Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Port Lavaca, Texas Permit Number 213
Vol. 35 No. 5
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MAY / JUNE 2015
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Published By TPHA
Return Service Requested: TPHA, P.O. Box 1867, Port Lavaca, TX 77979
Global Hereford Breeders Experience the Lone Star State The 2015 ‘Hereford Champion of the World’ Week is hosted in Fort Worth, Texas. By Shannon Bellis for TheCattleMarket.net He stood there solemnly staring off into the distance. A lone cowboy, adorned with dusty boots and spurs, and his trusted old beat up cowboy hat, ready for the day. His name wasn’t known throughout the land, but he knew the land throughout. It was the legacy he strived for, not the paycheck. A legacy worth leaving. “There is a reason Fort Worth, Texas, is known as ‘Cowtown,’” said Robert Wilson, of Scotland. And so our adventure of Cattle and Culture began. Eight Hereford cattle breeders
from around the world traveled to the Lone Star State Jan. 31 to Feb. 7 to compete in the ‘Hereford – Champion of the World’ (COW) and ‘Hereford – Miss World’ competition held in conjunction with the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. From watching the judge award the Grand Champion Hereford at the US National Show to personal Hereford herd tours throughout the western frontier, competitors received a true ‘taste of Texas’ throughout the week. Champion of the World 2014 Champions revealed Feb. 1, 2015: The day marking the ‘Hereford – Champion of the World’ and ‘Hereford – Miss World’ award ceremony. With an eager crowd gathered around the arena, each contestant stood anxiously awaiting the reveal of the 2014 World titles. After an introduction of each animal and breeder, announcer Rob Schacher called the names of top bull and
Fernando Alfonso, Montevideo, Uruguay, is awarded ‘HerefordChampion of the World’ at Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. Regional winners pictured are Daniel Fawcett, South Dakota, US; David Ross, representing Denmark; and Maria Robbie, New Zealand. Texas and National Hereford and Polled Hereford Queens and Gary Buchholz, Stefan Marchman, and Jordan Glaze also pictured. Photo courtesy of the Texas Hereford Association.
female winners. Since live animals could not be easily transported from four continents to the Stock Show, cardboard cutouts represented each winning animal. Prize money totaling $28,000 USD was awarded to contestants- $3000 USD for regional winners, $5000 USD for international champions. Fernando Alfonso, from Cabaña Las Anitas of Montevideo, Uruguay, unanimously claimed 2014 ‘Hereford – Champion of the World’ with his bull Kamikaze. Winning the 2014 Expo Prado spring-boarded Kamikaze into the South American regional championship, inevitably securing his place among top bulls worldwide for the competition. “[It was exciting] when they announced that our bull was the first in the world, and that it was a unanimous call,” said Alfonso. “That’s a real honor for us, and it pushes us forward.” Immediately after being named World Champion, Fernando was swarmed with Uruguayan media outlets. “It [is huge] news to the main newspapers and TV shows that Uruguay had the best Hereford bull this year,” said Alfonso. “[Winning will be] a marketing tool to promote our whole operation worldwide.” C a y l e y B r o w n o f P e r r y, Saskatchewan, Canada, captured her second ‘Miss World’ title in three years with her female CB 122L Lady B 222Z. Lady B first won the Canadian Western Agribition before being selected as the North American regional champion female. “It’s really an honor to win Miss World with how the show is run,” Brown said. “It’s an honor that such a broad spectrum of different views and ways of looking at cattle can appreciate what I have. It really helps for marketing.”
Dudley Bros., Comanche, Texas, hosted international group at their ranch headquarters. After winning ‘Hereford---Champion of the World,’ Fernando Alfonso, owner of Kamikaze, said. “There will be big [impact] in my country with a win of our bull, Kamikaze. It has been great.” Photo courtesy of TheCattleMarket.net. Regional winners were: Females • Tranqueras X4564 Lady Revoltosa, exhibited by Las Tr a n q u e r a s , A rg e n t i n a , a n d represented by Carlos Ojea Rullan • Kanimbla Centrefold G58,
exhibited by Kanimbla Poll Herefords, Australia, and represented by Mark Baker • Panmure 1 Blessing G6, exhibited by Panmure Herefords, Scotland, and represented by Robert See GLOBAL, page 7
Cayley Brown, Saskatchewan, Canada, receives ‘Hereford- Miss World’ honors during award ceremony at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. Regional winners pictured are Robert Wilson, Scotland; Carlos Ojea Rullan, Argentina; Mark Baker, Australia. Texas and National Hereford and Polled Hereford Queens along with Gary Buchholz, Stefan Marchman and Jordan Glaze also pictured. Photo courtesy of the Texas Hereford Association.
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TEXAS POLLED HEREFORD ASSOCIATION
STATE FAIR OF TEXAS
®
DALLAS · SEPT. 25 - OCT. 18, 2015 · BIGTEX.COM
Antibiotic use deserves serious conversation, not scare tactics 016_322_2015_Texas Polled Hereford_R1a.indd 1
By Robin Ganzert, PhD, president and CEO of American Humane Association The recent release of the Food and Drug Administration’s report on antibiotic sales brought a round of calls from certain advocacy groups to ban the use of antibiotics in animal agriculture. These advocates remind me of another crowd: the antivaccination movement. Both the groups pushing for an antibioticfree animal agriculture and the “anti-vaxxers” ignore established science on their respective issues in a way that leads to diminished human and animal welfare. We certainly should have a debate about the judicious use of antibiotics in agriculture, but jumping to an outright ban defies science and common sense, will cause more animal suffering, and may have adverse effects on public health. While those pushing for an outright ban are on the fringe, concerns about antibiotic-resistant bacteria in agriculture are starting
to hit the mainstream. In American Humane Association’s 2014 Humane Heartland Farm Animal Welfare Survey, more than half of the respondents indicated that they seek out food labeled “Antibiotic Free,” second only behind “Humanely Raised.” Opponents of antibiotics frequently point to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that at least two million Americans become infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics every year. Reports indicate that the most resistant infections reside in human hospital settings. However, there is no evidence that antibiotics used in animal agriculture have decreased the effectiveness of antibiotics in humans. According to Dr. Stephanie Doores of Pennsylvania State University, “People would be more likely to die from a bee sting than for their antibiotic treatment to fail because of macrolideresistant bacteria in meat or poultry.”; A look across the world to
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Denmark is also instructive. Despite a complete ban on antibiotic use for growth promotion instituted in 2000, there is very little evidence that it led to any positive impacts onhuman health or a decline in antibiotic resistant bacteria. In fact, it has resulted in a significant increase in the therapeutic use of antibiotics in animals, due to animals getting sick. Science – and common sense – tell us that antibiotics can and do help improve well-being, decrease mortality rates of farm animals, and prevent unnecessary suffering. Just as they do when given to a child with strep throat, antibiotics relieve the pain and distress of sick animals while helping them to recover. One of the Five Freedoms upon which the American Humane Certified program is based is the freedom “from pain, injury and disease.” An outright ban would be inhumane to sick animals, and would violate one of the Five Freedoms that serves as the internationally accepted social
contract with animals. Additionally, what is not often discussed is that use of antibiotics in farm animals provides for a safer food supply, and that the FDA has long required withdrawal periods for such use. As noted by Dr. Christine Hoang, assistant director of the American Veterinary Medical Association, in her 2010 testimony to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health: “For food animals, drugs additionally contribute to the public health by mitigating disease and thereby reducing the numbers of bacteria entering the food supply. Studies show that a reduction in the incidence of food animal illness will reduce bacterial contamination on meat, thereby reducing the risk of human illness.” Because it is an issue of concern for the public, antibiotic use in agriculture demands a healthy and robust discussion. But veterinarians, public health professionals and scientists
should be determining what the appropriate use of antibiotics is. And such a discussion needs to include outcomes for the sick animal, as it’s simply not humane to leave an animal to suffer needlessly. Recent moves by Chick-fil-A and McDonald’s demonstrate that the issue is becoming more urgent. Let’s set aside the scare tactics and pressure campaigns and have a real, honest conversation about safe and proper antibiotic use that’s driven by science. Agriculture, researchers and humane organizations must work together to educate the public and food companies about proper antibiotic use, or else the dialogue will be led by misinformation. In working together, we can develop policies that improve animal health and welfare, safeguard our abundant food supply and protect public health. Better science is needed to advance a better understanding of human and animal health, and define what it is to be humane.
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Officers & Directors Rebecca Graves 1945 Well Service Rd. Bowie, TX 76230 TPHA Pollette President
Shannon Worrell 7141 Hwy 87 N Mason, TX 76856 210-241-4925 District 1
PRESIDENT -- Jordan Glaze P.O. Box 949 • Gilmer, TX 75644 903-843-2323 District 6 James Kinnear 225 Trailwood Dr., Joshua, Texas 76058 817-235-5968 District 2
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TEXAS POLLED HEREFORD ASSOCIATION
VICE PRESIDENT -- Robert Herman 1695 FM 951 • Yoakum, TX 77995 361-741-8650 District 8
Scott Stewart 16263 State Hwy. 11 Cumby, Texas 75433 903-450-6448 District 3
It’s The Pitts...
