Livestock Plus March 2023

50TH ANNUAL BULL SALE Elite

170 HEAD OF ELITE SIMMENTAL, ANGUS AND MAINE ANJOU BULLS

CALVING EASE SIRE SUPREME! The 2016 NWSS Supreme Champion PB Simmental bull, had the #1 highest semen sales of any Simmental or Angus bulls for Cattle Visions in 2021. His calves are stylish and correct with growth, performance, eye appeal, exceptional udders, ideal feet and leg structure. Many powerful Lover Boy sons and grandsons will sell in this offering. 90 years of living, 55 years of A.I.ing the best to the best, and 50 years of bull sales with emphasis on low maintenance, high performance cattle loaded with eye appeal, structural soundness, fleshing ability, carcass and maternal traits has produced a cow herd and consistency second to none!

YOU’RE INVITED! This year will mark the 90th birthday of Simmental’s seed stock legend, Gib Yardley; It will also be Yardley Cattle Company’s 50th annual bull sale! In honor of these milestones, we would like to invite you to come celebrate with us. FRIDAY, MARCH 10th 6:00 pm in Beaver UT, we will be putting on a concert and reception style party to recognize and honor this great man and icon in the cattle industry. We hope to see you there!

iowahereford.org

Iowa is in yo-yo weather season, just don’t know where we will be, temperature up, or temperature down. It’s been a blend of warm and cold, a mixture of warm and windy, cold and windy, and just miserable windy. To really like Iowa, and enjoy Iowa, you need to be born here.

I’m writing this as my grandson Tucker is driving seventy-five miles an hour on a sixty-five mile an hour interstate. Outside chance he will make it as a fieldman, a pinch on the wild side and set for speed, two very important parts of this business.

So far, this February is bittersweet. The bitter side is the news that we lost one of the great equipment dealers in Iowa, Dean Bettis of B&B equipment. This guy was special to Livestock Plus. He has run an ad in every issue of Livestock Plus since we started. He was also the master of salesmanship, as the old saying goes, he could sell ice to Eskimos. Rest in peace Dean. I along with Heidi, Mike & Kim Ehrsam went to

Dean’s visitation and by the size of the line, he was well-respected and liked by everyone.

The sweet side to this trip is there was the opportunity to stop and eat at “Bogie’s Steak House” in Albia. Tony and Kevin never disappoint. Tony is the social butterfly, Kevin can prepare a steak to a perfection, and prepare the best fried taters ever, bad thing they only serve them on Saturday night, darn it. Anyway, we had a great visit and lots of fun. Food was great as usual, steak prepared to a perfection, and Tony just as ornery as ever. Thanks Tony and Kevin!

Now, I am in Des Moines for the Iowa Beef Expo. I guess my body/ brain can only get 7 hours of sleep, so here I am finishing my opening comment at five o’clock in the morning. Yesterday morning I was out looking at the sale cattle around eight o’clock in the morning and something was said over the PA system in the barn. I really didn’t pay much attention to it because I really couldn’t make out what they said, but then I quickly figured it out. Unlike some of our overpaid athletes, all our agriculture folks in that barn that love their country stood at perfect attention removed their hats/caps to show respect for our country as the national anthem was played. Talk about just a great feeling and very proud to be able to stand at attention for this great country. God Bless America!!

As always pray, for our law enforcement, first responders, show respect for your country, and pray for all of our military past, present, and future.

God Bless

A Cowman’s Best Friend at Calving Time!

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The Road Ahead for Markets

by Michael Seek Fox Group at the Board of Trade

The monthly inflation data for this last month was released and both Core Inflation and Inflation Year over Year came in higher than expected. The markets did not react as violently as many veterans on Wall Street would have expected. However, if you look closely at the charts up above you can see that trouble looms on the horizon. The inflation rate of 6.4% was more than THREE TIMES the 2% Federal Reserve inflation mandate. Take the 6.4% inflation rate off the current mortgage rates of 6.67% and you end up with a near zero ‘real rate’. Real rates this low are not likely to achieve the Fed’s mandate of 2%. The world has become so accustomed to near zero rates that the Five Year Treasury Yieldd displayed in the charts above looks laughable. It is not.

As interest rates normalize over the next 2 years while the Federal Reserve unwinds the balance sheet of the Mortgage Backed Securities and Treasuries the US Dollar should have some powerful rallies. Think of the US Dollar as 2-ply tissue. The US is awash in debt with over 30 Trillion Dollars of national debt. However, the other industrialized countries have similar or worse debt issues and thus you could consider the other currencies of the world as 1-ply tissue.

Regardless of whether the interest rate normalization helps facilitate a recession or instead reduces exports of United States grain and beef and energy the end result is a lose-lose. Add into this equation the escalating tensions between China and the United States and you have China buying less and less from us and more from whoever will capitulate to the whims of the Chinese leadership.

Major banks have already given forward guidance that forecasts recession and difficult days for the banking industry. Amazon and Google stocks broke sharply the last several weeks and Home Depot stock has broken sharply off 6 month highs. The combination of the foregoing implies that hedging asset classes from Grain to Cattle production.

The stock market via the SP500 Dow Jones Industrial Averages may survived the inflation data on the 14th, however, the market is not likely to survive very long at such lofty levels when the biggest investor in the world—the Federal Reserve—is unwinding its balance sheet for the first time in 14 years. The Piper has to be paid and always will have to be paid.

Cattle prices have been a blessing to most producers since Thanksgiving and the high price for cash Fats sure came in handy. However, the old adage ‘if everyone is long then is left to buy’….comes to mind. June Fat Cattle finishes’ have not been friendly to cattle producers for many years and there is no reason to not trust the multi-dollar discount on June Fat Cattle to April Fat Cattle and get May and June and July finished Fat Cattles hedged. Ditto on Corn prices for producers of the yellow kernel. December new crop Corn has been at a massive discount to old crop March Corn for over 2 months now and this too should be trusted and the new crop Corn sold ‘hedged’ by producers of the yellow kernel. December Corn says the guys who make Orville Redenbacher popcorn will not be squeezed on the price nor the supply thereof.

AI Sires:

IOWA CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION

Teamwork helps grow the ICA herd

2023 is off to the races and your member services team is busy traveling the state. Cattle Forums started in early January and haven’t slowed down since. We hope you were able to make one of the two options in your region and if not we still have several to go in February and March.

This is a busy time of year for all of your staff at the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) as well as your local volunteer leaders. The Iowa Cattle Industry Leadership Summit kicked off the beginning of meeting season as well as celebrating our county boards with their local county banquets. This time of year gives us all a chance to reminisce on last year as well as look forward to what is to come in 2023.

You often hear staff refer to membership as the ICA herd. No pun intended, but we do feel that as we continue to meet with our producers across the state we develop the “herd” or team necessary to work together. As you see our Cattle Producer Forums are held across the state, please take advantage and attend when you can.

These educational events also offer up an opportunity for you to hear an ICA update as well provide feedback to what is happening in your area. You will often hear us ask producers, “what keeps you up at night?” This question allows us to keep at the forefront of topics that are affecting our producers across the state. This is where the teamwork of our herd really comes together.

A quote that I often hear when talking about teamwork comes from Hellen Keller, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” This quote is very true in connection with the team that we have built through our staff, boards and producers at ICA. The more we come together at these state and local meetings to work through topics, the more direction we have to help our beef industry continue to thrive and be passed through several generations.

As you decide “should I attend that banquet or should I go to that Cattle Producer Forum?” -- the answer should always be yes! Yes to celebrating the accomplish-

Below: Produers gathered in Leon, IA and Anthon, IA during the Decatur and Woodbury Counties Cattle Producer Forums. Attendees were able to listen to guest speakers and hear updates from IBIC and ICA. The ICA is hosting additional forums during February and March. RSVP to 515-2962266 for the forum nearest you!

ments of each of our local boards and yes to continuing to learn, while working together with the ICA herd to better our industry. Our staff has a passion to be part of your team, while providing an outlet for issues that we need to stay in front of. Don’t hesitate to reach out to one of us and invite us out to your farm or call us for some discussion. We are here to serve you and couldn’t be more excited to work on behalf of the ICA herd!

