January 2017 Brangus Journal

JANUARY 2017 :: Annual Meeting Issue

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

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

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

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

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

AREA 7 :: Michael Kammerer BOARD MEMBER 936-449-5744 :: jlkamm@earthlink.net Term: 2014 - 2017

AREA 7 :: Brandon Belt 1st VICE PRESIDENT 254-248-5260 :: brandonbelt@aol.com Term: 2015 - 2018

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

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

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

AREA 11 :: Eddy Roberts BOARD MEMBER 386-935-1416 :: wetfarm1@windstream.net Term: 2014 - 2017

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

STAFF Executive Vice President Tommy Perkins, PhD., PAS tperkins@gobrangus.com 210-696-8231

Director of Registry Services Rosanne Nelson rnelson@gobrangus.com 210-696-8231 Product Manager Emilio Silvas esilvas@gobrangus.com 210-696-8231

Education and Data Coordinator Jenny Pieniazek jpieniazek@gobrangus.com 210-696-8231

Communications Coordinator Peyton Waldrip pwaldrip@gobrangus.com 830-708-3195 Field Services Representative Taylor Shackelford tshackelford@gobrangus.com 903-327-5759 Accountant Ingrid Duran iduran@gobrangus.com 210-696-8231

Member Services Representative Raime Preston rpreston@gobrangus.com 210-696-8231

Director of Youth Programs Tyler Dean tdean@gobrangus.com 405-207-6921

Advertising Sales Manager Melanie Fuller mfuller@gobrangus.com 979-255-3343

ABOUT THE BRANGUS JOURNAL The Brangus Journal is the official publication of the International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA). This internationally-distributed publication provides Brangus® seedstock producers and the IBBA membership with information about news within the association and the industry. The Brangus Journal is published eight times annually, and is designed to highlight accomplishments, advancements and improvements made possible by IBBA members, staff, volunteers, and other industry leaders.

The purpose of the Brangus Journal is to serve the best interest of IBBA members by showcasing breeding programs, efforts and achievements to other Brangus® seedstock producers. Lastly, the Brangus Journal serves as an outlet for the IBBA to provide updates by directly communicating with the membership.

BRANGUS PUBLICATIONS, INC. (BPI) 8870 US Highway 87 E, San Antonio, TX 78263 P. O. Box 809, Adkins, TX 78101 P: +1-210-696-8231 F: +1-210-696-8718 GoBrangus.com/brangus-publications bpi@gobrangus.com

Publication #ISSN0006-9132: Periodicals postage paid at San Antonio, Texas, and additional entries.

Postmaster: Send address changes to Brangus Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 809, Adkins, TX 78101 Subscriptions: Ingrid Duran // iduran@gobrangus.com // +1-210-696-8231 Subscription Rates: Domestic Periodicals—1 year, $25; First Class—$55.

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The claims made by advertisers in this publication are not verified by BPI or the IBBA.

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

IBBA CONNECTION A Presidential Reflection..................................................................................................8-9 IBBA CONNECTION A Year for Advancements..................................................................................................10 IBBA CONNECTION Your Update From The Field.............................................................................................13 MEMBER CONNECTION Texas Rancher Girl: An Introduction...........................................................................14 IBBA CONNECTION IBBA Releases Winter 2016 Genetic Evaluation...............................................................15 EXPERT CONNECTION Get to Know Genomic Testing..................................................................................16-18 IBBA CONNECTION International Guests Attend Educational Seminar.......................................................... 20 CONVENTION CONNECTION Your Guide to IBBA’s 2017 Annual Meeting & Convention..............................22-40 CONVENTION CONNECTION History of the IBBA............................................................................................27-28 CONVENTION CONNECTION Feed Efficiency and How It’s Measured............................................................30-34 CONVENTION CONNECTION Anipro/Xtraformance Feeds: Rich in History, Poised for the Future.............. 35-36 CONVENTION CONNECTION It’s All in the Family................................................................................................ 38 CONVENTION CONNECTION Guide to i50K Testing and GE-EPDs for Brangus Breeders.............................39-40 EXPERT CONNECTION Marketing Your Cattle in a Live Auction...................................................................... 42 IBA CONNECTION IBA in the New Year........................................................................................................... 44 IBA CONNECTION Women of Brangus: Marlene Schwerin............................................................................. 45 IJBBA CONNECTION Scheduling 2017............................................................................................................... 46 IJBBA CONNECTION IJBBA in 2017.................................................................................................................. 49 SBBA CONNECTION New SBBA Officers Installed............................................................................................ 50 TBBA CONNECTION A New TBBA Year............................................................................................................. 50 SALE SUMMARIES........................................................................................................................................52-53 SERVICE DIRECTORY.......................................................................................................................................... 54 STATE DIRECTORY.......................................................................................................................................56-60 CALENDAR.......................................................................................................................................................61 ADVERTISER’S INDEX......................................................................................................................................... 62 5

IN THIS ISSUE 16-18

Expert Connection: Get to Know Genomic Testing,

by John Genho

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IBBA News: International Guests Attend Educational Seminar

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Your Guide to IBBA 2017 Annual Meeting & Convention, Feb. 10-11 J a n u a r y 2 0 1 7 : : Vo l u m e 6 5 : : Is s u e 1 6 :: JANUARY 2017

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A Presidential Reflection...

Why did you decide to pursue a position on the International need to use Brangus genetics. Implementing GE-EPDs was Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) Board of Directors? “I have a big one. The building situation was an item that had long always believed in serving and being involved. I have served on several different boards in the past. I hoped my past business and board experience could help in some way with the growth and direction of the IBBA.”

needed to be addressed, also.”

Of board actions carried out during your terms, which make you the proudest? “The adoption of GE- EPDs and implementing

parent verification at a reasonable cost through the DNA

What learning experiences have you acquired during your time on profiling. I truly believe this is a huge opportunity to provide IBBA’s board? “It has been a huge learning experience. There our customers with as much information as possible and are so many working components to IBBA. Our [expected progeny differences (EPDs)] - now [genomic-enhanced expected progeny differences (GE-EPDs)] - DNA, finances, by-laws, policies, employee duties, Brangus Journal, and attempting to make it more efficient and cost effective.

That’s just a small part, plus [Genetic Performance Solutions (GPS)]. I’ve learned a lot every week and I’m sure there’s more. It’s been a very interesting learning experience.”

What goal(s) did you set for yourself at the beginning of your terms? “My number one goal was, and still is, to try and find

ways for our membership to unify. We have to work together for some common goals. I realize some will always disagree and some participate as a hobby, but the only way we can continue to exist and grow is through the sale of bulls to commercial cattlemen. The sale of a few females or bulls to other registered breeders is only a supplement. The main advantage of joining together as IBBA is the ability to pool our money through [total herd reporting (THR)] assessments and utilize it to promote, compile information, and hire staff for our breed in ways most could not afford individually.

Marketing bulls to commercial producers is the main source of income for a very high percentage of our membership.

Therefore, promoting Brangus to commercial producers helps create income for a high percentage of producers. We have to utilize our funds in ways that help a large portion of our membership.”

help move us to the forefront with other breed associations.

The ability to improve and raise accuracies on animals at a young age to levels many would never reach is a very valuable marketing tool. It’s a great service to our membership, no matter what size herd you maintain. I served at a time we had no executive vice president. Frankly, I felt we were very inefficient and accomplished very little. I was very proud when we were able to hire Dr. Perkins as our executive vice president, and of the job he has done since then representing IBBA. I wish we could have spent all of the hours invested in our building sale and relocation on other programs and promoting Brangus, but it needed to be addressed. I am very proud of the fact that we now have a modern, very efficient, functional, purpose-serving IBBA office building. We also have a surplus of approximately $180,000 from the sale and purchase that will be set aside for future use of building maintenance.”

The use of GE-EPDs were implemented under your leadership. What all went into adopting the program? “We gathered and compiled

information from previous years for a database to start the project, a lot of research, and we had a hardworking, devoted and progressive Breed Improvement Committee and IBBA Board of Directors. The knowledge and leadership of Dr. Perkins and John Genho was valuable to us, too.”

Expand on the benefit of utilizing this technology. “I believe this is a very valuable tool. I truly hope our membership continues

What goal(s) and/or objective(s) did you have in mind for the to embrace and utilize this program. To date, it has been association at the beginning of your terms? “Well, the first utilized by a large number of IBBA members. We have more

year I came on the board, IBBA experienced a $200,000 plus deficit the year before. All board members, including myself, knew that had to be at the top of the list to address. I listened to many breeders complain about no promotion. So that problem was high on the list. The board addressed the budget problems, made adjustments to balance the budget, and I’m proud to say our 2017 budget includes over $100,000 for promotions, plus a staff that is diligently promoting the 8 :: JANUARY 2017

high-accuracy animals in each EPD run, making our EPDs more valuable. The value of those higher-accuracy young animals is so very helpful to our customers and breeders.

High-accuracy-EPD young animals produced out of a highaccuracy sire and dam should equate to a more believable EPD set each generation. It should bolster the confidence of the beef industry in using IBBA EPDs.”

...from IBBA President Mike Vorel What steps would you recommend the association take to continue this genomic progress moving forward? “There is still a huge need

for members to turn in accurate weights, ultrasound, and other performance data. Hopefully we can accumulate much needed information on groups of commercial sire identified cattle, also. Actual accurate information will help solidify our EPD database which, in turn, helps on the GE-EPDs, also.”

Where do you want to see the association in five years? 10? “I hope we can continually add and improve our GPS program. We should always strive to make our program user-friendly and loaded with easily accessible information. I hope we can soon find ways to develop and implement more values for fertility, stayability, and soundness traits. I would hope we would always be progressive and searching for new tools to prove value of our Brangus cattle. There will be new technology available. Hopefully IBBA will utilize that technology and strive to be at the forefront of the beef cattle industry.”

What is your advice to board members for making their service to the association of utmost value? “I would suggest coming into it with an open mind. Be willing to learn and listen to membership and other board members. Remember you signed up to serve membership and hopefully attempt to make decisions that progress our breed forward in the future. Thank goodness everyone has different ideas and personalities, but just butting heads because you dislike someone else on the board usually just makes it hard to move forward and accomplish anything. I have been blessed to serve with a board that I believe for the most part has worked hard together and made major accomplishments. A board that has tackled some existing problems and made decisions that will benefit a large percentage of our membership, very seldom seeing board members focus on personal gain or what I would call small interest groups. I’ve been very proud of their ability to work together and accomplishments.”

doesn’t come from a fancy show heifer or a $30,000 bull.

Progress and growth for IBBA come from breeders producing large numbers of high-quality, commercially-accepted and needed bulls. I would hope we would continually search for, and embrace, any tools to provide our membership ways to show added value in their cattle. I keep pounding on GEEPDs, but we must continually prove to commercial beef producers our EPDs are accurate and valuable.”

What is your advice on maintaining integrity in the breed? “I would

have to go back to our EPDs. Commercial producers have to feel comfortable and trust our EPDs. I hope members utilize the DNA parent verification. Selling a bull to a customer with a great set of EPDs but incorrect parentage, and whose calves are then disappointing, hurts everyone. If that same bull is represented as calving ease and the buyer spends cold winter nights out delivering big calves the integrity of our EPDs goes down the drain. Parent verification through DNA combined with GE-EPDs is the best way to say we’ve done everything possible to provide our customers with a product they can trust. My opinion is trust and integrity adds value to anyone’s program.”

What progress do you hope the breed makes in the Ultrablack and Ultrared initiative? “The Ultrablack and Ultrared

programs are our greatest opportunity to see growth for IBBA. The use of new genetics to each side of the equation offers opportunities for everyone utilizing these programs.

I believe we should heavily promote the opportunities available within the Ultrablack and Ultrared programs.

We have the ability to produce GE-EPDs on those enrolled Angus animals which helps to maintain and prove value in Ultrablacks and Ultrareds in their first generation. There is a huge opportunity to gain a percentage of the commercial bull market, enroll and add animals to our THR and grow IBBA membership through the use of these programs.

What makes a “good” board member? “Dedication, willingness

to listen, an open mind, the ability to make good business decisions to benefit IBBA’s future, the ability to serve membership and set aside personal issues, and willingness to learn - there is a lot to learn.”

What issues does IBBA’s board face at this point in time? “I believe we have made progress. I’m sad to say: Membership working together for common goals. There are always conflicts in groups. It just seems to be our nature. Progress as a breed

Thanks to Mr. Vorel for his service to the IBBA! 9

A Year for Advancements

by IBBA Executive Vice President Tommy Perkins, PhD., PAS

Hopefully cattle prices have found the bottom and the year ahead will bring a more stable market. It appears heifer-retention growth has come to a halt in the past two years as more females are going to the feedlot. This suggests a decline in future supply, which indicates an increase in prices over the long haul.

