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january/february 2010
Spring Sire Summary Issue
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Subscriptions: Frances Miller 210.696-8231 x203 frances_miller@int-brangus.org
The Official Publication of the International Brangus® Breeders Association The Brangus Journal is an international news magazine serving the Brangus breed of beef cattle including Brangus crossbreds and Brahman and Angus stock necessary to produce Brangus cattle. Published six times a year by Brangus Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 696020, San Antonio, Texas 78269-6020. This publication is designed to promote and develop the Brangus breed and serve the best interests of the producers. Publication #ISSN0006-9132. Periodicals postage paid at San Antonio, Texas, and additional entries. Postmaster: Send address changes to Brangus Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 696020, San Antonio, Texas 78269-6020. Subscription Rates: Domestic Periodicals—1 year, $25; First class—$55. Foreign—1 year, periodicals, $25; air mail to Mexico, $70, Canada, $70, Australia, $115; air mail to all other countries, $115. Contact: P. O. Box 696020, San Antonio, Texas 78269-6020 Physical Address: 5750 Epsilon, San Antonio, Texas 78249 Tel.: 210.696.8231 Fax: 210.696.8718 Web site: www.brangusjournal.com Email: brangusjournal@int-brangus.org The International Brangus® Breeders Association does not verify claims made by the advertisers in this publication.
Mailing Address: P. O. Box 696020, San Antonio, Texas 78269-6020 Physical Address: 5750 Epsilon, San Antonio, Texas 78249 Tel.: 210.696.8231 Fax: 210.696.8718 Web site: www.GoBrangus.com Officers President: Dale Kirkham (620.583.5247) 1st Vice President: Don Cox (281.395.1277) 2nd Vice President: Angelo Zottarelli (254.471.5675) Secretary/Treasurer : David Vaughan (770.382.4374) Member At Large : Dr. Robert Vineyard (979.532.4243) Executive Vice President : Dr. Joseph Massey (210.696.8231) 2009-2012 IBBA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Term Expires 2010 Bill Morrison, Clovis, New Mexico (575.683.5278) David Vaughan, Cartersville, Georgia (770.386.0390) Brad Church, Kiowa, Oklahoma (918.432.5448) Angelo Zottarelli, Austin, Texas (254.471.5675) Steve Densmore, Bryan, Texas (979.778.1055) Term Expires 2011 Don Cox, Katy, Texas (281.395.1277) Bill Davis, Concord, Arkansas (336.210.1222) Dale Kirkham, Eureka, Kansas (620.583.5247) Term Expires 2012 Bill Felton, Holly Springs, MS (662.252.1314) R. L. Robbs, Wilcox, AZ (520.384.2478) Doug Williams, Mocksville, NC (336.998.8125) Robert S. Vineyard, Wharton, TX (979.532.4243)
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BPI Officers and Board of Directors Chairman : Don Cox (281.395.3800) President : Dr. Joseph Massey (210.696.8321 x212) Secretary/Treasurer : David Vaughan (770.382.4374) Director : Dale Kirkham (620.583.5247) Director: Angelo Zottarelli (254.471.5675) STAFF Carolyn Kobos: Administrative Assistant to the Executive VP (x211, carolyn_kobos@int-brangus.org) Frances Miller: Controller (x203, frances_miller@int-brangus.org) Grant Keenen: Director of Commercial Marketing Programs (x202; grant@int-brangus.com) Rosanne Sralla: Registry Specialist (x206, rosanne_sralla@int-brangus.org) Patti Teeler: Accounting (x205, patti@int-brangus.org) Jim Bulger: Information Technologies Manager (x207, jim_bulger@gps-beef.com) Emilio Silvas: Application Developer (x204, emilio_silvas@gps-beef.com) Mary Douglass: Front Desk and Member Services Associate (x201, mary_douglass@int-brangus.org) ADVERTISING Melanie Fuller: (979.828.5300), mwfuller@hotmail.com
contentsjanuary/february2010
The next generation of Brangus herdsires.
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How has THR Increased the Number of Usable Production Records?
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Hey Bull!! Who’s Your Mama? by Dale Kirkham
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The Impacts of AI on Genetic Improvement
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The Bottom Line by Grant Keenen
by Mark Enns, PhD
by Dr. Joseph M. Massey
19. 2010 Spring Sire Summary 32. New & Noteworthy 33. IJBBA: On the Horizon 36. IBA: Reflections & Revelations 44. By-Law Changes 75. How To: THR 77. IBBA and BPI Meeting Minutes 93. State Directory
98. Services 99. Advertiser’s Index 99. Calendar of Events
On the Cover:
Spring breeding decisons on the horizon. Picture on cover taken at Miller Brangus, Waynesboro, TN.
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membershipbenefits Total Herd Reporting (THR) is rapidly becoming the industry standard for reporting beef seedstock performance information, and the IBBA is emerging as a leader in THR. IBBA membership provides flexibility. IBBA membership includes a subscription to the Brangus Journal, the official publication of the IBBA, and to the FRONTLINE Beef Producer, the IBBA's commerciallyfocused publication. IBBA members receive a complimentary copy of the IBBA Breeder Handbook. Brangus®, Red Brangus, Ultrablack® or Ultrared, its your choice. You choose the genetics that best fit your customers’ needs. IBBA membership is full featured, not complex. The Brangus Automated Registry Network (BARN) is the most advanced and user friendly registry system in the industry. In fact, for most breeders the BARN can eliminate the need for other herd management software. IBBA membership provides access. The IBBA is an active participant in the development of Multi-Breed EPD, and participates in the Beef Cattle Decision Support web-based software developed by Colorado State University and the National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium. Sorting and selecting genetics based on real economics positions IBBA members and their customers for increased profitability. IBBA membership is global. IBBA is an active member of US Livestock Genetics Export, Inc., allowing members to leverage their ability to market IBBA genetics worldwide. IBBA currently provides services to breeders in Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Mexico. IBBA membership creates opportunity. The IBBA Business Plan adopted January 8, 2006 includes the following purpose statement: “Enable IBBA members to serve the commercial cattle industry.” The beef seedstock business is becoming increasingly competitive, and today’s breeders need an association that is truly dedicated to the needs of its members’ customers.
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HOTEL DISCOUNT FOR IBBA MEMBERS IBBA members, their families and friends can now receive specials rates* (12% discount) at over 650 La Quinta Hotels** nationwide for business or leisure travel. HOW TO MAKE RESERVATIONS: Go to: www.lq.com 1. Select City, and Specific Hotel; Type in Promotional Code: IBBA Or 2. *Call 1-800-753-3757 (1-800-SLEEPLQ). Toll Free Reservations; Request: “ International Brangus Breeders Association Rate” Or 3. *Call Hotel’s Direct Number; Request: “International Brangus Breeders Association Rate” *Not available at some locations during special events or holidays **Limited # of Hotels do not participate in “Texas State Rates”
welcome our new members
Please contact members in your area and welcome them to the IBBA. Thank you! Gordon Welch Alvin, TX 77511 Karen Teal Temple, TX Flying H Angus Carl or William Hoefelmeyer Poth, TX Gerardo Alanis Laredo, TX Select Sires Brian House Plain City, OH Mossy Oak Farm Thomas J Green Altoona, AL LACR Cattle Company, LP Rockdale, TX Muenchow Farms Doug & Darnell Muenchow Floresville, TX
B & R Ranch Elton Blood, Jr St Landry, LA Dustin Hubler Chelsea, OK Weatherbee Ranch Glenn Weatherbee Abilene, TX Roger Brown Walker, KS White Ranch Billy J White Marlin, TX 3-D Farms Aynor, SC Cornelius Farm Rob & Jay Cornelius Rogersville, AL
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has thr increased the number of usable production records? by DR. JOSEPH MASSEY
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otal Herd Reporting (THR) by definition requires that on a yearly basis a minimal amount of data be reported on each animal in THR inventory. In the case of IBBA, the minimal requirement is that a calf is recorded and a weaning weight is reported or at the very least, a reason code is given for not reporting weaning weight on a calf, such as dead calf, culled or other appropriate reason code. The idea being that this will result in the reporting of additional performance data since the process essentially creates the opportunity to track the life performance of all animals. In 2006, THR was implemented and we have now accumulated at least three years of information on some traits such as birth weights. So the next logical question: has THR increased the amount of data being reported and by how much? Yes, we have had an increase in the amount of data reported but there are a number of surprising observations as we go through harvesting data points for analysis. From 2006 to 2009, IBBA members reported birth weight and calving information on 59% of the assessed females on THR, which means that on the remaining 41% of calves, no actual birth weight or reason code is reported. Pre-2006, there was no way to determine what percentage of calves were reported to actual cows being managed for production. When we take a three year average from 2002 to 2005 and compare it to the last three years of THR, we discover that the number of calves reported pre-THR is
about 22% fewer calves than postTHR. When one looks at usable birth weights with contemporaries, pre-THR 55% are reported compared with 81% post-THR. Comparing just the birth weights reported in the last six years the post-THR data represents about a 50% increase in usable birth weights. When we try to go back farther than six years the number of birth weights that can be used for EPDs start to drop quickly. THR is one of the reasons that the EPDs for birth weights are greater than one would have expected in the last few years. In addition, THR has also helped many of our members to understand what a contemporary group is and that animals reported in a single animal contemporary group will not contribute to EPD information or produce an EPD for the animal.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. Massey has served as Executive Vice President of the IBBA since 2004. In 2007, he started Genetic Performance Solutions, LLC, a breed registry services and performance analysis company serving the cattle and breed association industry— a joint venture between the IBBA and the Red Angus Association of America. GPS manages online registry programs for breed associations and the data base management of performance data
Only 62% of the calves with reported birth weights had a weaning weight submitted meaning that we lose 38% of the possible data on calves between birth and weaning. When we look at weaning weight percentage based on number of assessed females in production, this percentage drops to 38% of females on THR. This loss of valuable data greatly reduces our ability to improve our breed. One interesting observation is that pre-THR when birth weights were reported, weaning weight was reported on only 62% of calves which is the same as post-THR. Of the weaning weights reported the number of usable weights with contemporaries was 86% for both pre and post- THR. Furthermore, yearling weights are only reported on about 48% of the calves which had also reported a weaning weight. It does not take long to see that data from weaning to carcass traits drops off dramatically thus making it almost impossible to obtain enough information to know what we are selecting for once we get past yearling weights. This is the reason why we have very few animals that have high accuracy carcass EPDs. We need to have a better understanding of why we lose this data. I would venture to say that the future of Brangus cattle is directly Continued on page 30
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PERSON
PERSON
by DALE KIRKHAM, IBBA President
HEY BULL!! Who’s your mama?
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hat criteria do cattlemen use when it’s time to select the next sire or sires for their herd? Eye appeal and structural correctness have always been important but producers now have several other types of information to use, such as actual and adjusted values and EPDs for birth, growth, carcass and other traits. One criterion that is often overlooked but
nevertheless important is the functional ability of a bull’s dam and granddames. Remember that mama (the cow) provides half of the genetic makeup plus some other influences during the embryonic and calfhood stages of each potential herd sire. But what actually defines the functional cow? Which cows are actually paying the bills, making a profit and keeping the cowman in business over the long haul? They may not have weaned the heaviest calf each season. And they aren’t necessarily the most attractive cows in the pasture that catch your eye when you ride into the herd. The most functional cows are the ones that consistently have a calf on time each year without special care while living on the forages that their home farm or ranch provides with little or no supplemental feed. Their calves match up with their herd mates in physical type as well as ability to grow and produce desirable carcasses. This description includes several key points, including structural soundness, fertility, longevity, consistency, and low maintenance. Functional cows should calve unassisted, demonstrate maternal instincts while being easy to handle, and wean 50 percent or more of their own body weight. The truly functional cows will become apparent after several years in the herd as they produce daughters and granddaughters that are equal or better at sustaining the operation. One crucial trait of the functional cow is the ability to efficiently harvest and convert the forages that are available into a marketable product, that is, beef as the red meat of choice. The cow’s Continued on page 30 ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dale was first elected to the IBBA Board of Directors in 2005 and served as chairman of the Promotion Committee for two years before being selected as 2nd Vice-President. During the past year, he has also been Chairman of the BPI Board. Dale is a member of the HOA and Oklahoma regional Brangus associations. He is a strong advocate of member participation and clear, effective
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genetic strategies
by MARK ENNS, PhD
The Impacts of AI on Genetic Improvement
I
often receive questions regarding EPD’s and how much to emphasize those when making bull selection and purchase decisions. That discussion often leads to another involving the use of artificial insemination (AI) and its resulting impact on genetic improvement. From a labor and time standpoint buying good bulls and breeding cows natu-
ral service is considerably easier and less labor intensive than synchronizing and AI’ing the herd. But many breeders year after year continue to implement AI programs and see improvements in calf performance. There are definitely some increased labor requirements to implement an AI program whether it is for the additional time requirement to heat check cows under a nonsynchronized program or if it is for implementing some estrus synchronization ABOUT THE AUTHOR program with Dr. Enns’ research focuses s u b s e q u e n t on methods to genetically AI. What are evaluate and select animals that fit their the benefits production environment that keep these both biologically and breeders com- economically. These efforts mitted to good include development of new methods for evaluating AI programs? and improving cow
From a non- and heifer fertility, cow genetic stand- maintenance requirements, time to finish in the feedlot; point AI with an and development of estrus synchro- methods to better use nization system economic information in has the poten- selection decisions for tial to tighten increased profitability of the calving sea- beef production. son. Typically under synchronization and AI more cows conceive earlier in the breeding season, resulting in a tighter calving season with larger numbers of cows calving earlier in that season. More cows calving earlier results in calves that are older and heavier at weaning. Economically this has the potential to improve income from sale of weaned calves, but many correctly argue this is the result of the estrus synchronization program. There are genetic reasons for AI programs that add even more value to the calves and to increase the speed at which genetic improvement occurs in your herd. These reasons apply no matter whether you use an estrus synchronization program or not. Continued on page 37 18 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010
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2010Spring Sire Summary INTERNATIONAL BRANGUS BREEDERS ASSOCIATION
The purpose of the 2010 Spring Sire Summary is to provide breeders with a reference guide to the genetic value of both the most widely used and new young active sires in the breed for the traits evaluated. This sire summary is helpful in identifying potential herd sires with EPD profiles appropriate for the herd in which they will be used. The IBBA website, www.GoBrangus.com, should always be consulted for the latest EPD information.
prediction of the genetic value for a particular trait of the animal that is transmittable to the offspring. Usable performance information comes from measures collected on a valid contemporary group, Continued on page 42
Why EPD? After more than 20 years of Expected Progeny Difference (EPD) technology many producers, commercial and purebred, still resist incorporating the technology into their selection process. These producers cite several different reasons for their hesitancy, but research continues to prove the efficacy and relevance of using EPD to cause genetic change. A bull can only pass his genes to his offspring. His actual birth weight does not pass to his calves, nor does his actual yearling weight, nor any other measurement that can be conceived. All that can pass from the bull to his calves are the genes that affect those measurements. It sounds like splitting hairs, but consider two identical twin bull calves. Assume they are weaned off the cow at exactly the same weight, but one is sent to a feedlot and the other to grass. The rate of gain between the two twins will be very different, but the genes affecting postweaning gain that they each can pass to their offspring are exactly the same. On average you would not be able to distinguish which calves were sired by the twin with the high, feedlot gain from the calves sired by the other twin. Now, take it one step further. We wean two unrelated bull calves on the same day at exactly the same weight. One goes to the feedlot, the other to grass. At one year of age, it is likely that the bull in the feedlot will weigh considerably more than the bull that is on grass, but there is no way to determine which bull has genes that are more favorable for high growth. That is, no way except to randomly breed the two bulls to a large group of cows and see how their calves compare—on average. The EPD is simply a prediction of this average expected progeny difference. The EPD takes into account all the usable performance information in the animal’s pedigree, the animal’s own usable performance information, and the usable performance information of any progeny to develop a Brangus Journal
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the bottom line
by GRANT KEENEN
H
appy New Year everybody! Hope 2010 is treating each of you well. It’s hard to believe January is already over, February is here and that our annual convention is just a month away.
