PROFIT PICTURE SEPTEMBER 2022 Official publication of the American Gelbvieh Association THE
Maternal ANNUAL BULL SALE XI November 5, 2022 in Chickamauga, GA Selling 60+ Registered Gelbvieh & Balancer® Bulls with more than 50% being products of our proven embryo transfer program. TODD, ALISA, & KATELYN BICKETT, BO & KELSIE WILSON Chickamauga, GA (423) 667-3799 Cody Maddox, Cattle Manager (423) 802-8347 Rusty Hays, Farm Manager (423) 802-5972 tjbgelbvieh.com CALL OR VISIT WEBSITE TO REQUEST CATALOG hosted at the farm & online bidding Magicavailable
Visit our web site: www.juddranch.com Judd Ranch Inc. Dave & Cindy Judd Nick, Ginger Judd & Family Brent, Ashley Judd & Family 423 Hwy. K-68 • Pomona, KS 66076 785/ 566-8371 or 785/241-0676 32nd Annual Judd Ranch Gelbvieh, Balancer® & Red Angus 162 Homozygous Polled Females Sell Cow Power Female Sale One hour SW of Kansas City • Free Trucking in U.S. on Purchases of $20,000+ There are cows; then there are females like this beautiful Judd Ranch first calf heifer with her powerhouse bull calf. The difference: fertility, maternal ability, performance, eye appeal, teat and udder structure. The list goes on and on, including Judd Ranch being honored 21 of the past 24 years (1998-2021) as the breeds #1 Dam of Merit/Dam of Distinction breeder and owner. Plus cows that produced 267 bulls that sold in our March bull sale, with an 82 lb. average birth weight/861 lb. actual weaning weight off dams! Please join us on Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Ranch when 175–plus Judd Ranch (spring & fall/bred & open) females will be sold at auction. A vast majority of the offering will be homozygous polled and every female is Judd Ranch born and raised. Call Cattlemen’s Connection Toll-Free 1-800-743-0026 for your sale catalog. Catalog online at www.juddranch.com “The Complete Package” • Calving Ease • Growth • Carcass • Fertility Saturday, October 8 • 12:00 noon • Pomona, Kansas
2 | SEPTEMBER 2022 CONTENTS EDITORIALFEATURES27.36.40.42.45.04.09.07.14.19. A SUSTAINABLE PATH FORWARD FOR THE BEEF VALUE CHAIN AGF STEER CHALLENGE, SCALE & RAIL CONTEST REBOOTED GETTING THE JOB DONE WITH GELBVIEH AND BALANCER ® INFORMATION OVERLOAD USING DRONES TO MANAGE PASTURE IMPROVED HERD FERTILITY IS IN THE DETAILS MAXIMIZING PROFITS UNDER DROUGHT CONDITIONS, HIGHER INPUT COSTS, AND NATIONAL HERD LIQUIDATION GELBVIEH CATTLE ADAPT TO EXTREME CONDITIONS OVER THE FENCE WITH RUSS & ANNETTE BLOOM CHOOSING THE RIGHT SELECTION TOOLS BASED ON YOUR OPERATIONS GOALS by Laura Handke by Kylene Scott, first published in the July 8 issue of High Plains Journal From the Corner Office by Megan Slater, AGA Executive Director Junior Connection by Preston Dunn, AGJA Treasurer Russ and Annette Bloom share their Gelbvieh & Balancer® story Feature sponsored by Agri Spray Drones by Laura Handke by Elliott Dennis, Livestock Marketing and Risk Management Economist View from the Board by Klint Sickler, AGA President Data Bulletin
THE PROFIT PICTURE | 3 NEWS 303.465.23331001 S. 70th St., Ste. 215, Lincoln, NE 68510 www.gelbvieh.org info@gelbvieh.org American Gelbvieh Association @americangelbvieh GREGG HARTMAN PUEBLO, COLO. • 719.948.4415 grhartman@hotmail.com JEFF LOVELESS SPANISH FORK, UTAH • 801.623.8308 olranch@aol.com DAN M C CARTY RIFLE, COLO. • 970.481.5217 mccartycattle@hotmail.com WILLIAM M C INTOSH GEORGETOWN, KY. • 502.867.3132 wammb@aol.com TOM VEHIGE BILLINGS, MO. • 417.772.2002 tbarscattle@gmail.com DUSTIN AHERIN JEFFERSON, S.D. • 785.302.1252 dgaherin@gmail.com TODD BICKETT, DVM CHICKAMAUGA, GA. • 423.667.3799 todd@bickettgenetics.com ZACK BUTLER MILTON, TENN. • 615.308.8628 butlercreek1952@aol.com LELAND CLARK BARNARD, KAN. • 785.792.6244 prcc@twinvalley.net MARK COVINGTON MONTROSE, COLO. • 970.209.1956 covinginc@hotmail.com GARY FELGER LOHMAN, MO. • 573.782.3737 garyfelger@hotmail.com DIRECTORS MEGAN SLATER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR megans@gelbvieh.org TOM STRAHM COMMERCIAL MARKETING DIRECTOR tom@gelbvieh.org JAKE RENNER, M.S. MEMBER & YOUTHCOORDINATORACTIVITIES jake@gelbvieh.org MARGO MCKENDREE OFFICE OPERATIONS COORDINATOR margo@gelbvieh.org MALERIE STRAHM MULTIMEDIA COORDINATOR malerie@gelbvieh.org MEG VANDERBUR DATA SERVICES COORDINATOR meganv@gelbvieh.org LAURA HANDKE EDITORIAL CONTRACTOR laura@gelbvieh.org ASSOCIATIONDEREKSTAFFMARTIN, TREASURER BUCKLIN, KAN. • 620.397.6752 dmartin@kinsleyfeeders.com JOHN CARREL, SECRETARY COLUMBUS, MONT. • 406.322.5991 lauriecarrel@live.com KLINT SICKLER, PRESIDENT GLADSTONE, N.D. • 701.483.5250 klintsickler@hotmail.com LORI MAUDE, VICE PRESIDENT HERMOSA, S.D. • 303.809.3789 lori.maude@gmail.com EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REQUEST YOUR FREE SUBSCRIPTION Sign up to receive your free subscription to The Profit Picture by subscribing online or completing this form and mailing to American Gelbvieh Association, Attn: Profit Picture, 1001 S. 70 th St., Suite 215, Lincoln, NE 68510. Comments and feedback welcome to info@gelbvieh.org or 303-465-2333. CITY,ADDRESS:NAME:STATE, ZIP: Subscribe online at www.gelbvieh.org/news/publications/profit-picture/ EDITOR LAURA HANDKE GRAPHIC DESIGN MALERIE STRAHM The Profit Picture is the commercially-focused publication published in February and September by the American Gelbvieh Association focused on issues relevant to the commercial producer. POSTMASTER send address changes to: Profit Picture, 1001 S. 70th St., Suite 215, Lincoln, Nebraska 68510. COVER PHOTO BY AUDREY POWLES 48.35.10.31.24. MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR GELBVIEH AND BALANCER GENETIC TRENDS FAST FACTS BIF SELECTS NEW BOARD, OFFICERS WHAT IS BQA AND WHY DOES IT MATTER? UPCOMING EVENTS
FROM THE CORNER OFFICE BY MEGAN SLATER
Gelbvieh and Balancer cattle are also backed by an Association well versed in commercial beef industry experience.
By this time of year, summer is winding down and many producers are starting to see the fruits of their labor through weaning calves and preg checking females. Everyone hopes to see their calves top the scales and, at the same time, they would like each of their breeding age females to be pregnant with a calf. This time of year can bring the production cycle together for producers because it is a time for them to see the rewards of their mating decisions. After months of waiting, from breeding season to a weaned calf, producers are offered an idea of how well the genetics they have chosen, almost a year and half ago, are working in their operation. Weaning is one of the biggest events that takes place on a ranch and is the time to see the result of a year’s hard work. The ultimate goal of nearly every cattle operation is to have every cow wean off a heavy calf. Several factors can play into a cow producing a live calf that ultimately reaches average or above weaning weights. Aside from nutrition, two influential factors affecting performance of both the calf and the female are genetics and crossbreeding. Gelbvieh and Balancer® have a reputation for growth and heavy weaning weights. This combined with the excellent mothering ability that Gelbvieh is well known for makes the Gelbvieh cow the ultimate female to have in the herd. Additionally, this can be further increased when they are put into a crossbreeding scenario and the effects of heterosis are seen. Not only can crossbreeding increase growth and performance of the animals, which is known as individual heterosis, but it also has a positive impact on females all throughout their life through maternal heterosis. Crossbred females reach puberty at a younger age, exhibit an increased calving rate, contribute to an increase in calf survival through weaning, and provide an improvement in longevity. Combined, these advantages lead a female to produce more pounds of calf in her lifetime. Now add maternal heterosis to the Gelbvieh breed’s maternal efficiency—that’s a winning Weaningcombination.timeisreally the time to evaluate the females within the herd. Are females producing a heavy enough calf, and are they getting bred in time to do it again next year? In addition, does she have what it takes to stay in the herd long enough to earn her keep? On the average operation, a female starts to pay for herself after six years of age, so having females that stay productive in the herd and are producing good enough calves is essential. Gelbvieh and Balancer females excel in stayability and Inlongevity.addition to what Gelbvieh and Balancer can add on the ranch, the benefits of using Gelbvieh and Balancer genetics can also be seen in the feedlot and on the rail. These cattle are adding the pounds, making the grade, and delivering the value. The efficiency and growth that is seen on the ranch can also be seen in the feedyard with cattle that gain efficiently and convert feed well. In addition, several producers have seen their Gelbvieh and Balancer-influenced cattle grade 85 percent Choice or better with 90 percent Yield Grades 1, 2, and 3s. Today’s industry demands animals that grade Choice or higher, while posting a Yield grade 1 or 2 carcass. A combination of marbling and lean meat yield is often not an easy target to hit, using Gelbvieh and Balancer can help get Fromthere.their maternal superiority on the ranch to the growth and performance on the rail, Gelbvieh and Balancer cattle are meeting modern industry demands all throughout the beef supply chain.
The American Gelbvieh Association is committed to the success of the commercial producer and offers tools and services such as the Balancer® Edge age and source verification program and Feeder Finder to help producers market their calves. For questions about these and other programs or for assistance, contact the AGA office at 303-465-2333.
GETTING THE JOB DONE WITH GELBVIEH AND BALANCER ®
4 | SEPTEMBER 2022 FEATURE | EDITORIAL | NEWS
Megan Slater is executive director of the American Gelbvieh Association and has served in that role since 2019. Megan is responsible for overseeing the AGA office and works closely with the board of directors to successfully guide the association into the future. She is originally from Colorado and a graduate of Colorado State University, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in animal science and minor in business administration.
THE PROFIT PICTURE | 5 FEATURE | EDITORIAL | NEWS LAZY TV RANCH LA Z Y TV Se l b y, SD THORSTENSON’S42NDANNUAL One of the largest BALANCER BULL offerings in the nation Feed-EFFICIENCY Tested Bulls are VolumeGUARANTEEDUNCONDITIONALLYthroughfirstbreedingseasonDISCOUNTS&FreeDelivery AT THE RANCH SELBY, SD SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2023 BALANCERBULLS.COM | VWTHOR@VENTURECOMM.NET VAUGHN 605.848.0421 RANCH 605.642.6262 GINA 605.850.9390 BRIAN 605.230.0591 SELLING 250 HEAD | BALANCER (RED & BLACK), ANGUS & SIMANGUS BULLS BALANCER (RED & BLACK ) & SIMANGUS OPEN HEIFERS PRODUCTION S A L E 12980 Cedar Rd, Selby, SD 57472 MATERNAL TRAITS MATTER Lazy TV Ranch ranked first in the Gelbvieh breed last year for elite dams! Our herd listed 20% of our dams as Dams of Merit/Distinction compared to a 5.6% average across the entire breed. • Rigid culling for DISPOSITION, UDDER QUALITY & STRUCTURE • Fertility - 60-day breeding period with NO second chances
GELBVIEH & BALANCER Production Sale Maternal Excellence Breed Leading Traits Docile Disposition More Pounds, More Profit Performance Tested Ultrasound Data Breeding Soundness Tested Herd Health Program What to expect from genetics from Hojer Ranch: Alan & Pam | Blake & Jenn 43968 208th Street, Lake Preston, SD 57249 Ranch: 605-860-1326 Blake cell: 605-860-0139 UNABLE TO ATTEND? WATCH AND BID ON DVAUCTIONhojer@hojerranch.comwww.HojerRanch.comFindusonFacebook PERFORMANCE GENETICS FOR YOUR TOMORROW at the Ranch, west of Lake Preston 43968 208th Street • Lake Preston, SD DITKA ASTROCIVAL WAR CHIEF JUSTICE GREAT DIVIDE MONDAY, MARCH 6, 2023 at 1:00 PM 31st Annual
THE PROFIT PICTURE | 7 FEATURE | EDITORIAL | NEWS
Klint Sickler is the 2022 AGA president. Klint resides in Gladstone, North Dakota, where he and his wife, Maralee, carry on the 74 year legacy of Prairie Hills Gelbvieh. As president, Klint works with the executive director and additional directors to lead the association. Klint is currently in his sixth consecutive year on the board of directors, having previously served as secretary and vice president before his current term as president.