We will just have to be patient while striving to monitor the expense side of the equation.

As I have stated in the last several months, now is the time to cull aggressively at the ranch. This is particularly important in bull-calf retention as they require more input costs to get them market ready. If in doubt, castrate them and eliminate the added costs that may not be captured in the future sale price. Retain ownership of these culled steers if you want to learn something about the genetics of your herd.

If you need help in procuring a feedlot that will feed small numbers of cattle and still provide you the carcass data at harvest, contact International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) Field Service Representative Taylor Shackelford by email, at tshackelford@gobrangus.com.

Many are still receiving beneficial moisture throughout the country, but we continue to pray for rain in the southeast as they are still seeing effects of their persistent drought conditions. Luckily, most are finding quality hay at a better price than they have seen in the last several years. Others have stockpiled grass throughout the summer and fall months due to beneficial rains earlier in the year.

I would like to thank the entire staff for another great year. They got the job done even when shorthanded and under pressure to do their daily jobs all while moving out of an old building, into and out of a rental facility, and finally into our new home. We still have boxes to unpack, but we are a box closer every day to being done. A big thanks to the membership, board of directors, and building committee for helping us get into an office building that we are proud to call home.

IBBA is nearly two full years into providing a sire summary with genomic enhancement. The membership is the reason this has been a successful process. I appreciate everyone for understanding the importance of collecting the needed DNA samples, and paying the fee to get proper panels run to secure the single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs, necessary to complete the analysis. Your support for the importance of this technology will help amp up the genetic improvement of Brangus cattle. The cut-off date for the February expected progeny difference (EPD) run is set for Jan. 10, 2017; please enter your performance data, which is birth weights, weaning weights, etc., prior to this deadline.

On another note, DNA results included in the May 2017 EPD run must be received by IBBA before Apr. 10. Therefore, DNA samples should be sent to the lab no later than early March to ensure the results have a chance to be available 10 :: JANUARY 2017

before the data pull. Don’t procrastinate, because there is no way to rush an order through a lab anymore.

I shared an analysis in the January 2015 Brangus Journal concerning the number of calves with weaning weights reported in relation to the number of cows on inventory. I broke it down by state and noted that some states were doing a better job than others. I ran the analysis again, using data from the 2016 year-end stats. I am proud to say that you have improved that percentage by eight points when compared to the 2014 stats. Keep up the effort, but more work is needed to get to the desired 100 percent level. Remember, if you are not reporting a weaning weight or calf disposal code on every cow in your inventory, you are inadvertently skewing the data and ultimately negatively impacting genetic progress. Reporting less than 100 percent of the data negatively impacts the weaning weight ratio, which also negatively impacts the calculated EPD. I am not suggesting you register 100 percent of your calf crop, but I am asking you to report 100 percent of the data on every cow given a chance to bring a calf in to the weaning pen. You must submit weaning weights, or calf disposal codes, for every calf whether registered or performance only. Remember, submission of weight data does not add additional costs to your total herd reporting bill.

Look for information throughout this journal issue related to the upcoming convention to be held in San Antonio in early February. Your attendance and participation is greatly appreciated and necessary for a stronger Brangus organization. Your input is important, no matter how small or how large your operation may be.

Do not hesitate to call, text or email if you have any questions. For information about IBBA programs or other inquiries, please call (210) 696-8231 or visit www.

GoBrangus.com. Stay connected to IBBA through Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, or receive news updates by joining our email list.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Tommy Perkins, PhD., PAS is a graduate of West Texas A&M University, where he was recognized as a Graduate of Distinction by the Department of Agriculture in 2014. He also earned his doctoral degree in Animal Breeding from Texas Tech University. He served as a professor at Missouri State University and Texas State University for nearly twenty years, where his professional career is most noted for excellence in the field of beef cattle ultrasound.

Perkins was elected to the Beef Improvement Federation’s Board of Directors and, also, serves as chairman for the End Product committee. Additionally, Perkins currently serves on the board of directors for the United States Livestock Genetics Export Association, Texas Beef Council, Beef Promotion and Research Council of Texas, and the National Pedigreed Livestock Council. He was recently elected Beef Breeds Council President.

Currently, Perkins is the Executive Vice President of IBBA, Chief Executive Officer of Genetic Performance Solutions, and President of Brangus Publications, Inc.

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Brangus Built tags come in the form of a Temple Tag or a Z-tag and must be ordered from the International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA). There is a unique identification number for ease of traceability, and space is allotted on the tag to allow for customization (i.e. private herd numbers).

The cost of the tag is competitive, and adopting this tagging system adds value on sale day. Orders may be placed over the phone or online, at GoBrangus.com. For more information, contact the IBBA today.

INTERNATIONAL BRANGUS BREEDERS ASSOCIATION P.O. BOX 809, ADKINS, TX 78101 O: +1 (210) 696-8231 | F: +1 (210) 696-8718 INFO@GOBRANGUS.COM | GOBRANGUS.COM 12 :: JANUARY 2017

Your Update From the Field

by IBBA Field Service Representative Taylor Shackelford Another year has come and gone. Cattle prices are, at least, more steady than they were in recent months and the drought continues to weigh heavy on agriculturists in the Southeast. Even so, my travels to Louisiana, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi were met with all the Southern hospitality I can imagine.

Driving through the Deep South, the fall foliage was truly amazing. Spanish Moss makes a place seem like a runaway from a Hollywood picture. On the other hand, the grass was no longer green in many places and its height was troublesome in others. In some regions, cattle raisers have great luck with ryegrass. In fact, that’s what my own family counts on in Texas to get us through the winter months with minimal bought grain and supplementation. But, if you were hesitant to seed or sprig in fear of continued drought or a hard, quick rain washing it all away, I think you’re smart.

Even so, as we are finishing up breeding season and moving straight into spring calving, it is crucial to remain cognizant of the energy and protein requirements for the maintenance of the herd.

More than ever, these months – especially in droughtstricken areas – are critical in paying attention to detail.

Nutrient deficiencies in cattle are not as easily detectable as illness even though the latter is more than likely caused by the first. Maintaining immunity comes from proper levels of nutrition across the board. Admittedly, supplementation is not cheap. However, it’s necessary for meeting nutrient requirements in cows as they progress closer to calving. For consignment cattle or in preparation for your next sale or show, similar benefits are available if you do your research.

There are many feed supplement companies on the market today pushing the newest and brightest product. If you refuse to fall for the hype, I don’t blame you. However, you need a back-up plan. In my travels, I continually witness cattle on supplement having better hair, skin, and healthier offspring than those who are not. Without added nutrition, forage quality is even more important.

In coastal regions, where the drought has hit hard, grass is more dependent on moisture and therefore causing cattle to devour more forage than normal without the usual benefits.

If you’re in a region that is typically more arid, you know that shorter grass quantity in grazing is not always bad. The difference is in the soil. The minerals which feed the grass are directly correlated to a cow’s healthy routine maintenance

requirements. Irrigation and water conservation come with additional price tags, but can be saviors when maintaining and developing healthy root systems.

Pivots, ditches and ponds are just a few ways to control water levels in your grass and soil. Plus, there are new and exciting technologies about how to harvest rainfall from a rooftop into a reservoir, which can save you time and money in a drought year. Contact your local or state extension office for more strategies on how to better steward the natural water you do have.

Part of handling a disaster, like drought, is planning for it. Lack of planning may lead to hauling water. The internet is a valuable resource for discovering creative ways to cut costs as you develop your fallback plans. You don’t have to understand technology to read through a magazine. Looking toward 2017, try to find time and funding to put toward your operation’s research and development department.

In my introductory submission to the Brangus Journal, I said I would never pretend to have the answers. I’ll continue making my rounds and, as always, praying for rain. Simply, I write to convey what I saw breeders having success with in the field.

If you have a topic you would like to see in Updates from the Field or you are interested in showing off your operation with a ranch visit from the IBBA, please email tshackelford@gobrangus.com.

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

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Texas Rancher Girl: An Introduction

by Linda Jordens Galayda Texas Rancher Girl is a blog written to connect everyone in the ranching community, those that own and operate a ranch, and those that want to learn more about ranching; it’s decision making and life lessons, those that want to be better stewards of the land, those that love the cowboy lifestyle and are bound to us in heart and spirit and want to share that experience. The purpose is to create an authentic ranch website to share stories, inspiration, and information, and connect you with retailers, educators, financial, legal advisors, and other ranchers and their affiliates that have merchandise or services to sell. We want to help you find sources that can answer your questions and provide products or services that assist you in all areas of ranching and 14 :: JANUARY 2017

stewardship. It does not matter whether you are just getting started, or have been in ranching for generations; change is part of our growth. We are stronger as a connected family; let Texas Rancher Girl be your voice, share your stories, and connect you to the information and sources you need. Join us each month in the Brangus Journal to share – inspire – connect. For more information about Linda Jordens Galayda and her blog, Texas Rancher Girl, read “The Story of a Texas Rancher Girl” in the December 2016 issue of the Brangus Journal or online at www.GoBrangus.com/news.

IBBA Releases Winter 2016 Genetic Evaluation The International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) has announced the release of Winter 2016 GenomicEnhanced Expected Progeny Differences (GE-EPDs).

In this round of genetic evaluation, over 1.4 million animals were considered. Of those, GE-EPDs were produced for approximately 8,250 Brangus®, Red Brangus, UltraRed and UltraBlack® animals that have either high- or lowdensity genomic profiles in the database.

“Genomic-enhanced EPDs are a more precise EPD because they combine both performance records and genomic profiles,” said IBBA Executive Vice President Tommy Perkins, PhD., PAS. “GE-EPDs increase the accuracy of each EPD which reduces risk in selecting young breeding animals.”

Members are encouraged to look at their individual profiles on IBBA’s member portal, at int-brangus.org, to see if any animals in their herd have qualified for GE-EPDs.

Animals with a GE-EPD are identified on the website with the double helix DNA logo beside the EPD. Additionally, percentile ranks are posted to provide standings for individual traits of animals. These ranks are available on IBBA’s website, at GoBrangus.com/breed-averages-andpercentile-ranks/.

Members can find confidence in their efforts knowing these evaluations improve the predictions of offspring performance when making selection and mating decisions for the future. Increases in the number of genotyped animals continues to improve the predictive power of the genetic evaluation.

“Genomic enhanced EPDs give commercial cattlemen an added level of confidence in selecting young breeding bulls for their program,” Perkins said. “IBBA members are to be commended for using DNA technology to further benefit the cattle industry.”

GENETIC EVALUATION SCHEDULE EPD RELEASE DATE February 1

DATA ENTRY DEADLINE January 10

May 1

April 10

September 1

August 10

December 1

November 10

It is also highly recommended that DNA samples are submitted well in advance of the data deadline, as it takes about 30 days to get the results once a sample is received in the genomics company lab. DNA submitted in a timely fashion, with results being received prior to the data entry deadline, will be included in the given genomic analysis.

International Brangus Breeders Association 8870 US Highway 87 E, San Antonio, TX 78263 P.O. Box 809, Adkins, TX 78101 info@gobrangus.com 210.696.8231

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Get to Know Genomic Testing

by John Genho, Livestock Genetic Services Over the past several years, genomic tests have become more available to breeders for genetic improvement. These have come in several different forms and have been used in different ways. The following is a review of these forms and methods.

Initially, our collective thought was that we could find certain genes that coded for certain traits and select for the positive forms of those genes. A lot of research, time, and money was spent searching for these genes. This resulted in a few markers for tenderness and a single marker for marbling. The GeneStar markers are an example of this. However, as we looked at the impact that these genes had on these relatively easy traits, and the cost that went into searching for them, we soon realized that this model was not going to be used long term.

Following this realization, a new idea developed. We would look at a very high number of markers, spread evenly throughout the genome, and determine how these markers were associated with certain traits. This would result in a set of prediction equations that could be applied to other animals. The idea was that a very limited number of animals could be tested and then the results of this could be applied to a larger population. The double-step methods of breed 16 :: JANUARY 2017

associations and the commercial panels of genotyping companies relied on this idea. However, we soon realized that once we left the initial population that we studied, the predictions were not very accurate. In addition, breeders began to see that they could simply turn in a DNA test, in place of actually gathering phenotypes and performance data on their animals. Long-term DNA tests cannot, and should not, take the place of good phenotypes but instead should enhance the phenotypes that are collected.

Today, the industry, in general, has arrived at the idea that a single-step model is the best method for genomic prediction. The basic idea is that the values of genomic markers are determined at the same time that the expected progeny differences (EPDs) are calculated to prevent any problems between populations or double counting of effects.

In the near future, all breed associations running genomicenhanced EPDs (GE-EPDs) in the United States will be switching to single-step models. The International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) was the second association to run EPDs based on a single-step model with the change coming two years ago.

