Braford News | Volume 34 | Issue 2 | Summer 2020

NEWS VOLUME 34 | ISSUE 2 | SUMMER 2020

UNITED BRAFORD BREEDERS HERD NO. 1

ABEEF Bull

Braford Bull

ABEEF Cow and Calf ABEEF速, ARBRA速, ARRAB速, & ARGEL速 are registered trademarks that identify Adams Ranch Braford, Red Angus, and Gelbvieh cross cattle that meet criteria for a sound production animal that is free from genetic flaws. Adams Ranch is the Certifier.

Braford Cow and Calf Adams Ranch Office (772) 461-6321

Office Fax (772) 461-6874 P.O. Box 12909, Fort Pierce, Fla. 34979-2909 Adams Ranch website: www.adamsranch.com Call Billy Adams for Bulls (772) 370-0114 Call Buddy Adams for Heifers (772) 201-4966

UNITED BRAFORD BREEDERS HERD NO. 1

NEWS VOLUME 34 | ISSUE 2 | SUMMER 2020

NEWS VOLUME 34 | ISSUE 2 | SUMMER 2020

CONTENTS ASSOCIATION UPDATES

Braford calf at Bill Rainer Cattle Company

United Braford Breeders P.O. Box 808, Reynolds, GA 31076 www.brafords.org ubb@brafords.org UBB Registration Office P.O. Box 1177, Kingsville, TX 78364 Braford News is the official publication of the United Braford Breeders (UBB).

It is published four times a year and is supported by paid advertisements and subscriptions. Advertising and subscription information can be obtained by contacting the editor.

Editor: Bailey K. Herrin, bailey@brafords.org Production: Herrin Livestock Services www.HerrinLivestockServices.com 816.824.0002

Zoetis is a corporate sponsor of United Braford Breeders POSTMASTER: Send address changes to P.O. Box 808 Reynolds, GA 31076.

The publisher reserves the right to refuse publication of any material which we feel is unsuitable for the publication.

Although the highest journalistic ethics will be maintained, the United Braford Breeders limits its responsibilities for any errors, inaccuracies or misprints in advertisements or editorial copy. Advertisers and advertising agencies assume liability for all content of advertisements printed, and also assume responsibility for any claims arising from such advertisement made against the publisher. Advertising rate card is sent upon request. Articles from this publication may be reprinted with the permission of the publisher.

Copyright 2020 United Braford Breeders

2 BRAFORD NEWS l SUMMER 2020

4

PRESIDENT’S NOTES, by robert mills

6

EXECUTIVE’S NOTES, by bailey k. herrin

6

NEW MEMBERS

8

NJBA UPDATE, by gene natali

INDUSTRY NEWS 10

FROM BONNIE TO BRAFORDS, by bailey k. herrin

14

2019 BRAFORD CHAMPION OF THE WORLD ANIMALS NAMED, by emily lochner

14 INDUSTRY OBITUARY

EXPERT ADVICE 12

PARASITE DRUG RESISTANCE, by dr. kelsey l. paras & dr. ray kaplan

16

HERD MANAGMENT, by bobbette r. fagel

18

HEAT LOAD IN TROPICALLY ADAPTED CATTLE, by dr. aaron norris and dr. luis tedeschi

READER SERVICES 20

SALE REPORTS

20

SHOW RESULTS

21

AD INDEX

21

UPCOMING EVENTS

PRESIDENT’S NOTES

BY: ROBERT MILLS, UBB PRESIDENT

As I sit down to gather my thoughts for this article, our country is facing the first pandemic of my lifetime. People are being asked to shelter in place, businesses are closing, markets are in turmoil, and our normal daily routines may be changed forever.

As people of agriculture, we are considered an “essential business.” Crops still need to be planted and livestock still must be cared for to produce food for our country and around the world. Because of this, our daily routines and lives may not have changed as much as others’ have. Rural communities still seem to be somewhat “normal” around town with banks, veterinarian clinics and feed stores still open. Only the local country cafe hangout is closed for now.

But as a society, it is important for us not to be dragged down by everything negative that we see on television. All that is being reported will soon pass and we will get back to a new normal.

Our faith needs to be strong on every front: faith in God, our family, our country and our people.

We need to renew our appreciation for the many blessings we have every day that often get taken for granted – including being in agriculture.

The UBB is still open and conducting business necessary for our Association and our members. Out of these circumstances that are beyond our control, our Association has seen many firsts. The Spring 2020 Advancing the Breed Bull Sale was moved to an online-only format for the first time. Thanks to their hard work, our Bull Development Committee was able to come up with a “new” plan the week of the sale. Hats off to them for being able to convert everyone over to the Smart Auction concept in just a few short days. Our magazine has been revived; and as you can see, it is something for us all to be proud of in its content and professional presentation. Our most important promotional tool is back in our hands and being distributed back into the cattle industry once again.

Most of you by now have had an opportunity to interact with our new Executive Director, Bailey Herrin, since she came on board to handle our daily business. Thanks to Bailey, our office has been getting things in order to better serve 4 BRAFORD NEWS l SUMMER 2020

our members. With Bailey on board, I think that our future looks brighter; she brings new excitement for our future.

Plans are underway to bring genonomically enhanced EPDs into our production information. This should strengthen our legitimacy and accuracy for our breed within our industry.

Summer activity plans are still scheduled, with the understanding that they may have to be changed and/or adjusted to meet the new COVID-19 CDC requirements.

By now, most of us are quickly adapting to normal scheduled events being postponed or canceled. Time will tell us what will happen with the 2020 All American Junior Braford Show. Please continue to support our NJBA members with your presence when possible – and, as always, with your donations. Through their actions, NJBA members continue to give us something to be proud of during this difficult time in our country. It was brought to my attention that they are serving their communities where possible. For instance, I was told about two young ladies in NJBA who are making masks and donating them to front-line first responders in their area.

One thing caught my attention the other night while Carol and I watched RFD TV or the Cowboy Channel.

Several advertisements featured farm and ranch families who were many generations deep that promoted their commitment to agriculture. They started by giving their family name, ranch name and community or state. Then they proudly announced their commitment for “Still Raising Beef.”