ICA & NCBA TEAM UP FOR DISCUSSION AND Q&A SESSION

More than 200 producers from eight Iowa counties and three different states met in Rock Valley to discuss industry topics and hear updates from the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. NCBA representatives, Ethan Lane, Vice President of Governmental Affairs and Tanner Beymer, Senior Director, Government Affairs held a Q&A session during the meeting for producers to engage and discuss what’s on their minds.

March 2023

Leadership Program kicks off 2023 with education and team building session

The 2023 Iowa Cattlemen’s Leadership Program kicked off the program with their first session on January 11-12, 2023, at the Iowa Cattle Industry Headquarters in Ames. The goal of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (ICLP) is to develop future leaders of Iowa’s cattle industry. The program is an initial opportunity to be more active in the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, and perhaps form future leaders of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA). Participants undergo training and educational seminars to enhance their communications skills, strengthen their awareness of the legislative process, and diversify their knowledge of the Iowa and U.S. beef cattle industries. We are excited to have a new class begin the program and look forward to seeing what they all accomplish in the upcoming year.

The group started their evening with a meal and full night of education from all levels of the Iowa Cattle Industry Headquarters leadership. Casey Anderson with the Iowa Beef Industry Council gave background of the Iowa Beef Checkoff goals and connection to the industry. Mary Greiman also introduced the group to the Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation and explained their contributions to building future leaders in the beef industry here in Iowa.

ICA president, Bob Noble, spoke about how he got involved with the association followed by Matt Deppe informing the group on the structure and function of ICA. Matt broke down the history of how the organization came to be, the policies the Iowa Cattlemen’s have been able to weigh in on and influence so far, and a look forward at the things the association is paying attention to in this coming year. The group wrapped the night up with a social and icebreaker Jenga game.

The second day started off strong with some friendly competition team building exercises, followed by a tour of Iowa State University’s (ISU) Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL). The group heard from Dr. Pat Halbur, Dr. Roger Main, Dr. Katie Woodard, Dr. Chris Siepker and Scott Radke on the functions of each branch in the VDL. The class was able to tour all types of laboratories in the world-renowned testing center including pharmacology, bacteriology, molecular, pathology, parasitology, serology, toxicology and virology. Tests are overnighted to the lab and results are often completed within 24 hours allowing for producers

to make educated decisions when facing disease challenges. The top notch employees work to not only provide test results, but also provide solutions to producers. Especially in times of high costs, testing is helpful to see exactly what treatments/antibiotics can be effective in order to avoid expensive, wasteful treatment costs. Employees at the VDL are also able to impact the industry through research. They are able to analyze the data coming through and work to fill gaps in the industry. ISU’s VDL is especially unique as most labs don’t have a toxicologist. There are only 10 toxicologists in a diagnostic lab setting in the country.

Dr. Halbur reiterated that through legislative support they are able to provide full service to the livestock industry. Phase 1 of the new VDL is slated to be completed in fall of 2023, and Phase 2 to begin in 2023 as well. The ISU VDL is able to stay at the leading edge with these additions and continued reinvestment in technology. Participants saw the impact and importance of this facility and staff not only to Iowa’s beef industry, but livestock sectors all around the world. Support of this facility is something that ICA has always stood behind, and getting an insight into their work was a reassurance of the importance of this support.

The next session will be held Feb. 14-15, 2023. Participants will get an introduction to government and policy by advocating for Iowa’s beef business at the State Capitol.

2023 ICLP CLASS

The 2023 class members include: Briana Ver Steegh, Calvin Hartz, Cody Thoreson, Collin Julius, Drew Johnson, Ethan Lambert, Josh Woods, Kevin Butt, Kourtney Jimmerson, Kristi Carpenter, Mary Slykhuis, Morgan Johnson, Tayler Granberg and Victoria Nederhoff.

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"Markets" from pg 8

Remember, domestic and global debt must be paid at some point and if it cannot be repaid then the system will have to ‘reset’. How is the entire system ‘reset’? We are not sure. Time will tell. Until then you need to have hedge accounts in place to hedge asset classes’ that your gut and objective and outside financial sources confirm.

Take a few minutes right now and simply contact Michelle White at 312.756.0931 here at our Fox Group office at the Chicago Board of Trade Monday through Friday 9am to 430pm CST and share your email address with her and she will help you receive on a complimentary basis for two full months by email the sundry market advisories sent by us. You can also email Michelle White at mwhite@tradewithfox.com and give her your email address to accomplish same. And remember, hedging livestock and grain needs and fuel needs with Exchange positions still has risk of loss and is not suitable for all livestock producers and investors who desire to hedge their operational needs. Also know that educational teleconferences with your team and bankers can be done late afternoon or in person here in Chicago on Saturday’s.

Ask your banker what he thinks and he is likely to agree that if no one is hedging right now then you probably should be, provided it is done with reasonable and carefully structured risk management tools here at our firm’s office at Chicago Board of Trade on Jackson and LaSalle. n

WEBR REVIVAL 203 | REG: 4665863

WEBR RED REVIVAL 78H x BIEBER HARD DRIVE Y120

The rst sons of Red Revival 78H will sell, they are one of the most exciting groups of herd bull prospects we have raised to date!

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RED SIX MILE BRANDO 666C x PELTON WIDELOAD 78B

The Brando sons have been approved by the most discriminating cowboys; this sire group comes loaded for bear again in 2023!

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Red Revival saw some of the best cows on the ranch, so you can trust that the maternal power behind each one of his sons is potent.

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PIE THE COWBOY KIND 343 x BROWN INCREDABULL Z7277

Long spined, big backed and burly in his kind. He is a full brother to the high selling female from the 2021 Ripple E ect.

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RED SIX MILE BRANDO 666C x LSF SRR TAKEOVER 5051C

These dense and dark cherry red Brando sons are the dual purpose kind, they sire feeder cattle that weigh heavy, and stamps his replacement heifers with longevity!

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The Dominion cattle pound the scales down, you can trust them to add pro t to your cowherd with massive additions of payweight.

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BIEBER CL STOCKMARKET E119 x COLLIER BRILLIANCE R500

One of the most impressive calving ease prospects we have raised to date, he comes an EPD package that ranks him among the breeds elite!

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The freshman class of WEBR Declare 59H sons will impress, they have a great look and are built with extra power!

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CALVO WIDE RANGE 155E x PIE THE COWBOY KIND 343

Calving ease stud that accelerated towards weaning and has matured with impressive shape and explosiveness.

A very special and loyal customer of Livestock Plus. Dean has run an ad in every Livestock Plus issue since the beginning. I have watched this professional salesperson in action many times. He could figure out his clientele in a matter of seconds. He could be gruff to a gruff old farmer, or very patient to the laid back rancher or pretty weekend cowgirl, he could change his personality in seconds to relate to his client to make the sale. Ol’ Dean won’t be duplicated, a special man, with special talents, and a respect for people. Rest in peace, Dean.

With deepest sympathy, Dean Earl Bettis, age 73, passed away peacefully after battling cancer and mild dementia on Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at his residence, under the care of Care Initiatives Hospice.

Memorials may be directed to Service Chapel Cemetery, Trinity United Methodist Church or the Monroe County Fairgrounds.

Dean was born on March 17, 1949 at St. Joseph’s hospital in Ottumwa to Donald G. and Barbara Lucille (Kaldenberg) Bettis. He grew up on the family farm. He graduated from Albia High School, class of 1967. He joined the Army National Guard. He married Julie Johnson on September 7, 1968 at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Albia.

Dean’s passion was agriculture and he purchased his grandparents farm. He also worked at John Morrell’s, Chicago Rivet, Pella Corp, started B & B Equipment which is still in operation. He was a state fair exhibitor for many years and won many awards for top sales. He also became a realtor at the age of fifty.

