February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
In this Issue:
The Role of Genetics in Cattle Feeding Calving Season Time to Evaluate Udder Soundness
It’s About Efficiency, Not Cow Size Ultrasound - Making a Difference in Selection Decisions for Bulls and Females
Putting Beef Quality Assurance to Work Gelbvieh
Breeders Focus on Performance Testing
The Role of Genetics in Cattle Feeding By J. Tom Brink, JBS-Five Rivers Cattle Feeding Since the formation of Five Rivers Cattle Feeding in 2005, our organization has finished over 4 million head of cattle. We’ve seen all kinds of genetics come through our feedyards---the good, the mediocre, the bad, the ugly, and occasionally, the really ugly. It gives us a clear picture of what U.S. cow-calf
It’s basketball season, so let us use a sports analogy to illustrate the importance of genetics in the cattle feeding business. Suppose you are the new coach of a small town junior high school basketball team. You walk into the gym on the first day of practice and see two 13-year olds boys standing side by side. One is 6’ 0” tall, with broad shoulders, an athletic build, and a
If the right raw materials (genetics) aren’t there, our ability to costeffectively produce the high-quality beef consumers want is severely limited. producers are doing with the genetics in their herds. We feed cattle from producers that have an excellent understanding of what the beef industry needs in both performance and carcass traits. We also see cattle from herds that don’t have a clue. Five Rivers does its best to manage all kinds of genetic variation toward its most economical and valuable endpoint. However, we can only do so much. Genetics are tremendously important in cattle feeding and the entire beef supply chain. You can take the simple principles presented here and help make the U.S. beef industry more competitive and prosperous, at the same time benefitting your own operation.
competitive look in his eye. The second boy stands 5’ 1” and resembles a 40-yearold couch potato. As their coach, you can undoubtedly help both boys develop stronger skills. Practice will make them both better. Yet there is only so much you can do to improve the smaller, less athletic boy’s game. The genetics just aren’t there to take him very far in basketball. The same is true of the cattle we feed. If the right raw materials (genetics) aren’t there, our ability to cost-effectively produce the high-quality beef consumers want is severely limited. Continued on page 2
American Gelbvieh Association 10900 Dover Street Westminster, CO 80021
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Contents Page Features The Role of Genetics in Cattle Feeding....................................................................................................... 1 Hojer Gelbvieh Ranch – Focused on Quality Gelbvieh and Balancer® Genetics with an Eye on the Future........................................................................................................................... 14 Calving Season – Time to Evaluate Udder Soundness............................................................................. 28 Frequently Asked Questions: Udder Scoring............................................................................................ 30 It’s About Efficiency, Not Cow Size............................................................................................................ 32
News Mitigating Risk in Herd Sire Selection...................................................................................................... 24 Select Bulls with High Maternal Calving Ease EPD to Reduce Calving Difficulty in Daughters................................................................................................................................ 25 Estrus Synchronization Planner Available to Beef Producers at No Charge......................................... 39 Get the Facts about Growth Enhancements in Cattle.............................................................................. 40 Ultrasound – Making a Difference in Selection Decisions for Bulls and Females........................................................................................................................................ 42 Putting Beef Quality Assurance to Work................................................................................................... 44 Understanding Efficiency and RFI............................................................................................................. 45 Understanding Gelbvieh EPDs................................................................................................................... 46 Things to do Before Purchasing a Bull...................................................................................................... 54 Don’t Sell Your Vaccines Short................................................................................................................... 58 Guarentee Your Future with Gelbvieh 62 Gelbvieh Breeders Focus on Performance Testing................................................................................... 63
Departments Editorial........................................................................................................................................................ 10 From the Shipping Pen................................................................................................................................ 20 Over the Fence with Lee Leachman............................................................................................................ 26 Junior Voice.................................................................................................................................................. 47 Breeders Corner........................................................................................................................................... 48 Places to Be................................................................................................................................................... 66 Ad Index........................................................................................................................................................ 68
Dear Reader: The Profit Picture is the commercially-focused tabloid publication published by the American Gelbvieh Association. This publication is printed twice a year, October and February, and focuses on issues important to the commercial cow-calf producer, the benefits of the Gelbvieh breed in a commercial setting, and offers relevant information affecting your bottom line. If you wish to be removed from the mailing lists for this publication, there are two ways you can reach us. By mail:
4 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
please cut off the label on the front and mail to American Gelbvieh Association, attn: Profit Picture, 10900 Dover Street, Westminster, CO 80021; or by email: please type in the label information exactly as it appears on the front and sent it to info@gelbvieh.org. We would not want to put something in your mailbox that you do not wish to receive. We hope you enjoy this, the fifth issue, of The Profit Picture. Comments and feedback on this newspaper are welcome and can be directed to jennifers@gelbvieh.org.
Jennifer Scharpe, Editor
303/465-2333 Main Phone 303/465-2339 fax Director of Administration Dianne Coffman (ex. 479) diannec@gelbvieh.org Director of Breed Improvement Susan Willmon (ex. 484) susanw@gelbvieh.org Director of Breed Promotion Frank Padilla (ex. 480) frankp@gelbvieh.org Director of Communications Jennifer Scharpe (ex. 485) jennifers@gelbvieh.org Director of Member Services Dana Stewart (ex. 488) danas@gelbvieh.org Graphic Designer/Creative Services Lynn Valentine (ex. 486) lynnv@gelbvieh.org Area Coordinator Western Region Don Danell dond@gelbvieh.org Area Coordinator Central Region Brandon McEndaffer brandonm@gelbvieh.org Area Coordinator Eastern Region Steve Peddicord stevep@gelbvieh.org Customer Services Dolores Gravley (ex. 481) doloresg@gelbvieh.org Patti Showman (ex. 478) pattis@gelbvieh.org Teresa Wessels (ex. 477) teresaw@gelbvieh.org Mailing address: 10900 Dover St., Westminster, CO 80021 General E-mail: info@gelbvieh.org Registration/Electronic Data Transfer: registration@gelbvieh.org Website: www.gelbvieh.org
Tenderize your beef with bulls from Rogers Valley Farm. Research shows more beef is returned to the store because it’s tough than all other reasons combined. We as an industry can improve the consumption of beef with more tender beef.
With bulls from Rogers Valley Farm Gelbvieh, you can add tenderness without losing performance. On March 12, we’ll be selling 13 fall 2009 sons of KHR 47R at our Midwest Beef Alliance Sale in Tina, Mo. These 13 bulls all have Igenity® Tenderness scores of 5 or greater. Their EPDs averaged 108 for Calving Ease; .1 for Birth Wt.; 43 for Weaning Wt.; 80 for Yearling Wt.; 18 for Milk; 40 for Total Maternal; 108 for CED and .8 for Scrotal.
KHR 47R
Homozygous for 316 Tenderness Gene To order semen on KHR 47R or any of our Tenderness Bulls, call Ronald Rogers at 660-375-7266.
Mark your calender and plan to attend the Midwest Beef Alliance Bull Sale
March 12, 2011 in Tina, Mo. Over 60 head of Gelbvieh, Balancers® & Angus sell!
For a catalog, call Richard Lincoln at 660-895-5008 or Ronald Rogers at 660-375-7266
Ronald & Kathryne Rogers
P. O. Box 51, Mendon, MO 64660 • Email rogers_valley_farm_feedlot@hotmail.com • (660) 272-3805 • cell (660) 375-7266
2011 Rogers Ad-February ProfitPic-2.indd 1
1/6/11 2:33 PM
The Profitpicture | 5
The Role of Genetics in Cattle Feeding Continued from page 1
Economics of Size and Finish Weight Now, let’s focus our attention on finding out what genetics work best in the feedyard. With today’s high corn and roughage costs, it is important to understand what size animal is the most efficient to feed. Would you rather feed a steer that finishes quickly (fewer days on feed) with a lighter end weight? Or a more performanceoriented steer you can feed longer to a heavier final weight? Realworld feedyard data answers this question definitively, and the race is not even close. The heavier-finishing steer outpaces his lighter-weight counterpart, and makes the cash register ring a lot louder. Furthermore, the same steer wins whether corn costs $4 or $7 per bushel. Tom Brink President and COO of J & K Oklahoman Holdings, Inc., a division of JBS Five Rivers
When corn costs $4 per bushel, the heavier-finishing steers would be worth $60 more per head than the light weight group. Even at $7 corn, the difference is still $30 per head
Cow-calf producers who want to sell their calves for top dollar should make sure the genetics they’re using have good growth and end-weight potential. Table 1 tracks average performance of large numbers of fed steers that had final carcass weights of either 700-800 pounds or over 850 pounds. The data was normalized for placement weight, health status, and month sold to keep the comparison fair. The split between these two steer groups is basically a sort on genetics. Following their genetic programming, the first group exhibits lower growth and less end weight potential. The second group has stronger performance genetics along with the ability to efficiently reach heavier finish weights. The average carcass weight difference between the two groups is only 82 pounds (784 versus 866 pounds). Yet these two groups were markedly different in feedyard
6 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
performance. Much better average daily gains (ADGs) and dry feed/gain conversion rates (F/ Gs) are found among the heavier steers. This is true despite longer
days on feed for the heavierfinishing group, which typically depresses performance. ADG and F/G differences translate into significant economic differences between the two groups.
in favor of the bigger, performanceoriented steers. Cow-calf producers who want to sell their calves for top dollar should make sure the genetics they’re using have good growth and end-weight potential.
The small-framed, quick-finishing steer is an animal profit-seeking feedyards do not want to feed.
Health in the Feedyard Sickness is still the number one production problem faced by cattle feeders. Too many cattle arrive in U.S. feedyards without enough immunity, especially as it relates to common respiratory diseases. Lack of proper vaccination programs and other management-related factors are the main reasons these challenges persist. Our industry has the technology and know how to get cattle better prepared for future health challenges before they leave their farm or ranch of origin, however, implementation is lacking. Genetics also play a role. More emphasis on understanding the relationship between genetics and health is needed. Our industry is finally beginning to do much-needed genetic research on health. As shown in Table 2, cattle death losses (which are often hard to predict from one group of cattle to the next) impact cattle feeding performance and profitability in a big way.
Traits Correlated with Grid Premiums Discussion of the role of genetics in cattle feeding would not be complete without touching on carcass traits. Good quality cattle can routinely garner a $20 to $50 per head premium (or more) on many industry grids. Table 3 illustrates how various carcass traits correlate with grid premiums in both Southern and Northern feeding regions. Southern U.S. packing plants (Kansas and Texas) are starved for highgrading cattle. Thus, the percentage Choice and Prime quality grades is highly correlated to overall grid premiums (correlation = +0.60).
important in Northern regions as well, but yield grades also surface as being key influencers. The
Cattle that are too fat (Yield Grade 4 and 5) and too heavy are a bigger problem in the North. Balanced-trait cattle that produce reasonably high quality and yield grades, without a lot of outliers, such as heavies and dark cutters, are the easiest pathway to consistent grid premiums (see Table 4). It is really not that difficult to do either. Just match up the right genetics with a healthy dose of both marbling and muscling, according to the simple plan discussed next.
Balanced-trait cattle that produce reasonably high quality and yield grades, without a lot of outliers, such as heavies and dark cutters, are the easiest pathway to consistent grid premiums. Fewer Standard grade cattle also help generate larger premiums, as evidenced by a fairly strong negative correlation (-0.49). Quality grade is
percentage of Yield Grade 1 and 2 cattle is more strongly correlated to the final grid premium than is the percent Prime and Choice grades.
The Profitpicture | 7
The Role of Genetics in Cattle Feeding Continued from page 7
Feeder Cattle Five Rivers Really Wants Five Rivers buys all shapes, sizes, and colors to keep our pens full, but our first choice in feeder cattle is an Angus x Continental crossbred. Our recommendation for a good feeding, good
8 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
grading, and good yielding animal is a combination of 50 to 75 percent Angus and 25 to 50 percent Continental (see Table 5). These cattle bring the balance needed to succeed both in the feedyard and on the grid. Using superior genetics on both sides of this formula will produce the best results, of course. But at a minimum, each producer should get the basic breed percentages right. If the entire industry followed this simple plan, it would be absolutely amazing how many problems in our packing plants would disappear overnight. In conclusion, it’s about creating valuable feeder calves. It all starts with the right genetics, as shown in the illustration below. Work from the bottom up the “ladder,” adding more and more value as you go (see Table 5). Encourage your
bull customers to follow this plan. Don’t skip any step as you work toward greater value. Master the lower rungs first then move upward, ascending to the next rung. At Five Rivers, we buy some cattle everyday from producers that do a great job putting these basic value points in place with each calf crop. We need many, many more like them.
POST ROCK CATTLE COMPANY
Bull & Female Sale MARCH 19, 2011 • 12:30 pm (cst) Post Rock Cattle Company Sale Facility • Barnard, Kansas 175 GELBVIEH & BALANCER® LOTS SELL
110 Purebred Gelbvieh & Balancer® Bulls 65 Purebred Gelbvieh & Balancer® Females ALL 6 YEAR OLD FEMALES SELL, including three donors.
283W2 PB homo black, homo polled calving ease with
SILVER His black homo polled donor dam also sells as a true sale feature of the entire spring sale season. She averages 11 embryos per flush on five flushes and sells rebred for a full sib to Silver. A number of sale cows will have baby’s or carry the valuable service of Silver.
124X8 He sells. A herd bull sired by the Angus power
house SAV Net Worth 4200, out of the great Twila 223M2 donor. 8 maternal ET brothers by Net Worth, Great Western and Star out of 223M2 will sell as a sale highlight.
274U2 This Star son was on a lot of breeders’ herd bull lists last year and is now at Lemke Cattle in Nebraska. His homo polled Granite 2135M dam out of Baby Belle sells as a sale feature.
6X8 Mytty In Focus is back with another exceptional Balancer® sire group including this featured son out of a Top Brass X Savvy dam.
222U8 His exceptional Balancer® dam sells. This years’ sale group of cows is truly outstanding This bull sold to Vander Vorst Gelbvieh a year ago.
performance herd sire prospect. He’s sired by Great Western and his homo polled donor dam also sells. She’s by KHR 38N out of a Post Rock bred cow now a donor at Trans-Pacific.
259W2 He sells. A homo polled calving ease son of
Great Western out of a donor Gizmo X Wilma 147H2 cow. This sale will be loaded with PB calving ease bulls with exceptional muscle and body mass.
122X8 This powerful ET homo polled Balancer® GAR Predestined son sells. His black, homo polled Free Agent donor dam sells, as well as an outstanding PB flush by Great Western.
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH... In order to make your dream a reality, you must first wake up.
POST ROCK CATTLE COMPANY 3041 E. Hwy. 284, Barnard, KS 67418 Bill Clark: 785.792.6244 Leland Clark: 785.792.6208 Fax: 785.792.6250 • Email: prcc@twinvalley.net
SALE MANAGEMENT BY: Mitchell Marketing Service
www.mms.bz
Chris Mitchell 334-695-1371 Randy Sienknecht 319-290-3763 2262 C Avenue • Gladbrook, IA 50635
“Where calving ease, performance and eye-appeal come together.”
The Profitpicture | 9
Editorial Gelbvieh: Built by the Commercial Cattleman By Frank Padilla, American Gelbvieh Association Director of Breed Promotion The Frenchman River cuts a meandering path across the prairie of southwest Nebraska, and along the hills above it are some of the most productive rangelands in America. I spent the better part of my life running cows near this old river, and I came to appreciate the importance the river represented to the health and viability of the people who made their living here. In the late 1990s, a terrible drought settled on the valley, and after eight years of no rain, the river nearly dried up. Even in early June, when grass once stood shoulder high to our calves, the grasslands that surrounded our homes burnt up and died. The only green you could see was a narrow ribbon of cottonwoods that traced the river’s path. The lessons I took from that period are that you can’t take much in life for granted. As soon as you think you’ve got it figured out, as soon as you think you’ll have green grass forever, fate takes a twist and all that’s left is dust. Most of all, you can never take for granted what you – or your forebearers – have spent your lifetime building. For 40 years now, the Gelbvieh breed has built a successful track record in the U.S. cattle industry for one reason: No other breed in the U.S. cattle industry is as commercially focused
as Gelbvieh. We’ve consistently been focused on satisfying the demands not only of consumers, but also of commercial cattle producers. Second, we’ve produced cattle that are trouble-free, that enable commercial producers to raise more pounds with fewer inputs. And, we’ve come to represent a reliable source for heterosis – the lifeblood of every cow-calf operation – and through increased hybrid vigor from Gelbvieh genetics our commercial customers have increased cow longevity, herd health and overall performance. As we look to the future – and as each of us contemplates the successes and setbacks of the last 40 years – we must never forget that it’s the commercial producer that built this breed, and it’s the commercial producer who will continue to play the most critical role in our future. The cattle industry has faced some tough times recently. The rise of the ethanol industry has diverted important feedstuffs from our business into energy, and we’ve lost nearly 6 million head of cattle from the U.S. inventory during the last four years. Cow herd numbers are at their lowest levels in 50 years. At the same time, we are producing as much beef as we were 40 years ago, and we are doing it more efficiently and at a higher quality than ever before. Perhaps the lessons of the last 40 years are that good times and bad times are one in the same.
A m e r i c a n
G e l b v i e h
There are always challenges, and at the same time there are always opportunities. During the next few years, the industry is poised for some of its most profitable years in memory. Calf prices should set records. Demand for cows and bred heifers should be at unprecedented levels. But the opportunities that at present lie on the horizon are only as good as our preparation to capitalize on them.
Through increased hybrid vigor from Gelbvieh genetics, our commercial customers have increased cow longevity, herd health and overall performance.
And that’s why we can’t take for granted the commercial producer. No matter how good things get – or how challenging they become – the key to our continued success is what got us here in the first place: focusing on producing good-doing Gelbvieh cattle, and ensuring they work for our customer, the commercial cattle operator. Frank Padilla is the director of breed promotion for the American Gelbvieh Association. Frank can be reached at 303-465-2333 or frankp@gelbvieh.org.
A s s o c i a t i o n
Area Coordinators—Commercial Marketing “For information about upcoming Gelbvieh sales, please contact me. I can assist you in finding Gelbvieh genetics that fit your needs.”
Don Danell Western Region
dond@gelbvieh.org (406) 538-5622 (O)
10 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
“Contact me if you have Gelbvieh commercial females for sale and for information on the North Carolina Maternal Edge female sale to be held March 19 in Clinton, N.C.”
Steve Peddicord Eastern Region
stevep@gelbvieh.org (606) 387-8579 (O) • (606) 688-4492 (C)
“Serveral production bull and female sales are scheduled in the upcoming months. Contact me for information about when and where. I can help you find the cattle that meet your criteria.”
Brandon McEndaffer Central Region
brandonm@gelbvieh.org (970) 520-3020 (C)
The Profitpicture | 11
Beastrom Ranch
31st Annual Gelbvieh and Balancer Bull Sale February 28, 2011 – 1:00 PM CST Fort Pierre Livestock, Ft Pierre, SD Selling 90 Red, Black, Purebred and Balancer Bulls! Also Offering 14 Top Quality Replacement Females from the Heart of Our Herd!
BEA “Bottom Line” 001X ET Sire: RID R Collateral • Dam: BEA Ella ET (Sliverado)
Two Full Brothers Sell!
2011 Breeders Choice Bull Futurity Champion & 2011 National Champion Gelbvieh Bull
12 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
Black Balancer Bull Sire: VAR Rocky 800029 Performance, Depth, Carcass
BABR Flyboy 002X Sire: XXB Wingman Balance, Thickness, Power Offering Many Exciting Purebred Herd Bull Prospects
VAR Rocky 800029
Reference Sires: BABR Stella 0004X Sire: BABR Gentleman Jack A Full Sister Sells!
BEA Scarlett 0003X Sire: Pie Deweze Half Sisters Sell!
Sire: BEAS New Era 687S Eye Appeal, Angular
Sire: SGRI Investor Ribshape, Soundness
BEA Johnny Walker EXAR Pay Stub DHC Uppercut BEA Backtrack BEA Sureshock BABR Gentleman Jack BEA 711T Absolute Pie Deweze EIK TM 222
Let us be the Building Blocks to your Success! Wes & Brittney Spencer 605-280-0204
Jim & Barb Beastrom 605-224-5789
Shad & Brandy Ludemann 605-223-9091
www.beastromranch.com The Profitpicture | 13
Feature
want the inside information
Hojer Gelbvieh Ranch: Focused on Quality Gelbvieh and Balancer® Genetics with an Eye on the Future Amanda Nolz Radke
For the Alan and Pam Hojer family, their well-established Gelbvieh and Balancer® cow herd started in 1990 with the modest purchase of ten cows at the Double E Gelbvieh dispersal sale. In their first bull sale, Hojer Gelbvieh Ranch sold just three bulls. Today, Alan and Pam; along with their children, Blake and his wife Jenn; Nikki and Christian, offer 120 bulls and 60 females in their annual sale each March. They also maintain 300 cows and are working to expand the cow herd, as well as starting a backgrounding program. Alan and Pam have continued to develop their growing operation, located near De Smet, S.D., all while placing an emphasis on the most important thing, family.
