Midwest Beef Cattle Consultants 22nd Annual Open House and Bull and Female Sale
SATURDAY, MARCH 15 | OPEN HOUSE 10 AM | SALE 1 PM
WELCOME
What a great time to be in the beef business. Prices are at record highs and there has never been a better time to invest in cattle that work for you and not the other way around. Raising cattle should be fun and profitable and we are here to help you achieve your goals in the cattle business.
When I call our bull buyers a year or more after their purchases the most common response is, “I should have purchased my bulls from you years ago. The calves are the best I’ve eve had.” We expect excellent calving ease, tremendous docility, good growth, moderate frame and milk production. We are not chasing maximums but wanting to produce a “Balanced” animal. The females you keep from our bulls will be fertile, calm, easy calving with excellent longevity.
Producers appreciate that we raise cattle just like you do. Our cattle are not pampered. They are expected to graze forage and corn crop residue for much of the year, so they are problem free and fun to raise. Our bulls are endurance athletes, not overfed couch potatoes. If you select females at our sale, expect them to be around for 10-12 (or more) years.
In addition to complete EPDs, the bulls are rated from 1-5 stars on various traits.
Calving ease: 5 = use on heifers, 4 =use on cows and a few heifers, 3= use on cows, 2 = steer
Growth, carcass: 5 = elite, 4 = very good, 3 = good, 2 = steer females: 5 = elite, 4 = very good, 3 = good, 1 or 2 = terminal bull (not ideal for female production)
If you are unable to attend the sale, please register for a buyer number before the sale at: https://live-ag.com/
& CARLI HINTON 317-409-0404
Please contact any MBCC member prior to the sale. We think that buying cattle that will improve your herd is a really big deal, and we are here to help you in that process.
All bulls have passed a breeding soundness exam and are guaranteed to be breeders
Calves will be vigorous at birth and jump up to nurse
Growth rate will be outstanding
Daughters will be low input, fertile, easy-keeping, front pasture cows that will have long productive careers
Structural correctness is guaranteed for life
Health is guaranteed - Johne’s and BVD PI free
Calving ease on cows is guaranteed and 5 star calving ease bulls are certified for use on heifers
All bulls are free of known genetic defects
INCENTIVES
Take $100 off the price of each bull if you haul your bulls on sale day. Bulls not hauled on sale day can stay at M5 Family Farms until May 1 at no additional charge.
Credit of $10/head up to $100 total on a future purchase if you put calves from one of our bulls into IBEEF or similar retained ownership program AND provide us with gain and carcass data. You reap the carcass premiums and see the superior growth and carcass genetics from MBCC bulls and we get to use the data to improve our herds.
SALE DESCRIPTION
Bulls and females will have their base price listed on the ‘buyer board’ and everyone with interest on a particular animal can place their buyer number next to the animal’s ID. You do not have to have your number next to the animal’s lot number to bid, but we find that most buyers do this. If more than one person has interest in buying the animal, each will have the opportunity to bid by $100 (bulls) or $50 (females) increments until we have a buyer. If you are the only person with your number next to an animal’s number and no one else bids, you get to buy the animal at the base price. Placing your number next to an animal’s ID does NOT obligate you to purchase or bid on the animal.
There are two unique things that we do to help you get one of your top choice animals for the least money (really!). First, we ask you to rank your top three bull and female choices. You need to call Mark (765-714-1092) by noon on Friday, March 14 to give me your top 3 bulls and top 3 female choices (or top 6 choices if you need 2 or more).
We then make the sale order based on the number of producers that have an animal ranked highly. We have all been to sales where we really want the animal that is slated to sell 4th in the sale, but we also like the 2nd one due to sell. The 2nd animal in the sale sells for $100 below the price you were willing to spend, and you think “I just got a bargain.” Now the 4th animal is offered for sale, and it brings in $1000 less than you would have paid. Now you are disappointed. That rarely happens here; ~90% of our buyers take home their first or second choice bull.
When a buyer purchases an animal, we ask if they are interested in any others. If they need additional animals, their buyer number stays on the board with the selected bulls or females. If not, we erase their buyer number associated with every other bull or female they marked. This allows you to see most of your competition for the animals on your list.
If you cannot attend the sale, please call one of the MBCC Team members before the sale. We will listen to your goals and help you rank your options. The best option is to bid via LiveAg (live-ag.com). The next best option is to have us bid for you. Over our last 5 sales we have sold 86% of the bulls the day of the open house. If you need a quality bull, please join us Saturday, March 15th!
If you have questions about bulls and/or females, call us ahead of the sale and please arrive by 10 AM. We get very busy around 11 AM, and we do not want to neglect you. Getting the right animals is a BIG DEAL and we are glad to help.
MARCH 15TH SALE SCHEDULE
10:00 am Sign in & View Bulls & Females
12:00 noon Lunch Provided
1:00 pm Bull Sale starts; female sale immediately after bull sale.
THE MISSION OF MIDWEST
BEEF CATTLE CONSULTANTS
Provide practical information and herd improving genetics that will enhance your bottom line. Raising beef cattle should be profitable and enjoyable. When your cattle are easy calving, efficient, vigorous at birth, low maintenance, easy fleshing, high growth, moderate milk, excellent disposition, fertile and produce a superior carcass, you have the combination of traits that put a smile on your face and money in the bank.