He was Monroe County Fair board President for twentyfive years. He was inducted into the Farm Bureau Hall of Fame and also received the Agri Business Award. He received the Hall of Fame Award honoring Monroe County Cattleman, inducted into the 4H Hall of Fame and he received the Merit Service Award from the Albia Chamber of Commerce.

WE ARE CATTLEMEN FIRST AND FOREMOST. It defines who we are and what we do. Our team has over 100 years of combined cattle experience and it shows in everything we design, build and do. We understand cattle and cattle people like no one else in the business.

Let us help you:

• Improve Feed Efficiency

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COMMENTARY

Hats Off

by Austin Sorensen

Days are getting longer and baby calves are getting bigger! The first of March is always such a fun time as we begin to think of summer and cows on grass as well as our favorite warm weather activities! I was sitting here writing this as my dad and I are headed up to Werning Cattle Company’s production sale after another good run of weekend sales!

As a young kid, I always enjoyed sales with my dad whether it be weekend club calf hunting or, as I got older, going to production sales to find our next Simmental female or herd sire. Needless to say, life gets busy between working sales and running cows. It’s hard to pick up and go all the time but what a fun quick trip this has been to Emery, SD. It truly reminds me of all the times we would do this when I was younger. Study the catalog and videos, make the drive so excited about the cattle, then leave either thrilled with our purchase or disappointed we did not get what we came to buy.

Either way, my favorite part about these trips in the past and even the one we are taking today is my dad and I spend the whole ride home talking about cows, life and our cow business. No matter whether we got something purchased or spent the whole day on the road to go home empty handed we always enjoy the trip!

I remember being very young and saying “Dad, we need to spend every Saturday like this!” He would say, “some day life will get busy and you’ll have your own family, but I sure enjoy hearing you say that now.” As he usually is, dad was right and we don’t get to do this as often as we would like. What a blessing it is when we do get the chance to go. It has come full circle now as I so much enjoy seeing my son Jensen light up when he gets to go look at cows. Every day I’m hopeful that the three of us will be able to make these trips at least a couple times a year to enjoy good cattle and company for years to come. This month my hat goes off to my dad! As always if you need any assistance marketing your livestock please do not hesitate to give me or any of our team a call!

God bless,

Austin Sorensen • 712-310-3788

aust.sorensen@gmail.com

www.livestockplusinc.com

Power of Angus.

Levi

Managing the Effects of Stress and Temperament on Beef Cattle Reproduction

Jordan Thomas; Assistant Professor, Animal Sciences

Emily Smith; Graduate Research Assistant, Animal Sciences

Temperament or disposition of cattle is associated with a number of production traits. Animals exhibiting more excitable temperaments have reduced dry matter intake, achieve lower average daily gains, and produce lower quality carcasses (King et al., 2006). Commercial producers can improve temperament in their herds through selection for docility and through culling of flighty, aggressive animals. However, making progress toward a more docile cow herd takes time, and even docile cattle can become stressed in response to management.

Animal stress can negatively impact reproductive performance in particular, so mitigating temperamentassociated stress is essential both prior to and during the breeding season. Reduced pregnancy rates and increased pregnancy loss have been demonstrated by cows with excitable temperaments across various management systems and cattle types (Cooke et al., 2012). Several simple management strategies are available to mitigate temperament associated stress. Producers should evaluate their herd, facilities, and overall management to determine how implementation of the following practices might improve reproductive outcomes.

TEMPERAMENT

Cell: 308.730.1396

llanders@angus.org

Rod

Expressions of temperament are typically only observed when cattle experience abnormal scenarios or interact with humans or other animals. Unfortunately, cattle may experience many such events during the breeding season, such as interaction with new bulls, handling during synchronization protocols, or adjusting to new locations or management groups. The stress associated with these events can have systemic effects on reproductive processes among excitable cattle (Kasimanickam et al., 2014).

Cell: 605.295.3673

rgeppert@angus.org

Several mechanisms have been suggested for the methods by which temperament and stress impact reproduction. Cows with excitable temperaments consistently demonstrate increased levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which directly influences reproduction through endocrinological interactions. Elevated cortisol has the ability to inhibit ovulation, slow follicular development, reduce oocyte quality, and delay puberty attainment (Cooke et al., 2009; Echternkamp, 1984; Li and Wagner, 1983). Indirect impacts are also observed in animals with excitable temperaments through altered behaviors, such as reduced feed intake and increased activity. Among both cows and heifers, these behaviors may create energetic deficits that result in reduced body condition or a negative plane of nutrition, subsequently

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reducing reproductive success (Nkrumah et al., 2007).

GENETICS

Although all herds stand to benefit from management practices that reduce stress, significant progress can be made to reduce the degree to which the herd is prone to stress during handling. The heritability of temperament suggests progress can be made by selecting against excitable temperament in both the maternal and paternal lines (Kasimanickam et al., 2018). Many breed associations publish an Expected Progeny Difference (EPD) value for docility, and monitoring this EPD when selecting sires is an effective strategy to make genetic progress in temperament.

In addition, temperament can be considered when making selection or culling decisions. Including acceptable temperament in the selection criteria for replacement heifers will improve herd temperament over time, and removal of one excitable heifer from a group of developing heifers is often observed to result in improved behavior of the group. Culling should also be considered for cows with particularly excitable temperament. Excitable temperament in calves is directly correlated to excitable temperament of the dam, so culling breeding females with poor temperament has the potential to ultimately impact the quality of the calf crop (Riley et al., 2014).

Producers can likely easily identify excitable animals. Scoring systems (Tables 1 and 2) have been developed to objectively evaluate temperament early in life (e.g., at weaning or at a pre-breeding evaluation) before acclimation of animals to handling. These systems consider factors such as the animal’s reaction to human interaction in a pen (pen score), the animal’s behavior when restrained in a chute (chute score), or the speed at which the animal leaves the chute following handling (exit velocity). For detailed information regarding temperament scoring the herd, producers may consult the Beef Improvement Federation conference proceedings on the topic of “Selection Tools for Temperament” (Randel, 2012).

Table 1. “Pen score” guidelines for evaluating temperament of cattle in a small group penned in a small lot.

1 Non-aggressive. Walks slowly, can be approached closely by humans, not excited by humans or facilities

2 Slightly aggressive. Runs along fences, will stand in corner if humans stay away, may pace fence.

3 Moderately aggressive. Runs along fences, head up and will run if humans move closer, stops before hitting gates and fences, avoids humans.

4 Aggressive. Runs, stays in back group, head high and very aware of humans, may run into fences and gates even with some distance, will likely run into fences if alone in pen.

5 Very Aggressive. Excited, runs into fences, runs over humans and anything else in path, “crazy.”

Source: Beef Improvement Federation

Table 2. “Chute score” guidelines for evaluating temperament of cattle individually restrained in a chute.

1 Docile. Mild disposition. Gentle and easily

SORTING CATTLE THE EASY WAY!

"Managing" continued from pg 44 handled.

Stands and moves slowly during processing. Undisturbed, settled, somewhat dull. Does not pull on headgate when in chute. Exits chute calmly.

2 Restless. Quieter than average, but may be stubborn during processing. May try to back out of chute or pull back on headgate. Some flicking of tail. Exits chute promptly.

3 Nervous. Typical temperament is manageable, but nervous and impatient. A moderate amount of struggling, movement and tail flicking. Repeated pushing and pulling headgate. Exits chute briskly.

4 Flighty. Wild, jumpy and out of control, quivers and struggles violently. May bellow and froth at the mouth. Frantically runs fence line an may jump when penned individually. Exhibits long flight distance and exits chute wildly.

5 Aggressive. May be similar to Score 4, but with added aggressive behavior, fearfulness, extreme agitation, and continuous movement which may include jumping and bellowing while in chute. Exits chute frantically and may exhibit attack behavior when handled alone.