No Bull
9 TIMES
$160 ea. $125 ea. $110 ea. $110 ea. $75 ea. $150
Call for price and availability of color.
Phone: 361-571-TPHA (8742) E-Mail: manager@tpha.net Web Site: http://www.txpha.org TPHA Newsletter is printed 9 times a year: Jan. • Feb. • Mar. April • May / June • July / Aug. • Sept. • Oct. • Nov. / Dec.
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
A non-profit, promotional organization dedicated to the service of Polled Hereford breeders in Texas and the Southwest. Established in 1935
[ ] Membership Dues: $60 per year [ ] Junior Membership: $10 per year--Date of Birth _______ [ ] Poll-ettes Membership: $30 per year
My membership should be listed in the Association as follows: Name _____________________________________________ Ranch Name _______________________________________ Address ____________________________________________ City ___________________ State ________ Zip _________ Phone: Day ( ) ______________ Night ( ) ______________ Email __________________________________________________ RETURN TO: TEXAS POLLED HEREFORD ASSOCIATION P.O. Box 1867 • Port Lavaca, TX 77979 361-571-TPHA (8742) • manager@tpha.net
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By Lee Pitts Have you attended one of these auctions where bulls are sold in a theater-like setting, displayed on a big screen and aren’t run through the ring? It’s heresy, I say! Pure laziness! I think a purebred Brangus breeder in Texas was the first to have the courage to try a bull sale without all the bull, and this past fall more breeders used the format. Ranchers looked at the bulls out in pens before the sale, gathered in a heated building in comfortable chairs, were fed a nice meal, promptly fell asleep with their heads falling into their cake and slept right through the entire sale it was so boring. Just kidding. There’s no reason the concept won’t work, after all, ranchers have sold their calves and yearlings in video auctions for decades with good results. Grudgingly, I must say it does make sense. Bulls won’t get jostled around and hurt, buyers will be more comfortable and sales will be faster because you don’t have to get stubborn animals in and out of a ring. It will also cut down on the number of bidders buying the wrong animal because of all the confusion. But I think the real reason purebred breeders are switching is because they can
Steve Heyroth 7801 E Hwy 22 Hamilton, TX 76531 316-617-9315 District 4
TPHA MANAGER -- Robbie Morish P.O. Box 1867 • Port Lavaca, TX 77979 361-571-TPHA (8742) manager@tpha.net
Kirbie Day 658 Angus Rd. Waxahachie, TX 75167 972-921-7773 District 5
Kevin Hartley 7787 Rocky Ridge Ln. Madisonville, TX 77864 936-349-0439 District 7
UPCOMING EVENTS MAY 2015 -----------------------------------------------------------16 Hereford Alliance Sale, Clifton JUNE 2015 ---------------------------------------------------------17-20 Texas Combined Junior State Show, Belton 27-30 JNHE, Grand Island, NE (events run June 27-July 3) JULY 2015 ---------------------------------------------------------1-3 JNHE, Grand Island, NE (events run June 27-July 3) OCT 2015 -----------------------------------------------------------9 TPHA State Show, State Fair of Texas, Dallas 10 State Fair of Texas Jr. Polled Hereford/Hereford Show, Dallas 10 Iron Lake Ranch Production Sale, Athens 18 The Event, Okmulgee, OK 21 THA Fall Classic Sale, Buffalo 31 South Texas Hereford Assn. Sale, Beeville NOV 2015 -----------------------------------------------------------11 Barber Hereford Ranch Annual Bull Sale, San Saba buy high-def televisions to show the bulls, write off the purchase as a sale expense and the rest of the year they can have a monstrous 72 inch TV in their bathroom. And every other room in their house too. Personally, I’m going to miss all the wrecks and disasters that happened the old way. I can’t begin to count the auctions that were interrupted when a gate broke or bulls turned around in the lead up chute and had to be delivered into the ring with a breech delivery. One time the sale was delayed for half an hour because a bull got stuck behind the bull board and we couldn’t get him out. One of my favorite disruptions was when an athletic bull managed to jump on the auction block with the auctioneer and sale manager. What a hoot that was! Auctioneers will like the new format because it will be cleaner and they won’t be swallowing big gulps of organic matter because they had their mouth open at the wrong time. There will be no more dust from the sawdust in the ring that can make an auctioneer sound like a five-pack-a-day smoker. I’ll probably never again see a Colonel get his lip tore off and two teeth broken when a bull rammed the
microphone into his mouth. One of my favorite moments was when a ring man was using a whip and accidentally popped the man with the gavel. (At least I think it was an accident.) Most auctioneers are very fastidious and I’ll never forget the time when the auctioneer got some recycled hay on his expensive hat. He got so flummoxed that he took it off to survey the damage and then put in on backwards. And that’s the way it stayed for the rest of the sale! That was almost as funny as the time a big shot in the business sat on the front row at a sale and got plastered with manure and instead of admitting that he made a poor choice of where to sit, he sat there frozen for the rest of the sale because if he moved, liquified grass would drip off the front of his Stetson. Ring men will like the new arrangement because they’ll be no more breaking their hand when they turn in a bid by flinging their fingers into the sale ring pipes. And their wives will like it a lot because there’ll be no more getting stubborn stains out of white shirts. Other than a free lunch there’s no reason now for buyers to show up See IT’S THE PITTS, page 12
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2015 TJHA/JPHA State Show Schedule of Events
TEXAS POLLED HEREFORD ASSOCIATION
MOOS FOR TEXAS JUNIORS Meat Industry Submits Comments on Child and Adult Care Food Program The Meat Institute submitted comments in response to proposed meal pattern revisions related to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. NAMI acknowledged the important role federal feeding programs play in providing nutrition to various populations of Americans and stressed the need to revise menu patterns carefully to prevent unintended consequences that could adversely affect health outcomes. The Meat Institute specifically noted that protein is an essential nutrient that is critical for development; that child nutrition programs should be food-group based; that processed foods, including processed meats, can be healthy food choices in a meal pattern; that best practices may result in unintended consequences; and that guidance is necessary to help providers choose certain products. The comments See FOOD PROGRAM, pg. 12
Texas Jr Polled Hereford Assoc. State Queen Jena McCall Directors: 2012-2015 –––––––––––––– Harley Rogers, Hamilton Jena McCall, Emory Kyle Bajer, Elm Mott Carter McClendon, Lavon 2013-2016 –––––––––––––– Dylan Morish, Port Lavaca Ruth Anne Kettler, Washington Caleb Booth, Whitney Brody Rogers, Hamilton 2014-2017 –––––––––––––– Kaily Hamman, Jacksboro Molly Booth, Whitney William Diezi, Wallis Garrett Phelps, Grandview Head Advisors: Keith & Cindy Rogers 171 CR 407 Hamilton, TX 76531 Phone: 254-386-5699 Advisors: Joe & Brooke Booth, Kelly & Sherry McCall, Bob & Sarah Hamman, and Robbie & Sherry Morish Honorary Lifetime Advisor: Dorothy Wright
President--Harley Rogers President Elect--Jena McCall Vice President--Dylan Morish Secretary/Treasurer--Kaily Hamman Reporter--Molly Booth Mail for Membership to: TPHA P.O. Box 1867 • Port Lavaca, TX 77979 I hereby make application for membership to the Texas Junior Polled Hereford Association. Upon becoming a member, I agree to be governed by the constitution and Bylaws of the Association. Dues are $10 per year, due Jan. 1 each year. Attached is remittance of $10 covering membership dues. Name _____________________________________ Mailing Address ___________________________________ City ______________________________________ State ________________ Zip _________________ County __________________________________ Date of Birth ______________________________ Area Code and Phone Number: (________) ________________________________ Signature __________________________________
Texas Junior Polled Hereford Association Scholarship Deadlines Are Approaching! STUDENTS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 17 & 22 AS OF JANUARY 1: View & download Junior Scholarship Applications at www.txpha.org (listed under the JUNIORS tab) Jessica Cleveland & Patsy Workman Scholarship............................... Due May 15, 2015 Faye Gill Scholarship ............................................................................ Due May 15, 2015 Texas Poll-ettes Junior Scholarship Application ................................. Due May 15, 2015 HO Stevens Scholarship .......................................................................... Due June 1, 2015 Texas Junior Polled Hereford Assoc., LTD, Scholarship Program ... Due May 15, 2015 Entry forms, rules, schedule, etc., can be found at www.txpha.org under the State Show tab
Please direct questions to Pamela Diezi pamdiezi@gmail.com or 979-997-1797
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TEXAS POLLED HEREFORD ASSOCIATION
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Improve Cow’s Nutrition For A Better Calf By Stephen B. Blezinger Ph.D., PAS Part 1 Research over recent years has shown, repeatedly, that improving the nutrition of the cow at and post conception and through the entire gestational period will improve calf survival (lower dystocia rates), growth (greater weaning weights) and health (lower rates of sickess and deathloss prior to weaning). It has also been shown to improve the quality of colostrum produced by the cow during the during the hours immediately after birth. Colostrum increases the level of antibodies the calf receives and is critical to the early immune response function and calf health. The primary exception to the overall practice of improving nutrition during pregnancy occurs during the final ~2 months of gestation when the most significant overall fetal growth occurs. Over supplementation (primarily energy) of the dam during this period can result in excessive fetal growth that has been attributed to calving difficulties and increased dystocia at delivery. So just as under nutrition during this period is detrimental to the calf, over-nutrition creates problems as well. Fetal or developmental programming has been discussed extensively recently and it is recognized that good maternal nutrition is advised to produce a healthy vigorous calf. The producer is advised to provide proper nutrition (based on NRC guidelines) to insure body condition scores are adequate, initially, to insure timely breeding or rebreeding. Subsequently, a variety of nutritional guidelines have been outlined to insure the cow breeds properly and the resulting calf is healthy and productive. But more current data has emerged that illustrates a need for optimized or strategized nutrition for the cow during critical developmental stages. There is no time in the life of the calf where cell, tissue, organ and systemic development occurs more rapidly than during the first few weeks after conception and then through the rest of the gestational
period. Given this rapid rate of development the embryo/fetus’ need for proper nutrients, properly timed is critical. In previous articles we’ve discussed the concept of developmental programming and have established its validity and value for the producer. It has been discussed how the various nutrients are essential for normal development and growth of the unborn calf. Further research has shown that the concept goes beyond laying the groundwork for a healthy productive calf. We know from a variety of studies that strategic maternal nutrition can also affect the calf’s ability to produce a carcass to its genetic potential. Left to chance, the calf may or may not reach this potential under general management and feeding programs or even if grown and finished under exceptional programs. If the basic components are not established during the early developmental embryonic or fetal stages, maximizing the young animal’s genetic potential may not be possible. In the following article we’ll take a look beyond the basics of development as affected by the cow’s nutrition. We’ll examine how strategic nutrition can work to optimize the establishment of muscle and adipose (fat) tissue that are essential for the production of a quality carcass and meat in the growing animal. Why Should the Producer Bother? In discussing these concepts many producers I’ve talked with have asked me this question. “Why should I concern myself with this type of thing? It’s complicated and makes my head hurt!” We are living in a rapidly changing world and rapidly changing and evolving food industry. Part of these changes have created the results we’ve seen in the cattle markets that include: 1) Historically unprecedented cattle prices. 2) Lower cattle numbers than we have seen since the 1950’s. 3) Continued demand despite high beef prices in the meat case or on the restaurant menu.
