March 2017 Brangus Journal by International Brangus Breeders Association

MARCH 2017 :: International Issue

2 :: MARCH 2017

BOARD OF DIRECTORS AREA 1 :: Chris Heptinstall BOARD MEMBER 205-363-0919 | chris@salacoavalleybrangus.com Term: 2016 - 2019

AREA 2 :: Bill Davis SECRETARY-TREASURER 870-668-3414 :: bill@billdavistrucking.com Term: 2014 - 2017

AREA 3 :: Vern Suhn BOARD MEMBER 417-425-0368 :: cody_gariss88@hotmail.com Term: 2014 - 2017 AREA 4 :: Davy Sneed BOARD MEMBER 615-904-5850 :: dsfarms1980@gmail.com Term: 2015 - 2018

AREA 5 :: Mike Vorel PAST-PRESIDENT 405-826-6959 :: vorelfarms@gmail.com Term: 2016 - 2019

AREA 6 :: Carolyn Belden Carson BOARD MEMBER 530-713-5111 :: cbcbeef@gmail.com Term: 2015 - 2018

AREA 7 :: Danny Farris BOARD MEMBER 325-669-5727 :: farrisranching@yahoo.com Term: 2014 - 2017

AREA 7 :: Brandon Belt PRESIDENT 254-248-5260 :: brandonbelt@aol.com Term: 2015 - 2018

AREA 7 :: Lee Alford BOARD MEMBER 979-820-4205 :: alfordcattleco.lee3@yahoo.com Term: 2016 - 2019

AREA 8 :: Doyle Miller 2nd Vice President 615-351-2783 :: dmiller@doylemillercpa.com Term: 2015 - 2018 AREA 9 :: Steve Densmore BOARD MEMBER 979-450-0819 :: s.densmore@bre.com Term: 2016 - 2019

AREA 10 :: Troy Floyd BOARD MEMBER 575-734-7005 :: tfloyd@leaco.net Term: 2016 - 2019

AREA 11 :: Eddy Roberts 1st Vice President 386-935-1416 :: wetfarm1@windstream.net Term: 2014 - 2017

CONTACT THE IBBA: P.O. BOX 809, ADKINS, TX 78101 (210) 696-8231 info@gobrangus.com 4 :: MARCH 2017

STAFF Executive Vice President Tommy Perkins, PhD., PAS tperkins@gobrangus.com 210-696-8231 Director of Registry Services Rosanne Nelson rnelson@gobrangus.com 210-696-8231 Product Manager Emilio Silvas esilvas@gobrangus.com 210-696-8231 Education and Data Coordinator Jenny Pieniazek jpieniazek@gobrangus.com 210-696-8231 Communications Coordinator Peyton Waldrip pwaldrip@gobrangus.com 830-708-3195 Field Services Representative Taylor Shackelford tshackelford@gobrangus.com 903-327-5759 Field Services Representative Matt Murdoch mmurdoch@gobrangus.com 903-327-5759 Accountant Valerie Kopecki vkopecki@gobrangus.com 210-696-8231 Member Services Representative Raime Preston rpreston@gobrangus.com 210-696-8231 Director of Youth Programs Tyler Dean tdean@gobrangus.com 405-207-6921 Advertising Sales Manager Melanie Fuller mfuller@gobrangus.com 979-255-3343

ABOUT THE BRANGUS JOURNAL The Brangus Journal is the official publication of the International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA). This internationally-distributed publication provides Brangus® seedstock producers and the IBBA membership with information about news within the association and the industry. The Brangus Journal is published eight times annually, and is designed to highlight accomplishments, advancements and improvements made possible by IBBA members, staff, volunteers, and other industry leaders. The purpose of the Brangus Journal is to serve the best interest of IBBA members by showcasing breeding programs, efforts and achievements to other Brangus® seedstock producers. Lastly, the Brangus Journal serves as an outlet for the IBBA to provide updates by directly communicating with the membership. BRANGUS PUBLICATIONS, INC. (BPI) 8870 US Highway 87 E, San Antonio, TX 78263 P. O. Box 809, Adkins, TX 78101 P: +1-210-696-8231 F: +1-210-696-8718 GoBrangus.com/brangus-publications bpi@gobrangus.com

Publication #ISSN0006-9132: Periodicals postage paid at San Antonio, Texas, and additional entries. Postmaster: Send address changes to Brangus Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 809, Adkins, TX 78101 Subscriptions: Valerie Kopecki // vkopecki@gobrangus.com // +1-210-696-8231 Subscription Rates: Domestic Periodicals—1 year, $25; First Class—$55. Foreign Periodicals—1 year, $25; air mail to Mexico or Canada, $70; air mail to other countries, $115. The claims made by advertisers in this publication are not verified by BPI or the IBBA.

BPI Officers & Board of Directors Chairman: Mike Vorel President: Tommy Perkins, PhD., PAS Secretary/Treasurer: Doyle Miller Director: Brandon Belt Director: Eddy Roberts

IBBA CONNECTION Presidential Address................................................................................ 7-8 IBBA CONNECTION IBBA in Full Speed................................................................................10-12 IBBA CONNECTION Meet Your New Field Service Representative......................................14-16 EXPERT CONNECTION Bull Breeding Soundness: What’s in a Guarantee?......................... 18-24 MEMBER CONNECTION Csonka............................................................................................. 27-36 IBBA CONNECTION World Brangus Congress 2018............................................................ 40-41 IBBA CONNECTION New IBBA Officers Elected at Annual Meeting & Convention................. 42 IBBA CONNECTION Annual Meeting & Convention............................................................ 44-47 EXPERT CONNECTION Exporting & Importing: What to Expect..........................................49-50 EXPERT CONNECTION An Overview of Beef Grading........................................................... 53-58 MEMBER CONNECTION Brangus in the Land Down Under..................................................60-63 MEMBER CONNECTION Ranching: The School of Life..........................................................65-66 MEMBER CONNECTION Brangus Around the World.............................................................68-69 AFFILIATE CONNECTION IBA...................................................................................................... 70 AFFILIATE CONNECTION IJBBA................................................................................................... 71 AFFILIATE CONNECTION TBBA................................................................................................... 70 INDUSTRY Brangus Champion of the World.........................................................................73 SERVICE DIRECTORY...................................................................................................................74 NEW MEMBERS.........................................................................................................................74 STATE DIRECTORY............................................................................................................... 76-81 CALENDAR...............................................................................................................................81 ADVERTISER’S INDEX................................................................................................................. 82 5

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Presidential Address by IBBA Board President Brandon Belt

Dear Fellow Brangus Breeders, First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank Mike Vorel for serving the IBBA as president the last two years. His hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed. We had a wonderful time at the convention in San Antonio, and the association is set to have a great year in the International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA). I am very excited about the year that lies ahead of us in the Brangus® breed. The cattle business is good. Brangus business is good. The IBBA is in good shape. Total Herd Reporting has continued to increase, we continue to operate financially sound, and we are housed in a new building. I hope most of you got to see it at the convention, but if not, stop by some time. It is right on the side of Highway 87, just outside of San Antonio. You can’t miss the sign. This year I expect the IBBA Board of Directors and staff to accomplish some great things. Among my priorities are:

PROMOTION

We have a great breed, the best there is, in my opinion. We should be stealing business away from other breeds – some of which are struggling with issues from quality to marketability to market saturation. There are only so many of some breeds that there is a place to go with, but not Brangus®. Brangus® can thrive just about anywhere a cow can live. Brangus are the best breeding complement to our Angus relatives out there as well. There is no reason to breed an Angus bull to an Angus cow. Those guys are leaving money on the table, and with our Ultrablack® program, it is time to bring some of those Angus cows into the fold.

THE JUNIORS

As most of you know, I love kids. I think that juniors help build a breed. I started as a junior years ago. The first two registered cows I owned were my first two show heifers. My family had always had cattle, but after getting into the junior program, I was motivated to move our program into the Brangus® business. Kids that grow into young adults, and that grow into producers, have a passion for Brangus® that does not come and go; it’s there for life. It’s a hard thing to explain or describe, but you know it when you see it. The more of them we have, the earlier we start them, the better off we all are. They have energy, and it’s contagious.

WORLD BRANGUS CONGRESS

Next February and March, all over the South, from Georgia to Houston to Fort Worth, and points in between. It is our opportunity to host folks that are interested in Brangus® cattle from all over the globe. It’s going to be a big time! Planning is still underway and all of the stops are not yet established, so there are opportunities to help and get involved. Speaking of getting involved, it is time. Get on a committee, help make this a great year in the Brangus® breed. I am looking forward to this next year as president of the IBBA, and I will do all that I can to make sure that it is a great year for Brangus. Sincerely, Brandon Belt

COMMERCIAL EXPANSION

I wish I was smart enough to know whether the cow herd was expanding or not. If I was, I probably wouldn’t be writing this article, so you get what you pay for. It appears to me that it is – slowly, but steadily. I think that Brangus® cattle are getting our fair share of the expansion, but I want it all. There is not a reason in the world to own another cow; there is none that can outlast and outperform ours. We need to focus on making sure producers have the information that we all know to make informed decisions about what cow they need to rebuild or replace with: Brangus®. 7

Alocución del Presidente by IBBA Board President Brandon Belt

Estimados compañeros criadores de Brangus Antes que nada, quisiera aprovechar esta oportunidad para personalmente agradecerle a Mike Vorel por servir como Presidente de la IBBA los últimos dos años. Toda su labor y dedicación no ha pasado desapercibida. Lo pasamos muy bien en la convención de San Antonio, y la asociación tendrá un magnífico año en la Asociación Internacional de Criadores de Brangus®(IBBA por sus siglas en inglés). Estoy muy emocionado acerca del año que nos enfrenta en la raza Brangus®. El negocio ganadero está funcionando bien. El negocio del Brangus® también está funcionando bien. La IBBA está en buenas condiciones. La notificación de datos sobre el hato total sigue aumentando, continuamos operando con finanzas sólidas y además estamos alojados en un edificio nuevo. Espero que la mayoría de ustedes lo logró ver durante la convención, pero si no, pasen a vernos en cualquier momento. Está sobre la Carretera 87, justo en las afueras de San Antonio. ¡Es imposible no ver nuestro letrero! Este año, anticipamos que la Junta Directiva y el personal de IBBA logrará muchas cosas buenas. Entre las prioridades se encuentran:

La promoción

Tenemos una magnífica raza, la mejor que hay, en mi opinión. Deberíamos estar sacándole negocio a otras razas – algunas de las que están batallando con problemas desde calidad hasta comercialización y saturación del mercado. Algunas razas solo tienen ciertos caminos que pueden seguir, pero no el Brangus®. El Brangus® prospera en casi todo lugar donde una vaca puede vivir. Y ahí afuera también, el Brangus® es el mejor complemento de cría para nuestros parientes Angus. No existe razón para aparear un toro Angus con una vaca Angus. Esa gente está derrochando dinero y con nuestro programa Ultrablack® (ultranegros), es hora de incorporar algunas de esas vacas Angus en nuestros corrales.

Expansión comercial

Quisiera ser tan listo como para saber si el hato de vacas se está agrandando o no. Si lo fuera, probablemente no estaría escribiendo este artículo, de modo que ustedes obtuvieron lo que pagaron. A mi me parece que sí está creciendo – lenta, pero continuamente. Yo creo que el ganado Brangus® tiene una cuota justa de dicha expansión, 8 :: MARCH 2017

pero yo quiero la cuota entera. No existe razón ninguna por tener otra vaca; no hay ninguna que pueda durar más o superar las que tenemos. Debemos enfocarnos en asegurar que los productores tengan la información que todos ya sabemos para que puedan hacer decisiones informadas sobre el tipo de vaca que necesitan para su reconstrucción o reemplazo del hato con Brangus®.

Los jóvenes

Como muchos de ustedes ya saben – los jóvenes ayudan a elevar toda raza. Hace años yo también fui un joven. Las primeras dos hembras registradas que compré fueron mis primeras dos novillonas para la pista de calificación. Mi familia siempre había tenido ganado, pero después de formar parte del programa para jóvenes, decidí trasladar nuestro programa hacia el negocio de los Brangus®. Los jóvenes que pasan a su adultez joven con este ganado y luego pasan a ser productores, tienen una pasión por los Brangus® que no va y viene; sigue durante la vida entera. Es difícil explicar o describir eso, pero cuando usted lo ve, lo sabrá. Cuanto más jóvenes tenemos, cuanto más iniciamos a temprana edad, tanto mejor estaremos todos. Ellos tienen energía y esa es contagiosa.

Congreso Mundial Brangus

El próxima febrero y marzo, a través de todo el sur del país – desde Georgia hasta Houston y Fort Worth y todo lo que cae entremedio. Será nuestra oportunidad hacer de anfitrión a toda persona interesada en el ganado Brangus® de todas partes del mundo. ¡Va a ser un congreso fabuloso! La planificación sigue y todavía no se han establecido todas las paradas, de modo que hay oportunidades para ayudar y para estar involucrado. Hablando de esta involucrado – ahora es el momento. Sirva en un comité, ayude a que este año sea uno magnífico para la raza Brangus®. Anticipo con gusto este año futuro como presidente de la IBBA, y haré todo lo posible para asegurar que sea un año magnífico para el Brangus®. Atentamente Brandon Belt

IBBA in Full Speed by IBBA Executive Vice President Tommy Perkins, PhD., PAS The March edition of the Brangus Journal highlights the opportunities of Brangus® cattle worldwide. The international strength of our breed is second to none. I want to thank cattlemen around the world who have chosen Brangus® genetics in their breeding programs and more specifically Brangus® genetics from the United States. I had the opportunity to travel to South Africa and Mexico this past year representing International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) around the globe. Additionally, IBBA International Committee members traveled to Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, and South Africa. Thank you to the foreign guests that have traveled to the States to attend meetings, purchase live cattle, and purchase frozen genetics for their home countries. We welcome you to the IBBA family. International Committee Chairman Buck Thomason continues to work on IBBA’s behalf with the U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc. (USLGE) to secure funding for international travel and breed promotion. He is working hard to get adequate funding for the upcoming 2018 World Brangus Congress, hosted by IBBA in Houston, Texas. USLGE funding allows for marketing opportunities such as the 2016 International Field Day, which was held in Fort Worth. During the three-day meeting, IBBA exposed U.S. Brangus® genetics to representatives from Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, and Panama. A focus of this year’s funding request includes the very important planning process for the 2018 World Brangus Congress. IBBA members and commercial Brangus® breeders have shown and consigned cattle to all-breed sales and futurities recently. Congratulations to the open, bred and pair class winners. I commend them for bringing fancy, uniform consignments with perfect udders as well as phenotypically sound, high performance beef bulls to represent the Brangus® breed. Many of the commercial females were tagged with Brangus Built ear tags. I encourage each of you to participate in the all-breed performance competitions in your part of the country as Brangus® cattle excel in such events. The grand opening of the new IBBA headquarters building occurred in early February. Additionally, the 2017 IBBA Annual Meeting and Convention was held at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa in San Antonio, Texas. The events were well attended and enjoyed by all. Thank you to the entire staff for going the extra mile to make both events fun, educational and successful. Please see more information in this edition of the Brangus Journal for both activities. The membership meeting, which included committee 10 :: MARCH 2017

reports as well as seating of new directors and officers, was well attended. Thank you to Mike Vorel for his steadfast leadership the past two years as president of the board. I would also like to congratulate the new directors who have been elected to serve on the IBBA Board of Directors. Danny Farris and Vern Suhn will be joining Bill Davis and Eddy Roberts who were elected to their second term. A huge thank you to Cody Gariss and Mike Kammerer for their tenure on the board. Vorel, Gariss and Kammerer served when difficult decisions had to made which impacted the membership on an emotional level. Their conviction to do what was right for the entire association will be felt in a positive manner for many years to come. The meeting concluded with the annual awards banquet. Laverne McWilliams was awarded the Pioneer Award, Mike Vorel received the Breeder of the Year Award, and T Quarter Circle Ranch, of Winnemucca, Nevada, took the Commercial Producer of the Year Award home. The recipients of these awards are to be commended for their continued support of the IBBA and the Brangus® breed. Do not hesitate to call me if you have any specific questions about our international program, the annual meeting awards, or commercial cattle events. Please contact the office if you want more information on the Brangus Built commercial heifer program. For information about all IBBA programs and other inquiries, please call (210) 6968231 or visit www.GoBrangus.com. Stay connected to IBBA through Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, or receive news updates by joining our email list. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Tommy Perkins, PhD., PAS is a graduate of West Texas A&M University, where he was recognized as a Graduate of Distinction by the Department of Agriculture in 2014. He also earned his doctoral degree in Animal Breeding from Texas Tech University. He served as a professor at Missouri State University and Texas State University for nearly twenty years, where his professional career is most noted for excellence in the field of beef cattle ultrasound. Perkins was elected to the Beef Improvement Federation’s Board of Directors and, also, serves as chairman for the End Product committee. Additionally, Perkins currently serves on the board of directors for the United States Livestock Genetics Export Association, Texas Beef Council, Beef Promotion and Research Council of Texas, and the National Pedigreed Livestock Council. He was recently elected Beef Breeds Council President. Currently, Perkins is the Executive Vice President of IBBA, Chief Executive Officer of Genetic Performance Solutions, and President of Brangus Publications, Inc.

