Brangus October 2014
Journal
Marketing and Promotion Issue
BRANGUS Journal
October 2014 | 1
Your SOURCE for Top Quality Registered & Commercial Brangus Cattle
Proud Members of
Circle Land & Cattle Co., Ltd. 2 | October 2014
Bobcat Bottoms Ranch • Persimmon Creek Ranch • Camp Cooley Spring Valley Ranch • Windy Hill Ranch • Vista Ridge Ranch
BRANGUS Journal
located just off Hwy. 6 and OSR P.O. Box 4747 • Bryan, Texas 77805 Office: (979) 776-5760 • Fax: (979) 776-4818 Website: www.circlexbrangus.com Steve Densmore, Cattle Mgr., (979) 450-0819, cell • (979) 778-1055, home Chris Duewall, Operations Mgr., (979) 777-6803, cell
BRANGUS Journal
October 2014 | 1
Brangus October 2014 Volume 62, Issue 5
Journal
26
The View from the Block
30
Preparing Cattle for the Limelight
34
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: Ultrasound for the Seedstock Producer
38
An Introduction to Genomics
An auction barn provides a lot of excitement for buyers and sellers, but do you ever wonder what it feels like to be the main man at an auction? Brittni Drennan sat down with Doak Lambert and Wes Dotson and got their perspectives on what producers can do to help sell their cattle.
26
Marketing cattle is more than just loading them and taking them to the auction. Jason Bates explores everything that producers need to think about BEFORE they begin to market their cattle.
Dr. Jillian Fain Bohlen dives into the benefits that ultrasound technology provides in terms of reproduction. Years of use have proven its worth to our industry and highlights some reasons producers may consider it a valuable tool in the future. Discussion regarding Genomics is a hot topic in today’s beef industry. Brangus is currently working to implement GenomicEnhanced EPDs. But, what does all that mean? University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Matt Spangler discusses some of the basics to help us understand the technology.
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30 34
Gabriel Varela
Features & Specials
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October 2014 | 3
Departments
8 8 8 14
Staff Connection Director Connection Regional Connection IBBA Connection
Incorporating Genomic-Enhanced EPDs :: by Tommy Perkins, Ph.D., PAS Charting Our Course :: by Traci Middleton Showing to Sell :: by Tyler Dean
20
IJBBA Connection
22 24 42
IBA Connection
52 53 58 60
Marketing and Promotion :: by Quinn Carter Free Money!!!!! :: by Ginger Pritchard
Marketing Update
Putting Your Best Foot Forward :: by Jason Bates
Membership
Welcome New Members IBBA Board Offers Short-Term Amnesty Program Brangus Association Establishes Foundation : International Brangus Breeders Foundation will Secure Role in Beef Cattle Industry and Benefit Brangus Producers IBBA Launches Brangus Built Commercial Program IBBA Partners with GeneSeek to Advance Brangus Breed World Brangus Congress IBBA Committee Taking Nominations for Directors Southeast Field Day Generates Big Response Billy McClure Joins Santa Rosa Ranch Management
The Official Publication of the International Brangus® Breeders Association. The Brangus Journal is an international publication serving the Brangus seedstock producer. Published eight times annually, this archive is designed to highlight accomplishments and improvements within the association. The purpose of the Brangus Journal is to serve the best interests of the members while showcasing IBBA member breeding programs, efforts and achievements to other Brangus seedstock producers. The Journal also provides a venue for the IBBA to communicate directly with their members providing updates related to the association, publishing feature stories, or announcing results. Publication #ISSN0006-9132. Periodicals postage paid at San Antonio, Texas, and additional entries. Postmaster: Send address changes to Brangus Publications, Inc., 5750 Epsilon, San Antonio, Texas 78249. Subscriptions: Frances Miller, 210.696-8231 x203, frances_miller@int-brangus.org Subscription Rates: Domestic Periodicals—1 year, $25; First class—$55. Foreign—1 year, periodicals, $25; air mail to Mexico, $70, Canada, $70, Australia, $115; air mail to all other countries, $115. Brangus Publications, Inc. 5750 Epsilon, San Antonio, Texas 78249 Telephone: 210.696.8231 Fax: 210.696.8718 Web site: gobrangus.com/Brangus-publications Email: brangusjournal@int-brangus.org BPI OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chairman : Traci Middleton (731.676.0807) President: Dr. Tommy Perkins (210.696.8231 x212) Secretary/Treasurer : Brandon Belt (254.248.5260) Director: Mike Vorel (405.826.6959) Director: Danny Farris (325.669.5727) The International Brangus® Breeders Association does not verify claims made by the advertisers in this publication.
On the Cover...
Service Directory State Directory Calendar of Events Advertiser’s Index
Sharron McCreary snapped this great picture of cattle enjoying a beautiful rainbow and green pastures at McCreary Farms in Evergreen, Ala. 4 | October 2014
BRANGUS Journal
Total Commitment
Since 1993 BRangus BULL 145Z4 sells. 6.04% year Marbling score.
TOWN CREEK FARM SALE
BRANGUS BULL 223Z2 sells. 1.31 yearling rea/cwt.
150 Town Creek Farm Brangus and Ultrablack Bulls
Entire 2 year-old calf crop sells. No bulls sold from this crop of bulls. Powerful, practical, functional bulls developed on a high roughage forage-based ration.Bulls guaranteed fertile and reproductively sound. Largely Cow Creek Ranch based genetics.
300 Commercial Brangus Bred Heifers
Multi-generation genetically-tracked heifers sired by Cow Creek Ranch bulls and bred back to Cow Creek Ranch and Town Creek Farm bulls.
Saturday, October 18, 2014 • 12 noon • West Point, Mississippi
Brangus bull 145Z3 sells. Yearling REA/cwt: 1.41. yearling marbling score: 4.30%.
Brangus bull 589Z sells. Yearling REA/cwt: 1.22. yearling marbling score: 4.32%.
Brangus bull 5281Z sells. Yearling SCROTAL: 39 CM. yearling marbling score: 3.80%.
■ Entire calf crop of two-year old bulls sell. No bulls have been sold. ■ Heat and humidity adapted bulls raised in fescue environment. ■ Large selection of user-friendly, high maternal, low birthweight bulls needed to produce valuable replacement heifers. ■ Bulls sell Trich tested and BVDpi tested. ■ Problem-free bulls guaranteed fertile and reproductively sound. ■ Providing opportunities for customers to add value to calves with pull through programs. ULTRABLACK BULL 384Z sells. yearling marbling score: 4.20%. yearling scrotal: 38 cm.
Call, email or go to our website for a 2014 Sale Catalog. Total Commitment
These commercial brangus and ultrablack bred heifers sell
Since 1993
Town Creek Farm
Milton Sundbeck, Owner Office 662.494.5944 32476 Hwy. 50 East, West Point, Mississippi 39773 Joy Reznicek 205.399.0221 • Joy@TownCreekFarm.com Tommy Sanders 662.436.6175 • Tommy@TownCreekFarm.com Ron Flake 662.509.2233 • Ron@TownCreekFarm.com
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6 | October 2014
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Staff Connection Executive Vice President
Tommy Perkins, Ph.D., PAS
210.696.8231 x212 :: tperkins@int-brangus.org Director of Field Services and Commercial Marketing
Jason Bates
210.696.8231 x211 or 417.616.9000 :: jbates@int-brangus.org Director of Shows and Youth Programs, Publications Editor
405.867.1421 or 405.207.6921 :: tyler@int-brangus.org Communications Coordinator
Tyler Dean
Brittni Drennan
210.696.8231 x202 :: brittni@int-brangus.org Advertising Sales Manager
Controller
Frances Miller
210.696.8231 x203 :: frances_miller@int-brangus.org
Patti Teeler
Accounting Specialist
210.696.8231 x205 :: patti@int-brangus.org Registry Specialist
Rosanne Sralla
210.696.8231 x206 :: rosanne_sralla@int-brangus.org Product Manager
Emilio Silvas
210.696.8231 x207 :: emilio@gps-beef.com
Melanie Fuller
979.255.3343 :: mwfuller@hotmail.com
Director Connection President
Traci Middleton
Area 4
Term: 2012-2015 731-676-0807 :: tracimiddleton@hotmail.com First VP
Mike Vorel
Danny Farris
Area 9
Brandon Belt
Area 7
Area 6
Term: 2012-2015 520-384-2478 :: robbs.brangus@powerc.net
Robert Field
Area 8
Chuck Sword
Area 1
Bill Davis
Area 2
Term: 2014-2017 870-668-3329 :: bdavis@billdavistrucking.com
Term: 2012-2015 254-248-5260 :: brandonbelt@aol.com
R.L. Robbs
Area 10
Term: 2013-2016 520-508-3505 :: jddiane@vtc.net
Term: 2013-2016 325-669-5727 :: farrisranching@yahoo.com Secretary-Treasurer
Area 7
Term: 2013-2016 903-530-5957 :: skyhawkbrangus@yahoo.com
Larry Parker
Area 5
Term: 2013-2016 405-826-6959 :: vorelfarms@gmail.com Second VP
Russ Williamson
Term: 2012-2015 662-435-4885 :: calyxstar@aol.com Term: 2013-2016 770-468-3486 :: cnffarm@aol.com
Cody Gariss
Area 3
Term: 2014-2017 417-398-2836 :: cody_gariss88@hotmail.com
Michael Kammerer
Area 7
Term: 2014-2017 936-449-5744 :: jlkamm@earthlink.net
Eddy Roberts
Area 11
Term: 2014-2017 386-935-1416 :: wetfarm1@windstream.net Contact the Director(s) from your area with any questions or concerns you have have about our association.
