The Stockman | May/June 2024

Rancho Deluxe

This Patent Pending design (pictured above) is the largest portable corral on wheels ever built. 22’ long panels, 6’ tall. 600-800 head capacity, all of which has a total weight under 15,000lbs. With multiple gates, spring latches, multiple pen capabilities for sorting.

Processor

Our most popular corral (pictured above with built in Loading Chute option), Hydraulic Adjustable Alley is now standard equipment. Head gate and size options available. Three sizes available; multiple pen options.

Othermodeloffered:

Classic

The Corral that started it all. Multiple pens, bumper or gooseneck models. Head gate option, 20’ long panels, 6’ tall. Sheeted temporary alley.

Bottom line: Strongest, largest and most portable corral ever built. Always made with animal and human safety in mind! Constantly making our product better and taking care of our customers is the goal.

#1 Warranty Available: As long as you own our corral, we will take care of you period. Call us to learn more.

Landi McFarland Livingston Ellston, IA, 641-344-7684 landi@hooverangus.com

Brian Oswald Osceola, IA, 641-414-7055 highpointbulls@gmail.com

Alan Mead Barnett, MO 573-216-0210

Eldon & Kathy Starr Stapleton, NE, 308-530-0825 bullbarn@bullbarn.com

OWNER / BULL AGENT

For Semen Orders call Bull Barn Genetics: 800-535-6173

+*Basin Lucy 4288

#*Summitcrest Complete 1P55

Basin Joy 566T

#*Connealy Concord

Ebbie of Conanga 5473

#+*Basin Payweight 1682

Mead Beauty P382

• If you were to pool the genetic wish lists of the country’s top producers, the results would most likely identify the ideal bull, like Mead Mercury, to be one with calving ease, good growth, strong maternal traits, great feet and balanced carcass figures.

• Mercury is a tremendous herd bull prospect with a desirable 67 lb. birth weight, that competed favorably in a 48 head weaning contemporary group ratioing 104 and 105 at yearling with 35 contemporaries. He is out of a 2-year old daughter of the Beef 360 sire, Connealy Convoy. He rose to the top in his 80 head sale marketing group, setting a new standard for beef production and flawless phenotype at Mead Farms Performance Tested Bull Sale in Missouri at $85,000.

• You’ll be hard pressed to find a bull with better feet and leg structure, with more muscle in an athletic, complete and totally sound package. He posted a remarkable 17.7 adjusted REA, ratioing 116 with off the charts 1.44 RE/CWT, which is breedleading. His strong and balanced EPD superiority rises to the top for growth, feet, carcass with CW, Mb, RE and to 2% for $M & $C (maternal & terminal indexes).

• Basin Safe Deposit 9324 is the 2020 Montana Performance Bull Co-op top seller that offers a unique combination of foot quality, carcass merit and curve bender spread with outstanding phenotype. Cattlemen who understand structure and how it relates to foot structure have tabbed Safe Deposit as a legitimate foot improver.

• Mead Mercury grew up on an outfit where their mothers made a living or they were hauled to town. No excuses, no special treatment, just good cow sense and good genetics with the most Pathfinder® females in the Angus breed. The 1682 grandam and lineage have stood the test of time as the breeds’ top Pathfinder® sire. Three quarters of this pedigree trace to the historic Basin program in Montana.

• Mead Mercury is a product of the #1 or #2 ranking Pathfinder® herd annually in the Angus breed and a herd with more than 2000 Angus cows asked to write their own story through AHIR® production records.

GW Genetics

Gary Wall Jolley, IA 406-208-8536

Sire of Mead Mercury: Basin Safe Deposit 9324

Cherry Crk Blue Collar G275

Sire of Baldridge Working Class

Chas & Misty Wheeler Paris, MO, 573-473-2508 mistywheeler4@yahoo.com

Clint & Adana Stevenson Hobson, MT, 406-366-9023 stevensonsddot@yahoo.com

Jud & Denise Baldridge North Platte, NE, 308-520-2221 jud@baldridge.net

Eldon & Kathy Starr Stapleton, NE, 308-530-0825 bullbarn@bullbarn.com

#+*G A R Prophet

*Baldridge Isabel Y69

Multi-trait balance & superiority is one of the main characteristics that separates “Working Class” from the pack and enabled him to be the $70,000 top-selling bull in the 2024 Baldridge Performance Angus Bull Sale.

“Working Class” offers slam dunk heifer-safe calving ease, solid performance, strong heifer pregnancy, $ Maternal and ranks well for PAP, docility and end product excellence with great phenotype.

Individual Performance: BW 68 lbs, BWR 96, 205 wt: 665 lbs, WWR 105, 365 wt: 1214 lbs, YWR 107 with 127 contemporaries. Adj. IMF 6.26, Ratio 117; Adj REA 14.5, Ratio 118; Adj Rib Fat 0.33, Ratio 138, 18-month scrotal measurement of 40.0 cm.

His dam has joined the Baldridge embryo program and is a full sister to the highcapacity sire, Baldridge Pappy, and a maternal sister to the balanced trait, strong phenotype sire, Baldridge Gibson, at Select Sires. The foundation 3rd dam, “Y69”, is the most influential cow in Baldridge history and is having a huge impact on the nation’s cow herds.

CSS semen is being collected at ORIgen, Huntley, MT, 866-867-4436. For semen, contact Eldon Starr, Bull Barn Genetics: 800-535-6173.

Al & Jeanne Conover Baxter, IA, 515-491-8078 conover@conoverauction.com

GW Genetics

Gary Wall

Jolley, IA, 406-208-8536

Gary.wall1974@gmail.com

Thanks for joining us! We are a free, premier livestock publication featuring and serving seedstock and commercial beef producers nationwide. Raising cattle is so much more than a hobby; it is our livelihood and our passion. We understand that, and in every issue want you to see not only incredible cattle, but also relatable, entertaining, and informative editorial features for the producer with 5 or 500 head.

To us, you are more than reader or advertiser; you are a beef producer. We are committed to doing our best for you, every day. Please feel free to communicate with us, your input is appreciated.

BILL SCHERMER, Owner/Herd Consultant

641.425.2641 | bill@stockmanmag.com

Bill and his wife, Nancy, have made their living in the cattle industry. He has provided marketing services for purebred and commercial breeders since 1970. Schermer Angus Cattle continues to be active in the NJAA and raises quality cattle near Clarion, IA. As owner of The Stockman, Bill leads by example providing producers with the highest level of customer service.

CHERYL KEPES, Assistant Editor

417.766.0990

cheryl@stockmanmag.com

Working for The Stockman is the perfect combination of two of Cheryl’s favorite things: writing and cattle. Cheryl has decades of experience as a professional writer. She finds great joy in sharing stories about people in the agricultural industry. Cheryl’s family raises registered Angus, Red Angus, and Simmental cattle in Fair Grove, MO.

KIM BANKS, Graphics

507.530.0914

kkbanks@frontiernet.net

MAKAYLA FLOWER, Managing Editor

605.690.6050 | makayla@stockmanmag.com

Makayla serves as editor, graphic designer, and manager of The Stockman. Her focus and passion continues to provide high quality service and original promotional materials to cattlemen. She and her husband, Jared, raise their four kids, and together they run their family operation, JMF Herefords and SimAngus, near Morris in west central MN.

SARAH HILL, Editorial Writer

307.274.0419

sarahhill1007@yahoo.com

Cheryl Kepes

Sarah Hill

Justin Fruechte

Kirk Lynch

Kim is a graphic designer with many years of design experience. Producing creative marketing materials to help others look their best is what she loves doing the most. She and her husband, Kevin, along with their son, raise grain and have a small commercial cow/calf and feeder operation on the family farm near Lynd, MN.

STOCKMAN MAGAZINE LLC PO Box 597, Clarion, IA 50525

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Sarah lives on a small hobby farm near Arlington, SD, with her husband, Braeton, and their three daughters: Harper, 8, Vayentha, 5, and Aurora, 1. She grew up on a Missouri dairy farm and has an Agricultural Journalism degree from the University of Missouri. Sarah enjoys baking, reading, and gardening.

MARIA OPHEIM, Social Media Manager

507-828-1374

riawbr@gmail.com

Maria, her husband Cade, and daughter Tawnee, of Mound City, S.D. currently reside on their fifth generation commercial & Limousin cattle and grain operation. Maria also works as a R.N. She is excited to promote producers through The Stockman’s social media platforms!

TY BAYER

715.573.0153

tcreds@gmail.com

Ty works alongside his family in their purebred operations, Country Lane Farm and TC Reds near Ringle, WI. An advocate for youth programs and dedicated cow/calf man, he is excited to help producers merchandise their cattle.

MILES EDDY

507.841.1787

auctioneer2013@gmail.com

Miles grew up in southwest MN raising and showing cattle, and is currently residing in MO. When Miles isn’t working cattle he loves to use his auctioneer skills. He looks forward to working and meeting other producers and helping with all their advertising and marketing needs.

LORA HUTCHINS

615.293.3695

loralea1172@gmail.com

Lora owns and operates Destiny Angus Farm with husband Brian and daughter Morgan in Charleston, IL. They have raised and shown cattle successfully on the national level for several years. They also have owned a production herd with as many as 200 registered cows.

MARK SULLIVAN

816.304.0050

marksullivancattle@gmail.com

Mark Sullivan is a familiar face to many having worked for Sullivan Supply for many years. Mark brings many years of experience to The Stockman. Mark and his wife, Linda, and two children, Erin and Leo, live in Woodbine, Iowa, and have a small herd of Charolais cattle.

CORBIN COWLES

270.991.2534

corbin.cowles32@gmail.com

Corbin is an apprentice auctioneer and real estate professional for Schrader Real Estate and Auction company. He also helps run his family’s Angus and Simmental seedstock operation, Pleasant Hill Farms. Judging shows across the country and traveling are a couple hobbies of his as well!

