD information from the American International Charolais Association

T

CHAROLAIS

he Spring 2015 American-International Charolais Association (AICA) National Cattle Evaluation analysis represents the most accurate and comprehensive analysis for the U.S. Charolais cattle population.

This 2015 evaluation marks the first AICA genomic-enhanced genetic evaluation. Genomic results are incorporated into the EPDs as a correlated trait. Through coordinated research and development between Iowa State University, AGI and AICA, a genetic correlation was calculated between the values obtained from the genomic test results and the phenotypic data at the AICA. The stronger the genetic correlation the more the genomic value will impact the EPD and accuracy for a trait.

Through these research efforts genomic predictions for eight traits were identified to incorporate into the Charolais National Cattle Evaluation; Calving Ease Direct, Birth Weight, Weaning Weight, Yearling Weight, Maternal Milk, Ribeye Area, Marbling and Scrotal Circumference. In regards to selection based on genomic enhanced EPD, use has not changed as the EPD remains the industry standard. But with the addition of genomic enhanced EPD selection now has the added benefit of increased accuracy of selection for those younger or non-progeny proven animals that have a genomic enhanced EPD. This genetic evaluation includes Expected Progeny Differences for economically important traits. EPDs are computed for calving ease (CE), birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), yearling weight (YW), maternal milk (Milk), maternal calving ease (MCE), total maternal (MTNL), scrotal circumference (SC) and for carcass merit which is presented on a carcass basis for hot carcass weight (HCW), ribeye area (REA), fat thickness (FAT) and marbling (MARB).

The carcass records for this genetic evaluation represents the combined efforts of breeders that have conducted their own structured sire evaluation program or submitted carcass data on non-replacement

Charolais heifers and steers along with carcass data from the AICA Sire Evaluation Program (SEP). Also included in this analysis is ultrasound data on yearling heifers and bulls.

An EPD is currently the best estimate of an animal’s genetic worth given the information available for the analysis. Numerous studies using research herds and field records have validated the merit of an EPD as a selection tool to make directional change in beef herds for the traits evaluated. Research has further shown that even for young animals, an EPD can be as much as nine times more accurate than a within herd ratio or weight. However, there are many traits that impact the profitability of the beef enterprise, not all of those traits are reported here in this analysis.

Furthermore, proper management practices must be matched to your genetics to realize the best opportunity for profitability.

The production of this analysis involves the input of many people. First, members of AICA enrolled in the AICA performance programs supplied information in the form of phenotypic data for growth and carcass (including ultrasound), genomic data, along with pedigree and birth information. The accuracy and quality of this analysis can only be as good as this data collectively as the EPD are a direct reflection of the completeness and accuracy of phenotypic data reported.

Additionally, AICA thanks Keith Bertrand, Ph.D., Ignacy Misztal, Ph.D., and their professional staff at the University of Georgia model development for editing and calculation of genetic values, Dorian Garrick, Ph.D., and his professional staff at Iowa State University for development of genomic values.

Gene Seek, Inc., for genomic services and finally AGI for providing professional genetic evaluation services to the AICA. Without the cumulative efforts and dedication to the Charolais breed of all involved, this analysis would not be possible.

SPRING 2015 AICA AVERAGE EPDS CE

BW

WW

YW

M

MCE

TM

SC

HCW

REA

F

MB

ACTIVE SIRES

3.1

0.5

26.5

47.9

8.2

3.5

21.5

0.71

12.4

0.21

0.001

0.02

ACTIVE DAMS

2.4

0.7

23.6

42.1

8.1

3.4

19.9

19.9

10.0

0.15

0.000

0.02

NON-PARENT

2.8

0.6

24.2

43.6

7.8

3.6

20.0

0.63

14.9

0.27

0.003

0.04

56 California Cattleman July • August 2015

CALIFORNIA

Charolais BREEDERS

AVILA CATTLE CO. Mike, Char, Mikie, Bobby & Bailey Avila 19760 Amen Lane, Cottonwood, CA (530) 347-1478 • cavila1956@att.net

Bulls sell at the Red Bluff Bull Sale and off the ranch.

Select females for sale private treaty.

BIANCHI RANCHES Robert, Chris & Erica Bianchi

Charolais

6810 Canada Rd. Gilroy, CA (408) 842-5855 • (408) 842-4945 Fax (408) 804-3133 Robert’s cell Bianchiranches@aol.com

Bulls and females available at the ranch. Call early for best selection. Watch for bulls at leading fall sales as well.

POUNDS =PROFIT

BROKEN BOX RANCH Jerry and Sherry Maltby PO Box 760, Williams, CA

(530) 681-5046 Cell • (530) 473-2830 Office BBR@citlink.net • www.brokenboxranch.com Bulls available at the 2014 Black Gold Bull Sale, Sept. 11, in Colusa, or off the ranch.

FRESNO STATE AGRICULTURE FOUNDATION California State University, Fresno

2415 E. San Ramon, Fresno, CA Randy Perry (559) 278-4793 http://fresnostate.edu/jcast/beef Purebred herds/bull and heifer development Cody McDougald (559) 284-4111 Commerical Cattle: ILeah Ruble (559) 760-6274

W

e believe strongly in the value of crossbreeding and the benefits of heterosis or hybrid vigor. Crossbred calves are more vigorous at birth, they are more resistant to disease and they have increased performance levels or weight gain. In addition, crossbred beef cows have higher fertility levels, they are also more disease resistant and they are superior in terms of longevity, an often overlooked but very economically important trait in a beef herd. These combined factors result in the generation of more total pounds of beef being produced from a commercial cowherd when crossbreeding is utilized.

Bulls available each June during our private treaty bull sale, as well as leading fall sales.

JORGENSEN RANCH Fred & Toni Jorgensen 25884 Mollier, Ave, Orland, CA (530) 865-7102

Top quality bulls available at the ranch private treaty.

NICHOLASNicoli LIVESTOCK CO. Nicholas

We believe that Charolais bulls are the logical and best choice to use on the Angus-dominated commerical beef cowherd that currently exists in this country. They will infuse the benefits of heterosis and produce the “smokies” and “buckskins” that have been popular with cattle feeders and packers for decades

6522 Vernon Rd., Nicolaus, CA • (916) 455-2384

Look for these California Charolais breeders from throughout the state as your source for Charolais genetics available off .the ranch or at leading California and Nevada sales.

648 Cowee Ave., Gridley, CA 95948 (530) 846-3940 • (530) 682-0305 reis@digitpath.net • www.reislivestock.com

Breeding Charolais cattle for 54 years, 150 bulls available private treaty in 2014.

REIS LIVESTOCK Tony, Mary, Nathan & Nicole Reis

Cattle for sale private treaty at the ranch.

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 57

Brangus continues to be a leader in performance selection tools from the International Brangus Breeders Association

T

BRANGUS

he International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) was one of the first associations to implement a national cattle evaluation program and print a sire summary for the membership. IBBA was also the first breed to implement ultrasound carcass evaluation technology. This occurred in the mid 1990s and yielded the first set of carcass merit EPDs generated from the use of ultrasound field data in the beef industry. A strong partnership with the University of Georgia also allowed IBBA to be one of the first breeds to implement multi-trait analysis procedures in the national cattle evaluation.

In the Fall of 2012, IBBA released additional selection tools in the form of Calving Ease EPDs, including Calving Ease Direct and Calving Ease Maternal. These EPDs account for the weight and shape of the calf, gestation length and breed of the sire. This offered cattlemen the ability to consider something besides a single birth weight EPD in order to compare two or more bulls for producing smaller calves without decreasing weaning and/or post weaning growth.

Calving Ease Direct and Calving Ease Maternal helps to identify sires that produce calves with growth potential and expected calving ease. Although the Brangus breed has always been known as an easy calving breed, the Brangus breed has also become a performance-oriented breed, which has caused some producers to believe that Brangus calves would have calving difficulties like other breeds that have experienced this effect.

As a commercial producer, understanding Calving Ease EPDs and knowing when and how to use them will pay great dividends, especially when selecting easy calving bulls with high performance EPDs. While Calving Ease EPDs have been available within other breeds, it was not been until the multi-breed models became available that calving ease was calculated for composite breeds or percentage cattle as recorded by other breed associations.

The IBBA continues to stay out front with the latest technology to aid commercial cattlemen make selection decisions. Most recently, the release of genomic enhanced EPDs (GE-EPDs) are providing additional tools for commercial cattlemen to further refine their selection decisions for high growth, calving ease sires that dominate maternal attributes without sacrificing carcass traits.

These GE-EPDs are the first full suite of EPDs (growth, reproduction and carcass) to be calculated and released using the single step G-BLUP technology by any breed association.

To accomplish this, IBBA joined forces with a large group of entities to formulate breed specific genomic enhanced EPDs. The evolution in IBBA genomic technology is a result of a collaborative effort between IBBA, Livestock Genetic Services, Iowa State University, National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium (NBCEC), Colorado State University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Neogen (GeneSeek) and Zoetis.

In late June 2014 ,IBBA transitioned its DNA testing to GeneSeek Inc. located in Lincoln, Neb. With this move, Brangus breeders had the option to utilize an 80k panel

58 California Cattleman July • August 2015

or a reduced 30k panel to obtain genomic information to enhance the accuracy of Brangus expected progeny differences (EPDs). IBBA will soon be transitioning into the newly released GeneSeek® Genomic Profiler™, the GGP HD-150K panel, that is replacing the 80K panel.

Brangus GE-EPDs were made available on all traits reported by the IBBA including all growth, reproduction and ultrasound traits. The GE-EPDs were estimated by John Genho, President of Livestock Genetic Services, using the approximately 2,200 profiles generated at Neogen or Zoetis on the 30K, 50K, 80K, 150K, 770K and 850K panels.

“Genomic-enhanced EPDs are the tool of choice in breed improvement strategies in the livestock industry today.” Dr. Tommy Perkins, IBBA Executive Vice President, says. “It is our role to give IBBA members and commercial cattlemen the most current tools to make improvement in beef production. Genomically enhanced EPDs will allow Brangus breeders to make the most accurate and rapid genetic improvement available.”

GE-EPDs combine an analysis of pedigree, individual performance and genomic information to hasten the rate of genetic progress in a population of cattle. The genomic information is include in the GE-EPDs so cattlemen will already know how to interpret the results. Most importantly, GE-EPDs increase the accuracy of EPDs on younger, nonproven animals.

The increase in EPD accuracies allow breeders to identify the best genetics earlier in an animal’s life without the extreme cost of progeny testing. Information gleaned from a single DNA sample may be as informative as the first calf crop of a bull or the lifetime production record of a cow.

“Although the process to get to Brangus GE-EPDs has taken longer than desired they will certainly benefit commercial bull buyers and members for years to come,” Perkins says. “The Brangus breeders continue to add to the genomic database which will further improve the accuracy of Brangus genetic predictions.”

Visit the IBBA website at www.GoBrangus.com for information. For additional information about IBBA’s genomic testing, contact Tommy Perkins, Ph.D., at 210696-8231 or tperkins@ int-brangus.org.

Spanish Ranch Delivers i Brangus • angus • Ultrablacks

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doiron@spanishranch.net • www.spanishranch.net

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 59

By the Numbers Tracking Progress with the Angus bull from the American Angus Association

O

ver time, Angus breeders have improved the genetic merit of Angus bulls through use of EPDs. No bull has greater genetic impact on the U.S. beef industry than the registeredAngus bull. Whether for steers destined for the feedlot or heifers sorted into the replacement pen, Angus sires have gained more popularity and genetic influence than bulls of all other major breeds combined.

Hundreds of thousands of Angus bulls are turned out annually with the nation’s commercial cows, passing on traits proven to make cattle producers from ranch to feedlot more productive and profitable. Economically important traits are the foundation of Angus popularity — and it’s the Angus bull that “delivers the goods” to the industry year after year.

So has today’s Angus bull become even better than in the past? If we track genetic progress made in the past 15 years, what do we find?

Angus breeders have, in fact, accomplished much in the past decade and a half. They selected for traits that allow recently born Angus bulls to offer much more in a variety of important traits. They have also reshaped the Angus bull, making him heavier and more muscular at one year of age, but not taller. He also brings even more marbling and quality-grade potential today than ever before.

Trait by trait

ANGUS

Let’s evaluate some specific traits. Birth weight and calving ease. During the past 15 years, the average Angus bull has been selected for modestly lower birth weight (BW) expected progeny differences (EPDs), which are measured in pounds of birth weight (so lower-BW-EPD bulls would be expected to sire calves that weigh less at birth). Bulls born in 1998 exhibited an average BW EPD of 2.5 pounds (lb). For bulls born in 2013, that EPD average dropped to 1.6 lb., for a reduction of 0.9 lb.

This is not a large change. However, it does suggest that Angus breeders saw fit to continue improving the breed’s calving ease through lighter birth weights.

Calving ease direct (CED) EPDs also improved, moving up from an average of 1 for bulls born in 1998 to 5 for bulls born in 2013. CED EPDs are reported as the percent of first-calf heifers expected to calve unassisted, so a higher percentage would mean that, compared to bulls with lower CED EPDs, the bull is expected to sire more

60 California Cattleman July • August 2015

unassisted calves when bred to first-calf heifers.

Angus is the “go to” breed for heifers, where calving ease and light birth weights are a must. Angus breeders are now offering more light-birth-weight, high-calvingease bulls than ever before. As U.S. producers seek to breed more heifers and expand their cow herds, the Angus bull is well-positioned to take on that task.

Growth and frame size

Significantly more growth with a little less frame — that sums up what most would consider a positive accomplishment for the Angus seedstock provider.

As shown in Fig. 1, below, the average yearling height (YH) EPD, reported in inches (in.), has actually decreased by 0.2 in. since the late 1990s. The average yearling weight (YW) EPD, reported in pounds, has simultaneously gone up 40 lb. The trend toward higher yearling growth has been steady over time and will likely continue for at least a few more years.

In contrast, selection for more-moderate frame sizes has been gradual. Since 2007 the average Angus bull’s YH EPD has completely leveled off.

Angus bulls have indeed become heavier at a year of age but not taller. So where do those extra pounds reside? Weight, also called mass, is the product of volume multiplied by density. The added weight today’s Angus bulls are packing must therefore be the result of greater body length, increased base width and greater body depth (linear dimensions other than height).

Phenotypic shape is being altered, and a more linebackerlike type is gradually emerging. Angus breeders as a group believe their cattle are already right-sized for frame. However, breeders seem to have added more body dimension in every direction except height. Over time, they’ve made their cattle longer, thicker and deeper bodied, which adds up to more total volume.

Muscularity has definitely been on the rise in the Angus breed, and muscle is a relatively dense tissue. It has a higher weight per unit of volume than many other types of tissue, and this may also help explain why Angus bulls are getting heavier without getting taller.

Muscling and marbling

Both muscling and marbling help commercial Angus cattle excel on value-based grids. Breeders have been working in a positive direction on these two traits over time, adding significantly to the carcass value of the typical fed steer or heifer sired by an Angus bull. From 1998 to 2013, average ribeye EPDs, reported in square inches (sq. in.), increased more than 0.5 sq. in. in a steady/linear manner, with each successive year higher than the previous. Marbling EPDs rose from an average of 0.18 to 0.53 over the same time period (see Table 1).

Worth more

These trends have added to the positive reputation Angus genetics enjoy among U.S. cattle feeders. At least two-thirds of all finished cattle sell on some type of a carcass-value grid. Thus, there is a positive payoff for the right genetics at the fed-cattle level of the market, which adds to the price feedlot managers are willing to pay for Angus-influenced feeder calves. Extra value on the grid means extra dollars available to bid on superior Angus feeder animals.

It is also likely that genetic trends in both muscling and marbling will continue tracking higher for some time to come. Industry-leading use of artificial insemination (AI) in the Angus breed supports fairly rapid genetic change (even in a large breed) in whatever direction breeders choose to go. The Angus gene pool clearly has genetics available to keep inching these two traits upward, assuming breeders stay on their current path.

Add increased muscling and marbling to the faster growth rates Angus bulls now deliver, and the smiling approval of cattle feeders and commercial cow-calf producers should get brighter and brighter.

Progress worth tracking

Angus breeders believe that improvements over time are both necessary and possible. They continue to fine-tune the genetic package represented by the average Angus bull.

EPDs have proven very useful in this quest for everbetter genetics. During the past 15 years, BW and CED EPDs on registered-Angus bulls have been shifted toward a more favorable calving experience. Simultaneously, growth rates, muscling and marbling have all increased and have enhanced the inherent value of commercial Angus-sired calves. Breeders chose not to increase frame size and have actually shaved a little genetic height off of the average Angus bull.

All of this could only have been accomplished through many thousands of thoughtful breeding decisions based on EPDs published by the American Angus Association. These tools enabled breeders to select for faster-growing cattle that uniquely held birth weights and frame size in check.

Important carcass traits, like muscling and marbling, have also measurably trended in a higher-value direction.

Most Angus breeders are well aware of these trends. The breed is now creating more pay weight for its commercial bull customers, with even better calving ease than before.

Feedlot operators have also benefited, because today’s Angus-sired steers offer better daily gain and feed conversion rates, plus enhanced carcass traits. That’s progress worth tracking!

Reprinted with permission from the American Angus Association and the Angus Journal

ANGUS MEANS BUSINESS. A reliable business partner is difficult to come by. At the American Angus Association®, a team of skilled Regional Managers can guide your operation toward success.

Contact Terry Cotton to locate Angus genetics, select marketing options tailored to your needs, and to access Association programs and services. Put the business breed to work for you.

To subscribe to the Angus Journal, call 816.383.5200. Watch The Angus Report on RFD-TV Monday mornings at 7:30 CST. © 2013-2014 American Angus Association

Terry Cotton, Regional Manager 3201 Frederick Avenue St. Joseph, MO 64506 816.390.3227 tcotton@angusjournal.com Arizona California Nevada Utah

3201 Frederick Ave. • St. Joseph, MO 64506 816.383.5100 • www.ANGUS.org

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 61

SEVERAL MAJOR BREEDS COMBINE FOR JOINT GENETIC EVALUATION

by Darrh Bullock, Ph.D., University of Kentucky Extension

F

ACROSS-BREED

or many years the computation of Expected Progeny Differences has been done independently by each breed association.

This provided a very useful tool to assist beef producers in comparing and selecting bulls within a breed, but it did not provide a means to compare bulls of different breeds. Adjustment factors were developed to assist producers in comparing breeds, but this process adds another layer of inaccuracy and has never seen widespread adoption among commercial cattlemen. The best way to compare bulls of different breeds is to combine all of their data, including crossbred data from known breed percentages, into one genetic evaluation and this is exactly what several breeds have done.

Starting with the Spring 2015 genetic evaluation the American Simmental Association is running a joint analysis that also includes Red Angus, Limousin, Gelbvieh, Maine Anjou, Shorthorn and Chianina/ ChiAngus. In addition to the purebred data, this analysis allows the inclusion of crossbred data and data from the Canadian associations of many of these breeds. There are some distinct benefits to this type of analysis. As mentioned crossbred data can be used; EPDs can be generated for crossbred or composite

62 California Cattleman July • August 2015

bulls such as SimAngus, Limflex and Balancers the EPDs on the bulls from all of these breeds can be directly compared to each other (with the exception of calving ease in Red Angus and some carcass trait EPDs).

As a heads-up for next year, the Simmental Association is in the process of overhauling and updating their genetic evaluation system to incorporate all of the latest technologies. This will likely result in re-tweaking the values for these breeds next year, but hopefully this will then stabilize. It is also anticipated that some other breeds may be joining this group or forming other joint analysis in the future. Even though change can be complicated and we have to do a little homework to re-familiarize ourselves with the new values, the good news is that with each genetic evaluation change EPDs are getting a little better, and in the end we have a better selection tool to assist us in buying our bulls.

We strongly recommend that you use EPDs to assist you in your bull purchases. The great thing about EPDs is they can help you increase, decrease or stay the same for all of the traits they are computed for. It’s your job to determine the level of genetics you need to match your management, environment and market.

