Brangus vigor

The new Trailblazers program, developed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, takes advocacy to an unprecedented level by giving participants the tools and training they need to promote beef to new audiences while addressing and correcting myths. After a competitive application process, ten Trailblazers from six states have been selected for the program’s first cohort of beef community spokespeople, including:

Haley Ammann-Ekstrom, Minnesota

Kacy Atkinson, Wyoming

Jonathon Black, West Virginia

Brianna Buseman, Nebraska

Markie Hageman, California

Marya Haverkamp, Kansas

Natalie Jones, Nebraska

Shaye Koester, Nebraska

Sebastian Mejia Turcios, California

Jaclyn Wilson, Nebraska

“We are excited to start this new program with such a strong group of experienced individuals,” said Chandler Mulvaney, director of grassroots advocacy & spokesperson development at NCBA. “Through extensive training, professional development, and equipping our Trailblazers with the tools needed, we are actively building a network of grassroots advocates across the country that will work together to find solutions to social and practical issues impacting the beef industry.”

These new Trailblazers will receive training to become expert communicators, excel in media interviews and understand how to build confidence in beef related practices when talking to consumers. Throughout the year, Trailblazers will receive advanced training from subject matter experts, learning how to effectively engage on various social media platforms, interact with the media, and enhance public speaking skills.

Trailblazers will meet twice a month, both online and in-person to foster constant growth and refinement of skillsets when speaking about beef. Upon acceptance and completion of the program, Trailblazers will serve as industry spokespeople and inform beef advocates at the local and state levels on advocacy, media and spokesperson best practices. Every year new Trailblazers will be accepted into the program.

Specializing in Truck and Livestock Scales

Established in 1959, Scales NW offers a wide range of equipment, from precision lab balances to high capacity rail scales, as well as certified scale service and installation.

Scales NW is proud to serve: California Idaho Montana Nevada Oregon Utah Washington

Contact Steve Orr for more information today! Email: steveorr@scalesnw.com Phone: (503) 510-3540

Wildland fire damage?

Freitas Rangeland Improvements LLC. provides the following services to those a ected by wildland fires:

Evaluations of damage to fencing, livestock watering systems (solar pump systems, pipelines, tanks, troughs), corrals & barns, Cost estimates for repair or replacement, We can speak with your insurance company, Manage and perform repairs, Additional services available.

Cattlemen’s Report

Only 2021-2022 California Cattleman advertisers are represented in this sale report.

62ND ANNUAL KLAMATH FALLS BULL & HORSE SALE Feb. 4, Klamath Falls, Ore.

Col. Eric Duarte 112 bulls..........................................................................$3,860 15 open heifers...............................................................$2,653

WERNING CATTLE COMPANY PRODUCTION SALE

Feb. 8, Emery, S.D. Col. Dustin Carter and Col. Jered Shipman 11 AI Sire Prospects....................................................$47,273 92 yearling bulls.............................................................$8,210 50 age advantage bulls...................................................$6,575 8 fall bulls........................................................................$8,500 131 bred heifers..............................................................$8,716 3 Donors (50% Interest)............................................ $15,000 24 units of Pandemic semen...................................$832/unit

LAMBERT RANCHES MODOC BULL SALE With guest consignor Bar KD Ranch Feb. 12, Alturas

Col. Eric Duarte 13 Hereford bulls.......................................................... $4,481 32Angus bulls.................................................................$4,805

CK CATTLE & WAGER CATTLE PRODUCTION SALE Feb. 12, Highmore, S.D.

Col. Seth Weishaar 86 Simmental & SimAngus bulls................................ $8,424 26 Simmental & SimAngus bred heifer......................$7,451 14 Commercial bred heifers.........................................$2,950

KESSLER ANGUS BULL SALE Feb. 15, Milton-Freewater, Ore.