6 Very Aggressive. Extremely poor temperament. Thrashes about wildly when confined in small, tight places. Pronounced attack behavior.

Source: Beef Improvement Federation

FACILITIES AND HANDLING

Improving the design of animal handling facilities can also benefit both cattle and personnel by ensuring direct human-animal interactions are low-stress. Facilities designed to with the natural predator-avoidance behavior of cattle in mind are less likely to induce expressions of aggressive or excessively flighty temperament. The “Bud Box” system, popularized by the late Bud Williams, is just one example of handling facilities designed to facilitate low-stress handling of livestock.

Ultimately, the stockmanship of the personnel handling the cattle is equally important if not more important than the design of the cattle handling facility. When animal interaction is necessary, such as when loading cattle into a squeeze chute or alley, handling practices can significantly increase or decrease stress associated with excitable temperaments. Personnel can avoid excessive excitement of cattle using the concept of pressure and release, moving by point of balance, limiting use of prods, and minimizing

unnecessary noise or distracting stimuli. Inexperienced personnel should never handle excitable cattle without instructional supervision by an experienced stockman.

Consider enrolling in stockmanship training courses. Farms and ranches with employees should establish training requirements for all personnel who handle cattle. Periodic self-evaluation and/or personnel evaluation should occur to ensure that low-stress handling practices are being used across the farm or ranch. Likewise, cattle behavior should be monitored to ensure that “low-stress” practices are indeed resulting in low amounts of stress. While all cattle benefit from appropriate handling, these practices are especially effective in managing excitable individuals or herds.

For further information on cattle behavior and lowstress stockmanship, “Behavioral Principles of Livestock Handling” (Grandin, 1989) and “Stockmanship: A powerful tool for grazing lands management” (Cote, 2004) are suggested readings. Hands-on stockmanship educational opportunities such as “Stockmanship and Stewardship” (National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, 2020) are also recommended. For detailed explanations and design examples of low-stress handling facilities, see “Livestock Handling Systems, Cattle Corrals, Stockyards, and Races” (Grandin, 2020).

Facilities that enable low-stress handling of cattle are particularly important if using artificial insemination or other reproductive technologies. If a lack of lowstress facilities is a limitation in carrying out an artificial insemination program, consider renting a portable breeding barn or similar facility. For more information, see MU Extension publication, G2003, Facilities for Artificial Insemination of Beef Cattle.

ACCLIMATION

It is important to note that, while interactions during the breeding season may have direct impacts on reproductive success, patterns of handling early in life have the greatest long-term impacts on temperament. The negative impacts of temperament can be managed in mature cows, but evidence suggests that improving temperament is most effective when attempted before the first breeding season (Cooke et al., 2009). Opportunities for this improvement are indicated both before and after weaning.

Calves exposed to frequent human interaction in a low stress manner are less likely to express excitable temperaments in maturity. While repeatedly exposing calves to handling may be difficult to implement in some systems, producers may take advantage of existing events, such as when vaccinating or weaning, to implement low

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Sire: SJW EXIT 44 7111E | ASA: 4168527

MGS: CONNEALY COUNTDOWN

Big stout son of SJW Exit 44 7111E that is backed by a top daughter of Connealy Countdown!

B C R BIG LAR J227 | PB SM

Sire: B C R BIG LAR F304 | ASA: 4171149

MGS: STCC JACK AROUND 4031

One of several blaze faced herd sire prospects that are backed by generations of power cows!

B C R GIDEON J259 | PB SM

Sire: FITZ GIDEON 802F | ASA: 4168535

MGS: FBFS ZEUS 111Z

Very eye appealing son of FITZ Gideon 802F that is backed by the in uence of O C C Anchor 771A!

B C R LOVER BOY 008K | PB SM

Sire: THSF LOVER BOY B33 | ASA: 4171138

MGS: MR HOC BROKER

Super eye appealing son of the calving ease specialist

THSF Lover Boy B33 that is supported by the “Onyx” cow family!

B C R 20-20 024K | PB SM

Sire: B C R MR 20-20 160G | ASA: 4171139

MGS: SC PAY THE PRICE C11

Stout, soggy made Purebred herd sire prospect that is from the “Right To Love” cow family!

B C R PERFECT VISION 020K | PB SM

Sire: B C R PERFECT VISION | ASA: 4171141

MGS: HPF QUANTUM LEAP Z952

Homozygous Polled Purebred backed by a maternal sister to the great WHF Summer 365C!

308-750-6119

Burwell,NE

"Managing" continued from pg 46

stress handling and avoid negative interaction. These concepts should be applied throughout heifer development as acclimating heifers to facilities and handling has been shown to reduce cortisol levels, decrease temperament scores, and allow an earlier attainment of puberty (Cooke et al., 2012, 2009). Effective acclimation requires repeated interactions over a one to two-month period prior to the start of the breeding season. Similarly, heifer development programs should involve multiple handling events to implement vaccination programs, conduct prebreeding evaluations, and carry out estrous synchronization protocols. Producers can impact temperament by intentionally utilizing the handling events required throughout development as opportunities for acclimation to introduce heifers to the facilities, equipment, and interactions that they will encounter during the breeding season. Combining superior stockmanship with effective development during this time will improve reproductive outcomes for the current season and shift the temperament of the future cow herd.

SUMMARY

• Erle 319-668-2082

• Office 319-668-2026

• Mobile 319-430-0820

AL CONOVER

~ Auctioneer ~ 515-491-8078

Dearest Heavenly Father, Right now the sun is shining through the clouds when just a week ago there was only snow or rain for days on end. Sometimes it feels like the struggles in our lives are all that there is and that they will never end--but you know something different. You are the light in our darkness and our hope even in the worst of times; you know that storms often bring with them needed moisture and that trials and pain in our lives often give us a stronger faith in you. We pray for a new perspective, your perspective on our lives, our family and our communities. Help us to see where you are working so that we might join you there. And even when the times are tough, give us courage to follow you and the wisdom to trust in your commands, your decisions and your timing.

We thank you for loving us no matter how we might feel on any given day and for always forgiving us no matter how many times we have turned away from you in the past. You are truly an awesome God! In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pastor Steven Broers • 641-745-7648

Emmanuel Lutheran Church

Fontanelle, Iowa

Reproductive performance is critical to the profitability of any cow-calf or replacement heifer development enterprise. Minimizing stress prior to and during the breeding season is essential to ensure appropriate reproductive function. Selection and screening cattle for acceptable temperament can ultimately result in improvements in reproductive performance. Additionally, management practices that promote acceptable temperament, like low-stress stockmanship and acclimation of animals to handling, are low-cost ways to significantly impact reproduction and reduce stress for both cattle and producers.

References

Cooke, R.F., Arthington, J.D., Austin, B.R., and Yelich, J.V. 2009. Effects of acclimation to handling on performance, reproductive, and physiological responses of Brahman-crossbred heifers. J. Anim. Sci. 87, 3403–3412.

Cooke, R.F., Bohnert, D.W., Cappellozza, B.I., Mueller, C.J., and Delcurto, T. 2012. Effects of temperament and acclimation to handling on reproductive performance of Bos taurus beef females. J. Anim. Sci. 90, 3547–3555.

Cote, S. 2004. Stockmanship: A powerful tool for grazing lands management. Boise, ID: USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service.

Grandin, T. 1989. Behavioral Principles of Livestock Handling. Animal Registry of Professional Animal Scientists, 1-11.

Grandin, T. 2020. Livestock Handling Systems, Cattle Corrals, Stockyards, and Races. Retrieved from www. grandin.com.

Kasimanickam, R., Asay, M., Schroeder, S., Kasimanickam, V., Gay, J.M., Kastelic, J.P., Hall, J.B., and Whittier, W.D. 2014. Calm Temperament Improves Reproductive Performance of Beef Cows. Reprod. Domest. Anim. 49, 1063–1067.