In conjunction with the convention and livestock show, we will be holding the 2nd Annual Global Brangus Roundup on Sunday, March 7th. This year’s event will be held at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds in Rosenberg, TX. The day will be filled with good food, good times, great Brangus cattle and great Brangus people. The event is an excellent opportunity ABOUT THE AUTHOR to meet fellow Grant Keenen is the Direcbreeders, both tor of Commercial Martking Programs for the IBBA. For domestic and in- any questions or inquiries ternational. The regarding IBBA Commercial 2009 event was Programs, such as OptimaxX enjoyed by about and Brangus Gold, Grant 150 people, with can be reached by phone at 50-60 of them be- 210.696.8231 or by email at ing international grant@int-brangus.org. guests. We expect another large group of international breeders to attend this year’s event. The Roundup is an excellent way for foreign breeders to meet many of you and see your cattle all at one stop. The event will begin with a short welcome presentation followed by a Texas style lunch complete with entertainment. I am anticipating exceptional bar-b-que! Then everyone will have the opportunity to visit one another and evaluate the cattle and booth displays. The Roundup will conclude with exhibitors and their operations being recognized as all the cattle will be walked through our Showcase ring. The master of ceromonies will speak, both in English and Spanish, about the cattle and the individual ranches. Make plans now to attend the 2010 Global Brangus Roundup. We hope to see each of you there! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at the IBBA office or on my mobile at (417) 540-6570. OptimaxX and brangus gold Update: Spring is right around the corner. Green grass and warmer temperatures are coming. Calving season is at its height for many areas and weaning time for fall born calves will be here before you know it. With that in mind, Continued on page 37
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Continued from page 8 associated with collecting data on the life performance of all animals. The quality of our data and the completeness of this data are crucial if we are to have good selection tools and be creditable as a breed. Good data goes hand in hand with developing a effective promotional program which relies on sound performance expectations. BJ
Continued from page 12 rumen is adapted for this purpose and cattlemen need to take advantage without becoming dependent on costly feed supplements. The lack of reference to cow size, breed and color in this discussion is intentional. These will vary according to location and resources. There is ample evidence that cow size does matter in general. But cows are best selected to match the environmental conditions and availability of forages unique to each operation, whether in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, or Argentina. Mother Nature can help show which cows will work in a particular setting and they won’t always be just the same size. The next time you look for a sire to match your cows, whether for natural service or artificial insemination, take time to look for functional dams and granddames in the pedigree. Then look for these cows in the pasture. Functional cows raise offspring that keep cattlemen in the business of producing nutritious meat for a growing world population. And that is truly the mission of the beef industry. Footnote: As this will be my final column as your IBBA president for the past year, please know that I appreciate the opportunity to share my ideas and opinions with each of you who share an interest in Brangus cattle. Your friendship and support continue to be very special to me. May God’s blessings reach each of you in 2010. Keep in touch. BJ
Show the world what you have to offer. Advertise in the Brangus Journal. 210.696.8231 30 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010
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NEWS&NOTEWORTHY
election results
TO: IBBA Members FROM: Joseph Massey, Executive Vice President
January 12, 2010
RE: Results of Elections for Directors Dear IBBA Members: Presented below are the results of the Regional Election of Directors of the International Brangus Breeders Association. The ballots were tabulated by a committee appointed by the IBBA Board of Directors chaired by David Vaughan; the three members were Mary Douglass, Garrett Thomas and Myron Saathoff. Congratulations! Electoral Region 1 Fred McCreary – McCreary Farms Electoral Region 5 D. Frank Perry – Perry Ranch Electoral Region 7 Angelo Zottarelli – Zottarelli Ranches Electoral Region 9 Steve Densmore – Circle X Land and Cattle Company Electoral Region 10 Larry Parker – Parker Brangus Electoral Region 11 Joe Kassler – The Oaks Farms Continued on page 39 32 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010
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IJBBAONTHEHORIZON
2010 - My Resolution I hope all of y’all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New OFFICERS ADVISORS Year; I know my family and I surely did! President: Chelsie Meyer, Oklahoma Tyler Dean New Year’s Eve has always been a time for looking back on the twd13@hotmail.com Ex-Officio: Ben Fuller, Texas past, and more importantly, looking forward to the coming year. It’s a time to seriously consider changes we want (or need) to betBOARD OF DIRECTORS: Randy Deshotel ter ourselves and resolve to follow through on those changes. Alex Brull, Kansas randy@citizenshipbankvp.net Justin Shrader, Texas As we all know, this year the economy has not been as good Mary Douglass Daniel Watson, Louisiana as it has it has been in the past. Therefore, we need to think of mary_douglass@int-brangus.org Katy Knox, Texas ways we can restructure our everyday lives and work operations Jessica Brumley, Louisiana Emily Jackson, Texas Ray Smith to be more thrifty and conservative and hopefully save some Emily Smith, Texas thingravyranch@yahoo.com money without sacrificing quality. My generation is growing up Allison Deshotel, Louisiana in a world of constantly and more importantly, quickly, changing Damon Acord technology………….laptops, ipods, debit cards, computer bankIBBA Youth Department dacord@normangeeisd.org info@int-brangus.org ing, and the list goes on. A large majority of young people take Tammy Weid their spending habits for granted because they do not have to tammy@glenflorafarms.com earn their own money like their parents did….to work for it; it Ginger Pritchard is given to them. Many young people today want what it took gingerdp@aol.com mom and dad fifty years to attain. There is no appreciation in this disposable world…….if it doesn’t work, just throw it and get a new one; if you can no longer pay your bills, just bankrupt and start over; if it seems unfair, blame the government – after all we elected those politicians to serve us! I thank the Good Lord every day for my Brangus family. Because of Brangus cattle, I have grown up on a farm in a rural area where you had to wait to “go to town” to get to the stores and malls; have learned the responsibilities of animal husbandry; have learned to win happily and lose graciously; and have learned that none of this comes free. It is because of the aforementioned learnings that I have resolved to tighten my belt and will share with you how I intend to do it, without giving up my Brangus friends and shows. I am going to learn more about the costs of maintaining my show string and our commercial cattle; this is something that I always left to Dad and just took for granted. But I feel that if I do this, I will be more careful about leaving feed where it can get wet, or trying my best to not over or under feed my cattle so as to maximize the feed efficiency, or getting a new pair of jeans each time we go to a show, or cleaning my boots as soon as we get home and not let them sit dirty for weeks and deteriorate. A wasted sack of feed, wasting feed itself, purchasing items not needed but wanted and not making items last as long as they can all cost money. These things I can change. I am going to get a part time job. I am old enough to do this and if I earn my own money, I will not be pestering my parents for things I “want” and can purchase them on my own. I can save my money…………and who knows, pay for my own show entry fees or maybe even purchase my own calf! Though I really think my savings may end up going on a down payment for a car…….but at least I will be contributing to the whole scheme of family life and not putting the full burden on my parents…..that way they can save some money. I am going to try to stop and think, “do I want this or do I need this” before I just open my wallet and let go of my cash. I feel that if I take the time to think about purchases, I will purchase less because I will realize that I did not really need that item after all………………I just wanted it. Now don’t get me wrong……..there is still some jewelry out there that I just plain want and I am going to get it, but stopping and thinking will definitely slow me down and leave some money in my bank account. So there you have my 2010 resolution: “I am going to consider the costs of the things I want to do, work to pay my own way and not make rash decisions on purchases”. Given today’s economy, if I keep my resolution I know I will be more responsible and better suited to handle any changes that may come in the future and will be able to give some freedom to my parents to do the same for themselves and our operation. I hereby challenge each and every IJBBA and IBBA member to look at their own individual situations, and make the changes necessary to better yourselves or prepare yourselves during these uncertain economic times. May 2010 bring positive changes in our lives and may God bless us all.
Allison Claire Deshotel 2010 IJBBA Director
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IBAreflections&revelations
More than a Meeting
by PAMELA DOIRON
O
ver the past few years, I have learned an important life lesson from my wise ranch manager, Cruz Valdez: every day is an opportunity and you just have to decide whether you are going to take advantage of it. He always applies it to meetings and conferences, too. His goal for an event, whether it is a county fundraiser or a national livestock show is the same. He aims to meet three new people and learn one new thing. What good advice! And you never know what will come of those friendships that develop from chance meetings. For example, at one of the very first Brangus competitions we entered, we met the crazy Italian Torres family over the fence. They took us under their wing and taught us many important things, like where the best tie-outs were and what time the coffee-and-doughnuts kiosk opened at the fairgrounds. Over the next decade, we have helped each other fit and show both Brangus and Shorthorns. I attended Kariann’s wedding last June. Both Kariann and mom Debbie have attended our Santa Barbara County 4-H Beef Play Day. Both demonstrated a storehouse of bovine information and had top-notch showmanship skills for the 50 4-Hers in attendance. They will bring the 4-H beef project kids from Fresno and San Diego counties with them next year for a super
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weekend at The Spanish Ranch. All from a chance meeting over the fence . . . . Who will you meet in Houston? If you tend to be shy (I think that the fellas call it “reserved”), take time over the five day period we will be attending the IBBA Convention and Global Brangus events to stick out your hand and say hello to someone you haven’t met. I’m sure that you are neighborly to the new family in town, so at convention find that person that may even look familiar but you haven’t had the pleasure of speaking with face-to-face. You never know what a fiveminute howdy-do may lead to. Have you ever attended an International Brangus Auxiliary meeting? Afraid that you will get roped into something? You can attend the General Membership meeting on Friday, or just the luncheon scheduled immediately afterward to meet some great gals and find our how the IBA supports our juniors. I would like to extend a special invitation to those who have finished their junior careers and are “out on their own.” If you are the parents of high school or college students, please join us. We can share information on those scholarship applications we hope to see from your kids. Y’all come – we’ll be expecting you! Continued on page 37
THEBOTTOMLINE
Continued from page 26.
don’t forget about Brangus Gold and our USDA approved Age and Source Verification Program, OptimaxX. We’ve developed the programs to help you breeders and just as importantly, your customers…the commercial cattlemen.
when marketing your feeder cattle and replacement females. Also, help your commercial customers do the same by informing them of the programs as well. If I can be of any help, please feel free to contact me anytime. BJ
Enroll your operation in OptimaxX and Brangus Gold today and give yourself the opportunity to obtain much needed premiums
IBAreflections&revelations
Continued from page 36.
INTERNATIONAL BRANGUS AUXILIARY OFFICERS President: Pamela Doiron P.O. Box 1029, Santa Ynez, California 93460 (805.688.8310) First Vice-President: Karen Lucherk 2278 CR 213, McCoy, Texas 78113 (830.484.0209) Second Vice-President : Marlene Schwerin 11897 Schwerin Lane, Gentry, Arkansas (409.790.2355) Secretary: Tracee Buffaloe 2405 Terrace, Victoria, Texas 77901 (281.748.2399) Treasurer: Sharon McCreary HC 34, Box 125, Evergreen, Alabama (251.578.4750) Historian: Jodi Jackson 3099 Horseshoe Bend Road, Waco, Texas 76708 (254.836.4320) DIRECTORS Mary Beth Farris, Texas Kay Gibson, Texas Karen Lucherk, Texas Joy Reznicek, Alabama Barbara Watson, Louisiana Susan Vaughan, Georgia
geneticstrategies
Continued from page 18.
In genetic improvement programs there are 3 key factors, that breeders influence, which determine how quickly genetic improvement occurs in their herd (there actually is a 4th but we have little control over that in breeding programs). These 3 factors are the intensity of selection (how choosy you are in selecting new breeding animals), the accuracy of selection (how good you are at selecting genetically superior breeding stock), and the generation interval in the herd (how quickly young animals replace older ones in your herd). The first 2 are directly impacted by the use of artificial insemination. First artificial insemination usually allows a breeder to access sires that are typically more genetically superior than are affordable at most bull sales. For example, your natural service bull battery may have an average weaning weight EPD of +35 but with AI you might have access to a bull with +60 weaning weight Continued on page 37 Brangus Journal
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geneticstrategies
Continued from page 37.
EPD. Normally you might not be able to find and/or afford to purchase such a bull and use genetics yielding such an increase in weaning weight, but through AI you have access to these genetics at a much cheaper rate. This extra weaning weight adds value to your calves. Because you’ve been more “choosy” in your bull selection you have increased your selection intensity, in turn producing calves that are heavier at weaning, and speeding your rate of improvement of that trait. Second, AI bulls typically have higher accuracy EPDs than do yearling and 2-year old bulls. Increased accuracy speeds the
rate at which you make genetic progress in your herd and it reduces your selection “risk”. With more accurate EPD, there is less risk that your selection decision is the wrong one and the pull turns out poorer than expected. Aversion to risk is the reason many of those who use AI programs do so when breeding heifers. Selecting bulls with more accurate calving ease or birth weight EPD lowers the risk of dystocia. For seedstock breeders the use of AI also allows bulls to be genetically proven much more quickly than when using bulls natural service alone. AI bulls’ semen can be used in numerous herds in a single breeding season, resulting in more progeny in a shorter time frame and ultimately in higher accuracy EPDs in correspondingly shorter time. This last benefit is often overlooked by seedstock breeders. While AI does not mean you should not purchase high quality clean-up bulls, its use can result in better performing calves and faster rates of genetic improvement in your herd. BJ
GET NOTICED!
Advertise in the Brangus Journal 210.696.8231 38 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010
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NEWS&NOTEWORTHY
news&noteworthy
Continued from page 33.
TBBA Calendar Correction Belt Brangus was inadvertantly left off the November advertisement for Zottarelli Ranches. Brandon and Randy Belt of Belt Brangus can be contacted at (254) 248-5260 and (254) 487-2074.
President Angelo Zottarelli • (512) 422-3123
Vice President
The previous year’s TBBA Board of Directors were listed in the calendar. The current Board of Directors with contact information are listed to the left. Our sincere apologies for any confusion this created.
Tommy Milliorn • (325) 698-7014
Secretary/Treasurer Buck Thomason • (254)597-7104
Past-President Donnie Dippel • (979) 247-4300
Board of Directors:
Garry Clem 903/726-3463 Don Cox 281/395-1277 Steve Densmore 979/778-1055 Joe Dillard 713/201-3305 Mary Douglass 210/646-2455
Danny Farris 325/554-7838 Steve Varner 941/637-0126 Danny Wendland 361/528-3248 Russ Williamson 903/530-5957 Ross Wilson 903/842-3536 Continued on page 46 Brangus Journal
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siresummary
Continued from page 19.
more than one animal of the same sex and the same age group that have been managed together. For each sire in this summary we have included a count of the number of herds contributing usable progeny information, the total number of usable progeny records for the sire, and the total number daughters that have contributed a usable progeny record. Because information from all sources is used in the calculation, EPD is the most reliable predictor of an animal’s true genetic merit for any given trait. Does this mean that we can predict the yearling weight of a calf from his sire’s EPD? Absolutely not; EPD cannot predict actual performance. Actual performance is the result of the genetics of the sire, the genetics of the dam, and everything in the environment affecting the trait (eg, feeding program, illness, weather). However, yearling weight (YW) EPD does predict the average difference in YW that is due to the genetic differences in two bulls, if all other factors affecting actual YW are equal. This is true for every trait for which there is an EPD. EPD is an effective tool for producing better cattle, but EPD alone will not produce better cattle. In fact the use of EPD alone for selection can actually create negative progress in other traits, because there are a multitude of important traits for which there are no EPD values. Visual appraisal, performance ratios, and common sense still are necessary to produce true multi-trait genetic improvement for efficient beef production. But, trying to make economically based genetic improvement without the aid of EPD is like traveling in an unknown country without a map. You may eventually still get where
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you want to go, but wrong turns and false starts will slow your progress. Accuracy and Possible Change Values An EPD is a prediction, an estimate based on the available performance information on the individual, his relatives, and, most importantly, his progeny. An animal’s true genetic value for any particular trait can never be known for certain, but the more usable information we have, the more accurate the estimate. Each EPD has a corresponding accuracy value (ACC) associated with it. These values range from 0.01 to 0.99 with a higher ACC indicating that more information was available on which to base the prediction. Young bulls with no progeny will have relatively low ACC, while widely used AI sires with many progeny will have much higher ACC. Basically, ACC provides a measure of confidence of the likelihood that the predicted EPD value is in agreement with the true genetic value for the particular trait. Possible change value (PC) is considered by many to be a more practical method of describing ACC. PC is calculated directly from ACC and provides a measure, in the same units as the EPD, of the margin of error associated with the prediction. For example, a YW EPD of +50 with a PC of 10 means that it is most likely that the real genetic value for YW lies somewhere between +40 and +60. Both ACC and PC provide a measure of risk that the actual results may not agree with the predicted value. All things being equal, the proven, high-accuracy sire is always the safer choice. A good rule of
thumb is to always use sires with the correct EPD profile for your situation, but let the ACC (or PC) determine how extensively to use each sire. Percentile Rank Since EPD values are meant to be used for comparing animals, it is also useful to have some idea of how an animal’s EPD values stack up against the rest of the breed. On the IBBA website and in this sire summary a Percentile Rank (Rank) is included for every EPD. The Rank value tells us how the EPD of the individual animal stacks up against the same EPD for all other animals in the breed. For instance, a Rank
of 10 for YW EPD means that the animal is in the top 10% of the breed for growth genetic potential as measured by YW EPD. On the other hand a Rank of 10 for birth weight (BW) EPD means that the animal is in the top 10% of the breed for low BW EPD, because a lower BW EPD is in most cases considered to be more favorable than a higher BW EPD. Although EPD values are not available for every trait of economic importance, a basic understanding of the application of EPD tech nology, including ACC, PC and Rank, is critical to correctly applying the technology to make the best possible breeding decisions.
EPD Descriptions BW
Birth weight – A sire’s expected progeny difference (lb) for mature dam equivalent birth weight of calf. Progeny of sires with lower BW EPD values will generally be born with less calving difficulty.
WW
Weaning weight – A sire’s expected progeny difference (lb) for 205-day, mature dam equivalent WW. A sire’s WW EPD is an indication of growth to weaning. WW EPD does not indicate milk production.
YW
Yearling weight – A sire’s expected progeny difference (lb) for 365-day, mature dam equivalent YW. The YW EPD is an indication of the progeny’s post weaning gain performance. YW EPD is calculated by combining WW and post weaning gain performance to predict expected differences in weight performance at one year of age.
MK
Milk – A prediction of the maternal genetic component of weaning weight, MK EPD does not directly indicate more or less milk production. The MK EPD is the expected difference (lb), due to maternal performance (which includes milk production) in the weaning weight of calves out of a bull’s daughters compared to calves from daughters of a bull with a zero MK EPD. A higher EPD indicates that the bull’s daughters should produce more pounds of calf due to increased maternal performance, but a higher MK EPD may also indicate a need for higher nutritional inputs to support increased milk production.
TM
Total Maternal – The expected overall difference (lb) in weaning weight of calves out of a bull’s daughters compared to calves from daughters of a bull with a zero maternal weaning EPD. The maternal weaning EPD is a measure of the genetic component of both growth and maternal ability. It is calculated by adding one-half the WW EPD to the MK EPD, and as a result, TM EPD is the only EPD for which there is no corresponding ACC.
SC
Scrotal circumference – Measured in centimeters, SC has been shown to have a strong influence on male fertility, however selection for extremes in scrotal size is not an effective method of affecting change in the trait, as it is subject to extreme environmental variation. While larger actual scrotal circumference is important in terms of how the bull can be expected to perform his duties of servicing cows, only SC EPD predicts the genetic value of the bull for SC that can be transmitted to his calves. Additionally, heifers sired by bulls with high SC EPD have been shown to reach puberty at significantly earlier ages than do daughters of bulls with low SC EPD.
REA
Ribeye area – REA EPD is a predictor of the muscularity of an animal’s offspring in square inches. The REA EPD presented in this summary is for ultrasound REA as opposed to carcass REA. While there is a high correlation between ultrasound REA and carcass REA, they are not the same trait. Genetic progress for improved muscling is not direct using REA EPD from ultrasound, but still much improved over using actual ultrasound REA measures.
IMF
Percent intramuscular fat – IMF EPD is presented in units of percent fat as determined by ultrasound. While IMF from ultrasound has a strong positive relationship to carcass marbling scores, they are not the same trait. Genetic progress for improved marbling is not direct using IMF EPD, but still much improved over using actual ultrasound IMF measures.
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January 8, 2010 To: IBBA membership Please find enclosed for your consideration a proposed update to the Bylaws of our organization. Many of you will recall that this process was initiated about four years ago, but may not realize that these revisions needed to “coordinate” all sections of the Bylaws with each other and with the Charter. During the history of the IBBA, the Bylaws have been amended in a piecemeal fashion to the point that they have come to be somewhat like the car that Johnny Cash described in the song I Got It One Piece at a Time. As your Board, we decided early in 2009 to use the services of the IBBA attorney to assist in drafting a clean, coordinated document that is harmonious throughout. While Mr. Digby played a major role in crafting the terminology of this update, all of your Board members have been a part of the decisions regarding what should and should not be included. Mr. Digby has offered the following thoughts regarding Bylaws for our organization. “Sound organizational governance requires periodic review of the organization’s charter, Bylaws, and practices to assure that all three are in harmony. It is very common that, over time, changes to Bylaws create inconsistencies between the terms of the Bylaws and the terms of the charter and that neither document fully reflects the organization’s current practices. The IBBA Board has completed such a review and thoughtfully harmonized the provisions of the Bylaws to be internally consistent and consistent with the charter. In addition, the updated Bylaws reflect current IBBA practices in terms that should reduce the need for frequent reviews and revisions in the future.” Upon close examination, you will notice that a few items have been removed from our current Bylaws. Some portions of the existing Bylaws are obsolete or best incorporated into the Policies and Procedures of the organizations. Proposed policies are being drafted to address these items and are open to discussion at your request. We recognize that members will have greater interest in some Articles and Sections of the Bylaws than others and even question the terminology of a few. Some members might prefer to vote on this revision by Article and/or Section. As your Board, we considered and discussed this at some length. In reality, the Bylaws are an integrated document that guides the activities of your organization and cannot be applied or used part by part. None of the Articles or Sections within stands alone but can only be applied as a portion of the
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entire Bylaws. Therefore, as you study the enclosed proposal in preparation for making a decision on its merit, please consider the entire document as a whole. The IBBA Board is unanimous in recommending the approval of the new Bylaws by the membership. We encourage each of you to take some time to fully review this proposed update. If you have questions or concerns, contact the board member that represents your area or Dale Kirkham as your president for an explanation. For the IBBA Board Dale Kirkham, President
BALLOT for IBBA Members 2010 IBBA BYLAW REVISION Check One For
Against
Abstain
Approval of Bylaw Revision Member’s Name (print):
IBBA Membership Number:
Signature:
Date:
If you have any questions regarding the mail ballot or the by-law revision, please contact Dr. Joseph Massey, 210-696-8231 or an IBBA Board Member in your area.