JAN FORD

800.693.8048

jford17879@aol.com

With her passion for agriculture, Jan brings over 35+ years of advertising sales experience in the beef industry. She and her late husband Norm had a commercial Angus cow herd and grain operation near Tipton, IA, which her sons still manage today.

BARRETT SIMON

316.452.1792

barrett.simon8@gmail.com

Barrett comes with deep roots in both the Angus and Red Angus breeds with a growing base of customers marketing Continental based cattle as well. As an auctioneer, he represents many seedstock producers throughout the central plains. His direct ties to the commercial cattle industry are sure to be a benefit to customers of The Stockman.

STEVE WOLFF

701.710.1574

swolff318@yahoo.com

Steve is a third generation Hereford breeder - his family has been raising Herefords since 1951. He offers bulls by private treaty every year and has a heifer sale every fall. Steve also enjoys traveling to sales and shows whenever possible and likes camping as well.

MEET OUR SALES REPS

BRANDON CREAMER

970.596.4965

creamer b 150@hotmail.com

Brandon owns Lazy JB Angus with his parents and sister in Montrose, CO.

Raised in the cattle industry, he has a true passion for it and loves marketing quality cattle throughout the US.

RON HINRICHSEN

785.770.0222

rlangus@bluevalley.net

For the past 30 years, Ron, his wife, Lynne, and their two children have owned and operated Hinrichsen Ranch, a registered Angus ranch in Westmoreland, KS. He has an extensive background in the agricultural industry and is excited to put it to work for each of his customers.

BRIGHAM STEWART / MEGAN COLLISON

785.747.8028

megancollisondvm@gmail.com

Brigham works alongside his parents at Mid Continent Farms, their large, multi-breed cow/calf operation in Kansas. Megan graduated from ISU as a DVM in the spring of 2021 and is a big part of her family’s Angus herd and Veterinary Clinic in Iowa.

Providing the highest level of customer service.

14 | GREATEST JOB ON EARTH

The Lindskov family, Isabel, S.D., goes the extra mile to support their customers.

30 | BUILT ON A NAME

Connor Agriscience develops, manufactures, and distributes products created to help cattle producers preserve the quality of their feed.

44 | CHEF’S KISS

Kelsi Retallick helps her family’s cattle operation expand into a new enterprise.

58 | HERD & EMPLOYEE HEALTH

Tips for safeguarding animals and people from taking a hit from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.

answered prayers.

Our oldest child, Jaelyn, has a very strong passion for horses. She dreams of horses at night and daydreams about them all day. They are part of her mind, body, and soul and she has lofty goals of raising saddle horses and hosting production sales one day. Jaelyn has been best friends with our palomino mare, Izzy, since she was about one year old. They have a special and unique bond that is easy to admire. But unfortunately, Izzy has been experiencing some severe health problems and she won’t be with us much longer. This reality has made things emotionally hard for our 10-year-old as she is coming to terms with reality and starting to grieve already. We have spent almost a year looking for a new saddle horse that checks all the boxes and still falls into our budget window. I’ve prayed diligently and specifically that we might find a horse for Jaelyn before we have to say goodbye to Izzy, in hopes that it would help our transition and ease the pain of Jaelyn’s loss.

Recently, we were still searching with no leads on anything. One day our vet was coming out for a few different things and one job on the list was to bangs vaccinate our fall heifer calves. Unfortunately, the bangs vaccine was forgotten at the vet office on that particular day, and I (bitterly) made the hour-long round trip to the vet to get the vaccine so we could move on with the day. As I was leaving the office, I happened to look over my shoulder and noticed an ad for a horse on the bulletin board. I quickly scanned the ad and this 7-year-old gelding sure seemed to be what we were looking for. I sent a photo to my husband, Jared, and to my surprise he called the owner right away. The next day we went to see Charlie, and one week later we brought him home.

The joy, happiness, and glimmer in Jaelyn’s eyes is worth every minute of going out of my way to the vet’s office that day (also to note - we rarely ever go in to the vet office). The Lord knew what he was doing, and I’m so thankful that the vet forgot the vaccine. A blessing in disguise, and a sure way to know that our Father is watching, listening, and making perfect plans for all of us.

We’ve had an incredible sale season and are so thankful for all of our advertisers, readers, and supporters. With that, our team is off for a few weeks for the start of summer! My family will be busy getting cows to grass and we’ll be taking in all the new adventures of Jaelyn and Charlie.

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Musgrave Sky High CED 8 $B

S&R Stability Style son with extras! Connealy Scotchman Powerhouse with top % EPDs!

GREATEST JOB

on Earth

The Lindskov family, Isabel, S.D., goes the extra mile to support their customers.

One of the most common best practices in business is diversification. The Lindskov family has proven that success can be found in agriculture when diversification is a core tenet of business.

William “Bill” Lindskov moved to Isabel, S.D., during the Great Depression, where he worked as a sheep herder for seven years for a neighbor. Bill ended up buying the neighbor’s ranch, including the current home place, where his grand-

son, Bryce, lives today. Bill bought Targhee-Rambouillet cross sheep to run on the rich land. He diversified his business by starting a café in town and shearing sheep for other area sheep ranchers.

By Sarah Hill photos courtesy Lindskov family

CATTLE OPERATION BEGINNINGS

Bill started his cattle operation in the 1940s with Herefords, later branching into Angus. He was one of the first ranchers in the country to cross beef cattle with Charolais. In 1951, Bill got the opportunity to purchase the local New Holland dealership, and he acquired that business.

Bill’s son, Les, joined the operation in 1971 after obtaining a teaching degree from Black Hill State University. The father-son team managed the operation until Bill passed in 1981. Les opted to focus on raising Charolais bulls. In 1987, Les and his wife Marcia, were joined in the registered Charolais business by business partners Brent and Nancy Thiel, who moved near Isabel in December 1987.

The Lindskov-Thiel ranch grew from a couple hundred cattle to nearly 1,000 and the dealership business expanded with the acquisition of a second dealership in the 1990s. The Lindskovs and Thiels began their feeder cattle program for customers in 1995. A year later, the ranch began offering customers registered Angus bulls in addition to Charolais.

above William “Bill” Lindskov below (l-r): Bryce, Tennile, Marisa, and Todd

Bryce, Les and Marcia’s son, graduated in 1998 and obtained a business degree before returning to the ranch. In the 1990s, the family took bulls to Denver on several occasions. The Lindskovs and Thiels amicably dissolved the business partnership two years ago. The purebred operation was rebranded to Lindskov’s LT Ranch and is managed by Les’s sons and their families.

Les and Marcia have two other sons, Monte and Todd, who are both involved in the family businesses, too. Todd helps run both the cattle and farming operations, which stretch from South Dakota to southern Utah. Monte manages the six New Holland equipment dealerships. Les is still active in the family business - you’ll find him

answering phones or working the parts counter at one of the equipment dealerships or helping at one of two hunting lodges the family owns and operates. Bryce splits his time between the cattle and farming operations, along with the equipment dealerships and hunting lodges.

above Bryce’s family (l-r): Aiden, Bryce, Austin in front, Tennile, Addison, and AJ.

above Monte’s family (l-r):Karter, Mindy, Monte, Kruz, and Konor. above Todd’s family: Marisa, Todd, and daughter Lakyn in front.

above Firesteel Creek Lodge above Timber Lake Lodge

LINDSKOV’S LT RANCH

Today, Lindskov’s LT Ranch hosts an annual sale, where they sell 450 registered Charolais and Angus bulls. They also operate a commercial herd of 6,000 momma cows, 1,500 registered Angus, Charolais, Simmental, and Hereford cows; and annually breed 4,500 commercial heifers that are sold to repeat customers across the country. In addition, the family farms 40,000 acres of corn, soybeans, spring and winter wheat, forages, oats, millet, and alfalfa hay. The farming and cattle operations are supported by two commercial hunting lodges on the property.

“We really benefit from the wildlife in the area,” Bryce Lindskov said. “One lodge is for hunting pheasant and sharp-tail grouse, while the other lodge is more for high-fenced elk and buffalo hunting.” The Lindskovs host about 400 pheasant and sharp-tail hunters each fall and about 90 elk and/or

buffalo hunters annually.

Precision farming technology is used on all the tillable acres, which Lindskov said is measured down to the centimeter.

“There’s always something going on,” Lindskov added. In addition, the ranch hosts tours and customer appreciation events.

The family business is truly an all-hands-on-deck operation. Bryce’s wife, Tennile, does all the accounting for the ranches and hunting lodges, including payroll for 40 employees. Bryce and Tennile have four kids: AJ, who’s obtaining an agronomy degree from South Dakota State University; Addison, 13; Aiden, 11; and Austin, 9. Lindskov said all the kids love ranch life. Todd’s wife, Marisa, manages all the registration records for the four different breeds, in addition to helping with the hunting lodges and they have a daughter, Lakyn, 5. Monte’s wife, Mindy, handles some of the hunting lodge workload and they have three sons - Konor, who already has returned to work on the

SO MANY MOUTHS TO FEED

At least a third of the crops raised by the Lindskov family goes to feed the cattle, including the cattle in a 10,000-head feedlot and developing their own replacement heifers. The family puts up 40,000 big round bales every year to help feed the herds and chops corn silage to feed to the feedlot cattle.

“Our purebred bulls are developed on a high-roughage ration with high fiber,” Lindskov said.

The commercial herd is primarily grazed on summer and winter pastures for as long as possible. After weaning in the fall, the herd grazes on cornstalks and cover crops such as radishes, turnips, millet, oats,

ing rough, the Lindskovs supplement with free choice hay.

