Fall 2017 FRONTLINE Beef Producer by International Brangus Breeders Association

A NEWS SOURCE FOR COMMERCIAL BEEF PRODUCERS

FALL 2017

VOLUME 9

ISSUE 2

FRONTLINE BEEF PRODUCER

FRONTLINE Beef Producer - Fall 2017 Brangus Publications Inc. Editor and Layout/Art Director Peyton Waldrip Administration/Circulation Valerie Kopecki Contributing Authors Amanda Blair, PhD. Raluca Mateescu, PhD. Joe C. Paschal, PhD. Tommy Perkins, PhD., PAS Tullina Wilson

FRONTLINE Beef Producer is a product of:

Brangus Publications, Inc. P.O. Box 809, Adkins, TX 78101 Phone: (210) 696-8231 Fax: (210) 696-8718

Brangus Publications, Inc. Directors: Brandon Belt, Chairman Tommy Perkins, PhD., PAS, President Bill Davis, Secretary/Treasurer Eddy Roberts, Director Doyle Miller, Director

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Advertising Melanie Fuller Operations Matt Murdoch Bonnie Ramirez Emilio Silvas Information appearing in this issue may be reprinted only with written permission of Brangus Publications, Inc. LPC Livestock Publications Council - Member

Hybrid Vigor Offers Commercial Producers Profit................................................................................... 6 Fetal Programming – Management of Gestating Cows Matters.......................................................... 8-12 Bovine Trichomoniasis.........................................................................................................................14-16 Measuring Heat Adaptability in Bos Indicus Cattle...........................................................................20-26 IBBA Carcass Merit Excellence Challenge Program........................................................................... 31-35 Preweaning Calf Management Practices.............................................................................................36-42 Retained Ownership Can Be a Risky but Rewarding Business..........................................................44-46 Service Directory...................................................................................................................................... 48 Calendar.................................................................................................................................................... 49 Advertisers’ Index..................................................................................................................................... 50

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Hybrid Vigor Offers Commercial Producers Profit by IBBA Executive Vice President Tommy Perkins, Ph.D., PAS Society continues to stress the importance of improved sustainability in our industry. This includes the impact beef has from a social, environmental and economic perspective in producing a viable product that accounts for the planet, people and animals. Most understand crossbreeding will improve beef’s sustainability through the improvement of production efficiencies. These improvements include a positive impact on cow longevity, improved reproductive rates, and gains in calf performance from hybrid vigor. Ultimately, improving maintenance energy requirements per pound of beef produced and overall profitability. Research indicates the use of crossbred Bos Taurus by Bos Indicus dams will improve calving rate, calf survivability, calving assistance, weaning rate, and weaning weight due to hybrid vigor. Additionally, the use of available technologies along with crossbreeding will increase production while reducing total input costs. This makes it a great time to use Brangus, Red Brangus, Ultrablack, and Ultrared genetics in your breeding program to take advantage of these improvements of efficiencies and net profitability. Use of these genetics support the desire to be more sustainable as they produce market cattle that grow rapidly and efficiently. The cattle produce large ribeyes and excellent marbling levels to complement the blackhided cow population that exists in today’s commercial beef industry. The carcasses produced will meet or exceed requirements for many branded beef programs in the industry. Just as important, they produce progeny with improved survivability and hair shedding ability to excel in the most unpredictable and harsh environments of the world. With the commercial cattlemen in mind, the International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) has recently released a Brangus-specific DNA test for selecting replacement heifers. The Brangus Profiler DNA test is available from GeneSeek through IBBA at a cost of $25 per animal. Cattlemen will receive three different economic indexes (maternal, terminal and all-purpose) to identify cattle that best fit the marketing needs of their operation. The test, also, includes free parentage verification (if the sire and/or dam have parentage markers on file) and tenderness results. The Brangus Profiler product merely enhances the utilization of genomic-enhanced expected progeny

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differences (GE-EPDs) released monthly on registered Brangus cattle. The use of GE-EPDs, with greatly improved accuracies, allow commercial cattlemen to buy with more confidence when selecting young, unproven bulls. GE-EPDs have become the tool of choice in breed improvement strategies in the beef industry and commercial cattlemen continue to make gains in beef production with their use. The Brangus breed will do it all, from the pasture to the plate and everywhere in between. Commercial cowcalf producers appreciate their docility and near-perfect udder confirmation, cattle feeders love the performance in the feedlot, and retailers appreciate the excellent carcass qualities available from the packing industry. Brangus cattle are known to produce a tender, high-yielding beef product with optimum levels of marbling which meet the stringent demands of health-conscious consumers. Please enjoy reading the valuable articles on carcass performance, animal health, and other helpful management practices in this edition of the FRONTLINE Beef Producer magazine. Do not hesitate to call us if you have any specific questions about Brangus, Red Brangus, Ultrablack, or Ultrared genetics for use in your operation. For information about IBBA programs or other inquiries, please call (210) 696-8231 or visit www.GoBrangus.com. Stay connected to IBBA through Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or receive news updates by joining our email list.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Tommy Perkins, PhD. is a graduate of West

Texas A&M University, where he was recognized as a Graduate of Distinction by the Department of Agriculture in 2014. He also earned his doctoral degree in Animal Breeding from Texas Tech University. He served as a professor at Missouri State University and Texas State University for nearly twenty years, where his professional career is most noted for excellence in the field of beef cattle ultrasound. Perkins was elected to the Beef Improvement Federation’s Board of Directors and, also, serves as chairman for the End Product committee. Additionally, Perkins currently serves on the board of directors for the United States Livestock Genetics Export Association, Texas Beef Council, Beef Promotion and Research Council of Texas, and the National Pedigreed Livestock Council. He was recently elected Beef Breeds Council President. Currently, Perkins is the Executive Vice President of IBBA, Chief Executive Officer of Genetic Performance Solutions, and President of Brangus Publications, Inc.

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Fetal Programming – Management of Gestating Cows Matters by South Dakota State University Associate Professor and Extension Meat Science Specialist Amanda Blair, Ph.D.

As beef producers, our management efforts tend to be heavily focused on events such as breeding and calving or on decisions such as nutritional inputs, pasture management, or genetic selection. But once cows are successfully bred, how often do we consider the development that’s occurring during gestation or the impact that our management decisions have on the developing fetus? Fetal programming is a relatively new area of study investigating that very concept. In fact, there is a growing body of evidence that suggests the gestational environment can cause permanent changes in the fetal genome resulting in lifelong impacts on the phenotype of the offspring. Consider that the majority of livestock raised for food production is subjected to the gestational environment for a considerable amount of time relative to their entire lifespan. For example, a steer raised for beef and slaughtered at 16 months of age would spend approximately 37 percent of its entire lifespan, from conception to slaughter, in utero. However, gestation is often thought of as a fairly uneventful time of production. In many areas of the country, beef cattle producers implement low-cost feeding programs during all or portions of gestation. However, if feed is limited or forage conditions are poor this strategy can potentially cause a deficiency in protein and/or energy if cows are not supplemented. As a result, the fetus may receive inadequate levels of nutrients, potentially altering fetal development. Applying management strategies during gestation could enhance our goals of optimizing production efficiency. It is important to understand that a substantial portion of development occurs during the embryonic and fetal periods. During these stages of life, cellular, tissue, organ, metabolic and

hormonal systems are established, and if nutrients are restricted these developmental processes could be negatively impacted. Take muscle for example, in the beef fetus, the majority of muscle cells are developed beginning at about the third month of gestation until about seven or eight months of gestation. While these muscle cells will grow larger through the remainder of gestation and after birth, there are no additional muscle cells added after this time. In short, cattle are born with a set number of muscle fibers; these fibers can grow larger, but they can’t grow more. This is significant because any challenges or restrictions that occur during gestation could limit muscle development and result in reduced muscle mass throughout the lifetime of the animal. It is, also, important to note that muscle has a relatively low priority for nutrients during development. If nutrients are limited, the priority will be for brain, heart and other organs before they are partitioned to support muscle development. On the other hand, enhancing nutrient availability during gestation can increase muscle fiber development,

“In short, cattle are born with a set number of muscle fibers; these fibers can grow larger, but they can’t grow more.” thus increasing muscle fiber number and muscle mass of the offspring. Understanding these developmental concepts and learning how to program cows to manipulate the developmental processes of the offspring is the focus of many research efforts.