Strategic planning is key The Hojers firmly believe in the importance of succession planning, and they have worked hard to develop a strategic plan that keeps all three kids involved in the operation. Last year, they finalized their transition plan, which placed 25 percent ownership of the operation to each family member. “Farm succession is so important,” stresses Alan Hojer, who spoke on this topic at a local cattle business meeting. “My best advice is to start the conversation early. There are so many opportunities for support today. Pam and I really wanted our kids to make educated decisions about their futures as young adults, not as middle-aged ones. We have always opened up the lines of communication and made it easy to talk about.” “Each year, we have an annual meeting where we set aside a time to talk about our operation,” adds Nikki Hojer, who is currently a graduate student at South Dakota State University (SDSU). “These meetings help us forecast our plans for the upcoming year. It really helps to keep us all on the same page.” The Hojers have the philosophy that the person who does the work is the one who gets paid, and they strive to keep the operation
let’s chat. IGENITY® is changing the way you see your herd. Get the inside scoop with this easy-tounderstand DNA profiling tool that gives you an earlier, more accurate look at your herd’s potential. Talk with an advisor from IGENITY today to get started. Gary Felger Lohman, Mo. (573) 355-4709 gary.felger@merial.com Territory: Iowa and Missouri Brian Geneva Coweta, Okla. (918) 457-7135 brian.geneva@merial.com Territory: SE Kansas, SW Missouri, western Arkansas, Oklahoma and northeastern Texas Zac Hall Bismarck, N.D. (701) 426-0285 zachary.hall@merial.com Territory: North Dakota and South Dakota Courtney Kealey Bozeman, Mont. (406) 270-6290 courtney.kealey@merial.com Territory: Montana, Wyoming and Idaho Sam Lewis Schulenburg, Tex. (979) 229-2431 sam.lewis@merial.com Territory: Texas Rick Pfortmiller Natoma, Kan. (785) 230-9507 rick.pfortmiller@merial.com Territory: Kansas and Nebraska
From L to R: Alan, Pam, Nikki, Jenn, Blake and Christian Hojer. running with a combination of on- and offfarm income. While Alan and Pam both have jobs in town, oldest son Blake was offered the opportunity to pursue a full-time career in the beef cattle business after he graduated from the University of South Dakota (USD) in 2008. His wife, Jenn, is a fourth grade teacher at Hamlin, and six days a week, Blake is working on the farm. “My focus is on the day-to-day tasks of running a cattle operation, but we all work together to pave a path for where we would like the operation to go,” says Blake. “We all make strides in progress in different areas. Continued on page 16
14 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
on your herd?
Kristen Clark and the Customer Service Team Duluth, Ga. • (877) 443-6489 igenity.support@merial.com Territory: Representatives are available to service all states Dr. Kevin DeHaan Technical Services Director Taylor, Mo. (217) 430-4189 kevin.dehaan@merial.com Dr. Jim Gibb Technical Services Director Louisville, Colo. (303) 664-9494 jim.gibb@merial.com
®IGENITY and the IGENITY Logo are registered trademarks of Merial. ©2011 Merial Limited, Duluth, GA. All rights reserved. MEGLIGEN4530 (09/10)
IGENITY® is changing the way you see your herd. It gives you the inside information you need to make more confident and informed decisions. From a single DNA sample, it creates a comprehensive profile of key economically important traits; traits like marbling and stayability that can help improve genetic selection and advance breeding programs. Simply put, it’s an easy-to-understand genetic profile that gives you an earlier, more accurate look at your herd’s potential.
Start moving your operation forward at IGENITY.com or call 1-877-IGENITY.
®IGENITY and the IGENITY logo are registered trademarks of Merial. ©2011 Merial Limited, Duluth, GA. All rights reserved. LAGEIG1210 (12/10)
The Profitpicture | 15
Continued from page 14
With all of us involved, it really makes the workload easier on everybody.” While Blake focuses on the management of the operation, particularly in doing the chores, building new fences, making breeding decisions and troubleshooting any daily problems, Nikki focuses on the bookwork and marketing side, while Christian, a freshman agronomy student at SDSU, hopes to one day work on the feeding side. “All three of us kids love the farm and want to be here,” notes Nikki. “We each have our own strengths in different areas, and they mesh together well to help the farm.”
Moving forward Each March, Hojer Gelbvieh Ranch offers an annual bull sale, and the 2011 sale will mark their 19th year of selling Gelbvieh and Balancer genetics. Marketing has always been a huge focus in their management strategy, and it’s one thing they all agree has helped their operation. “One of the best ways to build a business is through cold calls,” advises Alan. “We make calls to cattle people. We visit our customers. We take time to visit with others and share our story through phone calls, e-mails and mailings.” A great example of success in making cold calls is Christian. When he was just a little kid, he was at the sale barn getting ready for the sale, recalls Alan. He was waiting in the auction barn while Pam and him brought another load of bulls when a trucker came into the building. Christian walked up to the man and asked him,
“Say, you want to take a look at my bulls?” The trucker did, and ever since, he has been one of their best bull customers. Another marketing aspect they have added to the mix is online social media. In addition to their Web site, they also maintain a Facebook fan page, as well as post YouTube videos of sale cattle. “Many of our customers buy our cattle over the phone on the day of the sale, and in order to help them make a good business decision, we have found that many of them appreciate being able to watch a YouTube clip of the sale cattle,” says Nikki. “Using social networks to market has been good so far. It helps to build that trust from our customers and reach new audiences.”
Beefing up with Gelbvieh With three kids centering their careers around the operation, the Hojers are working to build new revenue streams. They plan to expand the cow herd to 400 head, and this year, they are experimenting with feeding out 400 calves. “We are extremely excited about the state of the beef cattle industry today,” says Alan. “Although we will definitely see increases in input costs, the overall cattle inventory is at a historic low, and soon, we will see demand grow and thrive, especially in the global market. As more people around the world become more affluent, they will get the taste of beef and increase their purchases of our products. When that happens, beef producers better be ready!”
As far as the Gelbvieh breed goes, the Hojers are as passionate about the breed’s potential as they are about the future of the industry. “We want to grow our operation, but we will continue to stay focused on quality,” adds Christian. “We currently run 60 percent Balancer genetics and 40 percent purebred Gelbvieh. We try to keep our base cows as high percentage Gelbvieh, but our customers are pushing for that Balancer cross.” The Hojers offer Balancer genetics using both Red and Black Angus sires. Although their customers are demanding that cross, they are firm believers in the Gelbvieh breed. “The Gelbvieh breed is a strong Continental one,” explains Alan. “Their maternal sides are truly the strength of the breed, resulting in increased pounds of the calf at weaning time. These cattle are made with both maternal and terminal qualities, and their gentle dispositions make them great to work with.” Hojer Gelbvieh Ranch offers a wide range of genetics in Gelbvieh, Angus and Red Angus including: JDPD ASTRO 407S, SLC Freedom 178F ET, The Judge, Atlas, American Ideal, Taylor Made, Major League and Stalone, Newsline, Mission Statement and Cherokee Canyon. “Our combination of three breeds has opened up a whole new world of genetic diversity,” says Alan. “We manage our genetics through crossbreeding. We see the Balancer cattle as a wonderful opportunity for the Continental breeds and commercial producers.”
Mission statement The mission statement found on the Hojer Gelbvieh Ranch Web site reads, “At our operation, we expect superior performance, docile disposition, a moderate frame, and calving ease. You will find these selected traits in each and every bull we offer.” The focus on this mission is truly evident as the family discusses their plans for the future and their previous successes in the pasture and out in the show ring. Hojers have raised several national class winners and division champions, and they have had numerous championships at the South Dakota State Fair. “Our cattle have big butts and tons of muscle,” says Christian. “We always show our own. We are proud of what we have raised.” It’s easy to see that Hojer Gelbvieh Ranch takes pride in their honesty and integrity, which has helped them become a leader in the breed. Hojer Gelbvieh Ranch uses Gelbvieh, Angus, and Red Angus genetics to offer their customers cattle with superior performance, docility, moderate frame and calving ease. 16 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
Editor’s note: This article was reprinted with permission from the Tri-State Livestock News.
21st Annual Production Sale Tuesday, March 8, 2011, 1:00 p.m. CST at Bar Arrow Cattle Company North of Phillipsburg
98X
Back Track Son
Featuring performance, maternal carcass and docility
93X
Stout Son
Selling 100 Gelbvieh, Balancer,
99X
New Era Son
071X
Sandman Son
We emphasize performance and carcass without sacrificing functional maternal based females. We have fed and ultra sounded our own genetics for 17 years.
For sale book or video, call or email Stuart or go online at www.bararrowcattlecompany.com
Angus and Red Angus Bulls
20 Gelbvieh & Balancer
Fancy open heifers.
Picked right off the Top.
Stuart Jarvis 26 E. Limestone Rd. • Phillipsburg, KS 67661 e-mail: bararrow@ruraltel.net • 785/543-5177
The Profitpicture | 17
! s l l e S She t 12 Lo
She is bred Breed ers Ch to the 20 10 oice F utu CIRS Decad rity Bull e
RHRG Ms Legend 946W Polled • Black Birth Date: 2/22/2009
Show & Sale
Buffalo County Frirgrounds, Kearney, NE Friday • February 18, 2011 Show: 11:00 am • Sale: 2:00 pm
O
OCC Legend 616L SCC Legend 542 C A R Ferdinand 003
John & Carla Shearer 620•628•4621 620•654•6507 (John Cell)
TC Freedom 104 TAU MS TC Freedom 7145T TAU Miss Freedom 269M EPDs BW WW -2.7 36
YW 76
MK 14
TM 32
&
GL FM -1.6 16.42
Cody Raile 785•332•2219 785•332•6089 (Cell)
Swanson Cattle Company
24th Annual Production Sale • February 26, 2011 • 1:00 p.m. CST • at the Ranch Top quality herd sires in this offering
99X
96X
56X
Your Source for POWERFUL Balancer Genetics Backed by 30+ years of proven superior feedlot performance.
SIRES REPRESENTED: BALANCER: XXB Ludacris 039SET DLW Good Boy 201U (Charles) CTR Front Page 765T (Frank)
50+
Homozygous Black Bulls Sell
18 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
78 Bla ck Bull s P 2 Elite lus Red B ulls
80 Bulls
Including 11 Fall Yearling Bulls
GELBVIEH: TAU Gunslinger 19U PCCI Power Pac 9070J ANGUS: BC Lookout 7024 SAV 004 Predominant 4438 Boyd New Day 8005 Rito 6I6 of 4B20 of 6807 LT 598 Bando 9074
Selling
78X
Jeff Swanson 308/337-2235 • 308/991-0727 (C) 72408 I Rd. • Oxford, NE 68967 scc@rcom-ne.com
Call for a Sale Book
• 65 Balancers • 6 Purebred Gelbvieh Bulls • 9 Angus Bulls Also selling 25 Balancer and Angus Open Heifers
EAGLE PASS R ANCH RFI Tested Bull Sale Wednesday, March 16 At the Ranch 1:00 CT
Selling 200 RFI Tested Bulls Gelbvieh ~ Balancers ~ Angus
Over 50 virgin two year olds like this sell
• The offering is “100% RFI Tested” using our state of the art GrowSafe feed intake system. • Don’t guess about your #1 profitability trait, Feed Efficiency. MEASURE IT! • Bulls are breed average for Calving Ease and Milk and 10% above breed average for Weaning Weight and Yearling Weight • Bulls will be ULTRASOUND MEASURED for carcass traits; fertility tested; guaranteed sound; and guaranteed docile. • We have a “Calf Buy Back” program and Free Delivery.
Numerous herd sire prospects like this sell.
Call Today For Your Catalog 34261 200th St. Highmore, SD 57345 Office: 605-229-2802 Fax: 605-229-2835
Watch for online catalog and videos at www.eaglepassranch.com
Steve Munger Managing Partner
605-226-1537 605-380-0092 (Cell)
Nate Munger • Cowherd Manager 605-943-5690 • 605-380-2582 (Cell)
E-mail:
steve@eaglepassranch.com Website: www.eaglepassranch.com
The Profitpicture | 19
From the Shipping Pen The Ins and Outs of Direct Country Marketing By Slim Cook, COO Gelbvieh Profit Partners, Inc. When 2010 came to a close the cattle industry was fortunate to have enjoyed some of the highest prices the industry had ever witnessed. If some analysts are correct in their predictions, even higher prices will be forthcoming throughout 2011. These predictions, if realized, will certainly provide welcome financial relief to cow/calf producers throughout rural America as they grapple with steadily rising input costs. The challenge will now be how does one take advantage of this market and optimize the financial return that the market has to offer. One option available to many producers is selling their calf crop through direct trade in the country. Farmers and ranchers have various choices to merchandise their feeder cattle. Some of these methods include selling through an auction, video auction, partnership with a feedyard, and direct country trade. All
of these methods provide sound options for the producer to market their feeder cattle, and each method has regions throughout the country where one method may be preferable to the other options. Some of this is predicated by herd size, while some of it may be due to limited access to auction markets, or limited country buyers.
Advantages of direct country trade The advantage of selling direct in the country is that it provides the beef producer with the opportunity to sell their feeder cattle when they’re satisfied with the price that they’ll receive to meet their financial objectives. This can be done anytime prior to delivery, from one day to several months. Though hedging on the futures markets allows the producer the opportunity to manage their risk, forward contracting gives the producer
the ability to price their inventory without the stress and potential financial demands of associated margin calls. One thing is certain about 2011, with high prices there will be tremendous volatility in the markets. From a cost perspective, selling at home allows the producer the ability to sell their feeder cattle without incurring the added expenses of trucking, commission, and shrink. But, it also requires the producer to accept some additional responsibility. The initial task for the producer will be determining what they have to sell and what are they going to weigh. Typically producers are able to use weight data from the previous year, or perhaps a five year average, to accurately estimate their sale day weights. However, selling several weeks or months in advance does leave the producer susceptible to weather risk. Will a cool, wet summer produce feed that is soft and washy, thus resulting in feeder cattle that weigh below their estimated base weight; or will there be a warm summer with timely precipitation that results in sufficient feed that cures and becomes “hard.” Thus resulting in calves that weigh significantly above their base weight, and thereby engaging the slide. Weather risk is not limited to those that sell several weeks ahead of delivery. Severe winter storms immediately prior to delivery can also result in significantly lower weaning weights at delivery. Producers that background feeder cattle are generally able to more accurately estimate their sale day weights since they usually have entry weights and also develop a ration based on desired average daily gain (ADG) performance.
Uniform loads Cattlemen looking to sell in the country also should have sufficient cattle to fill a truckload of feeder cattle – 50,000 pounds – that are fairly uniform in weight and type. Unlike the auction where one can take all their cattle and have them sorted in multiple groups of uniform size by the auction crew, selling direct in the country (or on video) usually leaves the 20 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
The potential exists for cow/calf producers in 2011 to be provided with tremendous pricing opportunities for their feeder cattle and receive significant economic returns for their operation. producer with cattle that don’t “fit” the bulk of the cattle that are sent to the new buyer, thus still requiring a trip to their local auction. Those producers that do not have enough cattle to make a full load can explore the possibility of combining feeder cattle from a neighboring producer to make one complete load. It is imperative that the two sets are of similar genetics, size, and weight with similar management programs so the load maintains uniformity. Also, the amount of variation in a pot load of cattle is determined by how the cattle are represented and how they are sold. A producer wanting to merchandise basically all their calves should realize that these cattle will be more uneven than a transaction that allows the buyer to take the heart out of the middle of the herd. Thus when determining value they should realize that the uneven cattle are worth less than those that are uniform since there are fewer feedyards that are set up, or willing, to sort into different pens of various sizes at the feedyard. Typically cattle go into a pen as a group and go out as a group. High corn prices should result in more sorting as feeders work at reducing any inefficiencies in the feeding process. Regardless, uneven cattle require more management and effort thereby reducing their total value when compared to a set of “even” feeder cattle.
Determining value One final, and critical, responsibility of the producer is to determine what their feeder cattle are worth. Though some producers are always open to bids, most buyers find it difficult to do business if the cattle are not priced, as it’s similar to trying to hit a moving target. They feel it is difficult for sellers to accept a bid if they don’t have an idea of what their feeder cattle are worth. Determining value can be readily achieved by different methods. One such method is utilizing USDA market report data from your local auction market. The USDA report allows the producer to compare sales of similar cattle of a similar weight from a livestock auction in the same geographical region. However, this method is only accurate if enough cattle
of similar sex and type are selling in order to achieve an accurate determination of value. Another downside to this method is it eliminates the opportunity for the producer to forward contract their feeder cattle several weeks or months ahead of when the producer desires to wean and sell their feeder cattle. Also, if the feeder cattle are “value added” as a result of age and source verification, “NHTC” or all “Natural” than the appropriate adjustment in price needs to be calculated.
If the producer is attempting to forward contract their cattle during the late spring or summer, video auctions that are being held during this time frame should provide the producer with numerous sales of feeder cattle of comparable weight, gender, type, and value added characteristics in their geographical region. Thus, allowing them to use these values to accurately determine the value of their cattle. Forward pricing can also be readily achieved by reviewing the CME Feeder Cattle futures for Continued on page 22
Montana & Wyoming
Breeders
“Expect A Lot Of Bull!”
Don, Omie, Chase & Teale Rose Danell 1012 Maiden Road • Lewistown, MT 59457 (406) 538-5622 danell@dishmail.net Purebred Gelbvieh and Balancer® Females for Sale. Mostly Homozygous Polled and/or Homozygous Black H Focus on Carcass H
“Gelbvieh since 1973”
Kathleen Rankin 406-937-4815 1285 Nine Mile Rd. • Oilmont, MT 59466 krankin@northerntel.net www.kickinghorseranch.com Performance cattle for the real world.
Ken and Dale Flikkema 2 Mint Trail • Bozeman, MT 59718 (406) 586-6207 (O) • (406) 580-6207 (C) email: mcfg@imt.net Black, Purebred & Balancer Cattle “Our Aim is Your Target”
Miles & Tiffany Rives P.O. Box 392 • Buffalo, WY 82834 307-684-7858 mtrctco@vcn.com
We sell females private treaty and our Silent Auction Bull sale is mid-March 2011; offering Balancer®, Gelbvieh and Angus bulls.
The Profitpicture | 21
Continued from page 21
the appropriate month of delivery. This technique is especially valid and accurate for heavy feeders (>750 pounds) as their value is directly related to their delivered cost. When using this method the producer must accurately estimate the basis (difference between forward contract futures price and cash price) for
the weight and gender of their feeder cattle and their location. Producers that belong to CattleFax can consult with their staff to determine basis, or they can utilize websites such as www.beefbasis.com to calculate basis. If appropriate, subsequent adjustments must than be made for any additional value added characteristics.
Since 1983
REGISTERED GELBVIEH CATTLE Our foundation is designed and built on 27 years of A.I. breeding.
REDS
BLACKS
BALANCERS 20th Annual
“Pot of Gold”
Gelbvieh, Angus & Balancer Bull Sale February 25, 2011 ®
Olathe, Colorado
Your source for calving ease and low birth weight EPD bulls! Females for Sale Private Treaty At Bow K Ranch we emphasize moderate size, quality udders, and built-in calving ease.
www.bowkranch.com David & Dawn Bowman • Andrew & Sarah Bowman 55784 Holly Rd. • Olathe, CO 81425 • (970) 323-6833 •
22 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
The potential exists for cow/ calf producers in 2011 to be provided with tremendous pricing opportunities for their feeder cattle and receive significant economic returns for their operation. Marketing feeder cattle through direct country trade can provide the necessary avenue to capture these returns and fulfill objectives, but to successfully achieve your financial goals will require accurately determine what you have to sell and how you want to sell it.
Gelbvieh Profit Partners Officers President Steve Munger Highmore, SD 605-226-1537 steve@eaglepassranch.com Vice President John Carrel Columbus, MT 406-322-5991 ljcarrel@imt.net Secretary Sklyer Martin Oregon, IL 815-732-7583 skylerm1@verizon.net Treasurer John Burbank St. Catharine, MO 660-258-5420 john@seedstockplus.com Chief Operating Officer Barry “Slim” Cook Cody, WY 307-272-2024 slimck@tribcsp.com
Everything in Balance JBOB CAROLINA FORTUNE 2564JET 137GV2930 JBOB CAROLINA CPR x MR SHERMAN TANK
The Breed’s Multi-Trait Big Hitter ✔ Homozygous black, DNA tested homozygous polled ✔ #1 bull in the breed for registrations, use to enhance carcass merit ✔ Moderate framed with tremendous rib, fleshing ability ✔ Breed leading CV and FM
Rock Solid
A.I.