PRESALE WEBINAR
Please mark your calendar for Thursday, March 13, 8pm Eastern Time for a presale webinar. Mark will use lot 1 as an example to discuss each EPD and phenotypic measurement listed and what it means to your beef business.
We will also remind you about getting your top bull and female choices to Mark by Friday, March 14 at noon so I can make the sale order.
Want more details on the bulls where we are retaining a semen interest? We will also discuss this.
You will receive a link to join the webinar a few days before the event.
If you have specific questions about which bulls fit your goals, please call any MBCC team member soon after you receive this catalog so we can help you develop a list of bulls that fit your goals.
Seven year-old MBCC cow weighing 1200# with 660# (186 days of age and no creep feed) Balancer bull calf at side ready to be weaned. If this kind work for you, come to our sale.
BLACK BALANCER BULLS
TITAN 16M
1 40GV, 60AN
3/4/2024 AMGV1595118
TEHAMA TAHOE B767
TAHOE E118 52K
LRL ARIANNA E118 ET
PETERSON DISCOVERY 5108
RIED 118F
BETHANY 218D
38.8
HOMO BLACK
5.4
A great example of the thickness of the 52K Tahoe calves. The dam goes back to Mark’s 218 cow so longevity is in the genes. This moderate frame bull has 19/23 EPDs and $ indexes above average.
***EPDs top 35% (50% for WW and YW, 15-85% for milk) highlighted and bold***
WEIGHTLIFTER 54M
3/02/2024 AMGV1599591
TEHAMA TAHOE B767
TAHOE E118 52K
LRL ARIANNA E118 ET
K C F BENNETT ABSOLUTE CANDICE 6JE ET MBCC COLLEGE FUND 6J
Growth bull extraordinaire. Top 3% WW, 5% YW, 40% marbling & 20% feeder profit index. Top 30% stay and $cow. Dam is 3x Dam of Merit winner.
MAGA TEHAMA-LEEN 32M
3/04/2024 AMGV1599869
TEHAMA UPWARD Y238
TEHAMA TAHOE B767
TEHAMA MARY BLACKBIRD Y684
OPTIMIZER 148A24
JO-LEEN G24
LRL JO-LEEN E71
MSCM TAHOE E118 52K
We are thrilled with our “52K” calves and will be using him even heavier in 2025. He is top 15% for Calving ease (CED), top 4% for Stayability (measure of cow longevity) and $cow, top 25% for marbling and below average for carcass weight (more moderate females).
TEHAMA TAHOE B767
TAHOE E118 52K
LRL ARIANNA E118 ET BTBR NEVADA 1170Y MS NEVADA ALL-IN 79G BROOKS AL IN 63C
Super Tahoe E118 “52K” son that is sure to add pounds to your calves. Top 2% WW and YW along with top 4% FPI in a 45GV/55AN power bull. Top
50% SEMEN INTEREST
We are retaining 50% semen interest on lots 4, 29, 31 and 39. You are buying 100% of the bull and will receive 100% of the value of the bull when you sell him. We will equally share all costs of trucking for semen collection, semen collection, freezing and storage. All proceeds from semen sale will be shared on a 50:50 basis. We have retained semen interest on 5 bulls previously and all buyers have made some profit after all the costs of collection, etc. have been paid. Please do not expect to put one of your kids through college with the money you will make selling semen. Very few bulls become "blockbusters" in semen sales. We feel these 4 bulls are all good enough to use in our MBCC herds and collecting semen on them is a way for us and others to use these bulls.
If you have additional questions, please call Mark.
BLACK BALANCER BULLS
BRCC DELAWARE 9M
3/11/2024 AMGV1600637
CAROLINA LEVERAGE 3214A
HILLE STOCK OPTIONS D410
HILLE B189 ET
THOMAS TOP HAND 0536
MS TOP IMPACT 51D MISS IMPACT 11B
62GV, 38AN
LWO DIVIDEND 48M
3/20/2024 AMGV1611700
CAROLINA LEVERAGE 3214A
D410
Stock Options sons are sure to please especially when you are looking for calves that grow. This Stock Options son will follow suit. Dam is an 8 yr old front pasture female out of Top Hand.
STOCK OPTIONS IS ANOTHER BULL WE KEEP USING DUE TO HIS BREADTH OF QUALITIES. TOP 1% STAYABILITY AND $COW (KEEP ALL THE DAUGHTERS) ALONG WITH TOP 1% WW, 4% YW AND 35% MARBLING. HIS CALVES GROW AND GRADE.
BRCC CAYUGA 71M
3/24/2024 AMGV1600644
Want a bull that does it all? No holes in this Stock Options son. Top 10% WW, 15% marbling, 20% YW, 30% stay. Keep all the daughters and feed all the steers. Half brother to $10,800 MBCC Edey 55L that sold to Jeff Ryan in Iowa in last year’s sale.
BIG OPTIONS 18M
3/06/2024 AMGV1593296
Big time curve bender bull, thick stout and moderate defines this easy keeper. Top 15% CED, 2%YW & WW. Great phenotype. Will add thickness to his calves.
BRCC POTAWATOMI 22M
3/18/2024 AMGV1600645 V A R DISCOVERY
Options
DCH HILLE STOCK OPTIONS D410
BLACK BALANCER BULLS
DCH TRIPLE K HUSKER G413
CALVING EASE SIRE WITH ALL “FEMALE TRAIT” EPDS TOP 20% OR BETTER AND TOP 15% MARBLING. KEEP ALL THE DAUGHTERS.
