PAGE 2 - Monday, December 23, 2013 / AGWEEK
Helping hand
Relief efforts boost poststorm outlook for Dakota ranchers
■
By Jonathan Knutson
Agweek Staff Writer
Brian Flatmoe lost 126 cattle in the freak October blizzard that hammered the western Dakotas. But the veteran Meadow, S.D., rancher would rather talk about what happened next. Livestock producers from across much of the country donated 20 cattle to replace some of the animals he lost. “I’m grateful from the bottom of my heart,” he says. Flatmoe received the 20 cattle through Heifers for South Dakota, a volunteer group that
is sending donated heifers and cows to ranchers hurt by the blizzard. Roughly 600 cows already have been distributed, and several hundred more will go out in January, says Ty Linger, a Miles City, Mont., rancher who is spearheading the project. He doesn’t know how much time he’s spent on Heifers for South Dakota. “But there’s no better way I could be spending my time,” he says. More than 300 donors in 13 states have participated in the program so far. Heifers for South Dakota has stressed the importance of donating high-quality animals, and donors responded, Linger says. “People weren’t just trying to get rid of something. They were giving a really good gift,” he says. Flatmoe says the cattle he received — mostly heifers, with a few older cows — are excellent animals. “It’s mind-boggling that people would be so generous. I was
really impressed with the quality that were donated,” he says. Flatmoe, 50, has been ranching since 1987. He says that while ranchers are accustomed to dealing with obstacles, the October blizzard “is a big obstacle. It will be hard to overcome.” But the donated cattle from Heifers for South Dakota will help, he says. “It’s a boost. It really does mean a lot,” he says.
Opportunities to help
Heifers for South Dakota continues to accept livestock donations. More information: www.facebook.com/pledgeheifer. There’s still time to help ranchers in the western Dakotas hurt by the October blizzard through other relief efforts, too. They include: ■ The South Dakota Rancher Relief Fund, www.RanchersRelief.org, was set up by the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association, South Dakota Cattlemen’s
Association and the South Dakota Sheepgrowers Association and the Black Hills Area Community Foundation. To donate online, go to www.giveblackhills.org. Checks written to “Rancher Relief Fund” can be mailed to the Black Hills Area Community Foundation at PO Box 231, Rapid City, S.D., 57709. ■ The North Dakota Stockmen’s Foundation is accepting private donations for South Dakota ranchers and will pass along the gifts to the South Dakota fund. Donors are asked to write “South Dakota” on their checks if that’s their intended destination. Also, the North Dakota group is accepting donations to help ranchers in its state who lost cattle in the October blizzard. Contributions can be made to the North Dakota Stockmen’s Foundation with “Aid for Atlas” written in the memo and sent to 407 S. 2nd St., Bismarck, N.D., 58504.
Cattle cycle raises questions ■
Will high beef prices boost US cattle numbers?
By Jonathan Knutson Agweek Staff Writer
John Chute, an Aitkin, Minn., cow-calf producer, has looked at the statistics and knows what they traditionally mean. Beef prices are high and cattle numbers are low — a combination that, in the past, led many cattle producers to increase their herds. Chute says his own operation has only limited ability to expand, so “I don’t see us making any major changes. But there may be some (producers) who do. It will be interesting to see what happens.” Producers and others involved in the cattle industry are wondering about the socalled “cycle,” or a period in which cattle numbers rise and fall in response to beef prices. Traditionally, declining cattle numbers cause beef prices to rise, and vice versa. Now, according to the cycle, record beef prices should be boosting cattle numbers. Bigger herds would mean more animals to sell and more profit, at least in theory. Contrary to the cycle, however, cattle numbers nationwide are declining, not increasing, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The U.S. cattle inventory on Jan. 1, stood at 89.3 million, a 2 percent reduction from a year earlier and the smallest January cattle inventory since 1952. Further, the 2012 calf crop was estimated at 34.3 million
head, down 3 percent from 2011 and the smallest calf crop since 1949. Federal budget problems caused USDA to cancel this year’s semi-annual cattle inventory scheduled for July 1. But a mid-year survey by the Livestock Marketing Information Center found that the number of U.S. cattle had declined 1 to 2 percent from a year earlier.
Drought has big impact A combination of factors has pushed down U.S. cattle numbers, says Tim Petry, North Dakota State University Extension Service livestock marketing specialist. Drought in the Southern Plains, particularly Texas, has forced some producers, who otherwise might have expanded their herds, to cut back, he says. “There was interest in rebuilding. But the weather trumped things,” he says. On the Northern Plains, in contrast, many producers have expanded their herds despite drought in 2012, he says. North Dakota, Minnesota, Montana and South Dakota all had more cows and calves on Jan. 1, than a year earlier. “There was herd rebuilding on the Northern Plains. But we were again trumped by what happened in the Southern states,” he says. In other words, the additional cattle in the Upper Midwest couldn’t offset lower cattle numbers in the south. High prices for both corn and hay have hampered producers who want to expand, Petry says. Chute notes that high hay prices have led some liveBEEF: See Page 4
AGWEEK / Monday, December 23, 2013 - PAGE 3
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PAGE 4 - Monday, December 23, 2013 / AGWEEK
BEEF
Continued from Page 3 stock producers with extra hay to sell it, rather than increase their herds and feed it to their own cattle. The biology of beef cattle affects herd rebuilding, too, Petry says. “It doesn’t happen overnight,” he says. It takes three years from the time producers hold back additional heifers to produce more calves until those calves are finally slaughtered as added beef for consumers.
Does the cycle still work? The cattle cycle remains in place and continues to influence producers, Petry says. “From a cycle standpoint, there is interest in rebuilding. It started in the Northern Plains and I think it will become more widespread,” he says. But U.S. cattle numbers are unlikely to rise as high as they once did, Petry and others say. The cattle industry has become more efficient, reducing
U.S. cattle numbers keep falling Million head 105 100 95 90 85
1988
1993
1998
2003
2008
2013
Source: National Agricultural Statistics Service
the number of cattle needed to supply enough beef to meet demand, says Dar Geiss, a Pierz, Minn., producer and president of the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association. “The genetics have gotten greater. We can produce more (beef) with less (cattle),” he says.
