The Profit Picture February 2013 by American Gelbvieh Association

February 2013 | www.GELBVIEH.org

In this Issue: New Generation AGA EPDs

Gelbvieh

Crossbreeding at Spade Ranches

Over the Fence with Dr. Bob Hough Management of Bulls for Natural Service Crossbreeding Made Easy with Balancer® Adams Ranch:

Genetics that Fit the Environment

Considering Crossbreeding? The added heterosis advantages of the crossbred calf and the crossbred cow, especially in lowly heritable traits, will positively affect a ranch’s bottom line. By Bob Weaber High calf and feeder cattle prices during the past couple of years have helped many of Missouri’s cow-calf producers achieve profitability. Even though many cattle producer’s operations are profitable, work should continue to improve the economic position of the farm or ranch. Profitability may be enhanced by increasing the volume of production (i.e. the pounds of calves you market) and/or the value of products you sell (improving quality). The reduction of production costs, and thus breakeven prices, can also improve profitability. For commercial beef producers, the implementation of technologies and breeding systems that increase the quality and volume of production and reduce input costs is essential to maintain or improve the competitive position of the operation. More and more producers are finding that a structured crossbreeding system helps them achieve the goals increasing productivity and reducing production costs.

desirable progeny for a broad range of traits.

What is Heterosis?

Why Crossbreed?

Heterosis refers to the superiority of the crossbred animal relative to the average of its straight bred parents. Heterosis results from the increase in the heterozygosity of a crossbred animal’s genetic makeup. Heterozygosity refers to a state where an animal has two different forms of a gene. It is believed that heterosis is the result of gene dominance and the recovery from accumulated inbreeding depression of pure breeds. Heterosis is, therefore, dependant on an animal having two different copies of a gene. The level of heterozygosity an animal has depends on the random inheritance of copies of genes from its parents. In general, animals that are crosses of unrelated breeds, such as Angus and Brahman, exhibit higher levels of heterosis, due to more heterozygosity, than do crosses of more genetically similar breeds such as a cross of Angus and Hereford.

The use of crossbreeding offers two distinct and important advantages over the use of a single breed. First, crossbred animals have heterosis or hybrid vigor. Second, crossbred animals combine the strengths of the parent breeds. The term ‘breed complementarity’ is often used to describe breed combinations that produce highly

Heterosis generates the largest improvement in lowly heritable traits. Moderate improvements due to heterosis are seen in moderately heritable traits. Little or no heterosis is observed in highly heritable traits. Heritability is the proportion of the observable variation in a trait between animals that is due to the genetics that are

Continued on page 6

American Gelbvieh Association 10900 Dover Street Westminster, CO 80021

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Columbia MO Permit No. 353

Selling February 19, 2013 • Burwell, Neb.

225

Incredible Quality ... selected from a continual AI program since 1965. You won’t find a better set Guaranteed! Guaranteed? You Bet! We are ranchers and cattlemen. You get the same service we expect ... anything goes wrong we replace them. Our only family income is from cattle ... they better be right and work for You! We run a large commercial herd and we know what works; forage developed ... these bulls will be business all season long. Buy Cedar Top Range Developed Bulls with CONFIDENCE!

Coming 2-year-old Bulls Sell Pick from a great selection of 2-year-old Bulls – NOT Last Year’s Leftovers!

Range-Ready Bulls from these Sire Groups Sell

Balancer® • Angus • Red Angus • Complete Igenity DNA Testing • Semen Checked • You Buy...We Bid on Your Calves • Volume Discounts • 1st Season Guarantee • Free Delivery • Supreme Quality (Selected from one of the Nation's largest herds) • Forage Developed (to identify cattle that gain on grass) • Carcass Tested • Every Bull DNA Tenderness Tested! Feedlot Closeout Data 308 Heifers 96.6 % Choice • 79.9 YG 1’s & 2’s

Sons Sons Sons Sons

IFC | February 2013

Cedar Top Ranch

Scott & Raberta Starr 212 Starr Drive • Stapleton, NE 69163 (H): 308-587-2293 • (C): 308-530-3900 cedartopranch@gpcom.net Eldon Starr: 1-800-535-6173 or Rich Johnson: 402-368-2209

Cattlemen’s Connection

Your One-Call Convenience Semen Shipping Center Remove the hassle from AI season by ordering all your semen from one place: Cattlemen's Connection. We take sire selection and customer service to a Newlevel!

Northern Dancer

Watchman

Roundup

Western Hauler

Krugerrand

Cobalt

Cattlemen’s Connection ... Your connection to all available bulls in the Gelbvieh breed and all breeds− if we don’t have ‘em we can get ‘em.

HWe are the largest supplier of Gelbvieh & Balancer genetics (100+ Sires)H Unlimited supply of top Angus and Red Angus sires for your Balancer® needs.

Top Recruit

Red Power

Profit Agent

Buddy Boy

Astro

Cowboy Cut

Shipping and handling FREE on orders of 50 or more units.

Commercial Producers:

the majority of our sires are available to you at substantially discounted commercial prices.

35+ years AI expertise/25+ years traveling the Gelbvieh breed.

for y a d o t Call pcoming our u Semen 2013 Calendar og/ Catal

Call Cattlemen’s Connection: 1-800-743-0026 Roger & Peggy Gatz • P.O. Box 156 • Hiawatha, KS 66434 • 785-742-3163

Granite 200P2

Mack

Revolution

Black Impact

Extra Exposure

Gunslinger

Visit our website: www.cattlemensconnection.com For a complete listing of AI Sires, their stats, DNA, pedigrees and EPDs The Profitpicture | 1

Contents Features Considering Crossbreeding FC By Dr. Bob Weaber The advantages of individual and maternal heterosis can easily be achieved through crossbreeding, positively impacting a producer’s bottom line. New Generation AGA EPDS 8 In collaboration with the American Simmental Association, Gelbvieh and Balancer® EPDs can now be directly compared with EPDs for Simmental, SimAngus and Red Angus. Gelbvieh Crossbreeding at Spade Ranches 18 By Brian Rogers Spade Ranches in Texas is one of the largest cowcalf herds in the United States. In an interview with Wesley Welch, he talks about using Balancer® bulls in their breeding program. Over the Fence with Dr. Bob Hough 24 The AGA’s Frank Padilla sits down with Dr. Bob Hough to discuss crossbreeding. Calving Season – Time to Evaluate Udder Soundness 36 By Susan Willmon Taking udder and teat scores at calving will help cow-calf producers monitor and improve overall cow herd udder quality.

Using DNA to Produce a More Profitable Cattle Herd 41 Incorporating DNA technology into a ranch management program allows producers to learn about each animal’s true genetic potential. Management of Bulls for Natural Service 52 By Wayne Ayers Protect your bull investment by properly managing for breeding soundness, nutrition and disease.

2 | February 2013

Executive Director Jim Gibb jimg@gelbvieh.org Director of Administration Dianne Coffman (ex. 479) diannec@gelbvieh.org

The Importance of Sire Selection 57 By Dan Moser The opportunity for genetic change in a cow herd is great depending on the bulls or semen you purchase this spring.

Director of Breed Improvement Susan Willmon (ex. 484) susanw@gelbvieh.org

Adams Ranch: Genetics that Fit the Environment 66 By William McIntosh The 15th largest cow-calf herd in the United States uses Gelbvieh in their crossbreeding program.

Director of Communications Jennifer Scharpe (ex. 485) jennifers@gelbvieh.org

Building Value into Your Feeder Cattle 82 By Frank Padilla If you want to increase the value of your feeder calves, there are several things producers can do to produce exactly what the feeders are wanting.

Director of Breed Promotion Frank Padilla (ex. 480) frankp@gelbvieh.org

Breed Improvement Data Analyst Kari Otteman (ex 483) kario@gelbvieh.org Director of Member Services Dana Stewart (ex. 488) danas@gelbvieh.org Gelbvieh Media Productions Lynn Valentine (ex. 486) lynnv@gelbvieh.org Area Coordinator Central Region Brian Rogers brianr@gelbvieh.org (936) 554-1600 Area Coordinator Eastern Region William McIntosh williamm@gelbvieh.org (502) 867-3132

Request Your Free Subscription The Profit Picture is the commercially-focused tabloid publication published in October and February by the American Gelbvieh Association, focused on issues important to the commercial cowcalf producer. Sign up to receive your free subscription to The Profit Picture by subscribing online or completing this form and mailing to American Gelbvieh Association, attn: Profit Picture, 10900 Dover Street, Westminster, CO 80021. Comments and feedback welcome to jennifers@ gelbvieh.org or 303-465-2333.

303/465-2333 Main Phone 303/465-2339 fax

Name: ______________________________________

Customer Services Dolores Gravley (ex. 481) doloresg@gelbvieh.org

Address: ____________________________________

Patti Showman (ex. 478) pattis@gelbvieh.org

City, State, Zip: _______________________________

Mailing address: 10900 Dover St., Westminster, CO 80021

Subscribe online at www.gelbvieh.org/

communication/subscriptionssignup.html

General E-mail: info@gelbvieh.org Registration/Electronic Data Transfer: registration@gelbvieh.org www.GELBVIEH.org

The Profitpicture | 3

Contents News

Editorial

Indicators of Longevity

Affecting Success

Reproductive Technologies Find Favor

By Dr. Jim Gibb

BeefTalk: Know Your Herd’s Calving Distribution

Bull Sale Season

Gelbvieh Maternal Advantages

By Christian Hojer

Brand Your Calves with SmartCross® Ear Tags

Crossbreeding – It’s Smart and Easy

Crossbreeding Made Easy with Balancer®

By Frank Padilla

Beef Checkoff Continues to see Success with its Programs

Calving Season: The First 21 Days

Gelbvieh Females have Maternal Superiority

Pregnancy Detection Beyond Palpation

17 47 50

In Every Issue Contact Us

Area Coordinators

Places to Be

Ad Index

Breeders Sections Northeast Breeders Midwest Breeders Western Breeders Upper Midwest Breeders Southeast Breeders Southern Breeders Service Center

35 40-41 53 54-55 65 69 71

Crossbreeding is Smart and Easy with Gelbvieh and Balancer®. To learn more visit: www.GELBVIEH.org or call the American Gelbvieh Association at 303-465-2333. 4 | February 2013

When Breeding for Carcass Traits, Don’t Forget Tenderness! The fastest and easiest way to improve tenderness in your herd is to use a bull that has proven tenderness genetics. At Rogers Valley Farm, we’ve used DNA technology to identify and measure these economically important traits. Our dams and herdsires are selected for their tenderness genetics as well as growth and reproduction. With our genetics, you can add tenderness without losing performance.

