January 2020 Brangus Journal

Brangus JA N UA R Y 2 0 2 0

JOURNAL

Brangus J O U R N A L

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Brangus J O U R N A L

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

IBBA STAFF

Area 1: AL, FL, GA & South America Chris Heptinstall, 2nd Vice President 205.363.0919 :: chris@salacoavalleybrangus.com Area 2: AR, LA & MS Bill Davis, 1st Vice President 336.210.1222 :: bdavis@billdavistrucking.com Area 3: ND, SD, MN, WI, IA, IL, MO, KS & NE Vern Suhn 620.583.3706 :: vern@genetrustbrangus.com Area 4: IN, MI, PA, OH, KY, TN, NC, SC, VA, WV & New England States Darrel Law 615.666.2976 :: cklaw@nctc.com Area 5: OK Shiloh Hall 918.798.1337 :: shiloh518@yahoo.com Area 6: NM, AZ, CA, NV, UT, CO, WY, MT, ID, WA, OR, Canada & Australia Greg Romans 541.473.3822 :: romansbrangus@yahoo.com Area 7: TX & Mexico Allen Goode 214.683.1600 :: allen@triocattle.com Area 7: TX & Mexico Danny Farris 325.669.5727 :: farrisranching@yahoo.com Area 7: TX & Mexico Lee Alford 979.820.4205 :: alfordcattle@aol.com Area 8: Central Time Zone (except TX & OK) Doyle Miller 615.351.2783 :: dmiller@doylemillercpa.com Area 9: TX & OK Mike Weathers, Secretary/Treasurer 979.733.0907 :: mikeweathers@msn.com Area 10: Mountain & Pacific Time Zone States Troy Floyd 575.734.7005 :: tfloyd@leaco.net

Executive Vice President Darrell Wilkes, Ph.D. dwilkes@gobrangus.com 210.718.8051

Director of Accounting & Finance Justine Voss jvoss@gobrangus.com 210.696.8231

Director of Registry, Media & BPI Co-Editor Jessie England jengland@gobrangus.com 830.263.9384

Director of Genomics & Research Macee Prause mprause@gobrangus.com 210.696.8231

Member Services & Marketing Coordinator Lori Edwards ledwards@gobrangus.com 210.696.8231

Director of Information & Technology Andrew Sicotte asicotte@goregstr.com 210.696.8231 Software Developer Daniel Ross dross@goregstr.com 210.696.8231

Registry Services

Mary Douglass mdouglass@gobrangus.com 210.696.8231

Customer Service

Amber Mosel amosel@gobrangus.com 210.696.8231

Brangus Publications, Inc. Editor Emily Lochner elochner@gobrangus.com 254.230.8444

Advertising Sales

Melanie Fuller mfuller@gobrangus.com 979.255.3343

Area 11: Eastern Time Zone States Eddy Roberts, President 386.935.1416 :: wetfarm1@windstream.net

International BrangusÂŽ Breeders Association 8870 US Highway 87 E, San Antonio, TX 78263 P.O. Box 809, Adkins, TX 78101 O: (210) 696-8231 F: (210) 696-8718 info@gobrangus.com gobrangus.com

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Cover photo by Lori Edwards, IBBA Membership & Marketing Coordinator @gobrangus | #gobrangus

BRANGUS JANUARY 2020

Volume 68 :: Issue 1

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

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EXECUTIVE CORNER

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CATTLEFAX MARKET INSIGHTS

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RED BRANGUS FALL MEETING

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ELEVATE YOUR ONLINE BRAND

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A SUCCESSFUL AI PROGRAM BEGINS WITH THE RIGHT NUTRITION

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BRANGUS VALUE PROJECT

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SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED

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THIS COUNTRY IS BRANGUS COUNTRY

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SALE SUMMARIES

Brangus J O U R N A L

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

FAILING TO PLAN is Planning to Fail

by Eddy Roberts, IBBA President

There is some debate as to whether the original quote above came from Benjamin Franklin or Winston Churchill. In either case, I believe it applies to all of us and certainly our association. We plan to succeed.

I wish to thank everyone who has attended a regional conference or otherwise taken the time to review and critique the IBBA Long Term Plan. I especially want to thank the Long Term Planning Committee which was appointed

by Doyle Miller, IBBA ex-officio, and chaired by Tracy Holbert.

In addition to Doyle, Tracy and yours truly, the following members served diligently over the past year generously giving their time, travel expenses, and many hours of

deliberation and study: J.C. Bouse, Mark Cowan, Bill Davis, Pete DeLeeuw, Joe Fuller, Allen Goode, Chris Heptinstall, Randy Schmidt, Vern Suhn and Mike Vorel. The committee was assisted early on by former Executive Vice President (EVP), Tommy Perkins, and later by our current EVP, Darrell Wilkes.

The board of directors approved the plan December 11, 2019, with slight modifications pertaining to board electoral district structuring.

Staff has begun work on the final document which will be posted on the internet with hard copies available in the near future.

Here is the interesting thing about a long term plan - it must be executed in the near term, and needs to be re-visited constantly, but re-visited formally about every two years. I believe there is consensus that the Long Term Planning Committee should be kept intact as a standing committee. Their role should be to interact with the committees, task forces, and other working groups that are assigned pieces in the past 30 days of the plan for implementation.

During this 7 New Senior Members journey, we will 4 New Junior Members need to raise some funding for 6 New Associate Members key projects – 940 New DNA Submissions research projects and others. I 1,560 New Female Registrations envision the Long Term Planning 1,050 New Bull Registrations Committee as an

IBBA FACTS in a flash

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advocate, and even an activist, for these causes.

The existing standing committees will be the driving force, working with staff, to move the plan’s strategies and projects forward. In addition, the board has discussed the formation of an IBBA Research Committee comprised of the chairpersons of each standing committee. Research projects, whether genetic research, market research, or something in between, will all be funneled through this Research Committee. I predict there will be more good projects than there are funds to conduct them, so a diverse committee of big-picture thinkers will be needed to sort them out.

You have heard this plea before, but now it is critical: please consider service on one of the standing committees, which are: Breed Improvement, Commercial Marketing, Finance, International, Member Service and Education, Promotion, and, finally, the Show Committee. While you’re considering this, twist the arm of a younger breeder to get involved in committee service. They will benefit by expanding their network and, ultimately, the younger breeders with more years to benefit from the growth in Brangus® will be the greatest beneficiaries of the successful implementation of the plan.

Please contact me or any IBBA staff person to express your interest in committee service. IBBA needs you. In closing, I wish all members of the Brangus family a very prosperous, healthy and happy 2020.

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EXECUTIVE CORNER

Rational EXUBERANCE

by Dr. Darrell Wilkes, IBBA Executive Vice President

At this moment, I could not be more optimistic and excited about the future of the Brangus breed. I am “rationally exuberant.”

Alan Greenspan, the former chairman of the Federal Reserve, made an infamous statement about investors who drove up the price of dot.com stocks when the companies involved had never generated a dime of profit and, in some cases, had never even generated a dime of revenue. He famously described the behavior as “irrational exuberance.” What I see happening in the Brangus world is very exciting and, thus, my exuberance is based on reality rather than fantasy. I am, therefore, rationally exuberant.

As I write this column on December 12, I have been in meetings for almost two solid weeks discussing Brangus cattle and the opportunities for growth and improvement. In the past month, I have attended some sales, looked at lots of good Brangus cattle, and have read numerous sale reports. Here’s why I’m exuberant.

FIBRA Meeting FIBRA is the Federation of International Brangus Associations. It has been a looseknit organization with virtually no formal structure; and is basically responsible for deciding where the bi-annual World Brangus Congress will be held.

IBBA, led by International Committee Chairman, Allen Goode, called a meeting of FIBRA which was held December 2-4, in Fort Worth, Texas. Several member countries were represented, including two gentlemen who 8

January 2020

traveled all the way from Australia for the meeting. We came out of the meeting with some solid ideas to create a structure and a funding mechanism for FIBRA. This will give the organization the tools and resources to become a global advocate for Brangus genetics and a platform for more collaboration amongst Brangus breeders across oceans and borders. This will help open doors for the flow of Brangus genetics (live and frozen) around the globe.

It became very clear to me in these meetings that IBBA is the world leader in the Brangus community when it comes to genetic evaluation and the use of genomics. The credit for this goes to you – Brangus breeders who have invested the money to genomically test your cattle, record accurate weights and measures, and to build a very large database.

You probably weren’t thinking about how your genomic testing and diligent record-keeping would open the doors of opportunity for international trade, but that’s exactly what you’ve accomplished.

Within the last month, I’ve received requests and interest from two major Brangus-producing countries wanting access to our genomics database in order to enhance their genetic evaluation.

You, as progressive breeders, have invested millions to build our database and we should capitalize on this for the benefit of the IBBA and our breed. This leads me to see the opportunity to form a single global database and to perform a comprehensive GLOBAL genetic evaluation of Brangus cattle. If that were to be done, we are in

the position to host and lead this with the largest Brangus genomics database in the world. I wonder where Brangus cattle from the U.S. would rank in a global evaluation?

I think we would like the result, and I think it could open some genetic export opportunities beyond anything we might have imagined up to this point. We may also identify some unique genetics outside our borders that can contribute to our goal of making the best breed better.

In summary, I have a new level of excitement about international trade of Brangus genetics.