36th Annual Bull Sale

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2015 Selling 75 Angus Bulls at the Ranch Near Calistoga Oak Ridge 9M9 Rito 034

SIRE: RITO 9M25 OF RITA 5F56 PRED

BW

Oak Ridge Atlas 1753

MGS: S A V BISMARK 5682

SIRE: SYDGEN ATLAS 1043 MGS: G A R PREDESTINED

BW

65

71

205

725

205

741

365

1277

365

1359

BW

WW

YW

MILK

MARB

RE

FAT

$W

$F

$G

$B

BW

WW

YW

MILK

MARB

RE

FAT

$W

$F

$G

$B

1.1

51

94

17

.61

.43

-.004

34.54

44.94

37.56

92.30

0

54

96

28

.27

.37

.017

48.64

48.65

18.98

95.26

Oak Ridge Boulder 024

Oak Ridge Atlas 464

SIRE: SYDGEN ATLAS 1043

SIRE:MUSGRAVE BOULDER

MGS: S A V NET WORTH 4200

BW

81

BW

75

205

842

205

780

365

1415

365

1369

MGS: G A R OBJECTIVE 7125

BW

WW

YW

MILK

MARB

RE

FAT

$W

$F

$G

$B

BW

WW

YW

MILK

MARB

RE

FAT

$W

$F

$G

$B

4.6

65

116

34

.51

.90

.007

48.61

76.04

3208

134.27

-2.9

68

121

25

.22

.79

-.007

47.61

76.90

23.52

96.86

2015 Offering Includes Sons of these leading A.I. Sires SIRE SydGen Atlas 1043

BW +2.0

WW +67

YW +117

MK +39

MB +.76

RE +.88

FAT +.026

$B +143.29

Musgrave Boulder

+1.1

+63

+110

+27

+.40

+.81

-.001

+104.27

Rito 9M25 of Rita 5F56 Pred Connealy In Sure 8524 Connealy Confidence 0100

+2.4 -2.4 -2.9

+62 +47 +50

+108 +86 +90

+19 +37 +10

+.83 +1.10 +.31

+.39 +.80 +1.13

-.003 +.021 +.054

+122.39 +105.15 +68.61

Connealy Black Granite

+.3

+66

+112

+36

+.62

+1.14

-.013

+116.09

S A V Angus Valley 1867

+.8

+56

+104

+17

+.66

+..53

+.074

+97.09

SydGen Trust 6228 Baldridge Waylon W34 A A R Ten X 7008 S A Connealy Earnan 076E

+0 +4.1 +.5 +4.9

+57 +75 +70 +77

+101 +133 +133 +135

+25 +15 +21 +17

+.84 +1.27 +1.31 +.85

+.77 +.91 +.90 +.78

-.036 -.043 -.004 +.062

+130.00 +148.85 +149.42 +137.03

For Sale Book, Contact:

THE LA FRANCHI FAMILY

Cheryl and Frank: (707) 292-1013 13250 Hwy. 128 • Calistoga, CA 94515 July • August 2015 California Cattleman 63

House votes to proceed with Pacific Trade Pact, Senate Vote STill Ahead

DID YOU KNOW?

U.S. BEEF PRODUCTION AT A GLANCE...

• 100 years ago, in 1915 the average person in the U.S. consumed 82.7 pounds of beef. Today, the average person consumes about 54 pounds of beef each year.

• In 1915, the U.S. beef industry produced 7.4 billion pounds of beef, compared with 25.8 billion in 2014.

• In 2014, the U.S. beef industry exported 25.8 billion pounds of beef and people in the U.S. consumed 25.5 billion pounds of beef.

Numbers cited from USDA annual report statistics

On June 18, U.S. lawmakers approved legislation necessary to securing a Pacific trade deal, to further President Obama’s goal of strengthening U.S. economic ties with Asia.

In a 218-to-208 vote, the House gave the administration authority to close trade deals such as the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which encompasses 40 percent of the global economy and is close to completion.

Now the bill, a gutted version of legislation which failed last week, must go back to the Senate for approval.

Democrats dramatically rejected a personal appeal from Obama to back legislation central to his hallmark Pacific Rim trade deal by voting down a companion measure to renew an expiring program to help workers hurt by trade.

That measure was cut from the

Join us September 27 at 1 p.m. for our 18th annual “Cattlemen’s Select” Range Bull Sale!

Featuring hand-selected bulls from reputation breeders.

ALSO select females from local ranches prior to the bull sale.

bill approved but the change from the original legislation ensures a return to the Senate, delaying final passage further.

In debate before the vote, many Democrats lined up on the House floor to voice their staunch opposition to Obama’s trade initiative, saying is model after NAFTA could similarly cost the county millions of jobs.

The House vote is a good sign for the TPP, which would harmonize standards on issues like intellectual property and labor protections and lower trade barriers. Trade deals are controversial in the United States, partly because of the country’s past experience with NAFTA, which freed up trade between the United States, Canada and Mexico but, more than two decades later, is blamed by many for U.S. factory closures and job losses and has soured sentiment toward the TPP.

Hand tooled Cactus Ranch saddle to the lucky buyer whose tag is drawn at the conclusion of the sale!

SPONSORED BY:

— BBQ LUNCH SERVED AT NOON — Our experienced staff offers weekly Wednesday auctions as well as Internet video marketing via www.RoundupCattle.com, order buying and processing. Also, we have receiving facilities and can help you with the transporation of your cattle!

733 NORTH BEN MADDOX WAY, VISALIA, CA – (559) 625-9615 TEMPLETON RECEIVING YARD: 4350 RAMADA DRIVE, TEMPLETON, CA – (805)434-8334 BUELLTON RECEIVING YARD, HWY 101, BUELLTON •(805) 835-8900 Settrini ©

RANDY BAXLEY 559.906.9760 • SAM AVILA 559.799.3854 • WWW.VISALIALIVESTOCK.COM

64 California Cattleman July • August 2015

Spend the Day With Your Southwest Livestock Marketing Leader

50th famoso all-breeds bull sale 300 BUllS • 500 FEMAlES plus RANcH EqUIpMENT AUcTION

saturday, october 17 Western stockman's market RANcH EqUIpMENT AUcTION > 9 A.M.

Western Stockman‘s Market will be Selling Farm and Ranch Equipment Onsite including Tractors > Pickups > Cattle Chutes > Tack Cattle and Horse Panels > Antiques > And More

All cONSIGNMENTS WElcOME.. TURN YOUR EXcESS FARM AND RANcH EqUIpMENT IN TO cA$H

> 10 A.M. ANNUAl BRED cOW SAlE OFFERing 500 HEAd OF FAnCy, 3-4 yEAR Old AnguS, FAll-

CAlving COWS And PAiRS BREd TO lEACHMAn AnguS BullS Take this opportunity to buy these cows at a time of year, right before grass season starts.

FAMOSO All-BREEDS BUll SAlE > 1 p.M. Selling the Best the West has to Offer ...

CHOOSE FROM 300 BullS COnSignEd By REPuTABlE BREEdERS Awards are presented to the Ideal Range Bull and division champions prior to the start of the sale.

EvERY BUll IN THE SAlE IS GRADED BY A GROUp OF 30 lOcAl cATTlE RANcHERS THE DAY BEFORE TO THE SAlE

THD ©

50 FAMOSO

5

cOME BY YOUR BUllS, FEMAlES AND RANcH EqUIpMENT All IN THE SAME DAY AT FAMOSO

Your Southwest Livestock Market Leader

Western stockman’s market 31911 Highway 46, m farland, california c

THD ©

DWIGHT MEBANE ........................................................ 661 979-9892 JUSTIN MEBANE ...........................................................661 979-9894 Frank Machado .......................................................805 839-8166 Bennet mebane.........................................................661 201-8169 Office ..................................................................................661 399-2981 WEBSITE .....................www.westernstockmansmarket.com July • August 2015 California Cattleman 65

oday’s society is very concerned about sustainability. One of the problems that T we face in agriculture is that people who

are not familiar with our production systems are trying to define this term for us. The end result can be regulations or requirements that are totally unrealistic and unobtainable.

No industry has been more sustainable over time than the beef industry. Look at how many commercial cow/calf operations are 4th or 5th generation. Pretty impressive.

Commercial beef producers could teach

the environmentalists a lot about true sustainability.

We feel there is a lot of variation in the sustainability of beef cattle genetics. Some of the most popular genetics of today are only sustainable, in our opinion, if those cows are moved to either irrigated pastures or mountain meadows during the dry summer months.

In our program, we are not trying produce the heaviest yearling weights nor the highest marbling scores. Rather we are trying to

A SPECIAL THANK YOU

We would like to extend a special thank you to all of the buyers and bidders in our recent Internet-based Private Treaty Bull Sale as well as the other ranches and individuals who have supported our program during the past year.

FRESNO STATE AGRICULTURAL FOUNDATION

identify cattle that are in sync with a limited feed environment. Yes we want our cows to produce big, stout calves but most importantly we want them to be able to breed back on dry feed and a limited amount of supplementation.

We use the current tools like DNA and EPDs, but we also place a lot of emphasis on phenotypic traits like structural correctness and depth of body. In addition, our cattle must be problem free in terms of eyes, udder, feet and disposition.

2013-2014 STUDENT ASSISTANTS Mitch Behling Ashley Budde Josh Dowell

Jacob Pignone Brett Rose John Traini

RANDY PERRY (559) 278-4793 • WWW.FRESNOSTATE.EDU/JCAST/BEEF PUREBRED HERDS/BULL & HEIFER DEVELOPMENT: CODY MCDOUGALD (559) 284-4111 COMMERCIAL CATTLE: ILEAH RUBLE (559) 760-6274

BROKEN BOX RANCH The Kind We Use Are The Quality We Produce Sire and Grandsire of the 2014 Red Bluff Res. Champion Charolais and Fallon Champion Charolais bulls.

WINN MANS LANZA 610S #M789829 CE BW WW YW MILK

2.3

1.3

41

82

8

MTL CW REA 28

26

.25

FAT MB

-.028 -.16

LT LANZA BLUE 1461 PLD ET #EM809026 CE BW WW YW MILK 2.4

2.5

37

71

3

MTL CW REA 21

30

.52

FAT MB

-.006 .13

Bulls available at the ranch, Red Bluff, Klamath Falls & Fallon

JERRY & SHERRY MALTBY Office: (530) 473-2830 • Cell: (530) 681-5046 P.O. Box 760, Williams, CA 95987 • E-mail: bbr@citlink.net www.brokenboxranch.com

2015 AICA Seedstock Producer of the Year

Heavy-Muscled Cattle That Produce Sought-After Charolais-Influenced Feeder Cattle 66 California Cattleman July • August 2015

JOIN US ON WEDNESDAY

September 16, 2015 1:00 PM at the Ranch 7601 Maze Blvd., Modesto, CA

Selling 80 Bulls...

ANGUS BULLS LIKE THIS SELL!

Long yearling Angus and SimAngus™ bulls by proven A.I. sires and more!

ANGUS BULLS SIRED BY:

AAR Ten X 2008 SA • Connealy Final Product EXAR Upshot 0562B • SAV Bismarck 5682 SAV Final Answer 0035 • GAR New Design 5050 Connealy In Focus 4925 • BSAR Opportunity 9114

SIMMENTAL BULLS SIRED BY:

GW-WBF Substance 820Y • MCM Top Grade 018X TJ Sharper Image 809U • Tool Time SS Ebonys Grandmaster • W/C United 956Y

A tremendous set of bulls sell on September 16th. Give us or our sale management team a call.

SIMANGUS™ LIKE THIS SELL!

Steve Obad 209-383-4373 or Cell 209-777-1551 1232 W Tahoe St, Merced, CA 95348 ÂœiÞÊEĂŠ Ă€ÂˆĂƒĂŒĂžĂŠĂ“Ă¤Â™Â‡Ă‡Ăˆxࣣ{Ă“ĂŠUĂŠ ˆŽiĂŠEĂŠ-ĂŒ>VÞÊÓ䙇xΣ‡{n™Î Joe & Debbie 209-523-5826

DOUBLE M RANCH Greg Mauchley & Sons 435-830-7233 11375 N. 10800 W, Bothwell, UT 84337

Sale Management:

Roger & Andy Flood 530-534-7211 636 Flag Creek Rd, Oroville, CA 95965

Office 507-532-6694 Val Cell 612-805-7405 Kelly Cell 406-599-2395 www.ebersale.com

Guest Breeder: Tim & Irme Azevedo, Azevedo Livestock • Newman, CA 209-873-4664 or 209-652-6577

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 67

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED Vacaville ranchers say Beefmaster traits can revolutionize beef herd

by Managing Editor Stevie Ipsen

A

s ranchers go, it seems more often than not, they prefer a less beaten path, at least when it comes to the place they hang their hats at night. But, on a road that is heavily traveled and known for its fair share of traffic, John and Sue Pierson’s operation, Cherry Glen Beefmasters, provides one of the last scenic vistas of agriculture that I-80 motorists see as they leave the Central Valley and enter the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a view that surely catches the eye of rural and urban citizens alike.

Sure, the Piersons know the drawbacks of living and raising cattle a stone’s throw from I-80, but just like their fellow ranchers in every other area of the Golden State, their increasingly urbanized slice of once rural Vacaville is home.

The Piersons have been in the beef business since the 80s, utilizing pasture formerly used by John’s parents as well as whatever leased pasture they have been able to find. The home place has been in the family since 1939, and despite

68 California Cattleman July • August 2015

the growth the area has seen, John and Sue are committed to continuing to ranch on that same property.

Both raised in other Bay Area cities, John in San Francisco and Sue in Santa Rosa, the Piersons have become accustomed to rolling with the punches and evolving their way of life as the world around them continues to change.

One would assume that the closer you get to the Bay Area the more change and regulation farmers and ranchers would experience, but for John and Sue, they recognize that change comes with the territory, and they are determined to do what they need to do to preserve their way of life.

“Sure, we’ve seen our fair share of change, especially in terms of water conservation and land rights, but I don’t know that we see any more regulation than anyone else in the state,” John says humbly. “As ranchers we all face different battles.”

As a young boy living in San Francisco, John said on weekends he would visit the ranch in Vacaville with his brother and their parents. He developed an interest in agriculture early but was encouraged by his parents to go into teaching since it would be a secure career.

His interests leaned toward industrial arts, but after doing student teaching at Napa State Hospital, he also developed an interest in special education and obtained credentials to teach industrial arts and special ed.

John taught school in Vacaville area high schools for 34 years, retiring to be full time on the ranch in 2007. After welcoming a set of twin girls, Erin and Kristi, and a son, John, to their family, Sue stayed home to raise them. Though all the children have moved away, Sue says having had the opportunity to raise them in a rural setting where they could appreciate the values of family togetherness and hard work has been well worth it to see the strong work ethic that each possesses as an adult.

Today, they have a grandson, Jon, living out of the area, who will one day look back on the summers he spent on his grandparents’ ranch. The Pierson’s hope is that, like his grandfather, their grandson will have fond memories and appreciate the lessons the family ranch taught and the innovative path his predecessors paved.

In terms of cattle, many beef producers on the West Coast understandably are drawn to breeds that are known for their longtime popularity. For John and Sue Pierson, the way their beef operation has evolved is not the norm for their area. When it comes to their breed of choice, they definitely chose the road less traveled.

According to Sue, early in their ranching days, as

long as a cow raised a calf every year, they were content. They weren’t concerned with any particular breed, in fact they had a mix of crossbred commercial cattle on their place. Sue, who was not raised in agriculture, admits she had a lot to learn early on.

In the mid-80s the Piersons said they had been using a Brahman bull on their cows, but he wouldn’t stay behind the fence.

A local cattleman and close friend Steve Papin recommended they consider using a Beefmaster bull.

“Steve told us to go out and look at the Beefmaster-sired calves he had on the ground. He told us they were easy-calving, hit the ground running and grew like crazy,” Sue said. “As commercial producers those were all traits we valued highly.”

The Piersons purchased their first Beefmaster bull in 1986 from Jim Vaughn of 4V Ranch in Vacaville and said the things they were told about Beefmaster bulls held true from the first calf crop.

“We had a number of commercial females we had purchased from the Brazelton Ranch dispersal that had been crossed with our Brahman bull, resulting in F1 heifers,” Sue said, “So we already had a great foundation for using Beefmaster bulls.”

For those who aren’t familiar with the Beefmaster breed, the breed was developed over time by crossing Hereford cows and Shorthorn cows with Brahman bulls. The Beefmaster breed is now a stand-alone breed, not a crossbreed, and was officially recognized by USDA as a breed in 1954.

When breeding their original cows and the F1s to the Beefmaster bull, the Piersons were very pleased with the results.

“We found what we had been told was true,” Sue said. “The crossbred calves were born without a problem and grew fast.”

After using that first Beefmaster bull, the Piersons continued to run a strictly commercial operation.

Then, the aforementioned Jim Vaughn recommended they enroll in the Upgrading Program offered through the national association, Beefmaster Breeders Universal, which later became Beefmaster Breeders

United (BBU).

Enrolling in the association’s Upgrading Program allowed the Piersons to retain their heifer calves, breed them back to a Beefmaster, and after the third cross, the resulting calves, either bulls or heifers, could be registered as purebred. To John and Sue, this seemed like an appealing and economical way to get into the seedstock business and add value to their cattle.

Sue says once bitten by the proverbial Beefmaster bug, they purchased their first purebred female in 1989. At that point, Cherry Glen Beefmasters was officially off and running.

“From that point, we continued to cross with the Beefmaster bulls, and through the years have purchased a number of other purebred females, as well as replacement Beefmaster bulls,” Sue said. “Today, we are strictly a purebred operation.”

“Through working with our BBU Field Representative, John Newburn, and with our vet, Nancy Martin, DVM, I gradually developed enough knowledge about how to properly manage a herd of cattle.

Martin has always been an advocate of client education, and for many years, set up educational field days in both Solano and Yolo Counties,” Sue said.

Both John and Sue say they have become passionate about the Beefmaster breed. Beefmasters are known for the “Six Essentials:” weight, conformation,high fertility, hardiness, disposition and milk production. The Piersons say disposition has been one of the biggest selling points for them.

According to John, although disposition is just one of the six economic essentials upon which the breed was developed, he finds the bulls’ easy dispositions to be of significant value to him personally. He says the docile nature of Beefmaster bulls has been demonstrated time and time again when the Piersons have loaded and delivered these bulls to buyers.

“These guys are very easy to work, and work with. You can walk out into the pasture and know that you’re not going to be challenged. They’ll just hop right into the trailer when you need them to,” John said.

“I believe this trait is of high value to ...CONTINUED ON PAGE 70

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 69

...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 69 producers. If you can’t gather your bulls and work with them, you’re going to spend a lot more time, and possibly get someone hurt, and it’s going to cost you a lot more money in the long run.”

Though Cherry Glen Beefmasters boasts a modest sized cowherd, producing about 20 bull calves per year, John and Sue pride themselves on strict culling guidelines, that dictate which of the 8 to 10 bull calves will actually go on to be marketed.

“We are very proud of the bulls we produce and are confident that because of our management, recordkeeping and strict requirements for a bull calf to remain a bull calf, our bulls will perform in any environment,” John said.

Because currently the demand for Beefmaster bulls is stronger in the South, Cherry Glen Beefmasters sell a number of bulls private treaty on the West Coast and select a handful of bulls to take to the Texoma Beefmaster Performance Sale in Oklahoma, where bulls will fetch prices that will rival some of the West’s biggest production sales.

Through that sale, Cherry Glen Beefmaster bulls have been sold to one of the coldest regions of the U.S., Minnesota, and some of the hottest regions, Texas and Florida, proving they can thrive in any environment.

“Just because Beefmaster bulls aren’t as common on the West Coast doesn’t mean they can’t compete with Angus and Hereford bulls,” Sue said. “I’d challenge commercial cattlemen in this area to give them a chance. Once they see the hardiness of these bulls, the increase in weight you get from crossbreeding, and the lack of pinkeye in their Beefmaster cross calves, I guarantee they’d be pleased with the outcome.”

As John and Sue’s knowledge of the Beefmaster breed has evolved, so has their desire to give back to the Beefmaster community who has helped them along the way. In addition to helping further the work of their regional breed association, both John and Sue have served on the Board of Directors for BBU After John became a member of the BBU Board of Directors, it was naturally easier for both John and Sue to get more involved in committee work. Since John needed to be in attendance at board meetings in order to fulfill his obligation, Sue would travel along with him. In doing so, they both became more involved and had a bigger interest in what was happening on the national level.

“Once involved with a few committees, we each had more and more interest in what was happening within the 70 California Cattleman July • August 2015

association and in the direction the association was moving.

We found that we could play a positive role in helping to shape the future of Beefmasters,” Sue said. “We have both learned so much about the breed, the cattle industry as a whole and about the technology that producers have available to be able to breed the best cattle possible.”

“Wherever you go, people always agree that cattle people are great people to know and to be around. We have been able to meet so many wonderful people from whom we have learned so much,” John said.

Though home may always lie on the road most traveled, John and Sue Pierson have found that finding a new path can lead to some of the greatest and most unexpected destinations.

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 71

Breeding for Quality & Performance Since 1989 John & Sue Pierson 707.448.9208

THIS HEIFER BULL PROSPECT AVAILABLE

Call for availability of bulls or females private treaty.