IBBA a toda velocidad by IBBA Executive Vice President Tommy Perkins, PhD., PAS La edición de marzo del Brangus Journal destaca las oportunidades del ganado Brangus® a nivel mundial. La potencia internacional de nuestra raza es inigualable. Quisiera agradecer a los ganaderos del mundo quienes han optado por la genética Brangus® en sus programas de cría y más específicamente, la genética Brangus® de Estados Unidos. El año pasado, tuve la oportunidad de viajar a Sudáfrica y a México, representando a la International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) en todo el mundo. Es más, miembros del Comité Internacional de la IBBA viajaron a Argentina, Australia, Brasil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panamá, Paraguay y Sudáfrica. También agradecemos a nuestros visitantes internacionales que viajaron a EE.UU. para participar en reuniones, comprar ganado en pie y comprar la genética congelada para sus propios países. Les damos la bienvenida a la familia IBBA. El Presidente del Comité Internacional, Buck Thomason, continúa laborando por parte de IBBA con el U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc. (USLGE) para obtener fondos para viajes internacionales y para promover la raza. Su principal enfoque es obtener fondos adecuados para el Congreso Mundial Brangus de 2018, cuya sede será la IBBA en Houston, Texas. Los fondos de USLGE permiten oportunidades de comercialización, tal como el Día de Campo Internacional de 2016, que tuvo lugar en Fort Worth. Durante la reunión de tres días, IBBA presentó la genética Brangus® estadounidense a representantes de Costa Rica, Guatemala, México, Panamá y la República Dominicana. El enfoque para el pedido de fondos este año incluye el tan importante proceso de planificación para el Congreso Mundial Brangus de 2018. Los miembros de IBBA y los criados comerciales de Brangus® han exhibido o consignado ganado a las recientes subastas de futuridad y subastas de todas las razas. Felicitaciones a los ganadores de las clases de pares y hembras vacías y preñadas. Elogios a los que trajeron consignaciones elegantes y uniformes con ubres perfectas así como toros de carne fenotípicamente sanos y de alto desempeño para representar la raza Brangus®. Muchas de las hembras comerciales fueron identificadas por los herretes Brangus Built. Les quisiera sugerir a cada uno de ustedes a participar en las competencias de desempeño de todas las razas en su parte del país desde que el ganado Brangus® se esmera en esos eventos. La gran inauguración de la nueva sede de la IBBA ocurrió a principios de febrero. Además, la Convención y

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Asamblea General de 2017 de la IBBA fue en San Antonio, Texas, en el JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa. Los eventos fueron bien atendidos y todos los disfrutaron. Agradecemos a todo nuestro personal por sus esfuerzos adicionales para que la Convención fuera divertida, educativa y exitosa. Sírvanse ver más información en esta edición del Brangus Journal para ambas actividades. La Asamblea General, que incluyó informes de los comités, así como la toma de cargos de los nuevos funcionarios y directores fue bien atendida. Agradecemos a Mike Vorel por su constante liderazgo durante los últimos dos años como presidente de la Junta Directiva. También quisiera felicitar a los directores nuevos que se eligieron para servir en la Junta Directiva de la IBBA: Danny Farris y Vern Suhn, se unirán a Bill Davis y Eddy Roberts, quienes fueron elegidos por otro año más. Un enorme agradecimiento a Cody Gariss y Mike Kammerer por sus ocupaciones en la Junta. Vorel, Gariss y Kammerer sirvieron a la IBBA cuando se tuvieron que tomar decisiones difíciles que impactaron a la membresía a nivel emotivo. La convicción de ellos que hacer lo correcto para toda la asociación se sentirá de modo positivo por muchos años más. La reunión concluyó con el banquete anual de premiación: Laverne McWilliams fue otorgada el premio Pionero, Mike Vorel recibió el premio del Criador del Año, y T Quarter Circle Ranch, de Winnemucca, Nevada, se llevó el premio de Productor Comercial del Año. Se elogian a los que recibieron dichos premios por su constante apoyo de la IBBA y de la raza Brangus®. No dejen de llamarme si tienen alguna pregunta específica sobre nuestro programa internacional, las reuniones anuales para premios o los eventos del ganado comercial. Sírvanse comunicarse con nuestras oficinas si desean más información sobre el programa Brangus Built de las novillonas comerciales. Para información sobre todos los programas de la IBBA u otras preguntas, sírvanse llamar al (210) 696-8231 o diríjanse a www.GoBrangus. com. Quédese conectado con la IBBA a través de Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, o reciba noticias actualizadas al anotarse en nuestra lista de correos electrónicos.

Meet Your New Field Service Representative by IBBA Field Service Representative Matt Murdoch I would like to introduce myself. My name is Matt Murdoch. I just recently joined the International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) in January as a field services representative. I grew up in the small town of Marion, Texas showing American-Cross show steers and judging livestock from the age of eight years old. Once I graduated from Marion High School I accepted a judging scholarship to Connors State College in Warner, Oklahoma. After competing on the junior-college level, I transferred to Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas. At Angelo State, I competed on the meats, livestock, meat animal evaluation teams. I also competed on the national champion meat science quiz bowl team. While at Angelo State, I received a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Science and Leadership with a minor in animal science. As a student, I also worked on-campus in the meat and food science laboratory and off-campus at J’s Wild Game Processing Plant. To say that I am honored to be a part of the IBBA would be an understatement. It has always been a goal of mine to start a career within the cattle industry. The fact that I get to represent the Brangus® breed is just an added bonus. As a field service representative, my job is to cater to the breed in any way that I can. I will attend sales and trade shows across the country, as well as make ranch visits. Through my upcoming travels, I hope to hear and learn about the benefits that Brangus® cattle have brought your operation

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and even offer guidance where I may. I have already been working very closely with Tommy Perkins, PhD., PAS and the other Field Service Representative Taylor Shackelford in an effort to continue the success of this breed and the association. I would like to thank the breeders I have met, as well as my fellow co-workers, as they have treated me with the utmost respect and generosity. One thing I will admit is that representing and promoting the Brangus® breed is one of the easier things I have done as Brangus® cattle speak for themselves. They have always been one of the most highly sought after crosses in the industry, as they set the standard for the hardiness, durability, growth, and maternal qualities that we all search for in our cattle. Implementing Brangus® genetics in your herd I firmly believe will lead to the fast track of success and profitability. For those of you that I have not yet had the honor of meeting, I look forward to running into you in the near future and developing great relationships. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you might have about the Brangus® breed or if you have a sale coming up that you would like IBBA to attend. Additionally, I enjoy traveling and would be more than happy to make a ranch visit to allow you to share with me the success of your ranch.

Conozca a su nuevo representante de servicio en el campo by IBBA Field Service Representative Matt Murdoch Me gustaría presentarme. Mi nombre es Matt Murdoch. En Enero de este año, me uní a la Asociación Internacional de Criadores de la Raza Brangus, con sus siglas en inglés (IBBA), como representante de campo para brindar cualquier servicio. Nací en la pequeña ciudad de Marion, Texas, crecí presentando diferentes tipos de novillos en el Show American-Cross y juzgando ganado a partir de los ocho años de edad. Al graduarme de la Escuela Secundaria Marion, acepté una beca para juzgar en el Colegio Universitario Estatal Connors en Warner, Oklahoma. Después de competir en el nivel Junior, me trasladé a la Universidad Estatal de San Angelo, en Texas. Durante este tiempo competí en los equipos de evaluación de carne y ganado, además participé en el campeonato nacional por equipos de Ciencia de la Carne. Obtuve un título universitario en Ciencia de la Agricultura y Liderazgo enfocado en la Ciencia Animal. Como estudiante, también trabajé en el campus, específicamente en el laboratorio de Ciencias de la Carne y externamente en la planta de procesamiento de J´s Wild Game. Decir que me siento honrado de ser parte del IBBA sería un eufemismo. Siempre ha sido una de mis metas iniciar una carrera dentro de la industria ganadera. El hecho de que alcancé a ser el representante de la raza Brangus® dentro de la Asociación, es sólo una ventaja añadida. Como encargado del servicio de campo, mi trabajo es proveer la raza de cualquier forma que sea posible. Voy a asistir a las ventas y ferias comerciales en todo el país, así como hacer visitas a diversas fincas. A través de mis próximos viajes, espero oír y aprender sobre los beneficios que el ganado

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de raza Brangus® han traído al manejo de su finca e incluso ofrecer orientación con mi experiencia adquirida. He trabajado muy de cerca con el Doctor Tommy Perkins, asistente médico (PAS) y el Representante del Servicio de Campo, Taylor Shackelford, con el motivo de fortalecer y continuar con el éxito de esta raza y la asociación. Me gustaría dar las gracias a los ganaderos que se dedican a la producción de esta raza que he conocido, así como a mis compañeros de trabajo, ya que me han tratado con el mayor respeto y generosidad. Una cosa que admito es que representar y promover la raza Brangus® es una de las cosas más fáciles que he hecho ya que el ganado Brangus® habla por sí mismo. Siempre han sido uno de los cruces más buscados en la industria, ya que establecen el estándar para la resistencia, la durabilidad, el crecimiento y las cualidades maternas que todos buscamos en nuestro ganado. El hecho de implementar la genética Brangus ® en su hato, firmemente creo que lo conducirá a la vía rápida de éxito y rentabilidad. Para todos aquellos que todavía no tengo el honor de conocer, espero poder encontrarlos en un futuro cercano y desarrollar grandes relaciones. Por favor, no dude en ponerse en contacto conmigo con cualquier pregunta que pueda tener sobre la raza Brangus® o si tiene una venta próxima que le gustaría que IBBA atienda. Además, me gusta viajar y estaré más que feliz el poder hacer una visita a su finca para que pueda compartir el éxito alcanzado.

Bull Breeding Soundness: What’s in a Guarantee? by John M. Davidson, DVM, Diplomate ABVP (Beef Cattle Practice)

Beef cattle reproduction is fairly straightforward. What separates the high-achieving producer from those with lesser productivity can often be attention paid to the most basic of details. One of these critical details is the bull breeding soundness examination (BBSE). The breeding evaluation of the bull should be a thorough one. Insist on a BBSE performed to the standards of the Society for Theriogenology (SFT). The SFT takes its origins from a group of veterinarians that formed the Rocky Mountain Society for the Study of Breeding Soundness of Bulls dating back to 1954. The standards have been refined periodically over the years and are the benchmark by which a bull should be evaluated. Period. Of all the services a cattle veterinarian provides to their ranching clients, the BBSE is one that places a great deal of pressure on the veterinarian. The veterinarian feels pressured to be as quick as possible, which can oftentimes result in a pace that compromises quality, to keep the client happy. Next, there is the pressure to pass as many bulls as possible. Having realistic expectations is the key. The rancher should expect that some bulls should fail the BBSE each year. If every bull is passing the BBSE every time, some scrutiny should be placed on the testing process. Years ago, I failed a bull that sold to one of my clients for over $10,000. When this client called to tell me about his new bulls and asked me about the necessity for a BBSE, I simply told him to fax me the copies of the pre-sale test records from the ranch of origin. When these documents came in on the fax, I knew right away that we’d be re-testing the bulls. How

did I know? The bulls had been tested by a ‘unique’ system that I had never seen. There was no standard reflected on these homemade forms. Since I had no way to interpret the results, I suggested a BBSE performed to the SFT standards. I’m glad we did. One bull in particular did not pass. The series of phone calls that followed were uncomfortable for all involved. All of that could have been avoided with adherence to the SFT standards. The seller, buyer, and two veterinarians were put in unsavory situations all because of the hectic pace of the original testing coupled with a lack of adherence to a long-standing standard that precluded a complete BBSE from being performed. How many bulls should you reasonably expect to be tested in an hour or in a day? In my experience, when more than six or seven bulls per hour are tested, the quality of the BBSE will suffer. Aside from physical soundness, the external and internal anatomy of the bull’s reproductive tract should be evaluated. The testicles are evaluated then measured and must meet minimum size requirements based on the age of the bull. The bull’s penis should be visualized during the examination, even if not volunteered during electro-ejaculation. Once the semen is obtained, the sperm motility is examined under low power light microscopy. Unfortunately, the hastily performed BBSE ends here. Relatively speaking, the added time it takes to evaluate the individual sperm cells, or morphology, under high-power magnification is small. The importance of this morphological evaluation step is huge. We all recognize that time is money. That being said, shouldn’t you insist on the getting the most return on your investment? Skipping the most important component of the BBSE (morphological evaluation) to save a couple of minutes really doesn’t make any sense. A lot of frustration can be alleviated if the appropriate expectations are set with regard to bull breeding soundness evaluations. You expect a lot from your bulls in the pasture. You should also expect a lot on your bull’s BBSE. With

High Power Magnification (1000x) of abnormal bovine sperm cells

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increasing frequency, I see bulls sold a “Guaranteed” instead of being tested to a standard. So I ask the question: What exactly is this guarantee covering? Will it compensate you for a reduced calf crop? Will it compensate you for lighter average weaning weight due to reduced calf numbers or later born calves? The guarantee simply covers replacement of the bull should he be determined to be unsound during the specified time after purchase. The issue is that these sub-fertile bulls don’t produce the first service conceptions and overall pregnancy rate that is essential for a cattleman’s bottom line. The importance of the first service conception and long-term production is very clear in the veterinary literature. I see many bulls offered as ‘guaranteed,’ but not tested to the SFT standard, which places the burden of verifying acceptable soundness on the buyer. Remember: every bull, every year. You never know when a bull will become unsound. When not detected prior to the breeding season, the results can be disastrous. Not every yearling bull will pass the BBSE when he reaches puberty. Further, not every mature bull will pass the annual BBSE. That’s why we perform them. Finding out at pregcheck time that your bull(s) were sub-fertile can lead to disappointing and costly results when the subsequent calf crop is hitting the ground. So what should you do? Start by requesting a copy of the SFT’s standard BSE test chart with the rest of the newly acquired bull’s documentation at the time of purchase. When a veterinarian is performing a follow-up BBSE or is offering a second opinion on a bull, have the previous test results available. Next, be sure to schedule a BBSE on every bull, every year, 45 to 60 days pre-turnout. I should point out that if you ranch in an area

where Bovine Trichomoniasis is possible, this is a great time to perform surveillance on the bulls before turnout. Once the bull is designated as a ‘Satisfactory Potential Breeder’, make sure he receives his pre-breeding health inputs as suggested by your herd veterinarian. Keep your BBSE test charts with your other herd records and enjoy the results that a bull battery that has been veterinarian tested to the standards of the SFT will bring you.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dr. John M. Davidson was raised in south Texas and received his undergraduate and DVM degrees from Texas A&M University. He practiced in rural south-central Texas where he was owner and partner of a four-veterinarian, mixed-animal practice. In 2007, Dr. Davidson joined the faculty at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, where he served as an ambulatory clinician and extension veterinarian. He has worked as an industry veterinarian since 2011 and is currently a senior professional services veterinarian with Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health. He is board certified by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Beef Cattle). He completed the Beef Cattle Production Management Series at the Great Plains Veterinary Education Center in Clay Center, Nebraska. His professional interests are reproductive and respiratory diseases in beef cattle. He has served on various Texas Animal Health Commission Working Groups. He served on the development team for the web-based TrichCONSULT decision tool for producers. Dr. Davidson was the 51st president of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) and is currently serving as past president. He is the recipient of the AABP Distinguished Service Award. He is also member of the AVMA, AVC, SFT, TVMA (lifetime), TSCRA, and NCBA. He enjoys Fightin’ Texas Aggie football and baseball, hunting, outdoor activities with his family, and flying. John, his wife, D’Ann, and their two children, Claire and Jake, reside in Shiner, Texas.

WEST TEXAS BRANGUS BREEDERS ASSOCIATION Twenty-Third Annual

Springtime Sale March 25, 2017

Abilene Auction · Abilene, Texas

Featuring the finest ranch raised, rock-footed, easy doing Brangus cattle from the Big Country’s most progressive Brangus operations.

75 Top-Quality Brangus and Ultrablack Bulls 20-30 Registered Brangus Females · 100-150 Commercial Brangus Females Alan Wedeking, President West Texas Brangus Breeders Association (325) 669-5570

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Danny Farris, Sale Coordinator West Texas Brangus Breeders Association (325) 669-5727

Robustez en la crianza de toros: ¿Te brinda alguna garantía? por John M. Davidson, DVM, Diplomado ABVP (Práctica de ganado vacuno)

La reproducción del ganado vacuno es bastante sencilla. Lo que separa a los productores de alto rendimiento de los de menor productividad, a menudo puede ser por la atención prestada a los detalles más básicos. Uno de estos detalles críticos es el examen de solidez de la cría de toro (“BBSE” por sus siglas en Inglés). La evaluación de la cría de toro debe ser exhaustiva, insistiendo en un BBSE realizado para los estándares de la Sociedad de Teriogenología (“SFT” por sus siglas en Inglés). El SFT toma su origen de un grupo de veterinarios que formaron la sociedad “Rocky Mountain” para el estudio de la robustez de las crías de toros que datan de 1954. Los estándares se han refinado periódicamente durante los años y son el punto de referencia por el cual un toro debe ser evaluado. De todos los servicios que un veterinario de ganado proporciona a sus clientes de granja, el BBSE es uno que ejerce una gran presión sobre el veterinario. El veterinario se siente presionado para ser lo más rápido posible, que a menudo puede dar lugar a un ritmo que compromete la calidad para mantener al cliente feliz. Por consiguiente, existe la presión de pasar tantos toros como sea posible. Tener expectativas realistas es la clave. El ganadero debe tener presente que algunos toros pueden fallar el BBSE cada año. Si cada toro pasa el BBSE siempre, un cierto escrutinio se debe colocar en un proceso de prueba. Por ejemplo, hace años, vendí un toro fallido a uno de mis clientes por más de $ 10.000. Cuando este cliente me llamó para hablarme de sus nuevos toros y me preguntó sobre la necesidad de un BBSE, simplemente le dije que me enviara por fax las