Proven
.94 Accuracy _________ Performance __________ ___________ Maternal ___________ ______________ Carcass _______________ CE BW WW YW SC MILK TM GL CED STAY CW REA MARB DTF CV FM Trait EPD ACC
108 .78
+1.5 .94
+49 .91
+101 .83
+0.4 .77
+36 .71
+61
-0.3 .92
103 .59
+0 .33
+17 .88
+.20 .87
+.22 .85
+5.8 +42.28 +37.65 .85 Top 25%
AMERICAN GELBVIEH ANIMAL EVALUATION SPRING 2011
HXC JACKHAMMER 8800U 29AR0232 HXC HEMI 4400P x BECKTON JULIAN GG B571
The Complete Package ✔ Incredible individual performance - 71 lb. BW, 1434 Adj. YW, 16.99 REA, top 4% marbling ✔ Progeny are attractive with muscle, capacity and performance ✔ Combines the antagonistic traits of calving ease and muscle in phenotypically flawless package ✔ Dam is a super uddered, moderate framed Julian daughter _______ Performance _______ ______________ Maternal _____________ ___________ Carcass ____________ BW WW YW MILK TM ME HPG CEM STAY MARB YG CW REA FAT Trait CED EPD ACC
+10 .32
-0.7 .58
+62 .49
+108 .44
+3 .28
+34
+5 .13
+9 p
+6 .27
+15 p
+.47 .27
+.11 .27
+63 .38
+.24 .27
+.03 .33
Top 25%
RED ANGUS SIRE SUMMARY SPRING 2011
HA PROGRAM 5652 29AN1757 HA FUTURE DIRECTION 3540 x SITZ ALLIANCE 6595
Get With the Program ✔ Low birth weight bull that ranks at the top of the breed for Docility ✔ Unique, heavy muscled calving ease sire with a 103 progeny rib eye area ratio ✔ Progeny have been rancher favorites in sales across the country including 4 of the top 5 sellers in the 2010 Hinman Angus Sale ✔ Future Direction genetics with positive SC EPD and tested AM & NH Free ✔ From the same program as IMAGE MAKER
Rock Solid
A.I.
Proven
.91 Accuracy
_______________ Performance ________________ _________________ Maternal ________________ ________ Carcass _________ ____ Groups/Progeny ____ Ultrasound BW WW YW RADG YH SC CEM MILK Hd/Dts MW MH HP DOC CW MARB REA FAT Carcass Steer Bull+Heifer Trait CED EPD ACC
+7 .75
+1.0 .91
+61 .87
+109 .81
+.19 .29
0.5 .60
+.46 .82
+11 .45
+24 .51
17 .68
+30 .38
+0.5 .33
+28 .67
+27 .18
+.38 .30
+.60 .39
+.003 .24
0 0
0 0
126 517
$EN $W $G $B
-4.31 +35.03 +28.51 +62.52
Top 25%
AMERICAN ANGUS SPRING 2011 SIRE SUMMARY
Contact your local ABS Representative or call 1-800-ABS-STUD to get your new Spring 2011 ABS Beef Sire Directory. ©2011 ABS Global, Inc. • 1525 River Road, DeForest, WI 53532 • Phone: 1-800-227-7883 • Fax: 608-846-6392 • www.absglobal.com
The Profitpicture | 23
News
Mitigating Risk in Herd Sire Selection Purchasing herd sires is an important and long-lasting decision for commercial producers to consider. Especially when buying young bulls. These animals represent the future genetic direction, success and profitability of a herd. “Commercial producers should have all the information possible, including DNA technology, when purchasing seedstock in order to minimize risk in purchasing and using young bulls,” says Dr. Kevin DeHaan, technical services director, IGENITY®. “This information can help producers make important decisions with confidence, knowing they’re moving their herd’s genetics in the right direction. If producers aren’t using DNA technology to help make these decisions, they might
24 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
not be getting the complete picture of a bull’s true potential or risk making a costly genetic mistake.” Through the power of DNA technology, Gelbvieh producers can learn more about each animal’s genetic potential earlier in life, which means progress can be made faster. With the comprehensive IGENITY profile, producers can use it alongside traditional selection tools to better evaluate bulls at a young age for a long list of economically important traits. “This means producers don’t have to wait until the first calf crop has been harvested before they can see what traits a bull passes along to its offspring,” says Dr. DeHaan. “Producers can be more selective and confident when incorporating genetics into their herd to fit their individual production goals.”
Dr. DeHaan explains it is very important for producers to understand the potential benefits of the inclusion of DNA technology in their herds. “With this information in hand, producers can make more confident herd sire decisions which is especially important when we consider these animals represent the future genetic direction, and success of a herd. It comes down to mitigating risk and picking animals that truly are superior at a younger age,” he says. The entire beef industry can also benefit from the incorporation of DNA technology into selection and breeding decisions, explains Dr. DeHaan. “For seedstock producers, incorporating the comprehensive IGENITY profile means a more accurate and truer picture of their animals, so they can make selection decisions that will keep their herd moving forward. For cow/calf producers, it means a more predictable and uniform calf crop because the bulls they buy with a genetic profile are going to be what they were marketed to be. For the overall industry, it means a more consistent product – whether that’s in the feedyard, on the rail or on the plate,” he says. In addition to providing the most comprehensive and powerful DNA profile in the industry, IGENITY also offers expert one-onone consultation to assist producers in turning inside information into actionable knowledge. IGENITY can help customize a herd management plan that best fit the needs of each operation. “The purchasing decisions that cow/calf producers make this spring can affect their shortand long-term profitability,” says Dr. DeHaan. “That is why it is essential that producers make these important decisions with as much information as possible about herd
sires to help make more efficient genetic progress.” To get started, producers can order sample collection kits by contacting their IGENITY sales representative, call 1-877-4436489 or visit www.igenity.com/ beef. Results will be returned to producers several weeks after samples are received. Sample collection can be done at anytime or age; however, collecting samples
“Commercial producers should have all the information possible, including DNA technology, when purchasing seedstock in order to minimize risk in purchasing and using young bulls.” when animals are already being processed may be the most convenient. Planning ahead will ensure the information will be available in time to make selection decisions and provide results at spring production sales. Purchasing bulls is an important investment that can dramatically affect an operation’s profitability. Producers should not leave their profitability to chance by purchasing animals without knowing the entire picture of their potential herd sire’s genetic potential. ®IGENITY is a registered trademark of Merial. ©2011 Merial Limited, Duluth, GA. All rights reserved.
News Select Bulls with High Maternal Calving Ease EPD to Reduce Calving Difficulty in Daughters Source: Dan W. Moser, Kansas State University Extension For many years, commercial cow/ calf producers have used birth weight expected progeny differences (EPD) in sire selection to minimize calving difficulty. However, some producers have expressed concern that such selection over several generations might result in heifers and cows that have calving difficulty despite lower calf birth weights, as a result of the heifers being smaller at calving. If calving ability of females is a concern, there’s a simple but underutilized tool to avoid the potential problem you describe. It’s maternal calving ease EPD. MCE EPD (calving ease daughters – CED in some breeds) describes the genetics of female calving ability, so if a sire did truly produce harder
calving heifers and cows, that number would reflect it. Higher numbers mean easier calving daughters, so to minimize calving difficulty in a herd that raises its own replacements, pick bulls with higher EPD for both calving ease and maternal calving ease. It seems that fewer buyers of British breed bulls pay as much attention to MCE, but if they are planning on keeping daughters of a bull, it’s nearly as important as direct calving ease. It’s more widely used in the Continental breeds, especially Gelbvieh and Simmental, probably because those breeds have provided calving ease and maternal calving ease EPD for many years. Recognize that birth weight is one of the more heritable traits in beef cattle. That means that the heifers with the heavier birth
weights are more likely to have heavier calves themselves. When we calculate birth weight EPDs in seedstock, the calf ’s adjusted birth weight has quite a bit of impact because of this. So, to avoid future calving difficulty in a commercial herd, it would be wise to cull heifers born with difficulty, or with high birth weights if that information is available. It is especially important to cull big heifer calves that are born to first-calf heifers. First-calf heifers tend to have lighter calves because of uterine environment and other age-related environmental factors. Some studies estimate that the same calf might be seven pounds heavier if born to a mature cow instead of a first-calf heifer, all else being equal. So, if she was big and out of a firstcalf heifer, she would have been
even bigger if she had been born to a mature cow, and probably has the genetics that reflect that. Keep in mind, sire selection drives a vast majority of genetic change, not heifer selection or cow culling. This is especially true for traits like calving ease where powerful genetic evaluation information is available on the bulls you buy. While you might make a bad choice now and then, you won’t hurt the cow herd selecting replacement heifers, if you are picking the right bulls to sire those heifers. You won’t make great progress selecting heifers or culling cows either. There’s much more variation among the bulls you can buy than there is among the heifers you keep or cull, and more information available to help you make the right choice.
The Profitpicture | 25
Over the Fence With Lee Leachman
The American Gelbvieh Association’s Frank Padilla sat down with Leland (Lee) Leachman, CEO of Leachman Cattle of Colorado (LCoC), Wellington, Colo., to visit about why he uses Gelbvieh and Balancer® genetics in his Stabilizer hybrid program. A long-time proponent of hybrid cattle and the Gelbvieh breed, Lee talks about the needs of his commercial customers and how he fills that need with using Gelbvieh genetics in his Stabilizer program. Lee is respected worldwide as a leader in objective selection criteria and composite cattle production. LCoC has also pioneered work on multi-trait profit indices that include factors for cow size and fertility, in addition to the standard growth and carcass traits. In 2003, Leachman Cattle began collecting feed efficiency data and later installed a system to measure individual consumption and conversion data. FP: You and your family have been pioneers in the hybrid seedstock business and in the promotion of crossbreeding. What made you go in that direction many years ago?
Lee Leachman CEO of Leachman Cattle of Colorado
LL: Our family started in Angus back in the 30s, and then my father started rearing a number of the different Continental crosses in the early 70s. He quickly realized that our best cattle were our F1 Continental/Angus crosses. We especially liked our Gelbvieh x Angus and our Simmental x Angus – so we kept those and started making hybrid x hybrid matings. The cattle were good and the Clay Center data proved that the hybrids would be more productive. Our own data verified that, so we started selling the bulls. Our customers had immediate success. With the help of the scientists at Clay Center, we figured out the best way to build composites and the rest is history. We’ve now sold over 9,000 of our Stabilizer bulls since 1988. FP: We read articles recently written telling us that a purebred animal can give us as much growth, milk, efficiency, etc. as
26 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
what a crossbred animal can. As a commercial man I’m confused. What do you have to say to commercial producers about these articles? LL: Today, you have three tools to improve your herd – additive genetic merit, hybrid vigor, and breed differences. Like it or not, these are your only three tools. When it comes to additive genetic merit, a breed like Angus has a clear advantage. They have a large population and a powerful database. However, commercial producers that use strait Angus are giving up the chance to benefit from hybrid vigor and breed differences. Hybrid vigor can add $75 per cow per year to your productivity. Breed differences can be used to quickly improve traits like yield grade and carcass weight – this can add another $50 per head. If you have to raise straight bred cattle in a commercial herd, I would raise Angus. However, you are far better off building a herd of high genetic merit, Angus cross, hybrids or composites. They will put more money in your pocket – especially if you sell at weaning.
FP: What have you found that your customers are wanting and that they are not getting in the genetics that they purchase? LL: Our customers want calving ease first – no grief. They also want bulls that hold up under their conditions. The third criterion is probably either efficiency or profitability – both of which are harder to measure. FP: You have utilized Gelbvieh genetics in your program for more than thirty years. Why? LL: In our database, we find that the Gelbvieh cattle excel on the maternal side. If you look at any measure of profitability at weaning – the Gelbvieh cattle win. We calculate a $Weaning index and the Gelbvieh cross hybrids consistently rank at the top of our population. They are moderate sized cows that produce big, heavy calves. They also have tremendous fertility. This is no surprise – 20 years ago, the Clay Center data said that Gelbvieh produced more pounds weaned per cow exposed than any other breed. Furthermore, the newest Clay Center data showed that Gelbvieh
Today, you have three tools to improve your herd – additive genetic merit, hybrid vigor, and breed differences... Hybrid vigor can add $75 per cow per year to your productivity. cows are smaller than Angus and Hereford cows! We are also finding that some Gelbvieh lines excel on feed efficiency. Our goal is to make our customers more profitable. Most of them sell calves at weaning. We recommend our Gelbvieh cross bulls to those cow/calf operators. FP: Please explain the advantages of combining breeds to produce a better product and how it lowers input costs. LL: By using breed differences, we can make rapid genetic change. When we want to add cutability and carcass weight, then we add Gelbvieh or Simmental to our Angus. This is a quick fix that improves birth to harvest value. Today, the market values fed cattle at over $1.05 per pound and cost of gain is under $0.85 per pound. That means that you make an additional $20 per every additional 100 pounds of live weight you can add to a slaughter steer or heifer. Gelbvieh cross cattle have the cutability to be fed to higher carcass weights – that makes them worth more money.
FP: In your hybrid program you have not produced Angus x Hereford females to put back into the cow herd. Why not? LL: Until recently, we felt that the Angus had a significant advantage over the Hereford so we have been trending towards more Angus and less Hereford in our mix. However, we are finding that the Herefords may have a significant advantage on feed efficiency. This is making us reconsider adding more Hereford back into our Stabilizer mix. We feel that a Stabilizer (or Balancer®) type female is better than the old Hereford x Angus female. You get the hybrid vigor, with added productivity and more carcass weight. FP: What is a major concern you have about the cattle business today? LL: I am not concerned, rather I’m more excited about the cow/ calf and beef business today, than at any time in the past 25 years. World demand for protein is going to outstrip supply. Acreage for
running beef cattle is contracting globally. The U.S. is and will remain, the leader in producing high quality, grain fed beef. This spells profit opportunity for cow/ calf producers. I think we will see $2.00 five-weight feeders and $1.50 fed cattle before 2020. Plus, we are better able to measure profitability in seedstock today than at any time in history. I think the next decade will be the best time in history for seedstock producers. FP: With the nation’s cow herd at the lowest number it’s been at since 1956, do you feel that there is room for expansion for producers in running more cow numbers at this time? LL: The challenge is the capital cost of land. I think producers will have to innovate to expand. That means finding non-traditional land owners and leasing the carrying capacity. The positive cash flows over the next decade will certainly make this possible. However, total herd numbers will continue to shrink – that is inevitable.
FP: What do you feel is the single most important factor pertaining to a commercial producer’s profitability in his cow herd? LL: We like simple answers, but on this one there is no simple answer. Profitable cows come in different shapes and sizes because so many traits impact the bottom line. It’s like asking a football coach which position is the single most important to win the super bowl – the answer is that no one position (or trait) can make you a winner. Let’s stop talking about traits and start talking about profitability. Why not tell our customers which genetics will make them the most money? We are doing that with our dollar value indexes. We use the indexes to make our mating decisions, and our customers use them to make their herds more profitable. This is not theory – it is proven to work. Editor’s note: Frank Padilla is the director of breed promotion for the American Gelbvieh Association. For more information or questions about the Gelbvieh breed contact Padilla at 303-465-2333 or visit www.gelbvieh.org.
6th Annual Sale
Thursday, March 17, 2011 • 1:00 PM • Magness Livestock Auction • Huron, SD Sires of Offering ELK CK Crazy Horse • WR Mr. Red Dawg • RTRT Solution JCB Lazy TV Freighter T183 • FGRG Hunky Monkey N Bar Emulation EXT • VRT Lazy TV Chevelle • RID R Collateral EGL Emil-Lene • BABR Who Hott 552R • JRI Top Grid 254T725 MYTTY In-Focus • Plus More...
The Profitpicture | 27
Feature
Calving Season – Time to Evaluate Udder Soundness By Susan Willmon, American Gelbvieh Association Director of Breed Improvement For the beef cow, udder quality and soundness usually get lumped in a category called convenience traits, along with others including temperament and feed and leg soundness. While all of these traits have the potential for economic impact to a cow’s productivity, at calving time poor udder quality may translate to life and death of a newborn calf. Calves that have a difficult time nursing and do not receive adequate colostrum may, at worse, not survive and at best have a higher incidence of scours and decreased immunity levels. Ultimately performance is affected which translates into reduced pounds at weaning and reduced profitability of the cow overall. The impact on performance, on top of the labor costs that can
be occurred managing those cows that need help getting a calf to nurse should be considered as additional incentive to include this process in your calving rituals. Udder scoring at calving is a tool that, while more widespread in the dairy industry, has been shown to improve udder quality in beef females. Research has shown that udder quality is moderately heritable. Which means that over time improvement can be made with selection for this trait. The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) adopted an udder scoring system (see pages 3131) which provides a tool for both commercial and seedstock producers to score both teat size and suspension on a scale of 1 – 9 with a 9 being ideal. Scoring cows within 24-48 hours of calving is the recommended time for evaluating these females. The udder pictured in Imgae Image 1. Ideal udder in both teat size and udder suspension.
Nebraska & Colorado Breeders
MLM Gelbvieh Marlin Meyer 824 Road 3000 • Superior, NE 68978 402-879-4976 mlm68978@yahoo.com www.gelbviehbulls.com
R
Dave & Dawn Bowman 55784 Holly Rd. • Olathe, CO 81425
(970) 323-6833 www.bowkranch.com
“Pot of Gold” Gelbvieh Angus & Balancer® Bull Sale Fri., February 26, 2010 • Olathe, CO
Rippe Gelbvieh
Duane & Brenda, Dustin & Karla Rippe 6775 Road D • Hubbell, NE 68375 (H) 402-324-4176 Duane (C): 402-200-0096 Dustin (C): 316-323-4874 rippe02@yahoo.com www.rippegelbvieh.com
“To produce superior Gelbvieh and Balancer® seedstock based on economically important traits, which provide more profitability for our customers, and ensure the consumer a very satisfactory eating experience.”
28 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
Females for Sale Private Treaty
Jim Roelle 38148 CR 49 #7 Peetz, CO 80747 (H): 970-334-2221 • (C): 970-520-1224 jr.plateau@hotmail.com
Featuring Black, Polled Gelbvieh & Balancer® genetics with balanced trait selection. Next Bull Sale February 24, 2011. High Plains Livestock, Brush, CO.
1 combines the attributes of what would be considered an ideal udder in both teat size and udder suspension. Where do the most problems commonly lie? Canadian research shows that cows with more desirable teat scores had calves that nursed sooner after birth. Larger teat circumference usually caused more problems than teat length. Short to medium length teats are preferred over long teats. Oversized teats that did not get milked out had a higher incidence of mastitis. Udder suspension is equally important to udder soundness. Udders that are well attached are less susceptible to injury than the very pendulous poorly attached udders. As well, udders with poor suspension are more susceptible to contamination from fecal material or mud. The udders illustrated in Image 2 get progressively worse from left to right. Pigmentation is not a factor in the udder scoring system, however should be a consideration for cow-calf producers. A darker pigmented udder will be protected from sunburn or reflection of sunlight from snow. For commercial cow-calf producers and seedstock breeders alike, taking the time at the next day’s calving check to go back and evaluate yesterday’s new mommas should be viewed as an important step during the calving season. As well as viewed as part of the long term investment in your cow herd genetics. While one year’s worth
Image 2. Illustrations of udder quality where number 1 is ideal. of data might not provide any revelations. Looking back at several years worth of udder scores may lead to some answers to the following questions: • What is the overall udder quality of my cow herd? • Are there cows that repeatedly have lower quality udders and should be considered for culling next fall? • Are my cows with poorer udder quality costing me in terms of higher labor, increased calf illness and loss, and lower calf performance?
• • •
Are there cow families within my herd that have udders that hold up longer than others? Are there cow families that even at higher milk production levels (or higher milk EPDs) have better udder soundness at six years of age than some of my lesser milk producing cow families? When selecting a bull this spring, should I be considering one that will improve udder quality of my replacement females?
6TH ANNUAL
One other tool that can be used in sire selection for the udder soundness component is the American Gelbvieh Association’s stayability EPD. While many factors are included in this EPD, udder soundness can be attributed to a female’s ability to still be in the herd at age six. Sires with higher stayability can be assumed to have average or better udder quality. It can be said that cows with poor udders are definitely not convenient when it comes to calving in the cold days of late January and February. As such an evaluation of udder soundness throughout the cow herd may prove to be a sound practice to help insure less calving and calf survival challenges in the future. Editor’s note: The images used in this article were presented in an article on beef cow udder selection and can be found at www.beef-cow.com.
Friday, April 1, 2011 • 6:30 pm (cst) Bloomfield Livestock Auction, Bloomfield, IA ®
65 GELBVIEH, BALANCER , ANGUS & RED ANGUS BULLS SELL
GREAT WESTERN selling many sons of this Gelbvieh AI sire.