Tenderize your beef with bulls from Rogers Valley Farm Selling 35 of our top 18-month and select yearling bulls at Midwest Beef Alliance Bull Sale, March 9. All sired by our A.I. herdsires selected for tenderness, carcass genetics and improved feedlot performance. • All are tested on a high forage ration; daily weight gain, Igenity and ultrasound test data provided • Each bull has a breeding soundness exam and comes with a first breeding season guarantee • All offer an outstanding value in the bull received for the dollar invested Doesn’t it make sense to select the animals that make the most money from birth to harvest? Let us show you how Rogers Valley Farm genetics can improve the performance of your herd. Call Ronald Rogers at 660-375-7266.

See our website for more information and data on all our bulls.

www.RogersVFG.com

KHR 47R Heifer Calving Ease with Added Muscle and Big Growth Homozygous for the Rare 316 Tenderness Gene EPDs Winter, 2013 CE BW WW YW M 11.5 0.7 78.6 117.2 21.4

TM 60.6

CED 13.8

YG -0.14

CW REA MB 39.7 0.23 -0.28

FT -0.08

Semen available on these bulls through Rogers Valley Farm 660-375-7266 or Cattlemen’s Connection 800-743-0026

Mark Your Calendar • Plan to Attend

Midwest Beef Alliance Bull Sale 85 Gelbvieh, Balancers and Angus Bulls Sell March 9, 2013 at 1:00 PM Mid-Missouri Livestock Center • Marshall Junction, MO Just South of I-70 on Highway 65

LRSL He’S A 10 83U A Perfect 10 for Tenderness EPDs Winter, 2013 CE BW WW YW M 3.9 2.7 70.3 97.2 11.3

TM 46.5

CED 3.2

YG -0.07

CW REA MB 30.7 0.29 -0.01

FT -0.03

KHR 08W

Power Plus a 9 for Tenderness EPDs Winter, 2013 CE BW WW YW 5.9 0.5 81.7 111

M 30

TM 70.9

CED 9.4

YG -0.21

CW REA MB 35.1 0.48 -0.06

FT -0.07

Ronald & Kathryne Rogers

P. O. Box 51, Mendon, MO 64660 • Email rogers_valley_farm_feedlot@hotmail.com • (660) 272-3805 • cell (660) 375-7266

The Profitpicture | 5

Continued from page 1

passed between generations and the variation observed in the animal’s phenotypes, which are the result of genetic and environmental effects. Traits such as reproduction and longevity have low heritability. These traits respond very slowly to selection since a large portion of the variation observed in them is due to environmental factors and a small percentage is due to genetic differences. Heterosis generated through crossbreeding can significantly improve an animal’s performance for lowly heritable traits. Crossbreeding has been shown to be an efficient method to improve reproductive efficiency and productivity in beef cattle. Improvements in cow-calf production due to heterosis are attributable to having both a crossbred cow and a crossbred calf. The two tables below detail the individual (crossbred calf) and maternal (crossbred cow) heterosis observed for various important production traits. These heterosis estimates are adapted from a report by Cundiff and Gregory, 1999, and summarize crossbreeding experiments conducted in the South-eastern and Mid-west areas of the US.

Why is it so Important to have Crossbred Cows? The production of crossbred calves yields advantages in both heterosis and the blending of desirable traits from two or more breeds. However, the largest economic benefit of crossbreeding to commercial producers comes from having crossbred cows. Maternal heterosis improves both the environment a cow provides for her calf as well as improves the longevity and durability of the cow. The improvement of the maternal environment a cow provides for her calf is manifested in the improvements in

calf survivability Table 1. Effects of individual heterosis on performance of to weaning and crossbred calves. increased weaning Trait Units % Heterosis weight. Crossbred cows exhibit Calving Rate, % 3.2 4.4 improvements in Survival to Weaning, % 1.4 1.9 calving rate of nearly 4% and an increase Birth Weight, lb. 1.7 2.4 in longevity of more Weaning Weight, lb. 16.3 3.9 that one year due to heterotic effects. Yearliing Weight, lb. 29.1 3.8 Heterosis results in Adverage Daily Gain, lb/d 0.08 2.6 increases in lifetime productivity of approximately one What breeds you select for inclusion in your calf and 600 pounds of calf weaning weight over mating program will be dependant on a the lifetime of the cow. Crossbreeding can have number of factors including the current breed positive effects on a ranch’s bottom line by not composition of your cow herd, your forage and only increasing the quality and gross pay weight production environment, your replacement of calves produced but also by increasing the female development system, and your calf durability and productivity of the cow factory. marketing endpoint. All of these factors help Crossbred cows maybe the only free lunch in determine the relative importance of traits for the world. each production phase.

How can I Harness the Power of Breed Complementarity? Breed complementarity is the effect of combining breeds that have different strengths. When considering crossbreeding from the standpoint of producing replacement females, one could select breeds that have complementary maternal traits such that females are most ideally matched to their production environment. Matings to produce calves for market should focus on complementing the traits of the cows and fine tuning calf performance (growth and carcass traits) to the market place.

There is an abundance of research that describes the core competencies Table 2. Maternal heterosis effeects on calf traits tied to environment, (biological type) productivity, longevity. of many of today’s commonly used Trait Units % Heterosis beef breeds. Traits are typically Calving Rate, % 3.5 3.7 combined into Survival to Weaning, % 0.8 1.5 groupings such as maternal/ Birth Weight, lb. 1.6 1.8 reproduction, Weaning Weight, lb. 18.0 3.9 growth and carcass. When Yearliing Weight, lb. 1.36 16.2 selecting animals Lifetime Productivity for a crossbreeding system, their breed Number of Calves 0.97 17.0 should be your Cumulative Weaning Wt., lb. 600 25.3 first consideration. 6 | February 2013

What are the Keys to Successful Crossbreeding Programs? Many of the challenges that have been associated with crossbreeding systems in the past are the result of undisciplined implementation of the system. With that in mind, one should be cautious to select a mating system that matches the amount of labor and expertise available to appropriately implement the system. Crossbreeding systems range in complexity from very simple programs such as the use of hybrid genetics, which are as easy as straight breeding, to elaborate rotational crossbreeding systems with four or more breed inputs. The biggest keys to success are the thoughtful construction of a plan and the sticking to it! Be sure to set attainable goals. Discipline is essential. Editor’s note: Bob Weaber is an assistant professor and cow-calf extension specialist at Kansas State University. He can be reached at bweaber@ksu.edu or 785-532-1460

POST ROCK CATTLE COMPANY

Bull & Female Sale MARCH 16, 2012 • 12:30 PM (CST)

Post Rock Cattle Company Sale Facility • Barnard, Kansas

200 GELBVIEH & BALANCER® LOTS SELL

120 Purebred Gelbvieh & Balancer® Bulls 80 Purebred Gelbvieh & Balancer® Females 291Y (1205718)

273Y1 (1219935)

261P1 (930476)

Red herd bulls like this 223M2 x Collateral ET son sell. This bull represents the quality of the red Purebred bull offering very well.

308Y8 (1219898)

Post Rock Silver x Darci Three Homozygous Black, Homozygous Polled Purebred ﬂush brothers sell.

291Z2 (1231846)

ET sons sired by Krugerrand, CTR Goodnight 880 and Sarge making them full sibs to Post Rock Silver sell.

73Z8 (1228502)

Homozygous Black, Homozygous Polled Balancer® bulls suitable for heifers like this Mytty In Focus grandson sell in volume March 16.

80R2 (956502)

20 Purebred sons of the performance and muscle king Post Rock Silver sell, including this herd bull and ﬁve ﬂush brothers out of a 223M2 x Star donor.

120 BULLS SELL

50 PUREBRED GELBVIEH BULLS • 70 BALANCER® BULLS 85% Black, 100% Polled Many AI and ET sire groups to choose from.

Performance Balancer® bulls like this ET son of SAV Networth 4200 and 223M2 sell. The Balancer® bulls are really a stout set with many AI and ET sire groups represented.

80 FEMALES SELL

ALL SIX-YEAR-OLD COWS SELL Also offering a cross section of two-year-old heifers. Both Spring and Fall calving females sell, nearly all with calves at side.

THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH... Some folks don’t exaggerate, they just remember big.

ET sons by Post Rock Silver and Connealy Consensus sell out of this donor who sold last year and represent the quality of all the six-year-old females selling.

POST ROCK CATTLE COMPANY 3041 E. Hwy. 284, Barnard, KS 67418 Bill Clark: 785.792.6244 Leland Clark: 785.792.6208 Fax: 785.792.6250 • Email: prcc@twinvalley.net “Where calving ease, performance and eye-appeal come together.”

SALE BROADCAST LIVE ON THE INTERNET www.dvauction.com

SALE MANAGEMENT BY: Mitchell Marketing Service

www.mms.bz

Chris Mitchell 334-695-1371 Randy Sienknecht 319-290-3763 2262 C Avenue • Gladbrook, IA 50635 CattleDesign®

The Profitpicture | 7

New Generation AGA EPDs The American Gelbvieh Association’s (AGA) January 2013 EPDs are based on a new collaborative national cattle evaluation (NCE) with the American Simmental Association (ASA). Below is a summary of some of the enhancements to the AGA new generation EPDs, followed by trait averages and percentile charts.

data from Red Angus and Angus sires, especially for the carcass traits.

Gelbvieh and Balancer® Share a Common Base with Simmental and Red Angus

For over 25 years, the AGA calving ease (CE) and calving ease daughter (CED) EPDs were reported in the form of a ratio. They are now reflected as percentages. Higher CE values equal fewer unassisted births from sires when mated to first-calf heifers. Higher CED EPDs indicate less calving difficulty from a sire’s own first-calf daughters.

Calving Ease and Calving Ease Daughters EPDs Converted to Industry Standard Terminology

Gelbvieh and Balancer EPDs are now on the same base with Simmental and Red Angus, which means that EPDs for each trait (except stayability) are directly comparable to ASA and Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) EPDs. This was a huge, progressive decision by the AGA Board of Directors, made to simplify bull selection for commercial producers.

Growth Traits are More Reliable The new EPDs for weaning weight (WW), yearling weight (YW) and carass weight (CW) are more reliable because the new statistical process accepts a wider age window for weaning weight. This is especially beneficial for

Multi-Breed EPDs Provide More Complete Balancer EPDs The true multi-breed EPD NCE conducted by the ASA enables the inclusion of more progeny

breeders that wean calves early due to drought. Historically, weights from early-weaned calves were not included in the NCE.

Carcass Traits are Standardized In recent years, Gelbvieh and Balancer carcass traits were adjusted to a fat end-point instead of an age endpoint like the rest of the industry. AGA’s transition to age-adjusted carcass EPDs will eliminate the gaps in the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center’s carcass EPD breed comparisons. This change also means that the days-to-finish (DtF) EPD is replaced by a fat (FT) EPD. A yield grade (YG) EPD is also new. For both FT and YG, lower EPDs are typically more favorable.