The commercial herd calves in April and May, with cows calving on their own. The purebred herd calves mid-January to the end of March. A smaller purebred herd, which is about 15 percent of the total herd, calves from August to October.

CHAROLAIS CROSS FOR THE WIN

Since Les brought home the first Charolais cattle in 1980, the family fell in love with the breed. In particular, the Lindskovs especially liked what Charolais-cross cattle can do for crossbreeding with Angus females when it comes to muscling and grading on the rail.

The purebred cattle operation has grown by leaps and bounds over the past few years, according to Lindskov. In 2019, the family sold 250 bulls. This year, they’re selling 450 bulls to customers from 40 different states and shipping semen and embryos around the globe.

The Lindskovs focus on breeding purebred cattle with excellent phenotype, fertility, easy fleshing ability, carcass merit, and structural soundness. The Lindskovs aim for a more balanced EPD sheet.

“We’re selecting those genetics to put those qualities back into our purebred operation,” Lindskov said. “It gives our commercial customers a better chance of surviving. Our cattle perform well and grade well on the rail. They last in the herd.”

The commercial herd is primarily Angus-Charolais cross, with the goal of bringing more meat on the rail and adding another 60-plus pounds on feeder cattle. “In our experience, feedlot guys would rather feed a Charolais cross,” he said.

Lindskov credits the family’s success to having excellent clientele and surrounding themselves with successful people.

“Many of our customers are part of our feeder cattle marketing program, so we’re helping place 40,000 to 50,000 head of our bull customers’ genetics, which is a big service to our clientele,” he said. “We want our customers to be rewarded for their hard work and loyalty to our program, so we spend a lot of time

on customer service, promoting their end product, too.”

ROOM TO GROW

The next generation is already coming back and starting to make their mark. Monte’s son, Konor, is involved in the cattle side and is very excited about it. The Lindskovs view the land as a gift to the steward who cares for it, aiming to leave the land better than they found it more than 80 years ago. Through sustainable practices such as conservation, grazing, water and wildlife management, the ranch and the Lindskov family’s vision to produce topnotch livestock and crops will continue for generations to come.

“I hope the next generation brings new ideas and technology to the table,” Lindskov said. “I’m in it for them.”

10/16/23

BF 157F RITA 42L ET

• AHA P44531848 • Homozygous Polled

JW 1857 Merit 21134 x NJW 1A 173D Rita 157F

CED +11.2 / BW +1.5 / WW +92 / YW +150 / MILK +32 /

UDDR +1.3 / TEAT +1.3 / REA +1.00 / MARB +.45 / CHB +202

Breed leading EPD profile in this donor prospect out of Rita 157F.

BF 12H POSH 33L ET

10/11/23

• AHA P44530211 • Polled

RST Final Print 0016 x BF 4013 Posh 12H ET

CED +7.9 / BW +0.9 / WW +80 / YW +121 / MILK +33 /

UDDR +1.4 / TEAT +1.4 / REA +.92 / MARB +.39 / CHB +182

Excellent numerical profile with style out of Posh 12H.

“We really like our Addiction calves. His calves have great vigor and grow like a weed. If you need to add power to your calf crop, he is the bull. We are definitely breeding to Addiction in 2024 and beyond!”

For better fly control, get with the program.

Improved fly control starts with the Y-TEX® Insecticide Tag Rotation Program.

Insecticide resistance is a growing threat to cattle producers everywhere. What worked last year may be totally ineffective this year, which is why it makes sense to adopt the Y-TEX® Insecticide Tag Rotation Program.

Only Y-TEX® offers fly tags in three different chemical classes, allowing you to rotate from one class to another to protect your cattle as well as the long-term viability of current active ingredients. In fact, university research shows that rotating tags is one of the best ways to forestall resistance in horn flies, face flies and other damaging pests.

To discover how the Y-TEX® Insecticide Tag Rotation Program can help you stop resistance dead in its tracks, see your livestock products supplier or come visit us at www.y-tex.com today.

Extension Education

WUniversity research you can use.

Thomas Aquino, Graduate Research Associate Yijie Xiong, Nebraska Extension Specialist, Precision Livestock Management University of NE - Lincoln, UNL Beef beef.unl.edu

USING TECHNOLOGY TO MONITOR WATER ON THE RANCH

ater is often a limiting resource when considering both animal and grazing management. Checking water levels can often account for a considerable proportion of time and labor costs, especially when water sources are few and far between or during extreme weather events. Producers who are looking to minimize time spent checking water may consider investing in one of many modern water monitoring solutions. Many options are available based on needs, product features, budget, and connectivity concerns. For simplicity’s sake, we will start with the most basic options and work our way up.

TRAIL/CELLULAR CAMERAS

This is probably one of the most basic and affordable options for water monitoring. Many trail cameras are available online or at sporting goods stores. You might even have an extra one floating around from last hunting season. Place these trail cameras overlooking water sources to take photos and send them to a mobile phone at preset times each day, or when motion is detected by the camera. This is also a great option for security purposes around equipment and facilities. However these cameras require adequate cellular service to send photos.

BARN OWL TECH

Barn Owl tech offers a variety of cameras that work with cellular connections. Originally designed as security cameras, they can capture photos and videos that can be sent to a mobile phone. In addition to battery power, Barn Owl cameras offer solar backup and optional zoom for higher-resolution images. Users pay for cellular data (provided through Barn Owl) with a “pay as you go” option that is based on data usage/ images per month. Although not designed specifically for water tank monitoring, with proper setup users can monitor the approximate water level and quality in real-time via a cloud-based application.

Pros: Lower cost (range from $400 to $700 per camera); can be easily moved between areas; solar backup.

Cons: Monitoring is limited to what can be seen in camera’s field of view.

DRONES

Drones are becoming more popular among farmers and ranchers thanks to their flexibility and ability to be used for various tasks. For checking water in places that are hard to reach by foot or vehicles,

There are several options for technology that can help with water monitoring on the ranch.

Photo by Troy Walz, Nebraska Extension.

drones can be easily flown to those areas to check water levels and visual conditions. Drones also serve as a tool to check on animals in those areas without risking getting stuck. Some drones have extended flight times (30+ minutes) and a flight radius of 2 miles or more. Manufacturers such as DJI, Ryze Tech, and Autel Robotics offer drones for personal usage in a wide range of sizes, weights, and prices that can range from under $100 to thousands of dollars. When purchasing drones, make sure to look at compliance requirements with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Regulations. Drones are the only option we discuss that needs a physical operator and may require FAA compliance.

Pros: Can choose from different manufacturers, sizes, and prices; Flexibility to do multiple tasks; flying makes it easier to access hardto-reach areas.

Cons: Requires a learning curve associated with flying drones; requires a physical operator; risks

associated with drone crashing and damaging; flying is limited to certain distances from the operator; flying time is limited to battery capacity.

STAND-ALONE WATER MONITORING PRODUCTS

This group of products is sold and used exclusively for monitoring and/ or managing water levels. Devices consist of a base station with an antenna, battery, and the “brains” of the system. The sensor is usually attached to a cable placed into the tank/trough/pond. Some companies also offer extended cables for use in larger or deeper tanks. These products come as part of a package that will include a monitoring device and an app or software that can be used with a smartphone/tablet/computer. In addition to the initial onetime cost of the package, an annual/ monthly subscription fee is often required for using the product via cell/satellite service and visualizing water level information.

RANCHBOT WATER LEVEL MONITOR

Ranchbot Monitoring Solutions offers a variety of water-monitoring/management options with different price points and capabilities. Their water level monitors not only measure water levels but can send alerts to your cell or emails in “near real-time” when there is a sudden change in water level. They also have a remote/automatic pump control to keep water tanks filled to a consistent level and an automatic rain gauge to track rainfall.

GALLAGHER SATELLITE WATER MONITORING SYSTEM

Marketed as a “liquid” monitoring system, Gallagher’s product can monitor several types of liquid, including water, fertilizer, or fuel. Relying on micro-satellite communication, this water-monitoring system can be utilized for large farms or remote properties where cellular or Wi-Fi coverage is weak or unavailable. It also can add multiple recipients to notifications about changes in water levels.

Extension Education

(...continued)

LONESTAR TRACKING

Lonestar tracking offers a water tank monitoring system that can operate with either satellite or cellular technology. Users can be frequently updated from four (satellite option) or 24 measurements (cellular option) in a day and can be notified when the water level is low.

Pros: Purposely designed for livestock water level monitoring, various options based on price and con-

nectivity, product-specific customer service, global coverage using either satellite or cellular connection.

Cons: Higher initial costs, semi-permanent: not as easy to move to different locations, requires a monthly/annual subscription for connectivity service and data platform; may operate using a long-lasting battery, so, the product lifespan is subject to battery life (can range from 2 years to 10 years).

INTEGRATED WATER MONITORING PRODUCTS

The following group of products is integrated into another system/ software/application. This means these products need to be used with existing livestock monitoring products from the parent company/ system. These water monitoring products can be purchased from the parent company and may require an additional subscription fee for data. If you are already using one of these systems, integrating water monitoring can be simple.

701X xWatSen

701X Autonomous Rancher offers GPS “smart” ear tags that track individual cattle movements and provide record-keeping and data management through an app-based user interface. The xWatSen monitors water level and temperature and is connected to the xBase to send notifications to the app. In addition to low water level notifications, the xWatSen device can also notify the users in cases of overflow events and allow the users to customize their preferred water temperature range and receive alerts when it is outside of the range. The 701X system is reliant on cellular service.

mOOvement

mOOvement tracking, based in Australia, offers a few sensing solutions, such as location tracking, ultrasonic and pressure sensors for livestock operations. Their location tracking system uses either GPS or Bluetooth ear tags to track individual animal locations. The

manufacturer now also offers an ultrasonic water sensor for water level monitoring based on the type of water source (troughs and tanks vs. creeks and ponds). This system is reliant on LoRa (long-range) radio antennas that are connected back to an internet or cellular system.