Col. C.D. ‘Butch’ Booker 114 Angus bulls..............................................................$5,830

EZ ANGUS RANCH

Feb. 12, Myrtle Creek. Ore. Col. Jake Parnell 35 Angus bulls..................................................................$4,21

V-A-L CHAROLAIS BULL SALE Feb. 15, Nyssa, Ore.

Col. John Coote 97 Charolais bulls..........................................................$3,730

SHAW CATTLE CO. 50th ANNUAL BULL SALE

Feb. 16, Caldwell, Idaho Col. C.D. ‘Butch’ Booker and Col. Trent Stewart

162 Angus bulls..............................................................$7,074 172 Hereford bulls.........................................................$4,790 26 Red Angus bulls........................................................$5,010 90 commercial pairs......................................................$1,990 52 commercial open heifers ........................................$1,450

TEIXEIRA CATTLE COMPANY

Feb. 21, Terrebonne, Ore. Col. Trent Stewart

140 Angus bulls..............................................................$5,337 2 SimAngus bulls...........................................................$5,327

BRANGUS VIGOR

NEW BREED PROGRAM CHECKS ALL THE BOXES

from International Brangus Breeders

The International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) Commercial Marketing Committee has launched a new Process Verified Program (PVP) called Brangus® Vigor. This plan will identify Brangus cattle that have met the requirements outlined and provide potential buyers more confidence in the cattle they purchase. The Brangus Vigor program is designed for feeder calves that will be going into growyards, stocker operations, or feedyards. It is to benefit Brangus producers who sell feeder calves and their Brangus bull customers who market those Brangus sired calves, as well.

“The Brangus Vigor program is designed to identify true Brangus genetics to have a separation from all other commodity cattle carrying Bos indicus-influence,” explains chairman of the Commercial Marketing Committee, Craig Green. “The goal is to have feeder cattle age- and source-verified and carry a strong vaccination protocol with known Brangus influence. This will take time to be industry recognized, but it is a tool for customers purchasing Brangus, Red Brangus and Ultra bulls to use when marketing their steers.” Green continues, “Breeder participation and assistance should be paramount and available to bull customers.”

The IBBA will be working with IMI Global to provide the verification for the process verified program. Requirements of the program include age- and sourceverification, an 840 EID tag, genetic merit verification, a health/vaccination protocol, and BQA certification. A cattle owner will enroll in the IMI verification program, fill out the necessary paperwork and provide all of the necessary documentation. IMI will conduct an off-site records review and a phone audit to determine if compliance is met. Once the producer is verified, he or she will receive a shipping certificate and be allowed to market those calves identified in the Brangus Vigor program. The cost of the program will be $5 per head, which will include the EID and Brangus Vigor ear tags. The ear tags will be ordered by IMI and shipped to your ranch, at an additional fee.

SOURCE- AND AGE-VERIFIED: cattle must have been born and raised on your operation. Calving records must be kept showing the first and last calf born for each season. The ranch must keep head count showing cow numbers that support the number of head to enroll.

840 MATCHED SET EID: EID tags and the coordinating Brangus Vigor tag must be applied before the calves leave the ranch of origin. Red Brangus, or Ultra bulls. The registration numbers of bulls or the name of the breeder and the number of bulls purchased for the past three years are required.

HEALTH PROTOCOL: two rounds of 5-way respiratory modified live vaccine, two rounds of 7, 8 or 9-way clostridial. The premise ID, dates of vaccinations, brand of vaccine and location of injection, as well as vaccine receipts showing the adequate quantity of vaccine for the number of calves enrolled is required. Calves must be weaned for a minimum of 45 days prior to marketing to a feedyard. Producers unable to satisfy the health protocol parameters can enroll calves in Brangus Vigor and market them to a growyard willing to satisfy the remaining health requirements.

BQA CERTIFICATE: the producer must be Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certified. BQA is a nationally coordinated, state implemented program that provides systematic information to U.S. beef producers on how common sense husbandry techniques can be coupled with accepted scientific knowledge to raise cattle under optimum management and environmental conditions. Courses for BQA certification can be taken online and the enrollment is free.

