PROFIT PICTURE
SEPTEMBER
34th Annual Judd Ranch Gelbvieh, Balancer® & Red Angus
Cow Power Female Sale
124 Homozygous Polled Females Sell SALE VIDEO ONLINE
When you see a Judd Ranch female or bull, it’s their eye appeal that draws the first comment. Then, as you study each animal, you notice their functional and convenience traits. And when you read their pedigrees and performance figures, it becomes obvious that Judd Ranch animals give you more—and why Judd Ranch was honored as the No. 1 owner and breeder of AGA Dams of Merit, Dams of Distinction for 21 of the past 26 years, 1998-2023. If you’re needing a strong herdsire, breed-defining females or embryos featuring the top genetics in the breed, give us a call and let’s discuss your needs. Please save these dates: October 12, second Saturday in October, Judd Ranch 34th Annual Cow Power Female Sale, and March 1, first Saturday in March, Judd Ranch 47th Gelbvieh, Balancer® and Red Angus Bull Sale.
FEATURES
12. OVER THE FENCE WITH LANNY FORD
Feature by Ryan McDuffie, AGA Intern
24. EXPORTS MAXIMIZE THE VALUE OF EVERY ANIMAL
Feature by Laura Handke
28. U.S. BEEF COW HERD EXPANSION: TRENDS, TIMELINES, AND MARKET INSIGHTS
Feature by Laura Handke
32. THE IMPACT OF NUTRITION ON BULL FERTILITY
Feature by Laura Handke
EDITORIAL
4. BUILDING A WINNING TEAM
From the Corner Office by Harold Bertz, Executive Director
6. GELBVIEH - THE ULTIMATE FIXER
View from the Board by Lori Maude, AGA President
10. A GLIMPSE OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SEEDSTOCK AND COMMERCIAL CATTLEMEN
Junior Connection by Lily Judd, AGJA Vice President of Leadership Development
16. GET A JUMP ON DNA TESTING
Data Bulletin by Sarah Mumm
EDITOR LAURA HANDKE GRAPHIC DESIGN LORA THORSON CREATIVE
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 AGA STAFF
8. FAST FACTS ABOUT AGA
20. GELBVIEH & BALANCER GENETIC TRENDS
40. EVENTS OF INTEREST
303.465.2333
ASSOCIATION STAFF
HAROLD BERTZ
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR haroldb@gelbvieh.org
TOM STRAHM COMMERCIAL MARKETING DIRECTOR tom@gelbvieh.org
TAWNIE DEJONG, M.S. MEMBER & YOUTH ACTIVITIES COORDINATOR tawnie@gelbvieh.org
MORGAN HAUGER COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR morgan@gelbvieh.org
MALERIE MARKLEY
MULTIMEDIA COORDINATOR malerie@gelbvieh.org
WAYDE PICKINPAUGH DNA SERVICES COORDINATOR wayde@gelbvieh.org
SARAH MUMM PERFORMANCE PROGRAMS COORDINATOR sarah@gelbvieh.org
MARGO MCKENDREE OFFICE MANAGER margo@gelbvieh.org
SHIANNA BRADLEY OFFICE SERVICES SPECIALIST shianna@gelbvieh.org
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
LORI MAUDE, PRESIDENT HERMOSA, S.D. • 303.809.3789 lori.maude@gmail.com
DAVID LARSON, VICE PRESIDENT CLEARBROOK, MINN. • 218.766.3323 david.larson.lrl@gmail.com
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DIRECTORS
GREG “BUBBA” ANDERSON MARION, N.C. • 828.442.6869 grega1983@live.com
TODD BICKETT, DVM CHICKAMAUGA, GA. • 423.667.3799 todd@bickettgenetics.com
ZACK BUTLER MILTON, TENN. • 615.308.8628 butlercreek1952@aol.com
MARK COVINGTON MONTROSE, COLO. • 970.209.1956 covinginc@hotmail.com
GARY FELGER LOHMAN, MO. • 573.782.3737 garyfelger@hotmail.com
TROY FORBES
DE SMET, S.D. • 605.530.4764 forbes_gelbvieh@hotmail.com
Association @americangelbvieh GREGG HARTMAN PUEBLO, COLO. • 719.948.4415 grhartman@hotmail.com
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BUILDING A WINNING TEAM
FROM THE CORNER OFFICE
BY HAROLD BERTZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Football season is here! The college and professional teams have finished training camps and are beginning their games. Expectations are always high for our favorite teams in that first game or maybe even the first few games of the season. Unfortunately, reality soon sets in and we start “arm chair coaching” the adjustments that should be made and possibly even how things will be better next season. If we’re lucky, we are swept up in the winning direction toward our favorite team’s next championship.
Building a successful sports team is a complex process. Recruiting high quality players, developing their
potential, putting the right plays into the scheme, and executing plays at a high level are just a few of the things that are needed for success. Winning programs, however, have all the ingredients needed plus the added addition of the right culture. These teams have a culture committed to excellence and developing skills that go beyond winning games. This culture is the result of clearly defined goals and communicating them at every level: coaches, players, and staff. Each member of the team cares about one another and the organization. They hold one another accountable for their performance and winning games is a by-product of achieving this successful culture. The truly great programs not
only win games, but they also create excellent individuals and communities that reap the rewards of their success.
The American Gelbvieh Association has a team of experts dedicated to sharing their winning culture with commercial and purebred cattlemen.
The past few months have escorted in some record-breaking prices for calves and yearlings. The finished cattle market trends higher with record breaking carcass weights. Much of the country has been blessed with rain and many ranchers are preparing to build back herd numbers. This provides a unique opportunity to take advantage of some
Bertz recently served as the chief operating officer of the American Royal in Kansas City. He previously worked for the Red Angus Association of America for nearly 10 years focusing on growing the acceptance of Red Angus cattle with commercial cow/calf producers and feedyards. The Bertz family farm near Mayview has been in the family for seven generations. He and his wife, Melisa, are also involved with her family’s farm near Parker, Kansas. They have two grown children that are active in the beef industry.
extra profits and invest in your ranch’s team and culture. Two areas that might be overlooked when determining how to distribute added profits are genetics and marketing.
Investing in the right genetics is always a wise decision, but it is often tough to determine which cattle in our herd have the right genetics. The Cow Power project, sponsored by the American Gelbvieh Foundation, American Gelbvieh Association and Neogen®, provides producers the opportunity to gain valuable information about the genetic merit of their cowherd at a reduced price. This information can allow you to strengthen the cowherd “team” by increasing the accuracy of EPDs and lending more genetic predictability to future generations. Commercial cattlemen will be able to select bulls and replacement females with added predictability for more reliable results.
For more information about the Cow
Power project, contact Sarah Mumm, sarah@gelbvieh.org.
Developing reliable information about your herd is a solid way to improve the culture of your ranch team.
Investing money in marketing can be a daunting task, especially for commercial ranchers. In the current constant media contact age, it is imperative that ranchers promote their product to separate them from a noisy marketplace. The Feeder Finder is a simple, effective and FREE tool for ranchers to alert cattle buyers across the country to the details about cattle they are selling. A simple, online sign up with information about when and where your cattle will sell along with details about your vaccination protocol and genetics can promote your cattle to a wide audience. Over 17,000 head were promoted by AGA marketing staff last year.