Regional Connection Sharron McCreary mccrearyfarms@hotmail.com Don Hall hallbran72019@yahoo.com Heart of America Brangus Breeders Association Jim Mussulman jmussulm@yahoo.com Hill Country Brangus Breeders Association Brandon Belt brandonbelt@aol.com International Red Brangus Breeders Association Marcos Borges marcos@mbjranch.com Louisiana Brangus Breeders Association Bob Savoie bobsavoie@charter.net Mississippi Brangus Breeders Association Bill Wells wwells@bellsouth.net Alabama Brangus Breeders Association
Arkansas Brangus Breeders Association
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BRANGUS Journal
Danny Wells dbwells72@sbcglobal.net Evon Crooks boer730@hotmail.com Southwest Brangus Breeders Association Dr. Bart Carter bjcmd@cableone.net Texas Brangus Breeders Association Doug Muenchow cattlemandoug@aol.com West Coast Brangus Breeders Association Pam Doiron doiron@spanishranch.net West Texas Brangus Breeders Association Bob Helmers bhelmers@wildblue.net Oklahoma Brangus Association
Southeast Brangus Breeders Association
CED BW WW YW M TM CEM 9.7 -1.8
31
$40 PER UNIT
51 14 29
7.7
SC
REA
IMF
FT
0.80 0.50 -0.08 -0.014 Final Cut x Patton
903-571-1209
TJM 903-278-7777
www.GENETRUSTbrangus.com October 2014 | 9 1-877-GENETRS (436-3877)
BRANGUS Journal
STRIDES AHEAD GENETRUST at Chimney Rock Cattle Company
OCTOBER 31 - NOVEMBER 1, 2014 CONCORD, AR #SBOHVT 6MUSBCMBDL #VMMT t 3FHJTUFSFE 'FNBMFT t $PNNFSDJBM 'FNBMFT
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Catalogs mailed by request only. Call or visit our website to request yours today! 10 | October 2014 BRANGUS Journal
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October 2014 | 11
12 | October 2014
BRANGUS Journal
GENETRUST at Cavender’s Neches River Ranch
NOVEMBER 15, 2014 JACKSONVILLE,TX
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October 2014 | 13
IBBA Connection Incorporating GenomicEnhanced EPDs
by Tommy PERKINS, Ph.D., PAS IBBA EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT
T
he fall sale season is well underway, and the value of Brangus genetics continues to soar. This is perfectly in line with the trends found in most facets of the beef industry. The commercial feeder calf, replacement crossbred female, feedlot calf, and all classes of cull cattle are setting all-time highs. The IBBA leadership continues to develop programs and policy for added benefits to the membership. Recently, an amnesty period was made available to get animals placed back onto the inventory without penalty. Please note it is a short window of opportunity (now through December 31, 2014), so act quickly. On another note, the new commercial tagging program, called Brangus Built, has generated a lot of enthusiasm in the industry. I appreciate all of the hard work placed into this program by Danny Farris and the members of the commercial marketing committee. The IBBA office is now taking tag orders. Contact Jason Bates to find out how Brangus Built can provide security for your buyers, and why commercial producers should participate in the program. The IBBA breed improvement committee has been working
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diligently to oversee the incorporation of genomic-enhanced EPDs (GE-EPDs) into the Sire Summary. Dr. Dorian Garrick and his research group at Iowa State University (ISU) have completed the analysis of more than 1,600 DNA sample sequences and performance data. DNA for the project is a result of samples submitted by many of our members as well as participation by other research institutions. The evolution of this genomic technology is ultimately the result of a collaborative effort between IBBA, Iowa State University, National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium (NBCEC), Colorado State University, University of NebraskaLincoln, and GeneSeek, a Neogen Corporation Company. We certainly appreciate the efforts and great cooperation by all parties. Garrick and the ISU researchers included a training population of about 800 heifers from Camp Cooley and New Mexico State University, 63 bulls from the United States Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) 2,000 Bull Project, about 250 bulls from a GeneSeek project, and almost 500 samples from IBBA members participating in the project. The training population included a combination of BovineSNP50 (54,000 SNPs) and BovineSNPHD (770,000 SNPs) genotypes. The final step of the process will involve John Genho, Livestock Genetic Services, incorporating the data into our traditional genetic evaluation. As an IBBA member, you can utilize the genomic-enhanced technology by submitting DNA from your cattle to be sequenced on the GeneSeek high density panel (78K) or the low density panel (30K). Haplotypes generated from the above mentioned chips will be used to enhance the animals’ EPDs. I would recommend that all AI sires and ET donor dams be tested with the 78K chip and all other animals be tested on the 30K chip. In partnership with GeneSeek the IBBA GE-EPDs will be powered by the GeneSeek HD Bovine 78K chip. All other lower density chips (30K, 50K, etc.) will be imputed up to 78K. The good news is several IBBA members have already tested multiple AI sires and donor dams the past several months. Thus, they should see immediate results of genomic-enhanced EPDs in the Sire Summary. Participating in these types of projects allows us to collect more information to provide producers with more resources and more advanced tools to ultimately produce a better product and continue improving. Provided we get enough data, predictability will be more accurate. As we progress, we can start developing predictions for other hard to measure traits such as feed efficiency, heifer pregnancy and docility. Do not hesitate to call me if you have any specific questions about the GE-EPDs, educational events, or ranch visits. For information about IBBA programs or other inquiries, please call (210) 696-8231 or visit www.GoBrangus. com. Stay connected to IBBA through Facebook, Twitter, or receive news updates by joining our email list. BJ
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October 2014 | 15
IBBA Connection Charting Our Course
I
t is the best of times in the beef business. While I encourage you to enjoy ample rainfall, lowered commodity costs, and record setting cattle prices, this is not the time for complacency. It is more important than ever to take action to prepare and ensure that your operation, Brangus cattle, and the International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) are positioned for success when the tides in our industry begin to change. The IBBA Board of Directors, committee members, and staff have been working diligently to outline the course that IBBA will follow into the future. Our plans only work if we do. We need member input and participation in order to see these programs and directives succeed.
CREATING DEMAND FOR BRANGUS GENETICS
The Commercial Marketing Committee has developed a new tagging program that was approved by the IBBA Board of Directors in August. The Brangus Built program, labeled after the “Build With Brangus” promotional campaign, is designed to aid in increasing demand and market share for Brangus influenced females. As cattlemen prepare to rebuild the United States beef herd over the course of the next few years, branding ourselves as the maternal breed of choice is more important than ever. In order for us to hit a homerun with this program, we need Brangus Built tags in the ears of top quality replacement females all over the country. Creating additional value for Brangus genetics in the commercial female sector of the industry will become a reality when cattlemen see the Brangus Built tag in the ear of the heifer that is doing her job day in and day out. If you or one of your customers markets replacement females in the commercial industry, contact the IBBA office to order tags that are currently, for a limited time, being offered at no cost to the producer. Informing our bull customers about the Brangus Built program and getting tags in those superior females will generate more value for Brangus genetics. Our females are the ones that brought us to the dance – help us tell that story to the rest of the beef industry. Visit GoBrangus.com/commercial-producers for more information about the program, and contact Jason Bates at the IBBA office to order tags.
PROVIDING TOOLS TO INCREASE GENETIC ADVANCEMENTS
IBBA has been working for several years to gather enough information to implement genomic-enhanced EPDs. Utilizing genomics has become a mainstream tool in the beef industry to accelerate genetic advancements. Moving forward, the 16 | October 2014
BRANGUS Journal
by Traci MIDDLETON IBBA PRESIDENT
incorporation of genomic information into our selection tools will begin to enhance predictability and improve accuracies on younger animals. In a business where time is money, seedstock and commercial producers need as much reliable information as possible today in order to make selections that positively affect tomorrow’s cow herd. The Breed Improvement Committee is working to make GEEPDs a reality during the next few months. In order to participate on the front end of this development, IBBA members will need to submit DNA on animals they want included in the next genetic evaluation to one of the approved service providers. Information can be found at www.GoBrangus.com. In the IBBA portal at www.int-brangus.org, click the “DNA Testing Information” link on the right sidebar. DNA should be submitted three to four weeks before the next genetic evaluation in order to complete testing in time for it to be incorporated.
PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE
For years, we have recognized the need for research projects proving the value of Brangus sired calves in the feedlot and packer segments of the industry. Quality data documenting the strengths of the Brangus breed regarding feed conversion and ability to grade is necessary to gain market share for Brangus genetics. These types of projects are not cheap but are a necessary investment to remain sustainable in coming years. In order to fund these types of research as well as to develop industrywide educational tools, IBBA has established the International Brangus Breeders Foundation (IBBF) where donations and contributions can be made to further the advancement of special projects that will benefit IBBA members nationwide. You can read more information about the IBBF on page 43. The kickoff gala for the Foundation will occur at the 2014 Fall Conference in San Antonio, Texas, in October. Please be watching for more information on how you can impact the future of the Brangus breed by making a contribution to the International Brangus Breeders Foundation. As IBBA members, I have given you several call-to-actions to participate in developing and charting a course for the future. Thank you to those who have selflessly given their time and resources to make these goals a reality for IBBA. I hope you see the value in these programs and proposals and will work to identify ways you can contribute to the success of the Brangus breed on any of these fronts. The IBBA Board of Directors and staff are available to answer questions and provide additional information. It is a great time to be in the beef business. Enjoy it, but don’t stop planning for tomorrow. BJ
BRANGUS Journal
October 2014 | 17
IBBA Connection Showing to Sell
A
by Tyler DEAN IBBA DIRECTOR OF SHOWS AND YOUTH PROGRAMS, BRANGUS PUBLICATIONS EDITOR
s I sit down to write this article, I have just returned from attending the Western National Brangus Show in Oklahoma City, Okla. The 86 head of cattle hauled to Oklahoma were quite a testament to the Brangus breed. Judge Blake Nelson raved about the attributes and benefits the Brangus breed brings to the beef industry. But, being at the show leads me to ask, have you ever sat back and thought about what all goes into exhibiting cattle? Or better yet, why anyone would want to exhibit cattle? Of course, there is the junior aspect which teaches responsibility, work ethic, leadership – the list is endless, but what keeps our open breeders coming to the ring? When you begin to think about what goes into exhibiting cattle the list seems to be endless. There are months of advance preparation to get cattle broke and in shape. Breaking them tends to require loads of overhead costs in necessary equipment while getting them in shape requires lots of expensive feed. Advance preparation aside, there are always expenses for entries, travel, hotel rooms, bedding, supplies and help when you actually get to the show. And, we have not even mentioned the time – time away from home, work and other responsibilities. It is beginning to seem rather daunting when you add it all up. So why did more than 50 Brangus breeders invest all this to bring their cattle to Oklahoma City? It cannot be about the titles or even the ribbons, banners or premium checks. Then what could it be? The answer: exposure, marketing, promotion, selling cattle. The show ring provides exposure. From the time of arrival until you load them back on the trailer, your animals are exposed for all to see. I mean, what is better than seeing an animal or an
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animal’s progeny in person? Yes, technology has infused our industry and allows us numerous other methods to accomplish seeing animals (photography, videography, etc.), but in person viewing still remains the preferred method for many. Marketing and promotion come in as you take the time to talk to people walking the aisles appraising cattle. This provides the prime opportunity to explain your philosophies and production strategies. Oftentimes, this personal interaction goes much further than the most expensive promotional item you can buy and give away. The agriculture industry was built and continues to thrive on personal interaction and relationships. The exhibition of Brangus cattle provides just that. So, whether or not you personally have a string of show cattle, it is important to recognize the impact the show ring has on the promotion of our great breed. The buzz that filled the arena on show day, from breeders and non-breeders alike, was that the Brangus breed is positioning itself for a bright future. The cattle are what the industry is demanding. The 50 Brangus breeders who attended the Western National Show worked to market and promote not only their individual operations, but also the Brangus breed as a whole. BJ
BRANGUS Journal
October 2014 | 19
IJBBA Connection Marketing and Promotion
M
y first year as a director for the IJBBA, I saw many businesses, ranchers, and companies marketing and promoting their product or service. Until writing this article I had no idea of the importance of a good marketing and promotion campaign. Marketing is looked at as an organizational function and a set of processes for creating, delivering and communicating value to customers. Promotion refers to raising customer awareness of a product, brand, generating sales, and creating brand loyalty. In other words, marketing and promotion have similar traits. However, the way you use them directly affects how much success your product or service has. What is the best way to market and promote your business? Marketing is the philosophy that businesses should analyze the needs of their customers and then make decisions to satisfy those needs. Marketing is based on thinking about the business in terms of customer needs and their satisfaction. Promotion was the idea that a business should focus on the products that consumers most need. Sales is the final stage of marketing and promoting. Sales is the act of selling a product or service in return for money or other repayment. Through advertising and personal selling you convince people they need your product and your product fits their needs. Before we start marketing and promoting, we first have to ask ourselves three important questions. First, what do customers want or need in the industry? Second, can you develop it while it is still in demand? Finally, and more importantly for long term success, how can you keep your customers satisfied? Once you have these three things you are ready to market and promote your cattle. We must be responsible in our methods to preserve the quality of our breed. One of the approaches of doing business is technology and research. However, the most important fact of doing business is a trusting relationship with customers or current customers. “Technique and technology are important, but adding trust is the issue of the decade,” said Tom Peters in Stephen M.R. Covey, The Speed of Trust. The easiest way to reach out to the public is through social media. Social media is simply social interaction- constructing words, pictures, videos and audio to communicate. Develop a website for your farm or ranch and keep the site updated. You can use several different sites for social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube- any site that best suites you and your marketing plan. Using social media to promote your cattle is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to market and promote your product. It also allows you to expand your audience. People rather put time in doing research online before going to the salesman. 20 | October 2014
BRANGUS Journal
by Quinn CARTER IJBBA VICE PRESIDENT
In today’s world, marketing and promoting your cattle is the way to go. So before you advertise with ads and articles in magazines such as the Brangus Journal, or through social media. You first need to consider what will be best for you. Which tools can get what you are promoting to the most people the fastest, and in the most detail? Many people have succeeded in their business using any one or all of these types of services. If they can do it, so can you! BJ
2014-2015 IJBBA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President Racheal Sharp, Konawa, OK sharpk@konawa.k12.ok.us
Ex-Officio Kacie Wallace, Bryan, TX goinshowin02@yahoo.com
Vice President Quinn Carter, Haines City, FL quinn.carter95@yahoo.com
SOC Sale Chair Colby Davis, Talequah, OK cwdbrangus@yahoo.com
Secretary Meghan Pickett, Robeline, LA speeples1@bellsouth.net
Reporter McKenzie Posey, Wayner, OK posey_mckenzie@yahoo.com
Director Kendra Brull, Atchison, KS kbrull15@mh-ma.com
Director Kourtney Gardner, China Spring, TX kourtney.l.gardner@gmail.com
Director Director Emilee Garza, Spring, TX Allyson Polston, Lakeland, FL kimberly@remaxrewards.net goober4141@gmail.com IBBA Queen Kacie Wallace, Bryan, TX goinshowin02@yahoo.com
BRANGUS Journal
October 2014 | 21
IBA Connection FREE MONEY!!!!!