Today, the U.S. has about 317 million people and 89 million cattle. In 1952, the country had 157 million people and 88.1 million cattle. So, the U.S. population has doubled in six decades while cattle numbers are roughly the same. There’s no easy or obvious answer about the proper num-
ber of cattle, Geiss says. The cattle industry doesn’t want to swamp the market with beef, which would cause retail prices to tumble. At the same time, the industry wants to produce enough beef to keep its price competitive, he says. “It’s a fine line,” Geiss says.
Bulls and cold are not a good mix
Provide bedding, wind protection ■
By Kris Ringwall Having had to break into the office door because the lock was frozen shut reminded me that not all things work well in the cold. Animals are much better prepared for the cold than we are. Suitable hair coats have been grown and provide excellent body insulation, provided the environment is dry. For cattle producers, much of the attention involves making sure the cattle are dry and well fed. Cattle generate heat as they digest their food. Cows and calves get along quite well, gathering heat from the herd, while bedding down in a well-bedded and protected area. Cattle can generate a lot of heat. When necessary, cattle will lie down and make every
effort to get out of the wind. Come morning, the cows will get up, get a good drink of water, find hay and eat and then spend the rest of the day lounging and chewing their cud. The challenge is more on the producer because getting feed out, proper bedding and keeping water lines open are a struggle. At the days end, remarkably, the work gets done. But, if there is an oversight, it will more than likely be in the bull pen. The bulls often are separated from the main herd and do not gain the benefit of the herd environment when it comes to survival. Often they are more individualistic and not up to cuddling to keep warm. They seem to survive but are at risk in cold weather. The most reported issue is a frozen scrotum. The situation is not that uncommon but certainly a crisis for the bull. The scrotum is specifically designed to allow heat out of the body and the testicles. The bull will not tolerate these
cold temperatures without good bedding and wind protection. Bulls exposed to the elements, in this case wind and cold, could be neutered by morning. In severe cases, frozen testicles mean the bull is of no use. Fortunately, the testis proper generally does not freeze, and the damage usually is limited to the scrotum. In such cases, check your bulls for scrotal swelling, followed by sloughing of dead skin. The heat of the inflamed scrotum actually damages the sperm producing and storage capacity of the bull’s reproductive system, which usually means the bull will be infertile for a couple of months. Needless to say, all bulls should have a breeding soundness exam. Have those bulls tested in late March or early April while there still are plenty of bull sales to shop for replacements. As a side note, are you feeding your bulls? We spend so much time talking about the cows that often the poor bulls get left out in the cold, liter-
ally. Granted, bulls can get big, with some adding 300 pounds a year. But stunting their growth and then expecting them to be fertile in the spring is not realistic bull management. A quick check of the dry matter intake tables shows that larger, mature bulls should be eating 40 to 50-plus pounds of dry matter. As the bull adds weight, his daily feed delivered easily could exceed 60 to 70 pounds of forage, depending on feeding method. The pounds will be even greater if you are giving the bulls wetter feeds. Add it up and make sure your bulls are bedded well, out of the wind and getting the right amount of a balanced ration for proper maintenance and growth. Check with your local nutritionist. Editor’s note: Ringwall is a North Dakota State University Extension Service livestock specialist and the Dickinson Research Extension Center director.
AGWEEK / Monday, December 23, 2013 - PAGE 5
PAGE 6 - Monday, December 23, 2013 / AGWEEK
31st Annual Sale
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Ridl family’s Angus
By Mikkel Pates
Agweek Staff Writer
DICKINSON, N.D. — The Ridl Farms registered Angus operation is a three-plus-one deal — three brothers and a nephew. The partnership includes brothers Art, Kurt and Keith — and now Art’s son, Rusty. The brothers’ grandfather, Joe V. Ridl, a second-generation Bohemian-American, started the ranch in the mid-1940s. Their father, Arthur J. Ridl, joined what was then a dairy and grain cropping operation and in the late 1960s bought the property and sold its dairy herd in the 1970s. Kurt remembers how the beef deal started. “With Art, my oldest brother, and myself coming into the farm, we needed another income, and we picked up beef cows,” Kurt says. They raised commercial cows for about 10 years and in the 1990s, went into the registered Angus breeding business. They started in the Red Angus business but switched exclu-
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sively to black Angus in the early 1990s. The switch was a decision based on data. “We were feeding the North Dakota Angus Association test bulls for many years before we switched to black Angus,” Kurt says. “We got a good look at the stock that was there.” They recognized the beef industry support for the carcass quality in the Angus breed, as well as the calving ease and maternal instincts. “We started out with private-treaty bull sales and when we got our customer base, we decided to go to the auction block with them,” Kurt says. “It’s been pretty good for us. We don’t sell a lot, but specialize in maternal traits and heifer-breeding bulls.” Calving ease and mothering are, of course, a primary concern.
1st Tuesday in March “Our sale is the first Tuesday in March every year at Stockmen’s West in Dickinson,” Kurt says. The typical sale is about 40 to 45 bulls. The family’s cow numbers have stayed constant for about RIDL: See Page 7
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3 The busy Art Ridl farmstead is the headquarters for the Ridl Farms operation north of Dickinson, N.D. The family sells Angus bulls and raises corn and other crops.
AGWEEK / Monday, December 23, 2013 - PAGE 7
RIDL
investment. If it’s not profitable no one would be in the business,” he says. Rangeland costs have gone up in the Dickinson area, the same as cropland. Prices have more than doubled in the past seven years.
Continued from Page 6 10 years, dictated by pasture availability and proximity. Most of the family’s customers are in a 100-mile radius. Most are commercial cow operators looking for bulls for their cow herds. “Heifer development: people buy ‘heifer bulls’ from us to breed their heifers that they resell,” Rusty says. Success depends on getting the right sire, but calving ease is a must around here, he says. But people want growth traits as well. “Most of our guys calve out on the prairie. They’re not calving in barns and checking all of the time.” The Ridl cattle are known for their easy disposition. All of the bulls and heifers are registered — data recorded. The Ridls favor famous Angus breed sires — Connealy Right Answer and Basin Excitement and 10X and Hoover Dam, Franklin and Timeless. Cattle values have been strong in the past several years. The clientele wants
Farming operation
Mikkel Pates, Agweek
3 The Ridl Farms’ bulls often are promoted for passing along superior traits for gentle disposition and calving ease. The Dickinson, N.D., operation holds an annual sale the first Tuesday in March at Stockmen’s West in Dickinson. what the Ridls produce, and the market is allowing a fair price.