Another opportunity for commercial cattlemen to add value to their calves is through the Balancer Edge program.
Working with IMI Global, producers can enroll in an age, source and genetic verification program that assures buyers the integrity of an age range, one ranch location and minimum thresholds of Gelbvieh genetics in their calves. Enrollment is simple and can be done over the phone. You will need dates of first and last calf born and pedigrees of sires to verify Gelbvieh genetics. Join the winning teams at Gelbvieh and IMI Global in representing the extra work you have put into your calf crop. Contact Tom Strahm, tom@gelbvieh.org for more information on the Feeder Finder and Balancer Edge programs.
Building a successful team is never an easy task, but it can be extremely rewarding when done right. Take advantage of the resources our team at AGA provides to enhance your ranch and add to the culture you are creating.
Good luck to your favorite teams this fall, and I look forward to seeing you down the road.
Wednesday, Oct. 16: Montana Gelbvieh Association & Pacific Northwest Gelbvieh Association Social at the NILE, Billings, Mont. at 4 p.m. Mountain Rockies to the Pacific Sale closes at 6 p.m. Mountain
Oct.
a.m.
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GELBVIEH - THE ULTIMATE FIXER
The U.S. cowherd is at the smallest inventory on record since the late 1950s. There are a lot of factors figuring into that with the biggest being significant drought in major cow states the past two to three years. In response, calf prices are at levels not seen since 2014/2015 when cow numbers were low then.
I listened to a CattleFax presentation recently and the trends show the cowherd numbers may not start climbing again until late 2025 into 2026. Some of it is the age of today’s cattle producer; older producers don’t want to take on that long-term debt to buy cows to expand their herds. Some are giving Mother Nature time to replenish their moisture supply more and give pastures time to recover before looking hard at expansion. And honestly if you are borrowing money, the interest rates are not in our favor right now to take on big debts.
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t take some steps now to optimize the cowherd you have currently and improve genetics. In today’s market, those extra pounds at weaning can add up quickly.
We continue to hear and read about efforts to improve reproductive efficiency in the cowherd. This continues to be a challenge in a predominantly Angus cowherd. The fastest way to improve reproductive efficiency is a shift to a crossbred cowherd. Reproductivity
is quickly improved through heterosis. But making the decision on the right breed to cross with an Angus-based cowherd isn’t one to be taken lightly.
My family originally ran a rotation of Angus and Hereford bulls in our cowherd. We liked that black-baldy cow base in the herd. We struggled with weaning weights and you could always tell the first-calf heifers calves, they were lighter weight despite being two to three weeks older.
We bought our first Gelbvieh bulls in 1999 to use on that British-based cowherd. I will be the first to say that my dad was skeptical because of a previous experience with another continental breed. We focused on buying bulls with calving ease, reasonable birth weights and above average weaning weights. The results of the first calf crop were an average increase in weaning weight of 50 pounds. A big difference and that was under drought conditions.
The Gelbvieh-sired replacement heifers made my dad a true believer. Not only were they quieter to handle, those heifers cycled sooner than our Angus x Hereford heifers and they bred up quicker when we turned the bulls in — we had nearly 100 percent breed up on those heifers.
Those Gelbvieh-sired heifers calved in a tight calving season, with more than 80 percent of them calving in the first 21 days of the season. The rest caught
right away during the second heat cycle. The Gelbvieh-sired heifers were heavier milking than their Angus-sired counterparts and their calves showed it. The calves from the heifers matched well with the calves from the mature cowherd.
I guess you could say Gelbvieh was the ultimate fixer for use. We got the weaning weight we needed and it took the maternal efficiency of our cowherd to another level. We’ve now been using Gelbvieh and Balancer genetics in our commercial cowherd for more than 20 years. We synchronize and AI breed our commercial herd along with our registered herd. It allows us to use top-end genetics that we can’t always afford to buy and use natural service. The fertility and milking ability of those Gelbvieh-influenced females is at the heart of our success.
If you are running a predominantly British-based cowherd — whether it is Angus, Red Angus or Hereford base — I believe you will see a difference when you add Gelbvieh bulls into your breeding program. The steer progeny are going to weigh up heavier and perform efficiently in a feedyard, while the heifer replacements will ultimately out perform their mothers. Find a Gelbvieh breeder in your area and take time to go visit their herd. Learn about the breed, ask the questions and see how Gelbvieh has evolved to be the beef industry fixer.
VIEW FROM THE BOARD BY LORI MAUDE, AGA PRESIDENT
Lori Maude is serving her second year as president of the American Gelbvieh Association. She works and lives with her family on their ranch located in southwestern South Dakota. They have a commercial cow/calf herd, as well as a registered Gelbvieh and Balancer herd. In her day job, Lori has more than three decades of experience in agricultural communications and marketing.
RIPPE GELBVIEH, HUBBELL, NE NORTH FORK GELBVIEH, WILMOT, SD CEROLL GELBVIEH, SISSETON, SD HANDEL
FAST FACTS
WHO WE ARE
The American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) is dedicated to recording and promoting Gelbvieh, Balancer and Gelbvieh-influenced cattle, while providing members and their customers programs and services to advance the breed. The AGA 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 STRENGTHS OF GELBVIEH
The Gelbvieh breed is well known throughout the industry for their maternal strengths and superior growth. With attributes such as more pounds of calf weaned, added fertility, greater cow herd longevity and heavier carcass weights, just to name a few, Gelbvieh and Balancer offer genetics that work for the commercial cattle business.
With the high costs associated with the development or purchase of replacement females, sustained production in a herd is essential. Gelbvieh females are proven to stay in the herd longer.
U.S. Meat Animal Research Center data shows Gelbvieh females have the most moderate mature cow size of the seven major beef breeds. This reduced mature cow size allows for puberty to be reached at an earlier age, which leads to calving earlier in the season and producing a heavier calf at a younger age.
Gelbvieh and Balancer cattle excel in traits such as growth, stayability, and productivity. Using Gelbvieh and Balancer genetics in a crossbreeding program can help increase profitability of an operation. See additional pounds and added profit through more efficiency and greater longevity of cows as well as heavier, faster gaining feeder cattle.
WHAT IS A BALANCER ® ?
Balancer cattle are registered hybrid seedstock that have documented pedigrees and expected progeny differences. 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% 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 cow-calf operations and on the rail.
HOW DO GELBVIEH AND BALANCER® CROSSBRED FEMALES PERFORM BETTER?
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
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.
WAYDE PICKINPAUGH
MATERNAL HETEROSIS
Maternal heterosis leads to the combined improvement in traits from the dam that cause increases in the performance of her and 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.
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. The upcoming events calendar can be found under the Marketing tab on the website. Also, don’t forget to check out the sale catalog page on the AGA website, also found under the marketing tab, to view upcoming sale catalogs.
FOCUS ON PROGRAMS FOR COMMERCIAL PRODUCERS
FEEDER FINDER
Feeder Finder is a free email service offered by AGA to promote and assist in marketing load lots of Gelbvieh and Balancer-influenced feeder cattle. Producers who have cattle to sell are encouraged to fill out the online form or contact AGA staff to submit information about their cattle.