Kasimanickam, V.R., Aziz, R.A., Williams, H.M., Kasimanickam, R.K. 2018. Predictors of beef calf temperament at weaning and its impact on temperament at breeding and reproductive performance. Reprod. Domest. Anim. 53, 484–494.

King, D.A., Schuehle Pfeiffer, C.E., Randel, R.D., Welsh, T.H., Oliphint, R.A., Baird, B.E., Curley, K.O., Vann, R.C., Hale, D.S., Savell, J.W. 2006. Influence of animal temperament and stress responsiveness on the carcass quality and beef tenderness of feedlot cattle. Meat Sci. 74, 546–556. National Cattleman’s Beef Association. 2020. Stockmanship and Stewardship.

Nkrumah, J.D., Crews, D.H., Basarab, J.A., Price, M.A., Okine, E.K., Wang, Z., Li, C., and Moore, S.S. 2007. Genetic and phenotypic relationships of feeding behavior and temperament with performance, feed efficiency, ultrasound, and carcass merit of beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 85, 2382–2390.

Riley, D.G., Gill, C.A., Herring, A.D., Riggs, P.K., Sawyer, J.E., Lunt, D.K., and Sanders, J.O. 2014. Genetic evaluation of aspects of temperament in Nellore–Angus calves,. J. Anim. Sci. 92, 3223–3230. n

ANGUS BULLSperformance tested & ready to go!

Casino Bomber N33

U-2

206C – His progeny sell.

Designed by a cattleman in Iowa, the EnduraGate makes life easier for both the cow/calf operation as well as the feedyard!

Hickok represents the leading edge of predictable genetics-sired by Deadwood out of the GAR Sure Fire 187 dam. A full sister sold for $27,000 at the Genetic Allies Sale last fall. Pedigree, genomic excellence on a broad scale, attractive and easy moving, outstanding personal performance and a docile nature-Hickok represents the essence of Iron Creek Elite Balance Bulls. GAINED 6.02 LBS/DAY He sells with 35 fall bulls March 21-23 on DVAuction!

THE Iowa Land Guy TEAM

up to date with the latest market trends in Iowa farmland.

David Whitaker • Broker/Auctioneer

Here We Go 2023! Let’s Talk Globally…

The land market has seen steady growth in recent years, driven by increasing demand for agriculture & rural land. Despite this demand, the land market has not been immune to the economic challenges posed by inflation. Input prices & interest rates have led to a slowdown in the overall land market. However, we believe that this slowdown will be short-lived & that the market will continue to grow in the coming years.

The current average price for agricultural land in the United States is around $4,000/acre, although prices can vary greatly depending on the location & quality of the land. The highest prices are typically found in the Midwest and Great Plains regions, where fertile soil & abundant rainfall make it ideal for farming. (As we all know already….Iowa is a great place to own farmland!) Meanwhile, arid regions in the West & Southwest tend to have lower prices due to the challenges posed by dry climates.

Despite these challenges, my outlook for the farmland market remains positive. The global population is expected to continue growing, & the demand for food and other agricultural products is likely to increase along with it. This creates opportunities for farmers to grow their businesses & meet the demands of a growing population. With advances in technology & growing demand for food, the future of farming looks bright! Seller’s if you are on the fence about selling…don’t wait…get in and get going! Buyer’s do your diligence to see what you can do financially if the land comes up for sale right next to you…be ready!

Iowa Land Guy

PRODUCTION SALE

1 PM MST - MARCH 23, 2023 JOIN US AT

THE RANCH - CRAWFORD, NEBRASKA

WCS MR RED EMPIRE 2818K

ASA: 4149186 | PB SM

Sire: BAR CK RED EMPIRE 9153G • MGS: JF MILESTONE 999W

Homo Polled red hided calving ease herd sire prospect that ranks Top 10% CE, Top 3% BW, Top 4% MCE, & Top 30% API. His maternal granddam is a FULL SISTER to SVF Steel Force S701!

WCS MR STAY 2121K

ASA: 4149241 | 1/2 SM 1/2 AN

Sire: W/C MAINSTAY 355F • MGS: HARKERS BANDITO UNO Impressive SimAngus™ herd sire prospect that is among the Top 10% WW, Top 15% YW, Top 10% MWW, Top 15% CW, & Top 10% REA!

OFFERING CHOICE OF OUR NWSS PEN OF THREE FEMALES

WCS MS COBRA 1808J

ASA: 3959169 | PB SM

SIRE: W/C EXPRESS LANE 29G

MGS: JLRS ELEVATE 213B

Sells bred to - W/C Rest Easy 752G - due 2/24

WCS MR GLOCK 2125K

ASA: 4149160 | PB SM

Sire: WCS GLOCK 357 7117E • MGS: LRS TURNING POINT 3117A

He ranks Top 25% WW, Top 20% MWW, and Top 15% CW. He posted an adjusted weaning weight of 847 with a WWR @ 114!

JOCK & BRENDA BEESON

100 Wohlers Drive - Crawford, NE 69339

Brenda. 308-430-2117 - Jock. 308-430-0668

WCS MS HELLCAT 1816J

ASA: 3959189 | PB SM

SIRE: W/C EXPRESS LANE 29G • MGS: LRS ELEVATE 213B

Sells bred to - W/C Trifecta 975J - Due 3/11

WCS MS SHELBY 1806J

ASA: 3959188 | PB SM

SIRE: W/C EXPRESS LANE 29G

MGS: LRS ELEVATE 213B

Sells bred to - W/C Trifecta 975J - due 2/24

wcsbeeson@bbc.net - www.westerncattlesource.com

SALE MANAGED BY - INNOVATION AG MARKETING GRAHAM BLAGG - 530-913-6418 JERED SHIPMAN - 806-983-7226 TIM ANDERSON - 605-682-9343 WWW.NNOVATIONAGMARKETING.COM

5 Ways to Ease Dystocia Issues

Knowing the signs of labor and when to intervene can help producers minimize difficulties during calving season.

www.beefmagazine.com

Calving season is a busy time of year for beef producers. Nearly 91% regularly observe cows and heifers during calving, and research shows doing calving checks every three hours yields the best results.

Yet, the best calving check regimen isn’t always practical and won’t eliminate calving problems or dystocia from occurring. About 9% of heifers and 4% of cows need some assistance during calving each year. What can producers do to prevent calving difficulty before it occurs to make the season less stressful?

In the hours leading up to calving, often little can be done to prevent dystocia. However, looking back on your management decisions from the past breeding season and fall may give insight into how calving will go. Here are some example areas to evaluate before calving starts:

1. Calving ease direct

Using a CEDexpected progeny difference, bulls with calving ease are mated to heifers or young, small cows that may have trouble calving. CED measures percent of unassisted births and takes into account the size and presentation of the fetus. Be careful not to over-select for CED in mature cows, as valuable calf weight will be given up and sacrifice potential revenue.

2. Pelvic measure

Measuring pelvic area in replacement or bred heifers before their first calving event will give producers an idea of which females may have trouble due to abnormal pelvis shape or size. The pelvis continues to grow and shape until cows are mature, so keep in mind the pelvis can change between first and third calving events.

3. Body condition score

Pay attention to heifers and cows that are carrying extreme amounts of fat or are very thin. Over-conditioned heifers are more likely to have troubles calving due to accumulation of fat in the pelvis, hindering fetal passage through the birth canal.

In addition, if heifers are too skinny, their endurance during calving may be limited by the absence of energy resources. At any time, if a female stops making progress during calving for more than 15 minutes, assistance should be offered. Separate cows based on condition so not to overfeed fat cows and underfeed thin ones.

4. Pregnancy detection

Most producers want to know if a cow has twins, but only 20% of beef operations palpate or ultrasound for pregnancy. Modern technologies are available and should be utilized to confirm pregnancy in cows and identify

twins or large calves.

5. Exercise

Cows need to be in shape come calving season, so providing adequate exercise before calving improves their physical strength. Feeding cows in a loafing pasture and providing water a quarter-mile away is a good distance for cows to travel daily.