T
he International Brangus Auxiliary (IBA) promotes Brangus and education through education scholarships available to all International Junior Brangus Breeders Association (IJBBA) members. Applicants and winners represent a competitive cross section of young Brangus breeders throughout the United States. The IBA has awarded scholarships since 1979 in the aggregate of $391,500. To be eligible for a scholarship, the applicant must have been an IJBBA member for at least one year and participate in the scholarship application process. All IJBBA members who are high school seniors, college students, or students at a technical college are encouraged to apply. The forms can be downloaded from the IJBBA website as a link from the IBBA website. Scholarship deadlines have been extended to January 15. In addition to our traditional scholarships, we are offering a special scholarship available for deserving IJBBA members from Georgia and additional funding from the Terry Dean Memorial scholarship to Oklahoma members. There are several categories of scholarships available in amounts up to $2,500 each. A member may receive a maximum of two IBA scholarships. We had a fantastic turn out for the IBA scholarship workshop at the NJBS this year. I hope I was able to answer many of the questions you had. Remember to follow the directions on the application; do not add any pages and be as complete as possible. A great resource is your 4-H and FFA record books. The application is not as hard as it looks; just take it a page at a time. It is never too early to get started completing the forms! If you have any questions or concerns call me, IBA’s scholarship chairperson, at 405878-6189 or email me at gingerdp@aol.com. I will be glad to walk you through the application. Just yell HELP! BJ
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by Ginger PRITCHARD IBA SCHOLARSHIP CHAIRWOMAN
IBA SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE
UNDERCLASSMAN
Graduating High School Seniors
UPPERCLASSMAN
Current College Students
RAY MACKEY MEMORIAL
Underclassman and Upperclassman - Based on Financial Need
ALTERNATE EDUCATION
Junior College, Technical College, Professional School
BRANGUS Journal
October 2014 | 23
Marketing Update Putting Your Best Foot Forward
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by Jason BATES IBBA DIRECTOR OF FIELD SERVICES AND COMMERCIAL MARKETING
hen you are applying for a job, internship, board position or any other position in which you are under scrutiny, what are some of the things you do to prepare? You have most likely picked out the proper wardrobe, gotten a new haircut, and taken care of your personal hygiene as to present yourself to the best of your ability. How many times have you been to a cow sale and seen the consignors professionally dressed but their cattle look like they were just pulled off the range? Sale day is your cattle’s job interview, so to speak. It is a bad reflection on yourself, your program
24 | October 2014
and your cattle if you have not taken all the steps required to present your cattle to the best of their ability. I do not think producers take their cattle to a sale thinking, “Boy, I sure wish I had done more to make my cattle look better.” I think in most cases they probably did not get started early enough in their preparation or merely lack the experience to present their cattle better. The first step in sale preparation begins when you put that first straw of semen in that cow or turn the bull out with that set of cows. Before you plan your mating you need to be cognoscente of where you are going to market that resulting calf. Analyze the performance and EPDs of both parents, and plan for that calf to have the most marketability you can. Only you know what traits and criteria are important in your markets, but you need to be aware of what is important in markets outside of your own. Whether you are preparing for a production sale, consignment sale, private treaty sales or marketing your calves at your local sale barn, with the price of cattle these days, a sack of feed or a hair cut can make a huge impact on your return. In this issue of the Brangus Journal you are going to hear testimonials from experts in all facets of the cattle industry. From photographers to cattle fitters to auctioneers, these professionals will share with you ideas of how to maximize your returns on your cattle. Being successful in marketing your cattle may seem like a huge undertaking. The pictures, ad design, advertising placement, feeding, fitting and genetic selection are all components that have to be examined. There are plenty of resources and agencies available to help you learn and better prepare yourself for the day you market your cattle. At IBBA we encourage you to take advantage of the services directory in the back of this magazine to help you find an agency that can help you in your marketing decisions. Though the best picture, ad, and fit job will only give you success in the short term, building the right genetic product and keeping in touch with the changing demands of the industry is what will give you success in the long term marketing of your program. BJ
Though the best picture, ad, and fit job will only give you success in the short term, building the right genetic product and keeping in touch with the changing demands of the industry is what will give you success in the long term marketing of your program.
BRANGUS Journal
Oak Creek Farms Forage Tested Bull Sale
Saturday, October 25, 2014 - 12:30 p.m. Oak Creek Farms Sale Facility, Chappell Hill, Texas
Selling 125 Forage Tested OCF Bulls
Brangus Red Brangus Angus Red Angus Source Verified Commercial Heifer Sale to follow Bull Sale Pre-Sale Activities, Friday, October 24, 2014: 2:00 PM - Parade of Bulls 6:00 p.m. - Seminar followed by Ribeye Steak Dinner sponsored by Zoetis Seminar Speakers: Kevin Milliner, Zoetis - DNA Technology Updates Dr. Tommy Perkins, IBBA Executive Vice President - BRANGUS: The Perfect Breed for Low Maintenance Production Systems Ranch Tours Available Thursday and Friday
VOLUME DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE!
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On October 25, Our Top 125 Coming Two Year Old Forage Tested OCF Bulls Will Sell!
Bulls Forage Tested at OCF beginning on March 1st and ending September 1st under guidelines of Texas Forage & Grassland Council. Weights and Measures recorded by Texas A&M Extension Service.
oakcreekfarms.com- customer’s OCF sired calves achieve 80-90% choice & prime!
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Going on eleven years using DNA to identify desirable heritable traits.
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Directions from Houston: Hwy 290 (60 mi west) then 4 mi south on FM 1371
October 2014 | 25 Oak Creek Farms - Celebrating our 47th Anniversary - BreedingBRANGUS BrangusJournal Since 1967
Feature Article The View from the by Brittni DRENNAN IBBA COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
Block
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illions of head of cattle are marketed through an auction ring each year. In the purebred sector, marketing cattle through an auction venue has such a dramatic impact on the perceived value on the purebred market around the world. With unprecedented trends occurring in the industry, now more than ever it is important to take advantage of every opportunity when it comes to marketing your product. Recently, I had the opportunity to visit with two successful auctioneers, Doak Lambert and Wes Dotson, who sell thousands of commercial and purebred Brangus cattle annually. They shared their perspectives on how producers can generate the most value for their cattle as they see it from the block.
Submitted by: Doak Lambert 26 | October 2014
BRANGUS Journal
Feature Article WHAT SHOULD PRODUCERS KEEP IN MIND TO ENSURE THEIR CATTLE BRING THEIR WORTH IN THE SALE RING?
Lambert: - Cattle should be in good flesh, but not too fat. I never sold a thin cow or bull for very much money. - Cattle should be presented well and in their best light on sale day and in any photos/videos prior to the sale. Unless you are a professional photographer/videographer, don›t try to do this yourself. Hire a professional. - The more information you can provide about your cattle, the better your chances are of receiving the highest potential value at auction. Breeding information, performance data, pedigree and health records should all be up to date and easily accessible to the potential buyers. - Keep the lines of communication open between yourself and any members of the marketing team. Sit down and visit with your sale manager, auctioneer, publication representatives and breed representatives to make sure that your expectations align with the expectations of the marketing team. - Use A.I. sires in your program. Your natural service sire might be the best bull in the breed, but if his genetic lineage is not easily recognizable, his progeny will not sell as well as cattle that are sired by reputable A.I. sires. - Producers should do their homework. Marketing is a 365-day-a-year job. The best set of cattle in the world won’t sell well at auction if the market does not know the reputation of the
program that is selling them. Stay in contact with your customers and potential customers throughout the year. Again, if you›re not set up to do this yourself, hire a professional to help you. Dotson: Along with the role that the marketing team for the sale plays, it is important for the producer to hustle potential buyers that he is familiar with and apply a personal touch. Know the trends of the current market. What are the potential buyers looking for in type, classification, and quality? Have your offering looking the best you can and remember you may not accomplish this overnight.
WHAT KIND OF CATTLE ARE THE EASIEST FOR YOU TO SELL?
Lambert: The easiest cattle to sell are the good ones; the top 20 percent- the ones that fit the description I mentioned earlier. They’re in good flesh, they are presented well, they are top performers in the areas of efficient growth, fertility, soundness and carcass quality, and they have the eye appeal necessary to catch the eye of the potential buyers. They are also cattle that have reputation genetics behind them and are being sold by an operation that has built trust and good will in the market over time. There always seems to be a great number of bidders for these kinds of cattle. Dotson: That’s fairly easy- good ones. You like to see the reaction of the crowd to good cattle that are presented well and backed by reputation. Currently, with the state of the cattle industry, it is exciting and easy to sell most any type of cattle. (continued on page 28)
Ideal Video Productions
Ideal Video Productions BRANGUS Journal
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Feature Article (continued from page 27)
DOES THE SIZE OF THE CROWD OR THE SALE VENUE HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE AUCTION?
Lambert: Yes, when it comes to auction crowds, size matters. The more people you have at an auction, the more potential bidders you have. The more bidders you have, the more excitement you can generate. The venue is important as well. If
the venue is too big, the people can get spread out which can disperse the energy of the crowd. I like having standing room only auctions in a smaller space where the bidders are packed in. This seems to translate to more auction energy and competition. Dotson: They always say that all you need is the right two bidders. Maybe so, but anytime you can have a large attendance the excitement will carry through the crowd. It has always seemed that live bidding helps to confirm the values of those animals and create interest.
HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN MOMENTUM IN A SALE WHEN THEY ARE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING THE CATTLE IN THE RING?
DOAK LAMBERT
HOMETOWN
I grew up all over North Texas and the Texas Panhandle. My dad was a high school football coach, and we stayed in one town as long as he was winning. I graduated from Duncanville High School.
CURRENT CITY Coppell, Texas
AUCTIONEER SCHOOL Missouri Auction School
FUNNIEST OR MOST MEMORABLE AUCTION EXPERIENCE
“I had an auction years ago, back when the Ft. Worth Stockyards still rented the place out for special sales. We had a guy come sit down on the front row who looked liked he had just gone shopping at one of the local western wear stores that cater to tourist. You know, the ones that have a knack for making a person look like anything but a cattleman. This gentleman commenced to bidding on and buying several head in the offering and we got nervous. So we sent a note to the office asking if they could check out this guy’s credentials. They sent a note back that simply said, ‘Yes, we know him. If he wants to buy the State of Texas, put a fence around it and sell it to him. His money is that good!’” 28 | October 2014
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Lambert: Momentum is one of the most important elements of a successful auction. If you lose the momentum, you lose the crowd’s attention, and it then becomes difficult to keep the sense of urgency necessary for any auction to be successful. When the crew in the back is having trouble getting an animal in the sale ring it is my job to try and keep the crowd engaged by telling a story, a joke, or providing information about an upcoming lot. Sometimes we will try to create a little banter with the ring men or update the crowd on the day’s football scores- anything to keep their attention and keep them in their seats. When they are really having trouble in the back and we run out of filler material, it makes for a long day. Dotson: It always helps to have a story in hand concerning members of the ring staff. Tell something that the crowd can relate about the life as a cattleman.