Strong feeder market “In all reality, from the business side of things, it
should stay higher,” Kurt says. “With land values as high as they’ve been, your input costs into whatever you’re doing — whether it’s in your hay crop or whatnot — you have to have a certain amount of return-on-
The Ridls’ farming operation this year benefitted from 18 to 20 inches of rain during the 2013 growing season. Art and Rusty largely handle the paperwork. Kurt specializes in the spraying. Keith does a lot of the seeding and harvesting. But when it comes to the cattle, they all pitch in. While some farmers in the area had prevent-plant claims, the Ridls were able to plant 99 percent of the crop — late-seeded. They have corn and a good supply of hay that they raise themselves. They also sell hay. Wheat is a primary crop, as well as sunflowers. They didn’t get any winter RIDL: See Page 8
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PAGE 8 - Monday, December 23, 2013 / AGWEEK
RIDL
Continued from Page 7 wheat planted in the fall of 2012. “It still looked like drought in early May,” Kurt says, but it turned out to be a huge crop. Wheat ran 40 to 45 bushels an acre, which isn’t too bad. Throughout the year, the family’s average has been climbing. Corn planting was before May 25, and yields ranged between 85 and 100 bushels an acre — all nonirrigated. Sunflower planting finished about June 18, which was later than normal. The flowers were excellent, averaging 1,800 pounds-plus. “We finished harvest the day after Thanksgiving on both corn and sunflower,” Kurt says. The hay crop was great. “We took two cuttings of alfalfa,” Keith says.
Mikkel Pates, Agweek
3 The four Ridl Farms partners hold an impromptu meeting during wheat harvest on Aug. 22 north of Dickinson, N.D. It was an outstanding crop year with ample rain, also boding well for their registered Angus bull enterprise. The season’s stress was getting the hay picked up between the rains. It didn’t go
perfectly, but Kurt says that’s how farming is. “There’s satisfaction to
know you did the best you could with what Mother Nature gave you.”
AGWEEK / Monday, December 23, 2013 - PAGE 9
Web site is www.kistlivestockauction.com Also visit www.cattleseller.com
2013 - 2014 SCHEDULE OF SPECIAL SALES AT KIST LIVESTOCK
Friday, January 3rd Saturday, January 4th Wednesday, January 8th Saturday, January11th Monday, January 13th Monday, January 20th Friday, January 24th Saturday, January 25th Monday, January 27th Friday, January 31st
2013 NO SALE Happy Holidays Duppong’s Willow Creek Female Angus Sale 1:00 pm ND State Simmental Sale at 1:00 pm 2014 Spickler/McCumber Ranches & Friends Sale ND State Angus Sale at 1:00 pm Simmental Influence Sale along with Regular Sale Stock Cow & Bred Heifer Sale Kaelberer/Finke Female Simmental Sale 1:00 pm Dale, & Val Miller Angus Ranch 1:00 pm Flying V Angus Sale 1:00 pm Stock Cow & Bred Heifer Sale North Dakota Gelbvieh Golden Rule Sale 1:00 pm Severance Charolais Bull Sale 1:30 pm
Saturday, February 1st (CANCELLED) Tuesday, February 4th Saturday, February 8th Monday, February 17th Wednesday February 19th Friday, February 21st Saturday, February 22nd Sunday, February 23rd Tuesday, February 25th Friday, February 28th
Leroy Boeckel Angus Ranch Sale 1:00 pm Koepplin Black Simmental Sale 2:00 pm Stock Cow & Bred Heifer Sale Tokach Angus Ranch Sale 1:00 pm Hereford Influence Sale along with Regular Sale Dakota Express Simmental Sale 12:00 noon Brenner Angus/Red Angus Sale 1:00 pm Kal-Kota Gelbvieh/Red Angus Sale 2:00 pm Bill Larson Simmental Sale 1:30 pm Uppin The Ante Simm/Angus Sale 1:00 pm
Saturday, March 1st Tuesday, March 4th Friday, March 7th Saturday, March 8th Monday, March 10th Tuesday, March 11th Sat. & Sun., March 15th & 16th Tuesday, March 18th Monday, March 24th Tuesday, March 25th Saturday, March 29th
Last Stock Cow & Bred Heifer Sale Doll Charolais/Simmental Bull Sale 1:00 pm Chimney Butte Gelbvieh Sale 1:00 pm Fast & Dohrmann Angus Sale 1:00 pm Keller Ranch Simmental Sale 1:00 pm MacDonald Ranches Salers Sale 1:00 pm Hermanson / Kist Spring Horse Sale 9 am each day Robert Angus Sale 1:00 pm Hager Cattle Co Limousin Sale 5:00 pm Lodoen Cattle & Huber EY Red Angus Sale 1:00 pm Schaefer ChiAngus Sale 1:00 pm
Friday, April 4th Saturday, April 5th Monday, April 7th Thursday, April 10th Tuesday, April 15th Friday, April 18th
Edge of the West Simmental Bull Sale 1:00 pm Wakefield Flying W/Rock Creek Red Angus Sale 1:00 pm JR Aufforth Simm Sale 1:00 pm Hagen/Jacobson Angus Sale 1:00 pm Diamond J Angus Sale 6:00 pm Effertz Ranch Sale 1:00 pm
Friday, May 2nd Friday, May 9th Friday, May 30st or Friday, June 6th
Leroy Boeckel Angus Ranch Sale 1:00 pm First All Breeds Bull Sale Final All Breeds Bull Sale
Tuesday, April 16th
Diamond J Angus Sale 6:00 pm
Wednesday, December 25th Friday, December 27th Saturday, December 28th
3 In 1982, Jerry Thomas’ wife, Judy, used $500 that Jerry had won in a national beef essay contest to help acquire a bull statue that has been in his yard ever since, visible to passersby on U.S. Highway 2, east of Towner, N.D.