Pros: Seamless integration to parent system, devices, and data platform.

Cons: Operate as an add-on device to the parent system and require existing parent system infrastructure.

FINAL THOUGHTS

There are several options for monitoring water levels, and the number of products available in each space continues to expand. When considering solutions to implement on your operations, keep these factors in mind:

Cost: How much are you willing to spend? How much time and fuel will this save?

Environment: What are the typical weather conditions in your area? Do you need more rugged systems for extreme weather events?

Connectivity: What kind of connectivity is required for this product to work? Do you have it covered in your area?

Flexibility: Will this be on a permanent tank, or will it need to be moved? If so, how frequently?

If you have any questions about options for water monitoring or have an experience with some of these products/solutions you would like to share, please reach out to your local extension educators.

Disclaimer: The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension does not promote any one product or company. All information in this article

is provided unbiasedly to meet producers’ inquiries and needs. There are several other products available in the water monitoring space. The products listed in this article serve only as examples.

Interviews with the authors of BeefWatch newsletter articles become available throughout the month of publication and are accessible at: www.go.unl.edu/podcast.

Courtesy University of NE - Lincoln, UNL Beef

For over a century, we’ve committed ourselves to develop high-quality Hereford genetics for the betterment of the commercial cattle industry. We invite you to the ranch to view first hand our easy doin’ and uniform set of range bulls and replacement heifers. Our goal is your success, so let us help you find the right genetics for your program that’ll surely add profit to your bottom line. Dave

Name on a Built

Connor Agriscience develops, manufactures, and distributes products created to help cattle producers preserve the quality of their feed.

Ron and Connie Kuber believed so strongly in the mission of their business that they purposefully incorporated their names into their company title. The first three letters of Connie, C-o-n, and Ron’s name spelled backwards, n-o-r, combine to create their company name, Connor Agriscience. The intentionality of the name serves as a constant reminder to the Kubers of their commitment to high standards and excellent customer service.

Connor Agriscience specializes in the manufacture and distribution of products designed to protect stored silage, forages, and grains. The company equally focuses on silage and forage education and safety. “We want to raise the awareness that people should be having more inventory in their feed stores, that it is better quality, and it is safer. You will see that in our ads; more, better, safer and that’s exactly what that means,” Connie Kuber explained.

By Cheryl Kepes

photos courtesy Connor Agriscience

FIRST STEPS

Prior to establishing Connor Agriscience, Ron and Connie held jobs in different aspects of large animal agriculture. After graduating from Cal Poly – San Luis Obispo, Ron started building his sales, marketing, and consulting career with companies in the animal health and feed sector. Following graduation from the University of Minnesota, Connie leveraged her agriculture journalism degree to secure a job in California promoting genetics for World-Wide Sires.

Ron and Connie’s paths first crossed at the World Dairy Expo in 1981. The two were married in 1983. In the years to follow, the Kubers started a family. When their first child was born, Connie transitioned her career to a freelance writer position contributing primarily to dairy publications.

As the years passed, the opportunities for Ron to advance in his occupation required extensive travel which meant long stints away from the growing Kuber family. It was at this point, when the Kubers were in the trenches of parenthood, that they decided it was time for a change.

“Our three children were growing up and we were looking for something that would fit our skill

set with what we wanted to do while raising our family,” Ron Kuber shared. “Just like a lot of family farms and cow/calf and stocker operations, that family consideration I think is an integral part of the decision process.”

Leaning on commitment to family as their motivation, the Kubers started Connor Agriscience headquartered in Clovis, California, in 1995.

above The Kuber family (l-r): Catharine, Kyle, Connie, Ron, Madeline and Chris Kuber.

NEW VENTURE

The Kubers decided to explore areas in their wheelhouse to serve as the backbone of Connor Agriscience’s business. They searched for specialty products within the agriculture industry in need of manufacturer reps, sales agents, or distributors. The new line of work consisted of marketing products primarily used in the dairy industry such as oral calcium drenches and inoculants. The Kubers also forged business connections and acquired knowledge in the arena of silage and fermented feeds.

Their new business ventures created opportunities to enrich their understanding of agriculture related products and to form relationships with industry experts. The Kubers cultivated their scientific knowledge regarding the production and management of forages from world-renowned researchers Dr. Limin Kung, Dr. Bob Charley, and Dr. Keith Bolsen.

In 2006, Ron and Connie came across a product at the Word Dairy Expo that lit a new flame of excitement in their entrepreneurial spirits. They discovered an oxygen barrier film designed to cover silage piles and bunkers. The goal of the product was to reduce spoilage and

protect the farmer’s investment.

The Kubers jumped in and represented the company responsible for manufacturing and distributing the plastic oxygen barrier. They worked for years to introduce the product to producers in the United States and other parts of the world. Through their time marketing the product, Ron and Connie developed a passion for educating farmers about the benefits of proper silage harvest, storage, and safety.

above Sealpro sponsors scientific and academic trial work at universities.

ON THEIR OWN

All was well with Connor Agriscience and its clients. The work to spread information and promote the plastic oxygen barrier film for silage piles and bunkers had taken off over the past decade. However, in 2014, the company manufacturing and distributing the oxygen barrier film changed leadership. The new management wanted to relocate the manufacturing facility from its original location in Italy.

The recommendation to change manufacturers failed to align with the Kubers’ standards. The Kubers had literally and figuratively built the reputation of Connor Agriscience on their names, and they were troubled by the new direction. “We knew enough by then that plastics manufacturers are not all the same, plastic quality is not all the same; therefore, the results would not be the same,” Connie said. “Assuring our customers received the same or better quality than what they had been getting was critical.”

At this point in their career journey the Kubers had perfected the skill of adapting and pivoting when needed. Thus, Connor Agriscience took on the task of

developing its own silage oxygen barrier film. “Because we built our business on our name, we chose to found our own brand called Sealpro®. We chose our own manufacturing and wrote our own specifications for how much strength and oxygen barrier protection our films had,” Connie stated.

SEALPRO® DEVELOPMENT

To most people, plastic pretty much looks the same. But when Ron and Connie check out plastic for their products, they test, observe, and search for specifications and uniformity few people would ever consider. The couple developed their signature silage protection product, Sealpro®, with an industry leading ability to keep oxygen out and nutrients in.

Connor Agriscience developed a line of Sealpro® oxygen barrier film products to meet farmers’ different budgets and silage quality goals. The viability of Connor Agriscience’s products is tested by the manufacturer and verified by a third-party lab to ensure quality and results. They provide Coverpro®, a black/white non-barrier film that must be used with the traditional barrier films for UV protection, and can be used by itself as well.

above When standing on a well-packed pile or bunker, producers can see their entire boot.

These films are also available in a co-rolled form, both films rolled on the same reel.

“The newest oxygen barrier, Sealpro ONE™, is a single layer film combining high level barrier with 6 mil strength. This film and the co-rolled option are the result of listening to our customers,” Ron said.

The company recently launched a new product line. The Flortex® products are made from UV-resistant polypropylene and are designed to cover and protect bales and silage bunkers and piles. The bale protection is a thinner version that’s breathable, water resistant, and can be put on from the ground. The silage covers are thicker, safer to walk on, and eliminate the need for tires except around the perimeter and over the top of the face. The Flortex® products come in several sizes with accessories for connecting and securing them.

The Kubers are particularly excited about the fact the Flortex® products are reusable. “It fits in well with the sustainability goals the industry is looking at from the standpoint of having something you can reuse effectively and do a better job

with than something with a one-off use,” Ron said.

All of the company’s products are currently manufactured in Europe. The company operates three distribution warehouses: two in California and one in Kansas. Additionally, Connor Agriscience has distribution relationships throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico to market its products.

EDUCATION AND SAFETY

Through the years, the Kubers’ interest and expertise has evolved to include a focus on helping farmers perfect silage management practices. Farmers invest too much time, money, and energy into producing feed to endure significant losses from spoilage.

Though Connor Agriscience’s Sealpro® and other products work to reduce nutrient loss in silage, the steps to getting a good crop starts with solid harvest strategies. The Kubers educate farmers about the importance of ensuring proper chop length, pile size and location, packing density as well as other steps prior to applying an oxygen barrier.

“If you have other issues before you put the sealing material on, Sealpro® is not going to fix the wrong chop length, it’s not going to fix a poor packing density, and it’s not going to fix some of these other factors that go into making an efficient silage storage situation,” Ron explained. Good harvest practices combined with strategic storage solutions can decrease the percentage of forage loss over time.

One of the most important components in silage management is safety. Working around silage piles and bunkers can be dangerous, even deadly. “We have tried to make safety as big of a part of our message as the education. Silage that is efficient is safe. All these things just go hand and hand,” Connie stated.

The company offers silage safety videos, online resources, and an educational coloring book. Connie and Ron are frequent guests at conferences, meetings, and webinars to promote silage safety.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Kubers’ daughter, Madeline, recently joined the company after graduating from Cal Poly – San Luis Obispo. She assumed the role of controller, managing the company’s financials, shipping, and logistics. The addition of Madeline to the team allows Ron to focus more on consulting, sales, and product development and gives Connie more time for marketing and education.

The Kubers are currently working to expand their presence in the beef industry. “We want everyone to succeed, and education is the key,” Connie said. “I think that beef producers, whether they are cow/calf or stockers or feedlot people, understand that feed is a place where they can save some money, they can have more inventory, and their cattle will do better when they are fed a better ration of higher quality feed.”

