Beef Tips - Fall 2020 Edition

Fall 2020

CentralStar Cooperative

BEEF

Tips

The Best Genetics to Fill the Gap

When you walk through your herd are there specific traits missing that can push your operation to the next level? Have you been searching for the perfect sire to improve calving ease, growth rate, feed efficiency or carcass merit? Whatever type of sire you are looking for, CentralStar can help. Take a look at a few sires our Beef Specialists are excited about. For a full listing of bulls to fit your needs, check out the new Fall 2020 sire directory at selectsiresbeef.com, or ask your Centralstar team for a copy.

Contact your Beef Specialist today!

Indiana

Greg Beavers 812.345.2299 greg.beavers@mycentralstar.com

Michigan 7AN466 RAINFALL RAINFALL sets himself apart with his dominating hip and rear-leg structure, muscle shape and flawless phenotype.

He brings Calving Ease, maternal strength and performance together - fundamental elements to build from.

7AR87 FRANCHISE FRANCHISE provides a red/black option with a focus on balance. Early progeny displays super figures for CED and low BW. Projections for HPG, CEM and carcass merit rank him high in the breed.

Ginni Sheridan 517.256.6190 ginni.sheridan@mycentralstar.com

Northern Wisconsin

Scott Ellevold 715.781.5635 scott.ellevold@mycentralstar.com

Southern Wisconsin

Trevor Yager 608.574.6142 trevor.yager@mycentralstar.com

14SM3101 FULLY LOADED FULLY LOADED is a double-digit CE prospect backed by a great maternal sire stack and is a full brother to W/C Loaded Up 1119Y. Look for his offspring to be square hipped, sound jointed and ultra-attractive with a splash of chrome.

7AN528 GROWTH FUND The most intriguing young sire to enter A.I. this year. GROWTH FUND provides modest Calving Ease and ranks among the breed’s top 1 percent for WW, YW, CW, $W, $F and $B. Want to increase your assets? Invest in GROWTH FUND.

Learn more about these sires at selectsiresbeef.com. Looking to order? Contact your CentralStar team member at 800.631.3510.

PRODUCER PROFILE

MEADOW LAWN ANGUS Eastman, Wisc.

By Trevor Yager, CentralStar Beef Specialist

Photo provided by the Lenzendorf family, Eastman, Wisc.

Farm Background For over 100 years, the Lenzendorf family has farmed their Eastman, Wisc. land now known as Meadow Lawn Angus. Starting out as a dairy farm, the family began their transition from milking Holsteins to seedstock Angus cattle in 2014. The beef herd began with five foundation females, purchased specifically for their genetics, with the first set of calves born in the Spring of 2015. Meadow Lawn Angus selects females from across the Midwest to create the strong genetic base for the herd they continue to grow today. The family adopted the name Meadow Lawn Angus; a homage to their late Uncle, Gary, who thought up the name for a project in his High School Ag class.

Herd Info Today, the herd is comprised of 120 breeding age females. Registered Angus cows make up the majority of the herd, with 20 head of crossbred females used as embryo transfer (ET) recipients. Recently Meadow Lawn Angus began partnering with Co-op herds in Iowa to expand their ET program. Their growing emphasis on ET has allowed the farm to increase the number of offspring produced out of the best cows, in addition to adding new genetics from other herds.

The seedstock operation recently made a change to shorten their calving window, in an effort to maintain a consistent market

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for meat customers. Today they breed cattle for spring and fall calving seasons.

Calves are finished year-round and sold direct to customers or retained for the farms breeding program. Meadow Lawn Angus hosts a yearly spring sale where they offer 15 to 20 of their top bulls as well as high-profile females.

Breeding Program Meadow Lawn Angus’ goal from the beginning has been to build a maternal focused herd. Cows on the farm are regularly evaluated for their maternal instincts and disposition around calves.

“The best advice we were given when we began was to be sure and have great cows,” said Mike Lenzendorf. “You can’t produce great offspring if you don’t have great moms, so we place focus on the maternal side.”

Once a strong core group of maternal females was established, Meadow Lawn began blending in other desired traits such as carcass merit, soundness, and growth rate. The blended approach in their breeding program gives Meadow Lawn the ability to reach their goals in addition to provide a strong variety of genetics to their seedstock customers.