BALANCER® EDGE
Balancer® Edge is a source and age verification program for feeder cattle sired by Gelbvieh and Balancer bulls. Offered by the AGA in partnership with IMI Global, this program gives producers the opportunity to participate in a breed-identified feeder calf marketing program with the option to customize. Balancer®
Multimedia Coordinator malerie@gelbvieh.org
Edge customers can choose additional value-added programs, which open the doors to additional markets and the opportunity to generate even more value for their feeder calves.
COMMERCIAL MARKETING STAFF
The American Gelbvieh Association has outstanding marketing staff that understands both the beef business and the Gelbvieh breed. They are available to help commercial cattlemen find Gelbvieh or Balancer genetics to fit your programs or assist in marketing Gelbvieh-influenced breeding animals or feeder cattle.
To learn more about our commercial marketing services, contact Tom Strahm, AGA commercial marketing director, at 785-547-7999 or tom@gelbvieh.org.
GELBVIEH MEDIA PRODUCTIONS
PROFESSIONAL DESIGN SERVICES
Did you know that in addition to providing the advertising opportunities your team has come to rely on to reach your customer base, the AGA team offers the top-notch design services to get your ads noticed both in Gelbvieh publications and beyond? Let Malerie help you catch the eye of your customers with custom logo art, business card design, letterhead design, brochures, flyers, postcards, calendars, websites and more. To learn more, contact Malerie Markley at malerie@gelbvieh.org.
FAST FACTS
MALERIE MARKLEY
MORGAN HAUGER Communications Coordinator morgan@gelbvieh.org
SHIANNA BRADLEY Office Services Specialist shianna@gelbvieh.org
SARAH MUMM Performance Programs Coordinator sarah@gelbvieh.org
MARGO MCKENDREE Office Manager margo@gelbvieh.org
A GLIMPSE OF THE
BETWEEN SEEDSTOCK AND COMMERCIAL CATTLEMEN RELATIONSHIP
JUNIOR CONNECTION
BY LILY JUDD, AGJA VICE PRESIDENT OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday – just a few amazing and complimentary sidekicks. But how about the seedstock and commercial cattlemen, the two are a perfect example of partners that may get more easily overlooked than what ought to be.
It is most impressive and easier to explain my point when looking at it from a large scale rather than just the direct interaction that we are familiar with. The seedstock cattleman helps supply the genetics to keep improving the cattle that the commercial cattleman then uses and grows within their herd. There is a larger volume of cattle from commercial herds that are found within feedlots and getting sent to the plant than what there is of seedstock. Therefore, in theory, most of the meat purchased in grocery stores comes from the commercial operation origin. Tracing it back, it comes back down to the genetics that the commercial cattleman trusted to purchase from a seedstock operation.
Seedstock operations work day and night to ensure the next line of improved genetics to share with fellow cattle producers. It is important to recognize though, that come time to sell these genetics, the commercial segment of the industry is the largest part of the audience. On the flipside, commercial operations are always working to have their best calf crop, no matter their chosen breeding system. To continue to push forward, they lean on the seedstock operations to help supply that next line of genetics.
To me, this relationship has always been fascinating and is one that I continue to grow more interested in the older and more involved I become. Coming from a seedstock background, it is important to know what your customers want and expect from your genetics but even deeper, who your customers are and what the goals of their operation are. When hosting a sale or offering private treaty lots, is your job as a seedstock breeder to know and understand which of your genetics in the offering are going to suit the different wants, needs, and
areas of your commercial producers. Not every commercial operation is the same or located in the same region, and knowing those details will help put together the pieces for both sides to obtain the most success.
Now, like I said, I have more of a seedstock background, but commercial producers must put a lot of trust in a seedstock man’s genetics. No matter if purchasing bulls or females, you want to do it on the confidence that these genetics are going to mesh well within your herd and environment to keep you moving forward into the next couple of years. It is too risky of a step to not have that trust built before carrying out that process. Therefore, it is crucial for the commercial man to take the time to find a seedstock man that can show what his genetics can do from previous sales, current calves, etc. to help make sure you will be making a confident selection. Not only to put more money in your pocket come sale time, but also the best meat on the plate to continue to serve the world.
Probity 254D28
Homo Black Homo Polled 50% Balancer. Sire of the steer pictured in this ad. Probity was the winner of the 2017 Balancer Futurity and is the sire of the 2020 Futurity and National Champion Balancer Bull, Rebel Yell as well as the 2023 Balancer Futurity Champion Post Rock Prominent. He sired the high-averaging balancer group in both our 2022 and 2023 production sale and his daughters are among our most valued replacement females.
Roy 32F9
Black Homo Polled 93% Gelbvieh. Roy certainly made a name for himself at the 2022 AGF “Scale and Rail” contest, siring the grand champion purebred pen for carcass value and the champion purebred steer for average daily gain. His purebred sons graded 100% choice with a 4.4 average daily gain, 446 marbling score, 16.24 average REA with only .58 inches of backfat and an average YG of 2.0. He’s being infused deep in our purebred female population.
Clock Work 164L8
Homo Black Homo Polled 50% Balancer. We are incredibly humbled and honored to have Post Rock Clock Work 164L8 selected as the 2024 People’s Choice Balancer Futurity Champion Bull. A Go Time son whose dam was the feature and high selling female in our 2024 Cowman’s Kind sale. We have already used this exciting young herd bull in our AI and ET program this spring and we are especially proud to have him back as a resident herd sire here at the ranch.
Top Gun 65F8
Homo Black Homo Polled 70% Balancer. Post Rock Top Gun 65F8 was a phenotypic standout at an early age and has developed into a most impressive herd bull. We use him on our high percentage females to produce purebreds who excel in fleshing ability, mass and structural integrity. We have sold many sons and retained even more daughters. Top Gun finally received his recognition on the carcass side of the industry in the 2023 AGF Scale and Rail contest, where he sired the Champion Gelbvieh Pen of Steers, Champion Carcass Value Gelbvieh Steer and Champion ADG Gelbvieh Steer.
ThisPostRockbredandraisedsteerwasinthe2022AGFSteerChallenge. Weareproudthatfiveofourresidentherdsires,GameChangerD136,Young GunC503,Probity254D28allsiredtheChampionPenofBalancerSteers, andRoy32F9andTopGun65F8siredtheChampionPenofPurebredSteers intheofficialAGFScaleandRailContest.Wecontinuetotestallmajorherd sireinthishighlystructuredAGFcontest.
February 22, 2025
POST ROCK CATTLE
OVER THE FENCE LANNY FORD WITH
BY RYAN MCDUFFIE, AGA INTERN
IN THIS OVER THE FENCE, AGA SUMMER INTERN, RYAN MCDUFFIE, SAT DOWN WITH COMMERCIAL PRODUCER, LANNY FORD, TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHY GELBVIEH GENETICS ARE A FIT FOR THE GOALS OF FORD’S HERD.
My operation, F & F Cattle, inc., is in Hope, Arkansas . We are 30 miles from the Texas state line and 50 miles from the Louisiana line. My wife and I have been in the business for about 35 years, and I was partners with my dad for several years — we started out as cow folks. I was also in the order buying business and started supplying bulls to some customers. This is a high cow concentration area, so there will always be a need for bulls.
That led into the bull leasing twelve years ago. Leasing bulls actually makes more financial sense to producers that are on a 90-day calving period than to own bulls. I also work with two other partners once a year for an annual bull sale for Seedstock Plus in Hope, AR where we sell 80-100 bulls.