On a pedestal Longtime Angus breeder only has eyes for black ■
By Mikkel Pates
Agweek Staff Writer
TOWNER, N.D. — Jerry Thomas isn’t the biggest provider of beef breeding stock, but anyone traveling
along U.S. Highway 2 between Rugby and Towner in North Dakota knows he’s one of the industry’s proudest and longest-running promoters. Thomas’ neat-as-a-pin farmstead with its orderly pine trees, on an angle from the north side of the road features a bull statue on a gleaming white steel stand. Elsewhere on the farmstead is a picture of an Angus bull painted on the barn and the seasonal road BLACK: See Page 10
Friday, May 3rd Friday , May 10th Saturday, May 18th Friday May 31st
Leroy Boeckel Angus Ranch Sale 1:00 pm First All Breeds Bull Sale Wakefield Red Angus Sale 1:00 pm Final All Breeds Bull Sale Monthly Horse & Dairy Sales - CALL FOR SALE DATES.
If you wish an on the farm appraisal call toll free 1-800-732-1163. For more information on any of these sales - to Consign or for an on farm appraisal call: 663-9573 or ND Toll Free 1-800-732-1163. • Bill Kist 221-3230 • Fieldman & internet rep: Mike Herman 701-471-5226.
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ND TOLL FREE 1-800-732-1163 • PHONE 701-663-9573 • PO Box 1313 • MANDAN, ND 58554
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Mikkel Pates, Agweek
PAGE 10 - Monday, December 23, 2013 / AGWEEK
BLACK
Continued from Page 9 sign to promote his wares. Thomas, 72, does a little ranching and sells a few bulls and heifers. “They’re all registered, but I don’t ‘paper’ them anymore,” he says. He was involved in black Angus cattle long before it was the rage. “I always wanted to be outside of town and always wanted to be into the cattle business. I always hoped someday I’d be able to make it on cattle,” he says. He once milked cows for 15 years to supplement his income and then went to straight Angus beef cattle. “At one time, I ran 125 to 150 cows. Now I’m back to 50.” Thomas started his work life with a creamery in Minot, N.D. He married Judy, whom he’d known since the third grade when she was in his mother’s Brownie scout group. “When she seen me she said to my
mother, ‘Keep him for me, I’m going to get him,’” Jerry says, smiling. The couple moved to Towner where they bought the Red Owl grocery store. In 1976, he bought the farmstead, which then was simply a field of oats. That Labor Day, he dug footings for the house. “There wasn’t a fencepost on the place,” he says. The Thomases moved in a barn in 1978. “Every year we added some,” he says. “We built everything ourselves.” Thomas has been a biggerthan-life beef promoter for the region.
A big event in 1981
On June 19, 1981, Thomas spearheaded a drive in which they made the “world’s largest hamburger” in Towner. The hamburger was 3,008 pounds and couldn’t be “flipped,” but it was 15 feet in diameter and they served about 12,000 people. “We
BLACK: See Page 11
Mikkel Pates, Agweek
3 Jerry Thomas sells black Angus bulls and heifers at his Towner, N.D., farmstead, advertising in November and December with a sign along U.S. Highway 2.
BLACK
Continued from Page 10 made the Guinness Book of World Records.” A half-dozen farmers donated cows to finance the event. The Towner Area Beef Promoters group sold the cows and used the money to buy federally inspected beef. “We had the mayor of town there all night as we ground the hamburger, put it on a platform made of ply-board. We used liquid nitrogen, ground so much at the store, put it underneath there and covered it up with plastic and put liquid nitrogen under it all night to keep it cool. In the morning, we had 15 homemade grills around the hamburger, and we cooked them 30 at a time at 15 different locations. We had the governor in town.” They charged 30 cents a hamburger. The record didn’t take long to fall. The following year, it was broken in Jud, N.D. And what about that statue? In 1982, Thomas won the Beef for Father’s Day national essay contest. The $500 first prize came in and his wife, Judy, kept the prize money
AGWEEK / Monday, December 23, 2013 - PAGE 11 come and get them, or I’ll take ‘em to them. You keep them until breeding season,” he says. “I always keep maybe a halfdozen and I seem to get rid of them right away,” he says. “I have a waiting list for replacement heifers. Sometimes I breed them and sometimes I sell them as replacement heifers in the fall of the year.” Thomas says everything has been good to him in the cattle industry. “I’m not a complainer,” he says. “When things weren’t that good I just rolled with the punches. Now the price is excellent but the cost of everything is up high, too.” Thomas says the area farming picture was outstanding in Mikkel Pates, Agweek 2013. The hay crop was excel3 In July 1981, Jerry Thomas, then a grocery store owner and lent — two cuttings of 2.5 tons operator in Towner, N.D., and a black Angus breeder on the total. Upland, mixed hay ran side, helped spearhead a huge beef event — amassing, 1.75 tons per acre. The farm cooking and feeding the biggest hamburger on record. got 20 inches of rain, more than the 12-inch normal. He has some cropland, and ting the world know when he and ordered a statue of an rented out corn land on a has bulls for sale. Angus bull for the place. share-crop basis. Most of the About Nov. 1 to Dec. 1 he crop in the area was seeded starts advertising with that Only that road sign because it is sandy soil. Passign. Heifers are usually sold tures looked better than ever Other than that statue, all right away. “I usually have in late August. Thomas does for advertising is people come and put money That should be good for the put up a sign at the front of his down on a bull and turn cattle in 2014. yard on U.S. Highway 2, letaround and wait till June to
PAGE 12 - Monday, December 23, 2013 / AGWEEK
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Cull cows BROOKINGS, S.D. — Every best management practices book related to beef cattle production calls for pregnancy checking the herd to identify open cows as early in the season as possible, says Heather Gessner, South Dakota State University Extension livestock business management field specialist. “Open cows in the herd have a negative impact on profit as they are consuming expensive inputs such as feed, A.U.M’s (animal unit month) and labor without contributing back to the operation. The reasons cows do not breed back are many and varied and something cattle producers need to be monitoring,” Gessner says. Many times cows are not identified as open until late fall/early winter, as this is when cows are typically brought in off summer grazing areas and calves are weaned, Gessner explains. “A downside with this plan is that most other cattle producers are working on the same time table, and thus many open cows hit the market at the same time, resulting in a seasonal price decline during the fall,” she says. Is there a better option? The national average cutter cow price ranged from $77 to $78 per hundredweight for the first three quarters of 2013, with projections for the fourth quarter at $78 to $80 per hundredweight and for the first quarter of 2014 at $79 to $83 per hundredweight according to the Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook-November 2013. “This increase in price projections may be an indicator for producers to hold on to open cows until after the first of the new year,” Gessner says. Some reasons to consider this option include: The potential to add weight to an animal that may have come off grass in poor body condition. Adding pounds will increase the total weight available for sale and will also increase the white fat on the carcass. Current signs are pointing toward a decline in cow slaughter numbers and the number of heifers destined for feedlots. With fewer cows and heifers entering the supply chain, beef pro-
duction will be reduced. Supplies of lean ground beef used in many processing plants will face the biggest shortage as cow slaughter numbers decline. This shortage of supply will pressure prices to remain at or above current levels. Young cows that are open are candidates to be re-exposed for fall calves. Bred female prices have increased in the past few months. Marketing a group of young cows bred for fall calves might be a profitable venture. “Both adding weight and increased value are ways to bring additional profit to the operation. But added weight and days on feed are not free. If you have a relatively inexpensive feed resource available, such as corn stalk grazing, low-test-weight corn, low-cost forages; there may be opportunity for increased profits,” she says. While there is added profit potential for feeding cull cows, Gessner explains that the margin is tight and even small increases in feed costs or decreases in the market price will reduce that profit potential. Because there are no price risk management tools available for cows, Gessner sayd completing an enterprise budget is the best tool to analyze the profit potential.
