Brought to you by American Simbrah Breeders
4S Simbrah-more than a cattle operation; it’s a family business, a community and a lasting legacy
By Martha A. Hollida
The Sansom family’s journey has been full of twists and turns, from a stint in the Army to an international marriage and a calf scramble certificate, all of which played a part in their commitment to the Simbrah breed and the creation of an elite cattle program.
Don and Anika Sansom, along with their children, Kayla and Jakob, own and operate 4S Cattle, Brenham, Texas. They started their Simbrah journey with a show heifer named Smith Buresh Koleen for Kayla in 2019. Since then, they’ve quickly built a program recognized in SimGenetics circles.
Don was raised in Brownwood, Texas, which is just about the center of the Lone Star State. He would leave home for a stint in the Army and while stationed in Germany, he would meet Anika. They would marry in 1999 and once his tour of duty ended the following year, the newlyweds moved to Brownwood.
During the next 12 years, they would start careers, run commercial cattle and become parents. Then in 2012, a career move for Don led
At the 2023 International Show, Smith 4S Kayla Charming Emmy Lu 938K was the International Reserve Grand Champion and in 2024, she was named International Grand Champion. Pictured (l to r) Tim Smith, Jakob and Kayla Sansom.
them to Brenham. Kayla was 9 years old, and Jakob was 7 years old at the time.
“We sold the cattle and soon bought some horses to ride. I had shown horses growing up, so I was probably the driving force behind horse ownership. Then came show pigs for the kids and they really enjoyed showing. At the same time, we were realizing the opportunities and life lessons livestock offered. Then the ag teacher suggested that Kayla participate in the Washington County Fair Calf Scramble. At that point we had no idea how our lives were going to change and all the good things that would follow,” explained Anika.
Kayla did catch in the calf scramble and the family began to evaluate breeds to show, trying to learn about selecting, feeding and caring for show heifers. The most daunting challenge at first was choosing the breed and where to buy a heifer.
“Our ag teacher suggested Simbrahs to us and told us there was an operation nearby in Giddings, Texas. We went to Smith Genetics and now, six years later, all our show heifers and genetics are from Tim Smith’s program,” said Don.
The Sansoms were impressed with all the opportunities, scholarships and experiences Smith told them about through the American Junior Simmental Association (AJSA), Texas Junior Simmental/Simbrah Association (TJSSA) and American Junior Simbrah Roundup, Simbrah and Simmental Superbowl and the junior program benefits of Smith Genetics.
They purchased Smith Buresh Koleen and the family’s journey into the purebred sector was off and running. Now, six years later, both children have competed across the country with their
Simbrahs, they have both served on the TJSSA Board of Directors, competed in FFA leadership experiences and acquired scholarships for their educational expenses.
“Both of them are now in college and at this point, they have been able to pay for their education through scholarships and stipends related to their involvement in showing and primarily SimGenetics,” shared Anika, who now serves on the Texas Simmental/ Simbrah Board of Directors.
“The Sansoms are a prime example of a family getting their start through a show heifer. In the beginning, they were more interested in having a heifer that they could learn about showing, more than winning. Then they realized feeding a great one or an average one would cost the same and their competitiveness grew. They began investing in heifers with lots of genetic strength. They also saw the value of junior programs and became interested in being part of the culture of agriculture,” described Smith.
The couple is quick to say that the family had a lot to learn about purebred cattle and showing, but the Simbrah breeders have been really helpful, and that Smith has been invaluable to them in all phases-showing, selection, mating and has helped them reach answers and decisions to all types of questions and situations.
A heifer named Smith Crack a Smile, a double bred Smith Bella Bella, was purchased for Jakob, while Kayla’s next heifer was Smith Charming N Lively 938F. Those females took the family from being in the show ring to standing at the backdrop at several shows. 938F is a Smith No Fear daughter with the Annie Lou Cow Family on the maternal side of the pedigree. Then, 938F’s daughter, sired by
No Better Than This,
4S
Charming Emmy Lu 938K, did the same for Jakob as he won the 2023 International Reserve Grand Champion title and the 2024 International Grand Champion titles in Houston and the reserve grand honor at the AJSA National Classic. Emmy Lu was also the Cattlemen’s Congress Grand Champion Simbrah Female and was named the Cattlemen’s Congress Third Overall American Heifer. This past summer, Jakob claimed the National Classic Reserve Grand Champion honor with Smith Take Me 2 the Dance 020L, a Smith Follow My Lead x Smith Diva’s Dancing Queen product. This heifer also won the 2024 TJSSA Futurity and the Overall Supreme Simbrah Influenced title at the state show.
These heifers are now part of the 4S nucleus and the family’s focus has moved from showing to raising replacement females and herd sires, as well as show heifers. Some of the other notable females now in their program include Smith Diva Whisper, a Smith Made Solid daughter from the Diva Cow Family; Smith Solid Spark Juliet 215J,
a Smith Made Solid x Juliet bred female; Smith Bella Bellissima 326J, a direct daughter of the Bella Bella cow and Smith Made Solid. They’ve recently added em-
bryos that are full siblings to the Take Me 2 The Dance heifer, as well as a percentage female carrying JSUL Something About Mary and Wentz Smith Superior
(Continued on page 4)
Smith
Smith
Kayla
The Sansom family of 4S Simbrah. L to r: Kayla, Jakob, Anika and Don.
Smith Crack A Smile 805H, this female was a many time champion for Jakob and is now a donor in the 4S program. She is Smith Bella Xtra Stretch daughter.
Smith Charming N Lively 938F, a female that took Kayla to the backdrop and is now a cornerstone donor for the Sansom family. She has already produced a daughter that claimed the 2024 International title.
NEWSYou Can Use
Bill and Jane Travis
honored
Bill and Jane Travis, Pine Ridge Ranch, Athens, Texas were recently honored by the East Texas Simmental/ Simbrah Association and Heart of Texas Simmental/ Simbrah Association for their years of dedication to the Simbrah breed and beef industry as a whole. The presentation was made at the Fall Fest Sale, held earlier in the fall.
La Muñeca to host annual Giving Sale
La Muñeca Cattle Co., Linn, Texas, has announced their LMC & Friends GIVING Thanks Online Sale, Nov. 23-26th on CattleinMotion.com. This sale benefits several scholarships and causes, including the American Junior Simbrah Roundup. For additional details, follow them on social media and/or visit their website www.lamunecacattle. com.
National Simbrah and Percentage Shows set
The National Percentage and Open Simbrah Show will once again be held during the San Antonio Livestock Show. This year’s events will be Saturday, Feb. 8th. For entries and complete information visit the saarodeo.com
Superbowl once again to be held in San Antonio
The annual SimbrahSimmental Superbowl will once again be held in conjunction with the San Antonio Livestock Show Junior Breeding Beef Heifer Shows on Feb. 12th. To be eligible to show, junior heifer exhibitors must have purchased a heifer from a paid sponsor and be entered in the San Antonio Junior Show. Superbowl entry deadline is Dec. 10th. If you are interested in being a sponsor, please make your $1,000 check payable to the Simbrah/Simmental Superbowl and submit to PO Box 330, Giddings, Texas 78942 postmarked prior to Dec.31, 2024. Sponsorships will continue to be accepted at the rate of $1,250 per sponsorship from Jan. 1 to Feb. 10, 2025 (postmarked/paid prior
to Feb. 10, 2025) and sponsorship fee will increase to $1,500 after Feb. 10th. This allows funds to be deposited and awarded to juniors at the actual event. Complete details and entry form will be available soon at www.simbrah-simmentalsuperbowl. com.
Synergy auctions raise money for Simbrah promotion
Thank you to everyone who donated to the silent auction. Over $2,700 was raised for Simbrah promotion at the recent Synergy Sale. Thank you to Twila and Belva Johnson for coordinating the auction.
Scholarships awarded at Synergy XVII
Four junior Simbrah exhibitors were awarded (Continued on page 3)
BUILDING OUR HERD WITH PROVEN GENETIC LINES
We have recently added three more females to our growing program. Our emphasis is on selecting females with high quality phenotypes, proven genotypes that are backed by predictable cow family lines and desired EPDs.
FUNNY FLICKA 919L
A polled purebred that is a definite donor prospect. She is sired by Smith Follow My Lead and brings a top 15% ranking for TI to our program. Her phenotype, power and maternal strength are impressive.
SMITH EYES ON JULIET 015M
A polled 3/4 daughter of JSUL Something About Mary and a direct daughter of Triple P Juliet. In addition to her exceptional design, structure and look, she has a top 10% ranking for TI and top 20% for API. She went on to be named the Reserve Grand Percentage Simbrah the next day in the Synergy Showcase for Maddie.
RFI NOT LOOKING BACK 976M
A polled purebred daughter of Smith Like Never Before. She’s just a May baby but is loaded with potential and is stout built, yet attractive.
SMITH
Leah Thorp received the Smith Family of Smith Genetics $1,000 scholarship. Pictured (l to r). Bill and Ginny Smith, Haley Smith, Thorp, Tim Smith, Chris Baker and Joel Isgrig.
Laikyn Rich (c) received the Nieschwietz Family of 7N Ranch $1,000 scholarship. She is pictured with Jeanette and Pete Nieschwietz.
(Continued from page 2)
scholarships at the recent Synergy XVII by the Smith and Nieschwietz families and Rodrigo DaSilva. Leah Thorp, Jakob Sansom, Maddie Morgan and Laikyn Rich were the 2024 recipients.
Leah Thorp received the Smith Family of Smith Genetics $1,000 scholarship.
Laikyn Rich received the Nieschwietz Family of 7N Ranch $1,000 scholarship.
Maddie Morgan received the $1,000 Da Silva Scholarship. Jakob Sansom received the Smith Family of Smith Genetics $1,000 scholarship.