TELL ME ABOUT HOW GELBVIEH/BALANCER GENETICS HAVE BENEFITTED YOU AND HELP YOU ACCOMPLISH YOUR PRODUCTION GOALS:
Prior to the knowledge of the Gelbvieh/ Balancer® breed in this part of the country it was primarily Angus, Hereford, Brangus, and Charolais for either a breed rotation or a terminal cross. When the opportunity came to use the Gelbvieh and Balancer® genetics we took it. The productivity, performance, weaning weights, and maybe even some quality issues improved. We started to see replacement heifers being kept introducing a breed that had never been seen before in southwest Arkansas. Because the Gelbvieh breed was new, you got a lot of heterosis, and really good performance. Little by little people got more comfortable with the breed, and it is mainly because of the maternal side of things with milking abilities.
HOW DID YOU START USING GELBVIEH AND BALANCER AND HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU?
I was first introduced to the Gelbvieh breed when I attended TCU Ranch Management School in Fort Worth. We studied Meat Animal Research Center (MARC) data which compared the Gelbvieh breed to other breeds in multiple traits and tests.
I purchased my first Gelbvieh bull in the early nineties because of the data, research, and performance I was exposed to in college. I found John Burbank at Seedstock Plus in the early 2000’s and I have not sourced a Gelbvieh/Balancer bull from anywhere else since. Once I saw the calves produced from my commercial Longhorn set of cows I was impressed.
WHAT TRAITS ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU AND YOUR CUSTOMERS WHEN SELECTING BULLS?
The traits important for my cow herds are weaning weight, yearling weight, and maternal. I primarily market my calf crops as 7 weight yearlings to go on feed.
Due to the number of replacement heifers being bred to keep in a good year, my customers prefer low birth weight and calving ease numbers. The emphasis on carcass traits in Southwest Ark. are not as important as in the midwestern states. Those guys usually retain ownership through the feedlot. In our part of the country, we prefer to breed a cow, raise a calf, and sell pounds.
HOW AND WHERE DO YOU MARKET YOUR CALVES?
To get the maximum dollar per head I prefer to sell a full load of uniform steers or heifers.
I wean my calves, background them, and in most cases graze through spring & summer grass. August & September are good months to sell a 7-8 weight feeder calf.
I add to my weaned calf crop with auction bought calves to help build my load lots.
WHAT ARE SOME STRENGTHS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE BREED?
The weaning weight & yearling weights have always been an advantage to the Gelbvieh/Balancer® breed. Our customer base loves the maternal side of the breed.
The plus to Gelbvieh/Balancer® cross females is their milking ability, reproductive efficiency, and ease of temperament.
I would say they are the red or black alternative to a Charolais bull because you will still get the weight advantages and the females are much better.
DO YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE TO USE GELBVIEH OR BALANCER® AND WHY?
Well, absolutely!! As the Gelbvieh/ Balancer® breeder’s refine their herd traits we get higher quality bulls every year. These bulls will be a vital part of this areas demand for years to come.
IGET A JUMP ON DNA TESTING
t is crazy to think we are coming around the corner on yet another sale season. With that in mind, it is time to get a jump on DNA testing today! While this can be a time consuming and, at times, frustrating process, many breeders have seen what investing in DNA testing can do for their program. We want you to have the most successful experience possible and we hope these tips can help you achieve this!
Step one is to make sure you have all the supplies you need. Hair cards, blood cards, tissue sampling units (TSUs) and TSU applicators can be ordered by calling or emailing the AGA office. TSUs are the preferred method of sample collection because of the sample type’s low failure rate, the speed at which a sample can be collected chute-side, and the ease and speed of handling at the lab.
Next, calves must be registered before DNA testing. Make sure your walking sires, AI sires, and donor dams have the proper DNA requirements completed. If they need to be tested for the first time, or need any additional testing completed, this will take up to the normal DNA processing time of four to six weeks. If SNPs need to be requested from other associations, this can take up to seven to ten business days.
After registration, to place a DNA order in Digital Beef, you will need the barcodes from the samples that were
BY SARAH MUMM
taken. After the DNA order has been placed, samples must be sent directly to Neogen® with the sample submission form. On average, Neogen receives between ten and twenty thousand samples per day so including the sample submission form is vital to the success of your samples. We recommend sending samples in a padded envelope, or box, with tracking. Neogen logs all tracking numbers they receive, which makes it easy to locate if samples have been received at the lab. Members are also encouraged to keep a list that matches the animal ID with DNA sample barcodes even after samples have been sent to the lab. This is very helpful if there is a discrepancy between the order placed by the member, and the samples received by the lab.
Members will receive an automated email from Digital Beef when DNA results for the whole order is complete. Although DNA testing takes four to six weeks once the samples arrive at the lab, it is important to allow extra time once results have been received. Here are a few common reasons why:
• GE-EPDs are released once a week, typically on Monday or Tuesday. Because of this, GE-EPDs can take up to two weeks to show up on an animal’s profile after DNA is finished.
• Allow yourself and staff time to investigate any parentage exclusions or additional testing on potential
parents. If an animal’s test results reveal a parentage exclusion, review your records, gather a list of potential parents, and email dna@gelbvieh.org to attempt to correct the animal’s pedigree.
• Occasionally, samples will fail testing or give a No Result (NR). It is important to allow for extra time to pull and retest new samples.
This poses the question: when should breeders start DNA testing? Historically, AGA’s “busy season” for DNA testing falls September through February with our busiest month in 2023 being November. We would recommend having your samples at Neogen no later than three to four months before your sale. Here is why! This gives the allotted amount of time for the four-to-six-week processing window, it allows staff time to correct any parentage issues that may arise, as well as time for any re-testing on failed samples. This also allows time for GE-EPDs to update and for breeders to add those EPDs as well as traits results to their catalogs. No more adding results to a supplement sheet last minute! It is common for order processing times to increase slightly as the volume of samples Neogen receives increases. Below is a tentative calendar with suggested times for testing based on sale dates. It is important to allow extra time for holidays, busy season, mailing times, and even weather. As always, earlier is always better!
DATA BULLETIN
MY SALE DATE IS IN...
SAMPLES NEED TO ARRIVE AT LAB NO LATER THAN…
OCTOBER JULY 1ST
NOVEMBER AUGUST 1ST
DECEMBER SEPTEMBER 1ST
JANUARY OCTOBER 1ST
FEBRUARY NOVEMBER 1ST
MARCH DECEMBER 1ST
APRIL JANUARY 1ST
MAY FEBRUARY 1ST
JUNE MARCH 1ST
JULY APRIL 1ST
AUGUST MAY 1ST
SEPTEMBER JUNE 1ST
Other tips for successful DNA testing:
• Separate genetic conditions orders – genetic conditions testing is a requirement for all AI sires and donor dams. This test can also be selected on its own if a breeder would choose to. AGA does not receive results on DNA orders until the whole order is complete. At times, conditions testing can add some time to completing an order. We would suggest if you have any animals that you would like to test for genetic conditions that they be ordered separate from the rest of your animals. That way they do not hold up results for the rest of the animals.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to someone in the DNA department at dna@gelbvieh.org or 303-465-2333 if you have any questions.