BRCC MIANI 77M
3/10/2024 AMGV1600649
CORNHUSKER RED 524C
TRIPLE
Super heifer bull. 64% GV. His dam is moderate and deep ribbed with Watchman, Fortitude, Arnold and Carolina Fortune behind her. Retaining heifers is an option.
TOP CUT 3M
2/05/2024 AMGV1595126
BENNETT B29
High growth performance bull that boasts top 1%YW, 4%WW, 15% MARB. Strong carcass merit, use on mature cows to gain all the value at weaning time.
HUSKER 17M
3/23/2024 AMGV1605339
CORNHUSKER RED 524C
TRIPLE K HUSKER G413
HILLE E720
BENNETT Y504
CATHY
From a 72lb calf to a unique herdsire, Triple K Husker calves don’t disappoint. Dam is a super docile and AGA 3-time Dam of Merit. Top 15%YW & WW
BRCC KICKAPOO 24M
3/15/2024 AMGV1600639
BASIN PAYWEIGHT 11682 EARLY ENCOUNTER 536E MS SAM 536C
K C F BENNETT ABSOLUTE MISS ABSOLUTE 52D
Moderate in frame and solid EPDs offer the opportunity to retain heifers or feed out his calves. Fits nicely in a freezer beef business. Homo Black and docile.
Big time performance bull with chart topping growth. Great for mature cows for feedlot calves. Will make standout calves at weaning with this Bennett E906 son . Top 15% marb.
BLACK BALANCER BULLS
15
BRCC MUNCIE 12M
3/13/2024 AMGV1600648
AT EASE A357 PLAINSMAN JUBAL 1104J DESERT ROSE 9001G
THOMAS TOP HAND 0536 MS ABSOLUTE TOP HAND 7F P60D
45GV, 50AN, 3SM
Well balanced EPD’s for this 74% GV All American J109 son. Top 20%YW &WW. Don’t miss this one on sale day! Carries red gene.
16
MR AMERICAN 13M
3/1/2024 AMGV1595122
TPG FRONTRUNNER 2510F ALL AMERICAN J109 F109 ET DITKA C85 245G BROOKE 45D
73GV, 27AN
35.7
ALL AMERICAN
PUREBRED SIRE THAT IS VERY UNIQUE BEING IN THE TOP 5% OR BETTER FOR WW AND YW WHILE BEING TOP 25% OR BETTER FOR STAYABILITY AND $COW. HE IS ALSO TOP 1% FOR MARBLING.
DIESEL 59M
3/28/2024 AMGV1599588
HILLE STOCK OPTIONS D410 MSCM UNO K62 M5 MS PROPHET 43G
MR KRUGERRAND 70M 130P CHRISTINE 53Z ET LUANN 5M
Outstanding bull with versatility and solid EPDs. Calves will perform in the feedlot while daughters may be retained in the herd. Top 20% MB, WW and YW.
DOS NUEVES 33M
3/6/2024
Combo growth and maternal bull. Top 20% WW & YW; top 30% stayability and $cow. Dam is 13 years old and has settle 11/12 years first service AI with a perfect udder. Higher % Gelbvieh bull to use on higher % Angus cows.
MR PRIMETIME 19M
3/6/2024 AMGV1593295
DEER VALLEY GROWTH FUND RUMFELT’S PRIME TIME H96G LONG HAUL PRINCESS E96A ET WESTERN HAULER 028S MS HAULER 004C
44GV, 56AN
Rare combination of extreme calving ease and super growth. Top 15% CED, 2% WW & YW. Use on a group of high % Angus heifers to make fantastic feeder calves.
BLACK BALANCER BULLS
BRCC WYANDOTTE 28M
3/21/2024 AMGV1600640
BENNETT Y6
MBCC NO RISK 8F
MISS RHONDA C516
BROOKS 6I6 17B
MS 6I6 CF 104D
BRCC O121A
44GV, 56AN
BRCC LENAPE 49M
4/5/2024 AMGV1600662
CIVIL WAR E92
801H MR CW LEVERAGE ERICA
801F LEVERAGE ERICA
LAZY TV TANK X315 D2A1 ERTL 2A1 CAROLINE
Typical son of MBCC No Risk 8F. Long and stout. 28M will add pounds, growth and carcass to your feeders. His 9 year old dam ranks second in the Brooks herd. Homo Black.
BRCC NANTICOKE 74M
3/28/2024 AMGV1600647
CIVIL WAR E92
801H MR CW LEVERAGE ERICA
801F LEVERAGE ERICA
BENNETT Y6
MS HELEN’S P16F OF Y6 SHOW LADY GOV 897U
Civil War grandson with very solid growth, maternal and carcass EPDs. Top 10% WW, FPI & CW; 15% YW & marb; 25% stay and 30% CEM. Homo Black. Homo polled.
BRCC POKAGON 21M
3/17/2024 AMGV1601842 H21 MR TEXPLAY F21 263K MR TEXPLAY 119 BY 808 119H ET 4308 TWISTER K C F BENNETT ABSOLUTE P50D
Balancer with strong maternal EPDs. 74M has good growth and carcass along with top 25% $/Cow, 30% FPI, 30% ADG and 35% EPI. Homo Black.