GELBVIEH CATTLE ADAPT TO EXTREME CONDITIONS
t’s hard to believe that fall is nearly here. Hopefully everyone had a chance to take a little time away from the ranch this summer. Whether it’s a short vacation with the family, or even a day trip for parts, it’s good to get away and clear your head at times. The weather has given us all plenty to worry about lately, as it seems to constantly be in a roller coaster of extremes. Hopefully it’ll start to average out soon so everyone can get back to “normal”. The weather is always an interesting topic of conversation when you live in North Dakota. We are the poster child for ‘extremes’. It’s a little-known fact, but quite a few manufacturing companies have their testing sites in North Dakota. Shortly after I graduated from college, I worked for a company that does all of the testing on the new experimental Bobcat skid loaders. They said that they had chosen North Dakota since it was one of the only places you could test in an environment with extreme cold and extreme heat within 6 months of each other; understandable, when there is a 150-degree swing from high to low, and when you add in the wind, dust storms, hail, blizzards, tornados…. well, you get the idea…there’s no shortage of What’sextremes.interesting to me is that we have national manufacturers who come here to test in these extremes, yet we ranch and run our cows here and don’t give it a second thought. When you look at the breed, a Gelbvieh cow is able to run in a number of environments and successfully raise a calf and breed back up in the calving interval. From fescue country, to high elevations in the Rocky Mountains and everywhere in between – you’ll find Gelbviehinfluenced females bringing in those sale topping calves for ranchers across the country. Our operation has shipped cattle through most of the United States, Canada, and into Australia, and one of the things that has always amazed me is the adaptability of the Gelbvieh animal to their environment. Not only can they adapt and excel in different climates and grass types, they are able to do it while nursing a calf, rebreeding, maintaining their body condition, calving inside the interval, and doing it all over again for years on end. I think we can all agree that’s an impressive feat, and not something that every breed can hang their hat on. I’d like to welcome all our friends who are receiving their first issue of The Profit Picture. Please take some time to read through the articles and stories. I’m sure you will find something that piques your interest. Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and call on any of the advertisers and supporters in this magazine. No one is better equipped to tell the Gelbvieh story and share the merits of the breed than those who have them in their pastures!
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VIEW FROM THE BOARD BY KLINT SICKLER
8 | SEPTEMBER 2022 NEBRASKA & SOUTH DAKOTA BREEDERS MLM Gelbvieh Marlin Meyer 824 Road 3000 Superior, NE 68978 www.gelbviehbulls.commlm68978@yahoo.com402-879-4976 Rippe Gelbvieh Duane & Brenda, Dustin & Karla Rippe 6775 ROAD D • HUBBELL, NE 68375 (H) 402-324-4176 Duane (C): 402-200-0096 Dustin (C): dustin.rippe@yahoo.com316-323-4874www.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.” R 100 YEARLING BULLS SELL! Gelbvieh & Gelbvieh/Angus Balancer® FEB. 24, 2023 • MONTROSE, CO • 12:00 NOON www.gelbviehbulls.net or call Mark at 970.209.1956 • Dave at 970.323.6833 100Bulls 32ndAnnual FEMALES AVAILABLE ARKANSAS & IOWA BREEDERS Jim Peetz,38330RoelleCR49CO80747 (C): www.plateaugelbvieh.comjr.plateau@hotmail.com970-520-1224 Featuring Black, Polled Gelbvieh & Balancer® genetics with balanced trait selection. Next Bull Sale February 23, 2023. Livestock Exchange, LLC., Brush, CO. Patrick McCarty 665 Battlement Creek Trail Parachute, CO 81635 (970) 210-6093 Heather Scott (775) 790-3456 Brandon Scott (970) 589-5483 Grand Gelbvieh/BalancerValley Bulls Sell in “Pot of Gold” MartinCompanyCattle David & Rita Martin 256 Boyce Road Judsonia, AR 72081 C: www.martincattleco.com501.278.7614 Private Treaty Sales Available Year Round COLORADO BREEDERS Gelbvieh-Angus-Balancer BLACK & POLLED PRIVATE TREATY SALES Breed-leading Performance from Quality Genetics Kevin Gunderson: Al Schulz: 402-510-8103 402-676-5292 Neola, Iowa Martens Gelbvieh Gary Martens 2126 500th St • Walnut, IA 51577 712.764.5007 (H) • 712.249.5744 (C) martensgl@yahoo.com Annual Bull and Female Sale March 17, 2023 with the Southwest Iowa Gelbvieh Group SwenSon Gelbvieh Polled • Purebred Red • Black Dean & Mary Swenson 17513 Hwy 10 Little Falls, MN swen@centurylink.net56345 (h) 320.632.5848 • (c) 320.630-5536 MINNESOTA & MONTANA BREEDERS Quality livestock that Work for you 50 Goose Creek Rd. • Raynesford, MT 59469 Ranch Phone: 406.738.4220 • BarJRGelbvieh.comBarJRGelbvieh@3rivers.net Gelbvieh CarCass Quality • Calving EasE • tEndErnEss • doCility Quarter Horses Want to Please • Strong Bone • Intelligent • Athletic Performance + Safety = Profit from Pasture to Plate “Gelbvieh since 1973” Kathleen Rankin Jim Bjorkman 1285 Nine Mile Rd. 406-937-4815 Oilmont, MT 59466 krankin@northerntel.net 406-460-0535 www.kickinghorseranch.com KathlEEn ranKin 406-937-4815 1285 ninE MilE rd. • oilMont, Mt 59466 www.kickinghorseranch.comkrankin@northerntel.net Performance cattle for the real world. Annual Production Sale March 16, 2023ROUNDUPSTATE
I also use the Drovers mobile app on my phone. I use this for general knowledge. I sort through articles and find something that I might enjoy reading or something that I could relate to. It has anything from information about calving, imports, grazing information, environmental news, and much more. While not everything I read is something that I can use in my own operation, it definitely expands my knowledge of the beef industry. It strengthens my ability to have a conversation with someone in the beef industry. If you are a junior member and are able to understand markets, imports, exports, and daily events, it’s going to set you ahead tremendously. Not only will you be a sharp junior that is competitive in skill-a-thon at junior nationals, but you will also be a well-rounded junior that can talk to adults knowledgeably about the beef industry no matter how little or much they know themselves.
n an era of many new and existing technologies, we find ourselves having so much information but not knowing what to do with it, and I’m not just talking about technologies used in DNA testing. Basic everyday information is at our fingertips ready to be used.
As a junior member with my own small herd, I am constantly finding ways to educate myself to try to better my herd and my knowledge of the beef industry. While I have learned many things about the beef industry through many different outlets including classes, seminars, everyday operations, my family, and others in the beef industry, sometimes I look in other directions for daily beef industry news. I enjoy reading market reports, exports and imports, US beef events, and information from studies, but if you are like me, you find yourself not having much time to read at the end of the day. So, when I do have time, I want to make sure that what I’m reading is meaningful – something that I will learn from.
“ I encourage kids to get out of their comfort zones and try something new. Whether its AGJA, 4-H, FFA or something completely different. You never know what kinds of opportunities await you. Take a chance; serve on a board, take an office, and build a professional network. The experiences you will have will guide you in the direction of your career. It is never too early to try something new.”
One of my favorite ways to tune into the beef industry is through National Beef Wire. It’s a daily email I get that tells me anything from daily beef markets, articles about beef news that ranges from import information to daily cowcalf information. It mentions imports from Brazil and exports to Japan; it talks about the highest prices paid on feeder strings. It also sometimes explains the correlation between corn prices and feeder prices. If corn goes down and feeder prices shoot up, they normally publish an article.
In conclusion, I encourage junior members to find ways to educate themselves on the beef industry. The more knowledge you can carry with yourself, the better it’s going to benefit you in the long run. Something you learn may be a tool that can benefit your operation, and if not, at least you will understand why it works for someone else. Who knows, what you learn may help you answer a quiz bowl question at junior nationals!
I also use Cattle Market Mobile to look at weekly auction reports. I am in the business of selling bulls, replacement females, and fat cattle on the grid, while keeping my top end of females back, we still market some cull cows through the sale barn. Right now, we are in a drought, and we have some older cows to sell after we wean. Many others are in the same boat, running out of grass and feed is getting expensive. I look at Cattle Market Mobile to read USDA reports. It shows the number of cattle sold, average price paid, and how that compares to the previous week, and even the previous year. Last year the grass was good and green in late July. This year it’s running out and our local sale barn sold 1,200 more head than the previous year.
JUNIOR CONNECTION BY PRESTON DUNN, AGJA TREASURER
INFORMATION OVERLOAD
THE PROFIT PICTURE | 9 FEATURE | EDITORIAL | NEWS
I
WHAT IS A BALANCER ® ?
Balancer cattle are registered hybrid seedstock that have documented pedigrees and expected progeny differences (EPDs). The American Gelbvieh Association was the first beef cattle breed to recognize and include a hybrid animal as registered stock. Balancer animals are 25 to 75 percent Gelbvieh with the balance of Angus or Red Angus. Balancer cattle combine the Gelbvieh growth, muscle, leanness, fertility, longevity and low yield grading ability with the carcass qualities of Angus. Balancer cattle offer a simple and powerful way to maintain hybrid vigor and a profitable blend of British and Continental genetics without a complicated crossbreeding system. These cattle fit well into all aspects of the beef industry including commercial cowcalf operations and on the rail.
10 | SEPTEMBER 2022 WHO WE ARE The American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) is a beef cattle breed association dedicated to recording, promoting, and improving Gelbvieh-influenced cattle.
THE STRENGTHS OF GELBVIEH
The AGA was started in 1971 and now consists of approximately 1,100 members with a registry database that contains over 1 million animals including approximately 40,000 currently active Gelbvieh, Balancer®, and Gelbvieh-influenced cows.
The Gelbvieh breed is well known throughout the industry for their maternal strengths and superior growth. With these attributes, Gelbvieh and Balancer® cattle fit well into a crossbreeding system and provide genetics that work for the commercial cattle business. The high costs associated with the development or purchase of replacement females make sustained production in a herd essential. Gelbvieh females are proven to stay in the herd longer.
MEGAN SLATER Executive megans@gelbvieh.orgDirector TOM STRAHM Commercial Marketing tom@gelbvieh.orgDirector MEG VANDERBUR Data Services meganv@gelbvieh.orgCoordinatorAGA STAFF FACTSFAST
LOOKING TO BUY BULLS THIS FALL?
If you’re a producer looking to purchase new genetics for your herd this fall, use Gelbvieh.org as your go-to resource for Gelbvieh and Balancer sale information.
HOW DO GELBVIEH AND BALANCER ®
The upcoming events calendar can be found under the Marketing tab on the website homepage. Also, don’t forget to check out the sale catalog page under the Marketing tab on the AGA website to view upcoming sale catalogs posted by AGA members.
Maternal heterosis leads to the combined improvement in traits from the dam that cause increases in the performance of her and of her progeny. Examples of maternal heterosis in a beef cow include younger age at puberty, increased calving rate, increased survival of her calf to weaning; longevity and pounds of calf produced in her lifetime.
MATERNAL HETEROSIS
It’s all in the heterosis, or hybrid vigor, described as the increase in performance of the crossbred animal compared to the average of the straight-bred parents. Heterosis impacts traits with low heritability, e.g., reproduction. Producers with crossbred cows can see a higher percentage of their cowherd breed back on the first cycle due to maternal heterosis.
INDIVIDUAL HETEROSIS
MALERIE STRAHM Multimedia malerie@gelbvieh.orgCoordinator JAKE RENNER Member & Youth Activities jake@gelbvieh.orgCoordinator LAURA HANDKE Editorial laura@gelbvieh.orgContractor MARGO MCKENDREE Office Operations margo@gelbvieh.orgCoordinator FACTSFAST
CROSSBRED FEMALES PERFORM BETTER?
THE PROFIT PICTURE | 11
Individual heterosis is the improvement in Individual heterosis is the improvement in performance by the individual crossbred animal above the average of its parents. Increased calf livability, weaning weight, yearling weight and carcass traits are examples of individual heterosis in crossbred calves.
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Gelbvieh Association in ONLINE SALE, CHECK FACEBOOK PAGE FOR DETAILS Nebraska FUTURITY WILL BE HELD AT NEBRASKA STATE FAIR 4th SelectAnnualSale
BY TOM STRAHM OVER THE FENCE WITH RUSS & ANNETTE BLOOM
Annette was raised here on her family’s operation, while Russ grew up working on farms and ranches in the area. Russ and Annette have a total of six children and enjoy their 12 grandchildren. Both Russ and Annette consider their family to be very patriotic as their four grown sons have all served in various branches of the armed forces. Adam was in the U.S. Army and served one tour in Afghanistan; he was awarded the Purple Heart. Ryan was in the U.S. Army Reserve, and Tony has spent four years in the U.S. Army and 16 years in the Alabama National Guard.
Q: HOW DID YOU GET STARTED, AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN USING GELBVIEH AND BALANCER ® GENETICS?
Q: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE STRENGTHS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE BREED?
A: We really like keeping our replacement females back to put in the herd. The cows don’t get so big, and they are more moderate framed so that helps save on feed. They mother their calves very well, and milk well, raising a big calf. I like a 1,250-pound cow raising a 650-pound calf! Docility is great and having a good disposition is very important to us with family and kids around. The fertility is exceptional! They breed up good in a shorter breeding season, and have excellent conception rates. The cows have a lot of longevity, and it’s not unusual for us to have cows in the herd that are 13 or 14 years old.