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copias de los registros de pruebas de pre-venta de la finca de origen. Cuando estos documentos entraron en el fax, supe enseguida que volveríamos a realizar el examen a los toros. ¿Cómo lo supe? Los toros habían sido probados por un sistema “único” que nunca había visto. No había ninguna norma reflejada en estas pruebas caseras. Puesto que no tenía manera de interpretar los resultados, sugerí un BBSE realizado de acuerdo a los estándares de la SFT. Me alegro de haberlo hecho. Un toro en particular no pasó el examen. La serie de llamadas telefónicas que siguieron fueron incómodas para todos los involucrados. Todo eso pudo haberse evitado con la aplicación de las normas de la SFT. El vendedor, el comprador y dos veterinarios estuvieron en situaciones desagradables debido a la rapidez de la prueba original, adherido con una falta de aplicación a un estándar de larga duración que impidió una realización completa de un BBSE. ¿Cuántos toros debe esperar un ganadero a ser probados durante una hora o en un día? En mi experiencia, cuando se prueban más de seis o siete toros por hora, la calidad del BBSE se ve afectada. Aparte de la solidez física, se debe evaluar la anatomía externa e interna del tracto reproductivo del toro. Los testículos se evalúan, luego se miden y deben cumplir requisitos de tamaño mínimo basados en la edad del toro. El pene del toro debe ser visualizado durante el examen, incluso si no es voluntario durante la electro-eyaculación. Una vez que el semen se obtiene, la motilidad del esperma se examina bajo microscopía de luz de baja potencia. Desafortunadamente, el BBSE apresuradamente realizado termina aquí. Relativamente hablando, el tiempo adicional que se tarda en evaluar las células de esperma individuales, o morfología, bajo una ampliación de alta potencia es pequeño. La importancia de este paso de evaluación morfológica es enorme. Todos reconocemos que el tiempo es dinero. Dicho esto, ¿No debería insistir en obtener el mayor rendimiento de su inversión? Saltar el componente más importante de la BBSE (evaluación morfológica) para ahorrar un par de minutos realmente no tiene ningún sentido. Una alta tasa de error se puede reducir si se establecen las medidas

adecuadas con respecto a las evaluaciones de solidez de cría de toros. Usted espera mucho de sus toros en el pasto. Usted también debe esperar mucho de su toro en el examen BBSE. Con frecuencia creciente, veo que los toros se vendieron “garantizados” en vez de ser probados con la prueba estándar. Así que hago la siguiente pregunta: ¿Qué es exactamente lo que cubre esta garantía? ¿Le compensará por una cosecha reducida de terneros? ¿Le compensará por un peso medio de destete más ligero, debido a la reducción de los terneros o los terneros nacidos más tarde? La garantía simplemente cubre el reemplazo del toro si se determina que no es correcto durante el tiempo especificado después de la compra. El problema es que estos toros subfértiles no producen las primeras concepciones de servicio y la tasa general de embarazo es esencial para la ganancia de un ganadero. La importancia de la concepción del primer servicio y de la producción a largo plazo es muy clara en la literatura veterinaria. Veo muchos toros ofrecidos como “garantizados”, pero no probados con el estándar SFT, lo que coloca la responsabilidad de verificar la solidez aceptable del comprador. Recuerde: cada toro, cada año. Nunca se sabe cuándo un toro se vuelve insensible. Cuando no se detectan antes de la temporada de cría, los resultados pueden ser desastrosos. No todos los toros de un año pasarán la prueba BBSE cuando lleguen a la pubertad. Además, no todos los toros maduros pasarán la prueba BBSE anual. Es por eso que la realizamos. Descubrir a tiempo, por medio de pre-chequeos que sus toros fueron subfértiles puede conducir a resultados decepcionantes y costosos, cuando la crianza de becerros subsecuente está descendiendo. Entonces, ¿qué debería hacer? Comience solicitando una copia de la carta de prueba estándar de BSE de SFT con el resto de la documentación del toro recién adquirida en el momento de la compra. Cuando un veterinario está realizando un BBSE de seguimiento o está ofreciendo una segunda opinión sobre un toro, tienen los resultados de las pruebas anteriores disponibles. A continuación, asegúrese de programar un BBSE en cada toro, cada año, de 45 a 60 días antes de la participación. Debo señalar que si su finca está en una zona donde la tricomoniasis bovina es posible, este es un buen momento para realizar la vigilancia de los toros antes de la participación. Una vez que el toro es designado como un “Criador Potencial Satisfactorio”, asegúrese de que reciba sus insumos de salud antes de la cría como lo sugiere su veterinario del hato. Mantenga sus gráficos de prueba BBSE con los registros del hato y disfrute de los resultados que el potencial del toro ha sido probado por un veterinario con los estándares establecidos por la SFT.

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Csonka of Brinks 30R4. R10004209 He currently ranks in the top 15 percent or better in the breed in eight EPD categories.

Csonka His legacy continues to influence the breed, both domestically and internationally. by Martha Hollida Garrett Csonka of Brinks 30R4 was just one of many bulls born in 2005, but perhaps no other bull in the history of the breed has impacted and changed Brangus like he has in terms of producing both extremely popular and soughtafter sons and daughters. He was a consistent multi-trait leader, and his breeding value has been passed on to his progeny, greatly impacting the breed. Csonka was a product of mating Lead Gun of Brinks 222K14 to Miss Brinks Uppercut 30L18. Ken Hughes, then with Camp Cooley Ranch (CCR) selected the mating. “I was confident these two genetic lines would complement each other. 30L18 traced back to Bravo and her pedigree included Uppercut, K0, and Big Easy and she had a lot of bone, muscle, was good footed, moderate in size, easy fleshing, and adequate in milk. Lead Gun traced

back to Cadence, who at the time was one of the most used artificial insemination (AI) sires. The sire side delivered great growth, carcass and maternal numbers,” remembered Hughes, adding that for him, the bull’s most impressive attribute is the sons he produced and the consistency with which he did it. Hughes added that even though that mating was replicated several times after the birth of Csonka, he was by far the best calf produced from that genetic cross. Csonka drew a lot of attention as a calf, and everyone associated with CCR was impressed with him. Joe Fuller recalled that the “calf knew he was good and walked like he already owned the pasture.” He was tagged 30R4 and when it came time to grade the bulls for the 2006 fall bull sale, he was the No. 1 graded bull. 27

“Ken [Hughes] knew the importance of this super individual and agreed to put him in the sale. We were naming the bulls after football greats and he reminded me of the great running back Larry Csonka, who played for the Miami Dolphins, when they won the Super Bowl. Csonka would go on to sire many sale arena and pasture champions,” said Fuller. Meanwhile in Georgia, long-time Polled Hereford breeders, Joe and Catherine Kassler, of The Oaks Farms, were contemplating a major change in the direction of their cattle program. They had used Brangustype cattle for recips for a number of years and were impressed with the maternal qualities, the growth, and adaptability. “After much discussion and evaluation, we decided to convert our operation to a registered Brangus program. Our research of genetics led us to CCR. We made a trip to Texas, spent time on the ranch, and looked at lots of cattle with Joe Fuller. We purchased close to $750,000 of females in early 2006, including some from the Ray Johnston program, who was a CCR cooperator at the time,” recalled Joe Kassler. Then the Kasslers would return to CCR for the 2006 CCR Fall Sale, and in hindsight it’s easy to say, The Oaks’ program and the Brangus breed would be forever changed that day. “Our trust in Joe [Fuller] proved correct. He described Csonka as a great herd sire prospect when he showed Csonka as a calf and again, when we arrived for the sale. We looked at many bulls, but we were always drawn to Csonka. It took $65,000 to buy half-interest and full possession, but we did it and he was the high seller. It was a decision we never regretted and an investment that proved to be very profitable for us in terms of herd improvement and dollars. In 2008, we would negotiate and take full possession of Csonka and all collected semen,” described Kassler. “The Kasslers wanted a high-impact herd sire to complement the initial investment they had made on the female side to establish an elite Brangus program. We all believed that Csonka would have a great impact, but wow, did he exceed our expectations. Early on, we thought he was going to be a bull-producing sire, as Patton and LTD were part of his first calf crop. But just when you thought that was his niche, his bigmilking females started cranking out great calves and all of a sudden, Csonka daughters were in demand—and that remains true today. His progeny are continuing to add to his legacy and will influence the breed for many generations,” remarked Fuller. To say Csonka was making friends in the breed would be an understatement. With each new calf crop and as calves arrived from his daughters, Csonka was changing the breed. He was replicating his genetic ability and was fast becoming a trait leader in several categories. His ability to transmit excellent numbers continues today and has been a game changer for many herds and the breed. “He not only worked—he worked across a lot of different cow types. He was consistent and as predictably good as you could want. There were no throw aways in his calf crops. His daughters are good-uddered,

Oaks MS Csonka 541T7, a Csonka daughter who sold for $70,000 in a Global Collection Sale.

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Legacy 302A4, is a Csonka son out of the great 302L9 cow.

A Csonka daughter, Telpara Hills Miss Csonka 541D9, was the first Australian Brangus cow to sell embryos to U.S. breeders, Joe Kassler and David Wood. She is also the dam of Telpara Hills Van Damme 541H30, who holds the Australian record price of $110,000.

complete, soggy-made, moderate in size, milk good, and transfer growth and carcass traits. I describe them as incredibly powerful,” stressed Kassler. By the beginning of 2010, Csonka had produced several high-selling sons and daughters, including the $50,000 LTD bull, $25,000 Patton, and $30,000 Guardian. The Oaks have recently acquired an interest in a Csonka son, named appropriately, Legacy, who is out of the great 302L9, who is also the dam of Washington of Brinks. In addition, many of his daughters had topped sales over the past two years. At that time, his EPD numbers tracked him in the top 5 percent of the breed in five categories—weaning and yearling weight, scrotal circumference, intramuscular fat, and ribeye area. Then, as his daughters entered production, his milk and total maternal EPDs went to top 5 percent rankings, also. The Kasslers, recognizing the greatness of the bull, decided to syndicate him at the Global Collection Sale in Houston. Six syndication blocks, which each included 36 shares, were offered for public sale and 30 individual syndication shares at $5,000 were offered. All of the syndication blocks and 25 individual shares were purchased during the Houston event. His value with the syndication and semen sales was well established, and he was writing his own chapter of Brangus history. As part of the syndication agreement, the Kasslers did not sell any semen on Csonka domestically from 2010-2013, but semen was marketed internationally. Csonka progeny today can be found in South Africa, Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and Australia. Telpara Hills Brangus Australia, owned by the Pearce family of Queensland, Australia, first used the bull in that country and today he is the most used sire on the continent.

Brittany Pearce, marketing manager for Telpara, said, “We used Csonka very heavily in the Telpara Hills herd and liked him so much that we partnered with ABS Australia to secure the Australian semen rights to him. This was the basis of our semen company, Telpara Global Genetics. Since then, Csonka has become the most used sire in Australian Brangus history (582 calves and counting with 111 in the Telpara Hills herd), and has left a legacy that is unmatched by any Brangus bull in modern history.” “His daughters born at Telpara Hills have repeatedly broken Australian sale price records and his grandson, Telpara Hills Van Damme 541H30, smashed the AU sale record in 2015, selling for AU$110,000 (at the time it was equal to the U.S. dollar),” she added. At the 2014 Global Collection Sale, The Oaks offered one of his daughters, Oaks MS Csonka 541T7, which sold for $70,000 to Bushley Creek Cattle Co. and Telpara Hills. Other daughters were also commanding the high-selling position across many sales and they were now as in demand as his sons. His impact on the breed was clearly evident. Fast-forward to today and you’ll see 2,290 progeny registered to him as the sire. You can read a lot of Brangus sale reports and find a Csonka daughter or son has topped the offering. The Oaks offered three full brothers, sired by Csonka, in their 2016 sale; and the interest and demand for them was strong, as half-interest in one saw a final bid of $15,000 and full interest in the other two sold for $15,000 and $11,000. And his EPD numbers continue to track in the top percentiles of the breed in most categories. “I remain impressed with the EPD values and the dollar values still present in Csonka and his progeny. For a 12-yearold bull to remain a multiple trait leader for yearling, milk and scrotal circumference, and his numbers for weaning and ribeye area to remain in the breed’s top 10 percent with a top 15 percent intramuscular fat is truly impressive and an indication of just how far advanced Csonka was in his time. He adds ring value and dollars to the bottom line, as consistently as any breeding bull in the Brangus breed,” remarked Mark Cowan, formerly with CCR and now with American Marketing Service. Cowan has had a front-row seat on the block for the majority of those sales that have seen Csonka progeny top that particular day’s offering. Vince Roberts, manager of The Oaks Farms, says the bull’s popularity is overwhelming. “The number of calls we received during his lifetime for semen was incredible. Not a week went by, when we didn’t get a call. Now we are getting calls in volume inquiring about his daughters. We have right at 100 Csonka-sired females working in our herd, as well as three sons we are using. His influence and impact are continuing,” described Roberts. The Kasslers wanted a high-impact herd sire in 2006 and they selected one in Csonka. Their return on investment was high in terms of quality and dollars, and the bull will forever be linked to their program. Csonka died in June of 2016 and is buried under a large oak tree at the entrance to The Oaks New River Ranch headquarters. “It was a fitting final destination, as he not only marked our entrance into the breed, but he changed for the better 30 :: MARCH 2017

the standard of performance and quality of The Oaks’ program and the breed,” concluded Kassler. In retrospect, the bull was named for an exceptional sports figure, and he not only became a household name in Brangus, but a most valuable player in many programs and his legacy continues to build in the U.S. and abroad.

LTD, a Csonka son, who sold for $50,000.

PATTON OF BRINKS 30T22, a Csonka son, who sold for $25,000.

STONEWALL OF RRR 222W6, a Csonka son, who sold for $25,000.

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Csonka of Brinks 30R4. R10004209 En la actualidad, él se clasifica en el 15% superior o mejor de la raza en ocho categorías de DEPs

Csonka Su legado continúa influyendo la raza, a nivel nacional e internacional. Por Martha Hollida Garrett Csonka of Brinks 30R4 fue solo uno de muchos toros que nacieron en 2005, pero quizá ningún otro toro en la historia de la raza ha impactado y cambiado el Brangus tanto como éste, en términos de producir hijos e hijas que son extremadamente populares y solicitados. Fue un líder constante de múltiples características y su valor de cría se ha transmitido a su progenie, teniendo un enorme impacto sobre la raza. Csonka fue el producto del apareamiento de Lead Gun of Brinks 222K14 con Miss Brinks Uppercut 30L18. Ken Hughes, trabajando en aquel tiempo en Camp Cooley Ranch (CCR), seleccionó esta combinación. “Yo estaba seguro que estos dos linajes se complementarían bien. 30L18 retrocede a Bravo y su pedigrí incluyó Uppercut, Ko, y Big Easy; ella tenía mucho hueso, musculatura y buenas patas y pezuñas, moderada en tamaño, ganaba peso rápidamente y tenía una cantidad 34 :: MARCH 2017

adecuada de leche. Lead Gun retrocede a Cadence, quien en aquella época fue uno de los sementales de IA más utilizados. El lado del padre transmitió gran crecimiento, canal y números maternos,” recordó Hughes, agregando que para él, los atributos más impresionantes del toro eran los hijos que produjo y la constancia con que lo hizo. Hughes agregó que aunque este apareamiento se reprodujo varias veces después del nacimiento de Csonka, él fue, de lejos, el mejor becerro producido por esta cruza genética. Csonka llamó la atención como becerro y todos los que estaban asociados con CCR fueron impresionados con él. Joe Fuller recordó que el “becerro sabía que era bueno y caminaba como si ya era dueño del pastizal.” Fue denominado 30R4 y cuando fue hora de clasificar y sortear los toros para la subasta otoñal de 2006, él fue el toro que acabó en primer lugar.

“Ken [Hughes] reconoció la importancia de este súper individuo y concordó en incluirlo en la subasta. Estábamos nombrando los toros según los héroes del futbol americano y él me hizo recordar a Larry Csonka, quien había jugado para los Miami Dolphins, cuando ganaron el Super Bowl. Csonka padreó muchos campeones de la pista de subasta y en el pastizal,” dijo Fuller. Entretanto, en el estado de Georgia, Joe y Catherine Kassler, de The Oaks Farms y criadores desde hace tiempo de Hereford Mocho, estaban contemplando un cambio grande en la dirección de su programa ganadero. Ellos habían usado ganado tipo Brangus en sus receptoras de embriones por varios año y quedaron impresionados con las cualidades maternas, de crecimiento y de adaptabilidad. “Después de muchas discusiones y evaluaciones, decidimos convertir nuestra operación a un programa de Brangus registrado. Nuestra investigación de la genética nos llevó a CCR. Hicimos un viaje a Texas, nos pasamos tiempo en esa hacienda y miramos a muchos animales con Joe Fuller. Compramos casi US$ 750,000 de hembras a principios de 2006, incluyendo algunos del programa de Ray Johnston, quien fue un cooperador de CCR en aquel entonces,” recordó Joe Kassler. Los Kassler regresaron a CCR para la subasta otoñal de 2006, y en retrospectiva, es fácil decir que el programa de The Oaks y la raza Brangus fueron cambiados para siempre en ese día. “Nuestra confianza en Joe [Fuller] se comprobó. Él describió a Csonka como un sobresaliente semental de hato presunto, cuando él mostró a Csonka como becerro y nuevamente cuando había llegado a la subasta. Nosotros consideramos muchos toros, pero siempre volvimos a Csonka. Se necesitó US$ 65,000 para una media participación y posesión total, pero lo logramos y él fue el animal que a mayor precio se vendió. Fue una decisión que nunca arrepentimos y una inversión que acabó siendo muy lucrativa para nosotros en términos del mejoramiento del hato y de dinero. En 2008, negociamos y tomamos a Csonka en total posesión y todo el semen que éste produjo para IA,” dijo Kassler. “Los Kassler querían un semental de hato de gran impacto para complementar la inversión inicial que habían hecho del lado de las hembras para establecer un programa Brangus de élite. Todos sabíamos que Csonka haría un gran impacto, pero él excedió nuestras expectativas. Al principio, pensamos que él sería un semental productor de toros, desde que Patton y LTD fueron parte de su primer cosecha de becerros. Pero justo cuando pensamos que ese iba a ser su nicho, sus hembras de gran producción lechera empezaron a producir becerros y de repente, las hijas de Csonka estaban en demanda – y así sigue hoy en día. Su progenie está continuando a agregar a su legado e influirá la raza por muchas generaciones,” comentó Fuller. Decir que Csonka hizo muchos amigos en la raza sería un eufemismo. Con cada cosecha de becerros nueva y a medida que los becerros de sus hijas fueron llegando, Csonka estaba cambiando la raza. Él estaba reproduciendo su habilidad genética y rápidamente

Oaks MS Csonka 541T7, una hija de Csonka que se vendió en US$ 70,000 en una Subasta de Colección Global.