HOW HAS THE VIDEO FORMAT AFFECTED THE CATTLE INDUSTRY, GOOD AND BAD?
Lambert: The video format has solved a lot of those problems. Unless you have technical difficulties, there is rarely a lull in the sale. The video tech can switch to the next lot much easier than the cowboy crew can get an ornery animal in the sale ring. The video format has allowed us to increase the pace of the auction because you don’t have those stall times. Plus, the video format is a lot easier on the cattle and crew. You don’t get the cattle banged up by pushing them through the alleys and sale ring. The only down side to the video format, that I can see, is missing out on the traditional atmosphere of hearing the gates swing and having the dust fly as a big, powerful bull or cow comes walking through the ring. Dotson: Personally, I have yet to find an aspect of the video format that is negative. Some operations may have difficulty making it fit for them due to certain constraints. Others are finding new ways of making it a major tool to add value. One thing that I have noticed is that auctions were traditionally a Saturday only event, and everyone worked hard to secure those dates. Now, due to video, Internet, smart phones, and the mobility of buyers, sales can be held successfully most any day of the week.
Feature Article HOW DOES THE INTERNET PLAY A ROLE IN CATTLE AUCTIONS?
Lambert: The Internet has revolutionized cattle auctions. Buyers who previously had a conflict with a certain auction date can now log on and view, bid and buy cattle just as if they were sitting there live on the front row. In the past, we might have 150 to 200 people at an auction. Now, with the Internet, we might have a few less people in the seats, but we are averaging 200 to 300 viewers online. That has essentially doubled the number of eyeballs who are exposed to our auctions. While they may not all be buyers right now, they are potential new customers who have now been exposed to our auctions and our way of doing business. Dotson: In many ways, you can use email to promote, view videos of sale offering ahead of time, and absentee bid on sale day.
a pleasant sound that is easy to listen to for an extended period of time. Dotson: Filler words. We are taught at auction school to use filler words such as; want, bid, give, now, have, buy, and others to enable you to transition from one number to the next. Over time I have probably changed those filler words into a chant of sounds and words that don’t make much sense but help me to develop momentum and flow. It makes it easier for me, and hopefully, it makes it more pleasant for crowd to listen to and to feel comfortable bidding. BJ
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A PRODUCER WHO IS GOING TO MARKET HIS CATTLE BY AUCTION FOR THE FIRST TIME, WHETHER THAT BE HAVING A PRODUCTION SALE OR CONSIGNING HIS CATTLE TO A SALE?
Lambert: My advice to a first time seller would be surround yourself with good people who have experience in putting on a good auction. Whether that is your ranch manager, a sale manager, consultant, auctioneer or fellow breeder, find someone who is familiar with all the details and nuances of merchandising cattle through the auction method of marketing. Also, it’s important to know that successful auctions are built over time. There is a lot to be said for consistently having an auction on the same date every year so that your customers get used to scheduling your auction on their calendars. Just like a cow, a ranching program, or a person’s character, you have to build an auction’s reputation over time. Dotson: The producer should make an effort to attend as many auctions of both types to see what aspects he would have confidence in using. Visit with those producers about their successes and failures. Then, choose the route that would best fit the producer’s program. Continue to study your lesson and offer the best you can with quality cattle, well prepared, and promoted.
WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU SAYING IN BETWEEN ALL THOSE NUMBERS?
Lambert: It’s top secret. It’s so secret that even I don’t know. Actually, over time, the chant becomes just sounds that an auctioneer has crafted to fit well with his voice. Most chants start out with what is known as “filler words”. My filler words starting out were “would you give” and “are you able to buy ‘em”. Over time, those words just become rhythmic sounds that the auctioneer uses to create excitement, momentum, and hopefully,
WES DOTSON
HOMETOWN Enid, Oklahoma
CURRENT CITY Enid, Oklahoma
AUCITONEER SCHOOL
Gregg School of Auction, Plainview, Texas
FUNNIEST OR MOST MEMORABLE AUCTION EXPERIENCE
“Actually, I was not selling cattle on this day but selling land. We had a nice property and knew that it could really sell well and it was close enough to Oklahoma City to draw interest from there for recreation and home sites. When the crowd began to arrive it was large and a number of expensive vehicles soon drove on to the property. I knew then that I needed to perform well and may not get many opportunities like this. When the bidding started it was at a frantic pace, unusual for this type of auction and I guess the nerves and fast pace caused me to begin to see stars and I had to pause for a moment to keep from passing out. I hope not many understood my condition.”
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Feature Article Preparing Cattle for the
by Jason BATES IBBA DIRECTOR OF FIELD SERVICES AND COMMERCIAL MARKETING
Limelight
P
Does your product accurately reflect your program?
reparing your cattle to be marketed successfully is way more complex than simply slapping a sale tag in their ear and getting a set of health papers. Whether you are selling a set of calves at the sale barn, consigning to a consignment sale, or having your own production sale, it is important that you do the preparation needed to get the optimal value out for your cattle.
One of the first steps in preparing your cattle for marketing is identifying your marketplace and knowing where to market your product. If you are selling a set of commercial replacement heifers, you do not want to send them to the local sale barn the same day they are selling feeder cattle. You want to make sure you are selling them on the day when the most buyers will be in the stands looking for heifers, ideally at a special cow sale or
Ideal Video Productions 30 | October 2014
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Feature Article featured replacement sale. The same holds true with purebred cattle. Know what you are selling and where there is a market for your product. For example, do not sell your most elite donor cows in a consignment sale that is going to be attended by mostly commercial bull buyers, or do not consider sending very loose made southern cattle to a sale in an area where producers prefer tighter packaged cattle with tighter underlines. Once you have identified your markets, marketing your cattle still involves more than loading them up and taking them to the sale. Ninety-nine percent of the preparation is done at home and starts long before sale day. Paul Hill, show cattle manager at Blind Badger Ranch in Fort Morgan, Colo., understands the detrimental effects late preparation can have on the bottom line. “Preparing cattle for the marketplace begins with your whole herd health protocols. If your cattle don’t have a sound vaccination or nutritional program, then they will never exhibit themselves to the highest degree,” Hill said. “You can be the best fitter in the country, but if you don’t condition that animal to their optimum, you will suffer with sale day prices. Nutrition starts months ahead of sale time.“ As much as everybody says they like to ‘buy cattle in their working clothes’, the truth is they like to buy the best looking cattle that usually have plenty of condition on them. If you have a sound herd health program and are good at maintaining the nutritional levels of your cattle, it will be easy to get your cattle into shape. However, if you have experienced drought or
a shortage of forage resources, you will need to get the cattle up several months ahead of the sale and start supplementing them with added feed. The cold, hard truth is that feed is what sells. Having been involved in the cattle industry and show circuit his entire life, Adam Graven, manager of Deep Down Ranch in Jennings, La., has prepared thousands of head of cattle for marketing and sales. “After cattle for sale are selected, it is extremely beneficial to group them by sex, age, reproductive stage and body condition. In general, it is optimal to hand feed sale candidates for at least six weeks prior to sale time to gentle them down and acclimate them to people on foot, especially if they are normally fed in a mechanized method,” Graven said. Sale day can mean different things to different people. Sale day should be the day you present that animal to the public. That does not necessarily have to be the day of the auction. Your advertisements or catalogs will come out way before the actual date of the sale. If you are running pictures or video of your cattle before the actual auction, your sale day is the day you take that picture or video. “The second most important day for a sale animal is picture day,” Graven said. “You never get a second chance to make a first impression. A good picture of an average animal can add value, where as a bad picture of a good animal can discourage interest.” These points are important to remember when you are scheduling your timeline to get your cattle prepared, and this is the deadline most people generally miss. On picture or video day, are you ready? By this time you should not be thinking, ‘Are my cattle fat enough?’ That feeding work should have already been done. Separate your sale cattle early (continued on page 32)
Mound Creek Ranch
Having cattle prepared for sale day is vital to your sucess, whether you utilize a production sale at your ranch or a consignment sale. Proper preparation will matter more than anything else you can do.
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October 2014 | 31
Feature Article (continued from page 31) and get them on feed in plenty of time to have them ready for pictures. It is less expensive and easier on the cattle to bring them to optimal condition early and be able to maintain them than it is to try to put that weight on them at the last minute, but be careful not to get the cattle too fat. You also should have had your cattle clipped or torched so they look as attractive as they can. Clipping your cattle makes them more eye appealing to the public. If they have been conditioned properly, mature cows and bulls always look more attractive when they have been slick sheared several weeks ahead of time. If your cattle happen to be a little under conditioned or are in a colder season, then clipping heads, necks, tails and torching their bodies may be more appropriate. Younger cattle that may not be fully developed often times look better if their hair has been worked and they have been clipped or blocked. Blocking cattle is the process of working their hair coat, cutting out the desirable conformation lines of that individual, and then blending the rest with clippers to make the cattle look natural. This process takes a lot of time and work to make the cattle look their best. If you are not experienced in this process and do not want to add the expense of hiring a professional to help you get them into “show shape”, you are usually better off slick shearing or torching those cattle. A bad blocking job can accentuate bad characteristics of that animal and do you more harm than good. Taking pictures and video of cattle is an art form that takes a great deal of talent. If you are not confident in your abilities, you should consider hiring a professional to help you. An average or bad picture will do more harm than a good picture will provide any benefit. Everything in that picture or video represents your program. You will even want the background and foreground to be clear and eye appealing. Have your picture and video area in a place that the background is not cluttered with a bunch of equipment or other distractions that will take the viewers eyes away from the cattle, and be sure to mow the grass where the cattle will be walking. If you are taking pictures of loose cattle in a pen, have that pen small enough that you are not chasing your cattle around all day but big enough that they are not getting all jammed up and nervous. Video pens need to have enough space that one is able to get a good 15 second shot of the animal walking free and easy with fluid movement in one direction. If you are taking your own pictures, keep in mind lighting is the key. You will want the light behind you with minimal shadows on the cattle. Do not take your pictures or video at high noon when lighting is directly above the cattle and casts shadows down their sides. Taking good pictures or video takes a great deal of patience and time to get the cattle posed correctly in order 32 | October 2014
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There are many options to consider when clipping cattle and the best option depends most upon your situation, experience level and available resources. Large groups of animals like the heifers above may be best suited for heads, necks and tails, while mature animals like the cow to the left may be best suited for slick shearing. Younger animals like the heifer below may benefit from blocking, but beware this takes a lot of time and energy.
to make them look the most desirable and natural, and this is nearly impossible to accomplish with one person. Penny Bowie, owner of Omni Advertising and Graphics in Newnan, Ga., has been professionally photographing cattle since 1976. “How the cattle are handled before I get them is what determines how many I can shoot in a period of time. Realistically, I count on being able to picture seven head in the morning and seven head in the evening as long as the cattle have not been stirred up,” Bowie said. “It’s important to watch the weather and plan accordingly. I need to have the perfect day to picture. There is no substitute for natural lighting on cattle.”