The Kubers find great reward in helping farmers and ranchers get the most benefit out of their crops and forages. Whether it’s a cattle

operation of 50 or 50,000, the goal remains the same. “There is satisfaction for all of us, not just us but the farmer and the rancher also, for making efficient use of all of the inputs that they invest in. The less you can waste is best. That’s what we try to do; we try to help people make more, better, and safer feed and that only benefits everyone,” Connie concluded.

learn more connoragriscience.com sealprosilage.com

above Ron, Connie, and Madeline Kuber.

WORLD GENETICS renowned

This big-time herd bull is backed by one of the most decorated donors in the industry with Rose 1019 backing him. Add Renovation to the top side, and after seeing all the good his daughters and sons have brought to the industry, it was evident that his high-quality phenotype, coupled with his big-time pedigree, made him a bull that was a must to own. The National Sons are deep in quality and very consistent, making him a proven sire. National is an exceptional breeding bull, very fertile, and easily covers the pasture, naturally breeding over 80 head of females this past summer. Twenty-three sons selling which speaks volumes to the consistency National passes on to his progeny.

Alcatraz burst onto the scene in the spring of 2019, selling for $200,000 in the Hamilton Farms Bull Sale in Canada. He instantly became the talk of the Angus breed in Canada. He is sound with a big foot, athletic, powerful body type, great hair, and the most pleasing docile temperament you can find. His progeny are born easy, heifer friendly, grow fast and weigh up at weaning. The Alcatraz daughters are powerful producing females with exceptional milk. Lindskov’s LT Ranch was fortunate to have had the opportunity to purchase the possession and US semen rights to this outstanding herd sire this past year. Some of the finest bulls in the sale are from Alcatraz daughters.

Seeds in Season

Functional

forage and pasture.

contributed article by Justin Fruechte, Product Expert - Ag Renovo Seed, Brookings, S.D. renovoseed.com

ALTERED FORAGE PLANS FOR THE CURRENT CONDITIONS

If you farm, you’re used to pivoting your decisions based on what Mother Nature provides. The ability to be flexible and adaptable is a required part of any plan. So how do we match a forage plan to the conditions at hand?

Currently, the Midwest has been blessed with an early, warm spring, but it’s also proving to stay dry on top of a previously dry year. So, if we can plant a forage early but believe that field will need to thrive with less rain, what should we plant?

TRITICALE

The first species that I recommend is spring triticale. Triticale has had more advancements from breeding than nearly all other annual options, and it has a ton of versatility. Triticale was born from a cross of rye and wheat, so its hardiness under dry conditions is phenomenal. The advancements of having an awnless plant with wider, bladed leaves and a taller, statured plant has made it top yielding and given it excellent quality.

The other benefit from a breeding focus is more varieties that are widely adaptable. There are varieties bred better for silage or hay, and varieties that do better in Wisconsin or Texas. If triticale is new to your vocabulary, do some product research and see how it could benefit your forage plan this spring. The Roots + Ruminants podcast even has an episode with a triticale breeder – search for “Racey Padilla on Triticale Breeding” wherever you get your podcasts to listen.

PEARL MILLET

The second forage that thrives in a drier climate and should absolutely be used more is pearl millet. Pearl is a warm season annual grass that regrows to provide multiple cuttings or grazings. Since it is a C4 grass, its water efficiency is excellent, making it reliable through heat and drought. It’ll provide a harvest after about 70 days, and then again, every 30 to 40 days. This schedule allows it to be planted as the main crop for multiple cuttings, or in a double cropping rotation for a single harvest.

When comparing pearl to common foxtail-type millets such as German and white wonder, understand that the stem thickness is coarser. This means it will take extra time to cure Photos courtesy Renovo Seed learn more renovoseed.com

for dry hay, but it makes higher quality hay due to the increased leaf to stem ratio. Also, since pearl millet tillers extremely aggressively, the yield is higher than any other millet species.

I think farming and ranching is most fun when you get to plant something new or breed with new livestock. These are two options that may be new to your farm that provide a profitable solution while working with the current growing conditions.

Renovo Seed, Brookings, S.D.

The team of folks at Renovo Seed have roots that run deep in farming, agriculture, and in the overall respect for the landscape. They opened their doors in 1987 and continue to walk alongside farmers, ranchers, and landowners across thousands of acres throughout the Midwest.

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Chef’s Kiss

By Cheryl Kepes

Kelsi Retallick helps her family’s cattle operation expand into a new enterprise.

Championing the beef industry comes naturally for Kelsi Retallick. A science teacher by trade and rancher by birth, her life experiences uniquely equip her to promote the beef industry to naysayers. Kelsi’s strategy - she forgoes long lessons and lectures and simply serves people a tender, juicy steak. After a few bites of delicious Angus beef straight from Kelsi’s family farm, her audience is all ears.

photos courtesy Kelsi Retallick

Kelsi capitalizes on opportunities while working at her recently opened restaurant, Madison Street Steakhouse and Grill, in Lancaster, Wis. “I feel like I am contributing back to the industry in a way because you get to communicate

with the public and some people who are not necessarily familiar with the product. For me, it is just another way to educate the public through the restaurant,” Kelsi Retallick shared.

BACK TO THE FARM

Five years ago, Kelsi decided to leave her job as a science teacher in Iowa and return to help manage the family farm, 2K Cattle Enterprises, located in Glen Haven, Wis. Kelsi works alongside her parents, Kevin and Keri Retallick, to run the Angus seedstock operation focusing on producing high-quality Angus bulls and females, show calves, and feeder cattle.

2K Cattle Enterprises also serves as the sole source of the meat served at Madison Street Steakhouse and Grill. That means Kelsi is directly

above (l-r) Kelsi Retallick with her sister, Kelli Retallick-Riley, at 2K Cattle Enterprises annual production sale.

STEAKHOUSE AND GRILL

Three years ago, the Retallick family opened a butcher shop called, The Meat Schoppe, in Lancaster, Wis., as a natural expansion of their freezer beef business. In addition to selling fresh cuts of beef from animals bred, raised, and finished at 2K Cattle Enterprises, The Meat Schoppe serves lunch five days a week.

When the building connected to The Meat Schoppe became available the idea of opening a restaurant started to take root in Kelsi’s mind. The space had housed a café for years, and now it stood empty. Though it seemed like a perfect fit, Kelsi was hesitant at first. “I involved in all the breeding, raising, and feeding of the beef utilized in her restaurant.

“When someone is eating a steak, I can literally tell them which bull and cow it is out of, and which farm it was born on. It is pretty neat to have the ability to trace that back and explain the whole story to people and how long it takes from start to finish,” Kelsi said. “It is great to talk to people about it and educate them more and it really is amazing how much people do want to know and learn.”

below (l-r): Jordan Riley (brother-in-law), Kelsi Retallick, Kevin Retallick (Dad), Keri Retallick (Mom), Kelli Retallick-Riley (sister), outside The Meat Schoppe.

had been thinking about it. I didn’t say anything to anybody because I knew everyone’s reaction would be, ‘Are you crazy?’ But it seemed like another good avenue to market our product and our meat,” Kelsi shared.

Pushing away the thoughts of having too much on her plate to take on another business venture, Kelsi forged ahead. Madison Street Steakhouse and Grill opened its doors more than six months ago, and the restaurant is meeting and exceeding many of Kelsi’s expectations.

WORKING TOGETHER

The butcher shop and new restaurant are connected in the same building. The two businesses complement each other. “The Meat Shoppe and the restaurant really

do go hand-in-hand. We can really utilize each other to get the most out of the product we are serving,” Kelsi said.

One benefit of the close relationship between the two businesses is the restaurant’s ability to consistently sell and serve a fresh product. “It is the same exact meat that I am serving at the restaurant that we sell at the Meat Schoppe, so we can utilize the steaks from the

fresh case. I can use those over at the restaurant and so then every day we are keeping our product as fresh as possible,” Kelsi said.

And, if Kelsi ever gets in a pinch and runs out of steaks at the restaurant, she simply walks next door and cuts a few more.

UTILIZING THE ENTIRE BEEF

Most of the items on the menu at Madison Street Steakhouse and Grill are high-end steaks, which creates leftover trim. The restaurant works closely with The Meat Schoppe to make sure nothing is wasted. “Especially with the price of beef and how high everything is, from a business aspect, you have to make sure you are utilizing everything to the best of your capability,” Kelsi said.

The Meat Schoppe’s butcher incorporates the extra trim into products such as summer sausage and snack sticks. The ground beef gets utilized in a favorite lunch item at The Meat Schoppe – a smash burger.

The Retallicks even found avenues outside of their restaurant and butcher shop to market parts of their beef. Restaurants in the area purchase The Meat Schoppe’s ground beef for their menu items, and smaller butcher shops buy beef tallow and beef fat to make some of their products.

The Madison Street Steakhouse and Grill and The Meat Schoppe are intertwined together – seamlessly serving as advertisement for each other. “Customers come into the restaurant, and it is always really cool to hear, ‘Wow this is the best steak or one of the best steaks I have ever had.’ And then you can say, ‘Well, you can actually purchase this in the Meat Schoppe during the hours we are open over there.’ And then sometimes the people visiting the Meat Schoppe are interested to try the meat, so they come over to the restaurant,” Kelsi explained.

above (l-r): Kelsi Retallick and Keri Retallick accepting the Lancaster Area Chamber of Commerce Business Leaders of the Year award.

2K CATTLE ENTERPRISES

2K Cattle Enterprises is a diverse operation producing seedstock bulls and females, show calves, and feedlot animals. The Retallicks manage 250 Angus cows and host a bull and female sale every spring. Their show calves are typically produced from the ET work the Retallicks complete through a cooperator herd. Kelsi enjoys working with youth interested in showing Angus cattle, something she loved doing with her family growing up.