Legacy 302A4, es un hijo de Csonka y de la magnífica vaca 302L9.

Una hija de Csonka, Telpara Hills Miss Csonka 541D9, fue la primera vaca Brangus australiana que vendió embriones a criadores estadounidenses, Joe Kassler y David Wood. Ella también es la madre de Telpara Hills Van Damme 541H30, quien tiene el precio de récord en Australia de AU$110,000.

pasó a ser un líder en varias categorías de características. Su capacidad de transmisión de excelentes números continúa hoy en día y él ha sido un cambiador del juego para muchos hatos así como para la raza. “No solo que funcionó – funcionó a través de muchos diferentes tipos de vacas. Más no se podía pedir de su constancia y predecibilidad. En sus cosechas de becerros no hubo ningún animal descartado. Sus hijas tienen buenas ubres, tamaños moderados, buena leche y transfieren sus características de crecimiento y de canal. Yo las describo como increíblemente poderosas,” enfatizó Kassler. Para principios de 2010, Csonka había producido varios hijos e hijas de precios altos, incluso US$ 50,000 para el toro LTD, US$ 25,000 para Patton y US$ 30,000 para Guardian. Hace poco, The Oaks ha adquirido un interés en un hija de Csonka, apropiadamente nombrado, Legacy (legado), quien es hijo de la magnífica 302L9, quien también es la madre de Washington of Brinks. Además, muchas de sus hijas recibieron los precios más altos durante las subastas de los últimos dos años. En ese momento, sus DEP lo pusieron en el 5% superior de la raza en cinco categorías – destete, al año, peso, circunferencia escrotal, grasa intramuscular y en el área del ojo de la costilla. Luego, a medida que sus hijas fueron entrando en producción, sus DEP de leche y materno total también lo subieron al 5% superior. Los Kassler, reconociendo lo magnífico que era el toro, decidieron sindicarlo en la Subasta de Colección Global de Houston. Seis bloques de sindicación (con cada uno incluyendo 36 acciones) se ofrecieron en venta pública, y además, se ofrecieron 30 acciones de sindicación individual a US$ 5,000. Todos los bloques de sindicación y 25 de las acciones individuales 35

fueron compradas durante el evento en Houston. Su valor, con la sindicación y las ventas de semen, estaba bien establecido, y estaba escribiendo su propio capítulo de la historia del Brangus. Como parte del acuerdo de sindicación, los Kassler no vendieron nada del semen de Csonka a nivel nacional entre 2010 y 2013, sino que el semen se comercializó internacionalmente. La progenie de Csonka hoy en día se encuentra en Sudáfrica, Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brasil, Argentina, México y Australia. Telpara Hills Brangus Australia, propiedad de la familia Pearce de Queensland, Australia, fue la primera empresa que usó el toro en ese país y hoy en día es el semental más usado en ese continente. Brittany Pearce, gerente de mercadeo de Telpara, dice, “Lo usamos a Csonka muchísimo en el hato de Telpara Hills y nos gustó tanto que hicimos una asociación con ABS de Australia para obtener los derechos de semen del toro. Eso fue la base de nuestra empresa de semen, Telpara Global Genetics. Desde entonces, Csonka ha pasado a ser el semental más usado en Australia en la historia del Brangus australiano (582 becerros y contando… con 111 en el hato de Telpara Hills), y él ha dejado un legado sin igual en comparación con otros toros Brangus en la historia moderna.” “Sus hijas nacidas en Telpara Hills han repetidamente quebrado los récords de precios en subastas australianas y su nieto, Telpara Hills Van Damme 541H30, derrotó el récord de venta en dólares australianos en 2015, vendiéndose a AU$ 110,000 (en aquella época el equivalente también en dólares estadounidenses),” añadió ella. En la Subasta de Colección Global de 2014, The Oaks ofreció una de sus hijas, Oaks MS Csonka 541T7, que se vendió en US$ 70,000 a Bushley Creek Cattle Co. y Telpara Hills. Otras hijas también recibieron altos precios en muchísimas subastas y ahora están en demanda sus hijos. Su impacto sobre la raza es enormemente evidente. Pasando rápidamente al presente, usted verá 2,290 progenies registradas con él como padre. Se pueden leer muchos informes sobre subastas Brangus y encontrar una hija o un hija de Csonka entre los animales más solicitados. En la subasta de 2016, The Oaks ofreció a tres dobles hermanos, padreados por Csonka; y tanto el interés como la demanda fueron halagadores, ya que una media participación en uno de ellos vio una puja final de US$ 15,000 y una participación total en los otros dos se vendió en US$ 15,000 y US$11,000. Y las cifras de sus DEP estaban en los percentiles superiores de la raza en casi todas las categorías. “Yo sigo impresionado con los valores DEP y los valores en dólares que todavía siguen presentes en Csonka y sus progenies. Para que un toro de 12 años continúe siendo un líder en múltiples características (al año, leche y circunferencia escrotal), y sus números para el destete y el área del ojo de la costilla sigan en el 10% superior de la raza, y en el 15% superior en grasa intramuscular es realmente impresionante y una indicación de lo avanzado que estaba Csonka en su tiempo. Él agrega valor en la pista de calificación y dólares a las utilidades del año, con la constancia de cualquier semental de la raza Brangus,” 36 :: MARCH 2017

comenta Mark Cowan, anteriormente con CCR y ahora con American Marketing Service. Cowan tuvo un asiento en la primera fila para la mayoría de esas subastas que vieron a la progenie de Csonka ser la mejor ofrecida en cualquier día dado. Vince Roberts, gerente de The Oaks Farms, dice que la popularidad del toro es abrumadora. “La cantidad de llamadas que recibimos durante su vida para semen fue inaudita. Todas las semanas más llamadas. Ahora estamos recibiendo llamadas en volumen preguntando sobre sus hijas. Nosotros tenemos derecho a 100 hembras padreadas por Csonka que trabajan en nuestro hato, así como tres hijos que estamos usando. Su influencia y su impacto continúan,” dice. Los Kassler querían un semental de hato de alto impacto en 2006 y lo consiguieron con Csonka. Su recuperación de la inversión fue alta en términos de calidad y en dólares y el toro será parte de su programa para siempre. Csonka murió en junio de 2016 y está enterrado debajo de un roble inmenso en la entrada de la sede de The Oaks New River Ranch. “Fue un destino final apropiado, él no solo marcó nuestra entrada a la raza, sino que mejoró el estándar de desempeño y calidad del programa de The Oaks y de la raza,” concluyó Kassler. En retrospectiva, el toro fue nombrado por un deportista excepcional, y él no solo fue reconocido en muchos hogares de la raza Brangus, sino que también fue un jugador valiosísimo en muchos programas y su legado continúa creciendo en EE.UU. y en el exterior.

LTD, un hijo de Csonka, que se vendió en US$ 50,000.

Un hijo de Csonka, que se vendió en US$ 25,000.

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World Brangus Congress 2018 by Buck & Sidney Thomason Dear Friends, Many of you have attended the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The world comes to Houston to see the various breeds of cattle we have in the United States, view an awesome Rodeo, make new friends, and see old friends from not only here but other countries as well. 2018 will be the second time the United States has hosted the World Brangus Congress (WBC), and we wish to make this a truly memorable experience for everyone who attends. Have you attended a World Congress? I attended my first WBC in 2009. Since then, we have traveled to Australia, Mexico, and South Africa. Each Congress has produced a new appreciation of how fellow cattlemen and women achieve quality cattle, with visits to beautiful ranches, and making new friends who all share a strong devotion for the Brangus cattle industry. It is a learning experience filled with surprises each day. My goals for 2018 WBC are an accumulation of the things we have seen and learned while attending these events over the past eight years. I want to encourage you to come and join us for a week of learning, sharing, new experiences, and fun for all. We will offer two Tours for this Congress. First, the Pre-Congress Tour will begin in Atlanta, Georgia, visiting various ranches in the southeast United States. This allows Brangus breeders in those areas to bring their livestock to central locations for the tour to see. The final stop on this tour will be in New Orleans. After spending time in New Orleans, the tour will continue to Houston. The Post-Congress Tour will leave on Sunday, following the gala, winding its way to San Antonio to see the historical Alamo and the beautiful Riverwalk. The group will travel to Fort Worth with a stay in the famous Stockyards and Billy Bobâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Texas. There will be cattle to see along the way, as well

as at the Stockyards. The trip will continue into East Texas winding back down south ending up back in Houston. All along the way there will be opportunities to visit and see Brangus breeders and ranches. More details will follow on the tours but this is the timeline. The 2018 WBC Headquarters will be the Royal Sonesta Hotel in the Galleria Area of Houston. This area offers plenty of shopping for the ladies, not only at the Galleria Mall but other shops within walking distance of the hotel. The Sonesta offers shuttle services within a three-mile radius. The event will kick off on Feb. 27, with registration and a reception the first evening at the hotel. On Feb. 28, we will journey by bus to College Station for an exciting and educational day at Texas A&M University. One highlight of this day will be lunch in the new Equestrian Complex. There will be classes to attend at the University during the day as well. The ladies will have the opportunity to visit the President George H. Walker Bush Library located on the campus if they choose. Feb. 29 will begin with the opening meeting of the 2018 WBC at the Sonesta. Interpretors for the visiting countries will be available. On March 2, attendees will go to the Houston Livestock Show for the Bull show. On March 3, the Female Show will be at the Houston Livestock Show. There will also be a fun night at the rodeo. The event will close on March 3 with closing ceremony and a gala at the hotel.

WE HOPE YOU WILL ALL COME FOR A GREAT TIME AS AMERICA WELCOMES THE WORLD BRANGUS CONGRESS!

A History of World Brangus Congress...! United States Argentina Brazil Uruguay Paraguay Australia Mexico South Africa United States 40 :: MARCH 2017

2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2012 2014 2016 2018

Congreso Mundial Brangus 2018 por Buck & Sidney Thomason

Estimados amigos: Muchos de ustedes han asistido a la Exposición Ganadera y Rodeo de Houston. El mundo llega a Houston para ver las muchas razas de ganado bovino que tenemos en Estados Unidos, ver un Rodeo formidable, hacer amigos nuevos y ver amigos viejos, no solo de EE.UU. sino de otros países también. En el año 2018, será la segunda vez que Estados Unidos es el anfitrión del Congreso Mundial Brangus, y nosotros quisiéramos que ese congreso sea una experiencia realmente memorable para todos los que participan. ¿Usted ha asistido a un congreso mundial? Mi primero fue en 2009. Desde entonces, hemos viajado a Australia, México y Sudáfrica. Cada congreso ha producido una nueva apreciación de cómo nuestros colegas ganaderos logran producir ganado de calidad, con visitas a haciendas magníficas y donde hacemos amigos nuevos quienes todos comparten una fuerte devoción a la industria del ganado Brangus. Es una experiencia de aprendizaje, llena de sorpresas todos los días. Mis metas para el Congreso de 2018 son una acumulación de cosas que hemos visto y aprendido mientras que asistíamos a esos eventos durante los últimos ocho años. Quisiera animarlos a todos que se unan a nosotros para una semana de aprendizaje, compartir nuevas experiencias y algo divertido para todos. Ofreceremos dos giras para este congreso La gira previa al congreso iniciará en Atlanta, Georgia, y se visitarán varias haciendas del sudeste de Estados Unidos. Eso permitirá que los criadores Brangus de esa zona podrán traer su ganado a lugares céntricos para que las personas en la gira los puedan ver. La última parada de esta gira será Nueva Orleans, Louisiana. Después de pasar un tiempo ahí, la gira continuará al destino de Houston, Texas. La gira posterior al congreso saldrá el domingo, después de la noche de gala, encaminándose a San Antonio para ver el histórico Alamo y la bella caminata del Riverwalk. El

grupo viajará a Fort Worth, con una parada en los famosos Stockyards (corrales ganaderos) y la música texana de Billy Bob’s Texas. Habrá ganado durante el camino que se podrá ver, así como el ganado en los Stockyards (los cuernilargos de Texas). El viaje continuará a Texas del este y regresará hacia el sur, acabando en Houston nuevamente. En todo el camino habrá oportunidades de visitar y ver haciendas y criadores de Brangus. Seguiremos dándoles más detalles sobre las giras, pero ésta es la cronología. La sede del congreso de 2018 será el Hotel Royal Sonesta en la zona de la Galleria de Houston. Esa zona ofrece muchos lugares para hacer compras (para las señoras) y no sólo el Mall de la Galleria, pero otras tiendas más cerca del hotel. El Sonesta ofrece servicios de autobús de enlace dentro de un radio de tres millas del hotel. El evento abrirá el 27 de febrero, con inscripción y una recepción la primera noche en el hotel. El 28 de febrero, iremos por ómnibus a College Station para un día educativo y divertido en la Universidad Texas A&M. El almuerzo se servirá en el nuevo Complejo Hípico. Habrá clases para asistir en la universidad durante el día también. Las señoras tendrán la oportunidad de visitar la Biblioteca del Presidente George H. Walker Bush, situada en el recinto, si quisieran hacerlo. El 29 de febrero empezará con la asamblea general del Congreso en el Hotel Sonesta. Habrá intérpretes para los visitantes de otros países. El 2 de marzo, los participantes irán a la Exposición Ganadera de Houston para la exposición de toros. El 3 de marzo, también ahí verán la exposición de hembras. Esa noche se divertirán en el Rodeo. El evento terminará el 3 de marzo con la ceremonia de clausura y la noche de gala en el hotel.

ESPERAMOS QUE USTEDES TODOS PUEDAN VENIR PARA PASAR DÍAS MARAVILLOSOS CUANDO ESTADOS UNIDOS LE DA LA BIENVENIDA A TODOS AL CONGRESO MUNDIAL BRANGUS.

New IBBA Officers Elected at Annual Meeting & Convention Attendees at the International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) 2017 Annual Meeting and Convention installed newly-elected officers to the board of directors on Feb. 11 at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa. The newly-elected board members are Vern Suhn, of Suhn Cattle Company in Eureka, Kansas, who will represent IBBA members in area three, and Danny Farris, of Farris Ranching Company in Tuscola, Texas, who will represent IBBA members in area seven. The newly-elected officers are President Brandon Belt, Gatesville, Texas; First Vice President Eddy Roberts, O’Brien, Florida; Second Vice President Doyle Miller, Waynesboro, Tennessee; Treasurer Bill Davis, Concord, Arkansas. “We have the greatest breed around, and I look forward to working with the IBBA Board of Directors to move Brangus even further forward this year,” Belt said in his opening remarks, “building on the momentum that has been growing the last few years as we rebuild the cow herd with Brangus.”

IBBA’s Annual Meeting was comprised of a membership address by IBBA Executive Vice President Tommy Perkins, PhD., PAS, committee reports, Mike Vorel’s outgoing president’s address, an introduction of new board members and officers, recognition of outgoing president, and remarks from the incoming president. The activities for IBBA’s 2017 Convention were focused on the history and heritage of the IBBA. The program’s agenda included an IBBA board meeting, staff break-out sessions on registry and DNA, a ceremonial ribbon cutting, educational sessions, a casino-night fundraiser for the International Brangus Breeders Foundation, the annual Awards Banquet, and a family-friendly night at the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch. “A big time was had by all at the 2017 IBBA Convention,” said Belt. “The food was great, and the fellowship and opportunity to visit and learn from other Brangus breeders and industry-leading cattlemen and women was even better.”

Nuevos directores elegidos durante la convención y asamblea general de la IBBA Los participantes de la Convención y Asamblea General de la International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) de 2017, instalaron a directores y funcionarios recién elegidos para la Junta Directiva, el 11 de febrero, en el JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa. Los nuevos directores de la Junta son: Vern Suhn, de Suhn Cattle Company, en Eureka, Kansas, quien representará a los miembros de la IBBA en la Zona Tres, y Danny Farris, de Farris Ranching Company, de Tuscola, Texas, quien representará a los miembros de la IBBA en la Zona Siete. Los funcionarios nuevos son el Presidente Brandon Belt, de Gatesville, Texas; el Primer Vicepresidente Eddy Roberts, de O’Brien, Florida; el Segundo Vicepresidente Doyle Miller, de Waynesboro, Tennessee, y el Tesorero Bill Davis, de Concord, Arkansas. “Tenemos la mejor raza, y espero trabajar con todos los directores de la Junta de la IBBA para fomentar el Brangus aún más durante este año,” dijo Belt en sus primeros comentarios, “para adquirir la velocidad que ha venido creciendo durante los últimos años, a medida que reconstruimos el hato de vacas con el Brangus.” 42 :: MARCH 2017

La Asamblea Anual de la IBBA consistió en las palabras dirigidas por el Vicepresidente Ejecutivo de la IBBA, Tommy Perkins, PhD, PAS, a los miembros; luego, los informes de los comités, las palabras del Presidente Mike Vorel al concluir su presidencia, una presentación de los nuevos directores y funcionarios de la Junta, el reconocimiento del presidente saliente y los comentarios del presidente entrante. Las actividades de la Convención de 2017 de la IBBA se enfocó en la historia y la herencia de la IBBA. El orden del día incluyó una reunión de la Junta Directiva, sesiones separadas con el personal de la IBBA sobre registros y el ADN, una ceremonia de cortar la cinta del edificio nuevo, sesiones educativas, una noche de casino para recaudación de fondos para la Fundación Internacional de Criadores de Brangus, el banquete anual de premiación, y una noche de fiesta familiar en el Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch. “Todos la pasaron muy bien durante la Convención 2017 de la IBBA,” dijo Belt. “La comida fue excelente, el compañerismo y la oportunidad de visitar y aprender de los otros criadores de Brangus y los líderes de la industria fue aún mejor.”