INSTRUCTIONS 1. A copy of the proposed by-law revision is printed in the February issue of the Brangus Journal and is enclosed with the ballot mailed to IBBA members. 2. If you plan to VOTE IN PERSON, at the membership meeting scheduled for Friday, March 5, 2010 at the Holiday Inn at Reliant Center, Houston, TX then ignore the “Mail Ballot.” 3. If you are not going to VOTE IN PERSON, then complete this Ballot and return it in the pre-addressed envelope (which is included) so that it is postmarked no later than 12:00 P.M. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY, 28, 2010. Please do not include payments on your account or work for processing with this ballot. 4. Ballots postmarked after 12:00 P.M. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY, 28, 2010 will not be counted. Ballots MUST BE MAILED. Faxed ballots or emailed votes CANNOT be accepted according to the IBBA Bylaws. 5. Print and sign your name the same way as your IBBA membership is listed. 6. List your IBBA membership number. If you do not know your number, please call the IBBA office at 210/696-8231. 7. Ballots that do not include the name and number and signature of the IBBA member are not valid and will not be counted. 8. The CPA firm of Akin, Doherty, Klein and Feuge, San Antonio, TX will be responsible for tabulating the ballots. Continued on page 66 Brangus Journal
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NEWS&NOTEWORTHY Joe Reznicek Passes Joseph Jacob Reznicek, age 67, of Aliceville, Alabama, passed away Friday, January 15, 2010 at his home on Cow Creek Ranch after a valiant battle with lymphoma. Joe was born June 26, 1942 in Moline, IL, the son of August and Marie Zimmerman Reznicek. A memorial service celebrating Joe’s life was held at 11 a.m., Friday, January 22, 2010 at Cow Creek Ranch, Aliceville. In his 67 years, Joe lived life to its fullest. He made the most of every moment he lived. Joe was a devoted husband, father and grandfather continually sharing his love, wisdom and knowledge. Joe’s deep appreciation of his roots and connection to the soil beneath his feet made him a remarkable steward of the land. He was an avid bird hunter and spent many hours hunting with his retriever, Ruby. Joe was a visionary in every aspect of his life, from his personal matters to his business life. He spent his last year preparing and mentoring his family to move the business forward. Joe was reared on a diversified farming and cattle operation in south central Illinois. The Reznicek family purchased
news&noteworthy
Continued from page 39.
their first registered Angus female in the spring of 1952 and in 2002 the family celebrated its 50th year in the seedstock business. Joe received a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Husbandry from the University of Illinois, Champaign. He dedicated his career to the production of high quality genetics in Angus and Brangus cattle. Joe joined Cow Creek Ranch in 1985, became managing partner in 1994 and eventually became sole owner of the operation. Joe led Cow Creek Ranch to become a nationally recognized producer of seedstock for the beef cattle industry; currently the country’s 21st largest. In 1999, he was named “Brangus Breeder of the Year” by the International Brangus Breeders Association. Joe was active in local and civic activities and served two terms on the American Angus Association Board of Directors. He served as a judge of many state, national and international livestock shows. He was preceded in death by his father, August (Gus) Daniel Reznicek and his sister, Bonnie Reznicek. He is survived by his wife of 15 years, Joy Reznicek of Aliceville; daughter, Carrie Reznicek of Chicago, IL; and son, Matthew Reznicek and wife, Hannah, of Aliceville; four granddaughters, Emily, Sydney, Lexi and Zoe; mother, Marie Reznicek of Carlinville, IL; brothers, Daniel Reznicek and wife, Lynda, of Nashville, TN; David Reznicek and wife, Carolyn, of Carlinville, IL; and August Reznicek and wife, Susan, of Hettick, IL; parents-in-law, Roy and Bernice Weinheimer of Stonewall, TX; and numerous nieces and nephews. Joe was a supporter of, and mentor to, many young people in the cattle industry and beyond. The family has set up a memorial to fund scholarships for youth in the beef cattle industry. Memorials may be made to the Joseph Reznicek Memorial Fund and sent to Cow Creek Ranch, 1170 Cow Creek Road, Aliceville, AL 35442. Benjamin Disraeli is quoted as saying, “The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.” Joe Reznicek was truly a hero in all aspects of life. BJ
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Long-sleeved Shirt. Button-down collar with adjustable cuffs and a patch pocket. Available colors are Red, Natural and Denim ($35). Ladies also available in Natural (shown at right). Call for size and color availability.
Baseball Cap. Six panel construction, mid profile, stitched eyelets and a Velcro closure. One size fits most ($12).
Colorado Timberline Jacket. Black with khaki lining. Front and back vents, elastic cuffs with Velcro adjustable strap, elastic sides on bottom hem, inside chest pocket. IBBA logo embroidered on left lapel. Name or ranch monogrammed at additional cost of $10 per line ($65). Call for size availability.
WearGuardŽ BreezeMaster™ Windshirt. Black with smooth nylom taffeta lining. Two side-seam pockets hold essentials. 100% polyester microfiber shell. Machine wash, dry. ($65). Call for size availability.
White Ceramic Mug. IBBA Logo with two-sided imprinted area ($3). All prices include tax.
ORDER ONLINE AT WWW.gobrangus.COM OR CALL 210.696.8231
IBBASTORE
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Continued from page 45.
PROPOSED Bylaws of the International Brangus Breeders Association
article i: general Section I. Principal Office The principal office of the Association (hereinafter sometimes referred to as IBBA) shall be in the City of San Antonio, State of Texas, but it may have offices at any place or places within or without the state of Texas where it transacts business and at such other place or places within or without such State as the Board of Directors shall from time to time indicate Section II. Oklahoma Office This Association being incorporated in and under the laws of the State of Oklahoma, shall at all times maintain a registered office and have a registered agent in the State of Oklahoma, and shall always comply with the laws of Oklahoma applicable to it. Section III. Seal The Directors may adopt a corporate seal for the Association and may from time to time modify such corporate seal. Section IV. Amendment of Bylaws These Bylaws shall not be amended, altered or repealed except by a 2/3 majority vote of those active members in good standing voting by mailed ballot and in person at any duly called annual or special meeting of the members, provided that proper notice as required in Article II. Section IV. that specifies the changes being proposed and the time and place of said meeting is given to the active members Section V. Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation The Association’s Certificate of Incorporation shall not be amended, altered or repealed except by a majority vote all active members in good standing. Voting on any such action may be by mailed ballot or in person at any duly called annual or special meeting of the members, provided that proper notice as required in Article II. Section IV. that specifies the changes being proposed and the time and place of said meeting is given to the active members. article iI: members Section I. Classes of Members The Association shall have one class of voting members (“active members”). The Directors may, from time to time, designate one or more additional classes of members with privileges and obligations as determined by the Directors; provided that only Active Members shall have any right to vote or to otherwise have any voice in the operation, conduct, management or ownership of the Association. Section IA. Active Members Subject to all the other terms and provisions of these Bylaws, any person, firm or corporation who is a breeder and/or owner of animals eligible for registration, certification, enrollment or recording as specified in Article V shall be eligible to become an active member of the Association subject to the following: 1. Written application for such membership being made to and lodged with the Board of Directors of the Association by the party desiring to become an active member, accompanied by a cash fee as determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. 2. The Board of Directors approving such applicant as a breeder and/or owner. 3. An active member may be an individual, partnership, corporation, co-tenancy, syndicate, trust, estate or the surviving spouse or lineal descendants of a deceased person who was an active member at the time of his or her death, provided such spouse or descendant otherwise qualifies as eligible to be an active member. 4. Each member that is an entity or that is otherwise comprised of more than one individual must have a separate recorded Association membership number and must designate a representative who will act on behalf of the entity or co-owners. 5. Each active member in good standing (meaning such member shall not have been suspended and shall be current in the payment of all dues) shall be entitled to one vote for the election of Directors and for any other item of business on which the member is entitled to vote. 6. Each active member shall pay the Association annual dues as determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. 7. No active member shall ever have the right to transfer or otherwise dispose of his or its membership in the Association, and no such membership or any evidence thereof shall ever be transferable in any event except as provided above with respect to heirs of deceased members. 8. Each applicant for active membership will be subject to review and specific approval by the IBBA Board of Directors based on such other criteria as the Board of Directors may adopt from time to time. Section IB. Other Membership Classes The requirements, privileges and obligations of any additional classes of membership that have been designated by the Directors may be amended, altered, or modified from time to time as determined by the Directors. The Directors may also eliminate any additional classes of membership as they deem in the best interests of the Association. Section II. Annual Meeting The annual meeting of the members of the Association shall be held at the principal office of the Association in San Antonio, Texas, or at such other place within or without the State of Texas as the Directors may determine between January 1st and April 1st of each year. The business of the annual meeting shall be to verify the election of Directors and to transact any other business as may be properly brought before the meeting by advance notice of such meeting (see Article II. Section IV. Notice).
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Section III. Special Meetings Special meetings of the members may be held at the principal office of the Association, or at such other place within or without the state of Texas, as the Directors may determine, and at any time upon call by the President, or by the Executive Committee, or by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors, or by not less than one hundred (100) active members who are in good standing. The purpose of the special meeting shall be to transact any business set forth in the advance notice of such meeting (see Article II. Section IV. Notice). Section IV. Notice Written or printed notice stating the place, day and hour of the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called shall be published in the Brangus® Journal not less than forty-five (45) days beforehand or, if notice by publication is not practical because there is insufficient time prior to the scheduled date of the meeting, such written or printed notice shall be sent by U.S. regular mail, postage prepaid, to each member not less than thirty (30) days beforehand. Section V. Waiver of Notice If any of the active members shall waive notice of meeting, no notice of such meeting will be required to such member. Whenever all of the active members shall meet, such meetings shall be valid for all purposes, without call or notice. Any active member who votes at a meeting in person or by ballot shall be deemed to have waived notice of the meeting. Section VI. Quorum At any annual or special meeting of the members, one hundred (100) active members, including individual Association officers and Directors, in good standing voting in person and by mailed ballot shall constitute a quorum and a majority thereof shall have the authority to authorize and transact any and all business except as otherwise specifically provided in these Bylaws. Section VII. Mailed Ballots The Board of Directors may authorize voting by mailed ballot upon any specific matter only after the membership has been provided notice in the same fashion as required for the notice of a meeting of the active members (see Article II. Section IV. Notice). The Board of Directors shall have the authority to adopt procedures from time to time to facilitate the orderly voting by mailed ballot, provided such procedures are set forth in the notice to the active members. article iII: board of Directors Section I. Number and Qualifications The Board of Directors shall be selected from among the active members of the Association with not more than one person from the same ranching entity being allowed to serve on the IBBA Board of Directors at the same time. The number of Directors serving on the Board shall be thirteen (13). The term of a member of the Board of Directors shall be limited to no more than two consecutive three year terms, except election of a Board member to fill a one-year unexpired term will not be considered as part of the two consecutive term limitation. However, the election of a Board member to fill a two-year unexpired term will be considered as one term of the two consecutive term limitation. Past board members may be elected to again serve on the Board three or more years following previous tenure on the Board. Section II. Election and Term of Office The Directors shall be elected by the active members of the Association by mailed ballot once each year. Each member of the Board of Directors shall hold office for a three (3) year term and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified; provided, however, that a Director may be removed at any time by a vote of the active members of the Association at any annual or special meeting of the members. The Board of Directors shall be divided into three (3) groups of which two groups shall have four (4) Directors and one group shall have five (5) Directors. Each year, one group of the Board of Directors will be elected by the active members in good standing who reside in the respective areas represented by such group for a three (3) year term on a rotating basis so that the active members in each area represented by such group elects new Directors as the terms of the Directors in such group are expiring. The Board of Directors shall designate, from time to time, the division of the United States into electoral areas based on animal registrations. Unless changed by the Board of Directors, there will be eleven (11) areas, with each area electing one Director every three (3) years, with the exception of Texas where one Director will be elected every year. Each year the president shall appoint a current Director to head the nomination process in his or her designated area. The appointed Directors shall form a committee composed of the Directors and representatives of the state and regional associations within the area. The state and regional associations’ representatives shall be a majority of the nominating committee. A minimum of two candidates (of which one candidate may be a write-in) shall be nominated for each vacant Director position. The officers of the Association shall designate a completion date of the nominating process. A list of nominees shall be made available to the active members at least thirty (30) days prior to the mailing of the official ballot. The members in good standing shall elect the Directors from their area of residence by mail ballot only. Each active member in good standing has one (1) vote for each vacant Director position in the area. A member’s area will be based upon the mailing address on file with the Association. The officers of the Association shall designate the procedure for the proper execution of the official ballot. The members may vote for any member in good standing residing in their area whether or not their names appear on the ballot, by writing in the names of such members in spaces provided on the ballot. The candidate or candidates receiving the largest number of votes in each electoral area shall be declared elected as Director. The Secretary-Treasurer will appoint a committee of three active members in good standing to supervise the tabulation of ballots. In case of a tie vote, a run-off ballot will be mailed to that particular electoral area.
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Section III. Vacancies In case of any vacancy in the office of a Director through death, resignation or disqualification, the vacancy remains unfilled until the next annual Director elections at which time the vacancy will be filled by the nomination and election procedures set forth above for the electoral area from which the vacancy occurred. Section IV. Meetings The Directors shall hold an annual meeting as soon as practical after the annual meeting of the members, and shall hold such other regular meetings as they may determine from time to time. Special meetings may be held at any time upon ten (10) days notice to the Directors. Attendance of Directors at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except where a Director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting. The Directors may participate in and hold such meeting by means of conference telephone, videoconference, or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Participation in such a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting, except where a person participates in the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. A majority of the Directors at any time in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Except as herein in these Bylaws elsewhere specifically provided with regard to an Executive Committee, no Director shall, in his or her capacity as or by virtue of being a Director, have any right, power or authority to act for or on behalf of the Association except at and during a duly convened meeting of the Board of Directors and no Director shall ever be permitted to act as such through another either by the giving of proxy to such other person or otherwise. Section V. Scope of Duties The business and property of the Association shall be managed and controlled by the Board of Directors, and the officers of the Association shall at all times be under their control and subject to their direction. However, the Board of Directors can authorize active members the right to vote either in person or by mailed ballot on any special issues defined and approved by the Board of Directors. Section VI. Executive Committee The Board of Directors, by resolution adopted by a majority of their number at a duly convened meeting, may designate no less than five (5) of its members to constitute an Executive Committee from among its members which shall include the President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, the Secretary Treasurer and the immediate Past President of the Association. The Executive Committee, if designated, shall have and may exercise any and all of the authority of the Board of Directors in carrying on and handling the business and affairs of the Association as designated by the Board of Directors, except where action of the Board of Directors is otherwise specified by these Bylaws or by applicable law. The designation of an Executive Committee and the delegation thereto of authority shall not operate to relieve the Board of Directors, or any member thereof, of any responsibility imposed upon it or him by law and the Executive Committee shall be subject at all times to the control and direction of the Board of Directors. Such committee shall act by a majority of its members at a meeting or by a writing signed by all its members. An act or authorization of an act by an Executive Committee within the authority delegated to it shall be as effective for all purposes as the act or authorization of the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings and report the same to the Board of Directors at the next regular meeting of the Board of Directors. The Executive Vice President of the Association shall sit with the Executive Committee at all of its meetings and participate therein but he shall not have the right to vote on any matter brought before the committee. Meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the President or the Secretary Treasurer by giving the other members and the Executive Vice President reasonable advance written notice. article iV: officers Section I. General The officers of the Association shall consist of a President, a First Vice President, a Second Vice President, a Secretary-Treasurer, the immediate Past-President and an Executive Vice-President. The officers, except for the Executive Vice-President, shall be elected by the Directors each year at the first meeting of the Board of Directors after the election of new Directors. Each such officer must be a member of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may appoint such other officers as they deem necessary and shall have the exclusive authority to hire and fire the Executive Vice President. The officers of the Association, other than the Executive Vice President, shall perform the duties regularly performed by such officers in similar corporations, and they shall at all times be subject to the control and direction of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee. They shall perform such duties and have such powers as may be, from time to time, prescribed by the Board of Directors. Except for the Executive Vice President, no officer of the Association shall receive any compensation for his services as such. Section II. Term of Office and Removal All officers shall hold office for the term designated in their employment or appointment, but if not designated, then until their successors are duly elected and have been qualified; provided however, that the Board of Directors shall have the right at any and all times to remove any such officer by a majority vote. Section III. Executive Vice President The Executive Vice President shall be a full time, salaried employee of the Association. The Executive Vice-President shall be paid such salary for his full time services as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine and shall attend all meetings except executive sessions of the Executive Committee, Board of Directors and active members as an ex-officio member without power to vote. The Executive Vice- President shall generally be in charge of the administrative affairs of the Association, with the right to hire and fire and fix the compensation of all subordinate employees not elected or appointed by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee, and generally perform all other duties and exercise all other powers which the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee may from time to time assign to him, all, however, subject to the will of the Board of Directors. 68 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010
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Section IV. Execution of Instruments Except as otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, all formal instruments authorized by the Board of Directors shall be signed by the President, the Executive Vice- President or the Vice President and attested by the Secretary-Treasurer or an assistant Secretary. All checks shall be signed, from time to time as approved by the Directors. article V: cattle Section I. Animals Eligible for Registration The following animals are eligible for registration by the Association: A. “Brangus®” or “Red Brangus” Cattle These by definition are animals of 3/8th Brahman breeding and 5/8th Angus breeding, are black or red, respectively, with no white in front of the navel; and are polled or scurred. “Brangus®” or “Red Brangus” may be registered in and by the Association provided they are produced from breeding as follows: 1. Known Brangus® or Red Brangus sire and dam registered in and by the Association; 2. Known purebred Angus animal enrolled in and by the Association and a known animal of 3/4th Brahman breeding and 1/4th Angus breeding certified in and by the Association; 3. A known animal of 1/4th Brahman breeding and 3/4th Angus breeding certified in and by the Association and a known animal of 1/2 Brahman breeding and 1/2 Angus breeding certified in and by the Association; or 4. Known progeny from animals recorded in the Brangus®/Red Brangus Appendix Program that meet all Association requirements for registration other than those specified in 1, 2 or 3 of this paragraph A. B. “Ultrablack®” or “Ultrared” Cattle These by definition are animals of Brangus breeding and Angus breeding, are black or red respectively, with no white in front of the navel; and are polled or scurred. “Ultrablack®” or “Ultrared” may be registered in and by the Association provided they are produced from breeding as follows: 1. Known Ultrablack® or Ultrared sire and dam registered in and by the Association; 2. Known purebred Angus animal enrolled in and by the Association and a Brangus® or Red Brangus animal registered in and by the Association; 3. Known purebred Angus animal enrolled in and by the Association and animals recorded in the Brangus®/Red Brangus Appendix Program that meet all Association requirements for registration other than those specified in 1 or 2 of this paragraph B; or 4. Known progeny from animals recorded in the Ultrablack® or Ultrared Appendix Program that meet all Association requirements for registration other than those specified in 1, 2 or 3 of this paragraph B. Section II. Animals Eligible for Certification The following animals are eligible for certification by the Association and may be certified in and by the Association, but none such shall ever be enrolled or registered: A. “Quarter-Blood” Cattle that are, by definition, of 1/4th Brahman and 3/4th Angus breeding. B. “Half-Blood” Cattle that are, by definition, 1/2 Brahman and 1/2 Angus breeding. C. “Three-Quarter-Blood” Cattle that are, by definition, of 3/4th Brahman and 1/4th Angus breeding. D. “Appendix” Cattle that are, by definition, eligible for recording in the Brangus®/Red Brangus or Ultrablack®/Ultrared Appendix Program. 1. Animals eligible for recording in the Brangus®/Red Brangus Appendix Program are 3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Angus and have enrolled, certified, or registered Brangus® or Red Brangus cattle as parents or cattle recorded in the Brangus® or Red Brangus Appendix Program as parents, but do not meet the Association’s color standards for herd registry. 2. Animals eligible for recording in the Ultrablack®/Ultrared Appendix Program are Brangus and Angus and have enrolled Angus, or registered Brangus®/Red Brangus or Ultrablack®/Ultrared cattle as parents or cattle recorded in the Ultrablack®/Ultrared Appendix Program as parents, but do not meet the associations color standards for registry. Animals as defined in Section II, A, B or C are considered “Foundation Stock for Brangus Cattle”. Section III. Animals Eligible for Enrollment The following animals are eligible for enrollment by the Association and are considered “Foundation Stock for Brangus Cattle” : A. Purebred Brahman or Zebu cattle B. Purebred Angus cattle. Section IV. Fees Fees for registration, certification, enrollment, recording and/or transfer of cattle in and by the Association shall be those as fixed and determined from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Association; provided that, (i) fees charged members of the Association in good standing shall always be one-half the fees charged others, and, (ii) all such fees shall be subject to review and change by the active members of the Association at any duly convened meeting of the Association members. Section V. Applications for Certificates All applications for registration, certification, enrollment, and/or recording cattle in and by the Association shall be in such form and in such substance as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time. Section VI. Herd Books The Association shall keep and maintain three permanent herd books. One entitled, “Foundation Stock Permanent Herd Book”, in which shall be entered all “Foundation Stock for Brangus®/Red Brangus or Ultrablack®/Ultrared Cattle” from time to time certified or enrolled in and by the Association. One entitled, “Brangus® Brangus Journal
