2020 Breeder's Connection

Rugged

Hi-Altitude

PAP TesTed

Calving EasE

Diamond Peak Cattle Company w w w. d i a mo n d p e a kc at t l e . com

Angus SimAngus

Yearlings 2 Year Olds Reference Sires

SS Trump B263

H o ov e r D a m

BUFORD BLUESTEM

2020 Bull Sales

La Junta, CO Feb. 21st Riverton, WY March 14th Loma, CO March 28th John Raftopoulos 970-326-8620

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32 32

M ranch anch Martin artin r FFebruary 3 ,, 2020 2020 ebruary 3 Offering 80 Angus Bulls Offering 80 Angus Bulls

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Milk +27 YW+127 +127$B$B+150 +150 BWBW +.3+.3 WWWW +71+71 Milk +27 YW Martin Ranch 2 year average Martin Ranch year average sired Steer2 mates 227 head sired matesharvested 227 headGraded fed at Steer our feedlot fed at our feedlot harvested Graded 41% Prime • 59% Choice 41% Prime52% • 59% Choice CAB® 52% CAB® 98.5% PREMIUMS PAID $136.27/Head

98.5% PREMIUMS PAID $136.27/Head

Capitalist Capitalist

BW -.7 WW +68 Milk +29 YW +118 $B +136

Stunner Stunner LD Capitalist 316 LD Capitalist 316 Cowboy Up Up Cowboy Renown Renown Basin Payweight Basin Payweight Mohnen Success

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BW -.7 WW +68 Milk +29 YW +118 $B +136 Genomic GeneSeek Angus GS on Sale Bulls Genomic GeneSeek Angus GS on Sale Bulls 100% Proven AI SIRED 100% AI SIRED LargeProven Selection of Large Selection Half & Three quarterof Half & Three quarter Blood Brothers Blood Brothers FIRST BREEDING FIRSTGUARANTEE BREEDING SEASON SEASON GUARANTEE Volume Discounts FreeVolume Feed Free Delivery Discounts

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BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

BREEDERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

ALTENBURG ENBURG Saturday, March 21st, 2020

Centennial Livestock Auction • Fort Collins, Colorado 60 Black & Red Simmentals 60 Super Baldy SimAngus™ 30 Fall Born 18 Month Bulls are PAP Tested

Werner Flat Top ASA#3351186

Sire of SimAngus bulls – 10 sons on test

ASR Longevity Y184 ASA# 2598898

Raised by Altenburg Super Baldy Ranch Now at ABS Global

Selling 120 Bulls with Nuts, Butts, & Guts!

KOCH Big Timber 685D ASA# 3133113 K

Calving Ease Plus +175 API 20 Big Timber sons on test!

IR Imperial D948 ASA#3210738

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AI sires with sons on Test: Big Timber, CLSR Dividend, CCR Cowboy Cut, CCR Wide Range, Oval F All Time, WS Red Moon, IR Imperial, RFS Bullet Proof, Werner Flat Top, S Chisum 255, ASR Longevity

Altenburg Super Baldy Ranch, LLC Willie and Sharon Altenburg 970.481.2570 • Fort Collins, Colorado willie@rmi.net • www.altenburgsuperbaldy.com w BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

BREEDERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

200 True High Altitude

SimAngus and Simmental Bulls

Genetics Built for the High Country • • • •

Multi Generation PAP Information on EVERY Bull Bulls born, raised and developed at 7,800 feet Hybrid bulls to maximize heterosis and profitability Genomic tested, problem free genetics

True High Altitude Cattle SIRE GROUPS INCLUDE: GW MTN DUE 373C BROOKS THR MTN TOP C22 WS ALL ABOARD B80 KBHR HIGH ROAD E283

Our decades of data collection in PAP information have allowed us to uncover the most profit-oriented genetics that work best at high elevations. You can rest assured when you purchase T-Heart bulls you’re buying a product that will ultimately add value to your calves and excel in the High Country.

T-Heart Ranch will continually to strive to be your source of High Altitude Bulls for years to come. Shane & Beth Temple

T-HEART RANCH and L-CROSS RANCH Marty Ropp 406-581-7835 Corey Wilkins 256-590-2487 Clint Berry 417-844-1009 www.alliedgeneticresources.com

719-850-3082 • 719-850-3083 shane@t-heartranch.com

Josh Staudt 970-227-0729

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SUBSCRIPTIONS: 1 (877) 347-9100 Publisher: SABRINA “BREE” POPPE Cell (605) 639-0356 | Office (877) 347-9104 spoppe@tsln-fre.com DENNIS GINKENS GM of Sales & Marketing & Field man (406) 670-9839 Cell | dginkens@tsln-fre.com RONA JOHNSON The Fence Post Editor (970) 392-4466 Office | (701) 630-5053 Cell rjohnson@thefencepost.com MARIA TIBBETTS Digital & Sections Editor (605) 484-4488 | Mtibbetts@tsln-fre.com RACHEL GABEL Reporter & Assistant Editor (970) 392-4410 Office; (970) 768-0024 Cell rgabel@thefencepost.com LIZ BANMAN Engagement Editor lbanman@thefencepost.com

Cattle for Keeps

Walter Angus raises quality cattle for the ranch and the rail

66 Wagonhammer Developing Angus and Charolais cattle in Sandhills of Nebraska

Out Handing over the 82 22 Reaching Reins: Colorado State University adds new campus

Lasting Impact 28 AGelbvieh breeders Al & Mary Knapp pass on a legacy

Not, 36 Waste Want Not

Feeding food waste to livesetock is a win-win for agriculture

TAMI ARNOLD Designer DIANNA PALMER Special Projects Coordinator & Account Manager (605) 423-6045 (cell) | (877) 347-9112 (office) dpalmer@tsln-fre.com

Table of Contents

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ERRORS: The Fence Post shall be responsible for errors or omission in connection with an advertisement only to the extent of the space covered by the error. Opinions stated in letters or signed columns do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of The Fence Post.

BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

Cover Photographer Spotlight

Linda Teahon Linda Teahon grew up on the family ranch, Clouse Herefords, in the Nebraska Sandhills near Dunning in Blaine County, where they raised purebred Herefords. She lived in Chadron, Nebraska, after getting a degree in art and marketing from Chadron State College. She was active in the community, co-founding and co-directing the Miss Chadron/Miss Northwest Scholarship pageant for 20 years. She worked for The Chadron Record for 10 years as ad sales manager, and was a professional photographer for six years. She photographed the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Miss Rodeo America Pageant, Miss America Pageant and the Kentucky Derby as well as many cattle events. She recently moved back to the family ranch in the Sandhills, where she operates a guest house called Brandoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bunkhouse in Dunning. She serves on the board of directors for the Sandhills Heritage Museum, Sandhills Journey Scenic Byways, Heart City Bull Bash and is a founding member of Hereford Crossroads. Her favorite subjects to photograph are rodeo bulls, neighboring ranches, cattle and cowboys.

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CO M

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Cattle for Keeps Colorado seedstock supplier raises quality cattle for the ranch and the rail

Story by Laura Conaway and Ruth Nicolaus

BREEDERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

In areas of influence small and large Walter Angus has a particular way about them.The cattle and their keepers are quality to the core. What could be up for debate for some is matter-of-fact for the deep-rooted family near Hudson, Colorado. A stone’s throw from Denver, northeast on I-76, led by patriarch Terry and flanked by sons Trevor and Ty, the Angus ranchers hold true to their own sets of principles despite the tides that surround them. To accept change is inevitable, they admit, even helpful at times, but certain things are unequivocally set in stone: their trust in God, love for family and good black cattle. For the latter, they focus on the female first. “We’re always thinking, would I want to buy a bull from this cow?” Ty Walter said. Alongside his dad and brother, the third and fourth generations, respectively, put in extra effort at every turn in developing mother cows that will produce offspring that will one day be the breeding stock for outside herds.

Shortcuts are no such thing. “We’re trying to put ourselves in our customer’s shoes,” Walter said. For instance, “We look at feet and legs, and we like a deep cow, a moderate cow and good udders is crucial. I don’t want a bull from a cow with bad udders because all I’m doing is hurting my customer and creating more problems for them down the road.” By maintaining that perspective, the Walters ensure everyone is satisfied come sale time. “It pays to buy good genetics,” he said. “It’s a lot of work, selecting sires and mating cows. I go out and mate every single cow, look at her phenotype, look at her on paper, and try to find the right bull to breed her to.” As a registered seedstock supplier, fewer Walter Angus December-born calves go into the feedlot each year with the goal that more bulls of exceptional progeny are sold at BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

Left to right:Trevor,Terry and Ty Walter their production sale the third Saturday of every February. Customers consist of mostly commercial cattlemen and women who desire well-above-average genetics in the bulls that they’ll take back to their own herds. Later those bullsired calves will end up at a feedlot and ultimately perhaps as someone’s celebratory meal. “No matter who you are, the consumer is king,” Walter said. “We have to keep him or her happy and wanting to come back for beef. That’s the end game.” For some cattlemen the consumer can feel like a faraway target, rather than the people who decide whether the beef market survives or thrives. Throw in the day-to-day challenges of running a cattle operation and the little-to-no margin for error allowed, it can be easy to satisfy the needs of right now and forget what happens at the end of the line. The Walters accept no such thing. By hosting educational events with the Certified Angus

BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

Beef ® (CAB®) brand and inquiring on their own time, they keep a close pulse on the demands of the beef connoisseur. With the utilization of Estimated Progeny Differences (EPDs) that allow them to select for highly heritable traits, they seek out Angus cattle with high levels of marbling and tenderness. “We’ve always believed that carcass traits are incredibly valuable because in the end that’s the big picture,” Walter said. “You can have the most beautiful animal, phenotype-wise, but in the end, if they don’t produce a good steak, what’s the point?” To make sure what’s under the hide is as good as what’s on the surface the Walters take it a step further by retaining ownership of the calves they send to the feedlot. “We’ve always seen the value,” Walter said. “The longer you hold on to a product through the process, in theory, you’ll make more money.”

Whether it’s always that simple is another question but, “It’s good advertisement and shows the bull customers that we don’t just preach how important marbling is. We actually back it up with hard carcass data.” In 2019 two sets of cattle earned an average of $128 and $95.79/head in premiums, respectively. Even more, those pens averaged 77 percent USDA Prime and CAB®. “If you think you have good cattle, take them to the rail because that’s when you find out what kind of cows you really have,” Walter said. “Every year, our percent Prime and CAB climbs up, which is proof our system is working.” To continue the ascent, they’ll take tissue samples from an ear notch at birth to hone in on the genetic predispositions and indicators of a particular progeny. Samples from their

“No matter who you are, the consumer is king. We have to keep him or her happy and wanting to come back for beef. That’s the end game.” ~ Terry Walter

registered herd are sent to the American Angus Association and run through their deep database. “That’s what’s crucial, being able to turn these genetics quicker,” Walter said, “instead of finding out a cow who’s been in the herd for a decade has no marbling and her calf doesn’t grade at all.” With DNA testing and other technological advancements they can cull their herd for only the best, but such a program requires avid recordkeeping. “It’s very time-consuming,” Walter said. “It’s a lot of work. You’ve got to eat, sleep and breathe this business.” Once one considers that the Angus cattle they raise are spread out beyond Hudson, keeping up with the data becomes more impressive. A typical year sees the cattle spend the winter in Hudson where they’ll be trucked to mountain pastures near Laramie, Wyo., Walden, Granby, Jefferson and Silverthorne, Colo. – BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

some graze at an altitude of nearly 12,000 feet. Trucks run through Denver traffic in what Terry jokingly describes as “the death zone.” All jokes aside, though, it’s evident this is what the Walters were made to do. Steady and certain they care for their animals and the people who purchase them. Their reputation sees cattle sold well beyond the state of Colorado and influences the beef industry for the better. u

BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

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The new Colorado State University campus includes a 14,095-square-foot combined office and classroom building with a teaching kitchen, a 7,717-square-foot state-of-the-art veterinary diagnostic laboratory, a 100-person capacity classroom and multiple meeting areas, and a three-bay shared shop with equipment and a fruit storage building.

BREEDERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

Reaching out Colorado State University adds new campus

By Rachel Gabel

After breaking ground in August of 2018, the Western Campus of Colorado State University is open and serving Western Colorado agriculture. The campus, located in Orchard Mesa, houses a number of CSU services, allowing agriculturists greater access to resources and opportunity to more easily interact with the services and experts CSU makes available. The Western Campus is home to the administrative offices of the Agriculture Experiment Stations on the western side of the state including Fruita, Orchard Mesa, and Rogers Mesa. The campus is also home to CSU Extensionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Western Regional Office, the Colorado State Forest Service regional office, and the Western Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Originally built and opened in 1977, the diagnostic laboratory is one of two branch laboratories that are part of the main veterinary diagnostic laboratory in Fort Collins. Both located in rural areas, one is in Rocky Ford and one is in Grand Junction. According to Dr. Raye Walck, the director of the Western Slope Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, both labs have the capability to run a number of tests for veterinarians and livestock owners. Tests that can be completed only at the main campus can be quickly transported there. Necropsy examination and sample collection for diagnosis is an important and widely-utilized service offered in a dedicated necropsy suite. The laboratory also sees some wildlife post-mortem exams and can forward samples to Fort Collins to

BREEDERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

detect Chronic Wasting Disease community but also better “We wanted to make this a for local elk growers. Abortion allows the sharing of resources diagnostic testing is another serand encourages collaboration. visible, community-friendly vice producers and practitioners The Research, Extension, and campus that is accessible for can utilize. They also run tests Engagement programs fothe people in the area.” for equine infectious anemia or cus on pomology, viticulture, ~ Dr. Raye Walck Coggins testing, parasitology, management of other specialty molecular and serologic diagcrops of local interest, and pest nostics, and other services that management. It also plays an support animal health and the safety of food production. important role in addressing hunger and food instability in “We’ve combined several different CSU entities that have the surrounding communities by expanding service-learning been present on the Western Slope for a long time in the projects that distribute fruit produced by research projects. Grand Junction area, but they’ve all been spread out and hid- Additionally there is a focus on collaboration with Colorado ing in different buildings,” Walck said. “We wanted to make Mesa University and the viticulture program and workforce this a visible, community-friendly campus that is accessible development. for the people in the area.” The Community Alliance for Education and Hunger Relief Walck said the shared campus is more convenient for the recently earned the Emerging CSU Community Engagement

BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

BREEDERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

Award for its work with food banks and underserved areas in Mesa County. Overseen by Dr. Amanda McQuade, the program is designed to address food insecurity and also better connect people to the food they eat through educational programs. The program, part of CSUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Agricultural Experimental Stations and University Extension and based in the Western campus, began in 2017 with the goal of increasing the amount of high-quality fruits and vegetables available to those facing food insecurity in Mesa County and throughout the state. McQuade said there is a misconception that people utilizing food banks want canned food since so many food drives concentrate on those items, but the reality is the desire for fresh foods. Through leveraging the extension resources, the Alliance is positioned to bring food and education together. The Alliance partners with multiple organizations working to fight hunger, bringing together production and those who can benefit, essentially bringing the farm to the people who stand to benefit the most.

BREEDERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

The CSU Agricultural Experiment Station at the CSU Western Campus is a new home for a service that has been functioning since 1922. To help local producers overcome challenges and create opportunities remain the focus as innovation has driven efforts much like it has production agriculture in general. Research has focused on efficient irrigation, new crop traits and varieties, more efficient and sustainable production inputs, heat and drought stress, cold temperature damage, grape production, winemaking techniques, converting biomass to biofuels, and new cropping systems and rotations. Successful innovations in fruit crops, corn, dry beans, alfalfa, pasture, oats, barley, wheat, soybeans, snap beans, canola, and other crops have supported growers in the area. The Colorado State Forest Service fosters healthy and resilient forests through management planning, data and the use of best practices, advocacy, mutually beneficial partnerships, and making trees for conservation purposes available through the nursery. u

BULL SALE Spring Cove Reno • 47 Sons Sell

Baldridge Alternative • 26 Sons Sell

Selling 400 Registered Angus Bulls Saturday,

January 25, 2020 BW +.8

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LD Capitalist 316 • 23 Sons Sell

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+69

+119

MILK Marb +29

+.55

+.56

Selling 200 coming two-year-olds and 200 yearlings • 200 + bulls suitable for heifers

+1.5

+72

+132

MILK Marb +13

At Lincoln Co. Fairgrounds In North Platte, Nebraska

+1.01

+.85

Hoover No Doubt • 27 Sons Sell

+3.9

+79

+146

MILK Marb +20

+.96

+.97

SAV Resource 1441 • 21 Sons Sell

Connealy Confidence Plus • 46 Sons Sell

BW +.1

+66

+129

MILK Marb +28

+.87

+1.11

Yon Full Force • 21 Sons Sell

Large groups of paternal brothers by proven AI sires, plus exciting new sire groups with outcross genetics Wintered & delivered free nationwide after March 15 * First breeding season guarantee * Satisfied customers are the foundation of our business Bulls bred for growth with a moderate frame * Fleshing ability * Fertility & scrotal size * Calving ease * Disposition

+4.1

+70

+133

MILK Marb +19

-.04

+1.13

Jindra Acclaim • 18 Sons Sell

BW -2.3

+56

+112

MILK Marb +35

+.92

+.84

To request your free sale book or more information call:

Comprehensive performance data * Ultrasound & fertility tested * A wide selection in all price ranges Backed by over 45 years in the Angus business and a reputation cow herd selected for fertility, soundness, fleshing ability, longevity and good udders

BW +.9

+72

+148

MILK Marb +30

+.64

+.68

5329 Rodeo Rd • North Platte, NE 69101 Jud & Denise Home/Office • 308-532-2100 Jud’s Cell: 308-520-2221 email: jud@baldridge.net Jeff’s Cell: 308-530-0407

For sale book & more information call (308) 520-2221 or visit our web site at: www.baldridge.net BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

BREEDERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

A Lasting Impact Gelbvieh breeders Al & Mary Knapp pass on a legacy

by Megan Silveira

“It’s not what you take, it’s what you leave behind that really matters.” A borrowed quote has served has the motto for Al and Mary Knapp, owners of Triple K Gelbvieh in Basehor, Kansas, since they first fell in love with the beef industry and the Gelbvieh breed. Despite neither Al nor Mary coming from a cattle background, they were drawn towards the opportunity to develop their own herd. After spotting a Gelbvieh bull for the first time at the American Royal, Al said he knew he had to get involved with the breed. “In that day and age, the studies coming out found that the Gelbvieh breed was docile, maternal and heavily muscled,” Al said. “The thing that really caught my eye was lean beef.” Al said at the time he was looking to become an active member of the beef industry, customers were on the hunt for high-quality lean beef, a product the data showed Gelbvieh cattle could provide. The combination of profitable carcass traits and easy-going temperaments made the breed nearly irresistible to the Knapp family. Mary said she and her husband knew the breed was for them after they took their son to his first junior

nationals show. “The cattle are good, but it was about the people,” she said. “It’s the relationships you build, and their willingness to help you no matter what.” After junior nationals, Al said he jumped at the opportunity to purchase 16 Gelbvieh females through a connection he had made at the show. Being new to the industry did not prevent the family from setting (and achieving) respectable goals for their ranch. “Our goal was to produce structurally-correct animals with good genetics,” Al says. “We tried to keep our EPDs balanced, and we look for curve-bending genetics.” The couple focused their breeding program on producing bulls for commercial customers. Al said their operation was dedicated to selling sires displaying calving ease without losing growth. Despite having a focus on commercial bulls, the Knapps found success in the show ring as well. Al said it’s never been about the showring for him and his wife, but they are proud of the titles their cattle have brought home over the years. BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

YANGUS R R PA 22nd AnnuAl Bull SAle Monday, March 9, 2020 @ 1PM at the Ranch 9 miles N of Sterling, CO Sale will be online at DVAuction.com

Al and Mary Knapp’s Triple K Gelbvieh operation centers around high-quality, genetically superior Gelbvieh and Balancer cattle.

Selling 50 Stout, Balanced Trait Yearling Angus Bulls Bred for calving ease, maternal, carcass merit and disposition.

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BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

“The showring has been a way for us to market and exhibit our genetics and what we’re trying to do,” he said. Amidst some impressive titles and quality cattle, Mary said it’s been the opportunity to give back to the Gelbvieh breed and entire cattle industry that has been the most rewarding. In 2000, Al and Mary were asked to serve as advisors for the American Gelbvieh Junior Association. They said they were driven to accept the role with the intention of serving as a helping hand to others that were passionate about the Gelbvieh breed. Al said it was with the help of selfless individuals that allowed his family to grow as breeders, and their sole desire was to have the chance to be that same helping hand for someone else. For 16 years, the Knapps served as mentors to the board, offering support and guidance to juniors until retiring when their grandson became involved in the showring. Mary said they loved every minute spent with the junior board and were consistently blown away by the successes of the young cattlemen. “The juniors are just so impressive,” she said. “The kids just never cease to amaze you with their knowledge and skill level.” Al and Mary couldn’t quite convince themselves to step back completely from the association and are currently serving on the American Gelbvieh Association Foundation board of directors, with Al filling the role of president. The Knapps’ dedication to the breed and its members has not gone unrecognized, and at the 48th Annual American Gelbvieh Association National Convention, they were

BREEDERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

Mary and Al Knapp have served members of the American Gelbvieh Association side by side since 2000.

inducted into the Hall of Fame for 2019. Al and Mary said they were touched by the recognition. While Al said they feel blessed to have been honored for their work, they did not get involved for awards. Instead, he said it was their passion for the cattle and their love for the people in the Gelbvieh industry that kept them coming back to various leadership roles time and time again.

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“It was a very humbling experience,” Mary said. “You do these things like working with youth and being on the board because you enjoy the people and the kids.You don’t do it to get an honor like we did.You want to help and make a difference if you can.” Al said his desire to serve others stems from the stories where others took him under their wing when he was first getting involved in the industry, and both he and Mary have been working to give back ever since. In November of 2018, the Knapps’ held a dispersal sale, cutting back on the size of their operation. While nowadays the Knapp’s property is home to 20 head of Gelbvieh females instead of the 100-plus it used to boast, the quality of livestock on the ranch and the owners’ love for the industry has not diminished. “We’re in our late 60s, and we wanted to be able to do some traveling and lay low on the chores,” Al said. He and Mary are eager to cross a few items off their “travel bucket list,” but both have no doubt they will grow the herd back up in the future. Whether the Knapps are out touring Gelbvieh ranches in Germany, the country where the breed originated, or out at a junior show with their grandsons, there is no doubt both Al and Mary can be seen continuing to make a lasting impact on the cattle industry. “That’s our goal in life,” Al said. “We want to leave behind something that’s better than we found it.” u

A bull bred by Al and Mary Knapp that received the title of champion Gelbvieh Balancer bull at the 2018 American Royal. Courtesy photo.

SELLING OVER 100 HEAD th

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Saturday, March 2019 - 1:00 Saturday March9th, 14th, 20201:00pm PM

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Calving Ease · Carcass · Consistency Plan on attending our annual sale! Cattlemen’s Connection Angus Sale

MARCH 12, 10, 2019 2020 1:00 pm at the Ranch

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Thank you for your continued support throughout the year!