The IBBA Board Has Approved the Long Term Plan A year of work and deliberation has resulted in a long term plan designed to enhance the success of everyone who takes advantage of Brangus genetics, whether you produce Brangus seedstock, Brangus feeder cattle, or the everawesome Brangus replacement female. The goal is to GROW the Brangus footprint in the beef industry, and I have no doubt that this plan will accomplish that – we just need to EXECUTE the plan.

President Eddy Roberts has made a plea for serious Brangus breeders to get involved in implementing the Long Term Plan by signing on to one of the IBBA committees. It is the work of the standing committees that will make the plan’s vision a reality. As the Board of Directors met with the Long Term Planning Committee at the IBBA office on December 10, there was broad consensus that IBBA needs to load up the

(continued on page 10)

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Brangus J O U R N A L

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EXECUTIVE CORNER (continued from page 8)

committees with a blend of experienced Brangus breeders and younger breeders who have the most to gain from the implementation of the plan.

Everything in the plan is important, but I want to focus on a couple of items that give me so much optimism about Brangus. Brangus cattle are truly unique in their ability to thrive in extreme environments while simultaneously producing high quality beef (please read that sentence again, it is profoundly important). It cannot be debated that the quality of U.S. beef has improved over the past decade or so – quite dramatically in fact. The new standard for percent Choice or better is 80%. And even while producing 80% Choice beef, the premium for Choice over Select remains unusually high, nearly $18/cwt on December 12. The consumer marketplace is sending a crystal-clear message – even

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80% Choice is NOT ENOUGH. If 80% Choice was high enough, the premium for Choice over Select would disappear. There is every reason to believe that the benchmark for quality will continue to increase. At some point in the near future, I predict we’ll be talking about a 90% Choice blend being the new target.

If there is another breed of cattle that can thrive in harsh-hot environments, or rugged desert country, and also produce beef that meets or exceeds the new industry benchmark, let them come forward and show their data. Brangus can do it. I’ve seen the data and if you have fed your Brangus steers or have bull customers who have fed theirs, then you’ve seen the data too. You need to pause, take a deep breath, and comprehend just how unique this is. With well-bred Brangus feeder cattle, we have the opportunity to eliminate that annoying “eared discount” that is pervasive in the marketplace. If we can accomplish this, the demand for Brangus bulls will challenge our ability to produce enough of them.

With data from the Brangus Value Project (part of the Long Term Plan), we will identify more sires with the unique genetics to EXCEED the industry benchmark for quality grade while producing daughters that exceed the expectations of stockmen in tough country.

Now, I’m going to tie the international market for Brangus genetics

and the quality grade sermon together. Don’t think for a second that the U.S. is the only market where people want more marbling in their beef. This appears to be a global phenomenon. As people rise up economically and enter the “middle class” they demand more protein. As they acquire a higher taste, they demand more marbling. Connect this to the fact that over 70 percent of global beef production occurs in climates best suited to a dose of Bos indicus genetics and you can easily paint a picture of truly EXPLOSIVE GLOBAL DEMAND for Brangus genetics. And since the U.S. has the most comprehensive database on Brangus genetics, and hard data to prove that our cattle can thrive in the heat and produce high quality beef, wow, if that doesn’t get you excited, I don’t know what will.

2019 Fall Bull Sales I’ll close this letter with some observations on the fall bull sale season. In numerous sales with well-bred, well-documented registered Brangus and Ultra bulls that were professionally presented, and professionally marketed, discriminating commercial producers rose up and paid top dollar. As my dear late father would say, some of these sales were hotter than a two-dollar pistol.

When you can sell a bull in under 60-seconds and do it right up to the last pen of bulls in the sale without the auctioneer begging for more money, that’s a good sale.

It happened on many occasions in the fall of 2019. Congratulations to all those breeders who poured their heart and soul into their bull offering and were rewarded by commercial producers who gave their resounding vote of confidence in your programs.

Here’s wishing each of you a prosperous and rewarding 2020.

I look forward to working with you to launch our breed on a new upward trajectory.

Brangus J O U R N A L 11

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MARKET INSIGHTS

an update fromcattlefax

DEPRECIATION The IBBA is proud to bring you the CattleFax Trends Publication that is sponsored by Ritchie Industries. Look for this article each month in the Brangus Journal and Frontline. If you would like to learn more about CattleFax, please go to www.cattlefax.com.

Depreciation is not an actual cash cost. However, it is still a cost that needs to be accounted for and measured. As with all goods, the value of that good declines as it accumulates wear and tear, becomes older, weathered, or used. Breeding stock is looked at in this regard. Cows and bulls have a useful life that can vary between breed, region, and production practices. Operations should account for this as it may not be a cash cost but it is a cost nonetheless which can affect an operation in the long run. To put it in other words, depreciation is the cost to replace the cowherd.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) allows an operation to depreciate purchased breeding livestock over a five-year period.

Raised breeding livestock are expensed. However, for the purpose of this discussion we will look at depreciation in terms of the ranch’s records and business approach.

Knowing that a large portion of operations raise their own replacements, we will assume that they were “sold” to the ranch at the cost incurred for raising that replacement animal. As

mentioned before, the way that an operation looks at depreciation and maintains the ranch’s records are different than how the IRS looks at depreciation (always follow tax laws). It is suggested to use the useful life of breeding stock for your own unique operation when calculating depreciation.

The factors that affect the useful life of breeding stock include breed type, the terrain/region in which your operation is located, the age at which they entered the breeding herd (either purchased or raised), production practices, and genetics. The manager will be the best resource for determining the useful life of the breeding stock within a given operation. Records will also be a beneficial source to determine the typical age/number of calves in which a female remains productive within the operation.

Also, keep in mind the breed back and calf crop percentages when determining a useful life as not all cows will breed back every year. The lower the breed back percentage of your operation, the shorter the average useful life of the breeding cowherd should be.

This is especially important when raising replacements or purchasing

heifers that have not had their first calf yet. Remember to be honest with yourself when determining the useful life.

So, what does this mean to the operation? If depreciation isn’t a cash cost, what effect does it truly have? Well, just because it isn’t a cash cost doesn’t mean it is a cost that we can simply overlook.

It is the cost of replacing that animal, piece of equipment, etc., which affects your bottom line. In other words, it is the cost of doing business and should, therefore, be accounted for. How do we calculate depreciation for the entire herd and apply a cost? The most accurate way is to calculate the different age groups of cattle and their purchase price and combine that with their remaining productive life. (Note: useful life will also help determine the number of replacements kept or bought each year in order to maintain steady cow herd numbers.) For this example, let’s say your useful life is determined to be nine years old or eight calves.

You purchased a group of coming two-year-old heifers prior to having their first

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MARKET INSIGHTS

Purchase Price minus Salvage Value Divided by Remaining Useful Life $1,450/head - $700/head ÷ 8 years = $94/head depreciation rate per year

Age*

Purchase Price

Salvage Value

Annual Depr.

2- Year Olds

$1,450

$700

$94

3- Year Olds

$1,650

$700

$119

4- Year Olds

$1,600

$700

$113

5- Year Olds

$1,400

$700

$88

6- Year Olds

$2,100

$700

$175

7- Year Olds

$2,350

$700

$206

8- Year Olds

$1,525

$700

$103

9- Year Olds

$1,275

$700

$72

10- Year Olds

$1,200

$700

*Coming into that age, i.e 2-year old cows will be having their first calf (continued from page 13)

calf for $1,450/head. We have estimated the salvage value to be approximately $700/head. The annual depreciation cost would be approximately $94/cow. (The calculations are above.)

So how do we go about doing this for the entire herd? Take the purchase price and years of production remaining at the time of purchase for all the age groups to determine the average depreciation of the entire cowherd, which allows for the most accurate depreciation cost. It would look similar to the accompanying diagram. This example assumes that all cattle were purchased in the fall before calving in the spring of the following year as two-yearold heifers. It is worth noting that when the cow’s anticipated “useful

Photo by Nancy Ward

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life” is up does not mean that she must be culled. As long as she is producing at an efficient level, then she can be kept without a depreciation cost. This is shown in the example with the older cows, assuming all cows were purchased as coming two-year-olds or bred heifers. If you purchased cows later in life, then simply adjust their useful life relative to how many calves they have had prior.

In order to find a total depreciation cost for the entire cowherd, a weighted average depreciation cost needs to be used.

This depends on the attrition rate of the cowherd. Every herd will vary depending on the useful productive life that was discussed above. We will formulate a weighted average depreciation based off a typical herd breakdown,

assuming that no cows are added along the way. The remainder of the herd is made up of older cows that no longer count against the depreciation total.

Depreciation plays an important role for tax purposes.

Depreciation also plays a role in the decision to buy or raise replacements heifers as only animals that are bought with the intention of entering the breeding herd can be depreciated.

That may not be the main factor in the decision to buy or raise replacement heifers but it should, ultimately, play a role in the process. Replacement heifers can be bought from a different entity within the ranch as long as the entities are formed in a way that follows the tax guidelines.

Understanding depreciation can lead to a greater understanding of your cattle business.

After the first of the year, CattleFax will once again be issuing a Cow-Calf Survey to producers across the country. Over the last several years, this survey provided valuable insight into operations both regionally and across the country, with valuable benchmark data available for further analyses.