For questions or more information contact the AGA at 303-465-2333 or visit www. gelbvieh.org.

New EPD Averages for Active Sires CE

CED

REA

Gelbvieh

8.0

2.0

5.0

-0.16

0.29

-0.13

-0.06

Balancer

10.4

0.6

6.6

-0.08

0.33

0.27

-0.02

Gelbvieh EPD Percentile Chart Percentile

CED

REA

-1.4

120

-0.29

0.58

0.10

-0.09

0.9

102

-0.21

0.39

-0.05

-0.07

2.1

-0.16

0.27

-0.14

-0.06

3.3

-0.11

0.18

-0.21

-0.05

5.0

-0.02

0.02

-0.32

-0.03

Balancer EPD Percentile Chart Percentile

CED

REA

-2.8

128

-0.26

0.71

0.63

-0.06

-0.6

109

-0.15

0.47

0.38

-0.04

0.7

-0.08

0.32

0.25

-0.03

1.9

-0.01

0.18

0.13

-0.01

3.7

-1

0.09

-0.02

-0.01

0.02

8 | February 2013

The Profitpicture | 9

JUMPING COW GELBVIEH &

RIDINGER CATTLE COMPANY

Also

Range Ready Bull Sale 0 6 ing & l l e S vieh ls Back at the Ranch • March 23, 2013 l 24063 County Road 122 • Ramah, CO Gelb er® Bu nc a l a B

lls! e S e

JCGR BAR GT Contract 533Y ET 38% Balancer® Consensus Sons Sell

sell sho ing s e wh eife lect rs

lls! e S e

ll e S he

JCGR BAR GT After Shock 260Z 38% Balancer® SureShock Sons Sell

JCGR BAR GT Gabi 34Z

75% Gelbvieh Beech Jet, Colbalt, & Rocky Daughters Sell

Introducing 3 new exciting Herdsires. Contact us for semen.

JCGR BAR GT Cross Fire 500W ET 63% Balancer® Sire: R Collateral 2R Dam: BAR GT Crossover 166S

RID R Shotgun Slade 1020X ET Purebred Gelbvieh Sire: RID Rooster Cogburn 854U Dam: BAR GT Ima Lady 437H ET

CCRO Carolina Exclusive 1230Y Purebred Gelbvieh Sire: Post Rock Silver 233U1 Dam: Ms C-Cross EC / 7309T

5.1

110

0.3

2.8

137

CED

-0.11

0.45

0.31

-0.04

-0.10

0.19

-0.08

-0.05

-0.06

0.67

0.11

-0.02

Find Photos and Videos

www.jumpingcowgelbvieh.com Ramah, CO

Mitchell Marketing Service Chris Mitchell • 334-695-1371 Randy Sienknect • 319-290-3763

10 | February 2013

Grant Thayer, Owner

Ridinger Cattle Company Brad & Carol Ridinger • 303-810-0582 www.ridingercattleco.com

303-621-2058 E-mail: grant@jumpingcowgelbvieh.com

Brad Ridinger, Manager

G E L B V I E H

Office: 719-764-2327 • Cell: 303-810-0582 E-mail: brad@jumpingcowgelbvieh.com

ell S s n

JCGR BAR GT Cobalt 159U 63% Balancer速 Sire: R Collateral 2R Dam: Ms Perri B 2010R

ll! e S s

Son

RID R G-Force 922W

Purebred Gelbvieh Sire: BAR GT Flashback 410M ET Dam: BAR GT Loni 27N ET

ell S s n

CCRO CCross Good Fortune 8206 Purebred Gelbvieh Sire: Carolina Fortune 2564JET Dam: 3814L

ll! e S s

Son

HILCO Power Booster 21XX 75% Simmental 25% Angus Sire: SS Ebonys Premium Blend Dam: HILCO Proud Lady 1107R

3.1

3.0

CED

-0.13

CED

-0.01

0.09

0.18

-0.03

ell S s n

RID R Collateral 2R

Purebred Gelbvieh Sire: BAR GT Flashback 410M ET Dam: BAR GT Loni 27N ET

0.23

0.11

-0.06

2.1

-1.8

122

CED

-0.11

0.35

ll! e S s

Son

BABR RID Rooster Cogburn 854U Purebred Gelbvieh Sire: Who Hott 552R Dam: 464P

CED

-0.14

0.18

-0.09

-0.06

-0.04

-0.06

2.5

3.1

124

CED

-0.08

CED

-0.15

0.29

0.02

ell S s n

VVGR Mr 949W Rocky

63% Balancer速 Sire: Lazy TV Beech Jet R052ET Dam: L889

0.35

0.17

-0.04

-0.05

-0.3

1.5

107

CED

-0.18

0.37

0.17

-0.03

ll! e S s

Top 5% Top 25% Top 50%

Son

JCB Lazy TV Beech Jet R052ET 75% Balancer速 Sire: Lazy TV Beethoven K278 Dam: 009K

CED

-0.20

0.47

0.10

-0.07

The Profitpicture | 11

News

Indicators of Longevity Consider the effect of heifer calving date on longevity and lifetime productivity. Identifying heifers that calve early will improve commercial cow herd longevity and profitability. By Troy Smith Are longer postpartum intervals and higher rebreeding rates of early-calving cows associated with longevity? Many veteran cowcalf producers would affirm that, and research has demonstrated a relationship between a cow's ability to consistently calve early and the length of her productive life. “From the standpoint of profitability, heifers that calve in the first 21 days of the calving season may represent as much as 75 percent of future income,” said Eric Mousel, chair of the Department of Agricultural Sciences at Northwest Missouri State University. “Identifying heifers that calve early in the calving season may be the simplest method to improve longevity and profitability in any herd, but especially in commercial herds.” Mousel cites results from a study based on data collected from producers involved in South Dakota Integrated Resource Management groups (see Fig.1), as well as 21 years of heifer data collected at the Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) at Clay Center, Neb (see Fig.2). According to Mousel, the longevity of South Dakota heifers calving in the first 21 days of the calving season was 24 percent greater than for heifers calving during the second 21 days of the

season. The longevity of USMARC heifers calving during the first 21 days was 7 percent greater than for heifers calving during the second 21-day period and 12 percent greater than heifers delivering calves during the third 21 days of the season. “Not only does this suggest that there are significant differences in longevity and, likely, profitability of replacement heifers, based on their ability to get pregnant early in the breeding season and thus calve early,” said Mousel, “but the differences may be more pronounced in some heifer groups than others.” Mousel said data from calves born to USMARC heifers suggest replacement heifer calving date does affect productivity and profitability. Calving date influenced the weaning weight of their first six calves. The total pounds of weaning weight produced and the average weaning weight were greater for calves born to heifers delivering in the first 21 days of the calving season. Analysis of the data also suggests the average return per female is higher for those that calve early. “From the standpoint of profitability,” added Mousel, “heifers that calve in the first 21 days of the calving season may represent as much as 75 percent of future income.” While producers may try to capitalize on the effects of early calving by choosing their oldest and heaviest heifers as replacements, Mousel

12 | February 2013

warned that those heifers do not always reach puberty earliest, nor do they always initiate reproductive cycles before younger and smaller heifers. The relatively low heritability of reproduction traits has made selection through use of genetic technology slow, but Mousel suspects future advancements may occur through the use of genetic markers for fertility. It is likely, he said, that a heifer’s age at first calving may be the best phenotypic indicator of fertility, and earlycalving heifers may be the most promising population to use for discovering genetic markers for fertility. Editor's note: Eric Mousel spoke about the effects of heifer calving date during the Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle (ARSBC) symposium Dec. 3-4, 2012, in Sioux Falls, S.D. This article is reprinted from Angus Journal coverage of the ARSBC 2012 provided online at http://www.appliedreprostrategies.com/2012/ SiouxFalls/newsroom.html.

Feed Intake Testing Since 2007 using the GrowSafe™ System That’s why you can believe us when we say our bulls are “Verified Feed Efficient”. We have individual feed intake data on 2,500 head. All of our sale bulls and most of their dams have been tested for feed efficiency. RFI EPDs available. Connealy Protégé 5391 – 25 sons sell

GAR-EGL Protégé x EGL Target son that is now producing “Verified Feed Efficient” progeny at Eagle Pass. His low birth calves are big time performers with tremendous carcass merit.

Eagle Pass Ranch Bull Sale Wednesday, March 20, 2013 At the ranch near Highmore, SD Broadcast on RFD-TV by Superior Productions 200 “Verified Feed Efficient” Bulls Angus • Balancer® • Gelbvieh • SimAngus

California Fall Bull Sale

EGL Northern Dancer U659 – 25 sons sell

XXB Ludacris x Northern Improvement son that stamps his calves with his big hip and massive rib. A former Balancer National Champion that is also “Verified Feed Efficient”.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013 At Dos Palos Y Auction Yard 100 “Verified Feed Efficient” Bulls Angus • Balancer • Gelbvieh

You Can’t Improve If You Don’t Measure

Steve Munger • Managing Partner 34261 200th St.

EGL Lock and Load X415 – 25 sons sell

Efficiency NFI x SLC Freedom son that is a second generation product of proven efficient genetics. He was an outlier on his yearling intake test and his sons have shown the high heritability of the feed efficiency trait. Plus they are muscular and long made.

605-226-1537 605-380-0092 (Cell)

Highmore, SD 57345 Office: 605-229-2802 Fax: 605-229-2835

605-943-5690 605-380-2582 (Cell)

E-mail:

Nate Munger • Cowherd Manager

steve@eaglepassranch.com Website: www.eaglepassranch.com

The Profitpicture | 13

News

Reproductive Technologies Find Favor Study shows cow/calf producers can profit from estrous synchronization and timed artificial insemination. By John Rodgers A new study shows the economic benefit of utilizing estrous synchronization (ES) and timed artificial insemination (TAI) can be up to $49.14* per cow.1 The study is the first of its kind to quantify the financial outcomes of using these technologies to increase the efficiency of cow/calf operations. In this study, almost 1,200 suckled beef cows from eight locations were assigned randomly to one of two treatment groups: cows inseminated artificially after synchronization of ovulation followed in 66 hours with TAI versus cows exposed to natural service without ES.1 For each herd, cows receiving the treatments were maintained together in similar pastures and exposed to bulls 12 hours after the last cow in the TAI treatment was inseminated. A partial budget analysis was used to determine the economic outcomes of ES and TAI on the production of weaned calves.** Results demonstrated: • The percentage of cows that weaned a calf was greater for TAI — 84% compared with the control cows at 78%.