Like us on Facebook at Plateau Gelbvieh
MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
GELBVIEH AND BALANCER® GENETIC TRENDS
The graphs below illustrate the genetic trends for the Gelbvieh and Balancer® breeds 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 weights, 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 populations combined.
BIRTH WEIGHT & CALVING EASE DIRECT CARCASS WEIGHT & MARBLING
HEIFER PREGNANCY, PREG30 & STAYABILITY
WEANING WEIGHT & YEARLING WEIGHT
AGA INDEXES
Complete Bred Female Dispersal
250 Purebred Gelbvieh Females Sell
32 Years of Breeding Purebred Gelbvieh Cattle
All Females Sell Bred to Calve in the Spring of 2025 to AI and Pasture Breeding to Purebred Gelbvieh Bulls
Most Females Selling Homozygous Polled
Many Females Selling Homozygous Black
Females Sell with GE EPDs
Females Sell Pregnancy Checked via Ultrasound with Fetal Sexing
All Females Bangs Vaccinated with Complete Herd Health Progam
Nationwide Trucking to Central Locations Available Following the Sale
EXPORTS MAXIMIZE THE VALUE OF EVERY ANIMAL
BY LAURA HANDKE
Trade plays an incredibly important role in the U.S. cattle market, significantly impacting market prices and the overall economic health of the industry. Total beef export sales in 2024 are expected to reach about $10.3 billion.
Erin Borror, Vice President of Economic Analysis for the United States Meat Export Federation (USMEF), joined us for a conversation to shed light on where global beef trade sits today and what it means for U.S. beef producers both short and long-term.
THE ROLE OF USMEF IN PROMOTING U.S. BEEF
The USMEF is instrumental in promoting U.S. beef globally with staff
members strategically based and working as boots-on-the-ground in important foreign markets every day.
“We have staff in all of our major markets around the world and those local teams are carrying out marketing activities, trade development, chef trainings, and introducing new cuts on a daily basis,” Borror says.
This global network of in-person support, engagement and promotion ensures that U.S. beef is marketed effectively, highlighting its unique qualities and high standards – attributes many foreign markets have found irreplaceable.
U.S. beef is set apart by its high quality, particularly the Prime and Choice grades, which command a premium in international markets.
“Our quality grading system is unparalleled. Prime and choice beef command a premium, even if the consumer doesn’t always recognize it, the trade definitely does,” Borror explains.
This distinction is crucial for maintaining a competitive advantage in the global market. Borror notes that Australian production and exports are increasing by double digits in 2024, after its rebuild post-drought. However, U.S. beef exports are holding strong, with numbers close to paralleling 2023.
ZEROING IN ON THE COMPETITION
“Australia is our biggest competitor in grain fed exports, but our U.S. beef is still set apart from Australian beef. In fact,
when I talk to our international teams, I’m always asking where we are losing market share to Australia. What we are seeing is that some of our big customers who have tried adding Australian beef are favoring U.S. beef even at higher prices rather than continuing to expand their Australian offerings. They don’t want to build on that business,” Borror says. “I don’t want to downplay that threat because Australia does continue to add more cattle on feed and our supplies are tight, but in terms of quality, U.S. beef still stands out.”
Borror says that Australia is exporting around 30,000 metric tons of grain fed beef per month – a fraction of the U.S. exports. The lion’s share of Australia’s exports come from the country’s grass fed and finished sector, accounting for roughly 71% of their total volume. For reference, the U.S. currently exports around 85,000 tons of grain fed beef cuts each month.
As the biggest beef exporter in the world, Brazil is also in the sights of USMEF. And while the country has employed grain in finishing rations for many years, the comparison to our U.S. finished beef is one of apples and oranges, Borror says.
“I think of a lot of Brazil’s grain feeding as more supplemental feeding,” she says. “But there are feedlots in Brazil. In fact, we teach them how to do it. They feed in a tropical climate, so even with the large amount of Angus semen they import and the higher quality their beef is achieving, the quality doesn’t compare to U.S. beef and even though they are able to export internationally, they aren’t capturing quality premiums. The people buying U.S. beef around the world don’t think of Brazilian beef as a substitute. Australia and the U.S. are in a separate tier.”
THE ECONOMIC IMPACT
OF BEEF EXPORTS AND IMPORTS
Beef exports are a significant economic driver for U.S. beef producers to a tune of over $410 per head.
For heavily exported items like short plates, short ribs, outside skirts, hangers, tongues, tripe, and many of the chuck and round items, if the U.S. were to lose international market opportunity that $400 per head would be lost.
“Exports maximize the value of every animal,” Borror says. “The U.S. is also unique compared to our competitors because we have a huge domestic market. The international market is the icing on the cake. Access to international markets allows U.S. producers to sell various cuts at the highest possible prices, catering to diverse tastes and preferences worldwide, that we don’t have here in the U.S.”
Imports also play a crucial role in the U.S. beef market. Borror explains, “We have to have that imported lean supply because the 50% fatty trim
we produce off of every fed carcass is worthless if we don’t have that lean trim to blend for burgers and ground beef.”
This blend supports the value of domestic beef products and ensures economic viability.
Looking ahead, the U.S. beef industry is expected to maintain strong export performance.
Docility & Proven Performance
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.
For more information on our cattle, give Kevin a call at (660) 635-1433.
• Fall & Spring-Born Bulls & Heifers
• Red & Black Purebreds & Balancers
• Bulls Carry First Breeding Season Guarentees
• Photos & Videos Available
Red Ridge gelbvieh
Kevin Ireland
301 SW 20th Street, Trenton, MO 64683
Cell (660) 635-1433 • ksi1987@grundyec.net
ARKANSAS & IOWA BREEDERS
David & Rita Martin 256 Boyce Road Judsonia, AR 72081 C: 501.278.7614 www.martincattleco.com
Private Treaty Sales Available Year Round
COLORADO BREEDERS
Heather Scott (775) 790-3456
Brandon Scott (970) 589-5483
Parachute, CO 81635
STATE ROUNDUP
Martens Gelbvieh
Gary Martens 2126 500th St • Walnut, IA 51577 712.764.5007 (H) • 712.249.5744 (C) martensgl@yahoo.com
BLACK & POLLED PRIVATE TREATY SALES
Breed-leading Performance from Quality Genetics
Kevin Gunderson: Al Schulz: 402-510-8103 402-676-5292 Neola, Iowa
Jim Roelle 38330 CR 49 Peetz, CO 80747 (C): 970-520-1224
jr.plateau@hotmail.com
www.plateaugelbvieh.com
Featuring Black, Polled Gelbvieh & Balancer® genetics with balanced trait selection. Next Bull Sale February 27, 2025. Livestock Exchange, LLC., Brush, CO.
MINNESOTA & MONTANA BREEDERS
“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 krankin@northerntel.net www.kickinghorseranch.com Performance cattle for the real world.
NEBRASKA & SOUTH DAKOTA BREEDERS
Marlin Meyer
402-879-4976 Cole Epley
402-621-0359
824 road 3000, supErior, nE 6897 mlm68978@yahoo.com www.gelbviehbulls.com
Rippe Gelbvieh
Duane & Brenda, Dustin & Karla Rippe 6775 ROAD D • HUBBELL, NE 68375 (H) 402-324-4176
Duane (C): 402-200-0096
Dustin (C): 316-323-4874
dustin.rippe@yahoo.com
www.rippegelbvieh.com
“To produce superior Gelbvieh and Balancer® seedstock based on economically important traits, which provide more profitability for our customers, and ensure the consumer a very satisfactory eating experience.”