Watch for our consignments to 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

72 California Cattleman July • August 2015

24th Annual

Bull Sale

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, DENAIR, CA • 1 P.M. Don’t miss the opportunity to buy genetics that will improve your bottom line from two producers recognized with Certified Angus Beef’s Seedstock Committment to Excellence Award. Rancho Casino and Dal Porto Livestock each have more than 40 years breeding sound, functional Angus cattle that will perform.

CASINO DASH L08 #18041340

CASINO CONFIDENCE L49 #18041362

Connealy Confidence 0100 X S S Objective T510 0T26 DOB: 2/1/14

Sitz Dash 10277 X Vin-Mar O’Reilly Factor

DOB: 1/12/14

$W

$W

+55.65

+52.84

$F

$F

+49.69

+41.33

$G

$G

+36.65

-1.16

$B

$B

+64.71

+60.62

CED

BW

WW

YW

MILK

SC

MARB

RE

CED

BW

WW

YW

MILK

SC

MARB

RE

+18

-1.8

+54

+99

+21

+.58

+.70

+.61

+9

+.9

+54

+92

+25

+1.09

-.13

+.52

DP WAYLON R07 #18050023

DPL RIGHT ANSWER R05 # 18049239

Baldridge Waylon W34 X Mytty In Focus

Connealy Right Answer 746 X Sitz Upward 307R

DOB: 2/12/14

DOB: 2/11/14

$W

$W

+41.32

+58.33

$F

$F

+81.24

+81.52

$G

$G

+48.16

+30.11

$B

$B

+127.48

+110.09

CED

BW

WW

YW

MILK

SC

MARB

RE

CED

BW

WW

YW

MILK

SC

MARB

RE

+11

-.4

+64

+120

+18

+1.09

+1.12

+.32

+3

+2.8

+72

+128

+28

+.56

+.59

+.52

CALL TO BE ADDED TO OUR MAILING LIST: (209) 632-6015

=D David & Jeanene Dal Porto

694 Bartlett Ct • Brentwood, CA 94513 • (925) 634-0933

David & Carol Medeiros

2800 Half Rd • Denair, CA 95316 • (209) 632-6015 July • August 2015 California Cattleman 73

REINFORCING RESPONSIBILITY Veterinary-client relationship more important than ever as antibiotic regulations take effect

by Managing Editor Stevie Ipsen

A

s beef producers go, it is hard to find a population of people with a stronger set of ethics or more vigilant in doing the right thing. As such, the new regulations placed on antibiotic use in livestock is something beef producers are preparing to follow. Though the new regulations aren’t going to make things more convenient, ranchers have been preparing for change to take place since the regulations were finalized three years ago.

It is a good thing cattlemen and women are no strangers to paperwork and recordkeeping, because starting in October of this year, ranchers will have more Ts to cross and Is to dot. While veterinary/client/patient relationships are not new to beef producers, they will become increasingly important as cattlemen and women navigate their way through the new regulations.

Past CCA President Tom Talbot, DVM, a cattleman and veterinarian from Bishop said these regulations have been talked about for a long time and though they aren’t going to make ranchers’ jobs easier, they are manageable.

“Ranchers, especially in California, have been looking at the antibiotics issue for a long time,” Talbot said. “We have fought long and hard at the state level to demonstrate the vigilance California producers have toward judicious use of antibiotics and on the federal level, we fought just as hard to make sure the regulations would still allow ranchers to do business while still providing excellent care for their livestock.”

If Talbot had any advice for cattlemen it would be to become familiar with the new rules and start planning now.

“Meeting with your veterinarian and talking about how these changes will impact you will be crucial as we move ahead. Having that conversation sooner rather than later will likely save you some time down the road,” Talbot said.

On June 23, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association held a webinar to help producers nationwide gain a better understanding of the regulations and definitions that will become second nature as the regulations go into effect over time.

Mike Apley, DVM, Ph.D., from Kansas State University and Craig Lewis, DVM, from the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine addressed beef producers and tried to prepare them for what lies ahead.

Both Apley and Lewis stressed that it’s not that antibiotics can’t be used, it is that their use must be monitored by a veterinarian, especially when being utilized 74 California Cattleman July • August 2015

in medicated feed.

Lewis outlined the specific changes and the dates they would take place over the next 18 months. There are several “guidances” that have been released by the FDA; namely Final Guidance 209, Final Guidance 213 and the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD).

Lewis said Guidance 209, dealing with the judicious use of medically-important antibmicrobials in foodproducing animals, has two key principles. First, to limit the use of medically-important antimicrobial drugs to uses considered necessary for ensuring animal health. The second principle of 209 is to limit such drugs to uses in food-producing animals that include veterinary oversight or consultation.

Regarding Guidance 213, which provides more detailed guidance on the implementation of key principles in 209, Lewis said the primary objective is veterinary oversight and details within a VFD. • In order for a veterinarian to issue a VFD to a producer, authorizing the use of antimicrobials to be fed, Apley says several questions must be addressed, including: Are there any non-antibiotic alternatives?

• Does the use match the label (dose, duration and indication)?

• Is there a need for the use?

• What is the efficacy of the proposed antibiotic use in relation to disease challenge?

• Do you have the ability to meet the withdrawal time prior to slaughter?

• Are their any issues of antimicrobial resistance?

“Please understand that your veterinarian can only legally authorize a VFD or prescription within the context of a veterinary/client/patient relationship,” Apley said.

“Your veterinarian will exercise their clinical judgement based on their training and experience within the confines of the law.”

Items that must be included on a VFD are: regimen (dose and duration); number of cattle to which the VFD drug may be fed; amount of the VFD drug that may be purchased; length of time the VFD drug is allow tot be fed to the animals; and the expiration date.

Both Lewis and Apley stressed the importance of the expiration date of a VFD. The time of animals being fed and feed being purchased must both fall within the time of expiration on VFD. Of most importance to beef producers at this point in time is recognizing that the VFD Rule becomes effective

on October 1 of this year, with additional changes to specific drugs taking place over the next year. It is critical for producers to analyze what, if any medically-important antibiotics are being fed and how the new rules will change their operations.

Lewis said the primary objective under 213 is to include your veterinarian in the decision-making process.

It does not require direct veterinary involvement in drug administration. In a nutshell, he said 213 means changing marketing status from over-the-counter antimicrobials to using them by prescription or VFD only.

To be more specific, water soluable products will become available for use by prescription only and for products used in or on feed it will be necessary to have a VFD, Lewis explained.

As of October, it is important to recognize two key concepts within Guidance 213: 1) All medically-important antibiotics used in feed will require a VFD and extra-label use of those products is NOT permitted.

2) All medically-important antibiotics used in the water will require a prescription and the issuing veterinarian may approve extra-label use of those products.

“It cannot be over-emphasized that your veterinarian will only be able to authorize uses which conform to the product label for in-feed antibiotics,” Apley said.

December 2016 is the target time for drug sponsors to implement changes to use conditions of products affected

by Guidance 213.

Once the VFD Rule is in place, starting this October, both Apley and Lewis stressed the need for a strong recordkeeping system to be in place as all three parties – the veterinarian, the client and the distributor – must have a copy of the VFD on hand for two years.

“The big take home message here is the label. Producers need to follow the label, follow their VFDs, utilize their veterinarians, who will determine the use and need of a VFD or prescription, and keep records of VFDs.” “Your veterinarians are actively engaged with the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine in initiating the VFD process,” Apley said. “Initially, they are undergoing training on all aspects of the approved labels for in-feed use of medically-important antibiotics. They are committed to working with clients on this process.”

For more information on the use of VFDs or the antimicrobials that will be affected, contact your veterinarian.

TO DRIVE HOME SOME OF THE DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS OF VFDS, APLEY POSES SEVERAL EXAMPLES: Q) Is a VFD required with milk replacer containing neomycin and oxytetracycline?

A) Yes. Q) Is a VFD required for chlortetracycline in the feed for footrot.

A) This is not longer allowed. It is illegal extralabel use.

Q) Is a VFD required for a mineral or feed with chlortetracycline for anaplasmosis prevention?

A) Yes. Q) Is a VFD required for reduction in liver abscesses?

A) Yes. Q) Is a VFD required for monensin (Rumensin®) as the only antibiotic in the ration?

A) No, this is not a medically-important antibiotic.

Q) Is a VFD monensin fed concurrently with tylosin?

A) In this case, the VFD for tylosin would need to authorize the concurrent feeding of monensin.

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 75

KEY DATES AND DEFINITIONS ON ANTIBIOTICS REGULATIONS

W

AUGUST 3, 2015: Comment period on GFI #120 closes.

Comment now at http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitcomment;D=FDA2010-N-0155-0213 OCTOBER 1, 2015: VFD Rule goes into effect and applies to current VFD drugs.

DECEMBER 2016: Target for drug sponsors to implement changes to use conditions of products affected by GFI #213.

JANUARY 1, 2017: Target for all medically-important antimicrobials for use in or on feed to require a VFD.

AG

YU GENETI

A

VETERINARY FEED DIRECTIVE (VFD): The VFD is the mechanism FDA will use to apply veterinary oversight to a broad range of products used in animal feed. The VFD was first created in the late 1990s, and is currently applied to only a small number of products. The proposed rule is FDA’s attempt to describe changes to the VFD in order to modernize it and make it a more practical mechanism for a large number of products. In essence, a VFD is a mechanism requiring a producer to get approval from a veterinarian for antibiotics used in animal feed.

FDA intends to move all medicallyimportant antibiotics out of over-thecounter (OTC) status to VFD status.

The proposed rule was published in December of 2013 and a final rule published June of 2015.

76 California Cattleman July • August 2015

S

DOW R

FINAL GUIDANCE 213: This guidance outlines the process whereby a sponsor, or company, can withdraw growth claims from the label of products containing medically-important antibiotics. It also describes how a sponsor can apply for a prevention claim, or therapeutic claim, on those same compounds. Application for a prevention claim in this case generally follows the process of a supplemental new animal drug application and requires the sponsor to submit data demonstrating the drug is safe and effective at a specified dose against a targeted pathogen or a targeted disease.

Elimination of these claims will occur within three years of the final guidance being published. Final guidance 213 was published in December of 2013, which started a three-year window for implementation.

IMPLEMENTATION DATES:

CS

FINAL GUIDANCE 209: 209 is the policy document that outlines FDA’s position on phasing out growth promotion claims on medically important antibiotic compounds and phasing in veterinary oversight of these compounds. What’s covered? “Medically important” compounds are those listed in the Guidance 152, Appendix A list, and include such compounds as penicillins, tetracyclines, macrolides and streptogramins. Compounds like ionophores, which are not used in human medicine, or bacitracin, which is used for minor human uses, are not covered by this new policy. This policy covers only in-feed and water uses of these medically important compounds.

NCHE

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Amador 4246, (s) New Day 454, A negative bw epd bull who’s performance and eye appeal make him a sale highlight!

J/V 441, (s) EXAR Upshot, A long-bodied, performanceoriented bull who boasts a $B index of over $120!

Schafer 1430, (s) Ingenuity, He’s a true performance bull with unprecedented carcass figures. $B is over $130!

Amador 4106, (s) Ten X, A sale highlight with a +73 ww epd and +135 yw epd combine for a $b of over +$126!

J/V 427, (s) Upward 1006, a soft-made easy-moving prospect whose power will surely be found sale day!

Schafer 1431, (s) Limelight, A sale highlight that will definitely get attention with his +72 ww epd and +125 yw epds!

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• Selling a large percentage of calving-ease bulls!

for more information, contact any of these breeders

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Ed and Josh Amador 5136 Laird Rd Modesto, CA 95358 Ed Cell 209-595-3056 Josh Cell 209-499-9182 amadorfarms@msn.com

Bill and Marie Traylor 844 Walnut Ln Winters, CA 95694 (h) 530-795-2161 (c) 530-304-2811 jvangus@att.net

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 77

2015 California & Arizona Feeder Meeting This year’s meeting of the California Cattlemen’s Association Feeder Council and the Arizona Cattle Feeders Association took place at the Coronado Island Marriott Resort and Spa on May 21 and 22.

With over 200 feed yard and calf nursery owners, managers, employers, sponsors and speakers in attendance, the meeting had something in store for everyone. The agenda focused primarily on the future of the beef industry from trade, grading, sustainability and understanding what the consumer wants and what drives their buying. Another hot topic covered in depth was antibiotics use, research and CCA’s interactions with legislation in progress.

California Cattlemen’s Association Feeder Council Chairman Bill Brandenberg, El Centro said at a pivotal time for all in the beef business, the annual meeting provided an opportunity to reflect on everything feeders have to be grateful for.

“Each year, it seems new issues are put on our plate to contend with and we have to make the decision to throw in the towel or find a way to continue to do what we know and love,” Brandenberg said. “This meeting provides the opportunity to regroup and come together for the good of our family businesses.

We are grateful for that and the generous help of the sponsors and speakers who make this event possible year after year.”

In addition to gathering information that attendees could use to improve their feeding operations, participants at this year’s meeting were able to network with new acquaintances and catch up with old friends at a Padres game, a bayside dinner and a lively casino night.

The event was certainly enjoyed by all and CCA wishes to extend a gracious thank you to all the wonderful sponsors and speakers who help make this meeting possible.

Mark your calendars for next year’s meeting which will be May 26 and May 27 at the San Diego Marriott Marquis. For sponsorship opportunities for the 2016 meeting please contact Lisa Pherigo at (916) 444-0845 or lisa@calcattlemen.org.

Animal Health International (Walco) Elanco Merck Animal Health Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. Merial (Sanofi Animal Health) Baker Commodities Bayer Animal Health Nutrition Physiology Corp Allflex USA, Inc. Farm Credit Services Southwest Laird Mfg Zoetis Rabobank Wells Fargo JBS Five Rivers Kunafin Micro Beef SuKarne Zinpro Temple Tag Westway Feed Products E.B. Wakeman JD Heiskell Pacific Elements Global Animal Products TPI Premix Hanford Commodities IMI Global, Inc. (WFCF) MWI Producers Livestock Marketing VSI

After a full day of meetings, attendeees, speakers and sponsors of the 2015 California and Arizona Feeder Meeting sat down to an outdoor dinner at the Coronado Island Marriott Resort.

78 California Cattleman July • August 2015

We strive to raise moderate framed, thick made, sound, easy fleshing, strong maternal traits and efficient cattle that will be profitable for the commercial cattleman.

Quality Hereford and Angus bulls available from an operation that has brought you many Red Bluff, Klamath and Shasta Bull Sale champions.

UPS NAVARRO 3020

DOB: 3/16/13

WW 49

YW 83

MM 33

Fat .061

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Sire: T Beretta 15 by UPS Domino 3027 Dam Sire: T Exceed 608 ET by GO Excel L18

Sire: UPS Navarro Dam Sire: CJH Harland 408 BW 1.2

T BERETTA 413

REA .27

IMF $BMI $CHB .40 24 28

We’re excited to add this great Navarro son to our program from Upstream Ranch: “One of the best Navarro sons we’ve produced”

BW 2.2

WW 53

YW 96

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Fat REA .006 .25

IMF $BMI $CHB .11 15 27

Here’s the complete package! This calf is extremely thick, deep sided, & correct in his structure. Look for his calves in 2016!

HEREFORD AND ANGUS BULLS AVAILABLE ANGUS BULLS AVAILABLE IN 2016 SIRED BY A REGIS SON, BLACK GRANITE AND REGIS.

Greg & Maureen Thomas • Bonanza, OR (541) 545-3417 • (541) 892-0527 ycross@centurylink.net

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 79

Leading The Way 2015 Young Cattlemen’s Conference Recognizes Leaders in the Cattle Industry from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and educating leaders has never been D.C. for an issue briefing on current More than 50 cattle producers so important. As a grassroots trade from across the country and across the policy priorities; including trade and association representing the beef Country-of-Origin Labeling and industry participated in the National industry the NCBA is proud to play ample opportunity to visit with their Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s 2015 a role in that process and its future congressional representatives.

Young Cattlemen’s Conference success.

“The opportunity to hear from including two California cattle ranchers.

Over 1,000 cattlemen and women panels of industry experts and hold Representing the California have graduated from the YCC program honest discussions meant the most Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) were since its inception in 1980. Many of to me,” Scribner said. “Realizing how Seth Scribner, Paso Robles cattle these alumni have gone to serve in a fellow rancher all the way across rancher and ranch operations manager state and national committees, councils the country might be experiencing for Centennial Livestock’s Southern and boards. YCC is the cornerstone of some of the same issues we do in California Division and Jack Lavers, a leadership training in the cattle industry. sixth generation Glennville rancher and California made me thankful to have California beef enthusiasts under organizations like NCBA working on CCA Second Vice President. age 50 who are interested in attending our behalf in Washington, D.C.” The aim of the NCBA’s YCC Young Cattlemen’s Conference in the For Lavers who has been involved program is to give these young leaders future can contact Billy Gatlin at (916) in the policy making process with the an understanding of all aspects of the 444-0845 or billy@calcattlemen.org.

Kern County Cattlemen’s beef industry from grass to plate, and showcase issues management, research, Association and California Cattlemen’s education and marketing. Beginning Association for several in Colorado, the group got an inside look at many of the issues affecting the years, the chance to beef industry and the work being done attend the conference is something he says he on both the state and national level to has looked forward to. address these issues on behalf of our He says it provided all membership. the opportunity he has While in Denver, CattleFax provided a comprehensive overview of hoped for and more.

“The way in which the current cattle market and emerging we were brought trends. At Safeway, the participants together with fellow received a first-hand account of the young cattle producers retail perspective of the beef business from across the U.S. and and then toured the JBS Five Rivers’ immersed into every Kuner feedyard, one of the largest in the nation, and the JBS Greeley packing segment of the beef industry on our trip and processing plant.

From Denver, the group traveled to will serve our futures well,” Lavers said. “This Chicago where they were able to visit trip allowed us to build the Chicago Board of Trade, learning lifelong friendships about risk-management and mitigation and relationships that tools available to the cattle industry. In will help us carry this Chicago, they also visited McDonald’s California was represented by CCA Second industry into the future for Campus and OSI, one of the nation’s Vice President Jack Lavers, Glennville, and a long time.” premiere beef patty producers. After Seth Scribner, Paso Robles, at the 2015 Young With the beef industry the brief stop in Chicago, the group Cattlemen’s Conference. changing rapidly, identifying concluded their trip in Washington 80 California Cattleman July • August 2015

si mp l e sol ut ion s to c om p l e x p r obl e m s

BEEF SOLUTIONS A N G U S S IRE S

S IM A N G U S S I R ES

BEEF SOLUTIONS B U LL S A LE

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C ON N E A LY E A RN A N 0 7 6 E

(bw) +4.8 (ww) +77 (yw) +132 (m) +15 (mb) +.87 (rea) +.68 ($w) +48.01 ($f ) +97.56 ($b) +137.12

M R N LC U PGRADE U 8 6 7 6

(bw) +2.1 (ww) +82.9 (yw) +125.3 (m) +24.5 (mb) +.50 (rea) +1.46 (stay) +21.4 (api) +151.9 (ti) +89.5

T HURSDAY , S EPTEMBER 24 At the Circle R anch Headquar ters, Ione, CA Prime Rib Lunch at Noon • Sale at 1 pm Auctioneers: Rick Machado and John Rodgers

165 BULLS

PA F ULL P OW E R 1 2 0 8

(bw) +0.1 (ww) +65 (yw) +116 (m) +48 (mb) +1.18 (rea) +1.01 ($w) +65.19 ($f ) +61.49 ($b) +109.60

T F S B L AC K O NY X 1 4 4 2 Y

(bw) -0.1 (ww) +68.4 (yw) +101.5 (m) +33.9 (mb) +.37 (rea) +.75 (stay) +na (api) +124.3 (ti) +75.2

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(bw) +1.3 (ww) +54 (yw) +104 (m) +23 (mb) +1.20 (rea) +.89 ($w) +40.70 ($f ) +61.99 ($b) +132.49

H OOKS P ACE SET TER 8 P

(bw) +0.9 (ww) +56.2 (yw) +88.8 (m) +27.7 (mb) -.10 (rea) +1.04 (stay) +19.1 (api) +112 (ti) +60

P LU S T H E S E BU LL S A N GU S S I M AN G US VA R R E SE RV E 1 1 1 1 L E ACHM AN R IGHT T IME B RUIN B RE A KIN G N EWS 2 2 0 1 H OOKS S HEAR F ORC E JMB T RACT ION 2 9 2 M R N LC E NTR EPR ENEU R M R O L IE 4 X

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Circle Ranch

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CCA & CCW Converge in Sacramento

by CCA Director of Communications Malorie Bankhead When a trail of cowboy hats leads into the California Capitol, the legislators and their staff know members of the California Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) and the Califoria CattleWomen, Inc. (CCW) are in town. The anticipation of the famous Steak and Eggs Legislative Breakfast that launched the CCA & CCW Midyear Meeting had the Capitol buzzing for weeks leading up to the day the two groups united at the Sutter Club in downtown Sacramento over a hearty meal to hear from special guests and visit with their tablemates. The 37th Steak and Eggs Legislative Breakfast was no different this year as more than 50 legislators and their staff eagerly placed a complementary cowboy hat atop their heads and enjoyed conversation over a meal with cattlemen and cattlewomen from every corner of the state.