There are two single-step models that are used currently.

The first is GBLUP, which is the model that IBBA uses. The idea behind this model is that we use genomic tests to help firm up the relationships between animals. The American Angus Association is in the process of switching to this

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model for (displayed their EPDs. as r in the The second figure). When single-step genomic tests model is the were used, the super hybrid correlation model. Since between the the BOLT EPDs and the platform is scan records built on this jumped from model, I’ll 40 percent to simply refer 45 percent. to this model Similar results as BOLT going can be found Photos of a hair sample for DNA testing. forward. The idea behind this model is for different traits and breeds. The that we run successive attempts to simultaneously estimate bottom line is that GBLUP works in the IBBA dataset. We the EPDs and genomic values until an acceptable version is are better able to predict performance when breeders send reached. International Genetic Solutions, the group which in a DNA sample than when breeders do not. Going forward, runs genetic evaluations for Simmental, Red Angus, and we can continue to evaluate further models, but for the time many other associations, is in the process of switching their being, the genomic model is working. evaluation to the BOLT platform.

The majority of the problems with all models are the These two models each possess pros and cons. GBLUP imbalance between the number of animals registered and is easier to implement with a limited number of genotyped the number of animals with DNA tests. Looking further into animals and fits nicely with our traditional genetic the future, the absolute best situation is going to be when all evaluation software. However, animals that are registered are as the number of genotyped also genotyped. For the time animals goes up, it becomes being, this is cost prohibitive, more difficult to run. Also, the but down the road it is likely to basic form of GBLUP assumes become more affordable. all markers have the same effect We’ve reviewed several on each trait, a simplifying models in this article and assumption we know is not weighed out the costs and true. The model which BOLT benefits to them. While there are uses on the other hand is many exciting options open to more difficult to work into associations, all of these depend existing evaluations. However, on the continued collection and once BOLT is implemented, reporting of performance data. it handles a high number of Without phenotypes, all of genotyped animals more easily. this is just sounding brass and In addition, it does not assume tinkling cymbals. The EPDs Figure 1 each marker has the same effect must be built on sound data on each trait. While these comparisons hold true in general, being collected and reported to the association. DNA tests the American Angus Association and University of Georgia do not remove the need to collect phenotypes. Instead, they are developing GBLUP to overcome some of the negatives put the phenotypes that you collect to better use in building making GBLUP a viable option going forward. selection tools.

An additional consideration when comparing the models is how many markers are included in genomic prediction.

Many of the current genotypes for all associations have ABOUT THE AUTHOR: John Genho is a geneticist and beef producer based in been done at 50K densities. We’re just getting into ultrahigh Sperryville, Virginia. His company, Livestock Genetic Services, runs genetic density genotypes in the industry. At these lower densities, evaluations for multiple breed associations including IBBA, commercial ranches, the models will likely pick very similar animals making the and other entities throughout the world. He has a Masters of Science in Animal model decision less relevant.

Breeding and Genetics from Cornell University, a Master of Business Administration IBBA is currently using the GBLUP model, which has from Duke University, and a Bachelors of Science in Animal Science from Brigham proven to be an effective model. Figure 1 shows a portion of the Young University. In addition to his education, he has spent his life in commercial 2015-born bulls that were both genotyped and ultrasounded. beef production.

For this test, all scan records for these bulls were removed.

The EPDs were then run with genomic tests included and without genomic tests included. The correlation between these EPDs and the actual scan records were then measured 18 :: JANUARY 2017

19

International Guests Attend Educational Seminar The International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) hosted individuals from five countries at an international seminar on Dec. 6-7 in Fort Worth, Texas.

“The opportunities for Brangus are developing at a rapid pace in many countries. The breeders and their associations look to the IBBA as a leader in the Brangus world,” said IBBA International Committee Member and International Red Brangus Breeders Association (IRBBA) Vice President Allen Goode, of TRIO Cattle and Genetics in Ponder, Texas. “There is much we have to offer as a registry, provider of genetics, and adopter and developer of beef industry technologies.”

International guests represented Brangus associations in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Panama.

Presentations were given by the following speakers: Kevin

World Brangus Congress, which is set for March 2018 in Houston, Texas.

“The IBBA membership benefits from this occasion, too, as the meeting helps the U.S. to seize the opportunity to strengthen the international market,” Thomason stated.

“We must increase the Brangus presence internationally in order to increase our influence on the market.”

International Committee Chairman Buck Thomason was present, alongside his committee members Richard Hood, American Marketing Services; IRBBA President Marcos Borges, of MBJ Ranch in Wharton, Texas; and Goode. IBBA staff members in attendance were Field Service Representative Taylor Shackelford and Communications Coordinator Peyton Waldrip.

Milliner, Zoetis; Hillary Kyamme, Elgin Breeding Service, Inc.; Jake Franke, PhD., Anipro; and IBBA Executive Vice President Tommy Perkins, PhD., PAS. The speakers’ topics covered genetic evaluations, semen collection and distribution, semen export, import regulations, association registry software and DNA technology.

“The International Seminar was successful in bringing individuals from five countries to Fort Worth using U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc. funds. This meeting gave myself, and the other members of the international committee, the opportunity to provide countries with information about IBBA, nutrition, and genetic analysis tools,” said IBBA International Committee Chairman Buck Thomason, of Indian Hills Ranch in Cranfills Gap, Texas. “I feel it is very important to reach out to these countries to get them to look to the U.S. and IBBA for their genetic and technological advancements.”

Presentations about the association, benefits of its membership, and upcoming events were also given to international attendees. The established communication with these integral members of the Brangus community is crucial for international attendance at the ninth annual

“Brangus influence in the world’s beef industry is very strong. This was a great meeting between representatives from three Central American countries, as well as Mexico and the United States. It was very beneficial in developing and strengthening relationships between fellow Brangus enthusiasts from the U.S. to Central America,” Hood stated.

“IBBA’s International Committee’s dedication toward keeping a fresh dialogue between Brangus cattle producers around the world is vital for the breed’s goals of expansion in both current and new markets.”

“By assisting and working alongside our fellow Brangus breeders and associations with knowledge, services and resources, the IBBA further solidifies its leadership position,” said Goode. “The International Seminar provides these enthusiastic cattlemen and associations the opportunity to learn and develop their relationship with the IBBA.”

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FEBRUARY 10-11, 2017

Feb. 10-11, 2017, San Antonio, Texas

Your Guide to IBBA’s 2017 Annual Meeting & Convention The International Brangus Breeders Association’s (IBBA) Board of Directors and staff encourage you to attend the 2017 Annual Meeting and Convention on Feb. 10-11 in San Antonio, Texas. The schedule of events consists of something for each member of the family.

The official convention hotel is the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa. Its amenities include a heated pool, an 18-hole TPC golf course, a spa, and more.

Between board meetings, educational sessions, meals, and events, this is sure to serve board members, the IBBA membership, and staff members as a great tool for making connections. Join us as we celebrate the history and heritage of the Brangus breed and our promising future.

For more information about the convention, a full schedule, links to online registration and hotel reservations, and more, visit the convention’s webpage at www.GoBrangus. com/2017-convention. You may also use the form on page 23 for registration by completing it and mailing it to P.O. Box 809, Adkins, TX 78101. Don’t wait to register. The deadline for guaranteed hotel reservations and discounted registration rates is Jan. 19.

Please review the stories and information on pages 22-37 of this issue of the Brangus Journal for an introduction to convention. Thanks to the sponsors, recognized on page 24, for their contributions to this event. Please contact the IBBA f0r more information, at (210) 696-8231.

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FEBRUARY 10-11, 2017

For discounted rates, register before Jan. 19, 2017. After this date, rates will increase. A full registration includes access to all activities and events. For an individual or guest, not participating in full, tickets may be purchased to attend the Annual Meeting and the Awards Banquet. International Junior Brangus Breeders Association members may attend convention for free. However, guest tickets for Annual Meeting and the Awards Banquet must be purchased for junior members in attendance. The following form may be filled out and returned to the IBBA office, at P.O. Box 809, Adkins, TX 78101.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DATE: _____/_____/_______ MEMBER NAME: ___________________________________________ MEMBER #: _________________________________ RANCH NAME: _________________________________________________________________________________________ PRIMARY MAILING ADDRESS: ___________________________________________________________________________ CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE: _________________________________________________________________________________ PHONE: ______________________________ EMAIL ADDRESS: ________________________________________________ _____ IBBA Member Registration ($125) _____ IBBA Convention Guest Registration ($100) _____ Annual Meeting Guest Ticket ($25) _____ Awards Banquet Guest Ticket ($60) _____ Annual Meeting Junior Ticket ($25) _____ Awards Banquet Junior Ticket ($50)

For those interested in contributing to the 2017 Annual Meeting & Convention through sponsorship: A full sponsorship guide can be found online at www.GoBrangus.com/2017-convention/.

You may also write-in a contribution amount on this form: __________________ Please indicate your preferred method of payment: _________________________________________________

TOTAL: $__________ PAYMENT INFORMATION (Indicate Method of Payment) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CREDIT CARD (BELOW)

ENCLOSED CHECK

ENCLOSED CASH

CARD TYPE (VISA, MASTERCARD, DISCOVER, AMERICAN EXPRESS): _________________________________ CARD NUMBER: _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ EXP DATE: _____ _____ / _____ _____

SECURITY CODE: _____ _____ _____ _____

CARDHOLDER’S NAME: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ BILLING ADDRESS: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ AUTHORIZE TRANSACTION (SIGNATURE): ________________________________________________________ DATE: ____________________________

#BrangusCon17 We hope you are as excited as we are for 2017 Annual Meeting & Convention. This is a perfect opportunity to visit with

your friends in the Brangus community. Connect with us online. Tell us what you’re most excited about when you RSVP to our Facebook event, and then invite your friends. The event hashtags are #BrangusCon17. Follow IBBA social media accounts for fun countdown announcements and more.

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IBBA 2017 ANNUAL MEETING & CONVENTION

PRIME-LEVEL SPONSORS

CHOICE-LEVEL SPONSORS

SELECT-LEVEL SPONSORS

SPONSORSHIPS ARE STILL AVAILABLE. TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT THROUGH SPONSORSHIP, PLEASE CONTACT THE IBBA OR VISIT GoBrangus.com/2017-convention/.

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FEBRUARY 10-11, 2017

History of the IBBA

by Past-IBBA Executive Vice President Roy Lilley It is a privilege to write a short article about the history of Brangus cattle and the International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA). When I was hired as executive vice president in 1964, many of the pioneers of the breed who formed the American Brangus Breeders Association in 1949 were still active. One of them, Jesse Dowdy, was the Executive officer that I replaced and he and his wonderful office manager, Emma Matney, were the ones that showed me the ropes when I took over the office in the Livestock Exchange building in the Kansas City Stockyards.

My background was with commercial cattlemen’s organizations, including the American National Cattlemen’s Association (National Cattlemen’s Beef Association) and New Mexico Cattle Growers Association. The American Hereford Association and American Angus Association were far and away the largest breed registries at that time; but were having problems dealing with the reality that although most commercial cattlemen remained amazingly loyal to them, they had been slow to recognize the importance of performance testing. Many of the pioneers in performance testing, such as Carlton Corbin, charter board member, and leading producers of registered Angus, like Essar Ranch, in Texas, and Wye Plantation, in Maryland, were leaders in turning away from the small-framed, early-maturing breeding stock, then in vogue in the show ring.

Fortunately, Essar Ranch, in Texas, and Frank Buttram’s Clear Creek Ranch, in Oklahoma, used the very kind of bigger-framed, good-milking Angus that had been neglected by their own organization as foundation stock.

The first hurdle to getting a Brangus breed registry started was determining whether to go with half-bloods, as Essar wanted, or with 3/8 Brahman and 5/8 angus, as Clear Creek had been raising. No one questioned the maternal merit of half-blood cows, but back-crossing them to half-blood bulls simply resulted in too much variation to establish a breed identity; the issue was settled in Clear Creek’s favor. Essar didn’t stay in the Brangus business, but when they sold their outstanding half-blood cows and bulls they found their way into the hands of ranches that used them as foundation stock for top herds including Clear Creek, which also had Wye Plantation cows. They also had a number of big cows that Raymond Pope bought from a Canadian breeder. (I thank Sammy Pierce who worked for Clear Creek in the early days for that bit of information.)

Some of the other early growing pains showed up in the official board minutes and others were sorted out by me after hearing from all sides. Frank Buttram was a very successful, hard-driving, independent oil man, and he sincerely wanted the organization to succeed. Not surprisingly, the organization’s first president was Raymond Pope, the manager of Clear Creek. Jesse Dowdy, the first executive vice president of the IBBA, told me that if the organization couldn’t agree on something Buttram wanted or couldn’t afford, Buttram simply picked up the tab. This created some resentment, particularly in Texas, but his unfailing support surely helped get the organization through its formative years.