If keeping cows in a lot during gestation, less energy will be used every day, as they don’t have to walk so far. Design rations to meet requirements of cows based on location during gestation.

Avoid moving cows that are close to calving, as fetal growth is occurring rapidly and calf position can flip if cows slip or fall.

Not all dystocia is preventable, even if you follow the practices listed above. However, if you observe a cow struggling during labor, closely observe her through the stages of labor and intervene when necessary.

Knowing the three stages of labor and what to look for can help you see issues sooner rather than later:

Stage 1 will show external signs such as restlessness, nesting, lack of eating and drinking, and vaginal discharge. This stage can last from two to eight hours and may be longer in heifers.

Stage 2 will involve abdominal straining, appearance of the water bag and fetal limbs, and delivery of the calf. This stage can last from 30 minutes to four hours. If you haven’t seen the water bag appear in two hours and no progress has been made for 30 minutes, take steps to intervene and assist the cow.

Stage 3 entail the placenta passing, which should be completed no more than 12 hours after delivery. If no placenta appears after 24 hours, check for a retained placenta.

Of producers that monitor their heifers during calving season, the majority allow two or fewer hours before intervening. The smaller the herd size, the longer the time interval from the start of calving to assistance. Take time to ensure practices are in place to minimize dystocia during the calving season.

With dystocia, producers can do their best to estimate the size of the fetus, and presentation in the birth canal and pelvic area for each cow. Only time will tell if cows will calve unassisted or need help. Take steps to understand the stages of labor and when assistance is needed to successfully navigate through a dystocia.

Source: South Dakota State University Extension n

World Record Results!

Schurrtop Efficiency Works!

Schurrtop Bull Customers Achieved These Results: Beef Empire Days • Live & Carcass Show

Grand Champion Overall Heifer & Reserve Grand Champion Overall Steer

Calf Fed Steers ~ Gain: 4.88 lbs./Day ~ Feed Efficiency: 4.54 lbs. feed/lb. Gain

Gain is HIGHER than #Feed/#Gain ~ Payweight: 1,499 lbs. $100/Head Carcass Premium

Pen of Customer Steers Fed ~ 100% Choice and Prime ~ $156/Head Carcass Premium

NEWS FLASH!

SCHURRTOP’S LATEST CARCASS RESULTS: 321 Head 46% Prime ~ 99% Choice of Higher

100% Schurrtop-sired cattle recently harvested (3,151 head averaged):

• 99% Choice or Higher

• 32% Prime

• Average Ribeye 14.4”

• 2.8 USDA Yield Grade AND they averaged well over $100/head carcass premiums!

You CAN have muscle and marbling!

Real World Consistency and Quality!

20.8” Ribeye

highest growth proven bull in the Entire Breed!

M6

- Multiple trait leader. Growth, carcass, calving ease. Sons and grandsons sell!

Marty Schurr • (308) 362-4330

E-mail: marty@schurrtop.com

Ryan Schurr • (308) 320-4067

Kay Schurr • (308) 569-2520

Jerry Schurr • (308) 530-9652

E-mail: schurrtop@schurrtop.com

•BULLS SELL with a BREEDING GUARANTEE

•BULLS: Totally Ultrasound, Carcass, Performance and Fertility Tested

•Free delivery within 300 miles on bulls

> $3500 and assistance on all deliveries.

Annual Bull Sale

“Our SCR-sired Charolais calves have consistently produced 92-96% Choice and Prime, with 20-22% Prime.” -Joe from Colorado

“Our SCR bull came back from his first summer breeding season in great shape.” -Larry from Texas “We are very happy with the SCR bulls we have purchased over the last 6 years in terms of performance and profitability.” -Bob from Nebraska

Supreme Champion + Champion ROV Angus Female, ‘23 C.Congress

Res. Champion ROV Angus Female, ‘23 Ft. Worth Stock Show

Grand Champion PB Female, ‘22 Simmental Jr. Nationals

MARCH

All bulls sell semen checked, DNA tested, have GE_EPDS and will have carcass data available.

 Standard Sizes: 6’ 8’ 10’ 12’

 1 piece welded steel frame

 10 gauge steel table top

 Drawers/Doors in 2’ increments

 Standard Sizes: 6’ 8’ 10’ 12’

 1 piece welded steel frame

 10 gauge steel table top

 Drawers/Doors in 2’ increments

...THAT WILL ENDURE THE TEST OF TIME AND LABOR

 Smooth powder coated finish

 Heavy duty ball bearing drawer rollers with a 300 lb capacity

 Designed to accommodate mounting vices

 Smooth powder coated finish

 Heavy duty ball bearing drawer rollers with a 300 lb capacity

 Designed to accommodate mounting vices

Spring Weather Requires Attention to Cattle Health Issues

 Custom drawer layout

 Standard or custom colors

 Wheels and locks

 Stainless steel top

 Custom drawer layout

 Drawer divider and mats

 Standard or custom colors

 Wheels and locks

 Upper cabinets / peg board ...and much more

 Stainless steel top

 Drawer divider and mats

 Upper cabinets / peg board ...and much more

opportunity has passed, producers can still take steps to help protect their cattle,” Dr. Nosky says.

WWW.MCTAVISHSTEELWORKS.COM

He says that if calves have not been vaccinated before weather, weaning or shipping stress, or if a stocker or feedyard operator is taking in calves with unknown health histories, a metaphylactic treatment with a long-lasting, broad-spectrum antibiotic can help get calves through the stress in good health.

www.beefmagazine.com

Adapting to changing weather is hard on cattle, especially in the spring when Mother Nature, it seems, can’t make up her mind.

Adapting to changing weather is hard on cattle, especially in the spring when Mother Nature, it seems, can’t make up her mind. Warm days followed by a bout of cold rain, or even a spring blizzard, can throw off the health of even weaned, heavy calves.

“Spring is an important season to carefully monitor health status in all sizes of cattle,” says Dr. Bruce Nosky, Manager of Merial Veterinary Professional Services. “Fluctuating weather can stress newborn calves, freshly weaned fall-born stockers, replacement heifers, cattle in feedyards — everything. Producers need to take a disease prevention approach.”

Spring weather stress weakens cattle immune systems, allowing opportunistic viruses, bacteria and parasites to more easily cause health problems. Bovine respiratory disease (BRD), coccidiosis and footrot are all opportunistic spring problems that can be hard on the bottom line for cow/calf producers, stockers and feedyards.

“A preventive approach for management of BRD and coccidiosis is a win-win for producers,” Dr. Nosky says. “It’s cost-effective and it can give producers peace of mind that they’ve prevented a time- and money-draining outbreak.”

Bovine Respiratory Disease

“The best defense against BRD is to vaccinate calves with a Pasteurella vaccine before stress. However, if that window of

Dr. Tim Starks of Cherokee, Okla., who is a livestock auction facility owner, consulting veterinarian and stocker owner, has seen the value of BRD prevention firsthand.

“Prevention is absolutely critical because, regardless of how fresh, local or native the cattle we’re buying are, weather is going to hit them at some point and will challenge their immune systems,” Dr. Starks says.

Dr. Starks treats low-risk calves on arrival with TETRADURE® 300 (oxytetracycline) Injection to help head off BRD problems. Usually, he uses the 300 mg oxytetracycline if the calves endured weather stress on the haul in or if he expects bad weather in the first few days after arrival — a frequent occurrence when receiving calves in the spring.

Dr. Nosky recommends treating cattle — including cattle in feedyards; heavy weaned bulls, steers and replacement heifers — with a long-lasting prescription-strength product, such as TETRADURE 300, at the first sign of respiratory disease. Feedyards also have the option of treating all cattle upon arrival.

Preventing Coccidiosis

“Producers should stay on top of coccidiosis at all times. It’s a costly disease, and once the clinical signs appear, losses have already been incurred,” says Dale Blasi, Kansas State University beef specialist. “A preventive coccidiosis program as part of an overall health plan is the best approach. If cattle become ill, producers will have to play catch-up to get them back into shape.”