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BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

WASTE NOT, WANT NOT:

Feeding food waste to livestock a win-win for agriculture

By Wade Yoder

Sugar beets that don’t make it to the sugar plant are often fed to cattle. Getty Photo. 36

BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

The increasing awareness of food waste may lead to new partnerships between livestock feeders and food manufacturers. Food waste burst into social prominence in recent years, ing feed wheat,” said Larson. “It’s about a 5 to 10 percent attracting the attention of agriculturalists, consumers and savings versus corn, and it’s higher in protein than corn.” stakeholder groups alike. As the awareness of this issue For Ordway Cattle Feeders, feeding wheat as a cheaper increases, so do the opportunities for collaboration and edu- protein source is an economic opportunity in a stressed cation. market. Feeding livestock organic materials that are either unde “At the end of the day, it comes down to the economics sirable or unfit for human consumption has been a common of our customers; what makes sense for their cattle and the practice in the agricultural community for decades and best cost of gains for their cattle,” said Larson. continues in livestock feeding operations today. Cost savings, though, is only half of the benefit to feeding Ordway Cattle Feeders, LLC in Colorado incorporates a excess organic products. lot of excess organics and byproducts into their rations, said “A major side benefit would be utilizing things that would Ordway Cattle Feeders partner Luke Larson. go to waste otherwise,” said Larson. Since Ordway Cattle “We feed dried distillers, typically. Right now we are feed- Feeders currently operates at 45,000 – 50,000 head of cat-

KRAYE ANGUS

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BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

When the price is right, some cattle feeders feed wheat instead of corn. 38

BREEDERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

tle, Larson said they feed about 9,000 bushels of wheat per day. In the past, nearly 100 tons of spent distiller’s grains were fed every week. Connections between operations like Ordway Cattle Feeders and food manufacturers has led widespread feeding of food waste to livestock, according to a 2014 survey commissioned by the Food Waste ReducDistillers grains offer nearby producers an economical feed option, while using tion Alliance. Respondents in food products that would otherwise be simply waste. manufacturing reported that, of the 7.1 billion pounds of food waste they generated, over 85 percent was repurposed as livestock feed, about 6.1 billion pounds. As big as that number may seem, the biggest drawback to feeding byproducts, Larson said, is finding a 2019 Annual Sales consistent volume of supply. Ethanol Invites you to our plants have become prime sources for 2019Tuesday, Annual Sales cattle feeders to find distillers grains. Tuesday, “The advent of ethanol plants, Winter Livestock major ethanol plants has made it a La Junta, Colorado lot easier to get the supply you want Winter Livestock when you want it,” said Larson. La Junta, Colorado Still, finding a consistent volume of Friday, organics or byproducts is difficult. A Friday, 2015 study conducted by Brink, Inc. At the Ranch Environmental Solutions found that At the Ranch Hillrose, Colorado a supermarket in Northern Colorado Hillrose, Colorado will generate only 100 to 200 pounds of food waste per day, while a pen of feeder steers will consume 2,000 to To Sell Are Cardinal Charolais 3,000 pounds of feed that day. To Sell Are Cardinal Charolais 15488 County Road 57 On top of finding a consistent 140 Charolais Bulls 15488 County Road 57 140 Charolais Hillrose, Colorado 80733 source of organic materials, sufficient Gain Tested Bulls Hillrose, Colorado 80733 Gain Tested Information (970) 847-3345 Ranch: Ultrasound infrastructure is required to process Ranch: (970) 847-3345 Ultrasound Information DNAData Data Pat:Pat: (970) the food waste. Larson was clear on DNA (970)380-1355 380-1355 Black&&Red Red1st1st 50Black Horse Creek this point: the more byproducts have 50 Horse CreekCharolais Charolais CalfHeifer HeiferPairs Pairs 31213 County Calf to be handled, the more infrastructure 31213 CountyRoad RoadMM MM La Junta, Colorado 81050 With Cardinal Charolais La Junta, Colorado 81050 With Cardinal Charolais is required. siredcalves calvesat at side sired side Chris: (719) 468-8100 Chris: (719) 468-8100 With those challenges in mind, the cardinalcharolais ..com cardinalcharolais com economic benefits of feeding food

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BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

Ethanol plants in the middle of corn country add value to corn crops, while still feeding cattle.

BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

waste to livestock need to be significant. According to the study conducted by Brink, Inc. Environmental Solutions, “The food waste product must be free or the cost must be significantly lower than other feedstuffs to justify the related challenges associated with hauling, storing, handling, mixing and feeding a variable and often rapidly-perishable product.” Finding enough byproducts at the right price and being able to handle those byproducts requires a substantial network. For that reason, the EPA to begin the Food Recovery Challenge in 2011, said Virginia Till, EPA Region 8 recycling specialist and sustainable management of food lead. “It is a human endeavor to not let all the hard work of agriculture go to waste,” said Till. Businesses can be involved in the Food Recovery Challenge through two roles, Till explained: endorser or participant. While endorsers promote the food recovery challenge and provided educational materials, participants actively try to keep food out of landfills and record pounds of food kept out of landfills. “The thing that works for agriculture and for livestock operators in particular is that agriculture has a history of nothing going to waste,” said Till. “This is a great opportunity for farmers or manufacturers to collaborate with livestock operators.” One part of the Food Recovery Challenge is the Excess Food Opportunities Map, a yearly-updated nationwide map identifying potential sources and recipients of excess food. Hopefully, this resource will facilitate

The more food deemed unusable for human consumption, or produced as waste that can be fed to animals, the less ends up being simply a burden in landfills. connections between stakeholders, said Till. “We have the interest in our region, but we don’t have the infrastructure,” she said. “There is still a lot of work to be done.” The Food Recovery Challenge is completely voluntary, said Till, pushing that local involvement is crucial to reducing food waste. “Each community should figure out what they need as far

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Building customer relationships has been key for

Ridder Herefords By Teresa Clark

It takes more than good cattle to develop loyal customers. In fact, John and Mary Ridder, who are life-long Hereford breeders in Callaway, Nebraska, would say it takes years to develop a quality reputation and trust. “I think that is what has made our program so successful. People trust us. It’s like running for office. If you like the guy and trust him, you are going to vote for him. It’s the same way with cattle. Some of the proof is in what you buy that day, but the real proof is in how those cattle do for you long-term,” John says. John’s grandparents settled in the Callaway area in 1907, and started a commercial cattle operation. They had 12 children, and started in the Hereford business when they saw the quality of Herefords raised in that country. “They started purchasing some good quality Hereford cattle, and built up the herd through sorting and culling the cattle, and purchasing more quality cattle,” he says. Bull sales were held at the ranch, but sometimes the family held sales in other parts of the state like Alliance, Thedford or Valentine, to help build up a customer base in those areas. 44

BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

During the Great Depression, they would sell bulls by private treaty. When John took over the operation after his father passed away in 1972, he decided to hold an annual bull sale at the ranch. In the years that followed, John made changes in the breeding program that helped it grow and prosper. “In the ’70s, there was a big change in the industry of what cattle were supposed to be. For our own operation, we started using Line One cattle from Jack Cooper and Les Holden in Montana, in addition to Line One cattle from the U.S. range station in Miles City, Montana. We were some of the first breeders in this state to do that, and I think those cattle did us a lot of good. They added a lot of performance and maternal traits to our cattle,” John said. John and Mary were so pleased with the improvements in the performance that they have continued to utilize those bloodlines. In the 1980s, outcross bulls from Canada were added to the program, which contributed more depth of rib

Courtesy photo.

lls d of Hereford bu 1952 NWSS carloa dad, Paul Ridder. entered by John’s Courtesy photo.

157K was one of the Ridder’s most dominant herd sires. Raised in Canada, K led Hereford bulls nationwide in 11 of 13 traits. Courtesy photo. BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

and heavier muscle. “Those bulls really finally was able to get carcass data, the complimented our Line One bulls, and straight Hereford and black baldies we cross them back and forth,” John that were primarily sired by our bulls said. out-yielded his straight Angus. It seems Their decisions are driven by their like when you have good cattle, they customers’ demands. “Our customers (packers) will tell you how good they dictate to us what they want, and they are, but they don’t want you to see on are very adamant in the type of cattle paper how good they are because of Ridder family gathered for John’s they want us to produce,” John said. birthday this October. Courtesy photo the premiums you could be getting,” “They are looking for cattle with a he said. lot of length and performance. To this day, we have a lot of The Ridders make a point of staying in contact with their commercial customers still buying bulls from us because we customers so they understand where they are at in their maintain the maternal traits in our cows.” breeding programs. “In our own program, we have had to be John believes that cattle need eye appeal. “The first thing totally unforgiving on culling the cow herd. Bulls come and you have to produce is cattle you like to look at,” he says. go, but that cow is around for a long time, so we can’t tolerPerformance records and ultrasound and carcass data are ate any mistakes. Disposition is also important. When people also important. “We have a lot of customers who get fruscome here, they always comment on how they can just walk trated because they can’t get carcass data from the calves through a pen of bulls or cows here. It makes a lot of differthey produce. We have one customer who told us when he ence. Some of our customers have bought bulls from us just

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HERRING ANGUS High Altitude, PAP-and Performance-Tested Bulls Angus and Black Composites

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Courtesy photo.

COLORADO DRAFT HORSE & EQUIPMENT AUCTION April 17th & 18th, 2020 9:00 A.M. BOTH DAYS

Adams County Regional Park (Fairgrounds)

9755 Henderson Road, Brighton, Colorado 80601 18 miles North of Denver • 1.5 miles West of Hwy 85 on 124th Ave. Consignments taken on Draft Horses, Mules, Light Driving Horses, Ponies, Saddle Horses, Wagons, Carriages, Horse-Drawn Farm Equipment, Harness & Farm Related Antiques. All Horses & Mules must be pre-consigned. A negative Coggins Test & current Health Paper must accompany each animal. Brand state animals must have brand inspection in seller’s name. If selling registered, all papers must be in seller’s name with signed transfer.

Flyer Deadline: March 16th, 2020 Consignment form on animals available on website. 970-785-6282 phone & fax 10910 WCR 28, Ft Lupton, Colorado 80621 troyerauctioneers@msn.com

BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

to clean up the disposition problems in their herds.” The Ridders retain about 25-30 heifer calves each year. Many of the heifers are selected by what cow family they are from. “If we have a particular cow family we want to save a daughter from, we do that whenever we can,” John said. The rest of the heifers are sold through video auction. “We have a broad base of customers from all over the country looking for the top flight heifers we produce here.” The bull calves are evaluated from birth until they leave the ranch. “If we don’t like a bull, we ship it to town. We also evaluate them using weaning and production records,” John says. The bulls are weaned in a pasture, and they are bunk fed once a day with a ration of chopped grass hay, very little alfalfa, some modified distillers grain, and very little corn. When they go to summer pasture, they consume native grass. Other than salt, they receive no supplement. It is a program they pride themselves for. “That is one thing we constantly hear about our bulls. They last forever because their feet never go bad,” John says. The bulls have also been bred to develop good hair coats, so they can withstand the cold easier and survive during rough winters. Each bull is scored using a three-star system for calv-

BREEDERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

CUSTOM BEHLEN CUSTOM BEHLEN POST FRAME from vantage point. Courtesy photo STEEL FRAME Ridder headquarters POST FRAME BUILDINGSBEHLEN STEEL FRAME BUILDINGS STEEL FRAME BUILDINGS BUILDINGS 80 Factory Road • Eaton, Colorado 80615 BUILDINGS

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80 Factory Road • Eaton, Colorado 80615 ing ease. The number of stars a bull earns for calving ease is clarkent@slbbi.com The annual production sale, which will be Jan. 30 this year, email: (970) 454-2400 (p) • (970) 454-2407 (f) 80 Factory Road • Eaton, Colorado 80615 permanently marked on its ear tag.clarkent@slbbi.com “If we don’t recommend features around 70 bulls that are approaching 22 months of (970) 454-2400 (p) • (970) 454-2407 email: (f) a bull for heifer use, we don’t put a star on the tag. The more age, a dozen coming yearling bulls, and 50-70 registered email: clarkent@slbbi.com we would recommend him for heifers, the more stars he Hereford heifers. For the last five years, the Ridders have earns. Bull catalogs and records get lost, so this has been an offered their customers insurance on the bulls they purchase. easy way for our customers who buy multiple bulls from us “We want to stand behind our cattle, so we have paid part of to easily remember which ones they can use on heifers,” John the insurance for the bulls our customers buy. We feel like it said. helps them and us,” John says. u

