SWEET SUMMERTIME

Sweet Summertime! by Chris Heptinstall, IBBA president

Sweet summertime! The last embryos are transferred for spring calves. It is about time to pick up herd bulls and hay season is in full swing. It is time to start planning for the fall sale season; this is what’s happening in north Alabama, anyway. I hope the Lord has blessed your operation with stirrup high grass, as He has ours.

As I am writing this letter, next week is the National Junior Brangus Show in Beaumont, Texas. I wish all the juniors and their families safe travels and the best of luck showing your animals. Youth is what we must depend on to continue driving Brangus® in a positive direction. So, let’s all get behind and encourage the juniors to stay involved in the industry.

In this issue you will read a lot about genetics, in general about Expected Progeny Differences. EPDs especially when paired with DNA, are the single most accurate way we can measure differences in cattle. Weights and measures (phenotypes) drive the accuracies of GE-EPDs (or genomically enhanced EPDs). Without correct contemporary groups and phenotypes we cannot truly calculate EPDs. I have heard too many times from breeders of registered cattle that EPDs just do not matter. Being in the bull business, I have witnessed more aggressive commercial operations buying from indexes. They have requested the catalog data dump, sorted according to their indexes, and purchased directly from their sorts. With that being said, I am a firm believer in reporting complete and accurate information to be included in our EPD model.

The Southeast Brangus Breeders will be hosting a field day at Phillips Ranch, Bunnell, Florida, on August 21-22. From early talks with Rob Singleton, general manager at Phillips Ranch, there will be a plethora of information during this event. From in-vitro fertilization demonstrations, to ranch horse demonstrations, to informative topics from experts in their field, it will be insightful for all breeders. We look forward to gathering, enjoying

fellowship and southern hospitality from the folks at Phillips Ranch.

In closing, fall sales are fast approaching. Be sure to reach out to Emily or Melanie to get your event on the IBBA calendar, and advertise for commercial producers to view. I am looking forward to getting back out on the road and seeing many of you guys the last half of the year.

Don’t be afraid to go where the data takes you! CGH