For Simbrah news, go online
Simbrah breeders and enthusiasts are encouraged to visit www.simbrahworld.com for the latest news, calendar dates and show results. In addition to the news, all issues of the magazine and the annual Simbrah News Commercial Feature are archived on this site. Simbrah World is also very social. Check out our Facebook page for posts on a weekly basis. To get information on advertising opportunities please contact Martha at hollidacompany@gmail.com or call 903/316-8465.
Jakob Sansom received the Smith Family of Smith Genetics $1,000 scholarship. Pictured (l to r) Chris Baker, Sansom,
2025 AJSA National Classic to be held in Madison, Wisconsin
The American Simmental Association (ASA) Board of Trustees recently met in Amarillo, Texas, August 24–27, voting to hold the 2025 American Junior Simmental Association (AJSA) National Classic in Madison, Wisconsin. The event will be held July 6–12.
The AJSA National Classic draws youth from across the country to compete in cattle shows, educational competitions, and more. Due to an unantici -
pated scheduling conflict between the American Junior Simmental Association (AJSA) and the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) events, the ASA Board of Trustees chose to move the 2025 show to Madison, Wisconsin, and will hold the 2026 show in Grand Island, Nebraska.
A large portion of AJSA members are also involved in the NJAA, and based on member feedback, the ASA Board of Trustees felt it nec-
Simbrah promotional items available
The American Simmental Association (ASA) has marketing materials for the Simbrah breed. There is a brochure, as well as signs promoting Simbrahs as the
crossbreeding choice. For details on how you can get copies of the brochure for distribution and have the sign at events in your area, contact the ASA at 406/587-4531.
Predictable, Consistent And Good
Three generations of excellence---that’s the kind of breeding we seek for our herd. We desire predictable and consistent genetics that prove their worth time after time. The 325 lineage is doing just that for us, have a look at three generations of this line.
SMITH DMM SASSY KIWI-Sired by Smith Follow My Lead and out of DMM Smith Sassy Cheyenne. She and her owner Parker Pilat added the 2024 Houston and Austin Junior Show Reserve Grand Champion banners, as well as the 2024 San Antonio Junior Show and Superbowl Heifer Calf honors.
SMITH RFI MC CLEVER 325D-She is breeding combination of the proven Smith Satisfies and Smith RFI Nuanced. This was a very thought out purchase for us and now she has a daughter and granddaughter who are on track to outproduce her---we like it when that happens!
DMM SMITH SASSY CHEYENNE-A Smith No Better Than This daughter out of Smith RFI Mc Clever 325D. She was a many time champion for our niece, Callie Heaton and is now making news in the pasture with her production.
essary to ensure youth have the opportunity to participate in both events.
The 2026 AJSA National Classic will be held in Grand Island, Nebraska and the ASA and AJSA staff are excited to be working with the Grand Island organizers again. The exact dates will be determined in the future.
Please send any questions to Mia Bayer at mbayer@ simmgene.com, or Greg Burden at greg.gbcattle@ gmail.com.
Maddie Morgan received the $1,000 Da Silva Scholarship.
Tim Smith, Ginny and Bill Smith.
breeding. To further their herd and expand their genetic base they added Smith Ima Pure Diamond 010M, sired by Smith Made Solid and from the Smith Nu Tiffany Diamond donor. She will be used for Simmental and Simbrah production.
With access to Smith Genetics’ extensive bull battery and utilizing embryo transfer and IVF, the Sansoms have grown their program, marketing their genetics through private treaty and aiming to expand their reach.
“The Sansom family
While the hours in show barn are not all consuming these days, the family is investing their time and efforts toward building their program. Don and Anika both have careers outside of the seedstock business, as he is a production supervisor at Valmont Industries, and she is cardio and vascular sonographer at Baylor Scott & White.
quickly became interested in being breeders and have made strong selections for their program, as well as expanding
their land ownership to further build numbers and continually breed for quality,” added Smith.
Kayla is now a senior at Tarleton State majoring in Ag Communications and working for GKB Cattle in Desdemona, Texas. GKB is one of the largest seedstock operations in the U.S and is home to Hereford,
Brangus, Angus, Red Angus and Brahman seedstock programs, as well as large Hereford x Brahman F1 division. Initially, she was an intern and now holds an assistant administrative position and her responsibilities include data management and maintaining cattle records from the various herds and locations. She also assists with multiple events hosted on the ranch and sales, including two separate weekends of sales coming in December.
Jakob is in his second year at Blinn, where he is on the livestock judging team. His next move is still undecided,
but he plans to transfer to a major university, pursue a degree in a field of agriculture and continue to judge. He has also built a lucrative side business of clipping and fitting cattle.
“Showing and being involved in Simbrah has played a key role in who Kayla and Jakob are today. They have learned work ethic and how to be responsible, time management, finances and how to handle real life experiences. It always amazes us how they can talk to people across all ages and walks of life, because of showing and the leadership competitions they’ve been a part of it. The showing experience has truly paid big benefits,” emphasized Anika.
“We recognized quickly what the breed was offering our kids. Then we realized Simbrah excel in longevity, maternal traits, hardiness, mothering ability and are disease and heat tolerant and perfect for our location,” said Don.
Today, the Sansoms are passionate advocates for the Simbrah breed and their journey from novice exhibitors to skilled breeders reflects the rewards of dedication and resilience. The family has crafted a legacy of excellence, one that balances their commitment to agriculture with their personal and professional lives.
“Being a part of the Simbrah community has given us so much more than cattle knowledge,” Anika shared. “It’s given us friendships, experiences and skills that have enriched our family in countless ways.”
Looking to the future, the Sansoms are dedicated to not only growing their 4S Simbrah herd but also giving back to the agricultural community that supported them. With their strong foundation and continued support from breeders like Tim Smith, they are focused on advancing the Simbrah breed and sharing its unique qualities with the next generation. For the Sansoms, 4S Simbrah is more than a cattle operation; it’s a family tradition, a community, and a lasting legacy.
Jakob and. Kayla with champion banners at the 2023 American Junior Simmental National Classic in Madison, Wisconsin.
Jakob Sansom fitting at a major show.
An update on herd rebuilding
By Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist
The biggest question in the cattle industry continues to be that of herd rebuilding. Specifically, there are questions regarding the status of the beef cow herd in 2024 and, more importantly, how is the industry setting up for 2025 and beyond. Beef herd expansion involves two components: reduced cow culling and increased heifer retention. Direct measures of the cow herd inventory and replacement heifer inventories are only available in the Jan. 1 USDA-NASS Cattle report, with the next release in late January 2025. In the meantime, it is challenging to determine what is happening in 2024.
There is data on beef cow slaughter through the year that does indicate the beef cow herd culling rate. The final rate is usually expressed annually as total annual beef cow slaughter as percent of the January 1 beef cow inventory. The annual beef cow slaughter total will not be available until after the end of the year. In the first 37 weeks of 2024, beef cow slaughter is down 16.3 percent year over year. Monthly beef cow slaughter can be expressed as a percentage of total cattle slaughter. On an annual basis, beef cow slaughter as a percent of total cattle slaughter is 97.5 percent correlated with the annual herd culling rate. A twelve-month moving average of this percentage provides an indication during the year of beef cow herd culling. The blue line in Figure 1 shows this moving average since 1987. The two major cyclical beef herd expansion in the 1990-1996 and 2014-2019 periods shows how beef cow herd slaughter behaves during herd expansion. In the two previous herd rebuilds, beef cow slaughter bottomed in 1992 and in 2016. The moving average reflects the previous twelve months suggesting that beef cow slaughter was at a low in the first year of herd expansion in each of these cycles. Figure 1 indicates that beef cow slaughter is declining currently but has not bottomed and is not yet low enough to indicate herd expansion. Moreover, the rate of beef cow slaughter in 2024, although sharply
lower year over year, is not down enough to offset the small bred beef heifer inventory at the beginning of the year. The beef cow herd is likely down year over year in 2024.
Figure 1 also contains a similar twelve-month moving average of heifer slaughter as a percentage of total cattle slaughter. Heifer slaughter goes down
when heifer retention increases and there is a 72.5 percent correlation (negative) between this slaughter percentage and beef replacement heifer percentage (beef replacement heifers as a percent the beef cow herd inventory). The correlation is strong but less than for cows because heifer slaughter includes (Continued on page 14)
Figure 1. Beef Cow and Heifer Slaughter as % of Cattle Slaughter
Utilizing DNA testing and genomics to select replacement females
By Lane Giess, American Simmental Association geneticist
Have your commercial customers asked you about utilizing DNA testing and genomics to help in the selection of replacement females? What are their options and how do they compare in terms of offerings and cost?
Being able to identify replacement heifers with greater precision should be a top priority of commercial cattle producers. There are many economically relevant traits that simply can’t be observed with your eye, and even heifers that are sired by your best bull may inherit some poor genetics. Traits such as mature cow size, longevity, fertility, growth, and terminal merit are all traits that are greatly influenced by an animal’s genetics and in an industry with thin margins, developing heifers with poor genetics for these traits can have lasting financial repercussions. However, for many years, genetic improvement for commercial herds was
generally limited to selecting a superior bull from a seedstock provider and hoping that the progeny he sired were more genetically advanced than the average of your cow herd. We’ve seen over the years that genetic progress in the beef business is slow, especially if the genetically superior bull you purchased turned out to be a “dud.”
Improvements in statistical methods, computing power, and integration of genomic information from DNA have greatly improved the precision of genetic evaluations so that when you do make a bull buying decision you can have greater confidence that bull will produce as expected.