When Buttram brought his son, Dorsey, into the operation, he and Raymond Pope were soon at odds.

After some legal wrangling Pope resigned as manager and consolidated his operation on his own ranch called Clear View. Dowdy told me Dorsey’s side of the conflict. I soon learned most Texas breeders had a completely different slant on it. In any case, the association changed its name from the American Brangus Breeders Association to the International Brangus Breeders Association, moved the office from Vinita, Oklahoma to Kansas City, Missouri, and hired Dowdy to manage it. I was hired to replace him in 1964. I was fortunate that the office was running smoothly under Mrs. Matney, but I found, after my first trip to Texas, there was still serious regional tension within the organization that had the potential to rip it apart. I kept my own council about the family squabble the association was having as Dowdy was revered in the middle-west and had strong support among some breeders in the southwest and southeast.

I received a warm welcome at my first convention in San Antonio where we laid out an ambitious agenda to promote the breed. I continued to enjoy the full support of the board as the internal divisions faded. We had a loyal, diverse membership base of large and small breeders, and the breed had a strong genetic foundation on both the Brahman and Angus sides. We managed to increase our annual total recordings, which was about 80 percent registrations, from less than 5,000 head to nearly 16,000 by 1978. Along the way, we established a highly successful annual International Show and Sale during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and a summer International Brangus Futurity Show and Sale in Fredericksburg, Texas. Thanks to Dr. Herman Gardner, we finagled a way to build a headquarters building in San Antonio with an investment of only $10,000, purchase 27

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a computer, print our own pedigrees, hire an assistant for me, and a professional staff to edit the Brangus Journal.

By the end of 1978, I had worn out my welcome and was let go, so the history from that point forward is for someone else to write. I am trying to get a memoir written that I waited far too long to start and the fifteen years spent working for IBBA while my family was growing up will be among the fondest of my recollections in it.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Roy Lilley has been involved in the cattle industry for much of his life. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Animal Husbandry from Colorado State University, and worked toward a Master of Science in Animal Breeding.

Lilley has experience from working in many roles for the American National Cattlemen’s Association, the California Cattlemen’s Association, the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association, the International Brangus Breeders Association, and the Nebraska Stock Growers Association. Lilley is married and has four children.

Currently, he resides in Fort Collins, Colorado.

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Feed Efficiency and How It’s Measured

by Ryan Reuter, Ph.D., Oklahoma State University animal science associate professor; Deke Alkire, Ph.D., self-employed, Missouri; Alison Sunstrum, GrowSafe Systems; John Blanton, Jr., Ph.D., Mississippi State University animal and dairy sciences department head and professor; and Billy Cook, Ph.D., The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation Article provided by IBBA 2017 Annual Meeting and Convention Sponsors, the Genetic Development Center and ST Genetics, from the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation.

Introduction

A sustainable beef industry is a balanced equation with ranchers and farmers producing a wholesome product that meets consumer demands, ensures animal well-being, stewards agricultural resources and enables operational profitability. As an industry, we have made many strides guaranteeing animal welfare and meeting consumer demands through selection for increased growth rate with acceptable yields and quality grade. While these performance characteristics have improved, feed efficiency is now the focus of many producers.

A successful businessman, farmer or rancher looks to increase profit by efficiently delivering a product that is in demand by the consumer. Beef producers are very good at delivering a wholesome product, but how efficient are the cattle? What is efficiency? How do we know if our animals are efficient? Have we achieved increased growth, rib eye area and marbling at the expense of efficiency? These are increasingly significant questions as input costs to the beef production system continue to increase.

What is efficiency?

Webster® defines efficiency as a “way to determine an effective operation as measured by a comparison of production with costs.” In a business, efficiency is a major contributor to profitability and is usually achieved through a decrease in inputs, increase of outputs or a combination of the two. The business of beef production follows the same principles to profitability, but measuring the efficiency of an integrated beef operation is difficult due to variation in cattle class (growing, breeding, etc.), breed differences, reproduction status, lactation ability, and difficulty in assigning input costs to individual animals. Many of these factors have been studied in depth, but one of the most often overlooked efficiency measures in a beef operation is feed efficiency. It is estimated that up to 75 percent of the total cost of beef cattle production is feed (Basarab et al., 2002).

Therefore, it is critical that this production parameter be more closely monitored.

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What is feed efficiency?

Feed efficiency seems intuitive. In general, an animal that produces either greater body mass with the same feed intake or the same body mass with less feed intake would be considered more efficient than its contemporaries. Using this formula, we can determine the relative efficiency of several species of agriculturally important animals. For example, it takes an average of 6 pounds of feed to produce 1 pound of body mass increase for beef animals. In comparison, pigs require about 3.4 pounds of feed and poultry 2 pounds of feed. Fish are the most efficient, only requiring 1.2 pounds of feed for each pound of body mass accrued.

Why is feed efficiency important?

While it is interesting to compare average feed efficiency of different species, we also know that dramatic differences exist in feed efficiency among individual animals within a species. In fact, Basarab et al. (2003) found that there was as much as an 8-pound difference in feed consumed per day for steers that gained similarly. In practical terms, this difference is very costly to the producer. This 8-pound difference in feed intake would amount to half a ton of feed ($150) in a 120-d feeding period.

How is feed efficiency measured?

To measure feed efficiency requires the measurement of feed intake and gain. Without automation, feed intake can be an expensive and often laborious trait to mea-sure. Feed intake is relatively easy to estimate for a pen of animals; however, in this case, efficiency can only be calculated for the pen as a group.

Early studies to determine individual animal efficiency were primarily restricted to university research because of the need to use metabolism crates. These crates were designed to hold a single animal and required the animal to be hand-fed two to three times per day. An advantage of this system was that it enabled the researcher to not only collect feed consumed, but also collect animal waste. While this allowed for precise animal efficiency calculations, results

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may be influenced by the lack of animal socialization and restricted behavior. In addition to being very costly, the isolated animal’s behavior may be altered which could result in unnatural feed consumption pat-terns, leading to faulty efficiency measures.

Over the past 20 years a few technologies were used in research which attempted to measure individual animal feed intake in a pen environment. One system, manufactured by American Calan, is still used in research environments today.

The Calan gate works via an electronic collar that the animal wears around its neck. This collar activates a trigger located in a door associated with the feed bunk, and, therefore, the animal can only consume feed from that bunk. Calan gates were a major improvement over metabolism crates because they en-able animal socialization in a feedlot setting.

However, feeding behavior was still affected by restricting where an animal could eat, feed needed to be pre-weighed and added by hand, and at the end of the day remaining feed needed to be weighed to determine what was actually consumed. While this system was an improvement, it still resulted in modification of normal animal behavior and required a significant amount of labor. Due to the inability to measure environmental effects like snow and rain, these systems needed to be installed in a barn or covered area, increasing the costs of measuring feed intake.

Feed efficiency is a critical aspect of efficient beef cattle production and profitability.

In 2000, a Canadian engineering company developed the GrowSafe Feed Intake and Behavioral Measurement System (GrowSafe). Every animal is equipped with an electronic Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) ear tag.

This “smart name tag” uniquely identifies each animal.

An RFID-equipped trough is suspended on two load cells that measure with 10 gram resolution. The tag and trough measure feed disappearance every second. The system can be used outdoors in any environment. This system runs continuously and does not require any specialized feeding equipment or labor. Therefore, the animal’s normal feeding behavior is not altered by human interaction nor is an animal restricted to a specific feed-ing location. With this system, we are now able to accurately measure the amount of feed an individual animal consumes on a daily basis in a commercial environment and compare that to its growth performance to deter-mine efficiency.

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How do we use feed efficiency?

The identification and selection of efficient animals is critical to beef cattle profitability. Unfortunately, identifying these efficient animals has been difficult. In the past, improved feed efficiency was assumed to be a by-product of selecting for increased growth rate. However, this method may be biased in that faster-growing animals are usually of larger mature size and, therefore, have increased maintenance requirements. Ideally, feed efficiency, independent of growth rate and mature size, should be measured and included in a matrix of traits that all influence profitability.

What is Residual Feed Intake (RFI)?

Now that we have the technology to accurately measure an animal’s feed intake in a commercial environment, the industry needs to use the best metric to describe feed efficiency. Traditionally, the use of feed-to-gain ratio defined an animal’s efficiency. For example, “It takes 6 pounds of feed to produce 1 pound of gain.” Unfortunately, it is difficult to compare animals using feed-to-gain ratio as it can be significantly affected by animal body size, stage of growth and even breed. Therefore, to help overcome these obstacles, researchers have developed a measurement standard termed “Residual Feed Intake.”

Residual Feed Intake (RFI) is defined as the difference between an individual animal’s actual feed intake and its predicted feed intake. Predicted feed intake is based on the actual measured performance and size of the animal, compared to contemporaries. Koch et al. (1963) first suggested this method of evaluation because it reflects differences in an animal’s feed use for production and body weight maintenance. This means animal efficiency can be measured independently of mature size and growth rate, and allows animals in a contemporary group to be ranked from most to least efficient. Therefore, an animal with a negative RFI value, meaning it consumed less feed than was predicted, is more efficient than an animal with a positive RFI. Residual Feed Intake as a genetic improvement tool Selecting breeding animals based on RFI is only valuable if the phenotype is due to genetics that are heritable. That is, if the genetic value of an efficient animal is not transmitted to the next generation, then the breeding value of that animal for feed efficiency is minimal. There-fore, several studies have been conducted over the years to determine the heritability of RFI. Research into RFI heritability indicates that it is dependent upon breed, but, in general, the trait is moderately heritable (0.16 to 0.43). These numbers mean that improvements in efficiency can be obtained through selective breeding using animals evaluated for RFI. Importantly, it has been found that improvements in efficiency (RFI) do not

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affect other performance traits such as average daily gain or weaning weight. Therefore, the utilization of GrowSafe technology to accurately measure individual animal intake and performance on large numbers of bulls will enable the industry to identify desired genetics.

Does selection for RFI really help?

There have been several studies conducted over the last five to seven years investigating the effects of RFI on individual animal performance, and most of these evaluations were conducted with the GrowSafe System. So does RFI identify a more efficient animal? Arthur et al. (2001) found that after two generations of selection for lower RFI, steers and heifers consumed 11 percent less feed, but had similar weights and performance to their randomly mated contemporary groups.

In addition, these authors also determined that if divergent RFI lines were selected, daily feed consumption decreased by an average of 0.5 pounds per day for each year of selection.

Interestingly, most studies find that an improvement in RFI has little or no effect on carcass fat, mature animal size and average daily gain (Herd and Bishop, 2000; Richardson et al., 1998; Herring and Bertrand, 2002).

It has been reported that 50 percent of the feed used in a beef production system is used to maintain breeding animals (Lamb and Maddock, 2009). Improving feed efficiency of brood cows would obviously have a significant impact on overall efficiency. Can RFI be used to improve cow efficiency? Several pasture-based studies have been conducted to evaluate animal performance for cows having different RFI values. In general, most studies have found that cows with lower RFIs are heavier than their counterparts on similar forages (Herd et al., 1997, 2005; Herd et al., 2003; McDonald et al., 2010). More recently, Meyer et al. (2008) utilized the GrowSafe Feed Intake System to evaluate both low- and high-RFI cows. In this study, no difference in cattle weight gain was detected, but low-RFI cows did consume an average of 16 percent less forage.

Equally important to growth in females is reproductive performance. Relatively little research has been conducted in this area, but recently Lamb and Maddock (2009) reported the effects of RFI on reproductive performance in Brahman first-calf heifers and multiparous cows. As in the previous study, body weights did not differ between the two groups, but the more efficient animals developed a corpus luteum (CL) and exhibited estrous an average of 13 days earlier than the less efficient females. This data seems to indicate that selection for low RFI could shorten postpartum intervals.

Summary

Feed efficiency is a critical aspect of efficient beef cattle production and profitability. Now that we have the tools to better determine which animals are more efficient, it is incumbent upon scientists and producers to develop 34 :: JANUARY 2017

producer applications for this data. The sustainability of the livestock industry is reliant on farm and ranch profitability.

Literature Cited Arthur, P.F., J.A. Archer, R.M. Herd and G.J. Meiville. 2001a. Response to selection to improve efficiency of feed use in beef cattle. Proc. 13th Conf.

Assoc. Advancement Anim. Breed. Genet. 484.

Basarab, J.A., M.A. Price and E.L. Okine 2001. Commercialization of net feed efficiency. Memo. Western Forage Group. Alberta Agric. Food and Rural Development Ctr. Lacombe, Alberta 12.