• Weaning weights per cow exposed to treatments were greater for the cows in the TAI group. • A greater percentage of cows exposed to TAI calved during the first 21 days than cows in the control group. When all factors were evaluated, the study found a $49.14 economic advantage per cow exposed to ES and TAI compared with the control.* Location greatly influenced weaned calf weights, which may have been a result of differing management, nutrition, genetic selection, production goals and environment. Having both the economic and production data for ES and TAI technologies can help cow/calf producers better evaluate these types of technologies for a reproductive management program unique to their operation. This information can help producers choose the right technologies for their operation, given the increasing number of options they have available for the synchronization of estrus. The choice to use ES and TAI affects many parts of the production system, and producers can use this study to help evaluate the success of reproductive management programs. Since management plays a significant role in both the economics and production outcomes of these technologies, it’s important that producers have the right information and understand how their decisions can impact profitability.

Hojer GelbvieH rancH

Annual Production Sale • March 4, 2013 • Huron, SD Offering 140 Bulls and 50 Heifers

CE 4 BW 3.3 WW 78 YW 112 MK 27 TM 66

CED 9 YG 0.01 CW 40 RE 0.13 MB -0.02 FT -0.03

BNC Game Changer Z203

Sire: JDPD Astro 407S MGS: JHG Premonition 662S ET DOB: 01/02/2012 • Purebred

astro sons

ct onta

sem for

en!

JDPD Astro 407S

Act. BW: 88 lbs • Adj. WW: 808 lbs • Adj. YW 1439 lbs 22 Astro sons in our 2012 Sale averaged 3.41 Adj. %IMF, 14.13 Adj. REA

Have GrowtH, Muscle, MarblinG your crossbreedinG seedstock source Alan & Pam • Blake & Jenn • Nikki & Michael • Christian

43968 208th St., Lake Preston, SD 57249 • hojerranch@rapiddatasystems.net • www.hojergelbviehranch.com Ranch: 605-847-4155 • Blake cell: 605-860-0139 • Ranch cell: 605-860-1326

14 | February 2013

Gelbvieh/Balancer® Show 1:00 PM ET, Friday, March 1, 2013 ®

Gelbvieh/Balancer Sale

3:30 PM ET, Saturday, March 2, 2013

Junior Heifer & Steer Show 8:00 AM ET, March 3, 2013

Selling 35 Lots:

Sale co-sponsored by: The Kentucky Gelbvieh Association and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Bulls Bred Heifers • Open Heifers Cow/Calf Pairs • Embryo Packages

Champion Gelbvieh Bull Scale Master Y159 Consignor: Pleasant Meadows, Glasgow, KY Buyer: Niles Bray

Reserve Gelbvieh Bull Samson X102 Consignor: Tyler Bitzer, Shelbyville, KY Buyer: George Gribbins

Champion Gelbvieh Female Y173 Consignor: Reynolds Bee Lick Gelbvieh, Crab Orchard, KY Buyer: George Gribbins

Reserve Gelbvieh Female Mavi 132W Consignor: McIntosh Farms, Georgetown, KY Buyer: Larry Clark

Champion Balancer Bull 3G Yukon 132Y Consignor: 3 G Ranch, Kendallville, IN Buyer: Robert Reynolds

Reserve Balancer Bull BAR IV X29 Consignor: Brad Racke/Bar IV Livestock, Cold Spring, KY Buyer: Janine LeRoux

Sale Managed by: Champion Balancer Female Lady Unforgettable U68 Consignor: Bear Creek Gelbvieh, Bardstown, KY Buyer: Peter Trinke

Reserve Balancer Female Surprise 2524Y Consignor: McIntosh Farms, Georgetown, KY Buyer: Scott Trent

Slaughter Sale Management David Slaughter 162 Hasting Lane Fredonia, KY 42411 270-556-4259 The Profitpicture | 15

S tuecken B rothers

Creating Superior Beef Genetics for Producer Success At Stuecken Brothers our motto speaks for itself. We produce high quality Gelbvieh and Balancer® bulls and females that will drive profitability for our commercial customers. Our cattle are raised on fescue and are guaranteed to be successful in the pasture, in the feedlot and on the rail.

Watch for Stuecken Brothers bulls out of these 2 successful sires in Seedstock Plus Bull Sales this spring.

HUTR JUSTAMERE CHARLIE

TMGC SB REVIS ROCK 205W

Purebred Gelbvieh • AMGV 1031979 Homozygous Black • Homozygous Polled Sire: Carolina Fortune 2564J ET Dam: 18L (AMGV 745631)

50% Balancer • AMGV 1126612 Homozygous Black • Homozygous Polled Sire: Lyons Design 6109 Dam: Stubro Outback Gal 69S (AMGV 987856) ®

CE 12

-0.7

108

CED

3.6

-4

-0.08

0.46

0.44

-0.01

-0.18

0.33

0.21

-0.06

Semen available through Seedstock Plus Genetics.

STUECKEN BROTHERS

Stuecken Brothers are proud members of:

600 W. Hwy P Freeburg, MO 65035 Owners: Maurice, Mark, Marlon Stuecken and Families

Contact: Derek Stuecken • 573.690.8543

Creating Superior Beef Genetics for Producer Success

16 | February 2013

Editorial Affecting Success In an effort to provide the best selection tools available, the American Gelbvieh Association is collaborating with the Simmental and Red Angus Associations to produce EPDs that are directly comparable. By Jim Gibb The theme of the American Gelbvieh Association long-range strategic plan is Impacting the Beef Business. One might suspect that much discussion surrounded the choice of this theme. To the contrary, there was little debate and much agreement. Why…because Gelbvieh have had a significant, positive effect on the profitability of North American commercial producers for 40+ years. And for the past 15 years, Balancer® cattle have been impacting the beef business as well. Contributing to the bottom line

Gelbvieh World, I mentioned our progress in developing new EPDs for maternal traits and ultimately produce a maternal index. Additionally, by next summer, we’ll have feed efficiency EPDs, plus nearly all EPDs will be genomic-enhanced. However, it’s always important to regularly step back and take a hard look at our current EPDs for the more common traits like calving ease, growth, milk and carcass. After identifying several aspects of the AGA genetic

With the exception of calving ease and stayability, the new EPDs for all traits are directly comparable across Gelbvieh, Balancer, Red Angus, Simmental and SimAngus. of all segments of the beef industry is what Gelbvieh and Balancer genetics are all about. With that in mind, breed improvement is one of the key focus points of the AGA strategic plan. Breed improvement involves a continuous effort to enhance the tools available to Balancer and Gelbvieh breeders and their customers. In a recent issue of

evaluation, the AGA Board of Directors voted in April 2012 to pursue a joint evaluation with the American Simmental Association (ASA) and the Red Angus Association of America (RAAA). The first production run was completed January 6, 2013. The AGA Productivity Committee and Board of Directors thoroughly reviewed

these new generation EPDs, and all attendees of the recent AGA Annual Convention were exposed to them as well prior to their official release. With the exception of calving ease and stayability, the new EPDs for all traits are directly comparable across Gelbvieh, Balancer, Red Angus, Simmental and SimAngus. Colorado State University still does stayability for all three associations and calving ease for Red Angus. The fact that three of the six largest beef breed associations

in the U.S. are sharing the same national cattle evaluation is huge for the beef business, especially for commercial producers. It greatly simplifies bull selection across breeds and sends a message that we are collectively serious about doing what’s best for our customers. You can be assured that Balancer and Gelbvieh breeders are serious about Impacting the Beef Business for decades to come and are committed to doing what they can to positively affecting the success of their customers.

Don’t Gamble On Your Close-Outs Use SKF Genetics

• SKF is committed to DNA, Performance and Carcass Testing to make informed decisions and to move your genetics forward.

• Backed by years of in-herd close-out data, SKF Genetics: 1. Come easy! 2. Perform as feeders! SKF RFI Tested bulls will sell! Fullbloods • Purebreds 3. Excel on the rail! Balancer • Red & Black April 13, 2013 • Yerington, NV Seedstock Plus SW Bull Sale

Sandy Knoll Farm Brian & Leon Dunn St. John, KS 67576 620-549-6516 The Profitpicture | 17

Feature

Gelbvieh Crossbreeding at Spade Ranches Wesley Welch, president and CEO of Spade Ranches, talks about his experiences using Balancer® bulls in their crossbreeding program. Spade Ranches is one of the largest commercial cow-calf operations in the United States. By Brain Rogers

Wesley Welch, President and CEO of Spade Ranches

Spade Ranches, established in 1889, have been a leader in the ranching industry since its inception. Spades was built by and on innovation. In fact the founding owner, Isaac Ellwood, was the original patent holder for barbed wire. Quite naturally, Renderbrook Spade, the original ranch south of Colorado City, Texas, was one of the first ranches to be fenced in Texas. Other innovations adopted by Spades included crossfencing, rotational grazing and crossbreeding systems. Spade Ranches today consists of six outfits: the original, Renderbrook Spade, in Mitchell, Sterling and Coke counties; Wagon Creek Spade in Throckmorton and Baylor counties; Panhandle Spade in Roberts and Hemphill counties;

Arkansas & Oklahoma Breeders Martin Cattle Company David & Rita Martin Oklahoma’s Largest Gelbvieh Breeder Chris Markes 580-554-2307 Chris@MarkesFamilyFarms.com Excellent bulls and heifers available. We sell 80 bulls a year all over the country. Come see why! Transportation available.

18 | February 2013

256 Boyce Road Judsonia, AR 72081 H: 501.728.4950 C: 501.278.7614 www.martincattleco.com

Private Treaty Sales Available Year Round

and Alpine Spade in Brewster and Presidio counties, totaling about 275,000 acres. Wesley Welch is the president and CEO of Spade Ranches. The board of directors includes six of the great-greatgrandchildren of Isaac Ellwood. Spade Ranch currently runs approximately 4,500 commercial cows which is about two-thirds of their capacity. Brian Rogers, American Gelbvieh Association central area coordinator, sat down with Wesley Welch to discuss the Spade Ranches operation and how they handle raising cattle in their environment.

Brian: Please describe your operation and the challenges relating to the environment in

which you operate. Wesley: Spade Ranches is a cow-calf operation that ranches primarily in West Texas. We operate six ranches ranging in size from 20,000 acres to 120,000 acres; from Canadian to Alpine, all of which is semi-arid brush country. Yearly rainfall would vary between 12 to 25 inches. The main challenges we face are the inevitable droughts and low rainfall years. In an attempt to fit our cattle to the environment we operate, we try to raise moderate sized mother-cows, that are efficient and can do more with less while still producing a calf that can go on to the feedyard and contribute to the bottom line of the next segment.

Brian: What breeds are you utilizing to achieve your goals? Wesley: We use both Balancer® bulls and Sim/Angus bulls. Spades has a long history with using crossbreeding in an attempt to capitalize on heterosis. We have a two breed cross in which the females by the Balancer bulls are bred to Sim/Angus bulls and vice

Spades has a long history with using crossbreeding in an attempt to capitalize on heterosis. We have a two breed cross in which the females by the Balancer bulls are bred to Sim/Angus bulls and vice versa. We produce a calf that is 1/4 Gelbvieh, 1/4 Simmental, 1/2 Angus.

versa. We produce a calf that is 1/4 Gelbvieh, 1/4 Simmental, 1/2 Angus (50% Continental, 50% English).