10M
POST ROCK 262M8
1/20/2024 AMGV1596821
BALDRIDGE ALTERNATIVE E125 PREFERENCE 214K ET MS TWISTER 8167F ET
HOMO
Calving ease bull with excellent growth. Excellent option for high % Angus heifers. Ranks in the top 5% for $COW. Will make a great herd sire to sell feeders or keep back heifers. Red gene carrier.
YEARLING BLACK BALANCER BULL MATURE BLACK BALANCER BULL
PATRIARCH 114M
3/4/2024 AMGV1602256
S S NIAGARA Z29
TEHAMA PATRIARCH F028
TEHAMA ELITE BLACKBIRD
REBEL YELL 804F ET MUEG 64J POST ROCK GT 307B8
Heifer bull with top 10% CED & YW, 30% stay and 3% marb. Many calving ease bulls lack growth, not this one. A great fit for Balancer or SimAngus heifers. Black, red carrier. 26
BRCC 56J
3/10/2021 AMGV1512545
TEHAMA UPWARD Y238
TEHAMA TAHOE B767
TEHAMA MARY BLACKBIRD
SB ARNOLD 82D
MS ARNOLD’S FORTUNE 93G BRCC O121A
Mature bull ready to breed 50 cows this spring. Perfect for a group of SimAngus, Balancer or crossbred cows and a few heifers. All his calves born unassisted so far. Scrotal circumference is actual measurement on 2/5/25.
AVAILABLE SERVICES
• Large and Small Animal Medicine
• Large Animal Haul - in Facility
• Large Animal Farm Visits
• Consulting
• Providing Services to Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio
David Walton Jr . DVM
Ashley Green DVM Dr. Nicole Kahmann DVM
RED BALANCER BULLS
RED MAPLE 40M ET
28 50GV, 50AR
3/13/2024 AMGV1600967
PIE STOCKMAN 4051
BIEBER CL STOCKMARKET E119
BIEBER CL ADELLE 475C
CORNHUSKER RED 524C
KHR 812F KHR 647D
Get ready for these 4 ET full brothers! 40M is “Mr All-Around.” He is above average in 17/23 EPDs/value indexes with top 3% marbling. Want the most moderate replacments? 40M is the one.
REDWOOD 42M ET
3/16/2024 AMGV1600970
PIE STOCKMAN 4051
BIEBER CL STOCKMARKET E119
BIEBER CL ADELLE 475C
CORNHUSKER RED 524C
KHR 812F
KHR 647D
50AR
RED CEDAR 41M ET
3/16/2024 AMGV1600968
PIE STOCKMAN 4051
BIEBER CL STOCKMARKET E119
BIEBER CL ADELLE 475C
CORNHUSKER
Heifer bull with top 15% CED and 1% CEM (daughter’s calving ease). Top 40% stay and 3% marbling! Keep all the daughters and feed the steers. Retaining 50% semen interest.
RED OAK
43M
ET
3/24/2024 AMGV1600974
PIE STOCKMAN 4051
BIEBER CL STOCKMARKET E119
BIEBER CL ADELLE 475C
CORNHUSKER RED 524C
KHR 812F KHR 647D
Power bull of the ET full brothers with top 15% WW & YW. Highest marbling bull in the sale with top 1/2 of 1% for marbling. Will make tremendous feedlot calves that grow and hit the prime premium.
Highest maternal bull of the 4 ET full brothers. Top 20% stay with top 25% WW & YW. Top 10% marbling. Keep all the daughters and feed the steers for carcass premiums. Retaining 50% semen interest.
BIEBER CL STOCKMARKET E119 812F CALF
STOCKMARKET HAS BEEN ONE OF THE HEAVIEST USED RED ANGUS BULLS IN THE BREED. WHY? BECAUSE HE DOES IT ALL - EXCELLENT CALVING EASE, SUPER GROWTH AND TOP 1% MARBLING. DAUGHTERS ARE MODERATE WITH PERFECT UDDERS AND FEET.
WE HAVE PRODUCERS THAT WANT TOP QUALITY RED BALANCER BULLS SO I PURCHASED WHAT I THINK IS ONE OF THE BEST RED PUREBRED COWS IN THE BREED. CHECK OUT THE UDDER ON THIS 7 YEAR-OLD COW. TOP 10% WW & YW, 25% STAY AND 15% $COW. DAM OF MERIT WITH AGA.
RED BALANCER BULLS
32
SPARTICUS TIME 38M
3/1/2024 AMGV1602247
BIEBER CL ENERGIZE F121
JUST N TIME 714J
MS COLLEGIAN 714E
BIEBER SPARTACUS A193
MS SPARTICUS 0136H
MS BUDDY BOY 5225C
44GV, 56AR
Moderate framed, thick built Just N Time son. Calving ease, Top 30% Growth, top 15% MARB, Top 5% $COW, Top 10% FPI. You will not go wrong this red-hided bull.
123 TIME 15M
3/4/2024 AMGV1602277
BIEBER CL ENERGIZE F121
JUST N TIME 714J
MS COLLEGIAN 714E
HILLE COLLEGIAN C134 HILLE F123 HILLE C243
RED
39.8
Want to make
SIM-AN-GELB AND SIMANGUS COMPOSITE BULLS
35
2/24/2023 AMGV1611698
BENNETT Y6
MBCC REWARD 4F
MISS SARAH C518
HOOK’S BEACON 56B
LWO BEACO N K29
20GV, 55AN, 25SM
BENNETT Y6
MBCC REWARD 4F
REWARD PLUS 5M
2/23/2024 AMGV1611699
MISS SARAH C518
GIBBS 738E BROAD RANGE LWO BROAD RANG E K37
We could sell bulls like this MBCC Reward 4F son all day long! Heifer bull - top 10% CED with top 25% WW & YW, 20% stay, 10% marbling and Feeder profit index. Cha-ching! Keep the daughters and feed the steers.