We are all still raising beef while feeding our country and providing wholesome food for our families.

We, as Braford breeders, are playing a vital role in this noble endeavor, as our Statement of Purpose attests: “The United Braford Breeders is an association of cattle breeders dedicated to the improvement of Braford cattle.

Its primary purpose is to assist in members’ efforts to bring quality Braford breeding stock to the commercial cattlemen of the world.”

Be proud of our Braford cattle and our Association. As we move forward into the future, let’s be supportive and show our “Can Do” spirits. Together, we will get through this and make the UBB stronger than ever before. God Bless you and your family. God bless the cattle He has given us to care for – and God bless the USA!

Harvey rancH Focusing on

Carcass Without Sacrificing

Maternal Traits

Burnie Benoit • Gueydan, LA Roy Chisum • Hector, AR Dr. John Crews • Fort Meade, FL Brad Gambino • Marrero, LA

Thank You!

Kathy Guthrie • Cameron, LA Gregory January • Grand Chenier, LA John Jordan • Donaldsonville, LA

Kody Kahla • Santa Fe, TX Bob McCan • Victoria, TX Ryan O’Neal • Marquez, TX Elliott Stanton • Poteet, TX

Thank you to all of our bull buyers at the Advancing the Braford Breed Sale.

Harvey Ranch • Okeechobee, Fla.

Jim & Rene Harvey, Owners • 863.697.6624 Ronnie Trythall, Manager • 863-697-2182

SUMMER 2020 l BRAFORD NEWS

5

EXECUTIVE’S NOTES BY: BAILEY K. HERRIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Until a few long months ago, we as Americans took nearly everything for granted. Shaking hands was customary, masks were for medical professionals, and toilet paper was readily available.

It’s hard to remain positive when our world around us seems to be crumbling more and more with each passing day. We all deeply long for our familiar and comforting routines; we wish that we could reverse the recession we have plunged into. The media tends to feed us only bad news and often forgets to report on the good news.

When was the last time you heard a report of the number of people who have recovered from COVID-19? As I write this, Johns Hopkins University reports that 75,200 people in the United States have beaten the virus.

My husband’s job is considered essential and he has been having to travel a lot since everything started. This has left me to take care of our 80 head of cattle on my own. I’ve always enjoyed riding through the pastures, but recently I have found a new and special peace in it. Even though my plate is fuller than ever, I am thankful for quiet moments with the cows.

Sometimes you just have to pause to reflect on the wealth of blessings that we do have.

I know I am blessed to be able to work with some of the finest people in the cattle industry. It has been my privilege getting to know many of you on a more personal level. I look forward to meeting more of you in the near future.

Just as COVID-19 was starting to make headlines, we were returning home from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, where we held our International Braford Sale. I would like to extend a special thank you to Nathan Hyman and Melisa Montemayor for making the sale possible. I would also like to thank the NJBA Directors and parents for helping to serve a delicious meal.

The 13th edition of the Advancing the Braford Breed Sale was slated to be held on March 20 in Kinder, La. As cases of COVID-19 skyrocketed, the Bull Development Committee saw the need to transition our sale online. The sale was online with more than 50 buyers registered and bulls selling into five states. I would personally like to thank the members of the Bull Development Committee for quickly and expertly adapting to the situation.

We are excited to announce the rollout of genomically enhanced EPDs through Neogen. This new opportunity will help to enhance the data that we have available to our breeders so they can make improved management decisions.

The more data we have behind our cattle, the more accurate and credible our EPDs will be. Sample kits will be available through the Kingsville office. Parentage testing will be $20 and our 50K Panel will be $45.

Even though the future seems uncertain, try to remain positive and thankful for the things that are unwavering.

Here at UBB, we are thankful for each and every one of our members – and for their unwavering support of our association and its mission. When this all passes, we will come out stronger and more resilient than ever.

And ever more determined to advance the Braford breed.

UBB DIRECTORS President | Robert Mills | Athens, Texas | 903.676.8930 | robert@rockcrestranch.com Vice President | Bill Rainer | Union Springs, Ala. | 903.780.6455 | granjan.jr@gmail.com Secretary | Elliott Stanton | Poteet, Texas | 832.291.8349 | elliott.stanton@stantonindustriesllc.com Treasurer | Corey Doucet | Lake Charles, LA | 337.802.5473 | coreydoucet@camtel.net Region 1 Directors | Florida Zach Adams | Fort Pierce, Fla. | 772.215.6268 | zachadamsranch@gmail.com Dr. Jim Harvey | Okeechobee, Fla. | 863.697.6624 | jhbrafords@comcast.net Will Moncrief | Tallahassee, Fla. | 850.544.5195 | w69cracker@hotmail.com Region 2 Directors | Louisiana Bryan Alleman | Rayne, La. | 337.278.2586 | allemancattle@cox.net Corey Doucet | Lake Charles, La. | 337.802.5473 | coreydoucet@camtel.net Scott Harrington | Iowa, La. | 337.496.5189 | scottharrington2@yahoo.com Region 3 Directors | Texas Robert Mills | Athens, Texas | 903.676.8930 | robert@rockcrestranch.com Rodney Roberson, PhD | Bullard, Texas | 936.569.4872 | rlr@thunderstormrcattle.com Elliott Stanton | Poteet, Texas | 832.291.8349 | elliott.stanton@stantonindustriesllc.com Region 4 Directors | All Other States Jonny Harris | Screven, Ga. | 912.294.2470 | greenviewfarms@windstream.net Toni Meacham | Connell, Wa. | 509.488.3289 | tonipierson@rocketmail.com Bill Rainer | Union Springs, Ala. | 903.780.6455 | granjan.jr@gmail.com 6 BRAFORD NEWS l SUMMER 2020

NEW MEMBERS Brandon Bannister Aidan Patrick Baughman Andrew Travis Baughman Grayson J Benoit Joseph A. Bourgeois III Creig & Keitha Conrad Jason Garrett Kenner Gaspard Ella Johnson Elyse Johnson Garrett Manuel Kase Mhire Gregory E. Nolen Gavin Ortego Jody Standley Will Standley Adeline Vidrine

For Sale Private Treaty

Braford & Hereford Bulls • Braford & Hereford Heifers

Greenview Farms, Inc. 334 K-Ville Road Screven, GA 31560

Jonny Harris | 912-294-2470

Paul Harris | 912-294-2472

www.greenviewfarms.net

SUMMER 2020 l BRAFORD NEWS

7

NJBA UPDATE

BY GENE NATALI, NJBA PRESIDENT

My hope is that this edition of the Braford News finds our families healthy during this COVID-19 crisis. With the time we have off from school and work right now, my family has used this time to focus on our cattle and barn work; I would like to challenge my fellow NJBA members and Braford breeders to take this time to do the same.

