Brangus Issue - American Marketing Services

Transcription

Serving the Bos indicus Cattle Industry of America | September 2013
Brangus Issue
Briggs Ranches
10th Annual Santa Gertrudis Bull Sale
75 “Ready to Work” Gert Bulls Sell!
200 Select “Star 5” Commercial Females Sell!
Friday • October 18, 2013 • 11a.m.
These Star 5 heifers
sell bred to Angus Bulls.
All of these heifers will be
sorted into uniform groups.
Beef Bulls To Fit Any Program
Guest Bull Consignors:
Corporron Acres
Harris Riverbend Farms
John Martin Ranches
36th Annual Tri-Star
Santa Gertrudis Sale
Saturday • October 19, 2013 • 11a.m.
An offering of performance proven genetics from three
of the most respected and consistent programs
in the industry...featuring
All sale events at Briggs Ranches,
Bloomington, Texas
Briggs Ranches, Corporron Acres,
and Harris Riverbend Farms
Facebook Page
facebook.com/briggsranch
Briggs Ranches
E-mail Joe Jones:
briggsranches@hotmail.com
PO Box 1417 • Victoria, Texas 77902 (361) 573-7141 • Joe Jones, manager (361) 897-1337 • cell (361) 550-0994
Traylor Division
(Bloomington, Texas)
San Roque Division
(Catarina, Texas)
San Carlos Division
(Rio Grande City, Texas)
The EAR september 2013 | 1
I will admit that I am not as familiar with
the origin and performance of the Brangus
breed as I am with some of the other Eared
breeds and that is mainly because of where I
was raised and am now located in South Texas. We have a few Brangus breeders in this
part of Texas, probably more Brangus bulls
than one would expect, and it is a popular
breed throughout the Southern US.
Columns
6
8
Have You Heard...the Truth
The Science of Bos inducus
8
Features
14
18
24
Genomics & Beef Cattle
Breeding, Beyond 50K!
Angus/Red Angus to Brangus/Red Brangus in Three
Generations
All You Ever Needed to Know
About Semen Collection
Departments
19
28
28
36
38
40
Beefmaster Headlines
Braford Headlines
Brangus Headlines
Red Brangus Headlines
Santa Gertrudis Headlines
Simbrah Headlines
Other
40
44
46
47
14
18
Industry News
Advertiser’s Index
Calendar
< On the Cover:
2 | september 2013 The EAR
A recent bylaw change approved by the
membership within the International Brangus/Red Brangus Breeders Association
(IBBA) has now provided a new opportunity
to add new genetics to the gene pool. The
new rule allows for the use of Brangus/Red
Brangus crossed with Angus/Red Angus,
with the resulting progeny then top crossed
two more generations with Brangus/Red
Brangus to be registered as Brangus/Red
Brangus.
The WHY, HOW, WHEN and much more of
Semen Collection. Topping the list of reasons are genetic insurance, expanding the
influence of the bull’s genetics and proving,
testing or sampling sires.
Bos inducus Bulletin Board
“Young Herd Sire
Prospect” - Photo
taken at Salacoa
Valley Farms in
Fairmount, Georgia
by Nancy
Genomic technology is useful for improving beef cattle. It’s easy to become overwhelmed when thinking about genomics
because the process involves thousands to
millions of genotypes known as BIG DATA;
therefore, it is important to understand that
the results of the process is improving the
accuracy of an animal’s expected progeny
difference (EPD) as to be able to rank animals for selection.
24
OctOber
3,
2013
REQUEST YOUR SALE CATALOG TODAY!
10:00AM BURTON COLISEUM COMPLEX LAKE CHARLES, LA
Performance updates for the program bulls are available at www.brafords.org
under the Genetics tab. Also selling registered females as well as some quality
commercial females.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: UBB OFFICE: SALES@BRAFORDS.ORG
Sale Consultant: Jim Harvey: 863-697-6624
ADAMS RANCH HEIFERS
New this year: Offering 55 head of Adams
Ranch Braford heifers calving to Adams
Ranch AB Bulls. To calve January-March.
PLUS
Selling 12 head of elite Registered
Braford breed leading females and embryos.
'RQ·WPLVVWKLVRSSRUWXQLW\
Sells as Lot 57 | PH FUTURE 470 P53B
BW BM WW YW M
-0.1 1.5 11 19 5
TM
10
CW FAT REA MARB
20 0.09 0.23 -0.08
Sells as Lot 39 | HR ROY 7152
BW BM WW YW M
-0.3 1.6 13 28 2
TM
8
CW FAT REA MARB
28 0.12 0.25 0.08
Sells as Lot 59 | HR HAMMER 827
BW BM WW YW M
0.3 2.6 13 24 5
TM
11
CW FAT REA MARB
23 0.02 0.24 -0.03
Sells as Lot 34 | LSS MR MAV 205
BW BM WW YW M
0.2 2.7 13 14 4
TM
11
CW FAT REA MARB
12 0.08 0.14 0.13
www.aspenedgemarketing.com
MARK COWAN
markc@amscattle.com | 903-495-4522
TREY KIRKPATRICK
treyk@amscattle.com | 979-324-5518
RICHARD HOOD
richardh@amscattle.com | 979-224-6150
BRAD WRIGHT
bradw@amscattle.com | 979-219-4599
Have You Heard....
Serving the Bos indicus
Cattle Industry of America
The EAR Magazine
c/o AMS Genetics
PO Box 10
Wheelock, TX 77882
Physical:
10541 E OSR
Hearne, TX 77859
Phone: 979/828-2722
Fax: 979/828-5532
www.amscattle.com/the-ear-magazine/
Brad Wright
Billing
979/219-4599
bradw@amscattle.com
Mark Cowan
Advertising Sales
903/495-4522
markc@amscattle.com
Richard Hood
Advertising Sales
979/224-6150
richardh@amscattle.com
Trey Kirkpatrick
Advertising Sales
979/324-5518
treyk@amscattle.com
Crystal Devoll
Graphic Designer/Layout Artist
979/820-8358
cddevoll@gmail.com
Member:
Published on the first day of each month. Correspondence on all phases of
the cattle business is invited. Publisher reserves exclusive right to accept
or reject advertising or editorial material submitted for publication in The
EAR magazine. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to : The EAR c/o AMS
Genetics, PO Box 10, Wheelock, Texas 77882, 979-219-4599, FAX 979-8285532.
the Truth
Welcome to our Brangus issue. You will find in
these pages advertisements from the leading Brangus
breeders across the nation, as well as other leading
breeders of Bos Indicus cattle. In addition we will
feature articles on Genomically enhanced EPDs,
some history on the Brangus breed, Brangus articles
and news. By all means we hope you enjoy our focus
on the different breeds throughout the year.
Our focus as a publication remains on Bos indicus influenced cattle. Our message is simple, in the
global cattle industry, our kind of cattle are the driving force. Now we are aware that statement alone
will shock many of the U.S. cattle producers and many of the publications
that support the same.
Let me share some facts with you. There are approximately 1.4 billion
cattle in the world. Over 50% of those cattle, or 750 million, are produced
between the tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer according to the
2009 UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The average temperature and humidity in those locations requires Bos indicus genetics to thrive
and in some cases, even to survive. If you expand the line both north and
south to include an area equal to I-70 through Kansas City, an area where Bos
indicus influence improves efficiency and adds pounds to weaning weights,
according to the FAO over 1 billion cattle out of 1.4 billion total are, or
should be, carrying Bos indicus influence ranging from some to 100%.
Those are pretty staggering numbers when you think about the global
cattle industry. They are also diametrically opposite to the feeling that prevails in the U.S. cattle industry. In fact, when analyzing industry on a global
basis, one might conclude that if you have no Bos indicus influence in your
cow herd as a seedstock producer, you have no chance to compete. Just some
food for thought.
We look forward to serving you.
Mark Cowan
THE ORIGIN AND
PERFORMANCE OF
Brangus
Cattle
The Science of Bos indicus
featuring Dr. Joe Paschal
Professor & Livestock Specialist
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Corpus Christi, Texas
I will admit that I am not as familiar with the origin and performance of the Brangus breed as I am with some
of the other Eared breeds and that is mainly because of where I was raised and am now located in South Texas.
We have a few Brangus breeders in this part of Texas, probably more Brangus bulls than one would expect, and it
is a popular breed throughout the Southern US. My first exposure to Brangus cattle came when I was an undergraduate at Texas A&M University in the early 1970s. I part-time worked for a realtor who was in the Brangus
and Brahman business. He had a herd of F1 Brahman x Angus females and some Brahman cows and was using a
Brahman bull to produce ¾ Brahman ¼ Angus calves that could be bred to Angus to create first generation Brangus. The holy grail at that time was to produce a solid black, polled, 3/4 blood bull to mate to Angus cows. The
5/8 Angus-3/8 Brahman offspring of that cross are eligible for registry as purebreds in the International Brangus
Breeders Association. The right one would (if I were to guess) have been worth a lot of money back then. I don’t
know because the only one we had died at calving (due in large part to my ignorance of what we now call Large
Offspring Syndrome), but I did save the cow. After 40 years I still remember her tag number, 638. The association still has an open herd book for qualifying Brahman and Angus and Red Angus foundation animals.
Parts of that area had been straightbred Hereford country for a long time of Agriculture W. H. Black wrote that the crosses were with a Guzerat bull).
but crossing with black bulls had become popular. There were a lot of Black There were a number of cattlemen along the Gulf Coast who were lookBaldy or Baldie, so called because they had a black body and a mostly white ing for the same thing and others used different crosses and breeds; all have
face, calves sold and quite a few of them in the local cow herds. These F1 been successful breeds. According to Purdy et al., a cattleman named Frank
Angus-Herefords exhibited hybrid vigor for growth and the heifers and cows Buttram had a foreman by the name of Raymond Pope who in 1939 began
for reproductive performance, maternal ability and longevity just as you working with Dr. A. O. Rhoad (misspelled in the book as H. O. Rhoad) to
would expect. Shortly after I got there, Brangus cattle, especially bulls, be- “determine the minimum amount of Brahman blood to impart the necessary
gan to become popular. When commerheat, disease, and insect resistance”. That
cial cattle ranchers saw their first Branresearch indicated that about 3/8 Brahgus sired calves out of those Hereford
man was the minimum.
Brangus cattle have the potential
cows they began calling them “Super
Black Baldies”. Being that they had some
Pope and Buttram formed a partnerto go nearly anywhere in the US
Brahman influence in them, the level of
ship and moved near Welch, Oklahoma
that has subtropical conditions and to breed Brangus at the Clear Creek
hybrid vigor was increased and all those
important traits were kicked up a notch!