Black Purebred Gelbvieh & Balancer® Bulls Red Purebred Gelbvieh & Balancer® Bulls Black & Red Angus Bulls Guarantee Your Future With “Midwest Performance Bull Sale Bulls” The Tama Livestock Auction of Tama, Iowa reports a lot consigned by Jackson Enterprises with a lot of 851 pound steers sired by Gelbvieh and Balancer® bulls selling at a sale topping $126.50 on December 10. Fancy heifer mates weighing 870 pounds demanded $128.00 and were destined to become breeding stock. At the December 3 sale in Tama, Jesina Farms sold 843 pound Balancer® steers for $123.00 again topping that weight class for the day. 862 pound heifer mates rang the bell at $122.00. Once again they were destined for the pasture for breeding stock rather than the feedyard. The bulls that sired these lots were purchased from the Midwest Performance Bull Sale.
ALL BULLS MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE PUREBRED AND COMMERCIAL CATTLEMAN • • • • • •
First Breeding Season Guarantee All bulls will have scan data and Igenity® sale day Performance data and EPDs on all bulls Sale book online at www.mms.bz Developed and conditioned on a high roughage ration, all fed and tested at Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, IA Midwest Performance bulls are serving in the following purebred programs:
Post Rock Cattle Co., Boehler Gelbviehs, Gustins Diamond D Gelbvieh and Dromgoole’s Heaven
Sale Breeders Horton Gelbvieh • Lone Oak Gelbvieh • Kirkwood Community College Sienknecht Cattle Company • Sienknecht Gelbvieh
SALE MANAGEMENT BY: Mitchell Marketing Service
www.mms.bz
Chris Mitchell 334-695-1371 Randy Sienknecht 319-290-3763 2262 C Avenue • Gladbrook, IA 50635
The Profitpicture | 29
Feature
Frequently Asked Questions: Udder Scoring When is the best time to score cows? The best time to score cows is within 24 hours after the calf is born. If the cow is going to have problems with udder quality, it typically will show up when she first freshens. In addition, this time is most convenient because udder scoring can be done along with tagging and weighing the calf. If you wait until the cow’s udder is nursed out, teat size in particular cannot be accurately scored.
How do I record and report the information? Designate two columns in your calving book for this information: one column for Teat Size (1-9) and one for Udder Suspension (1-9). This data then can be reported on the Registration Application along with birth and calving ease data.
Do I consider the age of the cow? Udder quality will usually decline with age, however, age should not be considered when scoring udders. It is best to score the udders as they are, regardless of the age of the cow.
What good is a subjective score?
Kleinschmidt Open House Bull & Female Sale Stout, Moderate Balancer® Bulls 9 Homozygous Black Bulls including 2 Homozygous Polled bulls
1 Bull with a perfect 10 for Tenderness Out of BC Lookout
Don’t miss it on February 12, 2011 At the farm: From Geneva, NE go 7 miles west and 1 mile south.
Kleinschmidt Gelbvieh Call Randy at 402-366-1605
30 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
One concern is that since the basis of this scoring system is subjective in nature will the data be useable in comparing animals across herds at some point. Consistency within a herd as it is scored provides the basis for that herd. Contemporary groupings would be used in any sort of data analysis. BIF guidelines recommend a single person score all the cows. If this is not feasible or practical based on labor allocations, as few people as possible should score the animals and the scores should be as comparable as possible.
What is more important, teat circumference or teat length? In general, teat circumference will cause problems much more often than teat length. Short teats are preferred, but long
teats normally do not create difficulty for a calf provided the circumference is not excessively large. Scoring should consider circumference only.
How do you assign a score when teat size varies? The BIF Guidelines recommend that the udder be scored on the weakest quarter. In this instance the largest teat is most likely to create a problem, assigning the teat size score based on the largest teat makes the most sense.
How does udder score relate to milk production? Teats and udders should be scored without regard for the cow’s milk production. The scoring system is intended solely for evaluating udder and teat soundness. Calf weaning weights are the best estimates of milk production.
Are certain scores more desirable than others? In general, smaller teats and udders with tight suspension are more desirable. The advantage of starting to collect data is to identify what works and doesn’t work in your environment and with your management practices. This starts the process of identifying sires that may have daughters that don’t have significant changes in udder score until say the age of 8 versus others that have daughters with udders that start to change at the age of 4. Documenting problem udders at birth allows this data to be incorporated when it comes to cow culling time post weaning.
Teat Size
Teat Size
Udder Suspension Score
Scores range from 9 (Very Small) to 1 (Very Large, balloon shaped) and are subjective assessments of teat length and circumference. In general smaller teat sizes are more desirable. Oversized teats are difficult for newborn calves to nurse and the calf may not receive adequate colostrum, which could lead to a higher incidence of scours or decreased immunity levels in the newborn calf. In Canadian studies, cows with more desirable teat scores had calves that nursed sooner after birth.
9 3 Very Tight
Very Small
Pendulous
Large
Udder Suspension
7
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.
1
Tight
Small
Very Large/Balloon Shaped
Very Pendulous/Broken Floor
5 Intermediate/Moderate
Intermediate/Moderate
Raile Gelbvieh/Balancer Bull Sale
Burlington Livestock Exchange, Burlington, CO • March 10, 2011 • 12:30 PM MST
• Selling 45 bulls: Spring & Fall Bulls • Will be Igenity® profiled, homo black (mostly all Balancers, one Purebred) tested and PI negative • 100% black and polled • Will be semen tested. • Call for a catalog. Delbert & Marilyn Raile & Sons 755 Road U St. Francis, KS
DMRS Showstopper 004X Sire: SCC Legend 542 (OCC Legend 616L) Dam: DMRS MS BO 8100U (PRC Bocephus 229M2)
Delbert • 785-332-2756 cell 785-332-4347 Cody • 785-332-2219 cell 785-332-6089 Matt • 785-332-2756
BDCG DC 39X1 Sire: JRI Great Western 254N68 ET (Extra Exposure) Dam: BDCG DC Arata 39R ET (Free Agent)
Sale has been moved to Burlington, CO due to the closure of the St. Francis Livestock Commission.
The Profitpicture | 31
Feature
It’s About Efficiency, Not Cow Size “The most efficient cow is the one with the highest milk potential that can, without reducing the percentage of calves successfully weaned, repeatedly produce a calf by bulls with the growth and carcass characteristics valued most in the marketplace.”—Barry Dunn By Wes Ishmail With the industry’s dogeared admonition to increase production efficiency while decreasing relative costs of that production, it’s too easy for some to figure that smaller cattle offer more advantage than larger peers. Part of that inclination likely stems from perceptions about breeds relative to mature size. Unfortunately, many of these perceptions are based on what various breeds used to be, rather than what they actually are today.
32 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
For instance, F1 cows sired by Angus at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center were heavier than those sired by Gelbvieh, Simmental, Limousin or Charolais. These were 5-year-old cows born in 1999 and 2000 by sires sampled in 1998, part of Cycle VII of USMARC’s ongoing Germ Plasm Evaluation Program (GPE). The mature weights of the three English breeds in Cycle VII ranged from 1,409 pounds to 1,419 pounds, adjusted to a Body Condition Score of 5.5. For the cows sired by four of the most heavily used Continental breeds
the range in mature weight was 1,371 pounds to 1,404 pounds. Gelbvieh-sired females had the lightest mature weight at 1,323 pounds, lighter than Angus, Hereford, Limousin, Charolais and Simmental (see Table 1). Incidentally, Gelbvieh is the top breed among these for milking ability and has decreased its trend for birth weight. “In the 1970’s, Continental breeds had greater growth rates and were heavier at weaning, yearling, and maturity. Today British breeds in the U.S. are comparable to Continental breeds for these
traits,” explained Larry Cundiff to New Zealand producers in 2007. “The lack of differences among breeds for cow weight and height, contrast sharply with comparisons made 30 years earlier when cows by Continental European sire breeds were on average 4.5 percent taller and about 4.8 percent heavier than those by British sire breeds.” Cundiff was research leader of USMARC’s Genetics and Breeding Research Unit for better than three decades. The shifting reality of breed characteristics has everything to do with how breeders have successfully utilized Expected
“Crossbreeding systems that exploit heterosis and complimentarity and match genetic potential with market targets, feed resources and climate provides the most effective means of breeding for production efficiency.”— Larry Cundiff, research leader of U.S. Meat Animal Research Center Genetics and Breeding Research Unit. Progeny Differences (EPDs) as accurate predictors of genetic merit to increase breed genetic trends for weaning and yearling growth, while keeping pressure on birth weight. Until the last couple of years, though, no breed had a selection EPD for mature cow size. So, mature growth was allowed to increase along with weaning and yearling growth. A little cowboy math suggests the average mature weight of commercial cows has increased at least 200-300 pounds over the past 15 years. Though not directly comparable, average cow carcass weights increased 73 pounds from 1994 through 2008 (536 to 609 pounds). If you figure Commercial grading cows dress at 55-60 percent, and that Canners dress at 40-46 percent, that means the live weight of those cows has increased 122183 pounds on average. In order to put these weights on par with their production peers, some would argue that you’d need to add another 80-120 pounds (1.01.5 Body Condition Scores). That would mean live commercial cow weights have increased at least 200300 pounds during that time.
Choosing RightSized Cows Researchers with the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management (KRIRM) completed a study examining how to sort out the eternal question of what the right-sized cow is for efficiency. The researchers were Jennifer Johnson, J.D. Radakovich and Barry Dunn. They wrestled first with defining
efficiency in terms of cow biology as well as ranch economics. Pounds of calf weaned per cow exposed is the most effective measure of cow efficiency because it accounts for reproduction. Return on investment is the most effective measure of economic efficiency. Along with conducting an exhaustive review of previous research surrounding cow efficiency, these folks delved into the difference between live cow weight and metabolic weights and why they’re not they same. They explain Kleiber’s Law, which quantifies how it is that larger animals utilize nutritional energy more effectively than smaller ones. “The biology of maintenance energy requirements dictates that while a larger cow will consume more food than a smaller cow, its additional feed requirements, as a percentage, are less than its additional weight, as a percentage,” say the researchers. “For example, though a 1,200-pound cow weighs 20 percent more than a 1,000-pound cow, the feed requirements of the heavier cow are only 13 percent more.” Yes, for the same amount of feed resources, you can run more cows of smaller sizes or fewer cows of larger sizes, in general terms. Based on inherent cow efficiency, though, either size can provide the most net return. For that matter, when all of the costs are considered, running more, smaller cattle can actually cost you more total dollars. The folks from KRIRM pointed out, “If herd size is adjusted correctly, switching from larger to smaller cattle will not increase total fixed costs or feed costs, but will increase
Table 1. Mature Cow Weights of F1 Cows by sire* Breed 5-year-old-weight** (lbs.) Hereford 1,419 Angus 1,410 Red Angus 1,409 Simmental 1,404 Limousin 1,391 Charolais 1,371 Gelbvieh 1,323 Source: U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Germ Plasm Evaluation Program, Cycle VII *Least squares means by Breed of Sire for weight of F1 cows at 5 years of age **Weights adjusted to Body Condition Score 5.5 variable costs, as well as investment costs in terms of cattle inventory.” In other words, for a given feed resource, the cost is the same, as well as the fixed costs of an operation. But, inventory costs increase with the number of head, as do variable costs such as bulls required, marketing cost and the like. “Therefore, the gross income generated by selling a greater number of lighter calves must outweigh the additional variable and investment costs in order to justify the decrease in cow size,” say the KRIRM researchers. “Alternately, switching from smaller cows to larger cattle will
decrease variable and investment costs, with no change to fixed costs or feed costs. However, producers in highly variable feed environments may benefit from a greater number of smaller cattle because of the economic risk associated with low reproduction rates of larger cows if supplemental feed is unavailable or expensive.” That of course assumes reproductive risk can’t be mitigated some other way, such as through strategically managed maternal heterosis. The researchers cite Cunduff from 1993: “Crossbreeding Continued on page 34 The Profitpicture | 33
Continued from page 34
the highest milk potential that can, without reducing the percentage of calves successfully weaned, repeatedly produce a calf by bulls with the growth and carcass characteristics valued most in the marketplace.” “As long as cow type fits within the environmental and economic
systems that exploit heterosis and complimentarity and match genetic potential with market targets, feed resources and climate provides the most effective means of breeding for production efficiency.” Bottom line, Dunn explains, “The most efficient cow is the one with
guardrails of an operation, cow size has little impact on profitability,” Radakovich explains. “If you have cows that breed up in their environment and their calves can be marketed without discounts, size really doesn’t make that much difference.
SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2011 • 4:00 pm (ct) SPRINGFIELD LIVESTOCK MARKETING CENTER, SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI
J Bar M Gelbvieh and J&K Farms BULL & COMMERCIAL FEMALE SALE
EGL F062
W325
Selling two purebred Gelbvieh sons sired by Flying H EC/7H 305P.
BD: 10/14/09 Sire: SEMG Vision
75% Balancer®
RAG KARA Homo Black, Homo Polled Selling many sons and grandsons.
W315
75% Balancer®
BD: 09/23/09 Sire: VRT RUP Lazy TV Hot Fudge J357
Selling 65 Gelbvieh & Balancer® Bulls Fall and Spring Bulls Sell Black and Red Gelbvieh & Balancer® Bulls Sell • • • • •
First Breeding Season Guarantee All bulls Igenity® carcass tested All bulls tested BVD/PI3 negative All bulls semen test and guaranteed breeders Many homozygous black and homozygous polled bulls sell
Selling Gelbvieh Influenced Commercial Females
J BAR M GELBVIEH
Jon E. & Edna Miller 28760 Norway Rd, Stark City, MO 64866 417-632-4925 home • 417-437-5250 cell Please no Sunday calls!
34 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
W003 Purebred Gelbvieh BD: 09/14/09 Sire: RHRT Pinball ET
J & K FARMS Jerry & Karen Wilson 335 Gelbvieh Lane, Ava, IL 62907 618-426-3885 • 618-521-8620
www.mms.bz SALE MANAGEMENT BY: Mitchell Marketing Service Chris Mitchell 334-695-1371 Randy Sienknecht 319-290-3763 2262 C Avenue • Gladbrook, IA 50635
Moreover, they conclude that trying to improve cow herd efficiency via cow size is ineffective at best. “Selecting for genetic change in a cow herd through female culling is not an effective method for changing the overall efficiency of a commercial cow herd for several reasons. First, cattle in the commercial herd have long generation intervals which make genetic change extremely slow. Secondly, the selection differential for efficiency within the same herd is probably smaller than is
“If you have cows that breed up in their environment and their calves can be marketed without discounts, size really doesn’t make that much difference.”—J.D. Radakovich, King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management. commonly held and cannot be effectively and reliably measured. Thirdly, culling based on traits with low heritability is ineffective. Also, since an individual cow contributes little to the overall genetic makeup of a calf crop, it is much more effective to select for efficiency through bulls.” Radkovich emphasized during a presentation at a meeting of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association: “If you need to change efficiency, you need to do it with crossbreeding or bull selection…We don’t need better cow sizes for our ranch managers, we need better managers for our cow sizes…Heterosis is real, effective, probably the best tool a manager has in his tool box.”
Cutting Your Hay Costs... Bale less hay ...
Pasture more cows ... Feed more efficiently
Hay or feed accounts for more than 60% of the cost of owning a cow each year... Montana State University (MSU) has been doing extensive research with Residual Feed Intake (RFI) measured cows and heifers. MSU research indicates low RFI cows consume an average of 10 lbs./day less than high RFI cows, with feed conversion 28.6% lower for low RFI cows compared to high RFI cows. Research by Dr. John Basarab has shown hereditability to be near 40%. Purchasing seedstock with proven RFI numbers has the potential to put more dollars in your pocket than any other measured trait. Research has shown that a 5% improvement in feed conversion has an economic impact four times greater than a 5% improvement in average daily gain. (Gibb and McAllister 1999)
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Selling 200 Feed Efficiency Tested Bulls Balancer, Angus & Gelbvieh Mobridge Livestock Auction • Mobridge, SD
Thorstenson
Clip & mail for FREE 2011 Sale Book
Gelbvieh & Angus 12980 Cedar Rd., Selby, SD 57472
Vaughn & Wendy
Brian & DeDee
605/649-6262 605/649-9927 Fax: 605/649-7361 • E-mail: vwthor@sbtc.net
www.BalancerBulls.com
Name ______________________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________________ City ________________________________________________________ State _______________________ Zip _________________________ Mail to: Thorstenson Gelbvieh & Angus • 12980 Cedar Rd., Selby, SD 57472
The Profitpicture | 35
Judd Ranch 33 Gelbvieh, Red rd
at the ranch, Pomona, Kansas • Saturday, March
✔ Judd Ranch has been the #1 ranked Dam of Merit Cowherd in the Gelbvieh Breed for thirteen consecutive years! ✔ 100% of the sale bulls are out of an American Gelbvieh Association honored Dam of Merit dam or Dam of Merit cow family. ✔ Average Daily Gain on fall yearling bulls: a whopping 4.34 lbs./day!
✔ ✔ ✔
84 lb. average birth weight: 822 lb. actual weaning weight average on the sale bulls. Maternal cow power behind every sale bull: calving ease, growth, carcass, fertility. Several ET Full Brothers Sell. Judd Ranch bulls are very affordable. Annually 95% plus sell to commercial producers.
Judd Ranch Gelbvieh Herdsires & AI Sires
JRI Top Grid
JRI Cowboy Cut
JRI Top Secret
JRI Profit Agent
JRI Extra Exposure
Mytty In Focus
Cherokee Canyon
JRI Pop A Top
Basin Hobo 79E
JRI Journey
36 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
Angus & Balancer Bull Sale ®
5, at 12:30 p.m. • 1 hour southwest of Kansas City
220 Plus
Gelbvieh, Red Angus & Gelbvieh/Angus Balancer® Bulls Sell
“The Complete Package” Calving Ease • Growth • Carcass • Fertility
• 130+ 17-19 month old Bulls • 90+ 12-14 month old Bulls ✔ 95% Sired by Breed Leading AI Sires ✔ 114 Black Polled Bulls ✔ 100% Polled & Multiple Polled ✔ All Judd Ranch major herdsires are
enrolled in Carcass Testing Programs
✔ Quality Acceptance Guarantee on all Sight Unseen purchases
✔ Free Trucking in U.S. on purchases of $15,000 +
✔ Trucking is very affordable because Judd Ranch bulls annually sell into 20+ states
Visit our website • www.juddranchinc.com Judd Ranch Inc.
Dave & Cindy Judd Nick, Ginger, Brent & Ashley Judd Ranch Gelbvieh Maternal Strength
423 Hwy. K-68 • Pomona, KS 66076 785/ 566-8371 or 785/566-3770
Judd Ranch Red Angus Maternal Strength
Sale Consultant— CATTLEMEN’S CONNECTION CALL TOLL-FREE: 1-800-743-0026 For Your JRI “Complete Package” Sale Catalog
Grund Beef Genetics
Adding Value for Our Customers GRU Chisum 202X
50% Balancer • Red, Homozygous Polled Sire: LJC Mission Statement Dam: ABL Classic Sious (GRU Good Stuff) EPDs: CE 108
BW -1.0
WW 38
YW 86
MK 18
TM 37
RFI 5 FT 6
ADG 6 REA 5
TND 6 HPR 5
MS 6 STAY 7
PC 6 MCE 7
CV 8.29 YG 6 DOC 6
• A great Red Balancer bull sired by the great Mission Statement-Genex bull. Dam is a 2nd calf heifer that has raised two exceptional calves. Solid EPD’s for calving ease, growth and maternal traits. If you want new-fresh genetics with muscle, volume and structural correctness, look at GRU Chisum 202X. DNA tested Homozygous Polled!
GRU Governor 803X
GRU Impact 850X
CE
106
BW 0.3
WW 47
YW 80
MK 19
TM 43
GRU Krugerrand 443X
75% Balancer • Double Black, Double Polled Sire: OZZ EXT Govenor 3N Dam’s Sire: GAR Predesinted (50% Balancer) EPDs:
75% Balancer • Double Black, Double Polled Sire: HYEK Black Impact 3960N Dam’s Sire: TC Total 410 (50% Balancer) EPDs: CV
19.37
• GRU Impact 850U is a super stout 3/4 blood bull with super EPD’s, phenotype, and disposition. 850U is a moderate framed, thick ended bull with growth EPD’s that rank in the top 5% of the breed while also sporting a Carcass Value EPD that ranks in the top 25% of the breed. Dam and Granddam are the same family that produced GRU Jake who continues to rank in the top 10% of the breed for performance and carcass traits. One of the best Black Impact sons we have ever seen or raised.
CE 108
BW -1.9
WW 39
YW 87
MK 26
TM 45
50% Balancer • Double Black, Double Polled Sire: Tau Krugerrand 70M (50% Balancer) Dam: GRU Ms Forefront 443P (50% Balancer) EPDs: CV 27.72
•GRU 803X is a combination of great performance and carcass genetics from the Gelbvieh and Angus breed. This 3/4 blood bull ranks in the top 10% of the breed for Carcass Value traits and the top 20% of the breed for performance traits. 803X is a nice balanced, heavy muscled bull with a 65 lb. birth weight!