At this time, the National Junior Braford All American will go on as planned. The NJBA directors are excited about the show we have planned and are not going to let this virus take that away. We look forward to seeing everyone June 1720 in Angleton, Texas. Entries will open soon. I would like to encourage NJBA members who are at least 12 years old to apply to be a director. It is a great opportunity to be a part of the leadership of our junior association. I would also like to remind our membership that we will have our annual NJBA meeting Thursday, June 18, after cattle check-in closes. Please visit the UBB website for specific All American information.

On behalf of the entire junior association, I would like to thank everyone for the support during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. We enjoyed serving the meal during the sale and were happy to raise some money with our silent auction. The money earned will go toward prizes and activities for our All American.

!

Join Us

June 17 to 20, 2020

Brazoria County Fairgrounds 901 South Downing Rd • Angleton, Texas 77515

Braford & Braford Base Bull & Heifer Shows Inspirational Speaker UBB Annual Meeting Junior & Adult Contests Contests include: Cow Calling, Skill-A-Thon, Quiz Bowl, Cook-Off, Photo, Poster, Coloring, Sales Talk (Not all contests have an adult division)

Schedule & Additional Information Coming Soon!

Visit www.Brafords.org for More Details.

Questions?

Leslie Hargrove, 409-766-0032, Lesliejhargrove@gmail.com Sandra Sheffield, 281-433-5756, fivestarfarmpearland@hotmail.com Bailey Herrin, 816-824-000, bailey@brafords.org

NJBA DIRECTORS President | Gene Natali | Iowa, La. Vice President | Kaitlyn Jonson | Iowa, La. Secretary | Miriam Hargrove | Manvel, Texas Treasurer | Kalli Smith | Gilliam, Ark. Reporter | Brady Harringon | Iowa, La.

8 BRAFORD NEWS l SUMMER 2020

Director | Luke Natali | Iowa, La. Director | Luke Mhire | Welsh, La. Director | Joe Natali | Iowa, La. Director | Mason Mhire | Welsh, La. Director | Hayden Hyman | Fouke, Ark. Director | Ashlee Primeaux | Bell City, La. Director | Brynlee Boudreaux | Iowa, La.

RCM 355 SmartStep 8459 2020 Dixie National Grand Champion Bull

Selling Registered Braford Bred Cows and Pairs Private Treaty

2020 National Braford Show Reserve Grand Champion Bull

A special thank you to Elliott Stanton for purchasing RCM 5139 SAGE 8001 in the International Braford Sale!

Congratulations to Hector Romero Gonzalez with Rancho El Ocote in Mexico on your purchase of RCM 5139 QUINN.

Robert & Carol Mills • Trey Abney Athens, Texas • www.rockcrestranch.com Home: 903-489-0869 • Office: 903-489-0837 Robert: 903-676-8930 • Trey: 903-676-7055 Email: info@rockcrestranch.com Rock Crest Ranch

Quality Qu ality genetics for the Braford and commercial industry! industry!

Bryan Alleman, Owner 337.278.2586 • allemancattle@cox.net 2709 Abbeville Hwy. • Rayne, LA 70578

Thank You! Thunderstorm R Cattle Company would like to thank all of our buyers from the

International

Braford Sale

Advancing t he

and

Braford Breed Sale

Now Offering..

Top Proven Cows & Show Prospects

Always Available..

Semen & Embryos

Thunderstorm R Cattle Co. 49870 US HWY 69 N • Bullard, Texas 75757 rlr@thunderstormrcattle.com 936.569.4872

Dancing Diamond Ranch REGISTERED BRAFORD CATTLE | QUALITY GENETICS

Thank you to all of our bull buyers!

DAVID OWENS | 210-422-4508 DIANNE OWENS | 210-415-8851 DD-RANCH@AGGIENETWORK.COM HILLSBORO, TEXAS SUMMER 2020 l BRAFORD NEWS

9

from

BONNIE to

BRAFORDS

By Bailey K. Herrin

E

veryone’s life story is unique. Each chapter heralds a fresh experience, a bold new endeavor, or even a longlasting contribution to some key profession or industry. An early chapter of Bill Rainer’s story opened in the small town of Union Springs, Alabama. His family had relocated there when he was in the second grade.

“My daddy was in the cotton business with my granddaddy and I have been here ever since,” Bill says.

Passion for agriculture runs deep in the Rainer family.

For Bill, it runs deep and long. He spent 47 years working for Bonnie Plant Farm. Delivering plants to every feed or home improvement store made him intimately acquainted with the back roads of the Southeast.

“Bill’s background in the vegetable plant business has taken him to many corners of the Braford realm,” explains Rodney Roberson, former UBB Executive Director. “From Texas to West Virginia to Florida, Bill knows every back road, each little town and every good eating place to be found.”

Bill spent the last 20 years before retirement managing a plant farm in East Texas. As retirement neared, he began dabbling in cattle.

“I didn’t have any cattle from the mid-80s until 1997,” Bill explains. “I did a little farming in between but I was busy working for Bonnie Plant Farm. Cattle had always been a passion of mine.”

A friend had asked Bill to pick out some Braford bulls for him that Grady Ellis in East Texas had for sale.