In order to encourage producers to fill out the survey and return it in a timely manner, we will once again be sharing the results with those who return a completed survey and valid email address. The CowCalf Survey meshes very well with maintaining and analyzing records for your own operation. Wishing everyone a happy, healthy 2020!

AFFILIATE UPDATE

RED BRANGUS BREEDERS MEET for FALL IRBBA MEETING

by Lea Stokes

The International Red Brangus Breeder’s Association (IRBBA) held its fall membership event “Stick with Red Brangus” Saturday, November 9, 2019. The event was hosted by Cox Excalibur Brangus near Weimar, Texas.

IRBBA President, Marcos Borges, welcomed the crowd to the day’s events. More than 60 members and guests representing Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and Mexico were in attendance.

President Borges presided over the morning meeting. Bruce Buffaloe, secretary, presented minutes and Craig Stovall gave the treasurer’s report. Committee reports generated discussions about the 2020 IRBBA Journal, bull test possibilities at Texas A&M University, and upcoming sales and meeting plans. Don Cox announced the 25th Genetic Edge Sale is scheduled for March 7, 2020 in Houston, and the “Divas in Red” Sale on May 30, 2020 in College Station. The Annual IRBBA meeting will be May 29-30 at the Texas A&M University Beef Center.

Guest speaker, Dr. Darrell Wilkes, Executive Vice President of the International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) presented the IBBA Long Range Strategic Plan.

He was open for questions after the presentation.

Following lunch, the IRBBA Scholarships recipients were recognized. Tracee BuffaloePrice, IRBBA Scholarship and Foundation Committee Chair, presented a total of eight scholarships totaling $10,750.

Congratulations to the following recipients.

IRBBA Junior Scholarship Marcos Machado Borges, III Memorial Ashley Guajardo, Wharton, Texas Chase Lund, San Antonio, Texas Madison Fisher, Hempstead, Texas Abbey Ivey, Brownwood, Texas Donald “Trey” Ivey, III, Brownwood, Texas IRBBA Senior Memorial Scholarship Foundation Jim Hunt Scholarship – Briana Hicks, Danbury, Texas Don Jobes Scholarship - Audrey Acord, Madisonville, Texas Wilma Buffaloe Scholarship Nicholas Matocha, La Grange, Texas To generate funds for the IRBBA Memorial Scholarship Foundation, a Silent and Semen Auction was held throughout the event. The day also was the kick-start for ticket sales for the Memorial Scholarship heifer.

There are 100 tickets available for $100 each to win the Red Brangus heifer donated by Tajo Ranch.

The drawing will take place at the IRBBA Annual Meeting in May 2020.

The Fall Meeting was planned and organized by the IRBBA

Scholarship and Foundation Committee. Members include: Tracee Buffaloe-Price, chair, Kay Gibson, Stephen Lee, Megan Greenwood, and Lissa Traber.

The event concluded with participants enjoying the Cox Excalibur cattle display and taking ranch tours.

The IRBBA is a regional affiliate association of the International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA). The two associations share common objectives in advancing the quality, reliability, and value of Brangus cattle, red and black, for the beef industry. The IRBBA is comprised of breeders who produce and market 3/8 Brahman by 5/8 Red Angus registered cattle. The IRBBA exists to provide marketing avenues for registered Red Brangus cattle within the continental United States, as well as tropical areas around the world. Registration of cattle, administrative functions, and Total Herd Reporting are accomplished by the IBBA. For more information on the IRBBA, visit the website at www.redbrangus.org or by email at redbrangusinfo@gmail.com.

IRBBA President Marcos Borges welcomes the crowd to the IRBBA Fall Meeting held November 9, 2019 at Cox Excalibur Brangus, Weimar, Texas.

Brangus J O U R N A L 15

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Brangus J O U R N A L 17

YOUR ONLINE BRAND With Kylee Deniz, Director of Marketing, National Pork Board

by Emily Lochner, IBBA Editor “As human beings, we’re intuitive, it’s a brand we make a connection with, not necessarily a product. We gravitate to a brand and then buy the product accordingly,” states Kylee Deniz, Director of Marketing, National Pork Board. The National Pork Board (NPB) boasts over 600,000+ followers on Facebook, leading the agricultural industry in cutting-edge marketing plans with campaigns like their winter push “Give A Ham.” This vast following of online advertising and marketing is led by Deniz, who shares with producers her thoughts on elevating a ranch’s online brand.

For Deniz, agriculture is in her blood. She grew up a fifthgeneration Coloradoan on an alfalfa farm, where her father sold roughage to producers of all sizes, but mainly small hobby farmers.

She showed pigs and judged livestock and in her words, “just agriculture at the core.”

Deniz attended Black Hawk East Community College and 18

January 2020

Oklahoma State University to receive her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in agricultural communications. During an internship with Vermeer, she worked on global marketing campaigns and came to understand why a brand matters to a company.

Master’s degree in hand, she began working at an advertising agency in Iowa functioning as the point person for four primary agricultural accounts, Vermeer and National Pork Board included.

A few years into her advertising career, the National Pork Board came to Deniz with a question, “How do we change the negative perception in hog production today?” And thus, a career with the NPB was born. Today, she’s involved in primarily farm-to-fork functions that help bridge the gap between producer and consumer.

Through her work, she targets millions of consumers through online influencers and social media.

“There’s a ton of tools in the toolbox today,” assures Deniz.

First, what options even exist?

Of course, the basis of online advertising revolves around a website. “A ranch needs an “information hub” or a place for your customer to land.” When a potential customer goes online and Googles a farm or ranch, there needs to be at least one online outlet with information listing a farm’s background, promotion of livestock, and breeder contact information. “A website is a foundation of all things, but it needs to be relevant and kept up-to-date,” Deniz warns. If a potential customer goes online looking for a Brangus bull, only to find your sale catalog from five years ago, they’ll likely move on to another breeder, thinking you’ve gone out of business. A website is an abundant resource, but if it can’t be maintained, it is not the end for your online presence!

Don’t sweat, just keep reading.

There are a few primary platforms that fall into the social media category: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and

FEATURE ARTICLE YouTube are some. Let’s break down the differences. Facebook commandingly leads the social media realm with over 2.4 billion users and is well-used among age groups. Forty-six percent of Americans aged 65+ say they use or have used Facebook. Facebook allows for users to have their own personal page, and also to create business pages, for example, a Brangus ranch page; and is compatible with picture, video, or plain text uploads. Instagram is a platform driven by photos. It soars in popularity with the millennial age groups as the platform of preference, requiring little wording and mainly graphics. Twitter is a real-time news and social sharing site. To put it in perspective, Twitter has 100 million users, yet, 500 million tweets a day are sent.

Finally, YouTube is a video-only sharing platform that is familiar to most Americans. “People are attracted to videos. It’s estimated that 95 percent of youth aged 7 to 22-years-old are on YouTube,” Deniz states.

“It makes sense for a ranch to consider an online perspective whether a social media platform, a website, or both. Simply put, there are platforms that are available today that weren’t here 10 years ago.”

So, how does a breeder know where to start? With so many platform options, how should a breeder be expected to wean calves, vaccinate cows, and come home to nail both an online and print marketing strategy by themselves?

“You can’t do it all by yourself, and luckily, you don’t need to.

Think about your goals and target audience,” Deniz assures. “If you’re selling seedstock bulls to commercial producers within a 60mile radius of your ranch, Twitter is probably not the avenue you need to invest time into. Think first about the kind of brand or message you want to relay to your consumer

(or customer). Focus on a brand, and then develop an execution plan. Be sure to put enough content out that you are engaging your customer, developing a brand, and receiving feedback.”

How often should breeders be updating content online? Deniz responds, “A website is only as valuable as you make it. If you build it and forget about it for a quarter, and bypass updating with a catalog for your annual spring production sale, you aren’t driving traffic to your website. Website updates should be at least twotimes per month. And of course, from a seasonality perspective, be sure to post videos of sale animals and stock show results.”

“Social media is again only as good as you make it. Posting once or twice a week is appropriate but is less than what you could be doing. Tackle your social media strategy based on what your insights are showing you,” she explains. Most social media and website platforms have tracking and analytic tools that allow users to see when and where their traffic is coming from. “If the bulk of your audience is on Facebook at 6:45 AM, then schedule your posts for early morning. Dig into the data and do your research. At National Pork, we are a student of the data.”

Crafting posts is not, and should not be, as hard as some think. “Focus on your cattle and being authentically true to your brand, don’t focus so much on the “marketing” element. Continue to do what you’ve always done – raise good ones, and then show them off,” she proclaims. “A post online today should never be just text.

If it doesn’t stop your scroll, then it isn’t relevant. Consider using imagery and also video! There is a need for a live, raw, inside look at ranches. Identify the themes your audience is attracted to, whether – cattle posts, life posts, ranch posts, funny, or otherwise, post that!”

In the mix of the “new age” online media presence, don’t forget about print advertising. “This is my favorite part because there’s a place for both,” Deniz confirms.

“Millennials today would like to believe it’s all about online. But, specifically in agriculture, research shows that print is still a preferred method of storytelling. An online and print media strategy needs to complement each other. Just like a website and social media channels go hand in hand, printed ads of upcoming sales and consumable information online just go well together.”

Telling an online story doesn’t have to be fancy, either. “I believe that if you think strategically, anybody can manage an online platform and have a presence.

Social media levels the playing field, as it doesn’t require someone to design a printed advertisement.