Brian: What traits are most important to you in regards to profitability? Wesley: Reproductive traits are the most important to the profitability at Spade Ranches. We need a cow that will have her first calf at two years of age, wean a calf each and every year until she is 11.

Brian: When you compare the different breeds you are using, how have they helped you to meet your and your customer’s’ production needs? Wesley: The primary reason for using composite bulls was to maintain heterosis in the cow herd with a relatively simple crossbreeding system while still producing a uniform calf crop. Another reason for the use of using the English/Continental composites was to produce a calf that would hit Quality grade targets without sacrificing our red meat yield. We saw in 2008-2009 the Choice/Select spread go to negative showing how Quality grade should not always be in the driver’s seat when it comes to carcass traits. Spades wants to produce a balanced carcass that grades favorably when it comes to both Quality and Yield.

Brian: We have recently seen some say that crossbreeding is too difficult for commercial producers to manage and isn’t as profitable as a straightbred Continued on page 20 The Profitpicture | 19

Continued from page 19

commercial operation. How do you respond to that? Wesley: Spades used to have a four-breed rotational

crossbreeding system. Logistically it was a challenge, but doable for an outfit of our size. We maximized available heterosis in both the cow and the calf; however, we sacrificed uniformity in the

calf crop and ease of management. The composite bulls allowed us to maintain some level of heterosis, produce a uniform calf crop, and simplify the crossbreeding system. Heterosis is one of the

Raile Gelbvieh/Balancer® Bull Sale Burlington Livestock Exchange, Burlington, CO March 14, 2013 • 12:30 PM MST

Selling 50 Balancer Spring & Fall Bulls The Denver NWSS Bulls Sell, Including our Futurity Entry 100% Black (80% Homo Black) Igenity Profiled • PI Negative • Trich Tested • Semen Tested Several Homo Polled

simplest things a producer can use to increase profitability of his operation. And by using composite bulls, it is just as simple as running a straightbred operation.

Brian: How should the commercial cattleman utilize the new technologies that are available to them in making bull buying decisions, i.e. DNA, RFI data and EPDs? Is this information important to you and should it be to them? Wesley: EPDs are something that we rely heavily on. They are a great predictor of the cattle a particular bull will produce. We set a range of acceptable numbers and buy bulls within that range. We try to focus on a variety of EPDs in order to buy a balanced animal. Using EPDs and scoring the bull phenotypically are both essential to making bull buying decisions.

Brian: What is the biggest challenge that you see that the Gelbvieh breed has to overcome in your area? DMRS The Factor 97Z

Balancer Futurity Bull Balancer Sires: EGL U409 (SAV Net Worth 4200) TAU Mr In Focus 18W (Mytty In Focus) SDCG X-Factor 202X (TAU Mr Krugerrand 70M 130P) TAU Mr Manitoba 13X (Mr Grid Topper 43T)

Angus Sires: Hopps Look At Me (MCC Look Out 530) Eagle Pass Total 0007 (TC Total 410) Lee’s Outline 7047 (DCC Outlook 472)

Delbert & Marilyn Nick & Matt Call for a catalog 755 Road U St. Francis, KS

Cody & Samantha 750 Road U St. Francis, KS

20 | February 2013

Delbert 785-332-2756 cell 785-332-4347 Cody 785-332-2219 cell 785-332-6089 railegelbvieh.com • email: dmraile@railegelbvieh.com

Wesley: Marketing the breed. Gelbvieh cattle have been an ideal addition to the Spade herd in achieving our goals; however, the profile of the breed needs to be raised. The people that buy our calves as feeders need to be educated about the breed, its Balancer composite, and the many positive qualities that the breed has to offer to the cattle industry. Editor’s note: Brian Rogers is the central region area coordinator for the American Gelbvieh Association. He resides in College Station, Texas and can be reached at brianr@ gelbvieh.org or 936-554-1600.

HIGH QUALITY GELBVIEH • ANGUS • BALANCER® CATTLE

OUR OUTSTANDING HERDSIRE LINEUP

CCRO C-Cross Blackjack 7234T • AMGV: 1066169 75% Gelbvieh • Homozygous Black • Homozygous Polled SIRE: Flying H JBOB Master Plan DAM: Carolina Ms Hero 5122R True calving ease sire. Semen: $20/unit – Contact C-Cross Cattle Company

DCSF Post Rock Silver 233U1 • AMGV: 1108101 Purebred Gelbvieh • Homozygous Black • Homozygous Polled SIRE: Sarge 635S DAM: Post Rock Wilma 261P1 ET Silver progeny topped our 2012 sale.

0.8

2.2

112

113

CED

–

-0.29

0.02

0.69

0.09

-0.02

0.18

-0.08

-0.03

Top

25%

JCGR Bar GT Colton 292X • AMGV: 1153520 63% Balancer® • Black • Homozygous Polled SIRE: R Collateral 2R DAM: Ms Perri B 2010R Full brother to popular herdsire at Jumping Cow Gelbvieh.

Top

25%

6.8

0.5

150

CED

-0.08

-0.22

0.59

0.40

-0.35

-0.04

-0.05

-0.07

Top

25%

Top

25%

JKGF Future Investment X037 • AMGV: 1172364 Purebred Gelbvieh • Homozygous Black • Double Polled SIRE: Lazy TV Beech Jet R052 ET DAM: Sandy 37M Calving ease, carcass and pheynotype. Semen sales open 2014

JOIN US FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF GELBVIEH & BALANCER® GENETICS IN THE EASTERN UNITED STATES DUANE & WENDY STRIDER, owners Phone: 336-381-3640 Fax: 910-428-4568 Mobile: 336-964-6277 ccrosscattle@yahoo.com

Fall Bull & Female Sale November 9, 2013 • 12:00 Noon (EST) J-Bob Farms Sale Facility, Biscoe, NC Private treaty bulls and females for sale year round. The Profitpicture | 21

Beastrom Ranch 33Rd AnnuAl Gelbvieh And bAlAnceR bull SAle FebRuARy 25, 2013 – 1:00 PM cST AT The RAnch noRTheAST oF PieRRe, Sd

Selling 90 Red, Black, Purebred and Balancer® Bulls! 20 Top Quality Replacement & Show Heifers

BABR 2100Z • BA50

0702 PL • BA75

X185PL • BA50

by SAV Brand Name

by BABR Cartwright

BABR Gentleman Jack

BEA 240Z • PB94

BMB 215Z • BA75

BEA 257Z • BA50

by BEA 063X (full brother to Passion)

22 | February 2013

by BEA Backtrack

by PIE Deweze

BEA 200Z ET • BA38

BEA 221Z • PB88

BABR 2104Z • PB88

BABR 2105Z • BA63

BEA 7074PL • HB50

BABR 2124Z • BA75

BEA 264Z • BA75

BEA 243Z • BA38

BEA 2000Z • PB94

by Connealy Consensus 7229

by Crossfire

by Absolute 21U ET

by BEA Backtrack

by PIE Deweze

by SAV Camero

by BABR Who Done It

by BEA Teddy 941W

by Windsor

Let us be the buiLding bLocks to your success! Performance, Pounds, baLance and VoLume Wes & Brittney Spencer 605-280-0204

Jim & Barb Beastrom 605-224-5789

Shad & Brandy Ludemann 605-280-3915

Catalogs and videos available at www.beastromranch.com and at DV Auction

The Profitpicture | 23

Over the Fence With Dr. Bob Hough

Maine, and marketing coordinator for the Red Angus Association of America.

The crossbreeding verses straitbreeding debate is the topic for this Over the Fence interview with Dr. Bob Hough. Dr. Hough shares his knowledge and proven research on the benefits of crossbreeding in commercial cow-calf operations. By Frank Padilla Dr. Bob Hough recently served as executive vice president of the North American Limousin Foundation from 2009 to early 2011, and is now a consultant, freelance writer and semi-retired. Prior to 2009, he was the executive director of the Red Angus Association of America headquartered in Denton, Texas for ten years.

Dr. Bob Hough

Bob was raised in Pennsylvania where his family had a general livestock farm and received his undergraduate degree from Penn State in 1982. He went on to receive his M.S. from University of Connecticut and Ph.D. from Virginia Tech, all in animal science. His previous experience includes serving as an Extension specialist in both Arizona and

Bob served on the board of directors of the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF). He has also served as president of U.S. Beef Breeds Council, on the board of directors of the National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium and on the board of directors of the National Pedigree Livestock Council. He has served on the steering committee for the National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest for over 20 years, and has judged livestock shows in 15 states, four Canadian provinces, Brazil, and Paraguay. He has traveled on beef cattle business to 49 states and nine Canadian provinces.

FP: Recent discussions and articles have debated crossbreeding versus straightbreeding in cattle production systems. Do you feel Continued on page 26

Circle M Farms Gelbvieh & Balancer 7th Annual Production Bull Sale

Saturday, March 2, 2013 1:00 pm (CST) Justin Pemberton Memorial Arena 614 Lehman St. Woodbury, TN 37190

CMFS 7132 • Montana Infusion x JBOB 3298

Circle M Farms

40+ Bulls Sell!

100% Qualify for TN and KY TAEP Enhancement Program

90% AI Sired

Purebred • Homo Black • Homo Polled

Also Selling 60+ Black Females:

Registered Cows Registered Bred Heifers Registered Open Heifers

100% Black • 85% Homozygous Black 75% Homozygous Polled

A sample of the offering: 3 sons by Post Rock Silver x JBOB 3298 4 sons by Carolina Fortune Several sons by CMFS 7132

24 | February 2013

M Circle M Farms

• Call for a Sale Book •

Circle M Farms

Thomas Mears 300 Underwood Trail McMinnville, TN 37110 615-563-5066 (H) 615-849-6199 (C)

The Profitpicture | 25

Continued from page 24

that this discussion is warranted in the beef industry today? BH: A discussion on straightbreeding verses crossbreeding is warranted because based on market share, more people are straightbreeding Angus, and there is a major push by the largest breed association promoting straightbreeding. This has large consequences to the biological and economical efficiency of the beef industry. The discussion needs to be taken out of the advertising realm, and put into a more in-depth analysis of the merits of the two systems.

A discussion on straightbreeding verses crossbreeding is warranted...The discussion needs to be taken out of the advertising realm, and put into a more indepth analysis of the merits of the two systems.