4) Continued pressure by society, media and medicine to reduce meat consumption overall 5) A growing and expanding world market with increasing buying power and a growing demand for protein. These and numerous other circumstances are telling the cattle industry that it has to make changes in how we produce our product at the most basic level -- on the farm or
ranch. We have to take a hard look at how we produce the calves we do as they are the starting point of the beef production pipeline. The “status” of these calves, as they hit the ground will influence the beef product that enters the food supply chain 18 or so months later. There is a growing need for the producer to understand how to produce a better beef supply. Much of this starts with the genetics he/she
combines but is, just as importantly, significantly affected by how he manages that overall system from the point of breeding until the animal leaves his operation. This not only affects the overall product produced but the operation’s bottom line. So the producer most definitely can answer the question: “why should I bother?” Because it affects your profitability! See IMPROVE, page 14
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From The Cook’s Nook
Rebecca Graves - President
1945 Well Service Rd. Bowie, TX 76230
Susan Rader - VP
3117 US Hwy. 67E. Mt. Vernon, TX 75457
Diane Kettler - Secretary
14760 Wm Penn Rd. Washington, TX 77880
2014 O fficers
Texas
Belinda Bajer -Treasurer
Poll-ettes
636 W. Tours Rd. Elm Mott, TX 76640
National Hereford Women Directors Alise Nolan, President; Barbara Metch and Lauren Echols 2013-2015
TPHA Directors 2014-2016
2015-2017
Angela Radde Belinda Bajer Diane Kettler Rebecca Graves
Dorothy Wright Lynn Sumner Cindy Rogers Julie Massey
Missy Coffelt Pam Diezi Keely Hamman Susan Rader
TPHA Committee Chairpersons All Star Banquet Meal..... Diane Kettler and Belinda Bajer All Star Silent Auction..... Lynn Sumner and Nancy Marks All Star Dessert Contest.... Sherri McCall and Nancy Marks Creative Arts................ Angela Radde, Jessica and Missy Coffelt Illustrated Speech......... Sherri McCall and Lynn Sumner Hospitality.................. (Ft. Worth Open Show) Eva and Sara Hamman Junior Programs.......... Dorothy Wright, Rene Word Membership................ Lynn Sumner Memorials.................... Claudia Atlas Nominating Committee... Nancy Marks Poll-Ette of the Year........ Claudia Atlas Publicity.................... Cindy Rogers and Belinda Bajer Queen...................... Brooke Booth, Precious Beaver, Barbara Metch Scholarship............... Barbara Metch, Rene Word State Show Hospitality... (Dallas Open) Belinda Bajer, Julie Massey Ways and Means........... Julie Massey
Texas Poll-Ettes Membership Application I hereby make application for membership in the TEXAS POLL-ETTES. Upon becoming a member, I agree to be governed by the constitution and By-Laws of the Auxiliary. Attached hereto is remittance of $30, covering membership dues for the fiscal year of Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. Given Name ___________________________________________ Ranch Name ___________________________________________ Husband’s Name ________________________________________ Mailing Address _______________________________________ City _______________________________________________ State _____________________________ Zip ______________ County _____________________________________________ Area Code and Telephone number(s): __________________________________________________ E-Mail _______________________________________________ The Texas Poll-ette who encouraged me to join this organization is: ____________________________________________________ RETURN TO: TEXAS POLL-ETTE ORGANIZATION Belinda Bajer • 636 W. Tours • Elm Mott, Texas 76640 254-709-0273 • email: bbajer4@yahoo.com
TEXAS POLLED HEREFORD ASSOCIATION
Beef & Asparagus Pasta Toss 30 minutes – 4 servings
Ingredients 1 pound Ground Beef 3 cups uncooked bow tie pasta 1 pound fresh asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces 3 tablespoons olive oil 1/4 cup minced shallots (about 2 large) 2 or 3 cloves garlic, minced Salt and pepper 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese (optional) Instructions 1.Cook pasta in boiling salted water 10 minutes or until almost tender. Add asparagus; continue cooking 3 to 4 minutes or until pasta and asparagus are tender. Drain well. 2.Meanwhile, heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Add Ground Beef; cook 8 to 10 minutes, breaking into 3/4-inch crumbles and stirring occasionally. Remove from skillet with slotted spoon; pour off drippings. 3.Heat oil in same skillet over medium heat until hot. Add shallots and garlic; cook 3 to 4 minutes or until tender, stirring frequently. Remove from heat. Add beef; toss to mix. Season with salt and pepper, as desired. 4.Combine beef mixture with pasta and asparagus in large bowl; toss well. Sprinkle with cheese, if desired. Cook’sTip Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed Ground Beef.
Beefy Harvest Soup 25 minutes – 4 servings Ingredients 1 pound Ground Beef 4 cups water 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) Italian-style stewed tomatoes, undrained 1-1/2 cups frozen mixed vegetables 4 teaspoons instant beef bouillon granules 1 cup uncooked large elbow macaroni 6 ounces smoked beef sausage, cut into 1/2-inch slices Salt and pepper
1.Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Add Ground Beef; cook 8 to 10 minutes, breaking into 3/4-inch crumbles and stirring occasionally. Remove from skillet with slotted spoon. Remove drippings. 2.Meanwhile combine water, tomatoes, mixed vegetables and bouillon granules in large saucepan; bring to a boil. Stir in macaroni and beef; return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in sausage; continue simmering 2 to 4 minutes or until macaroni is tender. Season with salt and pepper, as desired.
Beef & Broccoli with Plum-Glazed Walnuts 30 minutes – 6 servings 1 package (1-1/2 to 2 pounds) fullycooked boneless beef pot roast with gravy 1 cup walnut halves 1 jar (7 to 8-1/2 ounces) Chinesestyle plum sauce Pepper 3 cups fresh broccoli florets (1 to 1-1/2-inch) Salt (optional) 2 cups uncooked instant rice Fresh red plums (optional) Instructions 1.Heat large heavy nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Combine walnuts and 1/4 cup of the plum sauce in skillet, stirring to coat evenly. Cook 5 to 10 minutes or until most of the moisture has evaporated and walnuts are slightly glazed, stirring frequently. (Do not allow walnuts to scorch.) Transfer walnuts to plate; spread to separate. 2.Meanwhile remove beef pot roast from package; set aside. Measure 1 cup of the gravy and place in same skillet; discard any remaining gravy or reserve for other use. Stir in remaining plum sauce and pepper, as desired; heat over medium heat until hot, stirring occasionally. 3.Cut pot roast into 1-inch pieces. Add to skillet; cook over mediumlow heat 5 to 6 minutes or until beef is heated through, stirring occasionally. 4.Meanwhile steam broccoli 6 to 8 minutes or until tender. Season with salt, if desired; keep warm.
5.Cook rice according to package directions; keep warm. 6.Place rice in center of platter; spoon beef and gravy over rice. Arrange broccoli and walnuts around rice. Garnish with plums, if desired.