Basarab, J.S., M.A. Price, J.L. Aalhus, E.K. Okine, W.M. Snelling and K.L. Lyle. 2003. Residual feed intake and body composition in young growing cattle. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 83(2):189.

Herd, R.M., P.F. Arthur, J.A. Archer, E.C. Richardson, J.H. Wright, K.C.P. Dibley and D.A. Burton. 1997. Performance of progeny of high vs low net feed conversion efficiency cattle. Proc. 12th Conf. Assoc. Advancement Anim. Breed. Genet. Dubbo Australia.

Herd, R.M. and S.C. Bishop. 2000. Genetic variation in residual feed intake and its association with other production traits in British Hereford cattle.

Livestock Prod. Sci. 63(2):111.

Herd, R.M., J.A. Archer and P.F. Arthur. 2003. Reducing the cost of beef production through genetic improvement in residual feed intake: Opportunity and challenges to application. 81 (E Suppl. 1):E9.

Herring, W.O. and J.K. Bertrand. 2002. Multi-train prediction of feed conversion in feedlot cattle. 34th Proceeding BIF conference, Omaha NE. Koch, R.M., L.A. Swiger, D. Chambers and K.E. Gregory. 1963. Efficiency of feed use in beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 22:486.

Lamb, G.C., and T. Maddock. 2009. Feed efficiency in cows. Florida Beef Cattle Short Course. 35.

Meyer, A.M., M.S. Kerley and R.L. Kallenbach. 2008. The effect of residual feed intake classification on forage intake in grazing beef cows. J. Anim. Sci. 86:2670.

McDonald, T.J., G.W. Brester, A. Bekkerman and J.A. Paterson. 2010. Case Study: Searching for the Ultimate Cow: The economic value of residual feed intake at bull sales. Prof. Ani. Sci. 26:655.

Richardson, E.C., R.M. Herd, J.A. Archer, R.T. Woodgate and P.F. Arthur.

1998. Steers bred for improved net feed efficiency eat less for the same feedlot performance. Anim. Prod. Aust. 22:213-216.

FEBRUARY 10-11, 2017

Anipro/Xtraformance Feeds: Rich in History, Poised for the Future Article provided by IBBA 2017 Annual Meeting and Convention Sponsor, Anipro/Xtraformance Feeds.

Anipro/Xtraformance Feeds, based in College Station, Texas, was created in 1991 to develop a dealer-marketed, full-service line of liquid supplements. With a liquid feed plant in Great Falls, Montana, Anipro/Xtraformance Feeds’ initial emphasis was in developing products to support the range cattle business in Montana and Canada. This business rapidly grew to the Pacific Northwest, California, and the Texas and New Mexico area. In 2000, it was decided that additional products to support and compliment the liquid line were necessary, so that a greater range of customers could be serviced. A full line of weatherized range minerals we’re developed at the company mill in Pratt, Kansas and incorporated into the dealer network. Today, Anipro/ Xtraformance Feeds sells and services its full range of quality, value-added supplement products through 200 dealers and distributors in an area that encompasses 36 states through the west, central, south and southeast United States.

Anipro/Xtraformance Feeds’ fundamental philosophy is to acquire and keep customers. It is our belief that if we work hard to identify customers, properly identify what their needs are, and passionately service the account, then profitability and growth will naturally follow. If profitability is placed before this fundamental belief, then corners are cut, quality is sacrificed, and, ultimately, customers are lost to those who hold true to this philosophy.

This philosophy is founded on four basic guiding principles.

First and foremost, our philosophy is supported through quality products, which are a function of the ingredients selected for the formulas. Ingredients should be selected for their appropriateness for the production system and bioavailability. Ingredients should, also, be used based on availability so that product consistency and integrity can be maintained. Anipro/Xtraformance Feeds uses a fixed ingredient set in our formulas, unlike many other companies who least cost formulate. This practice gives us visual consistency and predictable consumption, while allowing our price to be stable during the supplementation season.

Secondly, Anipro/Xtraformance Feeds practices consultative selling which focuses on customer interviews to ensure that the proper nutrition is matched with customer preferences. Through this consultative sales process, Anipro/Xtraformance Feeds sales representatives learn the objectives and goals of the producer, the forage quality and quantity through forage testing, and the environmental and logistical challenges from the producer to design a supplementation strategy that has an excellent opportunity and potential to optimize each individual’s productivity.

Thirdly, our philosophy is built around the fact that we are a supplement versus a feed, and we take this position seriously. This concept is important from the standpoint that without a feed program in place that provides quantity, it is difficult for a supplement program to demonstrate quality.

Supplements are designed to balance the feed program, not replace it. When put in the position to replace a portion of, or the entire feed program, the result will be lower than expected performance and higher than expected cost.

Anipro/Xtraformance Feeds considers this to be an ethical issue, where the right amount of supplement is sold to give the optimum level of performance. Consumption which is too high results in excess cost and consumptions too low for the specific situation result in below standard performance.

Finally, Anipro/Xtraformance Feeds is committed to selling nutrition versus products.

Anipro/Xtraformance Feeds’ basic goal is to identify the nutritional requirements of each individual producer’s herd and compare this with the nutrient contribution provided by available feedstuffs to determine the nutritional package required to achieve optimum performance. Once the required nutrition package has been identified, then product options are provided to the producer to match with his personal and unique preferences, desires and logistical challenges. The bottom line is that we don’t prefer one product over another as long as the nutrient requirements of the herd are met.

Sound supplementation should be based on productivity through production, not solely product cost. Varying 35

FEBRUARY 10-11, 2017

nutritional requirements related to age, size, body condition, and stage of gestation, to name a few, should be compared with forage species, maturity, quality and quantity, and then matched up with the customers’ preferences and desires to determine the correct supplementation strategy or program for the given situation. Anipro specializes in providing all of the major types of self-supplementation products available in the industry: liquids, tubs and range minerals.

Our liquid supplements are built on the premise of increasing fiber digestibility and utilization in order to make the rumen system achieve optimum efficiency while making the best use of available forage resources. High levels of natural protein, ingredients that foster the growth of cellulytic digesting bacteria, slow-release nitrogen for greater safety and utilization, and a complete and balanced mineral and vitamin package are the cornerstones of this high-end, quality form of supplementation.

Our low-moisture, cooked-molasses tubs feature a wellbalanced mineral and vitamin package, variable protein levels, and the choice of either plastic or biodegradable packaging to address the preferences and needs of producers who desire this type of supplementation strategy.

WeatherPro is a state of the art mineral product that uses weatherization technology to protect the product from both moisture and wind. This innovative process resulting in superior formulations, affords the producer the option of multiple formulations with a myriad of additives to choose from to address certain challenges throughout the year. Additionally, WeatherPro’s design prevents mineral leaching and segregation, which are the primary causes of inconsistent mineral intake.

In 2013, Anipro/Xtraformance Feeds launched the Premium Nutrition Network (PNN), a supply chain management program designed to create value for cowcalf producers, backgrounders, and feedlot operators by sourcing and promoting high-quality calves that are healthy, nutritionally sound, and satisfy the needs of each follow-on segment.

The PNN vision is to maximize the calf’s genetic ability to perform in the next sector of production through the synergistic approach of both health and nutrition. PNN takes the established health-based weaned calf programs one step further by integrating them with a nutritional plan that allows the calf to achieve its optimum potential.

If cattle are on an increasing plane of nutrition and have been administered the proper vaccines, they have the best opportunity to be efficient in the next production phase. It is imperative that for the calf to achieve both its genetic and production potential, both nutrition and health protocols must be provided to the calf in a logical and orderly sequence to ensure the success desired.

All industry segments benefit from a trusted source of quality cattle, and this program ensures the cattle have been produced and managed with the whole beef industry in mind. PNN calves meet the two primary goals established at program inception; first, to help cow/calf producers wean a set of calves that are healthy and ready to enter the next stage of production with efficient weight gain, and second, to coordinate the successful transfer of dependable calves to the stocker operations and feedlots so they know the cattle coming off of a ranch have been managed with quality in mind. Profitability in the cow herd through increased conception rates and a tighter calving interval has been shown to be an added benefit to the producer while virtually every sale of these PNN calves over the last four years has resulted in higher prices when compare to the same type commodity cattle in the same sale on the same day.

At the end of the day, Anipro/Xtraformance Feeds strives to build lasting partnerships with producers through customized service, quality products and innovative programs designed to increase the productivity and profitability of the customer.

*Quality Products *Consultative Selling *Supplement Versus Feed *Nutrition Versus Products

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FEBRUARY 10-11, 2017

It’s All in the Family

by IBBA Field Service Representative Taylor Shackelford

Starting a cattle herd can be a daunting task. For someone just getting into the Brangus breed, there are hundreds of genetic options to navigate. Most understand expected progeny differences (EPDs) typically fall into one of three categories: reproductive, growth-driven or carcass-oriented.

Yet, there are highly-sought genetics, which encompass multiple EPD traits, as well as phenotypical ideals. Cow families are the best-kept secret of the Brangus breed.

Perhaps cow families are not so much a secret – you can hear about them in discussions at almost every purebred sale in the nation – but, they’re not exactly documented either.

Part of the success of the Brangus breed is the respect that certain bloodlines have earned over the years. According to Ken Hughes, Brangus producer for more than 30 years in Franklin, Texas, cow families are an unspoken filing system.

It all started with Glen Brinkman, circa 1968. He realized early on, Brangus cow selection lacked consistency and predictability. Brinkman traced the breed back to foundation Angus genetics and sifted calves by genetics. This brought phenotypical heritability into the light and inspired him to track it in the Brinks herd.

With nothing more than a spiral notebook and a pen, Brinkman started recording his own herd EPDs. Instead of focusing on the topside of genetics, he kept a close watch on the production of the dams.

“Do your homework and reach into the bottom side of those cows’ pedigrees,” Hughes said. “If you evaluate your cows, make notes on them, and notice the trends, there will be things you can pick out.”

Essentially, pioneers of the cow family movement just picked a number and added a letter for each year of production. Truly remarkable was the respect and cooperation of Brangus breeders across the nation to honor the designation of a number to one ranch, one cow.

The singularity in the movement allows breeders to track genetics with ease. Many cow families have tendencies of their own, especially taking into consideration traits like disposition, mothering instinct, and sexual maturity.

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Naturally, if the cow family ranks in the top percentiles for muscle and carcass quality, expect antagonistic traits, like fertility, to decline. However, any longtime cattle raiser would say the same no matter the lineage.

“Each cow family will have a trait or traits they excel in and traits you also have to watch,” Hughes said, “like sheath score or white markings.”

The program is such a success, that hundreds of known cow families allow breeders the ability to select as much variation as they wish while putting together a balanced herd. Many seasoned Brangus breeders still use cow families in their selection and mating strategies. These are genetics that are time-tested; they don’t miss.

“It used to be that bigger was better,” Hughes said.

“Now, we are making cows more moderate with more to them. They’ve got more guts, flesh and belly. But underlines, as a whole, have gotten much better too.”

Herdsmen can benefit from an understanding that focusing, on these proven genetic lines, leads to faster progression of the breed. Every operation needs a goal to reach toward and maintain consistency. The objective can be genomic, physical, or even economical. Those with a clear vision are enhancing the Brangus breed.

Hughes said, “There is no substitute for consistent selection. The customer dictates a lot of what you really concentrate on. But in my opinion, cattle are getting better.”

In February, the International Brangus Breeders Association will host the 2017 Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas, where the new office space will hold a ribbon cutting and unveil the cow family hall of fame. You won’t want to miss this exciting opportunity to learn about the history of Brangus and fill in the gaps for us on photographs and stories we currently hold in the archives.

FEBRUARY 10-11, 2017

Guide to i50K Testing and GE-EPDs for Brangus Breeders

by Kent Andersen Article provided by IBBA 2017 Annual Meeting and Convention Sponsor, Zoetis.

Introduction

Zoetis is pleased to partner with the International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) as a genotyping service provider for members and commercial users of Brangus genetics. The most impactful focus of this partnership is to efficiently provide dependable genomic-enhanced expected progeny differences (GE-EPDs) to empower more informed breeding and marketing decisions throughout the beef supply chain. This guide is intended to help Brangus breeders more easily navigate the process for getting GE-EPDs powered by Zoetis i50K.

Order and Sample Submission

The co-branded Zoetis / IBBA testing order form – a customized Excel file – is available for downloading from either the IBBA or Zoetis genetics websites, or may be provided by email through contacting your Zoetis or IBBA representatives. The order file contains different tabs for providing IBBA member number, customer contact, billing, animal identification (registration, tag/tattoo numbers) and test request information.