Ranch. In Texas, Tom Slick and his manthrive.
ager Travis Richardson set up a similar
These Super Black Baldies had enough
crossing program at the Essar Ranch
Brahman influence in them (3/16) to
near San Antonio. In 1949, a group of
confer hot climate adaptability plus 100% heterosis for growth, fertility, ma- interested breeders met to form the American Brangus Breeders Association,
ternal ability and longevity when out of parents of unrelated breeds. This later renamed the International Brangus Breeders Association. In 2005 the
certainly established a strong rapport with the commercial cattlemen across International Red Brangus Breeders Association became an affiliate associathe southern US. When the first high-marbling branded beef program was tion and the IBBA herd book was opened to include Red Brangus.
established in 1986, black Brangus crosses with little sign of Bos indicus
influence could fit the specifications for type and coat color. Brangus bulls
The IBBA has a number of programs for both purebred and commercial
became widely used in many commercial cow herds in South and South Cen- breeders who want Brangus influence in their herd. The Ultrablack™ and Ultral Texas and the rest of the southern US, and still are. In fact, a few months trared ™ programs offer all breeders a range of Angus and Brahman influence
ago I drove up to Oklahoma City to the 2013 Beef Improvement Federation in both black and red coat color. The Brangus Gold program promotes the
Meeting and I would say the majority of black bulls I saw from San Antonio use of Brangus bulls on commercial cows. The IBBA is also participating in
to the Red River were Brangus type bulls on various types of commercial and the “2000 Bull Project” at the US Meat Animal Research Center in Nebraska
straightbred (Brangus and non-Brangus) cows.
where geneticists are hoping to unravel the genomes of widely used bulls
from 16 different breeds (Brahman, Beefmaster, and Santa Gertrudis are also
According to my own reading, the IBBA website, and the book “Breeds involved). If successful, genomic predictions for trait performance would be
of Cattle” by Purdy, Dawes and Hough (2008), scientific work to find the greatly improved.
“best beef cattle type suited to the hot, humid conditions of the Gulf Coast”
began at the Iberia Livestock Experiment Farm in Jeanerette, Louisiana, in
I would be remiss to not write a little about research in Brangus. In earlier
1912. By 1932 it was determined there that the most effective cross was writings about other breeds it was interesting to see how early researchers bebetween the Brahman and the Angus (according the 1935 USDA Yearbook gan evaluating the breed I was writing about, what they evaluated it for, what
Brangus bulls
became widely
used in many
commercial cow
herds in South and
South Central Texas
and the rest of the
southern US, and
still are. Purebred
Brangus consist
of 5/8 Angus-3/8
Brahman.
The “Super Black Baldie” resulted from
crossing Hereford and Brangus.
Brahman bull and Angus cow on winter pasture near
Alfed, Texas.
Example of cows that are on test at the University of
Florida.
their perceptions of it were at the time, and how the breed fared in research
today (which is a sign of how it is perceived in the classroom). Besides the
work already referred to in Louisiana (and undoubtedly the earliest) some of
the earliest research with Brangus cattle in Texas (that was published where
I could find it) was by J. H. Jones with Texas Agricultural Research Station
at Ysleta (on the border with Mexico, just below El Paso). I didn’t know we
had ever had a station there but this unpublished work was referred to in a
paper written by Dr. O.D. Butler on factors affecting dressing percentage
differences in Hereford and Brahman x Hereford steers. There was some confusion at that time as to whether or not Brahman and Brahman crosses had
higher or lower dressing percentages and much of the early carcass research
in Brahman crosses was not about marbling or tenderness but dressing percent because of its effect on saleable weight. Brahman crosses tended to have
higher dressing percentages. In this study, 15 Brangus steers were fed (pay
weight 931 pounds in El Paso) and were shipped on a train to Ft. Worth for
slaughter. They shrank 5.4% on the train ride and still had a dressing percent
of 62.6%! The Hereford steers they were compared to had a lower dressing
percent. When we conducted the Texas A&M Ranch to Rail Program the
number of Brangus and Brangus crosses increased over the years and those
steers did as well or better than any in the yard and their carcasses were second to the few Angus in marbling and quality grade. A long running research
program at the University of Florida comparing various crosses of Angus
and Brahman including straightbred Brangus has provided a large amount
of significant research on cattle production in subtropical and tropical areas
including reproduction, growth and carcass merit.
Brangus cattle, like all the eared breeds, have the potential to go nearly
anywhere in the US that has subtropical conditions and thrive. Because of
their Angus heritage they are black in color, a widely accepted marketable
trait and universally polled. They like the other Eared breeds cross well with
other non Eared breeds to produce marketable calves and replacement females that are popular with cattlemen and feeders across the South. v
He Sells!
Sherman of RRR 548W9
SELLS WITH 100 UNITS OF SEMEN
11 Stout Herd Bull Sons also Selling
Saturday, October 12th, 2013
at the SVF “Buy the Numbers” Sale
Robertson x Miss Brinks Captain 548N2
BW
WW
YW
MILK
SC
REA
IMF
1.3
37
52
12
0.00
0.53
0.00
BW
205
365
SC
REA 365
IMF 365
78 763(118) 1414(128) 37.3 14.78(117) 3.74(97)
He’s impressive! Powerful growth with
added bone, muscle, and rib in an
extra eye-appealing package.
Consistently sires thick and attractive
offspring. Come see for yourself. He &
11 of his sons sell on October 12th
at Salacoa Valley Farms, Fairmount, GA.
For more information or to request a
catalog, visit www.amscattle.com.
Semen Marketed By:
Mark Cowan | markc@amscattle.com | 903-495-4522
Trey Kirkpatrick | treyk@amscattle.com | 979-324-5518
Richard Hood | richardh@amscattle.com | 979-224-6150
Brad Wright | bradw@amscattle.com | 979-219-4599
www.amscattle.com
R
River Bend Ranch
Michael, Carol & Jason Candler
Live Oak, Florida - (386) 658-2328
Genomics and
Cattle Breeding,
Beyond 50K!
By Dr. Milt Thomas and John E. Rouse, Chair of Animal Breeding
Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University
Genomic technology is useful for improving beef cattle. It’s easy to become overwhelmed when thinking about genomics because the process involves thousands to
millions of genotypes known as BIG DATA; therefore, it is important to understand that the results of the process is improving the accuracy of an animal’s expected progeny difference (EPD) as to be able to rank animals for
selection. Genetic improvement is typically measured as an increase in
EPD over many years. For example, the average yearling weight in a
breed of cattle such as Brangus was +2.5 in 1970 and it improved
to +45.5 lbs in 2012 (Figure 1). This improvement is a result
of selection for growth by the breeders for 42 years. The more
accurately the calculation of EPDs can be accomplished, the
faster the rate of genetic improvement can be observed by
breeders using EPDs for mating decisions.
Why genomics:
We now use genomics as the DNA-tool to improve accuracy
of EPD rather than a few genotypes. Genomics means “all the
DNA information”. In practice, it is a term meaning genotyping a large number of loci across all 30 cattle chromosomes. It
is important to measure the entire genome as there are 25,000 to
30,000 genes in cattle and many of the economically relevant traits
are polygenic (i.e., regulated by many genes). For example, weaning
weight is influenced by thousands of genes, so we need lots of genotypes
on many chromosomes to effectively estimate an animal’s molecular breeding value (MBV) for weaning weight. An MBV is a numeric value for an
animal. There is a statistical process that will estimate a positive or negative
value for each genotype. Adding up all the pluses and minuses will equate to
an animal’s MBV.
MBVs are being estimated from genotypes on a laboratory chip known as
BovineSNP50 (Figure 2). Within each well, this chip has 50,000 genotypes
so it is commonly called the 50K chip. DNA from 24 animals is placed in
the individual wells on the chip and a computer system reads the genotypes
for each animal. Zoetis and GeneSeek are two prominent companies that
provide cattle genotyping services using the chips manufactured by Illumina,
Inc.
The process of calculating EPDs has evolved a lot over the past 50 to 60
years. The statistical models started with pedigree-based (i.e., animal) models
and added multi-trait, multi-breed, and now genome-enhanced (gEPD) procedures. There are two types of gEPD procedures 1) MBV and 2) genomic relationship matrix. The MBV procedure is being used by several beef cattle breed
associations, while the dairy industry primarily uses the genomic relationship
mat r i x
process.
The dairy industry,
particularly
Holstein, quickly translated genome technology into the
calculation of their EPD. The first bovine
genome sequence was completed in 2004, Illumina
manufactured BovineSNP50 in 2006, and the first Holstein genetic
evaluation including genomic information was completed in 2008. Several
USDA and university scientists were involved in this technology translation,
which was greatly helped by the fact that semen from Holstein bulls was
readily available to supply DNA for genotyping. In Holstein, this process has
worked great as it improves accuracy of non-parent EPD to the point that
the 6 year sire-proofing process can be minimalized. The adoption of this
technology for beef cattle breeds has been much slower. Specifically, breed
associations have been working with the National Beef Cattle Evaluation
Consortium (NBCEC) as to acquire genotypes on several thousand sires as
to develop a resource large enough conduct the statistics of estimating MBV.
For many beef cattle breeds, this process has taken several years. Nonetheless, accuracy is improved by adding MBV to the EPD system. In a recent
presentation at the American Society of Animal Science meeting, NBCEC
scientists from Iowa State University (Saatchi and Garrick) reported accuracy
values in the 0.2 to 0.4 range in Hereford cattle when varied numbers of
genotypes were used in simple models to calculate the MBV. These observed
levels of accuracies are encouraging and an improvement to the levels initially
estimated via genomic technology in beef cattle.
What does a gEPD program look like?
Several beef cattle breed associations have implemented or are
working to implement gEPD programs. These include Angus, Red Angus,
Simmental, Gelbvieh, Hereford, Limousin, Brangus, Brahman, etc. Each of
these breeds first gathered DNA samples from > 1,000 animals for 50K genotyping and used this as a training population, which helped assign the plus
and minus numeric value to each genotype. A breed such as Brangus is soon
to have finished genotyping 1,587 animals for their training population. For
those breeds that have established training populations, additional animals
are now being genotyped and their MBV predicted based on the training
population. The MBV of each animal is then being included into the multitrait EPD calculation. For breeders, it’s a simple process. They submit DNA
samples in the form of a hair, blood, or semen sample and payment to the
breed association office and get back the gEPD via breed association website.
Behind the scenes and over several months, the samples were sent to a lab for
DNA extraction, genotyping, MBV calculation, and then the MBV included
in the multi-trait EPD calculation. Please note that the gEPD is not a new
EPD added to the suite of traits published by a breed association, rather it’s
an improvement in accuracy of the currently published EPDs. As genomic
research progresses, the MBV technology may be used to publish EPDs for
traits that are difficult or very expensive to collect. Examples of such traits are
feed efficiency, grazing distribution, health (i.e., bovine respiratory disease),
etc. gEPD for these types of traits may always be of low to moderate accuracy,
but are extremely valuable in addressing industry-wide challenges.
Evolution of DNA technology:
DNA technology is advancing at a pace very similar to computer
technology. DNA is very simple as its repeating units of AGCT, which have
a reverse complement of TCGA. The Watson-Crick base-pairing allows this
biological process to be easily computerized, which meshes well with the data
systems of breed associations. In 2004, the first cow sequenced was Dominette, an inbred Hereford. The process cost approximately $50 million dollars with the bill being paid by National Institutes
of Health, USDA, and several other partners. Today genome sequences can be completed for approximately
$5,000 and there is a global project called, “1000
bull genomes” http://www.1000bullgenomes.
com/ working to complete the sequence on
this many bulls. With all this sequence,
comes massive knowledge of genotypes that can be placed on chips.