Feature Article Hopefully by the time you have taken your pictures, you already have mapped out where the best places are to spend your advertizing dollars. For most publications deadlines for copy and pictures is a minimum of one month before the publication mails. These are important to remember as you build your marketing timeline. There are many different philosophies when it comes to ad design, but the important thing to remember is the product you are offering, when your product will be available for purchase, where it will be offered for sale, and how to provide more information about your product. Design and layout quality are in the eye of the beholder, but be sure you get your entire message across in a clear, concise manner. Usually, less is more when it comes to additional information. After pictures are taken, ads are placed, and the catalog is out, the job is still not finished. Health requirements usually need to be met within 30 days of the sale, and some of the tests required may take several weeks to receive results. Stay in contact with your veterinarian or sale manager to be sure that your cattle comply with all the health requirements for the sale, and be aware of other states’ requirements if your cattle have to travel across state borders. Every state mandates their own health requirements and tests, and those requirements are constantly changing. The vet inspections also give you a chance to obtain breeding status or pregnancy information that was not available at the time the catalog was printed. These changes in status can be put on the supplemental information sheet available at the sale to give the
buyers the most updated information about your cattle. The last time you run your cattle through the chute at home is when you also need to place the sale lot tags in the cattle’s ears to prevent the tags from looking dirty and worn. Keeping your cattle in a clean, dry place before the sale will help leave a positive lasting impression on your future buyers. You want your cattle to look their best on sale day, so you may want to consider doing some touch up clipping and wash your cattle before the sale to get them clean. If you are hauling your cattle to a sale facility, then be prepared for your cattle to get dirty on the way. Have the tools needed to clean them up with you when you get there. Give yourself plenty of time to get to the sale facility so that when you arrive, you will have enough time to feed your cattle and look through them again. “The most important thing to remember is that they are cows, and they have to get bred and reproduce when they are supposed to,” Hill said. “Selling a three-year-old heifer that is open just because she looks good illustrates issues within your genetics and program.” Make certain you are offering a quality product that represents your program well. Everything else can be improved with the help of resources and the advice of professionals in the industry. The bottom line is sale preparation takes hard work and sound planning, but in the end can make a huge difference in the amount of money you add to your pocket. BJ
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Feature Article
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words by Dr. Jillian Fain BOHLEN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
Ultrasound for the Seedstock Producer
Brenda Peterson 34 | October 2014
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ften it is difficult for producers to accept and then use emerging technology. If this is you, well there’s good news when it comes to the ultrasound. The ultrasound machine has been used in production agriculture for carcass measurements from the late 1950s and early 1960s for reproductive reasons. This tool for use in animal production systems has proven its worth, if for nothing else, by its shear number of years of utilization without a superior technology identified.
Feature Article The key to ultrasound is to value its application for its full worth. Ultrasound should be used as a comprehensive reproductive tool that provides accurate evaluation while still maintaining efficiency. Undoubtedly, ultrasound will never replace palpation but offers additional benefits to a management program with the ability to visualize characteristics of the uterus, ovary, and pregnancy. For the seedstock producer, there are two key events in which the ultrasound pays dividends. The first of these events is in the evaluation of repeat breeders and the second in defining the features of a pregnancy. An increase in days open for an animal means additional days on a feed bill without producing saleable offspring. This is in addition to the costs associated with increased breeding attempts if utilizing hormone synchronization aids and/or artificial insemination. Visualizing characteristics of the uterine environment as well as ovarian characteristics may assist in early identification of reproductive issues as well as lead to earlier and more appropriate remediation efforts. Reasons for reproductive failure are often found at the uterine or ovarian level. Observations within the uterus are most often linked to fluid accumulation. Characteristics of the uterine wall, the uterine fluid, and ovarian structures, can provide an ultrasound technician with enough information to tell the difference in fluid accumulation that is a result of estrus from fluid which is caused by an infection. Uterine fluid pooling as a result of infection (metritis, endometritis, pyometra) has been identified to lead to issues with follicle development, shortened estrous cycles, and cystic follicles. The ability to identify these issues without any outward clinical symptoms and identify them early could reduce the amount of damage to the uterine environment and increase the probability that the animal will successfully breed in the same season. Moving out of the uterus, structures on the ovaries help tell a lot about an animal. Looking at the ovaries can identify if an animal is cycling, is suffering from follicular cysts or corpus luteum (CL) abnormalities. Abnormalities of the follicle or CL may impede proper cycling, ovulation, or sustainment of pregnancy. When making decisions on how to remedy identified issues, it is always best to consult with an animal health professional. The reality is, these observations and consultations may allow for treatment of a problem breeder and the ability to retain elite genetics. Once pregnancy is established, the ultrasound allows for earlier visualization of pregnancy. The highest level of accuracy and reliability for pregnancy determination can be achieved when animals are ultrasound at approximately 28 days. Identifying a reliable heartbeat is key to any early diagnosis with ultrasound. Eyes on a heartbeat remove any question that fluid, whether seen or felt, is a result of heat, infection, embryonic/fetal loss, or a viable pregnancy. In the case of an open animal, the reduced time to pregnancy detection would allow for a shortened period to rebreeding. Additionally, many ultrasound technicians are capable of determining if early or late embryonic loss occurred. This may not seem a valuable tool to many producers – after all, she is still open. However, this piece of additional insight into a repeat (continued on page 36) BRANGUS Journal
October 2014 | 35
Feature Article (continued from page 35) breeder will assist in determining if she is having problems getting pregnant or staying pregnant. Identifying which problem exists would likely change the course of management for that particular animal. If earlier diagnosis is not as key to your operation, there are other pregnancy characteristics that may prove vital to your management. First, ultrasound has a higher identification rate of twins. In addition, most skilled ultrasound technicians can determine fetal age with simple assessment of fetal and uterine characteristics. However, if it is the ultimate accuracy you demand, many ultrasound models now come outfitted with gestation tables that use measurements of anything from crown to rump length or diameter of the eye orbital to determine fetal age. When trying to provide accurate genetic information on the offspring for marketing, this fetal aging accuracy is invaluable. Whether using natural service, AI, or Embryo Transfer, the ability to advertise fetal sex to prospective customers enhances marketability for any seedstock producer. Location of the genital tubercle early in gestation can accurately provide this
fetal sex information. The genital tubercle generally migrates in cattle around 55 days of gestation to under tail for females and caudal to umbilicus in males. Within another two to three weeks, additional reproductive anatomy can be identified and accuracy increased for the novice technician. Determination of fetal sex can generally occur anywhere between 55 and somewhere around 90-110 days of gestation when the fetus becomes difficult to scan as the gravid uterine horn moves ventrally over the pelvic rim. From pre-breeding to breeding issues to we’ve got her pregnant, ultrasound can provide great understanding into each of your animal’s unique reproductive traits. Realizing that producers these days have a lot of irons in the fire at any given time, with knowledge and skill, the ultrasound can be the seedstock producer’s new best friend. In this producer role, your goals are the ultimately the retention, amplification, and proliferation of valuable genetics. This means that often your largest iron in the fire is reproductive management. If looking to make improvements in this area, the ultrasound is potentially a tried and true technology to use. BJ
For the seedstock producer, there are two key events in which the ultrasound pays dividends. The first of these events is in the evaluation of repeat breeders and the second in defining the features of a pregnancy.
FINAL CUT
36 | October 2014
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Feature Article An Introduction to
Genomics
F
rom a historical point of view, there have been considerable changes made to National Cattle Evaluations (NCE) overtime. More recently, many beef breed associations have augmented EPDs with genomic information. This step alone has included many rapid evolutions both in terms of methods of incorporation and the source of genomic information. Changes include new genotyping platforms, the usefulness of it in predicting genetic merit, and our understanding of how best to utilize it. Prior to genomic information being first integrated into National Cattle Evaluation (NCE) by the American Angus Association in 2009, genomic information (Molecular Breeding Values; MBV) were viewed by some producers as competing sources of information with traditional EPDs. This created confusion as to which piece of information to utilize. Even after the incorporation of genomic predictors into NCE, new questions began to penetrate the beef seedstock industry. Retraining, or recalibration, became a necessity, and the beef industry understood that the efficacy of genomic predictors were not robust over several generations. The issue of robustness was also very clear across breeds, and the use of genomic predictors trained in Angus could not be used with any beneficial degree of accuracy in a closely related breed like Red Angus. Consequently, for breeds to capitalize on the benefits of augmenting traditional EPDs with genomic information, they must first make an initial investment in developing a training population. Generally speaking, breed associations were advised to genotype a minimum of 1,000 animals that preferably had moderate to high accuracy EPDs. To date several breed associations have met this mark and are currently implementing genomic selection.
ACCURACY
How well a particular genomic test works in the context of selection is related to how much of the genetic variation the marker test explains. The magnitude of the benefits depends on the proportion of genetic variation (%GV) explained by a given marker panel, where the %GV is equal to the square of the genetic correlation multiplied by 100. Table 1 shows the relationship between the genetic correlation (true accuracy), %GV and Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) accuracy. BIF accuracy is the standard for all U.S. beef breeds. From Table 1 it is clear that even when the %GV is exceptionally large, the corresponding BIF accuracy is relatively low. This suggests that although genomics have the potential to add additional information, by itself it is far from a perfect predictor of an animal’s genetic merit. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the benefits of including a MBV into EPD (or Estimated Breeding Value (EBV) which is twice 38 | October 2014
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by Matt SPANGLER Ph.D. UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINSOLN
Table 1. The relationship between true accuracy (r), proportion of genetic variation explained (%GV), and Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) accuracy. R 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
%GV 1 4 9 16 25 36 49
BIF 0.005 0.020 0.046 0.083 0.132 0.200 0.286
the value of an EPD) accuracy (on the BIF scale) when the MBV explains 10 or 40 percent of the genetic variation (GV), which is synonymous with R2 values of 0.1 and 0.4. The darker portion of the bars shows the EPD accuracy before the inclusion of genomic information and the lighter colored portion shows the increase in accuracy after the inclusion of the MBV into the EPD calculation. As the %GV increases, the increase in EPD accuracy becomes larger. Additionally, lower accuracy animals benefit more from the inclusion of genomic information, and the benefits decline as the EPD accuracy increases. Regardless
Table 2. Approximate number of progeny needed to reach accuracy levels (true (r) and the BIF standard) for three heritabilities (h2). Accuracy r BIF 0.1 0.01 0.2 0.02 0.3 0.05 0.4 0.08 0.5 0.13 0.6 0.2 0.7 0.29 0.8 0.4 0.9 0.56 0.999 0.99
Heritability Levels h (0.1) h2 (0.3) h2 (0.5) 1 1 1 2 1 1 4 2 1 8 3 2 13 5 3 22 7 4 38 12 7 70 22 13 167 53 30 3800 1225 700 2
(continued on page 40)
Feature Article GLOSSARY OF GENETIC TERMS
Terms used in genetic research can be confusing and often overwhelming. Here is a glossary of commonly used terms in the discussion of genomic-enhanced EPDs, or GE-EPDs as they are sometimes referred. This is not a comprehensive glossary and was purposely put in this order to aid in the understanding the genetic terms and how they relate to one another. Genetics – the division of science that studies genes, heredity and the relationships among living organisms Genomics – a specific discipline in genetics that studies genomes Genome – the total genetic material in an organism, encoded in DNA or RNA DNA – deoxyribose nucleic acid, present in the nucleus of the cells in all living organisms and contains all the genetic information of the organism; a molecule of DNA is formed by a double strand of millions of nucleotides joined together Base pairs – the backbone of DNA strands, the order of which along a DNA strand accounts for the genetic variation between animals, in both the function and differences of genes; the most common bases are always paired up in the same way: Adenine (A) bonds with Thymine (T); Cytosine (C) bonds with Guanine (G) Genetic code – the sequence of bases within DNA, made up of triplets (a group of three bases) Gene – the sequence of triplets (three bases) in the DNA molecule; one gene may contain a thousand or more bases Genetic markers – pieces of DNA (information), either a single gene or a sequence of genes, identified on a specific location on a chromosome; the identified markers influence a specific trait or several traits Chromosome – the organized structure of DNA and protein found in cells, containing many genes in a single piece of coiled DNA; cattle have 30 chromosomes Allele – a pair or more of genes located on a specific position on a chromosome Loci – the specific place on a chromosome where a gene is located SNP – Single-nucleotide polymorphism (pronounced ‘snip’), a specific DNA marker; a panel of critically selected SNPs for multiple traits identifies the approximate location of DNA sequences having a direct effect on a trait or series of traits 50K SNP – the bovine 50K chip which provides information on 50,000 locations (SNPs) throughout the genome Genetic variance (GV) – variation in phenotypes due to the presence of different genotypes in a population Genetic tests – tools that can be used to identify genetic markers, which lead to predicting an animal’s performance potential Training a panel – determining how genes of a specific beef breed, identified from a SNP panel, interact with one another to be able to predict genetic affect on trait(s) of interest Molecular Breeding Value (MBV) – a prediction of value for a certain trait derived from genomes (information from SNPs) Genomic-enhanced EPDs – combining DNA markers with individual animal, pedigree and progeny data into EPD calculations; also referred to as marker-assisted EPDs (MA EPDs) or molecular breeding value EPDs (MBV EPDs) Marker Assisted Selection (MAS) – the use of one or a few genetic markers to assist in the selection of desirable traits National Cattle Evaluation – incorporating performance measures from individual animals, progeny, and pedigree relationships to generate a metric (expected progeny differences, EPDs) that can be to make selection decisions BRANGUS Journal
October 2014 | 39
Feature Article (continued from page 38) of the %GV assumed here, the benefits of including genomic information into EPDs dissipate when EPD accuracy is between 0.6 and 0.7. On the other hand, when %GV is 40, an animal with 0 accuracy could exceed 0.2 accuracy with genomic information alone. This would be comparable to having approximately four progeny for a highly heritable trait or seven progeny for a moderately heritable trait (Table 2).