Once completed, and at the same time samples are shipped, customers are advised to email the Excel order file to Zoetis (genetics.us@zoetis. com) and the IBBA (rnelson@ gobrangus.com), for efficient order creation and processing of samples upon their arrival at the Zoetis lab. In the case of Allflex tissue collectors, or thawed straws of semen from artificial insemination sires, such should be packaged for shipping in boxes or padded envelops to prevent crushing and the potential for compromised sample integrity.

Blood and hair cards may be

shipped in regular envelops. The DNA samples, ideally along with a printed copy of the animal information tab from the order form, should be shipped to Zoetis Genetics, 333 Portage Street, Building 300, Kalamazoo, MI 49007-9970.

Plan Ahead for Timely Results

To help ensure that GE-EPDs powered by i50K are available in time for important selection, mating, and marketing decisions (i.e. publication of sale catalogs), the following DNA order / sample submission and IBBA National Cattle Evaluation (NCE) schedule is provided.

Brangus breeders are encouraged to plan ahead for sample collection and ordering, such that results from i50K testing – GE-EPDs with higher accuracy values reported at four different times annually – are available when needed.

As communicated in the table below, samples and DNA testing orders should be submitted at least 30 days in advance of the performance data entry deadlines for each scheduled NCE. As well, in order to execute i50K enabled parentage verifications, to the extent possible based on tested sires and/or dams, breeders are encouraged to collect samples and submit orders as far in advance of stated deadlines as practical.

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Why GE-EPDs?

For young, non-parent Brangus animals, GE-EPDs powered by i50K have higher accuracy and less potential error, or possible change, as compared to untested animals with conventional EPDs. The higher accuracy (.15 to .20 accuracy units) is roughly equal to what otherwise would require considerable time (one to three years) and the better part of a first natural service calf crop / set of retained daughters – 10 to 20 progeny equivalents – with performance data contributing to conventional EPDs. In other words, depending upon the trait, i50K marker information accounts for gene sampling (every sperm and egg are different), boosts accuracy and immediately removes 20% to 30% of the possible change (error) associated with conventional nonparent EPDs. The end-result is fewer breeding mistakes and faster, more dramatic genetic advancements in productivity.

Why test Brangus bulls?

Commercial users of Brangus genetics can more dependably buy bulls for prescribed purposes if based on GE-EPDs powered by i50K. Brangus heifer bulls with favorable GE-EPDs for Calving Ease Direct (CED) and Birth Weight (BW) can be purchased with more confidence and fewer surprises in the form of assisted births. Brangus bulls purchased for purposes of siring productive replacement heifers (Milk, Calving Ease Maternal – CEM, and Scrotal Circumference – SC), and/or for producing steers with higher gains (Yearling Weight – YW) in the feedyard and more valuable carcasses (Marbling – IMF and Ribeye Area (REA), can more dependably be identified with GE-EPDs. The investment in i50K by Brangus seedstock producers thus enables commercial customers to do a better job of buying bulls that are more dependably matched to their specific needs. Beyond bull buying, registered and transferred, i50K tested Brangus bull battery information can also be used in various feeder cattle marketing programs for more informed price discovery of Brangus sired feeder cattle.

Why test Brangus females?

With conventional genetic evaluation, seedstock females rarely achieve EPDs with notable accuracy. The increased accuracy of GE-EPDs powered by i50K, and the immediate delivery of 10 to 20 progeny equivalents worth of added dependability for evaluated traits, mean that tested females achieve higher accuracy than what otherwise would require more than a lifetime of natural calves to achieve. It follows that GE-EPDs for Brangus females thus enable a lifetime or more dependable mating decisions – to accentuate strengths and correct trait weaknesses – for a higher proportion of genetically more superior progeny that generate more total 40 :: JANUARY 2017

value of seedstock sales. GE-EPDs for Brangus females also yield more dependable identification of elite females to mass propagate through ET and IVF programs.

It follows that GE-EPDs for Brangus females thus enable a lifetime or more dependable mating decisions – to accentuate strengths and correct trait weaknesses – for a higher proportion of genetically more superior progeny that generate more total value of seedstock sales.

Summary

This guide to i50K testing and GE-EPDs for Brangus seedstock ushers in a new era for genetic evaluation and advancements in productivity for breeders and commercial users of Brangus genetics. Information included and referenced herein addresses options for DNA sample collection, processes for completing and submitting orders, as well as foundational reasons why i50K and associated GEEPDs for Brangus bulls and females are pivotal in delivering strategic, competitive advantages for breeders that adopt the technology. Zoetis is pleased to have the opportunity to partner with the IBBA in service to its members and the beef industry.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kent Andersen was raised on a diversified livestock and farming operation in central Nebraska. Following graduation from the University of Nebraska (B.S., 1985) and Colorado State University (M.S., 1987 and Ph.D., 1990), Andersen served as director of education and research, from 1990 to 1999, and executive vice president, from 2000 to 2009, for the North American Limousin Foundation. During his career, he has been active in various beef industry organizations, including the Beef Improvement Federation, the National Pedigreed Livestock Council, and the U.S. Beef Breeds Council. In his position with Zoetis, Andersen serves as director of genetics for cattle and equine technical services.

Andersen is active in his family’s commercial cow-calf and farming operation in Nebraska. He and his wife Wendy, along with twelve-year-old daughter, Claire, reside in Windsor, Colorado.

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Marketing Your Cattle in a Live Auction

by Mark Cowan, American Marketing Services

What does it take to market cattle in an auction? Good cattle are a given. However, to be consistently successful, you need more than just good cattle – you need a plan.

Plan to market your cattle well in advance of the event.

That planning and goal-setting should occur 30 to 36 months ahead of your event participation. Plan to maximize your return for participating and your return on your investment.

Cattle you mate today will not reach yearling for two more years. You cannot sell them as bred heifers or coming twoyear-old bulls for another 30 months. What are the highestperforming, most in-demand genetics you can identify? How do those genetics work and how will they match your cow herd? The best way to answer those questions is to target specific bulls and go look yourself. The second best way is to discuss those animals with people who see a lot of calves by the targeted bulls, including the owners. It is in their best interest that their customers understand clearly how the sires work and what kind of cattle are phenotypically complimentary to the herd sires you want to use. Buy semen on those bulls and artificially inseminate (AI) your cows if you want to participate in an auction. The contrast between natural-service-sired animals (NS) and AI-sired animals in terms of price is startling, and it makes no difference whether you are marketing females or range bulls. Your customers, in many cases, will know as much about the AI sires you choose as you do; it is important to gather as much information as you can and to choose wisely. The price differential between NS and AI cattle is as much as four to seven times the $50 cost to synchronize and AI your cow herd. Artificial insemination is an excellent tool to maximize your return on investment.

Differentiate and brand your product. Give your potential customers specific reasons to own your cattle.

Only you, as an owner, can initially identify and determine the direction of the branding and differentiation process.

That is a personal decision, but one that is necessary to be successful. Some examples of successful branding in the corporate world would be the Cadillac brand, the King Ranch brand, Mercedes, Crest toothpaste, Listerine mouthwash, and the biggest of them all is Coca Cola. Is a Cadillac Escalade worth $60,000 more that a Chevy Cruz?

Both are made by GM, but the brand and the internet says it is worth more. Are Mercedes worth more than Cadillacs?

The brand says they are. Is Coca Cola the Real Thing? The brand says it is. Now, follow a little further, how do we know about these value differences? Each of the corporate entities behind these brands hammers their message home – not one time and done – but over and over. At trade shows, car shows, on television, and on the internet. They advertise.

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They sponsor events. They promote their differences and the superiority of their product, and when everyone understands that, they promote it some more. The consumer market is ever-changing; new consumers are being added; others are aging and fading away. These companies know they must constantly expand their brand to hold their existing base and attract the next generation of consumers. This isn’t too different from the seedstock business, when you think about it.

Let’s try to use some of the everyday lessons we can learn from these and other branding professionals. How will you brand your product? Do you win all the major shows? Do you have high weaning weights and yearling weights? Do you have the biggest EPDs? Do you have the most balanced EPDs? Do you have the best carcass traits bred into your cattle? Do you have the most trouble-free cattle? Do you have the best udders in your cow herd? Can you supply the most seedstock at the most reasonable price? Do you have the most hybrid vigor expressed in your product? Believe it or not, there have been cattle operations that have differentiated their product in each of these mentioned ways. They have been among the most successful seedstock operations in the country. There are many ways to brand and differentiate your product, it is an individual choice, but brand you must.

Present your differentiated product in a way that maximizes its value at the sale location. Nutritious and wholesome feed is one the best investments ever. Have your sale offering above the average of the sale in terms of condition. If the body condition score (BCS) of the other cattle average 5.5, have yours with a BCS of 6.5. You will be paid for your feed times over. Your cattle should be clipped; if you do not own a pair of clippers, find someone who does.

If your goal is to maximize value, your consignment must look the part from conditioning to presentation. Be available prior to and during the sale. Promote your brand and your product.

Communicate with your potential customers. Help them find reasons they should own one of your branded and differentiated products. Advertise, promote, and make phone calls. Never drop your cattle off at a sale location and expect others to do your promotion and selling for you.

Successful marketing takes work and a team effort by all involved.

Plan, differentiate, brand, present and communicate.

Simple to say, problematic to implement at times, but essential to success in the auction world.

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all things

IBBA REGIONAL CONNECTION:

AFFILIATES

IBA in the New Year

by Sami Roop

Please join us at the International Brangus Breeders Association’s (IBBA) 2017 Annual Meeting and Convention, History & Heritage, in San Antonio.

The International Brangus Auxiliary (IBA) will be assisting with this event. And, in fact, we will be contacting our members directly to request help in collecting silent auction items, as well as volunteering to help staff various areas of the meeting itself.

2017 is the 40th anniversary of the IBA and we determined that this is the year that we will be more visible at IBBA events. One part of our mission is to promote the Brangus breed, and we will continue to do so by assisting where we can at IBBA events, as well as at events in our own states.

Please watch your email for future notice from the IBA for more information on the specifics on the areas where we will need volunteers in San Antonio.

In addition, the next business meeting of the IBA will be held during the convention in San Antonio. Watch for further news about that meeting as well.

I look forward to seeing you in San Antonio.

JOIN THE IBA TODAY!

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Women of Brangus

by Jodi Jackson

Marlene Schwerin Working alongside her husband, Dennis, for over 31 years, Marlene Schwerin has accomplished something that many would envy. She helped train her daughters so well that they eventually could take over her tasks on the family farm.

During the time her daughters were growing up, Marlene went from teaching science to being a full-time, stay-athome, ranch wife and mother for 16 years. She performed many of the daily cattle chores of monitoring herd health and managing the cattle records. She helped Dennis to gather, sort, process, haul and market approximately 1,000 head of cattle each year. Schwerin Farms, Inc. was established in 1976 by Dennis and his father, Edwin. They raised beef cattle and registered American Quarter Horses on a 1,000acre ranch near Gentry, Arkansas. Registered Brangus cattle were added 21 years ago when their daughters, Susie and Chrisie, started showing Brangus heifers as show projects.

Currently, they maintain a beef cattle herd that includes 20 registered Brangus females, 10 registered Brangus bulls, 200 commercial Brangus females, and approximately 900 head of stocker calves that they retain ownership of and finish out in feedlots in Kansas and Nebraska. All the employees of Schwerin Farms, Inc. are family members. Dennis, along with Chrisie, and her husband, Kaleb Smith, manage the day-today ranching operation. Chrisie is the artificial insemination technician and oversees the embryo transfer work. Chrisie and Kaleb, also manage the Brangus show cattle. Susie, and her husband, Nate Niehus, help out on evenings, weekends, and in the summers. And Marlene has resumed her career as a full-time teacher and went to part-time on the ranch. She teaches ESOL, or english for speakers of other languages, as well as math and science. Outside of work, she has been a 4-H leader, FFA Alumni member, and serves as an ordained elder at the First Presbyterian Church in Springdale, Arkansas, where she is very active in Christian education and youth and children’s ministries.

Both daughters were very active in the Arkansas Junior Brangus Breeders Association, as well as the International Junior Brangus Breeders Association (IJBBA). Chrisie is a past president of the IJBBA. Susie and Chrisie each received two International Brangus Auxiliary (IBA) scholarships, which encouraged and assisted both of them to earn a college degree in agricultural business.

“After witnessing the impact the IBA scholarship program had on our daughters, I made the easy decision to join the IBA and help maintain the organization’s legacy of supporting our breed and its future leaders,” Marlene explains. “IBA is vital to the breed because of their work in breed promotion, their support of the IJBBA through the scholarship program, and their countless behind the scenes efforts to help facilitate the National Junior Brangus Show and numerous International Brangus Breeders Association activities each year,” she adds.

She is currently serving on the IBA Scholarship Committee and has served as IBA second vice-president and scholarship committee chairperson in the past. Marlene enjoys the social aspect of the IBA and would like to see more “just for fun” activities with IBA to promote fellowship opportunities for IBA members to rest, relax, and build friendships with other Brangus folks.