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Also featuring the Pick of the Pen of Three from Deer Valley Farm, TN and Pick of the Carload from Frey Angus Ranch, ND Sale Management : Jeff Mafi (816) 344-4266 • Alex Tolbert (706) 338-8733 • Mark Sims (580) 595-0901 To request a sale book, contact sale management or email Jaclyn Upperman, Director of Events and Educations at jupperman@angus.org Follow National Western Angus Bull Sale on Facebook for the latest information. View/Bid live on the internet at www.LiveAuctions.tv BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

When cake doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t cut it:

Adjusting a supplemental feeding program to make up for poor hay quality

By Deanna Nelson-Licking

Higher quality hay is due to a higher leaf to stem ratio; leaves are higher in protein and energy. 52

BREEDERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

The wet weather this year forced producers’ haying calendars back by weeks--sometimes months. The late-harvested grasses were more mature, so had a higher percentage of stems and seed heads. The excessive moisture caused a decrease in quality; the plants grew faster and needed more cellular structure for support, resulting in less nutritional matter and “washy” grass. Even poor hay is better than none but livestock producers should consider the nutritional requirements of their cattle. With many still struggling with the effects of last winter, proper supplement feeding of cattle is extremely important to their overall health, calf production and breedback. “The biggest thing ranchers can do is test their hay,” said Ben Beckman, Nebraska extension educator. “So we know what we have and how to manage it. Producers can bring their test results to their local extension office and we will help them interpret the results and develop a plan. A hay test helps to show what supplementing needs to be done without overdoing it.” With all the summer flooding, many bales got wet and stayed that way. Beckman recommends ranchers

make sure the bales have dried with no combustion issues and if they are usable, with only some mold. Microtoxins are sometimes present in mold so the bales should be unrolled and the cows allowed to pick through the hay. Animals shouldn’t be forced to eat only moldy hay, so it is important that they have good hay or pasture also available to them. Ranchers also should make

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meet the cows’ energy needs in a cost-effective way. Extension offices are great resources.” Many producers rely on high-protein cake as a supplemental feed source, but the energy requirements of the herd should also be considered. All the protein in the world won’t help if the cow is lacking energy. Producers should also consider grazing the uncut meadows and fields, using temporary electric fence if needed. Sending the cows to corn stalks also is a cost-effective way to make your own hay supply last longer. Low quality forages like corn stalk bales and straw can be ammoniated to make them have the equivalent digestibility and protein content of grass hay. Ammoniation of corn stalks is done using an anhydrous ammonia treatment of stacked and covered bales. In a 2018 UNL Beef article, Beckman and Mariah Woolsoncroft, Nebraska extension educator write: It is important for producers to react to a cow’s changing nutrient requirements depending on if the cow is lactating or stage of gestation. For example, a 1,200 lb. gestating cow may need 1.5 lb. CP (crude protein) daily in its diet to maintain body condition. Compare that with a 1,200 lb. lactating cow that may need 3 lb. CP per day.The crude protein requirements will vary for each animal depending on a cow’s weight and pounds of milk produced. It

is important to understand cow weights and milk production in a herd, for a producer to balance nutrient requirements without over or underfeeding. If available forage or harvested feedstuff does not meet the protein needs of the animal, supplementing protein from other sources would be the next step. Common methods many producers use to provide protein are lick tubs and range cubes. Alternative feedstuffs can be utilized to meet protein needs and may be a more cost effective option if proper storage sites and feeding equipment are available. Examples may include dried distillers grains, cottonseed meal, sunflower meal, and canola meal.To decrease supplemental costs, producers should price supplements on a $/lb. of CP basis rather

“Don’t get stuck in one system, don’t be afraid to ask questions and make changes.” ~ Ben Beckman, Nebraska extension educator

than $/ton basis. Jay Jenkins, UNL extension educator, wrote in his September 2014 article “Balancing Rations: The Economics of Hay Quality” on beef.unl.edu: The reason we put up hay is to feed livestock.When we feed animals we are not just feeding “feed.”We are supplying nutrients needed for the animal to grow, renew body components, form products such as milk and wool, and furnish energy for all of the processes involved.The major nutrients involved are energy, primarily in the form of carbohydrates, and protein.The animal also needs various vitamins and minerals, as well as water. Necessary vitamins and minerals are easily provided should the main feedstuffs be lacking…

Normally hay harvest starts in June or early July when the quality is higher at over 10 percent crude protein. Photos by Deanna Nelson-Licking.

BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

Late hay is more stemmy with more seedheads that are lower in protein and energy.

One underlying premise that we haven’t talked about yet is that feed should not only be bought according to nutrient content, but that it should also be fed according to nutrient content.This requires knowing not only the nutrient content of the feed, but also the requirements of the animal.There are published values that will give you a good idea of what your animals need. It is often necessary to mix feeds to most economically match nutrients fed to nutrients required. Hay should be analyzed for nutrient 56

BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

content.This allows it to be bought, sold, and fed according to its nutrient content. The more facts you know about the hay the better job you can do comparing prices and determining rations. With many producers facing short hay supply due to less hay put up or poor quality hay, Beckman recommends ranchers using the Nebraska Department of Ag online Hay Hotline. It is a source to link hay producers with buyers. There are also many hay

auctions both online and at regional sale barns for those in search of feed. There are also sources available online to make feed cost comparisons easy, one such resource is Extension’s Feed Cost Cow-Q-Lator. Testing your hay and making a cost effective supplement feeding plan are some of the most important things ranchers can do before winter sets in. u

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Dealing with

ENDOMETRITIS Story and Photos By Sally Scholle

You’ve chosen the perfect stallion, checked his history and your mare’s genetic tests are clear. The calendar is set for tracking heat cycles and your plan is sound. What could go wrong? One relatively common issue that wreaks havoc in breeding mares is equine endometritis – an infection of the uterus that’s usually caused by bacteria such as Streptococcus, Actinomyces, Staphylococcus or Pseudomonas. Veterinarian Rick Leone, equine reproductive specialist at Peak View Animal Hospital in Fowler, Colorado, explains that endometritis can also be due to fungal infection or an inflammatory process. “If the cervix isn’t closed, any urine or air that’s enclosed in the vaginal vault gains access to the uterus,” he said. “Loss of cervical integrity can lead to mechanical endometritis.” Leone says endometritis is relatively common in horses, accounts for 60 to 70 percent of mares that fail to become pregnant, and can be difficult to treat. The most likely candidates for the problem are mares older than 10 to 12 years, mares in poor body condition, mares with a tipped vulva and mares with a history of having an extremely large

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Browsefoalour online inventory that resulted in cervical damage. Mares that have had aTITAN reproductive challenge, Leone has seen relatively young

minor tear of the vulva or vagina at foaling are also at 32’ muchTandem maiden mares with raging endometritis. “Younger mares Dual, higher risk, and multiparous mares become more prone to Glide normally have a healthy uterine environment,” he said, “but 6’ Wide Ramps, endometritis. it can occur at any age. If you’ve bred your mare, live cover Chain Box w/lid, 20k GVW “Wet mares, because they typically carry less body or A.I., and she goes beyond two cycles following breeding, condition, are more prone to tipping of the vulva because we consider that abnormal.” their body condition causes the vulva to tip forward,” Leone Although it’s uncommon, mares that have never been explained. “If that happens, urine or feces can enter the cerexposed to a stallion or A.I. can be diagnosed with endomevical canal and lead to infection.” tritis. “It can even occur in young mares with a completely While older mares are the most likely candidates for this normal cervix,” said Leone. “In many cases, such mares are

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treated, become pregnant and never have problems again.” A placenta that doesn’t pass for more than one to two hours postpartum is a problem and can start to damage the uterine environment, so ensuring the complete passage of an intact placenta following birth is critical. Mares typically have a fertility rate of about 70 percent per cycle, so it isn’t uncommon for a mare to require repeat service. However, Leone recommends a complete workup if a mare remains open after two failed breedings. “The workup includes a culture and a biopsy so we know what her

uterine lining is like and if any infectious agent is present,” he said. “When mares’ uteruses are biopsied, the biopsy is sent to Colorado State University and scored 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A or 3B. 1A is ideal, and 3B is very altered and unhealthy. Fertility rates decrease with poor uterine biopsy scores, and the culture can reflect the presence of fungal agents that indicate bacteria.” Leone explains that at the time of the culture, the veterinarian visually and manually assesses the health of the cervix. While damage to the cervix is often the result of a difficult

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foaling, mares without that history may have damage that prevents the cervix from closing tightly between cycles. “If there’s a compromised cervix, we need to be aware of that,” said Leone. “We may treat systemically with antibiotics (injectable or oral), infuse the uterus with antibiotics, or use steroids or a combination of all of those treatment options to reduce inflammation and/or infection in the uterus and give the mare the best chance to maintain and carry a pregnancy once she’s bred.” Mare owners can watch for the early clinical signs of endometritis. The first, and most obvious sign is short cycling intervals. Mares normally ovulate every 21 days and come into heat every 15 to 16 days, but if a mare comes into heat every 10 to 14 days, Leone suspects endometritis. Evidence of vulvar drainage beyond the normal few days of drainage during ovulation is also considered abnormal. Mares with either endometritis or endometriosis typically have lower conception rates. Those that do become pregnant, which can be determined at 10 to 12 days via ultrasound, are more likely to lose the pregnancy within the first

week. “They may re-cycle, and we can treat mares during the cycle they’re being bred,” said Leone. “We can even treat mares for infection a few days after breeding while we’re trying to improve the uterine environment for the embryo that’s going to come down into the uterus around day six to seven after fertilization.” Leone says in the thoroughbred industry, which requires live cover, breeders dealing with endometritis will lavage the uterus to remove any excess fluid within a few hours after breeding. Because semen moves to and remains in the oviduct within two hours post-breeding, this measure won’t interfere with conception. The uterus can be lavaged for several days afterwards to improve the chances of a good uterine environment and successful embryo implantation. Any mare being considered for purchase should be suspected of having endometritis if she does not have a foal at her side or isn’t confirmed pregnant. “Be highly skeptical of any dry mare you buy,” said Leone. “If it’s a four-year old mare coming out of a performance career, that’s different. But a mare that’s been used for

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breeding and is not pregnant is suspect.” Leone says a routine workup prior to the breeding season is well worth the investment. The workup includes ultrasound to check for abnormal fluid and status of the ovaries. “If the mare has no previous history of failing to get pregnant, we’ll frequently breed them one or two cycles without the expense of a workup,” said Leone. “But if there’s any concern about the mare’s ability to become pregnant, whether she had a difficult foaling, has repeated opportunity to become pregnant but hasn’t produced a foal, if she has aborted, or if she’s at risk due to conformation, we recommend a workup.” While a pre-breeding workup costs several hundred dollars, Leone says it’s a small price to pay considering the cost of shipping semen and multiple breeding attempts. “Endometritis is a common problem, and the risk of a mare developing it increases with age, but it’s treatable,” said Leone. “It will add expense, and the number of times you have to expose your mare to semen will go up. I tell people it’ll double breeding expenses, and they’ll have treatment expenses. If in doubt, get the workup done.” u

This mare’s history of a vulval tear places her at higher risk for endometritis. Photo by Sally Scholle.

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Heartland Angus Marketing Marketing:

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Pasture raised 18-20 month old bulls Performance with Calving Ease, Longevity and Docility

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Wagonhammer develops Angus and Charolais cattle in Sandhills of Nebraska

By Jody Hall Photos by Jorn Olsen

BREEDERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

You won’t find the definition of Wagonhammer in the dictionary, but Jay Wolf and his crew at Wagonhammer Ranches in Albion, Nebraska can tell you it was multipurpose tool used by pioneers. It served as a lynch pin that connected the double tree to the wagon, and as a wrench for tightening the nut of the wagon wheel. “It is symbolic of our forefather’s ingenuity, efficiency, and strength,” says Wolf. Ingenuity Jay Wolf’s grandfather and his older brother emigrated from Germany in 1895. Their father had died and their mother, not liking their prospects, sent them to the United States. They had an uncle in Albion Nebraska, and that is where they settled. They were 14 and 16 years old with no money, no trade and could not speak English. They bought their first ground in 1904 and were horse traders and importers. Just before World War I they shifted

BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

to cattle and became one of the earliest cattle feeders in the United States. Albion, Nebraska is located at the northeastern edge of the Nebraska Sandhills. The Sandhills are a region in central Nebraska that covers over one quarter of the state. The dunes are designated a National Natural Landmark and are covered with mixed prairie grasses. The Sandhills sit on top of the extensive Ogallala Aquifer. Temporary and permanent shallow lakes are common in the small valleys of the dunes.

BREEDERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

“My grandfather looked at that land and said it may be too sandy to farm, but I think we can run cattle on it,” says Wolf. They gathered up the land where the sodbusters were defeated and formed the ranch. They didn’t pay much for it, but at that time it wasn’t worth much. There were no roads, no fences and no water development.

BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

Jay Wolf, owner of Wagonhammer Ranch. 72

BREEDERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

Most of the Sandhills have never been plowed. In the 1930s much of the Sandhills of Nebraska had not been permanently settled. The sodbusters had tried to farm the small valleys of the region, but when the drought of the Great Depression hit, the sod farmers pulled up stakes and left the area. “My grandfather looked at that land and said it may be too sandy to farm, but I think we can run cattle on it,” says Wolf. They gathered up the land where the sodbusters were defeated and formed the ranch. They didn’t pay much for it, but at that time it wasn’t worth much. There were no roads, no fences and no water development. “But they had a vision that it would be good cattle country, and it is,” says Wolf.

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Before the Sandhills were used for cattle there was a lot of open sand areas with blowing sand. The grazing improved the grass cover and the condition of the range. “It’s a symbiotic relationship between the cattle and the grass,” says Wolf. “Grass is stimulated by the grazing. It will spread out and increase its density if grazed properly. If you graze it improperly or not at all you get a decrease in cover. If it’s properly managed, you’ll get a healthier range. Most Sandhill ranchers are really grass farmers and we use the cow to maximize our grass. That humble cow, with her amazing rumen, can convert that grass to protein. Chickens and pigs can’t do that.” Wagonhammer emphasizes good grazing management in their business. They use rotational grazing and pride themselves on being good stewards of the land with excellent land management skills. It all starts with the grass. Efficiency The Wagonhammer operation has two purebred herds of Angus and Charolais cattle and a large commercial herd. The commercial herd is made up of Angus/Charolais crossbred cattle, which isn’t a widely pursued cross in the beef industry. “We are probably the only ones that do it at this magnitude that I know

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of,” says Wolf. Wagonhammer runs around 700 registered Angus, 100 registered Charolais and 1,500 commercial crossbreeds. Every cow is bred to an Angus bull for the first mating. They use the Angus and the Charolais back and forth on each other and keep the daughters of the Charolais bulls. “We have developed a line of Charolais genetics that emphasizes the maternal aspect that allows us to do that. We think that the Charolais/Angus cross is a superior animal in the feedlot,” says Wolf. “They have excellent gain and feed efficiency and still make the choice grade.” The Wagonhammer purebred herd was developed using top-shelf genetics for 50 years, via AI, and their cowherd has

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been selected for function first. Females are easy-fleshing, which is one of the most valuable traits for any livestock. They maintain or gain weight with economical or low-cost feed. They also have excellent conformation, adequate milk, and structural correctness. Ease of calving has been a priority for generations as evidenced by the average birth EPD of 1.4. Wagonhammers cattle combine growth and eye appeal. Wagonhammer tries to be progressive by staying abreast of new technologies in breeding and feeding. They utilize embryo transfer, AI, and genomic testing to supply their customers with the most advanced genetics. They are part of a group of feeders that participate in research testing new products and methods.

Strength Ranching in the Sandhills can bring challenges, but the Wagonhammer crew is strong enough to deal with whatever comes their way. Even when mother nature packs a punch. The Wagonhammer operation is diverse with a feedlot, farming, the purebred operation, stock sales, and the commercial operation. In 2012 there was a drought worse than any year in the 1930s. “Our range came out of it in great shape and we held our herd together,” says Wolf. Last winter brought the “bomb cyclone.” “I call it the polar vortex winter from hell,” Wolf says.

“Worst winter for livestock in my life. Followed by a summer with way too much rain.You never hear about a rancher complaining about rain but we did this year.” With the hayfields under water most of the summer, ranch manager Steve Shermer had to scramble. He hayed the pastures and was able to produce enough hay to keep the operation going. Wagonhammer’s crew works well together and they are all skilled at what they do. They also strive to give back to the community and Wolf is on various boards including one to develop an Early Childhood Education Center. “You want to leave your land better than you found it and your community better than you found it,” Wolf says. u

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Dave Pratt, left, has handed ownership of Ranch Management Consultants to Dallas Mount, right.

Handing over the reins

Ranch Management Consultants under new ownership

by Savanna Simmons

From his start as a student of Ranching for Profit, Dallas Mount has progressed through several roles within Ranch Management Consultants, including his current role as owner. Stan Parsons started the business in the early 1980s, and the second owner, Dave Pratt, took the lead in 1999. Mount assumed ownership this year, and Pratt will step in where he is needed, especially to substitute for either Mount or the other instructor, Allan Crockett. Prior to being an instructor for RFP, Mount was a Platte County extension agent for the University of Wyoming for 82

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19 years, and while he didn’t grow up in a ranching background, he and his wife and children now custom graze cowcalf pairs through the summer in Wheatland, Wyoming. Ranch Management Consultants (RMC) offers Ranching for Profit (RFP), a week-long school hosted throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. “Ranching for Profit, our flagship program, is the best known and most effective business management school for people in agriculture,” Mount said. “We talk about all aspects of business management, including financial and economic

component, production, land and ecosystem management and human resources. Ranching for Profit and our programs are based on the idea that knowing how to raise crops and livestock is the not the same as knowing how to run a business that raises crops and livestock.” One example of this that RFP addresses is moving calving dates to minimize overhead. It’s pretty common, Mount said, that winter feeding consumes an exorbitant portion of the budget. If a producer feeds half the value of the calf to get the cow through the winter, very few funds are left for other overhead costs. While money-making endeavors are important, RFP focuses more heavily on human relations within ranching and other agriculture businesses. “He says that everything that’s an issue on the ranch is a people issue,” Mount said of Crockett. “There are a lot of unknowns with two generations ranching side-by-side related to control or succession and decision-making. These all created sticking points in family businesses, and for about 40 years now, we have helped agriculture businesses talk about these sticking points, and we have processes by which people can come to their own resolutions.” Lacy Hanson, of Lusk, Wyoming, has attended RFP multiple times, and she and her husband Dan Henry Hanson are in the Executive Link program and on a board. “I have enjoyed the RFP program because it forces a person to look at things differently than before, for a lot of people, differently than they

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were taught,” she said. “It forces paradigms to be questioned. I think it is healthy to be challenged in that way.” Executive Link (EL), a follow-up program for RFP graduates, is ongoing support that includes a suite of online videos and formation of a strategic board. “Five to six businesses are on a board, and they meet three times per year to look inside each others’ businesses and give strategic advice,” Mount said. “They hold you accountable to the action plan that you develop.” Often, the EL board consists of diverse ranching and farming endeavors, both operational and geographical, which pushes board members to question and dig deeper. “One of the best circumstances is someone in Texas asking a grape farmer in California, ‘What the heck are you doing that for?’” Mount said. “We need those intense discussions in agriculture.” Pratt saw a lot of himself in Mount upon first meeting him, just as Parsons did with Pratt several decades prior. Their lives fell along a similar path as well, including the same age upon first attending RFP, similar careers with universities of Wyoming and California extension, and the same age of children upon taking the reins of RMC. “The parallels between his careers and mine were incredible,” Pratt said. “I liked the way he interacted with people. If someone would ask, he would lead them to the answer, not just tell them. Teaching is different than presenting; teaching is helping people learn how to think.” Parsons called Pratt out in a 1988 Ranch for Profit class, paraphrasing Socrates in saying, “I can’t teach you

Ranching for Profit, Ranch Management Consultant’s flagship program, focuses on not knowing just how to raise livestock or crops but also on operating a business that raises livestock or crops. 84

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Dallas Mount, of Wheatland,Wyoming, has been a Ranching for Profit instructor for six years. He has transitioned to ownership of Ranch Management Consultants this year. Photos courtesy of RMC. a thing,” Pratt said. “What he meant was, truth cannot be taught, it has to be discovered.” A valuable aspect to teaching producers is that they may go on their own journeys and find their own answers, as Pratt and Mount have come to discover. “I was in the RFP class in Billings where Dallas had his first chance to teach part of a course. I have gotten to watch

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him grow into the position he now holds,” Lacy said. “He is truly invested in the program and the people, passionate about educating ranchers in growing their ranch from a lifestyle into a business.” Just as tweaks have already been made throughout its nearly 40 years of existence, Mount will continue to update and modernize RMC methods to stay relevant to farming and ranching relations and issues. “We’ll take it into the next decade; update the economic tools and rely on digital communications more,” Mount said. “We just want to make sure the things that are working well continue to work well.” Mostly though, he said he plans to not “fix what isn’t broken.” “This is not a school on ranching or livestock production, it’s a school on business,” Pratt said. “I think that’s going to be one of Dallas’ biggest challenges. He’s a gifted teacher, remarkable in the classroom, but his temptation is going to be the same as mine. He’ll want to focus on the teaching, but he needs to focus on the business that teaches. He’ll be successful.”

Pratt said he would have continued to lead RMC for a few more years, but the timing was right for Mount to step into position. For now, he will continue to substitute when needed and also lead a few workshops and RMC opportunities for which Mount doesn’t have time. “I’m grateful to Dallas that I will still

be able to be involved at some level,” Pratt said. “It was time for him to take the reins, and one person can’t hold one rein and one hold the other.” Pratt will return to some hobbies and ventures, including backpacking with his son and continuing writing a book which he started. u

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Reportable Equine Diseases By Heather Smith Thomas

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It’s a horse owner’s nightmare—your horse is off his feed and a quick look confirms the dreaded lesions on his tongue and lips. Sure looks like vesicular stomatitis. A test confirms and your competitive season comes to an end when the vet utters those dreaded words, “reportable” and “quarantine.” While VS is uncomfortable for a horse and inconvenient for the owners, the outlook is rarely grim, and horses usually make a full recovery. So what’s the big deal, and why does the federal government care if your horse has sores in his mouth? Some diseases in livestock and horses are serious enough that state and federal authorities play a role in trying to eliminate those diseases or keep them from spreading when cases occur. Certain diseases are reportable—which means that the owner must notify and consult with their veterinarian if one of these diseases is suspected. That horse would generally be isolated until tested; then the veterinarian and the laboratory would be required to report to the state veterinarian if it tested positive. That horse might be quarantined (and, depending on the disease, the premise might also quaran-

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tined—no horses going in or out) until full recovery. In the case equine infectious anemia (EIA), which a horse will always carry, even if it makes a physical recovery, the horse may have to be euthanized. The list of reportable diseases, and the way they are handled, may differ from state to state. In Colorado, for instance, the reportable diseases are eastern and western equine encephalomyelitis (EEE and WEE), EIA, the neurologic form of EHV-1 (equine herpes virus 1), equine viral arteritis (EVA), rabies, and VS. Requirements for reporting diseases differ from state to state. Some states require certain diseases to be reported within 24 hours of a confirmed diagnosis and others may not require a report of cases until the end of the week or month. The only uniformly reportable equine disease in the U.S. in EIA, which requires a negative Coggins test for any horse that crosses state lines. If you use good biosecurity practices to prevent exposure to contagious diseases (not sharing tack, water buckets, needles, etc. and limiting nose-to-nose contact with other horses at events), these can reduce risk for a number of diseases. “On our website we have a document that talks about common equine biosecurity practices that are effective

to prevent spread of disease. It’s under the Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy link,” says Dr. Keith Roehr, Colorado state veterinarian. “There are a number of common biosecurity practices that we encourage horse owners to make into habits, rather than just following these during an outbreak situation. These should be routine practices whenever you travel with your horse.” Horse owners should have a good working relationship with their veterinarian and consult with him/her for advice regarding disease prevention and common diseases in their own area. Across each state there will be some variations, and their own veterinarian will know which diseases have been seen in their area. Roehr says the most common reportable disease in his state this year has been VS. Some of the others on the list have not been seen for several years. Here is a brief overview of reportable diseases in Colorado: EIA Incidence of equine infectious anemia varies from year to year and there are usually not many cases in Colorado. “The reason most horse owners are aware of this one is that it reBREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

quires an up-to-date negative Coggins test in order to cross state lines. We have not had a reported case this year, but had one case in 2018 with extensive exposure to other horses— so we had a lot of tracing within Colorado and some other states to find those horses and test them,” says Roehr. “That infected horse had been in contact with others, and we had about 150 horses to locate in Colorado and another 90 or so that went to 12 other states. All of them had to be located and tested. Fortunately all of the horses that had comingled with the infected horse were negative,” he says. EIA is a viral disease that can attack red blood cells and cause anemia. “It’s spread by insect vectors, particularly

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horse flies, but can also be spread through poor hygienic practices such as using the same needle on multiple horses. In some classes of horses, such as those used in unsanctioned track races (where reuse of needles is not uncommon), this disease is sometimes further spread,” says Roehr. Horses with EIA remain carriers for life. There is no treatment, and no vaccine—no effective prevention except good biosecurity. It is not a common disease anymore; it has been significantly reduced with diligent testing. “Horses that test positive either have to be confined for life behind an insect-proof barrier, or euthanized. In most cases people choose to have them humanely euthanized,” he says.