Additional considerations
Current feed supply inventory must be taken into consideration. “Feedstuff needs for the remaining cow herd should be analyzed carefully to ensure the main herd can be appropriately fed throughout the winter and spring. If feed inventories are not large enough to get through extreme cold snaps or an extended spring feeding period from a delayed spring turnout, selling open cows may be a better option, unless the added return from retaining the cows is sufficient to make up for any feed shortage,” Gessner says. Producers who are optimistic about heifer retention and herd expansion and rebuilding will want to watch the cow market closely to analyze the size of beef production changes during the fourth quarter of 2013. “Timing cull cow marketing decisions based on the seasonal cull cow prices and the potential for cull cow price increases after analyzing feed rations and costs could add profits this year,” she says.
AGWEEK / Monday, December 23, 2013 - PAGE 13
Beef animal health
Avoiding mineral toxicity in cattle ■
By Grant Crawford
University of Minnesota
Minerals are a key component in maintaining health and productivity of cattle. This area of cattle nutrition, however, is often overlooked when determining nutrient needs. Because mineral deficiencies are more likely to occur than toxicities, rations are often formulated to easily exceed minimum animal requirements. In these cases, it is important to determine if dietary mineral concentrations are beyond maximum tolerable concentrations for cattle. Mineral toxicities resulting from an over-supply in
feed or water may have observable effects such as a decrease in animal performance or a change in animal behavior. Toxicities may also have hidden or indirect effects, such as accumulation in meat or milk, or environmental effects from increased mineral levels in urine and feces. Additionally, an over-supply of minerals in cattle rations is an unnecessary and easily avoidable expense to cattle producers. Animals may be exposed to toxic levels of minerals from a variety of sources. High concentrations of a mineral in feedstuffs can result from high soil mineral levels as a result of soil type, use of animal manure, municipal or industrial waste, or industrial pollution. Mineral supplements that are incorrectly formulated or not correctly
matched to cattle needs may also result in an over-supply of minerals. Toxic minerals may also be present in batteries, paint and contaminated soil. Additionally, surface water and possibly deep-well or domestic water supplies may contain excessive levels of certain minerals. At least 17 minerals are required by beef cattle. These minerals are generally divided into macrominerals and microminerals. Macrominerals required include calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, chlorine and sulfur. The microminerals required are chromium, cobalt, copper, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, selenium and zinc. Other minerals, such as aluminum, arsenic, boron, bromine, cadmium, fluorine,
lead, mercury and strontium, are not required in cattle diets, but may be toxic if present at high concentrations. In 2005, the National Research Council established guidelines for the maximum tolerable levels of several minerals. In this report, sodium chloride (salt) and eight individual minerals were identified as being of frequent concern for toxicity in cattle: cadmium, copper, fluorine, lead, mercury, molybdenum, selenium, and sulfur. In addition, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium, three of the most common minerals in beef cattle diets, were identified as being of occasional concern for toxicity. An important consideration when balancing rations is the relationship between minerals. HEALTH: See Page 14
Ellingson Simmental Performance Bull & Female Sale Saturday, February 15, 2014 • 1 :00 pm CST Rugby Livestock Auction, Rugby, ND
Selling: 65 Simmental and SimAngus Yearling Bulls 30 Open Heifers / Show Prospects • 10 Bred Heifers Other sires include: Ellingson Klondike, R Plus Hard Rock, ER K33B, SS Upscale, Ellingson Top Gun, TNT Tanker. &(""/ +%"" *) (",0./!(#-)- .#- /)$)# ,)/,)-'
A304 \Wheatland Bull 680S X NLC Good A Nuff EPDs: 5, 6, 71, 115, 2, 24 ,60 Adj. BW: 97 lbs. • Adj. WW: 876 lbs.
A317 Ellingson Dominator W905 X Wheatland Bull 680s EPDs: 10,3,89,136,10,19,63 Adj. BW: 95 lbs. • Adj. WW: 850 lbs.