FP: Of the top 25 cow-calf operations listed in the 2012 Directions publication printed annually by the National Cattlemenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Beef Association (NCBA), 21 of the 23 that reported breeds used in their programs noted that they were using more than one breed or had a crossbreeding program in place. Why do the largest cow-calf producers in the United States utilize crossbreeding in their programs? BH: The reason the vast majority of the largest producers use crossbreeding systems is because of the economic benefits of crossbreeding. Crossbred dams bred to a third breed will produce approximately 23 percent more pounds of calf weaned per cow exposed over the lifetime of a cow herd due to heterosis. Using breed differences, of which there are many, they can also custom fit their cow herd and saleable product to their environment, feed resources, management and market. Lastly, they have the scale to implement complicated crossbreeding systems that up until recently has been their sole domain. Today, smaller producers can also easily take advantage of heterosis due to the availability hybrids, composites and AI.

FP: It has been said that crossbreeding is too complicated and difficult for commercial cattlemen to implement and manage. What is your opinion in regard to these statements? BH: Today, crossbreeding and the benefits of heterosis and breed complementarity are as easy for a small producer as it is for large producers. The two biggest reasons for the ease of use by small producers is the development of hybrid bulls in quantity, and the

26 | February 2013

excellent technology available for AI. Hybrids allow producers to take advantage of heterosis and breed complementarity in a system that has the management ease of straightbreeding. Science has shown us that there is no difference in uniformity of a calf crop using hybrids or straightbreeding, so lack of uniformity of the calf crop is not an issue in a well designed program. Most of all, crossbred dams can be produced, which is where the majority of heterosis is gained. One of the things that have really helped make hybrid and composite bulls a more attractive option in recent years has been the implementation of across breed national cattle evaluations and the incorporation of genomics for hybrid bulls. This makes the genetic predictions (EPDs) of hybrids just as reliable as any purebred EPDs. With the new technology of AI synchronization, moderate and small sized producers can now implement complicated crossbreeding systems utilizing the best genetics in the industry. Even timed AI is now feasible with good results, lowering the labor requirements normally associated with AI. After a cow herd has been AIed, producers can simply clean-up with an Angus (red or black) or hybrid bull, thus keeping a tight calving season. With these resources, (hybrids, composite and AI) the benefits of heterosis and breed complementarity gained from a crossbreeding system can easily be taken advantage of by any size producer.

FP: What are the advantages of a crossbreeding program versus a single breed program? BH: The two major ones are taking advantage of heterosis and breed complementarity. The nice thing about heterosis is that it has its largest impact on lowly heritable traits like maternal traits such as reproduction and calf livability. It is a very slow process to change these traits by selecting within a purebred population, but with crossbreeding an automatic positive effect of these traits occurs with the first cross. To me, breed complementarity is the most overlooked advantage of crossbreeding. Because breeds have become similar in coat color and size, does not mean there are not tremendous differences between breeds for economically important traits. Two quick examples are environmental adaptability and optimizing Quality grade with Yield grade. In my opinion, the producers currently have a fixation on Quality grade while the industry is building an ever growing problem with worsening Yield grades. We need a balanced approach to optimizing these two traits. Lastly, the really great thing about breed complementarity is it is 100 percent heritable.

Continued on page 28

The Profitpicture | 27

Continued from page 26

FP: Do you feel that a producer gives up “Quality” just because they crossbreed?

A producer does not have to give up “Quality” in a crossbreeding system whether calves are sold at weaning or as fed cattle.

BH: Refer back to question 4. A producer does not have to give up “Quality” in a crossbreeding system whether calves are sold at weaning or as fed cattle. Well designed crossbreeding systems produce uniform, high quality feeder calves that can go on to produce fed cattle that hang carcasses that optimize both Quality and Yield grades. On the other hand poorly designed crossbreeding systems can really hurt the marketability of feeder calves. There is simply no room for “breed of the month” type of crossbreeding systems, we have seen in the past that has given crossbreeding a bad reputation.

FP: The American Gelbvieh Association registers and provides parentage information, produces genetic evaluation including EPDs and genomic evaluation on all hybrids and Balancer® cattle. Do you feel that hybrids such as Balancer cattle can be accurately evaluated as can purebreds with EPDs and genomics? BH: Hybrid seedstock EPDs that are derived from across-breed genetic evaluations are every bit as reliable EPDs as purebreds. With the more recent successful incorporation of genomics for hybrid seedstock such as Balancer genetics, hybrid EPDs take the back seat to no purebred in terms of reliability and accuracy. The use of genomics for hybrids is

really a recent development for use in national cattle evaluation. To my surprise, I know of one case where the genomics actually work better with hybrids than they do with purebreds. This technology has definitely been on the fast track for the last two years. The whole area of genomics is really exciting. The promise of genomics has always been corner around the corner, but now all of a sudden it is here. It has taken the perseverance of genomic pioneers like Dr. Jim Gibb to get this done.

FP: How is heterosis handled for hybrids in national cattle evaluations? BH: The increase in performance due to heterosis must be removed prior to the evaluation even though their progeny will outperform a straightbred. This is because you don’t know how much heterosis they will pass on to their progeny. For example, a Balancer bull bred to a Gelbvieh or Angus cow’s progeny will only have about 25 percent of the potential heterosis, but when it is bred to a commercial Balancer cow, 50 percent of the heterosis is expressed. You would get 100 percent of the heterosis if you breed a Balancer to a hybrid cow made up of unrelated breeds. Therefore, it is become necessary to remove the heterosis from the EPDs because it is unknown when producing the EPDs how the seedstock will be used.

FP: Not much is said about paternal heterosis that hybrid bulls possess. What are the benefits of it to me as a commercial producer? BH: Paternal heterosis is much like maternal heterosis in that its largest affects are on low heritable Continued on page 33

Kansas & Iowa Sandy Knoll Farm Gelbvieh Leon or Brian Dunn 863 NW 10th Ave, St. John, KS 67576 (620) 786-4039 Brian (620) 549-6511 Leon skfgelbvieh@hotmail.com

28 | February 2013

Breeders

Delbert & Marilyn Raile & Sons 755 Road U St. Francis, KS

Delbert cell Cody cell

785-332-2756 785-332-4347 785-332-2219 785-332-6089

railegelbvieh.com email: dmraile@railegelbvieh.com

Kenyon Cattle LLC & Little Sioux Gelbvieh/ Red Angus • Bulls for sale at Seedstock Plus Sales • Females for sale Private Treaty Jack Welle 2645 180th Ave. Milford, Iowa 51351 Home: 712-338-2143 • Cell: 712-251-4641 E-mail: jwelle@evertek.net

The Profitpicture | 29

Grund Beef Genetics

Adding Value for Our Customers Practical, Predictable and Proven Genetics.

Annual Bull Sale•February 27, 2013 Grund Beef Genetics Focus is on:

P Calving Ease Genetics P Easy Handling Cattle – Disposition P Growth & Maternal Traits P Fertility P Superior Carcass Traits $40 Carcass Value EPDs $30 $ Value $20

2009

2010

2011

2012

Average Carcass Value in Grund Beef Genetics Bulls Average Carcass Value in Gelbvieh & Balancer® Bulls

P Carcass Value $ Index Combines Marbling, Ribeye and Carcass Weight EPDs P First Season Breeding Guarantee PDelivery Assistance P All Bulls Ultrasounded for REA & Marbling PSemen Tested P Sight Unseen Purchase Program PBVD Tested www.grundbeefgenetics.com jcgrund@wbsnet.org Follow us on Facebook

30 | February 2013

This sale will be available online at:

Selling 70 Balancer® • Gelbvieh • Angus Bulls 10 Elite Balancer® Heifers

February 27, 2013

Bulls

BUILT

GRU Mr Passion 635Z

Outstanding 3/4 Red Gelbvieh Bull Sire: BEA Passion Dam’s Sire: Rito 1I2 of 2536 Rito 6I6 Top 10% WW EPD

for

PROFIT

3.4

113

-0.05

0.2

0.18

-0.05

GRU Mr Zoom 911Z ET

GRU Mr Brillance 038Z

Outstanding 3/4 Black Balancer Bull Sire: BEA Passion Dam’s Sire: Alliance x Extra Top 25% WW EPD

Standout 50% Balancer Bull Sire: SAV Brilliance Dam’s Sire: Boo Boo Top 25% MARB & REA EPDs

2.5

101

-0.06

0.26

0.13

-0.04

0.9

-0.11

0.5

0.38

-0.01

GRU Mr Packer 07Z

GRU Mr Governor 025Z

Calving Ease/Cross Genetics Sire: Messmer Packer Dam’s Sire: Astro Top 35% MARB & YW EPDs

Calving Ease • 50% Balancer Bull Sire: Govenor Dam’s Sire: New Standard Top 25% BW & REA EPDs

1.1

100

-0.08

0.37

0.27

-0.02

-1.4

104

-0.12

0.54

0.29

-0.02

GRU King George 817Y

Full Brother to our top selling 2012 Bull 817Y was one of our top Carcass selling bulls of 2012! Sire: Astro Dam’s Sire: Complete Package Top 5% MARB EPD

GRU Mr Final Product 412Z Outcross Genetics • 50% Balancer Bull Sire: Final Product Dam’s Sire: Citizen Top 25% CE, YW & REA EPDs

1.3

0.13

0.06

0.17

0.02

0.2

109

-0.05

0.48

0.13

Sires Represented: Govenor, Final Product, Final Answer Bismarck, Astro, Stout 93X, Passion Packer and Mission Statement

We Sell Bulls That Add Value

rund Beef enetics

www.grundbeefgenetics.com Jerry & Chrysanne Grund785/891-3765 Layal & Donna Grund785/852-4370 Lyle & Christy Hammer785/891-3718 Darrell & Becky Vandike785/728-7310 302 Ash St, Sharon Springs, KS 67758

The Profitpicture | 31

23rd Annual Production Sale

Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 1:00 p.m.

at Bar Arrow Cattle Company, North of Phillipsburg, Kansas

featuring Performance, Maternal, Carcass and Docility

Popular 2013 NWSS Pen Bulls will sell!

We emphasize performance and carcass without sacrificing functional maternal based females. We have fed and ultrasounded our own genetics for 19 years.

Selling 70 Gelbvieh & Balancer 20 Gelbvieh & Balancer Open heifers Picked right off the Top!

Bulls

Fancy

Cutting Edge Genetics for the Commercial Cattlemen For sale book or video, call or email Stuart or go online to www.bararrowcattlecompnay.com

$$$ProfitPartners Gelbvieh

Realizing the Value

32 | February 2013

Stuart Jarvis 26 E. Limestone Rd. • Phillipsburg, KS 67661 e-mail: bararrow@ruraltel.net • 785/543-5177

Continued from page 28

traits. For example, hybrid bulls will have higher fertility and longevity than the average of the parent breeds.

FP: Some benefits of crossbreeding cannot or are not measured through genetic evaluation. Can you tell us of some of these benefits? BH: There are many traits that cannot be measured through a genetic evaluation that have high heterosis effects. In most cases maternal and direct effect traits such as calving percentage, survivability and lifetime productivity are poorly measured in most genetic evaluations. These traits are where the big payoff comes from through heterosis.