EHV-1 Equine herpes myoencephalitis (neurologic form of herpes) is relatively rare, but very serious. “There are vaccines for EHV-l but none of them are effective in preventing the neurologic form. If horses are affected neurologically, we may see paralysis or other signs that cause death or require humane euthanasia. The vaccines are more effective against the respiratory form of disease, and can help prevent abortion in pregnant mares, and may reduce viremia (circulation of the virus within the blood) but have not been shown to prevent the neurologic form of this disease,” says Roehr. EVA – Equine Viral Arteritis Equine viral arteritis can be spread as a respiratory disease, but also spread by breeding. “Many people who breed mares require that the stallion be tested and proven negative. We haven’t had a case in Colorado for a number of years, so the risk is low, and primarily of concern to people who breed horses,” says Roehr.

Rabies “This disease is of concern primarily in the eastern part of the state. There is a good vaccine for this virus, considered one of the core vaccines that every horse should get, but this may depend on where you live. The primary carrier in our

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region that might expose horses is the skunk, though there are also some cases of bat rabies. Any horses that reside east of I-25 or in that corridor are at some risk for exposure,” he says. Rabies goes in cycles in wildlife, so some years are worse than others for numbers of cases. “We almost always have some cases in livestock that are quarantined due to potential exposure to a rabid skunk. If

the skunk was diagnosed with rabies on a farm or horse facility, however, the quarantine time for the horses could be greatly abbreviated or prevented if the horses were vaccinated within the past 6 months. Vaccination can thus not only prevent rabies but also prevent movement restrictions,” he says. EEE and WEE Many horse owners vaccinate for

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eastern and western equine encephalomyelitis, since these viral diseases are often included in some of the combination vaccines. “We have not seen a case of WEE for about 20 years, and I don’t think we’ve ever had a case of EEE in Colorado. Both of those diseases are at low prevalence and low risk at this time,” says Roehr. “We tell people to follow the advice of their own veterinarian regarding the relative risk for this disease, and possibly use vaccination as a preventative tool.” Vesicular Stomatitis “This is the disease that’s been on people’s minds the most this year because there have been so many cases. We had 680 premises quarantined--with horses that were either suspect or confirmed cases--that were under movement restrictions, but the actual number of horses that were affected isn’t really known. As of late October this number was down to less than 20, with only about 12 that remained under quarantine,” he says. This disease is not very contagious horse-to-horse and mainly spread by insect vectors—mainly black flies, sand flies or the culicoides midge. It is reportable because it closely resembles Foot and Mouth Disease, a disease in cattle that so far has not been introduced to the United States, and could be devastating to the cattle industry if it is. Early detection and traceability would be key to preventing an outbreak in United States cattle. u

BREEDERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

PVPs may gain momentum as consumers express more interest in verification By Teresa Clark Photos by Heather Maude

With interest in Processed Verified Programs (PVP) on the rise, the cattle industry may find these programs becoming the norm in just a few years. At least that is the opinion of RaeMarie Knowles, who is the managing partner with Legacy Verified, LLC. “As consumers become more interested in our story, participating in these programs shows we are good stewards of the land and that we take care of our animals. There is definitely a consumer awareness about various claims. Whether a product in the retail store says “natural,” “hormone free” or “grassfed,” they want to know

how the retailer knows that is the case. Using PVP programs adds true legitimacy to any claim the industry wants to make to the consumer,” she explains. Process verified programs are programs the USDA AMS has developed to allow a client or company to write a quality manual, which addresses their marketing claim, according to Steve Ross, who is the manager of field operations for the USDA AMS Process Verified Programs. “It is a voluntary process where a company says they want to market their products a certain way, and they develop a claim for marketBREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

ing it that way.” Ross says it is the job of the USDA AMS to verify those claims that have been made by the producer or company with the PVP. Since the cost of a PVP can be prohibitive for producers, they can instead enroll their cattle with third party providers. “These third party service providers enroll cattle in their programs to give those animals a marketing advantage when it comes time for the producers to sell their cattle. They can advertise their cattle are meeting all the marketing claims on the production-side, and it has been verified by a third party group. The USDA audits the third party groups,” Ross explains. Knowles’s company, Legacy Verified, LLC., is one of several third party verification companies that has been

100

BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

approved by the USDA AMS to certify cattle for PVP programs. “What we do is go to ranches and feedlots and enroll their cattle in our PVP program. We manage their information privately, confidentially and in a protected computer system within our company. Legacy Verified LLC falls under the USDA AMS, but the ranchers, feedlots, and suppliers that have cattle enrolled through us fall under our umbrella. We audit our customers according to the USDA PVP program standards,” she says. Cattle are enrolled in PVPs to increase their earning potential. Knowles says in past years, producers have earned premiums selling their cattle through video auctions or by private sales. Many of these cattle are earmarked for programs like Non-Hormone Treated Cattle (NHTC), which are then exported as beef to countries like China and EU. Although premiums may be higher when markets are strong, premiums may still be on the table in weak markets. “From the conversations I’ve had with buyers, I think they are looking more at the cattle that have gone through these programs. The rancher has had someone come out to perform an audit, so it shows they are more forward-thinking and these cattle may be something to take a look at,” she explains. When cattle are in a PVP, Ross says it is not an affidavit or word of mouth, it is an actual piece of paper certifying the cattle have met the requirements of the PVP. “When a third party group verifies those cattle for their programs, the rancher can take that certificate to a video auction or a sale barn as proof the cattle have met these marketing claims,” he explains. However, enrolling in these programs does not guarantee a premium. Jake Maurer, who is an owner in Bassett Livestock Auction and a rancher himself, enrolled some of his own cattle in the NHTC program a few years ago. But, when he marketed two pot loads of steers and one of heifers, he was disappointed. “There wasn’t a buyer who wanted any of the paperwork, after we jumped through all the hoops to get it. I didn’t feel we received a premium, and it just proved to me that spending the extra $8 a head to enroll them, put the EID tags in, and get the ranch certified, really wasn’t worth it,” he says. “We did this program because we thought there might be a premium in it, but there wasn’t. As a sale barn owner, it is tough for me to promote a program when I can’t see where

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there is a premium for can potentially add a “There is definitely a consumer awareness doing it. I can’t justify moderate premium taking dollars out of about various claims. Whether a product in to the existing market my customers pockets price. It’s the easiest the retail store says ‘natural’, ‘hormone when the end isn’t program for them to free’ or ‘grassfed’, they want to know how meeting the means as it participate in, espethe retailer knows that is the case.” is,” he notes. cially if they work with ~ RaeMarie Knowles Maurer says the most us, because we charge common PVP cattle a simple flat fee and coming through the sale barn are age and source verified, conduct the audit by phone using ranch records. In some but since the sale barn is already known for selling top notch cases, the ranches participating in age and source verification cattle from the Nebraska Sandhills at a premium, it is hard to do not even have to purchase EID tags, so the cost is minimal determine if those cattle earn more premiums from being in and it gives the ranchers the opportunity to potentially earn a PVP program. “I think a lot of 1,000 to 3,000 head ranches a little more for their cattle,” she explains. are enrolling their cattle in PVP programs, but we have a lot For the NHTC and other PVPs with a feed restriction of customers who have 50 to 300 head. There isn’t a premicomponent, Knowles says an auditor has to visit the operaum for them, unless they can make a pot load of cattle,” he tion to conduct an on-site inspection, but the premiums have explains. the potential of being more substantial. Last summer, premi Knowles says a lot of the premium-earning ranches they ums for PVP-approved natural and NHTC cattle reached as work with are operations which average 125 to 300 head, much as $18-$20/cwt. “If you are selling on the video, you but she has seen some smaller ranches cash in on premiums, need a pot load just to offset the cost of the program. For especially for age and source verification. “Those producers small ranches, it may not pencil out, but I have seen some

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make it work. The best thing a rancher can do is contact a PVP-approved verification company to get more information about their pricing, and a bit of an insight into the premiums that may be available at the time of sale,” she says. For producers who enroll in these programs and sell through the video auction, it can be a win-win situation. “At any given video auction, you may have a feedlot looking for PVP-approved all-natural cattle, a feedyard who wants NHTC cattle or buyers looking for cattle for China or the

EU markets. If you sell your cattle at the sale barn, you have to hope all of those buyers are there, but the video auctions make an event of it. They bring buyers to the table from all across the country, which creates an opportunity to have multiple order buyers and feed yards bidding for program cattle. It is not the only way to sell program cattle, but it is a good way to enjoy the premium-earning potential these programs afford,” Knowles explains. u

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NAYC gives students a springboard into a future in agriculture

By Ruth Nicolaus Photos courtesy of Nebraska Department of Agriculture

Theresa Klein, Rural Futures Institute (standing, left) leads NAYI delegates through an interactive presentation on rural development.The NAYI is a five-day seminar hosted in Lincoln for high school juniors and seniors each summer. BREEDERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

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Neb. Agricultural Youth Council members from 2018-2019 take a hayrack ride as they tour an ag industry.

For nearly a half-century, young people from around Nebraska have been sharing the agriculture world with elementary and high school youth. The Nebraska Agriculture Youth Council (NAYC) is a group of college-age men and women who spend a year educating school kids across the state about agriculture. For the 2019-2020 school year, 21 young people have been selected to serve on the NAYC. Council applicants must go through an application process which includes submitting letters of reference, an interview, and a GPA requirement that must be met. Once they are council members, they are required to attend bi-month108

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ly meetings. Members are put on different committees, and on the weeks there is no council meeting, they meet with their committees. In the fall, NAYC members take industry tours to different agricultural businesses, depending on what their interests are. For example, if a student is interested in horticulture, they might tour a nursery. They’ve visited such places as the Case-IH plant in Grand Island, Kappa Ethanol, Vala’s Pumpkin Patch and Apple Orchard near Gretna, and Settje Agri Services and Engineering. In the spring, members visit kindergarten through third grade classrooms in Lincoln, doing “fun hands-on activities,” said Christin Kamm, NAYC

advisor, and preparing the kids for their visit to the farms. Farms in the Wahoo area are the destination, and for some students, it’s the first time for them to set foot on a farm. The visits with elementary students to farms opens council members’ eyes for how ag is viewed by the kids. Kamm recounts an incident where an elementary student jumped off the bus, saw a corn cob, and said, “that’s where they get tater tots from.” “If you cut the corn cob, it looks like tater tots,” Kamm said. The kids “open my eyes as to what we should be talking about in the classroom.” Elementary students get to do a variety of things, like put their fingers in a milking machine to see that it doesn’t hurt the cow.