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and Red Brangus Cattle Permanent Herd Book” in which shall be entered all animals of 3/8th Brahman breeding and 5/8th Angus breeding from time to time registered in and by the Association. And, one entitled “Ultrablack® and Ultrared Cattle Permanent Herd Book” in which shall be entered all animals of Brangus® or Red Brangus breeding and Angus breeding from time to time registered in and by the Association. Each breeder and/or owner who seeks to have any animal registered, certified, enrolled, or recorded in and by the Association shall keep accurate documentation in which such party shall indicate the tattoo and/or holding brand and herd number of each animal, and such other information detailing its ancestry and breeding as will clearly and positively reflect its parentage. Section VII. Records Active members who fail to keep complete and accurate records of their registered, certified, enrolled or recorded cattle with the Association will be notified by the Executive Vice President or his designee that the Association is aware of the problem. It will be the responsibility of the breeder to promptly correct his records and institute accepted recording practices to monitor future activities of his herd. If this action is not taken within a reasonable time to the satisfaction of the Executive Vice President, the breeder will be notified by letter and the matter will be submitted to the Board of Directors (or if so delegated, to the Executive Committee) for determination under the hearing procedures set forth in Article XIII. Section VII. Release of Performance Information Each person who submits performance information on cattle to be registered, certified, enrolled or to be entered in any Association program, by doing so, irrevocably consents and agrees that such information will be used for research, development and publication of a Brangus® Sire Summary report that will be available to the Association membership and the general public. article Vi: other provisions Section I. Business Year The Association shall operate on a calendar year basis. Section II. Audits and Auditing Each year the Board of Directors shall employ for and on behalf of the Association, a Certified Public Accounting firm that is reputable and competent, and is neither an inspector for, nor a member, officer, Director or employee of the Association, or in any way connected with any other Association. Such accountants shall be paid by the Association a reasonable compensation for their services and shall make and complete a detailed audit each year of the books, records and affairs of the Association and submit his preliminary written report thereof to the Directors on or before the date of the next ensuing annual meeting of the Association members. Copies the audit report shall be made available to active members attending such meeting. A conformed and certified copy of the audit report will be published in the next available Brangus® Journal after it is received by the Board of Directors. Section III. Committees The Board of Directors will appoint committees as necessary to accomplish the work of IBBA. These permanent committees are known as “Standing Committees”. From time to time other committees may be appointed for specific tasks with specific goals. These temporary committees are known as “Ad Hoc Committees”. Standing committee chairmen are appointed by the president of IBBA after consultation with the executive committee. Chairmanship appointments are for a one-year term and are made at the Annual IBBA Spring board meeting, immediately following the election of the new president. The Chairman of each standing committee shall be a member of the IBBA Board of Directors and no Chair will serve for more than three consecutive years. The Association Secretary-Treasurer will always chair the Finance Committee. A. Standing Committees 1. Committees should be of sufficient size to accomplish their purposes and provide sufficient representation of the membership of the Association. 2. Annually, at least 1/3 of each committee membership shall be newly appointed to that respective committee and no committee member shall serve for more than three consecutive years. 3. Committee chairs are to nominate and solicit individuals for positions on their committees, but the executive committee shall approve all individuals prior to the solicitation for committee membership. Generally all committee members will be members of IBBA in good standing. However, exceptions to this rule can be approved by the executive committee and an attempt will be made to have membership of the Commercial Marketing Committee to be commercial cattle producers who will often not be IBBA members. 4. Committee Chairs have the sole responsibility of recruiting and selecting a Vice chairman from among his committee members who will advise the Chair and function as Chair when the Chairman is absent. 5. The executive committee by majority vote may also appoint members to, or remove members from any standing committee. 6. Standing committee Chairs are expected to prepare and submit brief written reports for review by the executive committee at least 30 days before each bi-annual meeting. 7. At each bi-annual meeting the report of each standing committee is to be presented by the chairman to the IBBA Board for acceptance. Any proposed actions or recommendations contained in the report or made by a standing committee are to be presented by the chairman to the IBBA Board as motions for consideration by the IBBA Board. B. Ad Hoc Committees 1. Ad hoc committees are formed for specific purposes with specific goals. They may be appointed by the Chair of a standing committee with approval of the executive committee or by the IBBA Board. Each ad hoc committee reports back to the committee that designated the charge. Once the specific purpose is accomplished and the ad hoc committee has reported such ad hoc committee is dissolved. Ad hoc committees will always expire annually. If necessary, they must be annually reformed until their work is complete. 70 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010
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2. The executive committee by majority vote may also appoint members to, or remove members from any ad hoc committee and by majority vote, may dissolve any ad hoc committee. 3. C. Named Standing Committees 1. Finance Committee Charge: To assist the Executive Vice President in developing an association budget in response to committees of the Board of Directors and consideration of the general association expenses and revenues; to develop programs and ideas to produce revenues and to monitor the financial health of the association and make appropriate recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding financial concerns. 2. Breed Improvement Committee Charge: To consider and pursue and participate in the implementation of all issues relating to development of Brangus® or Red Brangus cattle, including but not limited to, performance data, breed traits and characteristics and consideration of all research projects and information available. 3. Commercial Marketing Committee Charge: To consider, pursue and implement all issues relating to promoting Brangus® or Red Brangus Cattle to the commercial market and to develop commercial marketing programs, ideas and strategies; and to develop tools to better enable members to market Brangus® or Red Brangus Cattle into the commercial industry. 4. Promotion Committee Charge: To develop and implement promotional strategies and plans, including, but not limited to, formal advertising campaigns, which promote Brangus® or Red Brangus Cattle and the International Brangus® Breeders Association. 5. Membership Services and Education Committee Charge: To enhance membership programs, encourage growth in membership enrollment and develop and retain association members; and to create educational opportunities on the local, regional and national levels for all members. 6. Show Committee Charge: To select judges for the national shows; to create a list of potential judges for use by other shows; to develop and monitor implementation of show rules and guidelines; to recommend locations for shows; to appoint and charge the ethics committee when needed at times of disputes or formal complaints arise; and to assist in the production of the Brangus® Futurity, the Brangus® Summit and other national shows as needed. 7. Awards Committee This is a special committee with membership being made up of the Chairperson of each Standing Committee so named previously. Charge: To receive nominations and to select individuals to receive the following: 1. Breeder of the Year Award 2. Herdsman of the Year Award 3. International Brangus® Breeders Pioneer Award. 8. Officer Nomination Committee This is a special committee and as such will be made up of the three (3) immediate past presidents of the Board of Directors and Chaired by one of the three. Charge: To provide a slate of nominees for annual election to become officers of the IBBA Board of Directors Section IV. Rules The Directors shall from time to time make and promulgate such rules in furtherance of carrying out the provisions and purposes of the Association’s Certificate of Incorporation and these Bylaws as they seem proper. Section V. Fees and Dues All fees and dues shall be payable in cash and shall be paid to the Association in advance. Section VI. All Persons Bound by Bylaws and Rules All members of the Association shall obey and agree to be bound by all provisions of the Bylaws and Rules of the Association, as amended from time to time, and all decisions and actions of the Board of Directors, Executive Committee and the Association. Persons who are not members of the Association but who file transfers and other documents with the Association and who utilize the privileges of the Association shall by such action agree to be bound by and subject to all of the provisions of the Bylaws and Rules of the Association, as amended from time to time, and all decisions and actions of the Board of Directors, Executive Committee and the Association. Section VII. Judicial Review of Association Actions While the right or privilege of a member or nonmember to seek judicial review on final Association decisions or actions is recognized, that member, by joining the Association, or nonmember by filing transfers or other documents with the Association, does thereby agree, if unsuccessful in the attempt to overturn Association decisions, actions or provisions of these Bylaws or of the Rules of the Association, to reimburse the Association in full for its reasonable attorney’s fees, court costs and other expenses in defense of such suit. In addition, such member and such nonmember do further agree that any such suit brought against or involving in any way the Association shall be brought only in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas or in the District Court of Bexar County, Texas and that no suit shall be brought against the Association or involving the Association in any manner in any other court or judicial forum. Section VIII. Nonliability of Association The Association, its Board of Directors, Executive Committee, officers, members of committees, employees and agents shall use diligence in securing true information in connection with the registration, certification and enrollment of animals, transfers or registration certificates and in all other matters relating to Association activities. Neither the Association nor its Board of Directors, Executive Committee, officers, committee members, employees or agent shall be liable in any Brangus Journal
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way, whether by damages or otherwise, for the issuance of any certificate of registration, certification or enrollment, for the transfer of a certificate of registration, for the refusal to issue any certificate of registration, enrollment or certification or for the refusal to transfer any certificate for registration, for the cancellation of any certificate of registration, certification or enrollment, for the cancellation of any transfer of a registration certificate, for the refusal to approve an application for membership in the Association, for any disciplinary proceedings brought against or penalties imposed on any member or other person or for any other activity engaged in by or on behalf of the Association. article VII: indemnification Section I. Standard of Conduct The Association shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a part to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative (including an action by or in the right of the Association), by reason of the fact that he is or was a Director, officer, employee or agent of the Association, or is or was serving at the request of the Association as a Director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid or necessarily incurred, in settlement or otherwise, by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which any such Director, officer, agent, employee, person serving at the Association’s request, or former Director, officer, agent, shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding to be liable for willful misconduct in the performance of duty and to such matters as shall be settled by agreement predicated on the existence of such liability, unless, and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability and in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such court shall deem proper; but such indemnification shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the Director, officer, agent, employee or other person serving at the Association’s request is entitled to under any agreement or otherwise. Section II. Determination Any indemnification under Section I of this Article (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Association only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the Director, officer, employee, agent or person serving at the Association’s request is proper in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section I of this Article. Such determination shall be made (a) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding; or (b) if such a quorum is not obtainable or even if obtainable, a quorum of the disinterested Directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion; or, (c) by the affirmative vote of the majority of the members entitled to vote and represented at a meeting called for such purpose; provided, however, that if a Director, officer, employee or agent of the Association, or person serving at the Association’s request has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Section I of this Article or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall automatically be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and necessarily incurred by him in connection therewith without the necessity of any such determination that he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section I of this Article. Section III. Payment in Advance Expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the Association in advance of the final disposition of such action suit or proceeding as authorized by the Board of Directors as provided in Section II of this Article upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Director, officer, employee, agent or person serving at the Association’s request to repay such amount if and when it should ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the Association as authorized in this Article. Section IV. Insurance The Board of Directors may exercise the Association’s power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a Director, officer, employee or agent of the Association or is or was serving at the request of the Association as a Director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Association should have the power to indemnify him against such liability hereunder or otherwise. Section V. Other Coverage The indemnification provided by this Article shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under the Association’s Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, agreement, vote of members or disinterested Directors, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in and to his capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Director, officer, employee, agent or one serving at the Association’s request and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs and personal representatives of such a person. article ViI: Hearings and appeals Section I. General The Association recognizes the importance to its members and other persons who enjoy its benefits and privileges of providing fair procedures in connection with the orderly and expeditious conduct of hearings and appeals. Section II. Membership Application Any person whose application for membership in the Association is questioned by the Board of Directors shall be entitled to a hearing before the Board of Directors. When questions regarding an application for membership in the Association cannot be resolved in an informal manner, the Board of Directors shall hold a hearing in accordance with the rules set forth in Section VI of this Article, after written notice of the hearing has been given to the applicant. Such written notice shall be deemed delivered if mailed, first class, certified, postage prepaid to the applicant at his address reflected on the application at least thirty days before the
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date of the hearing. The decision of the Board of Directors following the hearing shall be final. Section III. Disciplinary Actions Any member or other person who violate the rules, regulations, constitution or Bylaws of the Association or impairs the reliability of the records of the Association or who offers to the Association for registration, certification, enrollment or transfer any animal known by such member or person not to be eligible for such registration, certification, enrollment or transfer or who knowingly misrepresents to the Association any material fact as to the sex, date of birth, age, description, ancestry or identity of any animal or who deceives the Association or another person in any matter in which the Association has any interest may, if he is a member, be censured, suspended or expelled and denied any or all of the privileges of the Association, after notice and an opportunity to be heard, as hereinafter provided. Such additional or other penalties or restrictions on the exercise of the privileges of the Association as are deemed proper and appropriate may also be imposed by the Board of Directors. Section IV. Registrations, Certifications, Enrollments, Recordings and Transfers If, in the opinion of the Executive Vice President of the Association, evidence is produced or exists which raises reasonable doubt as to the propriety of the registration, certification, enrollment, recording or transfer of an animal, the proceedings or records of the Association with respect to such animal and its descendants may be temporarily suspended by the Executive Vice President. After notice and opportunity to be heard as hereinafter provided, the Board of Directors (or if so delegated, the Executive Committee) may deny any application for registration, certification, enrollment, recording or transfer or may expunge any existing registration, certification, enrollment, recording or transfer found to be improper, or take such other steps as the nature of the case may require. Section V. Notice Notice of any proposed censure, suspension, expulsion or denial of privileges shall be in writing and shall be issued by the Executive Vice President of the Association. Such notice shall specify the alleged cause for the proposed censure, suspension, expulsion or denial of privileges and the alleged doubt as to the propriety of the registration, certification, enrollment or transfer of an animal, and inform the accused individual and any person appearing from the records of the Association to have an interest in the registration, certification, enrollment or transfer of an animal of the time and place and the body before which a hearing on the matter will be held. Such notice shall be deemed delivered if mailed, first class, certified postage prepaid to the person entitled to notice at his address as reflected on the records of the Association at least thirty days before the day of the hearing. Section VI. Hearings All hearings shall be before an executive session of the Board of Directors (or the Executive Committee, is so delegated). In all hearings the following shall apply: A. Any person interested may appear in person or by counsel and may offer testimony and other evidence and produce witnesses. B. All oral testimony, documents, affidavits and physical exhibits that are relevant, material and have probative force, not being unduly repetitious, may be admissible and the hearing authority shall determine the admissibility of such offered evidence and the weight to be accorded to the evidence admitted. The common law or statutory rules of evidence shall not apply at the hearing. The members of the hearing body shall designate one of its members to serve as presiding officer at the hearing to rule on all motions, objections and other questions. As promptly as reasonable and practicable after the conclusion of the hearing, the hearing body shall render a written decision based upon all evidence presented to it at the hearing. A majority vote of the members of the hearing body participating shall be required on any decision. A copy of the written decision shall be sent by the Executive Vice President to each person who was entitled to notice of the hearing in the manner provided for the giving of such notice. Section VII. Appeals A decision by the Board of Directors shall not be appealable. Any interested person aggrieved by a decision of the Executive Committee under this Article may, by a notice in writing signed by him and received at the principal office of the Association not more than thirty days after a copy of the decision has been sent to such person, appeal such decision to the hearing body. In all appeals the following shall apply: A. The Executive Vice President of the Association shall transmit to the Board of Directors the transcript of the proceedings before the Executive Committee, including its decision thereon. B. The Board of Directors sitting in executive session shall appoint a member of the Board of Directors to preside over the hearing of an appeal. The Executive Vice President shall give notice in writing in the manner provided for the giving of notice of a hearing to each person who was given notice of the Executive Committee hearing, which notice shall specify the time not sooner than thirty days after the giving of such notice, and the place where the Board of Direc tors will hear the appeal. C. Any person having an interest in the appeal may appear in person or by counsel, but no testimony shall be given and no evidence shall be submitted. The decision of the Board of Directors on the appeal shall be based solely upon a review of the transcript of the proceedings before the Executive Committee and consideration of the arguments or persons entitled to the notice of appeal. D. No member of the Executive Committee shall participate in any way at the appeal hearing. E. As promptly as reasonable and practicable after the conclusion of the hearing on the appeal, the Board of Directors shall decide the matter, with power and discretion to affirm, reverse or revise, making more or less severe the decision of the Executive Committee, or to demand a rehearing of the matter. The decision of the Board of Directors shall be in writing. A majority vote of the members of the Board of Directors participating shall be required on any decision. The Executive Vice President shall promptly send a copy of the Board’s written decision to each person having an interest in the appeal in the manner pro vided for the giving of notice of the hearing of the appeal. The decision of the Board of Directors, or that of the Executive Committee if no appeal is made, shall be the final decision of the Association and may be published in the Association’s newsletter or other publication. Section VIII. Miscellaneous Every decision of the Executive Committee of the Association shall stand as the decision of the Board of Directors until reversed or revised or otherwise ordered by the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee may restore privileges, upon application and satisfactory showing by such person that restoration of privilege is Brangus Journal
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warranted. The sole official record of proceedings before the Executive Committee or the Board of Directors shall be that produced in a manner approved by the Board of Directors. Copies of the transcript of the hearing shall be made available to any person having an interest in the proceeding upon payment to the Association, in advance, of the reasonable cost thereof. Hearings for purposes other than those specified in this Article may be held as the Executive Committee or Board of Directors may, from time to time, determine. The Executive Committee and Board of Directors shall have the sole and exclusive right to interpret and apply the provisions of this Article. article IX: inspection of exhibits Section I. Authority to Inspect The Board of Directors shall have the authority to require such tests as it deems necessary to verify the accuracy of the classification and pedigree of animals exhibited at any show or function. Said authority shall extend to and cover the enforcement of all show rules as adopted by the Association. Section II. Submission to Inspection Each exhibitor shall submit his registered Brangus® or Red Brangus cattle to such tests and examinations as may be requested by the Association by and through its Board of Directors, its authorized representatives, or the authorized representatives of the relevant show or fair. Section III. Release For and in consideration of the opportunity to participate in any Brangus function each exhibitor hereby releases and holds harmless the Association, its officers, Directors, employees, agents and representatives from any liability and from any and all claims, suits, damages and judgments (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) past, present or future, arising from or connected with the administration or use of such test or examination and the resulting decision thereon. .