2017 Annual Meeting & Convention 44 :: MARCH 2017

The International Brangus Breeders Association’s (IBBA) 2017 Annual Meeting and Convention was held Feb. 10-11 in San Antonio, Texas. Members from across the country gathered at IBBA’s new headquarters building and the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa. Board members for Brangus Publications, Inc., Genetics Performance Solutions, and IBBA met in order to maintain and encourage the progress being made in all three organizations. One item on the agenda, specific to 2017, was the official grand opening of IBBA’s new headquarters building. IBBA directors, staff and members gathered for a dedication ceremony, where key contributors to the breed and association offered reflections and encouragement for the future. Attendees received commemorative Brangus® keychains before the ceremonial ribbon cutting, administered by the North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. IBBA 2nd Vice President Bill Davis cut the ribbon after IBBA President Brandon Belt received a honorary plaque to mark the event. The educational sessions held during IBBA’s 2017 convention covered timely and relevant topics for all in attendance. IBBA Director of Registry Rosanne Nelson hosted a question-andanswer session for members, which provided opportunity for registry beginners and experts to learn more about IBBA’s software and the registration process. Education and Data Coordinator Jenny Pieniazek performed a tutorial on how to complete DNA 45

request forms. Representatives from GeneSeek and Zoetis were present to take questions from the audience, as well. ST Genetics and its Genetic Development Center sponsored a presentation on feed efficiency by Gordon Carstens, PhD., of Texas A&M University. Wade Fisher, of Ideal Video Productions, shared information about new technologies available to ranchers to make a cattle operation run more efficiently. Attendees enjoyed learning about gadgets they had not yet known about, such as a pen that digitizes the things you write. The following speakers participated on a panel covering beef production topics from pasture to plate: Alex Johns, of Salacoa Valley Farms, served as the expert for the pasture perspective; Loni Lucherk, Texas Tech University, served as an expert for consumer preferences; Brad Mabry, of Cargill, served as the expert for the packing industry; and Russell Woodward, of Texas Beef Council, also, served as an expert

46 :: MARCH 2017

for consumer perspectives. Topics discussed included markets, policy, and the cow-calf sector. In the cattle market category, panelists covered choice/select spread, conditioning for feedlot, beef prices, consumer perceptions, and branded beef programs. Discussion on policy included international trade, Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), trade promotion authority (TPA), and domestic markets. In regard to the cow-calf sector of the industry, panelists talked about natural resource management, cow health and supplementation, and fetal programming. Convention attendees enjoyed cocktails and carpaccio before Friday night’s casino-night fundraiser for the International Brangus Breeders Foundation (IBBF). After dinner, items were sold in a live auction. The donated items for auction included art, the cover of the May Brangus Journal, and an African safari hunt. Guests enjoyed the chopping block dinner, and meal-time entertainment was internet and television personality Chad Prather. Thanks to American Marketing Services, Clover Ranch, Doguet’s Diamond D Ranch, Milano Livestock Supply, Mound Creek Ranches, Red Bird Meadows, Two Hearts Brangus, and VitaFerm for sponsoring the game tables at casino night. The casino-night crowd stayed all night. The agenda for IBBA’s 2017 Annual Meeting was comprised of Executive Vice President Tommy Perkins, PhD., PAS’s membership address, committee reports, Mike Vorel’s outgoing president’s address, recognition of outgoing directors, introduction of new board members, introduction of new officers, recognition of the outgoing

president, and Brandon Belt’s incoming president’s remarks. New IBBA board officers are President Brandon Belt, Gatesville, Texas; First Vice President Eddy Roberts, O’Brien, Florida; Second Vice President Doyle Miller, Waynesboro, Tennessee; Treasurer Bill Davis, Concord, Arkansas. The following annual award winners were honored at the Awards Banquet: Breeder of the Year Mike Vorel, Commercial Producer of the Year Frosty Tipton, and Pioneer of the Year Laverne McWilliams. The Breeder of the Year recipient is a current member of the IBBA deserving of recognition for his/her successes and advancements made utilizing and promoting Brangus purebred cattle. The Commercial Producer of the Year award highlights a commercial producer’ achievements incorporating Brangus genetics into their breeding program. The Pioneer Award recognizes an IBBA member, past or present, for his/her service, loyalty and contributions to the Brangus breed. Thanks to the following sponsors for their generous contributions to making this event a success.

PRIME: Genetic Development Center, GeneSeek, Salacoa Valley Farms, Seminole Pride Beef, Seminole Tribe of Florida, ST Genetics CHOICE: Anipro/Xtraformance Feeds, Chimney Rock Cattle Company, GENETRUST, Town Creek Farms, Zoetis SELECT: Brinks Brangus at Westall Ranches, Elgin Breeding Service, Purina Animal Nutrition STANDARD: Mix30

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Exporting & Importing: What to Expect by Hillary Kvamme, Elgin Breeding Service

We see it every day with modern technology: pictures of the newest calf born in a country thousands of miles from the bull that sired it. While this seems to be a rather routine undertaking, after all, we see the pictures and hear the stories constantly, the process it takes to get that calf on the ground in a different country, or different continent, than its sire is one that is carefully orchestrated before the bull even comes into a semen collection facility. For every country semen is exported to from the U.S., there are a different set of requirements of which to be aware. Semen collection facilities that are members of Certified Semen Services, (CSS) are held to a higher standard and are required to test according to a carefullyoutlined health testing schedule on each bull that comes into the facility. When it comes to a bull being tested for export, that required health testing and schedule is much more laborious and time-dependent. To qualify for export, for most countries, basic CSS testing is all that is necessary. However, there are some countries that require additional testing, which is why we always ask when bulls come in to be tested for export if there are any specific countries f0r which his semen needs to qualify. With this information, we are able to pull up the most recent health certificate outline for those requested countries and verify we are completing everything required to ensure an easy and surprise-free export process. Bulls tested for export in our facility will get two Tuberculosis (TB) tests 60 days apart. The tests remaining for the CSS protocol are done within this period, including a series of six Trichomoniasis and Vibriosis tests, two Brucellosis tests, two Leptospirosis tests, Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis, and Bovine Viral Diarrhea tests done 30 days apart, and including different test methods. Initial testing also includes: Johnes, Q-Fever, Vesicular Stomatitis, and Leukosis tests. Some may think that the amount of testing done is excessive at the time of semen collection. However, when the export is in process and the proper testing has been done at the right time, the amount of testing seems unimportant. Another aspect of preparing the semen for export falls on the facility itself. Bulls are kept separately depending on their testing status. Bulls that are only being collected for domestic semen are kept in a completely different barn than those that are being collected for export. A bull being collected for domestic semen only will begin his stay in our pre-pre entry barn. Once his initial testing is completed with negative results, he moves, and stays, in our pre-entry barn. Bulls that come in for export begin in the same manner, but will graduate to the isolation barn once we have received negative results on health testing. Sixty days after the initial TB is read, bulls collecting export approved semen will have another TB administered. Once this is read and negative, the bull will move to the resident herd barn.

In each of these barns, there is a separate jump ring, jump stalls, and chute. Once a bull has graduated to the nextlevel barn, he never goes down to the previous barn. He is always collected, tested and worked in the barn associated with his health test position. This is vital to prevent possible spread of disease. Everything we do in each of these barns must be different. From boots to equipment, we must safeguard all of the bulls’ negative test standing. So, why when you come visit Elgin Breeding Service, or any other CSS-approved facility, do we make you put on those inconvenient plastic booties? The answer is easy, and essentially the entire semen export industry depends on those plastic booties. The answer is what gives importing countries peace of mind in semen coming from the U.S. The answer is biosecurity. We must ensure when you come onto our facility, that you are not bringing any trace of bacteria or disease that could impact the future of semen export – for your bull, as well as all the others. The export process itself is a twisted road of politics, requirements and paperwork. We, as semen producers, cannot dictate what is required and we cannot change what importing countries require. We always encourage our foreign clients to get as involved in their country’s import process as possible. The residents of importing countries are the only people that can make things easier for their semen imports. We must continue to test bulls to guarantee that disease is not being spread to other countries. We must continue to stay informed with changes at Animal and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS) and what negotiations they are undertaking. Having a working relationship with USDAAPHIS will continue to enable us to have the most upto-date knowledge of new regulations and requirements. Having our international clients continue to have a working relationship with their equivalent of APHIS and USDA is just as vital to the semen trade, and is always highly encouraged. Working together now and in the future, we can ensure that the international semen market does not become an impossible undertaking.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Hillary Kvamme is the vice-president and chief operating officer at Elgin Breeding Service (EBS). Since EBS was opened by Dr. Cardwell over 60 years ago, EBS has always been a family-owned and operated facility. Kvamme continues this legacy, as the third generation. She and her husband, Dillon, live just down the road from EBS with their two children, Caleb Wallace and Lola Kayte. Her passion is working in the pre-freeze lab evaluating semen and discovering ways to work with and improve bulls’ semen production. She also oversees all export shipments and prepares the necessary health papers. You can find Kvamme at many trade shows, conventions, and sales, as she travels to as many as she can. She enjoys working with bulls and clients, and hopes that in doing so, she is able to positively influence the semen industry. 49

Exportación e importación: Lo que se puede anticipar by Hillary Kvamme, Elgin Breeding Service Lo vemos todos los días con la tecnología moderna: fotos de un becerro recién nacido en un país a miles de kilómetros del toro que lo padreó. Aunque esto parece ser rutinario, el proceso que se requiere para que el becerro nazca en un país diferente, o continente diferente al semental, es uno cuidadosamente orquestado antes de que el toro siquiera entra a la instalación de recolección de semen. Cada país al que se exporta semen de EE.UU., tiene un grupo de requisitos diferentes que se deben tener en cuenta. Las instalaciones de recolección de semen que son miembros del Certified Semen Services (CSS) deben cumplir con un estándar más alto y se les exige hacer pruebas conforme a un programa de pruebas sanitarias cuidadosamente delineadas para cada toro que entra a la instalación. Cuando se habla de un toro cuyo semen se debe probar para la exportación, ese programa de pruebas sanitarias exigidas es mucho más laborioso y dependiente del tiempo. Para ser calificado para exportación a la mayoría de los países, las pruebas básicas de CSS es lo único necesario. Sin embargo, existen países que requieren pruebas adicionales, y por eso siempre preguntamos cuando entran sementales cuyo semen es para exportación si este semen irá a ciertos países específicos. Con esa información, podemos obtener los últimos datos sobre certificación sanitaria para los países solicitados y verificar que estemos completando todo lo requerido para asegurar un proceso fácil, sin sorpresas, en el proceso de exportación. Los toros probados para semen de exportación en nuestra instalación, recibirán dos pruebas contra la tuberculosis, con 60 días entre una y otra. Las pruebas para el protocolo CSS se realizan durante ese periodo, incluso una serie de seis pruebas contra tricomoniasis y vibriosis, dos pruebas contra brucelosis, dos pruebas contra leptospirosis. Las pruebas contra la rinotraqueítis bovina infecciosa y la diarrea viral bovina se hacen con 30 días entre una y otra e incluyen dos métodos de prueba diferentes. La prueba inicial también incluye pruebas contra la enfermedad de Johnes, la fiebre Q, la estomatitis vesicular y la leukosis. Algunos creen que esa cantidad de pruebas es excesiva al momento de la recolección de semen. Sin embargo, cuando la exportación está en proceso y las pruebas correctas se han realizado al momento oportuno, la cantidad de pruebas pasa a ser de poco importancia. Otro aspecto de la preparación de semen para exportación trata con la instalación en sí. Los toros se mantienen separados, dependiendo de su estatus de prueba. Los toros que solo se recolectan para semen de venta nacional se guardan en un establo totalmente diferente que los toros cuyo semen se exporta. Un toro cuyo semen es solo para uso nacional iniciará su estancia en nuestro establo de “pre pre” entrada. Cuando su prueba inicial se ha completado con resultados negativos, él se traslada y se queda en nuestro establo de “pre” entrada. Los toros cuyos 50 :: MARCH 2017

semen es para exportación iniciarán de la misma manera, pero éstos se trasladan a un establo de aislamiento una vez que se hayan recibido resultados negativos para las pruebas sanitarias. Sesenta días después de leerse el primer resultado de tuberculosis, los toros recolectados para semen aprobado para exportación recibirán otra prueba contra la tuberculosis. Cuando ese resultado se ha leído y es negativo, el toro será trasladado al establo del hato residente. En cado uno de estos establos, existen mangas, caja de monta y aros de monta separados. Una vez que un toro pasa al establo del próximo nivel, él nunca regresa al establo anterior. El toro es siempre recolectado, probado y trabajado en el establo que se asocia con su posición en las pruebas sanitarias. Esto es imprescindible para evitar cualquier diseminación de una enfermedad. Todo lo que hacemos en estos establos debe ser diferente. Desde botas hasta equipos, debemos salvaguardar todas las pruebas negativas de cada toro. Es por eso, cuando usted viene a visitar a Elgin Breeding Service, o a cualquier otra instalación aprobada por CSS, les hacemos ponerse esas botas plásticas tan inconvenientes. Esencialmente, toda la industria de exportación de semen, depende de esas botas plásticas. ¿Por qué confían los importadores del semen que viene de EE.UU.? Por la bioseguridad. Nosotros debemos asegurar cuando usted viene a nuestra instalación, que usted no estará trayéndonos bacterias o enfermedades que podrían impactar el futuro de la exportación de semen – para su toro, así como para los de otros. El proceso de exportación en sí es un camino torcido que trata con política, requisitos y papelería de tramitaciones. Nosotros, como los productores de semen, no dictamos lo que se requiere y no podemos cambiar los requisitos de los países importadores. Siempre solicitamos que nuestros clientes del exterior se involucren con el proceso de importación de su país, lo más pronto posible. Los residentes de los países importadores son las únicas personas que pueden facilitar las cosas para sus importaciones de semen. Nosotros debemos seguir informados con los cambios del Servicio de Inspección Fitozoosanitaria (APHIS) y qué negociaciones están haciendo con qué países. Al tener una relación de trabajo buena con USDA-APHIS, nos permitirá seguir teniendo la información más actualizada de los requisitos y reglamentos nuevos. Si nuestros clientes internacionales continúan teniendo buenas relaciones con sus equivalentes del USDA – APHIS en sus propios países, es igualmente importante al comercio de semen y siempre lo fomentamos. Si trabajamos juntos ahora y en el futuro, podremos asegurar que el mercado internacional de semen no pasará a ser un emprendimiento imposible.

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Brangus, Does it make the grade? An overview of beef grading by Loni Lucherk, Texas Tech University When I think of BrangusÂŽ cattle, in a meat sense, I think about what the Brahman and Angus breeds bring to the table in terms of carcass characteristics. A combination of yield, growth and quality that results in a consistent product. However, I challenge producers to think about the following questions when making decisions about improving their herd. When selecting dams and sires, is intramuscular fat or marbling (IMF) important to you? Are you selecting for ribeye area and growth (REA)? There are two sides to the beef grading story. Quality and yield are antagonistically correlated. As quality grades improve, yield grades will climb as well. However, the higher the numerical yield, the bigger the discount across the rail. This could decrease profit if you are selling on a grid that does not reward quality. Are you watching the choice/select spread to determine when to sell? Where are you marketing your cattle or genetics? What does all of this mean and why is it important to me? United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) quality and yield grades allow the industry to take a heterogeneous group of cattle and sort them into homogeneous carcass groups similar in composition and quality to be processed and sold. USDA grading is voluntary and paid for by the packer in order to create value. In addition to the USDA grader, many plants have begun using instrument grading which reduces some human bias in the process.

by assessing the skeletal maturity and lean maturity. As cattle age, the meat will become darker and more tough. Most cattle under approximately 42 months are considered young beef and qualify for the quality grades familiar to you. With the industry moving towards instrument grading at the ribeye interface, it is important for USDA graders to assess the maturity of the carcass. The marbling score is determined based on the intramuscular fat in the ribeye at the twelfth rib crossection.

What is quality grade and why is it important?

Do you like eating a plain baked potato? Or do you prefer your potato with a large mound of butter, sour cream, and bacon bits? All of these have one thing in common: fat. Similar to baked potatoes, beef tastes better if it contains more flecks of fat. These fat pieces inside the muscle are called marbling and contribute to the quality grade of the beef carcass. The quality grade of beef is an estimate of tenderness, juiciness and flavor. Tenderness and flavor are considered the two most important palatability traits when eating beef. Based on a study conducted at Texas Tech University, color, USDA quality grade, price, size, weight, and thickness were the most important traits when consumers purchase fresh beef steaks (Lucherk et al., 2016). Not only do consumers prefer a high-quality eating experience, many consumers prefer steaks cooked to a medium or higher degree of doneness. The marbling in the steak can provide an insurance system if that steak is overcooked.

How is quality grade determined?

The USDA quality grades include USDA prime, choice, select, standard, commercial, utility, cutter and canner. Quality grades are assigned based on marbling score and physiological maturity of the carcass. Maturity is evaluated

Photo Courtesy of Maria Bueso Ponce, Texas Tech University Improvement in carcass quality after two years of improving cattle nutrition in Honduras.

What is yield grade and why is it important?

USDA yield grades are determined to predict the cutability of the carcass. Yield grades represent the percentage of boneless, closely-trimmed retail cuts that are expected from the carcass. The USDA yield grades are Yield Grade 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 with a lower number indicating a higher percentage of closely-trimmed retail cuts. Red meat yield is extremely important to producers and packers due to the impact on the bottom line.

How to measure yield grade?

The factors assessed when determining the yield grade include PYG (preliminary yield grade) or FT (fat thickness opposite the ribeye), REA, HCW (hot carcass weight) and KPH % (estimated kidney, pelvic and heart fat). If the plant is using camera grading, the instrument will provide these 53

measurements based on the picture taken of the ribeye crossection. The PYG or fat thickness is measured ¾ up the ribeye, however can be adjusted by the grader up or down when looking at the remaining of the carcass. Ribeye area and carcass weight relationship is used in calculating yield grade as a measure of muscularity. Ribeye area is measured in square inches using a plastic grid. KPH is measured as a percentage of the carcass weight by evaluating fat in those areas. There is a mathematical equation that is used to determine final yield grade; however, many USDA graders have experience to call yield grades at line speed.