“I’ve met my best friends because of NAYC, it has helped me build friendships and networks that have taken me farther than I would have gone without them. I’m very thankful for that.” -Felicia Knoerzer

In the spring, NAYC members also attend the state FFA convention, to advertise their biggest project: the Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute (NAYI). The NAYI is a five-day program held in Lincoln each summer for about 225 high school juniors and seniors, to learn about agriculture. “They come to Lincoln, free of charge,” Kamm said, “and for five days, get submerged in learning about the ag industries and careers available in the ag industry, and how to work towards those careers, all while having fun and interacting with peers.” The seminar includes talks about animal production: beef, swine, poultry, and dairy; commodity board sessions: corn, wheat, pork, beef, soybeans, and more; and information sessions about such topics as ethanol, farm management decisions, careers in agriculture, and more. There’s time for fun, too. Seminar attendants are treated to pizza parties, street dances, and time to make friends. NAYI participants don’t need to be farm kids to go to the summer seminar, Kamm said. “Anyone who has an interest in learning more about ag is

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Participants in the Nebraska Ag Youth Institute gather each summer for “Games on the Green.”The Institute hosts about 200 high school youth for five days in Lincoln, at no cost to the participants.

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NAYC members pose in formal attire at NAYI’s state dinner last July.The council members organize a variety of activities for school youth across the state, to learn more about agriculture, as well as learn more about the industry themselves. encouraged to apply.” The NAYI conference is a great way for those interested in ag to network. Kamm has seen companies offer students at the seminar internships, and she’s seen kids who weren’t going to pursue a career in ag change their minds. NAYC members can be on the council for up to three years, and it’s a great way to make friends and network.

Felicia Knoerzer, who grew up on a row-crop farm near Elwood, Neb., is an animal science major who is in her second year as a council member. For her, the friends are one of the best parts of NAYC. “I’ve met my best friends because of NAYC,” she said. “It has helped me build friendships and networks that have taken me farther than I would have gone without them. I’m very thankful for that.”

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“Ag is a big part of what our nation is built on, and I think (being a council member and going to the summer seminar) is a great opportunity to learn and find a career you might not have known you were interested in.” -Felicia Knoerzer

NAYC members have fun piling into a big chair atVala’s Pumpkin Patch and Apple Orchard near Gretna.The group tours agricultural based industries each fall.

Knoerzer has advice for anyone who might want to be a council member. “I think if anyone wants to invest in themselves, for a zero cost fee, this is the easiest and most effective way to do it. NAYI and NAYC have both been great networking opportunities and personal and professional development.You get to build your leadership and organizational skills like crazy.” It also enhances a life perspective, she said, including “hard work, teammates, and the amazing industry we’re all so enthusiastic about.” Being on the NAYC is a springboard for life for the members, Kamm said. She has seen past council members go on to do things such as serve on different commodity organizations, serve in Trump’s administration, and more. “It’s fun to watch them grow. I’ve always told them, that if NAYC is the best thing they’ve done in their life, I have failed them miserably, because this is just a stepping stone.” Whatever they do, she wants them to do their best. “If they choose to go back and farm, then go back and be the best you can be. If you go to (Washington) D.C., represent us the best you can.” Knoerzer summed it up this way. “Ag is a big part of what our nation is built on, and I think (being a council member and going to the summer seminar) is a great opportunity to learn and find a career you might not have known you were interested in.” More information on the NAYI and the NAYC can be found at https://nda.nebraska.gov/nayi/nayi.html. u

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The 2019-2020 NAYC leaders have been selected, and they include: Head Counselors: Felicia Knoerzer, Elwood, and Courtney Nelson, Monroe; President: Cooper Grabenstein, Smithfield; Secretary: Grant Dahlgren, Bertrand;Vice President of Social Media/Communications and Promotions: Kelli Mashino, Spencer;VP of Alumni Relationships: Colton Thompson, Eustis;VP of NAYI Improvement: Kelsey Loseke, Blair. Vice President of Youth Outreach: Wesley Wach, Hayes Center; and Vice President of Sponsorship: Isaac Stallbaumer, Oconto. Additional NAYC members include: Nick Birdsley, Omaha; Miles Eggleston, David City; Emily Hatterman,Wisner; Colin Ibach, Sumner; Cole Kalkowski, Omaha; Layne Miller, Oakland; Creighton Niemeyer, DeWitt;Tyler Perrin, Ogallala; Ralston Ripp, Kearney; Megan Schroeder,Wisner; Clayton Thomas, Bloomington, IL; and Josie Thompson,Wayne.

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Doc Quixote, a son of Doc Bar, that was a strong foundation for Pat Fitzgerald’s cutting horse program. 114

BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

Smart Moves Stallions that shaped the cutting world

By Maria Tibbetts

At one time, Pat Fitzgerald had seven sons of Doc Bar standing in his barn in Oklahoma. It was a long way to come for the son of a farmer and horse trader growing up in Wisconsin. But it’s a stud named Smart Mate, a son of Smart Little Lena and out of Freckles Playmate, that holds a special place in Fitzgerald’s heart and memories. “Every time I showed him it was fun. I’ve never had another one like him. They tell me you get one good horse, one good wife and one good dog in your life. I’ve had all three, so I don’t know where I’m going to go from here,” he said. “When he’d cut, everybody would watch. He could stop so hard it was unbelievable. We were at the world show, and he was third or fourth in the world. The guy who was winning the world came up and asked why I was still showing him. He said, ‘As hard as he stops, he’s going to break his back legs. Can you afford to do that?’ We showed him twice more and retired him. He paid for my place. He made my life a lot easier.” The stable full of Doc Bar’s sons was fairly short-lived. Fitzgerald was standing the studs for an investor who kept them together for four years, then sold them. In 1989 Fitzgerald bought one, Doc Quixote, known as “the good luck horse” because he consistently made money for everyone who owned him. He was the first cutting stallion to be syndicated, with shares reportedly worth $100,000.

Benny Martinez bought Docs Hickory at the same time and Fitzgerald stood him for Martinez. “I kept the studs that really worked. Quixote and Hickory really worked. Quixote and Hickory were by far the best sons of Doc Bar. They produced more than the rest of them.” Both sires’ offspring have cleared the $10 million earnings mark. Fitzgerald said the cross between Hickory and Quixote was the best he ever had. “I was breeding a son of Doc Bar to a daughter. It worked like gangbusters. At the time they all thought I was crazy. Now they’re doing it all the time.” While the foundation bloodlines have served the industry well, it might be time for some new blood, Fitzgerald said. “If someone could come up with a stallion with no Doc Bar, no Lena, no Highbrow Cat—something completely different—that’s what we need. But so far the ones that aren’t bred that way aren’t athletic enough. They’ve tried a lot of different things and nothing has worked. We keep riding the same ones because they’re the ones that win.” Fitzgerald has been winning in the cutting business since 1963, when he won the Wisconsin state high school cutting and went on to a third place finish at nationals. He’s seen the industry change, and has a pretty good idea of what works and what doesn’t. “To make our deal (cutting) really work we have to level the playing field somehow, especially in the pro and non-pro. After you’ve won a million there’s no way you should be BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

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non-pro. They’re trying to come up with a way to do that. That way everybody stands a shot. Until they do that, I don’t think it will grow.” He’d also like to see a lower limit on the number of horses a person can show in the futurities, which would give some of the less experienced riders a chance to get on some good horses. “When I started out you could show one horse at the futurity. Now these big guns will be showing 12 horses. When was about 19 years old I had a guy call and ask if I’d show a futurity horse for him. Now if they can get those big guns to ride, they don’t have to have the kids ride for them. “It needs to grow. It’s a lot of fun. People need to have fun at it. Now it’s too much blood and guts, everyone is too worried. If it’s not fun, nobody’s going to do it.” He said it has to be worthwhile for everyone, not just the people at the top. “Our pots have to be big enough to attract people. If people think they can win enough money, they’ll show up.”

The horses have also changed in the last sixty years, Fitzgerald said. “The caliber of horses has come up a lot. Their disposition, athletic ability. They’re phenomenal athletes now.Years ago they weren’t that athletic. Our modern cutting horses have brains and aren’t broncy. They’re quick and they won’t try to hurt you.” The change for the better can be attributed to both the breeding and training, but mostly breeding, Fitzgerald says. “Our horses are completely different now. They’re really easy to train and now everybody knows how to train a horse.” As far as the horses have come, they can always be improved, Fitzgerald said. “We need to breed more bone into them. Our horses might be getting too fine. If we get more bone and substance they’ll stay sound longer.” The key to success in the horse business is simple, Fitzgerald says.

Smart Mate, the stallion that changed Pat Fitzgerald’s life—“I’ve never had another one like him.” 116

BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

“There’s still a bright future in the horse industry. Just raise nice horses and you’re in business.You’ve got to show them. People have to see them. Find a nice mare that doesn’t cost a fortune, breed her to a popular stud and make sure that colt gets to a good trainer. If that Pat Fitzgerald says he’s colt gets to a good trainer heard you get one good horse, one good dog and one he’s going to make that mare or stallion.” good wife in your life. He feels blessed to have had all There was a time, three, and two are pictured Fitzgerald said, when the here. mares weren’t big money winners. Their job was to carry on the bloodlines and to produce good horses. Now they’re expected to be proven before they’re worth anything. “I wanted mares with a nice pedigree. Now, if you’re going to be in the broodmare business you’d better have a mare that’s won $100,000 or produced colts that won $100,000. Before, a mare with a pedigree that was just a nice mare could become a big producer. A lot of good mares that could be great broodmares won’t get the chance because they’re not proven.” Fitzgerald had a mare out of Docs Hickory that he bred to Smart Mate. He gave that first Smart Mate colt to trainer Tommy Marvin for a wedding present. That colt went on to win nearly $70,000. “His mother wasn’t even broke to ride. That mother produced between $600,000 and $700,000 worth of winnings,” Fitzgerald said. Fitzgerald started out calf roping and cutting, but one comment decided his focus. “I had a real nice calf horse I roped on. At the Fort Worth Stock Show the first three place monies won were on him. I finished down the standings a ways. When it was over somebody offered me $2,500 for that horse. I turned him into a turnback horse and never roped off him again. I figured if that’s all a good rope horse was worth, I wasn’t going to waste my time.” With all the growth in the performance industry—roping included--since then, Pat sees a lot of crossover between the cutting horses and other disciplines, from barrel horses to rope horses and ranch horses. “There’s a market for people

to turn cutting horses into ranch horses. A good cutting horse makes a tremendous ranch horse. A lot of ranchers are starting to find that out. They’ll breed to a cutter, or buy a cutter because they’re easy to get along with and they’re so trainable.You can buy yearlings that aren’t worth a lot of money, grow them up, put some time into them and sell them for a good ranch horse.” That’s the advice he’s given young trainers who need to make a living, but maybe haven’t found the horse to make their reputation yet. “Buy nice yearlings.You don’t have the expense of breeding.You never know what might come out of there. Give those colts a chance.” He used to ride the cutters himself, but though he has some yearlings and geldings he’s working with, his performance days are over. “I’m too old. I can’t compete against the young guys. I put one of the big guns on them.” Pat’s wife, Connie, also rode cutting horses. “She was really good,” Pat said. Pat and Connie recently moved to a place that allows them to focus on the best of the best horses they’ve acquired over the years. Pat has a nice futurity horse this year and still has a barn full of broodmares. He hasn’t given up on finding one more “great one.” He has seven mares out of Smart Mate, crossed on Quixote’s and Hickory’s daughters. This year he bred them to Stevie Rey Von, Kit Kat Sugar, Reyzin The Cash, and a few others. He recently bought a mare that has won $100,000 and he used some of the last of Smart Mate’s frozen semen on her. “I’ve still got a dream I’m still going to come up with another big time stud. That’s my goal. It’ll be something I raise because the ones I like are too expensive to buy.” While cutting horses have been Fitzgerald’s livelihood, when it came to picking a hobby his interest didn’t stray far. He has pulling horses that he works with in his spare time. Whether riding high-dollar cutting horses, or standing behind a team of horses with the lines in his hands, Pat Fitzgerald has made his life all about good horseflesh. “I’ve had a good life. I’m very lucky. I got to do what I wanted to do.” u Smart Mate BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

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Lot 1

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Your Colorado Seedstock Connection 118

BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

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March 14-16, 2016

Ag Events, Sales & Shows 18

Don & Val Brehm Farm Equipment Auction 10:00 am, 2010 State Hwy. 60, Loveland, Colo., Kreps Wiedeman Auctioneers & Real Estate, 970-356-3943, www.K-Wauctions.com

Wilmot Auction Albany County Fairgrounds, Laramie, Wyo., Westbrook & Sons Auctioneers, westbrookandsons.com, 307-745-5815

VanNewkirk Herefords Bull Sale Oshkosh, Neb.