There are currently more than 10
genotyping chips being marketed
that range from 3K to 800K in
their density. The 800K chip is
frequently called BovineSNPHD
with the HD meaning “high density” (i.e., 800,000 genotypes across the
30 cattle chromosomes). With knowledge of so many genotypes, the chip
products and companies selling genotyping services are competing; thus,
genotyping costs per animal are becoming much cheaper. Typical costs of
genotyping/animal are approximately $250, $100, and $45 for the HD, 50K
and lower density chips. Competition in the genomics market is a beneficial
to the beef industry. However, we all must realize that DNA technology, and
the translation of these technologies, will continue to rapidly evolve.
How do we keep up with advancing technology:
The most prevalent challenge to the segments of the beef industry working
with genotyping technology will be deciding the most cost effective genotyping platform (i.e., which chips and which genotypes to use with their EPD
system?). In parallel, how will breeding organizations manage these BIG
DATA, which quickly makes files terabytes in size (i.e., 1012 bytes). As in
the history of developing EPD, breeders and breed improvement committees
of breed associations must work hard to understand the technology and how
to best use it for genetic improvement. This will be a challenge as everyone
must realize that the federal funding for NBCEC has been eliminated and
the base-funding for animal agriculture research at land grant universities has
not kept pace with the value of the dollar for decades. Thus, new partnerships
among the beef industry, USDA, and universities must be formed. v
Figure 1. Growth trait genetic trend in Brangus cattle 1970 to 2012.
Figure 2. BovineSNP50 from Illumina, Inc. A genotyping chip with
24 wells that each contains DNA probes for 50,000 genotypes.
Important Acronyms:
DNA= deoxyribonucleic acid
EPD = expected progeny difference
gEPD = genome-enhance expected progeny difference
MBV = molecular breeding value
NBCEC = National Beef Cattle Evaluation
Consortium
50K = jargon for the
BovineSNP50 chip
containing 50,000
genotypes
Angus/Red Angus
to Brangus/
Red Brangus
X
A recent bylaw change approved by the membership within
the International Brangus/Red Brangus Breeders Association
(IBBA) has now provided a new opportunity to add new genetics to the gene pool. The new rule allows for the use of Brangus/
Red Brangus crossed with Angus/Red Angus, with the resulting
progeny then top crossed two more generations with Brangus/
Red Brangus to be registered as Brangus/Red Brangus. For those
of you keeping up with percentages, these graded up Brangus/
Red Brangus would be 7/8 or 87.5% Brangus/Red Brangus
when they are eligible for registration as a Brangus/Red Brangus. The intermediate products of this grade up process would
all be registered through the IBBA Ultrablack/Ultrared program
which many of you are already accustomed. See Figure 1 for an
illustration of the grade up program.
This new way to Brangus/Red Brangus offers many
exciting opportunities. For current Brangus/Red Brangus breeders, this method offers the ability to interject
new genetics from the Angus/Red Angus breed directly
to stabilized Brangus/Red Brangus cattle without the
variability caused by the traditional Angus/Red Angus
x Brahman crosses. This option should be a more viable option to breeders that want to add new genetics
to their herd, but do not have the facilities to manage
the multiple breeding herds needed to produce traditional first generation Brangus/Red Brangus. This
grade up option should also allow for a more consistent end product with the addition of new blood to the
breed. This also adds tremendous marketability to the
already successful Ultrablack/Ultrared program with
added breeding options for bulls and females from this
program.
This program also offers a better option to Angus/
Red Angus breeders that want to sell to the growing
“eared” market. These breeders will now have the ability to use their existing Angus/Red Angus cow herd,
and with the use of Brangus/Red Brangus bulls, convert all or portions of their herd to registered Brangus/
Red Brangus in three simple generations. In a time
where the US is on the brink of a rebuild with almost
two thirds of the cattle residing in subtropical environments, breeders are recognizing the real benefits to Bos
indicus influenced cattle. This “quicker” method of
grade up should allow Brangus/Red Brangus breeders
to better meet the increased demands for Bos indicus
in Three Generations
By Brad Wright
influenced cattle throughout the country.
Remember, as with any breeding program, success will be dependent on
a good plan, the use of quality genetics and strong selection pressure. The
breeders that set a breeding plan at the beginning and follow through with
the best genetics available and strong selection pressure for
replacement females
and breeding bulls will
be very successful in
meeting industry demand today and into
the future. v
Ultrablack bull resulting from Brangus x Angus mating.
Figure 1:
The injection of Angus/Red Angus genetics through Enrolled Angus/Red Angus or already registered Ultrablack/Ultrared animals can come from the sire OR dam lines. The grade up process is not
restricted to bulls or females.
Registered Brangus/Red Brangus
(BN or RB)
Recorded Ultrablack/Ultrared (UB)
(50% BN – 50% AN)
Enrolled Angus/Red Angus* (AN)
Recorded UB
(75% BN – 25% AN)
(BN or RB)
Registered BN/RB
(87.5% BN – 12.5% AN)
(BN or RB)
It is possible, with the many different combinations of Brangus/Red Brangus and Angus/Red Angus allowed to be registered in the Ultrablack/Ultrared programs, some Ultrablack/Ultrared animals
(bulls or females) are not the exact percentages illustrated above. These registered Ultrablack/Ultrared animals can also be used in the grade up program. Resulting offspring can become registered
Brangus/Red Brangus when they reach or exceed 87.5% Brangus/Red Brangus.
(BN or RB)
Recorded UB
(Between 50% and 75% BN)
Recorded Ultrablack
(<50% BN or RB)
Registered UB
(Between 75% and 87.5% BN)
(BN or RB)
Registered BN/RB
(>87.5% BN)
(BN or RB)
*Enrollment Required BN = Brangus RB = Red Brangus AN = Angus/Red Angus UB = Ultrablack/Ultrared
Beefmaster Headlines
Free New Member Ranch Visit
Beefmaster Breeders United (BBU) encourages all new members to take advantage of the free ranch visit offered to all new BBU members. Please contact BBU Field Representative Jason Bates at 417-616-9000 or by email at
jbates@beefmasters.org to schedule a convenient time for him to stop by and
visit about BBU programs, your cattle and any questions or concerns you
may have regarding BBU or the cattle industry.
Any member can utilize our services for classification, inspection, consultation or the E6 program by calling the BBU office at 210-732-3132 to receive
the Ranch Visit Request form by mail or fax. The form can also be downloaded via www.Beefmasters.org. Simply complete and return the form to the
BBU office in San Antonio, along
with directions to your ranch.
The minimum fee for classification is $350 or $5 per head, whichever is
greater. The minimum fee for upgrading inspections is $250 of $3 per head,
whichever is greater. The minimum fee for a consultation visit is $250. The
minimum fee for E6 inspection is $100 or $10 per head, whichever is greater.
Please remember that the BBU field service staff will work with you and your
neighbors to reduce individual classification coats is the can be classified in
the same trip.
Junior Beefmaster Breeders Compete and Give Back to Community
One hundred and sixty four Junior Beefmaster Breeders Association (JBBA)
members and their families traveled to the Brazos County Expo Complex in
Bryan, Texas last week for the 29th Annual JBBA National Convention and
Heifer Show from July 22 through July 27.
of Bryan/College Station, Texas and will be enjoyed by children whose family can not afford a nutritious breakfast. Elections for the 2013-2014 JBBA
directors and officers were also held; as well as educational sessions, auctions,
motivational speakers and a family fun night.
This year’s convention focused on the aspect that JBBA members are not
just raising cattle, the association is also teaching future leaders and members are giving back. In an effort to give back, these future leaders gathered
nonperishable breakfast items and assembled “tackle boxes” to help “Tackle
Childhood Hunger”. The “tackle boxes” were donated to Twin City Mission
“Besides the exhibition of a great set of Beefmaster cattle by the juniors, this
event provides excellent educational and leadership opportunities for members, family and friends,” said Allison Wagner Wells, Junior Program Committee Chairman.
Continued on page 25
M
M M
36th Annual
Tri-Star Santa Gertrudis Sale
Saturday, October 19, 2013 • 11a.m.
at Briggs Ranches, Traylor Division Bloomington, Texas
An offering of performance proven Santa Gertrudis
genetics from three of the most respected
and consistent programs in the industry...
Briggs Ranches, Corporron Acres,
and Harris Riverbend Farms
These Great Bred Heifers Sell!
This Great Polled Heifer Sells Bred!
An Outstanding Offering of Santa Gertrudis Genetics from
Three Great Programs.Including: Pairs, Bred and Open Females.
Auctioneer: Hoover Case
For Information and a sale catalog, contact:
Joe Jones: office 361/897-1337 • cell 361/550-0994
facebook.com/briggsranch • email Joe Jones: briggsranches@hotmail.com
Offering Quality Santa Gertrudis for 36 years!
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oUr APP:
Innovative Cattle Services LLC, is excited to release the first visual Cattle Expected Progeny Difference (EPD) app ever! A mobile app designed to give
serious cattle breeders the opportunity to visualize the different muscle shapes, body sizes, body mass and color patterns of cross breeding English breeds
or Continental breeds. A tool that will ultimately help users avoid the hassles behind the guesswork involved on how a progeny will look like.
How iT works:
We have taken 15 cows (with different breeds shapes, body styles, and color patterns) along with 9 bulls (with also different breeds and cross breeds) to
allow users get a glimpse into the future. It’s fun and simple, Step 1: Select the bull and the cow you want, Step 2: then the app will give you the probable
offspring you could come up with. The options are almost endless! Our app takes a lot of the guess work out of breeding cattle along with opening your
eyes to other options you may not know exist.
This is our first version; however the Expected Progeny Differences will be added progressively to allow you have even more results to help you improve
your breeding program(s).
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All You Ever Needed to Know About
Semen Collection
By Jeremy Price
Integrated Breeders Service
Why Should I Collect Semen on My Bull?
Topping the list of reasons are genetic insurance, expanding the influence
of the bull’s genetics and proving, testing or sampling sires. Genetic Insurance. Injury, illness or any event that might render a bull unable to naturally
service could have a profound effect on the ability to obtain offspring from
that sire. Having frozen semen available on the bull, even in modest quantities, can prevent these situations from being a total loss. Expanding the
Influence of the Bull’s Genetics. A bulls servicing ability can vary depending
upon age, libido and environmental conditions. Average serving capacity
may allow a bull to produce between 20 and 40 calves per year. A modest artificial insemination (A.I.) program can extend the number of calves
obtained from a single sire to 75 or more. An A.I. program early in the
breeding season, followed by “cleanup”
by the bull, can be a cost effective and efficient way to obtain considerably more
calves from an individual sire. Proving,
Sampling or Testing Sires. The logistics
involved in developing contemporary
groupings and proving sires can be difficult in a total natural service program.
Frozen semen can allow for the use of multiple sires’ genetics in small or
widely scattered cow herds providing for the genetics to be compared in
proper contemporary groups without the need to have multiple sires in the
same pastures. These are only a few of the many reasons one might consider
for having a frozen semen inventory on an individual bull. Whatever the
reason it is rarely as expensive or challenging as often thought.
How Much Semen Should I Collect?
The answer to this question is different in almost every case and depends
upon factors such as value and age of the sire, size of cow herd, potential
for semen sales, how well the bull produces semen, etc. Quantities ranging
from 100 straws to 20,000 straws of semen are normal and depend upon the
purpose for which the semen is being collected. The average bull is capable of
producing between 100 and 500 straws per collection day depending upon
his inherent ability and fertility. For example, a typical amount for the purposes of obtaining “genetic insurance” might entail the production of somewhere between 100 and 500 straws.