A: Our primary objective is to breed a better cow. We want to raise high quality replacement females. Performance and carcass traits are important because we sell steer calves, but we have really begun to focus more on the females over the last few years. We really look at the maternal traits including fertility, docility, longevity, and milking ability.
“This is our son Jamie’s 2006 graduation photo. He was living in a nursing home at the time this family picture was taken. We lost him in 2017 due to complications of his disability. That photo represents the way we remember him.”
In January, we select our replacements for breeding based on phenotype and herd records. We sell anything we’re not keeping for replacements. At the time, we also collect tissue samples for DNA testing on any heifers we have selected for replacements. Genomics are another tool to help us select heifers that have higher genetic potential for fertility and longevity. We are trying to select
A: We moved back here in 1998 to help Annette’s parents. She is the thirdgeneration living on her family’s place. We worked with her parents, and then we bought into the operation in 2004 and have continued to grow from there. We have been using Gelbvieh and Balancer® bulls for over 20 years. Years ago, I was reading an article about how the Gelbvieh breed was established which really piqued my interest. I have a strong German heritage, and that’s part of the reason I was drawn to the Gelbvieh breed. Eventually, we started buying Balancer bulls, and that has been working really well for us.
THE PROFIT PICTURE | 15 FEATURE | EDITORIAL | NEWS
Russ and Annette Bloom own and operate a diversified family operation near Scotia, Nebraska. They have several enterprises including a cow-calf operation, raising hay and row crops consisting of corn and soybeans. In addition, Russ is a Fontanelle seed dealer, and Annette keeps everybody going in the right direction. Russ says, “Beside every good man, there is a great woman.”
Daughter Natasha bought her first cows as an FFA project and she’s continued to grow her herd from there. She’s married to Morgan Miller, and they ranch in western Nebraska as a fifth-generation ranching family.
He served two tours in Iraq, and is currently deployed to Kuwait. Their youngest son Tye was in the U.S. Marine Corps and served one tour in Afghanistan. He was also awarded the Purple Heart. The sons are all married with their own families, but they all manage to find time to come home to help during busy times.
Q: WHAT’S THE FOCUS OF YOUR PROGRAM, AND WHAT TRAITS ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU?
THE PROFIT PICTURE | 17 FEATURE | EDITORIAL | NEWS for long term reproductive success. We don’t want to keep heifers that might have low scores for traits that are important to us. We’ll also use the results from DNA testing to determine how the heifers are bred. Some will be bred to more maternal bulls, or some might be bred to more terminal bulls, depending on genetic strengths and weaknesses.
Q: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE GOALS FOR YOUR FAMILY AND OPERATION GOING FORWARD?
A: We really believe in good nutrition and a good mineral program for our herd. It really helps improve performance in our calves, and increases conception rates in our cows. We vaccinate the calves at branding time, and go to summer grass. Our cows are scattered out in the summer, so we have been bringing the all the cows home, and then we’ll give preconditioning shots to the calves about two weeks before weaning. The steers will be weaned 45-60 days, and we’ll sell them at Huss Livestock in Kearney, Nebraska, usually between Christmas and the New WeYear.keep all the heifers until we have selected our replacements in January. We use ultrasound to pregnancy check our bred heifers in August. We might breed 60 heifers and then keep 50% for us, and sell the remaining bred heifers.
A: Of course, we want to keep improving our cow herd and improving our farming practices, Annette says, but it’s more about having a strong faith, keeping good family values, and a strong work ethic. You can’t have a family farm without the family.
Note: Russ Bloom was part of the February 2022 episode of The American Rancher.
Pictured above: back row (left to right) includes Adam, Ryan, Tony, Tye and Russ. Natasha and Annette are in the front row.
Q: HOW DO YOU MANAGE AND MARKET YOUR CALVES?
Each year every sound six year old female sells including featured donors and top production cows like this female from the 2021 production sale.
Sired by Young Gun, who sired by the high individual and champion pen of three steers in the 2021 AGF Scale and Rail contest. Young Gun has had large and highly sought after sire groups for several years and his daughters are some of our very best young cows.
Post Rock steers averaged 87% choice, 4.31 averaged daily gain, 15.65 Ribeye area, and 2.8 yield grade with a 461 marbling score.
Thought for the month: “Don’t look back, you’re not going that way.”
The majority of the bulls that sell are Homo Black and Homo Polled Balancers and are backed by many generations of calving ease, performance, carcass merit, and maternal strength. This Game Changer son from the 2021 sale has the extra rib shape, muscle, and fleshing ability plus elite EPD profile that we have demanded for many generations.
Purebred bulls with few equals annually make up approximately 25% of the bull offering, like this stud from our 2022 sale. Most of our purebred bulls are A.I. sired or ET produced and offer some of the elite genetics in the breed in volume, most of which are Homo Black and Homo Polled. A Post Rock bred and raised member of this year’s American Gelbvieh Foundation Scale and Rail Contest.
BULL & FEMALE SALE 50% Balancer Cow Homo Black, Homo Polled 58% Balancer Bull Homo Black, Homo Polled 37% Balancer Bull Homo Black, Homo Polled 81.25% PUREBRED BULL Homo Black, Homo Polled 3041 E Hwy 284, Barnard, KS | Office: 785-792-6244 Fax: 785-792-6250 Leland: 785-392-0888 | Kyle: 785-531-1947 | Will: 316-737-9812 | Email: prcc@twinvalley.net FEEDLOT STEER “Where calving ease, performance and eye appeal come together” POST ROCK CATTLE CO. SALE FEATURES FEBRUARY 25, 2023 12:30pm (cst) POST ROCK SALECOMPANYCATTLEFACILITY Barnard, Kansas • All bulls have genomic enhanced EPD’s and are sire verified and tested for Homo Black and Homo Polled. • All bulls have complete ultrasound data and complete performance data • 95% of all bulls are Homo Polled and 80% are Homo Black as well • All bulls developed in large open lots on a high roughage ration • Video of entire offering available online after February 1 • First breeding season death and injury guarantee • Customer Service and Customer Satis faction have kept us in the seed stock business for more than 55 years • Every sound 6 year old female sells as our annual dispersal to assure you of 1st chance at our best genetics • 98.3% five year pregnancy rate in our spring cow herd in an 85 day breeding period.
COWMAN’S KIND
THE
This is where use of a selection index may be useful. Selection indexes, in general, are used to simplify genetic selection decisions by incorporating multiple traits into one number, allowing for simultaneous change in those traits through the use of one easily interpreted number reported in dollars. Typically, these indexes take into account the outputs considered on the revenue side of the profit equation, but they also consider the input, or expense, side associated with the production phase of interest. Indexes incorporate both genetic components (EPDs) and economic terms relevant to feedlot performance, carcass merit, and cowcalf However,production.before using any selection index in your breeding decisions, it’s really important to understand the traits underlying the index. If the trait EPDs used in the computation of the index are not those that are important for the production goals and needs of your ranch, using them as a selection tool may not yield the desired result.
Withcowherd.the American Gelbvieh Association’s (AGA) participation with other world-wide beef breeds in International Genetic Solution’s genetic evaluation, it has never been easier to select Gelbvieh genetics to meet the needs of your operation. In fact, looking at a catalog on sale day or perusing a semen catalog can be overwhelming due to the amount of data contained and the number of traits reported. So, before you ever get started on your search for a new genetics taking the time to reflect on the goals of your operation and to establish breeding objectives is crucially important. What traits are important to you? Do you really need to maximize? Or is a more moderate amount of performance for that trait more suitable for your environment? Once you have established your breeding objective, then it is important to understand the information available to help you meet that objective. Often, sale catalogs have not only expected progeny differences (EPDs) and indexes, but also performance data and ratios, and sometimes even stand-alone DNA testing results. While an animal’s actual performance data (weights, for example) may be fun for coffee-shop bragging rights, those numbers only tell us animal’s performance for a trait without taking into account the environment, which makes them fairly uninformative for genetic selection purposes. Even ratios, which do help compare animals within a single contemporary group do not allow us compare animals outside of that specific group in that specific year. EPDs use much more information, including the animal’s own performance, pedigree data, progeny data, and in some cases, even genomic markers. Contemporary grouping also allows us to use EPDs to compare animals across years and herds. EPDs are our best estimate of an animal’s genetic worth as a parent and allow you to compare bulls based on their anticipated progeny performance for various traits of interest.
THE PROFIT PICTURE | 19 FEATURE | EDITORIAL | NEWS
There are many EPD to look at – and usually, selection for more than one trait that will be needed to meet the goals of your organization. With so many traits to look at, choosing the correct traits to put emphasis on while still practicing multi-trait selection can be challenging.
CHOOSING RIGHT SELECTION TOOLS BASED ON YOUR OPERATION’S GOALS
EPDs can be used to increase, decrease, or optimize performance of a certain trait. You’ll find the percentile rank tables for various classes of animals on the AGA website at Gelbvieh.org.
In addition to the benefits offered by crossbreeding, Gelbvieh and Balancer® cattle offer breed advantages that make them logical for meeting the production goals and improving profitability of commercial farms and ranches. Long known for their value in crossbreeding systems, Gelbvieh sires add pounds and carcass value, and their crossbred daughters will have longevity, fertility, and maternal ability in the
Remember, Top 1% might be good for bragging, but does it meet your breeding objective?
BY AGA STAFF
FEATURE | EDITORIAL | NEWS Fall Bull and Female Sale October 15, 2022 Joplin RegionalCarthage,StockyardsMO Selling 150 Angus, Gelbvieh & Balancer bulls All 18 month old Plus! Registered & Commercial Females ALL BLACK!! Red Reward ‘Fall Edition’ Bull & Female Sale November 5, 2022 Wheeler LivestockOsceola,AuctionMO Selling 50 RED Gelbvieh & Balancer bulls Plus! Registered & CommercialALLFemalesRED! Bid & Buy at: DVAuction REQUEST YOUR CATALOGS TODAY john@seedstockplus.com877-486-1160 • Guaranteed Sight-Unseen Purchases! • Free Trucking on every bull! No fine print! • The best disposition & soundness sort! • Extensive Data & Genomic EPDs! • All Bulls Are Semen & Trich Tested! • Over 100 RFI tested bulls sell in these sales! • Videos of sale bulls on website the week before the sale! www. dvauction.com or www.seedstockplus.com Seedstock Plus has been the Largest, Continuous supplier of Balancer & Gelbvieh Genetics for 22 years!
| 21 FEATURE | EDITORIAL | NEWS
joinusin REGISTRATION OPENS AUGUST 15. VISIT GELBVIEH.ORG FOR DETAILS.
1) $Cow index represents the genetic value of a female if retained as a 2)replacement.FPIfocuses on feed yard performances, and carcass traits
The AGA currently has three indexes for use in selecting your next bull:
FPI, which stands for Feeder Profit Index, was designed to aid producers in selecting sires whose progeny will perform in the feedlot and are sold on a grade and yield standpoint. Well ranking sires for FPI have higher marbling and carcass weight than their contemporaries. As a terminal index, little emphasis is put on maternal traits such as stayability and calving ease.
3) Efficiency Profit Index (EPI) focuses on selecting for more feed efficient cattle that still have acceptable amounts of Forgain.each of these indexes, a higher number represents more profitable
Efficiency profit index (EPI): An economic selection index developed to aid producers in selecting for more feed efficient cattle that still have acceptable amounts of gain. The EPI provides slight negative pressure on intake, while keeping gain at a constant value. By selecting on this index, producers will be able to find those animals that gain the same amount as their contemporaries while eating less. So, when you’re ready to select your next sire, remember your breeding objective and the traits that are actually putting money in your pocket – find the EPDs, or preferably, the Index that will help you meet that objective.
$Cowgenetics.will serve producers in selecting bulls that will sire daughters with stayability and reproductive efficiency as well as other traits that lead to profitability in a production system, such as milk, calving ease, moderate mature weight, and the ability of calves to gain. A female’s genetics also influence the performance of her calves in the feedlot and at slaughter, so traits such as feed efficiency and carcass value are also included in $Cow.
Hasty Rocky Hill Farms Gelbvieh & Balancer Bull Sale Saturday, October 29, 2022 At 1 pm Marion County Fair Grounds 420 Fairgrounds Rd Lebanon, Kentucky 40033 Featuring 57 Performance Plus Bulls 85% Sired by breed leading AI sires 85% Homozygous Black bulls 85% Homozygous Polled bulls 95% Qualify for all States AG Enhancement Programs 100% Sell with genomic enhanced EPDs 100% Tested NEGATIVE for PI & BVD 56 of 57 black and polled • 45 of 57 bulls are bred and owed by Hasty Rocky Hill Farms in Lancaster, Kentucky – Gelbvieh & Balancer breeder for over 35 years. The vast majority of the bulls feature multi generations of AI sires on the maternal side. Seller Contacts Eddie donewrightcattle@hotmail.comCase(859)ehastyGVcattle@gmail.comHasty339-7100yWright (270)692-7496 Guest Consigners Collins Cattle Farms Christiana, TN Wesley Lasher Smithland, KY Travis Mullins Yosemite, KY Sunny Ridge Farm Lancaster, KY Valley View Farm Cookeville, TN @donewrightcattle
FEATURE | EDITORIAL | NEWS
“We really felt like this (BQA) training and certification was something that we could use to help sell our beef,” McClure says. “It’s great to be able to tell our customers that we are BQA certified. We want them to know and understand that we know how to give proper injections, so that we aren’t messing up the beef, and how important low stress handling is – the instructor talked about the bruising that can be seen on the carcass when you don’t handle cattle correctly. We work hard to produce the best
WHAT IS BQA AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?