Fiesta Roast Beef with Tropical Fruit Relish 30 minutes – 6 to 8 servings 1 package (1-1/2 to 2 pounds) fullycooked beef tri-tip roast 2 cans (8 to 8-1/4 ounces each) tropical fruit salad in light syrup 1 large orange 2 to 3 teaspoons spicy brown mustard 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce Salt and pepper 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper Orange slices (optional) Instructions 1.Remove beef tri-tip roast from package; place in microwave-safe dish. Transfer 3 to 4 tablespoons liquid from package to small saucepan; set aside. Discard any remaining liquid or reserve for other use. Cover roast and microwave on high 7 to 10 minutes or until heated through. Let stand, covered, 5 minutes. 2.Meanwhile drain fruit salad, reserving 3 tablespoons of the syrup. Cut up any large pieces of fruit; set aside. Grate 1 teaspoon peel from orange; set aside. Cut orange in half. Squeeze juice from 1/2 orange; peel and chop orange sections from remaining 1/2. 3.Combine reserved syrup, orange juice, mustard, orange peel, pepper sauce, salt and pepper, as desired in medium bowl; whisk until blended. Measure 1/4 cup of the orange juice mixture; add to beef liquid in saucepan. Set aside. Add reserved fruit, chopped orange and bell pepper to remaining orange juice mixture in bowl; mix well. Cover and refrigerate. 4.Carve roast across the grain into thin slices. Bring mixture in saucepan to a boil; remove from heat. 5.Arrange beef and fruit relish sideby-side on platter. Spoon hot sauce over beef, as desired. Garnish with orange slices, if desired.
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GLOBAL
Continued from page 1 Wilson • CB 122 L Lady B 222Z, exhibited and represented by Cayley Brown, Canada Bulls • Kamikaze, exhibited by Las Anitas, Uruguay, and represented by Fernando Alfonso • Okahu Sonny Bill, exhibited by Otapawa Station Ltd., New Zealand, and represented by Maria Robbie • Moeskær Pacman 1417, exhibited by Moeskær Polled Herefords, Denmark, and represented by David Ross • ECR Who Maker 210 ET, exhibited by Fawcett’s Elm Creek Ranch, Ree Heights, South Dakota, United States, and represented by Daniel Fawcett The Competition Entries from 45 countries competed for the World titles in the competition, which was hosted by HerefordBreeder.net. Breeders competed in their own national show to qualify for a regional championship drive, held similar to an on-hoof show common to rural communities. After champion cattle were selected in the four global regions, the owners qualified to compete for ‘Champion of the World’ and ‘Miss World’ titles. Four judges from each region, and online votes from HerefordBreeder. net’s Facebook members, evaluated top Hereford bulls and Hereford females. Thirty-one countries participated in judging the qualifying cattle. International champions were a result of the total composite score. The idea for the competition was the brainchild of PJ Budler, founder and CEO of TheCattleMarket. net, and organizer of the HerefordBreeder.net competition. “There were many countries around the world that were doing exciting things in the Hereford breed,” said Budler. “I thought, why don’t we bring them all together and create awareness and goodwill, and share trade opportunities between them.” The goal for the business is to raise the profile of Hereford breeders and associations around the world, and create a platform where everything is centralized and everyone is given equal exposure. Dec. 1-7, 2015 will mark the
Fourth Annual COW competition, including Hereford, Angus, Brangus, Wagyu, Braford and Brahman breeds. 2014 Hereford winners were awarded at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo in Fort Worth, Texas… the oldest running American stock show and rodeo, hosting cattle and cowboys since 1896. Impact “The ‘Champion of the World’ Hereford competition has been very influential in helping us to develop marketing leads for our genetics,” said David Ross, representing Moeskær Polled Herefords of Denmark. Ross continued saying that the competition has been a useful tool in marketing their cattle on an international level. “There are animals and programs around the world that no one would have known about if it wasn’t for this initiative,” said Budler. Breeders noticed increased international traffic to their cattle at national shows and online. “In Denver [at the National Western Stock Show], we had quite a bit of international traffic though our pens, looking at our cattle,” said Daniel Fawcett of Fawcett’s Elm Creek Ranch, South Dakota. “A lot of is was from the awareness the Champion of the World gave us. [The competition] opens doors for people, giving them the opportunity to meet people from different parts of the world.” Fawcett said he believed the competition will increase as more people learn about it, especially after the ‘Champion of the World’ week in Fort Worth. “I can’t wait. I hope I can get back in continually in the future just to keep making these contacts,” Fawcett said. “Our show team is now inside, and it wasn’t when we got here,” said Tom Harrison of England, in hope of qualifying for the Champion of the World competition in the future. Maria Robbie of Otapawa Station Ltd., New Zealand, said the delegates had the opportunity to discuss their programs, genetics, and production practices amongst each other. “It’s brought people together from around the world who would never see each other. It’s been invaluable,” Robbie said. “We’re [excited] to go home and tell people what we’ve seen,” Wilson said. Fort Worth: Where the West
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Begins Delegates experienced true western flair in the Lone Star State throughout their week, starting at the Stockyards Hotel in the Historic Fort Worth Stockyards and culminating with Hereford Ranch tours depicting the modern American Western frontier. “I think from an international perspective, when people think about cattle and Herefords, they think about Texas,” said Budler. “When you think of Texas, you think of the cowboy, the big ranches, and rangeland.” Fort Worth is a place “where everyone appreciates what beef producers do and the product they produce,” said Wilson. Young children even wear their Stetson hats and boots, “It’s encouraging.” “I’m really impressed with the western culture,” said Brown. “It’s really cool to see that. I don’t think we have a place in Canada where there is such a concentrated amount of that western feel.” Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo While at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo (FWSSR), visitors had the opportunity to attend the Commercial Hereford Show and Sale, National Hereford and Polled Hereford Show and Invitational Sale, Hereford Steer Show and Junior Steer Sale, and even received tickets to the professional rodeo and dinner at the Back-Stage Club, courtesy of FWSSR President, Brad Barnes. Guests also were treated to social activities hosted by the Texas Hereford and Texas Polled Hereford Associations. “This competition was a good complement to our long-standing and very successful Hereford shows held every year,” said Stefan Marchman, livestock show manager for the FWSSR, “as well as an outstanding opportunity for new exhibitors from around the World to attend and compete at our Show.” It is inspiring to see the amount of youngsters working in the barns, Wilson said. There is a lot of preparation being done for the next generation in the beef industry. In America, “it’s not a hobby, it’s a business,” Wilson said. “I have a lot of respect for the American breeders,” said Carlos Ojea Rullan, representing Las Tranqueras, Argentina. “I feel like you always get something new. The passion, the professionalism that the American breeders put in the
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Maria Robbie and Linda Shailer, both of New Zealand, at Glaze Herefords, Gilmer, Texas. “The highlight for me was seeing the farms,” Robbie said. “We’ve seen it all.” Photo courtesy of Maria Robbie.
Tom Harrison, England, is all smiles while touring GKB Cattle Co., Waxahachie, Texas. Photo courtesy of TheCattleMarket.net.
Austin Fisk and Cayley Brown admire winning Hereford bulls at GKB Cattle Co, Waxahachie, Texas. “I started showing when I was three,” said Brown. “It’s kind of a lifestyle thing for us. My goal is to keep improving the breed.” Photo courtesy of TheCattleMarket.net. business is really an example for every breeder in the world.” The livestock show provided breeders with a visual of potential genetics they could use on their operations back home. “I’m going
to be making some mating decisions based upon the cattle that I’ve seen here,” said Fawcett. “If not bulls that are actually here—their sires, and how to use those sires correctly.” Continued on page 11
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TRIPLE
L RANCH
We produce the best by breeding the best! “Black Herefords — The Best of Both Worlds.”
Cattle for sale at all times! Please call, text or e-mail for more information:
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L RANCH
VIDEOS online at:
BOBBY & JARED LIDE 714 FM 1366 • Mexia, TX 76667 Ranch: 254/739-5311 Bobby (cell) 254/625-3800 Jared (cell) 254/625-3806
www.TripleLBlackHerefords.com
“We produce the best by breeding the best!
Founding Member of the World Black Hereford Association. World Black Hereford Association
World Black Hereford Association
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We have both horned and polled bulls available at this time. Call or come by for a visit to check out what we have to offer. Juniors - we still have show heifer prospects available. Visitors are always welcome.