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FETAL PROGRAMMING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 This concept of fetal or developmental programming is commonly referred to as the “Barker Hypothesis” or the “Fetal Origins Model.” Pioneering research conducted in human medicine by Dr. David Barker and his colleagues provided a connection, linking undernourished mothers with offspring that had low birth weights and an increase in adiposity and metabolic disorders. Barker went on to suggest that deficiencies in maternal nutritional status could alter metabolism, structure and physiology of the offspring. Additional research has suggested that maternal under-nutrition during pregnancy may cause offspring to develop a thrifty phenotype, meaning increased adiposity and reduced muscle mass, that is more prepared to deal with sparse nutrient availability. Animal and meat scientists have further investigated this concept and demonstrated that modifications to the gestational environment have the potential to influence the postnatal health, growth performance, reproductive performance, longevity, and composition of the offspring. So how can the gestational environment influence the development of the fetus and subsequently the postnatal phenotype? It is generally accepted that alterations to the epigenome are responsible for the changes observed with fetal programming. With few exceptions, all cells in the body have the same genetic code, or DNA. Epigenetics is

the term used to describe stable, heritable factors, other than the DNA sequence, that influence development. These factors can modify the expression of a gene (turn it on or off), but not the actual genetic code, thereby providing each cell with its unique identity. It is the expression of particular genes that allow for each cell to develop and function as intended by allowing a muscle cell to act as a muscle cell and a fat cell to work as a fat cell. These factors can be influenced by variation in the gestational environment such as nutrient availability and maternal stress, resulting in changes to the epigenome of the fetus. These changes can subsequently alter the development of fetal tissues and the subsequent growth and composition of the offspring. Given that the phenotype of any individual is a combination of its inherited genetic code and the environment in which it is raised, the ability of an offspring to fully express its genetic potential can be limited by insults to the epigenome. For example, if we selectively breed for heavy-muscled cattle in our herd, but restrict nutrients during development, the offspring may not be able to fully express their genetic potential for muscle growth. In recent years, there has been an interest in understanding how to manage gestating females to either minimize the effects of challenging environmental

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FETAL PROGRAMMING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 conditions or to maximize productivity. Researchers across the country have focused on understanding the impacts of gestational management on various traits ranging from reproductive efficiency and longevity to offspring health and feeding performance. To better understand how prenatal management could be manipulated to produce carcasses with desired characteristics, our meat science research group at South Dakota State University has worked on several collaborative projects. The majority of our research has focused on altering maternal nutrition during mid-gestation

because this is when the majority of muscle is developed and when fat cells begin to develop, and muscle and fat make up the majority of the carcass. We have learned that maternal energy restriction during mid-gestation influences fat deposition in intramuscular (marbling) and subcutaneous (backfat) fat deposits without impacting muscle mass. Additionally, when gestating females were subjected to either a control diet or a metabolizable protein restriction during mid- and late- gestation, the offspring from cows on the control diet showed upregulation of genes found in pathways associated with muscle tissue development, while calves born to protein-restricted cows showed upregulation of genes involved in fat tissue development. It is necessary to recognize areas where we can improve our current management practices to maximize the genetic potential we have bred into our calves. The knowledge that the gestational environment can influence fetal development and subsequent, long-term production outcomes is another tool that has the potential to enhance these efforts. While research in this area is ongoing, producers should begin to recognize this phase of production as more than an uneventful span of time. Gestation is a time of major developmental milestones and while these events can set the stage for long-term productivity, the management of the gestating cow can, also, profoundly influence the outcomes.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Amanda Blair, Ph.D. joined the animal science faculty at South Dakota State University (SDSU) in 2007. She currently holds a 75-percent-research, 25-percent-Extension appointment with an emphasis in meat science. While at SDSU Blair has been involved in several Extension programs including Beef 2020, BBQ Bootcamp and beefSD. Her research program is broadly focused on understanding the influence of pre-harvest management on beef carcass composition and quality. Specific areas of interest include fetal programming, mechanisms controlling beef tenderness, and marbling development. Blair serves as a graduate advisor to both masters and doctoral students.

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Bovine Trichomoniasis Is there a greater threat to the Gulf Coast Cow-Calf Producer? by Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Sr. Associate Director John M. Davidson, DVM, DABVP American ranchers have been dealing with Tritrichomonas foetus or Trich since 1932. Interestingly, only in the past 10-15 years has this disease been getting the attention it deserves across the Gulf Coast. I say deserves because there is not another disease that carries the financial impact that Trich does for the cow-calf producer in the southern United States. There are certainly lots of opinions on this disease surrounding testing, management and prevention. Of significant concern to a lot of folks in the cattle industry is the variation in understanding and awareness of this disease. In my professional experience, I’ve seen several instances where this misunderstanding has actually worsened the problem of Trich on the ranch. In this article, I will attempt to help clarify some of these areas.

UNDERSTANDING THE DISEASE

ECONOMICS

The bull is the long-term carrier of the organism without ill effects or visible lesions. As reported in 1941, we used to think that older bulls carried more trich in structures known as ‘crypts’ located on the surface of the penis. Recent research from Auburn University has proven the crypt theory to be a myth. There are no structures that resemble crypts and no structural differences between young or older bulls. The take away is that all breeding bulls should be tested, regardless of age. In female cattle, the organism is introduced during breeding yet does not impair conception. The presence of the organism in the uterus results in severe uterine inflammation (metritis) which usually, but not always, results in fetal death or abortion generally around 60-90 days of pregnancy. This gives rise to the extended time period between observed heats. In a small percentage of the infected cattle, a uterine infection or pyometra develops. This infection can be detected by your veterinarian via rectal palpation or ultrasound and confirmed with a testing procedure similar to that of the bulls. Of great concern to me is the often over-simplified notion that sexual rest of the exposed females always results in spontaneous clearance of the infection. It should be emphasized that a low percentage of the exposed cow population will maintain a persistent infection, which means the cow carries the infection through pregnancy into the next breeding and re-infects the bulls. Though the estimated frequency is low (less than 1 percent), it requires consideration of the female carrier state for management decisions when Trich is diagnosed in the herd.