“I just liked ’em,” Bill Rainer recalls, the memory sparking a small grin. “I liked ‘em so much I ended up buying about 20 cows from him as well. I’d always been fond of the Hereford and Brahman breeds and Brafords are a great blend of the two. They are hardy cattle with great maternal abilities.

10 BRAFORD NEWS l SUMMER 2020

They make really good mommas. Plus, I enjoy the bull-selling business.”

Bill’s reputation for quality Brafords stems from his bull consignments at the Advancing the Braford Breed Sale since its conception. He has since built up a steady stream of private treaty bull sales.

“Bill Rainer has been a strong supporter in the UBB’s Bull Development and Marketing program,” notes Rodney. “He’s served on the committee continuously, consigned countless good bulls, helped do the work in Gonzales at many of our workdays, and enjoyed many rewarding sale days.”

As a testament to the quality of bulls that sell in the Advancing the Braford Breed Sale, many of Bill’s herd sires have been purchased through the sale over the years. Most of his cow herd has been self-generated by both keeping replacement Brafords and breeding up to Brafords.

“I started playing with ¾ cows,” Bill says. “I bought 15 of them and started putting a Hereford bull on them. I really like the Hereford and Brahman breeds, and it gives me a chance to play with two breeds that I really enjoy, all while creating some Brafords along the way.”

The dynamics of Bill’s cow herd have changed a little over the years. Bill has a purebred Hereford herd that he runs a ¾ blood Brahman bull on to produce first-generation Brafords.

In addition to this herd, Bill also runs multi-generational Brafords.

“All but two of my Braford cows on this place were born here. I’ve bought one cow from Bryan Alleman and one from Wayne Boozer. The rest of the cows have been raised out of my herd. For this reason, I haven’t offered many of my females private treaty, but I am hoping to start marketing more of them.”

For more than a decade, Bill kept a herd of cattle in both Alabama and Texas.

“While in Texas, I slowly rented and acquired land to run cattle on,” Bill explains. “At one point, I had as many cattle in Texas as I did in Alabama. I retired four or so years ago and moved back to Alabama. It just wasn’t feasible to go back and forth. I have since sold my farm in Texas and moved all of the cattle to Alabama.”

A return to his roots in retirement has brought time for reflection.

“I wouldn’t have been able to maintain cow herds in two states if it weren’t for having good help,” Bill admits, with a smile of gratitude and pride.

“John Bethea has been with me for 15 years. He’s a good cow guy and a good mechanic. Most importantly, I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my wife, Janet. She has always helped me a lot with the cows. We’ve been married 51 years and have two children. Our son, Will, and his wife moved out to Texas to work with me at Bonnie Plant Farm.

They have since had two sons. Our daughter, Julee, lives in Montgomery, Alabama.”

Clearly, Bill exemplifies and appreciates long-term commitment in both family life and professional life. And he has stayed dedicated to the Braford breed since day one.

Rodney Roberson has seen that dedication in action: “Although Bill split his time between East Texas and Alabama as he bred Brafords in both locations, he served many terms as a UBB board member and even served as president and vice president several times.”

Even in retirement, Bill has not retired from his lifelong passion.

This year, as UBB vice president, Bill continues to be a strong asset to the Braford breed – through his passion, his loyalty, and his tireless pursuit of breeding the highest-quality Braford cattle. Bill Rainer’s accomplishments in the industry we love form a life story to be proud of.

If it were a book, it would be a page-turner.

SUMMER 2020 l BRAFORD NEWS

11

EXPERT ADVICE

Photo Courtesy of Burt Rutherford and BEEF magazine.

PARASITE DRUG RESISTANCE: A Growing Problem that Requires New Strategies for Worm Control

By Kelsey L. Paras DVM, MS and Ray M. Kaplan DVM, PhD, DACVM, DEVPC, University of Georgia

I

nfection with gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) can have a major impact on the productivity of beef cattle. If a calf is heavily infected, it may show clinical signs of disease such as scours, but more commonly, these animals have decreased productivity and gain 0.2-0.4 lbs less per day than calves with few parasites. In the past, GIN infection was easily controlled with the use of dewormers, especially ivermectin and related drugs (doramectin, eprinomectin, moxidectin).

Unfortunately, dewormer resistance is a growing worldwide problem in all livestock systems, with most reports of resistance in cattle GIN parasites being to the ivermectintype drugs. While studies have been performed in a number of major cattle-producing countries demonstrating that resistance is becoming a severe problem in cattle parasites, until our recent study, no similar studies had been performed in the U.S. The goals of our study were to: assess the prevalence of ivermectin-type resistance in GIN parasites on beef cattle farms; test the effectiveness of concurrent (combination) dewormer therapy in these same herds; and perform educational outreach programs to communicate the 12 BRAFORD NEWS l SUMMER 2020

findings of the study to the cattle producers of Georgia. In this project, fecal egg count reduction tests (FECRT) were performed in stocker cattle on 12 cattle farms. This was achieved via travel to farms where cattle were weighed and treated with one of three deworming protocols – a pouron ivermectin-type product, an injectable ivermectin-type product, and concurrent therapy with an ivermectin-type injectable product and a white wormer (benzimidazole) – and fecal samples were collected. Two weeks later, farms were visited again and fecal samples were collected. Fecal egg counts were performed on all samples, and fecal cultures were performed to identify the species of parasites present both before and after treatment.