Lelane McClure agrees and adds that in addition to her daughters, Lindy (13) and Toby (21), she and her husband, Ben, took new information and a different perspective back to their southwest Kansas operation.
24 | SEPTEMBER 2022 FEATURE | EDITORIAL | NEWS
BY LAURA HANDKE
WHAT IS BQA?
The Beef Quality Assurance is a nationally coordinated, state implemented program that provides systematic information to U.S. beef producers and beef consumers of how common sense husbandry techniques can be coupled with accepted scientific knowledge to raise cattle under optimum management and environmental conditions. BQA guidelines are designed to make certain all beef consumers can take pride in what they purchase – and can trust and have confidence in the entire beef BQAindustry.programs have evolved to include best practices around good record keeping and protecting herd health, which can result in more profits for producers. When better quality cattle leave the farm and reach the marketplace, the producer, packer, and consumer all benefit. When better quality beef reaches the supermarket, consumers are more confident in the beef they are buying, and this increases beef AGJAconsumption.momanddirect beef marketer
WHY DOES BQA MATTER?
“We learned a lot, even my husband, who has raised cattle his entire life, learned some things about injection sites and needle use,” she says. “We felt like it was definitely worth the time and the instructor was great, he made the information relatable and easier to remember. Everyone had a chance to ask questions.”
Two years ago, when COVID-19 threatened grocery supplies and people began to reach out to farmers to purchase beef direct, the McClures saw a window of opportunity to keep more of their capital on the farm and serve the community they live in. The family secured the proper licensing, but Lelane felt like there was more they could do to help their customers understand where their beef is coming from, how it is handled and the quality of what they are purchasing.
The efforts of BQA across the nation have been instrumental in recent successes that continue to re-build and sustain beef demand. Through BQA programs, producers recognize the economic value of committing to quality beef production at every levelnot just at the feedlot or packing plant, but within every segment of the cattle McClureindustry. says that the training her family received will become not only a part of their operation in terms of how they handle and work their cattle, but also a marketing tool.
In the first week of July, American Gelbvieh Junior Association (AGJA) members convened in Salina, Kansas, for a week of learning, camaraderie, and, of course, Gelbvieh cattle. A highlight for the week and a first for the AGJA junior nationals, was a Beef Quality Assurance (BQA)certification, held in partnership with the Kansas Beef “ProgramsCouncil. like BQA provide members of all ages with resources to make sound and ethical decisions for their herd and ultimately, the consumer.” says Jake Renner, AGA member and youth activities coordinator.
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WHO
Everyone involved in the beef industry should participate in BQA. Telling the story of beef, how it is safely and humanely produced, is the responsibility of us all and BQA is a great platform to begin those discussions with consumers about the safe, wholesome protein we are providing. From one head to 100,000 head, there is no head count requirement for the program. In fact, with the industry predominately made up of herds that number 40 head or fewer, the BQA program has the greatest opportunity for growth in smaller herds. If you would like to learn more about BQA and how it can positively influence your production practices and, ultimately, the quality of meat you are contributing to the supply chain, visit www.bqa.org.
2022
Limited
our
JKGF Lee Ann 650U MCCA Cornhusker Red 524C purebred bulls available this fall private treaty at farm. for more information. time offer Husker Profit Picture -1.indd 1 8/11/22 9:17 PM product can and felt like being able to share BQA story could set apart.” SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN BQA TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION?
Call
THE PROFIT PICTURE | 25 FEATURE | EDITORIAL | NEWS Contact Bob Hart for information • Cell (816) 225-8530 • Email: bhart@hartfarm.net SMALL HERD POWERFUL GENETICS JKGF Husker’s Estate G658 ET One of the most exciting young red purebred Gelbvieh herd sires available today. This homozygous polled, diluter free red herd sire comes from the great JEMG Lee Ann 650U donor dam and sired by the deceased calving ease bull, MCCA Cornhusker Red 524C. Here’s how he ranks: • Top 15% - Weaning Weight • Top 25% - Yearling Weight, Calving Ease Maternal, Marbling and Feeder Profit Index • Top 30% - Calving Ease Direct His first calf crop is on the ground and are looking very promising. Only twelve syndicated semen package remaining. When they sell, no semen will be available outside the syndicate. For information or to purchase a semen package, call or text Bob Hart at (816) 225-8530.
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Formed in 2015, today USRSB serves as a collective messaging platform for its 134 members – of which half are beef producers. Since inception, conscious effort has ensured that every sector is well represented.
AGA executive director, Megan Slater, says that the resources USRSB provides, as well as the opportunity for AGA to have a voice in the conversation, is a win-win for both association members and the beef industry, as whole.
Allied industry also has a seat at the table and is made up of pharmaceutical, equipment, technology…any company that has a stake in the beef industry. Every sector has four voting members, two primary members and two secondary members, and that structure keeps the board very balanced.
SUSTAINABLE PATH FORWARD FOR THE BEEF VALUE CHAIN
WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY?
Many in the industry ask why the beef industry should be rallying around sustainability. The answer, Slater says, is that sustainability isn’t going anywhere.
BY LAURA HANDKE
“I think relatable voices, like former USRSB Chair, Steve Wooten, who served as a speaker at our 2021 Annual Convention, help our membership to put different pieces of sustainability into perspective and realize that, as an industry, our producers are doing so many things right,” she says.
In 2022, the American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) board of directors voted to join the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB) as a member.
Lyons-Blythe agrees, going a step further to add, “Sustainability is just doing the right thing, and our producers are good at doing the right thing. Best management practices are going to help us do a better job on the farm, anyway.
THE PROFIT PICTURE | 27 FEATURE | EDITORIAL | NEWS
“The sustainability conversation is big. It’s real and it’s not going away; we finally have an opportunity to have a seat at the table rather than on the table,” she says, adding that this is the time for producers to share their stories.
And while the board does provide the leadership, Lyons-Blythe shares that the direction is steered by the working groups. Current working groups include: Outreach, Communications, Goals Committee, Recognition Program Committee, Project and Resource Review Committee, General Assembly Planning Taskforce, and Feed Sustainability Taskforce.
“Our membership is very representative of the beef industry. 50% of the 134 members are individual producers – like me,” she says. “Every sector is represented: producers; feedyards; auction markets – such as the Livestock Marketing Association who has been involved since the beginning; packers and processors – like the organizations who make hamburger pattiess for McDonalds; and retailers like Burger King, Taco Bell and McDonald’s, whose end-goal is also selling beef. The members that a lot of people don’t think of are civil society organizations like The Nature Conservancy and World Wildlife Fund, who don’t directly produce beef but play a role in the industry. Those groups have to be at the table, too.”
As chairwoman, Debbie LyonsBlythe, Blythe Family Farms, says that representation is the cornerstone of ensuring USRSB continues to move forward to advance sustainability throughout the beef value chain.
American beef is already the most sustainable in the world, but there’s this whole movement pointing the finger at cows, and we have to be able to prove
SoKY Select Gelbvieh Sale SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2022 • 1:00 PM CT United Producers • Bowling Green, KY Selling 40 Gelbvieh & Balancer® Females Selling 10 Gelbvieh & Balancer® Bulls Young cow/calf pairs like this one sell! Bred heifers like this Leverage daughter sell!Stout herd sire prospects ready for turnout sell! For catalog or information contact: David Slaughter Phone: (270) 556-4259•E-mail: hmslghtr@aol.com Sale managed by: Slaughter Sale Management Like us on Facebook at Slaughter Sale Management
“Weyear-over-year.havetotell our sustainability story. By letting others tell the story, we’re setting ourselves up for potential misinformation. But if we respond and provide the data to prove what we know – that we have always been focused on sustainability and working towards doing better – it will have a real impact on those civil society members and our retail members to help them also tell our story. This is how we keep beef on the plate,” Lyons-Blythe shares, adding that the average cow herd size in the U.S. is
The producer target for environmental indicators involves a grazing management plan. The aim is to achieve 385 million acres covered by a written grazing management plan by 2050. Grazing management plans not only improve land resources like forage production, water holding capacity and nutrient flow, but they can also help with succession planning and to boost a business’ bottom line through a reduced dependency on supplemental feed and/ or Theirrigation.producer target around animal welfare on the farm and ranch centers on improving and documenting practices and husbandry. One of the pathways USRSB is using to help achieve animal welfare goals is the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certification program, a national effort aimed at raising consumer confidence through the training and certification of proper management techniques at the farm and ranch level that ensures a commitment to quality within every segment of the beef industry. The program initiative directly contributes to USRSB’s target to increase the number of individuals trained and certified in BQA by 10%
Although we typically hear about the environmental pillar of sustainability, economic and social betterment are also inherent to the definition of sustainability. The USRSB defines sustainability using six high-priority indicators that fall under the three pillars: land resources, water resources, air & greenhouse gas emissions, employee safety & well-being, animal health & well-being, and efficiency & “Althoughyield. we tend to first think about environmental sustainability, all aspects are equally important. That is why we use six high-priority indicators that take into account every part of a business,” said Lyons-Blythe. “We have to ensure that not only our land is taken care of, but also our people, our animals and our bottom line. In order to be truly sustainable, all of these things must be Thesuccessful.”USRSB targets for the producer sector include actionable items that many producers are already doing.
40 cows. “It’s going to take us all and, honestly, the smaller herds are where we can make the most progress.”
GENETIC CONTRIBUTION
Slater says that breed associations are poised to play an even larger role in sustainability by helping members find and utilize performance genetics.
THE PROFIT PICTURE | 29 FEATURE | EDITORIAL | NEWS what we are doing in the industry. If we can’t prove what we are doing, we are opening our industry up to campaigns like “Meatless Monday” and other activist campaigns,” she says. One of the most important ways the beef industry can combat false information around sustainability is by setting goals and recording outcomes to produce measurable data to prove that stakeholders throughout the value chain are doing what they say they are and utilizing the resources they say they are. To build and capture data, USRSB has created opportunities to measure sustainability as well as a path forward in improving sustainability for every sector – every stakeholder along the value chain from the cow to the processing line to the meat counter and every step in between has metrics for improving their operation’s sustainability.
HIGH-PRIORITY INDICATOR OF SUSTAINABILITY
“What we know today is that a more moderate cow that weans a larger calf every year, without requiring a lot of additional resources, those cows are the picture of sustainability. Providing the tools for commercial customers to select highly efficient cattle is one of the most important jobs a breed association has,” she Knownsays.for docility and high fertility, the Gelbvieh and Balancer® breed and the producers who utilize those genetics know that sustainability starts with the cow. Cows that yield more pounds of beef using fewer resources is a win for everyone from the producer to the Lyons-Blytheconsumer. simplifies sustainability further, sharing that for her family the definition is easy: “Take care of the land. Take care of the animals. Take care of the people and make money.”
It’s simple logic everyone can get behind.
30 | SEPTEMBER 2022 Docility & ProvenPerformance Our focus and dedication starts with docility and ends with performance. We offer Purebred Gelbvieh and Balancer® bulls and heifers private treaty year-round. We continue to do our homework in our breeding program, so you can buy with confidence. Red Ridge gelbvieh Kevin Ireland 237 SW 30th Ave. • Trenton, MO 64683 Cell (660) 635-1433 • ksi1987@grundyec.net•Fall&Spring-BornBulls&Heifers•RedPurebreds&Balancers•BullsCarryFirstBreedingSeasonGuarentees•Photos&VideosAvailableFor more information on our cattle, give Kevin a call at (660) 635-1433. “No Bull” B/F Cattle Co. Built to Thrive in FESCUE COUNTRY Built to Perpetuate FERTILITY #1 Missouri Breeder 5 consecutive years Dam of Merit & Dam of Distinction Brett & Libby Foster Butler, Mo bfcattleco.com660-492-280864730 ALSO SELLING High Quality & Home Grown Beef from the Foster Family “Straight to Yours” call or order online MaternalBalancerIntegrity BULL & FEMALE SALE NOV. 5 1 PM 50 18 MO BALANCEROLDBULLS Registerd35 Fall COW/CALF PAIRS Auctioneer Bill Nance Nance Auction nanceauctionservice.comService417-214-0093 DOBSON RANCH Dobson Ranch Jim Dobson • 405.880.6173 John Dobson • 405.880.6661 Jared Bain • 580.716.4211 12460 E. River Road Kaw City, OK 74641 DOBSO N RANCH KAW C I T Y, OK J J Breeding Gelbvieh genetics since 1971 AGA Member #1 Offering bulls for sale year round!
THE PROFIT PICTURE | 31 FEATURE | EDITORIAL | NEWS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR GELBVIEH & BALANCER ® GENETIC TRENDS BIRTH WEIGHT & CALVING EASE DIRECT CARCASS WEIGHT AND MARBLING The graphs below illustrate the genetic trends for the Gelbvieh and Balancer® breed for the past 20 years. It’s amazing to see the genetic progress that has been made by an AGA membership dedicated to improving Gelbvieh and Balancer cattle. Lowering birth weight while increasing weaning weight and yearling, as well as an increase in marbling are just a few examples of traits that continue to see improvement. Figures within the graphs charted here are representative of both the Gelbvieh and Balancer population combined.