"Spring Weather" continued on pg 76

HIDDEN TREASURES SALE

FALL & WINTER BORN ANGUS HEIFERS

• PLUS A COUPLE SPECIAL LOTS!

• 10% DISCOUNT IF YOU COME SEE THE CATTLE BEFORE THE SALE !

Calves available for viewing at W7210 COUNTY RD P. • ENDEAVOR, WI

JACK CUMMINGS

Fountain Farms Angus 608-345-6547

Lefty’s Logic

by Eric Lee

It’s that time of the year again, we are just leaving the Iowa Beef Expo after a great couple days of selling cattle and fellowship. As Brooke and I head down Interstate 80 on our way back to Illinois, I happen to glance over as we pass Williamsburg. There sits an all too familiar site….a Casey’s. To most, this is just another one of a chain of gas stations with great pizza. To me, this Casey’s in particular holds very special meaning; and not just because it has an actual restaurant attached.

This is where I met Mike for my “interview” in July of 2019. I had no idea at that moment how much this one meeting would completely change the course of my life, not just professionally but personally as well. This job opened my eyes to a whole other avenue of the livestock industry, the marketing side. Where as I have worked with marketing agents like Dwyer Cattle Services and even LPI before, I was concentrated on producing, raising and presenting the cattle and left much of the marketing up to Bob, Nick and Mike.

Chappy Livestock Service

Once cattle become sick, losses can be significant. Kansas State University research has indicated cattle may experience reduced feed consumption for up to 13 weeks following a clinical coccidiosis infection.¹ Clinical cases also may result in death.

Coccidia are opportunists, and fluctuating spring weather works to their advantage. But, producers can head off coccidiosis problems and help keep cattle in good health by using a coccidiostat labeled for prevention and treatment, such as CORID, during spring and other periods of stress.

CORID® (amprolium) can be used in drinking water or as a drench, and also is available in convenient in-feed or top-dress formulations. In addition to prevention, it is suggested to minimize stress where possible and avoid feeding on the ground so coccidia have fewer opportunities to infect new hosts.

Coccidia destroy the lining of the gut, thereby decreasing weight gain and feed efficiency of cattle.² For this reason, producers in the grips of drought should pay extra attention to this disease. When feed is scarce and at a premium, keeping cattle efficient goes hand in hand with maintaining profits.

For more information, please see www.merial.com. n

608-617-8064

Over the last four years, I have been fortunate enough to assist scores of farmers and ranchers in marketing thousands of head of livestock across more than ten states.

Now to the part where this really altered my life. A year and a half into working with LPI, which was almost exactly two years ago, I was at the Iowa Beef Expo and found myself hitting on a beautiful curly haired brunette who’s name happened to be Brooke. That night we went out to dinner at some fancy place downtown. I don’t even know the name of it, but I’m pretty sure I could drive you there. We talked every day from that point on. Several months later she finally felt comfortable enough to introduce me to Brexton, who instantly became my best buddy. Fast forward two years and I find myself sitting at my computer writing this column and living the dream.

As we continue on into the spring bull season, please do not hesitate to contact me or any of the LPI team with your sales or marketing needs.

Thank you and god bless

Eric “Lefty” Lee gileecc@yahoo.com

608-295-5312

"Spring Weather" continued from pg 74

INTRODUCING OUTCROSS GENETICS AT THE FINEST!

YRCA FOREIGNER FH50

Registration #4424319

Sire: YCRA Foreigner E127

Dam: sired by Red Northline Rock Star 911U

Semen available $30 per straw

Ifyou’relookingtoaddbody,carcass, andafootthatwillcarryyourcattleall day,ForeignerFH50hasit. Hisrugged stoutnessandmassivecenterbodyall restonagreatsoundfoot. Pairthat witha17.06”adjustedRibeyescanand he’ssuretoaddqualitythatpays!

Owned by Gary & Linda Olsen

OLSEN RED ANGUS

712-250-0880

Brayton, IA

FulL

Panther Cr Incredible 6704 x Dameron First Class

Maternal Sister by Exclusive

Maternal Sister by Exclusive

Full-Sister Owned by Jensen Angus Farm

• Built from the ground up on an impeccable foot and heel, big statured, wide based bull

• For a bull with his neck extension, pattern and silhouette you will be even more appreciative of his big square hip and extra pin width from behind

• Impressive First Class dam backed by the Barbara M84 cow, she is an absolute beast from every angle and is one that is never forgotten by those who have laid eyes on her

• Use on multiple breeds to make high quality cattle with form and function.

• Phenotype and Genotype at its finest

• A must use sire for 2023

Deppe FC Barbara 470 - Dam of Full Spectrum

K&J True Intent

Dameron Viroqua

Optics was RAML's high selling bull to performance leading herds Hoover & Panther Creek!

progeny are at the top of their bull sales! Outstanding quality and mating flexibility this season!

Bushs Wing

Wing Man progeny topped Bush's and Cardinal Cattle Co.'s sales! He's in the top 20% for growth traits, plus Top 5% docility and scrotal EPDs. A true calving-ease bull who'll add size and completeness!

Conley South Point

South Point is the ONLY North American Grand Champion Bull, being a NWSS Champion, as well as Canadian Agribition! His first calves are born easily and have a tremendous design.

Power Chip has produced many winners and high-sellers across the country! Progeny are deep, stout with great balance and look!

*19812948 • Woodhill Patent x Connealy Confidence Plus

+11

Bennett Summation

• K C F Bennett Consent x SS Objective

+267 *19436794 • Colossal 137 x Bruns Blaster

Mr Crossfire 6P01

*18538274 • GAR Prophet x Connealy In Sure 8524

+17

Man *19255224 • Bushs Date Night x KCF Bennett Southside

+11

+242 5T Power Chip 4790 *17956297 • EXAR Blue Chip 1877B x BC Matrix 4132

+9

+205

+*19248022 • Turning Point x SAV Net Worth x BAR EXT 205

+11

Power Chip’s dam. Power Chip daughter - 2018 NAILE Res Champ. Power Chip son - 2019 NAILE Champ.

Musgrave, IL & Styles, SD! EPD's as of 01/31/23

South Point’s famous donor dam.South Point son at Conley’s.South Point daughter at Wil-Bar.

20127898 • Conley South Point x PVF The Natural

CE +11 $C +185

Wing Man daughter at Seldom Rest.Wing Man son at Bushs.Bushs' '23 featured Wing Man son!

RAML Optics

*19832718 • RAML Rangefinder x Barstow Cash

CE +10 $C +256

Optics

Optics son at RAML's Optics son at Hoover's Optics relative from same cow-line at RAML