used more heavily. However, genotyping animals does not replace the need to phenotype them. Doing so inherently limits the upper bound of accuracy far below what is possible if additional phenotypes are collected. Genomic predictors should be viewed as an additional source of information, not the complete picture. BJ
PHENOTYPES IN THE GENOMIC ERA
While these gains in accuracy are impressive, particularly for non-parent animals, it is clear that genomic information alone cannot “prove” a sire. Or in other words, additional information is required before an animal can achieve very high levels of BIF accuracy. This additional information principally comes from recording progeny that have had the phenotypes of interest recorded. There is still a need, and tremendous benefit from, the routine collection of phenotypes in the context of genomic selection. The benefits fall into two broad classifications: 1) Training Population Animals with phenotypes are needed in order to develop the initial training population. Ideally, these animals have moderate to high accuracy EPD, which would require that they have several progeny (refer to Table 2) that have the phenotype recorded. If routine phenotype collection does not occur, building the initial training set will be problematic. Genomic predictions need to be “retrained” overtime, and to do so requires additional animals to be included in the training population. Similar to building the initial training population, this requires that animals be routinely measured for the trait of interest, thus building EPD accuracy and providing additional information from which more reliable genomic predictors can be derived. 2) Added Accuracy Although genomic predictors have been shown to increase EPD accuracy (refer to Figures 1 and 2), they do not have the ability to increase BIF accuracy to high levels alone. To continue to build the accuracy of an animal’s EPD, the animal must have progeny recorded that have been measured for the trait of interest.
CONCLUSIONS
The inclusion of genomic predictors into NCE offers an exciting and powerful tool to increase the rate of genetic gain by increasing accuracy of EPDs, particularly of young animals, and by reducing the generation interval if younger sires are
Figure 1. Increase in accuracy from integrating genomic information that explains 10 percent of the genetic variation into Estimated Breeding Values (EBV).
Figure 2. Increase in accuracy from integrating genomic information that explains 40 percent of the genetic variation into Estimated Breeding Values (EBV).
“The inclusion of genomic predictors into NCE offers an exciting and powerful tool to increase the rate of genetic gain by increasing accuracy of EPDs, particularly of young animals, and by reducing the generation interval if younger sires are used more heavily.” 40 | October 2014
BRANGUS Journal
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BRANGUS Journal
Mike & Gloria Weathers PO Box 1029 Columbus, TX 78934 713.252.7444 October 2014 | 41 mikeweathers@msn.com
Membership Welcome New Members JOHN BERRY :: ANSON, TX WOODHAM CATTLE CO, KENNY WOODHAM :: COLUMBIA, AL GANADERA BATIPA, SA :: REPUBLIC OF PANAMA CIRCLE LEE FARMS, STEPHEN M LEE JR DVM :: BATON ROUGE, LA ADRIAN BLACK :: GRANT, AL PLAN B RANCH, DOUGLAS G COOK :: BILOXI, MS RICHLAND FARMS, ROY C BROOKSHIRE :: LOUISVILLE, MS BILL LEE :: BRANFORD, FL KEITH A BOURG :: MARKSVILLE, LA BRAD DUCKLESS :: OPELOUSAS, LA SCOTT DANIEL :: DE KALB, TX SHERLEY HAY INC :: VENUS, FL
MARK SAMPLES :: GREENVILLE, TX HACIENDA CHIAL, ROBERTO ESPAT :: ALBUQUERQUE, NM ROD HARPER :: ATMORE, AL THOMAS FARMS, KEITH THOMAS :: FOUNTAIN INN, SC TRES MARGARITAS RANCH, JORGE FLORES :: LAREDO, TX ROCK SPRINGS BRANGUS FARM, SHON ROYSTER :: ALBERTVILLE, AL PENNY CATTLE COMPANY LLC, CHASE PENNY :: BEN WHEELER, TX BLAIR GATLIN :: GLEN SAINT MARY, FL JAMIE DYKES :: MIDLAND CITY, AL K & K CATTLE LLC, BRANDON BRINSON :: RAYNE, LA BURTON FAMILY FARMS, CHAD S BURTON :: WESTMINSTER, SC NEW CITY CATTLE COMPANY LLC :: CHICAGO, IL
IBBA Board Offers Short-Term Amnesty Program
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n August 22, 2014, the International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) Board of Directors approved an amnesty period for its members to bring cattle back on the THR inventory with no penalty. This amnesty period will begin September 1, 2014, and end December 31, 2014. The cattle brought back must meet all the following criteria: • Member re-enrolling the cattle must be a member in good standing • Cattle must have been registered and been in good standing with IBBA prior to coming off of Total Herd Reporting (THR) Progeny of cattle put back in the inventory during the amnesty period may also be registered in the system as long as they meet all the registry requirements (e.g. the dam is on inventory during the year of birth, birthdate, sex, etc.)
Cattle brought into THR during the amnesty period will be billed a $21.00 fee for the period ending December 31, 2014, and from that period on will comply with all current THR fees and criteria. “The amnesty program passed by the IBBA Board of Directors provides an opportunity to add more data into our system for future development of new genetic evaluation tools,” said Dr. Tommy Perkins, IBBA Executive Vice President. “It is important to get these animals back onto the inventory should future registry options be offered to the membership.” This program is designed to increase animal numbers, which in turn helps membership grow as well as strengthen our footprint in the beef cattle industry. For any questions regarding the amnesty period please contact the IBBA office at (210) 6968231. BJ
Have news to share with your fellow Brangus breeders? Upcoming sale or event that you need listed in the BPI Calendar? Send your information to Tyler at tyler@int-brangus.org. 42 | October 2014
BRANGUS Journal
Membership Brangus Association Establishes Foundation
International Brangus Breeders Foundation will Secure Role in Beef Cattle Industry and Benefit Brangus Producers
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t
The foundation will also provide educational opportunities at all membership levels to encourage and promote improved leadership for the future of the Brangus breed. Increasing educational events will aid members in improved beef cattle knowledge to advance the breed in the future. The IBBF will educate breeders through “town hall” style meetings and field days for improved knowledge of association programs and other components of beef cattle management such as genomics, animal breeding, reproduction, marketing, and carcass attributes. Funding from the foundation will also benefit youth by offering scholarships, supporting junior educational programs, and other activities of the national junior show. These scholastic opportunities will encourage continued education and leadership successes for many young Brangus enthusiasts. Fundraising will be essential to fulfill the foundation’s purpose. IBBF will promote and encourage giving of personal and financial resources from Brangus breeders. Additionally, other facets of the beef industry and other friends of the breed will be afforded gifting opportunities to meet the goals and objectives of the foundation. All cash donations will be accepted as well as other financial contributions such as personal property (e.g. livestock, semen, and land). Other planned gifting donations as a part of financial and/ or estate planning will be possible. For example, a donor may give future interest of a life insurance policy, personal property, or real estate effective upon death. The IBBF was formed and exists exclusively for one or more of the purposes as specified in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and shall not carry on any activities not permitted to be carried on by an organization exempt from Federal income tax under IRC 501(c)(3) or corresponding provisions of any subsequent tax laws. BJ
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he International Brangus Breeders Foundation (IBBF) was established in 2014 under the laws of the State of Texas as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization to fund and support programs involving research, education and youth in the Brangus breed. Upon assuming the role as IBBA’s Executive Vice President in 2013, Dr. Tommy Perkins proposed the need to form a foundation, which would lead to valuable research, supplementary educational resources, and tax-deductible donations for Brangus youth scholarships. Understanding the importance of Perkins’ vision, Brandon Belt embraced the challenge and completed the necessary steps to establish the formation of the IBBF. The purpose of the IBBF is to fund research initiatives to advance the livestock industry while benefiting Brangus breeders and other beef producers today and in the future, as well as educating the beef cattle industry about Brangus attributes and production practices. The foundation will also provide youth opportunities to become leaders for the future of the Brangus breed and the agriculture industry. “With the formation of IBBF, we are excited about the new opportunities that will be available to expand education and research efforts to benefit International Brangus Breeder Association’s members,” said Traci Middleton, president of IBBA. “The charitable investments contributed by passionate and visionary donors will be instrumental in funding special projects to advance to the Brangus breed.” One of IBBA’s primary objectives is to help fund research efforts, benefiting Brangus breeders. Research results will be used to enhance the overall marketability of Brangus genetics, validating the role Brangus genetics have in the future of the beef cattle industry from the producer to the consumer. Funding university research will define the excellence in feed efficiency and tenderness attributes of Brangus cattle and is critical for continued advancement of the breed.