How can I tell if my cattle would be a good fit for an international customer?

Through my research at Texas Tech University, I have had the experience to travel to beef processing facilities all over the world. Honduras, Poland, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States have very different cattle systems and all seem to classify carcasses in different fashions, if at all. This is important to keep in mind when marketing your genetics outside of the United States. Each country has a different beef grading or classification system, which makes it difficult to compare quality among countries. In addition, consumers in different regions of the world have different expectations of the beef they purchase. In Honduras, cattle fed are predominantly of Brahman influence, two to three years of age, and heifers or intact bulls. Therefore, carcasses are extremely lean, with little marbling in darker colored muscle which has a higher pH. Even though research has shown consumers in Honduras actually prefer higher marbled beef (Bueso, 2015), they expect and are accustomed to low degrees of marbling when purchasing beef at retail. Through education programs and research, we are working with producers in Honduras to improve cattle nutrition. The improvement in live weight gain and red meat yield is leading to a more consistent product. As consistency and quality improve, the processors in Honduras could create a premium based on improved yield, pH and meat color. In Australia and New Zealand, they use the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) prediction model for beef palatability, which evaluates live animal characteristics, carcass traits and cooking method to determine a score for various cuts in the carcass (Watson, Polkinghorne, & Thompson, 2008). Europe uses a beef grading system focused on conformation, fat covering, and carcass weight. In the United States, we use USDA quality and yield grades, as well as other specifications designated by boxed beef programs to create value in our product. These characteristics evaluated in in your cattle provide a high quality, consistent product which results in a tender, juicy and flavorful eating experience for the consumer.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Loni Woolley Lucherk, M.S. Animal Science, Texas Tech University. From Grandview, Texas, she is an instructor of meat science programs and doctoral student at Texas Tech University. She teaches meat science classes and conducts beef and pork quality research across the globe. Lucherk enjoys coaching the meat judging team at Texas Tech and talking about cattle with her husband, Kody.

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Literature Cited Bueso, M. E. (2015). Honduran and U.S. consumer assessment of beef strip loin steaks from grass and grain finished cattle. Master’s Thesis, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX. Lucherk, L. W., O’Quinn, T. G., Legako, J. F., Rathmann, R. J., Brooks, J. C., & Miller, M. F. (2016). Consumer and trained panel evaluation of beef strip steaks of varying marbling and enhancement levels cooked to three degrees of doneness. Meat Science, 122, 145-154. Watson, R., Polkinghorne, R., & Thompson, J. M. (2008). Development of the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) prediction model for beef palatability. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 48(11), 1368-1379.

COMING SOON:

IBBA Carcass Merit Program For more information, please contact one of the International Brangus Breeders Association’s field service representatives. Matt Murdoch (830) 556-3942 Taylor Shackelford (903) 327-5759

Brangus, ¿Cumple con lo que se espera? Una visión general de la clasificación de la carne de res by Loni Lucherk, Texas Tech University

Cuando pienso en el ganado Brangus, para producción de carne, pienso en lo que las razas de Brahman y Angus traen a la tabla en términos de características de la canal. Una combinación de rendimiento, crecimiento y calidad que resulta en un producto consistente. Sin embargo, desafío a los productores a que piensen en las siguientes preguntas cuando tomen decisiones sobre cómo mejorar su ganado. Al seleccionar las vacas y los toros, ¿es importante para usted el FMI (grasa intramuscular o marmoleo)? ¿Está seleccionando el área del ojo del lomo y crecimiento? A medida que los grados de calidad mejoran, es probable que estos tengan valores numéricos de rendimiento más altos (más indeseables). Esto podría disminuir el beneficio si se está vendiendo en una segmento de mercado que no recompensa la calidad. ¿Está viendo el marmoleo (Choice/ Select) para determinar cuándo vender? ¿Dónde se comercializa su ganado o genética? ¿Qué significa todo esto y por qué es importante para mí? La clasificación del grado de calidad y rendimiento por parte del USDA permite a la industria tomar grupos heterogéneos de ganado y clasificarlos en grupos homogéneos según la composición y calidad, para ser procesados y vendidos. La calificación del USDA es voluntaria y pagada por las empresas procesadoras de carne con el fin de crear valor. Además de la persona calificadora del sistema USDA, muchas plantas procesadoras han comenzado a utilizar instrumentos que reducen el sesgo humano en el proceso.

cocción entre medio a alto. El marmoleo puede amortiguar el sabor en una carne con exceso de cocción.

¿Cómo se determina el grado de calidad?

Los grados de calidad, según el USDA, incluyen USDA Prime, Choice, Select, Standard, Commercial, Utility, Cutter y Canner. Los grados de calidad se asignan en función de la cantidad de marmoleo y la madurez fisiológica de la canal. La madurez fisiológica es evaluada según el grado de madurez esquelética y estado de la carne. A medida que el ganado envejece, la carne se volverá más oscura y más dura. La mayoría de los bovinos menores de 42 meses son considerados jóvenes y califican para grados de calidad aceptables. Con la industria avanzando en la tecnología de medición en el ojo del lomo, es importante para las persona calificadoras del sistema USDA poder evaluar la madurez de la canal. La cantidad de marmoleo se determina en base a la grasa intramuscular en el ojo del lomo ubicada en la 12 ª costilla.

¿Qué es el Grado de Calidad y por qué es importante?

¿Te gustaría comer una simple papa horneada? o, ¿prefieres una papa con bastante mantequilla, crema agria y pedacitos de tocino? Todos estos acompañantes tienen una cosa en común y es La Grasa. Al igual que las papas al horno, la carne de res sabe mejor si contiene más grasa dentro de ella. Éstas partes de grasa en el interior del músculo se conocen como marmoleo y contribuyen al aumento del grado de calidad de la canal de res. El grado de calidad de la carne de res es un estimado de la terneza, jugosidad y sabor. La terneza y el sabor se consideran como los dos factores más importantes en la palatabilidad al comer carne de res. En base a un estudio realizado en Texas Tech, el color, el grado de calidad, el precio, el tamaño, el peso y el grosor, fueron los factores más influyentes en la decisión de compra de los filetes de carne fresca de res por parte de los consumidores (Lucherk et al., 2016). Los consumidores no solo buscan una experiencia de consumir carne de alta calidad sino también desean que la carne tenga un grado de 56 :: MARCH 2017

Fotos incluidas: Cortesía de María Bueso Ponce, Texas Tech University Mejoramiento de la calidad de canales después de dos años de haber mejorado la nutrición animal en el ganado en Honduras.

¿Qué es el Grado de Rendimiento y por qué es importante?

Los grados de rendimiento según el USDA son determinados para poder predecir la eficiencia de corte de la canal. Los grados de rendimiento representan los porcentajes de carne sin hueso y grasa que se esperan de la canal. Los Grados de Rendimiento según el USDA pueden ser grado 1, 2, 3, 4 y 5, siendo el número más bajo el que indica el más alto porcentaje de rendimiento de carne sin hueso y grasa. El rendimiento de la carne roja es extremadamente importante para los productores y procesadores debido al impacto en la línea de fondo.

¿Cómo medir el Grado de rendimiento?

Los factores evaluados en la determinación del rendimiento incluyen PYG (grado de rendimiento preliminar) o FT (grosor de la grasa opuesta al ojo del lomo), REA (área del ojo del lomo), HCW (peso de la canal caliente) y KPH (porcentaje de grasa arriñonada, pélvica y cardiaca). Si la planta procesadora está usando una cámara para la clasificación, este instrumento proporcionará estas medidas en base a la foto tomada en el ojo del lomo. El PYG se mide a ¾ de la altura del ojo del lomo, sin embargo este puede ser ajustado por la persona a cargo de realizar la calificación hacia arriba o hacia abajo al mirar el resto de la canal. La relación entre el área del ojo del lomo y el peso de la canal es utilizada para el cálculo del grado de rendimiento como una medida de musculatura. El área del ojo del lomo se mide en pulgadas cuadradas usando una cuadrícula de plástico. El KPH se mide como un porcentaje del peso de la canal en relación con la grasa que se encuentra en las zonas ya estipuladas. Hay una ecuación matemática que se utiliza para determinar el grado de rendimiento final de estos, sin embargo muchos calificadores del sistema USDA tienen experiencia necesaria para determinar el grado de rendimiento de la canal a la velocidad de movimiento de la línea de producción.

nutrición ganadera. La mejora en el aumento de peso vivo y el rendimiento de la carne roja está llevando a un producto más consistente. A medida que la consistencia y la calidad mejoran, los procesadores en Honduras podrían crear un producto premium basado en un mejor rendimiento, pH y color carne. En Australia y Nueva Zelanda, se utiliza el modelo de predicción de la palatabilidad de la carne de res de Australia (MSA), que evalúa las características de los animales vivos, las características de la canal y el método de cocción para determinar la puntuación de varios cortes en la canal (Watson, Polkinghorne y Thompson, 2008). Europa utiliza un sistema de clasificación de la carne de res centrado en la conformación, la cobertura de grasa y el peso de la canal. En los Estados Unidos, usamos los grados de calidad USDA y el rendimiento, así como otras especificaciones designadas por programas de carne empacada para crear valor agregado en el producto. Estas características evaluadas en el ganado proporcionan un producto de alta calidad y consistente que resulta en una experiencia de comer carne de res jugosa, suave y sabrosa para el consumidor.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Loni Woolley Lucherk, M.S. Animal Science, Texas Tech University. De Grandview, Texas, Loni es Instructora del programa de la Ciencia de la Carne y candidata a Ph.D. en Texas Tech University. Ella es profesora de la clase de Ciencia de la Carne y lleva a cabo una investigación acerca de la calidad de carne de res y cerdo alrededor del mundo. Loni disfruta dirigir al equipo de Juzgamiento de Carne de Texas Tech y hablar acerca de ganado con su esposo Kody.

¿Cómo saber si mi ganado sería una buena elección para un cliente internacional?

A través de mi investigación en Texas Tech University, he tenido la experiencia de viajar a las instalaciones de procesamiento de carne de res en todo el mundo. Honduras, Polonia, Australia, Nueva Zelanda y los Estados Unidos tienen sistemas ganaderos muy diferentes y todos clasifican las canales de distinta forma, si es que lo hacen. Esto es importante tenerlo en cuenta al momento de comercializar la genética fuera de los Estados Unidos. Cada país tiene un sistema diferente de clasificación de la carne, lo que hace difícil comparar la calidad entre los países. Además, los consumidores en diferentes regiones del mundo tienen expectativas diferentes de la carne que compran. En Honduras, el ganado alimentado es predominantemente de influencia Brahman, de 2 a 3 años de edad y novillas o toros intactos, por lo tanto, las canales son extremadamente delgadas, con poco marmoleo en los músculos oscuros y poseen un pH más alto. A pesar de que la investigación ha demostrado que los consumidores en Honduras prefieren la carne de res con alto marmoleo (Bueso, 2015), ellos esperan y están acostumbrados a baja cantidad de marmoleo cuando compran carne al por menor. A través de programas de educación e investigación, estamos trabajando con productores en Honduras para mejorar la 58 :: MARCH 2017

Literatura citada Bueso, M. E. (2015). Honduran and U.S. consumer assessment of beef strip loin steaks from grass and grain finished cattle. Master’s Thesis, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX. Lucherk, L. W., O’Quinn, T. G., Legako, J. F., Rathmann, R. J., Brooks, J. C., & Miller, M. F. (2016). Consumer and trained panel evaluation of beef strip steaks of varying marbling and enhancement levels cooked to three degrees of doneness. Meat Science, 122, 145-154. Watson, R., Polkinghorne, R., & Thompson, J. M. (2008). Development of the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) prediction model for beef palatability. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 48(11), 1368-1379.

Brangus in the Land Down Under by IBBA Field Service Representative Taylor Shackelford

Brangus cattle are well-equipped for any climate with a thicker hide and greater surface area than their Bos indicus contemporaries. While many are under the impression that Brangus only exist in the coastal United States of America and continental South America, these cattle are perfect for the island life. Australia and Thailand are just two countries in the beautiful pacific region and they’re interested in Brangus cattle. Entering these international markets is a top-notch US program, Lake Majestik Farms. Lake Majestik Farms (LMF) is a registered Brangus seedstock and commercial operation located on Sand Mountain in Flat Rock, Alabama. Owner, Nic Cornelison, runs approximately 800 head on roughly 4,000 acres and the numbers keep expanding. He grew up around commercial beef cattle but knew nothing of Brangus until a family member journeyed to Texas in 2004 and came back with a few cows from the reputable Brinks herd. In 2006, Cornelison bought the herd from his cousin and ran these registered Brangus alongside his mixtures of Angus, Hereford and Charolais. “I noticed the Brangus cows would stay out grazing while the other breeds lounged in the ponds and shade,” Cornelison said. “My Brangus were outperforming all the other cattle by leaps and bounds.” The research began, and it started at the dispersal of Camp Cooley. The nearest buyers of those genetics were Salacoa Valley Farms, Char-No, and Quail Creek. Cornelison was a volume buyer at several sales. However, he soon 60 :: MARCH 2017

realized that he could maximize on powerful donor females and has since acquired some of the breed matriarchs such as 30L18 & 468L. Genetic power houses such as 541T42, 803T6, 415P27, 99P52, 30T94, 75R47, 75S36, 607R44, and 99T38 have also impacted LMF. The same passion for cow power, lead LMF to source alliances with breeders in other nations in hopes of creating outstanding females. Cornelison and his family recently returned from Queensland, Australia visiting a long-time friend of LMF, Telpara Hills. “Wow, they have built a powerful cow herd that resembles ours,” Cornelison said of Telpara Hills. “A great herd has to have cows that are proven and powerful to substantiate the latest young bulls.” LMF and Telpara Hills, both, want to tell their story of who they are and what they are trying to achieve consistently. But genetics aren’t everything, LMF uses Purina’s nutritional programs for anything from mineral supplementation to test feeding. LMF compiles history and data to back up what is projected phenotypically. Through use of Total Herd Reporting and large contemporary groups, Cornelison and his staff focus on locating the best genetics with the greatest potential for performance. LMF encourages other producers to work together in continually advancing the accuracy of data recording. The grassroots research efforts in the United States are a major selling point for international markets. For the US beef cattle producer, collecting performance data to go alongside your Expected Progeny Difference (EPD) numbers will only

boost your income both domestic and abroad. There’s no logic in avoiding the trend. “The biggest reason an international producer should purchase US Brangus genetics,” Cornelison said, “is to invest in consistent, powerful performance backed by industry-leading research on EPDs.” Social media and the internet are great tools to foster relations with minimal language barriers and without having to pay for international calls. LMF stays in touch with their international clients through email, text and Facebook. Through these mediums, they have hosted numerous tour groups throughout the year. “We’ve teamed up with local breeders representing other breeds to promote the farms in our area,” Cornelison said. “Through this program, we usually host a tour, at least, every other week.” LMF is so committed to this open-door policy that they converted the old Flat Rock Theatre Building into a bunkhouse. Guests can stay on the farm and participate in the local activities and learn about the cattle all in one trip. Although LMF enjoys working with other ranches, they have their own breeding principals, make independent decisions, and take risks to achieve greatness for themselves and customers. This lends to freer communication between LMF and foreign governments too. “We have found that it is of the upmost importance to work with great partners such as: TransOva, Bickett Genetics, and IBS when working with exports,” Cornelison said. “Each country has their own set of rules and teaming

up with companies that understand them is critical to your success.” Ultimately, Cornelison sees awareness as the biggest challenge facing the Brangus breed. He talked about the necessity of a campaign uniting Brangus producers across the nation and showcasing the wonderful breed we all raise. He has a favorite line that he uses when marketing LMF livestock. “If you can find better cattle than the Brangus breed, show them to me and I will buy them,” Cornelison says, “you won’t find them though, plain and simple.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: A ninth generation beef-cattle-raising Texan, Taylor Shackelford grew up in a small town called Prosper. Much of his upbringing revolved around the stock show and rodeo world, exhibiting many species all over the country. As the product of two educators, he often fell into extracurricular pastimes like 4-H and FFA. Both of which, he credits for his extroverted personality, leadership ethics, and interest in agricultural advocacy. Taylor studied agricultural communications at Texas Tech University, where he was overinvolved in everything from the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity to the 2015 National Champion Collegiate Livestock Judging Team. In addition, he worked for Texas Tech’s Offices of the Chancellor, President, and Undergraduate Admissions and completed a congressional internship in Washington D.C. for Congressman Michael Conaway – TX11 and Senator John Cornyn. Given his love for travel, he is eager to hit the road representing Brangus and all its successful breeders.