Of course, there are social media marketing firms that are fantastic, but it’s not a must for ranches, there’s luckily a place for both,” Deniz assures.

What makes an online media strategy tick? (1) Identify your goals and identify the kind of brand you want to be known as. (2) Identify your target audience and how best to reach them. (3) Track and study analytics to reinforce that what you’re doing is working.

It’s important to be online, but it’s also important to remember that you don’t have to do it all. Pick one or two platforms that resonate with you, and your audience, and tackle your plan. “If anyone has any questions or wants an outside perspective, well, they can find me online! I would be glad to help,” Deniz offers.

Oh, and if you’re interested, she encourages you to “Give a Ham” this season. Pick up a ham (or a beef rump roast!) and donate to your local food shelter to help get protein in the hands of the hungry.

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Brangus J O U R N A L 21

FEATURE ARTICLE

A SUCCESSFUL AI PROGRAM

BEGINS WITH THE RIGHT NUTRITION

by Cheramie Viator, Westway Feeds

Have you ever invested your time and money into setting up your cows to be artificially inseminated (AI), and spent the time to breed them, only to end up with dismal results at the pregnancy check?

For many, the answer is likely yes! Fortunately, your results at palpation time can be improved with a bit of forward planning and investment. Even though you may be hesitant to spend “more” money on your cows, the reality is that some smart investments in nutrition can easily be repaid with the increased value of a couple of AI sired calves.

In the past, most cattle producers approached nutrition as a seasonal concern. It was traditional to worry about making sure the cows had enough feed resources to get through the winter, and that was good enough. Well, research and a lot of experience has proven that if we look at nutrition on an annualized basis, the end return is substantial.

The key takeaway here is, while you are already planning for your spring 2020 AI season, you should also start planning for the fall 2020 and spring 2021 breeding seasons.

One of the key components for a successful AI program is to have your cows and heifers in the correct body condition score (BCS), a scale ranging from 1.0 – 9.0.

Something as simple as a BCS is an accurate indicator to tell if your cows are ready to breed. In order to rebreed in a timely fashion, a heifer

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January 2020

should have a BCS of 5.0 - 6.0 and a mature cow should have a BCS of at least 5.0 - 5.5 prior to calving.

We know that if a female is losing weight or on a declining plane of nutrition, her chances to breed are significantly reduced.

As a basic rule of thumb, if cows are maintained on an increasing plane of nutrition prior to calving, they have a shorter interval to first heat and higher percentage of breeding. Here is where the annualized nutrition concept comes into play. If we pay attention to BCS prior to calving and have proper mineral available all year, we can achieve higher AI pregnancy rates. When a producer can reduce the extreme variations in BCS throughout the year by providing supplemental protein and energy resources, they will find that the cost to get cows into proper BCS at breeding is actually cheaper. Grouping cows by nutritional needs (age and BCS) is another management opportunity that can correct a cow’s condition at AI breeding time.

Now that you understand the importance of a cow’s BCS relative to a successful AI program, how do you get to the proper BCS? Your location, economics, production system, and feedstuff availability will all contribute to what you can supplement your cows with. For instance, our cow herd in central Texas relies on grass, mineral, hay, liquid feed, and some supplemental dry feed to sustain. Our cows in Iowa and Wyoming are sustained on grass and mineral during much of the year, but weather dictates that silage or other feed be provided

during the winter. And in the same winter period, our cows that live in Missouri and survive on fescue much of the year, see another type of winter supplement. The key here is that no matter where my cows live or what they eat, their supplements are generally a 11-14% protein supplement with adequate energy. The energy level will vary according to the location and ration. What you feed isn’t as important as feeding a correctly balanced ration, at the right time to have your cows in the correct BCS at AI time. Again, this is where your annualized nutrition concept enters into play. By recognizing your weather conditions throughout the year (amount of rain, drought, snow fall, etc.) and knowing if your regions hay or other feed resources have been affected by the weather is important.

It’s important to know what your cows are eating. Do you know what you know? Or do you know what you think you know?

Do you do test any of your hay to know nutritional values? Do you test any of your forages? Are you working with a nutritionist or feed company representative so that you are assembling the best combination of feedstuffs, forages, and mineral for your herd? One of the biggest assumptions that we make in the cattle business is that our hay and grass is good enough.

We fertilize and put out weed spray so the resulting product should be a perfect protein level and product for our cows, right? Wrong!

Weather fluctuations have a large impact on the nutrient value of hay, grass, silage, and other

FEATURE ARTICLE forages. Don’t assume because your hay tested great last year that it will be the same this year.

About this time, you are probably wondering, why are protein and energy levels important in the AI breeding process? Energy is needed by a cow because certain hormones, such as insulin, are increased by energy consumption. In turn, these hormones tell the cow’s body to come into heat and produce oocytes. Proper protein supplementation is integral at various stages of production and is beneficial to overall animal productivity. Since a cow is a ruminant, she needs protein to assist in the digestion of forages and fiber.

Just as too little protein or energy can be a limiting factor for your AI program, too much can be detrimental. Over-conditioned cows will have reduced embryonic viability and lower pregnancy rates. When a cow’s body has excess protein (nitrogen), it will produce ammonia. When ammonia

levels increase, there is an increase in the acidity of the cow’s blood.

This leads to acidity in her uterus and results in reduced viability of both sperm and embryos.

Where does mineral fit into the success of your AI program?

Put simply, it is integral to your success! Going back to understanding the forages in your area and your hay test results will tell you a lot about the mineral you need. There are lots of basic mineral packages and delivery systems available to cattle producers. The key here is to make sure that you do keep mineral out year-round. As seasons change, so will the value of your forages and feedstuffs. This means each of your cow’s mineral needs will also change.

One of the biggest challenges with a cattle mineral program is understanding mineral interactions. Minerals interact with each other in a cow’s body and the result can be some mineral levels becoming deficient or insufficient.

Phosphorus is often referred

to as the “fertility” mineral.

When phosphorus is limited, reproductive performance can be dramatically lowered. Many trace minerals have significant roles in cattle reproduction and can also become deficient. The takeaway message about mineral in your cattle operation is that value added mineral programs pay, they do not cost! A few percentage points of increased AI pregnancy rates can result in substantial returns when you are producing registered or seedstock cattle.

When we begin to think about our nutrition as an annualized program instead of a seasonal program, a more systematic approach comes into play. It is then that our cows are better prepared for our AI program and pregnancy success rates will increase. Don’t allow yourself to have another frustrating AI season.

Begin today to make sure you have a plan in place for the right BCS, protein, energy, and mineral!

Remember, proper nutrition doesn’t cost, it pays!

GET TO KNOW THE IJBBA BOARD

KENDRA BRULL 2019-2020 IJBBA Ex-Officio

Basketball Head Coach at the D1 Level. Outside of livestock, Atchison, Kansas sports has been my second passion.

Where are you going to school?

How have the NJBS educational Wichita State University contests helped you become the What is your major? person you are today?

I received my Bachelor’s The Public Speaking Contest in Health and Physical has taught me how to speak Education in 2019 and am in front of people and how to currently going after my also get over the fear of having Master’s in Sports to talk in front of people. I Management. would have to say all the What field do you hope to attain a contest helped me with career in?

Athletic Director or a Women’s getting out there and

meeting new people.

What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned while showing cattle?

It’s not always about the banners or buckles! It’s about friendships and the family memories that are made throughout the years.

What advice do you have for younger members?

GET INVOLVED! Don’t pass up opportunities because you will regret it when you’re older and can no longer be involved.

Brangus J O U R N A L 23

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Brangus J O U R N A L 25

Value BRANGUS

PUT YOUR SIRE(S) TO THE TEST IN THE

The IBBA Long Term Plan includes a comprehensive project known as the Brangus Value Project. It is essentially a birthto-beef evaluation of Brangus and Ultra sires. The project is in the early phase with uncertainty of numbers needed, but we hope to recruit 15-20 sires to participate.

Bull owners will donate up to 200 units of semen and up to $2,000 cash to include their bull in the project. Here’s how it will work: • Commercial cooperators will designate at least 300 cows per cooperator to be synchronized and bred AI to a group of Brangus test sires. In each location, a minimum of 100 units of semen from each sire will be used which should produce at least 25 steer calves per sire.

• When the resulting calves are weaned, either the cooperating producer or a partner feedyard will place the cattle on feed. Calves

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PROJECT

from the various sires will be fed together until finish.

• Fed steers will be harvested and comprehensive carcass data will be collected, including tenderness testing via shear force measurement and possibly nutrient composition (i.e. fatty acid analysis).

• The heifer mates to the steers will (presumably) remain on the cooperator ranches, will be bred, and will become cows for which production records will be compiled at least through the first few parities.

Unlike some unstructured carcass data collection projects where the cattle are scattered out across many feedlots and placed on feed at varying times, making it impossible to compare one sire group to another, the plan is to feed large groups of steers together in the same feedlot(s), placed on feed at the same time and sent

to the same packer. The goal is to eliminate as much variation as possible so that the primary differences between sire groups are truly due to the sires.

The Brangus Value Project is a genetic research project. The goal is to feed and harvest at least 1,000 head of sire-identified cattle every year. The data will be used in the IBBA overall genetic evaluation program, thus creating a number of AI sires that are proven from birth-to-beef.