Maynard and Sandi Warnken Kevin Warnken, manager P.O. Drawer 29 • Schulenburg, TX 78956 979.561.8846 • 979.561.8867 fax Kevin cell 979.743.0619 E-mail: rockinw@cvctx.com • Web site: rockinwranch.net
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Safe and Effective Cattle Handling is Important By R. Gill, Ph,D and R. Machen, Ph.D, Professors and Extension Livestock Specialists, Texas A & M University System Safe and effective cattle handling has always been important. In the last few years there has been a move toward what has been called low-stress handling or as we prefer to call it a return to sound effective stockmanship. The animal industries cannot afford to allow any form of abusive behavior or handling of livestock. The culture of handling on any operation originates from upper management and is expressed by the workers on the ground. Most cattle handlers, and it does not matter if you are a “cowboy, buckaroo, cow hand, cow man, farm hand or stockman”, have learned by watching someone else work stock. Everyone thinks they know how to “work cattle” because they have always been able to get the job done. The moment you admit you do not know everything is the moment you can start to get better. If you have had a thought similar to this one “that stupid ole’ cow” you
have room to improve your abilities as a stockman. Cattle are not stupid and usually do what they are asked to do. However, if asked incorrectly, cattle will not necessarily do what you want or need them to do. When this happens we have come to rely on facilities, equipment or manpower to force them to do what is needed. This results in increased stress on cattle and hands, and results in cattle getting more difficult to handle over time. In a very simple explanation of stress… If you decide to do something it is not stressful, if you are forced to do something it will be stressful. Sound stockmanship allows one to get an animal to decide to do what you want them to do. Force does not come into play and stress is reduced. The job of a stockman is to teach an animal to accept and tolerate pressure and stress for short periods of time. Effective stockmanship skills are based on pressure and release. An animal will quickly learn to accept pressure and not develop stress if they perceive a
The Right Kind of HEREFORDS IRON LAKE RANCH P.O. Box 751 • 8027 F.M. 1616 Athens, TX 75751 Dimitri Mataragas, owner 214-649-0071 dmataragas@ironlakeranch.com
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Hamman Ranch
940-567-3859
603 US Hwy. 281 N. Jacksboro, TX 76458
Breeding Polled Herefords Continuously Since 1915
way for pressure to be released. The role of a stockman is to create movement in cattle and then use position to control and manage that movement to the desired result. When cattle loose movement they become reluctant to work. When movement is lost excessive pressure, force and driving aids are more likely to be used. Creating and managing movement is key to achieving effective stockmanship. There are five basic principles of cattle behavior that when used properly can improve the ease and speed of working cattle while reducing stress and increasing efficiency. Those principles are: 1. Cattle want to see you. Understanding how cattle see is basic to getting cattle to respond to your position. Cattle can see everywhere but directly behind them or a small blind spot in front of them. When working from behind, it is important to keep moving side to side to prevent cattle from turning in an effort to keep you in their line of sight. 2. Cattle want to go around you. This allows you to position yourself such that, when they do go around you, they are pointed directly at the gate or destination you had in mind. They’ll think it was their idea to go there! 3. Cattle want to be with and will go to other cattle. A herding instinct is natural among ‘prey’ animals. As stockmen we can take advantage of this natural instinct as we work from the front of cattle. If you start the front the back will follow. 4. Cattle want to return to where they have been. The natural instinct of a cow is to return to the last safe or comfortable place they were. The simple principle of the return box or “Bud Box” helps capture and use this principle. It also works great in sorting and moving cattle from one corral to another. 5. Cattle can only process one main thought at a time. If cattle are thinking about anything other than what you are asking them to do you will need to change their mind first before putting pressure on them. There are three basic means of communicating with livestock. Very simply they are: • Sight • Sound • Touch Cattle prefer to communicate
through line of sight. Sound coming from a human for the most part is stressful and marginally successful in getting the desired result. Sound should be used as a secondary method and only used when sight is not adequate. Sound can often lead to distracting the line of sight away from the desired direction. Touch is really only useful in situations where animals are confined and additional stimulus is needed to get cattle to move or respond. Touch does not refer to use of driving aids such as hotshots or sorting sticks or paddles. Keeping these behavioral principles and methods of communicating in mind, following is a list of ten handling pointers to keep in mind and a few suggestions that will improve the ease of handling cattle, whether they are being gathered from the pasture or processed through the corrals. 1. “The only way to work cattle quickly is slowly.” (from a humorous book entitled Don’t Squat With Your Spurs On.) Patience is a great virtue when gathering and working cattle. When we get in a hurry, inevi-
tably we put excessive or incorrect pressure on cattle, which usually results in an unintended reaction from the cattle. 2. Work from the front to draw cattle to you. This goes back to the basic principle #1. Cattle can be easily controlled from the front if they are not afraid of a human. (If they are afraid you are a long way away from being able to handle cattle using low stress principles). Working from the front helps keep cattle from wanting to turn in an effort to keep you in their line of sight. By moving in and out of the flight zone and point of balance, cattle can be easily drawn forward and past you to get them to go where you need them to go. The most important point to remember about the flight zone is not the flight zone, it is the area before the flight zone where a stockman must get skilled at managing. When approaching an animal it is important to be able to predict the response to your entering the flight zone. If the desired movement is not going to occur you need to back out reposition See SAFE, page 15
Performance Program Breeder
NEEL POLLED HEREFORDS George E. Neel, Jr. Box 450029 • Laredo, TX 78045 (956) 723-6346 office
•
(956) 722-1904 home
211 Forbis • Emory, TX 75440 ph: 903 / 473-5126 • fx: 903 / 474-9198 email: mwoualline@verizon.net website: www.ouallinepolledherefords.com
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Continued from page 7 “The cattle are all really high quality,” said Brown. “Now that I’ve seen them in the flesh, I know that there are a couple bulls that I want to go home and use on my cattle.” International guests were impressed with the prices of both commercial and purebred Herefords during the FWSSR sales. “It’s really high,” said Ojea who works with 20 ranches in Argentina and plans over 300,000 matings per year. “I’m more or less in all the breeds, and I get real impressed by how the American breeders can receive the prices of the cattle for registered and commercial. You don’t find that in other countries today.” TCU Ranch Management There are many reasons Fort Worth maintains true grit western spirit, one being the Texas Christian University’s Ranch Management program. Students are selected through a competitive application process from around the world and are prepared to ecologically and economically manage a broad range of resources in the global marketplace. International breeders were impressed with the quality of the program and the professionalism the student’s exhibited. The passion for production agriculture amongst younger generations was noted. “A lot of people around the world could get a lot of mileage from such a fantastic program,” said Tom Harrison of Northumberland, England.
Visitors participated in an educational question-answer session about their operations and production practices in their respective countries, fielding questions from approximately 30 students on topics pertaining to ranch management and production. The opportunity to learn from and interact with beef producers around the world was a unique experience, said Garren Bellis, student at TCU Ranch Management. “The presentations definitely broadened our horizons and gave us insight to global beef operations that we would not have had otherwise.” Each producer shared the challenges they face in production agriculture, and the promise of what the future may hold for their ranch. They also discussed their desired phenotypic characteristics and how the environment dictated the appearance of their cattle. Listening to the other presentations while at TCU made us realize that we’re all doing things in slightly different ways; however, the fundamentals were essential the same, Wilson said. “It’s the customers and the loyalty of those customers that is important to all of us.” Home on the RangeFive Texas Ranches Visitors traveled 1700 miles covering the Texas terrain, viewing Hereford ranches geared for both commercial and seedstock production. From east to west, guests received a snapshot of real production agriculture and saw firsthand the environmental differences
Gulf Coast Cattleman
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of each cattle operation. Breeders spent three full days canvasing five distinguished Hereford ranches, including: Dudley Bros., Comanche; Rocking Chair Ranch, Fort McKavett; Iron Lake Ranch, Athens; GKB Cattle, Waxahachie; and Glaze Herefords, Gilmer. Ranchers were gracious hosts, allowing a ‘behind the scenes’ take on their operations. “ I t ’s b e e n a r e a l l y g o o d experience,” said Robbie. “It’s been interesting seeing different ways Herefords are bred, shown and grown. The highlight for me was visiting the farms; it was seeing real Herefords and real production.” “I really enjoyed being able to dig into the North American pedigrees and make sense of what we’re seeing in Australia,” said Mark Baker, Kanimbla Poll Herefords. Most surprising was the difference of topography. East and West Texas offer two very different terrains, where ranchers must adapt production practices to suit the livestock and the environment. Conditions range from lush green pastures to wide-open hardy rangeland, and the cattle are bred to survive and produce in their respective ecosystems. “It was interesting to see how the cattle work in different conditions, in east and western part of Texas,” said Alfonso. “I think it’s challenging for those guys; they’re real professionals. Their environment is really tough and I think they’re doing a great job raising Hereford cattle in those conditions.” “Getting out on the ranches really changed my perception,” said Harrison. Texas is Texas. “I don’t know if I’ve had a week that’s gone by so quickly and been so jam packed,” Baker said, commenting that he was amazed to have seen so much in such a short period of time. Breeders were excited about the vast amount of knowledge they learned during their time in Texas, and were ready to take the information back to their country and operation. Implementation of the knowledge; however, will inevitably determine success. “Having knowledge is like knowing a tomato is a fruit, but wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad,” Wilson said. “The amount that I’ve learned
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International guests visit Rocking Chair Ranch, Fort McKavett, Texas, during ranch tours. Pictured from left to right are (back row) PJ Budler, Tom Harrison, Austin Fisk, Mark Baker, Fernando Alfonso; (middle row) Linda Shailer, Cayley Brown, Robert Wilson; (front row) Wade and Brie Perks with son Loyd, and Maria Robbie. Photo courtesy of TheCattleMarket.net.