FP: What do you see as the benefits of utilizing Gelbvieh or Balancer in a crossbreeding program? BH: The Gelbvieh breed has been shown to be a heavy muscled, moderate size breed with good early growth and very early sexual maturity. They have gone from being a breed with real calving problems to one that can be considered a calving ease Continental breed given proper selection criteria. This means that on average, Balancer cattle moderate mature size and improve cutability and early puberty when breed to British breeds. Balancer genetics incorporate these complimentary traits of Gelbvieh with black and Red Angus. The single

biggest benefit of using Balancer bulls and females is they give a producer the simplicity of managing their breeding program the same as if they were straightbreeding. A potential downside of Gelbvieh is they are on average a high milk breed, and heterosis will further increase the milk potential between the averages of the parent breeds. This means you can expect more milk than the genetic predictions indicate. This increased milk is not a “free lunch” like the rest of the benefits of heterosis since high milk potential cattle need more nutrients. However, with proper selection, this is not a problem.

high quality genetic inputs because the benefits of heterosis do not overcome poor genetics. You can use the computer term to sum this up, “garbage in, garbage out.” However, with proper

In most cases maternal and direct effect traits such as calving percentage, survivability and lifetime productivity are poorly measured in most genetic evaluations. These traits are where the big payoff comes from through heterosis.

FP: Do you think that commercial producers can have both profitability and quality by utilizing a crossbreeding system? Is there any reason why a commercial producer should not crossbreed cattle? BH: The whole point of crossbreeding is to improve the profitability of an operation, which it accomplishes extremely well when high quality genetic inputs are used. I want to stress

genetic inputs into a crossbreeding system, it is hard to rationalize not to use the benefits of heterosis and breed complementarity in a well designed crossbreeding system. The one time I do not recommend changing away from a straightbreeding system is if you have a long term relationship with a seedstock supplier, which has resulted in a cow herd that is extremely well suited to that operations environment, feed resources and management. Also when results of the above long-term straightbreeding program has resulted in a producer having “reputation” feeder calves that bring a consistent premium. Other than this example, producers should take advantage of the economic benefits of crossbreeding.

15th Annual State Opportunity Gelbvieh and Balancer® Sale Held in conjunction with the Minnesota Beef Showcase Saturday, March 16, 2013 • Noon

Red Horse Ranch Arena • 22671 County Highway 10 • Fergus Falls, MN

Selling Gelbvieh and Balancer® • Bulls • Bred Females

Schedule

Friday, March 15 7:30 – 10:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 16 7:30 – 10:00 a.m. Noon

More information contact: Jason Sauer 507-459-5341 – jsauer1@hotmail.com Jason Russell 608-287-4090 – jrussell@uwalumni.com

• Cow-Calf Pairs • Open Heifers

Pancake Breakfast Trade show open and Cattle ready for viewing Education Seminars Topics: Pasture Management; Boosting Feed Value Pancake Breakfast Sales Begin

Catalog Available Online www.minnesotagelbvieh.com www.beefshowcase.com

The Profitpicture | 33

News

BeefTalk: Know Your Herd’s Calving Distribution Reviewing cow herd reproduction dates is important. Typically, 85 percent or more of all cows should be calved within 42 days of the calving season. By Kris Ringwall Do you know your calving distribution? The number means a lot because early born calves grow well. These calves are indicative of good reproductive success and ultimately add pounds to the truck. However, care needs to be taken to make sure one always is comparing the numbers presented at meetings with one’s own

production numbers. Generally, the standard numbers referred to are easy to calculate and include more than the number of cows calving within the first 21 days of the calving season. As with most numbers, saying they are easy to calculate is not always true. For example, often the overall

Selling 40 Top Quality, High Performing Balancer® and Gelbvieh Bulls

These bulls are thick muscled, grow fast, and are made for the commercial cattle operation.

AI Sires SAV Pioneer Sitz Upward DJS Gunslinger CTR Good Night 715 DJS Derringer PLA Cisco 34 | February 2013

reproductive success of a herd is calculated as a percentage of cows pregnant and percentage of cows calving. These numbers are common numbers printed by cattle performance programs or simply calculated by hand. The North Dakota State University Extension Service publishes annual numbers that serve as benchmarks for those who utilize the CHAPS (Cow Herd Appraisal Performance Software) program. These numbers are collected with the help of the North Dakota Beef Cattle Improvement Association. Typical values for the

percentage of cows pregnant are 93.5 percent. Of those cows, 92.9 percent calve. This means of all the cows exposed to the bull, a little more than 7 percent of the cows never calve. In terms of overall evaluation of the cow herd, these numbers are good comparative numbers to see how one herd ranks against another. Most herds cull the open cows, make managerial adjustments and anticipate a better calf crop the next year. These good managerial efforts help keep some positive reproductive pressure on the herd. Reproduction, considered by many to be a lowly heritable (in other

Bull Sale

Mark your calendars for the last Wednesday in February! February 27th, 2013 • 1:00 PM MST. High Plains Livestock Brush, Colorado Join us for our Performance Partners Bull Sale with Yearous Cattle Co. & Ernst Herefords

Using extensive ET and AI Offering many full and half brothers Calving Ease and Performance bulls, Fertility Tested Several Homo Black and Homo Polled Ultrasound data available Tested BVD PI negative

words, genetic selection has less impact than environmental effects or general management) trait, is fairly stable in most herds pending any detrimental health effects.

distribution may seem harder to calculate. However, the neat feature of these numbers is that a producer doesn’t need to know the number of cows exposed. You simply are

Often the overall reproductive success of a herd is calculated as a percentage of cows pregnant and percentage of cows calving. Returning to the ease of calculation, both of these numbers need accurate breeding cow inventories to be accurate. Often, the number of cows exposed to the bull is not available. Given the traditional way to look at reproduction, another method is available, which is to develop a calving distribution table. At first glance, calving

dealing with the number of cows calving and recorded in the calving book. The calving distribution table allows a producer to follow how cows are calving within the calving season as well as the percentage that are calving in 21, 42 or 63 days or later. These percentages again can be compared against the benchmarks for overall herd evaluation or

cow calved.

utilized to follow how individual cows calf within the herd. The CHAPS benchmark for the percentage of cows calving within the first two-day period of the calving season is 63.4 percent.

Then count down 21 days from when the third mature cow calved and draw a line. Also draw a line at 42 and 63 days after the third mature cow calved. By counting the number of cows in each segment of the calving book and dividing by the total number of mature cows in the calving book, the percentage of cows calving at 21, 42 and 63 days is calculated.

The calving season is said to start when the third mature cow calves or calculated based on a known bull turnout date, utilizing a 283-day average gestation length. The percentage of cows calving in the first 42 days of the calving season is 88.8 percent, and 95.3 percent in the first 63 days of the calving season.

The first-calf heifers are not included in these calculations because oftentimes the bull turnout dates or artificial insemination days are quite different from those of the mature cows.

If a producer doesn’t have the CHAPS program, the calculations are easy to figure directly from the calving book. Count the total number of mature cows (not including heifers) that calved and note that number on a separate sheet of paper. Then go down the calving book and highlight or circle the date the third mature

May you find all your ear tags. Editor’s note: Kris Ringwall is a beef specialist with North Dakota State University Extension Service. He can be reached at kris.ringwall@ ndsu.edu or 701-483-2348.

NORTHEAST BREEDERS ILLINOIS

If you’re not here, how does your customer find you?

“Realizing the Value”

Skyler Martin

1200 S. Blackhawk Rd. Oregon, IL 61061-9762 815•732•7583

MEMBER

OHIO

INDIANA

3 G Ranch

Gelbvieh Cattle For Sale Carl, Rebecca & Emily Griffiths

1577 N 600 E • Kendallville, IN 46755

260/897-2160 • ggge3g@embarqmail.com

Your call or visit is Always Welcome

• Polled Purebreds

We sell Breeding Stock Bulls & Females

• Red • Black

Double D Farm

Skyler Martin

9937 Warren Rd. Winslow, IL 61089

1200 S. Blackhawk Rd. Oregon, IL 61061

(815) 367-4116

(815) 732-7583

Fullblood Polled Gelbvieh Polled Hereford

Merle E. Lewis 812/863-7701

James L. Lewis 812/508-0014

RR1 BOX 1360 • SPRINGVILLE, IN 47462

Chester Yoder

12353 Cty Rd 330 Big Prairie, OH 44611 chesyoder@yahoo.com 330-567-9232 • 330-231-0339 (cell)

The Profitpicture | 35

Feature

Calving Season – Time to Evaluate Udder Soundness Cow-calf producers should consider udder soundness as an economically relevant trait translating to the life or death of a newborn calf. The simple process of taking udder scores will improve overall udder soundness in your cow herd. By Susan Willmon For the beef cow, udder quality and soundness usually get lumped in a category called convenience traits, along with others including temperament and feed and leg soundness. While all of these traits

have the potential for economic impact to a cow’s productivity, at calving time poor udder quality may translate to life and death of a newborn calf. Calves that have a difficult

Markes Family Farms

Oklahoma’s Largest Gelbvieh Breeder

Selling Exceptional Bulls & Heifers

Transportation Available

36 | February 2013

time nursing and do not receive adequate colostrum may, at worse, not survive and at best have a higher incidence of scours and decreased immunity levels. Ultimately performance is affected which translates into reduced pounds at weaning and reduced profitability of the cow overall. The impact on performance, on top of the labor costs that can be occurred managing those cows that need help getting a calf to nurse should be considered as additional incentive to include this process in your calving rituals. Udder scoring at calving is a tool that, while more widespread in the dairy industry, has been shown to improve udder quality in beef females. Research has shown that udder quality is moderately heritable. Which means that over time improvement can be made with selection for this trait. The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) adopted an udder scoring system (see pages 31-31) which provides a tool for both commercial and seedstock producers to score both teat size and suspension on a scale of 1 – 9 with a 9 being ideal. Scoring cows within 24-48 hours of calving is the recommended time for evaluating these females. The udder pictured in Imgae 1 combines the attributes of what would be considered an ideal udder in both teat size and udder suspension. Where do the most problems commonly lie? Canadian research shows that cows with more desirable teat scores had calves that nursed sooner after birth. Larger teat circumference usually

Image 1. Ideal udder in both teat size and udder suspension. Image courtesy of www.beef-cow.com.

caused more problems than teat length. Short to medium length teats are preferred over long teats. Oversized teats that did not get milked out had a higher incidence of mastitis. Udder suspension is equally important to udder soundness. Udders that are well attached are less susceptible to injury than the very pendulous poorly attached udders. As well, udders with poor suspension are more susceptible to contamination from fecal material or mud. Pigmentation is not a factor in the udder scoring system, however should be a consideration for cow-calf producers. A darker pigmented udder will be protected from sunburn or reflection of sunlight from snow. For commercial cow-calf producers and seedstock breeders alike, taking the time at the next day’s calving check to go back and evaluate yesterday’s new mommas should be viewed as an important step during the calving season. As well as viewed as part of the long term investment in your cow

herd genetics. While one year’s worth of data might not provide any revelations. Looking back at several years worth of udder scores may lead to some answers to the following questions:

have lower quality udders and should be considered for culling next fall?