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October 2014 | 43
Membership IBBA Launches Brangus Built Commercial Program
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he International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) launched the Brangus Built commercial program designed to help producers identify and garner the added value associated with the Brangus influence of their commercial replacements. “The Brangus Built program will give producers who use Brangus genetics an opportunity to highlight those cattle so they can be easily identified,” said Jason Bates, IBBA Director of Field Services and Commercial Marketing. “Most importantly it will help commercial producers looking to purchase Brangus influenced replacements identify those cattle and rest assured they are not just a black or red cow with a little ear.” Brangus Built cattle are commercial cattle that are identified as having high valued Brangus influence. The eligible cattle will be assigned ear tags that have the Brangus Built logo along with an individual ID number as well as plenty of room for the producer to add any identification that fits into their program (example: herd ID, dam and/or sire ID, lot number). These tags can stay with that animal indefinitely. For more than 65 years, the Brangus breed has been known to excel in maternal traits. Brangus cattle have the built-in heterosis from the combination of Angus and Brahman genetics the allows them to transcend other breeds in terms of longevity, fertility, udder soundness, early breed back, and other important maternal traits while still maintaining outstanding performance and carcass characteristics. The current lows in the nation’s cow inventory and price of feeder cattle has caused a surge in the price of replacement females because so many producers are sending the heifers to the feedlots. The Brangus Built program will help producers maximize their return because a buyer will be willing to spend more knowing those cattle have been identified as having Brangus influence. 44 | October 2014
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In the future, as commercial replacement female prices level off, it will be vital for producers to have an avenue that identifies the added value of their product. The Brangus Built program was designed with that in mind. Contact Jason Bates at (210) 696-8231 to find out about using Brangus genetics and how you can get enrolled for your FREE tags for a limited time, or visit us at www.gobrangus. com for more information. BJ
Membership
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IBBA Partners with GeneSeek to Advance Brangus Breed
he International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) has selected GeneSeek, a division of Neogen Corporation, as the association’s new genomics profiling provider. The partnership will allow Brangus breeders to submit DNA samples to GeneSeek for parentage determination and lay a foundation for GenomicEnhanced EPDs for the breed association. “IBBA’s agreement with GeneSeek moves us closer to conducting all Brangus parentage testing using Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) genetic markers versus previously used technologies,” said Dr. Tommy Perkins, IBBA Executive Vice President. Samples will be tested with the GeneSeek®Genomic Profiler™ GGP HD 80K and the GeneSeek®Genomic Profiler™ GGP LD 30K for eventual incorporation into genomic-enhanced EPDs for the Brangus breed. The GGP 80K is finding a role as a premium genomic profiler, while the GGP LD 30K is a highly accurate, affordable option for routine testing of herd bulls and other seedstock. The arrangement allows Brangus breeders to request parentage as either a stand-alone SNP test or as part of their GGP HD 80K or GGP LD 30K results. Both profilers provide parentage verification along with a wealth of information on animal potential. Testing turn-around time is dependent on the type of testing requested. Brangus breeders should be pleased with the innovative direction they are going, said Ryan Ruppert, National Sales Director for Neogen GeneSeek. “Profiling is a much faster and affordable way to learn about the merit of bull calves. The profiles also help you confidently represent your seedstock at shows and sales,” Ruppert said. “Plus, a genomic profile on a bull calf or yearling may identify a potential A.I. sire, so if you are fortunate to experience this you can retain and showcase that animal.” Genomics will have a growing impact on seedstock and commercial cow-calf operations, due to bottom-line benefits that matter to producers, he said. Some “lowly heritable” traits have a big impact on a rancher’s bottom line. An example is reproductive performance. This is partly inherited and is also affected by management and nutrition. Knowing more about maternal traits of seedstock bulls helps ranchers buy the right young bulls and then select and invest in heifers that will breed and calve efficiently. Using genomic profiles, seedstock producers can measure maternal traits in young bulls and market them on that basis. “Genomics helps you get the advantage of reliable EPDs without having to do years of progeny testing,” Ruppert said.
Genomics will have a growing impact on seedstock and commercial cowcalf operations, due to bottom-line benefits that matter to producers. While maternal traits help ranchers raise great mother cows, in other cases the seedstock operators’ customers are looking for terminal bulls that will pass along growth efficiency. Genomic profiles also predict performance factors for feed efficiency and feed conversion, as well as carcass quality and composition. The information puts added power in the hands of seedstock breeders and their customers. When IBBA members order tests from GeneSeek, results will be emailed or mailed. Contact Rosanne Sralla, IBBA Registry Specialist, at rosanne_sralla@int-brangus.org or 210-696-8231 with questions. For more information, visit www.GoBrangus. com. BJ
BRANGUS Journal
October 2014 | 45
Membership World Brangus Congress
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his is your last chance to make reservations for the World Brangus Congress in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico, November 10-14, 2014. The World Brangus Congress is the most important and interesting gathering in the world for Brangus producers. Register now and book your reservations at the host hotel, the beautiful Fiesta Americana. If you do not reserve your hotel package through the World Brangus Congress, you will pay much more for hotels not included in the package, and you will have to pay for transportation. Book your reservations today through the World Brangus Congress at http://branguscongress.mx/carnets/.
REGISTRATION
The registration fee is $650.00 and includes: transportation from the airport to the hotel and back to the airport; conference keynote address; entry into the Xmatkuil fairgrounds and Brangus judging; tickets to the archeological sites and the great Museum of the Mayan World; welcome cocktails; lunch at Rancho Santa Fe; food at the Hotel Fiesta Americana; Xmatkuil Fair meals; meal in Mayaland; The 2014 World Brangus Congress Closing Dinner; transportation to events during the Congress program. If you have questions or need additional information, contact Dr. Tommy Perkins at 210-696-8231 or tperkins@int-brangus. org, or contact Marcos Borges at 979-533-1471 or marcos@ mbjranch.com.
RESERVATIONS The Fiesta Americana Merida will be the headquarters and host hotel for the World Brangus Congress. http://www. fiestamericana.com/en/merida/hotel-merida. Reservations should be booked through the World Congress website.
ROOM
BED
FEE
COMMENTS
Single
One King
$850
Rate for one person for six nights
Double
One King
$920
Rate for a couple in one room for six nights
Double
Two Queen
$1,000
Rate for two people with two beds for six nights
Your hotel stay includes: Breakfast buffet, Taxes and gratuities, Wireless Internet, and Parking. “The majestic Fiesta Americana Mérida rises up at the intersection of Mérida’s two most important avenues: Colon and Paseo Montejo, with Porfirian-style architecture that retains an exquisite elegance, together with modernity and technology; elements that ensure a pleasurable stay. An icon of the White City, a meeting point of Merida’s society and an attractive destination for vacation and business travelers alike, without a doubt one of the best hotels in Merida, Mexico.” 46 | October 2014
BRANGUS Journal
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Monday, November 10 - Guided Ranch Tours 8:15 am Meet in Lobby of the Hotel Fiesta Americana 8:30 am Travel to the City of Tizimin 10:45 pm Arrive to the Livestock Area of Tizimin 1:15 pm Travel to the Rancho Santa Fe 1:30 pm Tour Rancho Santa Fe and Complementary Food 6:30 pm Arrival at Merida for free night Tuesday, November 11 - Conference Keynote and Opening Cocktail 9:00 am Opening Ceremony in the Hotel Fiesta Americana 10:00 am Educational Program in the great Hall Yucatan I and II in the Hotel Fiesta Americana 1:00 pm Lunch at the Hotel Fiesta Americana 2:30 pm Educational Program in the great Hall Yucatan I and II in the Hotel Fiesta Americana 8:15 pm Travel to the Grand Museum of the Mayan World 8:30 pm Spectacle of Lights and Sounds in the Grand Museum of the Mayan World 9:30 pm Welcome Cocktail Hour 10:30 pm Return to the Hotel Fiesta Americana Wednesday, November 12 8:00 am Meet in Lobby of the Hotel Fiesta Americana 8:15 am Travel to the Yucatan Xmatkuil Fair Show Grounds 9:00 am Brangus Female Judging 1:00 pm Lunch at the Yucatan Xmatkuil Fair 2:00 pm Brangus Female Judging 5:00 pm Travel to the archaeological site Uxmal 7:00 pm Spectacle of Lights and Sounds in Uxmal 8:30 pm Return to the Hotel Fiesta Americana Thursday, November 13 8:00 am Meet in Lobby of the Hotel Fiesta Americana 8:15 am Travel to the Yucatan Xmatkuil Fair Show Grounds 9:00 am Brangus Bull Judging 1:00 pm Lunch at the Yucatan Xmatkuil Fair 2:00 pm Brangus Bull Judging 6:00 pm Brangus Auction 8:00 pm Return to the Hotel Fiesta Americana Friday, November 14 8:45 am Meet in Lobby of the Hotel Fiesta Americana 9:00 am Travel to the archaeological site of Chichen Itza 11:00 am Tour of Chichen Itza 1:30 pm Lunch at the Mayaland Restaurant 3:30 pm Return to the Hotel Fiesta Americana 7:30 pm Travel the closing dinner in the Hacienda Chichi Suarez 8:30 pm Closing Dinner in the Hacienda Chichi Suarez 11:30 pm Return to the Hotel Fiesta Americana BJ
BRANGUS Journal
October 2014 | 47
Membership IBBA Committee Taking Nominations for Directors
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he International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) nominating committee will be taking nominations for positions on the Board of Directors. Nominations for areas 4, 6, 7 and 8 will be accepted until October 10, and the candidates will be announced in the November Brangus Journal along with their biographies. The election ballots will be mailed out November 10, and will have
to be postmarked to the accounting office by December 31. The candidate receiving the largest number of votes in each electoral area will be announced immediately after tabulation occurs in mid to late January. Nominations for the following areas should be directed to the committees:
Area 4 Eddy Roberts, Chair :: 386-935-1416 wetfarm1@windstream.net Jim Wannamaker :: 803-568-3961 jbarmbrang01@pbtcomm.net Doug Williams :: 336-745-5252 whipowill@yadtel.net Alan Varner :: 931-934-3360 avbrangus@yahoo.com
Area 6 R.L. Robbs, Chair :: 520-384-2478 robbs.brangus@powerc.net Larry Parker :: 520-508-3505 jddiane@vtc.net Bart Carter :: 928-651-0881 bjcmd@cableone.net Bill Morrison :: 575-760-7263 bvmorrison@yucca.net
Area 7 Mike Kammerer, Chair :: 936-449-5744 jlkamm@earthlink.net Eddie Blazek :: 713-829-9908 moundcreekranch@cs.com Josh Drews :: 254-804-9968 d rewsfarms@gmail.com Joe Dillard :: 713-201-3305 joe.dillard@weatherford.com
Area 8 Bill Davis, Chair :: 336-210-1222 bdavis@billdavistrucking.com John Milam :: 870-310-0781 jmilam@milamconst.com Wyliss Kemp :: 662-489-5335 wylisskemp@aol.com Scotty Henderson :: 318-208-0069 2hhendersonranch@gmail.com
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Journal We want to BRANGUS hear from you!
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BRANGUS Journal
October 2014 | 49
Membership Southeast Field Day Generates Big Response
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he Southeast Brangus Breeders Association (SBBA) hosted its annual field day at the Draggin’ M Ranch in El Dorado, Ark., August 22-23, 2014. With more than 225 producers in attendance, the event was fun and informative for all who participated and demonstrated a growing interest in expansion opportunities. The event kicked off Friday, August 22, with a social and steak dinner in which Evon Crooks, President of the SBBA, and John Milam, host and owner of Draggin’ M Ranch, addressed the crowd. A dance and private concert from the Ray Johnston Band provided fun entertainment for guests that evening. Saturday’s schedule began with a preview of a few wellknown herd sires, including Guardian, Landau, Onstar and Coronado just to name a few, and their progeny from several different breeding programs. Following the display of these great genetics, Dr. Noah T. Cosby, representing Purina, talked to field day participants about the importance of a nutrition plan and products available to improve herd condition and health. Dr. Andrew McPeake of VitaFerm spoke about the added value that can be gained from balanced nutrition programs. “Nutrition is one of the big issues that is always on the breeder’s mind,” Crooks said. “How can they get more pounds for the same amount of feed… because that is what it’s all about.” Lorna Marshall and Justin Hergenreder, representatives of Genex, gave a presentation about the benefits and trends of artificial insemination and the value of data reporting.