3/13/2024
HOOKS SHEAR FORCE 38K
HOOK’S BEACON 56B
HOOKS ZAFIRAH 41Z
D A R BULL CITY R111
18G8
These 3-way GV:SM:AN continue to impress us. Top 10% or better in WW, YW, MARB, and FPI. He also ranks in the top 25% for Calving ease. Send the steers to the feedyard and keep back the heifers. 37
44SM,
Sleep all night calving ease with this “4F” son. Top 2% CED, 1% CEM, 20% stay & 25% marb. 3 breed composite for instant hybrid vigor. Best bull in the sale to make low maintenance females.
BEACON
BEACON IS ONE OF THE BEST SIMMENTAL BULLS IN THE BREED BECAUSE HE CHECKS ALL THE BOXES. TOP 10% CED AND STAY, 4% MARBLING AND 2% API (ALL PURPOSE INDEX). SIRE OF LOT 37 AND GRANDSIRE OF LOTS 35 & 39.
50SM, 50AN
SIMANGUS 118M
3/11/2024 ASA4372455
522
PRI ME TIME 253
PUREBRED AND HIGH % GELBVIEH BULLS
CORNHUSKER RED 524C TRIPLE K HUSKER G413 HILLE E720
86% Gelbvieh performance bull with top 10% YW & WW. Docile and easy keeping, this “Husker” son will add hybrid vigor and calves will press down those scales a weaning time.
LRSF M36
2/14/2024 AMGV1598791
TPG FRONTRUNNER 2510F DYNAMIC J164
LRL JOLEEN D92 ET FULL POWER 46F ARIANNA K206 ARIANNA G102 ET
Calving ease 86% Gelbvieh bull with top 35% YW, 20% stay and 3% Marb. Excellent option for Angus, Hereford, SimAngus or Balancer heifers. 5 stars across the board.
3/19/2024
HUSKER 4M
2/10/2024 AMGV1595128
CORNHUSKER RED 524C TRIPLE K HUSKER G413 HILLE E720
NEW HORIZON C51 ET RIED RYLEE G172 ET SVVG U810 RYLEE
From calving ease to carcass traits this 87.5% Gelbvieh has a lot to offer. Top 10% CED and Marb. Very moderate framed to make low-maintenance females.
Heifer bull with top 5% CED, 35% marbling and 25% feeder profit index. Use in high percentage Angus heifers for calving ease and added hybrid vigor. Black, red carrier.
Cow-calf Pair
Cow-calf Pair
Lot # Ear tag DOB
FEMALES
50 127K 2/21/22 Balancer 111.8 MBCC No Risk 8F
50 127K 2/21/22
Calf ID Calf sire calf DOB Calf sex Base price Bennett E906 $3,500
Debut - South Devon - very moderate, females, carcass
Debut - South Devon - very moderate, females, carcass
The feedback we get from our producers that selected open heifers in past sales has been outstanding. Calm, fertile, moderate “front pasture” genetics. Don’t have a regret a year from now that you missed these females.
Phone: 765-629-2134 Fax: 765-629-2432
We ar e gr owing! We are excited to expand our lar ge animal ser vices with the addition of a haul-in facility. T his facility will include:
· a hydr aulic cattle chute and tilt table
· holding pens for cattle
· equine exam and tr eatment r oom with day stall
· swine exam, tr eatment, and sur ger y r oom
· small r uminant exam and tr eatment area
We will continue to of fer ambulator y ser vices as well. Call our of fice today for your her d health, r eproductive, and emer gency car e needs! 700 E Main St.
Dr. Rob Jackman
Dr. Kayla Baird
THE BEEF BUSINESS
“BULL”ETIN
The reason we named our newsletter ‘The Beef Business “Bull”etin’ is that we feel that your beef cattle business should be a business. (And it should also be fun!)
When I was in veterinary college, each senior student is required to give a seminar during a block of the student’s choice. I chose to give mine in my Large Animal Medicine and Surgery rotation and my topic was “Developing a Beef Cow-calf Herd Health Program in Private Practice”. The reason that I selected this topic was that as a young boy on our family farm, I saw the impact our herd health veterinarian had on our beef business. We were ‘pig farmers from the time I was born until the age of 10 at which time my parents bought a larger farm. The farm had what my dad called “rough ground”, and he declared that we needed to buy some beef cows.
After my talk, one of my favorite professors came up to me, shook my hand and said, “Great talk, Mark. . . . . It will never work! Beef cow calf producers are generally not progressive, and they surely will not pay for advice. If you want to do consulting, do swine, feedlot or dairy.” While I enjoyed swine and dairy practice, beef was my passion. I was determined to make this work and after much more learning, I launched my “Total Beef Herd Health Program” with 10 herd owners signed up.
Our herd health veterinarian was not only tasked with treating sick animals. He became a trusted advisor and was an asset to our beef team. That is what I have been privileged to do for 41 years, and it is the joy of my veterinary career.