Annual Bull and Female Sale March 21, 2025 with the Southwest Iowa Gelbvieh Group
Represent your state in the State Roundup section of the September and February Profit Pictures, and the July Herd Reference Edition of Gelbvieh World.
To purchase an ad space, contact Malerie Markley at malerie@gelbvieh.org or 303-465-2333.
EXPANSION:
WU.S. BEEF COW HERD TRENDS, TIMELINES, AND MARKET INSIGHTS
e had a chance to sit down with CattleFax Analyst, Matthew McQuagge in early August to learn the team’s insights on the U.S. beef cow herd expansion. What he shared is eyeopening in terms of where we are today and what’s to come. The U.S. beef cow herd is currently in a phase of cautious expansion, driven by the complexities of weather conditions, economic factors, and market dynamics. The herd rebuild process has been slower and more measured compared to previous cycles with producers exercising caution after learning from the 2015-2016 rebuild.
“We anticipate starting to see some heifer retention from this year’s spring 2024 calf crop, but it won’t be aggressive,” McQuagge shares, adding that the projection is a year behind last year’s market projections. “We thought we would see retention of
BY LAURA HANDKE
last year’s calf crop, but that never really materialized. The weather conditions in the south prohibited producers, combined with the high prices we saw and continue to see, were contributing factors. Even into the fall of 2024, high interest rates and labor challenges are working against expansion. There were a lot of producers who found themselves upside down on high-priced cattle in 2015-2016. We don’t see that happening again.”
MARKET DYNAMICS
Supply and demand dynamics in the cattle market continue to influence prices, along with strong export opportunities.
Despite the beef cow sell-off slowing, reaching what McQuagge calls a stabilization point, the overall trend
in the beef cow inventory remains downward.
“We still have a year to go, we believe. We expect 2025 to be the low watermark in terms of beef cow inventory. The 2025 calf crop should be the smallest in the current cycle,” he says.
With the tight supply, CattleFax expects prices to remain robust for the foreseeable future, with increases expected through 2026. The trend, McQuagge says, supports a coming peak in bred female prices.
“Last year, we saw substantial increases in prices across the board, particularly in calf prices, steer prices, and fed cattle prices,” he says, adding that for producers the critical question has been and will continue to be when they can expect to get the highest prices for replacement
females. “Bred females are starting to catch up with the long-term average of the number of calves they pay for from a net present value standpoint. We’ll likely see prices for top females remain strong through the next several years before softening in the latter part of the decade as expansion-driven heifer demand slows.”
FINDING THE BOTTOM
In terms of slaughter numbers, we haven’t hit bottom yet, McQuagge says. He expects commercial steer and heifer slaughter to find its bottom in 2026.
“There’s a lag between heifer retention and the eventual impact on the market,” he says.
“As we start holding females out of this current 2024 calf crop, they won’t have calves until 2026 and those offspring won’t reach feedyards until 2027.”
AGE AND QUALITY IMPROVE WITH REBUILD
Looking at recent trends, the U.S. beef cow herd has become younger with aggressive culling in recent years.
“This paves the way for newer, higher quality genetics to become the foundation of the cyclical herd rebuild,” McQuagge predicts.
He notes that a gain from the previous beef herd cycle low was a jump in quality as rebuild commenced.
“WE STILL HAVE A YEAR TO GO, WE BELIEVE. WE EXPECT 2025 TO BE THE LOW WATERMARK IN TERMS OF BEEF COW INVENTORY. THE 2025 CALF CROP SHOULD BE THE SMALLEST IN THE CURRENT CYCLE,”
- Matthew McQuagge, CattleFax Analyst
McQuagge says that producers are optimistically cautious this go-around, after takeaways from the last cycle low and herd rebuild – an attribute he commends, emphasizing the importance of decision-making that considers the long-term impact of rapid and inflated heifer retention on an operation’s bottom line and overall profitability. He cautions producers to remain vigilant and strategic in their approach to herd expansion, taking the current market conditions into account when navigating the complexities of heifer retention and development.
“The heifers that will be kept in the next two years will shape the U.S. beef industry as a whole,” he offers.
“There were a lot of producers who expanded their herds with a focus on quality, which translated to the progeny being of higher quality,” McQuagge says. “In the last turnover, we saw a substantial jump in quality a few years down the line and we expect to see it again. We’re expecting to see an improvement jump in quality grade this time around again –a silver lining, if you will.”
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM OUR CATTLEFAX CONVERSATION:
✓ Prices will continue to remain strong through 2027 with the highest prices for females likely occurring in 2026.
✓ Keep quality top-of-mind when selecting the replacement heifers that will serve as the foundation of the herd in years to come.
✓ Use caution when making herd expansion decisions. Weigh the longterm value of a heifer retained versus the immediate value of a slaughter heifer.
THE IMPACT OF ON BULL REPRODUCTIVITY NUTRITION
A BEEF REPRODUCTIVE TASKFORCE WEBINAR RECAP
BY LAURA HANDKE
In the world of beef cattle production, the reproductive efficiency of bulls is a cornerstone of successful herd management. Dr. Pedro Fontes, an assistant professor in beef cattle reproductive physiology at the University of Georgia, has devoted time and research to learning more about the relationship between nutrition and bull fertility. His research is eye-opening.
“Over conditioning, feeding bulls high-energy diets, can significantly impact their reproductive capabilities,” he shared with attendees of the Beef Reproductive Taskforce webinar. “While fat sells when it comes to selling bulls, research has shown that excessive conditioning can negatively affect semen quality.”
OVER CONDITIONING FERTILITY RISKS
Fontes warns producers of the importance of finding the line between the expression and full potential of phenotype expression and overfeeding.
Research conducted includes both observational studies and controlled experiments to understand the impact of over conditioning on bull fertility. An observational study evaluating over 1,600 breeding soundness exam records revealed that only 45% of over conditioned bulls passed the exam compared to 81% of bulls with an adequate body condition score (BCS) of 3. This stark contrast highlights the negative impact of excessive fat on reproductive health.
In an experimental study, bulls were divided into two groups: one receiving a highgain diet designed to achieve a target average daily gain (ADG) of four pounds per day, and the other maintained on a diet to keep their body weight stable. The results were telling. Bulls on the high-gain diet exhibited greater backfat thickness and scrotal circumference but also showed a higher percentage of secondary sperm defects and reduced sperm motility compared to the control group.
One of the key findings from Dr. Fontes’ research is the link between over conditioning and impaired testicular thermoregulation. Bulls with increased fat
deposition in the neck region of the scrotum experienced fewer changes in scrotal surface temperature gradient. The ability of the animal to change and regulate scrotal surface temperature is crucial for maintaining optimal sperm production conditions.
“High-energy diets can lead to increased fat accumulation in the scrotal neck, impairing the bull’s ability to cool the blood going to the testes and thus affecting sperm quality,” Fontes notes.