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CURRENT Bylaws of the International Brangus Breeders Association
article i. . . . . . . general article ii. . . . . . .members article iii. . . . . . board of directors article iv. . . . . . officers article v. . . . . . .cattle article vi. . . . . . inspectors article vii. . . . . .other provisions article viii. . . . . indemnification article ix. . . . . . hearings and appeals article x. . . . . . .inspection of exhibits
article i: general Section I. Principal Office The principal office of the Association (hereinafter sometimes referred to as IBBA) shall be in the City of San Antonio, State of Texas, but it may have offices at any place or places within or without the state of Texas where it transacts business and at such other place or places within or without such State as the Board of Directors shall from time to time indicate. Section II. Oklahoma Office This Association being incorporated in and under the laws of the State of Oklahoma, shall at all times maintain a registered office and have a registered agent in such State, and shall always comply with the laws of Oklahoma applicable to it. Section III. Seal The Association shall have a corporate seal Revised 11/2004 which shall be circular in form with the words “Corporate Seal” in the center, and around the margin of which shall be inscribed the words, “International Brangus Breeders Association, Inc.” Section IV. Amendment of Bylaws These Bylaws shall not be amended, altered or repealed except by a 2/3 majority vote of active members, including individual members of the Board of Directors, including both those voting by mailed ballot and in person at any annual or special meeting of members, and then only after a minimum of forty-five (45) days of advance notice published in the Brangus® Journal or, if notice by publication is not practical because there is insufficient time prior to the scheduled date of the meeting, such written or printed notice shall be sent by U.S. regular mail, postage prepaid, to each member not less than thirty (30) days before hand (see Article II. Section IV. Notice) which notice must specify the changes being proposed and the time and place of said meeting. article iI: members Section I. Classes of Members There shall be three classes of members in and of the Association, namely ACTIVE MEMBERS, ASSOCIATE MEMBERS and JUNIOR MEMBERS, but only active members shall have any right to vote or to otherwise have any voice in the operation, conduct, management or ownership of the Association. Section IA. Active Members Subject to all the other terms and provisions of these Bylaws, any person, firm or corporation who is a breeder and/or owner of animals eligible for registration, Continued on page 83 74 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010
Brangus Journal
HOW TO: THR No Progeny Report
& Recording Calves
SPRING THR NO PROGENY REPORT DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 28, 2010 During each 12 month period one of the following must be received for each active female on inventory: • A calf record including a weaning date and weaning weight (regardless of whether or not the calf will be regis tered. • A calf record and a pre-weaning disposal code for the calf. • A reason code if the cow did not produce a calf. (Example: Code 31 – Open, missed calving opportunity) Assessment age females will be deactivated and removed from the breeder’s inventory unless one of the above items is reported each year. A reactivation fee will be required for reinstatement. The Spring No Progeny Report lists all mature females for which no calf or reason code has been reported for the prior year (2009). The deadline for reporting a calf record or reason code for these animals is February 14th if reporting by mail and February 28th if reporting online. There are two ways to report calves or reason codes. Option 1 (paper reporting): If mailing back the report for the staff to enter calves, weaning data, and/or reason codes, fill in all the calf information (including weaning data or preweaning disposal code) or the reason code for the cow. Allow adequate mailing time for receipt by February 14th. Option 2 (online): If reporting online, simply click on THR located under Herd Management and then click on No Progeny to reveal the page. Once there, you can assign a reason code by simply clicking on the words Reason Code. This opens a drop down box with the reason codes listed. Choose the appropriate reason code for each animal.
Once all animals have been assigned reason codes click on the continue button at the bottom of the page.
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If reporting online please do not mail the reports back to IBBA To report calves along with their weaning information online click on the words Record Calves located under Herd Management. Answer all the questions and click on the continue button.
Please note that all animals must have a private herd number and you must give the location of the private herd number.
Fill in the information. When you have entered everything click on the Validate button.
If you do not know what to put into a column just click on the heading for that column and you will get a popup box that explains what to do.
After you click on the validate button the screen will come back up and if there are any problems or errors they will be highlighted in red. Make the corrections and click on the save changes & revalidate button. When the screen comes back up and the red highlights are gone you can click on the Commit to Registry button. Please Note: All calves need to be reported, including calves that have died or have been culled. If you have entered calves that you do not wish to be registered, just leave the name column blank. All non-reporting females will be deactivated and removed from your Spring Inventory on March 1st.
Reporting Weaning Data Part of the Total Herd Reporting process is reporting the weaning information on all calves whether or not you wish to receive a registration certificate on them. If you have calves that were sold or died prior to weaning, there are disposal codes you can enter for them.
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There are two ways to report weaning information or pre-weaning disposal codes. Option 1 (paper reporting): At the end of the No Progeny report you will see a list of animals that are missing weaning data. Fill in the date weighed, weight, disposal code, or pre-weaning disposal code and other information available and mail back to the IBBA office by the deadline. Option 2 (online): To report weaning information online click on the words Enter Weaning located under Herd Management. Fill in the weaning data and disposal codes. Please contact the IBBA office if assistance is needed. If reporting online please do not mail the reports back to IBBA.
 
 
Once you have entered the weaning data click on the validate button. When the screen comes back up click on the commit button.
International Brangus Breeders Association Board of Directors Dale Kirkham, President Friday, september 25, 2009 2009 Summit
Present Absent Guests Staff Present Bill Davis David Vaughan Dr. Joseph Massey Dale Kirkham Bill Felton Carolyn Kobos Brad Church Doug Williams Don Cox Dr. Robert Vineyard Bill Morrison Steve Densmore R. L. Robbs Angelo Zottarelli Welcome and call to order: Dale Kirkham, Invocation: Brad Church Roll was called by Carolyn Kobos.
of Directors teleconference meeting Second by Steve Densmore Motion passed unanimously.
First item was the approval of the minutes. Dale Kirkham called for a motion to approve the minutes of the June 29, 2009 telephone conference call.
The next item on the agenda was an update by Grant Keenen on the OptimaxX and Brangus Gold programs. Grant reported that the current approved enrollment in OptimaxX is 6159 head and the number tagged is 2703. Grant did not know the number of Brangus Gold prior to April 1, 2009 but since then
Motion by Dr. Vineyard to accept the minutes from the June 29, 2009 Board
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the current enrollment is 675 tags with several breeders committed for the fall sales. (Hard copy of report attached.) Grant discussed a voucher program for OptimaxX; Salacoa Valley Farms has already adopted this plan. It allows registered breeders to purchase tags for buyers who are not approved; they will be able to get the tags when they are approved. This voucher program is within the USDA guidelines. Grant also discussed his activities since he had been hired. He had been attending as many bull sales as he can trying to identify people who can join the OptimaxX program. Next Dr. Massey gave on update on GPS. GPS has added two small breeds in the last year: Braunvigh and Akaushi. We have proposals out to two to three other U.S. breeds and a number of international associations; slowly but surely we are getting interest in the registry program. In the last week, we have gotten a Brangus/Red Angus multi-breed EPD run from the University of Georgia. We have looked at the data and generally speaking, there are good correlations; however whenever you get a data set like this, there will be questions that are directed back to the source. The next step is to adjust the data to an Angus base and that should be done shortly. GPS will schedule both a Board meeting and a technical advisory meeting in the near future to consider how to handle the data. The technical advisors are Keith Bertrand for the University of Georgia, Mark Enns from Colorado State University and John Pollock from Cornell University. These represent the three organizations which are compiling this kind of data; they will be able to work out the techniques to put a third breed into the mix. The next item on the agenda is the reports from the IBBA standing committees and if there are specific requests from the committees, the Board will be cautious in considering these items since all the members are not present. Steve Densmore reported on the Commercial Marketing Committee. The Committee recommends that we should pursue a Brangus Gold female sale with Jordon Livestock. Grant is to do the follow-up on this and on trying get some Brangus Gold females at the Houston Female sale and the San Angelo sale. Another item considered in the Commercial Marketing Committee was the Beef 706 courses: The Oklahoma Beef Council in conjunction with OSU and the Texas Beef Council in conjunction with Texas A&M put on such courses. The committee recommendation was that Grant work with the committee to investigate whether a Beef Council program at either Texas A&M or OSU would be feasible for our members. Steve Densmore next discussed a possible field day tour of feedlots and a packing plant for the 2010 Brangus Summit. The suggestion is that the tour include visiting a Cargill packing house in the Plainview and two Cargill feedlots in the area and then follow-up with some speakers from Cargill. Grant will investigate the feedlot tour and packing house tour to be held in the 2nd or 3rd week in August in conjunction with the Summit. Steve Densmore request an allocation of $5000 for the Commercial Marketing Committee to pursue their endeavors. Motion by Angelo Zottarelli to accept the Commercial Marketing Committee Report Second by Don Cox. Motion Passed Unanimously Next committee reports was by Bill Morrison from the Show Committee. Bill Morrison reported on the motions made by the Show Committee as follows: A motion to remove all Futurity cattle entries from the NJBS show program passed as did the motion that the Futurity entry deadline remain at the same time Junior National Entries are due; after that date, late entries for the Futurity will be accepted through cattle check-in for $75.00 per entry. Next Show Committee motion was that if a class contains 15 or more entries that it should be split by month, if after the first split one of the months still contains 15 or more entries, then the class should be split down the middle with the exception that calves born on the same date should be in the same class. The committee also would like someone on the association staff who is able to take photographs to attend the Futurity to take pictures. In addition the committee approved the motion that at National Shows where bull measurements are taken, a bull must be measured before the animal will be ineligible
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to show. Dale Kirkham questioned how the Futurity cattle entries removed from the NJBS show program would be handled. Bill Morrison replied that Futurity entries would be presented in hard copy that would be more accurate. In addition that would save about $2700.00 that could be added to the premiums. Motion by Bill Morrison to accept the Show Committee report Second by Bill Davis Motion passed unanimously. Dale Kirkham called for the Breed Improvement Committee report; Vern Suhn gave the report in Bill Felton’s absence. The Breed Improvement committee discussed the calculation of calving intervals on registered cows used as ET recipients. The committee passed a motion that any calf, whether ET or natural, recorded to a registered cow would be used in calculating the calving interval, but the ET calves would not contribute to the Summit cow calculation. Vern Suhn is going to consult with Bill Felton regarding the formation of an AD HOC Committee to consider the IBBA policies dealing with parentage disputes. Multibreed analysis was the next item of discussion and whether to convert to carcass EPD’s instead of relying solely on ultrasound EPD’s followed by the shift in birth weight and scrotal EPD’s. Dr. Massey’s reported to the Breed Improvement Committee on Genetic Performance Solutions during which he addressed the above issues. As this process of multibreed analysis goes forward, GPS has identified a quantitative geneticist to deal with issues and answer questions regarding shifts in EPD’s. In regard to the shift in the birth weight EPD, Dr. Massey reported that Dr. Keith Bertrand believes the shift could be attributed to the additional birth weight data being turned in due to the implementation of THR. Milt Thomas motioned to recommend to the Board of Directors that the IBBA develop a mechanism to bring into it’s realm of employees a person who possesses quantitative genetics expertise, either through consulting or direct hire. The committee continued with reports from the AD HOC Committees: DNA Technologies, Maintenance Energy EPD, Young Sire Evaluation and AI Use Incentives. Milt Thomas motioned to invite Dr. Henry Blackburn from NAGP to come to the next Breed Improvement meeting and discuss establishing an account with them. Motion by Angelo Zottarelli to accept the Breed Improvement Committee report Second by R.L. Robbs Motion Passed Unanimously Motion by Don Cox to act on the recommendation by the Breed Improvement Committee that any calf, whether ET or natural, recorded to a registered cow would be used in calculating the calving interval, but the ET calves would not contribute to the Summit cow calculation Second by Bill Morrison Motion passed unanimously. Dale Kirkham called on Bill Davis to give the promotion committee report. The Promotion Committee discussed the current print campaign. Bill Davis reported that the ad developed by Crystal Devoll has been committed to run three times in Beef Magazine and three times in the Gulf Coast Cattleman; those ads used up more than half the budget. Bill Davis reported that Dr. Massey asked the committee to reserve part of the budget for direct mailing a tri-fold flyer developed by Crystal Devoll. The Promotion Committee approved a motioned to appoint an AD HOC committee to formulate an advertising plan for up to $10,000 and advertise in 3 or 4 different publications beginning in November to impact upcoming bull sales. Further the committee approved a motion to request to the Board to allocate $40,000 in 2010 for print media and in order to formulate a plan to define how the money will be spent an ad hoc committee be formed. This request will be submitted to the Finance Committee. Motion by Steve Densmore to accept the Promotions Committee Report Second by Dr. Vineyard Motion Passed Unanimously
Dale Kirkham called on Marcos Borges to report on the International Marketing Committee. The IBBA booth in the International room is a center for the International guests to get orientated and for us to promote the Global Brangus Round-up. The 2009 Global Round-up was impressive and we are going to try to do it again this year. Marcos reiterated that we need to promote our International efforts - we need to find out how we can be more effective there. Marcos encouraged the members to attend the world Brangus Congress in Paraguay this October. Motion by Dr. Vineyard to accept the report of the International Marketing Subcommittee Second by Don Cox Motion Passed Unanimously Dale Kirkham called on R.L. Robbs to give the Membership and Education Committee Report. R.L. reviewed the member benefits that are available and some items that are being worked on; committee members have made a lot of efforts to contact business to offer benefits to the members. Another committee objective is to keep the Junior members involved beyond their show years and there was discussion about how to try and transition these Juniors into full membership. There was a motion passed that the Membership and Education Committee members contact new IBBA members within 30 days of joining the association; the chairman will be responsible to distribute the names to the Membership and Education Committee members to call. The Membership and Education committee also passed a motion that a one hour website education seminar be presented at the Houston Convention The Membership and Education committee also passed a motion to conduct periodic webinar on use of the web-site and on registration and transfer questions. Motion made by Bill Morrison to accept the Membership and Education Committee Report Seconded by Bill Davis Motion Passed Unanimously The Finance Committee report was given by Dr. Massey in the absence of David Vaughan; financial statements are in the program book. Revenues are very close to what was budgeted; expenses are better than expected by about 4% so net we are 62, 329.85 head at the end of August. September 1, we did fall invoicing for THR; it was slightly less than we had forecasted but we would not know the receipts for about 60 days. We should be pretty close to budget for the year; that is, we should be revenue neutral for the year. Finance Committee had a conference call prior to the Summit, the plan is that the staff will start working on the 2010 budget when we return; the Finance Committee should get back together in mid October for the preliminary consideration of the budget. The budget recommendations should be presented to the Board in the first part of November and then be set for approval by mid November. Motion by Steve Densmore to accept the Finance Committee report Second by Bill Davis Motion passed unanimously Dale Kirkham called on Don Cox to give the BPI report from the meeting which was held on Wednesday, September 23, 2009. He gave the financial report for Brangus Publications which showed a profit of $1,803.67 for the period but a year to date loss of $22,647.76. Don Cox commented that the national print media is experiencing economic problems. The revenue of Brangus Publications has been affected by advertisers cutting back. With the loss of a couple people from the Brangus Publication staff, there will be a different approach; Melanie Fuller is contracted to sell ads on a commission basis. We are looking for additional sales people to cover other parts of the country. Don Cox estimates that there will be some profitable months through the end of the year, with the change in the staff and the additional ad sales revenue. There may be few changes in the coming year’s budget but we will strive to put out a quality publication for our membership. Motion made by Angelo Zottarelli to accept the BPI Report Motion seconded by Steve Densmore Motion passed unanimously.
Next was the status report on the proposed new By-laws by Dr. Massey; the IBBA Board of Directors had instructed Dr. Massey to consult our attorney to get a sample set of by-laws that most associations use. The attorney recommended some structural changes to the by-laws which would remove the sections that should be considered policy so that changes could be made easier instead of having to do a by-law change every time a change is needed. The draft of the by-laws is in the program book. The Board has been considering the draft for about ten days. If members have comments they should contact their Board representative by a week from today. The adjustments made by the Board would be resubmitted to the attorney and the goal is to have a document ready to present to the membership by the end of the year. Next Dale Kirkham called on Dr. Massey to give an update from AD HOC Committee on Genetics Defects Policy; the AD HOC Committee had been established at the Convention and consisted of Dr. Milt Thomas, Dr. John Sptizer, Vern Suhn, Dale Kirkham and Dr. Joe Massey. The AD HOC Committee considered the genetic defects policies of the other breed associations and formulated a document that is relevant to the Brangus Breed. The final meeting of the AD Hoc Committee approved the document that is contained in the program book; the AD HOC committee is recommending that the document be accepted as policy by the IBBA Board. Genetic Policy needs to be reviewed on a periodic basis. Basically this document states that any time a genetic defect is believed to have occurred, it is the member’s responsibility to report it to the association office; then there is a procedure to be followed. This does mean that you cannot register the animal but that you have the responsibility to post it. Vern Suhn questions whether Cryptorcidism is a genetic defect; the question is whether this is caused by a genetic defect or by another factor. Angus and Red Angus do not include this condition on their lists of genetic defects. Discussion ensued about whether to include this condition on the list of genetic defects. Motion made by Angelo Zottarelli to accept the Genetic Defects Policy recommended by the AD HOC Committee without the listing of Cryptorcidism Motion seconded by Bill Davis Motion passed unanimously. There was no Old Business. Under New Business, Dr. Vineyard addressed the Board about the proposed Waiver of THR reactivation fee for remainder of 2009. He recommended that the fee be reduced from $30.00 to $7.50 immediately. Motion made by Dr. Vineyard to reduce the THR fee from $30.00 to $7.50 effective immediately. Motion seconded by Bill Morrison There was discussion as to what was the purpose of reducing the fee; there was further discussion as to the fairness to the members who had maintained their THR registration. Most of the members have paid by the rules. It was pointed out that the reduced fee might help bring in cattle that have not been registered; it would bring in additional revenue that would not otherwise be realized since people might be inclined to register their cattle. There was discussion as why not be consistent in the fee structure; cannot eliminate the reactivation fee or you would destroy the THR concept. It was pointed out that we need to maintain fees to operate the association however we did not adopt THR to make money; the reason behind THR is to gather the data to prove that we have the best cattle. Steve Densmore amended the motion to reduce the THR reactivation fee to $10.00 effective immediately. Motion seconded by R.L. Robbs Bill Davis pointed out that there are three to four Directors missing to be making what is turning out to be a major decision; it was pointed out earlier that we would not be doing this. Dale Kirkham pointed out that Angelo Zottarelli had agreed to chair an AD HOC Committee to revisit THR and answer THR questions.
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Dr. Vineyard withdrew his motion to reduce the THR fee from $30.00 to $7.50 effective immediately. That in effect withdrew the amended motion Bill Davis made a motion to table this issue until the next meeting. Motion seconded by Don Cox Motion passed with one opposed. The next item under New Business is the discussion of the 2010 Summit. Steve Densmore would like to tie the Summit to the feedlot and packing house tour that is proposed for the summer perhaps base it out of Amarillo, TX. He is open to ideas about where to hold it and if there is another event to tie it to. Dale Kirkham suggested that we try to develop a more specific proposal for the 2010 Summit and act on it at another time.