K-State Calving School KSU Polytechnic College Center, Salina, Kan., Kansas State University Extension Office, KSUBeef.org, RSVP to Central Kansas District Extension Office at (785) 309-5850. Or email Cade Rensink at crensink@ksu.edu

WEAVER RANCH WEAVER RANCH WEAVER RANCH WEAVER RANCH WEAVER RANC WEAVER RANCH 25 National Western Stockdog Sale 1:00 PM, National Western Stock Show Complex, Denver, Colo., stockdogsale@aol.com, www.stockdogsale.com, (719) 588-7588, Unique opportunity to watch and bid on amazing working dogs.

WEAVER RANCH RANCH WEAVER RANCH WEAVER RANCH WEAVER RANCH WEAVER RANCH WEAVER RANCH WEAVER RANCH Monday, February 17, 2020

FEBRUARY

12:30 p.m. at the ranch north of Fort Collins, CO

80 COMING 2-YEAR-OLD BULLS Registered Black Angus

PAP testing since 1991 at an elevation of 7500’ PAP, BVD, Fertility and Trich Tested

Featuring Sons of These & Other Weaver Ranch Bulls Sire Connealy Combination 0188

CED

$EN

MRB

REA

-1.0

+56

+97

+17

+.52

+.45

+.020

Paintrock Mountain Man

+55

+89

+20

+13

+.31

+.60

+.012

Weavers Final Answer 3100

-1.6

+31

+63

+18

+13

+.38

+.11

+.020

Over 60 years of selecting for:

Easy Calving, Carcass Quality & Disposition Visitors Always Welcome • Cattle may be seen at any time!!!

11-12 WESTI Ag Days Annual Ag Education Event, Worland Community Center, Worland, Wyo., University of Wyoming 15 Timber Dan Spring Toy Show and Sale 9:00AM-3:00 PM, The Ranch, Loveland, Colo., www.lovelandlionsclubs.org/ sites/ToyShow.htm, 970-663-9392, $5, Thousands of collectible, vintage, and antique toys on display and for sale. 16-20 Society for Range Management (SRM) International Meeting www.srm2020.org, (307) 689-3243

Susan & Mourine Weaver Susan & Mourine Weaver 970-568-3898 26 Governor’s Forum on Colorado 970-568-3898 Susan 3000 & Mourine West Co.Weaver Rd. 70 • Ft. Collins, CO 80524 Agriculture 970-568-3898 3000 West Co. Rd. 70 • Ft. Collins, CO 80524

cogovforum20@gmail.com, Always • Cattle may be seen at any time!!! 3000Visitors West Co. Rd. 70Welcome • Ft. Collins, CO 80524 Visitors Always Welcome • Cattle may www.governorsagforum.com be seen at any time!!! Visitors Always Welcome • Cattle Visitors Always Welcome • Cattle may be seen at any time!!!may be seen at any time!!!

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BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

SEPT/OCT 9/28-10/3 World Brown Swiss Conference Monticello, Wis., Brown Swiss Cattle Breeders’ Association, www.brownswissusa.com, 608-365-4474, Held in conjunction with the World Dairy Expo

OUR MISSION... TO EXCEED OUR CUSTOMERS’ EXPECTATIONS OF <Dealer Name Goes Here> QUALITY, SERVICE Location AND1 Name INNOVATION (000) 000-0000 <Dealer Name Goes Here> (or) 123 Street Somewhere, US 00000 Location 1 Name (000) 000-0000 (000) 000-0000 (or) 123 Street

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BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

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E S T.

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BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

Your outfitter for everything you need to tow with confidence and style. 970-347-2524

269947THAVE.,GREELEY,CO80634

www.weldcountygarage.com BREEDERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

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Freeman Ranch produces top quality horses for the equine industry. We pride ourselves in providing great horses for many uses, including ranching, riding, roping, trail riding, hunting, and many other uses. Specializing in Hancock and Blue Valentine Studs, the goal for Freeman Ranch is to produce multi-use horses with lots of great color and conformation with big strong bones and a solid disposition. The Freeman Ranch horse program is actively expanding, producing around 30 colts per year. We carefully select trainers and handlers that will give our horses a solid start so they can reach their maximum potential for our clients.

38805 Myers Rd. | Yoder, CO 80864 | russell@thefreemanranch.com | 719.338.5071

45 Bulls Sell! These bulls were High sellers from our 2019 sale! They represent the quality of Purebred and Balancer bulls that will be available in 2020!!

Annual Production Sale

Stop by or call anytime!

Thursday, February 27, 2020 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 1:00 pm

Jim Roelle

Livestock Exchange LLC 124

BREEDERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

Brush, CO

970-520-1224

Photo by Kristen Schurr. 7 Triangle 7 Cattle Co . . . . . . . . 119 Ackerman Distributing . . . . . . . . . 3 Alliance Irrigation . . . . . . . . . . 121 Alpine Homes, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . 103 Altenburg Simmentals . . . . . . . . . . 5 American Angus Assn . . . . . . . . . 51 Apex Cattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Arrow One Angus . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Atwater Angus . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 Axtell Cattle Company . . . . . . . . 95 Baldridge Brothers . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Barstow-Rock Creek Angus . . . . 126 Bartos Angus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Beaver Valley Supply Co., Inc. . . 104 Black Hills Stock Show . . . . . . . 127 Booth Cherry Creek Ranch . . . . 105 Bov-Eye Veterinary Services . . . . . 62 Bridle Bit Simmental Ranch . . . . . 43 Buffalo Brand Seed . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Cardinal Charolais . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Carhart Customs Llc . . . . . . . . . 50 Clark Enterprises Construction . . 50 Coleman Herefords . . . . . . . . . . 25 Colorado Farm Bureau . . . . . . . . 46 Colorado Farm Show . . . . . . . . . 69 Colorado Simmental Association . 57 Cumberland Buildings . . . . . . . 113 D Lazy M Livestock. . . . . . . . . . . 87 Diamond Peak Cattle Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Front Cover Empire Incorporated. . . . . . . . . . 41

Advertiser Index Freeman Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 G & M Implement, Inc. . . . . . . . . 96 Harley D.Troyer Auctioneers . . 48, 97 Helberg and Nuss Austions. . . . . . 34 Herring Angus Ranch . . . . . . . . . 47 High Plains New Holland . . . . . . 32 Hutchison Western . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Huwa Cattle Llc . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 International Brangus Breeders Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Jamison Herefords & Quarter Horses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Johnstown Clothing . . . . . . . . . . 61 Koberstein Farms Angus Llc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Back Cover Kraye Angus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Lechleiter Ranch . . . . . . Back Cover Lee’s Cattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Lindner Ranches . . . . . . . . . . . 119 Loya/Wardell Angus . . . . . . . . . 128 Lucky 7 Angus . . . . . . . . . . 80 & 81 Martin Angus Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Maxair Trailer / Mgs, Inc . . . . . 109 McDonough Law LLC . . . . . . . . 87 Morton Buildings . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Mountain Vet Supply . . . . . . . . . . 41 National Western Stock Show . . . . 84 Nebraska Bull Test . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Nebraska Land Brokers . . . . . . . . 75 Northern Feed & Bean Co . . . . . . 76 Parry Angus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Pawnee Buttes Seed Inc. . . . . . . 121 Pennington, Cevey . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Pinnacle Trailer Sales . . . . . . . . . 54 Plateau Gelbvieh. . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Poppe Cattle Company . . . . . . . . . 2 Poss Angus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Poulsen Ace Hardware . . . . . . . . 21 Premier Properties. . . . . . . . . . . 20 Reyes & Russell . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Ridder Hereford Ranch . . . . . . . . 73 Ron’s Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Rousey SimAngus. . . . . . . . . . . 101 Running Creek Limousin . . . . . . 88 Starlight Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Stockyards Lumber . . . . . . . . . . . 77 T-Heart Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Taubenheim Gelbvieh . . . . . . . . . 62 TD Angus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 The Cattlemens Cut, Jason Jagels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 The Fence Post. . . . . 34, 35, 89, 122 Tri CornersTrailer Sales & Service . . . 60 Tru-Bilt Trailers . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Vision Angus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Vitaferm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Wagner Charolais . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Wagon Wheel Ranch. . . . . . . . . . 34 Walter Angus Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Weaver Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 Weld County Garage . . . . . . . . 123 Western Colo. Angus Assoc. . . . . . 33 BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

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REGISTERED BULLS & FEMALES FOR SALE BY PRIVATE TREATY

50 LONG-YEARLING ANGUS BULLS (AVAILABLE AFTER FEB. 23, 2020)

50 Head Fancy, Registered Yearling Heifers available now.

COME SEE ANYTIME! SIRED BY: Reg No.

Connealy Black Granite ........... 17028963 Byergo/Double GG Blackstone. 18842383 Huwa Full Disclosure .............. 18512119 SydGen Fate 2800 .................. 17521423 A&B Ferguson 6186 ................ 18542889 EZAR Gold Rush 6001 ............. 18510183

Reg No.

Bar R Jet Black 5063 .............. 18389838 G A R Sure Fire ....................... 17328461 SF Speedway A187 ................ 17470682 L/W Hoover Dam 49-1 ............ 18023588 L/W Full Throttle 66-2 ............. 18265491 L/W SydGen Trust 28-1 ........... 18263215

We don’t sell over-fat bulls. We do sell ready-to-work bulls with big nuts, thick butts and genetics for: • Calving Ease • Sound Feet and Legs • Quiet Disposition

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BREEDER’S CONNECTION 2020 The Fence Post

• High Carcass Merit • Excellent Udders • Top Gains

Koberstein Farms Angus LLC 6th Annual Bull Sale Selling 80

SATURDAY,

Yearling Bulls

MARCH 14, 2020

sale 1:00 MST • Ogallala Livestock Market, Ogallala, NE

Featuring Sons of ... MGR Treasure

Discovery 2240 X Connealy Impression. Attractive phenotype with extra length and excellent foot quality. Moderate milk without sacrificing growth! Top 10% BW, Top 20% WW, Top 5% YW, MB Top 4%, $B Top 15%

KCF Bennett Leverage

1682 X Connealy Consensus. Very solid genetic profile and numbers to match! Top 3% WW, Top 1% YW, Top 1% scrotal, Top 1% docility, plus Top 2% CW, Top 10% RE, $B Top 15%

Call for Your Sale Book, Updates and Information

Koberstein Farms Angus LLC

Jason & Krystle Koberstein 29813 County Road 36 • Holyoke, CO 80734 • 970-520-2385 kfangus@hotmail.com • www.kfangusllc.com

LECHLEITER SIMMENTALS SELLING:

SATURDAY

Selling 100 High Altitude Bulls 40 Purebred Bulls 60 SimAngus Bulls 7SM91 TJ Main Event 503B

BULL SALE March 21, 2020 • 1:00pm Loma Livestock Loma, Colorado

Proven live calves Proven Growth High Altitude PAP Tested Disposition

145M3085 TJ Cowboy Up 529B

Also selling sons of CCR Wide Range, J Bar J Nightride, and Paint Rock Mountain Man the leading low PAP Angus Bull

bulls that are unpampered and ready to work for your herd! Kim Lechleiter

970.209.8008 Cell- Evenings 970.249.5938 • lechleitersimmentals@hotmail.com Females Offered Private Treaty