From east to west, guests received a snapshot of real production agriculture in Texas, traveling 1700 miles across the state. Mark Baker (left), Tom Harrison (center) and PJ Budler (right) look at Hereford Bull at Iron Lake Ranch, Athens, Texas. Photo courtesy of TheCattleMarket.net. since being here has been amazing,” Robbie said. “We’ve done so much, but it’s just been so awesome. I would do it all again tomorrow.” Wilson said that he believed many people would begin to do business in the United States because of the experience. “It’s been an eye opener for new genetics over here and things that can work at home; we look forward to trying to work with some of the people we’ve met.” The cowboy theme reigned throughout the week, not by chance or by performance, but because the
veins of Texans run true with the Spirit of the West. As the former United States Senator of Texas William Blakley once said, “Texas is neither southern nor western. Texas is Texas.” The Cattle Market.net LLC works to promote awareness, goodwill and trade worldwide by creating an equal platform for beef producers to market their cattle, services and genetics to an international audience. For more information, visit HerefordBreeder.net or contact info@thecattlemarket.net.
Raising cattle in Texas since 1855
SKRIVANEK RANCHES Joey and Susan Skrivanek and Family, Owners 407 W. Mustang • Caldwell, TX 77836 Joey res. (979) 567-3857 • cell (979) 224-4698 office (979) 567-3131 • fax (979) 567-2373 email: coatty@burlesoncounty.org
9 miles E. of Caldwell on Hwy. 21, or 15 miles W. of Bryan-College Station on Hwy. 21
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North American Cattle Situation: Mexico Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist The Mexican cattle and beef industry is always dynamic and continues to evolve. The industry has faced challenges in recent years with declining cattle inventories while attempting to maintain domestic production and cattle exports; all while beef exports have increased sharply. The Mexican beef cattle industry experienced the same drought conditions that affected the U.S. in 2011-2013 leading to forced herd liquidation. Moisture conditions improved significantly in 2014 and so far in 2015. Herd expansion has been slow to begin in Mexico but may be beginning at the current time. Cows and heifers have played a large role in maintaining domestic Mexican beef production and cattle exports in recent years and increased female slaughter contributed to herd liquidation. Record U.S. cattle prices and
a weakening Peso contributed to a 12.8 percent year over year increase in Mexican cattle exports to the U.S. in 2014 despite extremely tight cattle supplies in Mexico. Increased Mexican cattle exports in 2014 included more steers and spayed heifers compared to the previous year. U.S. imports of Mexican cattle are up less than one percent for the first two months of 2015 compared to last year. Year to date U.S. imports of Mexican steers are up 4.5 percent while heifer imports are down nearly 15 percent. U.S. imports of Mexican beef are up 40 percent for the first two months of 2015 compared to the same period last year. Reduced U.S. beef production and record high U.S. beef prices, abetted by the strong dollar, provide a strong incentive for more beef exports from Mexico to the U.S. which, in 2014, resulted in a 23 percent year over year increase. Mexico has rapidly increased beef exports since 2009. Total Mexican beef exports increased 17 percent in
WRIGHT POLLED HEREFORDS
Support the Juniors -- the Future Breeders. Visitors are always WELCOME. Owner: 3617 C.R. 616 Dorothy Wright Alvarado, Texas 78009 (817) 790-8700 (metro) Certified Herd #7227
Schacher Auction Services Robert Schacher 5832 Wales Ave. Fort Worth, TX 76133 rob@schacherauction.com www.schacherauction.com (817) 219-0102 TX Lic. 14028
PPHF
“Prefix of Performance” www.prausepolledherefords.com
prause polled hereford farms 361-741-6495 Leslie Prause
1957 Morris Community Road Yoakum, TX 77995
361-293-5324 Robert, Lorna & Kaci Herman
2014 compared to one year earlier. The 2014 export total is only slightly lower than the 2012 record despite the loss of the Russian market after 2012. Increased Mexican beef exports are the result of rapid growth in feedlot production, increased carcass weights (partially offsetting lower cattle slaughter), and widespread adoption of boxed beef technology in recent years. The U.S. is the largest destination for Mexican beef exports, accounting for 84 percent of the 2014 total. Mexico has been the fourth largest source of U.S. beef imports since 2010. Other major Mexican beef export markets include Japan and, in 2014, Hong Kong. Mexico has been one of the top four U.S. beef export destinations for 20 years. Mexico imported 8 percent more U.S. beef in 2014 compared to the prior year despite record high U.S. beef prices and a
Famous Cows Continued from page 3
for a sale when they can watch and bid at home on the Internet. What’s next, bull sales on eBay? I suppose I might as well get used to the concept because evidently this is the future: cleaner, faster, safer, more efficient and B-O-R-IN-G. As for me, call me a purest but I prefer the broken body parts, the danger, the confusion, the wrecks, the manure and the mayhem. wwwLeePittsbooks.com
Food Program
Continued from page 4 underscored the important dietary role of meat and poultry products, which provide essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals, such as iron and zinc. The Institute also noted its support of the proposed rule’s flexibility, which would allow meat to be served in lieu of up to one-half of the grain requirement at breakfast. However, NAMI expressed concern with the recommendation to limit processed meats consumption, which could detrimentally impact at-risk populations, and highlighted the affordability, safety and nutritional value of processed meat products.
poor exchange rate which makes U.S. beef even more expensive in Mexico. However, U.S. beef exports to Mexico are down 13.5 percent year over year so far in 2015. Mexico, like the U.S. and Canada, is faced with the need for herd rebuilding which can only occur by squeezing current production to allow for increased heifer retention and reduced cow slaughter. It will be difficult for Mexico to maintain the current level of domestic beef production, cattle exports and beef exports as herd expansion begins. Continued strong U.S. prices for cattle and beef will continue to favor cattle and beef exports to the U.S. along with decreased imports of U.S. beef. Current exchange rates add to these incentives. However, limited cattle inventories and increased heifer retention in Mexico may moderate either cattle exports or beef exports or some combination of both. Early trade flows in 2015 may indicate that domestic Mexican cattle demand may be strengthening enough to retain
more feeder cattle in the country. U.S. beef exports to Mexico will continue to face the disadvantage of high U.S. prices aggravated even more by a weak Mexican Peso. However, to the extent that Mexico continues to grow beef exports, imported beef will be needed to maintain domestic beef supplies. The increasingly bilateral nature of U.S.-Mexican beef trade emphasizes that beef trade is less about an imbalance in beef quantities in the two countries and more about the value enhancement from improved quality distribution and product mix in the two countries.
TPHA wants to hear from you. Submit note-worthy news and photos to: TPHA P.O. Box 1867 Port Lavaca, TX 77979 or email to manager@tpha.net
SUMNER POLLED HEREFORDS Quality Polled Hereford Bulls and Heifers Selective Breeding Since 1978 Steve & Lynn Sumner 1464 West Denton Rd. Axtell, Texas 76624 Phone/Fax (254) 822-1892 e-mail: lynsum40@hotmail.com
CROSS TIMBERS POLLED HEREFORD ASSOCIATION The “Cross Timbers” Source for Quality Bulls & Productive Females
Steve Heyroth 7801 E. State Hwy. 22 • Hamilton, TX 76531 • 979-777-0432
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Cow/Calf Corner Keep or Cull Open Replacement Heifers? (and buyer beware!)
By Glenn Selk, OSU Emeritus
Extension Animal Scientist For some Oklahoma cow calf operations, the bulls go into the breeding pasture with replacement heifers in mid-April. As the bulls are being removed from the replacement heifers in two months, this would be an ideal time to call and make arrangements with your local veterinarian to have those heifers evaluated for pregnancy after another 60 days. In two months after the breeding season, experienced palpaters should have no difficulty identifying which heifers are pregnant and which heifers are not pregnant (open). Those heifers that are determined to be “open” after this breeding season, should be strong candidates for culling. Culling these heifers immediately after pregnancy checking serves three very useful purposes. 1) Identifying and culling “open” heifers early will remove sub-fertile females from the herd. Lifetime cow studies were conducted at a USDA experiment station in Montana. Over the span of 23 years, 1589 replacement heifers were exposed to bulls. Over that number of years 266 heifers were found to be “open” after their first breeding season. All of these “open” heifers were kept in the herd for an average of about 4 years. From the 1006 opportunities to become pregnant that followed, only 551 calves were produced. In other words, when the heifers that failed to breed in the first breeding season were followed throughout their lifetimes, they averaged a 54.9% yearly calf crop. Despite the fact that reproduction is not a highly heritable trait, it also makes sense to remove this genetic material from the herd so as to not proliferate females that are difficult to get bred. 2) Culling open heifers early will reduce production costs. If the rancher waits until next spring to find out which heifers do not calve, the winter feed expense will still be lost and there will be no calf to help eventually pay the bills. This is money
that can better be spent in properly feeding cows that are pregnant and will be producing a salable product at weaning time. 3) Identifying the open heifers shortly (60 days) after the breeding season is over will allow for marketing the heifers while still young enough to go to a feedlot and be fed for the “choice” beef market. The grading change of several years ago had a great impact on the merchandising of culled replacement heifers. “B” maturity carcasses (those estimated to be 30 months of age or older) are much less likely to be graded choice. Therefore, it is imperative to send heifers to the feedlot while they are young enough to be fed for 4 to 5 months and not be near the “B” maturity age group. Certainly the percentage of open heifers will vary from ranch to ranch. Do not be concerned, if after a good heifer development program and adequate breeding season, that you find that 10% of the heifers still are not bred. These are the very heifers that you want to identify early and remove from the herd. Resist the temptation to “roll them over” to a fall-calving herd if they have failed to breed in a spring breeding season. Producers that are buying replacement females (at a quite hefty price) need to be wary of heifers that were exposed to bulls or artificial insemination/clean-up bulls and remain non-pregnant. This is the easiest opportunity to become pregnant that they will have. If they are still open after that first breeding season, they may be infertile at worst, or subfertile compared to other heifers. Remember the old Montana data that suggests that they will be 55% calf crop females the rest of their lives.