The morning’s program, emceed by CCA President and Modoc County rancher, Billy Flournoy, Likely, included an array of special guests who made it a point to express their support of and admiration for California beef producers as they addressed the crowd.

Among the legislators in attendance, Republican Minority Leader Elect Sen. Jean Fuller, Republican Minority Leader Assemblymember Kristin Olsen, Chair of the Assemby Agriculture Committee Assemblymember Henry Perea, Assemblymember Jim Wood, and State Board of Equalization (SBOE) member Fiona Ma addressed the audience, each touching on the role they play in supporting California agriculture and beef producers and commending the ranchers for coming to help outline the issues for their representatives as they happen on the ground.

To wrap up the morning, Ma recognized CCA members John and Judy Ahmann, Napa, as the first recipients of the brand new Environmental and Economic Equalizer Award, bestowed upon individuals with commitment to excellence and best business practices. The Ahamanns were recognized for their forward thinking and innovation in water and land conservation on their ranches including their implementation of solar power, recycling concrete pipe for irrigation systems, and other drought management techniques like removing thirsty Juniper trees to leave more water for the pastureland to grow and feed their cattle.

After breakfast, more than 30 CCA members made their way to the Capitol to visit with about 20 legislators concerning important issues relating to water and the California drought and antibiotic use in livestock. The meetings aimed to create a casual conversation where issues can be heard and thanks can be extended across the table.

“It’s important for ranchers to visit with their representatives in order to reinforce the messages that CCA staff shares with them daily in Sacramento,” said Justin Oldfield, CCA Vice President of Government Affairs.

“When our members share a very powerful story from their 82 California Cattleman July • August 2015

grass-roots standpoint, it drives the purpose home and increases its value ten-fold.”

Leaving the Capitol, a group of CCA and CCW members headed for the CCA office to hear about strategies on working with members of the media in proactively sharing the ranching story, especially among negative stories surrounding the drought that had shown up in the news in the weeks prior to the meeting.

Shifting gears and moving to the DoubleTree in Sacramento, over 110 CCA and CCW members reconvened at the Midyear Welcome Reception, sponsored by Elanco.

This year, the format of the Midyear Meeting changed a bit from policy committee meetings held in previous years to informational forums covering a variety of topics that have been top-of-mind for CCA staff and members recently.

A robust panel of speakers lined up for each forum throughout the day Thursday on antibiotics, drought, the Grazing Regulatory Action Project (GRAP) and foothill abortion.

The forums filled nearly the entire day receiving positive feedback from members as the discussion-based panels were designed to keep CCA members informed on relevant and timely topics.

“The topics covered in the informational forums were worthy of the time they received, because members have recently watched these issues evolve,” said Tom Talbot, DVM, Bishop, moderator of the antibiotic and foothill abortion forums. “For some of them, it’s time to act and the forums gave our members relevant up-to-date information on these issues.”

For Yolo County rancher Adam Cline, Brooks, the most valuable asset to the meeting’s new format was the discussion style setting. He said members could effectively learn more about the larger issues facing CCA and California ranchers and then had time to talk about them in more detail after the presentations.

Once the business portion of the day wrapped up, the Cattle-PAC reception and dinner reception, sponsored by Silveus Rangeland Insurance, invited members to catch up with friends and enjoy a delicious prime rib dinner complete with a decadent chocolate cake for dessert.

The guest of honor, Sen. Cathleen Galgiani, Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, spoke on the water crisis in California and the importance of planning ahead and not just reacting to the present. She said a proactive approach will provide the best success for agriculture in the future.

Following dinner, the CCA Allied Industry Council hosted a bingo night to benefit the CCA Allied Industry Scholarship Fund awarded to students annually as part of the CCA Scholarship Program. CCA and CCW members vied to punch out a bingo first to win the prize baskets the Allied Industry Council provided.

Just like the event to start, before heading to their respective areas of the state, members met over breakfast to hear from the California Beef Council about the current beef promotion projects they are working on including an educational smart phone application and several retail grocery store partnerships and demonstrations.

After board meetings and goodbyes, attendees departed from Sacramento toward their home ranches. CCA appreciates our members making the time to leave the ranch and your livelihoods to attend the Midyear Meeting.

We value your hard work and strive to keep you doing what you love. We hope to see you next year in Sacramento!

Ranching advocates Seth Doulton and Nita Vail with Assemblemember Frank Bigelow (R-O’Neals).

CCA member Jack Hanson, Susanville, with Assemblymember Rocky Chavez (R-Oceanside).

Assemblymember Henry Perea (D-Fresno), Assemblymember Kristin Olsen (R-Modesto) and Sen. Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield) were some of the lawmakers who took time out of the busy schedules to address breakfast attendees.

CCA member (L to R): Jim Keegan, Williams; and Bill Thomas, Ione; with CCA Feeder Council Chairman Bill Brandenberg, El Centro; and Assemblymember Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove).

State Veterinarian Annette Jones, DVM; Foothill abortion researcher Jeff Stott, Ph.D., and Silveus’ Aaron Tattersall were just a few of the events speakers.

Ventura County Cattlemen’s Association Members (L to R): Mike Williams, town, with Bud Sloan, DVM, and Kim Sloan, Santa Paula; alongside CCA Second Vice President Rich Ross, Lincoln.

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 83

A Likely Story

Documentary featuring Modoc family wins Emmy

By CCA Director of Communications Malorie Bankhead A Likely Story, featuring the McGarva Family of Likely, won the Emmy award for best documentary at the National Academy of Television, Arts and Sciences San Francisco/ Northern California Chapter Emmy Awards in June.

Ken and Jackie McGarva of McGarva Ranch, honored by the California Beef Cattle Improvement Association in 2013 with the Commercial Cattle Producer of the Year award, welcomed the Sacramento PBS affiliate station’s KVIE production crew to their ranch in Northern California to capture a cattle drive that would move their herd down from the Warner Mountains. What the family didn’t expect was the result that would come from the documentary.

“We were pretty pleased to learn about the award,” Ken said. “Working with the KVIE team to create this documentary is an experience we’ll always remember, and we’re glad they were able to earn that honor for their time spent with our family and our little town.”

After meeting the McGarva family, it quickly became apparent to the production team that this documentary was going to become something special.

The film, originally planned to capture a cattle drive to be featured on an episode of America’s Heartland, evolved into much more once the production team arrived in Likely and began interacting with the McGarva family.

“It was fun to hear about where the crew had been and what they have captured in all the places they’ve traveled,” McGarva said. “They had lots of questions about ranching and the way we do business, and I think we did a pretty good job of answering them and showing them what we do.”

Over the course of the four days the KVIE team was in Likely, they got to capture the McGarva family in their natural state. Rounding up cattle, touring Likely, branding calves, driving the cattle, and spending time with each member of the McGarva family made for a wellrounded trip.

McGarva said he’s received phone calls from folks and even cards in the mail from strangers who were impacted by their story.

“When we found out that this was going to be the last cattle drive that Mr. McGarva would be leading before passing the ranch off to the next generation, we knew we wanted to help share his legacy,” said Tyler Bastine, KVIE Public Television Associate Producer.

After the filming was completed and the final product was produced, Bastine says the team felt they had to at least put the story in the pot for the Emmy Award. Up against the 49ers production team and a KQED piece on the Bay Bridge lighting project in their Emmy category, the KVIE crew was elated that A Likely Story came out on top.

“Meeting the farmers and ranchers

84 California Cattleman July • August 2015

KEN AND JACKIE MCGARVA has got to be my favorite part of my job. They are always so hospitable and accommodating,” Bastine said. “The McGarvas opened up their house to us and just let us do what we needed to do.

At the end of the very last day after all of the filming and interviews, they were still willing to invite us in and cook us a big meal. That was special.”

You can view the touching documentary of the McGarva family by visiting http://vids.kvie.org/ video/2365387414/ or by clicking on the video posted on the CCA Facebook page.

The story aired as an episode of the America’s Heartland series. The 11th season will premiere sometime the first week of September showcasing more ranching and farming families across the United States like the McGarvas. Tune into PBS or RFD-TV to watch.

Selling 100 “Verified Feed Efficient” Balancer and SimAngus Bulls September 23rd, 2015 • 1:00 pm • Dos Palos Y Auction, Dos Palos, CA

Selling Sons of: REG# AMGV1229516

REG# AMGV1168609

Converted 2.64:1 as a yearling.

EGL Remuda Z339

EGL Lock and Load X415

CED+5 BW+1.4 WW+51 YW+85 MK+26 CW+23 REA+0.93 MB+0.53

CED+9 BW+1.7 WW+69 YW+122 MK+15 CW+45 REA+0.91 MB+0.38

Our bulls eat like PIGS... LITERALLY!

We have broken the 3:1 conversion threshold seen only in the pork industry. Numerous bulls in this year’s “Verified Feed Efficient” bull sale converted at under 4:1! If you’re looking to cut feed costs and improve your bottom line, look no futher than a Verified Feed Efficient Bull from Eagle Pass!

The Eagle Pass Ranch cowherd is arguably the most efficient in the country. We’re the only seedstock producer in the industry that has individual feed intake data on every current female in production and we’re one of the few that can make selection and culling decisions based on actual individual feed intake data!

Introducing the XXL!

Don’t miss the unveiling of an all-new beef breed at our 2015 sale, XXL! A Balancer, SimAngus cross, XXL bulls are all bred for Xtra Performance and Xtra Efficiency. These bulls are specifically designed to meet the needs of today’s cattlemen. Check out our website for more details!

Steve Munger - Owner 34261 200th St., Highmore, SD 57345 Nate Munger, Cowherd Manager • Cell: (605)380-2582 AJ Munger, Sales and Marketing • Cell: (605) 521-4468

1-855-303-BULL • www.eaglepass.com July • August 2015 California Cattleman

85

Trade PROMOTION Authority Moves to President’s Desk On June 24, the Senate took the final vote needed to send Trade Promotion Authority to the President for his signature. Passing by a vote of 60-38. The action followed a much tighter passing vote (218-208) on June 18 by the House.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association strongly supports TPA and applauds the House and Senate for taking this necessary step to securing future free trade deals that will boost American exports.

“Trade Promotion Authority gives Congress the ability to set definitive goals for the President in negotiations, and then requires any deal be brought back for final approval,” said Philip Ellis, NCBA President.

“TPA does not give the President free rein to make trade deals. Without TPA, it would be virtually impossible to negotiate future agreements with other countries, which would hinder our ability to gain greater access into foreign markets.”

Over 12 million American jobs depend on exports, and with the renewal of TPA, valuable free trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership can move forward.

In 2014, U.S. beef exports accounted for over $7 billion in total sales and added over $350 in value for every head of cattle sold.

That is value that is brought back to all segments of the industry and Ellis, a cow-calf producer from Wyoming, said that is a lot of added value to his bottom line.

“The fact is, over 96 percent of the world’s population lives outside our borders,” said Ellis. “Consumers around the world want more beef in their diet and other countries are aggressively seeking trade agreements to give their products a competitive advantage. TPA is the foundation for us to negotiate increased market access and tariff elimination through free trade agreements.”

The June 18 vote represented the second time in a week that the House has voted in favor of TPA legislation. The house also voted on June 12 as part of a trade package, included Trade Adjustment Assistance. Trade Promotion Authority was enacted in 1974 to build the framework for the Administration to negotiate trade agreements that support jobs, eliminate barriers and stop unfair trade. Once signed by the President, Trade Promotion Authority will be reauthorized for five years.

86 California Cattleman July • August 2015

HAVE Angus

Breeding Champion Genetics

THAT WILL PERFORM IN THE RING, ON THE RANCH & ON THE RAIL! Watch for the HAVE Angus name at: World of Bulls, in Galt NOVEMBER 7 Red Bluff Bull Sale JANUARY 30, 2016.

2012 RED BLUFF CHAMPION ANGUS HALTER BULL PRODUCING CHAMPIONS LIKE THIS YEAR AFTER YEAR!

2015 HAVE OFFERING FROM THESE LEADING SIRES: Cherry Knoll Top Notch 1217 Duff New Edition 6108 74-51 Changing Time 060 Dameron First Impression DPL Total K83 PF CC&7 71599 1103

ALSO YOUR SOURCE FOR SIMANGUS GENETICS FROM EV SHOW CATTLE. SELLING 4 TOP SIMANGUS BULLS IN GALT AND RED BLUFF.

HAVE Angus

Jim, Karen & Elizabeth Vietheer (916) 687-7620 (916) 834-2669 jimvietheer@frontiernet.net

www.haveangus.com Darrell & Reba Hansen (707) 328-9349 darrellhansen1@hotmail.com Mel Hansen (707) 478-2662

CONSISTENT QUALITY Time after Time

Phillips Red Angus customers return year after year for proven, low-birthweight bulls loaded with carcass!

Experience the difference for yourself!

Bulls will sell at Snyder Livestock’s Bulls for the 21st Century Sale, March 13, 2016 in Yerington, Nevada!

Phillps Ranch Red Angus

2010 Snyder Bull Test Red Angus Calving-Ease Champion

Cecil Felkins (209) 274-4338 550 Buena Vista Rd. Ione, CA 95640

McPhee Red Angus As good as the best and better than the rest!

B ULL AND F EMALE S ALE S EPTEMBER 2 6 , 2 0 1 5 • F E MA LE S

10: 30 A M • L UNC H AT N O ON • • B ULL S SEL L AT 1: 00 PM •

SE LL AT

S ELLI N G • Bu lls • 65 Fall Year lings • Females • 30 Open Year ling Heifer s

B ACKED BY OVER 44 YEARS OF RAISING R ED A NGUS , M C P HEE CAT TLE EXCEL WITH PERFORMANCE ACROSS THE BOARD , FROM CALVING EASE TO GROW TH , SUPERIOR CARCASS TRAITS AND SECOND TO NONE MATERNAL TRAITS !

Featuring the progeny of

BROWN COMMITMENT X7787 • He was a past sale highlight at RA Brown, TX. • Sired last year’s high selling bull to Alta Genetics for $25,000.

• Sired all three high selling bulls in last year’s sale!

• Moderate, powerful, and athletic!

• His first females in production look fantastic!

Call or email for a catalog!

For more information, go to www. McPheeRedAngus.com

McPhee Red Angus Nellie, Mike, Mary, Rita & Families 14298 N. Atkins Rd • Lodi, CA 95240 Nellie (209) 727-3335 • Rita (209) 607-9719 info@mcpheeredangus.com

Home of many champions!

Including the 2015 Midland Bull Test High Indexing Red Angus!

CCA Announces Award Nominee Deadlines for 2015 Convention

As fall is fast approaching, the California Cattlemen’s Association wants to remind members of key awards given at the convention and their respective deadlines.

Each year, CCA accepts nominations for its highest honor, the Gordon Van Vleck Memorial Award, named in honor of past CCA and National Cattlemen’s Association Gordon Van Vleck. The award recognizes individuals who have given significantly of their time and talents to benefit the California beef industry though do not make a living as a cattle producer.

Past recipients of the award include Dr. Bert Johnson, Los Gatos; Bennie Osburn, DVM, former Dean of the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), School of Veterinary Medicine; the late Jack Algeo, a wellknown animal nutritionist; John Maas, DVM, former extension veterinarian at UC Davis; the legendary John Ascuaga; and California State University Animal Science Professor Randy Perry, Ph.D. Other significant awards given during

CCA Welcomes New Administrative Staff The California Cattlemen’s Association is pleased to welcome Jenna Chandler as the newest staff member. Chandler, who will serve as CCA Office Administrator, grew up on a horse ranch in Lincoln where she developed a love for watching things grow, from alfalfa to livestock.

Chandler attended the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, majoring in Animal Science and minoring in English. While at UC Davis, she worked at the UC Davis Dairy in milk quality and herd management. She also spent time working at the UC Davis Hopkins Avian Facility, specializing in layers and broilers.

In 2012, she began work for the California State Assembly, serving both the 33rd and 6th Assembly Districts in various capacities.

“I’m excited to be a part of the CCA team,” Chandler said. “I look forward to pairing my passion and background in agriculture and my experience working with members of the legislature with my role as CCA’s Office Administrator.”

Chandler’s responsibilities include initial telephone and personal contact with CCA members and the public while maintaining an orderly workflow in the office. She will also assist with meeting planning, preparation and scheduling. To schedule a Fall Tour meeting for your local cattlemen’s association, contact Jenna in the CCA office at (916) 444-0845.

88 California Cattleman July • August 2015

the annual CCA/CCW convention are the Young Cattlemen’s Committee Member and Support of the Year Award, in which each school chapter of the state’s Young Cattlemen’s Committee may nominate one current YCC member and one supporter to be recognized during the convention.

For questions regarding the awards or applications for these awards can be accessed through the CCA office or online at www.calcattlemen.org. The application deadlines for all awards is Oct. 29, 2015. Winners will be recognized at the annual CCA/CCW Awards Dinner on Nov. 20 at JA Nugget in Sparks, Nev.

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 89

90 California Cattleman July • August 2015

Calving Ease, Growth, Maternal and Carcass Traits

This Fall Selling Daughters of

Prime Time

PAR Prime Time 001Z

2013 Grand Champion Houston Livestock Show 1/12/14 #1525587 HrdBldr GrdMstr CED BW WW YW MILK MARB YG CW REA 119

57

Bred to the Amazing New Bull

5

-2.2 83 128

21

1.14 0.14 43 0.40

Acquisition

Dunn Acquistion B506

Top 1% HBI, GMI, CED, MARB and STAY! 1/05/14 #1686395 HrdBldr GrdMstr CED BW WW YW MILK MARB YG CW REA 224

57

16 -6.3 66 108

21

1.04 0.05 25 0.54

Also offering elite cows and heifers bred to powerhouse breed leaders like Incredible, Drought Breaker, Takeover, Right Kind 315, Trilogy and Night Calver Everett Flikkema: 406.580.2186 Jack Vollstedt: 818.535.4034

www.vfredangus.com Terrebonne, Oregon

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 91

CHIMES MEET YOUR BEEF

tips for getting up-close and personal with consumers

by California CattleWomen, Inc., Member Brooke Behlen Would you believe it if I told you that information travels almost as fast as the speed of light? In today’s day and age that is a true statement!

About a year ago, I stumbled into the blogging world (meetyourbeef.com) simply to chronicle life on our ranch for future generations. I wanted to create a place where my future kids and grandkids could read stories and see pictures of our ranch.

The immediate response from my first few posts taught me a valuable lesson: our consumers have a lot of questions about where their food comes from and how it is raised. I realized I had a unique opportunity to fulfil my responsibility to this industry. Sharing my story via social media has been quite an exciting and challenging journey and is something I believe will deeply influence the future of our industry.

Fighting for something you love is easy. Finding the time in our busy schedules to devote to social media is the challenge.

Below are six reasons why I think YOU should be an active member in this social media world, even if it’s just once a week on one platform.

1. Mass influence. Facebook reaches 150 million users nearly 3x faster than a cell phone. If we aren’t at the table, we won’t be a part of the conversation.

2. We need to counter misinformation campaigns centered on food. If you don’t believe me, look up how many people follow The Food Babe.

3. Food is a hot issue. We as cattle ranchers have firsthand experience that is more valuable than we know.

Consumers may not know how their food is raised but research shows they want to learn!

4. Social media gives us a chance to work together for the common good. Reaching out to other agvocates on social media allows for collaboration, friendship and a community full of support.

92 California Cattleman July • August 2015

5. Being involved in social media allows you to connect with the 98 percent of people who do not reside on a farm or ranch.

6. Consumers have real questions about their food. Who better to answer those questions than the people who produce it?

If you have questions or need help getting involved please email me at info@ meetyourbeef.com!

BROOKE BEHLEN

California Cattlewomen recently had the privilege of having Brooke Behlen of meetyourbeef.com as a guest speaker at the 2015 Beef Promotion Field Day at Harris Ranch in Coalinga. Behlen’s passion for the beef industry and our youth is energizing.