The 12 farms tested were located throughout the state of Georgia and included three farms each from the northeast and southeast, two from the southwest, and four from the northwest. We found that 11 of the 12 (92 percent) showed resistance to the pour-on ivermectin-type dewormer and 10 of these also exhibited resistance to the injectable ivermectin-type dewormer. None of the farms showed

resistance to the concurrent therapy. Note that although this study was performed only on farms in Georgia, we have done other testing on cattle from farms throughout the southern U.S. with similar results. Additionally, results from studies done in other parts of the country indicate that this problem is not restricted to the South, and most likely is a problem throughout most of the U.S. In addition to performing the FECRT on each farm, we asked the producers what they used for their deworming protocol. The majority of producers used a single ivermectin-type product, a few included a white wormer in a dewormer rotation, and only one producer was currently using concurrent therapy. Given the historical effectiveness of these ivermectin-type products, in the past, this was a reasonable deworming plan. However, given the worldwide trends and the results of this study, we recommend that producers immediately adopt a concurrent therapy deworming protocol. Using concurrent therapy with two dewormers from different drug groups is a far superior approach than using rotation. It is important when developing a concurrent therapy treatment plan that producers work with their veterinarian, and that drugs are selected from different drug classes – including ivermectintype, white wormer, and/or levamisole. This is necessary because when a parasite population is resistant to one type of drug in a given group or class, it will also be resistant to the other drugs in that same group/class. The use of concurrent therapy is more effective at killing parasites than single-drug treatment because if a parasite is resistant to one drug, then the second drug can kill it and vice versa. The higher efficacy that results from concurrent use of different dewormers at the same time indicates that fewer worms are surviving the treatment. That means that you get a better effect of your treatment and fewer resistant worms are surviving; thus, the development of resistance is greatly diminished.

The use of two deworming products simultaneously is a more expensive option; nevertheless, given the reduced effectiveness of the ivermectin-type products against GIN on most beef cattle farms, the improvement in efficacy and resulting improvements in weight gains will easily justify the higher cost.

Along with using concurrent therapy of two different types of dewormers, we also strongly recommend not treating all of your cattle. Rather, we recommend leaving approximately 10-20 percent of cattle untreated – a strategy called “Selective Non-treatment.” Leave the bestlooking cattle untreated and deworm the rest. By default, the best-looking cattle are not being significantly impaired by their parasite infections; otherwise, they would not look like they do. By leaving these cattle untreated, the parasites in those animals do not experience the dewormer (the untreated worms are called “Refugia”); thus, the drug pressure for resistance in the overall worm population is greatly decreased. This causes a win-win scenario. You use a highly effective concurrent treatment that is much more

Table 1. Fecal egg count reduction data from the four initial farms assessed. A population of GIN is considered resistant when the fecal egg count reduction is less than 95%.

Farm

Southwest 1 Northeast 1 Northeast 2 Northwest 1 Southeast 1 Southwest 2 Northwest 2

Pour-on Ivermectin Injectable Ivermectin Type Drug Type Drug

86.6% 96.7% 66.2% 54.05% 31% 85.4% 55.3%

92.3% 97.9% 80% 47.8% 50.3% 84.8% 59.6%

Concurrent Therapy

(Injectable Ivermectin-Type + White Wormer)

99.8% 99.4% 97.9% 99.2% 95.5% 99.1% 99.4%

Southeast 2

85%

96.9%

100%

Northeast 3 Northwest 3 Northwest 4 Southeast 3

51.8% 46.25% 71.24% 14.04%

62.9% 32.11% 90.26% 8.9%

99.7% 98.48% 99.23% 97.14%

AVERAGE

62.0%

67.0%

98.7%

effective than what most cattlemen have been achieving in recent years, so those cattle that are treated will have significant improvement in weight gains. Then by leaving the best-looking cattle untreated, you sacrifice little production because these animals were already doing well, but you gain a large reduction in how rapidly resistance to the concurrent treatment will develop. Thus, this new strategy should be much more sustainable than previous approaches, and still provide better production than what has been achieved in recent years. It is important to note that mature cows do not have all of the same types or numbers of parasites as calves, so it is important that the 10-20 percent left untreated come from each age group. So leave at least 10 percent of cows and 10 percent of calves untreated.

Leaving more than 10 percent untreated will help slow drug resistance even more, but doing so might cause a decrease in total herd production. Ultimately, the percent left untreated is a decision that needs to be made by each farm based on their individual circumstance, understanding that the more animals left untreated, the more slowly drug resistance to the concurrent (combination) treatment will develop.

Finally, it is quite important to use these strategies together because they work together. While our results show that concurrent therapy was highly effective, there still were a few worms that survived the treatment.

Consequently, using concurrent therapy without leaving some cattle untreated could lead to the development of multiple-drug resistance where none of the drugs work.

Conversely, leaving some cattle untreated but using a single dewormer will likely not enable you to reach the desired level of productivity. Note that rotation is a poor option, as it will not provide either benefit; resistance will not be slowed and production will be sacrificed.

Most things change over time, and this is also true for parasite control. As a result of drug resistance increasing each year, it is important that livestock producers adapt and modify deworming protocols to address this changing landscape. Doing so will help to preserve the efficacy of current dewormers, thereby enabling good worm control to remain possible into the future.

SUMMER 2020 l BRAFORD NEWS

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INDUSTRY NEWS 2019 BRAFORD CHAMPION OF THE WORLD ANIMALS NAMED The 2019 Braford Champion of the World competition took place from Dec. 1-14, 2019. It was the eighth time the annual competition had taken place, and the fifth time for the Braford breed to be included. More than 1,000 entries from over 80 countries featuring 16 breeds were represented in this year’s competition.

The Braford cattle from 13 countries were judged by four official judges: Heitor Lutti Pinheiro Machado of Brazil, Brett Nobbs of Australia, Allen Goode of the United States, and Rafael Ramirez of Mexico.

The Braford Miss World regional champions came from Argentina, Australia, and the United States. The winner of the 2019 Braford Miss World competition was Leonel 328, owned by Cabaña Marta Carina of Argentina. Leonel 328

qualified by winning the 2019 Palermo Braford Show in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The Braford Champion of the World regional champions came from Argentina, Australia, and the United States.

The winner of the 2019 Braford Champion of the World competition was Ganagrin 70223 Expert, owned by Ganagrin SA of Argentina. Expert qualified by winning the 2019 Palermo Braford Show in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The 2020 Braford Champion of the World and Braford Miss World competition will take place from Dec. 6-20, 2020. The four official judges of the 2020 competition will be: Fernando Alfonso Bordaberry of Uruguay, Martin Lill of Australia, Wayne Porter of South Africa, and Judd Cullers of the United States.