I had no plans of starting a genetics business, but after seeing my clients in Iowa pay good money for bulls that did not improve their herd, I realized I needed to see if I could help. Many times, these bulls were overfed and did not last long enough in the herd. We had calving issues, calves that did not know how to nurse and cows with bad udders. Some bulls clearly did not fit the owners’ goals, but the seller was determined to sell the potential buyer ‘something’. I looked at all the ‘problems’ I saw on a daily basis and said, “I want none of that. I want to produce cattle that are as close to problem-free as I can get. My clients have many other business enterprises – crops, trucking, construction, off-farm work, etc. – and they do not need to be spending time fixing problems with the cow herd.”
We want our cattle to work for you, so you don’t have to work harder. Please examine the bulls and females listed in the catalog and see if some of them fit your goals. We think there are many that will, but if they do not, we will help you find animals that do.
SUCCESS STORIES
I just received a note from a young producer that opted to feed out his own calves (sired by a son of MBCC No Risk 8F) and sell as freezer beef. “Switching to freezer beef has been one of our best business decisions. It has allowed us to go from writing the beef business an ‘IOU’ to now the business pays us.” He also said this about their 8F son, “I’ve had some good bulls before, but he’s our best yet! He covered all the cows with 67% calving in the first cycle.”
I received a call from a producer a few years ago that said as soon as he told a bull seller how many cows he had, they immediately showed no interest in helping him. On his initial call, he was looking for a few bred cows. We were sold out, so I referred him to an excellent producer of Balancer cattle where he purchased 3 bred cows. A year later he is looking for a new bull and another cow. We listened to his goals and suggested a bull and cow that we felt would move his genetics forward. He sold the bull last fall for more than he paid for him and will be at our upcoming sale looking for another herd improver. Our thought is that if someone wants to raise better beef, we want to be there to help.
Our goal at MBCC is to become an asset to your beef business. We want you to be very successful and if that means helping with nutrition, health, how to save 30% of your hay, how to get more for your cattle or helping you select bulls and females that will allow you to reach your goals, we want to be there.
Genomic EPDs
Over the past years, the technology of using an animal’s DNA to predict its future production has become much more reliable. Every bull in the sale has genomic-enhanced EPDs (GE EPDs). A tissue sample was sent to the lab and their DNA was analyzed to more accurately predict their EPDs. Some bulls did not keep their testicles due to this information and I say, “better to know now rather than later.” The number one reason we do this is to give you more confidence in buying a 5-star calving ease bull. Having genomic-enhanced EPDs improves the accuracy of the EPD and allows you to have greater confidence in the producing ability of that animal. For example, a bull with GE EPDs is equal in confidence/accuracy on calving ease to a bull that has sired 26 calves! That is huge when it comes to buying a yearling bull to use on heifers.
“Salebarn
cow” from Arkansas with MBCC Balancer sired calf at side. If you can get this quality of calf out of a cow like this, think what you will get with your good cows!
TERMS & CONDITIONS
TERMS: Cash or Check and settlement must be made before cattle leave the sale facility. All cattle sell under the terms and conditions of the American Gelbvieh Association.
HEALTH INFORMATION: All cattle sell with a valid health certificate that will allow shipment anywhere in the Continental United States.
REGISTRATION PAPERS: All papers on registered animals selling are in order and will be transferred to the new owner. Papers will be mailed by the AGA and should be to the new owner within 30 days.
EPDS: All EPDs on registered bulls are provided by the American Gelbvieh Association and are current at printing of the sale book.
LIABILITY: All persons attending the sale do so at their own risk. Midwest Beef Cattle Consultants, LLC; M5 Family Farms; M5 Ag Services, LLC; Brooks Farms, Inc./Blue Ridge Farms; Wirth Farms and BJ Riedie assume no liability for accidents, theft, or damages occurring at the sale facility.
CATTLE INSURANCE
We strongly encourage you to purchase insurance on your bulls. You can do this through your own insurance company or you can contact Thompson Insurance at Washington, Indiana. See their ad on page 14.
Ever year or so we get a call from a producer that has purchased a bull and then he gets injured or dies due to no fault of the owner. We feel purchasing a policy for the first year of ownership is a good idea to protect your investment.
We will have forms from Thompson available at check out. If you want to purchase a policy, please contact them. Mark will fill out the health information for you as the veterinarian of record at no cost.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
DISPOSITION SCORES
Each bull has a disposition score. We consider “3” to be average in docility, “4” is calm/docile and “5” is extremely calm/docile. We rate the bulls like this because we have some customers that want a very tame bull and that would be a “5”. The bulls rated “4” are well above average and will be very acceptable to all but the most discriminating buyers. If you have narrowed your list to 5 bulls that are perfect for your herd, and some rate “4” and others rate “5” for disposition, do not eliminate the “4’s” thinking they are not good enough. We rated the disposition via a combination of Chris’ assessment of being around them every day along with a “chute exit score”. A bull that rates a “4” is calm in the lot, approaches Chris, but won’t let him pet him. He walks out of the chute at a normal walking speed. A “5” allows you to pet him and walks out of the chute for about 10’ and then stops and turns to look at you. When we weighed the bulls on January 7, I took videos of each bull. I videoed 14 bulls before I got a bull that scored “4” as the previous 13 scored “5”. This is the quietest set of bulls we’ve ever offered.