“One of the things I have appreciated most about being involved with Brangus is being part of the Brangus family.

We have been very blessed to work alongside and raise our family with some of the finest people in the country, who share our appreciation for a rural lifestyle and pass on the important values required for success in the cattle business,” Marlene states. She adds, “ One of my greatest honors while working with Brangus came when I was recognized as the 2003 Georgeanne Myers National Supporter of the Year at the NJBS. I was deeply humbled and honored to be recognized for working to promote two of my loves - kids and Brangus cattle.”

Marlene and Dennis Schwerin are thrilled to see their four grandchildren take an interest in Brangus cattle.

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IJBBA CONNECTION Scheduling 2017

by IBBA Director of Youth Programs Tyler Dean

As I sit to write this column, Christmas is rapidly approaching and the new year is already getting scheduled.

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly dates fill up as events and activities are planned. For those with show cattle, the spring show season is about to explode and exhibitors are busy preparing for a busy lineup of spring shows.

IBBA regional shows start in just a couple of weeks. These regional shows offer exhibitors an opportunity to gain some points and move up in the race for International Brangus Breeder Association’s (IBBA) coveted Show Animal of the Year awards. Current standings can be found at gobrangus. com/show-animal-standings/ and will be updated with results as soon as official results are submitted to the IBBA by the respective fairs. Races will culminate at the last IBBA National Point Show for the 2016-2017 show season, which is the International Brangus Show in Houston, Texas.

Upcoming IBBA point shows include: The Arizona National Livestock Show Regional Open Brangus Show on Dec. 29, 2016, in Phoenix, Arizona The Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show Regional Open Brangus Show on Jan. 16, 2017, in Fort Worth, Texas The Florida State Fair Regional Open Brangus Show on Feb. 9, 2017, in Tampa, Florida The San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo Regional Open Brangus Show on Feb. 12, 2017, in San Antonio, Texas The Dixie National Livestock Show Regional Open Brangus Show on Feb. 12, 2017, in Jackson, Mississippi The International Brangus Shows on Mar. 10-11, 2017, in Houston, Texas Additional open shows will be held around the nation and a lot of excitement is building for all Brangus exhibitors.

Junior exhibitors are gearing up to hit the road as they begin their spring show season. From Florida to Oklahoma, junior expos and fairs will be in full force for the first few months of the new year. IBBA works to maintain a list of upcoming shows online at gobrangus.com/shows/ for exhibitors and breeders alike. Should you have any additions to the list, 46 :: JANUARY 2017

send those my way, and we will work to get them added so everyone knows about them.

I encourage you to check out the website and participate in an upcoming event in your area. These exhibitors dedicate a lot of time and energy, as well as financial resources, to preparing Brangus cattle to get them in front of potential customers. Rarely does the time, energy, and especially the financial resources get returned by winning the show.

The reward to these exhibitors is in the relationships they develop while showing cattle. Presenting their best cattle is something that exhibitors take huge amounts of pride in doing. But win or lose in the show ring, promotion of their program and the Brangus breed is the primary objective for any show string on the road today. These exhibitors not only promote their ranch, but most importantly, they are promoting Brangus.

So whether you are an exhibitor or spectator, I highly encourage you to get one of these Brangus shows on your 2017 schedule. What better way to spend your time than attending the show, supporting your fellow breeders, and enjoying some fellowship with dedicated exhibitors?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: As a third generation Brangus breeder, Tyler Dean grew up believing in Brangus cattle. At the age of eight, Dean joined the International Junior Brangus Breeders Association (IJBBA) to show Brangus heifers and ascended the ranks to serve as president of the board of directors in 2004-2005. Professionally, Dean oversaw operations as ranch manager of a growing commercially focused Brangus operation. Under Dean’s guidance, the ranch grew to be the largest source of Brangus bulls in the state of Oklahoma. Additionally, Dean has worked with a large scale commercial ranch in the Oklahoma Panhandle on genetics and management. Before joining International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA), Dean worked independently managing sales as well as doing independent advertising and catalog design and production.

As the director of shows and youth programs, Dean coordinates IBBA’s four national and seven regional shows along with coordinating and executing all IJBBA activities.

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IJBBA in 2017

by IJBBA Board Member Cassidy Polston

Wow, who knew time could fly by so fast? My name is Cassidy Polston. I am 17 years old and a senior in high school. This past summer, at the 2016 National Junior Brangus Show (NJBS), I was elected to the International Junior Brangus Breeders Association (IJBBA) Board of Directors. Being a part of planning some major upcoming events has really been a blast the past few months, but it is hard to believe that 2016 has come and gone already. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year and shares my overflowing excitement that there are so many events to look forward to in 2017.

Looking ahead, I am so excited to be attending the 2017 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for the International Brangus Show. I have heard many stories, and they all start with walking into the barn, that is as big as a football stadium, and smelling the fresh pine shavings.

Among many activities to be held in Houston, the sale of 2017 IJBBA Legacy Heifer, Miss JLS Classy 915D44, is one of the most exciting. Classy was born May 10, 2016 and is definitely a power female for any herd. She is out of Miss New Transformer 915R, and she is sired by Mr JLS My Way 767A7. You will not want to miss out on the incredible opportunity to participate in the 2017 Legacy Female buyer group for a chance to own this beauty and have these great genetics in your cow herd.

We want to say a very special thank you to JLS International, Mr. Jeff Smith, and Mr. Myron Saathoff. We appreciate their support and continued dedication to the IJBBA. Proceeds from the sale of this female are used in various ways including travel expenses for the IJBBA Board of Directors, the IJBBA Legacy Leadership Conference, and the NJBS. The IJBBA Legacy Leadership Conference is an event in which I would like to invite all youth in the cattle industry to participate in. It will be held in Haines City, Florida.

Participants will arrive on Thursday, Apr. 6, 2017, and leave on Sunday, Apr. 9, 2017.

The conference is designed to increase juniors’ knowledge of agriculture, especially the beef cattle industry, as well as build lifelong relationships with others from different states. We will be traveling to several different ranches, from Central Florida to southern Florida, as well as connecting with many Brangus breeders along the way. We have scheduled many keynote speakers that juniors will not want to miss.

The conference is available to anyone ages nine to 21 or IJBBA members seven to 21. The costs to attend will be $100 for IJBBA members or $125 for non-IJBBA members.

The fee covers all costs during the conference including meals, hotel rooms, and tour fees. Back in 2015, when the conference was held in Bryan, Texas, we had such a great time and learned a lot along the way. I know that the people involved in planning this event are very excited and are ready to welcome everyone with open arms.

Moving down the line of upcoming events is the 35th Annual NJBS, which will be held in Texarkana, Arkansas.

Join us for “On the Beaches of Texarkana,” July 23-29, 2017.

We are heading to a different state for NJBS to get more breeders and juniors involved and to spread the word about our amazing organization and breed.

The 2016 NJBS brought 129 junior exhibitors from 10 different states. Out of the 129, 37 exhibitors were firsttime NJBS participants. It was awesome to have that many juniors excited and involved in the IJBBA and NJBS, and we are excited to hopefully surpass those numbers with even more participation this year.

This past October, the IJBBA Board of Directors had the chance to travel to Texarkana for our annual Fall Meeting to discuss NJBS events. It gave us the opportunity to take a look at the facilities and come up with some amazing plans and ideas for the 2017 NJBS. To say I am a little excited about the year ahead is a bit of an understatement. I am really excited to be an IJBBA Director and to give something back to a great association.

I am excited to make and build new friendships along the way, too. I hope to see everyone in Houston and again in Texarkana for the 2017 NJBS. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: A new member to the IJBBA Board of Directors and the fourth Director from Florida is Cassidy Polston. Polston began showing Brangus cattle nine years ago and attended her first NJBS in 2014. She has seen success in the show ring on both a state and national level. Currently headed into her senior year with the Families of Faith Christian Academy, Polston has future plans to attend Hillsborough Community College and eventually the University of Florida. As a younger sibling to a board member, Polston has already provided a huge amount of behind the scenes support with a work ethic that does not go unnoticed by those around her. She brings with her a wealth of new ideas to not only improve the IJBBA, but the breed as a whole.

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New SBBA Officers Installed News submitted by SBBA President Michael Candler New officers for the Southeast Brangus Breeders Association (SBBA) are the following: President Michael Candler represents River Bend Ranch, Live Oak, Florida; Vice President Eddy Roberts represents W.E.T Farms, O’Brien, Florida; and Secretary/Treasurer Maranda Lowery represents Lowery Farms, Lake City, Florida.

The new officers and directors of the SBBA took office at the SBBA Banquet as part of the SBBA Showcase Sale and SBBA Junior Brangus Show Sept. 23, in Lake City, Florida.

There were approximately 130 in attendance at the banquet

from eight states across the southeast. The SBBA Showcase Sale had 31 consignors from across the southeast.

The Southeast Brangus Breeders have a mission to provide a strong, unified and effective voice for the Brangus breeders of the southeast. The SBBA accepts the responsibility to provide accurate and timely information and data that directly affects the health and responsibility of our members and industry. For more information, visit sebrangus.com.

A New TBBA Year

by TBBA President Garry Clem

It’s a new year and a we have a new President of this great country. It is my hope that everyone is expecting better times for our country and for the future of our cattle industry, just as I am. The commercial man is questioning the market right now, and it does affect our registered cattle prices. One thing I’ve found in over 45 years in this registered business is that good cattle still sell in a down market. As a matter of fact, buyers will tell you that they must buy better bulls in order to stay current. Now is a good time to cull harder and present better cattle for sale. This leads me to our Texas Brangus Breeders Association sale this coming April. That sale is a great way for you to show others how good of a registered herd you have by presenting and selling a top animal. Don’t forget that time is short to consign to this event. Remember: Sell the best; buy the best; expect the best.

SELL THE BEST - BUY THE BEST - EXPECT THE BEST!

Arkansas Brangus Breeders Association :: Don Hall, hallbran72019@yahoo.com Heart of America Brangus Breeders Association :: Jim Mussulman, jmussulm@yahoo.com Hill Country Brangus Breeders Association :: Brandon Belt, brandonbelt@aol.com International Red Brangus Breeders Association :: Marcos Borges, marcos@mbjranch.com Louisiana Brangus Breeders Association :: Bob Savoie, bobsavoie@charter.net Mississippi Brangus Breeders Association :: Bill Wells, wwells@bellsouth.net Oklahoma Brangus Association :: Jack Gorczyca, gorczycabrangus@juno.com Southeast Brangus Breeders Association :: Michael Candler, michael@candlerappraisal.com Southwest Brangus Breeders Association :: Larry Parker, jddiane@vtc.net Texas Brangus Breeders Association :: Gary Clem, ggclem69@aol.com West Coast Brangus Breeders Association :: Pam Doiron, doiron@spanishranch.net West Texas Brangus Breeders Association :: Alan Wedeking, wedekingfarms@hotmail.com

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51

SALE SUMMARIES Nov. 7, 2016

Hill Country Brangus Breeders Association’s 41st Annual Brangus Bull and Female Sale

• •

•

The Branch Ranch Rough & Ready Bull and Female Sale

•

60 Brangus/ Ultrablack bull lots averaged $5,245 30 Commercial Bred Heifer and Pair lots averaged $2,045 531 Total lots grossed $1,818,800.00 to average $3,425.24

Nov. 12, 2016

62 Brangus bull lots averaged $2,985

Salacoa Valley Farms Annual Brangus Sale Nov. 18-19, 2016 • • • • • • • • • •

59 Brangus Fall Bred Cows/Pairs grossed $196,250 to average $3,326 3 Brangus Flushes grossed $15,500 to average $5,167 36 Brangus Spring Bred Cows/3N1’s grossed $157,500 to average $4,375 22 Brangus Spring Bred Heifers grossed $101,000 to average $4,591 29 Brangus Yearling Heifers grossed $ 199,000 to average $6,862 4 Brangus weaned Heifer Calves grossed $17,500 to average $4,375 153 Brangus Female Lots grossed $686,750 to average $4,489 143 Brangus Coming Two Year Old Bulls grossed $660,000 to average $4,615 59 Brangus Yearling Bulls grossed $ 227,250 to average $ 3,851 202 Brangus Bulls grossed $887,250 to average $4,392

SALE CONNECTION

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SALE SUMMARIES GENETRUST at Cavender’s Neches River Ranch Nov. 19, 2016 • • • • • •

75 Coming 2 Brangus/ Ultrablack bull lots grossed $420,250 to average $5,603.33 94 Yearling Brangus/ Ultrablack bull lots grossed $431,250 to average $4,587.77 169 Brangus/Ultrablack bull lots grossed $851,500 to average $5,038.46 70 Commercial Pair lots grossed $194,000 to average $2,771.43 232 Commercial Bred Heifer lots grossed $465,800 to average $2,007.76 531 Total lots grossed $1,818,800 to average $3,425.24

Photos on this page provided by GENETRUST.