The utility of genomic testing is a complete gamechanger to the beef business because of the vast amount of information it provides on an animal before they ever have progeny and is the reason why no commercial producer should be buying yearling
bulls unless they are genotyped. Over the past decade, genomic technology has been improved and leveraged to greatly benefit the seedstock industry, but these products have even started to bleed over into the commercial sector. So, the original question was “how can I utilize DNA testing to better select replacement females?” The first answer is to buy genetically superior, genomically enhanced expected progeny differences (GE-EPD) bulls. But that answer lacks the precision we mentioned earlier, so the second answer is to also incorporate commercial DNA testing and genetic evaluation into your breeding program.
Yes, there are numerous commercially available products that provide opportunities for genomic improvement in commercial cow herds. This article will focus on three prominent commercial genetic evaluation pro-
POWERED BY PROVEN GENETICS
Smith Bar CB Buzzworthy 123J
A black, polled purebred son of Smith Just Because with the Diva Cow Family in his tabulation. He has some outstanding EPD rankings—top 1% for Calving Ease, Birth Weight and Maternal Calving Ease, plus a top 4% for API and 20% for TI. We love his calves.
Smith Wiggin Wanda 993L
We have added this polled Simmental donor prospect to our progam to produce Simmentals and Simbrahs. She is a daughter of WLE Smith Big Wig and out of the great donor cow WLE Smith Wanda. She will be bringing us a calf by WLE Big Iron soon.
There’s power in the blood and we focus on that when we make selections for our growing program. We want genetic power, phenotypic strength and EPDs that accelerate the next generation.
Our Buzzworthy purchase a few years ago is proving to be powerful, as his calves have depth, muscle, correctness and are standouts. We recently added Wanda as we want to utilize her genetic potential to develop new lines of Simbrah and grow our Simmental division.
VISITORS
Melson
grams: the Zoetis INHERIT Select, the Neogen IGENITY Beef, and the American Simmental Association (ASA) Cow Herd DNA Roundup (CHR) and Calf Crop Genomics (CCG) programs. Each program is slightly different but can drastically improve your understanding of genetic merit among your cow herd and replacement females and allow you to be more informed in your selection and breeding decisions, better benchmark your herd’s genetic strengths and weaknesses, and identify your effective sires through parentage discovery.
Before we get into each of the products, let’s first address the big question: how can genomic testing typically catered for seedstock production be used in commercial herds? The answer is relatively simple. Genomic testing uses a system of identifying high-impact genes for economically
relevant traits and variations in the genetic code at those genes, allowing scientists to determine if a specific gene variation is shown to have greater performance than an alternate variation. We call these additive effects, and when you combine all of the high-impact genes for a single economically relevant trait you can start to paint a picture for how an animal’s DNA makeup will translate to their actual performance. All of these genomic tests are backed by millions of data points on straightbred and crossbred animals, so that the genes involved in these DNA products are known locations across breeds. This means that regardless of the breed composition of your cow herd, you can have accurate and reliable multi-breed genetic insights.
The Zoetis INHERIT
Select and the Neogen IGENITY Beef products are perhaps the two most similar,
as both products are based in providing molecular breeding values and percentile ranks based on an individual animal’s genomic makeup. Both products are easy and simple to use and only require a commercial operator to collect a DNA sample on their animals and send it to the respective lab where results will be processed in a few short weeks. Users will receive a report outlining the relative breeding value, and percentile rank for a number of economically relevant traits on each animal tested.
The Neogen IGENITY Beef product costs $30.00 each, and includes 17 maternal, performance, and carcass traits, and also verifies parentage. The IGENITY Beef dashboard where results are displayed allow you to develop your own custom indexes from those traits provided so you can effectively identify females that have
(Continued on page 11)
Castration is one of the oldest and most common surgical procedures done on beef cattle. The reasons that bulls are castrated include controlling which males are allowed to breed females, to produce animals that are easier to manage due to decreased aggressive and sexual behavior, and to produce a carcass that is higher quality.
A variety of simple surgical techniques can be used to castrate a bull. Young bull calves less than 250 lbs. are usually castrated lying down or in a calf cradle. Older and larger bull calves are generally castrated in the standing position in a squeeze chute. Regardless of the position, proper castration technique and good sanitation are important to minimize problems following castration.
For commercial producers, bull calves should be castrated as young as is practical for the farm or ranch. Purebred producers castrate a smaller percentage of bull calves than
Castration of bull calves
By Bob Larson, DVM, Ph.D., Kansas State University, Beef Cattle Institute
commercial producers and prefer to delay castration until the calves have an opportunity to express growth and other traits. Weight
One reason it is recommended that castration be done at a young age is that bulls castrated at weaning age (i.e. 6-8 months) will
ceive more attention from an animal welfare standpoint.
The reason that producers need to consider the welfare aspects of castration is
procedures. Age at castration also appears to affect the pain response in castrated bulls, with some research trials demonstrating
The reasons that bulls are castrated include controlling which males are allowed to breed females, to produce animals that are easier to manage due to decreased aggressive and sexual behavior, and to produce a carcass that is higher quality.
Proper castration technique and good sanitation are important to minimize problems following castration.
gain of bulls castrated at a young age and treated with a growth-promoting implant will equal that of calves left as bulls until weaning – thus removing an economic incentive to delay castration.
gain very poorly or will lose weight following the surgery and are at higher risk for post-castration infection or excessive bleeding than younger calves. In addition, castration is starting to re-
that all physical methods of castration cause pain. The extent and duration of pain probably differs between castration methods, and more work needs to be done to identify the least painful
She’s a combination of flair and function—loaded with elegance and style, plus top ranking EPDs. She’s just the kind to add strength genetically and phenotypically. Sired by Smith Follow My Lead and her dam is an own daughter of the Diva Cow.
She exudes power and potential. Note the length and extension of this female through her front one-third, as well as the angularity. She has a top 5% ranking for TI and is a daughter of Smith Follow My Lead, currently one of the hottest sires in Simbrah. She’s a descendant of the Charm genetic line in the bottom side of her pedigree.
Our
Focus is on the FUTURE
We have our eye on the future and making sure our SimGenetics are progressive, predictable and loaded with potential. Check out these additions to our herd.
SMITH GLUECK LIPSTICK BARBIE
This young lady is from the She Moves/ Barbie Cow Family, a line of females that are headliners in the breed and this one has lots of power. She’s sired by Smith Follow My Lead.
As we look at other countries and how they view castration of bulls – in England, regulations require that any bull greater than two months of age be given local anesthesia to deaden the ability to feel pain at the castration site and the surgery must be done by a veterinarian.
Anesthesia and pain medication are required for castration in several northern European countries. Anesthesia is also required for castration of bulls in Switzerland and the use of rubber rings is prohibited. Regulations in Ireland require use of anesthesia for castration of cattle older than six months of age. In the United States, few drugs are approved for use to control pain in cattle and while research has not clarified the best combination of products, utilizing one or more methods of pain control at the time of castration is becoming common in the U.S as well.
fewer indications of pain in calves castrated at less than a week of age compared to older calves; and other trials show apparently less pain response in calves castrated less than 21 days of age compared to 42-day old calves.
512/587-7896
Adam Brown | 225 Bridgestone Way | Buda, TX 78610 | 281/795-9019 | Tim Smith, consultant 512/587-7896 RODRIGO DA SILVA 8609 WOOD STORK DR. AUSTIN,
& International Reserve
SMITH STAY HUMBLE 39L
Sired by Smith Follow My Lead. Red, polled purebred Simbrah. 2024 National
Grand Champion Bull. Ranks in the top 15% for 6 traits.
Hay stocks improve cattle winter feeding outlook
By Adam Russell, Texas AgriLife Today
Hay stocks for winter feeding of Texas’ cattle herd are much improved compared to last year, but the early outlook for cool-season grazing has been dampened by drought, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts.
Winter feeding costs are likely to be lower than last year, but the ongoing dry spell across much of the state has cattle producers cautiously optimistic about sustaining their herds into spring.
Vanessa Corriher-Olson, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension forage specialist in the Texas A&M Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Overton, said hay supplies are better than they have been going into the past two winters, but the quality may be an issue.
Much of the hay-producing areas, especially East Texas, experienced rainy conditions as the first spring cuttings were mature. Soggy conditions delayed many
first cuttings and/or post-harvest fertilizer applications, and some hay may have been rained on before it was baled. Those scenarios all can lead to reductions in hay quality.
“The moisture prevented folks from getting into their fields at the right time to optimize the nutrient value, and if they weren’t able to apply timely fertilizer, that will have an effect on future cuttings,” she said. “I’ve seen some hay analyses around East Texas, and while it may be adequate for mature dry cows, any heifers, stockers and cows with calves will need additional protein and energy.”
Supplemental feeding prices improve Fortunately, prices for supplemental livestock rations like liquid feed and range cubes have softened some, said Jason Cleere, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist in the Department of Animal
Science, Bryan-College Station.
For example, a ton of range cubes is about $40-$60 less per ton than this time last year. The higher hay stocks and lower supplemental feed prices translate into lower costs for ranchers through winter.
“Calf prices are still really high, and most producers aren’t going to spend as much on hay and supplementation, which means the cost-perday to winter a cow is down,” he said. “That translates into more money in their pocket.”
Grazing conditions in decline
Fall and winter grazing conditions may be better than last year, but rangelands and pastures are declining due to drought and above-average temperatures, Corriher-Olson said. Declining soil moisture across much of the state is also impacting producers’ ability to establish cool-season annuals like winter
wheat, oats and ryegrass.
In recent weeks, AgriLife Extension agents in counties around the state have shared a mixed bag of results for producers who planted winter wheat and other cool-season grasses for fall grazing. Some producers were moving stocker calves to graze on good, established wheat stands.
However, producers were dealing with challenges or continued to wait for rain before planting cool-season forages. Many acres prepared for wheat and oats are still unplanted due to low soil moisture and a poor rain outlook. On other acres, seeds were dusted in or planted into suboptimal soil moisture resulting in no germination, germinated seeds and poor emergence, or post-emergent failure that will require replanting.