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PAGE 14 - Monday, December 23, 2013 / AGWEEK
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suming sulfur in excess of 0.2 percent of the diet dry matter. When feeding distiller’s Continued from Page 13 grains to cattle, it is important For example, calcium and to account for sulfur levels in phosphorus are balanced on a water, as well, and adjust discalcium-to-phosphorus ratio. tiller’s inclusion accordingly. Calcium should always be inBunk and feed management is cluded in diets at a greater also important to ensure that concentration than phosphorations are mixed completely rus, and ratios of up to 6-to-1 and offered evenly to all catare generally tolerated by cattle. tle. If ratios fall below 1-to-1, Cattle can tolerate mineral levels well animal perbeyond their formance Cattle can tolerate requiremay be afhowfected. This mineral levels well ment; ever, it is ratio is diffiimportant to beyond their cult to mainbe aware tain without requirement; that any calcium mineral, if however, it is supplemenconsumed in tation in high enough important to be most cornamounts, based raaware that any can be toxic. tions Mineral toximineral, if because of city is generthe high consumed in high ally concentraobserved by enough amounts, tion of phosdecreased phorus and animal percan be toxic. low concenformance, tration of anorexia, calcium in weight loss, and diarcorn grain. rhea. SpeThis can be cific even more disorders of a chalcaused by lenge with ethanol byproducts mineral toxicity include urisuch as distiller’s grains and nary calculi from excess phoscorn gluten feed where conphorus or inadequate centrations of calcium and calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, phosphorus are approxigrass tetany from excess mately three times those in potassium leading to reduced corn grain. absorption of magnesium, and But if a proper calcium-topolioencephalomalacia from phosphorus ratio is mainexcess sulfur. In many cases, tained, cattle can tolerate mineral toxicity can be overphosphorus concentrations come by simply readjusting above the maximum tolerable rations to provide minerals at concentration. nontoxic levels. Considerable attention has In extreme cases, however, been given to high sulfur levmineral toxicity can lead to els in ethanol byproducts and chronic problems and even the affect it might have on cat- death. In addition, indirect eftle health and performance. fects of an over-supply of minSulfur levels in distiller’s erals may lead to unsafe grains generally range from accumulation of minerals in 0.4 to 1 percent of dry matter. meat and milk, and may also Although the maximum tolera- impact the environment. Careble concentration for sulfur ful attention should be given has been set at 0.3 percent for to the formulation of mineral high-concentrate diets, resupplements, and the specific search from the University of mineral balance of suppleCalifornia indicated that ments should account for mingrowth performance may be eral concentrations in feed inhibited in feedlot cattle con- and water.
AGWEEK / Monday, December 23, 2013 - PAGE 15
Will cattle herds expand?
Looking at better prices ■
SDSU Extension Service
BROOKINGS, S.D. — On the production side of the beef industry, the focus has become whether the nation’s beef cow herd will begin to grow and eventually result in more beef production, says Darrell R. Mark, adjunct professor of economics at South Dakota State University. “On the demand side of the industry, such growth could eventually mean an increase in beef consumption. However, even if beef cow numbers are modestly higher at the beginning of 2014, it will likely be 2016 before beef production, and therefore beef consumption, begins to increase,” Mark explains. In fact, Mark says beef consumption is forecasted to decline about 5 percent in 2014 to about 53 pounds per person (retail weight equivalent). In 2015, beef consumption could drop to 52 pounds per person. The reason beef consumption is declining, Mark says, is beef production has decreased as cat-
tle feed costs have increased dramatically in recent years. As a result, the reduced quantities of beef available have translated into record beef prices this year. From January through October, the price of all fresh retail beef averaged $4.93 per pound. “That’s up 5.3 percent compared to the same time period in 2012. In October, the price of all fresh beef set a new record high at $4.98 per pound. Such higher prices, driven by smaller quantities, have many wondering whether consumers will be willing and able to continuously pay more for beef,” he says. Mark says consumer demand is a valid concern — one that is difficult to project for future years because it involves forecasting changing consumer tastes and preferences. But, available information about beef demand thus far in 2013 — while beef prices were continuously setting new record highs — Mark suggests beef demand has been better than would have been expected. Consider these facts: The demand for all fresh beef for the first three quarters of 2013 was about 3 percent higher than the same time period in 2012. That’s based on a demand
index that considers both quantities demanded and prices. In Econ 101 terms, it represents an outward shift in the demand curve for beef. The National Restaurant Association reports that its Restaurant Performance Index rose to a four-month high in October 2013. While this considers more than beef sales, dining out accounts for 40 to 50 percent of consumer beef purchases in the U.S. The RPI was 100.9 in October, which indicates slight expansion in the industry. Overall, the restaurant industry appears to be cautiously optimistic about future sales. Beef and veal exports were 5.4 percent higher in October 2013 compared with a year ago. In fact, for the first 10 months of 2013, beef exports totaled 2.14 billion pounds, an increase of 4 percent compared with January through October 2012. Beef exports to Japan continue to be higher, with October 2013 posting a 42 percent increase over a year ago. Year-to-date, beef exports to Japan are 47 percent higher than a year ago. Beef exports to Hong Kong and China (Taiwan) continue to be strong, as well. For the yearto-date, beef exports to Taiwan
have doubled relative to a year ago, while Hong Kong’s imports of U.S. beef are up 67 percent. Beef exports to Canada and Mexico, historically among the U.S.’s largest beef export destinations, are 5 to 6 percent higher so far in 2013. While many of the U.S.’s beef customers have increased beef purchases this year, exports to South Korea, Vietnam and other countries have declined this year. Russia does not import U.S. beef. “A number of factors will determine the demand for beef in the year to come, including consumer tastes and preferences, consumer disposable income, prices of competing meats, general economic conditions in the U.S. and around the globe and foreign exchange rates,” Mark says. While this is not an inclusive list, Mark says most of these factors have created a bit of a headwind for beef demand in the past year. “So, given the strength of domestic beef demand at retail and good export market sales in this last year’s challenging market environment, there is reason to be optimistic about beef demand in the year to come,” he says.
