ASSOCIATION BRIEF

PROGENY CALCULATOR NOW LIVE

The International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) staff has been hard at work recreating an old favorite, the progeny calculator, now live on the Regstr platform. The progeny calculator allows for members to select multiple dams and multiple sires for potential matings. Members can select from a drop down of high or low EPD thresholds they desire, and a line graph will be created show casing each potential mating’s resulting EPD estimates. Members can try out the new progeny calculator by clicking “Updates” in the top bar on the Regstr platform.

2021 BRANGUS FUTURITY PEN SHOW

The IBBA Show Committee is proud to announce the formation of the 2021 Brangus Futurity Pen Show, to be held at the 50th Anniversary of the Brangus Futurity in Belton, Texas. The pen show will be held Saturday, July 31, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. All cattle must be DNA parent verified.

The cattle will show unhaltered, and pens will be comprised of three heifers or bulls no older than May 1, 2019. Divisions will be held for Brangus, Red Brangus and Ultrablack/Ultrared. A minimum of three (3) pens of each is required for individual shows. If a minimum of three (3) black and three (3) red are not checked in, black and red will show together. If a minimum of three (3) Ultrablack/Ultrared are not entered by entry due date, there will not be an Ultra pen show.

The entry deadline is June 1. Entries will be completed with the National Junior Brangus Show (NJBS) and Futurity Open Show entries online. Rules and class breaks can be found at GoBrangus.com, under Shows, then under IBBA Show Classifications. For more information, contact IBBA Show Coordinator, Lori Edwards at ledwards@gobrangus.com or 210-696-8231.

IBBA BREED IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE WEBINAR SUCCESS

On March 29, the IBBA Breed Improvement Committee held an online webinar titled, “Improving reproductive efficiency in your herd: synchronization, AI, and other tools in your toolbox.” The program featured Dr. Jordan Thomas, assistant professor and beef reproduction specialist at the University of Missouri.

The webinar was well attended with more than 65 breeders watching live during the event and was buzzing with AI and ET questions pertaining to Bos indicus cattle. Congratulations to the IBBA Breed Improvement Committee for progressing the breed’s reproductive technology forward.

IBBA STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE NATIONAL SHOW UPDATE

The IBBA Show Committee has voted to relocate the national points show previously held at the Oklahoma State Fair as the Western National to the Cattlemen’s Congress held in January. The six national point shows for the Standard of Excellence program include: Cattlemen’s Congress (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), Houston Livestock Show (Houston, Texas), Texas Invitational (Bryan, Texas), National Show of Merit (Shreveport, Louisiana), Brangus Futurity (Belton, Texas), and the Florida State Fair (Tampa, Florida).

STAFF HAPPENINGS

Congratulations to IBBA Member Services & Marketing Director Lori Edwards on her recent engagement to Parker Dunkerley, of Waxahachie, Texas.

TOTAL HERD REPORTING ANNUAL SCHEDULE

The IBBA is getting ready to begin the Total Herd Reporting (THR) process. To ensure that your THR process runs smoothly, please check your animal list and dispose or transfer any animals that may affect billing.

PERSPECTIVE WITH THE IBA

by Marlene Schwerin, International Brangus Auxiliary (IBA) director at large Is the glass half empty, or half full? The answer depends on a person’s perspective. If you are a pessimist, the glass is half empty. If you are an optimist, the glass is half full. Without a doubt, surviving the recent pandemic has challenged all of us to maintain a positive outlook. Hopefully, we can take away some important lessons as we continue moving forward in these unprecedented times. Fellow Brangus breeders let us count our blessings.

THR Event

The association sends each member a preliminary inventory based on the previous year’s inventory that has been adjusted for disposal and transfer information reported to the association. Inventory adjustments can be made online. Alternatively, members may choose to mail a paper copy of the inventory with all changes, additions, and corrections to the association office. Paper copies must be submitted early to allow for staff processing time. Association invoices members for annual THR assessments based on members herd inventory. Terms include 50% of payment due July 20, 50% due August 20, or 100% due August 1.

Date

By June 1

Online - June 30 Mail in - June 15

July 1