Fontes’ research also extends to the post-fertilization consequences of highenergy diets. In a study using in vitro fertilization (IVF), semen from over conditioned bulls was used to produce embryos.
The findings were concerning: the percentage of embryos produced relative to the number of oocytes was lower in the high-gain group. Moreover, the percentage of embryos that successfully developed after fertilization was also reduced.
“These results indicate that over conditioning not only affects semen quality but also has a negative influence on embryo development after the sperm is able to successfully fertilize the egg,” Fontes shares.
This dual impact on both sperm quality and embryo viability underscores the broader implications of nutritional management on reproductive success.
FIND BALANCE
Given these findings, Fontes emphasizes the importance of balanced nutritional strategies for young bulls.
“While high-energy diets should be used to enable young bulls to express their genetic potential for post-weaning growth, it’s crucial to avoid overfeeding them to an extent that fertility is compromised,” he advises.
To achieve this balance, Fontes recommends closely monitoring body condition scores (BCS) and aiming for a BCS of 6 on a 1-to-9 scale before the beginning of the breeding season. This ensures that bulls have sufficient energy reserves to handle a busy breeding season while minimizing the risk of reduced fertility. Additionally, transitioning young bulls from high-concentrate diets to forage-based diets before turning them out can help mitigate the risks associated with over conditioning.
Fontes and his team are continuing to explore the nuances of bull nutrition and fertility, and are leveraging advanced technologies such as computer-assisted sperm analysis and flow cytometry to gain deeper insights into how highenergy diets affect sperm quality and embryo development.
“Our goal is to develop practical, research-based recommendations that cattle producers can implement to
maximize the reproductive efficiency of their herds,” Fontes says.
Thoughtful management of a bull’s current and future fertility should be paramount for seedstock producers and bull owners – of which nutrition plays a considerable role.
By adopting balanced nutritional strategies and closely monitoring body condition, cattle producers can enhance the fertility and overall productivity of their herds, a key to bull longevity, Fontes says, and adds:
“Understanding the impact of nutrition on bull fertility is key to improving reproductive efficiency and, ultimately, the profitability and sustainability of cattle operations.”
ARTICLE AT A GLANCE
✓ Over conditioned bulls exhibit fertility limitations.
✓ Over conditioning impedes scrotal temperature regulation.
✓ IVF success is limited when using the semen of over conditioned bulls.
✓ A BCS of 6 on a 1-9 scale is optimal for breeding and fertility.
✓ Balance nutrition and monitor BCS to ensure the best fertility success.
Boys from the South Bull Sale
Green Hills Gelbvieh • Butler Creek Farm
•
•
•
Genetic Power
JKGF Pay Up K824
Sire: JOB Danell Pay Pall 12H
Homo Black Homo Polled PB 92%
Dam: JKGF F824 (JKGF Chief Justice C205)
Sold in 2024 Genetic Power Sale
Saturday, February 8, 2025
1:00 pm (cst) Springfield Livestock Marketing Center Springfield, Missouri
85 Gelbvieh and Balancer Lots Sell
55 Gelbvieh and Balancer Bulls
All Bulls 16-18 Month Old Bulls
96% Homozygous Black and Homozygous Polled
NEW TO GENETIC POWER IN 2025
30 Gelbvieh and Balancer Females
Elite Selection of Homozygous Black Homozygous Polled Females
All Bulls Selling
DNA tested with Genomic Enhanced EPDs
Sell with first breeding season guarantee Sired by AI sires or result of ET matings
Breed Leading Carcass Genetics, Calving Ease, Performance and Maternal
JKGF K026 Homo Black Homo Polled 45% Balancer
Sire: Deer Valley Growth Fund
Dam: JKGF H026 (JKGF New Horizon C51 ET)
Sold in 2024 Genetic Power Sale
JKGF All American J109 Homo Black Homo Polled PB 99%
Sire: DLW TPG Frontrunner 2510F
Dam: JKGF F109 ET (Carolina Leverage 3214A ) Sold in 2023 Genetic Power Sale
JKGF K315 Homo Black Homo Polled 50% Balancer
Sire: Deer Valley Growth Fund
Dam: JKGF H314 (JKGF Highlights Fortune D496) Sold In 2024 Genetic Power Sale
Gelbvieh and Balancer® genetics offer more pounds of calf weaned, added fertility, and greater cow herd longevity. SMART. RELIABLE. PROFITABLE.
For a list of Gelbvieh Breeders in your area, go to www.heartofamericagelbvieh.com and click on Breeders. Check out our Facebook page for events and updates!
To request a free 2024 HAGA Breeders Directory scan the QR code below.
GELBVIEH.ORG
EVENTS OF INTEREST
OCTOBER 2024
OCT. 12 Judd Ranch 34th Annual Cow Power Female Sale, Pomona, Kan.
OCT. 15-18 Northern International Livestock Exposition, Billings, Mont.
OCT. 19 Seedstock Plus Fall Bull & Female Sale, Carthage, Mo.
OCT. 21 Danell Diamond Six Ranch, Lewistown, Mont.
OCT. 25 T Bar S Focused on the Future Bull Sale, Billings, Mo.
OCT. 26 Chimney Butte Ranch Complete Bred Female Dispersal, Mandan, N.D.
NOVEMBER 2024
NOV. 2 TJB Gelbvieh Annual Bull Sale, Chickamauga, Ga.
NOV. 2 Seedstock Plus Red Reward Fall Edition Bull & Female Sale, Osceola, Mo.
NOV. 30 Boys from the South Bull Sale, Lebanon, Tenn.
DECEMBER 2024
DEC. 3 Warner Beef Genetics Maternal Merit Commercial Female Sale, Arapahoe, Neb.
DEC. 4-6 54th Annual American Gelbvieh Association National Convention, Kansas City, Mo.
DEC. 6 Knoll Crest Farm Total Performance Bull Sale, Red House, Va.
DEC. 21 11th Annual CJ&L Livestock Bull Sale, Hermosa, S.D.
JANUARY 2025
JAN. 8 Warner Beef Genetics Maternal Merit in the Yards Sale, Denver, Colo.
FEBRUARY 2025
NOV. 22 Warner Beef Genetics Genetic Opportunities Female Sale, Arapahoe, Neb.
NOV. 23 Butler Creek Farm Power in the Blood Female Sale, Lebanon, Tenn.
FEB. 6 Black Hills Stock Show Gelbvieh & Balancer Show and Sale, Rapid City, S.D.
FEB. 8 J&K Gelbvieh Farm Inc. 16th Annual Genetic Power Sale, Springfield, Mo.
FEB. 8 Prairie Hills Gelbvieh Annual Bull Sale, Gladstone, N.D.
FEB. 8 Genetic Power Bull and Female Sale, Springfield, MO
FEB. 18 Maternal Empire Bull Sale, Burwell, Neb.
FEB. 22 Black Gold Genetics “Share the Gold” Bull Sale, Pritchett, Colo.
FEB. 22 Post Rock Cattle Bull & Female Sale, Barnard, Kan.
FEB. 27 Plateau Gelbvieh Annual Bull Sale, Brush, Colo.
FEB. 28 34th Annual Pot of Gold Sale, Montrose, Colo.
MARCH 2025
MARCH 1 Judd Ranch 47th Gelbvieh, Balancer and Red Angus Bull Sale, Pomona, Kan.