Don Cox updated the Board that the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has agreed to split the International Brangus Show as follows: Bulls will show on Friday at 2:30 pm; Females will show at 12:00 noon on Saturday. This is good solution because the show had run so long last year. Motion to adjourn was made by Dr. Vineyard Respectfully submitted, Carolyn Kobos These minutes have been read and approved by: Dale Kirkham, President
International Brangus Breeders Association Board of Directors Dale Kirkham, President wednesday, November 18, 2009
Present Absent Guests Staff Present Dale Kirkham Brad Church Dr. Joseph Massey David Vaughan Bill Davis Carolyn Kobos Bill Felton Doug Williams Don Cox Dr. Robert Vineyard Bill Morrison Steve Densmore R. L. Robbs Angelo Zottarelli First item was the approval of the minutes. Dale Kirkham called for a motion to approve the minutes of the September 25, 2009 meeting. Motion by R.L. Robbs to accept the minutes from the September 25, 2009 Board of Directors meeting Second by Steve Densmore Motion passed unanimously. Dale Kirkham asked that the Board consider the proposed 2010 Budget next. Dr. Massey reported that the Finance Committee met Monday and moved that the proposed 2010 Budget be presented to the Board. Dr. Massey reported that for 2009 the association kept pretty close to the estimated budget with revenues very close to what was budgeted. For 2010, we are estimating a 3% decrease in THR and a therefore a decrease in income than we made we made for 2009. Dr Massey thought that this is a good estimate of the income; as far expenses for 2010, we used actual costs and historical trends. Dr. Massey did add the salary, benefits and travel for the Director of Promotions, the position that would was approved at the Strategic Planning Meeting. This position is not filled at this time. The 2010 budget as presented shows a loss of $109, 989. Dr. Massey felt that it is important to present the closest real picture for the association. Dr. Massey offered to remove the cost of the Director of Promotions position from the Budget and come back to the Board once an individual is identified for the position. Dale Kirkham called for a motion to adopt the Budget as presented. Motion by David Vaughan to adopt the 2010 Budget as presented Second by Angelo Zottarelli There were questions about the number of employees and what the proposed salary for the new employee would be. Don Cox commended Frances Miller and Dr. Massey on the fine budgets that
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have presented as evidenced by how close we come to them. However, he did not have any desire to go into next year with at budget that is expecting a loss. He requests that Dr. Massey and Frances Miller revise the budget. He asks the Board to consider that before we adopt a budget that shows a lost. He is asking for a balanced budget. Angelo Zottarelli feels that it is important that we have the right PR person; someone who will generate more than their salary. Don Cox replies that he is not suggesting that we take that position out of the budget. He says that we need to investigate every avenue of presenting a balanced budget. With this budget, we are planning to spend 10% more than we bring in. David Vaughan asks if Don Cox is suggesting that we increase the estimate of what we bring in or decrease expenses. Don Cox says that we should do both. Bill Felton had questions about travel expenses; it is double what it has been. Dr. Massey replies that it would be for the new person and in addition, Grant’s travel has increased that category because he is going on visits, sales, etc. Dale Kirkham asked Don Cox if there are specific areas that he is suggesting that we cut expenses. He replies that it would need to be worked on but to present this budget showing a loss to the membership does not look good, we need to present a balanced budget to the membership and see how close we can get to it. David Vaughan asks Don Cox to share some of the specific areas that he would recommend that we adjust to make this a balanced budget. Don Cox replies that for example, one area on the income side, we need to get some of these cattle back that have left and we are showing that we will lose 10% of our membership. We need to find some way to keep these people as members; that would change on membership income. Next major item, is the Houston Convention, it looks like we
planned $12,000 and spent $22,000. Dr. Massey replies that we actually made about $15,000 by using USLGE funds. There will be USLGE funds available for this year as well. Dr. Massey again offers that the simplest solution is to remove the allocation for the PR position and come back to the Board when he has identified the candidate to see if it is feasible. He also offers to increase the revenue by $50,000 but that is getting more optimistic. $50,000 in revenue is 2380 cows in THR. We did not loose cows last year in THR; we actually increased by 4%. This could be due to dispersals because people who lapsed had to reactivate cattle prior to the dispersal. Some of these are now gone commercial so Dr. Massey is not optimistic about holding them. Dr. Vineyard points out that when we had the grace period for 90 days on reactivation fees, we got about 2200 head back. Don Cox suggests that we make the effort to get that many more cattle in the registry next year. Angelo Zottarelli says that some of the reactivations were for multiple years so that it is really closer to 1200 head that came back into the registry. There are about 3400 head that are not there any more. There are not a whole lot of head of cattle left to come back in; there is not a lot of money that will come in that way. Don Cox points out that everyone should look at the balance sheet; the largest asset is the headquarters building. There is 5000 square feet of unused space. We should use some of the money that is in the reserve to bring the building up to code to rent it out. Even if we only rent out half of it at $16 a foot, we will bring in $48,000, if we rent out all of it that would be $80,000. We are located in one of the fastest growing areas in San Antonio and that is not even the top rent for that area. That is a potential income source. We would not be able to get a good rate on CDs so that would reduce the income that we would get from that source so we need to look at other income sources. Joe Massey points out that the building is not up to code and is not handicap accessible; we would need an elevator and we would need to make the restrooms handicap accessible. We do have two small tenants and there is a proposal out for another one. Dale Kirkham points out that is a future consideration and not something that will increase the revenue for the 2010 budget. Don Cox amends the motion to balance budget. Bill Morrison seconds the amendment. Dr. Vineyard suggests that Don Cox rescind his amendment; that there is a vote to adopt the budget as it is and then work on the budget and come back with suggestions on how to balance the budget.
Section IA. Active Members There is a question as to whether the Active member should have to own cattle. It is part of policy. Section IB. Other Membership Classes There was a question as to whether Juniors need to be specified. It was suggested that this can be part of policy. Article III: Board of Directors Section I. Numbers and Qualifications There was a suggestion that individuals sit out three years instead of one year. Motion by Angelo Zottarelli to change the last sentence of the article to state that Past Board members be elected to again serve on the Board three or more years following previous tenure on the Board. Second by David Vaughan Passed unanimously Section II. Election and Terms of Office There is a request that we add definition of the electoral areas. This should become policy so that areas can be redistributed. Section VI: Executive Committee Motion by Angelo Zottarelli make the following change: The Board of Directors, by resolution adopted by a majority of the number at a duly convened meeting, may designate no less than five (5) of its members to constitute an Executive Committee from among it members which shall include the President, First Vice President, Second Vice-President, the Secretary Treasurer and the immediate Past President of the Association. Second by Robert Vineyard Passed unanimously Article IV: Officers Section I. General Motion by Angelo Zottarelli make the following change: The officers of the association shall consist of a President, a First Vice President, a Second Vice-President, a Secretary Treasurer, the immediate Past President and an Executive Vice President. Second by Robert Vineyard Passed with one negative vote
Bill Morrison suggests tabling the motion and not voting on the budget. Dr. Vineyard says that a lot of work had gone into to preparing the budget if there had been ways to balance it, they would have been adopted. Right now, there does not seem to be options.
Article V: Cattle
Don Cox withdraws the amendment.
There was discussion about the definition of Ultrablack. A clarification of Ultrablack needs to be made.
There should be further consideration on making the building ready to rent for additional income but that is not going to happen for the 2010 budget. Vote on the motion to adopt the budget as presented. Motion passed with one negative vote.
Remove TM from Red Brangus and from Ultrared in the entire document. This considered a typo does not need action
Section IV. Animals Eligible for Recording as Brangus “Composites” or “Derivatives” We do not have Brangus Optimizer and Brangus Premium Gold.
Dale Kirkham said that the motion passed but there is consensus that we should work to get the budget closer to be a balanced budget. If it pleases the Finance Committee to go back and work on that, the Board would consider it.
Motion by Dr. Robert Vineyard to strike Article V Section IV and renumber the sections that follow section 4 Second by Angelo Zottarelli Passed unanimously
The next item to be considered will be the by-law revisions. Dale Kirkham calls for a motion to accept the by-law revisions.
Section VIII. Inspections
Motion by David Vaughan to accept the By-laws as revised Second by Dr. Robert Vineyard Discussion follows on each article of the by-laws. Article I: General Dr. Massey says that Darin Digby, our attorney recommends that we should get a new registered agent. Article II: Members
Motion by Bill Felton to strike Article V Section VIII and renumber the sections that follow section 4 Second by Steve Densmore Discussion follows on whether to strike the section on Inspections: whether striking the section would take away the right of the Board of Directors to have final approval on an animal. Motion rescinded by Bill Felton Second rescinded by Steve Densmore Motion by Dr. Robert Vineyard that Article V Section 8 be rewritten by Bill
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Felton and Don Cox Second by Steve Densmore Passed unanimously
Motion by Angelo Zottarelli that we submit the amended By-laws for approval by the membership by Article Second by Bill Morrison
Article VI: Other Provisions Section III. Committees Angelo Zottarelli thinks that the committee chairmanships should be more inclusive; that the chairmen do not need to be members of the Board of Directors. We need to use the chairs as leadership development opportunities. Discussion of this issue ensued. R.L. Robbs said that he had phone calls from members; the members expressed that Board members are the elected representatives and that they should be the Committee Chairman. Dr. Vineyard agreed that the business of the association needs to be conducted by elected Board members as Chairmen of the Committees. Angelo disagreed; he said that Board of Directors should appoint members who are qualified. Bill Felton agreed with Angelo, he thought that Angelo’s suggestion would involve more qualified members. Dr. Massey pointed out that if the chairmen are not Board members, then the Board does not get feed-back about what is going on in the Committees. Angelo Zottarelli pointed out that the Liaison from the Board would be at the Committee meetings. Dr. Vineyard thinks that more guidance is needed than a Liaison can provide. Motion by Bill Morrison to leave the sentence: “The Chairman of each standing committee shall be a member of the IBBA Board of Directors” Second by R.L. Robbs Motion passed with two no votes Section III. Committees A. Standing Committees Motion by Dr. Robert Vineyard to strike the words “one half of the” from the last sentence of the #3 thus the sentence would read: “an attempt would be made to have membership of the Commercial marketing Committee to be commercial cattle producers who will not be IBBA Members. Second by Bill Morrison Passed Unanimously Section III. Committees C. Named Standing Committees 8. Officer Nomination Committee There was discussion as to the composition of the Nominating Committee. Do we want the current president to be a member of the committee? Bill Morrison questions whether it has to be presidents, why not just Board Members. Dale Kirkham states that if you have Board members Motion by Dr. Robert Vineyard to make the following change to the Officer Nomination Committee: This is a special committee and as such will be made up of the three (3) Past Presidents of the Board of Directors and chaired by one of the three. Second by Steve Densmore Motion passed 7. Awards Committee There was discussion about approving Commercial Producer of the Year Award Section VII. Judicial Review There was a question about which courts would apply when a suit is filled. It is agreed that it would depend on whether the suit is filed in federal or state court. Article VIII: Hearings and Appeals Section III. Disciplinary Actions Does this section cover the discussion on Inspections? Motion by Bill Felton to strike Section VIII: Inspections of Article V: Cattle Second by David Vaughan
There was discussion as to whether the by-laws should be presented to the membership by article. Question as to what happens to articles that do not get passed. Articles not passed would have to be reworked. The Articles not passed would remain the same unless there is something that the Board feels there is an important issue to be considered. Dr. Massey addresses the time line for the amended by-laws to be submitted to membership. He said that the amendments would not make it into the December Journal as that is due to the printer this week. Current policy says that the amendments to the by-laws must be published in the Journal at least 45 days prior to the Annual Meeting. There is no January edition of the Journal so that would not allow for the 45 days notice before the Annual Meeting. Consensus is that the changes be reviewed by the Board before being submitted to the membership. Angelo Zottarelli withdraws his motion Second withdrawn Angelo Zottarelli made the motion that we accept the changes made to the document tonight and that the staff present the changes to the Board for review. Second by Dr. Vineyard Motion passed Next on the agenda is to review the timeline and procedures for election of the directors. Dale Kirkham points out that in our current by-laws there is a provision that the Secretary Treasurer appoint a committee of three members to supervise the counting of the ballots for the directors. Does mean that we do not send the ballots to the CPA firm? At present, the staff reviews the director’s ballot to see that ballot is valid; that is, that the member is in good standing, voted in the correct area and that the ballot is signed. Then the valid ballots are sent to the auditors. David Vaughan questions what does supervision means. Dale Kirkham suggests that we consider the procedure for handling the ballots as policy. But there are two issues here; one is how do we handle the situation this year and the second is if we want to change the procedure by an amendment to the by-laws. David Vaughan as Secretary Treasurer will appoint three members to a committee supervise the tabulation of the ballots. Bill Morrison suggests that we strike the sentence about the committee of three members supervising the tabulation of the ballots. Dale Kirkham asks if there is consensus on that change and then that would become a part of policy. There is no opposition to Bill Morrison’s suggestion. Dr. Massy reviews the timeline for the Election of the Directors. There were no Standing Committee Reports. There were no Ad Hoc Committee Reports. Dale Kirkham reminds the Board that it had been discussed in the Strategic Planning meeting that the Committees shall meet by teleconference prior to the Convention and present their reports at to the Board. Committee Meetings at the Convention will be to generate new ideas. Next item on the agenda is the status of the Member participation in U of MO DNA program (from 6/29/09 conference call. Dr. Massey reports that there is a new development. John Pollock has recently accepted a new position with the USDA and things are on hold until he determines whether he can move that program to his new position. Next item is completion and distribution of the Strategic Plan updated in July. Dale Kirkham asks if there are any questions about the Strategic Plan.
Section III. Disciplinary Actions does provide the Board the right to take disciplinary action against a member
Under old business: Steve Densmore brings to the table the motion to reduce the THR reactivation fee to $10.00 effective immediately that was tabled at the September 25, 2009 Board of Directors meeting.
Motion passed
Steve Densmore again motions to reduce the THR reactivation fee to
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$10.00 effective immediately. Motion seconded by R.L. Robbs There was discussion as to handling the THR fee in a similar fashion as Red Angus, that is having two different fees based on the amount of time the cow is unreported and the breeder has the option to register the calves. Dr. Massey says that Red Angus system has a completely different set of fees than Brangus; they have a different structure. The original motion was to reduce the reactivation fee to $10 and to leave the assessments alone. Dr. Robert Vineyard amends the Motion to become effective to December 1, 2009. Second by Don Cox Amendment passed Vote on original motion is passed. There is no New Business Dr. Massey makes his report (actions and planned activities by staff ) which is attached. Dr. Vineyard wants to discuss the draft schedule for the 2010 Convention. There is discussion of the date of the IBBA Members Banquet which is moved to Thursday night. Dr. Massey points out that on this draft of the schedule, everything was moved up to fit all the activities in. Dale Kirkham asks if there is any reason why the banquet can’t be held on Thursday night. Dr. Vineyard replies that he instituted a President’s Reception/dinner for the new Board members to be held that night. Dale Kirkham suggests that a breakfast could be held on Saturday morning for the Board members in lieu of the dinner.
There is a question how the Board meeting will take place before the Committee meeting. This was discussed at the Strategic Planning meeting. The Committees will have to get their work accomplished before the Convention by conference call. At the Convention, the committee meetings are to generate new ideas. The Show Committee selects the new judges during the Convention Committee meeting and then report back to the Board of Directors for approval within the next thirty days. Discussion about Friday afternoon events: IBBA Bull Show is at 2:30 pm should last until about 5:30 or 6:00 pm. Need to allow time for people to clean up and get to the banquet location. The cocktail reception lasts for ½ hour followed by the banquet. The Global Collection sale being held by some IBBA members would have to follow that. Dr. Massey explains that it would be difficult to get all that accomplished. Dale Kirkham gives President’s Report. Mr. Kirkham finds that as he travels around on behalf of the association, the members are willing to express themselves on a variety of issues. He made some remarks about the World Congress in Paraguay. We should be concerned about producing for a world market. Motion to adjourn was made by Steve Densmore Second by Don Cox Respectfully submitted, Carolyn Kobos These minutes have been read and approved by: Dale Kirkham, President
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certification, enrollment or recording as specified in Article V shall be eligible to become an active member of the Association subject to the following: 1. Written application for such membership being made to and lodged with the Board of Directors of the Association by the party desiring to become an active member, accompanied by a cash fee as determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. 2. The Board of Directors approving such applicant as a breeder and/or owner. 3. Active membership is defined as an individual, partnership, corporation, co-ownership, syndicate or ownership by a trust or estate or heir of any deceased person holding membership. 4. Each ownership must have a separate recorded Association membership number and, in the case of any multiple ownership, such as a joint or co-owner ship, partnership, corporation or syndicate, there must be a designated representative who will act on behalf of the owners. 5. Each active member shall be entitled to one vote by mailed ballot for the election of directors and/or otherwise in person or by mailed ballot at any meeting and on any issue the member is entitled to vote on. 6. Each active member shall pay the Association annual dues as determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. 7. No active member shall ever have the right to transfer or otherwise dispose of his or its membership in the Association, and no such membership or any evidence thereof shall ever be transferable in any event except as provided above with respect to heirs of deceased members. 8. Each applicant for active membership in the Association will be required to answer the question: “Have you ever been suspended or disciplined in any manner by another livestock breed association, yes or no. If yes, please explain.” If an applicant for active membership in the Association has been previously suspended or disciplined, then their membership approval into the IBBA will be subject to review and specific approval by the IBBA Board of Directors. Section IB. Associate Members Subject to all other terms and provisions of these Bylaws, any person, firm or corporation genuinely interested in the objects and purposes of the Association, irrespective of whether such party by a breeder or owner of cattle, shall be eligible to become an associate member of the Association, subject to the following: 1. Written application for such membership being made and lodged with the Board of Directors of the Association by the party desiring to become an associ ate member, accompanied by a cash fee as determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. 2. The Board of Directors approving such applicant as being reputable and genuinely interested in the objective and purposes of the Association. 3. No associate member shall ever have any right to vote or to otherwise have any voice in the operation, conduct, management or ownership of the Associa tion or have the right to register, certify, enroll or record cattle at membership rates. Otherwise each associate member shall have the rights and privileges in the Association as a member. 4. Each associate member shall pay annual dues as determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. 5. Where an associate member is a firm or corporation, its rights and privileges in the Association shall be those accorded to one member and same shall never inure to the benefit of its owners, partners or employees individually, but it may at any time be represented by one of them.