When is the Best Time to Collect Semen?
Semen quality tends to vary a great deal with environmental conditions,
primarily heat stress. In the South, it is not uncommon for semen quality
to be severely compromised during the hot summer months. Attempting
to collect semen from July through October is the most challenging. While
some individual bulls seem to possess a greater ability to resist the negative effects of heat, most are not capable of maintaining a satisfactory level of semen
quality during the summer months. Due to the nature of the spermatogenic
cycle in the bull, the resumption of normal sperm production is not observed
until 60-75 days after the temperature drops below the “stressful” level. For
this reason, most semen collection is performed in the fall, winter and spring.
What Does it Cost to Have Semen Collected?
Bulls are expensive. Bull maintenance is expensive. A recent Drovers
Magazine article, using data from Dr. Les Anderson (University of Kentucky)
and Dr. Sandy Johnson (Kansas State University), estimated the cost of a
natural service pregnancy to range between $38 and $72, depending upon
the purchase price and the cow to bull ratio. In an Artificial Insemination
(A.I.) program, using semen that is produced from your genetically valuable
sire, the cost of the semen is negligible. The actual cost of producing a straw
of semen at any reputable A.I. center or semen collection facility can range
between $2 and $5, depending upon how long the bull remains in stud and
how efficiently he produces semen.
How Does it Work?
A typical semen collection scenario would include a detailed conversation
with the collection facility defining your goals and objectives (i.e. how any
straws, purpose for collection, etc.) Once the program for the bull is established, semen collection may take as little as one collection day or as long as
several months to be accomplished.
Depending upon the certification status of the facility that you are using,
some minimum health testing may be required prior to entry (more on this
later). Semen is collected, usually 2 collection days per week with multiple
ejaculates collected on each day. A straw of semen from each ejaculate is
thawed and evaluated to insure that the semen has adequate potential fertility. The semen is then ready for distribution or storage for future use. As
long as the semen remains frozen it can be stored indefinitely.
What is CSS?
The exportation of semen can be an excellent option for the program that
produces high quality bulls/genetics. Understanding the process required
to prepare a semen inventory for exportation can be challenging. Certified
Semen Service (CSS) is a subsidiary of the National Association of Animal
Breeders (NAAB) and has established a program for industry self-regulation.
The regulatory process includes guidelines for identification, semen quality
control and sire health. As a member of CSS, a semen collection center operates under the guidelines to achieve compliance with exporting countries’
requirements that USDA approve the semen collection center. Simply put,
the center is approved to produce semen for export and that approval is recognized by the international community.
Bulls collected in accordance with CSS minimum requirements have CSS
certified semen. The goal of these minimum requirements is to protect the
health of the herd in which the semen is used. Importing countries typically
publish the requirements for testing to be applied to any bulls which will be
producing semen intended for importation into that country. These requirements will often include testing in addition to CSS minimum requirements.
For this reason, it is important to establish which countries to which semen
may be exported, prior to commencing semen collection.
Why is Semen Quality Important?
It is important to understand the quality control measures that are being
used by your collection center in order to avoid fertility problems in your
A.I program and improve the odds of succeeding in whatever reproductive
process that you may be using. Semen quality is composed of several basic
criteria. Sperm cell concentration, post-thaw motility and sperm cell morphology are measures used to attempt to predict the fertility or lack thereof
in an ejaculate. Concentration refers to the number of sperm cells per straw.
Post-thaw motility refers to the percentage of sperm cells that are motile and/
or progressively motile in a frozen-thawed semen sample. The morphology
component is a measure or percentage of cells that are normal vs. those cells
that exhibit observable abnormal characteristics that would impair their ability to either fertilize and oocyte or contribute to normal embryonic development. In combination, these characteristics are measured in an attempt to
predict the potential fertility of an ejaculate. By discarding semen samples
that can be deemed “infertile” or sub-fertile, the efficiency of A.I. can be
improved markedly.
Due in large part to the recent advancements in improving estrus synchronization, artificial insemination programs are easier to accomplish than
ever before. The ability preserve and transport semen has also never been
easier. A good understanding of the details involved can assist in the process
of deciding to undertake an A.I. program. Artificial insemination was aptly
described by Dr. Steve Blesinger as the “one of the industry’s most under utilized tools”. The first step in that process is identifying and obtaining a high
quality frozen semen product. v
Continued from page 19.
Deadline for Winter Sire Summary
Attention BBU members if you want to be included in the next genetic evaluation process for the Winter 2013 Sire Summary, all data must be submitted to the BBU office on or before Oct. 15, 2013. All data must be recorded
in the BBU system by Nov. 1, 2013.
CTBBA Sponsors Convention Rifle Raffle
Help support your 2013 BBU convention by entering in a chance to win a
Browning 270 X Bolt White Gold Medallion rifle. The rifle comes with a
black matte finish, Zeiss 4.5-14X44 scope, sling and an airline approved gun
case. The Central Texas Beefmaster Breeders Association (CTBBA) is selling
raffle tickets for the rifle at $20 per ticket or six tickets for $100. The winner
B.E.E.F. Offers “In Memory” Service to Members
The Beefmaster Educational Endowment Foundation (B.E.E.F) is a 501(c)3
not for profit corporation formed in 2009. B.E.E.F. is affiliated with Beefmaster Breeders United (BBU) which was founded in 1961. The Foundation
is dedicated to making a great breed of cattle even better through scientific
research, education of the breed’s future leaders and providing valuable information to the public about the Beefmaster Breed as superior meat production animal.
If you have any questions, please contact Collin Osbourn at 210-732-3132
or via email a cosbourn@beefmasters.org.
of the rifle will be drawn at the 2013 BBU Presidents Council Sale on Sun.,
Nov. 2, 2013 in Fort Worth, Texas. You do not have to be present to win.
To purchase a chance to win the rifle, contact Gary Frenzel with CTBBA at
254-721-2214
would like to donate money to the foundation in honor of a loved one, a
breeder and/or a BBU member who has passed away.
If you are interested in giving to the foundation and setting up a memorial, please contact B.E.E.F President Davin Vaughn via email at dvdruggest@yahoo.com or B.E.E.F. Secretary/Treasurer Roger Fuller via email at
rfuller2316@gmail.com.
B.E.E.F. provides a memorial donation service to all BBU members who
Braford Headlines
Exciting Opportunity in the Braford Breed
The United Braford Breeders are anticipating our largest Advancing the Braford Breed Sale yet this October 3rd , 10am at the Burton Coliseum Complex in Lake Charles, Louisiana. In the third year of our Bull Development
and Marketing Program, our breeders are offering 60 head of Braford bulls
as well as a few F-1 Brafords, and ¼ bloods. The bulls have been on development for nearly a year at Graham Feedyard in Gonzales, Texas where they
have had top of the line treatment from professionals that look after their
every health and nutritional requirements. The bulls are in excellent shape
and are ready to go to work in your herd.
As in the previous years along with the bulls, we will be offering 12 top
quality Braford females. New to this year, we are also be selling 55 head of
Braford/ABEEF bred heifers provided by the Adams Ranch. These
heifers are bred and will start calving in mid-January through March. With cattle numbers down across the
nation, this is the perfect opportunity to replenish your herd.
The UBB would like to inspire you to explore the possibilities of using the
advantages of Braford bulls in your cattle herds. The recent demand for Braford bulls is on the rise and many producers have a waiting list. We invite you
to request a catalog from our partners, American Marketing Service, come to
our sale on October 3rd, and experience the benefits of these Braford cattle
in your operation.
Brangus Headlines
JLS Winning Brangus Tradition Continues to Grow!
JLS International’s X1 Winning Tradition Sale attracted 65 enthusiastic buyers
and bidders from 6 states. They snapped up the high quality offering of show
prospects and performance oriented cattle at a torrid pace. The sale featured
56 first calf heifers and their calves at side, drawing widespread interest from
across the country. The show heifer prospects and the range ready Brangus bulls
featured in the sale met with widespread approval and competitive bidding.
The high selling lot of the day was Lot 3 and 3A at $19,800. Santa Rosa Ranch,
Navasota, TX paid $16,000 to own Miss JLS Mallie, a Revenue daughter with
balanced EPDs and a 354 day calving interval. This former show heifer was
impressive with a world of thickness and depth. Her big topped, fall born,
Mytime, heifer calf sold for $3,800 to Dornburg Ranch, Goliad, TX.
The second high selling lot of the day was lot 17, Mr JLS Presidente 915Y61.
In a spirited bidding contest, the winning bid price was $17,500, paid by
Brock Farms, Caledonia, MS. He is sired by many times champion, Skyhawk’s
Presidente and out of the famous JLS donor, Minerva who posts 6 natural
calves @ 103 WR. He is thick made, big boned and moderate in design.
Chaney Cattle Company, Windom, TX paid $12,000 to own the third high
selling lot. Lot 8, Miss JLS Tally 915Z59. This fancy September show heifer
prospect was sired by Blackhawk and out of Tally. She is a full sister to Pearl and
boasts EPD combinations to match her phenotype with top 10% of the breed
Milk and top 30% REA and YW.
Tied for the fourth high selling lots were Lots 1 and 11, at $10,000. Lot 11,
Miss JLS Mytime 915Z66, a fancy November show heifer prospect featured a
world of depth of flank and extension up front. She is sired by Mytime, a full
brother to Mighty Mouse, and was purchased by Eddie Parrott, Mamou, LA.
Lot 1, the choice of all the 2013 spring calves, featured both natural and ET
calves and sold to Rees Saathoff, Hondo, TX.
The Branch Ranch, Mansfield, LA paid $9,900 to own Lot 14, MR Hondo
157Y3. This powerful Odyssey son is out of a first calf heifer who also sold in
the sale, 157W7. He weaned at 835 lbs and is long made and big boned.
Lot 2 and 2A fetched a bid price
of $9,200, as Indian Hill Ranch,
Cranfills Gap, TX paid $6,000 to
own the proven donor, Miss JLS Cadence 915S26. One of the few daughter
of 915C ever to leave the JLS herd, she is a maternal sister to Tally, and Felicity. Diamond K Ranch, Hempstead, TX paid $3,200 to own her long sided
Mytime daughter.
Volume buyers included Wellman Cattle Company, Brenham, TX, L&M
Brangus Ranch, Halletsville, TX and Cornell Saathoff, Hondo,TX.
Choice of 2013 Spring Calves Grossed $10,000 to Average $10,000
1 Donor Grossed $9,200 to Average $9,200
8 Show Heifer Prospects Grossed $46250 to Average $5,781
23 Fall pairs Grosses $118,800 to Average $5,165
1 Fall Bred Heifer
Grossed $4,500 to
average $4,500
33 Spring Pairs
Grossed $118,600
to Average $3,594
67 Brangus Female Lots Grossed
$307,350 to Average $4,587
7 Brangus Bulls
Grossed $50,700 to
Average $7,243
74
Total
Lots
Grossed $358,050
to average $4,839
100 FEMALES
FRIDAY
150 BULLS
SATURDAY
Bob and Janice Simpson
Palo Pinto, Texas
Ranch Manager: Randy Pettijohn
325-642-2609
Buck and Sydney Thomason
Cranfills Gap, Texas
Email: buck_thomason@yahoo.com
www.indianhillsbrangus.com
254-597-7140
Scotty and Sherry Henderson
Bossier City, Louisiana
318-208-0069
2hhendersonranch@gmail.com
1818 Arabela Road
Arabela, NM 88351
Ray Westall 575-361-2070
Tate Pruett, Ranch Manager,
575-365-6356
Cheramie Viator, Marketing
(979) 777-9419
info@brinksbrangus.com
OFFSPRING AND
SERVICE OF THESE
SIRES SELL!