At the time, there are no criteria to nominate bulls, other than they produce 200 units of semen. Should the nominated bulls be greater than the cow submission, selection criteria will be established. The plan is to synchronize and breed cows in the spring of 2020. If you want to get your bull(s) on the list, please contact Darrell Wilkes at the IBBA office or by e-mail at dwilkes@gobrangus.com

Brangus J O U R N A L 27

AFFILIATE UPDATE

International Brangus Auxiliary

OFFERS SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

by Ginger Pritchard, IBA Scholarship Chair

The International Brangus Auxiliary (IBA) has promoted Brangus and youth education through scholarships since 1979.

Applicants and winners represent a competitive cross section of young Brangus breeders throughout the United States. To be eligible for a scholarship, the applicant must have been an International Junior Brangus Breeders Association (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 as a link from the IBBA website, or directly from the new IJBBA website at Juniorbrangus.com. Deadline for submission is April 1, 2020.

In addition to our traditional scholarships, we are offering a special scholarship available for deserving IJBBA members from Georgia, additional funding for the Terry Dean Memorial Scholarship, and new this year we are adding the Ken Hughes Memorial

Scholarship. Our IBA founder, Suzy Graven, is honored with the Suzy Graven Memorial Founder’s Scholarship with an award of $5,000. Her lasting influence and dedication to the Brangus breed will be remembered through this scholarship.

Thanks to our wonderful supporters, who have recognized the increased cost of higher education, we have been able increase our maximum amount of each award from $2,500 to $5,000.

There are several categories of scholarships available, and a junior may receive a maximum of two IBA scholarships. Our memorial scholarships fall into one or more of these categories: underclassman (graduating high school seniors), upperclassman (current college students), Ray Mackey Memorial (under or upperclassman based on financial need), and/or alternate education (junior college, technical college, professional school).

Our new application is a Google Form which makes filling out the application a snap! No more need for a special software program

or multiple applications to fill out! Just SUBMIT! The IBA and the International Red Brangus Breeders Association (IRBBA) applications are very similar in content in order to make this process easier. They do, however, have a couple of different requirements and eligibility so make sure you check those sections. It’s never too early to get started completing the forms.

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. If you have any questions or concerns call me, your scholarship chairperson at 405-878-6189 or email me at vpritchard57@gmail.com. I will be glad to walk you through the application. Just ask for help!

IBA SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE - APRIL 1, 2020 2019 SOUTHEAST REGIONAL JUNIOR BRANGUS SHOW

Forty-four juniors and 108 head of cattle entered the 2019 Southeast Regional Junior Brangus Show (SRJBS) held at the Suwanee County Fairgrounds in Live Oak, Florida, September 21, 2019, having outgrown the previous facility. The exhibitors and their families enjoyed a steak 28

January 2020

dinner on Friday evening after arriving and checking in the cattle, prepared

by Forrest’s Fine Foods with his Heart Bar D Chuckwagon.

The show started off with showmanship judged by Shelby McCall, May, Florida, an Agriculture and Consumer Protection Specialist with the Florida Ag Department.

She required the intermediate class to show someone else’s heifer. The show sticks were taken away from the senior class and each had to make a 30 second speech of their future plans.

Next came the Percentage, Ultrablack,

by Vicki Hayford, SRJBS Coordinator Owned, Bred and Owned females, and Cow-Calf cattle to be sorted.

At the conclusion of the show, awards were presented to the champion and reserve animals, showmanship and contests winners in photography and computer-generated ads. Thanks to the committee for a show that continues to get bigger and better every year. The SRJBS Award of Appreciation went to Kim and Michael Carter for all their dedication to the junior program.

Brangus J O U R N A L 29

FEATURE ARTICLE

THIS COUNTRY IS

BRANGUS COUNTRY BRANGUS CATTLE THRIVE IN THE DESERT CLIMATE

by Emily Lochner, IBBA Editor There’s a quiet sense of untamed wonder tied to generations of heritage in the western desert. A Doc Holiday or John Wayne original cowboy tradition that defies description and is only met with respect.

Respect for the predictably dry climate, the dangerous unknown of the desert terrain, and the men and women who honor generations of cattle production every day. The arid southwestern region of the United States offers a more diverse set of challenges than most beef producers encounter, but one thing remains a constant: Brangus cattle thrive.

For Bill Morrison of New Mexico, Larry Parker of Arizona, and Pam Doiron of California, running Brangus cattle in the desert is just the way of life. LackMorrison Brangus is owned by Bill Morrison and Joe Paul and Rosie Lack with locations in Hatch and Clovis, New Mexico. They run about 100 registered Brangus cows in the desert sandhills and along the Rio Grande River, as they have

for over 30 years. Four hundred miles west of the Lack-Morrison camp resides Parker Brangus, owned by Larry and Elaine Parker, in San Simon, Arizona. For over 50 years, they’ve run cattle in the high desert of the Chiricahua Mountains developing registered and commercial Brangus cattle alike in the same tough country.

Seven hundred miles further west still, sits the Spanish Ranch in New Cuyama, California, with a 175-year history, now owned by Dan and Pam Doiron. After experimenting with stocker cattle and commercial cattle, the Doirons have gone strictly registered Brangus and Ultrablack seedstock and have developed a cow base perfectly suited to their environment.

It’s no secret the western region of the United States is no easy country when it comes to raising cattle. Between California, Arizona, and New Mexico alone, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reports over 87 million

acres of land designated for ranch or farmland use. But out west, it takes a lot more land to run a single cow.

“In the Clovis desert area, it takes about 60 acres to run one cow, hence, sound feet and legs are most important,” notes Morrison.

And for most breeders of the desert, that’s pretty a standard answer. Parker agrees, “In the high forests of the mountains, we can get around six head per section,” totaling out around one head per 100 acres.

This un-supporting country forces cattle to travel far away from water to seek native forages.

“On our ranch, the cattle have to travel anywhere from a half-mile to three miles or more for water per day. On the bulls’ summer/ fall range, we may not see them for a few days as they work up the canyons and draws for feed and water,” comments Doiron. It takes a mighty hardy critter to work for survival. “We start our cattle on low ground where they are forced to walk uphill for choice feed and

Spanish Ranch working corrals, New Cuyama, California

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FEATURE ARTICLE water. They learn early on about hardiness,” adds Parker, “A 3/8 Brahman influenced cow is just a must.”

This concept is not new to anyone familiar with Brangus cattle. In fact, it’s the basis of the breed. In the 1930s, breeders in Louisiana and Oklahoma began crossing Angus and Brahman for that simple reason: to combine the hardiness, disease-resistance, and mothering ability of the Brahman with the black hide, carcass quality, and fertility of the Angus.

Any genetics professor will agree, heterosis allows for a performance advantage of crossbred cattle over the average of their purebred parents. Although most Brangus cattle are bred from purebred Brangus parents, they still combine the ideal Bos taurus x Bos indicus vigor advantage.

“With the conditions we have, over 110 degrees in the summer, and below zero in the winter, with no humidity, our cattle have to be tough and adaptable,” insists Parker. Studies from a Louisiana research station suggests that Brangus cows increased their body weight in the summer months, compared to their Angus contemporaries who lost weight.

But, it’s not just the cows that are versatile. “We’ve had live calves born in blizzards when the temperature was below zero,” says Morrison. Doiron adds, “The Brangus cattle handle the shifts and changes better than anything else we have had on the ranch. We have not treated a single calf this year for scours, pneumonia, or any other disease.”

With drastic weather swings comes increased focus on nutrition.

As with much of California, the Doiron’s land suffers from low copper and other key minerals, that could lead to mineral imbalances.

Therefore, they supplement their cattle with magnesium and minerals year-round, “salt blocks

alone just aren’t enough,” fall-calving bred heifers; one of Doiron concedes. whom had a calf every year until In New Mexico, the Lackshe was well into her teens! A Morrison’s echo a similar story, couple of years later, the C-I Ranch as mineral is supplied to all cows liquidated, and we bought their on a year-round basis. Protein Brangus and Angus cattle and tubs and crop waste from the we began a serious foray into a family’s chile dehydrating plant registered cow-calf operation. Over are fed in the winter for cow herd a span of years, we eliminated our supplementation. Wheat hay, commercial operation and went alfalfa hay, and corn, all grown on strictly registered, transitioning the Lack farm, is fed to developing over to seedstock only. Cruz Valdez sale bulls. But, like most areas, has to be credited for moderating Brangus cattle will thrive on the our cow size and keeping nearly protein all of our bulls calving “A 3/8 Brahman influenced available ease sires. Most of our cow is just a must.” to them. customers run their In heifers with their mature -Larry Parker, Arizona Arizona, cows and eliminating the Parkers say their cattle survive dystocia is a must out here. We on mesquite beans some years, monitor everything with CattleMax while other years require salt so we can follow sire bloodlines blocks, protein tubs, and liquid and cow family characteristics to feed. “We try not to hay or cube, emphasize the good qualities and we want our cattle to learn how to eliminate unprofitable ones.”

Joe Paul and Rosie Lack were forage on their own,” Parker adds, both students of Bill Morrison’s “but it just depends on the year.”

This climate adaptation did not high school agricultural class in happen all by chance; a rigorous (continued on page 33) selection criterion has tightened the cow herd for all producers. “We started in 1998, with a commercial herd and some stockers,” Doiron recalls. “We soon discovered that we could not create anything of value with the odds and ends we bought.