Boys from the South Bull Sale Green Hills Gelbvieh • Butler Creek Farm
THE PROFIT PICTURE | 33 FEATURE | EDITORIAL | NEWS STAYABILITYPREGNANCY,HEIFERPREG30& WEANING WEIGHT & YEARLINGWEIGHT INDEXESAGA
October 29, 2022 1:00 p.m. (cst) Chimney Butte Ranch Sale Facility Mandan, North Dakota AI Service Sires of Bred Heifers PHG Eminence E02 PHG Caesar C25 DCH Hille C169 DCH Hille G423 DCH Triple K Husker G413 DCH Herbie H705 DCH Hagar H719 DBRG 931G Sires of Premier Bred Heifers Selling “The Northern Maternal Focus” Premier Offering of All Chimney Butte Ranch AI Bred Heifers Chimney Butte Ranch Doug and Carol Hille 3320 51st Street Mandan, ND 58554 Home: 701-445-7383 Cell: www.chimneybutteranch.com701-220-2083 sale management by Sale books upon request - Contact Chimney Butte Ranch or MMS View online sale book and videos online at www.chimneybutteranch.comwww.mms.bz PTL Eli 117E PTL 18F DCH Hille F304 DCH Hille F137 DCH Hille F213 DCH Hille F319 DCH Hille C169 DCH Hille Dollar D610 DCH Hille G438 JOB Choco 53B PHG Eminence E02 DCH Hille G421 DBRG Mr Destination 931G DCH Triple K Husker G413
BY ANGELA DENTON
For more information about this year’s symposium, including award winners and video archives of the symposium, visit BIFSymposium.com.The 2023 BIF Convention and Research Symposium will be July 3-6 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
2022-2023
BIF SELECTS
Beef Improvement Federation Board of Directors are (seated, from left) Joe Epperly, Albion, Neb., president; Kevin Schultz, Haviland, Kan., vice president; Matt Perrier, Eureka, Kan., past president; Darrh Bullock, University of Kentucky, BIF eastern region secretary; Mark Enns, Colorado State University, BIF western region secretary; Warren Snellings, USDA Ag Research Service representative; Matt Spangler, USDA Extension Service representative; and Bob Weaber, Kansas State University, BIF executive director. Back row (l to r) are: Joy Reznicek, West Point, Miss.; Megan Slater, American Gelbvieh Association; Gordon Jones, Lafayette, Tenn.; Robert Williams, Post Falls, Idaho, historian; Matt Woolfolk, American Shorthorn Association; Shane Bedwell. American Hereford Association; Hal Nixdorff,Canadian Beef Breeds Council representative; Jim Bessler, NAAB representative; Ken Odde, Pollock, South Dakota; Troy Marshall, St. Joseph, Missouri; Josh White, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association; Kelli Retallick, American Angus Association; and Kajal Devani, Canadian Angus Association. Not pictured are Josh Irvine, Manhattan, Kan.; Gordon Hodges, Hamptonville, N.C., Jackie Atkins, American Simmental Association, and Megan Rolf, Kansas State University, central region secretary.
THE PROFIT PICTURE | 35 FEATURE | EDITORIAL | NEWS
More than 300 beef producers, academia and industry representatives attended the organization’s 54th Annual Research Symposium and Convention in Las Cruces, New Mexico. BIF’s mission is to help improve the industry by promoting greater acceptance of beef cattle performance evaluation.
The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) is an organization dedicated to coordinating all segments of the beef industry — from researchers and producers to retailers — in an effort to improve the efficiency, profitability and sustainability of beef production. The organization was initiated more than 50 years ago to encourage the use of objective measurements to evaluate beef cattle. Continuing the tradition, BIF is now the clearinghouse for developing standardized programs and methodologies for recording of performance data for all traits, from birth weights to carcass traits. Its three-leaf-clover logo symbolizes the link between industry, extension and research.
NEW BOARD, OFFICERS
T
he Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) announced new directors and officers June 3 during the group’s annual symposium in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Joe Epperly, Albion, Nebraska, was introduced as the 2022-23 BIF president during the Friday awards luncheon. Kevin Shultz, Haviland, Kansas, is the new vice Directorspresident.reelected to serve on the BIF board were producers Epperly and Gordon Hodges, Hamptonville, North Carolina. Ken Odde, Pollock, South Dakota, was elected as an atlarge director. Jackie Atkins, American Simmental Association, was reelected as a breed association representative, and Megan Slater, American Gelbvieh Association, was elected to her first term as a breed representative.
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Those in the contest have to have DNA on file for the sires in order to be sire verified, and those animals entered get DNA collected and have to be sire verified to win prizes.
36 | SEPTEMBER 2022 FEATURE | EDITORIAL | NEWS
The foundation and Martin both believe they’ll be able to gain some valuable knowledge that way.
Martinimprovement.hopesthe
“And then third, competition,” Martin said. “And there’s even a prize if you Morewin.” importantly though, is the knowledge gained from the data that results from the challenge and the contest. Tom Strahm, commercial marketing director for the AGA, said those who enter are able to learn about feeding performance.
“You get carcass data on all the animals who are sire identified by DNA,” Strahm said. “If somebody hasn’t been feeding their cattle or they have too small a group to feed out somewhere—we encourage them to take at least three that had been raised in the same contemporary group at their ranch— then there’s a little bit more value in those Ultimatelyresults.”those results could be included in the genetic evaluation for improving accuracy of growth and carcass EPDs. For instance, if a purebred breeder had some cull bulls that were castrated and not sold for breeding purposes, it’s a great opportunity for the breeder to learn about the genetics.
AGF has primarily three focal areas— youth development, member education and research—in hopes to improve Gelbvieh and Balancer genetics. These two contests were initiated to help increase the volume of actual carcass data into the collection, grow the foundation for future projects, in addition to giving members an opportunity to work for breed
Organizers are hoping to breathe new life into the American Gelbvieh Foundation’s Steer Challenge and Scale & Rail Contest.
“Secondly,contests. and probably the most important in a deal like this is the information they get back on known sourced cattle,” he said. “We collected DNA samples, so there’ll be parent verified. The carcass data will contribute to the genetic evaluation of the breed.”
All costs will be billed to participants directly by the feedyard. The feedyard will deduct any unpaid costs from
The animals were delivered to Kinsley feeders during mid-December and will remain the property of the owners during the duration of the contest.
“It’s been a good program and good interest this year,” he said. “It was kind of a reboot of the program. We had kind of lost some steam and so we got it back up and going.”
AGF STEER CHALLENGE, SCALE & RAIL CONTEST REBOOTED BY KYLENE SCOTT THIS ARTICLE ORIGINALLY RAN IN THE JULY 8, 2022 HIGH PLAINS JOURNAL
“That’s a good opportunity for a guy to get a little bit of data about how his cattle feed and how they perform on the rail,” Strahm said.
Kinsley Feeders manager and American Gelbvieh Association Board of Directors treasurer Derek Martin said this is the first year the feeding has taken place at Kinsley, Kansas, and organizers have been trying to revive the contest in the past couple of years. He believes in the many benefits that come from a contest like this.
Participants are responsible for the cost of feed, yardage, vaccinations, veterinarian cost associated with morbidity and loss due to mortality.
The Scale & Rail Contest is a sireidentified contest aimed to increase the flow of sire identified carcass data reported into the AGA database. This will help increase the data volume and assist in improving carcass traits, as well as an avenue for members to improve the accuracy of carcass traits of their herd sires.
owners who have cattle in the contests will be able to get enough money for their animals—equal to or more than what they would have received selling them as feeders. But that’s not the most important part of the
The AGF Steer Challenge allows supporters of the foundation to donate a steer ($1,000) to the AGF and be designated to breed improvement such as research projects, updating DNA markers, and EPD and Index Winnersimprovements.willbe
If the contest data meets the requirements it can be included in the genetic evaluation for AGA.
“If a person would have 10 head in it, and there’s two different sire groups, and those animals all came from the same contemporary groups that individuals farm or ranch of origin, then it can benefit them for increasing the accuracy of the EPDs of the sire that’s used,” Strahm said.
Cash prizes of at least $2,000 for 2022 Steer Challenge if three or more steers are entered or donated. Cash prizes of at least $500 for 2022 Steer Challenge if less than three steers are entered or “Sodonated.itdoes raise a little bit of money for the foundation, but most of the time that money’s paid back in prizes between the two different contests,” Strahm said.
“It’s good information for these producers to learn something about what’s going on, because most of them are not feeding cattle anywhere else either,” he said. “They learn something about their genetics. The commercial people—they can learn something about feeding cattle that they’re selling to other people.”
recognized and awarded based on each of the following contest categories: average daily gain and carcass value. There will also be a set of pen awards in carcass value. Individuals who donated the top performing steers will be awarded a cash prize at the conclusion of the project.
FEATURE | EDITORIAL | NEWS
Martin said the entrants in both contests came from 10 consigners and averaged 759 pounds. One group was a little heavier at 868 pounds while another was 610, but the contemporary groups will be kept together. At the end of May the cattle were close to being finished. When it’s time to be marketed they will be sent to National Beef in Dodge City.
the sale of the animal to the packer at harvest time from the gross revenue of the sale and the owner will be paid the net Thebalance.steermust have one registered Gelbvieh or Balancer parent, and each ranch may contribute three or more steers from the same weaning contemporary group (same ranch, same arrival date and same harvest date). Animals have to have weighed a minimum of 750 pounds with maximum weight of 900 pounds by the time they arrive at the feedyard.
But Strahm hopes besides the breed promotion and marketing information obtained from the contests for Gelbviehs and Balancers, he hopes the data that comes out of it will help show how including the genetics in a cow herd can help with average daily gain, feed conversion and carcass merit.
Awards are given in a number of different areas like high average daily gain, carcass value or sire group.
“I think I’m going to market two-thirds of them in about 30 days and one-third of them—just because they were lighter weight coming in—we’ll go about 20 to 30 days after that,” Martin said.
RIPPE GELBVIEH Complete RED Gelbvieh and Balancer Female Dispersal December 17, 2022 5:00 pm Average Steak House - Hubbell, Nebraska 125 RED Gelbvieh and Balancer Females Sell Fall Pairs, Spring Bred Cows, Spring Bred Heifers, Fall Bred Heifers, Spring Open Heifers, Red Herd Sires Red Frozen Embryos Red Gelbvieh and Balancer Semen RIPPE GELBVIEH 6775 Road D Hubbell, NE 68375 Duane & Brenda Rippe Dustin & Karla Rippe GRU Just N Time 714J 50%GV 50%AR Balancer Sire Homozygous Polled Many cows sell bred to Just N Time, the high selling bull purchased in the Grund 2022 production sale. Owned with Thorstenson Gelbvieh. EPD Ranks: Top 1% Milk, TM, ST and $Cow, 2% FPI, 5% YW, 10% WW and REA, 20% BW and 30% Marbling. www.rippegelbvieh.com402-200-0096316-323-4874dustin@rgcattle.comJoel Cast 402-641-1705
The topography of the area and the need to manage those smaller, difficult to access pastures helped to plant the seed of technology for Crow and his son Dakota. The two purchased an Agras T-30 from Agri Spray Drones in Centralia, Missouri, this past spring.
Moreland says that mapping an application area with the remote on the drone is easy to do and adds that what he and his team offers isn’t just the sale of a drone, but the total support and education in how to help a farmer or rancher get the most use and efficiency out of their investment. Through testing and research, the Agri Spray Drones team is finding new opportunities for drones on the farm and ranch every day.
USING DRONES TO MANAGE PASTURE FEATURE SPONSORED BY AGRI SPRAY DRONES
“There’s a lot of these pastures that need to be sprayed, but they’re harder to get to or guys just don’t want to spend the money on a sprayer, and the nearest helicopters are in Springfield (Missouri) and Jonesboro (Arkansas) and have a 350-acre minimum,” says Crow. “Time is another big issue; it takes a lot of time to spray pastures and that’s where we are hoping to come in. We can have them covered in a couple of hours,” Crow says of he and Dakota’s plans to offer custom spraying solutions beginning in 2023.
40 | SEPTEMBER 2022 FEATURE | EDITORIAL | NEWS
“Pastures are usually at the bottom of the list for custom application, and they have a lot more ditches than crop fields. Drones can get everything done for a pasture that a sprayer can at a lower cost of operation, and it has more application than just spraying,” says Agri Spray Drones owner and founder, Taylor Moreland who founded the company as a resource for his seed business customers who struggled with timely fungicide application.
The Agras T-30 can cover around 35 acres per hour at a 2 gallon per acre rate and has already found a home on the operations of many row crop farmers.
Currently, the team is working on a wetlands project that encompasses a
There aren’t a lot of row crops around West Plains, Missouri. The cattle country that makes up the area more closely resembles timber clearings than the wide-open spaces of the Flint Hills of neighboring Kansas.
“Where we’re at, it’s about 99.9% pastureland for forage and hay, and it’s small. We don’t have these huge plots of wide-open land; there’s a lot of 40-to60-acre pastures that can be tough to get to,” says Blake Crow, owner of Crow Land and Cattle, West Plains, Missouri.