101 RANGER 99W11
IH BAR NONE 820Y8
BRINKS ARABELA 1038
NOVEMBER 15TH & 16TH
Richard Hood | 979-224-6150
Trey Kirkpatrick | 979-324-5518
Brad Wright | 979-219-4599
Mark Cowan | 903-495-4522
www.amscattle.com
100 FEMALES SELL FRIDAY EVENING
150 BULLS SELL SATURDAY AT 10AM
AT THE RANCH, PALO PINTO, TX
Steiner Ranch Sells Cattle Herd to Santa Rosa Ranch
bastrop, tx (July 15, 2013) - After a century in the cattle business and
over 40 years of producing top purebred Brangus cattle, XS Steiner Ranch
Brangus has dispersed their entire cattle herd to Santa Rosa Ranch. Over
1,000 head of females will be relocated to Santa Rosa Ranch along the Trinity
River in Houston County and will complement the growing herd of purebred
Brangus and Ultrablack cattle that have been developed in their program.
“This is a bittersweet time for our operation.” commented Bobby Steiner of
XS Steiner Ranch. “But I am gratified that this premium cow herd, coupled
with the already strong Santa Rosa Brangus operation, will definitely ensure
Brangus bull and replacement female buyers with an unequaled opportunity
to have access to the most premier Brangus cattle anywhere. I congratulate
Gerald Sullivan, his daughter Kelley and their family as well as General Manager Kent Smith of Santa Rosa Ranch because I know they offer an outstanding program for this herd to join.”
“We are proud to incorporate this stellar herd of cattle into our operation.”
adds Kent Smith, General Manager of Santa Rosa Ranch. “One would be
hard-pressed to find a set of cattle with this reputation for quality and productivity than what Bobby and his family at Steiner Ranch have developed
over time. This is a great opportunity for our program.”
Santa Rosa Ranch was founded by the Gerald and Susanne Sullivan Family
and has locations in Grimes and Houston Counties. Under the guidance
of GM Kent Smith and Manager Scott Broadus, Brangus and Ultrablack
seedstock are developed from the genetic foundation of Brinks Brangus, Gardiner Angus and V8 Brahman cattle. Recently, the program expanded to the
historic Rattlesnake Ranch/7J Stock Farm in Houston County, offering expansion opportunities for their current purebred and commercial operation
as well as bull development, replacement female and weaned calf programs.
For more information about Santa Rosa Ranch, log on to www.srrtexas.com
or call 936.624.2333.
Pictured L-R: Kent Smith,
Kelley Sullivan, Gerald Sullivan
with Santa Rosa Ranch and
Bobby and Joleen Steiner, J.R.
Briant, Tony Gonzales and Joe
Gonzales with Steiner Ranch.
Two Brands One Vision
Doguet’s Diamond D Ranch with locations in Poteet, McCoy and
Beaumont, Texas and Crochet Cattle Company Lafayette, Louisiana announced the formation of a new Brangus partnership.
Doguet’s Diamond D, long known for big performing cattle that are
dominant in the showring and the pasture, was the 2011 Brangus Breeder
of the Year. Doguet’s exhibited the 2012 International Grand Champion
bull, DDD Uppercuts Legacy 804X37 and the 2013 International Grand
Champion Female and 2012 Show Heifer of the Year--DDD MS Barbara
804Y61. The 2013 Futurity Grand Champion female, CMR MS Lanie
488Z, was sired by DDD Black Gold 804S25 and out of a female, 488X,
purchased in the Doguet’s 2010 Sale. The 2013 National Junior Heifer
Show Grand Champion, DDD MS Chariti 88Z10 was purchased in the
2012 Doguet sale by the Johnston’s. Doguet’s Hercules has been awarded
the Show Sire of the Year for the second time siring many winning off
spring. They also continue to focus on bulls for South Texas Ranchers
selling 72 bulls in last fall’s sale for an average of $3,955.
The Crochet Cattle Company herd is the oldest continuously operated
Ultrablack herd in the nation. It began 17 years ago as a data driven beef
cow herd and in its current form writes some of the highest IMF EPDs
in the Brangus Industry. The herd is 3rd and 4th generation Ultrablack
(50% Brangus and 50% Angus) for added consistency and has been selected for fertility, milk, udder quality and real world performance on
grass in the hot and humid conditions of south Louisiana.
The two programs will operate as one unit with one vision. They will
combine the strengths of their programs while maintaining the individuality of their breeding operations and their brands. They will multiply the
elite genetics present in both herds while capturing and infusing those
genetics in both. Their vision is clear, to produce the most powerful,
proven and consistent Brangus and Ultrablack cattle available in the beef
cattle industry, and to grow their market share and numbers to meet that
demand.
Doguet’s Diamond D production sale is scheduled for Saturday October
19th. They will sell 100 Brangus and Ultrablack bulls and 60 registered
Brangus and Ultrablack females.
Brangus Enthusiast Gather at Johnston Farms
Over 200 commercial and registered Brangus breeders and interested cattlemen from eight states gathered at Johnston Farms, Letohatchee, Alabama
August 9th and 10th. They participated in an evening of socializing and fellowship and a morning of great Brangus cattle and an enlightened program
“Driving Profits and Increased Value to the Producer”. The field day was
sponsored by the Southeastern Brangus Breeders Association.
Ray and Helen Johnston were field day hosts and extended their hospitality
to the gathered crowd. The Saturday morning program included a parade of
display cattle including herd sires Estancia, Texas Star, Coronado and Guardian and their daughters as well as daughters of AI sires Landau, Hombre and
Cochise. Commercial Brangus heifers from Wat Johnston, sired by and safe
to, Genetrust bulls were also displayed. Craig Green and Vern Suhn provided
commentary and answered questions concerning the display cattle.
A panel discussion followed moderated by Robert Wiltsie, Purina Feeds, Alabama. The panel consisted of Mark Sabranek, feed yard manager for Irsik
and Doll, Garden City, Kansas, Jimmy Acker, Bent A Farms, a commercial Brangus operation in Greensboro, Alabama, Andrew Connally, manager
Blackwater Brangus, a registered Brangus operation in Fair Point, Georgia,
and Scott Garrett, sale barn owner and procurement agent for Cargill from
Letohatchee, Alabama. Each participant shared insights from their area of
expertise within the beef cattle industry. Their presentations were followed
by an in depth question and answer period.
Field day sponsors in addition to the South Eastern Brangus Breeders Association, were Zoetis, Purina, American Marketing Services, Silveus Insurance
Group, Monroe Sausage, Ag Credit Services, Integrated Breeders Service,
Capital Equipment and the Alabama Brangus Breeders Association.
Ray Johnston welcomes the SEBBA Field Day crowd.
Brangus Members Awarded Herdsman of the Year
san antonio, tx - Each year the International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) presents the Herdsman of the Year award to a Brangus and
a Red Brangus exhibitor. This award recognizes the exhibitor’s efforts over
the past year in showcasing and exhibiting Brangus and Red Brangus cattle.
Two factors go into the calculations for awarding the Herdsman of the Year
Award: a participation score and a vote score. For the participation score,
points are calculated from the exhibitor’s participation in IBBA’s four national and four regional shows. Exhibitors must participate in at least two
IBBA national shows to be eligible for the award. For the vote score, exhibitors who have attended at least two IBBA national shows are allowed to vote
in Houston for who they think is most deserving of the award. Factors they
are asked to consider include cattle and stall presentation, barn citizenship
and ambassadorship of the Brangus breed. It is truly an honor to win IBBA’s
Herdsman of the Year Award and the 2012 winners are:
Timmy Lucherk of Doguet’s Diamond D in McCoy, Texas, was the Brangus
Herdsman of the Year. Lucherk hauled cattle to every IBBA national show
for the 2012-2013 show season. He claimed numerous honors in the ring
and is a true ambassador for the Brangus breed.
Heidi Poppe of Cox Excalibur Brangus in Katy, Texas, was the Red Brangus
Herdsman of the Year. Poppe and the Cox team continually bring a large
string of Red Brangus cattle to every IBBA national show and had great success during the 2012-2013 show season.
For more information about Brangus and the IBBA, visit GoBrangus.com.
2013 IBBA Brangus Herdsman of the
Year - Timmy Lucherk of Doguet’s Diamond D Ranch in McCoy, TX
2013 IBBA Red Brangus Herdsman of
the Year - Heidi Poppe of Cox Excalibur
Brangus in Katy, TX
Dean Receives Honorable Georganne Myers Award
san antonio, tx - Tyler Dean from Maysville, Okla., was presented
the Georganne Myers National Supporter of the Year Award for his faithful
commitment and dedication to the International Junior Brangus Breeders
Association (IJBBA). Dean and his wife, Jessica, were presented the award
by Randy Deshotel at the IJBBA banquet Friday, July 19, 2013, hosted in
conjunction with the National Junior Brangus Show (NJBS) in West Monroe, La.
“I was lucky enough to be getting started with the IJBBA while the Myers
family was involved, so I know firsthand the kind of person Georganne Myers was, which makes this awards extra special,” said Dean who serves as the
Shows and Junior Coordinator for the IBBA. “When looking back over the
list of past recipients of this award, it reads as a “who’s-who” of the mentors I
was lucky enough to work with during my tenure on the IJBBA Board. I feel
the group of past winners are iconic figures in the Junior Association, and I
absolutely could not be more honored by this award and what it means to
me.”
A deserving leader is selected annually by a committee based on the tremendous support shown for the junior members involved in the Brangus breed
and contributions made to ensure the success of the IJBBA.
“Even after the loss of his father the week prior to this year’s NJBS and facing
other adversities, Tyler didn’t skip a beat. He was still very dedicated to the
juniors and stayed committed to his obligations,” said Ginger Pritchard, a Junior Board Advisor and strong supporter of the IJBBA. “Tyler observed many
dedicated Brangus breeders as a young man. He grew up raising and exhibiting Brangus cattle and fulfilled many leadership roles as a junior member.
Tyler emulates the leadership that these breeders modeled. The apple doesn’t
fall far from the tree when it comes to Tyler. He has taken that dedication
a step further, and we, as a committee, wanted him to be recognized for his
commitment to the IJBBA not only for what he has done in the past, but for
what he is doing in the present to ensure the success of the junior program.
We just wanted to make sure he knew how much the breed, juniors and
parents all appreciated his commitment and dedication.”
This award, given in memory of Georganne Myers, is a representation of the
passion and devotion that is still very evident in the people involved in the
Brangus breed. She raised two daughters who both were actively involved in
the Brangus breed, Rachel Myers Childs and Britne Myers. Georganne lived
in Liberty, Texas, and passed away after being diagnosed with brain cancer.
“She was outgoing, and when she met someone she made them feel welcome,” Mary Douglass said of Georganne. “She was always a happy person
and just someone you enjoyed being around. She was the kind of person that
you made you feel like a better person just after being around her.”