The Brangus breed has steadily been increasing marbling and rib eye size. Data collected from ultrasound on Brangus yearlings showed a muscling bonus of 18 percent above the standard for ribeye size. The intramuscular fat (IMF) has also risen significantly in the past seven years. This has resulted in Brangus cattle that routinely exceed the new industry average of 85 percent Choice or better.

It’s time Brangus were recognized for their ability to perform in the feedlot and for the carcass quality that Brangus breeders have been diligent about improving. The Brangus Vigor ear tag will help to identify a calf with those superior genetics backed by the best health and management practices.

The IBBA Commercial Marketing Committee has a goal of enrolling 5,000 Brangus-sired calves in the Brangus Vigor program by January 2022. To add profit to your feeder calves or your customer’s calves, please share this information and let’s work together to get this bonus incentive recognized throughout the industry.

Cody Glenn, PVP Subcommittee chair summarizes, “Brangus Vigor will provide a third-party process verified program to Brangus producers that will add value to their cattle and enable feeder calf buyers to purchase those calves with confidence.”

The year 2021 was significant for The California Cattlemen’s Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission to strengthen the future of California’s beef industry through investment in advocacy, education and research programs designed to support sustainable cattle production. Accomplishing this mission will preserve the proud heritage established by California’s cattlemen and cattlewomen and ensure that future generations are prepared to face the challenges ahead.

The last six months have brought tremendous growth for this young organization as new programs and projects were implemented to ensure the Foundation mission is achieved.

Recognizing many cattle producers could benefit from additional regulatory expertise and professional support, in the Spring of 2021, the California Cattle Council awarded a grant to the California Cattlemen’s Foundation to develop a technical assistance program. RTAP’s goal is to help ranchers stay ahead of the latest regulatory requirements by providing technical assistance to ranchers, enabling them to understand and navigate complex regulatory, environmental and business issues. Livestock producers can reach out to receive assistance at no cost by calling (916) 4066902 or e-mailing rtap@wrstrat.com.

The RTAP team started the new year working to tell more people about the program and connect with producers by hosting a booth at the Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale. In February, RTAP hosted its first educational webinar to go over the State Water Resources Control Board’s recent changes to the due date for water measurement and use reporting. This webinar provided an overview of SB 88 regulations, explained the due date changes and allowed participants to get their water measurement and use reporting questions answered. If you missed this update and are interested in watching the recording of it, please call or email the RTAP team. Stay tuned to the @calcattlemen and @cattlecouncil social media pages for future webinars and educational opportunities from RTAP to be announced.

For projects, Stories from California Cattle Country is one of the Foundation’s podcasts that took off last year. The podcast continues to produce episodes that take listeners to some of the most beautiful parts of this diverse state to learn more about the people and practices of ranches and dairies. Produced with support from the California Cattle Council, the podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.

Communications and advocacy are areas the Foundation is committed to building on throughout this next year. With continued support from the California Cattle Council, Stories from California Cattle Country is set to keep being produced. Funding has also been secured for the Foundation to work on monitoring and responding to issues, planning social and traditional media trainings and creating outreach to the public through multiple projects and new programs.

To lead the Foundation and the work it will do in 2022, the board of directors entered 2022 with a new chair. At the Foundation meeting held in December at CCA’s Annual Convention, former chairmen Myron Openshaw, Oroville, announced his “retirement” as head of the Foundation and stepped down from the position. Pat Kirby, Wilton, stepped into the role as chairperson and now leads the board of 11 other well-qualified individuals, including Openshaw. This board has strong representation from the ranching community, possessing hundreds of years of collective rangeland management experience.

To keep up with all the Foundation is doing, visit the new website https://www.calcattlemenfoundation.org. On the site, you can find out more about the people, projects and plans the Foundation has for taking even more steps forward to fulfill its mission this year.