The indirect opportunity drones create is bringing the next generation back to the farm and creating business in rural communities across the countryside –development Moreland is passionate
“Everythingabout. we do is to help farmers and ranchers be more successful and efficient. If we can help grow that efficiency into a business in a rural area where it didn’t exist before, that’s what we want to do,” he says. “We see these drones as opportunities to bring the next generation back to the farm and bring a revenue stream with them, that’s why our monthly trainings aren’t just about picking up a drone and learning to operate it. We talk about all the other components you’ll need to be successful and realize that we won’t cover every scenario or problem that can occur –that’s why our technical support and drone parts are always a phone call
“The control you can get with a drone on those species will be very significant.”
THE PROFIT PICTURE | 41 FEATURE | EDITORIAL | NEWS
“When it comes to patch management, there is a lot of opportunity to manage weeds and invasive species, especially those that can be easily identified like thistles, cut leaf teasel, cedars and in the southwest, mesquite and cacti,” he says.
Ifaway.”you’re interested in learning more about spray and spreader drones, the Agri Spray Drones team can be reached at 573-519-5000 or by www.agrispraydrones.com.visiting
“Theremoved.plan is to map the 640 acres and then use software to identify and mark those areas with phragmites that need sprayed. Out of the 640 acres, less than five percent of the area needs sprayed. So, we’ve got the area mapped out and we’re ready to go in with the drone; it will go to each one of those mapped spots and spray just those weeds that we have identified that need sprayed,” Moreland Additionally,says.Moreland says that the T-30 has been used for everything from evenly spreading bentonite in a pond that is leaking to applying fly spray on cattle.
full section. The area is inaccessible for ground application and has pockets of phragmites reeds that need to be
For the Crow family, in addition to managing invasive and unwanted species in their pasture and hay ground, the father-son team plan to interseed cover crops and red clover in the fall via the spreader that can be purchased for the “We’redrone.still in the learning curve phase of operating the drone and figuring out everything we can use it for,” Blake says. “Our plan for the seeder is to use it to put in some cover crops and interseed some clover into pastures, and that’s something we are looking to do for others in our area, as well when we get going next year.”
MANAGING FOR RESULTS
The monetary savings of implementing a spray drone, of course, comes from not having to pay to have those acres sprayed with a ground rig or by aerial application, but the long-term value of incorporating a spray drone is invaluable as additional software and hardware options continue to create opportunities to use the drone in additional ways.
In pasture management and row crop application, most operators use only the mapping tool on the drone they purchase and find the best efficiency in flying back and forth across the field, but Moreland says that there is tremendous value in using a drone for spot spraying applications.
FEATURE | EDITORIAL | NEWS
To begin the webinar, Perry shared with producers that there are four main things that can impact reproductive 1.efficiency:Animals detected and inseminated 2. Inseminator efficiency, regardless of whether insemination occurs via AI or natural service 3. Fertility of the herd 4. Semen fertility level
“Both BVD and IBR are viruses that we focus on and vaccinate for because they can actually impact both fetal infection and pregnancy losses, and both of these HANDKE
IMPROVED HERD FERTILITY IS IN THE DETAILS BY LAURA
For George Perry, associate research professor – beef cattle reproductive physiology, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension, the equation of reproduction is the measure of a herd’s overall fertility.
And noted that when we think about things that can impact herd fertility, it’s important that we consider every aspect, “I tell people all the time to get the highest level of reproductive efficiency, ‘it’s in the details,’” he says. And those details include timing: not just if we’re giving the vaccinations heifers and cows need to be healthy and prolific, but when we are giving those Perryvaccinations.saysthat two reproductive viruses that standout are Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) and Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR).
In a recent Beef Reproductive Task Force webinar, Perry and Ph.D. student, Kaitlin Epperson, discussed the importance of heifer vaccinations in relation to the administration of modified live virus (MLV) vaccines. The team looked at the fertility of naïve heifers when given MLV, killed vaccine, or saline (control) in relation to estrous and conception.
viruses can impact the ovary directly to cause estrous cycle disruption to impact the success of breeding season,” he says.
Editor’s note: Visit the Beef Reproductive Task Force website to learn more about this study and watch the educational webinar, along with others, in its entirety. With a mission to optimize the productivity and improve the profitability of cow-calf operations by facilitating the adoption of cost-effective, applied reproductive technologies, the Beef Reproduction Leadership team is dedicated to educating producers on sustainable reproductive management. The education provided is truly a resource for any size herd. www.beefrepro.org
Thedetected.research, conducted in 2020, has led Perry to caution producers, “We really want to avoid using a MLV near the start of breeding season,” he says, noting that a true naïve animal is one that has never been exposed to that antigen.
MICHAEL BAUER MJBC Mjbauer4320@hotmail.com712-304-4320Audubon,GelbviehIA ROY HOLSTE Clarinda, 712-303-1947LA GARY MARTENS Martens Gelbvieh Walnut, 712-764-5007IA (home) 712-249-5744 martensgl@yahoo.com(cell) Call Cody Frey at Creston Livestock Auction (641-344-5082) at least 2 days before sale to qualify bid numbers. 14 TH Annual Southwest Iowa Gelbvieh & Balancer Bull & Female Sale March 18, 2023• Creston Livestock Auction, Creston, IA CARL REISTE Rafter R creiste.rafterr@yahoo.com515-490-3561GelbviehAdel,IA LINDA REISTE Bloomfield, 515-360-3106LA JIM MCCREARY Mount Ayr , IA 641-464-3178641-234-0039(Home)(Cell) For online bidding: www.cattle.usa and click on www.crestonlivestock.comAllbullsarefeedefficiency tested and ultra sounded. Heifers have GE EPDs.
The team started with naïve heifers because many times the vaccination history of a group of purchased heifers is Whenunknown.theModified Live Virus (MLV) was given, even after a follow-up estrous, 40% of the animals were observed to have had abnormal estrous cycles. When the inactivated [killed] vaccine, was given, there were still between 10 to 15% of heifers that had abnormal cycles. Eye opening was the group of heifers that just received saline of which there were no abnormal cycles
THE PROFIT PICTURE | 43 FEATURE | EDITORIAL | NEWS
“I can tell you about many examples where I’ve been called in to help troubleshoot problems where the producer bought a group of heifers that were supposedly vaccinated, so they gave them the same vaccine and then saw problems because something wasn’t actually given or a different vaccine was used,” he says. “What I tell people is that unless you know it was administered, consider those animals naïve to avoid Eppersonproblems.”says that there are many differences occurring today in terms of pregnancy rates when modified live or oncellularfunctionalinthatseveralvaccine,withinvirusitselfnaturaleitherinfection,thatrealizing“Whatseason.breedingcloseadministeredvaccineskilledaretothewe’reisafterviralfromthevirus,orthecontainedthethere’sthingscanhappentermsoftheandchangestheovary, including inflammation or cellular degeneration, invasion of plasma cells, which secrete antibody, or even infection of the egg,” she says, and adds, “What our research is telling us right now is that modified live vaccination does negatively influence the development of the corpus luteum and also its function and ability to produce progesterone which, in turn, can have implications on [a producer’s] breeding season in terms of pregnancy rates.”
The take-aways, Perry concludes, are that producers need to be vaccinating before or at weaning to get heifers set-up correctly. Both heifers and cows should be vaccinated at least 45 days before the start of the breeding season, and if they have never been vaccinated before, avoid a modified live near the time of breeding. It’s important to get vaccines administered on a timeline that allows a cow or heifer’s ovaries to heal prior to breeding season – a protocol that Perry says increases fertility.
Citing work done in the 1970’s on heifers that had been previously exposed to either MLV or a killed virus vaccine at weaning, Perry and Epperson wanted to investigate what happens when a vaccination is given at the start of a synchronization program or natural service breeding season into naïve, or never vaccinated, animals – work that had not previously been done.
44 | SEPTEMBER 2022 Over 50 years of continual whole herd AI Over 40 years of Performance Testing ANNUAL PRODUCTION SALE MARCH 16, 2023 Kicking Horse Ranch For your next herd sire or female purchase, look to Kicking Horse Ranch CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF DEDICATION TO THE GELBVIEH BREED IN 2023 1285 Nine Mile Road CONVENTIONALFOUR FLUSHES WITH AN AVERAGE OF 28.75EMBRYOSFROZEN 25 EMBRYOS FOR SALE WITH DAM 7617E AND JRI FRANCHISE F806ET7617EX514MSTPGDLW ET7617EX514MSTPGDLW ET7617EX514MSTPGDLW 25 EMBRYOS FOR SALE WITH DAM 7617E AND JRI ALAN 68G3 HOMOZYGOUS BLACK GOOD EPDS AVERAGESFLUSHINGTREMENDOUS CALL PRICING!FOR CONTACT: JAMES CHRISTENSEN269,625,0430CHRISTENSENFAMILY APIARIES 67314-M40, WHITE PIGEON, MI 49099 FLUSHESEMBRYOFORSALE
1. Strong export demand – Demand is strong in the export market. In 2021, the US set a record for beef exports. Demand has remained strong in the first part of 2022 and beef has seen more than a 50% increase in export demand since 2010.
2. Strong consumer demand – Even with higher levels of inflation, particularly in the red meat market, consumers have shown that they are willing to continue to purchase beef at elevated prices. This has led to retail and foodservice beef BY ELLIOTT DENNIS, LIVESTOCK MARKETING AND RISK MANAGEMENT ECONOMIST, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, EXTENSION SPECIALIST, UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA – LINCOLN.
SOME OF THE FACTORS INDICATING THAT HERD LIQUIDATION SHOULD CONTINUE ARE:
SOME OF THE FACTORS INDICATING THAT HERD REBUILDING SHOULD BEGIN INCLUDE:
3. High cull cow prices – Cull cow prices have begun to rise dramatically in 2022 due to seemingly insatiable consumer demand for ground beef and lower beef imports from Australia and Brazil. Low prices over the last several years have incentivized some producers to turn their herd over now when there are profits to be made.
1. Ongoing drought – The drought in parts of Nebraska and more broadly throughout the US over the past several years has reduced total hay inventory. 2022 could be year 3 of the most recent drought. If (when) the drought materializes, it could further limit both forage production and quality.
2. High feed costs – Prospective corn plantings are down with more grain producers choosing to plant soybeans. This indicates that, barring a large South American crop, producers should expect higher corn prices. Likewise, higher corn tends to correlate with higher distiller grains prices both of which increase ration costs and reduce feedlot’s willingness to purchase feeder cattle.
COMPETING MARKET FORCES Cow-calf producers have not faced this confluence of competing factors in the last 40 years. Some factors indicate that cow-calf producers should continue herd liquidation while other factors indicate there should be greater retention. What we do know from the USDA-NASS January 2022 Cattle Inventory report is that beef cows are down 2%, heifers held back for beef cow replacements are down 3%, and heifers expected to calve this year are down 3% year over year. All of this indicates smaller feeder cattle supplies in 2022 and 2023. That is what we know. What we don’t know is what decisions should be made to further liquidated the cow herd or begin rebuilding efforts given current and expected market conditions.
THE PROFIT PICTURE | 45 FEATURE | EDITORIAL | NEWS MAXIMIZING PROFITS UNDER DROUGHT CONDITIONS, HIGHER INPUT COSTS, AND NATIONAL HERD LIQUIDATION
46 | SEPTEMBER 2022 FEATURE | EDITORIAL | NEWS Visit GelbviehAuction.com BalancerAuction.com or call Rance Long 918.510.3464 or Jeff Stansberry 615.479.1852 for details. It's time to book your Fall Sale Dates!
THE PROFIT PICTURE | 47 FEATURE | EDITORIAL | NEWS demand to levels not seen since the 3.1980s.Higher fed and feeder cattle futures prices – Both the fed and feeder CME price indicate strong demand in the current and deferred months. Using futures plus historical basis as a forecast for fall delivery of feeder cattle, indicate that current prices would be some of the highest prices producers have received in the last 5-7 years. WHY IS THIS YEAR SO UNIQUE?
ADDITIONAL POINTS OF CONSIDERATION
understandingtofinancing.additionalofforaboutyouexpectationsThislenderthiscommunicatingmade,oflenderthe2.year.Communicateplantoyour–Regardlessthedecisionclearlyplantoyourisimportant.helpssetforandthelendertheneedandpossibilityextendingIt’sbetterhaveaclearof these expectations before making a management decision.
Eldon & Kathy Starr 210 Starr Dr • Stapleton, NE 69163 bullbarn@bullbarn.com • www.bullbarn.com800-535-6173 • Gelbvieh • Angus • Red Angus • Simmental • Club Calf • Salers • Shorthorn • Dairy • Charolais • Hereford • Sheaths • Gloves • Cito Thaw Units • Tanks • A.I. Kits • Arm Service Bull ForGeneticsBarnallyourAIneeds:
We have a situation where there is a drought, high input prices, and the cattle market is in a downturn. Agricultural economists have examined how two common drought mitigation strategies (partial herd liquidation or buying additional feed) impact an operation’s net present value given the cattle cycle and the length of the drought. Ideally, we want high returns with little variation. What they found was that partial liquidation of livestock tended to provide better returns than purchasing feed to overcome constrained forage supplies. Moreover, partial liquidation tended to be less risky and created potentially less financial stress than purchasing feed. High feed input prices would further increase the value of partial liquidation. These results were estimated using historical weather and price data. In other words, while this is what the results show, on average, using historical data, each producer must engage in some level of forecasting on market conditions and what they believe is best for their operation.