We noticed the cattle with a little ear seemed to do better than the others, and soon I was introduced to Alex Dees who became a friend and mentor over the years. He advised I buy 18 registered Brangus

Brangus J O U R N A L 31

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FEATURE ARTICLE (continued from page 31)

the 1970s, and both high point individuals at the New Mexico State FFA Livestock Judging Contest; continuing on to judge livestock in college. “The livestock judging experience helped them determine the kind of cattle they wanted to produce – attractive, muscular, clean sheathed, sound, productive Brangus cattle; as a person seldom hears a complaint about the Brangus cow,” beams Morrison. “There is a perception that beef from eared cattle won’t grade and is less tender. Many ranchers are chasing the Certified Angus Beef (CAB) program, because of this popularity. We have chosen to make our Brangus cattle cleaner sheathed and with a little less leather. For us, bulls with big rumps, deep bodies, heavy bone, and good disposition are just easier to sell. And, they are fed on a rocky mountain terrain to help with feet and leg development.”

Doiron continues, “Technology such as DNA testing and Tenderscan evaluation has allowed us to add high-marbling, tender carcass quality to our herd.”

To ease the general population concerns, a Texas A&M University research study confirmed the ability of Brangus cattle to produce exceptionally high-quality carcasses. The test included 330 animals sired by 17 Brangus bulls; and 32 animals sired by two high

are successful without the help marbling high accuracy Angus and inspiration of others. Garth bulls. All 19 sires were randomly Lunt and Alex Dees are two dear mated to mostly Brangus females. friends who have gone on but left a Then, all the fed cattle were managed, fed, and harvested alike. standard of excellence in breeding Brangus cattle and in how we The Warner-Bratzler analysis should treat each other,” Morrison indicated that 97 percent of the remarks. Most cattle breeders Brangus steaks were scored would agree, upon reflecting back “tender” or better; whereas, only on a career of raising cattle, that 94 percent of the Angus steaks reaching the pinnacle of success, scored tender.

For the Parkers, a focus on however it is defined, does not disposition has been instrumental. come without support from others.

Looking “The old forward, the timers have “[We follow] cow family characteristics market potential disappeared, to emphasize the good qualities and for Brangus cattle and the eliminate the unprofitable ones.” is wide open. younger -Pam Doiron, California Since the 1950s, a generation relatively steady has begun decline has haunted the United to stick their nose up because they States in cattle numbers. But, the thought Brangus cattle were wild. past two to three years have seen For us, we keep only the gentle an uptick, or at least maintenance ones and handle our cattle gently. of country cow herd numbers.

We sell a lot of bulls to older guys Young producers are returning to and we don’t want anyone getting the farm, and replacement females hurt. We buy gentle bulls, and we are being snapped up. An average keep our cows gentle. We never chase them, and we round them up of reported fall 2019 Brangus sales charts registered females averaged via horseback gathering. Then, we $5,005, commercial open females work them all on foot, and they’re averaged $1,438, commercial the easiest cattle in the country bred females averaged $1,757, and to work. When we sell heifers, commercial pairs averaged $2,165. everyone always comes back for With her heat tolerance, mothering more,” Parker boasts.

One residual theme maintained ability, and hardy ability to thrive, for Doiron, Morrison, and Parker there’s no greater replacement is that the mutual respect for the than the Brangus cow for the arid, leaders and mentors of the breed desert climate of the southwest. is important. “Very few of us This country is Brangus country.

Be sure and view the Brangus segment airing on American Rancher beginning January 6, 2020.

Brangus J O U R N A L 33

y c a Leg Female The 2020 IJBBA

offered by: Draggin’ M Ranch

T

John Milam, Owner Grady Green, Manager grady@dragginmranch.com (870) 314.3673

www.dragginm.com

he iJBBA is excited to announce that the 2020 iJBBA Legacy Female will be offered by draggin’ M Ranch of el dorado, Arkansas. 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, the iJBBA Legacy Female is key to the success of our Brangus Youth. draggin’ M Ranch has graciously agreed to donate the 2020 iJBBA Legacy Female, and we are excited to debut her to you in the coming weeks. Stay tuned to the iJBBA Facebook page, the iJBBA website, and the March issue of the Brangus Journal for more information. the iJBBA Board of directors would like to thank draggin’ M Ranch for their continued support of the iJBBA and Brangus Juniors across the country!

You are invited to participate in a group effort to purchase this female. For more information, please contact any iJBBA director or Advisor, or call tyler or Jessica dean at (405)207-6921 or email tylerwdean@gmail.com. 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!

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Brangus J O U R N A L 35

SALE SUMMARIES

Summaries SALE

SALACOA VALLEY BULL SALE BETTER THAN EVER

One-hunred fifty-two Brangus, Santa Gertrudis, Super American and UB Bulls grossed $668,250 to average $4,396 55 Yearling Brangus, Super American and Ultrablack Bulls grossed $204,250 to average $3,713 207 Total Bulls grossed $872,500 to average $4,215

Crisp autumn days greeted 92 registered buyers from 14 states at the Salacoa Valley Bigger and Better than Ever Sale held recently in Fairmont, Georgia. The bull sale hosted the best set of well-conditioned bulls ever presented at Salacoa Valley. In addition to the powerful Brangus and Ultrablack bulls were a really good set of Santa Gertrudis Bulls that averaged $3,725. The two-day auction was met with rapid fire bidding and ready acceptance and all cattle found new homes.

In the bull sale, Lot 101 commanded the days top price at $26,000 for onehalf semen interest and full possession.

Quail Valley Farms won the bid after a spirited battle to own By Design of Salacoa 406F10. This super complete Hollywood son is a UB2 son of a three Trees Double Design daughter out of the 406 tribe. He boasts big carcass and growth in a calving ease package.

Lot 103, Game Plan of Salacoa 541F17, was the second-high seller at $15,000 for one-half semen interest and full possession. His dam is an Atlanta daughter. This big topped Strategy son was a crowd favorite and sold to Phillips Ranch. He was owned by Salacoa Valley.

Lot 110, T3 Rocket 541F3 was the day’s third-high selling bull. He is another Strategy son out of an Atlanta daughter.

He sold to Barry and Valerie Lewis, Okeechobee, Florida and was owned

by T3.

Tanner Farms, Ellisville, Mississippi paid $9,500 to own Lot 112, Salacoa N Surrender 87F3. This Never Surrender son is out of an R532 daughter and ranks in the breed’s top 3 percent for Milk and his dam posts a 359 day calving interval.

He was owned by Salacoa Valley Farms.

Hayman’s 711 Ranch purchased the day’s fifth-high selling bull when they paid $9,000 to own Lot 102, Salacoa Strategy 541F7. He is a full brother to the $15,000 Lot 103 second-high selling bull. He was owned by Salacoa Valley.

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January 2020

SALACOA VALLEY FEMALE SALE BETTER THAN EVER

Fourteen donors grossed $153,250 to average $10,946 5 3N1s grossed $29,450 to average $5,890 2 Spring Bred Cows grossed $9,000 to average $4,500 6 Spring Bred Heifer grossed $22,750 to average $3,792 6 Open Heifers grossed $45,100 to average $5,638 1 Embryo Lot grossed $7,500 to average $7,500 1 Semen Lot grossed $10,500 to average $10,500 37 Female Sale Lots grossed $277,550 to average $7,501

Crisp autumn days greeted 92 registered buyers from 14 states at the Salacoa Valley Bigger and Better than Ever Sale held recently in Fairmont, Georgia. The female sale featured an impressive lineup of donors and future donors. The two-day auction was met with rapid fire bidding and ready acceptance and all cattle found new homes.

Phillips Ranch, Daytona Beach, Florida, paid $37,000 to own the top selling female, Lot 4 MS Salacoa Stonewall 209B. This gifted donor is an own daughter of the iconic 209L11 and scanned over 6 IMF. She was consigned

by T3, Purvis, Mississippi and Salacoa Valley Farms.

Lot 6, MS DMR LTD 302Y6 was the evenings second-high seller. Reblack Brangus, San Antonio, Texas paid $21,000 to own one-half embryo interest in this big bodied LTD daughter. She traces her lineage to the JAK 302N2 donor and posts big growth and REA values. She was consigned by Clover Ranch, Marietta, Georgia.

Lot 8 and 8A claimed the honors as the third-high selling lot at $13,500 when Pennridge Ranch, Paige, Texas paid $9,500 to own Lot 8, MS Salacoa Big Town 535D25. She records 12 EPD traits ranking in the breed’s top 30% or greater. DS Brangus, McMinnville, Tennessee purchased Lot 8A, QVF MS Never Surrender 535G3 at $4,000.

The pair was consigned by Quail Valley Farms, Oneonta, Alabama.

Lot 1, MS Salacoa Brighton 23D67 was the evening’s fourth-high seller when Quail Valley Farms paid $13,000

to own this big bodied daughter of IMF trait Leader Brighton out of a full sister to the dam of Hollywood. She was consigned by Salacoa Valley Farms.

CONSISTENT, PROVEN GENETICS ATTRACT BUYERS TO TOWN CREEK FARM SALE

Town Creek Farm’s proven track record of supplying reliable, durable, long-lasting bulls generated robust and repeat demand for Town Creek Farm genetics on October 19, 2019, at the ranch near West Point, Mississippi.

Town Creek Farm’s breeding program is driven by innovation, genetic development and by providing cuttingedge, consistent genetics to its customer base.