2019 “Braford - Miss World” 2019 “Braford - Miss South America” Leonel 328 (Argentina)

2019 “Braford - Miss Asia/Africa” Downfall Creek Cruel Girl (Australia)

2019 “Braford - Miss North America” HB Miss Hazel 0317 (USA)

2019 “Braford - Champion of the World” 2019 “Braford - Champion of South America” Ganagrin 70223 Expert (Argentina)

2019 “Braford - Champion of Asia/Africa” Big Valley 15 (S) (Australia)

2019 “Braford - Champion of North America” SGB Formula One E37 (USA)

INDUSTRY OBITUARY Carl Francis Hunter, 87, passed away on April 1, 2020, at his residence in Coppell, Texas. He was born on Dec. 26, 1932, in Miller, Missouri, to the late Ernest Jefferson Hunter and Lovie Jane Abraham Hunter. Carl was the youngest and only son of six children.

After graduating high school, Carl was drafted and served in the U.S. Army from March 1953-1955. Also in 1955, he married Conreda Thummel and divorced in 1967. They had four amazing children together. He then married Patsy Joan Wooddell on April 13, 1968, until present time, spending 51 years, 11-1/2 months together until his death.

Carl loved golf. His passion was raising champion Braford cattle. He had a great sense of humor, as his children and grands can attest.

14 BRAFORD NEWS l SUMMER 2020

Preceding him in death are his parents and all five sisters, Edna, Ernestine, Alma, Bonnie and Helen.

He is survived by Patsy Joan Hunter, spouse; children, Janet Gray (Gary), Kenneth Hunter (Victoria), Sharon Hunter and Timothy Hunter (Tina); grandchildren, Shaun Gray, Jeremiah Hunter, Jason Gray, Joseph Chiles, Katelyn Chiles Gable, Jeffrey Hunter, Andrea Hunter Forrester and Jordan Hunter; and great-grandchildren, Rykken Smyer (stepgrandson), Rhyder Hunter, Rhys Hunter, Ariana Chiles (stepgranddaughter), Millie Chiles (step-granddaughter), Cadence Chiles, and Jack Forrester; and many nieces and nephews. He was awaiting the imminent birth of another granddaughter.

He is also survived by his pets, Sugar, Bubba and Libby.

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Please complete and return to: United Braford Breeders P.O. Box 1177 Kingsville, Texas 78364 P: 361.516.0530 F: 361.592.8572 E: records@brafords.org

SUMMER 2020 l BRAFORD NEWS

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EXPERT ADVICE

HERD MANAGEMENT:

Selecting a Herd Management Program Bobbette R. Fagel, MS in Information Technology Management

M

ost of us have a scrap piece of paper here and another piece of scrap tucked over there. Maybe you have this notebook, that one, and the other one on the shelf. Oh, and don’t forget the back of that old envelope or even the palm of your hand. Yes, I’ve done it! But what is even more important is the fact that you have probably done it as well.

Done what, you ask? It’s simple. Many of us have gone out to the barn or pasture and needed to take notes about an important event, the cost associated with that event, or even just something that you just thought of that needed to be added to your long list of important things to do ‘later.’

If we take all the scrap pieces of paper, the pages in multiple notebooks, and all the endless other places where we have quickly jotted down important notes or 16 BRAFORD NEWS l SUMMER 2020

events and put them all in one place, then we may have some loose resemblance to a herd management system.

However, this way of managing our herd and our business is counterproductive. We end up losing that scrap piece of paper, spilling coffee on that notebook, and washing our hands. Either way, those important notes and events end up being lost forever.

This is where a herd management application is essential.

The systems available today allow us to jot down notes, track and manage various events such as health-related treatments, genealogy, recurring tasks, crop reporting, accounting, and a list of other activities associated with our farm. Using a herd management application can tie all the loose ends together so that our farm, our business and our livelihood

run as smoothly as possible and, most importantly, can be profitable.

With all the different herd management applications available to us, we need to take the time to select an application that fits our personal needs. We don’t want to take the time to invest in an application, set it up, and enter mounds of information just to later figure out that the application doesn’t do what we need it to do. Or, the application has more bells and whistles than we care to shuffle around. As such, when you determine that you want to invest in a herd management application, it is important to take the time to investigate your options.

It isn’t going to be an easy decision, as you shouldn’t just subscribe to the first herd management application that pops up during your Google search. In fact, if done correctly, it’s going to take some time, as there are preliminary tasks that should be performed in an effort to determine an appropriate solution that fits your personal and businessrelated needs. Specifically, it is important to perform a Needs Analysis, a Solution Alignment, a Cost Analysis, and a Risk Assessment. You should also consider developing a Resource Management Plan and even a Project Plan.

I know that it sounds daunting, but if you look at the ultimate outcome, it may surprise you how simple these tasks can be. Of course, the level or degree to which you dive into each of these activities is up to you. The larger your operation, the more detailed these preliminary tasks should be. Let’s take a look at each task so that I can show you what I mean.

The Needs Analysis, otherwise known as a Gap Analysis, should be performed to document your requirements and evaluate the gaps between your current method of tracking information and that of a desired application. Look at it as where you are today compared to where you want to be tomorrow. Do you need Internet connectivity so that you can use the application while in the fields and pastures? Do you want to track production or performance activities? Do you want to see trends and opportunities? Do you want to receive reminders of important events? Do you want to manage farm equipment? Do you need the application to allow for the integration of accounting functions with your production records? What about managing customer and vendor relations? Whatever your needs are, make note of them.

Next, sit down at a computer and perform a Google search of herd management applications. You will be surprised at how many there are. Then, click on those links! Look at several applications to see which ones have the options you were looking for when you performed the Needs Analysis. You can do this at a high level or even doing a deep-dive comparison. Either way, it is important that you evaluate the options and then make note of the top two or three that tick the most boxes.

Once you have determined which applications fit your needs the most, you should investigate further by performing a Cost Analysis. This process takes into consideration all

costs associated with implementing the new application. It should calculate costs that may be incurred for equipment, initial setup, ongoing maintenance fees, etc. How much will each given solution cost you in subscription fees at the beginning, for the next year, or even for the next five years?