“Georganne was a Texas Junior Advisor and accomplished a lot for the IJBBA,” Pritchard said. “She organized events, helped with fundraising, and she
was always upbeat, positive and enthusiastic about the future of the junior
program.”
Just a few past recipients of the award include Joe Dillard of Katy, Texas; RC
Smith of Oden, Ark.; Randy Deshotel of Ville Platte, La.; Mary Douglass of
Seguin, Texas; and Steve Densmore of Bryan, Texas.
(L-R): IBBA Queen Emily Jackson,
Tyler and Jessica Dean, inaugural winner and award presenter
Randy Deshotell
International Junior Brangus Leadership Announced for 2013-2014
san antonio, tx - The International Junior Brangus Board of Directors for 2013-2014 was announced at the conclusion of the National Junior
Brangus Show Banquet on Friday, July 19, 2013.
Director candidates must submit a lengthy written application, essay and letter of references before arriving at the National Junior Brangus Show (NJBS).
Once they arrive to NJBS, each candidate is interviewed by a Selection Committee consisting of the IJBBA Executive Committee as well as the IJBBA
Advisory Committee. But, the week does not get easier after their interview
as candidates’ leadership qualities and work ethics are evaluated by the Selection Committee during the entire week of NJBS. All the hard work and
time devoted to applying for the IJBBA Board of Directors culminates at
the banquet where the new Directors are announced. The IJBBA Board of
Directors is responsible for overseeing and managing the entire IJBBA as well
as coordinating and hosting the annual National Junior Brangus Show. The
2013-2014 IJBBA Board of Directors consists of:
President, Kacie Wallace, Bryan, Texas
Ex-Officio, Kelsey Munoz, Pearland, Texas
IBBA Queen, Kourtney Gardner, China Spring, Texas
2013-14 Director, Tanner Bosarge, Evergreen, Alabama
2013-14 Director, Ali Congdon, Repton, Alabama
2013-14 Director, Allyson Polston, Lakeland, Florida
2013-14 Director, Racheal Sharp, Konawa, Oklahoma
2013-15 Director, Quinn Carter, Haines City, Florida
2013-15 Director, Colby Davis, Tahlequah, Oklahoma
2013-15 Director, Meghan Pickett, Robeline, Louisiana
2013-15 Director, McKenzie Posey, Wayne, Oklahoma
(L-R): Meghan Pickett, Tanner
Bosarge, Quinn Carter, Colby Davis, Kacie Wallace, Racheal Sharp,
Kelsey Munoz, McKenzie Posey, Ali
Congdon, Alyston Polston, Kourtney Gardner
Junior Brangus Member Receives Sullivan Supply Scholarship
san antonio, tx - Emily Jackson of Waco, Texas, is the recipient of a
$1,000 scholarship from the Sullivan Supply’s Youth Scholarship Program.
“The Distinguished Sullivan Supply Youth Scholarship program has energized our confidence in the quality of young people ready to take the reins
as leaders in their field,” said John and Dede Sullivan, Dan Sullivan and the
entire staff and dealers. “A special thank you to the scholarship selection committee of industry leaders (non-Sullivan Supply employees or family members) who volunteered three days of their time for this project. After 22 years
of living and loving the industry, we are more excited to see what the future
will bring with our youth at the helm.”
The selection committee chose 20 exemplary recipients from more than
1,100 applicants from 45 states and Canada. High school senior and college
students under 21 were eligible to apply.
“Emily is an absolute standout in this contemporary group,” said representatives from Sullivan
Supply. “She is a tremendously talented young
lady with a high-level of ambition. Being a part
of the high school state champion 4-H livestock
judging team, Emily is now highly successful on
the college level, while maintaining a 3.9+ GPA.”
Jackson is attending Texas Tech University in
Lubbock, Texas, where she is double majoring in
animal science and political science. She is also a member of the Championship Livestock Judging Team. Jackson has been very involved in the International Junior Brangus Breeders Association (IJBBA) having served on the
IJBBA Board of Directors as well as a past International Brangus Queen
Red
Brangus Headlines
Don Jobes Presented Lifetime Achievement Award
college station, tx - On Saturday, April 27, the International Red
Brangus Breeders honored Don Jobes of J7 Ranch with the IRBBA Lifetime
Achievement Award. He is the second recipient of this award in IRBBA history.
Jobes worked as Assistant General Manager of the Houston Livestock Show
and Rodeo for 31 years until his retirement in 1998.
He began the J7 brand and started ranching in 1955. In 2004, Jobes added
Red Brangus genetics to his cattle herd and has produced both show and
commercial Red Brangus cattle ever since. His ranch is located five miles
south of East Bernard, TX.
The IRBBA Board of Directors and members feel that Mr. Jobes is strongly
deserving of the Lifetime Achievement Award.
(L-R): Allen Goode of Dallas, TX; President Marcos Borges of Wharton, TX; Don Jobes of East
Bernard, TX; Don Cox of Katy, TX; John Liechty of Houston, TX; Adolpus Gordon of Arcola, TX; Greg
Munoz of Pearland, TX; Gary Markham of Manvel, TX; Bruce Buffaloe of Friendswood, TX.
2013 Scholarship Recipients
college station, tx - Eight scholarships were awarded to Brangus juniors in conjunction with the IRBBA Annual Meeting in College Station,TX
April 26-27. The scholarship is part of the IRBBA’s “Foundation for the Future” campaign, which was established in 2012 to maintain fundraising for
the purpose of aiding Brangus youth as they seek higher education.
(Front Row L-R): Allie Acorrd, Jessica Moreno, Marcos Ortiz II, Katharine Carter, Kelsey Munoz,
Morgan Maxwell
(Back Row L-R): Members of the IRBBA Memorial Scholarship Committee Allen Goode, Lissa Buffaloe, Kay Gibson, Veronica Munoz and IRBBA President Marcos Borges
Divas in Red Sale and Futurity Winners
college station, tx - The Fifth Edition of The “Divas in Red” Premier Red Brangus Heifer Sale offered Red Brangus enthusiasts a high quality
set of young Red Brangus females. The High Selling was Lot 12 from J7
Ranch and Mr. Don Jobes. Earlier in the afternoon J7 Ms Terissa 272Z was
selected as the Reserve Grand Champion of The “Divas in Red” Futurity.
She was purchased by IBBA junior breeder Claire Smart of Runge, Texas for
$4,000.
The Second High Selling Lot notation was a classy young female from McDonald Ranches and Triple JR Cattle Co., MISS TJ-MR 575A. JLS International, Robertsdale, Alabama was the final bidder at $3,700.
The Grand Champion Female of The “Divas in Red” Futurity, GM MS Merlot 22P/Z from Markham Cattle Co., went to Wellman Cattle Co. of Bren-
ham., Texas for $3,500. The High Volume Buyers were three breeders with
two selections each, IBBA junior breeder Derek Johnston of Waxahachie,
Texas; JLS International of Robertsdale, Alabama; and Cox Excalibur of
Katy, Texas.
In total, the sale grossed $48,200 for an average of $2,835. Sale Chairman
Allen Goode wholeheartedly thanked the consignors for digging deep in
their keeper pens to offer the new and established breeders in attendance an
exciting group of females.
The IRBBA Board of Directors established The “Divas in Red” sale as a showcase of the finest young Red Brangus females. The “Divas” continues to grow
as a source of genetics for new and establish breeders on both sides of the
border, as well junior exhibitors across the region and Brangus breed.
Santa
Gertrudis Headlines
Purebred Registrations Continue to Trend Upward
Diana Ruiz, Santa Gertrudis Breeders International Registration Specialist,
has reported a 20% increase in purebred registrations for the first quarter
of the 2013 fiscal year as compared to the same time period last year. 746
animals were registered during the months of April, May, and June in 2013
as compared to 610 for the same 3 month period during 2012. This 20%
increase in purebred registrations
indicates that the demand for
Santa Gertrudis genetics is on the
increase and cattlemen nationwide recognize the value of the breed’s genetic
package.
Santa Gertrudis Youth Foundation Recognizes Scholarship Recipients
Scholarships totaling $35,000 were awarded to 11 graduating senior members of the National Junior Santa Gertrudis Association at the conclusion of
the 2013 National Junior Santa Gertrudis Heifer Show held in San Marcos,
Texas earlier this summer. Recognized for their outstanding achievement
were: Lauryn Hefte, Corpus Christi, Texas, Claylee Chism, Pontotoc, Mis-
Taliaferro Recognized
Long-time Santa Gertrudis breeder and junior supporter Wylie Taliaferro
was recognized for his leadership and dedication to the National Junior Santa
Gertrudis Association at the conclusion of the 2013 National Junior Heifer
Show. Taliaferro was instrumental in organizing the first national event and
has remained an active supporter since the show’s inception. He was also the
first donor to the National Santa Gertrudis Youth Foundation an organiza38 | september 2013 The EAR
sissippi, Britney Shields, Sarcoxie, Missouri, Clarissa Maldonado, Edinburg,
Texas, Lesmar Catu, McAllen, Texas, Megan Hartin, Athens, Texas, Michael
McConaughey, Texarkana, Texas, Thomas Boyle, Mission, Texas, Tiffany van
Zile, Texarkana, Texas, Mary Faila, East Bernard, Texas, and Ashley McDowell, Zachary, Louisiana.
tion devoted to providing scholarships for deserving young people. Wylie
and his wife B.J. continue to support the mission of the youth foundation
and provide a scholarship to a graduating senior each year. Taliaferro’s impact
on the breed’s junior program will touch the lives of young people for years
to come.
Simbrah Headlines
Tracking Simbrah Carcass Data
The progeny of six Simbrah bulls have been weighed, tested and measured at every stage of production – with special emphasis in the carcass
data, in an effort to prove their genetics are as good as believed. The
calves from these sires, were weaned from the test herd at University of
Illinois Experiment Station as part of the long-running American Simmental Association’s Carcass Merit Program (CMP) and now they have
been harvested.
The CMP program, started in 1996, is the longest-running, structured
sire evaluation program in the cattle industry. The program has expanded over the years to included about 500 sires, cooperator herds in
16 states, 35,000 matings and more than 5,000 carcass records. Other
breeds have been included in the CMP and the data has contributed to
several breed association databases.
The six bulls sired 27 steer calves and 26 heifer calves in this particular
test. The results were favorable
for Simbrah sired calves, when
comparing the numbers against
the Simmental and SimAngus calves.
Additional testing of Simbrah sired calves is in the future through the
CMP program and updates will be provided as the Simbrah breed tracks
carcass data.
“The ASA Board has been supportive of getting Simbrah carcass information and this combined with 50K enhanced genetic data and ASA’s
Total Herd Enrollment (THE) program will allow the Simbrah breed to
continue to improve the accuracies and revelance of our EPDs for carcass and all traits. Simbrah breeders are continuing to encourage ASA to
provide these test herd programs, so that the breed can gain additional
data,” explained Tim Smith, Simbrah Breeders Group president.
Industry News
Blackhawk Arrowleaf Clover Released by Texas A&M AgriLife Research
overton - Texas A&M AgriLife Research recently released Blackhawk, a new arrowleaf clover promising high forage production with
improved disease resistance.
Dr. Gerald Smith, Texas A&M AgriLife Research forage breeder, said
he developed Blackhawk from lines with natural resistance to the fungal soil pathogen Pythium ultimum and for tolerance to bean yellow
mosaic virus.