El Brangus en Australia por Taylor Shackelford

El ganado Brangus está bien equipado para todo clima con su piel más gruesa y superficie mayor que sus contemporáneos Bos indicus. Aunque muchos están bajo la impresión que el Brangus solo existe en las zonas costeras de Estados Unidos y el continente de Sudamérica, ese ganado en realidad es perfecto para la vida tierra adentro. Australia y Tailandia son solo dos países en la bella región del Pacífico y ambos están interesados en el ganado Brangus. Uno de los mejores programas de EE.UU. está entrando a estos mercados internacionales – Lake Majestik Farms. Lake Majestik Farms (LMF) es una operación de pie de cría y comercial de ganado Brangus registrado que se sitúa en Sand Mountain, en Flat Rock, Alabama. El dueño, Nic Cornelison, maneja aproximadamente unas 800 cabezas en aproximadamente 4,000 acres (1,618.7 hectáreas), pero los números siguen aumentando. Él se crió con ganado de carne comercial, pero no sabía nada del Brangus, hasta que un miembro de su familia viajó a Texas en 2004 y regresó con algunas vacas del acreditado hato de Brinks. En 2006, Cornelison compró el hato de su primo y colocó sus Brangus registrados en los pastizales junto con sus combinaciones de Angus, Hereford y Charolais. “Noté que las vacas Brangus quedaban afuera pastoreando mientras que las otras razas se echaban en la sombra y en los estanques,” dijo Cornelison. “Mis Brangus se desempeñaban mejor que todo el demás ganado, ¡por mucho!” 62 :: MARCH 2017

Empezó la investigación, y empezó con la dispersión del Camp Cooley Ranch. Los compradores más cercanos para esa genética, eran Salacoa Valley Farms, Char-No y Quail Creek. Cornelison fue un comprador de gran número de animales en varias subastas. Sin embargo, él rápidamente se dio cuenta que el podría ganar más con las poderosas hembras donadoras y desde entonces ha adquirido algunas de las matriarcas de la raza, como 30L18 & 468L. La poderosa genética transmitida por 541T42, 803T6, 415P27, 99P52, 30T94, 75R47, 75S36, 607R44 y 99T38 también ha tenido impacto sobre LMF. La misma pasión por el poder de las vacas, llevó a LMF a alianzas de origen con criadores en otros países al tratar de crear hembras sobresalientes. Cornelison y su familia recientemente regresaron de Queensland, Australia, al visitar antiguos amigos de LMF – Telpara Hills. “¡Impresionante! Ellos habían establecido un hato de vacas poderosas que se parecía al nuestro,” dijo Cornelison hablando de Telpara Hills. “Un tremendo hato debe tener vacas comprobadas y poderosas para corroborar las toros jóvenes de poca edad. LMF y Telpara Hills, ambos, quieren relatar quiénes son y lo que están tratando de lograr con constancia. Pero la genética no es todo, LMF usa los programas nutricionales de Purina para todo desde suplementación de minerales a los alimentos en prueba. LMF compila la historia y los datos para respaldar lo que se proyecta fenotípicamente. A través del uso del Reportaje del Hato

Entero y grandes grupos contemporáneos, Cornelison y su personal se enfocan en localizar la mejor genética con el mayor potencial de desempeño. LMF alienta a otros productores que trabajen juntos en constantemente avanzar la precisión del registro de datos. Los esfuerzos de investigación que ocurren en el campo de Estados Unidos, son un importante punto de venta para los mercados internacionales. Para el productor de ganado de carne en EE.UU., la recopilación de datos de desempeño para usar junto con los números de las Diferencias Esperadas en la Progenie (las DEP) solamente aumentarán el ingreso tanto a nivel nacional como internacional. No existe lógica en evitar esa tendencia. “La razón principal por la cual un productor internacional debería comprar genética del Brangus estadounidense,” dice Cornelison, “es invertir en un desempeño constante y poderoso respaldado por la investigación realizada por la industria con las DEP.” Los medios sociales y la internet son excelentes métodos de iniciar relaciones con un mínimo de barreras lingüísticas y sin tener que pagar llamadas telefónicas internacionales. LMF se mantiene en contacto con sus clientes internacionales mediante correo electrónico, texteado y Facebook. A través de esos medios, ellos han recibido numerosos grupos de turistas durante el año. “Nos hemos asociado con criadores locales que representan otras razas para promover las haciendas en nuestra zona,” dijo Cornelison. “A través de ese programa,

generalmente somos los anfitriones para una gira, por lo menos cada dos semanas.” LMF se ha comprometido tanto a esta política de uerta abierta, que un viejo edificio de teatro en Flat Rock, se ha convertido en una barraca. Los visitantes se pueden quedar en la hacienda, participar en las actividades locales y aprender sobre el ganado, todo en un solo viaje. Aunque LMF le gusta mucho cooperar con otras haciendas, ellos tienen sus propios administradores, que toman decisiones independientes y toman riesgos para lograr lo mejor para sí mismos y sus clientes. Eso lleva a comunicaciones más libres entre LMF y los gobiernos extranjeros también. “Hemos encontrado que es de gran importancia trabajar con socios maravillosos como: TransOva, Bickett Genetics e IBS cuando trabajamos con exportaciones,” dijo Cornelison. “Cada país tiene sus propias reglas y al cooperación con empresas que comprenden eso es crítico para nuestro éxito.” A la larga, Cornelison cree que la conscientización es el desafío más grande que enfrenta la raza Brangus. Él habló de la necesidad de una campaña que una a todos los productores de Brangus a través de toda el país y exhibir la impresionante raza que todos criamos. Él tiene un dicho favorito que usa al mercadear el ganado de LMF. “Si usted puede encontrar ganado que es mejor que la raza Brangus, muéstremela y yo la compraré,” dice Cornelison, “pero estoy seguro que nunca la encontrará.”

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RANCHING: The School of Life by Linda Jordens Galayda, Texas Rancher Girl Many associations, colleges, conventions, and large ranches offer a school curriculum for successful ranching. But did you ever stop to think that your ranch serves up a school of life every single day? Yep, everything from life basics to some pretty advanced do-or-die classes. I thought maybe we could take a look at some of these life lessons as they apply to our daily ranch agendas. Ranch life is not always convenient or easy. We may start out with a plan for the day; but today, some animal in the herd has another plan. For ranchers, no matter the difficult circumstances, we must be ready and willing to work through the different and complex scenarios the day presents. There is no better classroom than ranch life and Problem Solving 101 begins in calving season. As ranchers, we have already prepared bulls, which were selected to accommodate heifer calving ease and herd genetics with limited breeding of 90 days; cows are in BCS of five or better; cows were palpated with attention to all physical attributes for culling; hay, supplements, minerals, winter pastures all planned for optimum nutrition; appropriate vaccine protocols administered. Every effort has been made to maintain a healthy mother so she will produce a healthy baby. She is given a beautiful environment, lots of clean space, pure water and great food, and sanctioned welfare handling that Temple Grandin would be proud of – what could possibly go wrong? Well, let me tell you about just a few days in the Ranch School of Life. Yes, we talk about the weather, but we better prayerfully make friends with Mother Nature because she has a way of taking us hostage. Cold and rain together can be a lethal combination for cattle - so that week of rain and 20-degree temperatures started a series of events. On Monday, we found a cow that tried to deliver twins during the night; one lived and she died trying to deliver the second calf. We grabbed the shivering, little survivor, tubed him

with colostrum, and brought him in to a warm stall we have prepared for dogies. On Tuesday, we saved a cow and calf in breach delivery. On Wednesday, a heifer needed assistance in delivery; mother and baby are doing fine. Thursday brought another set of twins; both calves were weak. We brought the cow and her calves into the barn for extra feed and attention. In our rounds, we found an abandoned calf in the heifer pasture and took that calf to the orphan pen – we’ll deal with his mother later. By the end of the week, we had five babies on a bottle. But here’s the astounding good news, the mother of the twins wants them all; she thinks they are all hers and wants to nurse them all. Life’s lesson: ranchers don’t have safe spaces. The days can be exhausting and filled with issues demanding our attention and resolution, but the rewards outweigh the difficulties. We learn to be tough but compassionate. We learn that all things don’t work out like we would like them to, and sometimes we have to face a terminal ending. But sometimes we also see things work out better than we anticipated – like a mother that thinks she has five babies. My veterinarian told me early on that calving season is like putting 500 women in the maternity ward at the same time. Everything will not go perfectly. But for the 3-percent problem rate we face, there is the 97-to-98-percent perfect delivery. Think about that. God’s precious miracles delivered perfectly. You can’t get closer to real life than that. Ranchers live real life every day – the good, the not so good, and sometimes the heart breaker. But we wouldn’t change a thing. W e h o p e y o u w i l l j o i n u s o n l i n e at www.TexasRancherGirl.com and like us on Facebook. We look forward to sharing our stories, inspiring you, and connecting all of you that belong to the ranching family.

La ganadería: La escuela de la vida por Linda Jordens Galayda, la dama ganadera de Texas

Muchas asociaciones, universidades, convenciones y operaciones ganaderas grandes ofrecen un plan de estudios para tener éxito en la ganadería. ¿Pero se le ha ocurrido que su propia operación ofrece la escuela de la vida todos los días? Sí, todo desde lo más básico de la vida hasta unas clases bastantes avanzadas de vida o muerte. Pensé que quizá podríamos ver algunas de estas lecciones de la vida con respecto a lo que ocurre diariamente en la hacienda. La vida de hacienda no siempre es conveniente ni fácil. Empezamos el día con un plan; pero en un día dado, algún animal del hato tiene otro plan. Para ganaderos, no importa las circunstancias que complican la vida, debemos estar listos y dispuestos a trabajar los diferentes y complejos escenarios que el día nos presenta. No existe mejor aula de clase que la vida de hacienda y Solución de Problemas 101 comienza con la época de partos. Como ganaderos, ya hemos preparado los toros que se seleccionaron para acomodar la facilidad de parto de las novillonas y con genética de hato con un temporada de apareamiento de 90 días; vacas con una puntuación de condición corporal de 5 o mejor; se palparon las vacas con atención a todos los atributos físicos para desecharlas; el heno, los suplementos, minerales, pastizales invernales, todos planeados para una nutrición óptima; se han administrado los protocolos apropiados para las vacunas. Se ha hecho todo lo posible para mantener una madre sana para que produzca un becerro sano. Se le proporciona un ambiente bello, mucho espacio limpio, agua pura y buena alimentación, y un manejo del que estaría orgullosa Temple Grandin ¿qué es lo que pudiera no funcionar maravillosamente? Pues, les contaré de unos pocos días en la Hacienda Escuela de la Vida. Sí, hablamos del tiempo, pero debería rezarle sinfín a la Madre Naturaleza porque ella a veces le gusta tenernos como rehenes. Condiciones de frío y de lluvia al mismo tiempo puede ser una combinación letal para el ganado – de modo que esa semana de lluvia y temperaturas de 20°F, iniciaron una serie de acontecimientos. El lunes, encontramos una vaca tratando de parir gemelos durante la noche; uno vivió y la madre murió tratando de parir al

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segundo becerro. Agarramos el chiquito sobreviviente que se estremecía del frío, le pusimos un tubo en la boca para recibir el calostro y lo llevamos al establo calentito que preparamos por si había huérfanos. El martes, salvamos una vaca y su becerro que se presentó de nalgas. El miércoles, una novillona necesitó ayuda al parir, ambos están bien. El jueves nos trajo otros gemelos más, ambos becerros débiles. Llevamos la vaca y los becerros al establo para atención y comida adicional. Al dar otra ronda, encontramos un becerro abandonado en el pastizal de las novillonas y lo llevamos al corral de los huérfanos – hablaremos más adelante de la madre. Para fin de la semana, teníamos cinco becerritos mamando de biberón. Pero aquí tuvimos una buena noticia sorprendente – la madre de los gemelos los quería a todos; ella cree que todos son suyos y los amamanta a todos. Lección de la vida: ganaderos no tienen un escondite seguro. Los días pueden ser agotadores y llenos de problemas que demandan nuestra atención y resolución, pero las recompensas superan las dificultades. Aprendemos a ser emocionalmente fuertes pero con compasión. Aprendemos que no todo sale como nos hubiera gustado, y a veces, tenemos que enfrentar muertes. Pero en ocasión, vemos que las cosas acaban mejor de lo que habíamos anticipado – como la vaca madre que cree que tiene cinco crías. Mi veterinario me dijo desde un principio que la temporada de partos es como poner 500 mujeres embarazadas en una sala al mismo tiempo. No todo funcionará con perfección. Pero con la tasa de problemas al 3% que enfrentamos, existe el 97% o 98% de partos perfectos. Piensen en eso. Los milagros de Dios parieron perfectamente. Uno no se puede acercar más a la vida verdadera que eso. Ganaderos viven la vida verdadera todos los días – lo bueno, lo no tan bueno y a veces, lo que parte el corazón. Pero no cambiaríamos esta vida por ninguna otra. Espero que usted se una a nosotros en línea en www. TexasRancherGirl.com y nos gusten en Facebook. Esperamos compartir nuestras narraciones con ustedes (solo en inglés), inspirándolos y conectando a todos ustedes que son de la familia ganadera.

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Brangus Around the World IBBA’s Annual Meeting and Convention is held each year in order for IBBA’s Board of Directors, staff, and members to conduct official business and come together for the betterment of the Brangus breed and the association. Each year, opportunities are offered to convention attendees in an effort to raise money for the International Brangus Breeders Foundation. At the 2016 and 2017 conventions, a SouthAfrican safari hunt has been donated by BrangusBreeder. net. IBBA Director Troy Floyd purchased the hunt at the 2016 convention. During the 2017 convention, he sat down to visit with us about his trip. “When I bought the trip, I had no idea what I was bidding on,” Floyd explained, “I was just trying to raise money for the foundation.” When Floyd got the details and set a date for his trip, he began contact with the travel organizer. Upon realization that Floyd was a Brangus breeder, the travel organizer connected him with Barry King. King is a sixth-generation rancher and Brangus breeder in the East Cape of South

Africa, not far at all from where Floyd was going for the hunt. During his trip, Floyd got to visit King’s operation. “They were very hospitable, very nice people,” Floyd says. “After a while, I felt like I was visiting family.” Floyd says there are many similarities between South Africa and Roswell, New Mexico, where he calls home: “I felt like I was home because the country was so similar.” The Brangus cattle thrive on King’s country, similarly to Floyd’s cattle at home. “When I asked him why he settled on the 5/8-Angus and 3/8-Brahman, he told me what I had discovered about the same time,” Floyd says, “They work.” This story Floyd shares gives credibility to the saying: Any country is Brangus country. “Whether you are in North America or South Africa,” Floyd says, “form follows function; form is Brangus.” In addition to the Brangus operation Floyd got to see, he got to complete his safari hunt. The hunt came with five animals and the experience of a lifetime.

New “Easy Money” Scholarship Application by Ginger Pritchard

The 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. 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 on the IJBBA website as a link from the IBBA website. Our new scholarship deadline is April 1st. 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. We are introducing our newest award in order to honor our IBA founder Suzy Graven. Her lasting influence and dedication to the Brangus® breed will be remembered through this scholarship. Beginning with the 2017 awards, the most prestigious application will receive the Suzy Graven Memorial Founder’s Scholarship. We have also increased our maximum amount of each award from $2,500 to $5,000. There are several categories

A TBBA Update What an exciting time to be a Texas Brangus Breeders Association (TBBA) member. We have a great schedule set up for our convention and sale that you won’t want to miss. Did I mention that the TBBA and the International Red Brangus Breeders Association (IRBBA) have decided to join forces in Salado this year? Our good friends, the reds, will continue to have their meetings down there while we have ours, but we’ll come together for one outstanding sale. During the weekend, the TBBA and IRBBA boards will gather together in conference to discuss the future and possibilities we have before us.

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of scholarships available. A member may receive a maximum of two IBA scholarships while an IJBBA member. • Underclassman – Graduating HS Seniors • Upperclassman – Current College Students • Ray Mackey Memorial – Underclassman and Upperclassman (Based on Financial Need) • Alternate Education – Junior College, Technical College, Professional School We had a fantastic turn out for the IBA scholarship workshop at the National Junior Brangus Show 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. Our new application may be completed online via a fillable form, saved as a PDF and then emailed to one central address listed on the application. No more need for a special software program or to fill out multiple applications. From there, your application will be distributed to the correct scholarship committee. It’s never too early to get started completing the forms. If you have any questions or concerns, call me, your scholarship chairperson, at 405-878-6189 or email me at gingerdp@aol.com. I will be glad to walk you through the application. Just yell, “Help!”

by Garry Clem

As a reminder, the TBBA and IRBBA weekend is April 7 and 8. This is a wonderful time to meet and visit with your fellow breeders and to see what others are doing with their cattle programs. I encourage everyone to get involved in your association. Together, the future holds such great possibilities, and you should be a part of it. Don’t wait on someone else to make all the decisions for your association. Thanks again for the opportunity to be your president this year. See you in Salado!