A Risk Assessment should also be performed to identify potential vulnerabilities and to document mitigating controls.

Things to consider could be technical, human and natural disasters to see how they may adversely impact your project.

For example, you may determine that you need to have Internet connection so that you can use the application on your cell phone while you are in the pastures. However, you face a risk if that Internet connectivity in your area is spotty.

You could then mitigate that risk in purchasing a cell phone case that has a built-in antennae booster to decrease the risk that spotty Internet connectivity will be an issue. Document any other risks that you may face by employing a particular application or technology.

Next, you should determine the resources that will be required to complete the project, which will result in your Resource Management Plan. A Resource Management Plan defines the various personnel and other resources required to complete the implementation of the herd management application. This should be done so that the required resources may be planned for ahead of time. Consider evaluating human, financial and technical resources.

Using the results from the analyses that were performed, you can then move forward with a Project Plan so that the implementation of the project may be successful. Note that the Project Plan spells out everything that needs to take place to allow the herd management application implementation project to be successful. It includes evaluating solutions, noting risks and mitigating controls, determining a budget, in addition to scheduling time, resources and the activities that would need to take place to get from the start of the project clear through to the end.

Keep in mind that these steps are great whenever you have a project to complete, not just when selecting a herd management application. If you have to buy a tractor, construct an outbuilding, or even add acres to your existing pasture, take the time to plan it out. The outcome may surprise you!

Please note that the screenshots posted are just an example of a few of the many options available for herd mangagement software. The UBB strongly encourages you to research other options or even create your own spreadsheet. Every farm/ranch is unique in its own way.

There isn’t one system that is perfect for every operation.

SUMMER 2020 l BRAFORD NEWS

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EXPERT ADVICE

HEAT LOAD in Tropically Adapted Cattle Figure 1. A Braford cow with calves under grazing conditions in Florida, U.S.

By Dr. Aaron Norris, University of Nevada, Reno and Dr. Luis Tedeschi*, Texas A&M University, College Station * Quantifiable Animal Performance Area of Excellence in the Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M Universit

A

s the harmful effects of global warming gain some traction in agriculture, forward-thinking ranchers are increasing their level of concern about how to cope with a possible warmer climate in maintaining (or increasing) their level of productivity. Heat stress brought about by a warmer climate may have resounding negative repercussions on cattle productivity, including reducing parasite tolerance, decreasing fertility and growth performance, and in an extreme situation, endangering animal breeds that once were essential to beef production. The question that is often asked is: What should we do? Perhaps a better question would be: Can anything be done to mitigate the harmful effects of heat load due to a warmer condition?

The discussion of heat load in cattle production revolves primarily around methods of identifying and attempting to mitigate it to some degree. However, summers in tropical and subtropical regions commonly result in animals continually having heat load to some degree. Often nighttime cooling is the primary form of heat dissipation, as physiological mechanisms typically cannot prevent heat load during daylight hours, most notably in areas of high humidity. From a managerial perspective, there is little that can be done to 18 BRAFORD NEWS l SUMMER 2020

assist animals other than providing adequate space, shade and cool water to promote heat dissipation. Furthermore, the physiological mechanisms used to dissipate heat require energy, but during heat load, feed intake is reduced due to the associated metabolic heat, especially for grazing cattle. This can result in a drastic reduction in energy, thereby limiting the available energy for production. In these situations, the bad often becomes worse because many producers in these regions utilize a spring calving season. Consequently, the summer months will at least partly coincide with early- to mid-lactation cows and breeding season, typically resulting in reduced milk production and fertility to varying degrees. Persistent exposure to heat-stress environments can potentially have profound effects on conception rates, weaning weights and future performance of any retained replacement heifers.

The performance issues imposed by heat stress are the primary reasons producers in tropical and subtropical regions utilize tropically adapted breeds, Bos indicus or tropically adapted Bos taurus (e.g., Africander, Bonsmara, Tuli), to some degree. In comparison to most B. taurus cattle, tropically adapted animals and their crosses (Figure 1) display improved

heat and parasite tolerance (tolerance, not resistance) due to anatomical differences. Heat tolerance is primarily influenced by three primary cooling methods: evaporative, non-evaporative, and respiration. Most producers recognize evaporative heat loss as the main method by which tropically adapted animals cope with the heat. This is primarily due to the noticeable (and often buyer-docked) attributes such as dewlap, navel, and ears. These characteristics result in more surface area, promoting heat dissipation via conduction and convection exchanges (e.g., wind, water). The sweat glands of tropically adapted animals also tend to be larger, more numerous, and positioned near the skin surface, enabling increased sweating rate. However, sweating does not provide an adequate cooling method when humidity is high due to resistance (lack) of evaporation, and this resistance is further amplified by the coat of Bos taurus animals (Figure 2). As well, sweating does not become the primary method of heat dissipation until the air and skin temperatures are similar due to lack of non-evaporative heat transfer, making nonevaporative heat transfer vital to thermoregulation.

Non-evaporative cooling occurs primarily through conductive and convective heat exchange. As noted previously, increased surface area assists in the thermal exchange between the animal and the environment. Tropically adapted cattle more easily transfer metabolic heat to the skin where it can be dissipated, promoting non-evaporative cooling. However, the hair coat of tropically adapted cattle is denser and slick, promoting the reflection of solar radiation that results in less heat absorption. Although reflectance does not dissipate heat, it does promote a reduced rate of heat uptake that assists in efficient heat dissipation. The reflectancy and absorption of solar radiation can also be affected by coat color. Heat absorption is most significant in black-coated animals, moderate in red/brown, and least in white/gray animals. Coat color is more critical for animals that are not tropically adapted due to lesser heat dissipation capacity. In tropically adapted animals, coat color has only minor effects on body temperature so long as adequate water is available to maintain hydration.

The final method of heat load dissipation is respiration.

Through the process of breathing out, the core heat is removed from the respiratory tract; this can account for up to 15 percent of the heat load in animals with high heat loads. Although some heat dissipation occurs during normal breathing, most of it is removed via evaporative and nonevaporative methods. However, panting is a last-ditch attempt to control body temperature during severe heat stress events when evaporative and non-evaporative heat dissipation does not suffice. It is for this reason that breathing rate and panting scores are pivotal to identifying heat stress severity.