As one of the leading suppliers of Brangus, VigorMax™ and Ultrablack bulls to cattlemen in the central and southern tier of the United States, Town Creek Farm bulls are recognized for their fertility, efficiency, and structural soundness. Buyers have come to expect bulls that sire top-quality maternal replacement heifers and make positive impacts to the bottom-line of commercial cattlemen.

Buyers showed their approval and confidence in the program, as 76 buyers from 11 states and Thailand, were successful buyers of Town Creek Farm genetics. Repeat customers accounted for 67% of the day’s purchases. When auctioneer Doak Lambert of Decatur, Texas, laid the gavel down following the final bid, 147 Town Creek Farm bulls averaged $4,725 and 214 customerowned commercial Brangus bred heifers averaged $1,605.

Eleven Brangus, Ultrablack and VigorMax™ bulls sold between $13,500, the sale high, to $7,000. All but two bulls were sold to repeat Town Creek Farm customers from the states of Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.

In the next pricing tier, 14 Brangus, Ultrablack and VigorMax™ bulls sold from $6,000 to $7,000. Again, repeat customers took the majority of these bulls back to their home states of Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas. New Town Creek Farm customers in this pricing tier hailed from Alabama and Louisiana. Of the remaining bull offering, 48 lots sold (continued on page 37)

SERVICE DIRECTORY

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

GOBRANGUS.COM

(continued from page 36)

from $6,000 to $5,000 to progressive cattle operations throughout the southeast.

The commercial bred heifer portion of the sale showed the same strength, but also represented the current state of the cattle industry. The offering featured second-generation Town Creek Farm sourced heifers bred back to Town Creek Farm bulls. Customer-owned heifers were offered by Williamson Cattle Co. of Florida and Alabama, a 22-year consignor sale consignor; 20-year consignor, CP Bar Brangus, Mississippi; 15-year consignor, Megehee Cattle Company, also of Mississippi; along with 11-year consignor, Montgomery Farms, Alabama; seven-year consignor, B&B Farm, Alabama; five-year consignor Longino Ranch of Florida; and four-year participant, Lowell Dollar Farms of Georgia.

All volume bull buyers came from the state of Florida. Volume heifer buyers were from Thailand, Asia, and Florida. Town Creek Farm is owned

by Milton O. Sundbeck. For more information on Town Creek Farm, contact 32476 Hwy. 50 E, West Point, MS 39773, phone 662/494-5944, email Joy@TownCreekFarm.com or on the web at TownCreekFarm.com.

WILLIAMS RANCH COMPANY BRANGUS BULL SALE BASTROP, TEXAS, DECEMBER 7, 2019 Brangus Bull Averages Five Yearling Averaged $3,560 110 2-year-olds Averaged $3,681 115 Total Averaged $3,676

A beautiful day set the backdrop for a solid sale for Williams Ranch Company on Saturday, December 7, 2019. The Williams Family, Clayton and Modesta and Jeff and Erin along with manager, Gary Bruns welcomed the large crowd representing top registered and commercial operations across the state and beyond.

Stepping up to purchase the two top selling lots were the Van Buren’s of Pumpjack Cattle Co., Victoria, Texas.

They purchased Lots 6 and 7 in the bull sale for $10,000 and $10,250. Lot 6 is a son of Mr JLS Prime 915Z61 and Lot 7 is sired by Mr JLS Tequila 915B29.

Lot 110, a first generation bull, WRC Mr 612X2-342E generated a lot of action among registered breeders.

When the gavel fell, Stalwart Brangus, Grapeland, Texas had the final nod at $7,200. Reeh Brangus, Doss, Texas paid $6,500 for Lot 103, Mr JLS My Way 915E78. Presidente sons, Lots 92 and 63, rounded out the high selling bulls

for $5,200 and $5,100 respectively.

Mark Luensmann, La Vernia, Texas and Jackson Family Brangus, Waco, Texas were the buyers.

Much of the buzz on sale day was about 40-plus first generation bulls available. Interest was exceptionally strong and Williams Ranch Company is committed to this program, believing strongly in hybrid vigor and it’s herdimproving attributes.

As Williams Ranch nears a 50-year milestone in the cattle industry, this sale marked their inaugural return to the Brangus breed and producing “The Good Kinda True Brangus Cattle.”

For more information visit www.williamsranchco.com.

Brangus J O U R N A L 37

STATE DIRECTORY

FIND A BREEDERNEAR YOU ALABAMA — ARIZONA — ARKANSAS

GALLOWAY BRANGUS BRANGUS SINCE 1978

LARRY

cell 256-603-1945 gallowaybrangus@comcast.net

LANCE

cell 256-924-5571 gallowaybrangus@gmail.com

Farm located at Gallant, AL 35972

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

Bill Davis • Owner • 336-210-1222 Ed Slisher • Manager • 870-612-4117 www.CHIMNEYROCKCATTLE.com

Contact Melanie Fuller at mfuller@gobrangus.com or 979.255.3343 or Jessie England at jengland@gobrangus.com for advertising spaces

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January 2020

STATE DIRECTORY

VISIT US AT

g o b r a n g u s . c o m / b r e e d e r- s e a r c h ARKANSAS — CALIFORNIA — FLORIDA — GEORGIA Brangus & Ultrablack Bulls Available Now at the Ranch and the fall Brangus & angus InvItatIonal Bull sale

Sat., September 26, 2020

Tulare Co. Stockyard, Dinuba, California bull Photos anD matings: www.spanishranch.net Follow Us on Instagram @spanishranchcuyama

SPANISH RANCH Brangus and Ultrablack Cattle

THD ©

Daniel & Pamela Doiron l 805-245-0434 Cell doiron@spanishranch.net l www.spanishranch.net

For the best in Registered & Commercial Brangus

Mike Coggins (229) 232-3096 mike@bwcattle.com

Tracy Holbert (979) 255-4357 tracy@bwcattle.com

[ www.bwcattle.com ]

Contact Melanie Fuller at mfuller@gobrangus.com or 979.255.3343 or Jessie England at jengland@gobrangus.com for advertising spaces

Brangus J O U R N A L 39

STATE DIRECTORY

FIND A BREEDERNEAR YOU

GEORGIA — KANSAS — LOUISIANA — MISSISSIPPI — MISSOURI — NEW MEXICO — NORTH CAROLINA

Contact Melanie Fuller at mfuller@gobrangus.com or 979.255.3343 or Jessie England at jengland@gobrangus.com for advertising spaces

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January 2020

STATE DIRECTORY

VISIT US AT

g o b r a n g u s . c o m / b r e e d e r- s e a r c h OKLAHOMA — TEXAS

REGISTERED & COMMERCIAL BRANGUS

Mike & Lisa Doguet, Owners Beaumont Ranch McCoy & Poteet Ranches (409) 866-8873 Records (210) 269-3220 Regan Elmore (210) 834-0034 Timmy Lucherk, Genetics Manager (210) 834-1247 Where Performance Meets Style!

Drake Land & Cattle 398 Drake Road Quanah, Texas 79252

Cell: (832) 331-2527 Ranch: (940) 663-6143 drakeranch398@gmail.com www.drakeranch.com

est. 1924 Quanah, Texas

Contact Melanie Fuller at mfuller@gobrangus.com or 979.255.3343 or Jessie England at jengland@gobrangus.com for advertising spaces

Brangus J O U R N A L 41

STATE DIRECTORY

FIND A BREEDERNEAR YOU TEXAS

J ackson family brangus

JODI & DAVID JACKSON

Registered Red Brangus & Ultrareds show heifers, herd sires, and replacements available Megan (713) 492-6158 John (281) 740-0572 greenwoodcattleco@yahoo.com

3099 Horseshoe Bend Waco, Texas 76708 Jodi cell: 254.722.9138

jodiatbentwood@sbcglobal.net

JLS International, Inc. Where winning tradition and performance collide 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

MIKE SHELTON C: 713.560.8333 Colita Loop, Colita, TX 77351 www.brangusprofit.com Registered Brangus and Ultrablack Cattle

Contact Melanie Fuller at mfuller@gobrangus.com or 979.255.3343 or Jessie England at jengland@gobrangus.com for advertising spaces MikeShelton-DirectoryCard.indd 1

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January 2020

10/19/17 7:32 AM

STATE DIRECTORY

VISIT US AT

RANCH

g o b r a n g u s . c o m / b r e e d e r- s e a r c h TEXAS Registered Brahman, Charolais and Brangus Raul Montez 832-331-6800 jraulmontez@ymail.com 39606 FM 1736 Hempstead, TX 77445 RIORANCHTX.COM

Randy Schmidt 903.278.7777

Richard Norris 903.276.1804

Schmidt Farms BRANGUS & ULTRABLACK

Garrett Hinds 417-880-2839

ZR

Zottarelli Ranches

www.zottarelliranches.com

Angelo Zottarelli 2156 FM 2414 Evant, Texas 76525

REGISTERED & COMMERCIAL CATTLE Mailing Address PO Box 400 Evant, TX 76525

254-471-5675 Ranch 512-422-3123 Mobile zrbrangus@sbcglobal.net

TEXAS BRANGUS BREEDERS ASSOCIATION

The Texas Brangus Breeders Association (TBBA) annual convention is set for April 3-4, 2020, at Tenroc Ranch in Salado, Texas. The TBBA annual meeting will be on Friday afternoon, followed by an excellent meal, entertainment and fellowship with other Brangus breeders. The TBBA Sale will be on Saturday, April 4 at 11:00 am. Nominations are open now for the sale, contact Mike Weathers 713-252-7444 or American Marketing Service at www.amscattle.com for more information on nominating cattle to the sale.