Developed at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center
at Overton, Blackhawk traces its lineage back to dark-seeded lines from
1984 field selections of arrowleaf cultivars Yuchi, Amclo and Meechee,
Smith said.
Soil pathogens such as Pythium ultimum kill or damage germinating
seed and emerging arrowleaf clover seedlings, Smith said. Both Apache
and Yuchi arrowleaf clover are susceptible to this seedling disease, and
in laboratory trials, inoculation with the disease resulted in 100 and 73
percent dead or severely diseased seedlings, respectively.
“In contrast, Blackhawk is resistant to this disease, and only 33 percent
of the seedlings showed any sign of damage due to fungal disease,” he
said.
Smith is known nationally for the development of Apache arrowleaf clover, which he released in 2001, according to Dr. Charles Long, resident
director of research at the Overton center.
Clover can be an important part of forage production – and by association, beef production – in the southern U.S., Smith said. Arrowleaf clover has long shown good production potential. If planted or overseeded
into warm-season pastures in the fall, it promises grazing for cattle in
early spring when warm-season grasses are dormant.
As early as the 1960s, from East Texas to Georgia, it was common practice to mix arrowleaf seed with crimson clover seed, according to Smith.
By mixing the early- maturing crimson clover and late-maturing arrowleaf, ranchers and farmers could have forage from February through
early June.
However, multiple disease problems, including plant viruses and fungal
root diseases, effectively put a stop to the practice by the late 1980s and
early 1990s, Smith said. Of the diseases, bean yellow mosaic virus was
one of the most prevalent and damaging problems. The virus didn’t affect crimson clover, but either killed or stunted arrowleaf clover.
It was in response to this problem that Smith developed and released
Apache arrowleaf clover in 2001. Apache became one of the most widely used arrowleaf clovers in the U.S. South, according to Smith.
In terms of tonnage of forage produced per acre, Blackhawk and Apache
are very similar, Smith said. However, in addition to having natural
resistance to soil pathogens that attack seedlings, Blackhawk has the additional advantage of going dormant about a week earlier than Apache.
This means Blackhawk is less likely to compete with warm-season forages like Coastal or Tifton 85 Bermuda grass.
Despite the similarities, the histories of developing Blackhawk and
Apache are “quite different,” he said.
“On Apache, we started with a really broad germplasm base, and we selected for a number of generations for resistance to bean yellow mosaic
virus,” Smith said. “We stopped at that, and released Apache, and it’s
been a great variety for us, and continues to be a great variety.
“With Blackhawk, we started at a different place. We used a large germplasm collection, but we selected initially for resistance to fungal seedling diseases. We want to get that fixed first, and then after we had
resistance to those diseases, we selected for resistance to bean yellow
mosaic virus. So essentially, Blackhawk has multiple disease resistance.”
Blackhawk seed is black, hence its name, Smith said. Curiously, Blackhawk’s resistance to seedling diseases is linked to seed pigmentation.
This correlation between dark-pigmentation and fungal disease resistance in legumes has long been known, he said.
“Dark-seeded genotypes show increased tolerance to fungi such as
Pythium ultimum and P. irregulare, when compared to light colored
seeds,” Smith said. “The protective pigments are anthocyanins, which
are also found throughout plants in flowers, leaves, seed, etc.”
~AgriLifeTODAY
Beef Industry About to Make a Slow Turn
The beef industry is about to reverse a downward trend in numbers, but expansion is expected to start slowly. The number of beef animals has been in a downward spiral since 2007
due to drought which has ravaged pastures and due to high prices of corn, soybean meal,
and forages. Now, prospects are brightening for a renewal of pastures and for a welcomed
reduction in feed prices.
Pastures and ranges have returned to favorable conditions for much of the country including
the Northeast, the Southeast, Midwest, and the Northern Great Plains. Improvement is also
noted for the Central and Southern Plains, although drought conditions are still lingering.
Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas have received some recent rains which may help to continue
the abatement of drought. Nationally, 73 percent of pastures are rated in the fair, good, or
excellent condition this year compared with only 46 percent at this time last year.
Markets are currently expecting feed prices to drop sharply when new crop harvest gets
underway. New crop corn prices are about $2 per bushel lower than nearby bids and fall soybean meal prices could be as much as $200 per ton lower than current scarce old crop offers.
Beef cow operations in some parts of the country where pastures have been restored are
probably getting ready to retain heifers. Beef cow numbers have declined in the Southeast
by about 700,000 head, or 12 percent, since 2007. Midwest numbers have dropped by
680,000 head, or 14 percent, since 2007. Both of these areas should have the pasture and
the feed to begin heifer retention. The Northern Plains is another area that is ripe for herd
expansion.
On the other hand, pasture and range recovery has not yet reached a critical mass for expansion in the Central and Southern Plains and Western U.S. These regions include 43 percent
of the beef cows and have had a 14 percent drop in those numbers since 2007. More rain
and more improvement in pastures and ranges will be required.
So, the initial retention of heifers will likely occur this fall in areas primarily east of the Mississippi River, plus the Delta, the Western Corn Belt, and the Northern Great Plains. This is
a large area that currently has 57 percent of the nation’s beef cows.
Lower feed prices alone will not be enough to get retention started, but higher calf prices will
be required as well. That process is also underway. Oklahoma 500 to 550 pound calves have
increased by about $0.15 per pound since early June and 600 to 650 pounds steer calves by
$0.13. Current prices are $1.65 and $1.55 per pound, respectively. However, these levels
are not likely to stimulate any major beef cow herd expansion. It is more likely that prices
of $1.75 to $2.00 may be required to convince brood cow operations to move aggressively
toward more cows.
The already low inventory of finished cattle and some added heifer retention will keep beef
supplies falling in the coming 12 months. USDA expects beef production to be down about
four percent in the last-half of 2013 and by five percent in the first-half of 2014. This should
provide the foundation for finished beef prices to average in the higher $120s to low $130s.
These finished cattle prices, along with lower feed prices, should propel calf prices back to
$1.75 per pound and higher.
Finished cattle prices are expected to trade in the low $120s per hundredweight in the third
quarter, but move to the higher $120s for the final quarter of 2013. First-half 2014 prices
are expected to average near $130, with early spring highs in the low-to-mid $130s. Calf and
feeder cattle prices should follow the finished cattle prices higher, especially as feed prices
also drop.
The industry may see the start of heifer retention this fall, but the magnitude of expansion
is expected to be low and slow to get underway. Beef cow producers know that expansion of
the herd is a long-term investment, and generally want a more extended period of favorable
returns before making major financial commitments. In addition, nearly one-half of the
country’s cows are in regions that have not yet fully emerged from the drought.
Prices of calves may need to move closer to $2 per pound to provide the incentive that will
provide for a more major beef expansion. Both the poultry and pork industries are set to
increase production rapidly as feed prices decline. Retail beef prices, already at record highs,
will move even higher in the coming 12 months at a time when poultry and pork prices
increases are moderating or even falling. This will mean stiff competition for beef among
domestic and foreign consumers.
~farmdocDAILY
Merck Plans Five-Step Review Process for Zilmax Additive
Just days after beef processor Tyson announced the company would no longer accept animals fed the beta-agonist feed additive Zilmax, the product’s manufacturer, Merck Animal
Health, Tuesday released a plan to review and re-certify farms using the supplement to ensure
its safety.
The product causes cattle to put on more muscle and less fat late in the feeding period.
“Worldwide regulatory agencies have reviewed extensive data on Zilmax and have concluded
that use of Zilmax, according to the label, is safe in cattle,” a Merck statement said.
Though Merck said that studies from University experts indicate that behavior and movement of cattle fed Zilmax is normal, riginal reports from Tyson indicated that the product
was causing mobility issues, thus resulting in a call to end its use. The company listed a Sept.
6, 2013, date to end purchases of Zilmax-fed cattle.
In response to the deadline, Merck introduced a five-step approach to audit and recertify
handlers and users of the product. Specifically, Merck said it will:
1. Re-certify every feeder/nutritionist/veterinarian that feeds Zilmax to cattle immediately.
Special attention will be given to feed mixing and determining which cattle are good candidates for the use of beta-agonists;
2. Reach out to packers and suppliers to initiate a scientific audit, which will focus on the
feeding of Zilmax, and will follow those cattle from the feedyard to the packing plant to
determine potential causes of lameness and other mobility issues during feeding, transportation, offloading and staging at the processing facility. Merck will do a thorough review of
potential compounding factors—such as nutrition, transportation, receiving facilities, etc.,
with the participation of third-party experts in the next 30 days;
3. Reinforce appropriate management practices for feeder customers to include overall nutrition and feeding objectives, animal handling, low-stress environments and transportation,
based on audit findings;
4. Form the Merck Animal Health Advisory Board within the next 30 days, made up of
representatives from small, medium and large feeders, packers, cow-calf operators, as well as
animal health and nutrition experts, to review available data; and
5. Share findings and remain transparent about the review and audit process.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association stood by Merck’s claim that that the product is
safe, noting that, “there is no scientific basis for saying the use of beta-agonists caused the
animal welfare concerns cited by Tyson in their decision to stop buying cattle fed Zilmax. “
However, the group said it will also undertake a review of current scientific studies and reallife observations to supplement the work of Merck and explore any possible correlation between the use of beta-agonists and reported animal welfare issues.
“Our goal is to fully understand how the use of these products impacts animal welfare in reallife conditions. If this process determines the current use of beta-agonists is compromising
animal welfare, we will take appropriate action to ensure that every animal raised for food
receives the proper care it deserves,” NCBA said.
Tyson competitors Cargill and National Beef both have no plans to change suppliers’ mandated production practices in regards to similar supplements.
~Beef Producer
COOL Advocates Ask to Intervene in Labeling Lawsuit
The National Farmers Union Friday announced that it intends to intervene in the lawsuit
filed July 10 against the USDA seeking to nullify the USDA’s May 23 final rule regarding
Country of Origin Labeling.
If granted an intervention, NFU, along with partnering organizations – U.S. Cattlemen’s
Association, Consumer Federation of America and American Sheep Industry Association –
intend to defend the COOL regulation, which requires muscle cuts to be labeled based on
where the animal was born, raised and slaughtered.
Nine groups filed the original lawsuit, arguing that COOL violates World Trade Organization obligations by creating consumer bias against imported goods.
Specifically, they alleged that the COOL rule: 1) violates the United States Constitution by
compelling speech in the form of detailed labeling on meat products that do not directly
advance a government interest; 2) exceeds the scope of the statutory mandate, because the
statute does not permit the kind of labeling requirements the final rule puts in place; and 3)
imposes burdens on the meat industry with little to no benefit.
Parties involved in the original lawsuit include the American Meat Institute, the American
Association of Meat Processors, American Meat Institute, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association,
Canadian Pork Council, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Pork Producers
Council, North American Meat Association, and Southwest Meat Association.
Over 7000 cattlemen & cattlewomen read The EAR each month, & the list is growing!
The group also filed for a temporary injunction on July 26, arguing that enforcement of the
rule would cause irreparable harm to the industry and have severe economic impacts that are
not in the public interest.
While the groups are concerned about potential trade disruptions and added processing
costs, NFU and its partnering organizations, however, maintain that COOL is a benefit to
U.S. farmers and consumers.