53

NEW IBBA MEMBERS 54 :: JANUARY 2017

KA Cattle Co. - Waller, TX Makayla Williamson - Babson Park, FL Mark Whipple - Burton, TX Pelaez & Son Inc. - Okeechobee, FL Rasheed Everett - Haines City, FL Taylor Jordon - Okeechobee, FL

DO YOU KNOW THE BENEFITS OF

IBBA MEMBERSHIP?

Benefits of an International Brangus Breeders Association (senior) membership include, but are not limited to the following:

Registration Privileges, Hybrid Registration, Ownership Transfers, Online Herd Management Software, Documented Pedigrees, Genetic Evaluation, Summit Animal List Eligibility, Performance Leader Award Eligibility, DNA Parentage Verification, Advertising and Marketing Opportunities, Membership Networking, Brangus Publications Subscription, eNewsletter Subscription, Association Business Voting Rights, Performance Data Collection Using Total Herd Reporting, National Cattle Evaluation EPDs ... and more!

For more information, visit GoBrangus.com/member or call 210-696-8231.

Membership in the International Junior Brangus Breeders Association is available to youth under 21 years of age who own registered Brangus cattle or have an interest in Brangus. Membership in the organization benefits you in several ways. It allows you to participate in all junior activites, apply for available scholarships, participate in the Herd Improvement Program, and receive three junior newsletters throughout the year.

IBBA associate memberships are for any person, of reputable character, interested in promotion of the best interests of the Brangus breed of cattle, but said associate memberships shall be without voting power or the right to register, certify or enroll cattle at member rates.

IBBA MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION DATE: ____________________________

SENIOR MEMBERSHIP

JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP (UNDER 21 YEARS OF AGE)

ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP

MEMBER NAME: _______________________________________________________________________________________ RANCH NAME: _________________________________________________________________________________________ PRIMARY MAILING ADDRESS: ___________________________________________________________________________ CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE: _________________________________________________________________________________ PHYSICAL RANCH ADDRESS: ____________________________________________________________________________ CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE: _________________________________________________________________________________ HOME PHONE: ____________________________________ WORK PHONE: ______________________________________ EMAIL ADDRESS: ___________________________________________ DATE OF BIRTH (JUNIORS): _____/_____/_______ PARENTS’ MEMBERSHIP NO. (JUNIORS): _______________________ Application is hereby made for membership to be issued in the name given above. I agree to be bound by and abide by the rules, regulations, constitution and by-laws of the association as amended from time to time and to keep a written memorandum of breeding and exact birth dates of my (our) Brangus cattle. Further, that I (we) will furnish promptly any information concerning same at any time requested to do so by the association. Eligible cattle owned at present are ______ (bulls over 36 months of age) and ______ (females over 24 months of age).

FEES ---- Senior Membership: Jan-Dec $125, Apr-Dec $100, Jul-Dec $75, Oct-Dec $50 (Senior Renewal Dues received after Dec. 31 will be $145.)

Junior Membership: $25 annually Associate Membership: $35 annually PAYMENT INFORMATION (Indicate Method of Payment) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CREDIT CARD (BELOW)

ENCLOSED CHECK

ENCLOSED CASH

CARD TYPE (VISA, MASTERCARD, DISCOVER, AMERICAN EXPRESS): _________________________________ CARD NUMBER: _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ EXP DATE: _____ _____ / _____ _____

SECURITY CODE: _____ _____ _____ _____

CARDHOLDER’S NAME: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ BILLING ADDRESS: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ AUTHORIZE TRANSACTION (SIGNATURE): ________________________________________________________ DATE: ____________________________ INTERNATIONAL BRANGUS BREEDERS ASSOCIATION, P.O. BOX 809, ADKINS, TX 78101 | INFO@GOBRANGUS.COM | FAX: 210-696-8718

55

FIND A BREEDER NEAR YOU ALABAMA

ALABAMA

ALABAMA

ALABAMA

ALABAMA

ALABAMA

Michael Candler, President 386-208-3881

ARIZONA

ARIZONA

ARIZONA

ARKANSAS

ARKANSAS

ARKANSAS

ARKANSAS

CALIFORNIA

FLORIDA

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

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GoBrangus.com/breeder-search/ FLORIDA

FLORIDA

FLORIDA

FLORIDA

FLORIDA

GEORGIA

GEORGIA

GEORGIA

GEORGIA

GEORGIA

GEORGIA

KANSAS

LOUISIANA

LOUISIANA

LOUISIANA

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

57

FIND A BREEDER NEAR YOU MISSISSIPPI

MISSISSIPPI

MISSISSIPPI

MISSISSIPPI

MISSOURI

MISSOURI

NEW MEXICO

NEW MEXICO

NEW MEXICO

NORTH CAROLINA

OKLAHOMA

OKLAHOMA

OKLAHOMA

OKLAHOMA

OKLAHOMA

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

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GoBrangus.com/breeder-search/ TENNESSEE

TEXAS

TEXAS

TEXAS

TEXAS

TEXAS

TEXAS

TEXAS

TEXAS

TEXAS

TEXAS

TEXAS

TEXAS

TEXAS

TEXAS

TRAIT LEADERS AND

MONEY MAKERS

Doyle Miller

615-351-2783 doyle@millerbrangus.com

Bill Felton

Sales & Marketing

901- 494-0554 bill@millerbrangus.com

Bart Pope

Ranch Manager www.millerbrangus.com

931-722-0244 bart@millerbrangus.com

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

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

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

251-947-5688 210-218-4804

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

59

FIND A BREEDER NEAR YOU TEXAS

TEXAS

TEXAS

TEXAS

TEXAS

TEXAS

TEXAS

TEXAS

TEXAS

TEXAS

TEXAS

TEXAS

TEXAS

Brangus Publications, Inc. offers many opportunities for you to promote yourself. For a full list of opportunities, visit www.GoBrangus.com/2017-mediaguide/.

You may also contact IBBA Advertising Sales Manager Melanie Fuller.

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

60 :: JANUARY 2017

CALENDAR OF EVENTS FEBRUARY 2017 1-3 NCBA Cattle Industry Convention, Nashville, TN 9 Florida State Fair Regional Open Brangus Show, Tampa, FL 10 Florida State Fair Junior Brangus Show, Tampa, FL 10 Content Deadline for March Brangus Journal 10-11 IBBA Annual Meeting & Convention, San Antonio, TX 10-12 San Antonio Regional Brangus Show, San Antonio, TX 12 Dixie National Regional Brangus Show, Jackson, MS 14-17 San Antonio Junior Brangus Show, San Antonio, TX 25 26th Annual Roswell Brangus Sale, Roswell, NM 25 Hunt H+ Brangus Professional Cattlemen’s Bull Sale, Calhoun, GA 25 The Oaks Farms Range Ready Brangus Bull Sale, Navasota, TX MARCH 2017 8 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo All Breeds Sales, Houston, TX 10 Content Deadline for April Brangus Journal 10 International Brangus Bull Show, Houston, TX 11 International Brangus Female Show, Houston, TX 11 Genetic Development Center Best of the Test Cattle Sale, Navasota, TX 11 Genetic Edge XXII Sale, Houston, TX 11 Quail Creek Brangus Cut Above Sale, Cullman, AL 12 Oklahoma Youth Expo Junior Brangus Show, Oklahoma City, OK 17 Houston Junior Brangus Show, Houston, TX 18 Tested by Time Sale at Mound Creek Ranch, Leona, TX 19 Houston Junior Red Brangus Show, Houston, TX 25 Brinks Brangus @ Westall Ranches Bull Sale, Arabella, NM 25 Indian Nations Spring Brangus Sale, Ada, OK APRIL 2017 7-8 TBBA Miss America Sale, Salado, TX 6-9 IJBBA Legacy Leadership Conference, Haines City, FL 10 Content Deadline for May Brangus Journal MAY 2017 6 JLS International Sale, Devine, TX 15 National Junior Brangus Show Entry Deadline 28 National Junior Brangus Show Ownership Deadline JUNE 2017 1 Futurity Entry Deadline 1 National Junior Brangus Show Late Entry Deadline 9-10 Arkansas Junior Brangus Breeders State Show, Arkadelphia, AR 14-17 TJBBA State Show, Bryan, TX

UPCOMING EVENTS

JANUARY 2017 1 Arizona National Livestock Show, Phoenix, AZ 10 Content Deadline for February FRONTLINE Beef Producer 16 Fort Worth Regional Brangus Show, Fort Worth, TX 21 Fort Worth Junior Brangus Show, Fort Worth, TX

JULY 2017 10 Content Deadline for August Brangus Journal 23-28 National Junior Brangus Show, Texarkana, AR 27 IJBBA “Source of Champions” Sale, Texarkana, AR 28 IJBBA Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet, Texarkana, AR 29 Brangus Futurity, Texarkana, AR 61

Advertiser’s Index 5K Cowbelle Ranch..................................................... 58 Amrich Ranch............................................................. 58 Blackwater Cattle Co.............................................37, 57 Bobby and Bobbie Brangus........................................ 58 Brinks Brangus @ Westall Ranches........................... 58 Burke Brangus Farm...................................................57 Bushley Creek Cattle Company...................................57 Calyx Star Ranch........................................................ 58 Carter Brangus.............................................................56 Cavender Ranches.......................................................59 Char-No Farm..............................................................57 Chimney Rock Cattle Co..............................................56 Circle X Land & Cattle Co....................................IFC, 59 Collins Brangus......................................................... IBC Clark Cattle Services....................................................54 Clover Ranch.........................................................41, 56 Cox Excalibur Brangus................................................59 Cross N Farms.............................................................57 Diamond K Ranch.......................................................59 Dillard Land & Cattle...................................................59 Doak Lambert..............................................................54 Doguet’s Diamond D Ranch.................................59, BC Don Hall Brangus........................................................56 Don Thomas & Sons................................................... 58 Double Creek Brangus Ranch.....................................59 Double W Ranch......................................................... 58 Draggin M Ranch.........................................................56 E3 Ranch......................................................................59 Elgin Breeding Services, Inc........................................54 Farris Ranching Company...........................................59 Galloway Brangus........................................................56 Garry Clem Brangus..............................................21, 59 Genesis Ranch.............................................................59 Greenwood Cattle Co...................................................59 Greuel Family Brangus................................................57 Hardee Farms..............................................................56 Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo..............................54 JLS International.........................................................59 Johnston Brangus........................................................56 K&R Broken Bar Ranch.............................................. 58 K&L Brangus................................................................59 Lack-Morrison Brangus............................................. 58 Lake Majestik Farms.....................................................7 Lakeside Brangus........................................................57

Lakin Oakley................................................................54 Lawman Ranch........................................................... 58 Little Creek Farms.......................................................57 Midsouth Cattle...........................................................57 Miller Brangus.............................................................59 MO Brangus.................................................................57 Mound Creek Ranch..............................................19, 60 Multimin USA..............................................................14 Parker Brangus............................................................56 Pennridge Ranch........................................................ 60 Perry Ranch Brangus.................................................. 58 Peterson Brangus........................................................ 58 Quail Creek Brangus.............................................. 17, 56 Red Bird Meadows Ranch.......................................... 60 Red Bud Farms............................................................56 Ritchey Tags.................................................................52 Robbs Brangus.............................................................56 Roop Cattle Co............................................................ 60 Salacoa Valley Farms............................................. 31, 57 Santa Rosa Ranch................................................... 3, 60 Schmidt Farms Brangus............................................. 60 Shooting Star Land & Cattle....................................... 60 Southeast Brangus Breeders Association....................56 Spanish Ranch.............................................................56 Suhn Cattle Co.............................................................57 Sunshine Acres............................................................56 T3 Brangus.................................................................. 58 TBBA Miss America Brangus Sale.............................. 51 Terry Reagan...............................................................54 The Oaks Farms......................................................11, 57 Town Creek Farms...................................................... 29 TRIO Cattle & Genetics.............................................. 60 Triple Crown Ranch................................................... 60 Triple J-R Cattle Company......................................... 60 Valley View Ranch...................................................... 58 Vineyard Cattle Co...................................................... 60 Vorel Farms................................................................ 58 Ward Brangus............................................................. 60 Wes Dotson..................................................................54 W.E.T. Farms...............................................................57 Wynne Ranch..............................................................57 Zottarelli Ranches....................................................... 60 BC: Back Cover, IBC: Inside Back Cover, IFC: Inside Front Cover

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

62 :: JANUARY 2017

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64 :: JANUARY 2017