Some fields in a few counties that emerged well were devastated by armyworms
Ranchers and forage producers had a much better hay season than the previous two years. Cool-season forage outlooks aren’t so clear, but Texas’ supply of hay bales is in good shape going into winter. (Michael Miller and Laura McKenzie/Texas A&M AgriLife)
and will likely need replanting.
Corriher-Olson said producers should still consider the value of winter forages and dry-plant now or be ready to plant before any precipitation.
“I’m not surprised producers are delaying planting winter pasture and questioning whether they are going to plant, but I think it’s still
worth the risk to address the hay quality issue for a lot of folks,” she said.
Drought stalling Texas beef herd rebuild Overall, Cleere said there is more optimism among cattle producers going into this winter than last year. Winter grazing conditions will continue to be a concern for ranchers until they receive
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Simple synchronization of cows - One injection, one time through the chute and bull breed
Have you wanted to have more calves born earlier in your calving season, but did not want to deal with the increase in labor, cost and facilities to utilize estrus synchronization and artificial insemination? The protocol shown (Figure 1.) can increase the number of cows coming into estrus early in the breeding season, with one time through the chute, one injection, and breeding using only natural service.
This protocol calls for bulls to be turned out with the cows on Day 0. On Day 5, cows are given a shot of prostaglandin (PGF2α) which synchronizes a majority of the cows to be in heat/estrus from Day 6 through Day 10. The injection of prostaglandin causes any cows with a corpus luteum present on one of their ovaries to regress, ceasing progesterone production. This then triggers the cows to come into heat/ estrus.
If the cow conceives during Day 1 to 5, she will not abort when given the prostaglandin injection on Day 5 because the developing corpus luteum at the site of ovulation on the ovary has not yet reached maturity and will not respond to prostaglandin.
Research conducted at the Fort Keogh Research Center near Miles City, Montana utilized this protocol over a three-year period, achieving pregnancy rates over 85% in a 32-day breeding season. Research from the University of Nebraska showed 75% of cows calved in the first 21 days of the calving season utilizing this estrus synchronization protocol as compared to only 63% of cows from non-synchronized natural service breeding.
Utilizing natural service with this method of estrus synchronization will require adequate bull power. A bull to cow ratio of 1:15 with yearling bulls or 1:25 with mature bulls should be sufficient. Because early breeding and the synchronized estrus is occurring over a 10-day period, fertile and active bulls with adequate libido should be able to handle the number of cows that will be coming into heat. Breeding bulls should undergo a breeding soundness exam prior to the breeding season.
By Bethany Johnston and Aaron Berger, Nebraska Extension educator
Producers considering the use of this synchronization tool should remember that a number of factors affect pregnancy rate including cow body condition score, plane of nutrition, cattle health, and bull fertility.
Estrus synchronization can shorten the calving
season. The article “Use of Natural Service Sires with Synchronized Estrus” highlights other advantages of estrus synchronization and natural service.
Note: A relatively new prostaglandin product, which is in a high-concentration formula, allows for a 2-mL dose
to be injected subcutaneously (under the skin). Other prostaglandin products have an intramuscular injection (IM) label requirement, which requires a longer needle for deep muscle penetration. IM injections have a greater risk to develop lesions in the muscle that affects meat quality.
Test, don’t guess: Sampling and testing hay
By Aaron Berger, Nebraska Extension
Accurately sampling and testing hay is the only way to get a real understanding of the nutritive value of feed. Using values from previous years or a “book value” can be costly since a producer may incorrectly develop a ration using values that aren’t representative.
Guidelines for sampling
When sampling hay, getting a representative sample is a critical first step. Samples must accurately represent the entire lot of hay. It is recommended that a “lot” of hay should be harvested from the same field consisting of similar types of plants, cutting dates, maturity, variety, weed contamination, type of harvest equipment, curing methods and storage conditions.
Hay samples should be taken using a hay probe or a core sampler. The hay probe should penetrate at least 12-18 inches into the bale and
have an internal diameter of at least 3/8 of an inch. Avoid
Once all of the samples for a “lot” have been col-
until the sample is ready to be submitted. Samples that con-
alyzed for moisture, protein, and energy. Producers may
Accurately testing hay takes time and money. However, the value of this information is critical in accurately and cost-effectively formulating rations. Don’t let the small investment of time and money discourage you. It may be some of the best time and money you can invest in your operation.
getting hay probes hot when using a drill to drive the probe into the bale since friction from high speeds can heat the probe to a point where it damages the hay sample. To get a representative hay sample from a “lot” of hay, select 15-20 bales in the lot.
building with the Best!
lected, the samples may need to be sub-sampled to get the feed down to a size that can be sent in for analysis. Check with your local Extension office concerning this.
Once hay samples have been taken, store in a plastic sealed bag in a cool, dry place
We’ve added these two powerhouses to expand our program—019L is from the Smith Bella Bella Cow Family and 2C carries the famous Simmental Cow Family 770P line.
Smith McCrary Sheza Bella 019L-Sired by Smith Made Solid and from the Bella Bella daughter, Smith Farms Sheza Bella. She is currently bred to Smith Stepping Up Your Game to give us a bay in early 2025.
Eloquent Like
by WLE
E020, a son of Pays to Believe and from Shawnee Miss 770P. Her dam is a Broker daughter.
RANDY AND KAREN PRINCE • 806/773-9591
Tim Smith, Consultant, 512/587-7896 • smithgenetics1@gmail.com
Enhancing Maternal Value Enhancing Maternal Value
We’ve introduced genetics from two of the breed’s finest, Smith Diva’s Dancing Queen and Smith Nu Tiffany Diamond into our program. We specifically selected a progeny from each of these legendary matriarchs for our daughters to show, not only for their potential in the ring but also for the strong maternal traits we believe will advance our herd when they move into production.
Keep an eye on these exceptional females in the upcoming show season as they become key contributors to our evolving program.
tain over 15 percent moisture should be frozen. Most commercial labs provide an information submittal form that allows producers to select a standard feed test for forages. Analyze for moisture, protein, and energy Cattle feeds should be an-
also want to have forages tested for key minerals. When developing a ration for cattle or comparing feeds to one another, always utilize the nutrient analysis on a dry-matter basis. After formulating a ration on a dry-matter basis, the values can then be con-
verted to an as-is basis using the moisture content of the feed to determine the actual amount of feed that should be fed to the cattle on an as-is basis.
Analyze forages for nitrates
In addition to moisture, protein and energy, annual forages harvested for hay, such as foxtail millet, oats, sudan grass, and sorghum-sudan hybrids, should be analyzed for nitrates. The only way to know if high levels of nitrate accumulation have occurred is to test for it.
Conclusion
Accurately testing hay takes time and money. However, the value of this information is critical in accurately and cost-effectively formulating rations. Don’t let the small investment of time and money discourage you. It may be some of the best time and money you can invest in your operation.
Smith Diva’s Dancing Queen
Smith
Kelli 2C-Sired
Genuine
Utilizing...
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balanced trait superiority. The Zoetis INHERIT product promotes various discounted prices with pricing for heifers as low as $14 per test and as low as $29 per test for cows.
The Zoetis INHERIT product includes GE-EPD on 20 traits that are updated weekly, including growth, feed to gain, mature cow weight, carcass traits, and cow fertility. Both tests also include the option for add-on tests that could identify homozygosity for polled and coat color.
Of course, there are tradeoffs between these products, and it is also worth mentioning that commercial cattle genomic testing is still in its relative infancy compared to the seedstock industry. A commercial genomic test like those provided by Neogen and Zoetis undoubtedly provides greater granularity for identifying genetic merit compared to using your eye, but like any genetic prediction, there is still some level of prediction error, and test results may not be wholly indicative of an animal’s true genetic merit. If you want to gain greater accuracy and more precise genetic predictions, it is worth considering collecting and leveraging phenotypic and pedigree data into a genetic evaluation that uses genomic information in tandem with actual data. This is where the American Simmental Association (ASA) Cow Herd DNA Roundup and Calf Crop Genomics programs can provide solutions for commercial operators who collect phenotypic data such as birth weights, weaning weights, or even individual carcass data.
The Cow Herd DNA Roundup and Calf Crop Genomics programs allow commercial operators to pair those information sources with low-cost genotyping in a multi-breed genetic evaluation that can provide additional accuracy and predictive power. These programs encourage users to enroll their entire cow herd or calf crop in the ASA Total Herd Enrollment (THE) commercial option, which costs $7.50 per cow, or a flat fee of $500 (regardless of herd size) if you only want GE-EPD returned on females. The DNA test costs $25 dollars (if you test >90% of herd size) with opportunities to receive credits back if you report data such as weaning and yearling weight, mature cow weight, and body condition score. In return you will receive GEEPD on 16 economically relevant traits and two selec-
tion indexes, along with percentile ranks and prediction accuracies. In these programs you are using the same tools as your seedstock provider to make decisions. Naturally, both programs also come with trade-offs as they are the most data-intensive and demanding of the programs discussed in this article. Users must have sire awareness for this program to be successful, and parentage of females through DNA is a top priority. Ultimately, the beef business is evolving, and precision tools such as genomic testing to identify genetically superior animals in commer-
cial cow herds are becoming more widely available and incredibly powerful in the information they provide. This article is meant to serve as an introduction to which tools are available to you and provide a fair comparison of each. For additional information visit each of the respective providers’ websites, and if you have further questions for this author, contact lgiess@simmgene.com.
Hay...
(Continued from page 8)
adequate rainfall to support cool-season grass establishment and production.
Ranchers remain cautious when it comes to rebuilding the cow herd due to the dryer conditions they are experiencing, as well as memories of the past two years of serious droughts, he said.
There were 4.65 million beef cattle in Texas in 2019,
but the number declined to 4.15 million in January 2024, the lowest point since 1961, after back-to-back years of drought and poor hay and forage production.