CE 103
BW 0.8
WW 55
YW 92
MK 18
TM 45
CV 25.64
•GRU 443X is a super stout, high performing 50% Balancer bull. 443X ranks in the top 5% of the breed for performance traits while also ranking in the top 10% of the breed for Carcass Traits. 443X weaned off the cow at a whopping 865 lbs. in short grass Western Kansas. Dam is a Dam of Merit for Grund Beef Genetics. Power, muscle, and great disposition describes this bull.
Visit our new and improved website www.grundbeefgenetics.com
Annual Bull Sale•February 23, 2011 1:00 PM, CST•Oakley Livestock, Oakley, KS Selling•70 Balancer Bulls •25 Balancer Replacement Heifers • Many Calving Ease Bulls Sale • All bulls will be ultrasounded for Ribeye and Marbling
• All bulls will be BVD and Fertility tested • CALL ABOUT OUR SIGHT-UNSEEN GUARANTEE PROGRAM
Videos of sale lots will be available on our website two weeks prior to sale.
38 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
We Sell Bulls That Add Value
G
rund Beef enetics
Jerry & Chrysanne Grund Layal & Donna Grund Lyle & Christy Hammer Darrell & Becky Vandike
785/891-3765 785/852-4370 785/891-3718 785/728-7310
302 Ash St, Sharon Springs, KS 67758 www.grundbeefgenetics.com or jcgrund@wbsnet.org
News Estrus Synchronization Planner Available to Beef Producers at No Charge Thanks to financial support from a multi-state extension group, beef producers are now able to get the Bovine Estrus Synchronization Planner at no charge. Garland Dahlke of the Iowa Beef Center (IBC) at Iowa State University (ISU) said the Beef Reproduction Task Force decided that providing the spreadsheet tool for free was a good way to share expertise with producers and be better able to offer assistance and updates. Access and additional information are available through the IBC website.
is primarily for us to be able to provide updates to those we know are using this tool. Your information will not be shared outside the task force and is not available for other purposes by anyone else.”
To learn more about the Estrus Synchronization Planner and to register for access to the spreadsheet, visit the IBC website at www.iowabeefcenter.org/estrus_synch.html.
What producers can access “We know that this is a popular tool among producers and we want them to have the most up to date breeding and scheduling information,” Dahlke said. “In addition to the most current version, we also provide a wealth of supporting documents so people can get the most from the product. We at IBC appreciate being asked to host this data and spreadsheet access and look forward to working with producers everywhere.” The Beef Reproduction Task Force comprises extension beef and other specialists from eight universities: ISU, Kansas State University, University of Nebraska, South Dakota State University, University of Missouri, University of Illinois and University of Florida. The group’s objectives include improving understanding of physiological processes of the estrous cycle, procedures available to synchronize estrus and proper application of these systems. The Estrus Synchronization Planner is one result of this collaboration designed specifically for use by cattle producers. “Those who’d like to download the planner are asked to register with their name, address and e-mail address,” Dahlke said. “This
The Profitpicture | 39
News
Get the Facts about Growth Enhancements in Cattle
A refresher on implant facts can help producers advocate for the health and safety of beef Today’s beef producer is not just responsible for raising quality beef. Everyone involved in the agricultural industry is an educator as well, helping inform consumers about the practice of producing their food. One often-discussed topic is the use of implants as a growth enhancement. “We have talked to consumers quite a bit about what we do,” says David Ast, manager at Irsik
40 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
and Doll’s Gray County Feedyard in Cimarron, Kan. “The people I’ve talked to know we have a safe food supply. Very simply, the people who don’t produce a wholesome product are going to be out of business. The only kind of people that are going to be around are the ones who are taking care of the cattle.” Ast says Gray County Feedyard has been using implants for nearly 25 years — just about as long as
the technology has been available — and the 30,000-head capacity custom cattle-feeding operation has asked tough questions from the beginning to ensure that the animals are well cared for and will produce quality beef. Like Ast, the majority of beef producers will market conventionally raised beef, says Gary Sides, Ph.D., nutritionist with Pfizer Animal Health Veterinary Operations.
“Only a small segment of operations are raising natural or organic beef,” Dr. Sides says. “This means implants likely play a role in helping producers economically and safely raise cattle. Producers know what benefits in average daily gain implants can provide, but – especially in this day and age — it’s worth arming yourself with solid facts to help consumers understand why these practices are important.”
“Producers know what benefits in average daily gain implants can provide, but – especially in this day and age - it’s worth arming yourself with solid facts to help consumers understand why these practices are important.” Dr. Sides says that the key facts he tries to get across to consumers whenever a question arises are: Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval: All growthpromoting products must be approved by the FDA, and approval is granted only after rigorous and extensive scientific tests to show efficacy and safety. Time tested: Growth-promoting products have been on the market for more than 30 years with no documented negative effect on human health. Natural occurrence: Hormones, like those used in growthpromoting products, are naturally occurring and found in all plants and animals. For example, a pound of cabbage contains 10,880 more nanograms of estrogen than a pound of beef from an implanted steer.1 For producers like Ast, record-keeping and regulations are two additional items that demonstrate their commitment to producing safe beef. “The regulations and records we keep show our commitment to making sure the animals are well cared for, and that information is reviewed closely,” he says. “Plus, we have an economic interest. Anything that could reduce the quality of the cattle we sell on the grid would be a concern for us. The data we get back on our cattle shows that simply isn’t the case.” Ast says he absolutely sees a difference in the rate of gain in the cattle implanted with SYNOVEX PLUS® implants with a quarter to a
half-pound more gain per day due to the improvement in feed utilization, which makes a significant difference in his bottom line. “Even considering the investment in the implant itself, the technology simply makes money for us,” Ast says. “It takes no time at all to perform since we’ve got the cattle in the chute anyway to vaccinate and inspect every individual for overall health status. We do take care to do it right — using clean needles, good procedure, and then we have our veterinarian check on the implants to ensure proper application. We want to be sure we’re using the implant to its best advantage, and that the people who trust us with their cattle trust what we do.” To help arm beef producers with more information about implant technology and other technologies that contribute to sustainable beef production, visit the Sustainable Beef Resource Center (SBRC) website at www. SustainableBeef.org. The SRBC was formed at the suggestion of beef producers and branded-beef marketers who recognized the need for a centralized source of facts about technologies used in sustainable beef production. SBRC members include marketing and technical representatives from leading U.S. animal-health companies. SBRC works with third-party experts to develop factual, science-based information about the important role of technologies in the sustainable production of safe, wholesome and affordable beef.
Pfizer Animal Health, a business of Pfizer Inc., is a world leader in discovering and developing innovative animal vaccines and prescription medicines, investing an estimated $300 million annually in animal health product research and development. For more information about how Pfizer Animal Health works to ensure a safe, sustainable global food supply from healthy livestock and poultry; or helps companion animals and
horses to live longer, healthier lives, visit www.PfizerAH.com. McCollum FT. Implanting beef calves and stocker cattle. Texas A&M University. 1998. Available at: http://animalscience.tamu. edu/images/pdf/beef/beefimplanting-beef-calves.pdf. Accessed July 2, 2010. 1
All brands are the property of their respective owners. ©2010 Pfizer Inc. All rights reserved. SYN10008
Markes Family Farms
Oklahoma’s Largest Gelbvieh Breeder
Selling Exceptional Bulls & Heifers
Transportation Available
The Profitpicture | 41
News
Ultrasound – Making a Difference in Selection Decisions for both Bulls and Females How important is ultrasound data to a producer making genetic selection decisions? The Centralized Ultrasound Processing (CUP) Lab recently asked this question to both commercial and seedstock producers. In the early days of the technology this tool was primarily used for bull selection and this is still true today. But increasing ultrasound data being used for more than the evaluation of herd sires but also playing a role in mating decisions and replacement heifer selection as well. Joe Mayer of Guymon, Okla., uses EPDs for carcass merit based on ultrasound data to assign values to herd sires he is interested in purchasing each spring. Bulls must first meet or exceed minimum levels for these EPDs then are assigned an A, B or C ranking. Bulls that are in the A group are more heavily used and genetics propagated through ET and AI programs. Even those bulls that are just at his minimum standards have a place comments Mayer, “Even a C-list animal has some value if I can get him at the right
Kansas & Iowa Breeders Neola, Iowa
Gelbvieh-Angus-Balancer Black & Polled Private Treaty Sales Breed-leading Performance from Quality Genetics
Kevin Gunderson: 402-510-8103
Al Schulz: 402-676-5292
42 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
Sandy Knoll Farm Gelbvieh Leon or Brian Dunn 863 NW 10th Ave, St. John, KS 67576 (620) 786-4039 Brian (620) 549-6511 Leon skfgelbvieh@hotmail.com
price.” Bulls are assigned to various breeding groups based on these rankings and he monitors the results as he markets his calves through the US Premium Beef grid. Beyond sire selection, how have producers seen ultrasound impacting the genetic progress in their herds? Thorstenson Gelbvieh and Angus of Shelby, S.D., has been collecting carcass data on their steers almost every year since 1993. After using ultrasound data in the early days to select their herd bulls from other breeders, the Thorstenson’s began ultrasounding bulls in 1999 and females in 2000. “I decided that if I wanted the information probably some of my customers did as well,” remarks Vaughn Thorstenson. By adding ultrasound to their sire selection criteria their program saw an increase from 50 percent of their steers grading choice to today’s levels where 80 percent of their steers are grading choice with 98 percent at Yield Grades 1, 2 or 3. With a desire to make continued improvement in carcass traits, ultrasound was used for selection on the female side of the equation as well. One of the early challenges of adding Angus genetics to their Gelbvieh herd and making Balancer® cattle was the realization that simply adding any Angus genetics did not automatically add intramuscular fat (IMF) to every offspring. “As we ultrasounded heifers, I found that just because they were a Balancer heifer did not mean that they had more IMF. In many instances we had a really nice phenotype Balancer heifer that had IMF values that were very low, in some cases lower than my purebreds,” comments Thorstenson. Replacement heifer candidates are not selected until after the entire group is scanned. Comparing the heifers across the larger contemporary group allows Thorstenson to get an accurate picture of where his averages lie as well as creates a pool of data to evaluate his herd sires. “I probably only ultrasound about half of the bull calves born in any one year while close to 95 percent of my heifers have data,”
“My selection pressure on ultrasound data has moved our program toward higher quality grade cattle as evidenced by the steers we are marketing,” - Vaughn Thorstenson adds Thorstenson. “Having more complete contemporary group data on the females really gives me a clearer picture of how much change I am making year to year.” Looking at more than just IMF, heifers are selected that have ribeye area (REA) scans that calculate out to about one inch per 100 pounds of animal at 12-14 months of age. Thorstenson says culling at this level eliminates that really big heifer that doesn’t have enough muscling as well as those heifers that fall in the bottom 20-30 percent for REA. An important factor in keeping the profitable Yield Grade and Carcass Weight factors in the finished animal equation. When selecting based on ultrasound data Vaughn cautions that producers should work off their own herd averages, keeping those heifers that are at or above the herd average for IMF, in order to see improvement in carcass genetics. “I do feel that my selection pressure on ultrasound data has moved our program toward higher quality grade cattle as evidenced
by the steers we are marketing,” comments Thorstenson. “As most ranches only keep 20-30 percent of their heifers for replacements if you can just keep the poor marbling genetics out of your group of replacement females continued improvement can be made in this area.” While the use of ultrasound technology in selection of replacement females is not widely employed to date in the commercial sector of the cow-calf industry, selecting herd sires from seedstock producers utilizing this technology is probably the easiest way to reap the technologies rewards. Terry Hedeman, in response to CUP’s questions regarding ultrasound, added that he valued the data for the fact that it helps keep him in the middle of the road.
“You have to look at the whole picture,” says Hedeman. “When you sell to the feedlots, they make you look at good numbers all around.” The American Gelbvieh Association produces a carcass value EPD index which takes into account carcass weight, REA, marbling and days to finish EPDs as a means of differentiating an animal’s ability to produce profitable carcass genetics for the feedlot. Editor’s note: This article was written by Susan Willmon, American Gelbvieh Association director of breed improvement and uses content from CUP Carcass 101, Volume 21, “Ultrasound Matters: Producers who make data based decisions see profit at the end.”
16th Annual Bull Sale
March 19, 2011 • Lewistown Livestock Auction
50+
Lewistown, Montana Lunch at Noon • Sale at 1:00 pm
Gelbvieh, Gelbvieh Balancers® & Angus Bulls Offered
All Polled and All Black – Huge offering of Homozygous Polled and/or Homozygous Black Also Selling • 20 Registered Purebred Gelbvieh, Gelbvieh Balancers®, & Angus Open Heifers • 10 Commercial Open Heifers (Many will be tested for Tenderness markers; all will be Ultrasounded, fertility tested and include a first breeding season guarantee)
Cutting Edge Genetics to Meet All Your Seedstock and Commercial Needs Members:
Danell Diamond Six Ranch Don Danell (406) 538-5622
Kalina Gelbvieh
Dave Kalina (406) 464-2331
Guest Consignor:
Linhart Angus
Doug Linhart (406) 423-5445
Goettlich Gelbvieh Ranch Trent Goettlich (406) 462-5554
The Profitpicture | 43
News
Putting Beef Quality Assurance to Work By Frank Padilla, American Gelbvieh Association Director of Breed Promotion Gelbvieh breeders have always had a strong commitment to quality and providing consumers with the safest, best beef products in the world. And creating a safe, healthy and wholesome beef supply is top priority for all of us; however, just implementing Best Management Practices is no longer enough. Beef Quality Assurance (BQA), a Beef Checkoff funded program, is the critical
44 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
first link in the chain that connects farmers and ranchers to the latest knowledge and technologies to help keep the industry profitable. BQA certification is how we show our commitment to the consumer and our customers, and lets them know they can trust us and the beef cattle we provide them. Initially, BQA was a program addressing injection-site issues. Having succeeded in achieving compliance to injection-site best management practices, BQA has adopted a much broader scope to include a complete range of husbandry practices. Currently, BQA is a nationally coordinated, state-implemented program that provides systematic information to U.S. beef producers and beef consumers on how commonsense cattle management can be coupled with accepted scientific knowledge to raise cattle under optimal conditions. BQA guidelines are designed to ensure all beef consumers can take pride in what they purchase – and can trust and have confidence in the entire beef industry. Without that trust very few of us can afford to raise the cattle we are so proud of. Through BQA programs, producers recognize the economic value of committing to quality beef production at every level. When better quality cattle leave the farm or ranch and reach the market place, the producer, packer, and consumer all benefit. Cattle produced to provide carcasses with fewer condemnations command higher prices and a smaller number of discounts for the producer. When better quality beef reaches the supermarket, consumers are more confident in the beef they are buying, in turn increasing beef consumption. The ultimate goal is to bring all cattle in the country under BQA practices, thus giving consumers in every state complete trust in the
beef products they purchase for their families. To help achieve this goal, BQA has released tools to reach more producers like the online BQA certification program, and created checklist assessments for
BQA certification is how we show our commitment to the consumer and our customers, and lets them know they can trust us and the beef cattle we provide them. every sector of live cattle production to allow individual operations to benchmark their implementation of BQA. Implementing a BQA program can improve producer profits by emphasizing good-record keeping practices and protecting herd health to prevent, contain, and control disease. BQA helps improve a cattle operations reputation and shows their commitment to being the best. Many seedstock and cow-calf producers have embraced BQA because it is the right thing to do; but now we need all Gelbvieh breeders to make sure that bull customers understand its importance and to be a resource on how they can become BQA certified. For more information on Beef Quality Assurance visit http://www. bqa.org, like National Beef Quality Assurance on Facebook, and follow @NationalBQA on Twitter.
News
Understanding Efficiency and RFI Source: Midland Bull Test Historically, the weight of an animal has been the most important component in determining value, which follows closely with production being the most heavily promoted and taught value in agriculture. However, when you consider that over 75 percent of the cost of growing cattle is related to feed inputs. And that 70-75 percent of the feed consumed by cattle is solely for maintenance requirements, then the importance of improving the efficiency of feed intake becomes very real especially if it is balanced with other production traits. With today’s high feed prices, improving a herds’ efficiency of feed utilization is obvious.
What does the research say?
1. Efficiency is highly related to growth and growth is the traditional method of measuring efficiency. The problem is that using growth as a measure of efficiency also increases the size of the animal, which will increase maintenance requirements (70-75 percent of feed consumed goes toward maintenance requirements), which will increase appetite, which will increase the need for available feeds/grasses. 2. Using RFI will lead to improvements in feed efficiency without compounding the need for additional feeds or increasing mature size. 3. RFI allows you to produce at a level that optimizes on one’s management and environment instead of stressing it. 4. RFI is a highly heritable trait meaning that through genetic identification and then selection one can make rapid improvements. 5. RFI research has shown that improvement in efficiency can be made by as much as 25 percent. 6. Selecting for efficiency will allow the cattle industry to become more competitive in production with swine and chicken. About five percent of the feed consumed by cattle is converted into protein, while swine and chicken are 14 and 22 percent respectively. 7. Research has shown there is a 0.90 correlation (very high) between bulls measured for RFI post-weaning and how their daughters will perform for efficiency in the cowherd, meaning that significant improvement can be made in the offspring selected for replacement females.
Questions and Answers
How is RFI calculated? Basically RFI is looking at what the feed intake requirements for maintenance are for the individual bulls and then what the feed intake requirements are for production (each individual bull’s ADG) and compares that to what the individual bull consumes. How much difference can one expect to find in cattle? Research from Australia, Canada, and the U.S. has consistently found differences of up to 30 percent. Our first test group of 400 here at Midland, we found up to 40 percent variance. If you have two cows weighing 1300 lbs and one produces 15 pounds of milk and the other 20 pounds of milk, wouldn’t the cow at 15 lbs require less feed? No, and it could just as well be that the 15 pounds milk producer is a larger consumer
of feed which compounds her inefficiency on both feed intake and lower production. That’s the importance of measuring RFI. This is a case where size doesn’t matter. What should one be aware of when using RFI? First and most importantly, efficiency needs to be balanced with production and profitability. High efficiency with low production is no more cost effective than the high production and low efficiency. Why can’t we just use our eye and pick the more moderate, easy-fleshing cow? Don’t confuse size or fleshing ease with efficient productive cattle. Contrary, to what some folks have believed, RFI is not related to frame size, body type, or body condition. You’ll find as many inefficient cows in any frame size and just because they look fat and easy-doing doesn’t mean they’re efficient. A fat cow that is high intake with a 400lb calf is not going to generate much profit.
Kentucky
Breeders
Full CirCle Farms RegisteRed gelbvieh Cattle Brad Burke 989 Metcalf Mill Road Ewing, KY 41039 (H) 606-267-5609 • (C) 606-782-1367 gbb789@windstream.net
“Breeders of Quality Gelbvieh Genetics for over 11 years; purebred bulls and females available spring and fall”
Gentle G. Farm Mike Moore 624 Hwy 577W Annville, KY 40402 (H) 606-364-3260 • (C) 606-438-3261 Cathiet@prtcnet.org
For Sale: Black and Red Bulls and Heifers from some of the top Gelbvieh sires. Selling Private Treaty.
Purebred Gelbvieh & Balancer Cattle
David Butts / Wayne Butts 10819 Dawson Road Princeton, Ky 42445 (270) 625-4700 (C) (270) 365-3715 (H) ddcmbutts@wildblue.net
High Quality Genetics for Every Cattleman
Gelbvieh, Red Angus, Balancers®
Steve Peddicord 4737 KY Hwy. 639 South, Albany, KY 42602 (606) 688-4492 Email: speddicord@windstream.net “Call us for your bred heifer needs”
The Profitpicture | 45
News
Understanding Gelbvieh EPDs Expected Progency Differences (EPDs) may be used to estimate how future progeny of the subject animal will compare to progeny of other animals within the breed. The key words are estimate, future, compare and within breed. EPDs are not designed to predict the performance of one or two progeny of a sire, but rather should be used to compare bulls based on estimated progeny performance. EPDs predict differences, not absolutes. They describe the genetic value of an animal much like a feed tag describes the contents of a feed sack. EPDs are computed as part of the American Gelbvieh Association National Cattle Evaluation (NCE) program. The NCE program represents the application of the most recent genetic and computing technology for calculating EPDs for beef cattle. The Gelbvieh NCE program incorporates all available performance into the prediction of an individual’s EPD for a specific trait. An EPD may be derived from any combination of individual performance, pedigree, and progeny and grand progeny performance information. In addition, sire EPDs are more accurate than anything previously available because they account for the following factors: • Genetic value of cows a bull is bred to. • Environmental differences affecting contemporary groups. • Quality of other sires in the contemporary group. • Genetic trend. Following are short definitions for what each Gelbvieh EPD measures and the unit it is measured in. For the updated average EPDs for the Gelbvieh breed, visit www.gelbvieh.org.