A key factor in the profitability of the cow-calf operation is weaning a high percentage of uniform healthy, heavy calves while keeping inputs reduced to an acceptable level. According to University of Florida’s Owen Rae, DVM, net income from the cowcalf operation can be defined as:

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[(# of calves weaned X weight of calves weaned) X price per pound] – maintenance cost per cow/calf Bovine trichomoniasis affects most, if not all, components of the equation. Reduced pregnancy rates and the variable distribution of the live-born calves over the calving period are the most obvious. The increased testing, culling and prevention costs decrease the overall net per exposed female. The impact to the cow-calf producer’s profitability based on simulated models was significant. Dr. Rae’s disease model predicted a reduction of 14 to 50 percent in annual calf crop, a prolonged breeding season, a reduction of 5 to 12 percent in the suckling or growing period, a reduction of 4 to 10 percent in pounds of marketable calf crop at weaning, a reduction of 4 to 10 percent in monetary return per calf born, and a substantial reduction of 5 to 35 percent in the return per cow confined with a fertile bull. Prevalence in this model varied from 20-40 percent (one to two infected bulls out of five total breeding bulls). Income from calves sold was reduced by $24,551. This was strictly related to decreased number of calves as a result of trichomoniasis in the herd. This value does

EXPERT CONNECTION not include losses for culled cows, bulls, testing and prevention strategies. When those additional factors are included, the financial impact is even more significant. The use of excessive numbers of bulls, i.e. over mating, favors a higher incidence of infection in cows due to multiple services at estrus, or heat.

TREATMENT There are no legally available drugs to treat affected cattle in the U.S. Infected cattle must be sent to slaughter.

SAMPLE COLLECTION / DIAGNOSIS / TESTING Over the years, various methods of sample collection have been performed by veterinarians. Currently, most veterinarians rely on preputial scrapings as the collection method of choice. Once the sample is collected, it is then inoculated into the culture and transport media (In Pouch TF). The quality of the sample is highly dependent on the skill and experience of the collector. The sensitivity of the test is affected by the field conditions (i.e. low number of organisms collected when sampled) and handling conditions (i.e. temperature and transit time to laboratory). Samples can be tested by culture, DNA – based on the polymerase chain reaction – or both. Due to the limitations of the culture method, I am no longer recommending this test at this time.

The sensitivity of the available tests vary (influenced by collection techniques, field conditions, and sample handling) and are reported in a range from 75 to 93 percent, depending on the type of tests performed. This illustrates the point that, though veterinarians are dealing with the best test we have available, we know that it is not 100 percent effective at detecting an infected bull. Research out of the University of Nebraska indicates that a minimum of three properly performed tests are required to identify all the infected bulls on a premise. Pooling of samples at a ratio of 5:1 is now an option for testing at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory in College Station, Texas. Pooling lowers the average cost per bull without sacrificing diagnostic sensitivity. Working with your veterinarian to determine your herd’s risk factors and potential for infection will help determine the timing, type and number of tests to be performed.

RISK FACTORS / CONTROL / PREVENTION Once the diagnosis of trichomoniasis is made in a beef herd, the timely and accurate identification of the diseased bull(s) begins. It is a common misconception that young bulls cannot get infected with Trich. This is simply not true. An Australian study in 1976 demonstrated the ability of a known Trich-infected three-year-old Hereford bull to infect

Q&A

Will vaccination prevent infection? No. The trich organism is introduced at breeding and its transmission cannot be prevented by vaccination. The only way to ensure no bull transmission is to utilize artificial insemination from bulls collected in CSS-certified facilities. Do I need to follow the vaccine label for best results? Yes. Same is true for any biological used in livestock. Should I vaccinate my cattle for Trich? Vaccine protocols for cow-calf producers should be built around risk and not tradition. If you ranch in a Trich endemic area such as the Texas Gulf Coast, then you are at an increased risk of having trich introduced into your herd. The vaccine has been shown in numerous studies to increase the number of live calves born in exposed females.

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BOVINE TRICHOMONIASIS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 19 of 20 virgin Hereford heifers after a single service over a two-week period. Ranches that practice high levels of biosecurity, keep excellent records, and monitor reproduction rates are not as likely to be severely impacted by bovine trichomoniasis. In 1947, a leading expert on Bovine Trichomoniasis, Dr. Bartlett, proposed two basic principles of control of trichomoniasis in cattle: 1) keep from breeding susceptible cows to infected bulls, and 2) keep from breeding susceptible bulls to infected cows. Knowing the status of all bulls pre- and post-breeding is still the best form of herd surveillance. Verification of pregnancy rates after breeding is another key to ensuring the herd is not affected by a venereal pathogen like T. foetus. The following list of management techniques will reduce the potential impact of bovine trichomoniasis in a cattle herd: 1. Biosecurity: Keep fences in good repair, and make note of any contact with breeding stock from neighboring herds. 2. Breeding season: Shortened breeding season (i.e. 90 day) should be used. If the breeding season is extended or year-round, the disease will be more difficult to control and to identify animals carrying the organism. 3. Replacement bulls should always be virgins. Never lease or borrow a non-virgin bull. Period. 4. Test ALL bulls four to six weeks prior to breeding season, along with a properly performed breeding soundness exam, and two to three weeks after breeding season. Keep excellent bullpasture breeding records. Do not move bulls to another pasture without a negative Trich test. 5. Palpate cattle after breeding season. 6. Cull or separate open cows at pregnancy check time as well as those that abort or have a noticeable discharge. Check the aborted fetus and any discharge for T. foetus. 7. Purchase only virgin replacement females from known, reputable sources. 8. Vaccinate: Early vaccine studies showed favorable outcomes when heifers were challenged with large numbers of T. foetus organisms. In fact, a 1992 study 1 showed an increase in calving rates from 31 to 63 percent in challenged heifers. A commercial vaccine (TrichGuard® – Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc.) containing inactivated T. foetus is available for use to reduce the shedding associated with T. foetus. Recently, a 2017 study 2 from Auburn University demonstrated that TrichGuard® vaccinated heifers had a significant increase (50 percent versus 20 percent) in calves born when

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compared to non-vaccinated controls. When the real-world economics are applied to these results, the results are impressive. A key point when using the vaccine is to follow the label. Initially, two doses are required, each given two to four weeks apart, 30 days prior to the breeding season. The timing of administration and number of doses administered are critical to proper timing of immunity and exposure. Also, control other reproductive diseases like Lepto, Vibrio (campylobacteriosis), infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, bovine viral diarrhea, and brucellosis with an appropriate vaccination program. 9. Artificial insemination can reduce the spread of bovine trichomoniasis.

CONCLUSION Trichomoniasis can have significant impacts in the reproductive performance of a beef cattle operation. An awareness of the impact that the carrier animals can have on a beef operation is the first step to developing a sound T. foetus control or prevention program. When biosecurity, surveillance, herd health, and record keeping come together in a well-managed system, the beef cattle rancher can feel rest assured that the silent profit taker is not at work on their ranch.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dr. John M. Davidson was raised in south Texas and received his undergraduate and DVM degrees from Texas A&M University. He practiced in rural south-central Texas where he was owner and partner of a four-veterinarian, mixed-animal practice. In 2007, Dr. Davidson joined the faculty at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, where he served as an ambulatory clinician and extension veterinarian. He has worked as an industry veterinarian since 2011 and is currently a senior professional services veterinarian with Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health. He is board certified by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Beef Cattle). He completed the Beef Cattle Production Management Series at the Great Plains Veterinary Education Center in Clay Center, Nebraska. His professional interests are reproductive and respiratory diseases in beef cattle. He has served on various Texas Animal Health Commission Working Groups. He served on the development team for the web-based TrichCONSULT decision tool for producers. Dr. Davidson was the 51st president of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) and is currently serving as past president. He is the recipient of the AABP Distinguished Service Award. He is also member of the AVMA, AVC, SFT, TVMA (lifetime), TSCRA, and NCBA. He enjoys Fightin’ Texas Aggie football and baseball, hunting, outdoor activities with his family, and flying. John, his wife, D’Ann, and their two children, Claire and Jake, reside in Shiner, Texas. 1. 2.