David Anderson, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension economist in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Bryan-College Station, said he expects the January 2025 U.S. Department of Agriculture cattle inventory
report to show further declines based on the high numbers of heifers going to feedlots and cows going to meat packers.
“It’s certainly a different situation than last year,” Cleere said. “Producers will continue to retain replacement heifers, but it depends on whether they can hold back a number that indicates they are rebuilding their herds to pre-drought levels.”
Simbrah roots
By Callie Henly Cline
Agriculture is considered the backbone of America. The cattle industry is often called the root of Texas. And Simbrah cattle are at the heart of the Martinez family.
Charley and Vanessa (Hinojosa) Martinez both found their passion in agriculture and more specifically, in raising and showing Simbrah cattle. Growing up on a well-established cow calf operation behind older siblings set Vanessa up for success in and out of the show ring. On the other hand, while Charley may not have been born into Simbrah cattle, he got there as soon as he could.
“You know, if you would have asked 12-year-old Charley, he would have said he wanted to be a professional baseball player. Then, as I got into high school and then graduated, that dream kind of died and the livestock side took over in terms of my passion and things that I did,” Charley said.
Growing up around his family’s small cattle operation, Charley went through a
few test runs of other species and types of cattle before finding his home in Simmental and Simbrah genetics.
After taking advice from his cousins, Charley found himself completely immersed in the American Junior Simmental Association (AJSA) and Texas Junior Simmental Simbrah Association (TJSSA). Now, after having been involved in the Simbrah breed for 17 years and attending 12 Junior Nationals, Regional Classics, and State Futurities, Charley finds himself still promoting, studying and improving the breed. Only now, he’s doing so as an assistant professor and Extension specialist in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
“It’s kind of an accumulation of different experiences along the way that got me here. Whether it be my different types of research at Texas A&M-Kingsville, being on the livestock and meat judging teams, work-
ing in the meat lab, being at Texas A&M and being trained by one of the best livestock economists in the country, Dr. David Anderson, or being trained by one of the best coops economists, Dr. John Park and learning all of those different things.” Charley said.
“It was also, you know, the experiences of Cargill and the feed yards and then, helping folks in the show cattle world, and seeing different cow calf operations and having the personal experiences myself, it was just an accumulation of all kinds of variables that kind of set the landscape for me in terms of what I do now.”
After graduating from Ferris High School, Charley went on to Texas A&M Kingsville to study agriculture business-ranch management. While there, he participated in the livestock and inaugural meats judging teams, worked in the meat lab, participated in undergraduate research and worked during the summers with both Cargill Cattle Feeders and Rio Beef Yard.
Charley was offered a fulltime position in the Panhandle to follow his undergraduate career, but ultimately chose his budding relationship with Vanessa over that opportunity, which became the decision that changed everything for his future family and his future career.
“And so, I decided that I wanted to apply to Texas A&M University and I got in as a graduate student in the Agriculture Economics department,” Charley said. “And after a year and a half of being at A&M, I started my PhD program. They have what’s known as a straightthrough program with certain requirements that I met and so they switched me over to just getting my PhD.”
Working directly under Dr. David Anderson and Dr. John Park, Charley had the opportunity to learn about agricultural co-ops and various agriculture business principles. He also spent time researching livestock and meat economics and policy. That led into his dissertation discussing shrink effects on feeder calves as they traveled across the United States and wholesale meat market dynamics.
Utilizing the benefits of the Aggie network, Charley
found himself interviewing for a research and extension position at the University of Tennessee as he was close to completing his fifth year at Texas A&M. Upon graduating in December 2019, Charley moved his family to the state to begin their life as Tennessee Volunteers in January of 2020.
Not long after their move, the world stopped. In March of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic kept the young Martinez family of three in their home in what still felt like the middle of nowhere, but much like an agriculturist does, Charley insisted on making the most of his opportunity, writing and publishing research articles.
“It wasn’t fun for us as a family because we moved here, we didn’t know anybody, d didn’t have any friends and then were immediately stuck in the house in a place that we had no idea about. But career wise, it was one of the best things that ever happened to me. The COVID situation kind of set me on my path in the research world,” Charley said. “And now, one of those articles probably will always be something that’s very important to me and one of my most cited journal articles. That’s all because COVID hit and that’s what helped my career.”
Today Charley spends his time researching and
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Charley and Vanessa Martinez met because of their involvement in Texas Junior Simmental/Simbrah Association and American Junior Simmental Association shows and activities. Their engagement was at the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo and today the couple continue to own Simbrah cattle.
educating to not only ranchers and graduate students in Tennessee, but across the nation. In June 2024, Charley was invited to the distinguished honor of speaking at the recent Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Meeting in Knoxville. Following the invitation from colleague Dr. Troy Rowan, Charley presented on their recent research regarding eye tracking technology in bull buying.
“We use eye tracking in our research. We put pictures and videos of bulls in front of people on a computer screen and actually monitor where their eyes look when they’re making a decision in terms of the appraisal value of a bull. We’re the first ones in the industry to ever do this type of research,” Charley said. “BIF was really about showing everyone what we’ve been working on here at UT, and kind of what the future looks like and where we’re headed with this research. Because of that, we’ll be doing experiments around the country this coming year and we’re pretty excited.”
Charley also spends a large portion of his time utilizing EPDs in his research, a
skill that he says he first developed as a junior in the AJSA and TJSSA contests like cattlemen’s quiz. Some of his research now looks at behavior, or consumer preferences, when people are buying and selling seed stock pools.
“One of the facets of that research is that we have to select breeds to use in that research and every experiment that I’ve conducted has had somewhat of a Simmental pool in it,” Charley said.”
Producers are still seeking what they have been for years: profit-driven females. Researchers like Charley continue to promote the value of hybrid vigor, giving Charley the perfect opportunity to promote the big-eared breed that in his eyes, “do just that.”
“I’ll get questions at field days, or Extension events,
asking me what bulls or what genetic lines from the Simbrah side work best or what I think would work best here in Tennessee, and it’s kind of fun and interesting to hear people talk about Simbrahs because they know that they can use me as a resource,” Charley said. “Texas is, you know, home to some of the best Simbrahs in not only in the country, but in the world. And just because I’m from there and have that background in me, people here [in Tennessee] always ask me questions. In my research, I still use some Simbrah genetic based cattle as instruments, so I do find ways to bring them into both my research and Extension work.”
As a past TJSSA President and role model for younger Simbrah enthusiasts across
the state, it’s no surprise that while Charley enjoys his tactical research work, he finds astounding pride in the development of his graduate students.
“I’ve got really good students that come from similar backgrounds and for me it’s fun to provide opportunities for them when it comes to research and extension,” Charley said. “I’m happier for them when they get extension publications or journal publications than I am for my own self. And so, to be able to provide that opportunity has been very fun.”
However, his greatest joy remains his maroon-turned-orange family. With Charley and Vanessa’s children, Henry age 7, and Remington age 3, not growing up directly involved with cattle like their parents had
at those ages, the Martinez’s take every opportunity they can to come back to the family ranch where their herd of Simbrah cattle reside in South Texas, stay active in junior livestock shows and immerse their children into the lifestyle that brought them together.
While the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo (SASSR) may be widely known for its’ bucking bulls and bright carnival lights, for the Martinez’s, it means so much more. The SimbrahSimmental Superbowl, held annually at the SASSR, created the connection that would lead into a lifetime of love between Charley and Vanessa.
After leaving her teaching career to return to her agricultural roots, Vanessa is pursuing her master’s degree at UT
This past summer, Charley was one of the featured speakers at the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) meeting. BIF’s mission is to advance the beef industry through genetic improvement and he spoke on research using eye technology in bull buying that he is a part of at University of Tennessee.
Knoxville in the Department of Plant Sciences, researching organic corn production in the Southeast using living mulch. While her “next steps” may be unpredictable and Charley will continue seeking the best opportunities to benefit the industry in research and education, no matter where that is, one thing is certain: the Martinez family will remain a powerhouse in the cattle industry, making Simbrah breeders everywhere proud, but especially in Texas. ~SLS
The Martinez family celebrating the recent University of Tennessee win over Alabama.
Henry Martinez back in South Texas, where the family maintains some Simbrah cattle.
Simbrah
Source: American Simmental Association
The American Simmental Association maintains the registry for the Simbrah breed. Simbrah combines the strengths of two of the most populous breeds of cattle in the world — Simmental and Brahman. The fertility, milking ability, and rapid growth of the Simmental are comple-
mented by the heat tolerance and hardiness of the Brahman. What is a Simbrah?
Animals of 5/8 Simmental and 3/8 Brahman breeding are registered as purebred Simbrah. Other combinations of not less than 1/8 Simmental, 1/8 Brahman, and not more than 3/8 other breeds are registered as percentage Simbrah. Breeders can select combinations that perform best in their production environment, and which also best satisfy market demand in their area. The Simbrah population presently makes up roughly 2% of ASA registered animals.
Registered Sire Registered Dam Comments
1/4 Simmental x 3/4 Brahman Purebred Simmental
High level of heterosis in calf; highest (foundation Brahman)
3/4 Simmental x 1/4 Brahman
An update...
(Continued from page 5)
more than just beef heifers.
Figure 1 shows that the moving average of heifer slaughter also bottoms during herd expansion, typically about a year later than the cow slaughter
moving average. In 2024, the twelve-month moving average of the heifer slaughter percentage of total cattle slaughter has not decreased at all thus far. Both of the measures in Figure 1 suggest that there is only minimal indication
Purebred Simmental
1/2 Simmental x 1/2 Brahman
of industry movement towards herd rebuilding. The beef cow herd will likely be smaller on Jan. 1, 2025, and has very limited potential to do anything other than stabilize and hold steady in 2025.