HOW T O READ AN D INTERPRET EPDS
Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) are 7-9 times more accurate in predicting the performance of a bull’s calves than actual data (like birth and weaning weight) as they consider all ancestors of the bull to predict the performance of his offspring. Our bull buyers have been buying bulls based on EPDs (and phenotypic traits like frame score, great feet and legs, dam’s teat/udder score) for many years and the proof is in the offspring.
Before you purchase a bull, the first things you should examine are the bull’s genetics and his EPDs.
If you are buying a bull for heifers, buy a 5-star calving ease bull. These bulls are guaranteed to be excellent for calving ease on heifers. This is not a guarantee of never having to pull a calf. It is our best tool to predict excellent calving ease on heifers.
If you are buying a bull for mature cows, do not even look at the calving ease direct (CED) or birthweight (BW) EPD. Every bull in the sale is guaranteed to produce very acceptable calving ease on cows. Of course, you will occasionally get a calf that is coming breech or with a leg back and it will need assistance. You will not get a bunch of gigantic calves that have to be pulled due to excessive size on any of our bulls. Remember—low maintenance! Our cattle work for you, not the other way around.
When buying a bull for cows, look at the genetics of your cows. If your cows are 75% or more Angus, you want a bull that is 25-100%
of a Continental breed like Gelbvieh and/or Simmental. If your cows are 25% or more Simmental, a Balancer bull is ideal. If 25% or more Gelbvieh, a SimAngus may be what you need. Our Sim-An-Gelb composite bulls will work in many situations adding extra hybrid vigor in this 3-breed composite. We are glad to help you select the best bulls for your cows based on your herd goals.
Crossbred cows produce a profit of over $300/cow/year more than a straightbred cow at today›s prices and anything over 75% is a straightbred. Heterosis or hybrid vigor is the only free lunch in the beef business.
We have DNA tested every bull and female in the sale so the accuracy of the EPDs is greatly improved. Instead of one of our bulls having sired zero calves, it is as if these bulls have sired 20-30 calves. Imagine the advantage of buying a bull that has already sired 20-30 calves. You will buy with much more confidence regarding calving ease, growth, carcass traits and daughter’s fertility. All females that scored poorly on their DNA test have been put in the feedlot. The females in this sale are replacement quality females.
WW EPD is a trait you should study if you sell calves at weaning while YW EPD is the best indicator of growth if you sell cattle to slaughter. Marbling is another trait of importance if you sell slaughter cattle or freezer beef. Milk EPD is one of those traits where too much can be a negative. If you have ample forage nearly every year, then a high milk EPD bull is fine. If this is not the case, select a bull that we have rated 5 stars for females. If a bull ranks 4 stars, this is because his milk EPD is in the top 10% of the breed or his frame size is over 6.5. For most herds, we do not want bigger cows. You can find much more information on EPDs on the web. The bottom line is we really want you to call us before you purchase one of our bulls. Our goal is for you to get the best bulls and females for your herd goals
FEMALE FOCUS
We feel that the cow should be the focus of the beef business. If you have cows that are docile, fertile, calve unassisted, love their calves, wean off a big, strapping calf and do for 12 or more years, you have the foundation for a very successful beef business. Add excellent marbling and superior growth and you enhance the ability to add value to your calves by selling as freezer beef or selling on a grid value basis when cattle are finished.
All the above traits are our focus and are bred into our cattle. We think selecting a new herdsire is a really big deal
MIDWEST BEEF CATTLE CONSULTANTS, LLC
W. Mark Hilton, DVM West Lafayette, IN 47906 765-714-1092
MBCCBeefTeam@gmail.com
CATTLEFAX SEMINAR
At our Midwest Beef Cattle Consultants Educational Seminar, we heard from Kevin Good, Vice President at CattleFax who spoke on “Cattle/ Beef Industry Situation Update and Outlook.’
CattleFax is a U.S.-based market research and analysis firm that provides insights on the cattle and beef industry. It serves as a valuable resource for cattle producers, feeders, and other stakeholders by offering data-driven insights into market trends, supply and demand factors, along with pricing.
With the cattle market at record highs and producers asking, “When will this end?”, Kevin’s talk was especially timely.
The cattle cycle typically lasts 10 years with 3-4 years of expansion, 2-3 years of little change in numbers and 3-4 years of retraction in numbers. The current cycle is atypical as we have had 6 years of decreasing cow numbers. This decrease is due mostly to a long-term drought in many of the cattle producing areas of the US along with little incentive to keep back heifers due to their high value and higher interest rates. The past 3 years have seen a large increase in beef cows going to slaughter and this is mainly due to the lack of feed in the drought areas. Good expects an average percentage of beef cows to go to slaughter in 2025 to be near the 10-year average.
Historically the fed cattle market runs 38-39% heifers and in the last few years this number has been over 40%. 2024 was right at the average so this means some producers are starting to retain heifers, but there is no rapid expansion in heifers being held back to breed. 2025 is predicted to again have a very slight increase in heifer retention.
The US is in a 25-year drought cycle and the researchers at CattleFax do not see this changing significantly, which is another reason heifer retention is not expected to ramp up quickly.
Demand for beef is exceptional even at the higher prices at the retail level. There will be a point where consumers select chicken or pork instead of beef, but we have not seen that happen yet. More cattle are grading prime and choice than in years past and that has increased demand. Good expects that slaughter price to be about $13/cwt above 2024 and average about $198/cwt. for 2025 with the high coming early in the year and the low in the fourth quarter of 2025.