When Brooke Behlen first tip-toed into the intimidating world of blogging, her plan for Meet Your Beef was to give a place to chronicle their family’s ranch for her family and generations to come. Her grandfather, the second generation to ranch on their land, told a million stories in his lifetime, most of them hilarious, all of which she wished she had written down. So because she didn’t, here she is.

Reliving a little of what his life stood for, carrying on the tradition, and telling her own story in an effort to help an industry that she loves, trusts,and believes in.

MEETYOUBEEF.COM ©

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Here is what ranchers like you have to say: “We are very happy with the results of the PRF program over the past three years. It has become part of our management strategy here on the ranch.

Give Jim and Matt a call today.”

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Jim and Matt are true PRF professionals.”

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Contact us to see what programs we offer to keep your business in business during good and bad times!

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July • August 2015 California Cattleman 93

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Jim Vann

PUTTING THE “NO” IN EL NIÑO EL NIÑO DOESN’T ALWAYS PROMISE RAIN

by Meterologist Brian Bledsoe The evolving El Niño that is going on in the Pacific Ocean has been quite impressive to watch. While we’ve been dealing with a couple variations of El Niño since late last summer (California Niño and Modoki Niño) the event has morphed into a more “traditional” El Niño.

All of the orange and red on the map in Figure 1 to the right are indicative of sea surface temperature anomalies that are warmer than normal.

So not only do we have a very positive Pacific Decadal Oscillation occurring (warm pool from Gulf of Alaska down the west coast of North America), but we have a nicely organized traditional El Niño occurring (warmer than normal water from West Coast of South America to the Central Pacific).

The ongoing El Niño in combination with the very positive Pacific Decadal Oscillation have basically ended the long term drought in the Great Plains.

However, farther west most areas have not been nearly as lucky. The map in Figure 2 shows the total moisture during the past two months.

Some areas of California did see some pretty nice late season moisture, but it was mainly confined to northeast and east-central California. Other areas have been pretty dry, with the exception of far southwest California.

There has been a lot of talk about the strength, duration and impact of this El Niño for California.

Below shows many of the computer models and their forecast for the current El Niño as shown in the chart on the bottom right.

Notice that some models suggest a very strong El Niño, while others do not. The yellow line is the model average and shows a moderate to strong event. The green line is the statistical average and shows a lesser event. I would side closer to “yellow line” in terms of strength, but I seriously doubt if this event evolves into something that would rival the El Niño of 1982-83 or 1997. Those two events were very strong.

Also, notice that most models weaken the El Niño by quite a bit during late winter. This could prove significant, as El Niño MAY greatly enhance moisture chances for the fall and winter for California.

Why do I say “may enhance?” Because the evolution of this El Niño is still in question. Thus, while the setup looks better than it has in quite a while, do not get excited just yet. We have extreme drought right now and will likely have to contend with a very bad fire season.

The one thing that may also occur is enhanced moisture chances for far Southern California due to tropical storms moving farther north this year. ...CONTINUED ON PAGE 96 94 California Cattleman July • August 2015

FIGURE 1

FIGURE 2

CHART 1

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...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 94

FIGURE 3

This is due to the abundance of warmer than normal water farther north, which would act to sustain storms moving farther north this season. That being said, let’s look at the precipitation outlook from the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC} Model for fall and winter in the map figure to the right This model to the right (and others) are forecasting a normal to wetter than normal fall and a wetter than normal winter for most of California. Historically speaking, this would fit nicely with what usually happens in California during a “traditional” El Niño. However, if this El Niño ends up “maxing out” its intensity sooner and weakens quicker than the models suggest, that would put that wet winter in jeopardy.

Another thing that could jeopardize a wet winter would be if this “traditional” El Niño morphed back into the different types of El Niños that dominated last fall and winter. Obviously, they were of no serious long term help My forecast? I am cautiously optimistic that some serious drought help will get going late this year. However, we have a long way to go before it gets here, which means drought and wildfire will remain the short term concern.

Keep in mind, we could essentially go from one extreme to the other and have to worry about flash flooding If this El Niño were to deliver some serious drought relief. History shows it happened in the past, and history also dictates it can and will happen again.

As always, if you have any questions or comments, please drop me a line: brianbledsoewx@gmail.com.

Summertime Grillin’ and Chillin’

Inside Out Grilled Steak Salad

Time: 20 to 25 minutes • Makes 16 hand-held servings INGREDIENTS 2 beef Strip Steaks Boneless, cut 1 inch thick (about 10 ounces each) 16 Boston or butter lettuce leaves (about 4 to 5-inch diameter) 2 cups thin assorted vegetable strips, such as cucumber, red onion, carrots, bell pepper, sugar snap peas 1/4 cup frozen shelled edamame, thawed or frozen peas or corn, thawed 1/4 cup reduced-fat or regular vinaigrette (any variety) 1/3 cup crumbled goat or blue cheese (optional) 1/3 cup toasted chopped almonds, walnuts, pecans or hazelnuts (optional) RUB 2 teaspoons sweet paprika 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon coarse grind or cracked black pepper INSTRUCTIONS FOR PESTO STEAK & ARUGULA PIZZA 1. Combine Rub ingredients; press evenly onto beef steaks.

2. Place steaks on grid over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill, covered, 11 to 14 minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill 11 to 15 minutes) for medium rare (145°F) to medium (160°F) doneness, turning occasionally.

3. Carve steaks into slices. Place lettuce leaves on serving platter. Evenly layer vegetables onto lettuce leaves. Top evenly with steak. Drizzle with vinaigrette; sprinkle with cheese and nuts, if desired.

Test Kitchen Tips To pan-broil steaks, preheat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Place steaks in skillet; cook steaks 12 to 15 minutes for medium rare (145°F) to medium (160°F) doneness, turning occasionally.

96 California Cattleman July • August 2015

9. 26. 15

Save the Date 14th Annual

A Western Affair Woodside, California Please plan to join us at our 14th annual A Western Affair.

This year’s family friendly event will be held at the Mounted Patrol of San Mateo County facility. Enjoy dinner, an auction, and Western music among the majestic redwood forests. There will also be an optional trail ride earlier in the day.

Founded in 1942, the Mounted Patrol provided protection to our shores during WWII and operates today as a social club and center for equestrian activities with a beautiful outdoor arena.

You can find more information on our website, www.RangelandTrust.org.

The California Rangeland Trust is a non-profit organization founded by a group of innovative cattlemen and cattlewomen in 1998, to conserve California’s working ranches that provide stewardship, open space, and natural habitat for future generations. We are pleased to have helped permanently protect over 285,000 acres of privately-owned rangeland.

California Beef Council WHILE YOU’RE WORKING HARD TO PRODUCE NUTRITIOUS AND DELICIOUS BEEF, YOUR CHECKOFF DOLLARS ARE WORKING HARD FOR YOU. Promoting Your Product AT THE RETAIL LEVEL. In 2014 alone, the CBC partnered with more than 1,250 retailers to promote beef throughout California.

THROUGH INTEGRATED MARKETING CAMPAIGNS. Comprehensive campaigns often combine retail-level promotions with digital marketing tools, broadcast advertising campaigns, and online contests that drive beef sales and encourage consumer engagement.

ON SOCIAL MEDIA. Engaging with consumers on popular social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, the CBC sparks dialogue and shares information about all things beef.

Sharing Beef ’s Nutrition

BY CREATING MORE BEEF NUTRITION ADVOCATES. The CBC educates current and future registered dietitians and nutritionists through workshops and nutrition events, making them even more confident in recommending beef in a healthy diet.

ONLINE, IN PERSON, AND ON THE AIRWAVES. The CBC continually touts beef’s importance in a healthy diet – which is supported by a comprehensive body of scientific evidence – through all of its communication and outreach efforts.

98 California Cattleman July • August 2015

Your Beef Checkoff Dollars at Work Educating Consumers and Influencers ON THE FARM. Providing behind-the-scenes ranch and beef industry tours to retail, foodservice, and nutrition influencers helps share your story with important stakeholders.

WITHIN THE FOODSERVICE INDUSTRY. Through face-to-face trainings, and the popular “BEEFlexible” mobile application, the CBC provides its foodservice partners with the tools and resources to build their beef knowledge.

THROUGH ONLINE ENGAGEMENT. Millennial consumers want to learn more about cooking with beef, and the CBC and the CBC and Beef Checkoff provides the educational tools to do just that through digital advertising, online engagement, and informative web resources like BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com.

LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR BEEF CHECKOFF INVESTMENT BY DOWNLOADING A COPY OF THE CBC’S LATEST ANNUAL REPORT AT WWW.CALBEEF.ORG.

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 99

A Beef Trifecta

Cattle Show, Chili and Tri-Tip Cook Off

by CCA Director of Communications Malorie Bankhead Some spent Memorial Day weekend with family and friends in the backyard surrounding the grill and remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Others did some of the same and incorporated cattle into the mix at the combined field day of the California Junior Angus, California Junior Shorthorn, California Junior Charolais and California/Nevada Junior Hereford Associations at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds in Turlock.

The three-day event brings together these junior associations and their members, which formerly held separate field days, combining a cattle show with leadership activities and association meetings, plus the ever-so-popular tri-tip and chili cook off contest!

Exhibitors may spend months preparing their cattle for their debut in the show ring, but there’s another aspect of the weekend with titles coveted by a select group of folks, which requires an ample amount of preparation too. Parents of exhibitors, friends and family alike spend weeks preparing in their own ways concocting the perfect rub or marinade for their tri-tip and going through countless test runs before bringing their chili to perfection for their chance to shine in the tri-tip and chili cook off contest. But it all comes down to the taste buds of the panel of judges and the crowd’s voting decisions to see who will come out on top. Some say the process is more intense than the cattle being critiqued in the show ring, and the competitors mean serious business.

Gathered under pop-up tents and near picnic tables with aluminum foil covering their prized entries, the amateur chefs and self-proclaimed beef-preparing extraordinaires wipe sweat from their brows as they toil over their tri-tip and chili making sure every detail is perfect all the way down to the thickness of meat slices and the bean-to-meat ratio in their chili before it’s go time. Some proudly touted their previously-earned titles while others stayed secluded in various corners of the barns keeping their secret ingredients and their beef to themselves.

Friendly rivalries were made clear over competitive banter

between grills, and it was all fun and games until the beef and chili were proudly displayed on cutting boards and in the finest paper bowls paired with garlic bread, assorted grilled veggies and even different meats to taste. Doing their best to lure members of the crowd to try their entries, the contestants urged their taste testers to vote for their dish as their favorite.

Isolated from the chaos in the shelter of the barns, the panel of judges, made up of cattle rancher Nick Cozzitorto, National Junior Hereford Association Leadership Chair Taryn Adcock, and I tasted a bit of each delicious entry and worked together to decide the contestants’ fate while the attendees placed their own votes. We took flavor and taste, texture, ease of cutting and chewing and overall presentation into account as we moved through the entries pointing out qualities of each that we liked or disliked.

After detailed collaboration and discussion over the entries, we as judges chose Randy Perry, Ph.D., Prather, and Matt Leo, Merced, as the winners of the tri-tip cook off for their melt-in-your-mouth tri-tip, and the two got to take home a traveling cooler boasting their accomplishment and newly-earned title. The Crowd Favorite Award was given to Dewar Farms for their most-popular-among-the-voters tritip, and they can wear their brand new distinguished apron with pride! The judges picked David Valdez for the win in the chili cook off for his uniquely flavored and meatful chili and the Crowd Favorite chili was awarded to Meat Wagon.

The crowd began to dissipate once the winners were announced, the exhibitors prepared for another day of showing in the morning and the chefs packed up their grills and electric cutting knives with high hopes of pursuing next year’s titles. And I traveled home full of delicious samples of beef hoping I did a good enough job to be asked to judge again next time.

The Dewar Family took home Randy Perry, Ph.D., and Matt Leo claimed “Crowd Favorite” honors. another tri-tip cook off championship.

100 California Cattleman July • August 2015

David Valdez was the winner of the Chili Cook Off.

Teixeira Cattle Co.

21st Annual

October 9•4 p.m.

Featuring daughter of our donor cow

Spring & Fall Heifers Bred heifers Open Heifers Bulls Steers Heifer Pregnancies

J/V Angus, Bill Traylor (530) 304-2811

Allan & Cecilia Teixeira (805) 595-1404

John & HeatherTeixeira

SALE MANAGED BY:

(805) 595-1416 • (805) 448-3859

855 Thousand Hills Rd., Pismo Beach, CA 93449 www.teixeiracattleco.com cattle@thousandhillsranch.com Psalms 50:10

LARRY COTTON (517) 294-0777 RYAN COTTON (706) 206-8361

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 101

Administration’s Rush to Finalize WOTUS Underscores Extremely Flawed Process

I

by CCA Director of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur

n May, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) finalized their rule defining what waterways and land features constitute “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) over which the agencies may exercise regulatory authority under the federal Clean Water Act (CWA). The rule, which significantly expands the geographic reach of the EPA and Corps, represents a massive land grab by the agencies.

Because the regulation is expected to significantly burden land owners and is at odds with a trio of U.S. Supreme Court decisions outlining the agencies’ regulatory authority, CCA and agricultural groups nationwide strenuously opposed the regulation, and will continue to do so in the wake of the agencies finalizing the rule.

Though the Final Rule does differ in significant respects from the regulation as initially proposed, the agencies have done little to satisfy the concerns of the agricultural community. For instance, the Final Rule clarifies which waters may be regulated as “adjacent waters,” but does so by vastly expanding the agencies’ jurisdictional authority. Under the new interpretation of “adjacent waters,” the agencies will exercise jurisdiction over any water that occurs “in whole or in part” within 100 feet of a traditional navigable waterway.

In other words, if even a miniscule part of a water body is within 100 feet of a navigable waterway, the agencies will exercise jurisdiction over the entire water body—even if the vast area of that water body is more than 100 feet from the navigable waterway. But the agencies’ reach is even wider than this 100-foot threshold: if a water body is located in whole or in part within a 100-year floodplain, the agencies will exercise jurisdiction over that waterway if it is within 1,500 feet of a navigable water.

Even the 1,500-foot threshold isn’t a hard limit on agencies’ power, however: if a water body is within a 100year floodplain or within 4,000 feet of a navigable waterway, the agencies can determine, on a case-by-case basis, that it has a “significant nexus” to a jurisdictional waterway, and can exercise jurisdiction.

Among the most troubling changes in the Final Rule for California ranchers in particular is that the regulation

102 California Cattleman July • August 2015

effectively brings all vernal pools in California within the definition of “Waters of the United States.”

The result of such expansive regulation is that thousands of miles of stream and thousands of acres of land will newly fall under federal jurisdiction—with attendant regulatory burdens and permitting fees.

a clear-as-mud process The over-expansive rule is the result of an equallyoutrageous and flawed rulemaking process.

In comments to the EPA and Corps submitted last November in response to the proposed rule, CCA joined numerous other agricultural groups in arguing that the rulemaking process was heavily flawed—and, in fact, in violation of the law.

The Administrative Procedures Act, a federal law which governs the development of agency regulations such as the WOTUS rule, requires agencies “to make available to the public, in a form that allows for meaningful comment, the data the agency used to develop the proposed rule.”

The EPA and Corps were anything but transparent about their data, however. In creating the proposed rule, the EPA relied on maps of waters and wetlands throughout the country that were not released for public review. It was not until the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology was preparing for a hearing on the proposed rule that the maps finally came to light.

Additionally, some of the scientific studies the EPA and Corps used in developing their rule were only released to the public in draft form prior to the comment deadline, meaning only the agencies would be privy to the final versions of those studies as they prepared the final rule. In fact, in the three weeks before the comment deadline arrived—and long after the vast majority of commenters had already submitted their objections to the rule—the agencies quietly released 212 supporting or related documents that informed their proposed rule, effectively depriving the regulated community of information that would have informed their objections to ...CONTINUED ON PAGE 104

The Brand That Covers the Nation

Selling 250 Bulls • 200 Females Females Will Sell Immediately Following Bulls SALE MANAGED BY:

517-546-6374 www.cotton-associates.com

42734 Old Trail Rd. • Baker City, OR 97814 Rob & Lori Thomas - Home: (541) 523-7958 • Office: (541) 524-9322 Rob’s Cell: (541) 403-0562 • Lori’s Cell: (541) 403-0561 www.thomasangusranch.com • thomasangus@thomasangusranch.com California Cattleman July • August 2015 103

...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 102 the regulation. The rule was also exceedingly vague as proposed. In at least 35 sections of the proposed rule, the agencies opted to request comments about what form potential regulations should take rather than discretely outlining a proposal. The result is a Final Rule which substantially differs from the proposed rule, with numerous elements that are entirely new to the Final Rule—never before seen by those who will be impacted by the regulation.

CCA and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) both called for another round of public comment after the EPA and Corps incorporated regulations gleaned from the 35-plus requests-for-comment in the proposed rule. Instead, the EPA and Corps hastily rushed to finalize the rule, depriving the regulated community of an opportunity to comment upon material elements of the regulation.

Rushing to regulate The Final Rule comes just six months after the close of the public comment period, during which the agencies received well over one million comments (1,124,307, to be exact). The quick turnaround suggests that the Administration was determined to finalize the rule and gave little consideration to the significant public outcry regarding the proposed regulation.

The rush to finalize the rule is even more outrageous when considered in the context of other hot-button federal proposals. Take, for example, the 2013 proposal by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to delist the grey wolf as a federally-endangered species. The USFWS proposed to delist the grey wolf in June of 2013, and the final comment period on the proposal closed in March of 2014. During that time, USFWS received more than 1.5 million comments from the public regarding the proposed rule. It has been15 months since the close of that comment period, and USFWS has not finalized its decision regarding the grey wolf, owing largely to the fact that the agency has such an immense amount of feedback to analyze. (It should be noted that USFWS has finalized part of the proposed rule relating to the Mexican grey wolf subspecies, but it has not finalized its rule regarding whether to delist the grey wolf.)

In this context, it seems obvious that EPA and Corps had a clear agenda to impose the expansive WOTUS rule regardless of the public feedback they received, and it is also very probably that the agencies had insufficient time to fully examine and appreciate the feedback they received on the 104 California Cattleman July • August 2015

proposed rule. As of press time, the agencies had yet to publish their response to comments in the Federal Register, and it is thus unclear how carefully they considered the concerns raised during the comment period, including the concerns addressed

by CCA and NCBA.

What’s coming down the pipe Though the agencies have announced the final rule and released a “prepublication version,” the rule has yet to be published in the Federal Register. The rule takes effect 60 days after formal publication, at which time ranchers and others may become liable for non-compliance with the expansive regulation.

Publication in the Federal Register is also important in terms of potential legal challenges: two weeks after publication, the final rule is considered “issued” for purposes of judicial review.

In the meantime, Congress is currently seeking to reign in the agencies through legislation.

In May, the House of Representatives passed The Regulatory Integrity Protection Act (H.R. 1732), which would require the EPA and Corps to withdraw the rule, and would require proper consultation with stakeholders and a full economic analysis, among other requirements, before the EPA and Corps propose a new WOTUS rule.

Similar legislation is also being considered in the Senate. The Federal Water Quality Protection Act (S. 1140) would require the EPA and Corps to withdraw their WOTUS rule and develop a new proposal with greater direction from Congress.

CCA has strongly supported these legislative efforts to check the agencies’ power grab.

Unfortunately, even if legislation overturning the WOTUS rule passes the House and Senate, it is likely to be vetoed by President Obama, and Congressional opposition to the rule is likely insufficient to override the president’s veto.

Ultimately, the Final Rule is likely to be challenged in the courts. Many in the agricultural community and other regulated communities believe that the EPA and Corps’ interpretation of what constitutes waters of the U.S. exceeds their legal authority under the CWA, and three U.S. Supreme Court cases defining the reach of the CWA support the claim that the agencies have overreached.

Additionally, the agencies’ flawed rulemaking process may expose them to challenges founded upon the requirements of the Administrative Procedures Act. CCA will continue to support legislative efforts to defeat the final WOTUS rule and will continue to track the issue for any developments, including potential legal challenges. For more information on WOTUS, contact Kirk Wilbur in the CCA office.

— 59th Annual —

Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo

Bull Test Sale Angus, Polled Hereford, SimAngus, Red Angus, Horned Hereford, LimFlex, Brangus

•

Poly Tested, Poly Approved

•

Sunday, October 4, 1 p.m.