~SLS
ADD THEIR DAUGHTERS TO YOUR PROGRAM
Purebred and Percentage Simbrah Females For Sale
Our two herd sires are delivering some high-quality females, who are loaded with strong maternal traits and desired EPDs. Their daughters are backed by predictable genetics and are loaded with high performing EPD numbers. We have a group of purebred and three-quarter blood females sired by Smith Price Just Looking 037J and Smith Stamp of Approval 015K. Call us!
SMITH STAMP OF APPROVAL 015K
A polled purebred son of Smith Made Solid and carrying the lineage of the Diva Cow Family. 015K ranks in the top 10% for API and 5% of TI. Add to those numbers top 10% for CE, BW MCE and MARB.
SMITH PRICE JUST LOOKIN’ 037J
A polled purebred son of Smith Just Because with the Priceless Cow Family represented on the maternal side. He ranks in the top 10% for API and 20% for TI. He also is top1% for CE, BW and MCE!
Most heterosis overall; increased weaning weight without increased birth weights.
High level of heterosis in calf; highest expected weaning weights, but also a potential for increased birth weights.
Moderate level of heterosis in calf and a high degree of maternal heterosis; weaning weight potential similar to option two, but with less expected increase in birth weight.
Biological time lag of heifer retention
It is evident the pace of expansion of the U.S. cow inventory will be slower than past cycles. Several factors will continue to contribute to the slow rebuild. Our beef cow inventory continues to tighten and pushes market prices to record levels. With regard to heifer retention, the questions most of us are asking:
1. Will increased heifer retention (at some point in the future) result in even higher prices?
2. How long will these prices last?
Good questions. Past cattle cycles indicate the answer to the first is most likely yes. When producers begin to retain more heifers to develop as herd replacements, it results in fewer calves going to market.
The answer to the second question is our topic.
The biological time lag of beef production
The reality of beef production is that what competing animal proteins can accomplish in weeks (broiler production) or months (pork production), will take those of us in the cowcalf sector years to accomplish. The biology of the beef animal is why.
The timeline If we selected a high percentage of our spring (2024) born heifer calves to develop as replacements this fall. Next spring (2025), those properly developed replacement heifers would be ready to breed by 14 – 15 months of age. The following spring (2026), those heifers would calve at two years of age. Those calves would be ready to market at weaning in the fall of 2026. Those calves would become yearlings in 2027 and eventually become
marketed as finished “A Maturity” finished cattle or beef carcasses six to seven months after entering the feedyard.
Bottomline
As of now there is little evidence of largescale heifer retention across the country. If and when we begin to retain heifers (on a large scale) we are a couple of years away from increasing the cow inventory, and at least 30 months away from increasing the supply of weaned calves, and so on, regarding yearlings and fed cattle. As is always the case in the beef cattle industry, other factors can and will have impact on the market. That being stated, the basic fundamentals of supply and demand favor strong prices for all categories of cattle until cow inventory begins to increase, and that will take some time.
Mark Z. Johnson, Oklahoma State University Extension beef cattle breeding specialist
Longevity and maternal performance highlighted at BIF
By Lauren Gatz, BIF communications intern
“The question that was posed to us was why is longevity and maternal performance important? And I think that question is very obvious to this audience, and it’s because both of those have a huge contribution to the profitability of the cow-calf enterprise,” explains Rick Machen, Texas A&M University Kingsville. Machen was a featured speaker alongside Bob Weaber, Kansas State University, during the 2024 Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Symposium.
Machen highlighted that longevity and maternal performance are central to economic success in cow-calf operations. He emphasized that longevity, which he defines as the ability of cows to remain in production over many years, contributes significantly to an operation’s profitability.
“The longer these cows
stay in the herd and are productive at or above the average for the herd, the more
mental and social concerns, economic sustainability is crucial. Without a strong eco-
environmental management in creating a productive cow. Throughout his part of the
current prices, can generate an additional $10,000 in revenue,” Weaber says.
Machen highlighted that longevity and maternal performance are central to economic success in cow-calf operations. He emphasized that longevity, which he defines as the ability of cows to remain in production over many years, contributes significantly to an operation’s profitability.
profitable those cows can be,” Machen says. “By retaining cows that continue to produce calves efficiently, operations can benefit from a lower unit cost of production.”
Both Machen and Weaber addressed the importance of sustainability in the cow-calf industry.
“It’s already been mentioned this morning about the whole issue of sustainability and the three pillars of sustainability being economic, social, and environmental,” Machen says.
He stressed that while we often focus on environ-
nomic foundation, social and environmental goals cannot be achieved.
Like Machen, Weaber emphasized the importance of integrating genetics and the environment into the decision making for a breeding program. “From a commercial cow-calf perspective, of course, most people in the room will recognize that it’s the phenotype of that cow and her performance in a production environment that builds herd profitability,” Weaber says.
He highlighted the combined role of genetics and
presentation, Weaber emphasizes how management practices, such as supplemental feed and breeding programs, impact a cow’s performance.
“We can’t overlook the impact of our management,” he states, acknowledging that changes to the cow’s environment can impact productivity.
Improving calf crop percentages is one strategy they discussed for increasing revenue.
“Even a modest increase of say 7% for a herd of 100 cows, that’s seven additional calves. Even if they’re not very big calves, by weight and
This statement emphasized the substantial financial impact of increasing calf survival rates and overall productivity.
Machen also discussed the importance of early calving, emphasizing that heifers born early in the calving season are likely to be more productive.
“The idea is that these females that are born early in the calf drop are likely from genetics that are adapted and work in our production system,” he explains.
By selecting for early calving, producers can ensure a longer productive life for
their cows.
Lastly, Machen addresses the often-overlooked cost of depreciation.
“Depreciation is a noncash cost. We don’t write a check for depreciation, but it’s a very real cost in these enterprises,” he says.
Understanding this cost is essential for operations to accurately plan their financials and maintain profitability.
Throughout the talk, Machen and Weaber provided many different viewpoints of how longevity, maternal performance and effective management practices can contribute to the success of cow-calf operations.
To watch the full presentation, visit https://youtu. be/Z-5-qbfQWQcFor more information about this year’s Symposium and the Beef Improvement Federation, including additional presentations and award winners, visit BIFSymposium.com.
August pork exports above year-ago; beef exports trend lower
Fueled by another outstanding performance from Mexico, August exports of U.S. pork increased yearover-year, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). U.S. beef exports were below year-ago levels in August while lamb exports trended higher, posting the largest volume since January.
August pork exports totaled 238,989 metric tons (mt), up 6% from a year ago but the second lowest of 2024. Export value increased 8% to $702.9 million. For January through August, pork exports were just under 2 million mt, up 4% from a year ago, while valued climbed 7% to $5.68 billion. Pork export value was on a record pace through August, and USMEF projects both export volume and value will reach record highs in 2024.
“Mexico was once again the pacesetter for U.S. pork,
but demand throughout the Western Hemisphere was outstanding in August,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “Shipments to South America posted the highest value on record, while exports to Central America and the Caribbean also achieved strong growth. These markets are increasingly competitive, so it is essential that the U.S. industry defends its market share while also developing marketing efforts that help expand overall consumption.”
Beef exports totaled 102,682 mt in August, down 6% from a year ago and the lowest since January. Export value fell 4% to $845.9 million. Through the first eight months of the year, beef exports were 3% below last year at 856,834 mt but were 4% higher in value at just under $7 billion.
“Beef demand in our major Asian markets seemed to lose a bit of momentum in
A Confident Addition
Source: USMEF
August, but exports held up well to Mexico, Taiwan and the Middle East,” Halstrom said. “The headwinds in Asia remain formidable, but we are encouraged by the region’s ongoing tourism rebound. The late-September removal of Colombia’s restrictions on U.S. beef is also a positive development. While this came too late to impact the August results, it will help bolster fourth-quarter demand in Latin America.”
Beef exports trend higher to Mexico, Taiwan, Middle East, but lower overall Mexico’s demand for U.S. beef remained robust in August, with exports increasing 2% from a year ago in both volume (19,037 mt) and value ($113.2 million). For January through August, shipments to Mexico increased 13% to 153,591 mt, while value climbed 16% to $898.5 million. This included a strong increase in beef vari-
SMITH DOUBLE 770P MISSY 503L
ety meat exports, which were up 15% to 81,816 mt, valued at $221.4 million up 9%). Mexico is the largest volume destination for U.S. beef variety meat.
Beef exports to Taiwan continued to trend higher in August, with shipments increasing 4% from a year ago in both volume (5,817 mt) and value ($67.6 million). After a slow start to the year, January-August exports to Taiwan pulled within 4% of last year’s volume pace at 42,669 mt, while export value climbed 6% above last year to $471.8 million.
Led by larger beef variety meat shipments to Egypt, record beef muscle cut shipments to Qatar and strengthening demand for muscle cuts in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain, beef exports to the Middle East have rebounded impressively in 2024. August exports increased 40% from a year ago to 4,053 mt, valued at $17.6 million (up 18%). This pushed the January-August results 30% above last year in volume (36,501 mt) and 27% higher in value ($164.2 million).
2,463 mt, though export value fell 8% to $23 million. Some of this volume was newfound demand for canned beef products in Cuba, but growth was also driven by record-large shipments to the Dominican Republic, Netherlands Antilles, and Turks and Caicos and rebounding variety meat shipments to Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica. For January through August, exports to the region were 23% above last year at 22,254 mt, while export value climbed 9% to $187 million.
• August beef export volume to Japan slipped modestly compared to last year, falling 2% to 20,585 mt. Export value declined more significantly, down 9% to $158.4 million. For January through August, export volume to Japan was steady with last year at 169,636 mt, while export value was 5% higher at $1.31 billion.
economy. Some aspects of this package could provide a boost to China’s foodservice sector, which is still struggling to recover from the COVID era.