MARCH 1 Lazy TV Ranch 44th Annual Production Sale, Selby, S.D.
MARCH 3 Hojer Ranch 33rd Annual Gelbvieh & Balancer Production Sale, Lake Preston, S.D.
MARCH 4 Swanson Cattle Company Annual Production Sale, Oxford, Neb.
MARCH 5 Warner Beef Genetics Genetic Investment Bull Sale, Arapahoe, Neb.
MARCH 8 Bluegrass Gelbvieh Alliance Production Sale, Lexington, Ky.
MARCH 21 Southwest Iowa Gelbvieh & Balancer Bull and Female Sale, Creston, Iowa
MARCH 22 Cranview Gelbvieh 21st Annual Genetic Progress Sale, Rugby, N.D.
MARCH 29 Wilkinson Gelbvieh Ranch Bull Sale, Model, Colo.
APRIL 2025
APRIL 12 Knoll Crest Farm Spring Bull and Female Sale, Red House, Va.
JUNE 2025
JUNE 23-27 Grand Ole Gelbvieh Junior Classic, Lebanon, Tenn.
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 laura@gelbvieh.org. This includes tours, expos, field days and other Gelbvieh events.
EVENTS OF INTEREST
BREEDERS CORNER
& Nancy Holste 3113 260th Street Clarinda, Iowa 51632 712-303-0263 • 712-303-1947 tripleh1@unitedwb.coop
Stuart Jarvis 26 E. Limestone Rd. • Phillipsburg, Kan. 67661 e-mail: bararrow@ruraltel.net • 785-543-8120
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
MINNESOTA
MISSOURI
BREEDERS CORNER MONTANA
NEBRASKA
Rob Arnold
6700 County Rd. 19 S. Minot, N.D. 58701 (701) 624-2051 (H) (701) 720-8823 (C)
Email: RLAGelbvieh@aol.com
Registered Gelbvieh & Balancers®
Dennis & Sherry Gustin Family
Al and Peggy Gustin Mandan, N.D. • 701-663-7266
Richie & Sarah Heinrich 701-320-6484 (cell) email: gustindd@wildblue.net www.gustinsdiamondd.com
OKLAHOMA
VIRGINIA
treaty
BREEDERS CORNER SERVICE
Rippey Farms
SPECIALIZING IN COMMERCIAL BALANCER® FEMALES Galax, Virginia 276.233.0999 • galerippey1966@gmail.com 2633 Hwy 12 East • Clarkston, WA 99403 509-566-8805 • LedgerwoodGelbvieh@gmail.com
GELBVIEH
Gelbvieh • Red Angus • Balancer® Pete & Samee Charriere
“Seedstock that work for the commercial cattleman
Brown 3794 Rd. 215 • Cheyenne, WY 82009 307-351-6453 • ninebar9@hotmail.com
Bulls, Heifers & Select Embryos Performance BRED in, Not FED in!
Contact Malerie for advertising opportunities in The Profit Picture and Gelbvieh World publications.
MALERIE MARKLEY GELBVIEH MEDIA PRODUCTIONS COORDINATOR
malerie@gelbvieh.org | 303-465-2333
3 G Ranch........................................... 42
AGA Convention ................................ 27
Bar Arrow Cattle Company ............. 43
Bar JR Gelbvieh .................... 22, 26, 44
Bar T Bar Ranches............................ 42
Black Gold Genetics .......................... 19
Bow K Ranch ..................................... 42
Boys from the South ....................... 35
Bull Barn Genetics ...................... 22, 46
C-Cross Cattle Company ................. 44
C.H. Morris & Sons, LLC. ................... 45
Canadian Gelbvieh Association ...... 46
Cattlemen’s Connection.................. 46
Cave Creek Cattle............................. 45
Cedar Top Ranch BC, 44
Chimney Butte Ranch 23, 45
Circle S Ranch 30, 43
CJ&L Livestock 45
CK Cattle Co. 44
Clinch Mountain Gelbvieh 45
Cranview Gelbvieh 45
Dan McCarty, Auctioneer 46
Danell Diamond Six Ranch 14, 44
Diamond L Farms 45
Doak Lambert, Auctioneer ............. 46
Dobson Ranch ................................... 22
Flying H Genetics .............................. 44
Gale Rippey Farms ........................... 46
Grand Valley Gelbvieh/Balancer .... 26
Green Hills Gelbvieh ......................... 44
GS Ridge Top Ranch ......................... 26
Gustin’s Diamond D Gelbvieh .... 14, 45
Heart of American Gelbvieh .......... 39
Hilltop Farms ..................................... 43
Hodges Ranch ................................... 42
Hojer Ranch ................................. 15, 45
Ivers Cattle Company ...................... 43
J&K Gelbvieh Farm......................38, 42
Judd Ranch ........................................... 1
Kicking Horse Ranch............18, 26, 44
Knoll Crest Farm ............................... 45
Koehn Cattle Co. 45
Larson’s Lost River Livestock 43
Ledgerwood Gelbvieh 46
Little Windy Hill Farms 45
Lone Oak Cattle 42
Martens Gelbvieh 26, 36, 42
Martin Cattle Company 26, 42
Mitchell Marketing Services 46
MLM Gelbvieh 26, 44
Mulroy Farms, LLC 42
Murray Farms..................................... 18
NNN Gelbvieh..................................... 44
Nine Bar Nine Gelbvieh .................... 46
Nowack Cattle Company ................ 43
Plateau Gelbvieh ................... 17, 26, 42
Plus One Cattle Co. ........................... 43
Post Rock Cattle Co. ................... 11, 43
Pot of Gold Bull Sale ......................... 26
Prairie Breeze Ranch .................29, 43
Prairie Hills Gelbvieh ........................ 45
ProHart Seedstock ........................... 42
Rafter R Gelbvieh ............................. 42
Red Ridge Gelbvieh .................... 25, 43
Rippe Gelbvieh .................................. 26
Rockies to the Pacific Sale ................5
Rogers Valley Farm Gelbvieh .......... 43
Ronn Cunningham, Auctioneer ...... 46
Rumfelt Gelbvieh 43 S.J. Cattle Co 45
Bar S Cattle Co. 43, 48
Marston Group .......................... 46
Lazy TV Ranch .... 7, 45
Gelbvieh Farm ......................... 45
ADVERTISING INDEX
Ranch ...................................... 45
Beef Genetics .................... IBC
Gelbvieh .....................36, 42
MS WARDON 2510Z ET - Current donor female at Coles Bend, KY. Selling daughters by Grand Plan, Growth Fund, Hombre and Saguraro.
DLW KEARNEY 845K - A
seller in the 2024 WBG bull sale. His donor dam sells along with a full sister. Several females carry the service of this great young sire.
EGL D1514 - Selling daughters by Headline and Frontrunner.
225 HEAD SELL
175 RANGE-DEVELOPED 2 - YEAR-OLD BULLS
BULLS ARE INDIVIDUALLY FEED EFFICIENCY TESTED, GRASS GRAIN TESTED AND GENOMICALLY TESTED
TUESDAY, FEB.18, 2025
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18 12:30 PM | BURWELL, NE
BALANCER, ANGUS & RED ANGUS
FEATURING: 50 ET BULLS, 50 BWF BRED HEIFERS ALL A.I. BRED