This year is unique because the cattle market has not simultaneously faced higher input prices and drought conditions while in a downturn of the cattle cycle. In 2004, the cattle market began to expand before being limited by higher feed prices in 2007-08. The cattle market was still contracting when the drought occurred in 2010-12. Now in 2022, the market is contracting, experiencing a drought, and facing high input prices. Table 1 summarizes these market factors UNDER
PROFIT MAXIMIZING
DROUGHT
Regardless of the choice you make (i.e. retain cows + buy hay or partially liquidate cows + no hay) there are a few points to consider:
1. Recognize payoffs will be made over an entire cattle cycle – Decisions on buying additional feed or liquidating part of the herd are paid out over an entire cycle due to the biological lag in production. For example, the effect of a breeding decision is not known for approximately three years. The tendency with finances is to evaluate whether a decision gained/ lost our operation money over one
3. Don’t forget about price risk management - Price risk management continues to be a tool to help manage the variation and level of profits. The current market has a significant amount of price volatility. Some of this has come because of the integration of the US beef market into the global beef supply chain increasing the total value of the beef carcass. However, as COVID-19 has demonstrated, it can have unpredictable damaging effects. In most years, there are opportunities to offset some of the total cash price risk. But this requires effort and time dedicated to watching markets, having a plan, and then being willing to act.
FEB. 11 Prairie Hills Gelbvieh Annual Bull Sale, Gladstone, N.D.
NOV. 5 B/F Cattle Co. Maternal Integrity Balancer Bull Sale, Butler, Mo. NOV. 5 TJB Gelbvieh Annual Maternal Magic Bull Sale, Chickamauga, Ga. NOV. 5 Seedstock Plus Red Reward ‘Fall Edition’ Bull & Female Sale, Osceola, Mo.
OCT. 28 T Bar S Focused on the Future Bull & Female Sale, Billings, Mo.
OCT. 29 Chimney Butte Ranch “The Northern Maternal Focus” Sale, Mandan, N.D.
48 | SEPTEMBER 2022 OCTOBER 2022
DEC. 7-9 AGA Annual National Convention, Louisville, Ky. 17 Rippe Gelbvieh Complete Red Gelbvieh and Balancer Female Dispersal, Hubbell, Neb.
FEB. 23 Plateau Gelbvieh Annual Bull Sale, Brush, Colo.
MARCH
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER 2022
NOV. 18 Warner Beef Genetics, “Genetic Opportunities” Female Sale, Arapahoe, Neb.
OCT. 15 Paul Gelbvieh Annual Bull and Commercial Female Sale, Exeter, Mo.
OCT. 8 SoKY Select, Gelbvieh Sale, Bowling Green, Ky. OCT. 14 Function and Finesse 4.0, Parkbeg, SK Canada OCT. 14-16 The Rockies to the Pacific Online Gelbvieh and Balancer Female Sale, DVAuction.com
INTERESTOFEVENTS
OCT. 1 XXB Prefix of Choice Online Heifer Sale, Orleans, Neb. OCT. 8 Judd Ranch’s 32nd Annual Cow Power Female Sale, Pomona, Kan.
FEB. 16 Gustin’s Diamond D Gelbvieh Annual Production Sale, Medina, N.D.
OCT. 29 Midwest Beef Cattle Consultants 3rd Annual Educational Seminar and Fall Bull & Female Sale, Carthage, IN OCT. 29 Hasty Rocky Hill Farms Gelbvieh & Balancer Bull Sale, Lebanon, Ky.
OCT. 15 Seedstock Plus Fall Bull and Female Sale, Carthage, Mo.
2022
NOV. 29 Warner Beef Genetics “Commercial Edition” Female Sale, Arapahoe, Neb.
DEC. 1-3 Prairie Hills Gelbvieh “Princesses of the Prairie” Online Female Sale
MARCH 2023 3 34th Annual Davidson Gelbvieh & Lonesome Dove Ranch Bull Sale, Ponteix, SK
DEC. 2 Knoll Crest Farm Total Performance Bull Sale, Red House, Va.
FEB. 25 Post Rock Cattle Company “Cowman’s Kind” Bull & Female Sale, Barnard, Kan.
FEB. 24 32nd Annual “Pot of Gold” Gelbvieh and Balancer Bull Sale, Montrose, Colo.
FEBRUARY 2023
NOV. 26 Boys from the South Bull Sale, Lebanon, Tenn.
DEC.
SALE AVERAGES: Purebred red and black Gelbvieh yearling bulls sold for an average price of $4,607. Schedule in your attendance at the 34th Annual Davidson Gelbvieh & Lonesome Dove Ranch Bull Sale on Friday, March 3, 2023, at the Bull Yards, southwest of Ponteix.
REPORTSALE
The Davidson Gelbvieh & Lonesome Dove Ranch 33rd Annual Bull Sale was held on Friday, March 4, 2022, near Ponteix, SK. Sale Day arrived along with a good amount of snow, providing some much-needed moisture. Many determined customers attended the sale to bid in person, and there was also a large and active bidding community online with DLMS. Live bulls sold into five Canadian provinces and three American states, to both repeat buyers and new clients.
THE PROFIT PICTURE | 49 MARCH 4 Judd Ranch 45th Gelbvieh, Balancer, and Red Angus Bull Sale, Pomona, Kan. MARCH 4 Kentucky Beef Expo Gelbvieh/Balancer Sale MARCH 4 Lazy TV Ranch 42nd Production Sale, at the Ranch, Selby, S.D. MARCH 6 Hojer Ranch 31st Annual Gelbvieh & Balancer Production Sale, Lake Preston, S.D. MARCH 7 Warner Beef Genetics “Genetic Investment” Bull Sale, Arapahoe, Neb. MARCH 7 Swanson Cattle Company Annual Bull Sale, Oxford, Neb. MARCH 16 Kicking Horse Ranch Annual Production Sale, Olimont, Mont. MARCH 11 Midwest Beef Cattle Consultants 20th Annual Open House and Spring Bull & Female Sale, Carthage, Ind. MARCH 25 Bluegrass Gelbvieh Alliance Sale APRIL 2023 APRIL 8 Knoll Crest Farm’s Spring Bull & Female Sale, Red House, Va. DECEMBER 2023 DEC. 1 Knoll Crest Farm’s Total Performance Bull Sale, Red House, Va. Visit the online version of Upcoming Events at Gelbvieh.org for additional dates of upcoming sales and more information on each event. EDITOR’S NOTE: If you have a sale or event information for this listing, please email the information to malerie@ gelbvieh.org. This includes tours, expos, field days and other Gelbvieh events. INTERESTOFEVENTS
THE DAVIDSON GELBVIEH & LONESOME DOVE RANCH 33RD ANNUAL BULL SALE
50 | SEPTEMBER 2022 BREEDERS CORNER ALABAMAARKANSASARIZONA COLORADO KANSASIOWAILLINOISINDIANA 928-289-2619 • 928-380-5149 cell Winslow, AZ www.bartbar.com • info@bartbar.com RFI Tested Balancer®, Gelbvieh & Angus Bulls Sell Annually in April at the Ranch The Prosser Family Martin Cattle Company David & Rita Martin 256 Boyce Road Judsonia, Ar 72081 C: www.martincattleco.com501.278.7614 Private Treaty Sales Available Year Round (870)Neal426-4469or(870)704-9450 Quality Gelbvieh & Balancer Genetics Available Private Treaty Sales H ODGES R ANCH 15702 Hodges Rd., Omaha, Ark. 72662 Hodgesranch@live.com (C): www.plateaugelbvieh.comjr.plateau@hotmail.com970-520-1224 Jim Peetz,38330RoelleCR49CO80747 Dave & Dawn Bowman 55784 Holly Rd. • Olathe, CO 81425 (970) 323-6833 • www.bowkranch.com J & K GELBVIEH FARM, INC. Jerry & Karen Wilson 335 Gelbvieh Lane, Ava, IL 62907 618-521-8620 • jkgf88@frontier.com REGISTERED GELBVIEH AND BALANCER® 3 G Ranch Gelbvieh Cattle For Sale Carl, Rebecca & Emily Griffiths 1577 N 600 E • Kendallville, Ind. 46755 260/897-2160 • ggge3g@embarqmail.com Your call or visit is Always Welcome GS Ridge Top Ranch BlackGelbvieh-Angus-Balancer&PolledPrivateTreatySales Breed-leading Performance from Quality Genetics Kevin: 402-510-8103 Al: 402-676-5292 Neola, Iowa Gary Martens 2126 500th St • Walnut, Iowa 51577 712.764.5007 (H) • 712.249.5744 (C) martensgl@yahoo.com Annual Bull and Female Sale March 16, 2023 with the Southwest Iowa Gelbvieh Group Martens Gelbvieh LONE OAK CATTLE hornsandthorns@netins.net(319)480-1564Eric Mechanicsville,20963Ehresman30thSt.Iowa52306 Tim tim@blackgoldinc.biz785-640-6401MulroyMayetta,KS
THE PROFIT PICTURE | 51 MINNESOTAMISSOURI Stuart Jarvis 26 E. Limestone Rd. • Phillipsburg, Kan. 67661 e-mail: bararrow@ruraltel.net • 785-543-5177 Bar CompanyCattleArrow “Where workin’ cattle and eye appeal come full circle” John & Carla Shearer Annual Production Sale 1st Saturday in April 2815 Navajo Rd. • Canton, Kan. 67428 circle_s@hometelco.net S Gelbvieh 620.628.4621 620.654.6507 (John Cell) • 620.654.6731 (Johnny Cell) Purebred A.I. Seedstock Bulls and Heifers Available. Al & Mary Knapp Cell: (913) 219-6613 18291 158th Street H: (913) 724-4105 Basehor, Kan. 66007 www.triplekgelbvieh.com e-mail: knappa@swbell.net SwenSon Gelbvieh Polled • Purebred • Red • Black Dean Swenson 17513 Hwy 10 Little Falls, MN swen@centurylink.net56345 (h) 320.632.5848 • (c) 320.630-5536 Elmer, Brenda, Brad & Benny McWilliams Asbury, Mo. 64832 • 417-842-3225 • 417-529-0081(cell) Registered Gelbvieh and Balancer® Cattle Committed to raising quality seedstock NOWACK CattleOwensville,CompanyMO Registered Gelbvieh & Balancer Cattle Bulls and Females for Sale by private treaty year round. Jared, Caisie, Brooke & Cameron Gilbert & Debra 573.280.4633 573.646.3477 Breed for Tomorrow’s Cattle Today! A Breed Leader in Tenderness & Marbling P.O. Box 51 Mendon, Mo. 660-375-726664660(C) www.rogersvfg.com Ronald RogeRs email: rogers_valley_farm_feedlot@hotmail.com RogeRs Valley FaRm gelbVieh Bre RUMFELT Gelbvieh Gelbvieh CONTACT: BRAD, Amy OR KARLEY RUMFELT PHILLIPSBURG,brumfelt7556@gmail.com417-664-6936MO. Red Ridge gelbvieh Kevin Ireland 237 SW 30th Ave. Trenton, MO 64683 Cell (660) ksi1987@grundyec.net635-1433PerformanceDocility&Proven Focused on the Future Bull and Female Sale held each October. Billings, MO Tom, Stacy, Justin, Kyle & Grace Vehige (573) 690-3813 | tbarscattle@gmail.com Follow @tbars1993 on Facebook and Instagram! plusonecattle@gmail.com 3041 E. Hwy. 284, Barnard, KS 67418 Bill Clark: 785.792.6244 Leland Clark: 785.792.6208 Fax: Email:785.792.6250prcc@twinvalley.net POST ROCK CATTLE COMPANY Leland Clark: 785.392.0888 Office: 785.792.6244 Kyle Cavalli: 785-531-1947 Steve: 507 438 8112 Colton: 507 438 7299 Purebred & Balancer Gelbviehs "Committed to Quality" Bulls and heifers are available through private treaty F LY IN G H G E NET I C S Neb r a sk a & Mi ss ou r i Kyle Helms NE 308-962-6940 Missouri Office 417-309-0062 Visit us at–www.fl Flyingyinghgenetics.comHGenetics