COMING IVF DATES

MARCH 1

MARCH

Thurs. 2nd - State Center

Thurs. 9th - Williamsburg & State Center

Thurs. 16th - State Center

Thurs. 23rd - Winthrop & State Center

Thurs. 30th - State Center

APRIL

April 6th - Williamsburg & State Center

April 13th - Winthrop & State Center

April 20th - State Center

April 27th - State Center

UPCOMING SALES & EVENTS

12 4M Angus / Burken Cattle Bull Sale - Blue Hill, NE

Graystone Cattle Co. Production Sale - Stockport, IA

13

Bredemeier Angus Production Sale - Stella, NE

Kraye Angus Ranch Annual Sale - Mullen, NE

2

GG Genetics / Mars Bull & Female Sale - Ida Grove, IA

Jensen Bros. Bull Sale - Courtland, KS

Kearns Cattle Co. Bull Sale - Rushville, NE

3 Eichacker Simmentals Production Sale - Salem, SD

4

Cason’s Pride & Joy Simmental Bull Sale - Russell, IA

CNN Cattle Co. Online Bull Sale - liveauctions.tv

Fabius Creek Angus Production Sale - Bloomfield, IA

Hickory Hollow Farms / Burns Angus Bull & Female SaleWellmanm IA

Laflin Angus Ranch Production Sale - Olsburg, KS

Mason Angus & SimAngus Sale - Broken Bow, NE

Mead Farms Bull Sale - Versailles, MO

Moriondo Farms / MM Cattle Sale - Mount Vernon, MO

Real World Genetics Sale - Humeston, IA

WI Hereford Assn. Spring Sale - Fennimore, WI

Wilde Angus Ranch Annual Sale - Shevlin, MN

4-5 Western IL Cattle Jackpot - Peoria, IL

5

Gateway Genetics Bull Sale - Pierce, NE

Spring Valley Angus Production Sale - LaMoure, ND

T & E / Mr. K Angus Open House - Clarks, NE

Windy Creek Cattle Co. Production Sale - Spencer, SD

6

Hanel’s Black Simmentals Bull Sale - Courtland, KS

Styles Angus Production Sale - Brentford, SD

T & E / Mr. K Angus Online Bid Off Sale - dvauction.com

Vision Angus Annual Sale - North Platte, NE 7

Macholan Angus Production Sale - Columbus, NE

Schutte & Sons Pld. Herefords Production Sale - Guide Rock, NE

Swanson Cattle Co. Bull Sale - Oxford, NE

8 Warner Beef Genetics Bull Sale - Arapahoe, NE

9 Brookhauser T-Bone Angus Bull Sale - Atkinson, NE

10

Hilltop Simmentals Bull Sale - Worthing, SD

Kenny Angus Bull & Female Sale - Odebolt, IA

Weiss Brothers Bull & Female Sale - Red Cloud, NE

Western Illinois University Perf. Test Bull Sale - Macomb, IL 11

Brad Z Ranch Annual Sale - Guthrie Center, IA

DeSu Angus Sale - Fremont, IA

Heim Cattle Co. - St. Charles, MN

Koberstein Farms Angus Bull Sale - Ogallala, NE

Yardley Cattle Co. Bull Sale - Beaver, UT

ICA Symbol of Excellence Bull Sale - Bloomfield, IA

Lee’s Cattle Co. Bull Sale - Brush, CO

Niobrara Red Angus Bull Sale - Niobrara, NE

14

Lee Simmental Farms Bull Sale - Columbia, MO

Wagon Wheel Ranch - Yuma, CO

Weber Land & Cattle Bull Sale - Lake Benton, MN

15

Diamond M Cattle Co. Online Bull Sale - CCI.live

Wagonhammer Ranches Production Sale - Albion, NE

16

Benoit Angus Bull Sale - Esbon, KS

DBL Bull Sale - Fullerton, NE

Evenson Angus Production Sale - Lemmon, SD

Henke Farms Production Sale - Salisbury, MO

IA Shorthorn Assn. Online Sale - amsonlinesales.com

Sale K7 Herefords Annual Sale - Lockridge, IA 17

Schweitzer Red Angus Bull & Female Sale - Pleasant Dale, NE

The Genetic Event - Des Moines, IA

TD Angus Bull Sale - North Platte, NE

18

Buck Creek Ranch Bull Sale - Yale, OK

Drysdale Angus Dispersal - Lanesboro, MN

Gardels Lazy 4 Angus Annual Sale - Kearney, NE

Iron Creek Cattle Co. Open House - LaMotte, IA

Musgrave Angus Production Sale - Griggsville, IL

Star G Ranch Red Reckoning Sale - Douds, IA

The Main Event Lamb & Goat Live Auction - Des Moines, IA 19 2K Angus Bull & Female Sale - Bloomington, WI 20

Flat Water Gang Red Angus Bull Sale - Broken Bow, NE

Rancho Casino Angus Bull Sale - Purdum, NE

21-23 Iron Creek Cattle Online Bull Sale - dvauction.com

22 NE Bull Test Sale - Broken Bow, NE

23 Western Cattle Source Production Sale - Crawford, NE 24

Great Northern Bull Sale - Clear Lake, MN

Impact Catte Co. Online Bull Sale - sconlinesales.com

Schurrtop Ranch Bull Sale - McCook, NE 25

3C Cattle Co. Production Sale - Carrollton, MO

Conley Cattle Production Sale - Sulphur, OK

DaKitch Farms Production Sale - Ada, MN

Wakefield Farms Bull Sale - Dunlap, IA

West Fork Ranch Bull Sale - Loup City, NE

A couple years ago I was asked if I would be interested in serving on the Youth Committee for the Iowa Pork Producers Association. I was a little reserved at first because of all the “crazy” in our lives, however, Matt pointed out that I absolutely love working with young people and especially when it is promoting an industry we are so passionate about! One of my responsibilities is assisting with the Iowa Pork Queen and Ambassador Program. Let me just tell you I adore the ladies I get the opportunity to work with, they are the best of the best! It is definitely my “cup of tea” as Matt calls it!!

The last Iowa Pork Congress was my first year helping with this contest. The young people we have representing these industries are impressive to say the least, so well versed at promoting agriculture! Our 2022 Iowa Pork Queen, Miss Kiley Allan, who served this past year, represented at the World Pork Expo, Bacon Buddies at the Iowa State Fair, RAGBRAI, county banquets, etc, traveling the state of Iowa. The event that sticks out for me, that Kiley so graciously drove hours to show up for, was the Adair County Show Stock Buddies event. This event includes intellectual and developmental people with disabilities and gives them the opportunity to show a pig, sheep or goat! She literally made the day of all the participants.

Kiley did an amazing job speaking to the contestants with our equally amazing judge for the event, Ben Schmaling. It was an incredible event to watch and be a part of. I couldn’t be more proud of Kiley’s efforts to make her position one to which others could aspire! Kiley is a beautiful young lady inside and out. I may have contributed to her slight shopping obsession, but only because I wanted to do my part … wink, wink. Looking forward to getting to know our current 2023 Queen Elle Ploeger, Ambassadors Josh Wiley and Ali Wadle. I know they will do great things as well!

The Rohrig kids continue to keep us sooooo busy! Tucker has had a ton on his plate with the FFA Public Speaking Contest, running for district officer again and trying to learn from his Grandpa Mike how to work as a livestock ringman. Not to leave out daily pig chores at the farm and some days picking up Miss Treva from school for us or staying late to grab Taylor from her multiple practices! Everything the kids do makes us so very proud, but helping out with their little sister makes this mama’s heart so very happy. Treva absolutely lights up when T-UCK takes time with her to play nerf guns and gang up on Taylor or just picking her up from school and sharing McDonald’s French fries.

Taylor was on the Champion Junior Division Iowa Pork Youth Judging Team, along with middle school basketball, AAU volleyball, confirmation every Wednesday. We do not have many evenings at home right now! To top it all off with our Middle T … now has her driver’s permit! So far I have let her drive a whole block with me. Yep, I am good for a while!!

I will let her and Matt figure this one out!!!

I finally got a chance to eat at one of Dad’s favorite steak places in Albia, Iowa. Bogie’s was nothing less than phenomenal! Holy buckets! I ordered a filet and I swear it was like cutting butter! I do not often finish my steak dinners but I would have been fearful of anyone to reach across my plate. We were in Albia to celebrate the life of Dean Bettis, a dear friend to so many including the Livestock Plus, Inc. crew. Dad and I caught a ride to Albia with some amazing friends of ours, Mike and Kim Ehrsam (Mikkey’s LC), and again I will say, we need to make more time for these incredible people and not wait for a funeral to bring us together.

Never stop praying for our military and our country. Please let us know if we can help you with any of your marketing needs.

God Bless, Heidi Sorensen Rohrig 661-900-6004

heidi@livestockplusinc.com

www.livestockplusinc.com

Brock Studer, Jace Purdum, Hadley Purdum & Taylor

Grid to Grass 160 BULLS

-160 Angus, SimAngus, MaineAngus bulls

-60 first calf heifer pairs

-30 summer and fall bred heifers

He sells!

-100 open heifer calves ready to breed

cow families with power and cattle that flat out work!

those who reach higher see