The Retallicks focus heavily on carcass traits when making breeding decisions for animals that will be utilized at the steakhouse and butcher shop: marbling and ribeye traits top the list. One challenge Kelsi is fine-tuning is having the perfect number of fat cattle ready at the right time. They currently process two to three feedlot animals a week.

Many times, Kelsi works as a chef, butcher, and herdsman all in the same day. Though it’s a constant balancing act, she says it’s worth it. And no matter what hat she’s wearing, Kelsi’s always looking for new ways to share insight and information about the beef business and the steps producers take to make it possible for consumers to enjoy the beef on their plate.

learn more www.2kangus.com

www.facebook.com - search for:

“The Meat Schoppe” and “Madison Street Steakhouse and Grill

Veterinarian View

Health & Reproduction questions answered and explained.

contributed article by Dr. Vince Collison Collison Embryo and Veterinary Services, Rockwell City, Iowa collisonembryoservices.com

WHAT IS FAILURE OF PASSIVE TRANSFER?

When we talk about passive transfer in calves there are two parts. The first part is the transfer of antibodies from the mother’s colostrum across the calf’s inner gut surface into its blood system. The primary antibodies in colostrum are the IgG variety that circulate in the blood to cause protection from various infections.

The second part is that it is a passive immunity. By this, we mean that since the antibodies come from the mother’s colostrum and are not actively made by the calf’s own immune system, it is a passive form

of immunity. So, a calf is essentially born without any immunity and depends on this passive transfer of antibodies to protect itself from exposure to infection early in life.

In order to acquire levels of antibodies that are protective, it is essential that the colostrum has high levels of antibodies and is consumed quickly after birth in large amounts. So, not only is there a quality component to colostrum, but also a quantity component that is probably even more important.

FAILURE OF PASSIVE TRANSFER

When we talk about the failure of passive transfer (FPT) in calves, these are calves that are older than 24 hours with levels of antibodies in their system that are not high enough to be protective. After 24 hours of age, they can no longer acquire antibodies into the blood system through the milk. To reach protective levels in the calf’s system, they probably need to ingest at least 200 grams of IgG through the colostrum.

WHAT SITUATIONS CAUSE FAILURE OF PASSIVE TRANSFER?

Listed are some of the common causes:

1) Poor milking cows. This can be a cow that is getting too old or just doesn’t milk well enough to provide the volume of colostrum needed to reach levels of immunity.

2) Bad udders. Often these cows have teats that are enlarged and ballooned out. When the teat becomes that enlarged, it is hard for

the calf to make a connection without intervention.

3) Poor mothers. Cows that are too nervous to mother their calf or they just don’t care about the calf. In these situations, you can have calves with failure of passive transfer unless there is some intervention.

4) Cold weather. If calves get chilled out, the cold stress can make it hard for them to absorb colostrum effectively. Warming a calf up prior to giving colostrum would be a benefit.

5) Delayed assistance. Waiting too long to give supplemental colostrum or assist a calf with nursing. The ideal time to get the most antibody absorption from colostrum is in the first two hours. The gut will start shutting down over the next 24 hours, so colostrum ingested at 12 hours is probably not going to be as effective as when it’s given at two hours after birth.

6) Poor colostrum quality in the dam. This can be caused by various factors. A cow that is getting too old. Buying new bred heifers that have not had time to acclimate to their new herd. Not getting the cows vaccinated pre-calving against specific disease issues for the herd. Not meeting the nutritional needs of the dam pre-calving. Extended severe weather stress prior to calving.

7) Separation. Separating calves from their dams in the first 24 hours. If you use calving pens to get cow/calf pairs bonded in the first 24 hours, they need to stay together. If you turn the cow out to drink or eat for any period of time, you are restricting the time the calf can nurse the cow. It’s pretty easy

to turn a cow out with the intentions for them to eat or drink for an hour, but that can easily turn into three to four hours if you get busy with other things.

TESTING FOR FPT

If we suspect a failure of passive transfer, the calf’s blood serum can be checked with a BRIX refractometer. The BRIX refractometer measures the dissolved solids in a solution. It gives a reading as a percentage by mass of the solution. It is used to measure the amount of sugar in the solution in the brewing industry and can be used to estimate the amount of IgG in serum. There is a refractometer that can measure total serum protein, but the BRIX refractometer is cheaper and can also be used effectively.

Levels of IgG at less than 10 grams/liter in serum can be considered a failure of passive transfer. If levels of IgG are in the 10 to 24 grams/liter range, adequate passive transfer has occurred. If levels of IgG are at 25 grams/liter or higher, then excellent passive transfer has occurred.

To correlate this to a BRIX refractometer percentage, a reading of 8 percent on a BRIX is about the equivalent of 10.1 grams/liter of IgG and would indicate a successful passive transfer. Levels of 8 to 9.4 percent on the BRIX would correlate to the adequate range of passive transfer at 10 to 24 grams/liter of IgG. Any reading on the BRIX at 9.5 percent or higher would correspond to excellent passive transfer at 25 grams/liter or higher of IgG. If you are getting

a reading of less that 8 percent on the BRIX refractometer, the levels of IgG are probably less than 10 grams/liter and would indicate a failure of passive transfer.

PASSIVE TRANSFER

While the calf can and will develop their own active immunity, that takes time and their immune system is not equipped to handle challenges from various infections without adequate passive transfer. While you can vaccinate new calves for various things, it can never replace the effectiveness of passive transfer of antibodies through the colostrum.

This is why management of passive transfer is so important for calf health and getting off to a good start. The passive transfer is what keeps the calf healthy until they develop their own active immunity.

The goal should be to get a calf that is up and nursing within the first 15 to 30 minutes of being born. If this occurs and everything is right with the cow’s nutrition status, the calf should be on its way to achieving a normal passive transfer of antibodies. If there are any issues that are preventing this from occurring, it would be better to error on the side of intervention earlier than later, as passive transfer is a race against time to achieve adequate levels of IgG in the system.

learn more collisonembryoservices.com

Dr. Vince Collison is co-owner of Collison Embryo and Veterinary Services PAC in Rockwell City, Iowa.

Give us the opportunity, we ’ll earn the rest!

Healt H & Herd Employee

By Sarah Hill

Tips for safeguarding animals and people from taking a hit from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.

With multiple dairy herds across the U.S. having been affected by an infectious disease, beef producers are on alert to ensure that their herds stay healthy. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been identified and is connected to the rash of illnesses, according to Joe Armstrong, DVM and University of Minnesota Cattle Production Systems Educator. As of print date, the pathogen has not officially been found among any beef herds.

Clinical symptoms, including drop in milk production, decreased feed consumption and rumen motility and tacky manure, compelled dairy herd owners to engage in diagnostic testing, which identified the H5N1 virus in the raw milk of affected cows, according to Dr. Katie Cornille, DVM, MPH, with the Minnesota Board of Animal Health.

“This virus is not something we routinely conduct surveillance for in

cattle,” she added. “We don’t know if the disease is the cause of the clinical signs or if it’s a secondary or opportunistic infection along with another pathogen.”

The most impacted population among dairy herds has been midto late lactation cows. Armstrong notes that most beef cattle right now are dry or newly fresh - the two groups that haven’t been as impacted by HPAI.

“Dairy cattle are also under a lot more metabolic stress than beef cattle,” he said. “I would be surprised if it’s not already amongst beef cattle, and we just haven’t seen it clinically or widespread enough across herds to know to test for it.”

KEEPING CATTLE HEALTHY

Cattle producers should continue utilizing biosecurity measures to keep their herds healthy, according to Cornille, such as keeping new animals separate for three weeks to a month after purchase.

“If beef producers own multiple species of livestock, they should be housed away from cattle,” she said. “Keep feed and water protected from wildlife and contact the Department of Natural Resources if you find a lot of dead wildlife, including birds, on your property. If you have to touch any dead animals, wear disposable gloves.”

Keeping the herd up to date on recommended vaccinations is also

one way to maintain overall animal health. Doing so will prepare an animal’s immune system to be ready to fight off any other organisms or infections, according to Cornille. Armstrong also recommends minimizing stress as much as possible.

Gabriele Maier, Assistant Professor of Cooperative Extension, University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, agreed, adding that cows on a solid nutritional plane are healthier.

In dairy cattle, HPAI has caused symptoms including lack of milk production, lethargy, mild fevers, and in some cases, diarrhea, according to Armstrong. “The severity of their symptoms depends on how much virus load the cow receives,”

he said. “But as we move into pasture grazing season, beef cattle will have more opportunity to interact with wildlife, which are a potential source of the virus.”

Beef herds tend to rely on surface water as a water source, which creates a prime spot for wild birds and other wildlife to share space and germs. On dairies where HPAI has been found, there have also been reports of deceased birds and sick cats, but it’s still unknown if those other species were sick or died due to HPAI.

Cats affected by the pathogen may show neurological signs, such as circling, being aggressive, or other abnormal behavior, Maier said. Armstrong said that it’s possible that HPAI is spread between cows, but that hasn’t yet been confirmed.

Cattle producers should also

consider reducing food sources for wild birds, securing buildings, repairing holes in barn walls, and covering waste to discourage wild birds from gathering, according to Maier. “Cattle don’t live in a sterile environment, so they can’t be completely protected from birds,” she said.

Because beef cattle metabolic health is not monitored as closely as that of dairy cattle, any mild symptoms of HPAI may not be detected quickly in a beef herd. There are currently no vaccines available for HPAI and developing a vaccine can take months.

“Beef producers should look for sluggish cows or sick calves from the mother cow not producing any milk,” Armstrong said. “I always tell producers that if calves are sick, check the momma cow’s udder, because she may be the reason the calf is sick.”