Reproduction Program The Lenzendorf family rely heavily on the use of artificial insemination (A.I.) and ET.

Bulls are selected based on improvements desired for individual cows. The farm uses a wide variety of bulls depending on what goals they are working to meet for each breeding season. Meadow Lawn Angus utilize a fixed-time A.I. program to align with targeted breeding dates allowing the farm to maintain a shortened breeding season. They also utilize CentralStar when introducing new genetics through the extensive bull offering, to maintain their genetic goals for traits like carcass merit and growth rate.

With the combination of on-farm and Co-op herds, Meadow Lawn Angus is also implanting between 50 to 70 embryos a year.

CentralStar’s Role “We work with David Holzinger (CentralStar A.I. Specialist) for our breeding,” said Lenzendorf. “He has been great in teaching us how to update our breeding practices and increase fertility.”

Along with providing access to a wide variety of Angus genetics, the CentralStar team works with Meadow Lawn to evaluate handling practices to reduce stress on cows and increase conception rates. Using genetics and breeding services from CentralStar, the Lenzendorf family has been able to increase their profitability from seedstock sales.

WHAT CAN SEVEN DAYS DO TO YOUR PREG RATES? A large-scale study at the University of Missouri has shown better pregnancy rates using a new artificial insemination (A.I.) synchronization protocol. Based on the study the 7 & 7 Synch protocol brought 82 percent of cows into heat before a timed A.I. service. Comparatively, only 64 percent showed early heat using a standard 7-day CO-Synch + CIDR program.

before administration of GnRH. With an added seven days to the beginning of the program, the process enhances the uniformity of a cows response to the protocol improving the overall control of the estrus cycle compared to standard 7-day CO-Synch + CIDR protocols.

The overall goal of the study was to increase estrus response rates in an effort to elevate pregnancy rates in lactating beef cattle. The 7 & 7 Synch protocol resulted in an 11 percent increase in conventional semen pregnancy rates over the 7-day Co-Synch + CIDR method.

Whether you are looking for more information on the 7 & 7 Synch protocol or wanting to evaluate which synchronization program is best suited for your operation, start by working with your CentralStar team. Our knowledgeable Specialists will work with you to find the best method to reach your goals. Find more information on the 7 & 7 Synch protocol in the new Fall beef sire directory.

What makes this new protocol effective?

The 7 & 7 Synchronization protocol improves ovarian maturity before Gonadotrophin-releasing hormones (GnRH) is given; typically, at the beginning of a protocol. This is accomplished by treatment with a prostaglandin-F2a and CIDR application

Is a new protocol right for you?

* The 7&7 Synch protocol is currently pending approval from the Beef Reproductive Task Force.

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CALVING SEASON

SURVIVAL GUIDE Raising cattle can have its highs and lows, especially through calving season. Don’t get stuck fighting through another long and high stress calving this fall. Work with your CentralStar Team to make sure you are prepared with herd management products geared towards helping both the cow and calf start off on the right hoof.

CONVERT™

This trusted product has been at the foundation of CentralStars calf care line for years!

The L-form bacteria is PROVEN to give calves a healthier gut and a healthier start. CONVERT is available in boluses or multi-dose and single-dose gel.

First Day Formula

Hands down the best colostrum replacer on the market. Mix-ability is second to none. A high quality whey protein concentrate fortified with essential vitamins and chelated trace minerals. First Day Formula can also be used as a supplement to maternal colostrum.

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Accel RS

In the event you have to treat a dehydrated calf, Accel RS is the best option because it functions as a Recover Solution (RS). This electrolyte has a plasma-based energy source which aids in gut repair and reduces peak diarrhea volume. Accel RS is available in individual packs, a six pound pail, or a 25 pound bag.

Tri-Purify and Tri-Start Jr

If you run into a case of scours, the one two punch of these two boluses will make all the difference. Tri-Purify is a highly concentrated oregano-based bolus that is formulated to flush out the lower GI tract.

Follow-up with Tri-Start Jr to repopulate the gut with good bacteria essential for health.

Keep CentralStar at your fingertips This list is comprised of just a few of the great products CentralStar offers to help you survive calving season. Find an extensive list and order herd management products online at mycentralstar.com. Talk with your CentralStar team for information on how to meet the needs of your cows and calves this fall.