They point to a Consumer Federation of America study that found 90% of adult Americans
favored requiring food sellers to indicate on the package label the country of origin of fresh
meat they sell.
“There is no denying that U.S. consumers want to know where their food comes from,” said
NFU President Roger Johnson. “That is why it is great to have a united front of consumers
and producers in this alliance in support of COOL.”
The Court has scheduled a hearing on the preliminary injunction motion for Aug. 27
~Beef Producer
Cure the Planned-Grazing Fescue Blues
R.P. Cooke says in the southern part of the fescue belt the better you manage grazing the
tougher it gets ... at least for a while.
The Sparta, Tennessee, grazier says the benefits that accrue from good grazing management
and full recovery of grass before re-grazing also bring with them a new set of problems.
Perhaps it’s what one might expect, considering the good-grass/bad-grass nature of fescue.
Consider for example, the extension of the grazing season and decrease in dormant season
which all good graziers experience. With fescue it means your cattle will ingest the endophyte’s toxins many more months per year, without a break. Obviously a problem.
2. Monitor roadsides and manage your pastures to try to reproduce what grows there.
3. Provide forage complete recovery after grazing to increase diversity. The more species the
better: grasses, legumes, herbs and forbs.
4. For shade, grow protected small and deep groves of trees. One-wire electric fences will
protect these from overuse and trampling when they’re not needed.
5. Plan grazing that delivers high animal impact for short periods in the spring. Make a little
mud. This sets back the fescue and gives other plants a chance.
Add to that the high ambient temperatures and high humidity of the southern climes and
you’ve got more months of fescue toxicity problem.
6. In high rainfall areas above 35 inches annual average, soil health, plant health and animal
health require regular small applications of lime.
Eliminate the summer “drought” season continuous grazers experience every year, replace it
with higher soil organic moisture, denser, more lush green fescue, and you’ve got even more
fescue toxicosis, Cooke says.
7. Supplement cattle with a rumen microbe stimulant, energy, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, lots of loose salt, and trace minerals. Clean water is a necessity.
Over the years he has brought his soil organic matter up from 1% or so to about 5% and he
grows grass -- fescue at least -- pretty much 12 months of the year. Cooke says he has been
“hay free” for 10 years now and he grazes cattle the year long.
Next, add to the list of problems from the fact fescue is a cool-season forage and often out of
balance in protein (nitrogen) to the amount of energy, says the retired veterinarian. This puts
excess nitrogen in the bloodstream of the cattle, which acts as a mild nitrate poisoning and
produces many of the same symptoms as fescue toxicosis.
“High-protein, low-energy grasses lead to high ammonia formation in the rumen,” Cooke
says. “The ammonia is absorbed and leads to a high pH in the animal, or alkalosis.”
Dilution solution: Tennessee grazier R.P. Cooke says big fescue is fine if you can beat it back
to 35% or 50% of your grass stand in favor of warm-season grasses.
However, there are solutions and a way forward, he says.
Cooke has actually written his methods into a series of articles about his 30 years improving
his land with grazing and dealing with the fescue issues as the evolve. He calls it the “Highway 40 Blues” and says these southern fescue problems persist along a corridor which runs
up to 100 miles either side of Interstate 40 from eastern Oklahoma to the Atlantic Ocean.
Cooke nearly every year sponsors grazing management meetings, sometimes featuring his
friend Gordon Hazard, author of the book
8. Eliminate chemical nitrogen if your fescue is dominating your pasture and “blowing up”
in the spring.
9. Consider “overgrazing” areas of heavy fescue growth in early-spring by allowing cattle a
longer grazing period or a second grazing period. Do so before the warm-season plants you
want begin to emerge.
10. Learn to plan, manage, and graze for an increase of the perennial tall warm-season (C4)
grasses that grow in your area.
11. Mow the fescue dominant areas for hay every third year. “I always lose money when
we mow hay but it does set the fescue back,” Cooke says. It also decreases soil health and
development.
12. Consider applying four to six ounces per acre application of paraquat in the late March,
April, or early May on very dense areas to send the fescue dormant. Paraquat is dangerous
but short-lived and seems to hurt fescue and other C3 grasses worse than it does other plants.
13. Do not bet the farm on novel endophyte fescue varieties.
14. Get adapted cattle genetics. Sell cows that cannot perform in your environment. Do a
lot of looking before purchasing. Get out of the truck and look at the grass, the cattle and the
feed program. If the seller is feeding hay for more than 60 days per year, do not buy. If there
is not a lot of grass, do not buy. If the cows weigh over 1,000 pounds, do not buy. Whenever
in doubt, do some more looking.
R.P. Cooke’s 16 tips for Kentucky 31 fescue management
R.P. Cooke has a list of things he’s learned about dealing with that “better” fescue Southern
graziers get from planned grazing. Here they are:
15. Attend pasture walks in the fescue belt at different times of the year.
Take notes, ask questions, think, learn and take action.
1. Dilution is the key to pollution. Fescue needs to make up no more than 35% of the
pasture component.
~Beef Producer
16. Do not spend excess money on silver bullets. They do not exist.
Advertiser’s Index
101 Ranch............................................31
2H Brangus.....................................31,44
44 Farms...........................................IBC
5K Cowbelle Ranch..............................44
6th Annual Florida Brangus Bull Sale....29
Advanced Genetic Services, LLC...........45
Advancing the Braford Breed III Sale......4
Alleman Cattle Company........................3
AMS Genetics, LLC...............10,34,35,48
Bill Rainer Cattle Co..............................3
Briggs Ranches.............................IFC, 45
Buckner Polled Beefmaster....................44
Calyx Star Ranch..................................44
Cavender Ranches................................44
Champion Genetics..............................45
Chandler RLR Brafords........................11
Corporron Acres...................................23
Crochet Cattle.................................12,44
Dillard Land & Cattle..........................44
Doak Lambert Auctioneer.....................45
Doguet’s Diamond D Ranch............21,44
Don Thomas & Sons.......................13,44
Dos Bros Ranches...................................3
Farris Ranching Company.....................33
Garrett Brangus....................................44
Garry Clem Brangus.............................44
GENETRUST....................................BC
Genex Cooperative, Inc........................45
Greenview Farms, Inc.............................3
Harris Riverbend Farm....................27,45
Harvey Ranch........................................3
Ideal Productions.................................37
Indian Hills Ranch..........................31,44
Innovative Cattle..................................22
Integrated Breeders Service...................41
Isa Cattle Co., Inc................................44
J.D. Hudgins, Inc................................44
JLS International.............................43,44
Lake Majestik Farms..........................5,44
Lakin Oakley Auctioneer......................45
Larry Smith Livestock...........................45
Lingg Brangus Ranch...........................44
Livestock Photography by Nancy..........45
M & W Cattle Service..........................45
Miller Brangus.....................................30
Nunley Bros. Ranches......................38,45
OvaGenix.............................................45
Pine Ridge Ranch.................................45
Quail Creek Brangus............................44
River Bend Ranch................................10
Robertson Livestock.............................45
Salacoa Valley Farms...............................1
Santa Rosa Ranch..............................7,44
SBBA Showcase Sale.............................18
Sexing Technologies.........................16,17
Skyhawk Brangus.................................44
TCR Genetics......................................45
Thunderstorm R Cattle Co.....................3
Tommy Barnes Auctioneer....................45
Tri-Star Santa Gertrudis Sale.................20
Truitt Brangus Farms............................44
V8 Ranch.............................................44
Wendt Ranch.......................................45
Westall Ranches, LLC.................26,31,44
World Series of Brangus Sale.................31
Calendar
Please note that events/sales in bold have ads placed in this issue. Check them out!
September
7 Lasater Ranch Sale - Matheson, CO
7 Channarock & Friends Southern Revolutions
Production Sale - Shreveport, LA
7 The Brahman Catalyst Sate at Moreno Ranches Venus, FL
9-10 V8 Ranch Power of Production Internet Sale
14 23rd Annual “Cadillac of Brangus” Sale - Madison,
MO
20 Nunley Brothers 12th Annual “One Ranch Raised”
- Sabinal, TX
20 The Elite Simbrah Sale - Yoakum, TX
21 Arkansas BBA Fall Sale - Conway, AR
21 Heritage Cattle Co. Show Heifer Sale - Hungerford, TX
21-22 District 6 Jr. Show & Sale - Richmond, IN
28 SBBA Showcase Sale - Lake City, FL
28 Live Oak BBA Fall Sale - Three Rivers, TX
28 Arkoma Santa Gertrudis Sale - Tulsa, OK
28 Western States BBA Bull & Female Sale - Dinuba, CA
October
3 Advancing the Breed III - Lake Charles, LA
5 Isa Cattle Co. Performance Tested Bull Sale - San
Angelo, TX
5 J&T Farm First Production Sale - Savannah, TN
5 25th Anniversary Alabama Connection Sale Hanceville, AL
19 Central Texas BBA Beef “On” Forage Performance
Bull Sale - Brenham TX
19 Thunder Valley Ranch Production Sale - Commerce, GA
26 44 Farms Sale - Cameron, TX
26 Miller Brangus Bull & Female Sale - Waynesboro,
TN
26 Carr & Others Fall Sale - Floresville, TX
26 Oak Creek Farms Production Sale - Chappell Hill, TX
26-27 Synergy VI Show & Sale - Giddings, TX
November
1-2 GENETRUST at Chimney Rock - Concord, AR
2 President’s Council Sale - Fort Worth, TX
9 Mt. Laurel Classic Santa Gertrudis Sale - Calhoun, GA
9 Hill Country Brangus Breeders Sale - San Angelo, TX
9 Louisiana BBA Cowboy Classic Sale - Lake Charles, LA
9 Heart of Texas Beefmaster Sale - Groesbeck, TX
9-13 Branch Ranch Brangus Bull Internet Sale
15-16 World Series of Brangus Sale - Palo Pinto, TX
16 Union Town Brangus Bull Sale - Union Town, AL
23 Collier Farms Performance Bull Sale - Brenham, TX
December
7 GENETRUST at Cavender’s Neches River Ranch
- Jacksonville, TX
7 Lone Star BBA Sale - Sulphur Springs, TX
12 Salacoa Valley Bull & Female Sale - Fairmount, GA
12 Ozark & Heart of America Fall Female Sale - Tulsa,
OK
12 Heart of Texas Simmental/Simbrah Association Sale
- Hearne, TX
12 South Texas BBA Buccaneer Classic - Robstown, TX
12 CX Advantage Brangus Sale - Weimar, TX
18 10th Annual Santa Gertrudis Bull & Commercial
Heifer Sale - Bloomington, TX
18 6th Annual Florida Brangus Bull Sale Okeechobee, FL
19 Doguet’s Annual Production Sale - Poteet, TX
19 36th Annual Tri-Star Registered Santa Gertrudis
“Elite Cow” Sale - Bloomington, TX
Your ad could be in here!
Call us to find out how.
Advertising Sales:
Mark Cowan: 903/495-4522, markc@amscattle.com
Richard Hood: 979/224-6140, richardh@amscattle.com
Trey Kirkpatrick: 979/324-5518, treyk@amscattle.com
Brad Wright: 979/219-4599, bradw@amscattle.com
Fax: 979/828-5532
www.amscattle.com/the-ear-magazine/

Brangus Issue - American Marketing Services

Transcription

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