Make a record of twins
(or other multiple births) By Glenn Selk, OSU Emeritus
Extension Animal Scientist Estimates of the percentage of beef cattle births that produce twins vary. One estimate (Gilmore) puts the percentage at about 0.5% or 1 in every 200 births. Approximately one-half of the sets of twins should contain both a bull and a heifer calf.
Make sure to write down these calf numbers of twin births while they are still nursing the cow. Be certain to not retain the heifer born twin to a bull as a replacement female. Freemartinism is recognized as one of the most severe forms of sexual abnormality among cattle. This condition causes infertility in most of the female cattle born twin to a male. When a heifer twin shares the uterus with a bull fetus, they also share the placental membranes connecting the fetuses with the dam. A joining of the placental membranes occurs at about the fortieth day of pregnancy, and thereafter, the fluids of the two fetuses are mixed. This causes exchange of blood and antigens carrying characteristics that are unique to each heifers and bulls. When these antigens mix, they affect each other in a way that causes each to develop with some characteristics of the other sex. Although the male twin in this case is rarely affected by reduced fertility, in over ninety percent of the cases, the female twin is completely infertile. Because of a transfer of hormones or a transfer of cells, the heifer’s reproductive tract is severely underdeveloped and sometimes even contains some elements of a bull’s reproductive tract. A freemartin is genetically female, but has many characteristics of a male. The ovaries of the freemartin do not develop correctly, and they remain very small. Also, the ovaries of a freemartin do not produce the hormones necessary to induce the behavioral signs of heat. The external vulvar region can range from a very normal looking female to a female that appears to be male. Usually, the vulva is normal except that in some animals an enlarged clitoris and large tufts of vulvar hair exist. Freemartinism cannot be prevented; however, it can be diagnosed in a number of ways ranging from simple examination of the placental membranes to chromosomal evaluation. The cattleman can predict the reproductive value of this heifer calf at birth and save the feed and development costs if he is aware of the high probability of freemartinism. (Source: “The Causes and Effects of Freemartinism in Cattle” by Laurie Ann Lyon.) In some cases, there are few, if any,
symptoms of freemartinism because the male twin may have been aborted at an earlier stage of gestation. Hidden “freemartins” are often difficult to identify if replacement heifers are purchased. Therefore this is another good reason to cull any open (nonpregnant) replacement heifer soon after her first breeding season. Cows that are nursing twin calves will require an estimated 13% more
energy intake to maintain body condition. The additional suckling pressure on the cow will extend the postcalving anestrus period. Therefore, cows nursing twins will take longer to re-cycle to rebreed for next year’s calf crop. In some cases, producers may want to consider early weaning of the twin calves to allow the cow to re-cycle in time to stay with the other cows in the herd.
Submit note-worthy news and photos to: TPHA, P.O. Box 1867 Port Lavaca, TX 77979, or email to manager@tpha.net
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IMPROVE
Continued from page 5
Producing More Pounds -Producing Better Pounds The goal of the cattleman is to efficiently and cost effectively produce more pounds of beef per cow, per acre of per whatever base of measurement chosen to assess profitability. This discussion is designed to help the producer see that there are critical tools available to “stack the deck” in his favor. Meat animals are raised for their skeletal muscle. The fetal stage is crucial for skeletal muscle development because there is no net increase in muscle fiber numbers after birth (Stickland, 1978; Zhu et al., 2004). Therefore, a decrease in the number of muscle fibers because of fetal programming permanently reduces muscle mass and negatively affects animal performance. S e c o n d l y, m a r b l i n g ( i . e . , intramuscular fat) is crucial for meat palatability, and fetal life is a major stage for generation of intramuscular adipocytes (fat cells, Tong et al., 2008), which provide the sites for intramuscular fat accumulation or marbling
formation during fattening. Thus, fetal programming also affects marbling in offspring cattle. As mentioned above, at the end of the day, the producer wants to sell more pounds of beef when the calf leaves his ownership. For the cow/ calf producer that is selling calves at weaning. If the producer is retaining ownership and selling these calves out of the feedyard, the quality of this beef (carcass, marbling, etc.) is also a concern as this directly affects the value per pound of product. So back to how the basic mechanics of embryo and fetus development works. For the first couple of months after conception the embryo is growing rapidly and developing critical tissues, organs and systems. Nutrients needed for this process are not large in volume but specific in nature. Nutrients are also prioritized, meaning that nutrients will be used or applied first for critical, essential tissues such as heart, liver, immune system, etc. There are two very critical events that must occur initially
KRAFT POLLED HEREFORDS Marvin , Jr. & Diane (830) 609-3143 Cell (830) 660-0785 Jeff & Carrie (830) 303-5348 Cell (830) 822-5348 Karl & Raquel (830) 625-4492 diane@kraftranches.com
3815 FM 1101 • New Braunfels, TX 78130
TEXAS POLLED HEREFORD ASSOCIATION
for subsequent development of the calf. First, the new animal’s DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid, the blueprint for life) is established at the point of conception and is a combination of that DNA delivered from the sire in the sperm and from the dam in the ova. This is the true mechanics of the selections breeders make when mating specific bulls and cows. Many producers carefully consider EPD’s which provide an indicator of what an animal’s genetic potential is for traits like birth weight, weaning weight, milk production and so on. These EPD values have a physiological base in the genetic material that is the basis for this performance. Purebred breeders invest significant dollars in “genetics.” Thus, providing the proper nutritional and management support for the dam is critical to optimizing the expression of the genetic investment. To review, the DNA begins its role almost immediately after conception, instructing the fertilized egg cell to begin dividing and transitioning into an embryo and then a fetus. The DNA blueprint then goes on to set the protocol for how the tissues and various physiological systems in the growing body develop. This is a key period of time. During these very early stages (only a few days after conception) the new embryo is undergoing exponential growth, some of the most rapid cellular division in its entire life. If conditions (including nutrition) are not optimal, opportunity exists for problems or errors to occur in the genetic codes or instructions. This is where a material known as RNA or Ribonucleic Acid comes into the picture. While DNA is the instruction manual that resides in the nucleus of the cells, RNA leaves the nucleus and the cells and is essentially the individual pages of the instruction manual. It provides specific instructions on how the countless actions and reactions in the cells, tissues and entire body are to occur. This is where a significant opportunity for problems to develop. While DNA is very stable, has methods of error detection and the means to correct these errors, RNA does not have these same capabilities. Both DNA and RNA make copies of themselves. DNA copies are generally very good. With RNA this is not always
the case. RNA can make flawed copies of itself and does not really have a way to repair these flaws. Additionally, RNA replicates itself about 10 times faster than DNA so appropriate nutritional building blocks must be in place constantly to support this copying process (Blezinger, 2012). The second important step is how the embryo connects to the dam and more importantly to the dam’s blood supply. This placental connection is believed to be an equally important factor in the fetal programming process as it establishes the delivery system for all nutrients and critical compounds from the cow to the developing embryo/fetus. Establishment of functional uteroplacental and fetal circulation is one of the earliest events during embryonic and placental development (Patten, 1964; Ramsey, 1982) allowing for transportation of all respiratory gases, nutrient, and waste exchanges between the maternal and fetal systems (Reynolds and Redmer, 1995; 2001). The efficiency of transport is related to the blood flow between the uterus and the placenta (Reynolds and Redmer, 1995) and
although placental growth slows during the last half of gestation, blood flow to the placenta increases three to fourfold from mid to late gestation to support the exponential rate of fetal growth (Rosenfeld et al., 1974; Reynolds et al., 1986; Metcalfe et al., 1988; Ferrell, 1989). So once the embryo is created with its developmental plan in place and the blood flow connection between the uterus (cow), placenta and the embryo has been established, transfer of necessary nutrients can begin taking place effectively. Now that we’ve established the basics, in Part 2 of this series we’ll go on to discuss the specific effects on the animal’s performance, why this important to the producer and how we can develop a specific strategy that will help maximize the animal’s performance in a very tangible manner. Copyright 2015 – Dr. Stephen B. Blezinger. Dr. Steve Blezinger is and nutritional and management consultant with an office in Sulphur Springs Texas. He can be reached by e-mail at sblez@verizon.net. For more information please visit us on Facebook at Reveille Livestock Concepts.