133 yearling bulls

Join us for our Field Day August 22 sponsored by Immucell

ALSO: PRE-SALE SOCIAL TICKETS AVAILABLE 8/22 - 9/22 Pre-sale social and Young Cattlemen’s Association fundraiser features dinner donated by Robert Boykin as well as annual dessert auction.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REQUEST A CATALOG, CONTACT:

Keela Retallick Beef Cattle Specialist (805) 756-2685 kretalli@calpoly.edu

Aaron Lazanoff Beef Operations Manager (805) 801-7058 alazanof@calpoly.edu July • August 2015 California Cattleman 105

Living a Passion Young producer raised in business, expands own roots

By CCA Director of Communications Malorie Bankhead

F

rom early on in life Carissa Koopmann Rivers, Winters, knew that she would be involved in the beef cattle and ranching business somehow, she just didn’t know what form her involvement would ultimately take or where her passion would lead her.

“Like any little kid, I had an idea of what I wanted to become when I grew up,” Rivers said. “It was just a matter of figuring out what shape my dream would take.”

Her love of the land and livestock, bestowed upon her by her 4th generation ranching parents Tim and Melinda Koopmann, on the family’s home ranch in Sunol, would trump all as she attended California State University, Fresno and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science with a beef production specialty and began her career in agriculture. Currently, she’s finishing a program from Colorado State University and will earn a Masters Degree in Integrated Resource Management, taking her love and passion for livestock production and combining it with her practical experience with science and rangeland management.

“I’ve always loved cows,” Rivers said.

“Nothing made me happier than going out in the truck during the fall with a load of hay to feed the cows, monitoring them

during calving season and spending time with my dad.”

From day one, these activities tied her to her passion.

In addition to helping on the home ranch, she began Koopmann Red Angus in 2001 with three Red Angus heifers.

After she and her husband Victor Rivers got married in 2013, they began Rivers Red Angus together and have since developed a dynamic cow-calf herd. Since 2014, the Rivers have leased Curry Canyon Ranch, as part of Save Mount Diablo, a non-profit conservation organization.

Today the herd is about 50 percent Red Angus and 50 percent commercial cattle. They have consigned bulls to the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Bull Sale since 2011 and also sell heifers and bulls private treaty. They focus on maternal traits in their cow herd, keeping carcass quality and high marbling in perspective with moderate framed, deep bodied and easy fleshing, docile cows.

“We always work as a family, so it’s important to have cows that are easygoing,” Rivers said.

Rivers managed the Bobcat Ranch in Winters from 2011-2015, a special project of Audobon California, where she aimed to maintain a research, education and outreach hub for other farmers and ranchers to utilize for learning how to complete projects that include economically and ecologically feasible conservation practices on dry California rangelands.

The Bobcat Ranch consists of annual

CARISSA KOOPMANN RIVERS 106 California Cattleman July • August 2015

grasslands, oak woodlands, patches of chaparral and different pockets of various soils with naturally occurring native bunch grasses. The ranch was formerly a seasonal winter ranch for stocker cattle, but throughout the drought, Rivers helped make the decision to begin grazing a small set of resident cows because of the influx of evasive plant species. If the cattle are on the ranch to graze year-round, those plants can be targeted more efficiently leaving room for desirable forage to flourish.

Like on most ranches in California, the drought proved challenging to navigate, especially after the Monticello Fire last summer that burned more than 6,400 acres in the crosshairs of Yolo, Napa and Solona Counties including more than 4,500 acres of the Bobcat Ranch and 15 miles of its fenceline.

Some speed bumps arose in ecological areas like springs going dry that have never been dry before. The task at hand now lies in working to regain the grazing capacity the ranch had before the fire.

Most of the rangeland that burned was being saved up for fall grazing. However, results from a future research project will help ranchers traverse repercussions of future fires.

Currently, Rivers is a Junior Specialist at the University of California, Davis Rangeland Watershed Laboratory where she is working on interactions between beef cattle production and water quality conditions on California rangeland watersheds and developing scienced...CONTINUED ON PAGE 108

S

E

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D E D I C AT I O N

S T’

E N E R GY FOCUS ENTHUSIASM LEADERSHIP

DONORS HERD SIRES

WOODSIDE RITO 4P26 OF 0242 A son of the Riverbend Ranch donor, Rita 0242 by Prophet.

44 BIG EASY 3311 A Confidence 0100 son produced by a maternal sister to New Day 454.

SITZ GAME DAY 275Z A full brother to the breed’s Number 2 REA proven sire, Top Game 561X.

MALEK TEN X 404 A full brother to the Accelerated Genetics roster member, MAR Double XL 320.

2880 N 55 W • Idaho Falls, Idaho 83402 • 208-528-6635 www.riverbendranch.us Steve Harrison, General Manager • 208-681-9815 Dale Meek, Purebred Operations Manager • 208-681-9840

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 107

...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 106 based outreach on rangeland quality in collaboration with the University of California Cooperative Extension and industry organizations like the California Cattlemen’s Association (CCA), as well as conservation, public and regulatory agencies.

In her spare time, Rivers serves as the chair of the Long Range Planning Committee for the California Beef Cattle Improvement Association Board.

She is also a member of CCA, California Rangeland Conservation Coalition, Society of Rangeland Management, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and the Red Angus Association of America and served as the Yolo County Cattlemen’s Association Secretary this past year.

To grow her personal leadership development, Rivers was accepted into and participated in the 44th class of the California Agriculture Leadership Foundation (CALF) October 2013 through February 2015. When trying to explain the program, she says she understands why alumni she spoke with couldn’t really put into words what the experience was like when she asked them about it before she applied to be a part of the program. She said she feels the same way that they do now.

“I can tell you what we did and where we went like our trip to the Washington, D.C. to learn more about important agricultural issues,” Rivers said. “We traveled to Africa to places like Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

The impact those experiences had on all 24 of us in the class meant so much, but it’s just hard to explain them enough to do the overall influence it had on us justice.”

The point of the elite leadership program, Rivers says is to study leadership and work to better yourself from the inside out, then apply it to agriculture. She says she’ll value the relationships from all facets of the agriculture industry she built as a result of her participation in the program forever.

In addition to leadership, education also runs deep in her roots and Rivers wants to carry that on. Rivers’ father, Tim Koopmann, past president of CCA, has been hosting tours for University of California Berkley students for the last handful of years focusing on their rangeland management studies. It’s easy for students to get their noses stuck in a book, Rivers says. Getting them out to see what California rangelands and beef production looks like with their own eyes and see cows in real life instead of on the pages of textbooks is imperative.

“We enjoy showing people what we do on rangelands and demonstrating the positive ecological impact of livestock grazing while producing a healthy product that is beef,” Rivers said.

The students’ first-hand experience makes a big difference on their career paths. If they’re interested in natural resources planning, they get to see something first hand and refer back to the tour they took on a real working ranch as a resource, Rivers says.

Above, Carissa Koopmann Rivers works with a camera crew to provide coverage of the impacts of the longterm drought on California’s rangelands.

108 California Cattleman July • August 2015

“Tour attendees will say ‘I had no idea there is so much involved in rangeland management,’ and we’re here to help them along the way if they need it,” Rivers said.

By inviting these types of groups to the ranch they can see in person why cows are rotated on pasture because ground nesting birds might be there and showcase how the ranching business is never one size fits all. Rivers says every ranch is different, and what is common sense to most ranchers is not even on the radar of most consumers.

In fact, Rivers recently hosted a camera crew at the ranch to film a short video as part of the Growing California video series, a special project of California Grown, to help connect consumers with farmers and ranchers who grow and raise the food they eat. The video, starring Rivers and her brother Clayton Koopmann, Sunol, can be watched on www. californiagrown.org.

To her, the ranching and western lifestyle allows her to break the mold from a traditional way of life. She takes pride in producing food and fiber from vegetation that cannot be produced into anything else. It’s all the puzzle pieces that fit together that make Rivers tick.

It’s not only raising livestock, it’s the ecological component and partnership building and educating people that bring everything into view for her.

“I’ve always said my hero is my daddy,” Rivers said. “But folks who have a work ethic and drive to do their best at whatever they are passionate about also inspire me greatly.”

People who have a purpose and stand up for it represent a lot of the people in the beef industry and the agriculture industry, and to Rivers, those people are who motivates her.

With the next generation on the way, Rivers says the legacy she would like to leave has been top-of-mind for her and her husband lately. It’s still a work in progress, she says, but it’s something they know is important and plan to put a lot of effort into.

Rivers is working hard to make the best of all of her efforts so far in the beef and agriculture industries, utilizing her education to the fullest and developing her plan.

“What kind of examples do I want to set?” Rivers asked, “I want to instill ethics, integrity and hard work into everything I do, and I want my daughter to exemplify that as she discovers her passion as the next generation of our family.”

home of the

Best Dam Bull Test period

At Snyder Livestock Company, Inc., we believe commercial cattlemen are intelligent, informed, demanding, progressive and deserve to know everything possible about the bulls they purchase.

THD ©

That’s why we has been conducting feed efficiency testing using GrowSafe Systems® for more than 7 years.

Join us the day before our annual Bulls for the 21st Century Sale for a workshop that takes care of business.

Nationally-renowned speaker Jolene Brown will discuss asset protection, generational transfer, tools for family business and more. Find out more about her background and experience online at www.jolenebrown.com.

New for 2016, we will hold a special session for seedstock producers with speakers offering tips on how to best communicate with bull buyers.

Mark your calendar and plan to join us in 2016 for the BeSt dAM BuLL teSt PeRIOd.

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2016 Snyder LiveStock weekend Lineup BuLLS for the 21St century Seminar and SaLe BuLLS FOR the 21St CeNtuRy SALe BuLLS AvAILABLe FOR vIewING: MARCh 12-13 satuRday, maRch 12 Seminar with Jolene Brown, followed by lunch catered by Yerington’s finest Mexican restaurant, plus the traditional Bull Buyer’s Social

sunday, maRch 13 view the Bulls prior to lunch at noon, followed by the Live video Broadcast of the Annual Bull Sale at 1 p.m. on www.liveauctions.tv

Lucy RecheL: ceLL 775-790-0801 • Office 775-463-2677 • LRecheL@sLcnv.cOm pOst Office BOx 550 • yeRingtOn, nevada 89447 • WeBsite: WWW.sLcnv.cOm

Funded in Part by Grants from the Yerington and County Tax Boards JulyLyon • August 2015 Room California Cattleman 109

RANGELAND TRUST TALK IT TAKES A VILLAGE

RALEY’S, RANGELAND TRUST TEAM UP FOR YOUTH

by California Rangeland Trust Intern Alexandra Gough Roughly 20 percent of the U.S. population lives in rural areas - everyone else can be found in suburbia. As a consequence, there are only two types of kids; a rural kid or a city kid. California’s statistic is even lower, with only 13 percent of our population living in rural areas. If that isn’t a plot for a good horror movie, I don’t know what is.

The closest most city kids get to a ranch is watching it flash by as they drive to Disneyland and then as they return home to perfectly-manicured lawns. Ranch kids grow up under the influence of a traditional lifestyle, surrounded by the opportunities provided by open space. Two different lifestyles create two different mentalities and two different views of the world.

I’ve grown up in the suburbia of Sacramento, only a few minutes from my middle school and always a quick bike ride away from half of my friends. If someone says they rode a horse, it usually means they sat atop a grumpy pony for about five minutes while being paraded around in a circle at the California State Fair.

My saving grace was the influence of my Godmother.

At a young age, I was often decked out in my favorite pink cowgirl boots, pink cowgirl hat and pink shirt, atop any horse I could find. My Godmother began to take me out to ranches, where I fell in love with the big-eyed, snot-covered cows and the horses that were startled by the small pink child clinging to them. But each time I would return home, back to the suburbia of Sacramento, where the closest thing to open

110 California Cattleman July • August 2015

space I could find was the park a block from my house.

Every time I go anywhere with a horse or cow, it’s like I’m that sparkly pink little kid all over again. The dirt I often get covered in is more like pixie dust; every time it is harder and harder to go back to my perfectly-manicured lawn.

This past Memorial Day weekend, my Godmother, family and I headed down to a small ranch tucked into the hills of Templeton. I dragged my good friend Hannah along. She had never stepped foot on a ranch before, much less had the opportunity to get her hand covered in cow snot.

Over the years, it has become relatively natural for me to slip on my cowboy boots and leave my Converses at home.

But watching her that weekend was as much a learning experience for me as it was for her. Wearing Converses and a college sweatshirt, Hannah gave a calf a few shots and watched it get branded for the first time. When she pet that calf ’s head, I watched her realize he was kind of adorable, snot and all.

Hannah has been infected with the “ranch bug” ever since. If that isn’t proof why city kids should go out to ranches, I don’t know what is.

Through a partnership with Raley’s, the Rangeland Trust’s hope of taking large groups of kids out to ranches and educating them finally came true. On June 25, the Boys and Girls Club of Sacramento headed out to Yolo Land and Cattle Co., near Woodland, for a day filled with fun, laughter and sunshine. The kids were exposed to a flurry of activities.

CSU Chico Beef Unit

2015 BULL OFFERING

Featuring: 8 Angus • 5 Red Angus • 1 Hereford Selling Sons & Grandsons of GAR Yield Grade!

Yolo Land and Cattle Company’s Scott Stone talks to children from the Sacramento Boys and Girls Club about life on the ranch, as part of a partnership between Raley’s and the California Rangeland Trust to increase agriculture literacy and apprecation for the great outdoors.

One-by-one, single file and giggling the entire way, they walked through the cattle chute to understand what the cattle go through when they are branded, given shots or weighed before transport. While the ranch hands worked cattle, the kids were allowed to watch. Next, they were shown how a horse is shod and then given the opportunity to nail their own horse shoe onto a plank of wood.

With their newly made horse shoes in hand, they watched a calf be branded. I watched them one by one as they pet the calf, several telling him it was going to be all okay. With some help, they branded their boards, an art piece they were all eager to take home and show off to their parents. For our last activity on the ranch, the kids scattered around the ranch for a scavenger hunt where they identified things such as wildlife friendly fences, bird boxes, fenced ponds with solar pumps and the native wildlife that resided on the ranch.

Loading back up into their buses, the kids said a sad goodbye before heading to the closet Raley’s grocery store. There, they got the full tour to truly understand how their food goes from the ranch to the grocery store shelves to their tables at home.

I’ve seen how the ranch affects many people before, but watching these kids was different than anything I’ve ever seen. Their eyes lit up with every new opportunity. Many told me they had never pet a horse or even seen a cow. Looking into their eyes on the ride home convinced me that they would never forget their experiences that day.

We were incredibly excited to get these kids onto a ranch to allow an entirely new audience to learn about the importance of rangeland conservation and legacy through hands on experiences. Because after all, the ranch bug is the best kind of disease to be infected with.

GAR YIELD GRADE RING: E F F O ALSO SONS OF THREE TREES PRIME CUT 0145 SONS AND GRANDSONS LIC MISSION STATEMENT P27 AND SONS OF BECKTON EPIC R397 K Bulls will be available to purchase private treaty starting August 15.

All sired by proven AI sires that are balanced for birth weight, growth and maintenance.

DAVE DALEY 530-898-4539 DDALEY@CSUCHICO.EDU

KASEY DEATLEY 530-898-6343 KDEATLEY@CSUCHICO.EDU

California Rangeland Trust Applies for Land Trust Accreditation Renewal The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, recognizes land conservation organizations like the California Rangeland Trust that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever.

Accreditation involves and extensive review of each applicant’s policies and programs to ensure the highest standards of land conservation are employed. Originally accredited in 2010, the California Rangeland Trust is pleased to announce it is applying to renew its accreditation in 2015, and a public comment period is now open.

The Commission invites public input and accepts signed, written comments on pending applications. Comments must relate to how the California Rangeland Trust complies with national quality standards. These standards address the ethical and technical operation of a land trust.

To submit a comment regarding the California Rangeland Trust, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org or email info@ landtrustaccreditation.org. Comments may also be faxed or mailed to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Attn: Public Comments: (Fax) 518-587-3183; (mail) 36 Phila Street, Suite 2, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Comments on California Rangeland Trust’s application will be most useful by Sept. 17.

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 111

Governor attends Cattle Branding CCA Member Jim Keegan, Williams, admits he was a little surprised when California Gov. Jerry Brown accepted an inviation to attend his springtime calf branding at the family ranch in Colusa County. Keegan says he extended the invitation after Brown, who owns property several miles away, showed up at Keegan’s ranch one day to say a neighborly “hello.”

After finding out the two had a few things in common, Brown called Keegan to inquire about an old fire poker that Keegan had received from his own father. The firepoker had originally come from one the of the old Brown family residences and the governor was curious about how he might aquire the heirloom from Keegan.

“I joked, telling him it might cost him more that he was willing to pay.

Mentioning specifically the Williamson Act. He didn’t seem to appreciate the joke.” Keegan laughed. “But I ended our coversation with an invitation the following weekend to our branding and dinner. I didn’t think he would actually come so I was surprised when he called the night before and asked if the branding was still on. I thought it was a good opportunity to show him what ranchers are all about.”

Keegan said the two did not discuss politics. The governor watched the crew work and simply experienced routine ranchwork at its finest.

“If I’d had time, there were a number of issues I would have liked to pick his brain about, but I thought it might be best to just let him enjoy the day and see that ranchers love what they do and are friendly people who just want to continue their way of life.

At the end of the day, Keegan thanked the governor for stopping by and wished him well. Before the governor left, Keegan returned the Brown family heirloom to a very gracious governor.

“I thought it was a friendly gesture and that the item might mean more to him than it does to me,” Keegan said. “I’d also like to think that next time ranchers try to work across the aisle, we might have a friend on our side.”

KEEGAN ©

112 California Cattleman July • August 2015

Look for sons of these 4 outstanding donor cows by some of the best bulls in the business at the ranch or at the following sales :

WORLD OF BULLS • SHASTA BULL SALE • RED BLUFF BULL SALE • KLAMATH BULL SALE P&M WALTZ RITA 0064

P&M WALTZ RITA 0068

FLUSHED TO CONNEALY IN FOCUS 4925

FLUSHED TO CONNEALY IN FOCUS 4925

SIRE: S A V BISMARCK 5682 • MGS: RITO 1I2 OF 2536 RITO 6I6

SIRE: S A V BISMARCK 5682 • MGS: RITO 1I2 OF 2536 RITO 6I6

CED

BW

WW

YW

MK

MB

REA

$W

$B

CED

BW

WW

YW

MK

MB

REA

$W

$B

5

3.4

55

95

24

.50

.53

42.83

88.21

I+9

I+1.6

I+55

I+93

I+22

I+.45

I+.57

46.17

80.33

This is as powerful made cow as there is. Her flush sister and dam are also in our donor pen listed below.

This elegant made female has a perfect udder and profiles like a dream. Great power, hip and balance.

P&M WALTZ 1I2 RITA 554

LIMSEONE BLACKCAP S710

FLUSHED TO OBJECTIVE AND 3C JAC (SIMMENTAL)

FLUSHED TO CONNEALY FORWARD

SIRE: RITO 1I2 OF 2536 RITO 6I6 • MGS: SITZ TRAVELER 9929

SIRE: ISU IMAGING Q 9111 MGS: BON VIEW NEW DESIGN 1407

CED

BW

WW

YW

MK

MB

REA

$W

$B

CED

BW

WW

YW

MK

MB

REA

$W

$B

4

2.9

52

89

22

.36

.007

34.66

90.19

6

.5

34

74

27

.75

.28

26.53

58.34

This is our oldest foundation donor that has built our next generation of donors shown above. Proven production!

A truly powerful cow that has a great set of bulls out of this flush.

P.O. Box 54 Wheatland, CA 95692 nicholas_angus@yahoo.com July • August 2015 California Cattleman 113

NCbA Executive Announces Resignation On June 29, Forrest Roberts announced his resignation as the chief executive officer of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), effective July 31. Roberts has been the CEO of NCBA since 2009.

Roberts is leaving NCBA to pursue other opportunities in the cattle industry and agribusiness. He will remain with NCBA until the end of July to help NCBA with transition of staff leadership, including his roles in several industry related organizations.

“For the past 6 years it has been a privilege to serve as CEO of NCBA,” Roberts said. “While I have decided to turn a new chapter in my career, I leave NCBA with many great memories of the time I spent working with the NCBA staff, state partners, members, producer leadership and stakeholders across the global beef industry.”

According to NCBA President Phillip Ellis, Roberts contributed significantly to the organization and the industry.

“Under Forrest Roberts’ leadership NCBA membership has increased significantly, NCBA is in a solid financial position, convention attendance is at record levels and the NCBAmanaged programs to build consumer demand for beef as a contractor to the beef checkoff are achieving significant results.”

NCBA Chief Operating Officer Kendal Frazier has been named interim CEO to manage the day-to-day operations, including NCBA staff, until a new CEO is identified. Ellis said the NCBA officers will work with the NCBA Executive Committee to develop a process to search for and identify a new CEO.