2020 memberships are due. Please go to txbrangus.org to find a membership application.

Contact Melanie Fuller at mfuller@gobrangus.com or 979.255.3343 or Jessie England at jengland@gobrangus.com for advertising spaces

Brangus J O U R N A L 43

PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS OR OPERATION

The International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) is proud to offer its members and other friends in the industry the opportunity to promote themselves through Brangus Publications, Inc.’s (BPI) and IBBA’s print and digital mediums. IBBA’s printed publications are produced by Brangus Publications, Inc., and are distributed to a mailing list, which is updated on a monthly basis. The mailing list is comprised of addresses in Australia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Philippines, Thailand, and the United States.

ABOUT THE BRANGUS JOURNAL

Circulation: approximately 2,000 The Brangus Journal (ISSN 0006-9132) is published by Brangus Publications, Inc. (BPI), 8870 US Highway 87 East, San Antonio, Texas 78263, monthly except February, June, July and September. Periodicals postage paid at San Antonio, Texas and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send address change to: Brangus Publications Inc., P.O. Box 809, Adkins, Texas 78101.

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.

The claims made by advertisers in this publication are not verified by BPI or the IBBA. BPI Officers & Board of Directors Chairman: Eddy Roberts, President: Darrell Wilkes, Ph.D., Secretary/ Treasurer: Mike Weathers, Director: Bill Davis Subscriptions Justine Voss, jvoss@gobrangus.com, 210.696.8231 Subscription Rates Domestic Periodicals (one year) $25; First Class $55; Foreign Periodicals (one year) $25; air mail to Canada or Mexico $70; air mail to other countries $115.

Brangus Journal Editorial Calendar January March April May August October November December distribution map

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January 2020

CALENDAR of events

JANUARY 2020 1 IBBA Office Closed for New Year’s Day 1 IBBA Board of Director Ballots Due 1 IBBA Annual Membership Fees Due 5 Houston Livestock Show Open Brangus Entry Deadline 6 2020 Brangus Sire Directory Online 6 American Rancher – Brangus segment – begins airing 8-9 IBBA Staff Hits the Road with Macee Prause, California 10 Early Bird Pricing Ends, Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show 10 Ad Reservation Deadline for Spring Frontline 10-15 Plant & Animal Genome Conference, San Diego, California 15 Houston Livestock Show Open Brangus Late Entry Deadline 22 Fort Worth Stock Show Open Brangus Show, Fort Worth, Texas

FEBRUARY 2020 5-7 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show, San Antonio, Texas 6 Florida State Fair Open Brangus Show, Tampa, Florida 10 San Antonio Livestock Exposition Open Brangus Show, San Antonio, Texas 10 Ad Reservation Deadline for March Brangus Journal 12 San Antonio Livestock Exposition All Breeds Bull and Female Sale 17-18 GENETRUST Easy Access Online Video Auction 26-28 U.S. Livestock Genetics Export Annual Meeting, Franklin, Tennessee 28-29 IBBA Staff Hits the Road with Macee Prause, Tennessee MARCH 2020 5 Annual IBBA Membership Meeting, Room 202/203 1:00 PM, Houston, Texas 5 Annual IBA Membership Meeting, Houston, Texas 6 Houston International Livestock Show Open Brangus Bulls, Houston, Texas 6 Doguet Diamond D Frozen Genetics Online Sale 7 Houston International Livestock Show Open Brangus Females, Houston, Texas 7 Genetic Edge XXV Sale, Houston, Texas 10 Ad Reservation Deadline for April Brangus Journal 21 Mound Creek Ranch Bull & Female Sale 24 GENETRUST at Suhn Cattle Company Sale, Eureka, Kansas 27-29 Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Convention, Fort Worth, Texas 28 West Texas Brangus Breeders Sale, Abilene, Texas 28 Oklahoma Brangus Association Spring Sale, McAlister, Oklahoma APRIL 2020 1 IBA Scholarship Applications Due 3 Texas Brangus Breeders Annual Meeting, Salado, Texas 4 Texas Brangus Breeders Sale, Salado, Texas 10 IBBA Office Closed for Easter 15-24 World Brangus Congress, Corrientes, Argentina 15 Stockman’s Choice Genetic Online Sale 17-18 Doguet’s Diamond D Ranch Sale, Poteet, Texas 18 Super American Sale, Bloomington, Texas 25 GENETRUST at Cavender Ranches Sale, Jacksonville, Texas

Brangus J O U R N A L 45

ADVERTISING INDEX

5K Cowbelle Brangus .................................................40 American Marketing Services ................ 16, 17, 29, 47 Amrich Ranch .............................................................41 Big D Ranch ...............................................................38 Blackwater Cattle Co. ................................................. 39 Bobby and Bobbie Brangus .......................................40 Bovine Elite, LLC ....................................................... 37 Briggs Ranches........................................................... 47 Brinks Brangus @ Westall Ranches ..........................40 Burke Brangus Farm ................................................. 39 Bushley Creek Cattle Co. .....................................35, 40 C&C Brangus................................................................41 Carter Brangus ...........................................................38 Cavender Ranches .......................................... 24-25, 41 Char-No Farm ............................................................ 39 Chimney Rock Cattle Co. ........................................... 38 Clark Cattle Services .................................................. 37 Clover Ranch ..............................................................38 Cox Excalibur Brangus ...............................................41 Cross F Cattle...............................................................41 Cross N Farms ...........................................................40 Diamond K Ranch ......................................................41 Doguet Diamond D Ranch ..........................IFC, 41, BC Don Hall Brangus ......................................................38 Don Thomas & Sons ..................................................40 Dotson, Wes................................................................ 37 Double Creek Brangus Ranch ....................................41 Double W Ranch ........................................................40 Draggin M Ranch ....................................... 9, 34, 35, 38 Drake Land & Cattle ...................................................41 DVAuction.................................................................. 47 E3 Ranch, LLC ............................................................41 Elgin Breeding Services, LLC .................................... 37 Far Niente Farms .......................................................38 Farris Ranching Company ..........................................41 Fenco Farms................................................... 16, 17, 39 Galloway Brangus ......................................................38 Garry Clem Brangus .................................................. 42 Genesis Ranch ........................................................... 42 GENETRUST ..............................................9, 24-25, 35 Giffin Farms................................................................ 39 GKB Cattle ........................................................... 32, 42 Greenwood Cattle Co. ................................................ 42 Greuel Family Brangus .............................................. 39 Hardee Farms ............................................................ 39 Hi Point Sales + Marketing .............................. IFC, BC IJBBA.................................................................... 10, 34 Indian Hills Ranch ..................................................... 42 Jackson Family Brangus............................................ 42 Jacksons Double J......................................................38 JLS International ....................................................... 42 Johnston Brangus ......................................................38 K & L Brangus ............................................................ 42 K & R Broken Bar Ranch ............................................41 46

January 2020

L.G. Herndon, Jr. Farms, Inc. ................................... 39 L.W. Hudgins Brangus...............................................40 Lack-Morrison ...........................................................40 Lake Majestik..............................................................38 Lambert, Doak............................................................ 37 Lawman Ranch............................................................41 Little Creek Farms...................................................... 39 Marshall Farms............................................... 24-25, 38 MB Brangus................................................................ 35 Mid South Cattle Company........................................40 MO Brangus................................................................ 39 Mobley, Luke.............................................................. 37 Mound Creek Ranch........................................20-21, 42 MP Brangus................................................................ 42 Oak Creek Farms........................................................ 42 Oakley, Lakin.............................................................. 37 OK Farms.................................................................... 42 Old Colita Ranch......................................................... 42 Parker Brangus...........................................................38 Pennridge Ranch........................................................ 42 Perry Ranch.................................................................41 Peterson Brangus........................................................40 Phillips Ranch............................................................. 39 Quail Valley Farms................................................17, 29 Rafter 2 Ranch............................................................ 42 Reagan, Terry............................................................. 37 Red Bud Farms........................................................... 39 Rio Ranch................................................................... 43 Ritchie..........................................................................12 Roop Cattle Co. .......................................................... 43 Salacoa Valley Farms............................................ 27, 40 Santa Rosa Ranch................................................... 3, 43 Scamardo Brangus...................................................... 43 Schmidt Farms........................................................... 43 Southeast Brangus Breeders...................................... 38 Spanish Ranch............................................................ 39 Suhn Cattle Co ...........................................................40 T3 Brangus..................................................................40 Tajo Ranch.................................................................. 43 The Branch Ranch....................................................... 11 The Oaks Farms.................................................... 16, 40 Town Creek Farms........................................................ 7 Trio Cattle & Genetics................................................ 43 Triple Crown Ranch................................................... 43 Triple JR Cattle Co..................................................... 43 TTT Brangus Farm.................................................9, 38 Tuna Rosa Ranch........................................................ 43 Vineyard Cattle Co...................................................... 43 VitaFerm...................................................................IBC Vorel Farms.................................................................41 W.E.T. Farms.............................................................. 39 Wynne Ranch............................................................. 39 Zottarelli Ranches....................................................... 43

Brangus J O U R N A L 47

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January 2020