Bos indicus breeds (Figure 3) have different morphoanatomical features compared to Bos taurus that help them to tolerate higher heat loads, making them more adapted to tropical and subtropical environments. They have longer legs to keep the body farther from the reflective surface

of the soil, and looser skin and larger ears to increase the surface area to help to dissipate the body heat. They also have localized fat depots (e.g., hump) to prevent thicker fat depots under the skin that would diminish heat losses.

From a survival perspective, tropically adapted animals are much better suited for environments conducive to the heat load. However, the often-unnoticed benefit of utilizing tropically adapted animals in these regions is that energetic requirements will be lower due to less energy required for thermoregulation. The capacity for tropically adapted animals to utilize more energetically efficient methods to minimize and dissipate heat load (i.e., reflect solar radiation and convective cooling) enables digestive and metabolic functions to be altered to a lesser degree. This allows tropically adapted animals to stay on feed, reducing the need to utilize fat reserves for energy. Since cow maintenance represents the highest cost in cow-calf enterprises, the utilization of tropically adapted animals can likely assist in improving economic efficiency by reducing the cost per pound weaned in environments that are conducive to tropical breeds. However, national and regional market trends will be a significant determinant of long-term economic sustainability for a specific area due to price docking of B. indicus.

Figure 2. A diverse group of Bos Taurus in confinement in Queensland, Australia.

Figure 3. A diverse group of Bos indicus bulls under grazing conditions in Nairobi, Kenya.

SUMMER 2020 l BRAFORD NEWS

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SHOW RESULTS

for full results visit www.Brafords.org

HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW & RODEO

BRAFORD OPEN SHOW Grand Champion Heifer: GPN CM MISS SALLY 0402, Exhibited by Darrell Pitchford Reserve Grand Champion Heifer: LV GE 702 ANNIE 91, Exhibited by Charles Johnson Grand Champion Bull: S5 JE MR 918, Exhibited by Sutton Shields Reserve Champion Bull: RCM 355 SMART STEP 8459, Exhibited by Robert & Carol Mills Produce of Dam: Exhibited by David & Dianne Owens Best-Six-Head: Exhibited by Robert & Carol Mills BRAFORD BASE OPEN SHOW Grand Champion Heifer: MISS LADY MANSO 280, Exhibited by Abear Nunez Farms Reserve Grand Champion Heifer: LSN MISS LINDA 416, Exhibited by Luke Natali

HLSR Grand Champion Braford Heifer GPN CM MISS SALLY 0402

HLSR Grand Res. Champion Braford Heifer LV GE 702 ANNIE 91

HLSR Grand Champion Braford Bull S5 JE MR 918

HLSR Grand Res. Champion Braford Bull RCM 355 SMART STEP 8459

HLSR Grand Champion Braford Base Heifer HLSR Grand Res. Champion Braford Base Heifer LPN MISS LINDA 416 MISS LADY MANSO 280 HLSR Photos by Show Champions

SALE REPORTS INTERNATIONAL BRAFORD SALE MARCH 3, 2020 • HOUSTON, TEXAS Gross: $40,750 Averages: 5 Females: $3,770 1 Bull: $3,900 4 Embryos Packages: $1,240 3 Semen Packages: $785 4 Herd Picks: $2,675

High Selling Lot: $7,750 • Lot 1 RCM 5139 SAGE 8001 • Sold by Rock Crest Ranch • Purchased by Stanton Ranch

ADVANCING THE BRAFORD BREED SALE MARCH 20, 2020 • ONLINE Gross: $110,250 Averages: Bull Average: $2,485 Open Heifer Average: $1,670

High Selling Bulls: $4,600 • Lot 220 HR MUSCLE MAN 7152G • Sold by Harvey Ranch • Purchased by McFaddin Enterprises LTD $4,600 • Lot 221 HR CHARLIE BROWN 550G • Sold by Harvey Ranch • Purchased by Stanton Ranch $4,300 • Lot 222 HR RUSTLER 7135G3 • Sold by Harvey Ranch • Purchased by Kathy Guthrie $4,100 • Lot 536 HR UPPER CLASS 75F5 • Sold by Harvey Ranch • Purchased by Roy Chisum High Selling Open Heifer: $2,300 • Lot 970 WB GT 970P • Sold by Wayne Boozer • Purchased by CM Johnson Cattle 20 BRAFORD NEWS l SUMMER 2020

UPCOMING EVENTS May 17, 2020 NJBA All American Entry Deadline May 28-30, 2020 Georgia Cattlemen’s Convention & Trade Show Perry, Ga. May 31, 2020 NJBA All American Late Entry Deadline Corey & Jodie Doucet 120 Tans Rd. Sweetlake, LA 70607

337.802.5473 doucetbrafords@yahoo.com

June 17-21, 2020 NJBA All American Brazoria County Fairgrounds Angleton, Texas June 9-12, 2020 Beef Improvement Federation Research Symposium & Annual Convention Online June 22-25, 2020 Florida Cattlemen’s Convention Marco Island, Fla. July 1, 2020 Commitment Deadline for Fall Issue of Braford News

Remaining Activity Fees Due July 15, 2020 Bull Development Commitment Forms Due August 3-5, 2020 Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course College Station, Texas To Be Announced Louisiana Junior Braford Summer Show Dewitt Livestock Facility Alexandria, La. send calendar additions to ubb@brafords.org

NPH BRAFORDS

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SUMMER 2020 l BRAFORD NEWS

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Just Added!

RCM 5139 SAGE 8001 | UBB 2018709

HR CHARLIE BROWN 550G | UBB 20181074

Thank You!

A special thank you to Kim Istre for purchasing SR Scurred Tiger Cat 1801!

Top Quality Cattle Only the Best Bloodlines Elliott Stanton

124 Mann Rd | Poteet TX 78065 Cell 832-291-8349 Office 210-331-8727 www.stantonbrafordranch.com