PAGE 16 - Monday, December 23, 2013 / AGWEEK
Buy bulls based on data
Annual Production Sale
■
By Kris Ringwall
Tuesday, March 4, 2014 Time • 1:00 pm (MST)
Stockmen’s West • Dickinson, ND
Selling 50
Yearling Angus Bulls Selling 70% Heifer Bulls Basin Excitement
BW -0.4
WW +66
Milk +23
Not pictures
YW +131
Sires Represented: DCC Franklin 916 WMR Timeless 580 Connealy Right Answer 746 AAR Ten X 7008 Apex Windy 078 Basin Excitement Hoover Dam WMR Hero 321
Arthur, Kurt, Keith & Rusty Ridl
11425 34 R. St. Southwest • Dickinson, ND 58601 Rid-lac@hotmail.com • Office (701) 483-8277 Art’s Cell: (701) 260-8277 • Rusty’s Cell: (701)260-2579
Maternal • Growth High Fertility • Performance Data 001006303r1
There certainly is no shortage of bull pictures. Despite the added color and enhanced graphics, bulls still look like bulls. Yes, there are some subtle differences, but still, there seems to be more similarity than differences in many of the bulls. We enjoy pictures, but we also should enjoy data. Bulls may be similar in phenotype, in other words the picture, but their genotype may have no similarity at all. Even the color, although fairly indicative of the DNA on one chromosome, may have no indication of what DNA is on the other chromosome. Because all chromosomes are paired, the calves that the bull produces each will be products of only one of the chromosomes. Therefore, black cattle certainly can sire red calves. In terms of the many other traits, the variation within the particular lot of bulls can be extreme, even though all the bulls look alike. Some bulls have highgrowth DNA, others low-growth DNA. Some bulls will have DNA more likely to produce prime to choice grade calves, while a very similar looking bull may only produce select or low choice grade calves. Although muscle quantity and expression may be observed in the phenotype or picture of the bull, the ultrasound data indicating rib-eye area, often expressed as rib-eye area per hundred pounds of live weight, certainly will tell the same story. True bull selection rests with understanding the data. The action of buying bulls should be a process of sorting through the data first and then looking at the bull. Every single piece of data is directly connected to a strand of DNA somewhere on the chromosome. Positive selection pressure on the correct traits will increase positive DNA within our bull stud. In turn, this DNA will combine with the DNA available in the cow herd to produce the calf crop. Therefore, the process of buying bulls is, or at least should be, fairly methodical. Although data terms may baffle a bull buyer, always check out what the trait abbreviations and the many expected progeny differences (EPDs) values mean. The breed association websites have good glossaries or just ask other breeders. All of these notations lead up
to some important notes. Right up front, a herd should present, in the catalog, the average EPD values for the various traits the breed evaluates followed by the average EPD values, for the bulls and heifers being sold. Additional information could be provided for the breed, such as the trait values for the top 25 percent of the breed or maybe even the top 1 percent of the breed, depending on the strengths of the bulls or heifers. For the new bull buyer who is not aware of the breeders within a breed, those producers who are willing to print the average EPD values for the calves they are selling make the initial screening so much easier. Of course, one does need to look at the individual numbers. But, there is something to keep in mind. Why not start with those herds that are selling bulls or heifers that are above-average for the desired traits? There is no quicker or easier way to evaluate the expected future performance authenticity of potential bull candidates. Once the overall performance of the herd has been determined in relationship to the breed as a whole, one can select the desired bulls within the sale offering. Now that one knows the average value for all the traits analyzed within the breed, the process of finding and sorting bulls based on their ranking within the breed is relatively easy. The job is to find the sale prospects by scanning all the sons of the reference sires that meet our criteria and then scanning all the bulls for their own performance because the cow and bull ultimately determine the genetic value of the bull. Through the years, one vote of confidence is that it is obvious more people are picking the top bulls because the bidding dollars seem to jump quickly on bulls that lead the data. That is a good thing for the industry but a little frustrating when the wallet doesn’t have an equivalent roll of money. Keep in mind that no picture is going to relay the information that is needed. Only breed association EPD data will, which is critical in making long-lasting bull decisions. Great bulls have great numbers. Learn to read them and just don’t bid on poor bulls. Editor’s note: Ringwall is a North Dakota State University Extension Service livestock specialist and the Dickinson Research Extension Center director.
AGWEEK / Monday, December 23, 2013 - PAGE 17
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PAGE 18 - Monday, December 23, 2013 / AGWEEK
Caring for hypothermic newborn beef calves Mortality in beef herds runs from 3 to 7 percent ■
University of Montana Extension Service
The delayed delivery often associated with heifers and lack of experience to lick the calf and stand to let it nurse, all contribute to the increased incidence of hypothermic calves in our first-calf heifers. Mortality in beef herds from birth to weaning range from 3 to 7 percent. The majority of this occurs within the first 24 hours of life, with slow and difficult births (dystocia) and cold stress (hypothermia) the leading causes of death. As prevention is the best cure, advice for care and treatment of hypothermic or cold stressed calves is given below. We will also review a case study conducted in Elko County, Nev., that examined the use of calf warmers to overcome hypothermia.
Types of hypothermia There are two types of hypothermia: exposure (gradual) and immersion (acute). Exposure hypothermia is the steady loss of body heat in a cold environment through respiration, evaporation and lack of adequate hair coat, body flesh or weather protection. This type affects all classes of livestock but particularly affects young, old and thin animals. Immersion hypothermia is the rapid loss of body heat from saturated hair coat in a cold environment. Immersion hypothermia is often brought on during birth when the calf is born saturated with birthing fluids. Other causes may include being born in deep snow or on wet ground, falling into a creek or being
begin to slow as the body core cools to 88 degrees Fahrenheit. Symptoms of Below core temperature of Hypothermia 94 degrees Fahrenheit, the vital organs are beginning to Faced with a cold environget cold. As the brain cools, ment, the body tries to defend brain cell metabolism slows, itself in two ways: shivering, resulting in impaired brain to increase function. The muscle heat level of conproduction, sciousness deand blood The immediate teriorates from shunting, to confusion to concern is reduce heat incoherence loss by direturning the calf’s and eventual verting unconsciousblood flow core body ness. Below 86 away from degrees, signs the body extemperature to of life are diffitremities to normal. cult to detect the body and the calf core. might be misMild hytaken for dead. pothermia The pupils of occurs as the the eyes will body’s core be dilated and temperature fixed. The pulse may be undedrops below normal (approxitectable. Occasional gasps of mately 100 degrees Fahrenrespiration at a rate as low as heit, for beef calves). In the four or five per minute might early stages, vigorous shiverbe the only clue that the calf ing is usually accompanied by increased pulse and breathing is still alive. Heart failure might be the actual cause of rates. A cold nostril and pale death. cold hooves are early signs that blood is being shunted Treatment of away from the body’s extremihypothermia ties. In the case of a newborn calf, severe shivering may inThe immediate concern is terfere with its ability to stand returning the calf’s core body and suckle. This sets the calf temperature to normal (100 up for severe hypothermia. Er- degrees Farenheit for newratic behavior, confusion and borns). Maintaining the norclumsiness are all signs of mal core body temperature is what producers often call a secondary objective. For “dummy calf.” These are signs years, producers have used of mild hypothermia. floor board heaters of pickup Severe hypothermia results trucks, submersion of wet as the body temperature calves in a warm bath, placing drops below 94 degrees. calves next to the heater in Shunting of blood continues, the house, or placing the calf manifesting cold and pale nos- under a heat lamp. Warming trils and hooves as a result of and drying boxes have also poor oxygenation of the tisbeen used with limited sucsues near the body surface. cess. Some producers refer to Decreased circulation also rethem as “death boxes.” Most sults in a buildup of acid early warming boxes were a metabolites (waste products) four-foot by three-foot plyin the muscles of extremities. wood box where the hypotherAfter the shivering stops, it is mic calf could be placed to replaced by muscle rigidity. dry and warm. Heat sources The pulse and respiration were often a heat lamp or saturated from heavy rains followed by chilling winds.