Kvasnicka WG, Hanks D, Huang JC, et al. Clinical evaluation of the efficacy of inoculating cattle with a vaccine containing Tritrichomonas foetus. Am J Vet Res 1992; 53:2023-27. Edmondson MA, Joiner KS, Spencer JA, et al. Impact of a killed Tritrichomonas foetus vaccine on clearance of the organism and subsequent fertility of heifers following experimental inoculation. Therio 2017; 90:245-251.

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Measuring Heat Adaptability in Bos Indicus Cattle by Raluca Mateescu, PhD. Heat stress is a principal factor limiting production of animal protein and negatively affecting health and welfare of cattle in subtropical and tropical regions. Detrimental effects on livestock productivity associated with heat stress are expected to intensify dramatically and expand into currently temperate zones upon the realization of predicted climate change (IPCC, 2007). Most animal-producing areas in the U.S. are predicted to experience extreme summer conditions (Luber and McGeehin, 2008) and by 2100, average temperatures in the U.S. are projected to increase 2 to 6 degrees Celsius, depending on the emissions scenario and climate model applied (USGCRP, 2009). The number of days with maximum temperatures above 32 degrees Celsius (or 90 degrees Fahrenheit) is, also, expected to increase. The southeast and southwest areas of the U.S. currently average 60 such days per year but are projected to experience at least 150 such days a year by the end of the century. Development of effective strategies to improve the ability to cope with heat stress is imperative to enhance productivity of the U.S. livestock industry and secure global food supplies. Substantial differences in thermal tolerance

exist among breeds and among animals within breeds indicative of opportunities for selective improvement. For example, Bos indicus cattle exhibit increased resistance to many environmental stressors relative to Bos taurus, but tend to have slower growth, lower fertility, and poor meat quality as they have not been as intensively selected for these traits as specialized Bos taurus breeds. Use of genomic tools to produce an animal with superior ability for both thermal adaptation and production represents an energy-efficient sustainable approach to meet the challenge of global climate change. Thermoregulation is a process in which environmental information provokes a cascade of appropriate responses to maintain body temperature within the narrow range necessary for optimal cellular and molecular function. This is accomplished by jointly regulating heat production and heat loss. To reduce internal heat production beef cattle will decrease physical activity; reduce feed intake and downregulate biological functions associated with growth, reproduction and immunity. Cattle will also increase blood flow to the skin and increase evaporative heat loss through sweating, panting, and behavioral wetting of the skin to increase the heat exchange with the environment. Hyperthermia results when body temperature increases above normal range despite these adjustments. Improvements in production, such as increased growth rate, lead to increased metabolic heat production, and exacerbate the problem of thermoregulation. A good example is the negative genetic correlation between milk yield and the ability to regulate body temperature during heat stress in dairy cattle. Unless accompanied

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MEASURING HEAT ADAPTABILITY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20

by changes that increase heat loss capacity, improvements in production make animals more susceptible to hyperthermia during heat stress. Quantitative measures of the thermal environment and the animals’ responses to heat stress are needed to assess thermal tolerance. Commonly used measures of the thermal environment are temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and wind, while coat characteristics, body temperature, skin temperature, respiratory rate, and sweating rate describe thermal environment from an animal perspective. Riley et al. (2012) reported heritabilities of 0.19 and 0.27 for rectal temperature and coat score in a Brahman x Angus crossbred population, and a genetic correlation of 0.24 between these traits. Dikmen et al. (2012) reported heritability of 0.17 for rectal temperature in dairy cattle. Both studies were conducted during hot and humid summers in Florida. These heritabilities demonstrate genetic variation and support the hypothesis that selection for improved thermal tolerance is possible if animals with genetically superior core body temperature regulation when exposed to environmental thermal stress can be identified. Selection for improved thermal tolerance using classical

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approaches is not feasible due to cost and difficulty of collecting appropriate phenotypes on large numbers of animals. To determine an animal’s response to heat stress, and therefore to assess its thermal tolerance, high-frequency measurements of relevant traits are required, hence the importance of fine-scale, highthroughput phenotyping. An exploratory study was conducted at the University of Florida (UF) Beef Research Unit in the summer of 2015 to demonstrate the feasibility of using iButtons devices to record vaginal temperature over a period of five consecutive days and assess the phenotypic variation in the UF multibreed population. Vaginal temperature was measured at five-minute intervals for five days on 191 cows, which ranged in breed composition from 100-percentBrahman to 100-percent-Angus. Ambient environmental conditions were monitored using HOBO data loggers, which continuously record temperature, humidity, solar radiation, black globe temperatures, and wind speed. The temperature humidity index (THI) was calculated as THI = (1.8 × T + 32) – [(0.55– 0.0055 × RH) × (1.8 × T – 26)]

where T = air temperature (°C)

and RH = relative humidity (%).

The hourly average THI was used to assess the heat stress level cows were exposed to, based on the intensity and duration of THI during the day and that measure was used to classify each replicate as low heat stress (low intensity and short duration THI), medium heat stress (lower intensity and long duration) or low heat stress (lower intensity and short duration). The hourly vaginal temperature was analyzed using an autoregressive model where cows within replicate and breed group were treated as repeated observations was used to estimate the effect of breed group for each heat stress level. Figure 1 shows the pattern of hourly variation in vaginal temperature for Angus, 3/4 Angus x 1/4 Brahman (3/4A, 1/4B), Brangus, 1/2 Angus x 1/2 Brahman (1/2A, 1/2B), 1/4 Angus x 3/4 Brahman (1/4A, 3/4B), and Brahman cows under low heat stress (left panel) and high heat stress conditions (right panel). Angus and 3/4 Angus cows had a vaginal temperature 39 degrees higher Celsius even during lower heat stress conditions, while Brahman cattle were the only ones able to maintain a lower vaginal temperature throughout the 24-hour-day during high heat stress conditions.

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A large research project to identify causal genetic variants controlling thermal tolerance was initiated during Summer 2016 using 725 two-year-old Brangus heifers from the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The heifers were evaluated in four groups under hot and humid conditions at the Seminole Ranch on the Brighton Reservation, west of Lake Okeechobee between Aug. 15 and Sept. 15, 2016. Phenotypes describing thermal tolerance were collected and included vaginal temperature at five-minute intervals for five days, sweating rate, hair coat color and coat score, and temperament (chute and exit score). Ambient environmental conditions were monitored using HOBO data loggers, which continuously record temperature, humidity, solar radiation, black globe temperatures, and wind speed. Several parameters to describe animalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s response were developed, such as minimum and maximum vaginal temperature, the difference between minimum and maximum vaginal temperature, and time between minimum and maximum vaginal temperature. Preliminary data from this ongoing research trial are summarized in Table 1. There was a good level of variation in the THI over the time period evaluated, ranging from a minimum of 73 to a maximum of 89. Previous studies suggest that 72 to 79 THI corresponds to mild level of stress, 80 to 89 THI represents moderate level of stress, and a THI greater than 90 is indicative of severe heat stress level. There was also a high level of variation in the vaginal temperature, which ranged overall from 36.6 degrees Celsius to 42.3 degrees Celsius. Most importantly, the variation in the maximum vaginal temperature between 38.8 degrees Celsius and 42.3 degrees Celsius is suggesting that genetic variants controlling body temperature are segregating in Brangus cattle. A repeated measures model was used to investigate the effect of the coat score and body temperature. The coat was scored as excessively