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6. No associate member shall ever have the right to transfer or otherwise dispose of his or its membership in the Association, and no such membership or any evidence thereof shall ever be transferable in any event. Section IC. Junior Members Subject to all the other terms and provisions of these Bylaws, any persons under the age of twenty-one (21) years who is then a member of 4-H or FFA in good standing or other qualifying youth shall be eligible to become a junior member of the Association, subject to the following: 1. Written application for such membership being made to and lodged with the Board of Directors of the Association by the party desiring to become a junior member, accompanied by a. an annual fee determined by the Board of Directors and b. a written application by the applicant for one or more animals eligible for registration, certification, enrollment or recording as specified in Article V. 2. The Board of Directors approving such applicant as being under twenty-one (21) years of age; as being a member of 4-H or FFA in good standing; or other youth interested in Brangus cattle; and as owning the animal or animals sought to be registered, certified, enrolled or recorded; and authorizing the As sociation to register, certify, enroll or record the same, as the case may be. 3. No junior member shall ever have any right to vote or to otherwise have any voice in the operation, conduct, management or ownership of the Association, but otherwise each junior member shall have the rights and privileges in the Association as an active member. 4. No junior member shall ever have the right to transfer or otherwise dispose of his or her membership in the Association and no such membership or any evidence thereof shall ever be transferable in any event. Section II. Annual Meeting The annual meeting of the members of the Association shall be held at the principal office of the Association in San Antonio, Texas, or at such other place within or without the State of Texas as the Directors may determine, same to be on a day not a legal holiday, between January 1st and April 1st of each year, such meeting to be for the purpose of verifying the election of directors by mailed ballot and for the transaction of such other business as may be brought before the meeting, providing such other business has received advance notice in the Brangus® Journal at least forty-five (45) days beforehand or, if notice by publication is not practical because there is insufficient time prior to the scheduled date of the meeting, such written or printed notice shall be sent by U.S. regular mail, postage prepaid, to each member not less than thirty (30) days beforehand (see Article II. Section IV. Notice); but only active members in good standing including individual members of the Board of Directors shall be entitled to vote in person or by mailed ballot at any such meeting. Section III. Special Meetings Special meetings of the members may be held at the principal office of the Association, or at such other place within or without the state of Texas, as the Directors may determine, and at any time upon call by the President, or by the Executive Committee, or by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors, or by not less than one hundred (100) active members. At any and all special meetings only active members in good standing including members of the Board of Directors shall be entitled to vote either in person or by mailed ballot. Section IV. Notice Written or printed notice stating the place, day and hour of the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called shall be published in the Brangus@reg; Journal not less than forty-five (45) days beforehand or, if notice by publication is not practical because there is insufficient time prior to the scheduled date of the meeting, such written or printed notice shall be sent by U.S. regular mail, postage prepaid, to each member not less than thirty (30) days beforehand. Section V. Waiver of Notice If any of the active members shall waive notice of meeting, no notice of such meeting will be required to such member. Whenever all of the active members shall meet, such meetings shall be valid for all purposes, without call or notice. Any active member who votes at a meeting in person or by ballot shall be deemed to have waived notice of the meeting. Section VI. Quorum At any annual or special meeting of the members, one hundred (100) active members including individual IBBA officers and directors in good standing voting in person and by mailed ballot shall constitute a quorum and a majority thereof shall have the authority to authorize and transact any and all business with the exception of amendment or revision to the Association’s Charter and Bylaws in which case a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote is required. At such meetings each active member shall be entitled to one vote, but no associate member or junior member shall ever be entitled to vote. Section VII. Mailed Ballots The Board of Directors may authorize voting by mailed ballot upon any specific matter which, under the laws of Oklahoma, required the approval of a specified majority of the entire membership, only after the membership has been notified of said specific matter by being published in the Brangus@reg; Journal at least forty-five (45) days beforehand or, if notice by publication is not practical because there is insufficient time prior to the scheduled date of the meeting, such written or printed notice shall be sent by U.S. regular mail, postage prepaid, to each member not less than thirty (30) days beforehand. (See Article II. Section IV. Notice). No member shall be permitted more than one vote either in person or by mailed ballot for any aforementioned specific matter. Section VIII. Release of Performance Information All persons who submit performance information on cattle to be registered, certified, enrolled or to be entered in the Brangus® Herd Improvement Records (BHIR) program shall understand and agree that these records will be used for research, development and publication of a Brangus® Sire Summary report that will be available to the Association membership and general public. 84 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010
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article iiI: board of directors Section I. Number and Qualifications The Board of Directors shall be selected from among the active members of the Association with not more than one person from the same ranching entity being allowed to serve on the IBBA Board of Directors at the same time. Until further change, the number is fixed at thirteen (13). The term of a member of the Board of Directors shall be limited to no more than two consecutive three-year terms. Section II. Election and Term of Office The directors shall be elected by the active members of the Association by mail ballot once each year and shall hold office for a three (3) year term and until their successors are elected and qualified; provided, however, that the active members of the Association shall have the right at any regular or special meeting of the members by a majority vote, to remove any of the directors of the Association. The directors shall remain and continue to be divided into three (3) groups of which two groups shall have four (4) directors and one group shall have five (5) directors. The Board of Directors shall establish a division of the United States into electoral areas. The designation of electoral areas will be based on animal registrations. The designation of areas is subject to the periodic review of the Board of Directors and can be changed at the discretion of the Board of Directors. There will be eleven (11) areas, with each area electing one director every three (3) years, with the exception of Texas where one director will be elected every year. The initial areas will be designated as follows: o Area 1: Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South America o Area 2: Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi o Area 3: North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska o Area 4: Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and the New England states o Area 5: Oklahoma o Area 6: Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada and Australia o Area 7: Texas and Mexico o Area 8: Large Central Region (States within the Central Time Zone except Texas and Oklahoma) o Area 9: Texas/Oklahoma Region o Area 10: Mountain and Pacific Region (States within the Mountain and Pacific Time Zones) o Area 11: East Region (States within the Eastern Time Zone)
Beginning in 2003 and continuing every three (3) years thereafter, areas 4,6,7 and 8 will elect one director to serve a three-year term. Beginning in 2004 and continuing every three (3) years thereafter, areas 1,5,7,9 and 10 will each elect one director to serve a three-year term. Beginning in 2005 and continuing every three (3) years thereafter, areas 2,3,7 and 11 will each elect one director to serve a three-year term. Each year the president shall appoint a current director to head the nomination process in his or her designated area. The appointed directors shall form a committee composed of the directors and representatives of the state and regional associations within the area, with the Association defined in Article VI of these Bylaws. The state and regional associations’ representatives shall be a majority of the nominating committee. A minimum of two candidates of which one candidate may be a write-in shall be nominated for each vacant director position. The officers of the Association shall designate a completion date of the nominating process. A list of nominees shall be made available to the membership, a minimum of thirty (30) days prior to the receipt of the official ballot. The members in good standing shall elect the directors from their area of residence by mail ballot only. Each IBBA membership has one (1) vote for each vacant director position in the area. A member’s area will be based upon the mailing address on file with the Association. The officers of the Association shall designate the procedure for the proper execution of the official ballot. The Executive Vice President shall prepare a ballot for each area. The ballot shall include the names of the nominees for the area. The members may vote for any member in good standing residing in their area whether or not their names appear on the ballot, by writing in the names of such members in spaces provided on the ballot. The candidate or candidates receiving the largest number of votes in each electoral area shall be declared elected as director. The Secretary-Treasurer will appoint a committee of three IBBA members to supervise the tabulation of ballots by the IBBA staff. In case of a tie vote, a run-off ballot will be mailed to that particular electoral area. The election process shall be completed by the end of the calendar year Brangus Journal
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Section III. Vacancies In case of any vacancy in the office of a director through death, resignation or disqualification, the vacancy remains unfilled until the next annual membership elections at which time the vacancy will be filled by electing a director from the same electoral area from which the vacancy occurred. Section IV. Meetings The Directors shall hold an annual meeting as soon as practical after the annual meeting of the members, and shall hold such other regular meetings as they may determine from time to time. Special meetings may be held at any time upon ten (10) days notice to the Directors. Attendance of directors at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except where a director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting. Except as herein in these Bylaws elsewhere specifically provided with regard to an Executive Committee, no Director shall, in his or her capacity as or by virtue of being a director, have any right, power or authority to act for or on behalf of the Association except at and during a duly convened meeting of the Board of Directors and no director shall ever be permitted to act as such through another either by the giving of proxy to such other person or otherwise. A majority of the directors at any time in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business Section V. Scope of Duties The business and property of the Association shall be managed and controlled by the Board of Directors, and the officers of the Association shall at all times be under their control and subject to their direction. However, the Board of Directors can authorize active members the right to vote either in person or by mailed ballot on any special issues defined and approved by the Board of Directors. Section VI. Executive Committee The Board of Directors, by resolution adopted by a majority of their number at a duly convened meeting, may designate five (5) of its members to constitute an Executive Committee, whom shall be the President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Member-at-Large and the Secretary Treasurer of the Association, which Committee shall have and may exercise all of the authority of the Board of Directors in carrying on and handling the business and affairs of the Association, except where action of the Board of Directors is otherwise specified by these Bylaws or by applicable law, but the designation of such Committee and the delegation thereto of authority shall not operate to relieve the Board of Directors, or any member thereof, of any responsibility imposed upon it or him by law. An outgoing president would automatically qualify as a nominee for the position of Member-at-Large. Such committee shall be subject at all times to the control and direction of the Board of Directors. Such Committee shall act by a majority of its members at a meeting or by a writing signed by all its members. An act or authorization of an act by such Committee within the authority delegated to it shall be as effective for all purposes as the act or authorization of the Board of Directors. The Committee shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings and report the same to the Board of Directors at the next regular meeting of the Board of Directors. The Executive Vice President hereinafter provided for under Article IV of these Bylaws shall sit with the Executive Committee at all of its meetings and participate therein but he shall not have the right to vote on any matter brought before the committee. Meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the President or the Secretary Treasurer by giving the other members and the Executive Vice President reasonable advance written notice. In case of an interim vacancy of an Executive Committee member, each member except the Secretary-Treasurer, would move up to the next higher office to fill the vacancy, in which case the lower position (Member-at-Large) would become vacant until the next Board of Directors meeting at which time the Board of Directors would elect someone to fill the vacancy of Member-at-Large. In the event of a vacancy in the Secretary-Treasurer position, the President would appoint a member of the Executive Committee to serve in that position until the next Board of Directors meeting. The term of a member of the Executive Committee shall be limited so that the member shall not serve in the same position no more than three consecutive years. article iV: officers Section I. General The officers of the Association must be chosen among the Directors for no person shall hold these positions who is not also a Director. The officers of the Association shall be a President, who shall be the chief executive officer of the Association, a First Vice President, a Second Vice President, a Member-at-Large, and a Secretary-Treasurer. The President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Member-at-Large and Secretary-Treasurer shall be elected by the new Board of Directors at their meeting during the annual convention activities. An outgoing President would automatically qualify as a nominee for the position of Member-at-Large. The Board of Directors may appoint such other officers as they deem necessary and shall hire and fire the Executive Vice President; and any two offices may be held by the same person except that the President cannot also be a Vice President, nor can the President or any Vice President also be the Secretary-Treasurer. The officers of the Association, other than the Executive Vice President, whose duties are hereinafter set out, shall perform the duties regularly performed by such officers in similar corporations, and they shall at all times be subject to the control and direction of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee. They shall perform such duties and have such powers as may be, from time to time, prescribed by the Board. Except for the Executive Vice President, no officer of the Association shall receive any compensation for his services as such. Section II. Term of Office and Removal All officers shall hold office for the term designated in their employment or appointment, but if not designated, then until their successors are duly elected and have been qualified; provided however, that the authority that appointed or elected an officer, whether it be the Board of Directors or members, shall have the right at any and all times to remove any such officer by a majority vote thereof.
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Section III. Executive Vice President The Executive Vice President shall be a full time, salaried employee who shall devote all of his time to the affairs of the Association and shall not engage in any activity connected with registered “Brangus® or Red Brangus™ Cattle” and/or “Foundation Stock for Brangus® or Red Brangus™ Cattle” and/or any other breed of cattle in competition with the Association or any member thereof. He shall be paid such salary for his full time services as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. He shall attend meetings of the Executive Committee and participate in its deliberations, but without power to vote; shall attend meetings of the Board of Directors and participate in its deliberations, but without the power to vote; shall attend and participate in all meetings of the members of the Association, without power to vote; shall, when called upon to do so, render advice and consultation to the Executive Committee, the Directors and members of the Association; shall, prepare and present at each annual meeting of the members a full and complete written report of the previous year’s activities and affairs, including but not limited to a detailed income and expense statement, a profit and loss statement, and a balance sheet and shall make available a copy thereof, certified to him as being correct, to each active member there at in attendance; and shall generally be in charge of the administrative affairs of the Association, with the right to hire and fire all subordinate employees not elected or appointed by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee, and fix their compensation; all, however, subject to the will of the Board of Directors. He shall also generally perform all other duties and exercise all other powers, which the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee may from time to time assign to him. The Executive Vice President shall perform such duties on behalf of the Association as hereinafter indicated under Article X. The Executive Vice President shall not participate in deliberations of the Executive Committee and meetings of the Board of Directors when the Executive Committee and Board are acting in their official capacity with respect to hearings and appeals defined under Article X. Section IV. Executive of Instruments All formal instruments authorized by the Board of Directors shall be signed by the President, the Executive Vice President or the Vice President and attested by the Secretary-Treasurer or an assistant Secretary, with the corporate seal. All checks shall be signed, from time to time as approved by the Directors. article V: cattle Section I. Animals Eligible for Registration A. “Brangus®” or “Red Brangus™” Cattle These by definition are animals of 3/8th Brahman breeding and 5/8th Angus breeding, are black or red, respectively, with no white in front of the navel; and are polled or scurred. “Brangus®” or “Red Brangus™” may be registered in and by the Association provided they are produced from breeding as follows: 1. Known Brangus® or Red Brangus™ sire and dam registered in and by the Association. 2. Known purebred Angus animal enrolled in and by the Association and a known animal of 3/4th Brahman breeding and 1/4th Angus breeding certified in and by the Association. 3. A known animal of 1/4th Brahman breeding and 3/4th Angus breeding certified in and by the Association and a known animal of 1/2 Brahman breeding and 1/2 Angus breeding certified in and by the Association 4. Known progeny from animals recorded in the Brangus®/Red Brangus™ Appendix Program that meet all Association requirements for registration other than those specified under 1,2 or 3 of this section. B. “UltraBlack®” or “UltraRed™” Cattle These by definition are animals of Brangus breeding and Angus breeding, are black or red respectively, with no white in front of the navel; and are polled or scurred. “UltraBlack®” or “UltraRed™” may be registered in and by the Association provided they are produced from breeding as follows: 1. Known UltraBlack® or UltraRed™ sire and dam registered in and by the Association. 2. Known purebred Angus animal enrolled in and by the Association and a Brangus® or Red Brangus™ animal registered in and by the Association. 3. Known purebred Angus animal enrolled in and by the Association and animals recorded in the Brangus®/Red Brangus™ Appendix Program that meet all Association requirements for registration other than those specified under 1 or 2 of this section. 4. Known progeny from animals recorded in the UltraBlack® or UltraRed™ Appendix Program that meet all Association requirements for registration other than those specified under 1, 2 or 3 of this section. Section II. Animals Eligible for Certification A. “Quarter-Blood” Cattle These animals by definition are of 1/4th Brahman and 3/4th Angus breeding. B. “Half-Blood” Cattle These animals by definition are of 1/2 Brahman and 1/2 Angus breeding. C. “Three-Quarter-Blood” Cattle These animals by definition are of 3/4th Brahman and 1/4th Angus breeding. D. “Appendix” Cattle These animals are eligible for recording in the Brangus®/Red Brangus™ or UltraBlack®/UltraRed™ Appendix Program. Animals eligible for recording in the Brangus®/Red Brangus™ Appendix Program are 3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Angus and have enrolled, certified, or registered Brangus® or Red Brangus™ cattle as parents or cattle recorded in the Brangus® or Red Brangus™ Appendix Program as parents, but do not meet the Associa tion’s color standards for herd registry. Animals eligible for recording in the UltraBlack®/UltraRed™ Appendix Program are Brangus and Angus and have enrolled Angus, or registered Brangus®/ Brangus Journal
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Red Brangus™ or UltraBlack®/UltraRed™ cattle as parents or cattle recorded in the UltraBlack®/UltraRed™ Appendix Program as parents, but do not meet the associations color standards for registry. Animals as defined in Section II, A, B or C are considered “Foundation Stock for Brangus Cattle”. All animals as defined in Section II may be certified in and by the Association, but none such shall ever be enrolled or registered.
Section III. Animals Eligible for Enrollment 1. Purebred Brahman or Zebu cattle. 2. Purebred Angus cattle. These animals are considered “Foundation Stock for Brangus Cattle”. Section IV. Animals Eligible for Recording as Brangus® “Composites” or “Derivatives” 1. Brangus Optimizer™” are cattle that maintain a minimum of 50% registered Brangus® or Red Brangus™ genetics or greater and that were developed from matings with registered foundation cattle of another breed other than Angus. 2. “Brangus Premium Gold™” are cattle that maintain a minimum of 50% registered Brangus®/Red Brangus™ genetics or greater and that were developed from matings with commercial cattle. Section V. Fees Fees for registration, certification, enrollment, recording and/or transfer of cattle in and by the Association shall be those as fixed and determined from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Association, provided a. that fees charged members of the Association in good standing shall always be one-half the fees charged others, b. and that all such fees shall be subject to review and change by the active members of the Association at any duly convened meeting of the Association members.