Hungry, bawling calves may be the first sign that something is wrong, Maier adds. She encourages beef producers that if they suspect HPAI within their herd to immediately isolate any sick cattle from other animals and contact their veterinarian.

“As with all new diseases, we want to understand it better, and we can’t do that if cases are swept under the rug,” she said. “It may be inconvenient at the moment for a producer to engage with regulatory officials in an outbreak investigation, but it’s very helpful to the industry.”

PROTECT PEOPLE, TOO

“It’s important to remember that we do have a confirmed case of a human being infected with HPAI,” Armstrong said. “Although that case wasn’t severe, we can’t be sure of people’s immune status - including those who may or may not have anyone to advocate for them. We depend on our employees a lot and keeping them healthy is a major priority.”

Maier reminds cattlemen of general biosecurity measures, as outlined in the Beef Quality Assurance training. “Keep a visitor log, and don’t let people into areas where animals are that don’t need to be there,” she said.

Armstrong reiterated that so far, no muscle tissue has tested positive for HPAI, so the U.S. beef supply remains safe and healthy for consumers. However, per the Food and Drug Administration guidelines, unpasteurized milk and dairy products should be avoided, but pasteurized products remain safe.

In the kitchen with Katie Burns

Burns Farms - Pikeville, Tenn.

My name is Katie Burns and I have been married to David Burns for 11 years. I am a Mental Health Therapist (LPC-MHSP) and I also help with the public relations and social media on the farm. David is a third-generation cattleman, and he manages the family farm, Burns Farms, which is a registered Hereford and Angus operation. For 70 plus years, Burns Farms has raised championship quality Herefords and Angus cattle in Pikeville, Tenn. We have been having two to four sales a year since 2009. We take pride in our herd and provide quality cattle to our customers and fellow

What is your least favorite job in the kitchen?

My least favorite job in the kitchen is finding space when cooking for a large party. Our kitchen is on the smaller side and when David and I are working together in the kitchen –it gets tricky! However, my mother-in-law, Gayanne Burns, always says, ‘The size of the kitchen doesn’t matter – it is

Where did you learn to cook?

My cooking influencers have been my mother and Gayanne Burns. I remember many phone calls with my mother in college trying to describe how the food looked and if it was cooked. Gayanne has the gift of serving fantastic food to a large crowd and throwing the best parties! She has inspired me and taught me how to feed a hungry group of

STOCK Kitchen

Cowboy approved recipes used by our favorite country cooks.

What is your favorite cooking tip/trick?

The Sous-Vide. When you are cooking large amounts of beef and need everything to be perfect for a crowd you need to Sous-Vide it! No, it isn’t as romantic when you think about boiling meat – but you finish it on a grill, and I promise it will be your best kept secret.”

What is your favorite thing to make?

Our most requested dish is anything beef. We are so fortunate to raise our own beef and I always feel very spoiled to have a freezer full of beef.”

ITALIAN OVEN-BAKED FRENCH FRIES

Katie Burns

Russet potatoes - as many needed for serving size olive oil

Italian seasoning salt and pepper

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Cut the potato lengthwise into ¼-inch thin slices; then cut each slice into ¼-inch fries. Create an ice bath (bowl of water with ice) and let sit for a couple of hours. This helps with the starchiness of the potatoes and your fries will be crispier. Also, it’s a great trick for prepping food ahead of time.

When ready to cook - drain fries and place on a towel to dry. In a medium bowl, toss the potatoes and olive oil. Season with salt, black pepper, and lots of Italian seasoning and then toss to coat.

Place the potatoes on Pam sprayed sheet pan and bake for 25 minutes or to desired crispness. Serve hot.

UPCOMING SALE:

The Female Event - May 11, 2024

At the farm near Pikeville, Tenn.

BURNS FARMS FLANK STEAK

Katie Burns

2 lb. flank steak

¼ c. olive oil

3 T. balsamic vinegar

Italian herb mix

salt and pepper

Sous-Vide machine

To prepare the meat, first lay the flank steak flat on a sheet pan. Pour over ¼ cup olive oil and smooth over the meat. Season generously with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning mix. Slowly pour 3 T. of balsamic vinegar over the meat and pat in with your hands. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 12 hours.

Sous-Vide at 131 degrees Fahrenheit for 6 hours. Finish on the grill. Let sit for 10 minutes before slicing.

Pizza Sauce:

1 T. olive oil

6 garlic cloves

1 6 oz. can of tomato paste

1 small container of cherry tomatoes (sliced)

1 small can of Bloody Mary mix (V8 spicy)

Italian seasoning

HOMEMADE PIZZA

Katie Burns

Pizza Dough Ingredients:

1 c. warm water - 105 to 110

degrees Fahrenheit

1 T. sugar

1 T. active dry yeast

2 to 2½ cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp. salt

Pizza Toppings:

1 lb. ground beef

Italian seasoning

salt and pepper

garlic powder

1 green bell pepper

1 red onion

fresh basil

Directions for Sauce: Sauté garlic cloves in olive oil for one minute - do not let brown. Add in all the ingredients and simmer for 30 minutes. Note: You can use a jar of pizza sauce, but this is fun too!

Directions for Dough: Put warm water into a mixer fitted with a dough hook. Add sugar and yeast and stir to combine. Let mixture sit for 5 minutes, or until it becomes frothy and bubbles form. Add olive oil and gently stir to combine. Add 2 cups of flour and salt and mix on stir setting with the dough hook until the dough begins to form a ball. Dough will still be slightly sticky. Add more flour as needed to form a dough ball. Transfer to a floured surface and knead into a smooth dough, adding up to 1/2 cup extra flour if needed.

Place in a bowl with a little bit of olive oil in the bottom of the bowl. Set in a warm and sunny place. Cover with a damp towel. Let sit for a couple of hours before rolling out. Once dough is rolled - sprinkle corn meal on a sheet pan. Set rolled dough on top. This will prevent sticking to the pan. Pre-heat oven on bake to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

Directions for Toppings and Baking: The fun thing about this recipe is that you can have any toppings you want! I highly recommend sliced fresh mozzarella. Sauté ground beef with Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and garlic powder (add spices to taste) until browned and then set to the side. I like to leave my ground beef in chunks for added texture and appeal; we always want to see the beef. Wipe out grease. In the same pan, sauté onion and green bell pepper with a little olive oil or butter. I like to slice mine in strips, but you can also dice. Set to the side and let cool before decorating your pizza.

Layer the pizza with sauce first (I like a lot of sauce), next mozzarella, then peppers, onions and last add the beef. Bake at 500 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the edges of the pizza start to brown. Before serving add some fresh basil.

Note: One of the reasons we like homemade pizza is because our daughter loves helping us in the kitchen with the dish. Enjoy the mess and good family fun!

Sale Barn Study

s I wrote this article, we have received our first snowstorm of the winter and my four little ones could not wait to throw on their snow pants and go play in the white stuff! Me on the other hand, not so excited about leaving the warmth and comfort of my office. It is because they are looking forward to joy and fun and I am dreading frozen waters and/or sick cattle. Either way, it is safe to say that winter is upon us!

A review of the current cattle market.

this fat cattle deal to continue an upward trend going into the new year and into spring. How high we can go, that is the million-dollar question!

contributed article by Kirk Lynch Lynch Livestock Inc. and Humeston Livestock Exchange, Humeston, Iowa humestonlivestockexchange.com

Now to look at some of the market reports that we have been seeing in the barns. The fat cattle market has been on a hot streak for several weeks, until this past week, when we experienced a slight dip in the market. We have seen some highs in the mid to high forties, but these have been some extremes. Most cash cattle in the country have been trading at forty level or slightly higher the past couple of weeks. I expect there to be a few bumps in the road, but I expect

MARKET VOLATILITY

pring has sprung. As I am sit ting here writing my monthly arti cle in the middle of April there is starting to be a substantial amount of corn put in the ground; and even this past weekend I went with a set of cows to pasture. We have been lucky enough to get a little moisture on the way and things are starting to shape up for a nice spring. Not sure that can be said for the cattle markets the last 30 days, but here is what I have been seeing.

Kirk Lynch, Lynch Livestock Inc., Waucoma, IA

The fat cattle market has taken a bit of hit as packers try to break the market because they are still having a tough go of it lately paying record prices for fat cattle and then seeing some resistance at the meat count er with the extraordinary soaring prices there as well. Other outside factors have played into this equa tion, such as the avian flu in dairy cows and issues on the Dow Jones. In all, generally we have seen about an $8 to $10 decline in the futures, but the cash market has been about $5 ahead of the futures board. We are still seeing a lot of cattle bringing well into the $1.80’s and still seeing some tops getting close to that $1.90 mark.

The higher fat cattle market is driving a higher price for the feeder cattle market as well, even with the higher feedstuff inputs. We have seen some front end big strings of 800 pounds bringing well into the sixties and some 600-pound cattle bringing into the seventies and eighties. Once again these are some extreme tops. We have been trying to fill up our own lots as fast as possible, as I am not sure the feeder cattle are going to get any cheaper. We have been able to find cattle at cheaper prices than that and so when we do projects they are in the black.

The cull cow and bull market has lagged the fat market, as from all reports there have been around six

Kirk is the Beef Division manager for Lynch Livestock Inc. and oversees all aspects of their backgrounding and cattle feeding operations throughout Iowa and Kansas. He is also deeply involved in the newly reopened Humeston Livestock Exchange in Humeston, Iowa. In addition, Kirk and his wife Mary own and operate Heartland Simmentals in Northeast Iowa, which is a seed stock operation that consists of 500 registered Simmental and Angus cows. They have four children: Gabrielle (8), Brayden (7), Vivian (5), and Bianca (1).