There have been several new slaughter facilities built in the last few years and with the low cattle supply, the packers are having to compete for slaughter cattle. This could drive the price even higher in 2025
Adjusted for inflation, the price of corn is the lowest it has been in 20 years, so that should improve profitability for the cattle feeder.
The profitability of the cow-calf sector should be excellent for at least the next two years due to a low supply of calves, very slow expansion of the cow herd and increased competition for feeder and fed cattle. Good
said that even at the high prices they are seeing for bred females, they are actually undervalued compared to the market.
The average cow-calf producer had a profit of $500/cow in 2024, and high return producers were at $625/cow. High profit producers had improved nutrition, better herd health and spent more on genetics than low-profit producers. They had improved fertility and weaned a higher percentage of calves per cow exposed. Producers that spent more than $5500 on a herd bull sold calves for $174/calf more than those that spend less than $5500. This does not include the added value of keeping back replacement females which should push this value even higher.
Their prediction is for 800# feeder cattle to average $270/cwt ($2160/head) in 2025 and 550# feeders to average $340/cwt. ($1870/ head).» Can you imagine telling your grandfather that you got over $2000 for a preconditioned steer?!
2025 should be an excellent year to background or precondition your calves. Feed prices are average to low, and cattle prices are at record high prices. Adding a pound of gain should be very profitable for the cowcalf owner. Also, feedlots are paying a premium for preconditioned calves because at these high prices they cannot afford to have them get sick.
In summary, 2025 looks to be an excellent year for the cow-calf producer.
HOW TO READ THE CATALOG
1. Genetic percentage (see box in upper right corner of bull information)–GV = Gelbvieh; AN = Angus; AR = Red Angus; SM = Simmental; DS = South Devon
2. Color – homozygous black – has 2 genes for the black coat color and all calves from black or red cows will be black; black – these bulls are likely homozygous black, but were not tested; black, red carrier – the bull has 1 black gene and 1 red gene for coat color. On homozygous black cows, all calves will be black. If cows are all red, ~½ the calves will be black and ½ red.
3. SC - scrotal circumference in centimeters. The measurements were taken on 1/7/25 and the measurement is adjusted to a common age of 365 days. A larger measurement is better up to a point. A bull measuring 35cm compared to a bull at 30cm would be expected to service more cows in his first breeding season and sire daughters with improved fertility. 30cm is minimal for passing a Breeding Soundness Examination. If comparing 2 bulls and 1 is 34cm and the other is 36cm, there would be little to no difference in fertility.
4. Frame score – this is a measure of height. If your goal is to produce moderate-framed females, you will need a bull that is not extremely tall. I use a frame score of 6.5 as an upper level if your main goal is producing females. If you want very low-maintenance cows, going even lower would be the goal. On the contrary, if you need a bull to produce only feedlot animals, a taller bull is fine. You probably need to be at 5.5 or higher for this type of bull.
5. Base price – this is the price the bull will sell for if there is only one producer interested in the bull. If the bull does not sell on sale day, this will be his private treaty price.
HOW TO PURCHASE AN ANIMAL ON SALE DAY
Option #1 – Come to the sale on Saturday, March 15 and arrive by 10am (hint – an even better option is to come Friday afternoon to discuss your options); find an MBCC member and ask all your questions. Get a buyer number and select the animals that will improve your beef business.
Option #2 – Can’t make the sale- No worries. Call Chris before the sale and find time to view the bulls and discuss your goals. Sign up with Live Ag (live-ag. com) BEFORE sale day and get a buyer number to bid online.
SALE ORDER
TITAN 16M
3/4/2024 AMGV1595118
TEHAMA TAHOE B767
TAHOE E118 52K
LRL ARIANNA E118 ET
PETERSON DISCOVERY 5108
RIED 118F
BETHANY 218D
COLOR: HOMO BLACK
SC: 38.8
FRAME SCORE: 5.4
BASE PRICE: $5,000
6. Stars – explained on page 2. I recently talked to a fist time attendee at our fall sale and he said, “Well, I only want a bull that is 5 stars across the board.” While I understand that rationale, as explained on page 3 regarding docility, there is very little difference between a 4 and a 5-star bull. If you are selecting a bull to only produce feedlot animals, you do not need a bull that ranks 5 stars for female production. Same with the main goal of making replacement females. If you want very moderate, low-maintenance females, a bull that is 3 or 4 stars for growth will be fine.
7. EPDs – explained in page 3. If you want to view all 23 EPDs and $indexes, please see www.mwbeefcattle.com to see the spreadsheet. You can use this to do a custom sort of the bulls to narrow the list before you call us to talk about ranking the bulls.
Option #3 – same as #2 above but call Mark to give him your bid amount and he will bid for you. We will buy the bull at the lowest price possible guaranteed.
Option #4 – Call BJ Riedie ahead of the sale and he will call you a few bulls before yours is to sell. Warning. The cell reception is not great at the sale facility, so this is a lower rated option.
Our sale is the only one I know of where the buyers make the sale order. If you want the best chance for your top choice bull or female to sell ahead of your 2nd and 3rd choices, call Mark by Friday, March 14 at noon to give him your top 3 (or 6 if you plan to buy multiple animals). I will send the sale order to Hannah at Live Ag, and she will put it on the website on Friday evening. Thank you.
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