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MEASURING HEAT ADAPTABILITY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24 smooth (score 1, n = 526), fairly smooth (score 2, n = 189) or long coat (score 3, n= 7). The fairly smooth and long coat classes were combined into one due to the small number of long coat scores. The coat score had a significant effect on body temperature, where cows with excessively smooth coat had lower body temperatures throughout the three days of continuous body temperature measurements (Figure 2) indicating that coat type plays an important role in the control of body temperature. A slick dense coat provides a greater resistance to heat transfer to the skin and therefore reduces the heat gain from the environment when the animals are in sunlight. We are in the process of collecting body temperature data and other relevant phenotypes on another set of 2,000 animals. The ultimate goal is to integrate all detailed phenotypes collected with high-density genotyping and gene expression analysis to understand the genetic architecture of thermal tolerance. Critical genomic regions targeted through this process will be sequenced to identify causal genetic variants controlling thermal tolerance. We will use this information to develop tools to be used in selection and management programs designed to mitigate the effect of heat stress

in indicine-influenced beef cattle populations that predominate in hot and humid regions of the U.S. and globally. These regions in the U.S. contain approximately 50 percent of beef cowcalf producers and 42 percent of beef cows, for which a substantial fraction are Bos indicus influenced (Morrison, 2005). Economic losses from heat stress in the US beef industry were estimated over a decade ago to average $369 million (St-Pierre et al., 2003).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Raluca Mateescu, PhD. is an associate professor of quantitative genetics and genomics in the department of animal sciences at the University of Florida. Her research interests focus on identification of genetic markers associated with economically important traits in beef cattle. Special interest is given to development of genetic tools to improve nutritional and health value of beef and understanding the genetic mechanism of thermotolerance in Bos indicus influenced beef cattle. She has, also, dedicated much of her time to incorporating the latest genomic discoveries in teaching, at both undergraduate and graduate levels, to ensure that the student population is well prepared to become participants in the genetic revolution and informed users or consumers of biotechnology. Mateescu joined the faculty at Florida in 2014 after serving on the animal science faculty at Oklahoma State University for seven years. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Genetics from Bucharest University, Romania, and her masters and doctorate in animal breeding and genetics from Cornell University.

...and more to come!

Pictured: International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) Executive Vice President Tommy Perkins PhD., PAS (left), Mateescu (middle), and IBBA President Brandon Belt (right). Belt announced plans for an International Brangus Breeders Foundation (IBBF) research study on Aug. 17 at the Southeast Brangus Breeders Association (SBBA) Cattlemen’s Gathering in Brighton, Florida. The IBBF research project will be focused on thermoregulation in beef cattle, specifically of Brangus influence. The study will be led by Mateescu. “An awesome opportunity for the Brangus breed to identify genetic markers to predict heat tolerance,” Belt exclaimed.

FRONTLINE BEEF PRODUCER

IBBA CARCASS CHALLENGE

! . g n i c u d o intr INTERNATIONAL BRANGUS BREEDERS ASSOCIATIONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

The International Brangus Breeders Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (IBBA) staff actively pursues ways to collect valid data for generating new measures of expected progeny differences. The Carcass Merit Excellence Challenge program will provide an opportunity for producers to know the quality of carcasses produced in their individual programs. The data collected and evaluated in this program will provide information for improving Brangus genetics. This will further validate our ability to align with current and future carcass alliance programs. This program will increase our knowledge and breeder participation is highly encouraged.

Identify superior carcass genetics and add accuracy to the database

FOR A CARCASS EVALUATION PROGRAM

Provide competitive data to make the Brangus breed more marketable

Involve members in data collection for individual production merit and evaluation of young sires

IBBA CARCASS CHALLENGE

Steers and heifers will be fed for approximately 180 days. The number of days will be determined by delivery weight and average daily gain (ADG). Cattle will be harvested when the pen has reached the average weight and fatness regarded as acceptable by the industry. The decision will be made by the feedyard manager and an IBBA representative. Some method of electronic identification is required for all animals. Cattle must be identified by a brand or tattoo that corresponds to the data on the background information sheet. All cattle will be weighed and processed upon arrival. All cattle will be given a modified live virus vaccine, vaccinated against clostridial organisms, and dewormed upon arrival. Cattle will be assigned a per-hundredweight value based upon current market conditions in the feedyard trade area at time of arrival at the feedyard. This figure will be used to calculate theoretical breakevens and the financial outcome of the feeding program. Animals requiring treatment for any illness will be treated according to guidelines established by the feedyard veterinarian. Costs of treatment will be charged to the owner. The feedyard management and IBBA will make every effort to safeguard the health of all animals, but will assume no responsibility for death, loss or sickness. After an acceptable length of time, cattle that are not achieving an economic rate of gain may be sold on the rail. The proceeds from the sale will be placed in escrow for disbursement at the end of the program. Owners will be notified when such cattle are salvaged or when one dies. Charges to be assessed for each entry at the end of the feeding period include a processing fee, the cost of any pharmaceutical products administered, feed costs, the cost of transportation from feedyard to packing plant, and a Beef Checkoff fee. Financing may be available from the feedyard. Breeders must make those arrangements independently. Cattle will be sold on a grid at a reputable packing plant where premiums and discounts will apply for quality grades, yield grades, and/or carcass weights at harvest. Fair market value for all sales will be attained; no guarantee is offered by the feedyard or the IBBA for the profitability of participation in the program. Proceeds will be paid directly to the owner after all expenses are deducted. Feedyard performance information to be collected in the program includes ADG, calculated feed efficiency (pen average), total cost of gain, breakeven, and net return. The carcass information to be obtained is dressing percentage, carcass weight, ribeye area, marbling score, USDA quality grade, and USDA yield grade. At the conclusion of the feeding period, feedyard performance data, carcass information and a theoretical breakeven analysis will be provided on each consignment to the owner as well as the association. The information will become property of IBBA for use in genetic evaluations and other research needs.

FRONTLINE BEEF PRODUCER

IBBA CARCASS CHALLENGE

LEVEL- ONE REQUIREMENTS All cattle must have one Brangus, Red Brangus, Ultrablack, or Ultrared parent. Cattle must be delivered to the feedlot weighing at least 500 pounds but no more than 1,000 pounds. A birthdate (month and year) must be reported for each animal delivered to the feedlot. Cattle must be weaned and vaccinated according to the recommended VAC 45* health protocol prior to feedlot delivery.

CONTEST QUALIFICATIONS Males must be castrated, recommended before three months of age. Cattle must be dewormed before delivery.

Sire and dam must be identified for each calf; a minimum of three head per sire is recommended. Cattle must be identified by a ranch brand or tattoo and ear tag. Cattle must have weaning weights taken between 130 to 280 days of age and reported at time of consignment.

LEVEL- TWO REQUIREMENTS All cattle must meet the guidelines required in level one above, as well as be DNA tested using the GeneSeek Brangus Profiler or Zoetis i50K test with verification to at least one registered Brangus, Red Brangus, Ultrablack or Ultrared parent. *For more information about VAC 45 program guidelines, breeders should visit http://animalscience.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2012/04/beef-vac-vaccination.pdf.