HUMESTON LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE

Humeston, Iowa 641-877-6092

percent more last year, making supply of cows. down, which be into next year, cow and bull with the same market.

The breeding been up and cently, I heard commercial pairs $2,000 and then can buy all the I want for $1,200 are looking to now is the time reasonably priced with increased are going to be ply over the next Wishing everyone Christmas and

go to slaughter.

Wishing everyone a safe planting season and breeding season. If you ever need anything, do not be afraid to give me a call! Until next month.

With all the volatility that has gone on over the past month or so it has affected the feeder market more than any other market. You would expect that when futures take a

- Kathy Danner, NE - "The best thing since sliced bread! I’m in my late sixties and do all my baby calf processing alone. No more fighting off protective mamas. I wish I had our catcher decades ago. I feel 100% safe in it! And it causes very little stress on the babies and saves lots of time. Wouldn’t want to be without it, I LOVE IT!!!"

In the News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DIRECTOR OF MEMBER SERVICES, JERRY CASSADY, RETIRES

Long-time American Angus Association employee, Jerry Cassady, retires April 30.

Jerry Cassady’s name became synonymous with service long before he took up the helm in the Member Services department at the American Angus Association®.

“Serving the members, over the years, has been a highlight and primary focus,” said Cassady. “It truly has been where my passion lies; making sure their needs are being met and working to promote the Angus breed.”

“I truly appreciate Jerry’s three decades of service and dedication to the breed and the members,” said Mark McCully, chief executive officer of the American Angus Association®. “Jerry’s leadership and professionalism in both his role as Regional Manager and Director of Member Services has been integral to the success of the organization.”

Cassady began his career with the Association in 1992 as a regional manager for Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin.

During a time when the role was expanding and regional managers were finding their schedules booked up, Cassady was dedicated to connecting with and assisting as many breeders as possible. He offered a new option to members: local and regional educational sessions.

“There were a lot of small producers in the region I was cover-

ing,” recalled Cassady, “and when they had the opportunity for some type of collaboration with other breeders with like minds and common goals it always tended to lead to really good interaction, networking and exchanging of ideas.”

During his time in the field, Cassady spent many weekends helping at junior events. As a 4-H and FFA Alum, Cassady recognized the tremendous value derived from time spent in the show ring at a young age.

“You watch them grow up to become future leaders of our industry at state, regional and national levels, which is rewarding,” Cassady told the Angus Journal in a 2004 article.

Cassady became Director of Member Services in 2016. During his tenure, Cassady helped facilitate organizational changes that have helped the Association more effectively serve members.

“When I started, the folks on the Member Services team were very specialized,” said Cassady. “Today, with efficiency for members in mind, we’ve undertaken enormous cross-training efforts so we can provide the services that the member needs with just one phone call.”

McCully commended Cassady for his dedication to the members.

“Jerry’s deep institutional knowledge and understanding of Association rules and policies was always coupled with his commitment to providing the best service to all members,” remarked McCully.

With Cassady’s retirement, Levi Landers has been promoted to Director of Member and Field Services.

The combined role will allow Landers to lead services from all touchpoints. Landers joined the

Association in 2019 as a regional manager for Colorado and Nebraska. He was promoted to Director of Field Services in April 2023 and moved to the Association’s main office.

“The combination of my roles will only serve the members of the American Angus Association® even better,” said Landers. “The leadership that Jerry Cassady provided the organization was unmeasurable. I hope to continue down the path that Jerry has provided for the members during his career.”

-Written by Jessica Hartman, Communication Specialist

2024 JUNIOR NATIONAL SCHEDULE BY BREED

ABERDEEN

June 16-21, 2024

Boone, Iowa

www.americanaberdeen.com/ shows-events/junior-nationals/

ANGUS

June 29-July 6, 2024

Madison, Wis.

www.njas.info

CHAROLAIS

June 23-28, 2024

Belton, Texas

www.charolaisusa.com/jr-national.php

CHIANINA

June 22-27, 2024

Springfield, Mo.

www.chicattle.org/index.php/ 2024-junior-national-show-information/

GELBVIEH

June 30-July 5, 2024

Woodward, Okla.

www.gelbvieh.org/juniors/agjaevents/junior-classic

HEREFORD

July 6-12, 2024

Grand Island, Neb.

www.hereford.org/youth/juniornational-hereford-expo/resources/

LIMOUSIN

June 29-July 4, 2024

Tulsa, Okla.

www.nalf.org/juniors/shows/

MAINE-ANJOU

June 22-27, 2024

Springfield, Mo.

www.maine-anjou.org/junior/ juniornational.php

MINIATURE HEREFORD

June 17-23, 2024

Lawrence, Kan.

www.mhjn.org

RED ANGUS

June 16-22, 2024

Louisville, Ky.

www.najrae.com

SALERS

June 16-20, 2024

McPherson, Kan.

www.salersusa.org/events/ junior-national

SHORTHORN

June 15-22, 2024

Timonium, Md.

www.juniorshorthorn.org/show/ junior-national/

SIMMENTAL

July 8-14, 2024

Tulsa, Okla.

www.juniorsimmental.org

Index

The Stockman hereby expressly limits its liability resulting from any and all misprints, errors and/or inaccuracies whatsoever in the advertisement and editorial content published by The Stockman and its said liability is here by limited to the refund of the customer for its payment for said advertisement, or the running of the corrected advertisement, or editorial notice. Notification by the customer of any error must be made within 30 days of the distribution of the magazine. Advertising copy received after the deadline may not be returned for proofing. Changes to advertising copy made after the deadline date will be allowed only if time permits, and will incur the appropriate charges according to time and materials involved in the changes. The opinions or views expressed in the editorials are those of the persons interviewed in the article and not The Stockman magazine. The Stockman does however reserve the right to edit or refuse all material which might be objectionable in content. No material or part thereof may be reproduced or used out of context, without prior specific approval of a proper credit to The Stockman

STOCKMAN traight

About the Stockman.

I was born in Muscatine County, Iowa. My family farmed and raised a few Angus cows. My dad sent me to AI school when I was 14 years old. I started AIing our Angus cows, and I have been AIing ever since. I am now 65 years old, so it’s been a few years. When I first started AIing we used glass ampules. So, when AI guns and straws became available, I thought it was the best thing in the world! It made AIing ten times easier!

In my youth, I got into showing and fitting cattle through my mentor and neighbor, Louie Danner. Louie was an excellent fitter; he also owned a good herd of Angus cattle. I customed fit and showed cattle as well as clipped production sale cattle throughout the U.S. and Canada for 15 years until I was about 30 years old. During that time, I helped clip

calves for Rocking J’s first 12 club calf sales. I also spent a lot of winters in Georgia at Casey Cattle Company helping fit their Charolais show and sale cattle. My next job consisted of working for Southern Light Farms in Clarksville, Tenn., which raised Chianina-Angus and Angus cattle and club calves. While in Tennessee I also worked at Siler Farms managing a commercial herd.

I then decided to return home to Iowa. After working for Kirk Roecker, I started a job at Sullivan Farms. I had the opportunity to work with my son and brother at Sullivan Farms in Dunlap, Iowa for the next five years. Then my career in the cattle industry led me to Werner Angus in Cordova, Ill. Currently, I work as the herdsman for Wildberry Farms in Hanover, Ill. Wildberry Farms is owned by Jim Berry and managed by Ben Lehman. My focus at Wildberry Farms is on the development of a registered Simmental cow/calf herd. The farm runs 400 registered Simmental momma

cows. Wildberry Farms’ recent sale consisted of 65 bulls, 28 pairs, and 5 bred heifers – the top selling bull brought $25,000, the 65 bulls averaged $5,800, and the 33 females averaged $4,400.

I have a sister, Mary, and three brothers, Vince, John, and Bart. All my brothers are involved in cattle and agriculture.”

What about the beef cattle industry excites you the most?

I think it is raising phenotypically great seedstock, if the EPDs follow that’s great but for me phenotype has to come first.”

Describe your best day.

One of the best days would be turning out about 15 pairs that we just tagged and processed; or the end of AI season when we have finished AIing 200 cows and 100 heifers.”

A conversation with everyday Stockmen, Dean Elder Wildberry Farms of Hanover, Ill.

Which animal (any species) has left the greatest impact on you?

In 1972, when I was 14 years old, my family and I attended the National Western Stock Show (NWSS), and I showed a steer there. My neighbor and mentor, Louie Danner, was the exclusive fitter for Ankony Farms. That year, Ankony’s Angus bull, Ankonian Dynamo, won the Angus bull show and had won Angus champion bull at Chicago as well. Also, that year at the NWSS the famous steer, Big Mac, won the steer show. Taking all that in at a young age and experiencing it really put a fire in my belly to be in the cattle industry in some shape or form.”

Your favorite non-farm activity to do in your free time?

I enjoy spending time with my son, daughter-in-law, two grandchildren and my mom, Phyllis. I also follow the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team.”

Your go-to sorting apparatus?

When we are calving cows, I like a sorting paddle or a cane and the rest of the time I like a sorting stick.”

The most important lesson you’ve learned in this business?

Patience. At an early age I learned how to be patient with cattle. I have also learned how working with people in this business has helped me form long-lasting friendships. Also, I have been involved in this business long enough that I have seen all different types of cattle come and go and I know what kind of cattle works for me.”

What is your least favorite job on the farm?

Finding a dead calf or losing a calf and having to dispose of it.”

What is the most used tool on your farm? How old is it?

A Honda Rancher four-wheeler. I am not sure how old it is, but it has lots of character.”

learn more facebook.com/wildberryfarms

ANNUAL SALE:

Last Saturday in March at the farm near Hanover, Ill.

above Josh Elder, wife Julie, and their children Crew and Maven.