California Angus Breeders to host Angus Genomics Forum in modesto The California Angus Association and the American Angus Association® will co-host a one-day genomics forum Aug. 4 at Modesto Junior College. The session begins at 11 a.m. and is open to all cattlemen.

“We’re looking forward to bringing Angus breeders and commercial cattlemen together for this forum that explores genomic technology and how producers can use DNA testing in their operations,” says Terry Cotton, American Angus Association regional manager in California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah.

Topics include a review of the basics, focusing on expected progeny differences (EPDs) and dollar value indexes ($Values); and genomic tools for seedstock selection, including use of high-density genomic profiles. Speakers will also discuss the expanding line of genomic products commercially available to cattlemen and how they can best be used in genetic selection.

Jeff Stott, professor and veterinary immunologist at the University of California, Davis, will discuss foothill abortion and the vaccine that will soon be available to guard against the tick-borne bacterial disease.

There is no fee to attend the genomics forum, and lunch will be provided. For more information contact Terry Cotton, regional manager for the American Angus Association, at 816-390-3227 or tcotton@angusjournal.com; or Julie Reinhardt at barr6925@sbcglobal.net.

114 California Cattleman July • August 2015

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SITZ UPWARD 307R BW

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71

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37

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Neil sold 200 calves while saddling his horse.

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Ag’s Economic Contribution to Northeastern California Chico State study reveals tangible value of farmers and ranchers

N

early one in five jobs in northeastern California and 17 percent of all economic activity in the region are connected to agriculture, according to a report released by the Agribusiness Institute at California State University, Chico (CSU Chico). The Contribution of Agriculture to Northeastern California’s Economy in 2013 studied agriculture’s importance to the economy in the region made up of Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity and Yuba counties.

While other researchers have published studies showing agriculture’s impact on the statewide economy, CSU, Chico agricultural business professor Eric Houk saw a need for a more targeted report specific to the region that the university serves.

“In a state as large and diverse as California, statewide analysis is not very useful when examining agriculture within certain regions of the state,” he said. “Even though people knew agriculture was important in northeastern California, and we are surrounded by agricultural production, we didn’t have anything that succinctly quantified its value.”

Houk’s report combines demographic, economic and agricultural production data from public sources and then uses a computer package called IMPLAN (Impact Analysis for Planning) to capture the relationship between various sectors of the economy. In addition to identifying the direct impacts of agriculture production and processing, which make up more than 40,000 jobs in northeastern California, the IMPLAN tool allowed him to estimate the “multiplier effect” of agriculture throughout the economy. The research details the “indirect” and “induced” impacts of agriculture on the economy.

“Indirect impacts occur in other sectors of the economy because of their inter-industry connections,” Houk explained. “For example, truck transportation would not be included as a direct component of ‘agriculture,’ but this sector will be indirectly impacted by the amount of agricultural production that occurs in the region.”

Induced impacts, he said, measure the effect of personal expenditures by households that receive income from agriculture.

“Induced impacts will capture the regional benefits of spending income that was generated from the agricultural sectors on a variety of other economic sectors like home improvements, medical services, retail establishments, etc.”

The result of these calculations is that 16.3 percent of all jobs, 17 percent of labor income and 16.9 percent of economic value created in the region can be tied to agriculture. Statewide, 7.6 percent of jobs, 7 percent of labor income and 6.8 percent of economic value come from agriculture’s direct, indirect and induced effects, meaning that the economy in northeastern California depends more upon agriculture than the state does overall.

This gap in agriculture’s economic impact between northeastern California and the rest of the state was one of the factors Houk had in mind when he set out to write the report.

“I want people to understand how the economy in some regions of California is much more dependent upon agriculture than others,” Houk said. “This report helps document the magnitude of these differences, and clearly shows that northeastern California is much 116 California Cattleman July • August 2015

by Sarah DeForest, director of advancement, California State University, Chico

more dependent on agriculture than the state as a whole.”

Even within the northeastern California region—the diversity of terrain, weather and land use—makes it difficult for researchers to summarize their findings, so Houk further subdivided the area into six valley-dominant counties (Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Tehama, Sutter and Yuba) and seven mountain-dominant counties (Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Trinity).

The valley-dominant counties led the region in both population and agricultural production. Sixty-three percent of the region’s residents live in the valley-dominant counties, which also produced 82 percent of the region’s total value of agricultural production. Colusa County is the largest agriculture-producing county in the region with more than $900 million in agricultural value, outpacing Butte County, which led the region in 2012.

The differences in land use between the valley and mountain sub-regions is evident in average farm size, which was twice as large in the mountain-dominant counties at 658 acres compared to the 333-acre average farm size in the valleydominant counties. Houk attributes that difference to the dominance of livestock production in the mountain counties.

As a whole, the region produces more than 100 different commodities, with three crops—rice, walnuts and almonds— making up more than half of the region’s total value of production. That diversity, Houk said, serves the region well.

“We have a variety of commodities that have over $100 million worth of production ranging from rice, orchards, and milk in the valley to alfalfa, timber,and cattle in the mountains,” he added. “The diversity of agriculture in the region can help make the agricultural industry more resilient to future changes in the long run.”

In fact, the diversity and the size of its agricultural economy provided the region with a buffer during the recession in 2008 and 2009. While unemployment is

significantly higher in northeastern California than the rest of the state and the nation, the inflation-adjusted per capita personal income remained steady and even increased in the valley-dominant counties during the same period when the state experienced its biggest decline in per capita income.

As he shares his findings with others, Houk said the differences in their reactions is one reason this research is so important.

“Some people have heard various statewide statistics that diminished agriculture’s role in the economy, and these people are often surprised to hear how large of a role agriculture plays in the region,” he explained. “Others see agricultural production all around them and they may be surprised to hear that the overall contribution of agriculture, including multiplier effects, is around 17 percent of the economy in this region. The vast range of expectations that people have regarding agriculture’s role is one of the things that made me interested in pursuing this study.”

The Contribution of Agriculture to Northeastern California’s Economy in 2013 is second in a three-year grant provided by the Agricultural Research Institute to quantify the significance of agricultural production, processing, and related industries to the overall economy of northeastern California.

Houk worked with student research assistant Dillon Johnson and the Center for Economic Development at CSU, Chico to produce the report.

The full report is available online at www. csuchico.edu/ag. For more information, contact Professor Houk at (530) 898-4146 or ehouk@csuchico.edu.

Key Findings •

The unemployment rate in northeastern California was 12.8% in 2013. This is 3.9% higher than the state and 5.5% higher than the U.S.

•

Inflation adjusted per capita personal income has been increasing at a much faster rate between 2003 and 2013 in northeastern California than the state as a whole (16% versus 9%).

•

The total value of agricultural production was nearly $4.5 billion in 2013, more than doubled that of 2003.

•

Colusa County had the highest value of production in 2013 ($920M).

•

The highest valued commodities in northeastern California were rice ($903.8M), walnuts ($855.9M) and almonds ($713.1M).

•

The highest valued commodities in the mountain dominant counties were strawberry plants ($150.9M), timber ($128.4M) and alfalfa ($125.1M).

•

Farm production expenses have increased approximately 50% between 2003 and 2013.

•

Net farm income has increased approximately 200% from 2003 to 2013 while total government payments have decreased by over 60%.

•

Agriculture was responsible for creating 60,157 jobs in northeastern California in 2013 (16.3% of all jobs and 20% of all private sector jobs). This includes 40,054 jobs directly in agriculture and an additional 20,103 jobs created through multiplier (indirect and induced) effects.

•

Agriculture is responsible for creating $2,857M in labor income in northeastern California in 2013 (17% of all labor income).

•

Agriculture is responsible for creating $4,817M in total value added to the northeastern California economy in 2013 (16.9% of the total value added or approximately 17 cents of every dollar created by the northeastern California economy is associated with agriculture).

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 117

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July • August 2015 California Cattleman 119

CATTLE, CONVERSATION & COMMUNITY On-ranch tour opens doors for cattle ranchers and conservationists

by Tiffany Russell, Bre Owens, Karen Sweet A small group of conservationists joined Point Blue Conservation Science and California Rangeland Conservation Coalition to tour four Northern California ranches that are engaged in multi-benefit collaborative conservation projects. Through discussions with landowners and numerous speakers, participants from various conservation groups gained valuable insights into the opportunities and challenges of ranching with conservation in mind.

Their main takeaways were a better understanding of the complexities of ranching and conservation and a heightened respect for the ranching community itself.

These ‘tourists’ traveled over 300 miles together through four counties, enjoying two days and three nights of home-cooked meals and lodging provided by ranchers. Tour sponsors included Fall River/Big Valley, Intermountain and Lassen Cattlemen and CattleWomen, Lassen Land and Trails Trust, Abernathy Ranch, Willow Creek Ranch, DeForest Livestock, Cobblestone Ranch and many ranch hosts.

Tuesday evening began with dinner hosted by Cobblestone Ranch and a presentation by Tehama County Supervisor, Burt Bundy, who also serves on the Los Molinos Mutual Water Company board and is president of the Mill Creek Conservancy. He

focused on the various issues facing the water company, its customers and Mill Creek, including drought, open ditches and outdated infrastructure, pulse-flow requirements and state-mandated water curtailments just to list a few. After dinner, some people bottle fed baby lambs.

On Wednesday the group visited the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge near Corning. Joe Silveira, Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service explained how “the refuge uses livestock grazing to improve wildlife habitat, reduce weeds and thatch buildup, maintain native grasses, enhance native wildflowers reduce hazardous fuels and maintain flood flows.” He works with CCAmember Tony Turri, Paskenta, and other cattle and sheep ranchers to achieve these refuge goals, and Tony shared his management to achieve them.

Overlooking Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen at Abernathy Ranch Point Blue explained its Rangeland Watershed Initiative, a partnership with Natural Resource Conservation Service focused on re-watering California’s rangelands.

Further, the Rangeland Monitoring Network provides tools, data and people that assist ranchers, researchers and conservation planners and partners in collecting data that expands California’s rangelands knowledge.

In Redding Larry Forero, University

120 California Cattleman July • August 2015

of California Cooperative Extension presented a cattle industry overview that also explained the connection of the Central Valley and mountain ranching.

The Fall River/Big Valley Cattlemen and Intermountain CattleWomen hosted the group for a barbecue dinner in Adin. Conversation included the legislative and enforcement issues of legal and illegal marijuana growing and impacts on the personal safety of those working in the forests. At DeForest Livestock the next morning, participants observed what can happen when ranchers, conservationists and agencies collaborate. The group walked along a restored riparian area on the ranch that provides habitat for the Modoc sucker, a native fish endemic to the Pit River and its tributaries. The sucker is soon to be “de-listed” due to successful recovery efforts initiated by local ranchers and conservation partners. An informative conversation followed about wolves and their expected return to California. Kathy Deforest explained some of the logistics of ranching with a predator presence, and others shared Big Valley’s experience with the collared wolf, OR7. Discussion revolved around efforts amongst ranchers and conservation partners to prepare for successful co-existence. Inside DeForest’s living room Russ Hawkins, a private timber

operator explained the area’s timber industry and the challenges of catastrophic wildfire, wildlife habitat, regulations, managing for endangered species and the impacts on community dynamics.

Kathy served a hot beef sandwich lunch.

At Willow Creek Ranch near Susanville the group heard from ranchers Jack Hanson, Dennis Wood and Todd Swickard and Ken Collum, Bureau of Land Management about the challenges of managing ranches and sagebrush ecosystems to benefit native species, such as the Greater sage-grouse (a candidate species under the federal Endangered Species Act). Two major concerns discussed were juniper encroachment and the negative impact of feral horses on springs and riparian areas, on which Greater Sage-Grouse depend during the critical chick rearing stage. Mark Shaffer, Greenleaf Power described the biofuel industry’s challenges to use the juniper chips from the removal efforts. Lassen County Cattlemen and CattleWomen and the Lassen Land and Trails Trust hosted the group for a social time and dinner. Tim Koopmann, immediate past president of California Cattlemen’s Association, explained the current status of the Grazing Regulatory Action Plan being proposed by the State and Regional Water Quality Control Boards.

Tour participants agreed that ranchers and other rangeland stakeholders need to talk together more about these and other complex issues that impact ranching viability and voluntary conservation efforts. “Point Blue and CRCC are leaders in filling this void by fostering communication between consumers and producers with conservation being one of the important common threads,” said Todd Swickard, Five Dot Ranch. Bruce Ross, District Director for Assemblyman Brian Dahle learned a lot “through the sidebar conversations as people with common interests got to meet.” Tim Koopmann also emphasized the need for these opportunities — and for the California Rangeland Conservation Coalition. The ‘tourists’ want to learn more about the cattle industry, its issues and the cattle community.

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Due to theCattleman pub: 4-3-15 121 July • August 2015 California

Today’s date: February 18, 2015 9:

TMX Group Announces AgriClear LAUNCH On June 16, TMX Group announced a new initiative that will further expand the reach of its world-leading operational capabilities. AgriClear, an online platform designed to provide U.S. and Canadian cattle buyers and sellers with an efficient, costeffective transaction and payment service opens today.

“Today’s launch of AgriClear represents an important opportunity for TMX Group to apply the depth of expertise we have across our business lines to address client needs in a new market,” said Lou Eccleston, CEO TMX Group. ” AgriClear offers cattle producers a new way to do business with important benefits for both buyers and sellers, including assured payment for cattle delivered at the terms negotiated. By joining the AgriClear community, marketers will now be able to securely list and execute cattle transactions from their computer.

“Raising cattle was never a 9-to-5 job, and continues to become more challenging all the time,” said Nevil Speer, Ph.D., AgriClear Vice President of U.S. Operations.

“This reality requires a new way to market cattle. With AgriClear, producers have the opportunity to buy and sell cattle with anyone, anywhere, anytime with confidence.”

With offices in Calgary, Houston, Bowling Green, Ky. and Greeley, Colo., AgriClear operations will benefit from the financial support and clearing expertise of NGX, a wholly-owned subsidiary of TMX Group that offers trading and clearing services for natural gas, crude oil and electricity contracts.

AgriClear features are designed to deliver multiple benefits to U.S. and Canadian cattle buyers and sellers, including a lower cost structure, an expanded market with a broader network of verified members, and financial certainty for transactions, with NGX acting as administrator of AgriClear’s back-office payment and settlement services.

“AgriClear is an exciting initiative that will expand NGX’s reach into the cattle business,” said Jim Oosterbaan, president and CEO, NGX. “We are excited to provide buyers and sellers with choice, efficiency and transparency as well as the opportunity to conduct business on their terms. AgriClear leverages our proven capabilities in facilitating delivery and providing payment solutions.”

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July • August 2015 California Cattleman 123

Modoc County Cattlemen host Spring Field Day Nearly 60 members of the Modoc County Cattlemen’s Association (MCCA) met at the Modoc Auction Yard in Alturas in early June for one of the best turn outs the MCCA Spring Field Day has ever seen. Split up among 13 pickup trucks, the group spent all day traversing a 140-mile round-trip of dirt roads on the Devil’s Garden, a large area of Forest Service ground in Modoc County.

The tours, organized by CCA President Billy Flournoy, Likely, allowed the attendees to learn more about an area, including public grazing allotments, they may not have had the chance to visit before.

“We wanted to make the tour worthwhile,” Flournoy said. “Judging by the feedback we received from those who came, I think we did just that.”

The Devil’s Garden Conservation Camp was one of the first stops, which houses low security inmates who work as fire fighters for Cal Fire. Next up was the Big Sage Dam, which feeds the Hot Springs Valley Irrigation District. At that time the dam had about 6 weeks worth of water left in it, but when it is full in a normal year it can hold enough water to supply the district for about 5 years.

Ingle Swamp, Willow Creek Ranch and Crowder Flats saw the tour attendees come and go as they learned more about the areas and the factors that make them unique to grazing. The week prior to the tour, a large wind had come through the Willow Creek Ranch and blew down all of the grasses and even a hay barn. But a rainstorm had also come through and gave the rangeland a much-welcomed 3 inches

of rain, so the grasses were plentiful.

At Crowder Flats, the group enjoyed lunch beneath the shade of pine trees before traveling to the nearby site of a recent fire to see the regrowth of the pasture, which has come back in full force as a beneficial feed source.

Jane’s Reservoir and Blue Mountain Lookout were next allowing the group to see clear into Oregon for about 50 miles from the viewpoint. The lookout provided a unique vantage point over some of the attendees’ grazing allotments, too.

“Blue Mountain Lookout was a really neat place for everyone to ask questions,” said Willy Hagge, Alturas.

“You could see for miles and some of the ground we were looking at is grazed by ranchers on the tour, so we had the opportunity to ask them our questions directly.”

Lastly, the group visited Pot Hole Springs to see the significant damage done to the watering hole and ground there by wild horses. The horses paw the ground and cause massive erosion problems proving the extensive damage wild horses can do when their numbers are not controlled. The wild horse catch pen had significant grass growth inside compared to the area around it as a result of the length of time that has passed since the pen has been utilized.

Returning to the auction yard where they started that morning, the attendees continued the rest of the way home after a full day of highly informational tour stops.

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SET SAIL SAN DIEGO Soak up some sun and new ideas for your operation!

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#BEEFMEET www.beefusa.org July • August 2015 California Cattleman 125

Class of 2015

CCA RECOGNIZES AGRICULTURE GRADUATES Each year in this issue, the California Cattlemen’s Association pays tribute to university graduates from across the state who have excelled in their respective educational programs. In addition to accomplishing their goals within the classroom, each of the CCA Achievement Award recipients must also be involved in extracurricular activities pertaining to agriculture, demonstrate superior leadership abilities and have goals to stay involved in the beef industry.

This year CCA recognizes graduates from California State University, Chico; California State University, Fresno; California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; and the University of California, Davis. With future goals to make a positive impact on the beef industy, this year’s class of graduates has set the bar high and CCA members should be pleased to see the future look so bright. CCA extends congratulations to the entire class of 2015!

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, CHICO

KATIE STROUD Adin

GABRIELLA DESIMONE Central Point, Ore.

PEYTON IMPERIAL GARRETT WALLIS Hydesville Arcata

ANIMAL SCIENCE AGRICULTURAL Pursuing a career in beef cattle BUSINESS AGRICULITURAL nutrition, and will be working Pursue a career in the BUSINESS for JBS Five Rivers Cattle Has returned to her family’s cattle agricultural lending industry Feeding in Kansas. operation in Likely and will work and continue devotion to family’s to promote and educate consumers cattle and timber operation. about the beef community.

AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS Going to work at Lassen Canyon Nursery in Redding California as a the hay operations manager.

SIERRA BROWN Willow Creek

ANIMAL SCIENCE Plans to work as an Auditor and Costumer Service Specialist with AgriTrax, LLC.

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FRESNO

ASHLEY BUDDE San Martin

ANIMAL SCIENCE Attending graduate school in Ruminant Nutrition.

PAIGE WYSONG Sonora

ANIMAL SCIENCE Hopes to work for the Bureau of Land Management or possibly pursue a Master’s Degree in Range Management.

PATRICIA THOMPSON Sacramento

ANIMAL SCIENCE Plans to do an internship with a veterinary supply company and pursue a career in outside sales.

126 California Cattleman July • August 2015

BENNET MEBANE Bakersfield AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS Plans to work in his family’s business at Western Stockman’s Market and continue building a beef cowherd.

KELSEY SCHECKLA Loyalton ANIMAL SCIENCE

Is working at Modoc Veterinary Center as a veterinary technician.

CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY, SAN LUIS OBISPO

VALERIA GARCIA Calexico

ANIMAL SCIENCE

JEFF KANDANSKY Ventura ANIMAL SCIENCE

Would one day like to run Plans a career to gain experience in the beef industry, his own commercial cow-calf operation. become a producer and be active within the industry.

KIAH FEATHERSTONE Atascadero ANIMAL SCIENCE

Pursuring agriculture education credential and Master’s Degree at UC Davis in order to become a agriculture teacher and FFA advisor.

TOM HARDESTY Elk Grove

ANIMAL SCIENCE

Plans to own and operate a cow/calf ranch focusing on strengthening maternal and terminal genetics.

JENNA FORSTER Wilton

AGRICULTURE COMMUNICATIONS

Plans a career in public policy or public relations while staying active in the agriculture community.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS

GRACE TOBIAS Hollister ANIMAL SCIENCE ANIMAL SCIENCE Going to work for the family Pursuing a credential in business in construction. agriculture education and a Master’s in education at UC Davis.

DANIEL VICKERS Pine Grove

JACQUELINE CIMA El Dorado Hills ANIMAL SCIENCE

Will continue working at the UC Davis VMTH as a nursing technician after graduation.