VACCINE REQUIREMENTS

The entry deadline for this program is Oct. 1. Entries should include complete cattle information, breeder information, and fees. The cost of participation is $1 per head of cattle. Cattle should be delivered between Oct. 1 and Dec. 1. There are vaccination requirements for participation. Breeders should vaccinate calves two to four weeks prior to or at weaning and booster per label instructions as follows. 1. Two doses of 7-way, 8-way or 9-way Clostridial 2. Two doses of viral 5-way (IBR, PI3, BRSV and BVD Type I and II) and booster per label instructions. The IBR and PI3 components must be chemically-altered modified live or modified live with veterinarianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s approval. The BVD and BRSV can be either modified live or killed. 3. One dose of Mannheimia Haemolytica and/or Mannheimia Multocida prior to or at weaning and booster per label instructions. 4. Internal and External parasite control is required.

IBBA CARCASS CHALLENGE

Producers with outstanding performance in the Carcass Merit Excellence Challenge Program will be recognized. Success will be measured through evaluation of data collected throughout the contest. Cattle will compete by sex and by level for the top ten awards in each category. The categories under feedyard performance are awards for ADG, feed conversion, and hot carcass weight; categories under carcass performance are awards for dressing percentage, ribeye area, quality grade, and yield grade; categories under genomic performance are awarded using terminal selection index value and tenderness score.

(Must fall from 11-17 in2)

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To enroll in IBBAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Carcass Merit Excellence Challenge program, complete this form and submit it to the IBBA office. IBBA, ATTN: Field Service Representative, P.O. Box 809, Adkins, TX 78101

IBBA Carcass Merit Excellence Challenge Entry Form Ranch/Operation Name: ____________________________________________________ Address, City, State, Zip: ____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ Contact Person: ________________________

Phone Number: _____________________

Email Address: __________________________ Feedyard Location: ________________________________________________________ At which challenge level will you participate? (circle one)

Level 1

Level 2

No. of Steers _____ No. of Heifers _____ Total No. of Animals _____ x $1 per head* = $_______ *Make check payable to International Brangus Breeders Association

Sex

Animal Reg. # (if available)

Birthdate

Weaning Weight

For any further contact questions please contact:

Weaning Weight Date

Sire Reg. #

Dam Reg. # (if available)

Matt Murdoch, mmurdoch@gobrangus.com Dr. Tommy Perkins, tperkins@gobrangus.com IBBA Office: (210) 696-8231

signing below, I acknowledge, understand, andmerit agreeexcellence to adhere to all IBBAprogram Carcass requirements. Merit I By hereby understand and agree to the IBBA carcass challenge Challenge program requirements. Signature: ___________________________

Date: _______________________

EXPERT CONNECTION

Preweaning Calf Management Practices by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Livestock Specialist Joe C. Paschal, PhD. The concept of a value added calf (VAC) program is not new today, but in the late 1980s it was thought to have little value in some circles. Randall Grooms, PhD., a beef cattle specialist in Overton with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service (as it was then called), came up with the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Texas Value Added Calfâ&#x20AC;? or TEX VAC program. The program outlined procedures to prepare calves prior to weaning to be moved into the next phases of the production chain, as stockers or feeders, and thereby adding value to them. Basically, it recommended vaccination for clostridial diseases and bovine respiratory disease (BRD) complex, castration of bulls and dehorning at an early age, internal and external parasite control, implanting steer calves, and teaching all calves to eat and drink out of a bunk and trough.

CONTINUE READING ON PAGE 38

EXPERT CONNECTION

PREWEANING MANAGEMENT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 36 In 1991, the late Dr. John McNeill expanded the TEX VAC program to include weaning and post-weaning valueadded components including a 45-day backgrounding period to create VAC-45. This program was recommended to all participants of the Texas A&M University (TAMU) Ranch to Rail Program (1991-2005) who fed five or more of their steer calves co-mingled in a commercial feed yard to obtain feeding, carcass and financial information. With only a few years’ data, it was shown that cattle that had been through the VAC 45 program gained faster, had better carcasses, less morbidity and mortality, and made more money for their owners than cattle that had not. Preweaning programs are useful for all cow-calf producers, commercial or purebred, regardless if they are selling at auction or retaining ownership in the feed yard or selling breeding stock. Basically, you are preparing the calves’ immune systems with the appropriate vaccinations, shaping the cattle up to make them more appealing to potential buyers with identification and castration and dehorning at an early age, adding some weight with a growth implant, utilizing internal and external parasite control, and easing the stress of weaning with good pasture or highquality hay, mineral, and a high-protein supplement. To be most valuable, the management practices (vaccination, castration, etc.) should be done well before weaning to have the most effect. Today there are many VAC-type programs. I highly recommend you get your veterinarian involved in the vaccination decisions. I vaccinate my calves for clostridials and BRD and control for internal and external parasites, but which products you use is your decision. Chances are if you have a good herd health program to begin with, you already have this done. Vaccination shortly before, at or shortly after weaning is not recommended since the immune system is under the stress of weaning. Research has shown (as you might suspect) that dehorning and castration are painful and have a significant effect on the immune system (dehorning more than castration). It has, also, shown that when these are practiced at an early age the effects are not as severe and recovery is quicker. All bull calves are born with testicles; some have horns, which can be removed surgically, or use can use polled bulls and that is the preferred method. Feedyards don’t dehorn much; they prefer to tip horns, as feed bunks are cheaper to build than

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(209) 878-3167

CONTINUE READING ON PAGE 40

EXPERT CONNECTION

PREWEANING MANAGEMENT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 38

dehorned cattle are to treat for sickness. But horns, tipped or not, can still cause bruising and loss of carcass value. There usually isn’t much of a discount for small horns. Feedyards will castrate bulls regardless of size so it should be done at the ranch and when the calves are small and young. Castration wounds at a later age (and weight) take longer to heal, reduce weight gain, increase sickness, reduce carcass merit, and can even lead to death. I know if you don’t retain ownership into the feedyard you don’t think you are getting paid for castration, but if you sell heavier bull calves you can get a substantial discount ($10-15 per cwt down here). When you castrate bull calves, a surgical or knife-cut method is preferred. Banding is used by some, but research has shown more pain and a longer recovery period with banding. In addition, if banding, a tetanus toxoid should be given to prevent tetanus infection from the decomposing scrotum. As with any surgical procedure, a clean, sharp-cutting edge is best and a good disinfectant to wash your hands and equipment before and after is a must. Some prefer to put a salve on the wound. I don’t, but check with your veterinarian. Treating for internal and external parasites is, also, often over looked. Probably the best bang for your buck, outside of growth implants, is timely and effective treatment for parasites when conditions warrant. It has long been known that internal parasites affect weight and recent research has shown that even low horn fly populations can reduce weaning weights by up to 20 pounds. I would suggest that your veterinarian be consulted as to what they recommend. For external parasites, a combination of methods is best. Ear implants are another tool that improves gain and efficiency of gain in both steers and heifers preweaning. According to the National Animal Health Monitoring System, only about 10 percent of cow-calf producers implant their calves (as compared to 90 percent of cattle