Sam Massey P.O. Box 518 Wickett, Texas 79788 432-940-7720 samhereford@yahoo.com
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SAFE
Continued from page 10 and approach at a different angle. Where each animals point of balance falls varies greatly and is influenced by pressure from front or behind, draw of cattle ahead or behind them and whether or not they are comfortable going by the handler. The point of balance is actually related to the position you are in relative to the eye. 3. Apply pressure when cattle have a place to go. Low stress livestock handling is not about handling cattle with no pressure. In fact the success of handling cattle correctly depends on knowing when and where to apply pressure and how much pressure to apply. The other
key component to effective stockmanship is setting the cattle up to go where you want them to go before you apply pressure. Just as important is to release the pressure as soon as the desired result is achieved. 4. Pressure from the side. This relates back to working from the front and down the side of an animal and not working from directly behind. 5. Cattle must be comfortable to go by you and stay straight. If cattle are not comfortable going by you, they will not work for you very well. Working from the front requires you to get the cattle able to pass you without balking or spooking. This simple principle facilitates penning, sorting and processing cattle. The further forward you can make an animal’s point of balance the easier it
VETERINARY EMBRYO SERVICES, INC. Brad K. Stroud, DVM 6601 Granbury Highway • Weatherford, Texas 76087 Office (817) 599-7721 • (817) 596-5548 • Fax (817) 596-5548 EMAIL: bstroud@nothingbutsports.com
ROTH HEREFORD FARM SHOW ME CLASSIC BULL SALE 1ST SATURDAY IN APRIL SHOW-ME POLLED HEREFORD CLASSIC 3RD SATURDAY IN NOVEMBER ROTH HEREFORD FARM WINDSOR, MO ED 660-351-4127 • EDDIE 660-351-4126
TEXAS POLLED HEREFORD ASSOCIATION
is to work and sort cattle. That is why using the draw of other cattle makes it easier to work and sort cattle in an alley or from one corral to another. 6. Pressure cattle from behind only when absolutely necessary. Like any ‘prey’ animal, cattle cannot see directly behind themselves. If you assume a position directly behind cattle (in their blind spot), they will turn to one side or the other in order to see you. To ‘drive’ cattle in a straight line, assume a position behind their point of balance (shoulder) and off to either side. You can also work in a zig-zag fashion behind the cattle causing them to switch eyes and move straight forward. 7. When working cattle, move in triangles. Sounds odd, but it works. Move in straight lines. For example, if you work in an arch pattern behind the cattle, you will find them being drawn from side to side (and consequently walking in a zig-zag pattern) as they follow your movement. Move into their flight zone to create or correct movement. Retreat from their flight zone to slow or stop movement. 8. Going with the flow of cattle slows them down or stops their movement. It’s all about that point of balance – as you move in the same direction cattle are traveling, when you approach a position parallel to their point of balance, they will slow down, and as you pass the point of balance they will stop. The important part in this process is to get the cattle to stop without reversing their direction. Teach them to stop straight and stay in the position they were headed. 9. Going against the flow of cattle initiates or accelerates their movement. The opposite of pointer # 8. Ever filled the chute, then pressured the last animal in line to move the others forward? It’s likely he or she had no place to go and nothing happened. Next time, try leaving their flight zone, walk up ahead of the line, then re-enter the flight zone of the first in line and walk alongside the chute, front to back, and see what happens. We suspect that as you pass their point of balance, they will step forward. The one in the front will ‘pull’ the others forward. 10.Cattle work best when they are ready - You have to get them there. Cattle are not mind readers. You have to teach, condition and prepare them. Unfortunately, today’s cattle owners are short on time and experienced labor, and consequently, don’t spend time with their cattle as
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did the stockmen of days gone by. Perhaps there’s not time to educate the entire existing herd, but quality time spent with replacement heifers will pay dividends for years to come. Spend time with heifers (in both the pasture and the pens) when you want to, not just when you have to. Numerous others will handle your cattle after they have left your care. Bad habits and unruly behavior in cattle and humans is learned. When working correctly shouting, whistling, poking and prodding cattle is unnecessary and counterproductive. In fact, they distract cattle from what you really want them to do. Development of effective stockmanship skills is about improving worker safety, animal performance and increasing income on each individual operation.
Cross Timbers Polled Hereford Assoc. Sale The 27th Annual Cross Timbers Classic Joint Production Sale was conducted April 18, 2015, at Tenroc Ranch in Salado Texas. The 2015 sale honoree was Barbara (Metch) Holan. The sale catalog is available. Cross Timbers Polled Hereford Association provided a catered Mexican dinner Friday night. A business meeting was conducted in conjunction with dinner. Nearly 50 members and consigners attended. The Texas Poll-ettes provided a donation-based lunch, silent auction and dessert contest Saturday prior to the sale with proceeds to benefit their Youth and Scholarship programs. Over $4000 was raised for these fine programs.
Where Marbling Matters Larry Woodson 214-491-7017
www. stillriverranch.com larrywoodson@gmail.com
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TEXAS POLLED HEREFORD ASSOCIATION
l Sale! 5th Annua
SATURDAY, MAY 16 Larsons’ Running L Ranch 12 noon • Clifton, Texas
100 Hereford Lots … 140 Head
Spring Cow/Calf Pairs • Fall Bred Cows & Splits Show Heifer Prospects • Bred Heifers Proven Donor Dams & Flushes • Bulls • Embryos • Semen
MCM N6 Looker 100Y ET
KCL 955W Bonissa 92S 109Y
KCL 144 Masterpiece 1S 66X
Spearhead 4R Sis A39 ET
MSU TCF Revolution 4R x Remitall Online 122L BW 2.4, WW 60, YW 97, MM 21, RE .56, MRB .15, CHB 31 Selling 1/2 interest in this “looker”! Also selling the right to flush her Dam of Distinction mother, Spearhead Candy N6 (P42404072).
CL 1 Domino 955W x BR Moler ET BW 4.5, WW 62, YW 102, MM 27, RE .72, MRB .03, CHB 32 Granddaughter of Bonissa 65K. Sells with her April 3 bull calf at side by H WCC/WB 668 Wyarno 9500 ET.
TH 75J 243R Bailout 144U ET x HH Hunter K849 BW 4.6, WW 51, YW 92, MM 23, REA .44, MARB –.02, CHB 23 Sells with her April 2 heifer calf at side by KCL 955W Domino 92S 106Y ET.
MSU TCF Revolution 4R x HCC Legacy S01 ET BW 3.0, WW 60, YW 98, MILK 21, RE .71, MRB .14, CHB 31 Due to calve by sale time to Spearhead Durango Z67.
OAKS Robyn 3081ET
MCM 69Z Trustiness 100W 14B
BK Buttercup 4101B
KCL BCF 719T Victor 69X 156B ET
PW Victor Boomer P606 x Remitall Online 122L BW 5.2, WW 51, YW 82, MM 29, RE .66, MRB .14, CHB 25 This September 2013 heifer sells bred to H Easy Deal.
NJW 73S M326 Trust 100W x STAR Fast Forward 217U BW 1.0, WW 54, YW 94, MM 24, RE .75, MRB .16, CHB 31 February 2014 open heifer, ready to breed.
Sale Feature
Selling pick of the 2015 heifer calves
SEMEN OFFERING INCLUDES:
Ken and Carolyn Larson, owners Lee Larson, manager (972) 824-5869 2793 FM 1991, Clifton, TX 76634 runlranch@aol.com www.kclgenetics.com
BW
TH Victor 719T x TH 75J 243R Bailout 144U ET 2.6, WW 58, YW 92, MILK 25, RE .54, MRB .02, CHB 30
and the 2014-born spring bred heifers at Topp Herefords!
H/TSR/CHEZ/Full Throttle • CRR About Time 743 • Golden Oak Outcross 18U
RUNNING L RANCH
GENETICS
AH JDH Cracker Jack 26U x GKB EJE 146 Anchor B514 Sept. 2, 2014 polled show heifer prospect.
SALE CO-MANAGED BY:
incorporated
Matt C. Sims (405) 641-6081 ph/text matt@mcsauction.com www.mcsauction.com
Eddie Sims (580) 595-1626
Videos online prior to sale day. Catalogs mailed on request and online: www.kclgenetics.com or www.mcsauction.com
2015 Hereford Alliance Breeders: BUCK CATTLE CO. Jirl Buck & Family Madill, OK (580) 795-4865 buckcattle.com
GLAZE HEREFORDS Gilmer, TX Andy (903) 790-5355 Jordan (713) 822-4730 glazeherefords.com
EVA HAMMAN Jacksboro, TX (940) 567-3859
HIDDEN OAKS RANCH Keith Rogers Family Hamilton, TX (254) 386-5699 hiddenoaksranch.com
HOFFMAN RANCH Jason Hoffman Thedford, NE (530) 604-5096 hoffmanranch.com
McMULLIN RANCH
Donlie McMullin Copperas Cove, TX (254) 547-0172 mcmullinranch.com
SPEARHEAD RANCH Paul & Danny Funk Copperas Cove, TX (254) 248-1915 spearheadranch.net
TOPP HEREFORDS Ryan & Prairie Topp Grace City, ND (701) 674-3152 toppherefords.com