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Dr. Tommy Perkins, Executive Vice President of the International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA), addressed the group regarding the positive outlook for the Brangus breed as the industry begins to rebuild the cow herd and answered questions about DNA testing procedures. “The Field Day was very organized, extremely educational and well attended,” said Perkins. “Having several mature herd sires and their progeny on display was just ‘icing on the cake’ for an already outstanding event”. Later that afternoon participants directed questions and topics to a panel of producers representing both the commercial and seedstock sectors. Jason Bates, IBBA’s Director of Field Services and Commercial Marketing, moderated the panel consisting of Lorna Marshall of Burlington, Colo.; Mike Vorel of Luther, Okla.; Zak O’Brien of South Coffeeville, Okla.; Chad Parish of Mt. Pleasant, Texas; and Chris Heptinstall of Fairmount, Ga. Video highlights and coverage will be available at GoBrangus. com. Sponsors of the SBBA field day were the city of El Dorado, Stockman’s Supply, VitaFerm, Purina and First Financial Bank. The IBBA, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, strives to provide the commercial cattle industry, domestically and internationally, with the best genetics possible. It was founded as the American Brangus Breeders in 1949 and has since evolved into the IBBA. The purpose of the IBBA is to enable members to serve the commercial cattle industry. For more information, visit GoBrangus.com. BJ
Membership
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Billy McClure Joins Santa Rosa Ranch Management
anta Rosa Ranch has announced that Billy McClure has joined the operation as Manager, overseeing the registered and purebred Brangus and UltraBlack development program. General Manager Kent Smith welcomed McClure, his wife, Brooke, and children, Emily and Aubrey, to Santa Rosa Ranch. “We are pleased to have Billy join our operation because he reflects the commitment and values that we have for producing the best Brangus and UltraBlack cattle in the market and standing behind what we do, for the success of our customers,” Smith said. McClure joins Santa Rosa Ranch following time with some of the most reputable operations in the industry. As the son of a Jonesville, La., row crop farmer and cattle raiser, Billy moved to Rosebud, Ark., as a young man and joined Caldwell Farms, where he eventually became manager of the Angus, Brangus and commercial cow/calf operation. He then arrived at Camp Cooley and served as assistant herd manager underneath Ken Hughes before moving to Chimney Rock Cattle Company in Concord, Ark., as ranch manager, overseeing the registered herd
of Brangus cattle. McClure brings a wealth of management and breeding experience and compliments the progressive program at Santa Rosa Ranch. McClure is excited to join a program that is committed to producing some of the best cattle in the Brangus and UltraBlack breed while keeping an eye to the future and the success of their customers. “Santa Rosa Ranch has an incredible amount to offer to this breed and this industry,” McClure said. “There is a lot of potential in the cattle business today, and I am proud to join Kent Smith, Gerald Sullivan, and his daughter, Kelley, and take on their slogan ‘Making The Best Breed Better’ because I believe that they are, and I’m excited to be a part of it!” Santa Rosa Ranch, with locations in Crockett and Navasota, Texas, produces seedstock and purebred Brangus and UltraBlacks for commercial producers as well as registered operations. For more information about bulls and replacement females, semen, embryos, and commercial steers and heifers, log on to www. srrbrangus.com or call 936.624.2333. BJ
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October 2014 | 51
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13465 Brooklyn Rd. Evergreen, AL 36401
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3 BRANGUS John and Sherry Milam 753 Hinson Road El Dorado, AR 71730 Grady Green, Registered Cowherd Manager 870-314-3673, grady@dragginmranch.com Danny Roberson, Commercial Cowherd Manager 870-310-8134 www.dragginmranch.com
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October 2014 | 53
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THE LARGEST REGISTERED BRANGUS BREEDER IN AMERICA
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www.wynneranch.com Matthew Lyle Wynne Cell: (772) 201-7500 Ft. Pierce, Florida matthew@wynneranch.net
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wetfarm1@windstream.net 1
2 For the best in
Registered and Commercial Brangus Mike Coggins • 229-232-3096 • mike@bwcattle.com Tracy Holbert • 979-255-4357 • ctlbroker@suddenlink.net
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Ranch is located just off I-75 at the Georgia-Florida line.
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4810 Smokey Road Newnan, GA 30263 770-251-6522 Home 770-502-1510 Fax www.theoaksfarm.com www.theoaksfarm.com Vince Roberts, CellCell Cobus Coetzee,Farm FarmManager Manager678-378-4697 - 678-378-0598 Scott Barkley,Asst. Herdsman 678-378-0598 Cell Dex King-Williams, Farm Manager - 678-378-4697 Cell
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Vernon & Vicki Suhn
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1647 200th St - Eureka, KS 67045 (620) 583-5923 - (620) 583-3706 M suhn@wildblue.net www.suhncattlecompany.com
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DILLARD LAND & CATTLE
Joe & Elise Dillard 4206 Leaflock Lane · Katy, TX 77450 Ranch: 2013 N. FM 609 · Muldoon, TX 78949 (713) 201-3305 - Mobile · (281) 395-3343 - Home Gary D. Prause · Consultant · (979) 830-7819
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Texas
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Where winning tradition and performance collide
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Brangus bulls and heifers available year-round at private treaty.
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www.jlsbrangus.com
20 16 4 19 1,8 14 10
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JLS International, Inc.
Jeff Smith, Owner Myron Saathoff myronsaathoff@yahoo.com
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251-947-5688 210-218-4804
Circle C Land & Cattle Co., Ltd.
Steve Densmore Cattle Manager (979) 776-5760, Office (979) 450-0819, Cell s.densmore@bre.com
4
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Mound Creek Ranch
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Eddie & Cindy Blazek Leona, Texas featuring
The Stockman’s Kind Registered Brangus Bulls & Females Contact for more information: Eddie Blazek (713) 829-9908 moundcreekranch@cs.com Tracy Holbert (979) 255-4357 ctlbroker@suddenlink.net Tim Sparkman (214) 460-0498
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1415 E. OSR Bryan, TX 77808 www.circlexbrangus.com
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Randy Schmidt • 903-278-7777 91 CR 2308 • Texarkana, TX 75503
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PROS PULL YELLOW.
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High-volume hay production, better looking bales and fewer hassles – all things
Santa Rosa Ranch ••••••••••••••••••
Kent Smith, General Manager (979) 540-8338 | kent@srrtexas.com Scott Broadus, Manager (817) 597-7834 | scott@srrtexas.com Gerald Sullivan, Owner Kelley Sullivan, Owner Navasota and Crockett, Texas
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a pro needs when it comes to baling hay. Only the Super M Series Balers feature the patented dual-stage belt tightening system, exclusive direct crop feed and the durability you expect from Vermeer. So no matter what color the tractor, the PROS PULL YELLOW. Vermeer, the Vermeer logo and Equipped to Do More are trademarks of Vermeer Manufacturing Company in the U.S. and/or other countries. © 2014 Vermeer Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
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October 2014 | 57
Upcoming Events 2-4
October 2014
Inaugural Brangus Fall Conference :: San Antonio, TX
10
Space Deadline for November Brangus Journal
11
CX Advantage Sale :: Weimar, TX
11
Brinks Brangus at Westall Ranches Production Sale :: Ruidoso, NM
17
Little Creek and Friends Bull Sale :: Okeechobee, FL
18
Doguet’s Diamond D Ranch Sale :: Poteet, TX
18
Town Creek Farms Sale :: West Point, MS
24
10
10
4-7
December 2014
Space Deadline for January Brangus Journal
January 2015
Space Deadline for February Frontline Beef Producer
February 2015
NCBA Annual Convention and Trade Show :: San Antonio, TX
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Space Deadline for March Brangus Journal
Louisiana State Fair Junior Brangus Show :: Shreveport, LA
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San Antonio All Breeds Sale :: San Antonio, TX
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Central Texas ICA All Breeds Bull and Female Sale :: Gonzales, TX
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Spitzer Ranch’s Professional Cattlemen’s Brangus Bull and Commercial Female Sale :: Fair Play, SC
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Brangus Show of Merit :: Shreveport, LA
25
Miller Brangus Sale :: Waynesboro, TN
25
Oak Creek Farms Forage Tested Bull Sale :: Chappell Hill, TX
31
GENETRUST at Chimney Rock Cattle Company Female Sale :: Concord, AR
November 2014 1
GENETRUST at Chimney Rock Cattle Company Bull Sale :: Concord, AR
8
Indian Nations Fall Sale :: McAlester, OK
8
The Cattleman’s Kind Bull Sale at Blackwater Cattle Company :: Lake Park, GA
8
Hill Country Brangus Breeders Association 30th Annual Brangus Bull and Female Sale :: San Angelo, TX
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The Branch Ranch Online Sale Space Deadline for December Brangus Journal
10-14 World Brangus Congress :: Yucatan, Mexico 14
Salacoa Valley Buy the Numbers Female Sale :: Fairmount, GA
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Salacoa Valley Buy the Numbers Bull Sale :: Fairmount, GA
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GENETRUST at Cavender’s Neches River Ranch Bull and Commercial Female Sale :: Jacksonville, TX
22
Alabama Brangus Breeders Bull Sale :: Uniontown, AL
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March 2015
Ideal Video Customer Appreciation Sale :: Houston, TX Space Deadline for April Brangus Journal
Sales and Events in BOLD are advertised in this issue. For the most current listing of upcoming events visit
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October 2014 | 59
Advertisers Index Alabama Clover Ranch............................................................................................53 Johnston Farms Brangus..............................................................23, 53 Quail Creek Brangus..............................................................................53 Southeast Brangus Breeders..............................................................53 Arizona Carter Brangus.........................................................................................53 Robbs Brangus........................................................................................53 Arkansas Caldwell Farms........................................................................................53 Chimney Rock Cattle Co...............................................................12, 53 Draggin’ M Ranch................................................................ 3, 23, 53, 59 GENETRUST........................................ 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, 23, 41, 49, 59 California El Rancho Espanol de Cuyama..........................................................53 Florida Hardee Farms...........................................................................................54 MO Brangus..............................................................................................54 W.E.T. Farms..............................................................................................54 Wynne Ranch...........................................................................................54 Georgia Blackwater Cattle Co....................................................................6, 7, 54 Burke Brangus Farm..............................................................................54 Char-No Farm...........................................................................................54 Cold Creek Ranch...................................................................................12 Greuel Family Brangus..........................................................................54 Salacoa Valley Farms........................................................................... IBC The Oaks Farms................................................................................15, 54 Kansas Suhn Cattle Company......................................................12, 17, 49, 54 Louisiana Bushley Creek Cattle Company.........................................................15 The Branch Ranch..................................................................................19 Mississippi Double W Ranch..............................................................................17, 55 Town Creek Farms.................................................................................... 5 Missouri Don Thomas & Sons...............................................................................55 Valley View Ranch...................................................................................55 Nebraska Platte Valley Brangus.............................................................................36
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New Mexico Westall Ranches, LLC........................................................................ 1, 55 North Carolina Robert Yates Ranch LLC.................................................................23, 55 Oklahoma Perry Ranch...............................................................................................55 Vorel Farms...............................................................................................12 Texas Cavender Ranches.............................................................. 9, 15, 49, 56 Circle X Land & Cattle Co............................................................ IFC, 56 Cox Excalibur............................................................................................56 Diamond K Ranch...................................................................................57 Dillard Land & Cattle Ltd......................................................................56 Doguet’s Diamond D Ranch....................................................... 56, BC Double Creek Brangus Ranch............................................................57 E 3 Ranch...................................................................................................56 Farris Ranching Company...................................................................56 Garrett Brangus.......................................................................................59 Garry Clem Brangus........................................................................47, 57 Genesis Ranch..................................................................................41, 56 GENETRUST..............................................................................................13 JLS International.....................................................................................56 Lingg Brangus..........................................................................................56 Mound Creek Ranches..........................................................................56 Oak Creek Farms.....................................................................................23 Red Bird Meadows Ranch....................................................................57 Santa Rosa Ranch............................................................................21, 57 Schmidt Farms.................................................................................... 9, 57 T J Moore Ranch........................................................................................ 9 Triple Crown Ranch................................................................................56 Vineyard Cattle Co., Inc.........................................................................57 Zottarelli Ranch.......................................................................................57 Products and Services CattleMax..................................................................................................45 Centralized Ultrasound Processing..................................................52 Doak Lambert..........................................................................................52 Elgin Breeding Service..........................................................................52 Hughes Cattle Service...........................................................................52 Lakin Oakley.............................................................................................52 Multimin....................................................................................................33 TransOva Genetics.................................................................................37 Vermeer.....................................................................................................57 Wes Dotson..............................................................................................52
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