Calving Ease Direct (CE): an EPD that is expressed as a ratio, with a higher ratio representing better (easier) calving ease. This value represents the direct influence a sire has on calving ease. Only first-calf heifer data is included. Birth Weight (BW): predicts the difference, in pounds, for birth weight. Weaning Weight (WW): predicts the difference, in pounds, for weaning weight (adjusted to age of dam and a standard 205 days of age). This is an indicator of growth from birth to weaning. Yearling Weight (YW): predicts the expected difference, in pounds, for yearling weight (adjusted to standard 365 days of age). This is an indicator of growth from birth to yearling. Milk (MK): the genetic ability of a sire’s daughters to produce milk expressed in pounds of weaning weight. Total Maternal (TM): a value that combines growth and milk information and a prediction of the weaning weight performance of calves from a sire’s daughters. This value does not have an accompanying accuracy value. Gestation Length (GL): this EPD is expressed in days and measures the days under or over normal gestation length a sire’s daughters can be expected to calve. Calving Ease Daughters (CED): an EPD expressed as a ratio for a sire’s daughters’ calving ease with a higher ratio being a more favorable calving ease. This value represents the calving ease that a sire transmits to his daughters. Only first-calf daughters are considered in calculations the EPDs. Scrotal Circumference (SC): value is expressed in centimeters of adjusted yearling scrotal circumference. Stayability (ST): predicts the genetic difference, in terms of percent probability, that a bull’s daughters will stay productive within a herd to at least six years of age. Stayability EPD is one of the best measures currently available to compare a bull’s ability to produce females with reproductive longevity. Carcass Weight (CW): expressed in pounds of carcass weight adjusted to a constant fat endpoint. Rib Eye Area (RE): expressed in square inches of rib eye muscle area adjusted to a constant fat endpoint. Marbling (MB): expressed in degrees of marbling score, a determinant of USDA Quality Grade. Value is adjusted to a constant fat endpoint. Days to Finish (DtF): expressed in days to reach a constant fat endpoint, which is commonly used in the feedlot to determine when an animal is finished with the appropriate amount of fat cover. When evaluating two potential sires with comparable EPDs for other traits, the sire with the lesser value for DtF will produce progeny that will finish sooner with potentially lower feed costs. Feedlot Merit (FM): expressed in dollars per head, value passed to progeny. The feedlot merit EPD measures the dollar value associated with the expected gain and feedlot efficiency of progeny when fed in a typical feedlot arrangement. Carcass Value (CV): expressed in dollar value per head, comparing progeny of one animal to another in dollar differences when progeny are sold on a grid. This value is a true economic comparison; it is not grid merit at a standard carcass weight as many breeds calculate. Projected carcass weight, penalties for “out” weight carcasses (too heavy or light), quality grade and yield grade premiums and discounts are all included in calculating this $EPD value.
46 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
Junior Voice
Carcass Evaluation: An Important Skill for Juniors The quality of the beef produced and the efficiency at which it can be produced are the true driving forces behind the beef industry. As American Gelbvieh Junior Association (AGJA) members have a great opportunity to learn about the determining factors behind carcass value and how to evaluate the value themselves. The carcass judging contest held at AGJA junior nationals has proven to be a highly educational and interesting event. As part of the contest, contestants are asked to evaluate four live animals and estimate live weight, carcass weight, ribeye area, back fat thickness, quality grade, and yield grade. Finally, contestants are asked to rank the four animals on total carcass value. Before the contest, how to figure and estimate this data is explained to the juniors. After the contest, the steers are harvested. The dressed carcasses
are then displayed and the actual data revealed, giving everyone a chance to take a closer look at the real carcasses and to see what the data actually looks like in the flesh. Juniors are shown on the actual carcasses where the measurements are made and how this correlates to the carcass value and profitability of the steers. The contest participants are then ranked on how close their data and value estimates were to the actual data. At the end of the week awards banquet the results are announced and prizes presented to the winners. Juniors need not bring cattle to participate in the carcass judging contest, or any other contest at junior nationals. The cattle are the foundation of the show, yet the contests allow juniors to test their beef industry knowledge and skills outside of the show ring. All that attend junior nationals should come with an attitude that embraces the great learning
Circle M Farms Gelbvieh & Balancer
opportunities and chances for personal improvement because that is the real reason why all the contests throughout the week are held. I encourage everyone to bring cattle, but if that is not possible just being present and participating in all of the activities will prove highly beneficial. It is important as part of the beef industry that junior Gelbvieh members learn how carcasses are scored and what makes the carcasses of some animals higher quality and more profitable than others. The carcass judging contest gives junior members and adults alike the chance to learn and practice these skills. So, junior members don’t miss this opportunity to gain useful cattle knowledge at the Twister Classic in Kearney, Nebraska this July.
AGJA Summer Show Schedule
Dustin Aherin is the Vice President of the American Gelbvieh Junior Association. He can be reached via email at daherin@ruraltel.net.
July 3-8 Kearney, Nebraska Hosted by the Nebraska and Kansas Gelbvieh Junior Associations
M
Circle M Farms
AGJA will be sponsoring three opportunities for AGJA members to compete in contests and shows this summer.
2011 Cherokee Strip Western Regional May 27-29 Perry, Oklahoma Hosted by the Oklahoma Gelbvieh Association
2011 Heritage Eastern Regional June 2-5 Maryville, Tenn.,. Gosted by the Heritage FFA chapter
2011 AGJA Twister Classic
Also Selling 35+ Black Females: Donor, JBOB 3282 — She Sells! Registered Cows, some w/calves Registered Bred Heifers Registered Open Heifers Embryos out of JBOB 3298 & JBOB 2413 Pregnant Recips
5 Annual Production Bull Sale th
Saturday, March 5, 2011 1:00 pm (CST) Justin Pemberton Memorial Arena 614 Lehman St. Woodbury, TN 37190
45+ Bulls Sell!
95% Qualify for TN and KY TAEP Enhancement Program
95% AI Sired
Semen $20
100% Black • 85% Homozygous Black 75% Homozygous Polled
A sample of the offering: 4 sons by Networth x JBOB 2413 1 Bushwacker x JBOB 2413 1 son by VRD
2 sons by Granite 200P x JBOB 2413 1 son by RJ Several sons by CMFS 7132
CMFS 7132
Montana Infusion x JBOB 3298 • Purebred • Homo Black • Homo Polled
M
Circle M Farms
Blizzard 7K • She Sells! She was the top selling donor cow at the Danell Diamond Six Ranch Dispersal Sale. Homo Black • Homo Polled Her heifer calf will be 2 months at sale time.
• Call for a Sale Book •
Circle M Farms
Thomas Mears 300 Underwood Trail McMinnville, TN 37110 615-563-5066 (H) 615-849-6199 (C) The Profitpicture | 47
Breeder's corner
Colorado • Polled Purebreds • Red • Black
Alabama
Dave & Dawn Bowman 55784 Holly Rd. • Olathe, CO 81425
Kittle Gelbvieh Farms Quality Black Gelbvieh Cattle Johnny D. Kittle 816 Co. Rd. 36 Geraldine, AL 35974 Cell (256) 996-4140
(970) 323-6833 www.bowkranch.com
Double D Farm
9937 Warren Rd. Winslow, IL 61089 (815) 367-4116
Skyler Martin
1200 S. Blackhawk Rd. Oregon, IL 61061 (815) 732-7583
“Pot of Gold” Gelbvieh Angus & Balancer® Bull Sale Friday, February 25, 2011 • Olathe, CO Females for Sale Private Treaty
Arizona The Prosser Family
928/477-2458 Summer 928/289-2619 Winter
Indiana
Winslow, AZ Website: www.bartbar.com Email: info@bartbar.com
Angus, Gelbvieh, Balancer & Commercial Replacement Females
Grant Thayer, Owner
3 G Ranch
(303) 621-2058 Grant@JumpingCowGelbvieh.com
Gelbvieh Cattle For Sale
Brad Ridinger, Manager
Arkansas
G E L B V I E H
Office: (719) 764-2327 Cell: (303) 810-0582 Brad@JumpingCowGelbvieh.com
CATTLE THAT MEET THE CHALLENGE Ramah, Colorado
www.JumpingCowGelbvieh.com
Carl, Rebecca & Emily Griffiths
1577 N 600 E • Kendallville, IN 46755 260/897-2160 • ggge3g@embarqmail.com
H ODGES R ANCH
15702 Hodges Rd., Omaha, AR 72662 Hodgesranch@live.com
Eugene (870) 426-5333 Diana (870) 426-5334
Fullblood Polled Gelbvieh Polled Hereford
Neal (870) 426-4469
Merle E. Lewis
Gelbvieh & Balancer Bulls & Heifers Available Private Treaty Sales
812/863-7701
James L. Lewis 812/863-2970
RR1 BOX 1360 • SPRINGVILLE, IN 47462
Iowa
Illinois “Realizing the Value”
Skyler Martin
1200 S. Blackhawk Rd. Oregon, IL 61061-9762 815•732•7583
48 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
MEMBER
GS
Ridge Top Ranch
Gelbvieh-Angus-Balancer
Neola, Iowa
Black & Polled Private Treaty Sales
Breed-leading Performance from Quality Genetics
Kevin: 402-510-8103 Al: 402-676-5292
Ricky Linquist th
Street inquist 1135 190 inquist Fonda, IA 50540
arms (712) 288-5349 arms Gelbvieh & Red Angus
Email: rickylin@ncn.net www.linquistfarms.com
Judd Ranch Inc.
Dave & Cindy Judd Nick, Ginger Judd & Family Brent & Ashley Judd 423 Hwy. K-68 • Pomona, KS 66076 785/ 566-8371
Minnesota Brandywine Farm Tom Scarponcini
LONE OAK
30474 Brandywine Road Rushford, MN 55971
507-864-2063
G E L B V I E H
hornsandthorns@netins.net Eric Ehresman (319) 489-2275 20963 30th St. (319) 480-1564 Mechanicsville, IA 52306
McCabe Cattle Co. Lacey McCabe
563-543-5251
Two Step Ranch Pat and Jay McCabe
563-543-4177
Gelbvieh Farley, Iowa Balancers Annual Spring Bull Sale 60-80 Bred Females Each Fall
(E-mail): twostepranch@netins.net (web): www.mccabecattle.com
Kansas
Gelbvieh
POST ROCK CATTLE COMPANY 3041 E. Hwy. 284, Barnard, KS 67418 Bill Clark: 785.792.6244 Leland Clark: 785.792.6208 Fax: 785.792.6250 Email: prcc@twinvalley.net
Purebred A.I. Seedstock Bulls and Heifers Available. Al, Mary & Nick Knapp Cell: (913) 219-6613 18291 158th Street H: (913) 724-4105 Bonner Springs, KS 66012 FAX: (913) 724-4107
SFI Schafer Farms, Inc.
Balancer®
37740 240th Ave., Goodhue, MN 55027 Brian Schafer Lowell Schafer 1-888-226-9210 651-923-4587 brian@schaferfarm.com www.schaferfarm.com Private Treaty Bull Sale — Last Sat. in February Annually
Missouri
•
e-mail: knappa@swbell.net
Bar Arrow Arrow Bar Cattle Cattle Company Company Stuar t Jar vis 26 E. Limestone Rd. • Phillipsburg, KS 67661 e-mail: bararrow@ruraltel.net • 785/543-5177
gelbvieh
Gary and Kenny White 3140 SE Colorado • Topeka, KS 66605 785.267.1066 or 785.554.4744
Kentucky
B/F Cattle Company
Specializing in Forage Raised Balancer® Bulls on K-31
Culling practices on cows/bulls second to NONE! For information, contact:
Route 1, Box 407 • Butler, MO 64730
660 • 492 • 2808 “Where workin’ cattle & eye appeal come full circle”
John & Carla Shearer (620) 628-4621 (620) 654-6507 (John Cell)
RANGE READY SIMANGUS, BALANCER (GV X AN), ANGUS BULLS
2815 Navajo Rd. Canton, KS 67428 circle_s@hometelco.net
Annual Production Sale 1st Saturday in April
Purebred Gelbvieh & Balancer Cattle High Quality Genetics for Every Cattleman. Owners: David Butts Wayne Butts
Contact David Butts: 270-365-3715 (H) 270-625-4700 (C) Princeton, KY • Email: ddcmbutts@wildblue.net
18-30 mo. age, all forage tested, calving ease, semen tested, guaranteed, large selection of top genetics, utilize hybrid vigor for more $, more longevity, more forage You can utilize the benefits of heterosis! genetics. Quality bred heifers & cows. John Rotert/Bob Harriman 50 yrs. of reputation Montrose, MO seedstock. 660-693-4844 • 660-492-2504
www.rotertharriman.com
The Profitpicture | 49
Breeder's corner
Pope Farms Gelbvieh Gelbvieh’s Powerful New Perspective
P
Jeff and Jeanne Pope 26075 Willow Rd., Ravenna, NE 68869 Phone & Fax: (308) 467-BEEF popefarms@nctc.net
www.popefarms.com
Nebraska
Pritchard Gelbvieh Jeff & Janelle Pritchard 50476 817th Road Spalding, NE 68665
H: 308-497-2249 C: 308-750-1544
Private Treaty Balancer® Bulls Black Bulls with Performance, Calving Ease, Carcass and Function
Cedar Top Ranch
RogeRs Valley FaRm gelbVieh Breed for Tomorrow’s Cattle Today!
Scott & Raberta Starr 212 Starr Drive • Stapleton, NE 69163 (H): 308-587-2293 • (C): 308-530-3900 cedartopranch@gpcom.net Eldon Starr: 1-800-535-6173 or Rich Johnson: 402-368-2209
A Breed Leader in Tenderness & Marbling–
Annual Sale—Last Saturday in February
GELBVIEH
With herd sires profiling a perfect 10 in Tenderness and carrying the 316 Tenderness Gene! P.O. Box 51 Mendon, MO 64660 (660) 272-3805 (O) (660-375-7266 (C) Ronald & Kathryne Rogers email: rogers_valley_farm_feedlot@hotmail.com
Jeff Swanson • 308/337-2235 72408 I Road • Oxford, NE 68967
BALANCER
J. J. Boehler
70948 L Rd. , Orleans, NE 68966 308-473-7342 • 308-999-0207
Montana
Nevada Dick & Jean Williams P.O. Box 156 Orovada, NV 89425 775•272•3442
“Pounds Make Profit in Your Pocket” Bulls & Heifers Private Treaty
N. Carolina
Mark & Patty Goes 39414 SW 75th Rd. Odell, NE 68415 (402) 766-3627
50 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
6700 County Rd. 19 S. Minot, ND 58701 (701) 624-2051 (H) (701) 720-8823 (C)
Rob Arnold
Email: RLAGelbvieh@aol.com
Registered Gelbvieh & Balancers®
S. Dakota Producing Black, Polled Genetics for Today & Tomorrow.
Ohio
Beastrom Gelbvieh Ranch Registered Gelbvieh & Balancer Cattle Bulls • Heifers • Embryos • Semen
Jim & Barb Beastrom Brandy Ludemann, Brittney Spencer
Ph: 605-224-5789 • 605-280-7589 (Cell) jimbeastrom@mncomm.com • www.beastromranch.com
Julie Maude 605.381.2803 (C) Lori Maude 303.809.3789 (C)
Walter & Lee Teeter 1380 French Belk Rd. • Mt. Ulla, NC 28125 (704) 664-5784
Mick & Dave Ainsworth P.O. Box 154, Jackson Springs, NC 27281 910-652-2233 Cell: 910-639-4804 Mick’s email: longleaf@etinternet.net Dave’s email: longleaf@dsslink.net
Oklahoma LeGRAND
cj_llivestock@yahoo.com Hermosa, SD Quality Gelbvieh & Balancer® Genetics from a Trusted Source
Ellison Gelbvieh & Angus Ranch Gelbvieh & Angus & Balancers
Private Treaty Sales • Bulls (Yearling & 2-yr.-old) & Heifers
Mitchel & Edna Ellison Ed LeGrand
809 S. Redlands Rd. • Stillwater, OK 74074
405-747-6950 • alane@c21global.com
Jeff & Susie Ellison
9020 ND Hwy 49 Lemmon, SD 57638
9015 ND Hwy 49 Lemmon, SD 57638
701.376.3238
701.376.3526
Proven Genetics with Balanced Traits!
Homo. Black, Homo. Polled • Breeding Stock Available
EXCEPTIONAL
BULLS & HEIFERS
TRUCKING AVAILABLE
N. Dakota
Oregon
Hojer ojer
G GelbvieH elbvieH r rancH ancH 43968 208th Street Lake Preston, SD 57249 605/847-4155 605/860-1326
Alan & Pam Blake, Nikki, Christian
Email: hojerranch@rapiddatasystems.net Website: www.hojergelbviehranch.com
“Performance Genetics for Your Tomorrow”
Chimney Butte RanCh Doug and Carol Hille 701/445-7383
3320 51st St., Mandan, ND 58554
chimneybutteranch@westriv.com www.chimneybutteranch.com Annual Production Sale 1st Friday in March
The Profitpicture | 51
Breeder's corner
Texas
Washington
Jim & Pat Dromgoole 4403 Winding River Dr. • Richmond, TX 77469 Home
(281) 341-5686 • Ranch (979) 561-8144
www.dromgoolesheaven.com Show Cattle Managers: James & Shannon Worrell • (325) 258-4656
NN Bar Ranch, Inc. Registered Angus, Gelbvieh and Balancers®
Kris, Dawn and Laren Nelson 21200 Watson Road East Creston, WA 99117
509-636-2343
NN
Email: nnbarranch@asisna.com
Virginia 1800 W. 50th St. • Sioux Falls, SD 57105
Ron Hughes 276-637-6493
Brad Hughes 276-637-6071
W. Virginia
Steve Schroeder
605-334-5809 (O) • 605-363-3247 (H)
121A Lavender Dr. Max Meadows, VA 24360 Purebred Gelbvieh & Balancers®–all Black, all Polled
Thorstenson Gelbvieh Selby, South Dakota
Brian & Dee Dee 605-649-9927
Vaughn & Wendy 605-649-6262
www.Balancerbulls.com
QUALITY POLLED GELBVIEH
Tennessee
Red House, VA 23963
Office (434) 376-3567 James D. Bennett Paul S. Bennett Jim G. Bennett Brian R. Bennett
Fax (434) 376-7008 434/376-7299 434/376-5675 434/376-5760 434/376-5309
Quality Gelbvieh & Balancer® Cattle
2011 Cherokee Stip Western Regional,
ClinCh Mountain Gelbvieh
John & Liz Loy (865) 687-1968 (865) 235-8869 (C)
7611 Dyer Rd. Luttrell, TN 37779 j.b.loy@att.net
Bulls & Heifers for Sale
Dr. Daryl Wilson Tyler Wilson (276) 676-2242
Joe & Gwen Wilson
For $297 you can be in every issue for one year! Call Jennifer at the AGA office at
303-465-2333
52 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
W L
H
F
QUALITY GELBVIEH CATTLE
Perry, OK • May 27-29
(276) 628-4163
Registered (276) 614-0117 (C) Gelbvieh Cattle
2011 Eastern Regional,
LITTLE WINDY HILL
2011 AGJA Twister Classic,
17462 Fenton Dr., Abingdon, VA 24210 • TrebleWRanch@aol.com
Don’t think you can afford a nice ad in Gelbvieh World?
AGJA Summer Show Schedule
Farms Doug & Sue Hughes 6916 Peppers Ferry Road Max Meadows, VA 24360 H 276/637-3916 C 276/620-4271
Maryville, TN • June 2-5 Kearney, NE • July 3-8
Service center Send for catalog listing semen on over 75 bulls
Eldon Starr
210 Starr Drive, Stapleton, NE 69163
(308) 587-2348 • 1-800-535-6173
www.bullbarn.com
Ronn Cunningham
Subscription and Advertising Information SUBSCRIPTION RATES: A one-year subscription to Gelbvieh World may be purchased for $35. Members of the AGA pay $35 of their membership dues to receive a subscription to Gelbvieh World. Gelbvieh World mails on or around the 25th of the month prior to publication date. Canada and Mexico - $60 U.S. for one-year. Other foreign - $85 U.S. for one-year.
AUCTIONEER P.O. Box 146 • Rose, OK 74364 918-479-6410 office/fax 918-629-9382 cellular
Gelbvieh World Advertising Rates STANDARD ISSUES:
Juniors! Check www.gelbvieh.org often for show information and results on regional shows and the Junior Classic!
Full Page 1/2 Page 1/3 Page 1/6 Page
$650 $425 $325 $150
Full Page 1/2 Page 1/4 Page Column inch
$675 $450 $275 $30
Four Color One Additional color
Photo scans:
Add Pounds. Add Profit.
Contact Don, Brandon or Steve to discuss your options.