propane heater. There was usually no fan to circulate warm air. Ventilation was not considered in construction. As the hair coat dried, the moisture raised the humidity within the box, setting the calf up for pneumonia. Oftentimes, the calf would be left unattended and suffer from heat stress or scorching. The use of a thermometer is highly recommended. Often, a calf will not appear to be hypothermic. But, upon taking its temperature, may realize that the calf’s body temperature is below normal. This is often brought on by dystocia, which might have put the calf in a hypoxic state (lack of oxygen). A hypoxic calf is slow to dry off and nurse, allowing hypothermia to set in. Feed the hypothermic calf warm colostrum as soon as possible to speed recovery and increase the probability of full recovery. Breathing the warm air from the calf warmer along with consuming colostrum will warm the calf from the inside out and provide the needed energy to overcome the trauma it just went through.
Case study Recent design improvements have eliminated the problems of the early handmade warming boxes. In the winter of 1996, three Elko County, Nev., ranchers evaluated the effectiveness of commercial calf warmers for reviving hypothermic calves. The “ROY-L-HEAT” calf warming and the drying box features a 110-volt heater equipped with a circulating fan and automatic shutoff thermostat. The circulating warm air moves under the wet calf (the calf sits on a mesh screen elevated 4 inches off the floor), up the sides of the calf and is recirculated through the heater. Accumulated moisture escapes TEMPS: See Page 19
TEMPS
Continued from Page 18 through the attic vent. The heater is protected in a separate enclosure attached to the rear of the box and removes easily for simple rinsing and disinfecting. The box is made of high-density polyethylene. Its interior size provides adequate space for calves to lay down or stand. Opposite the heater is a rubber “head boot” that permits the calf to breathe outside air when desired, yet holds the warm air in at all times. Barry Anderson of Ruby Valley replaced the heater and fan on his calf warmer with a 12-volt RV heater. Barry powers the heater and fan with a 12-volt RV battery. The RV battery provides extended life over a regular 12volt car battery. “By using the 12-volt system, I can take the calf warmer right to the hypothermic calf
AGWEEK / Monday, December 23, 2013 - PAGE 19 in the field. The cow stays creased incidence of hyfew of the hypothermic calves close by because she can pothermic calves in our firsthe treated with the heat box. smell the calf in the box as it calf heifers. The calf warming “I was impressed with the dries off. Oftentimes when I box saves us time and labor. recovery of one calf in particreturn to check on the calf it We place the cold calf in the ular,” Barnes says. “I found has removed itself from the box and are able to go on and this calf at 1 a.m. on Feb. 27. box, nursed do other There were six inches of and left with things while frozen snow on the ground Severe its mother,” the calf recu- and it was 10 degrees Farenhypothermic calves perates. We heit. This calf was flat out. His says Anderson. can be revived and used to have body temperature was 86 deEd Sarman, to babysit grees Farenheit. I tubed the saved. But they owner and the calf for calf with warm colostrum and manager of placed him in the warmer for often are set back fear of Lee Livestock scorching. six hours. This calf, from a from the in Lamoille, We find ourfirst-calf heifer, weaned off at Nev., uses the selves plac500 pounds this fall. I know he experience, and heat box preing mild would have died if I had not their body defense hypothermic had the calf warmer.” dominately with his firstcalves that Severe hypothermic calves system can be calf heifers. we used to can be revived and saved. But, compromised. “We calve let recuperthey often are set back from our heifers in ate on their the experience, and their late February, own at a body defense system can be one heat cycle slower pace, compromised. This sets the prior to the mature cow herd,” in the box for a short period of calf up for pneumonia, scours he says. “The delayed delivery time. Getting the edge off of and other calfhood problems. often associated with heifers these slightly stressed calves The incidence and severity of and lack of experience to lick gets them off to a better start.” hypothermic calves can be rethe calf and stand to let it Cooperator Tom Barnes of duced through preventative nurse, all contribute to the inJiggs, Nev., collected data on a measures.
HUMANE - BLOODLESS DRUG FREE
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2014 24TH ANNUAL PRODUCTION SALE
Thursday, February 6, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. Mountain Time at the Ranch Stroh Hereford Ranch is located 1.5 Miles East of the new Killdeer Roundabout on Highway 200
&+**#) $ %"+*, $ ('))!
SALE AT THEIS HELD R THIS Y ANCH EAR
SHR Rancher Charlie 229 Reg. Number 43335746 MM YW WW BW MARB REA FAT M&G +19 +81 +46 +3.5 +0.05 -0.02 +0.017 +42
SHR Northern Edition 243 Reg. Number 43426911 MM YW WW BW MARB REA FAT M&G +17 +83 +46 +3.9 -0.01 +0.42 -0.014 +40
Here is a top notch Rancher son who we really like. This is a yellow haired bull that is nice to look at. This bull is a “steer Maker” who will produce steers that wean off the cow heavy and grow in the feed lot.
Here is a heavily muscled, heavily pigmented 175T son. This bull will build moderately framed females who will add growth to your herd.
EARLY CASTRATION
"%!$&'# MADE INUSA
DELAYED CASTRATION
Selling Will Be: 55 Coming 2 Year Old Bulls &15 Bred Hereford Heifers SIRES REPRESENTED BLL Red Addition 175T KB L1 Domino 826U Churchill Rancher 8108U ET
DS Rendition 359W F FORESIGHT 935 R 157K NORTH STAR 50W
UU HARLEY 9130 SR NAVARRO 150X SR NAVARRO 140X 001006801r1
CONTACT INFORMATION Mike, Dawn, Lucas and Matt Stroh 1010 Highway 22 South Killdeer, North Dakota 58640 701-573-4373 • 290-1191 (Mike’s Cell)
Tony & Leona Stroh 10550 HWY 200 Killdeer, N.D. 58640 701-764-5217
CALL FOR A DISTRIBUTOR NEAR YOU.
acmecatl@ndsupernet.com 001006337r1
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PAGE 20 - Monday, December 23, 2013 / AGWEEK
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