52 | SEPTEMBER 2022 BREEDERS CORNER MONTANANEBRASKA CAROLINANORTHNEVADA Dick & Jean Williams P.O. Box 156 Orovada, NV 89425 775•272•3442 “Pounds Make Profit in Your Pocket” Bulls & Heifers Private Treaty Gelbvieh,QualityAngus & Balancer Cattle DUANE & WENDY STRIDER, OWNERS (336) ccrosscattle@yahoo.com964-6277•ccrosscattle.comCCROCAROLINAEXCLUSIVE1230YCCROCAROLINALEVERAGE3214A THE HERD THAT CONSISTENTLY PRODUCES CATTLE WITH PERFORMANCE, CARCASS AND EYE APPEAL. ANNUAL BULL & FEMALE SALE 2ND SATURDAY IN NOV. Private Treaty Sales Available Year Round. Walter & Lee Teeter 1380 French Belk Rd. • Mt. Ulla, N.C. 28125 (704) 664-5784 Producing Black, Polled Genetics for Today & Tomorrow. “Gelbvieh since 1973” Kathleen Rankin Jim Bjorkman 1285 Nine Mile Rd. 406-937-4815 Oilmont, MT 59466 krankin@northerntel.net 406-460-0535 www.kickinghorseranch.com Quality livestock that Work for you 1496 Goose Creek Rd. • Raynesford, MT 59469 Ranch Phone: 406.738.4220 • BarJRGelbvieh.comBarJRGelbvieh@3rivers.net Gelbvieh Carcass Quality CalvingTendernessEaseDocility Quarter Horses Want to Please StrongIntelligentBoneAthletic GELBVIEH BALANCER ANGUSV V Private Treaty Bull & Heifer Sales • Orchard, Neb. Val Livingston • www.88ranch.com • 402-655-2288 Eldon Starr: 1-800-535-6173 or Rich Johnson: 402-368-2209 Cedar Top Ranch Scott & Raberta Starr 212 Starr Drive • Stapleton, NE 69163 (H): 308-587-2293 • (C): 308-530-3900 cedartopranch@gpcom.net Mark & Patty Goes 39414 SW 75th Rd. Odell, Neb. 68415 (402) 766-3627 Scott Wolf Travis Wolf 308.537.3588 308.529.3733 Gothenburg, Neb. • www.facebook/wolfgelbvieh.comwolfgelbvieh@gmail.com Squeakin’ By-LK Farms Kyle & Lori Kuker Shubert, NEGelbvieh Bulls Black Balancer Females Red 402-883-7246 402-883-2366 402-245-7512 sqblkfarms.com Facebook.com/sqblkfarms sqblkfarms@gmail.com Randy & Leslie Lemke (H) 402-756-7090 (C) 402-469-2284 Bulls For The BeeF Business Gelbvieh F Balancer F Red Angus F Angus F Angus Hybrids 1757 Road 2500, Lawrence, NE rllemke@gtmc.net68957 www.lemkecattle.com L.D. Witt, Owner El Dorado Springs, MO Cell (479) 806-6511 ref65.lw@gmail.com CATTLE F LY IN G H G E NET I C S Neb r a sk a & Mi ss ou r i Kyle Helms NE 308-962-6940 Missouri Office 417-309-0062 Visit us at–www fl Flyingyinghgenetics.comHGenetics Consistent Genetics Adding Pounds & Profit Registered Gelbvieh & Balancer® Myron & Valerie Bahm 21640 Lawrence 2192 Aurora, MO 417-576-0687(c)65605 email: whiteoakfarms@live.com
THE PROFIT PICTURE | 53 OKLAHOMADNORTHAKOTA SOUTH D A TENNESSEEKOTA VIRGINIA 6700 County Rd. 19 S. Minot, N.D. 58701 (701) 624-2051 (H) (701) 720-8823 (C) Email: RLAGelbvieh@aol.comRob Arnold Registered Gelbvieh & Balancers® Dennis & Sherry Gustin Family Al and Peggy Gustin Mandan, N.D. • 701-663-7266 Richie & Sarah email:701-320-6484Heinrich(cell)gustindd@wildblue.netwww.gustinsdiamondd.com u u LeGRAND 809 S. Redlands Rd. • Stillwater, Okla. 74074 405-747-6950 • alane@c21global.com Ed & Alberta LeGrand Homo. Black, Homo. Polled • Breeding Stock Available Gelbvieh Genetics at Work Patrick Koehn 73243 Carter Rd., Goltry, Okla. koehncattlecompany@gmail.com580-541-2633 Koehn Cattle Co. Keith, Janice, Dustin & Britney kvolek@venturecomm.net605-852-2131 lori.maude@gmail.com Annual Bull Sale 3rd Saturday in December. Lori 303.809.3789Maude (C) Hermosa,605.255.4448RanchS.D. John & Liz Loy Quality Gelbvieh & Balancer® Cattle ClinCh Mountain Gelbvieh 7611 Dyer Rd. Luttrell, TN j.b.loy@att.net37779 (865) 687-1968 (865) 235-8869 (C) Bulls & Heifers for Sale JEFF PROCTOR CHARLOTTE, TN | CAVECREEKCATTLE@GMAIL.COMWWW.CAVECREEKCATTLE.COM931.801.5787CAVECREEKCATTLE Registered Bulls & Replacement Females “Superior Gelbvieh and Balancer Cattle” Chris & Jordan Hampton • Charles & Sue Hampton 839 Davistown Rd. Celina, Tenn. hamptoncattlecompany@gmail.com931-510-3213931-243-321338551HC Roger Morris C.W. Moss 434.315.4294 434.391.4458 REGISTERED POLLED GELBVIEH C.H. Morris & Sons, LLC Roger Morris • C.W. Moss 928 Morris Road Appomattox, VA 434.574.659224522 knollcrest@knollcrestfarm.comwww.knollcrestfarm.com Paul S. Bennett (434) 941-8245 Jim G. Bennett (434) 664-7935 Brian R. Bennett (434) 664-8309 Dalton G. Bennett (434) 664-7946 Office (434) 376-3567 PO Box 117 • Red House, VA • 23963 Vaughn & vwthor@venturecomm.netwww.Balancerbulls.com605-848-0421WendyGina605-850-9390 LA Z Y TV Sel by, SD 12980 Cedar Rd.
54 | SEPTEMBER 2022 BREEDERS CORNER CENTERSERVICE Specializing in • Gelbvieh Semen Sales • Consulting • Order Buying (all purchases guaranteed) Roger & Peg Gatz (785) 742-3163 Call Toll-Free: 1-800-743-0026 Visit our website: www.cattlemensconnection.com ConnectionCattlemen’s • Gelbvieh • Angus • Red Angus • Simmental • Club Calf • Salers • Shorthorn • Dairy • Charolais • Hereford • Sheaths • Gloves • Cito Thaw Units • Tanks • A.I. Kits • Arm Service Eldon & Kathy Starr 210 Starr Dr • Stapleton, Neb. 800-535-6173bullbarn@bullbarn.com69163•www.bullbarn.com All your A.I. needs!! Bull Barn Genetics 35 Years in business Dan McCarty • Auctioneer • • Professional Ring Service 970-481-5217• RonnAUCTIONEERCunningham P.O. Box 146 • Rose, Okla. 918-629-938274364 cellular 9/9Nine Bar Nine GelbviehWesley Brown 3794 Rd. 215 • Cheyenne, WY 82009 307-351-6453 • ninebar9@hotmail.com Purebred Bulls, Heifers & Select Embryos Performance BRED in, Not FED in! WYOMING F QUALITY GELBVIEH CATTLE LITTLE WINDY HIll.L Farms Doug & Sue Hughes 6916 Peppers Ferry Road Max Meadows, VA 24360 C lwhf@wiredog.com276/620-4271 W L H Gale Rippey Farms SPECIALIZING IN COMMERCIAL BALANCER® FEMALES Galax, Virginia 276.233.0999 • grippey@embarqmail.com
THE PROFIT PICTURE | 55 Judd Ranch ........................................... 1 3 G Ranch........................................... 50 AGA Convention ................................. 21 B/F Cattle Co. .............................. 30, 51 Bar Arrow Cattle Company 51 Bar JR Gelbvieh 8, 52 Bar T Bar Ranches 50 Bow K Ranch 50 Bull Barn Genetics 47, 54 Butler Creek Farms 32 C.H. Morris & Sons, LLC. 53 Canadian Gelbvieh Association 54 Cattlemen’s Connection 54 Cave Creek Cattle 53 C-Cross Cattle Company ................. 52 Cedar Top Ranch ........................ 52, BC Chica Bar Ranch ............................... 24 Chimney Butte Ranch................ 34, 52 Christensen Family Apiaries ........... 44 Circle S Ranch .................................... 51 CJ&L Livestock .................................. 53 Clinch Mountain Gelbvieh ............... 53 Cranview Gelbvieh............................ 53 Dan McCarty, Auctioneer ................ 54 Danell Diamond Six Ranch .............. 52 Diamond L Farms ............................. 53 Doak Lambert, Auctioneer ............. 54 Dobson Ranch ................................... 30 Flying H Genetics 51, 52 Gale Rippey Farms 54 Gelbvieh Association in Nebraska 13 Gelbvieh Auction 46 Grand Valley Gelbvieh/Balancer 8 Green Hills Gelbvieh 32, 52 GS Ridge Top Ranch 8 Gustin’s Diamond D Gelbvieh 26, 53 Hampton Cattle Company 53 Hart Farm Gelbvieh 25, 50 Hasty Rocky Hill Farms 22 Hilltop Farms 51 Hodges Ranch 50 Hojer Ranch ...............................6, 8, 53 Ivers Cattle Company ....................... 51 J & K Gelbvieh Farm, Inc. ................. 50 Kicking Horse Ranch............. 8, 44, 52 Knoll Crest Farm ............................... 53 Koehn Cattle Co. ............................... 53 Lazy TV Ranch .............................. 5, 53 Lemke Cattle ............................... 52, 39 Little Windy Hill Farms ..................... 54 Lone Oak Cattle ......................... 39, 50 M&P Gelbvieh .................................... 52 Martens Gelbvieh ............................. 50 Martens Gelbvieh ............................... 8 Martin Cattle Company ............... 8, 50 McMahan Cove Gelbvieh 50 Mitchell Marketing Services 54 MLM Gelbvieh 8, 52 Mulroy Farms, LLC 50 Nine Bar Nine Gelbvieh 54 Nowack Cattle Company 51 Plateau Gelbvieh 8, 50 Plus One Cattle Co. 51 Post Rock Cattle Company 18, 51 Pot of Gold Sale 8 Prairie Breeze Ranch 51 Prairie Hills Gelbvieh 53 ProHart Seedstock 50 Red Ridge Gelbvieh .................... 30, 51 Rippe Gelbvieh .............................. 8, 38 Rogers Valley Farm Gelbvieh ........... 51 Rumfelt Gelbvieh ............................... 51 S.J. Cattle Co...................................... 53 Sawtooth Gelbvieh Cattle & Hay .... 52 Seedstock Plus ................................. 20 SoKY Select Sale ............................... 28 Squeakin’ By-LK Farms ................... 52 SW Iowa Bull Sale ............................. 43 Swanson Cattle Co. ........................... 16 Swenson Gelbvieh .........................8, 51 T Bar S Cattle Co. ........................ 51, 56 Taubenheim Gelbvieh ...................... 52 The 88 Ranch .................................... 52 Thull Gelbvieh Farm 53 TJB Gelbvieh IFC Triple K Gelbvieh 51 Volek Ranch 53 Warner Beef Genetics IBC White Oak Farms 52 Wilkinson Gelbvieh 50 Witt Cattle 52 Wolf Gelbvieh 52 INDEXADVERTISINGContact Malerie for advertising opportunities in The Profit Picture and Gelbvieh World publications. MALERIE STRAHM GELBVIEH MEDIA PRODUCTIONS COORDINATOR malerie@gelbvieh.org | 303-465-2333
PRICES.AFFORDABLEBULLS.QUALITY PUREBRED GELBVIEH. ANGUS. RED ANGUS. BALANCER. ONFOCUSEDTHEFuture DON’T JUST BUY A BULL. BUY A PROGRAM. 28OCT With questions and inquiries, call Justin at (573) 690-3813 or Kyle at (573) 645-8819. Visit our Facebook page for additional updates. 28OCT BULL AND FEMALE SALE
Y our continued source FOR GELBVIEH AND BALANCER® GENETICS DAN AND KATE WARNER 42198 ROAD 721 ARAPAHOE, NE 68922 DAN WARNER 308-962-6511 MONTE WARNER 308-268-6020 DARREN WARNER 308-268-2031 Warner Beef works diligently everyday all year long to bring the most complete service of genetic source for our customers. Industry leading traits in sound structured packages built for longevity. Backed by a full service guarantee and a personal touch with every customer. JOIN US FRIDAY, NOV. 18, 2022 SELLING 100+ ELITE GELBVIEH & BALANCER FEMALES. TOP PROSPECTS FROM THE COW FAMILIES THAT PRODUCED BREED GREATS ALUMNI, JACKPOT, FRONTRUNNER, E TRADE AND GLORY. TUESDAY, NOV. 29, 2022 SELLING 400+ COMMERICAL BRED FEMALES. RED ANGUS, BALANCER AND F1 BALDY FEMALES AI BRED TO INDUSTRY LEADING SIRES. SELLING IN GROUPS TO SERVE THE CUSTOMER. PRIVATE TREATY BULL AND YEARLING HEIFER SALES ALSO AVAILABLE. Warner BeefWHEN YOU WANT TO BUILD YOUR COWHERD WILL MEET YOUR NEEDS.
ADVANCED Genetics Eldon & Kathy Starr 210 Starr Dr • Stapleton, NE 69163 bullbarn@bullbarn.com • 800-535-6173 www.bullbarn.com CEDAR TOP RANCHScott&RabertaStarr 212 Starr Drive • Stapleton, NE 69163 308-530-3900 (Scott) • 308-530-2720 (Austin)cedartopranch@ yahoo.com • Facebook: Cedar Top Ranch BULL BARN GENETICS THE SOURCE FOR YOUR GENETIC NEEDS DO ONE THING... DO IT WELL... WE RAISE BEEF CATTLE WATCH FOR INFORMATION ON OUR UPCOMING SALES