$525 $450 $250 $30
Feb./Oct. Commercial Profit Picture
Color:
Advertise Your Operation in Gelbvieh World or the Profit Picture
2/3 Page 1/2 Page Isand 1/4 Page Column inch
To run as Black/white Color photos
JR Page 1/3 Page 1/6 Page
$525 $350 $200
$300 additional $150 additional
$10 each $20 each
Special production such as photo retouching is billed at cost at the rate of $60/hr. CLOSING DATE: Ad materials and editorial deadline is the 25th of the month two months prior to publication date. (December issue deadline is October 25th). Ads for sale dates prior to the 15th of the month of publication are discouraged. For Feb./Oct. (Commercial Editions) and June/July (Herd Reference Edition) please call for rate specials and deadline information.
Call today: 303/465-2333
Visit
www.smartcross.org to find out how to Add Pounds and Add Profit to your next calf crop.
Don
Brandon
Steve
406/538-5622 Western
970/520-3020 Central
606/688-4492 Eastern
ADVERTISING CONTENT: The Editor and/or the Director of Administration reserve the right to reject any or all advertising on any reasonable basis. Gelbvieh World and/or American Gelbvieh Association assumes no responsibility for the advertising content as submitted. Advertisers assume all responsibility for the accuracy and truthfulness of submitted advertising containing pedigrees or statements regarding performance. Advertisers shall indemnify and hold harmless Gelbvieh World and American Gelbvieh Association for any claims concerning advertising content as submitted.
The Profitpicture | 53
News
Things to do Before Purchasing a Bull Source: Brett Barham, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Many producers spend many hours in the process of purchasing a bull. It’s a big decision - one that can impact your herd for many years beyond the expected usefulness of the bull due to his daughters remaining in production. It pays to do some homework on determining what kind of bull you need prior to purchase. Here are some steps to help guide you through the process. 1. Identify Herd Goals. Herd goals serve as the foundation for sire selection and provide guidance as to traits with the most economic importance. Defining the production and marketing system, along with management strategies and environment, are key factors that warrant consideration. * Will the bull be used on heifers, mature cows or both? * Will replacement females be retained in the herd? * How will the calf crop be marketed (at weaning? retained ownership? sell females?)?
Bull Buying Shouldn’t Be a gamBle When buying a bull for your herd, you shouldn’t leave the decision to a spin of the wheel or a roll of the dice. CJ&L Livestock takes the risk out of bull buying. • Culled hard for structural soundness, muscle and phenotype. • All bulls have an Igenity profile, are coat color tested and are negative for BVD PI. • Ultrasound and gain test results will be available on sale day.
Look for CJ&L Livestock’s consignments to the SEGA Gelbvieh Annual Bull Sale, Saturday, March 5th North of Ault, Colorado. Call Steve or Gail Fiolkoski to arrange a time to look at the bulls, 970-834-2138 or 970-381-0600 (Steve’s cell).
Sires represented in the CJ&L offering: XXB Drew 565K • KRT Lazy TV Gigolo S459 CJLL Ramblin Man R05 • DLW Natural 862N and DCH Hille T191 Thrasher.
for more information on our conSignmentS, call: Julie maude lori maude 605-381-2803 303-809-3789 L I V E S T O C K e-mail: cJ_lliveStocK@yahoo.com
Quality gelBvieh and Balancer geneticS from a truSted Source
54 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
* What are the labor and management resources available? * What are the feed resources and environmental conditions of the operation? * How will this sire contribute to the overall breeding system plan? 2. Assess Herd Strengths and Weaknesses. Fundamental records are key to identifying strengths and weaknesses. Basic performance parameters such as calving percentage and dates, weaning percentage, weaning weights, sale weights, carcass data, feed usage, etc., are necessary to serve as the basis for assessing areas of strength and those needing attention. This type of information is extremely important considering the high input costs and low operating margins of today’s markets. 3. Establish Selection Priorities. Concentrate on those factors which stand to have the largest impact on profitability. Remember that income is derived from performance (sale weight, percent calf crop weaned, carcass merit, etc.). Performance is a function of both genetics and environment/management. Superior genetics can be negated by poor management, which emphasizes the importance of separating the impact of management (nutrition, health program) from that of genetics when specific priorities for the herd are established. Considering both the genetic and management influences on various traits is important. Focus on a handful of priority traits rather than attempting to change many traits simultaneously. Establishing the few traits to focus on is the key factor. 4. Utilize Selection Tools. Once selection priorities have been established through close examination of herd goals and current status, a number of useful tools are at the disposal of beef producers to assist in making genetic improvement. Genetic differences across breeds have been well established, and utilization of different breeds in a complementary fashion through structured crossbreeding plans provides the opportunity for improvement in multiple traits. Most importantly, heterosis attained through crossbreeding has been shown to have significant favorable impact on traits such as reproductive efficiency and cow longevity which are critical for herd profitability. The limited ability to select for reproductive traits in the form of EPDs further emphasizes the importance of capturing the value of heterosis. EPDs are available for many traits of economic importance. The introduction of economic indexes, which combine several, related traits and their economic values into one EPD, are available to assist with simultaneous improvement in multiple traits which impact areas such as carcass merit and post-weaning profit. Again, with the large number of EPD tools available, the critical step is to determine the EPDs which are most important and establish benchmarks relative to each. 5. Establish Benchmarks. Several tools can be used to help determine EPD specifications. EPD values for current and past sires can be used as benchmarks. With these benchmarks, EPD specifications can be set to reflect the desired increase or moderation in performance for a particular trait. As an example, establishing a benchmark for milk EPD can be determined through the relationship between previous sires’ genetics for milk and the performance of his daughters in the herd. 6. Find Source. With the above defined, we can now begin to look at
individual bulls. There are many sources of bulls that warrant consideration - production sales, test stations and private treaty sales. Of critical importance is that the bull be from a reputable source which will stand behind its product. It may be necessary to look at several sources in order to find the correct bull. 7. Do Your Homework. The first step to doing so is to evaluate the sale catalog, performance pedigree and data. By examination of the bull’s performance record, determine which bulls meet the EPD and other specifications that have been established (and, likewise, eliminate those that do not meet the specifications). Be prepared to make tradeoffs, as the perfect record may not be attainable. Do not be surprised or alarmed when the bulls you have highlighted appear scattered throughout the sale order. Remember to stick to the selection criteria and qualifications/specifications that have been established. All this can and should be accomplished prior to departing for any sale. 8. Have a Look. Once the list has been narrowed to only bulls which meet the criteria, these bulls can be further evaluated and the selection refined. Having a list of suitable bulls prior to arrival at the auction or farm will not only save time but also assist in making sure the right bull for the situation is purchased. Upon narrowing the potential candidates on paper, the bulls can be evaluated for
suitability of phenotypic traits and the potential candidate list shortened even further. Not all relevant traits have EPDs (examples include disposition, foot soundness, fleshing ability, etc.) and, therefore, must be evaluated visually. 9. Make a Sound Investment. For many cow/calf producers, purchasing a new bull is a relatively infrequent occurrence. This emphasizes the importance of selecting the right bull, particularly in single-sire herds. The value of the right bull cannot be overestimated. Investments in good genetics will pay dividends, both short- and long-term, through the influence the bull has on each calf crop as well as his daughters that are retained in the herd.
March 5, 6, 2011 2010
10. Manage the New Bull Properly. Of equal importance is the care and management of the newly acquired bull. Proper management and nutrition are essential for the bull to perform satisfactorily during the breeding season. With most new herd sires purchased as yearling bulls, management prior to, during and after the first breeding season is particularly important. Plan ahead by acquiring a new yearling bull at least 60 to 90 days prior to the breeding season so ample time is available to allow for adjustment to a new environment, commingling with other bulls and getting the bull in proper breeding body condition.
And Quality Carcass On The Rail www.segagelbvieh.com
The Profitpicture | 55
During the current bull market run, set yourself ahead of the rest and contact Gelbvieh Profit Partners for marketing your feeder cattle.
Contact Slim Cook at (307) 272-2024 for further information.
56 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
Barry “Slim� Cook Chief Operating Officer P.O. Box 3025, Cody, WY 82414 307-272-2024
V
Tradition Factor Breaking 87 years of gathering, sorting &
ATILI TY
VERS
The
Announcing the
selling cattle private treaty
Breaking Tradition Bull Sale
April 9, 2011 • Snyder Livestock, Yerington, Nevada The Cattle: Versatile and Protable
The Bulls:
• 125 Angus, Balancer and Gelbvieh sell April 9th • Mostly AI Sired • 70 RFI Tested Bulls • All Ultrasound, RFI and DNA data and video available online March 15th • Our sight-unseen selection has proven to be the best in the business • An additional 75 bulls available Private Treaty • All bulls delivered by May 1st to central corrals
Jeb Red Balance 38T
“Balancer bulls from Bar T Bar Ranch help our bottom line. Last year we had a 90% breed back with 100% yearling Balancer bulls. We have had some of the driest weather on record and were quite happy. We also weaned calves during this dry period that were 52 pounds heavier than in the history of the ranch. Eighty percent of our cows were bred during the first heat cycle. Bar T Bar yearling bulls simply get the job done.” — Duane Coleman, Hopi Canyon Ranch, Winslow, AZ
The Females:
BTBR Black Cross 3002
We are the 2nd largest producer of Dams Of Merit in the country. Over 50 Dams of Merit producing in less than 12” rainfall on open range. A calf every year in 45 days, every time. “Thanks for taking care of the delivery of the bred heifers. They are nice! We worked them yesterday, and it was nice to have cattle that handle well. They have big footsteps to follow as the heifers we got from you last year weaned 600 lb. calves and every one of them bred back.” — Dave Kaess, Kaess Cattle Co., La Junta, CO
The Steers:
This year 350 of our own ranch-raised steers went on the truck off the cows 45 days and on open range weighing 670 pounds. We have feedback from Caprock, Country Natural Beef and other value-added programs confirming our cattle are VERSATILE. “We’ve been using Bar T Bar Balancer bulls for several years and have been very happy with them. Our cows get bred quickly and our calves are big and getting top price. One load of steers averaged 750 pounds. We’re saving more heifer calves for replacements and are very happy with them. We sell our calves on the Internet and have lots of repeat buyers.” — Walt Hayhurst, Orange Cove, CA
Visit our Web site
www.bartbar.com for a trait-sortable complete list of bulls.
Bob and Judy Prosser
P.O. Box 190 Winslow, AZ 86047 928-289-2619 E-Mail: bartbar@hughes.net
John Burbank, CEO 660-258-5547 Cell: 660-734-1165 www.seedstockplus.com
It’s hard to improve upon what you do not measure. The Profitpicture | 57
News
Don’t Sell Your Vaccines Short
Handling and storing vaccines properly can help ensure efficacy. Vaccination alone may not be all that is necessary to help protect cattle from respiratory disease. “Simply vaccinating animals doesn’t always mean that they will be protected,” says J.P. Pollreisz, DVM, Veterinary Operations, Pfizer Animal Health. “To help ensure vaccines are effective and work the way they’re supposed to, producers need to make sure they’re also handling and storing vaccines properly.” In fact, handling and storing vaccines properly can play a big part in how well animals are protected against diseases like bovine respiratory disease (BRD). “Ultraviolet light and heat can disrupt the physical structure of the viruses that are in vaccines,” Dr. Pollreisz says. “A vaccine won’t go from effective to worthless in five minutes, but if left in the sun or exposed to heat for any
amount of time, there’s no way to tell how much damage has been done to a vaccine. That’s why it’s so important vaccines are stored in coolers when producers are out working cattle.” Dr. Pollreisz says producers should pay close attention to labels to determine how vaccines should be administered, when they should be given and to which animals. Additionally, producers also should be careful not to use vaccines past their expiration date and should not mix, or rehydrate, more vaccine than they can use in one hour. Dr. Pollreisz also recommends producers talk to their veterinarians to choose vaccines that best fit their individual operations and goals, and those that come from a trusted company. “Pfizer Animal Health has a longstanding history within the cattle industry,” Dr. Pollreisz says. “Plus, veterinarians and producers
Representative Sires Include:
can always call our Veterinary Medical Investigations and Product Support (VMIPS) or Veterinary Operations when they have a problem and we’ll do everything we can to make it right — it’s a commitment to service.” When handled properly, vaccines like BoviShield GOLD® 5 — the first and only respiratory vaccine with a label claim for the prevention of disease caused by infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) for at least nine months— can help protect cattle against economically devastating diseases like BRD. What’s more, Bovi-Shield GOLD 5 offers a nine-month duration of immunity for respiratory disease caused by bovine virus diarrhea (BVD) virus Types 1 and 2 and IBR, and helps protect cattle against other viruses that lead to BRD, including parainfluenza type 3 (PI3) virus and bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV). “It’s a common misunderstanding that killed vaccines are more forgiving to mishandling than modified live vaccines, but that’s just not true,” Dr. Pollreisz says. “Proper vaccine handling holds true for any vaccine.”
BULL TEST
...THE GRANDDADDY OF PERFORMANCE
–North America’s Largest Source of Feed Efficiency Tested Bulls MCFG 113U The Man
His first set of calves very exciting
Selling 50 Head
Middle Creek FarMs (Selling 26 Bulls)
Gelbvieh & Balancer Bulls Connealy Lead On Making awesome “Balancers”
April 6, 2011 • Columbus, MT All bulls are feed efficiency tested with the GrowSafe® system. For more information and weigh reports contact either Middle Creek Farms or Midland Bull Test.
BULL TEST
...THE GRANDDADDY OF PERFORMANCE
35P MCFG Bruce Almighty Best all around bull ever used at MCFG!
58 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
Leo & Sam McDonnell • Steve & Lindsay Williams 1640 Hwy. 10 • Columbus, MT 59019 (406) 322-5597 • Fax: (406) 322-5210 Email: bulls@midlandbulltest.com • www.midlandbulltest.com
Ken Flikkema 8289 Huffine Lane Bozeman, MT 59718 (406) 586-6207 kenflikkema@gmail.com mcfg@imt.net
Along with
26th Annual
Cannon Valley Ranch
Private Treaty Bull Sale Saturday, February 26, 2011 • 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the Farm near Goodhue, Minnesota
Located 7 miles north of Goodhue, Minnesota on Hwy. 58, then 2 miles east on County Rd #3
Selling 60 Balancer,® Gelbvieh & Angus Bulls Featuring sons of these and others
.
CE 97
BW 0.8
WW 44
YW 92
MK 20
CE 14
BW -1.3
WW 54
YW 100
MK 25
TM 42
GL -2.6
CD 102
SC 0.5
CW 29
CEM 12
SC 1.69
CW 6
REA -.04
MB .61
REA 0.4
MB 0.31
DtF 5
CV 59.23
FM 30.30
FAT 0.17
$W 42.43
$G 29.52
$B 47.60
MYTTY In Focus
RBMS Just Right 122P
CE 109
BW -1.3
WW 52
YW 120
MK 18
CE 108
BW -3.6
WW 46
YW 95
MK 26
TM 44
GL -3.0
CD 105
SC 0.4
CW 10
TM 49
GL -3.7
CD 103
SC 1.5
CW 12
REA -0.9
MB 0.37
DtF -1.8
CV 45.61
FM 63.54
REA 0.42
MB 0.01
DtF 10.5
CV 20.49
FM 32.32
EGL Tenderloin N407
Lazy TV Second Class R87
Experience the Advantages: • Quality and Volume • 6th Largest Gelbvieh Breeder • 7th Largest Owner of Dams of Merit • Largest source of Balancer Genetics in Upper Midwest/Great Lakes Region • Complete Performance Information • 22 Years of Carcass Ultrasound Data • DNA Tested • Fertility Tested–Breeding Soundness Guarantee • Sight Unseen Purchase Satisfaction Guarantee • First Breeding Season Guarantee • Volume Discounts • Housed Until Needed** w/ Free Delivery • Payment Flexibility • Cash Discounts • Deferred Payment Program • And others!!!
Schafer Farms
25765 Cty. 3 Blvd. • Goodhue, MN 55027 Brian Schafer
1•888•226•9210
Lowell Schafer 651•923•4587
Bruce Waugh
507•381•1570
Email: brian@schaferfarm.com • Fax: 651•923•5426
www.schaferfarm.com Since 1886
“Proud of our Past, focused on the Future”
**Some restrictions apply
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A nnual Production Sale—March 24, 2011 Western Livestock Auction • Great Falls, MT
W KHR 08 0 02 4 1 1 reg# venor) G 7R X o (KHR 4 erness Leader end 5 Star T /ampule $20
“Gelbvieh since 1973”
Over 35 Years of Performance Testing
Jim & Kathy Bjorkman
Purebred Bulls • Balancer® Bulls • Purebred Heifers • Balancer® Heifers Red or Black, 100% Polled Sires represented: Impressive 03N, KHR 26P, KHR 47P, KHR 21T, KHR 31T, DAR National 302N Bar GT Louie 2J, GAR Integrity, MYTTY In Focus, Profit Agent, Urie 26P. Complete performance data and DNA results available.
For your next herdsire or female purchase look to Kicking Horse Ranch.
60 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
(406) 937-4815 krankin@northerntel.net www.kickinghorseranch.com
George & Jeanette Rankin (406) 937-3728 1285 Nine Mile Road Oilmont, MT 59466
Seedstock Plus 2011 Sale Calendar
Feb. 5th - Tennessee Bull Sale
Tennessee Livestock Producers * Columbia, Tennessee
Feb. 26th - North Missouri Bull Sale AB Farms * Lathrop, Missouri
Mar. 26th - South Missouri Bull & Female Sale
OVER 1000 BULLS WILL BE OFFERED!
Joplin Regional Stockyards * Carthage, Missouri
April 2nd - High Altitude Bull Sale Southern Colorado Livestock Auction * Monte Vista, Colorado
April 9th - ‘Breaking Tradition’ Bull Sale Snyder Livestock * Yerington, Nevada • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Unbeatable Customer Service!
CALL FOR A CATALOG TODAY! TOLL FREE! 877-486-1160
FREE TRUCKING ON EVERY BULL! Guaranteed Sight-Unseen Purchases Registered Cattle With Complete EPD’S Unmatched Quality and Volume Complete Breeding Soundness Exam Bulls are Igenity® tested for Coat Color and Carcass Markers Bulls are all tested BVD - PI Negative Bulls are Guaranteed Genetic Defect Free! Bulls are sorted for Disposition, Structure & Feet Bulls are ultrasound measured & performance tested Bull warranty program - insurance for your bull! Videos of each bull available on the website during the week prior to the sale! Marketing Assistance for customers’ cattle
To view on-line catalogs and videos:www.seedstockplus.com email: john@seedstockplus.com
The Profitpicture | 61
News
Guarentee Your Future with Gelbvieh Gelbvieh and Balancer® Feeder Cattle Top Markets
Gelbvieh and Balancer® feeder cattle continue to be market toppers in sales across the country. Order buyers and feedlot operators across the Midwest have aggressively procured cattle identified as Balancer
Schroeder Ranch 13th Annual
Gelbvieh & Balancer Production Sale
Saturday, April 2nd, 2011 2 p.m. (CST) Mitchell Livestock, Mitchell, S.D. Sale managed by:
Steve Schroeder (605) 366-5693 Dustin Tolsma, herdsman (605) 539-0235 www.schroedercattle.com
Mettler Gelbvieh will be a guest consignor.
“Common sense cattle” 62 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
and Gelbvieh genetics. The advantage is pounds of product to sell at market time as well as the efficiency and health benefits of the Gelbvieh cross feeders versus straight bred lots. Many sold to repeat buyers. The Tama Livestock Auction of Tama, Iowa reports a lot consigned by Jackson Enterprises with a lot of 851 pound steers sired by Gelbvieh and Balancer bulls selling at a sale topping $126.50 on December 10. Fancy heifer mates weighing 870 pounds demanded $128.00 and were destined to become breeding stock. At the December sale in Tama, Jesina Farms sold 843 pound Balancer steers for $123.00 again topping that weight class for the day. Heifer mates weighing 862 pounds rang the bell at $122.00. Once again they were destined for the pasture for breeding stock rather than the feedyard. The bulls that sired these lots were purchased from Sienknecht Cattle Company from Gladbrook, Iowa. A Grund Beef Genetic customer topped the December 15 special feeder cattle sale at Oakley Livestock, Oakley, Kan. Steers owned by Joe and Jody Beckman sold at $1.21 weighing 766 pounds. A repeat customer purchased the lot who has realized the value of these cattle to perform for him while on feed and as well on the rail. They hit his market targets and do so with a lower cost of gain. These steers were Balancer genetics. Contact the American Gelbvieh Association for more information concerning members who have Gelbvieh and Balancer sale topping genetics for sale. Visit www.gelbvieh.org for more information on Gelbvieh and Balancer genetics or to locate a breeder near you.