JOSHUA DONNELLY Elk Grove MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS

Will work as an investment banking analyst for Stifel, Nicolaus & Co. in Los Angeles.

MARIA MONTOYA Morgan Hill ANIMAL SCIENCE

Will be attending UC Davis sraduate school for a Masters in agriculture education.

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 127

BQA EFFORTS HIGHLIGHTED AT ANTIBIOTIC FORUM The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) participated in the White House Forum on Antibiotic Stewardship in Washington D.C. Chief Veterinarian, Kathy Simmons, DVM, and Mike Apley, DVM, a cattle producer and veterinarian from Kansas, participated in the meeting on behalf of NCBA. NCBA President and Chugwater, Wyo., cattleman Philip Ellis said this

was a great opportunity to highlight what the cattle industry is doing to support the judicious use of these technologies.

“NCBA takes our commitment for antimicrobial stewardship very seriously and seeks to educate our members, consumers, regulators, legislators and the general public on the merits of appropriate antimicrobial drug use within the diversified sectors

128 California Cattleman July • August 2015

of the beef industry,” Ellis said. “The NCBA Cattle Health and Well-being Committee works to educate members at conferences and conventions on the latest information regarding antimicrobial drug use and the complex problem of increasing numbers of antibiotic resistant bacteria in both human and veterinary medicine.”

A significant part of the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program involves antimicrobial stewardship training on the appropriate use and administration of these technologies.

BQA stresses the need for good stewardship, including honoring withdrawal times, prevention of environmental contamination, the need for good record-keeping and a strong veterinarian-client-patient relationship.

“NCBA supports actions based on sound, peer-reviewed science and risk assessment relative to the use of antibiotics or other drugs,” Ellis said.

“We encourage the appropriate use of antimicrobial drugs through the guidance offered in the BQA program.

Antimicrobial resistance is a complex and multi-faceted problem that is best addressed in a One Health approach that brings together stakeholders from human medicine, veterinary medicine and environmental science.”

While NCBA has been focused on stewardship for decades, last year NCBA organized research advisory groups composed of a wide range of researchers within the agricultural community to direct the planning for future antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance research activities.

The Administration also released the final rule for the Veterinary Feed Directive, aiming to place antibiotic stewardship in the hands of veterinarians.

“While we will continue to review the final rule, NCBA supports the judicious use of antimicrobial technologies and sound peer-reviewed scientific principals as outlined in the BQA program,” said Ellis. “Our policy supports ensuring that producers have access to the technologies needed to maintain a safe and healthy herd, as herd health is critical to our top priority, ensuring a safe food supply.

NCBA will continue to work with FDA and our membership to support the implementation.”

The California Cattlemen’s Association & California CattleWomen,Inc., invite you to enter the

Rules and entry forms available at www.calcattlemen.org or call 916.444.0845 July • August 2015 California Cattleman 129

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O’Connell Consensus 2705

JUNIOR HERDSIRES O’Connell Consensus 2705 SIRE: Connealy Consensus 7229 MGS: HARB Pendleton 765 J H

VDAR Really Windy 7261

THANK YOU TO OUR 2014 “COMMITMENT TO PERFORMANCE” BULL BUYERS!

Call us for infor mation about pr ivate tr eaty cattle or our 2015 bull sale!

SIRE: VDAR Really Windy 4189 MGS: Sinclair Telecast 01S3

FCR Final Answer 0103 SIRE: SAV Final Answer 0035 MGS: N Bar Prime Time D806

+1.5 +56

+95 +31 +.94 +.71 +105.36

JOIN US SEPT. 19, 2015 FOR OUR 5TH ANNUAL MID VALLEY BULL SALE!

President’s Day 2016 THANK YOU TO OUR BUYERS AT THE 2015

WOODLAND, CA • (916) 417-4199

THURSDAY, SEPT. 10, 2015

CWULFF@LSCE.COM WWW.WULFFBROTHERSLIVESTOCK.COM

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 131

Join us Sept. 11 2015 for our 41st Annual “Generations of Performance” Bull Sale!

The Best of Both Worlds (530) 385-1570

Phone 707.448.9208 E-mail................................tehamaranch@gmail.com

2015 Bull Sale: Sept 2.

2015 Female Sale: Oct. 10

www.cherryglenbeefmasters.com

Brangus • angus • Ultrablacks

THE DOIRON FAMILY

Celebrating 41 Years of Angus Tradition

Daniel & Pamela Doiron 805-245-0434 Cell doiron@spanishranch.net www.spanishranch.net

THD ©

JOIN US AT OUR ANNUAL BULL SALE 9/3/15!

Progressive Genetics for over 36 years Bulls and females available private treaty at the ranch!

Jared Patterson: 208-312-2366

GELBVIEH Gerber, CA

Registered Angus Cattle Call to see what we have to offer you!

H R

Scott & Shaleen Hogan

(530) 200-1467

• (530) 227-8882

h

132 California Cattleman July • August 2015

Mark your calendars for Oct. 17 for our 2015 sale in Kenwood!

3L

“Breeding with the Commercial Cattleman in Mind”

79337 Soto Lane Fort Rock, OR 97735 Ken 541.403.1044 | Jesse 541.810.2460 ijhufford@yahoo.com | www.huffordherefords.com

Pitchfork Cattle Co.

HEREFORD BULLS NOW AVAILABLE!

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR 2014 BUYERS!

JOIN US OCTOBER 17, 2015 IN KENWOOD

(707) 481-3440 • Bobby Mickelson, Herdman, (707) 396-7364

LITTLE SHASTA RANCH

Genetics That Get Results!

2014 National Western Champion Bull

Owned with Yardley Cattle Co. Beaver, Utah

Dave Goss PO Box 13 Vinton, CA 96135 530-993-4636

ZEIS REAL STEEL

Call anytime to see what we can offer you!

Thank You To All Who Supported Our 2014 Production Sale

Stan Sears 5322 Freeman Rd. Montague, CA 96064 (530) 842-3950

v THANK YOU TO OUR CALIFORNIA BULLFEST CUSTOMERS!

Red Angus Located in the heart of the Northwest

Calving Ease, Growth, Maternal and Carcass Traits Everett Flikkema 406-580-2186

Jack Vollstedt 818-535-4034

Cattleman's Classic, October 18, 2014

www.vfredangus.com July • August 2015 California Cattleman 133

REAL ESTATE

“Specializing in farm and ranch properties” K. MARK NELSON

RYAN NELSON

BRE# 00346894 BRE# 01883050 (916) 849-5558 (916) 804-6861 kmarknelson@gmail.com ryan.nelson85@gmail.com

2015 AICA Seedstock Produer of the Year

AUTHORIZED DEALER! 10391 E. STOCKTON BLVD in ELK GROVE

WE BUILD THE FINEST FENCING FAST!

Specializing in livestock fence & facility construction and repair

OVER 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE! PO Box 1523 Patterson, CA 800-84-fence 209-892-9205 swfence.com

CA CONTRACTOR LICENSE #664846

134 California Cattleman July • August 2015

Your Business Could be here!

For information on placing an annual ad in this buyer’s guide, contact Matt Macfarlane at (916) 803-3113 or by e-mail @matt@wildblue.net.

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 135

NEW Arrivals

In Memory

RHETT BYRD Rhett Remington Byrd, born to Melissa Gilardi and Ty Byrd, was welcomed on June 18 by excited siblings Hayden, Hanna, Hayley, Harrison, Jayden and Braxxton.

Rhett weighed in at 8 pounds and was 21.5 inches long.

Grandparents are Wendy Gilardi, Los Molinos and Dan and Chris Byrd, Red Bluff.

KENT PASCOE Ronald Kent Pascoe, Penn Valley, passed away at his home on May 17. Born June 21, 1934 in Grass Valley to Ronald and Dorothy Pascoe, Kent was a member of the last graduating class at Grass Valley High School in 1952.

As a young man, he was active in 4-H, played football in high school and loved riding motorcycles with his brother, Bill.

Kent had a long career with the Nevada Irrigation District and retired in 1990. He also had a passion being a cattle rancher. He was a long time member of the Banner Grange, Grass Valley Elks Lodge, Nevada County Sportsmen Club, Plumas-Sierra Cattlemen’s Association, Tahoe Cattlemen’s Association, California Cattlemen’s Association and Nevada County Farm Bureau. He was a founding member and past president of the Master Trail Riders Club, Reno Sierra Riders and a longtime and found member of the Hitch and Bitch Riding Club.

Kent married Barbara Chittenden in 1992. They loved traveling together, both abroad and in the U.S. They especially loved traveling to see grandchildren.

Kent was deeply loved by family, coworkers and friends, who all knew him as a mentor, and an honorable, thoughtful man - always willing to lend a hand, a few dollars or a place to stay. He enjoyed sharing his knowledge and his time and always let people know he appreciated them.

Kent is survived by his wife, Barbara; brother Bill (Mimi) Pascoe of Oro Valley, Ariz.; daughter Rhonda Ault of Bangor; Step-children Kevin Turner, Sattley; Bruce (Christina) Turner of Wenatchee, Wash.; Janet (Buck) Johnson of Denio, Nev., and Larry (Lena) Martin of Penn Valley as well as 12 grandchildren, many cousins, extended family and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents and a daughter, Jane Stearns.

Family requests memorial contributions be made in Kent’s name to Hospice of the Foothills: P.O. Box 2437, Grass Valley, CA 95946.

CHESLEY TIPTON Chesly James Tipton entered the world on May 28, weighing in at 8 pounds, 10 ounces and was 21 inches long. He was eagerly welcomed by parents Joe and Annie Tipton, Sierraville; Grandparents areTony and Cindy Maddalena, Sierraville and Bo and Beverly Tipton, Loma Rica.

KESLEE ABATE Keslee Jean Abate was welcomed by first-time parents Jared and Kayleen Abate, Parkfield, on May 27.

Keslee tipped the scales at 5 pounds 13 ounces and was 19 inches long.

New grandparents are Kevin and June Kester, Parkfield, Chris and Laura Abate, Santa Margarita; and Brad and Janet Arthur, Atascadero.

CHANNING SCRIBNER Channing Lucas Scribner was welcomed into the world on April 4, by new parents Seth and Wendy Scribner, Paso Robles. Channing weighed 6 pounds 15 ounces and was 20 inches long.

Channing’s proud grandparents are Jon and Lindy Pedotti; Cambria Steve Scribner; Coalinga and Peter and Debbie Gerdin, Truckee.

DO YOU HAVE NEWS YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE? CALL US AT (916) 444-O845 OR E-MAIL YOUR INFORMATION TO MAGAZINE@CALCATTLEMEN.ORG.

WEdding Bells FOSTER & BYRNE Megan Foster and Matt Byrne were married in Arboga on June 13 at the home of the bride’s parents, Greg and Mary Ann Foster. The groom is the son of Mike and Beverly Byrne of Tulelake.

The bride is currently employed as a senior account executive at FleishmanHillard in Sacramento.

The groom, a former executive vice president for the California Cattlemen’s Association, is a partner at SunFed Ranch, an organic grassfed beef company headquartered in Northern California.

The couple will make their first home in Sacramento.

136 California Cattleman July • August 2015

HORNER & WELLY The marriage of Rylee Horner and Bryan Welly was celebrated at a ceremony in San Luis Obispo on June 20.

Parents of the bride are Sherrie and Rob Mendonca and Joe and Nelia Alamo, all of Turlock.

Parents of the groom are Pete and Sally Welly, Solana Beach.

Welly a Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo graduate received his master’s degree at UC Davis and is currently attending veterianry school there.

Horner, also a graduate of Cal Poly, is registered dietician for the Natomas School District.

The couple will make their first home in Davis.

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 137

Advertisers’ Index 3L Farms, LLC.......................................................... 31 9 Peaks Angus........................................................139 A-Bar Angus............................................................. 31 Ag Credit Alliance................................................... 95 Agriclear.................................................................115 Agrilabs...................................................................121 All-West/Select Sires.............................................118 Allflex......................................................................119 Amador Angus................................................77, 130 American Ag Credit................................................ 95 American Angus Association..........................45, 61 American Hereford Association..........................132 Andreini and Company........................................112 Arellano Bravo......................................................... 41 Avila Cattle Co......................................................... 57 Baldy Maker............................................................. 47 Bar N Bar................................................................113 Bar R Angus.....................................................25, 130 Beef Solutions.......................................................... 81 Bianchi Ranches...................................................... 57 Black Gold Bull Sale................................................ 35 BMW Angus..........................................................130 Bobo Cattle Co......................................................... 50 Broken Arrow .......................................................130 Broken Box Ranch.....................................57, 66, 134 Bruin Ranch............................................................. 81 Buchanan Angus....................................................130 Bulls for the 21st Century....................................109 Bullseye Breeders Bull Sale..................................... 67 Byrd Cattle Co................................................130, 140 Cal Poly Bull Test...................................................105 California Association of Longhorn Breeders...118 California Beef Council....................................98, 99 California Bullfest.................................................... 71 California Charolais Breeders................................ 57 California Custom.................................................134 California Limousin Breeders................................ 54 California Outdoor Properties.............................. 33 California Rangeland Trust.................................... 97 California State University, Chico...............111, 133 California Wagyu Breeders, Inc...........................134 Cardey Ranches.....................................................124 Cattle Industry Convention & Trade Show.......125 Cattlemen’s Livestock Market................................ 17 Central Valley Dodge............................................135 Charron Ranch......................................................130 Cherry Glen Beefmasters...............................72, 132 Circle AK................................................................114 Circle Ranch............................................................. 81 CoBank..................................................................... 95

Colburn Cattle Co................................................... 31 Conlan Ranches California..................................134 Conlin Fence Company........................................134 Conlin Supply.......................................................... 42 Corsair Angus........................................................130 Dal Porto Livestock.........................................73, 131 Diamon Back Ranch.............................................134 Diamond Oak Ranch............................................131 Donati Ranch...................................................35, 130 Dow Ranches........................................................... 76 Duarte Sales.............................................................. 54 Eagle Pass Ranch..................................................... 85 Ebony Farms............................................................ 31 Edwards Lien & Toso, Inc....................................134 Escalon Livestock Market....................................... 26 Farm Credit West.................................................... 95 Five Star Land & Livestock..................................... 25 Five Star Land Company......................................134 Flood Bros..............................................................131 Freitas Rangeland Improvements.......................... 72 Fresno State Ag Foundation.....................57, 66, 133 Furtado Angus...............................................123, 131 Furtado Enterprises...............................................135 Genoa Livestock..............................................71, 132 GMA Angus Ranch................................................. 31 GMA Land Company, Inc...................................... 26 Gonsalves Ranch...................................................131 H&H Angus............................................................. 31 Harris Ranch............................................................ 90 HAVE Angus....................................................86, 131 Heritage Bull Sale/Bar R/Five Star........................ 25 Hogan Ranch.........................................................132 Hone Ranch............................................................132 Hufford’s Herefords.........................................47, 133 J/V Angus.........................................................77, 131 Jorgenson Ranch...................................................... 57 Kerndt Livestock Product.....................................135 L&N.........................................................................114 Lambert Ranch................................................89, 132 Little Shasta Ranch................................................133 McPhee Red Angus.........................................87, 133 Mid Valley Bull Sale................................................ 77 Morrell Ranches....................................................... 50 Mrnak Herefords West.........................................124 Multimin................................................................... 19 Next Generation Bull Sale...................................... 89 Nicholas Livestock Co............................................ 57 Noahs Angus Ranch..............................................131 O’Connell Ranch.............................................35, 131 O’Neal Ranch/Performance Plus........................... 13

138 California Cattleman July • August 2015

Oak Knoll Herefords............................................... 49 Oak Ridge Angus .................................................... 63 ORIgen....................................................................135 Orvis Cattle Company..........................................133 P&M Waltz Ranches.............................................113 Pacific Trace Minerals...................................122, 134 Pedretti ..................................................................... 43 Phillips Ranch.......................................................... 86 Pitchfork Cattle co.................................................133 Rancho Casino......................................................... 73 Ray-Mar Ranches............................................23, 131 Red Bluff Bull Sale................................................... 55 Reis Livestock........................................................... 57 Ritchie Industries.................................................... 70 Riverbend Ranches................................................107 Sammis Ranch.......................................................131 San Juan Ranch......................................................132 Scales Northwest....................................................122 Schafer Ranch..................................................77, 131 Schohr Herefords.......................................27, 71, 133 Sierra Ranches..................................................29, 133 Silveira Bros........................................................7, 132 Skinner Livestock Transportation.......................134 Snyder Livestock, LLC..........................................109 Sonoma Mountain Herefords........................89, 133 Southwest Fence Supply Company, Inc..............134 Spanish Ranch..................................................59, 132 Tehama Angus Ranch.................................1, 37, 132 Teixeira Cattle Co..........................................101, 131 The Stockman’s Market............................................. 3 Thomas Angus Ranch...........................................103 Trayham Ranches............................................47, 133 Tri-State Livestock Credit Corp............................. 88 Tumbleweed Ranch...............................................132 Turlock Livestock Auction Yard............................ 51 Universal Semen Sales..........................................135 Veterinary Service, Inc..........................................134 VF Red Angus..................................................91, 133 Vintage Angus............................................10, 11, 132 Visalia-Templeton Livestock Market.................... 64 Vitalix........................................................................ 42 West Coast Brangus Breeders................................ 59 Western Fence & Construction, Inc....................134 Western Stockman’s Market.............................32, 65 Western Video Market.............................................. 2 Wraith Scarlett Randolph....................................... 92 Wulff Brothers Livestock................................35, 131 Y Cross Herefords................................................... 78 Zoetis........................................................................... 6

Do Your Cows Work For a Living?

So Do Ours!

Fall calvers moving from Spring BLM to Summer Forest Pasture.

And by the way... so do our bulls!

9 Peaks spring yearling bulls moving to new BLM pasture

If your cows have to work for a living, you may want to check into our program.

Contact us for more information, or to request a Sale Catalog.

9th Annual “First

Choice” BULL SALE

October 13, 2015 • Fork Rock, OR • Selling 100 Fall and Spring Yearling Bulls SELLING SONS OF

SAV Final Answer SAV Bismarck Cole Creek Cedar Ridge Sinclair Net Present Value Sinclair Grass Master Sitz Dash CCA Emblazon 9 Peaks Pardner

REMEMBER, WE MAKE IT EASY FOR SPRING CALVING HERDS Free feed, care and financing until April 2016!

www.9peaksranch.com

AARON AND REBECCA BORROR Aaron Cell: (541) 633-3284 Rebecca Cell (541) 771-4151 www.9peaksranch.com

P.O. Box 38, Fort Rock, OR 97735

July • August 2015 California Cattleman 139

how big is too big? are You Breeding

When you buy a bull, you are buying the cowherd and management practices that created him ... it’s that simple. do you want to buy a bull that is produced by a cowherd that never has a hungry day, lives a life of luxury, and therefore produces cattle so big they could be mistaken for elephants? Or, do you want to buy a bull from someone who runs cows the way you do?

Few purebred breeders offer genetics that will make you profitable in the future. We are different.

if you match your cowherd to your environment, you’ll discover their aren’t many ranches in the West that can sustain an 1,800 lb. cow; yet, many purebred breeders are selling bulls with huge growth EPDs that will create these inefficient, hard-fleshing, monstrous cows.

At Byrd Cattle Company, we breed, raise and sell cattle that are designed to excel in an environment with limited feed resources – leaving you efficient, moderately-sized daughters that wean in excess of 50% of their body weight, while producing steers that will top the market, then gain, yield and grade with any in the industry; yet, we realize all the data in the world won’t tell you about the “common sense” intangibles like udder quality, mothering ability and the ability of a cow to wean a calf and breed back in a harsh environment year after year.

As a general rule, increasing growth also increases mature cow size and decreases fleshing ability – simply breeding the function right out of your cowherd.

If you want to buy your bulls from a purebred breeder with a common sense approach – who runs cows like you do – then we’ll see you at BCC on September 4!

Mark Your Calendar for the 15th Annual

‘Enhanced Efficiency’ Angus Bull Sale at 3:30 p.m.

Friday, September 4

110 Bulls Sell All with the BCC Bull Buyers’ Bonus

All bulls sell Zoetis HD 50K tested with RFI, DMI and ADG data

Our famous BCC dinner and party will follow the sale!

E-mail byrdcattleco@hotmail.com or call 530-527-9036 to be added to our mailing list

BYRD CATTLE COMPANY, LLC P.O. Box 713 • Red Bluff, CA 96080

THD ©

Dan 530-736-8470 • Ty 530-200-4054

byrdcattleco@hotmail.com • www.byrdcattleco.com

140 California Cattleman July • August 2015