• As noted above, Colombia recently repealed its ban on U.S. beef originating from 14 states in which H5N1 was detected in dairy cows. These restrictions, which began in April, decimated beef exports to Colombia, which fell to just 73 mt in August, valued at about $600,000. The Colombian market had been averaging more than $3 million in monthly shipments before restrictions were imposed, and USMEF is actively working to rebuild demand now that full access has been restored.
We recently added Smith Double 770P Missy to our program. She is a female that possesses an explosive genetic combination that has the potential, when mated with outcross bulls to produce extraordinary results.
She is double bred from the 770P Cow Family as she is a sired by Uno Mas and out of WLE Missy X3055, a daughter of the proven Shawnee Miss 770P. She will be delivering us a calf in the spring by Smith Follow My Lead.
We will utilize her for production of Simmentals and Simbrahs and we are confident she will add quality, predictability and result driven cattle.
BEE CATTLE COMPANY Kenny and Twila Johnson P.O. Box 446 Keneday, TX 78119
361/438-3413 Topprice82@icloud.net
Other January-August results for U.S. beef exports include:
• Strong demand in the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam pushed August exports to the ASEAN region to 3,374 mt, up 9% from a year ago, while export value climbed 60% to $28.4 million. For January through August, exports were slightly below last year’s volume at 26,463 mt but achieved an impressive 39% increase in value to $221.7 million.
• August beef exports to the Caribbean edged slightly higher than a year ago at
• Beef exports to South Korea also trended lower in August, down 13% from a year ago in volume (17,128 mt, the lowest since 2020) and 5% lower in value ($163.1 million). Through August, exports to Korea managed a slight increase in value ($1.43 billion, up 1%) despite a 12% decline in volume (151,065 mt).
• August exports to China/ Hong Kong declined 10% from a year ago to 17,131 mt, while export value fell 8% to $155.3 million. JanuaryAugust exports to the region were down 11% from a year ago in volume (139,382 mt) and were 6% lower in value ($1.29 billion). In recent weeks the Chinese government unveiled long-awaited measures aimed at stimulating the nation’s sluggish
• Beef export value equated to $391.19 per head of fed slaughter in August, down 1% from a year ago. The January-August average was $414.88 per head, up 5%.
Exports accounted for 13% of total August beef production and 10.7% for muscle cuts only – each down about one-half percentage point from a year ago. The JanuaryAugust ratios were 13.9% of total production and 11.6% for muscle cuts, down from 14.3% and 12%, respectively, during the same period in 2023.
Simbrah
Fewer cattle, more beef?
By James Mitchell, University of Arkansas
In mid-August, an update on U.S. beef production based on USDA’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) was published. At the time, USDA projected a slight decline in beef production for 2024 compared to 2023, estimating a 1% drop. However, two months later, USDA revised its forecast, now expecting an increase in 2024
beef production. The first graph below shows USDA’s forecasts from January 2024 and October 2024, illustrating how projections have shifted significantly over the course of the year.
Despite cattle inventories declining since their 2019 peak of 94.7 million, beef production in 2024 is expected to exceed 2023 levels. USDA’s latest forecast proj-
ects a slight increase of 0.1%, bringing total beef production to 27.0 billion pounds. This lag in production response is typical of cattle market dynamics, where changes in production often do not immediately align with inventory shifts.
The second graph illustrates the relationship between cattle inventories and beef production, showing
instances where production stalls despite year-over-year changes in cattle numbers. This is because current beef production reflects management decisions made by cattle producers two years prior. Consequently, 2024 beef production is largely a result of decisions made in 2021 and 2022.
The other factors contributing to the increase in 2024 beef production are well
documented by now. Longer feeding periods, driven by lower costs of gain, have resulted in dressed weights significantly exceeding last year’s levels. According to the latest USDA-NASS data, steer dressed weights are averaging 950 pounds—28 pounds heavier than in 2023. The net effect of slightly lower slaughter rates combined with heavier dressed weights is an overall increase in beef production. Looking ahead, USDA forecasts a 4% decline in beef production for 2025, consistent with smaller cattle inventories. As herd rebuilding begins, beef production is expected to decline further, with fewer heifers entering the system and reduced cow culling. This scenario will support higher cattle prices, assuming other factors remain constant.
A PROGRAM BY
Design
We feel we have Simbrah cattle that fit the design we have established for our program and in tune with industry demands. Those design elements include—predictability, proven and recognized genetics, functional and sound individuals with performance and style.
This Practical daughter is a cornerstone in our program and she adds the Bella Bella genetic line to our herd too. She has a top 15% ranking for API and 25% for TI.
What a combination of proven, predictable genetics 188H brings to our program. Her lineage combines the Bella Bella and Diva Cow Families. She ranks in the top 15% for API and 20% for TI.
Talk about a pedigree. This polled purebred Simbrah is sired by Smith Nu Approach, one of the most proven percentage sires ever in the breed and the dam is the LMC Topanga 5T/58 Cow that started the Debutante line. We appreciate the progeny she is adding to our herd.
SMITH BELLA AMELIA ANN 188H
SMITH HAPPIER TIMES 814H
SMITH RFI MY TIME 725E
Website: Simbrahworld.com and simmental.org
THE NEXT Bella
We’re thrilled to introduce Smith TMP Bella Paula Teresa 231L. Her dam, Smith TMP Bella Paula Marie 231J, was a multi-time champion shown by our son, Gavin.
Paula Teresa carries the legacy of five generations from the Bella Bella Cow family, a line that has consistently produced exceptional cattle. We are confident that 231L will uphold and continue this remarkable lineage.
Jordan, Misty, Grant and Gavin Hinckley Lockhart, Texas
Impact Females
For The Simbrah and Simmental Breeds
Building a strong foundation for a program is critical and we’ve recently added two females that we think will provide lots of strength and potential for the future. Smith Times R Good 502L is a young Simbrah female, sired by Smith Just Because and she has a top 15% ranking for API and 20% for TI. We’ve also added Smith Full of Joy 204L, a Simmental female that will be used to produce Simbrahs and Simmentals. She is a Copacetic daughter and her dam traces back to the legendary Antoinette Joy cow.
CODY TRIESCH
215 Peaceful Lane, Blanco, Texas 78606
512/750-2338
Tim Smith, consultant 512/587-7896
512/738-1680 Jordan h05@yahoo.com
Smith Times R Good 502L
Smith Full Of Joy 204L
SMITH TMP BELLA PAULA TERESA 231L
SMITH TMP BELLA PAULA MARIE 231J
ASA releases Dry Matter Intake EPD in research release format
Expected progeny differences (EPD) for Dry Matter Intake (DMI) and an economic subindex have been released by the American Simmental Association (ASA) in a research release format. The purpose of these traits is to help breeders better characterize terminal performance by evaluating genetic differences for feed intake and the profitability potential associated with growth relative to intake.
The International Genetic Solutions (IGS) science team is committed to the development of genetic tools that aid breeders in making commercially relevant selection decisions. Being able to identify animals with genetics for more efficient growth relative to feed intake is an industry-wide concern. Feed intake records submitted to IGS partner breed organizations and the existing growth records database were used to develop the DMI EPD and an economic subindex that weighs an animal’s growth potential with respect to its intake to provide a snapshot of that animal’s profitability potential in the feedlot growing phase (growth relative to intake). An extensive validation process was performed over the last year to ensure DMI and subindex were reflective of the existing growth and feed intake records.
At this time there is no official name for the dry matter intake and average daily gain (DMI/ADG) economic subindex, and membership should expect a more formal announcement of the trait near the conclusion of the research release phase.
DMI EPD:
The DMI EPD is expressed as the difference in pounds of daily dry matter intake. A lower EPD is more desirable, as this is representative of the genetic potential for progeny to consume less feed. For example:
Bull A = 1.00 DMI EPD
Bull B = 0.00 DMI EPD
You would expect progeny from Bull B to eat 1 pound less daily dry matter of feed compared to progeny from Bull A. Feed intake and Average Daily Gain Economic Subindex (DMI/ADG
Subindex):
The economic subindex is expressed as the differ-
Source: American Simmental Association
ence in daily profitability of animals in the feedlot based on their combination of DMI
and ADG (Average Daily Gain) EPD. ADG is positively weighted by the value
of a pound of gain, and DMI is negatively weighted by the cost of a pound of dry mat-
ter. The result of the DMI/ ADG Subindex is already factored into both $API and
Being able to identify animals with genetics for more efficient growth relative to feed intake is an industry-wide concern.
$TI, meaning we already factor the relationship of value of gain to the cost of intake in $API and $TI; however, we are beta testing the merit of publishing a subindex that focuses solely on profit differences due to the genetic levels an animal possesses for gain
(Continued on page 22)
Beef - the perfect dietary protein?
By Mark Z. Johnson, Oklahoma State University Extension
Every five years the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA) work together to update and release the Dietary Guidelines for Americans which should reflect the current body of nutritional science in order to provide advice on what to eat and drink to meet nutritional needs, promote health and prevent disease. As the debate heats up at the federal level about how much beef will be included in the newest version, it seems appropriate to address this question.
Is beef the perfect dietary protein? What are facts?
First, beef is nutrient dense. Nutrient density refers to foods that are rich in nutrients but relatively low in calories. Beef is also highly digestible and humans are equipped with a digestive system well-designed to digest beef and use its nutrients. Beef gives your body the nutrients it needs with great taste and eating satisfaction.
The essential nutrients provided by beef include:
- Iron, which helps your body use oxygen.
- Choline, which supports nervous system development.
- Protein, which helps preserve and build muscle.
- Vitamins B6 and B12 help maintain brain function and give you energy.
- Phosphorus, which helps build strong bones and teeth.
- Zinc, which helps maintain a healthy immune system.
- Niacin, which supports energy production and metabolism.
- Riboflavin, which helps convert food into fuel.