News Gelbvieh Breeders Focus on Performance Testing With a focus on performance testing and a desire to obtain residual feed intake (RFI) data, Gelbvieh breeders have entered 49 Gelbvieh and BalancerŽ bulls in the 2011 Midland Bull Test in Columbus, Mont. The bulls were entered by seven breeders from six states. In the first intermediate performance report recently released by Midland, the Gelbvieh and Balancer bulls lead the way in performance, topping the other nine breeds on test for average daily gain (ADG) and weight per day of age (WDA). The 49 bulls on test had an average ADG of 3.20 lbs/day and a WDA of 3.33 lbs/day – significantly higher than the averages for the other breeds on test. Leading the way for the Gelbvieh and Balancer bulls is an entry by Mohogany Hollow of Delta, Utah. This February 2010 Balancer bull sired by Bon View New Design posted an impressive ADG of 4.15 lbs/day. He also had a WDA of 3.69 lbs/day and a first intermediate weight of 1,230 pounds. In the WDA column, a purebred Gelbvieh bull tops the list with an outstanding WDA of 3.94 lbs/day. Entered by Middle Creek Farms, Inc., Bozeman, Mont., this January 2010 Carolina Fortune son had an ADG of 3.72 lbs/day and tipped the scales in this first weight report at 1,360 pounds. Additional Gelbvieh breeders who have bulls entered in the Midland test are Hone Ranch, Gardnerville, Nev., M Heart D Gelbvieh, Stevensville, Mont., Cranview Gelbvieh, Minot, N.D., Ledgerwood Gelbvieh, Clarkston, Wash., and Russell Family Livestock, Brooklyn, Wisc. The 2011 Midland Bull Test sale is set for April 6-8, with the Gelbvieh and Balancer bulls selling on the first day. Complete performance reports are available at www.midlandbulltest.com.
Gelbvieh Bulls Top ADG and WDA at Midland
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Maternal Edge Female Sales Gelbvieh Influenced Females - Working Hard for your Bottom Line www.Maternaledge.com
Gelbvieh influenced females attracted many of the most progressive commercial producers in the industry with the first Meat Animal Research Center germplasm study data in the early 1970s. Gelbvieh-sired females topped the charts on fertility, age at puberty and pounds of calf weaned per cow exposed. The early data made a statement about the Gelbvieh influenced female. Today’s MARC data shows a female that has reduced her mature size—the only one of the breeds in the study to reduce mature size. This includes the British breeds in the study! The most recent MARC study showed Gelbvieh-sired calves with the lowest birth weights of the four major continental breeds—Simmental, Charolais, Limousin and Gelbvieh. Gelbvieh-sired calves also tied for the top survivability to weaning of all breeds. The beef industry focus changes from time to time, but the money in the cattle industry is still made in the cowherd. Today’s Gelbvieh genetics will make your cow herd work as hard as you do.
March 19, 2011
March 28, 2011
Simpson Co. Livestock Facility Clinton, NC
Kearney Livestock Market, Kearney, NE 1:00 p.m. CST
Breds, Pairs and Opens
The sale will consist of mostly open, replacement Gelbvieh influenced females.
For information contact
For information contact
Sponsored by the North Carolina Gelbvieh Association Steve Peddicord: 606-688-4492 Mick Ainsworth: 910-638-8436
Brian Bauer: 402-729-5683 Dan Warner: 308-962-5485 Scott Starr: 308-587-2293 Brandon McEndeffer: 970-520-3020
Sponsored in part by the American Gelbvieh Association, providing a service for commercial producers who use Gelbvieh genetics. 64 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
Join us March 19th for
our Annual Bull Sale
1:00 PM at the Ranch, Lake City, South Dakota
Selling
50
Yearling Bulls ✦ Purebred & Balancers
✦ Igenity Tested for Coat Color and Carcass Traits ✦ Average Weaning Weight 765 lbs. CTR Tomahawk 3715N
Balancer 50%
BD: 3-27-2003 BW: 89 lbs. WW: 654 lbs. EPD ACC CE: 100 BW: 1.7 WW: 37 YW: 77 MK: 23 TM: 42 GL: -0.8 CD: 97 SC: 0.5 FM: 16.67
.37 .79 .68 .49 .24 – .27 .16 .27
all Igenity Tested with the following averages: DNA Averages (from Igentiy) RFI: 5 Tenderness: 6 Marbling: 6.57 % Choice: 6.75 Yeild Grade: 6 Fat: 5 Ribeye Area: 5
Feature Bulls:
PCCI Tomahawk 0107X – Act. Wt. 955 lbs. on 11/18/10 PCCI Balance 0074X – Act. Wt. 900 lbs. on 11/18/10
BUF BFCK Cherokee Cnyn x CTRG 527E (DBC Black Diamond) A prepotent sire of muscle and carcass traits. Selling will be 3/4 blood sons – all red.
PCCI Titliest 7047T
Sale Bull Averages This set of bulls are
Balancer 50% BD: 3-30-2007 BW: 82 lbs. WW: 842 lbs.
Raised in the Coteau Hills Region of northeast South Dakota
EPD ACC CE: 108 BW: 0.5 WW: 45 YW: 93 MK: 20 TM: 43 GL: -1.1 CD: 103 SC: 0.1 FM: 30.55
CTR Tomahawk 3715N x WMW Pacifica (Vermilion Dateline 7078) Homozygous Polled son of Tomahawk and our top junior herd sire. Pictured at 2 years of age. Highest ratioing herd sire that we are presently using. His sons are a sale feature.
.27 .57 .38 .22 .12 – .11 .07 .26
For more information, contact: PEARSON CATTLE CO., INC. 43523 111 St., Lake City, SD 57247-9714 Neal 605.448.5653 or 605.470.0448 (cell) Email: njpeaerson@venturecomm.net Kermit 605.448.5596
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Places to Be February 2011 Feb. 2-5 NCBA/ANCW Annual Convention, Denver, CO Feb. 3 Black Hills Stock Show Gelbvieh Sale, Rapid City, SD Feb. 5 LeDoux Ranch Production Sale, Agenda, KS Feb. 5 Seedstock Plus Tennessee Bull & Female Sale, Columbia, TN Feb. 7 Taubenheim Gelbvieh 21st Annual Production Sale, Amherst, NE Feb. 12 Kleinschmidt Open House Bull & Female Sale, Geneva, NE Feb. 15 Cedar Top Ranch Annual Production Sale, Burwell, NE Feb. 15 Iowa Beef Expo Gelbvieh Gold Sale, Des Moines, IA Feb. 18 Nebraska Cattlemen’s Classic Gelbvieh/Balancer Bull & Female Show & Sale, Kearney, NE Feb. 19 Overmiller Gelbvieh & Red Angus Production Sale, Smith Center, KS Feb. 21 Stateline Genetics Sale, Dodge City, KS Feb. 23 Grund Beef Genetics Annual Bull Sale, Oakley, KS Feb. 24 Plateau Gelbvieh Bull Sale, Brush, CO Feb. 25 Pot of Gold 20th Annual Gelbvieh, Angus & Balancer Bull Sale, Olathe, CO Feb. 25 DEADLINE: April Gelbvieh World Feb. 26 Schafer Farms, Inc. 26th Annual Bull Sale, Goodhue, MN Feb. 26 Swanson Cattle Co. 24th Annual Production Sale, Oxford, NE Feb. 26 Seedstock Plus North Missouri Bull Sale, Lathrop, MO Feb. 28 Beastrom Gelbvieh 31st Annual Bull Sale, Fort Pierre, SD
March 2011 Mar. 1 Warner Beef Genetics Annual Bull & Female Sale, Arapahoe, NE Mar. 2 Spring Valley, LTD 21st Annual Production Sale, Agra, KS
Mar. 4 Handel Farms 18th Annual Bull & Female Sale, Platte, SD Mar. 4 Chimney Butte Ranch Annual Bull Sale, Mandan, ND Mar. 5 Judd Ranch 33rd Gelbvieh, Balancer & Red Angus Bull Sale, Pomona, KS Mar. 5 Thorstenson Gelbvieh & Angus Annual Bull Sale, Mobridge, SD Mar. 5 Flying H Genetics 31st Annual Roughage ‘N Ready Herd Bull Sale, Arapahoe, NE Mar. 5 Davidson Gelbvieh & Lonesome Dove Ranch 22nd Annual Bull Sale, Swift Current, Saskatchewan Mar. 5 SEGA Gelbvieh & Friends Private Treaty Sale, Pierce, CO Mar. 5 Circle M Farms 5th Annual Production Bull Sale, Woodbury, TN Mar. 6 MN Gelbvieh Association 13th Annual State Opportunity Sale, Albany, MN Mar. 6 McCabe Cattle Co./Two-Step Ranch Annual Bull Sale, Dyersville, IA Mar. 7 Hojer Gelbvieh Ranch Annual Production Sale, Huron, SD Mar. 7 MLM Gelbvieh Private Treaty Kick Off Sale, Superior, NE Mar. 8 Bar Arrow Cattle Company 21st Annual Production Sale, Phillipsburg, KS Mar. 10 Raile Gelbvieh/Balancer Bull Sale, Burlington, CO Mar. 12 J Bar M Gelbvieh and J & K Farms Gelbvieh Bull Sale, Springfield, MO Mar. 12 Midwest Beef Alliance Bull Sale, Tina, MO Mar. 16 Eagle Pass Ranch RFI Tested Bull Sale, Highmore, SD Mar. 17 6th Annual Triple Play Bull Sale, Huron, SD Mar. 19 North Carolina Maternal Edge Sale, Clinton, NC Mar. 19 Post Rock Cattle Co The Cowman’s Kind Bull & Female Sale, Barnard, KS Mar. 19 Flying H Genetics Grown On Grass Bull Sale, Joplin, MO Mar. 19 Oklahoma Sooner Select Sale, Stillwater, OK Mar. 19 Pearson Cattle Company Annual Bull Sale, Lake City, SD Mar. 24 Kicking Horse Ranch Annual Production Sale, Great Falls, MT Mar. 25 Southwest Bull & Female Gelbvieh and Balancer Sale, Creston, IA Mar. 25 DEADLINE: May Gelbvieh World Mar. 26 Boehler Gelbvieh Bull Sale, Orleans, NE Mar. 26 Seedstock Plus South Missouri Bull & Female Sale, Carthage, MO Mar. 28 NE/KS Maternal Edge Sale, Kearney, NE
April 2011 Apr. 1 Apr. 2 Apr. 2 Apr. 2 Apr. 2 Apr. 6 Apr. 9 Apr. 9 Apr. 9
Midwest Performance Bull Sale, Bloomfield, IA Jumping Cow Gelbvieh Bull & Commercial Female Sale, Brush, CO Circle S Ranch & Triple K Gelbvieh Going to Grass Sale, Canton, KS Schroeder Ranch 13th Annual Gelbvieh & Balancer Production Sale, Mitchell, SD Seedstock Plus High Altitude Bull Sale, Monte Vista, CO Midland Bull Test Sale, Columbus, MT West Virginia Beef Expo Gelbvieh Sale, Jackson’s Mill, W.V. Bar T Bar Ranch & Seedstock Plus Bull Sale, Yerington, NV Cranview Gelbvieh Genetic Progress Sale, Rugby, ND
May 2011 May 27-29 AGJA Western Regional, Perry, OK
June 2011 June 1 AGJA Twister Classic Entry Deadline June 1 Ownership Deadline for AGJA Shows June 1-4 Beef Industry Federation (BIF) Conference, Bozeman, MT June 2-5 AGJA Eastern Regional, Maryville, TN
July 2011 July 3-8 AGJA Twister Classic, Kearney, NE 66 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
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Ad Index 2R – 2B Gelbvieh............................... 51 3 G Ranch........................................... 48 ABS Global......................................... 23 Area Coordinators............................. 10 B/F Cattle Company.......................... 49 Bar Arrow Cattle Company....... 17, 49 Bar IV Livestock................................ 49 Bar T Bar Ranch, Inc. ................. 48, 57 Beastrom Gelbvieh Ranch....12, 13, 51 Blackhawk Cattle Company............. 48 Boehler Gelbvieh............................... 50 Bow K Ranch.........................22, 28, 48 Brandywine Farm.............................. 49 Cattlemen’s Connection...................... 3 C-Cross Cattle Company................. 51 Cedar Top Ranch........................... 2, 50 Central Montana Gelbvieh Genetics....43 Chimney Butte Ranch....................... 51 Circle M Gelbvieh............................. 47 Circle S Ranch.............................. 18, 49 CJ&L Livestock............................ 51, 54 Clinch Mountain Gelbvieh............... 52 Cranview Gelbvieh...................... 51, 69 Cunningham, Ronn.......................... 52 CUP Lab............................................. 52 D & W Farms, LLC..................... 45, 49 Danell Diamond Six Ranch........ 21, 50 DDM Gelbvieh................................... 48 Diamond L Farms............................. 51 Dromgoole’s Heaven......................... 52
68 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
Eagle Pass Ranch............................... 19 Ellison Gelbvieh & Angus Ranch.... 51 Flying H Genetics........................ 50, 72 Full Circle Farms............................... 45 Gelbvieh Bull Barn............................ 52 Gelbvieh Guide.................................. 52 Gelbvieh Profit Partners................... 56 Gentle G. Farm.................................. 45 Goettlich Gelbvieh Ranch................ 50 Golden Buckle Gelbvieh................... 51 Green Hills Gelbvieh......................... 51 GS Ridge Top Ranch................... 42, 48 H & H Farms...................................... 52 Handel Farms............................... 25, 51 Hart Farm..................................... 11, 49 Hartland Farm................................... 49 Hill Top Haven Farm........................ 52 Hodges Ranch.................................... 48 Hojer Gelbvieh Ranch................. 39, 51 J & K Farm.................................... 34, 48 J Bar M Gelbvieh......................... 34, 50 Judd Ranch, Inc......................36, 37,49 Jumping Cow Gelbvieh............... 48, 71 Kicking Horse Ranch............21, 50, 60 Kittle Gelbvieh Farms....................... 48 Kleinschmidt Farms Gelbvieh ........ 30 Knoll Crest Farm............................... 52 Lambert, Doak................................... 52 Laura’s Lean, LLC................................ 8 Ledgerwood Gelbvieh....................... 52
LeDoux Ranch................................... 49 Lemke Cattle...................................... 50 Leonhardt Cattle Company.............. 52 Lincoln Gelbvieh............................... 43 Linquist Farms................................... 49 Little Windy Hill Farms.................... 52 Lone Oak Gelbvieh............................ 49 Longleaf Station................................. 51 M&P Gelbvieh................................... 50 Maple Hill Farm................................. 48 Maple Lake Livestock Company..... 51 Markes Family Farms.................. 41, 51 Martin Cattle Company.................... 48 Maternal Edge Sales.......................... 64 McCabe Cattle Co./Two Step Ranch....49 Merial Igenity............................... 14, 15 Middle Creek Farms.............21, 50, 58 Midwest Performance Bull Sale....... 29 Miller Gelbvieh.................................. 48 Minnesota Gelbvieh Association..... 24 MLM Gelbvieh.......................28, 50, 66 MMS........................ 9, 29, 34, 52 70, 71 MTR Cattle Co................................... 21 NN Bar Ranch, Inc............................ 52 NS Ranch............................................ 52 Overmiller Gelbvieh & Red Angus.68 Pearson Cattle Company............ 52, 65 Plateau Gelbvieh....................28, 44, 48 Pope Farms Gelbvieh........................ 50 Post Rock Cattle Company.......... 9, 49
Pritchard Gelbvieh............................ 50 Raile Gelbvieh.............................. 18, 31 Register Farms................................... 51 Rippe Gelbvieh................................... 28 Rogers Valley Farm Gelbvieh....... 5, 50 Rotert/Harriman............................... 49 Sandy Knoll Farm Gelbvieh............. 42 Sawtooth Gelbvieh Cattle & Hay..... 50 Schafer Farms, Inc....................... 49, 59 Schroeder Ranch......................... 52, 62 Seedstock Plus Genetics................... 40 Seedstock Plus.................................... 61 SEGA Gelbvieh.................................. 55 Spring Valley, Ltd............................... 63 Springhaven Farm............................. 45 Stateline Genetics.............................. 67 Swanson Cattle Company.......... 18, 50 Taubenheim Gelbvieh....................... 50 The 88 Ranch...................................... 50 Thorstenson Gelbvieh................. 35, 52 Treble W Ranch................................. 52 Triple K Gelbvieh............................... 49 Triple Play Bull Sale........................... 27 Warner Beef Genetics....................... 70 Wells Marketing................................. 67 White Brothers................................... 49 Wildwood Acres Gelbvieh............... 51 Wilkinson Gelbvieh.......................... 48
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Tuesday, March 1, 2011 • 1:00 pm ( cst ) At the Ranch, Arapahoe, NE
Selling 140 lots
85 Gelbvieh & Balancer® Bulls 25 Gelbvieh & Balancer® Females 30 Commercial Bred Heifers
HYEK BLACK IMPACT Homozygous Black, Homozygous Polled PB Gelbvieh Sons and daughters sell.
First Breeding Season Guarantee 50% of bulls selling are Homozygous Black
CTR GOOD NIGHT 715T Homozygous Black, Homozygous Polled 50% Balancer® Sons and daughters sell. DLW WICHITA 12W 2010 high-selling Balancer® bull
DLW RED POWER 583U 50% Balancer® Sons and daughters sell.
DLW WINDSOR 36W 2010 high-selling purebred Gelbvieh bull
Better BULLS Better BUY
CattleDesign®
at a Bulls • Registered Females • Commercial Females
www.mms.bz
SALE MANAGEMENT BY: Mitchell Marketing Service
WARNER BEEF GENETICS Dan and Kate Warner 42198 Road 721, Arapahoe, NE 68922
Chris Mitchell 334-695-1371 Randy Sienknecht 319-290-3763 2262 C Avenue • Gladbrook, IA 50635
Dan: 308.962.6511 Monte: 308.268.6020 Darren: 308.268.2031
70 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
BULL & COMMERCIAL FEMALE SALE Saturday, APRIL 2, 2011 • 1:00 pm (mSt) BTI MS PERRI B 2010R
High Plains Livestock Exchange Brush, Colorado
25% GV BALANCER® DONOR SIRE: New Design 878 DAM: Ms Perri B 2166N
75 GELBVIEH, BALANCER® & HEREFORD BULLS SELL Black and Red Bulls, including homo black and homo polled
Selling three sons, full brothers to Cobalt 159U.
50 COMMERCIAL FEMALES SELL Commercial Gelbvieh Influenced Females
RID R COLLATERAL 2R JCGR BAR GT COBALT 159U LJSA PRETTY WOMAN 915J
PUREBRED GELBVIEH BULL SIRE: JCGR Bar GT Flashback 410M ET DAM: JCGR Bar GT Loni 27N ET 63% GV BALANCER® BULL SIRE: RID R Collateral 2R DAM: Ms Perri B 2010R PUREBRED GELBVIEH DONOR SIRE: TJB Shiloh 170G ET DAM: LJSA Paulette 503E
Selling many red and black sons.
Selling three full brothers.
JCGR BAR GT GRAVITAS 158S ET
Selling sons sired by RID R Collateral 2R.
PUREBRED GELBVIEH BULL SIRE: JCGR Bar GT Louie 2J DAM: JCGR Bar GT Ima Lady 437H ET Selling many red and black sons.
CATTLE THAT MEET THE CHALLENGE
•
All bulls sell with an unconditional first breeding season guarantee
•
All bulls sell DNA Igenity® tested with results listed in sale book
• •
All bulls tested negative for BVD/PI3 All bulls have passed a complete breeding soundness exam
OFFERING INCLUDES SONS OF THESE FEATURED JUMPING COW HERD SIRES AND DAMS.
www.jumpingcowgelbvieh.com Ramah, Colorado
SALE MANAGEMENT BY: Mitchell Marketing Service
Grant Thayer, Owner
303-621-2058 E-mail: grant@jumpingcowgelbvieh.com
Brad Ridinger, Manager
G E L B V I E H
Office: 719-764-2327 • Cell: 303-810-0582 E-mail: brad@jumpingcowgelbvieh.com
www.mms.bz
Chris Mitchell 334-695-1371 Randy Sienknecht 319-290-3763 2262 C Avenue • Gladbrook, IA 50635
The Profitpicture | 71
C o m e & S e e w h at a l l t h e BUZZ is about! 260+ Bulls
Roughage N Ready To r Book equest Sa Nebraska Sale – March 5 in Arapahoe TEXT and DVD le , or E mail Call, FH G! Grown On Grass Missouri Sale – March 19 at the Joplin Stockyards
Gelbvieh – Balancer – Angus – Simangus – Simmental Yearling Registered And Commercial Open Heifers For Sale At The Nebraska Sale.
FLYING H GENETICS Nebraska Headquarters
Dick & Bonnie Helms Ph: 308/493-5411 flyingh@atcjet.net
Kyle & Kayla Helms Ph: 308/962-6940 (C) 308/493-5322 (H)
Missouri Regional Affiliate
Jared & Jill Wareham
www.flyinghgenetics.com 72 | February 2011 | www.gelbvieh.org
Ph: 417/309-0062 jwareham@hughes.net