Building the Future by IJBBA Director of Youth Activities Tyler Dean There is no greater achievement than to leave a lasting legacy. That is the goal of the International Junior Brangus Breeders Association (IJBBA) – to make an impact on this industry and leave a legacy for future generations of Brangus® enthusiasts. Over the past several years, the IJBBA has focused its efforts on increasing membership and enhancing member benefits through opportunities that increase personal growth and development. In March 2015, we held our inaugural Legacy Leadership Conference and hosted over 100 youth from across the nation. We are currently registering participants for our 2017 conference, which is shaping up to be an amazing opportunity for youth in the beef industry. We have beefed up our National Junior Brangus Show (NJBS) by adding contests, events and shows while increasing the quality of awards and premiums to encourage more participation. We have invested in promotional items that are being distributed across the nation to recruit new members, and we have big plans for increasing these efforts in the near future. Of course, all of these things are great, but we cannot do it without the support of breeders and businesses that provide financial support through donations year round. We thank each and every one of you and want you to be assured that your investment is making a major impact on our breed. With that being said, one of the easiest ways to contribute to IJBBA is through participation in our Legacy Female Buyer Group. For those of you who are not familiar with this, here is how it works. Miss JLS Classy 915D44 will sell on Saturday, March 11, in the Genetic Edge XXII Sale in Houston, Texas. The IJBBA Board of Directors will organize the 2017 IJBBA Legacy Female Buyer Group. The Buyer Group presents a unique opportunity to support the juniors and provides a chance to take the female home but not be out a substantial amount of money. Participation in the Buyer Group can be accomplished in one of two ways: a ranch, breeder, business or individual can get a ticket into the Buyer Group with a $500 donation, or two ranches, breeders, businesses or individuals can split their entry ticket into the Buyer Group and each make a $250 donation. Anyone can make as many donations as they would like and each $500 donation will receive one ticket. The total of the collected donations will be the amount the Buyer Group will bid on the Legacy Female. At the fall of the gavel, if the Buyer Group has the winning bid, all tickets will be put into a hat and a winning ticket will be chosen. The holder(s) of the ticket will own the female at that point in time and can choose to take the female home with them or donate her back to IJBBA to auction again. If the Buyer Group has the winning bid, participants

will be billed through the International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA). This year’s Legacy Female comes from JLS International, a program who knows extremely well the benefits and value of the junior association. JLS understands that the juniors are the future of the Brangus breed; and gladly, without a moment’s hesitation, accepted the opportunity to donate the 2017 Legacy Female. Furthermore, they gave one of their absolute best. 2017 marks the third consecutive year that the IJBBA Legacy Female has been a descendent of the iconic ER Lady XS 915/C. Very few cows have had such an impact on the Brangus breed, the JLS program or the Brangus show ring as 915/C. 915/C will certainly have an impact on the IJBBA as her last two descendants to sell have already raised $83,500 for them. Furthermore, when you look deeper in her pedigree, you immediately notice Presidente and the 767 cow family on the top side. That combination has a proven track record of championships, winning at both Houston and the NJBS. Add in the fact that her dam is an own daughter of Miss JLS Tally 915M, another 915 carrying breed legend on her own, and you have tremendous winning potential packed into this Classy female. Classy epitomizes the JLS breeding program and is a solid statement to the type and kind of cattle that keeps Myron Saathoff and JLS International returning to the picture backdrop and stacking up IBBA Show Animal of the Year trophies. Incredibly feminine-fronted, deepmade, strong-topped, and beautifully built, she will make a powerful addition to anyone’s show string or breeding program, but will undoubtedly find her way to someone’s donor pen. Stop by the JLS stalls in Houston to visit this incredible female or watch for her video. You will not want to miss out on this incredibly unique female to benefit the juniors. IJBBA has an ever increasing number of past members, directors and officers who are staying involved in the breed. Some are involved heavily in the cattle industry while others lead outside careers, but all of them credit IJBBA with impacting their life and their success. And all of them are excited about their children being part of IJBBA, which will allow them as parents to have the opportunity to give a little back to the association that helped shape them. I have had the privilege to spend my entire life in the Brangus breed, but my greatest privilege has been spending the last seven years as the IJBBA Director of Youth Activities. It is hard to imagine any job being as rewarding as this one.

y c a g e L Female The 2017 IJBBA

offered by: JLS International

miss jls CLASSY 915d44 May 10, 2016 R10331130 Sire: Mr JLS My Way 767A6 Dam: Miss New Transformer 915R

JLS INTERNATIONAL Jeff Smith, Alabama (251) 947-5688 Myron Saathoff, Texas (210) 218-4804 www.jlsbrangus.com

She sells at the 2017

GENETIC EDGE XXII SALE

7:30 pm  March 11, 2017  Houston, TX 72 :: MARCH 2017

he IJBBA is excited to introduce the 2017 IJBBA Legacy Female. Designed to help fund the IJBBA Legacy Leadership Conference, the IJBBA Board of Directors, and the National Junior Brangus Show as well as build upon the legacy of proven Brangus leaders that the IJBBA is known to produce. This year’s Legacy Female comes from JLS International, a program who knows extremely well the benefits and value of the junior association. JLS understands that the juniors ARE the future of the Brangus breed and gladly, without a moment’s hesitation, accepted the opportunity to donate the 2017 female. Furthermore, they gave one of their absolute best! 2017 marks the third consecutive year that the IJBBA Legacy Female has been a descendent of the iconic ER Lady XS 915/C. Very few cows have had such an impact on the Brangus breed, the JLS program or the Brangus show ring as 915/C. 915/C will certainly have an impact on the IJBBA as her descendants have already raised $83,500 for them! Classy epitomizes the JLS breeding program and is a solid statement to the type and kind of cattle that keeps Myron and JLS International returning to the picture backdrop and stacking up IBBA Show Animal of the Year trophies. Incredibly feminine fronted, deep made, strong topped and beautifully built, she will make a powerful addition to anyone’s show string and/or breeding program, but will undoubtedly find her way to someone’s donor pen! You are invited to participate in a group effort to purchase this female. For more information, please contact Tyler Dean (405)207-6921. All proceeds go to benefit the Brangus juniors! Don’t miss this unique opportunity that supports a great cause. We’ll see you in Houston!

Brangus Champion of the World

The 2016 “Brangus - Champion of the World” Competition took place Dec. 1-7. This was the fifth time that this annual competition had taken place, but the third time for the Brangus breed. It was sponsored by BrangusBreeder.net LP, TheCattleMarket.net LLC, and Cowtown USA. National Champion Brangus cattle from 14 different countries were judged by four official judges: Hector Bonomi, Uruguay; Glenn Trout, Australia; Pieter Swart, South Africa; Julio César González Villaseñor, Mexico. The six regional winners are pictured. The 2017 “Brangus - Champion of the World” Competition takes place from Dec. 1-7. The four official judges are Federico Maisonnave, Paraguay; Rach Wheeler, Australia; Johnny Gutierrez, Argentina; Jason Cleere, United States. See more details on the Brangus Breeder Facebook page or visit the website, at www.BrangusBreeder.net. 2016 RESULTS: 2016 “Brangus - Champion of the World” GOLD: South Africa (Red) SILVER: Uruguay BRONZE: Argentina 2016 “Brangus - Miss World” GOLD: South Africa (Red) SILVER: Brazil BRONZE: Paraguay

2016 “Brangus - Champion of South America” GOLD: Uruguay SILVER: Argentina BRONZE: Paraguay 2016 “Brangus - Miss South America” GOLD: Brazil SILVER: Paraguay BRONZE: Bolivia 2016 “Brangus - Champion of Asia/Africa” GOLD: South Africa (Red) SILVER: Malawi BRONZE: Thailand 2016 “Brangus - Miss Asia/Africa” GOLD: South Africa (Red) SILVER: South Africa (Black) BRONZE: Australia 2016 “Brangus - Champion of North America” GOLD: USA (Red) SILVER: USA (Black) BRONZE: USA (American Red) 2016 “Brangus - Miss North America” GOLD: USA (American Red) SILVER: USA (Red) BRONZE: Mexico (Black) 73

Col. Luke Mobley Auctioneer Livestock Marketing 205.270.0999 | www.LukeMobley.com

Brangus Publications, Inc. offers many opportunities for you to promote yourself. For a full list of opportunities, visit www.GoBrangus.com/2017-mediaguide/. You may also contact IBBA Advertising Sales Manager Melanie Fuller.

WELCOME NEW IBBA MEMBERS Albert (Gus) Ashley, Hope Hull, AL Alexandra Acord, Madisonville, TX Allen Warrington Sr, Kosciusko, MS Anthony Giffin, Rogers, AR Beach Family Ranch, New Braunfels, TX Bill Webster, Katy, TX Bobby R & Linda F Wilson, Sylacauga, AL Centro Cuesta Nacional, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Charlie Whetzel, Union Springs, AL Chuck & Robbie Jester, Washburn, MO Circle D Farms, Frost, TX Craig Papillion, Eunice, LA Cuevas Brangus, Purvis, MS Danny R Hipps, Dardanelle, AR Darryl Mayo, Saint Petersburg, FL David Harris, Cleburne, TX Diamond G Brangus, Anderson, TX Drayten Morgan, Chappell Hill, TX Fish Hawk Ranch, Riverview, FL Gary Kusak, Shiner, TX Hannah Lavender, Melrose, NM Hickman Ranch, South Greenfield, MO Jake Arendell, Alvin, TX James Brothers Livestock, Van Alstyne, TX

Jerry Merten, Brenham, TX Jimmy Hopkins, Inez, TX Johnny Vincent, Branford, FL Joy And Albert Ashley, Hope Hull, AL K Bar G Ranch, Llano, TX Karsen Klimitchek, Edna, TX Keith A Waits, Saucier, MS Layne Bloodsworth, High Springs, FL Lee Case, Bowie, TX Leiper’s Fork Cattle Co, LLC, Franklin, TN Lokey Cattle LLC, College Station, TX Mary P Gibbs, Terrell, TX Overkill Hill Farm Llc, Fort White, FL P & K Ranch, Huntsville, TX Pay Farm, San Augustine, TX R4 Brangus, Gonzales, TX Rancho La Miura Spr De Rl, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico Rascoe Farm, Converse, LA Rosser Fannin, De Kalb, TX Ryan Rhodes, Cypress, TX Scarlett Fannin, De Kalb, TX Starnes Cattle Company, Williston, FL Tenley Vielma, Castroville, TX Terry L Burkett, Avery, TX

If you’re interested in becoming a member of the International Brangus Breeders Association, contact the office at (210) 696-8231.

74 :: MARCH 2017

FIND A BREEDER NEAR YOU ALABAMA

ALABAMA

Michael Candler, President 386-208-3881

ARIZONA

ARKANSAS

CALIFORNIA

Big D Ranch Phillip & Beth DeSalvo 173 Miller Lane Center Ridge, AR 72027 (501) 208-6119 www.BigDRanch.net

ARKANSAS

To place your ad in the State Directory, email Melanie Fuller (mfuller@gobrangus.com). 76 :: MARCH 2017

GoBrangus.com/breeder-search/ FLORIDA

FLORIDA

Matthew Lyle Wynne (772) 201-7500

Frank Lewis (772) 201-7503

Fort Pierce, Florida | www.wynneranch.com

GEORGIA

KANSAS

LOUISIANA

To place your ad in the State Directory, email Melanie Fuller (mfuller@gobrangus.com). 77

FIND A BREEDER NEAR YOU LOUISIANA

MISSISSIPPI

MISSOURI

NEW MEXICO

NORTH CAROLINA

OKLAHOMA

To place your ad in the State Directory, email Melanie Fuller (mfuller@gobrangus.com). 78 :: MARCH 2017

GoBrangus.com/breeder-search/ OKLAHOMA

TENNESSEE TRAIT LEADERS AND

MONEY MAKERS

TEXAS Doyle Miller

615-351-2783 doyle@millerbrangus.com

Bill Felton

Sales & Marketing

901- 494-0554 bill@millerbrangus.com

Bart Pope

Ranch Manager www.millerbrangus.com

931-722-0244 bart@millerbrangus.com

TEXAS

Don (Pat) Drake Managing Partner Drake Ranch 398 Drake Road Quanah, Texas 79252 Cell: (832) 331-2527 Ranch: (940) 663-6143 drakeranch398@gmail.com www.drakeranch.com

TEXAS

Drake Ranch est. 1924 Quanah, Texas

To place your ad in the State Directory, email Melanie Fuller (mfuller@gobrangus.com). 79

FIND A BREEDER NEAR YOU TEXAS

TEXAS

JLS International, Inc. Where winning tradition and performance collide Registered Red Brangus & Ultrareds show heifers, herd sires, and replacements available Megan (713) 492-6158 John (281) 740-0572 greenwoodcattleco@yahoo.com

Brangus bulls and heifers available year-round at private treaty.

www.jlsbrangus.com Jeff Smith, Owner Myron Saathoff myronsaathoff@yahoo.com

251-947-5688 210-218-4804

TEXAS

To place your ad in the State Directory, email Melanie Fuller (mfuller@gobrangus.com). 80 :: MARCH 2017

FIND A BREEDER NEAR YOU TEXAS

TEXAS

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

APRIL 2017 1 Stockmen’s Choice Elite Brangus Female Sale at Mid-Tex Livestock, Navasota, TX 6-9 IJBBA Legacy Leadership Conference, Haines City, FL 7-8 TBBA Miss America Sale, Salado, TX 8 Texas Best Brangus Sale at Doguet’s Diamond D Ranch, Poteet, TX 10 Content Deadline for May Brangus Journal 22 GENETRUST at Cavender’s Neches River Ranch, Jacksonville, TX MAY 2017 6 JLS International Sale, Devine, TX 15 National Junior Brangus Show Entry Deadline 28 National Junior Brangus Show Ownership Deadline JUNE 2017 1 Futurity Entry Deadline 1 National Junior Brangus Show Late Entry Deadline 9-10 Arkansas Junior Brangus Breeders State Show, Arkadelphia, AR 14-17 TJBBA State Show, Bryan, TX JULY 2017 10 Content Deadline for August Brangus Journal 23-28 National Junior Brangus Show, Texarkana, AR 27 IJBBA “Source of Champions” Sale, Texarkana, AR 28 IJBBA Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet, Texarkana, AR 29 Brangus Futurity, Texarkana, AR

UPCOMING EVENTS

MARCH 2017 8 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo All Breeds Sales, Houston, TX 10 Content Deadline for April Brangus Journal 10 International Brangus Bull Show, Houston, TX 11 International Brangus Female Show, Houston, TX 11 Genetic Development Center Best of the Test Cattle Sale, Navasota, TX 11 Genetic Edge XXII Sale, Houston, TX 11 Quail Creek Brangus Cut Above Sale, Cullman, AL 12 Oklahoma Youth Expo Junior Brangus Show, Oklahoma City, OK 12 OB Ranch Complete Red & Black Registered Brangus Herd Dispersal Sale, Wharton, TX 17 Houston Junior Brangus Show, Houston, TX 18 Tested by Time Sale at Mound Creek Ranch, Leona, TX 19 Houston Junior Red Brangus Show, Houston, TX 25 23rd Annual West Texas Brangus Breeders Association Springtime Sale, Abilene, TX 25 Indian Nations Spring Brangus Sale, Ada, OK 25 Salacoa Valley Customer Appreciation and Bull Sale, Fairmount, GA 25 Subasta Selecta Brangus Rojo Tamaulipas, Tampico, Mexico 28 GENETRUST at Suhn Cattle Company, Eureka, KS

Advertiser’s Index 5K Cowbelle Ranch........................................................................ 78 Amrich Ranch................................................................................ 78 Big D Ranch................................................................................... 76 Blackwater Cattle Co................................................................ 17, 77 Bobby and Bobbie Brangus........................................................... 78 Brinks Brangus @ Westall Ranches.........................................31, 78 Burke Brangus Farm..................................................................... 77 Bushley Creek Cattle Company..................................................... 77 Calyx Star Ranch........................................................................... 78 Carter Brangus............................................................................... 76 Cavender Ranches......................................................................... 79 Char-No Farm................................................................................ 77 Chimney Rock Cattle Co................................................................ 76 Circle X Land and Cattle Co.................................................. IFC, 79 Clark Cattle Services...................................................................... 74 Clover Ranch........................................................................... 23, 76 Col. Luke Mobley........................................................................... 74 Cox Excalibur Brangus.................................................................. 79 Cross N Farms............................................................................... 77 Diamond K Ranch......................................................................... 79 Dillard Land & Cattle..................................................................... 79 Doak Lambert................................................................................ 74 Doguet’s Diamond D Ranch................................................... 79, BC Don Hall Brangus.......................................................................... 76 Don Thomas & Sons...................................................................... 78 Double Creek Brangus Ranch....................................................... 79 Double W Ranch............................................................................ 78 Drake Ranch.................................................................................. 79 Draggin’ M Ranch.......................................................................... 76 E3 Ranch........................................................................................ 79 Elgin Breeding Service.............................................................15, 74 Farris Ranching Company............................................................. 79 Galloway Brangus.......................................................................... 76 Garrett Thomas..............................................................................17 Garry Clem Brangus...................................................................... 79 Genesis Ranch............................................................................... 79 GENETRUST.....................................................................38, 39, 43 GKB Cattle............................................................................... 55, 79 Greenwood Cattle Co.....................................................................80 Greuel Family Brangus.................................................................. 77 Hardee Farms................................................................................ 77 JLS International.....................................................................57, 80 Johnston Brangus.......................................................................... 76 K & L Brangus................................................................................80 K & R Broken Bar Ranch............................................................... 78 Kerndt Livestock Products............................................................ 16 Lack-Morrison Brangus.......................................................... 21, 78 Lake Majestik Farms.......................................................................6 Lakeside Brangus.......................................................................... 77 Lakin Oakley.................................................................................. 74 Lawman Ranch.............................................................................. 78 Little Creek Farms......................................................................... 77 McDonald Ranches........................................................................ 47 Midsouth Cattle Company....................................................... 59, 78

Mill Creek...................................................................................... 21 Miller Brangus............................................................................... 79 MO Brangus................................................................................... 77 Mound Creek Ranch..........................................................29, 52, 80 Multimin USA................................................................................24 Neogen GeneSeek.......................................................................... 67 Oak Creek Farms...........................................................................80 OB Ranch Co...................................................................................51 OK Farms.......................................................................................64 Oklahoma Brangus Association....................................................26 Old Colita Ranch............................................................................ 52 Parker Brangus.............................................................................. 76 Pennridge Ranch...........................................................................80 Perry Ranch................................................................................... 78 Peterson Brangus........................................................................... 78 Platte Valley Brangus...................................................................... 9 Quail Creek Brangus...................................................................... 76 Red Bird Meadows Ranch.......................................................52, 80 Red Bud Farms........................................................................ 47, 76 Robbs Brangus............................................................................... 76 Roop Cattle Co............................................................................... 79 Salacoa Valley Farms............................................................... 25, 77 Santa Rosa Ranch......................................................................3, 80 Schmidt Farms Brangus................................................................80 Shooting Star Land & Cattle..........................................................80 Spanish Ranch............................................................................... 76 Southeast Brangus Breeders Association...................................... 76 Southern Cattle Company..............................................................17 Stockmen’s Choice....................................................................32-33 Suhn Cattle Company.................................................................... 77 Sunshine Acres.............................................................................. 76 T3 Brangus..................................................................................... 78 TBBA Miss America Sale............................................................... 13 Terry Reagan................................................................................. 74 The Oaks Farms........................................................................ 11, 77 Town Creek Farm.......................................................................... 37 TransOva Genetics......................................................................... 75 TRIO Cattle & Genetics.................................................................80 Triple Crown Ranch......................................................................80 Triple JR Cattle Company.......................................................47, 80 Triple R Cattle.................................................................................17 Valley View Ranch......................................................................... 78 Vanna Farms.................................................................................. 19 Vineyard Cattle Co.........................................................................80 Vorel Farms................................................................................... 79 Ward Brangus................................................................................ 81 Wes Dotson.................................................................................... 74 W.E.T. Farms................................................................................. 77 WTBBA Springtime Sale...............................................................20 Wyman Creek Cattle...................................................................... 14 Wynne Ranch................................................................................ 77 Zoetis............................................................................................IBC Zottarelli Ranches.......................................................................... 81 BC: Back Cover, IBC: Inside Back Cover, IFC: Inside Front Cover

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