Section VI. Applications for Certificates All applications for registration, certification, enrollment, and/or recording cattle in and by the Association shall be in such form and in such substance as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time. Section VII. Herd Books The Association shall keep and maintain three permanent herd books. One entitled, “Foundation Stock Permanent Herd Book”, in which shall be entered all “Foundation Stock for Brangus®/Red Brangus™ or UltraBlack®/UltraRed™ Cattle” from time to time certified or enrolled in and by the Association. One entitled, “Brangus® and Red Brangus™ Cattle Permanent Herd Book” in which shall be entered all animals of 3/8th Brahman breeding and 5/8th Angus breeding from time to time registered in and by the Association. And, one entitled “UltraBlack® and UltraRed™ Cattle Permanent Herd Book” in which shall be entered all animals of Brangus® or Red Brangus™ breeding and Angus breeding from time to time registered in and by the Association. Each breeder and/or owner who seeks to have any animal registered, certified, enrolled, or recorded in and by the Association shall keep accurate documentation in which such party shall indicate the tattoo and/or holding brand and herd number of each animal, and such other information detailing its ancestry and breeding as will clearly and positively reflect its parentage. Section VIII. Inspections Before any animal shall be eligible to be registered, certified, enrolled or recorded in and by the Association, it shall be inspected and approved by the owner of the animal or by a representative of the animal’s owner. Prior to any such inspection the animal shall be fire-branded, freeze-branded or tattooed as elsewhere in these Bylaws provided for and a complete application in form and substance as authorized by the Association, duly executed by the party seeking such registration, certification, enrollment or recording shall be delivered to the animal’s owner or his representative shall endorse in writing his approval or rejection of the animal and date and sign his name, submit it to the Association for official processing and return it to the party from whom he received it. Section IX. Records IBBA members who fail to keep complete and accurate records of their registered, certified, enrolled or recorded cattle with IBBA will be notified by the Executive Vice President that the IBBA office is aware of the problem. It will be the responsibility of the breeder to promptly correct his records and institute accepted recording practices to monitor future activities of his herd. If this action is not taken within a reasonable time to the satisfaction of the Executive Vice President the breeder will be notified by letter and the matter will be submitted to the Executive Committee for determination under the hearing procedures set forth in Article X. article VI: inspectors Persons authorized to inspect cattle for this Association as set out in Section VIII of Article V of these Bylaws, shall be the owner of the cattle being inspected or such owner’s representative or such other persons authorized in writing from time to time by the Board of Directors of this Association. article VII: other provisions Section I. Business Year The Association shall operate on a calendar year basis. Section II. Audits and Auditing Each year the Directors shall employ for and on behalf of the Association, a Certified Public Accountant who in their mature and considered judgment is reputable and competent, and is neither an inspector for, nor a member, officer, director or employee of the Association, or in any way connected with any other Association. Such accountant shall be paid by the Association a reasonable compensation for his services and shall make and complete a detailed audit each year of the books, 88 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010
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records and affairs of the Association and submit his preliminary written report thereof to the directors on or before the date of the next ensuing annual meeting of the Association members, copies of which shall be made available to active members attending such meeting. Conformed and certified copies thereof will be published in the next available Brangus Journal after they are received. Section III. Committees The Board of Directors will appoint committees as necessary to accomplish the work of IBBA. These permanent committees are known as “Standing Committees”. From time to time other committees may be appointed for specific tasks with specific goals. These temporary committees are known as “Ad Hoc Committees”. Standing committee chairmen are appointed by the president of IBBA after consultation with the executive committee. Chairmanship appointments are for a one-year term and are made at the Annual IBBA Spring board meeting, immediately following the election of the new president. The Chairman of each standing committee shall be a member of the IBBA Board of Directors and no Chair will serve for more than three consecutive years. The Association Secretary-Treasurer will always chair the Finance Committee. A. Standing Committees 1. Committees should be of sufficient size to accomplish their purposes and provide sufficient representation of the membership of the Association. 2. Annually, at least 1/3 of each committee membership shall be newly appointed to that respective committee and no committee member shall serve for more than three consecutive years. 3. Committee chairs are to nominate and solicit individuals for positions on their committees, but the executive committee shall approve all individuals prior to the solicitation for committee membership. Generally all committee members will be members of IBBA in good standing. However, exceptions to this rule can be approved by the executive committee and an attempt will be made to have one-half of the membership of the Commercial Marketing Committee to be commercial cattle producers who will often not be IBBA members. 4. Committee Chairs have the sole responsibility of recruiting and selecting a Vice chairman from among his committee members who will advise the Chair and function as Chair when the Chairman is absent. 5. The executive committee by majority vote may also appoint members to, or remove members from any standing committee. 6. Standing committee Chairs are expected to prepare and submit brief written reports for review by the executive committee at least 30 days before each bi-annual meeting. 7. At each bi-annual meeting the actions and recommendations approved by each standing committee are to be reported by the chairman to the IBBA Board for approval and/or implementation. B. Ad Hoc Committees 1. Ad hoc committees are formed for specific purposes with specific goals. They may be appointed by the Chair of a standing committee with approval of the executive committee or by the IBBA Board. Each ad hoc committee reports back to the committee that designated the charge. Once the specific purpose is accomplished and the ad hoc committee has reported such ad hoc committee is dissolved. Ad hoc committees will always expire annually. If necessary, they must be annually reformed until their work is complete. 2. The executive committee by majority vote may also appoint members to, or remove members from any ad hoc committee and by majority vote, may dissolve any ad hoc committee. C. Named Standing Committees 1. Finance Committee Charge: To assist the Executive Vice President in developing an association budget in response to committees of the Board of Directors and consideration of the general association expenses and revenues; to develop programs and ideas to produce revenues and to monitor the financial health of the associa tion and make appropriate recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding financial concerns. 2. Breed Improvement Committee Charge: To consider and pursue and participate in the implementation of all issues relating to development of Brangus® or Red Brangus™ cattle, including but not limited to, performance data, breed traits and characteristics and consideration of all research projects and information available. 3. Commercial Marketing Committee Charge: To consider, pursue and implement all issues relating to promoting Brangus® or Red Brangus™ Cattle to the commercial market and to develop commercial marketing programs, ideas and strategies; and to develop tools to better enable members to market Brangus® or Red Brangus™ Cattle into the commercial industry. 4. Promotion Committee Charge: To develop and implement promotional strategies and plans, including, but not limited to, formal advertising campaigns, which promote Bran gus® or Red Brangus™ Cattle and the International Brangus® Breeders Association. 5. Membership Services and Education Committee Charge: To enhance membership programs, encourage growth in membership enrollment and develop and retain association members; and to create educational opportunities on the local, regional and national levels for all members. 6. Show Committee Charge: To select judges for the national shows; to create a list of potential judges for use be other shows; to develop and monitor implementation of show rules and guidelines; to recommend locations for shows; to appoint and charge the ethics committee when needed at times of disputes or formal complaints arise; and to assist in the production of the Brangus® Futurity, the Brangus® Summit and other national shows as needed. 7. Awards Committee This is a special committee with membership being made up of the Chairperson of each Standing Committee so named previously. Charge: To receive nominations and to select individuals to receive the following: Brangus Journal
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1. Breeder of the Year Award 2. Herdsman of the Year Award 3. International Brangus® Breeders Pioneer Award. 8. Nomination Committee This is a special committee and as such will be made up of three current members of the Board of Directors and Chaired by one of the three. Members and Chair will be selected solely by the President. Charge: To provide a slate of nominees for annual election to become officers of the IBBA Board of Directors. Section IV. Rules The directors shall from time to time make and promulgate such rules in furtherance of carrying out the provisions and purposes of the Association’s Charter as last amended, and these Bylaws as they seem proper. Section V. Fees and Dues All fees and dues shall be payable in cash and shall be paid to the Association in advance. Section VI. All Persons Bound by Bylaws and Rules All members of the Association shall obey and agree to be bound by all provisions of the Bylaws and Rules of the Association, as amended from time to time, and all decisions and actions of the Board of Directors, Executive Committee and the Association. Persons who are not members of the Association but who file transfers and other documents with the Association and who utilize the privileges of the Association do thereby agree to be bound by and subject to all of the provisions of the Bylaws and Rules of the Association, as amended from time to time, and all decisions and actions of the Board of Directors, Executive Committee and the Association. Section VII. Judicial Review of Association Actions While the right or privilege of a member or nonmember to seek judicial review on final Association decisions or actions is recognized, that member, by joining the Association, or nonmember by filing transfers or other documents with the Association, does thereby agree, if unsuccessful in the attempt to overturn Association decisions, actions or provisions of these Bylaws or of the Rules of the Association, to reimburse the Association in full for its reasonable attorney’s fees, court costs and other expenses in defense of such suit. In addition, such member and such nonmember do further agree that any such suit brought against or involving in any way the Association shall be brought only in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas or in the District Court of Bexar County, Texas and that no suit shall be brought against the Association or involving the Association in any manner in any other court or judicial forum. Section VIII. Nonliability of Association The Association, its Board of Directors, Executive Committee, officer, members of committees, employees and agents shall use diligence in securing true information in connection with the registration, certification and enrollment of animals, transfers or registration certificates and in all other matters relating to Association activities. Neither the Association nor its Board of Directors, Executive Committee, officers, committee members, employees or agent shall be liable in any way, whether by damages or otherwise, for the issuance of any certificate of registration, certification or enrollment, for the transfer of a certificate of registration, for the refusal to issue any certificate of registration, enrollment or certification or for the refusal to transfer any certificate for registration, for the cancellation of any certificate of registration, certification or enrollment, for the cancellation of any transfer of a registration certificate, for the refusal to approve an application for membership in the Association, for any disciplinary proceedings brought against or penalties imposed on any member or other person or for any other activity engaged in by or on behalf of the Association. article VIIi: indemnification Section I. Standard of Conduct The Association shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a part to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative (including an action by or in the right of the Association), by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Association, or is or was serving at the request of the Association as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid or necessarily incurred, in settlement or otherwise, by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which any such director, officer, agent, employee, person serving at the Association’s request, or former director, officer, agent, shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding to be liable for willful misconduct in the performance of duty and to such matters as shall be settled by agreement predicated on the existence of such liability, unless, and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability and in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such court shall deem proper; but such indemnification shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the director, officer, agent, employee or other person serving at the Association’s request is entitled to under any agreement or otherwise. Section II. Determination Any indemnification under Section I of this Article IX (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Association only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director, officer, employee, agent or person serving at the Association’s request is proper in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section I of this Article IX. Such determination shall be made (a) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding; or (b) if such a quorum is not obtainable or even if obtainable, a quorum of the disinterested Directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion; or, (c) by the affirmative vote of the majority of the members entitled to vote and represented at a meeting called for such purpose; provided, however, that if a director, officer, employee or agent of the Association, or person serving at the Association’s request has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Section I of this Article 90 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010
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IX or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall automatically be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and necessarily incurred by him in connection therewith without the necessity of any such determination that he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section I of this Article IX. Section III. Payment in Advance Expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the Association in advance of the final disposition of such action suit or proceeding as authorized by the Board of Directors as provided in Section II of this Article IX upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director, officer, employee, agent or person serving at the Association’s request to repay such amount if and when it should ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the Association as authorized in this Article IX. Section IV. Insurance The Board of Directors may exercise the Association’s power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Association or is or was serving at the request of the Association as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Association should have the power to indemnify him against such liability hereunder or otherwise. Section V. Other Coverage The indemnification provided by this Article IX shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under the Articles of Incorporation, these Bylaws, agreement, vote of members or disinterested Directors, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in and to her capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee, agent or one serving at the Association’s request and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs and personal representatives of such a person. article IX: hearings and appeals Section I. General The Association recognizes the importance to its members and other persons who enjoy its benefits and privileges of providing fair procedures in connection with the orderly and expeditious conduct of hearings and appeals. Section II. Membership Application Any person whose application for membership in the Association is questioned by the Board of Directors of the Association shall be entitled to a hearing before the Board. When questions regarding an application for membership in the Association cannot be resolved in an informal manner, the Board of Directors shall hold a hearing in accordance with the rules set forth in Section VI, after written notice of the hearing has been given to the applicant. Such written notice shall be deemed delivered if mailed, first class, certified, postage prepaid to the applicant at his address reflected on the application at least thirty days before the date of the hearing. The decision of the Board of Directors following the hearing shall be final. Section III. Disciplinary Actions Any member or other person who violate the rules, regulations, constitution or Bylaws of the Association or impairs the reliability of the records of the Association or who offers to the Association for registration, certification, enrollment or transfer any animal known by such member or person not to be eligible for such registration, certification, enrollment or transfer or who knowingly misrepresents to the Association any material fact as to the sex, date of birth, age, description, ancestry or identity of any animal or who deceives the Association or another person in any matter in which the Association has any interest may, if he is a member, be censured, suspended or expelled and denied any or all of the privileges of the Association, after notice and an opportunity to be heard, as hereinafter provided. Such additional or other penalties or restrictions on the exercise of the privileges of the Association as are deemed proper and appropriate may also be imposed. Section IV. Registrations, Certifications, Enrollments, Recordings and Transfers If, in the opinion of the Executive Vice President of the Association, evidence is produced or exists which raises reasonable doubt as to the propriety of the registration, certification, enrollment, recording or transfer of an animal, the proceedings or records of the Association with respect to such animal and its descendants may be temporarily suspended by the Executive Vice President. After notice and opportunity to be heard as hereinafter provided, the Executive Committee of the Association may deny any application for registration, certification, enrollment, recording or transfer or may expunge any existing registration, certification, enrollment, recording or transfer found to be improper, or take such other steps as the nature of the case may require. Section V. Notice Notices shall be in writing and shall be issued by the Executive Vice President of the Association. They shall specify the alleged cause for the proposed censure, suspension or expulsion of a member or the denial of privileges to a member or to a person not a member and the alleged doubt as to the propriety of the registration, certification, enrollment or transfer of an animal, and inform the concerned or accused member or person not a member and any person appearing from the records of the Association to have an interest in the registration, certification, enrollment or transfer of an animal of the time and place and the body before which a hearing on the matter will be held. Such notices shall be deemed delivered if mailed, first class, certified postage prepaid to the person entitled to notice at his address as reflected on the records of the Association at least thirty days before the day of the hearing. Section VI. Hearings Except for hearings on applications for membership which shall be before the Board of Directors of the Association, hearings shall be conducted by the Executive Committee of the Association (except that the Executive Vice President of the Association shall not sit with or be considered a member of the Executive Committee for purposes of hearings conducted under this Section). In all hearings the following shall apply: o Any person interested may appear in person or by counsel and may offer testimony and other evidence and produce witnesses. Brangus Journal
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o All oral testimony, documents, affidavits and physical exhibits that are relevant, material and have probative force, not being unduly repetitious, may be admissible and the Executive Committee shall determine the admissibility of such offered evidence and the weight to be accorded to the evidence admitted. The common law or statutory rules of evidence shall not apply at the hearing. The members of the Executive Committee shall designate one of their number to serve as presiding officer at the hearing to rule on all motions, objections and other questions. As promptly as reasonable and practicable after the conclusion of the hearing, the Executive Committee shall render a written decision based upon all evidence presented to it at the hearing. A majority vote of the members of the Executive Committee participating shall be required on any decision. A copy of the written decision shall be sent by the Executive Vice President to each person who was entitled to notice of the hearing in the manner provided for the giving of such notice. Section VII. Appeals Any interested person aggrieved by a decision of the Executive Committee may, by a notice in writing signed by him and received at the principal office of the Association not more than thirty days after a copy of the decision has been sent to such person, appeal such decision to the Board of Directors. In all appeals the following shall apply: o The Executive Vice President of the Association shall transmit to the Board of Directors the transcript of the proceedings before the Executive Committee, including its decision thereon. o At the direction of the member of the Board of Directors who will preside over the hearing of an appeal, the Executive Vice President shall give notice in writ ing in the manner provided for the giving of notice of a hearing to each person who was given notice of the Executive Committee hearing, which notice shall specify the time not sooner than thirty days after the giving of such notice, and the place where the Board of Directors will hear the appeal. o Any person having an interest in the appeal may appear in person or by counsel, but no testimony shall be given and no evidence shall be submitted. The decision of the Board of Directors on the appeal shall be based solely upon a review of the transcript of the proceedings before the Executive Committee and consideration of the arguments or persons entitled to the notice of appeal. o No member of the Executive Committee shall participate in any way at the appeal hearing. The Executive Vice President shall not sit with or be considered a member of the Board of Directors for purposes of appeals under this Section VII. o As promptly as reasonable and practicable after the conclusion of the hearing on the appeal, the Board of Directors shall decide the matter as right and justice require, with power and discretion to affirm, reverse or revise, making more or less severe the decision of the Executive Committee, or to demand a rehearing of the matter. The decision of the Board of Directors shall be in writing. A majority vote of the members of the Board of Directors participating shall be required on any decision. The Executive Vice President shall promptly send a copy of the Board’s written decision to each person having an interest in the appeal in the manner provided for the giving of notice of the hearing of the appeal. The decision of the Board of Directors, or that of the Executive Committee if no appeal is made, shall be the final decision of the Association and may be published in the Association’s newsletter or other publication. Section VIII. Miscellaneous Every decision of the Executive Committee of the Association shall stand as the decision of the Board of Directors until reversed or revised or otherwise ordered by the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee may restore privileges, upon application and satisfactory showing by such person that restoration of privilege is warranted. The sole official record of proceedings before the Executive Committee or the Board of Directors shall be that produced in a manner approved by the Board of Directors. Copies of the transcript of the hearing shall be made available to any person having an interest in the proceeding upon payment to the Association, in advance, of the reasonable cost thereof. Hearings for purposes other than those specified in this Article may be held as the Executive Committee or Board of Directors may, from time to time, determine. The Executive Committee and Board of Directors shall have the sole and exclusive right to interpret and apply the provisions of this Article. article X: inspection of exhibits Section I. The Association and its representatives have the authority to require such tests as they deem necessary to verify the accuracy of the classification and pedigree of exhibited animals. Said authority shall extend to and cover the enforcement of all show rules as adopted by IBBA. Section II. Each exhibitor shall submit his registered Brangus® or Red Brangus™ cattle to such tests and examinations as may be requested by the Association, its authorized representatives, or the authorized representatives of the relevant show or fair. Section III. For and in consideration of the opportunity to participate in any Brangus function each exhibitor hereby releases and holds harmless the Association, its officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives from any liability and from any and all claims, suits, damages and judgments (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) past, present or future, arising from or connected with the administration or use of such test or examination and the resulting decision thereon.
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ADVERTISERSINDEX ADVERTISER
PAGE
ADVERTISER
PAGE
ADVERTISER
PAGE
Barnes, Tommy
98
Five C Cattle
44
Mound Creek Ranch
24
BKC Ranch
6, 7
Gallagher Fencing
19
Oakley, Lakin
98
Blackwater Cattle Company
9
Genesis Ranch
32
OvaGenix
98
Bovine Elite
103
Genetic Edge Sale
13
Quail Creek
5
Brangus Rojo de Mexico
102
GeneTrust
40, 41
Red Bird Meadows
23
Cain Cattle Company
11
Global Collection
14, 15
Schmidt Farms
104
Cattle Solutions
98
Hengst Brothers Brangus
12
SEBBA
22
CattleMax
98
IBBA Convention
34, 35
Southern Cattle Company
1
Cavender Brangus
18, 26
Indian Nations Sale (OBA)
38
Spitzer Ranch
37
Corlay Cattle Company
10
IRBBA
42
Stalwart Ranches
16
Cox Excalibur
31
Iron Farm Cattle Company
IFC, IBC
Suhn Cattle Company
21, 29
D Bar D Brangus
36
JLS International
25
Texas Connection
102
Diamond K
20
JM Cattle Company
46
The Oaks
17
Doguet’s Diamond D Ranch
31
Lambert, Doak
82
The National CUP Lab
98
Dotson Auction Services
98
Livestock Photos by Nancy
98
Vineyard Cattle Company
28
Elgin Breeding Service
98
McCreary Farms
27
Farris Ranching Company
30
Miami Int. Agriculture & Cattle Show
8
CALENDAROFEVENTS february • 2010
MARCH • 2010
13
Best in the West Sale, Marana, AZ
27
27
Spitzer Ranch Performance Tested Bull Sale & Commercial Female Sale, Calhoun, GA
APRIL • 2010
Cain Cattle Company Bull Sale, Holly Springs, MS
MARCH • 2010
3
SEBBA Showcase IV Sale, Perry, GA
3-5
IBBA Annual Convention, Houston, TX
5-9
Miller Brangus 1st Annual “Pounds on the Ground” Internet Sale
5-6
International Brangus & Red Brangus Show, Houston, TX
16-17
TBBA Convention & Sale, Brenham, TX
5
Global Collection Sale, Houston, TX
4/22-5/2
National Red Brangus Show, Monterray, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
6
Genetic Edge XV Sale, Houston, TX
24
GENETRUST at Cavender Neches River Ranch, Jacksonville, TX
7
Global Roundup, Fort Bend County Fairgounds
MAY • 2010
13
“Cut Above” Production Sale, Cullman Alabama Stockyard
1
JLS International “Winning Tradition”VIII Sale, Devine, TX
13
Indian Nation Spring Brangus Sale, Ada, OK
8
8th Annual Stars & Stripes Sale, Raymond, MS
18-20
Mound Creek Ranch Sale, Leona, TX
20-21
Miami Int. Agriculture & Cattle Show, Miami, FL
23
GENETRUST at Suhn Cattle Company, Eureka, KS
27
WTBBA Springtime Sale, Abilene, TX
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BRANGUS J
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2010 Media Guide
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Advertising Rates (black & white)
MISSION STATEMENT
T
he Brangus Journal is an international news magazine serving the Brangus
breed of beef cattle including Brangus crossbreds and Brahman and Angus stock necessary to produce Brangus cattle. The International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) empowers mem-
bers to advance the quality, reliability and value of Brangus and Brangusinfluenced cattle; provides innovative programs and services which enhance
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Color Rates Single color-$170.00; Four-color-$340.00 Inserts, Business Reply Cards & Other Specialty Advertisements Available. Contact advertising sales coordinator for quote.
2010 Editorial Calendar: Brangus Journal Focus Spring Sire Summary Issue
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Summit Cow Issue
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International & Convention Highlights
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Bilingual edition covering Brangus events and issues across the globe.
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Highlights and year end review.
Brangus Journal
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2000 IBBA Members
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BPI Office Phone: (210) 696-8231 Fax: (210) 696-8718 Email: brangusjournal@int-brangus.org Advertising Sales: Melanie Fuller (979) 966-7958 mwfuller@hotmail.com
2010 Media Guide
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Brangus Journal
Brangus Journal
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 | 103
104 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010
Brangus Journal