FRONTLINE BEEF PRODUCER

in feed yards). Implants use a hormone or combination of hormones and usually last 70100 days depending on the implant. Implants are inserted under the skin of the ear, usually when castration is done. I think most folks don’t implant because it requires an extra piece of equipment (implant gun) and some expertise (or at least training). And it is hard to visually observe the average or 20 pounds or so increase. The last step is to teach these calves to eat out of a bunk and drink out of a trough. Most calves are fresh weaned, often with a milk moustache, when sold, mostly at auction. If you plan on feeding your calves, or even if you don’t, it pays to take a little time to bring them up at weaning and secure them in a pen or trap with a good fence where their mommas can see them (fence-line weaning). This reduces stress on the calves. At the same time, if they’ve never drunk out of a trough, let the water run over for a day or so. Calves are curious and will learn where the water is. Also, you might put out a little feed like cottonseed meal or other highprotein feed with either good pasture or highquality hay. You don’t want to fully feed them but just supplement to graze better. During

CONTINUE READING ON PAGE 42

EXPERT CONNECTION

PREWEANING MANAGEMENT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 40 this period, the calves can be gentled by walking or riding through them, getting them accustomed to people. After a few weeks, they can be turned out in a separate pasture as weaned calves for the next few weeks prior to shipping. If you are going to feed your calves in a feedyard or merchandise as preconditioned or backgrounded, it will pay to conduct some of these VAC practices. If you are going to send them to an auction, probably not. Sending freshly weaned calves to a feedyard can be a disaster. If you prepare them, they still might get sick but the odds are against it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Joe Paschal, PhD. has been the Texas A&M AgriLife

Extension livestock specialist for South Texas and the Gulf Coast Regions since 1988. He works with county agents and the beef cattle industry (purebred and commercial, producers, feeders and processors) to provide practical information to improve production efficiency and profitability.

4 1 0D | B L A CK JET X S U H N C U TRI G H T A TOTAL PA CK A G E , E Y E A PPE A L , CA LV I N G E AS E AND G ROW T H

117D | U LTRABLAC K VO RE L O P TIO N 918Z 3 SON . S U P E R S O U ND, THIC K AND FU LL O F M USCLE

9 09D1 6 | V O REL A PP 2 5 B X O N S TA R DA U G HTE R CALVIN G E A S E A T I TS B E S T PL U S G RE A T F E E T, GROWT H A N D MATE RN A L

361D5 | VO RE L AP P 25 B S O N CALVING E AS E P LU S G ROWTH, CARCASS A N D M ATE RNAL

OKLAHOMA BRANGUS BREEDERS OC TOBE R 28, 2017

MCA LE S TER U NIO N STOC K YARD S | M CALE S T E R, O K LA | N O O N 45 R eg B rangus & Ult rablack bulls All b u l l s w i l l h a ve a l l p e rforma n ce infor m ation and year ling car cass info r m ati on A l l b u l l s Tri ch te ste d a n d B S E . Sever al bulls and fem ales will have Genom i c Enhanced EPDs. 2 5 R eg B ra ngus & Ult rablack f emales A se l ect g rou p of top notch com m er cial fem ales

VI D EOS AVA IL A B L E A T DVA U CT I O N & I D E AL V I D E O W E E K S P RI O R T O SALE Fo r m o r e i n f o rma ti on o r to req u e st a catalog,please contact Sale Vice P re si de n t Mi ke Vo rel at vor elfar m s@gm ail.com

MEMBER CONNECTION

Retained Ownership Can Be a Risky but Rewarding Business by IBBA Member Relations Specialist Tullina Wilson

Retaining ownership of cattle through the harvest phase can be scary for a cow-calf producer. There is additional risk taken when owning calves beyond the weaning endpoint into the feedlot phase and finally to the packing plant. These risks include potential sickness, death loss, poor growth, inadequate carcass performance, and others. Cattlemen that have done a good job of selecting and purchasing their bull battery are more apt to take this risk, because they have confidence in the product the seedstock producer has created for them. Additional opportunities exist from owning cattle throughout the feeding and harvesting phase than by marketing them at weaning time. This affords the opportunity to be paid for the quality of the final product; hence, a true value-based marketing advantage. Being paid for the value of the carcass instead of the pounds of weaned calf have allowed producers to focus on carcass genetics when selecting potential herd sires from their seedstock supplier. Selling on a grid in this manner allows cattlemen to receive yield and quality grade premiums when the hanging carcass meets the required criteria. Although most cattlemen market their calves at weaning, retained ownership can provide opportunities to add value to your cattle. Many prognosticators are suggesting the market signals may be right for some level of retained ownership this year. Much of this optimism is due to the decreased feed costs that ultimately reduce the overall cost of gain throughout the feeding period. Continued low interest rates on your money may have a positive impact as well. For the Neals, the cattle business is a family affair. Raising commercial cattle on their family operations is Michael and Lisa Neal, Jarrod and Sally Neal, and Craig and Brenda Neal. The Neals own and operate Craig Neal & Sons, Bayou State Cattle, and C & B Cattle Co. Michael and Lisa, also, own and operate Midsouth Cattle Co., a registered Brangus operation. The Neal family is no stranger to the cattle industry. The Neal family has raised cattle in southern Louisiana for several generations.

Taking pride in their cattle, the final product is a direct reflection of the care and attention given to their herd. In the spring of 2016, a lot of 102 steers made the journey from southern Louisiana to southwestern Kansas to be fed and harvested for data collection. The calves were a product of registered Brangus bulls mated to commercial dams. The steers followed a strict vaccine protocol, which had them receiving vaccinations twice prior to weaning and once more at weaning. The steers were placed on ryegrass pastures during the winter and had access to lick tubs and minerals year-round. After weaning, the steers were backgrounded and fed to have an average daily gain of three pounds or so. The Brangussired steers had an average final live weight of 1,368 pounds and an average carcass weight of 901 pounds, which provides an average dressing percentage of 65.86 percent. Sixty-nine percent of the carcasses graded choice or better with 85 percent receiving a yield grade of three or better. Cattlemen like the Neals know that a great bull selection program, in combination with a good animal health protocol and adequate nutrition program, can reduce the overall risk of a retained ownership beef enterprise. Risk management tools such as futures, contracts and options are available, as well as to further minimize potential feeding risks. Selling on a grid means you will be paid a base price on total carcass weight with premiums and/or discounts for USDA quality and yield grades. Additional premiums may be garnered through various source and age verification programs being marketed internationally (e.g. Japan and China). Becoming familiar with the processes involved in a successful retained ownership program will help cow-calf producers gain the confidence to add value to their cattle as the Neal family has done. The Neal family has worked diligently the past ten years to produce enough quality replacement heifers to maintain and grow their herd. All current producing dams were born and raised onsite with no outside females being utilized. Their herd sires are selected based on balanced expected

CONTINUE READING ON PAGE 46

FRONTLINE BEEF PRODUCER

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Igenity® Brangus® is a new DNA test that’s Brangus built. Use it to profile future performance of replacement heifers and high-value cattle. Highly relevant, accurate DNA reports reveal strengths and pinpoint future goals for your herd. Rely on Igenity Brangus to select replacement heifers that grow up into solid brood cows. Leverage the insight to produce efficient calves with valued carcass traits. Only Igenity Brangus is custom built using Brangus genetics. Available exclusively from IBBA. Learn more at gobrangus.com/igenity-brangus. Or visit about your herd goals with your Brangus breeder.