- Selenium, which helps protect cells from damage
A three-ounce serving of cooked beef provides only 175 calories but provides: 100% of your daily vitamin B12, as well as approximately half your daily needs of zinc, protein and selenium. It would take eight 8 ounces of cooked
chicken breast to get the same amount of iron as three ounces of beef, and 20 ounces of chicken to get the same amount of zinc as a three-ounce serving of beef. In comparison, many sources of plant protein do not contain all the amino acids your body needs. Beef supplies more protein and nutrients in significantly fewer calories than plant proteins.
Research shows that a heart healthy diet and lifestyle that includes beef daily can improve cholesterol levels. Roughly half the fatty acids found in beef are monounsaturated fatty acids, the same kind found in olive oil.
Bottomline: Beef is a nutritional powerhouse! As beef producers, we can take pride in the fact that beef cattle can convert plant fiber into beef. More information about the nutritional benefits of beef is available at the reference below.
Reference: https://www. oklabeef.org/nutrition
WEAREVERYPROUDOFTHESTRONGMATERNALFOUNDATIONWEHAVEBUILTOVERTHEYEARSANDKNOWIT’SIMPERATIVETHATWEREMAIN PROGRESSIVEINALLPHASESOFOUROPERATION.WHILEWECONTINUETOSTRENGTHENTHEMATERNALSIDEOFTHEEQUATION,WEHAVE ALSOPLACEDASTRONGEMPHASISONTHEBULLPOWERWEAREUTILIZING.TAKEALOOKATTHEYOUNGSIREPOWERATWORKATTMP.
SMITH TMP CAST NO DOUBT 377J
Black, polled purebred Simbrah. A genetic standout as he is a son of Smith No Better Than This, a leading percentage sire carrying Twang and the Bella Bella Cow Family lines. His dam is an own daughter of the breed matriarch, Smith Priceless. His EPDs point to some strong carcass traits, as well as a top 2% ranking for Birth Weight.
SMITH STAY HUMBLE 39L Red, polled purebred Simbrah. His pedigree reflects Smith Follow My Lead and Smith Satisfies breeding. He was the 2024 National and International Reserve Grand Champion Bull. He brings a strong EPD profile, including ranking in the top 15% for 6 traits.
polled purebred Simbrah. A Smith Follow My Lead son, out of a Charismatic bred dam. He is also a calving ease bull with a top 5% ranking for Calving Ease, 2% for Birth Weight and 10% for Maternal Calving Ease.
Winter management options for weaned calves
University of Nebraska Cow/Calf Systems and Stocker Management
Many spring-born calves weaned in the fall are backgrounded through the winter prior to grazing summer grass or feedlot entry. There are many management options to consider for weaned calves depending on feed resources, labor, and subsequent management strategies.
Cornstalk residue and winter range
Cornstalk residue can be a very economical forage resource in the Great Plains region. However, both cornstalk residue and dormant winter range can be very low in energy and protein making it necessary to provide some supplement to achieve targeted gains. A research experiment conducted in eastern Nebraska reported a loss of body weight in 500-pound calves receiving only mineral supplementation while grazing cornstalks. Calves supplemented 3.5 pounds of a mixture of corn, molasses and urea only gained 0.5 pound per day while calves supplemented 3 pounds of dried distillers grains gained 1.3 pounds per day. This suggests the calves needed supplemental rumen undegradable protein as well as energy while grazing cornstalk residue. Similarly, 450-pound calves in the Texas Panhandle grazing dormant native range gained 0.5 pound per day without energy or protein supplementation but gained 1.4 pounds per day when supplemented 2.5 pounds of dried distillers grains.
Annual forages and cover crops
In integrated cropping and livestock regions, planting winter annuals such as oats, triticale, or rye after corn silage harvest can provide high quality winter grazing for weaned calves. Research in Nebraska has shown 550pound calves to gain between 1.5 and 2 pounds per day when grazing oats or a mix of oats and radishes from November to January.
On the southern plains, wheat pasture grazing is a common practice during the winter. Research from Texas A&M evaluated supplementing grazing steers (400 pounds) with 3 pounds of dry rolled corn or dried distillers grains. The calves supplemented with dry rolled corn gained similarly to the
non-supplemented calves (2.86 pounds per day) while the calves supplemented dried distillers grains gained 3.08 pounds per day. It is important to note that after the feedlot phase, performance and carcass characteristics were not different across grazing treatments.
Total mixed ration in a drylot
For producers with integrated livestock and farming operations and limited pasture acres, growing calves on a total mixed ration may be a viable option. Silages (corn and annual forage) and distillers
(Continued on page 22)
There are many management options to consider for weaned calves depending on feed resources, labor, and subsequent management strategies.
ASA releases...
(Continued from page 19)
and intake. For example:
Bull A = $0.10 subindex value
Bull B = $0.00 subindex value
You would expect progeny from Bull A to be $0.10 more profitable per day than progeny from Bull B due to a combination of feed requirements and growth potential.
To view the electronic spreadsheet of DMI and
Winter...
(Continued from page 21)
grains are typically cheaper energy sources than hay. Another advantage of feeding a total mixed ration is that the nutrient density and intake can be controlled better than in a grazing situation and can result in not only the targeted gain, but also more uniformity in body weight of the calves at market. Additionally, research has shown calves placed on a finishing ration shortly after
economic subindex on high-use sires and high-accuracy DMI EPD animals in a research format, visit simmental.org. As research EPD, these will not be evaluated weekly nor published on an animal page on Herdbook.org. It is important to acknowledge that development of both metrics into a weekly genetic evaluation is still under development and may take some time. The IGS science team will periodically update the DMI and economic subin -
dex genetic evaluation as more data is uploaded.
Data collection
The ASA encourages membership to submit feed intake records on their animals to ASA staff. Reporting feed intake data will greatly help bolster the genetic evaluation, improve prediction accuracy, and help to accelerate the launch of DMI into a weekly genetic evaluation. Members are encouraged to follow these guidelines for feed intake data collection. For more information, mem-
bers should visit the Beef Improvement Federation guidelines available at guidelines.beefimprovement.org.
Individual feed intake records are often taken post-weaning or around yearling age.
Warm-up period: Depends on the background of the cattle and the type of feed intake system. If calves are already accustomed to eating out of bunks, a seven-day warm-up period with the feed intake system is likely adequate. For
Supplementation strategies should always be evaluated based on the price of supplement including transportation and
labor against the value of the gain derived from the supplementation on a yearly basis.
weaning to be more profitable than those first placed on a growing ration. This is something to consider if the producer plans to retain ownership through finishing.
Compensatory gain and marketing strategies
Supplementation strategies should always be evaluated based on the price of supplement including transportation
and labor against the value of the gain derived from the supplementation on a yearly basis. Research has shown cattle backgrounded to gain 1.5 pounds per day maintain a
cattle that have not yet been bunk-broke, they could need up to a 21-day warm-up period.
Feed Intake Test: Recommend a 42-day minimum, which allows for missed days due to weighing or problems with the intake measurement. Records should be submitted as a measure of dry matter intake. No as-fed data should be reported.
Membership is encouraged to evaluate DMI and DMI/ADG subindex predictions and compare with
weight advantage through the finishing phase over cattle backgrounded to gain less than 1 pound per day. Even though cattle restricted during backgrounding experience compensatory gain once they are placed on a higher plane of nutrition, they typically only compensate about 37-38%, meaning they continue to have lighter body weight than cattle backgrounded to gain 1.5 pounds per day.
Summary Some producers retain
their expectations. Please remember that DMI is already incorporated in $API and $TI. That said, the new DMI EPD will be more accurate, particularly on animals with genotypes and/or feed intake phenotypes on multiple progeny. Members who have any questions, or those who have submitted feed intake data and would like a full download of EPD on their animals, should contact Lane Giess, ASA geneticist, at lgiess@simmgene.com.
calves through winter while others may continue to graze summer grass with them, selling in the fall. Other producers may retain ownership through the finishing phase. Therefore, targeted gain and backgrounding resources should be evaluated against marketing strategies and the calf value. However, targeting adequate gain (1 to 1.5 pounds per day) to develop structural and muscle growth during the winter is advantageous regardless of marketing strategy.
National Simbrah and Percentage Show to be held in San Antonio, Feb. 8th
For all things SIMBRAH visit SIMBRAH WORLD.COM or follow on the FACEBOOK page.
SMITH GRACIE’S GIRL 107L Purebred Simmental Donor Prospect in our herd
SIMBRAH CALENDAR
2024
• Nov. 23-26 – LMC & Friends 10th Annual Giving THANKS Online Sale
• Dec. 13-15 – Bayou Classic Show, Lake Charles, Louisiana 2025
• Jan.12 – National Simmental Sale, Cattlemen’s Congress, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Jan. 13 –Open and Junior Simbrah Show, Cattlemen’s Congress, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Jan. 27 – Junior Simbrah Show, Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, Fort Worth, Texas
• Jan. 31 – Open Simbrah Show, Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, Fort Worth, Texas
• Feb. 8– Fort Worth Commercial Heifer Sale, Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, Fort Worth, Texas
• Feb. 8 – National Simbrah and Percentage Simbrah Show, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, San Antonio, Texas.
• Feb. 11 –Junior Simbrah Show, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, San Antonio, Texas
• Feb. 12 – Simbrah/Simmental Superbowl, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo San Antonio, Texas
• Feb. 12 – San Antonio All Breed Bull and Commercial Female Sale, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo.
• Mar. 5 – Houston All Breed Bull & Commercial Female Sale, Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, Houston, Texas
• Mar. 5– International Simbrah Show, Houston Stock Show & Rodeo, Houston, Texas
• Mar. 11– Junior Simbrah Show, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Houston, Texas
• Mar. 27- Junior Simbrah Show, Rodeo Austin, Austin, Texas
• May 17 – 6th Annual Back To Grass Sale, Henderson, Texas