MEMBER CONNECTION

RETAINED OWNERSHIP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 44 progeny differences (EPDs) with more emphasis placed on ribeye area, scrotal circumference, and milk EPDs. The Neal family attributes much of their positive carcass results to the quality herd sires carefully selected to influence their herd. The Neal family continually strives to improve their operation, working to select the best Brangus genetics available for their production needs. Midsouth Cattle Co. and the Neal family, are hosting their first sale this September in St. Francisville, Louisiana, where they will offer over 300 commercial-bred heifers and 60 Brangus and Ultrablack bulls.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tullina Wilson was raised in Shepherd, Texas. She is a recent graduate of Texas A&M University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science. While at A&M, Tullina interned for multiple livestock shows such as the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, San Antonio Livestock Exposition, and Rodeo Austin. She, also, interned for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, where her passion for agriculture flourished. During her collegiate career, Tullina was a member of the Texas A&M University’s Saddle and Sirloin Chapter and Texas Aggie Cattlewomen. Upon completion of her degree, she interned for the San Antonio Livestock Exposition and assisted in coordinating the livestock show. In her spare time, Tullina volunteers for the San Jacinto County Fair in Coldspring, Texas, and assists with her family’s commercial hay operation located in Shepherd. Tullina is currently the member relations specialist for the International Brangus Breeders Association, where she facilitates and manages DNA testing and results.

Brangus Built the tag that works for you

We started using those tags two or three years ago, and we’ve used them ever since. I just think that it really helps promote the Brangus breed, and we’ve tried to utilize that as a marketing tool. It goes to show that our cattle are from registered stock. It’s a great opportunity to utilize [Brangus Built tags].

For more information, contact IBBA Field Service Representative Matt Murdoch at mmurdoch@gobrangus.com.

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Kirk Saul

Quitaque, Texas

ADD VALUE TO YOUR HERD.

Brangus Built is the tag that works for you. Brangus Built is the ultimate commercial female tagging program. These tags can raise your profit, set your commercial females apart from others on sale day, and add value to your commercial brand within the Brangus breed. Brangus Built tags come in the form of a Temple Tag or a Z-tag and must be ordered from the International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA). There is a unique identification number for ease of traceability, and space is allotted on the tag to allow for customization (i.e. private herd numbers). The cost of the tag is competitive, and adopting this tagging system adds value on sale day. Orders may be placed over the phone or online, at gobrangus.com. For more information, contact IBBA Field Service Representative Matt Murdoch at mmurdoch@gobrangus.com.

SERVICE DIRECTORY

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

PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS OR OPERATION To learn more about the advertising opportunties offered by Brangus Publications, contact the IBBA today.

MELANIE FULLER: (979) 255-3343 MATT MURDOCH: (830) 556-3942

SUBSCRIPTION FORM Yes, I want to receive my FREE subscription to FRONTLINE Beef Producer!

Mail my subscription to: Name: _______________________________________________________ Address: _____________________________________________________ City: ____________________________ State: ___________ Zip: _________ Country: _________________________ Detach form and send to: IBBA, P.O. Box 809, Adkins, TX 78101 Email: info@gobrangus.com | Fax: (210) 696-8718 48

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Send your important calendar dates to pwaldrip@gobrangus.com.

CALENDAR SEPTEMBER 2017 1 7 9 10 16 16 21-23 23 23 23 23

Southeast Regional Junior Brangus Show Entry Deadline National Show of Merit Entry Deadline Don Thomas & Sons Cadillac of Brangus Sale, Madison, MO Junior Brangus Show at West Texas Fair & Rodeo, Abilene, TX International Red Brangus Breeders Association South Texas Summer Celebration, Wharton, TX Mid South Bull Sale and Neal Family Commercial Female Sale, St. Francisville, LA Southeast Regional Junior Brangus Show, Lake City, FL Junior Brangus Show at Oklahoma State Fair, Oklahoma City, OK Sankey’s 6N Ranch Sale, Council Grove, KS Southeast Brangus Breeders Association Showcase Sale, Lake City, FL Western National Brangus Show, Oklahoma City, OK

OCTOBER 2017 1 7 14 14 14 20 21 21 26 27 28 28 28 28

Jacksonville Fair Entry Deadline Red Bud Farms Field Day, Ben Lemond, AR Big D Ranch Annual Bull and Female Sale, Center Ridge, AR Cain Cattle Company Sale, Pickens, MS Cox Excalibur’s CX Advantage Sale, Weimar, TX Little Creek and Friends, W.E.T. Farms and Sable Ridge Sale, Okeechobee, FL Doguet’s Diamond D Ranch Annual Production Sale, Poteet, TX Town Creek Farm Sale, West Point, MS Brangus National Show of Merit, Shreveport, LA Genetix Cattle Plus “Prime” Social & Viewing of Cattle @ The Oaks Farms, Grantville, GA Genetix Cattle Plus Female & Bull Sale @ The Oaks Farms, Grantville, GA Oak Creek Farms Forage Tested Bull Sale, Chappell Hill, TX Oklahoma Brangus Association Sale, McAlester, OK Yon Family Farms Fall Sale, Ridge Spring, SC

NOVEMBER 2017 3-4 6 10-11 11 11 15 17 17-18 18

GENETRUST at Chimney Rock Cattle Company, Concord, AR The Branch Ranch Sale, Mansfield, LA Blackwater Cattle Company’s They’re Not Ordinary Annual Bull and Female Sale, Lake Park, GA Hill Country Brangus Breeders Association 42nd Annual Brangus Bull & Female Sale, San Angelo, TX Open Brangus Show at Jacksonville Fair, Jacksonville, FL Arizona National Livestock Show Entry Deadline Skyhawk Brangus Presidente Bonanza, Tyler, TX Salacoa Valley Annual Production Sale, Fairmount, GA GENETRUST at Cavender’s Neches River Ranch, Jacksonville, TX

DECEMBER 2017 2 29

Uniontown Bull Sale, Uniontown, AL The Alex Dees Brangus Show at Arizona National Livestock Show, Phoenix, AZ

ADVERTISERS INDEX Asana Ranch ��7 8G Brangus ��4 Big D Ranch ��30 Blackwater Cattle Co. ��9 Bovine Elite, LLC ��48 Brinks Brangus @ Westall Ranches �� 21 Cain Cattle Co. ��11 Char-No Farms ��7 Circle X Land & Cattle ��IFC Clark Cattle Services ��48 Cold Creek Ranch ��7 Cox Excalibur Brangus �� 12 Doak Lambert ��48 E3 Ranch LLC ��46 Elgin Breeding Service, Inc ��48 Farris Ranching Co. ��40 GENETRUST �� 18, 19, IBC GKB Cattle ��23 Genetix Cattle Plus ��7 Great Mark Western ��7 Hill Country Brangus Breeders Association �� 13 Lack-Morrison ��26 Lakin Oakley ��48 L.G. Herndon Jr. Farms, Inc. �� 7, 37 Luke Mobley ��48 L.W. Hudgins Brangus �� 41 Mid South Cattle Co. ��28-29 Miller Brangus ��7 MultinMin USA ��49 Neogen GeneSeek ��45 Oak Creek Farms ��BC Oklahoma Brangus Breeders Association ��43 Salacoa Valley Farms ��5 Santa Rosa Ranch ��3 Sexing Technologies Genetic Development Center �� 13 Silveus Insurance �� 17 Skyhawk Brangus ��24 Spanish Ranch ��10 Terry Reagan ��48 The Branch Ranch ��39 The Oaks Farms ��7 Town Creek Farm ��25 Valley View Ranch ��42 Wes Dotson ��48 West Coast Brangus Breeders Association ��38 Westway Feeds ��27 Wyman Creek Ranch ��20 BC: Back Cover, IBC: Inside Back Cover, IFC: Inside Front Cover

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