• What is the overall udder quality of my cow herd?

• Are my cows with poorer udder quality costing me in terms of higher labor, increased calf illness and loss, and lower calf performance?

• Are there cows that repeatedly

• Are there cow families within

Guidelines for Teat and Udder Scores

Teat Size

Udder Suspension Score

my herd that have udders that hold up longer than others? • Are there cow families that even at higher milk production levels (or higher milk EPDs) have better udder soundness at six years of age than some of my lesser milk producing cow families? • When selecting a bull this spring, should I be considering one that will improve udder quality of my replacement females? One other tool that can be used in sire selection for the udder soundness component is the American Gelbvieh Association’s stayability EPD. While many factors are included in this EPD, udder soundness can be attributed to a female’s ability to still be in the herd at age six.

Sires with higher stayability can be assumed to have average or better udder quality. It can be said that cows with poor udders are definitely not convenient when it comes to calving in the cold days of late January and February. As such an evaluation of udder soundness throughout the cow herd may prove to be a sound practice to help insure less calving and calf survival challenges in the future. Editor’s note: Susan Willmon is the director of breed improvement for the American Gelbvieh Association. She can be reached at susanw@gelbvieh.org or 303-4652333.

Very Tight

Very Small

7 Tight

Small

Kleinschmidt Open hOuse Bull & Female sale Selling a Homozygous Black son of Missing Link x CTR Vision Dam of Distinction

5 Intermediate/Moderate

Intermediate/Moderate

Stout, Moderate Balancer® Bulls 15 Bulls Sell including 2 Two Year Olds Bred Females

Don’t miss it on

Pendulous

Large

At the farm: From Geneva, NE go 7 miles west and 1 mile south.

Very Large/Balloon Shaped

February 9, 2013 • 12:00 Noon

Kleinschmidt GelBvieh

Very Pendulous/Broken Floor

Call Randy 402-366-1605 The Profitpicture | 37

News

Gelbvieh Maternal Advantages Gelbvieh females have maternal superiority – longevity, milk, less mature cow size – to cow-calf producers. Gelbvieh and Balancer bulls fit any cow herd base. Gelbvieh cows prove to be a wise choice for those in the commercial crossbreeding industry today. It is no secret that reproductive females must have moderate mature weights, be highly fertile, have sound feet and legs, quiet dispositions, calve easily and produce calves with low birth weights that have

tremendous growth. Meat Animal Research Center (MARC) data shows the Gelbvieh breed has reduced mature cow size, has the lowest birth weights of the four major Continental breeds and still maintains the earliest age at puberty. Moderating birth weight and increasing calving ease has been

Yoder’s Prairie Acres are offering some Select 2012 Gelbvieh & Balancer Seedstock Bulls and Heifers

a focus of Gelbvieh seedstock breeders for the past 20 years. The American Gelbvieh Association genetic trends for birth weight and calving ease EPDs show just that – lower birth weights and higher calving ease making the Gelbvieh-influenced female a top choice for commercial cattlemen.

“Today’s MARC data shows a Gelbvieh female that has reduced her mature size – the only breed from Cycle II to Cycle VII research to reduce mature size, which included British breeds,” says Frank Padilla, director of breed promotion, American Gelbvieh Association.

The Gelbvieh breed has two EPDs to measure calving ease: calving ease direct (CE) and calving ease daughters (CED). The CE EPD represents the direct influence a sire has on calving ease. The CED EPD is similar to a maternal calving ease measure where it represents the calving ease

Smaller mature size makes for a more efficient cow. Gelbvieh females excel at milk production and will wean off a heavy calf. This is beneficial when feeder calf markets are demanding feeder calves with Continental breed influence that have the potential to hit the Quality and Yield Grades.

Moderating birth weight and increasing calving ease has been a focus of Gelbvieh seedstock breeders for the past 20 years. a sire transmits to his daughters. Both EPDs are expressed as ratios, with a higher ratio being more favorable.

We sell Breeding Stock Bulls and Females. For more information Visit: www.ohiogelbvieh.com Or call 330-567-9232 Yoder’s Prairie Acres is located 80 miles northeast of Columbus or 13 miles south of Wooster, OH. “Jesus is coming are you ready?” John 14:6

38 | February 2013

“The genetic trends show the birth weight EPD has been lowered by almost two points within the Gelbvieh breed. The calving ease direct EPD has improved by five points,” says Susan Willmon, breed improvement director for the American Gelbvieh Association. Gelbvieh females are proven to reduce their mature cow size as they age. The average 5-year-old Gelbvieh female weighs in at 1,382 pounds, compared to Limousin at 1,460 pounds, Simmental and Charolais at 1,475 pounds and Hereford, Angus and Red Angus hovering around the 1,500 pounds mark.

On average, the Gelbvieh breed has gained approximately 70 pounds in weaning weight and 175 pounds in yearling weight on purebred bulls since 1982. Gelbvieh cattle have remained moderate in size, reach puberty sooner, have exceptional milk production and have good dispositions, making them easier to handle. With all this, Gelbvieh females are a natural choice to implement into a crossbreeding program.

Maternal Edge Commercial Female Sale

Selli

ng Ope n He ifer Bred Cow s s

airs alf P s C Cow Heifer Bred

Crossbreeding is smart and easy with Gelbvieh and Balancer®

North Carolina Maternal Edge Sale Saturday, March 16, 2013 • Noon Sponsored by: North Carolina Gelbvieh Association Upton Sale Arena, Sampson County Livestock Facility, Clinton, NC Contact for consignments and information: Duane Strider: 336-964-6277 William McIntosh: 502-867-3132, williamm@gelbvieh.org Auctioneer: E. B. Harris, www.ebharris.com NCAL 1468 • NC#C4264 – VAL146

www.GELBVIEH.org American Gelbvieh Association • 303-465-2333 The Profitpicture | 39

MIDWEST BREEDERS KANSAS

POST ROCK CATTLE COMPANY

Bar Arrow Cattle Company Stuar t Jar vis

26 E. Limestone Rd. • Phillipsburg, KS 67661 e-mail: bararrow@ruraltel.net • 785/543-5177

3041 E. Hwy. 284, Barnard, KS 67418 Bill Clark: 785.792.6244 Leland Clark: 785.792.6208 Fax: 785.792.6250 Email: prcc@twinvalley.net

Purebred A.I. Seedstock Bulls and Heifers Available. Al, Mary & Nick Knapp Cell: (913) 219-6613 18291 158th Street H: (913) 724-4105 Bonner Springs, KS 66012 FAX: (913) 724-4107 e-mail: knappa@swbell.net

MISSOURI

(620) 628-4621 (620) 654-6507 (John Cell)

Polled Fullblood Gelbvieh Cattle Dr. & Mrs. Glenn Wehner 22533 Spencer Lane Kirksville, MO 63501 660-665-7502

RogeRs Valley FaRm gelbVieh Breed for Tomorrow’s Cattle Today!

A Breed Leader in Tenderness & Marbling–

www.rogersvfg.com P.O. Box 51 Mendon, MO 64660 (660) 272-3805 (O) (660-375-7266 (C) Ronald & Kathryne Rogers email: rogers_valley_farm_feedlot@hotmail.com

“Where workin’ cattle & eye appeal come full circle”

John & Carla Shearer

ROCKING GV GELBVIEH

2815 Navajo Rd. Canton, KS 67428 circle_s@hometelco.net

•

Annual Production Sale 1st Saturday in April

Gelbvieh SprinG Flood ranch balancer® Jim & Sherri Michaletz 1397 Spring Flood Rd Goodman, MO 64843 417-364-5297 (O) 479-366-1234 (C) Email: jmichal@netins.net www.springfloodranch.blogspot.com

B/F Cattle Company

Specializing in Forage Raised Balancer® Bulls on K-31

Culling practices on cows/bulls second to NONE!

Consistent Genetics Adding Pounds & Profit

Myron & Valerie Bahm 4375 White Oak Rd Fordland, MO 65652

For information, contact:

Judd Ranch Inc.

Dave & Cindy Judd Nick, Ginger Judd & Family Brent & Ashley Judd 423 Hwy. K-68 • Pomona, KS 66076 785/ 566-8371

LeDoux Ranch

Andy, Danielle JW and Jady LeDoux 365 Agenda Lane • Agenda, KS 66930 H:785-732-6564 • C: 785-527-3188 www.ledouxranch.com Offering value from Heterosis

Timothy Mulroy • 785-640-6401 Mayetta, KS • tim@blackgoldinc.biz

40 | February 2013

Route 1, Box 407 • Butler, MO 64730

660 • 492 • 2808

417-753-3578(h) • 417-576-0687(c)

email: whiteoakfarms@live.com

Registered Gelbvieh & Balancer®

Generations of selection pressure on forage.

18 mo Balancer, SimAngus bulls Superior genetics to lower costs, increase premiums 50 Spring bred heifer mates, synch, AI

NEBRASKA

Bob Harriman Genetics Montrose, MO 660-492-2504

bharriman39@ hotmail.com Thanks to all for investing 50 years in this program from pasture to plate.

J. J. Boehler

70948 L Rd. , Orleans, NE 68966 308-473-7342 • 308-999-0207

Feature

Using DNA to Produce a More Profitable Cattle Herd Through DNA technology, cow-calf producers have more information than ever before to assist in their bull buying decisions. DNA results help cattlemen and cattlewomen determine the true genetic potential of an animal. As cattle producers prepare for 2013 production sales – whether as buyers or sellers – one goal remains the same: To receive a clear return on their investment. Now more than ever, seedstock producers are investing their

time and money in DNA technology to set their sales and their offerings apart from the competition. Seedstock producers who utilize DNA information in their offerings and list the results in their sale catalog are

better identify an animal’s genetic potential for a variety of traits including calving ease, growth, carcass quality and fertility. Some genetic tests look at specific genes to determine an animal’s genetic potential for a particular trait. Examples are coat color, horned/polled and various genetic abnormality tests such as curly calf and fawn calf. In other instances, the goal is to examine genetic markers that give a prediction of an animal’s productive potential, or its ability to pass desirable traits to its progeny.

not only getting a leg up on the competition, they are also allowing their customers to make better informed purchasing decisions. But for the cow-calf producer, who may not be used to reading DNA results, the sales sheet could look like a bunch of acronyms and numbers, creating a potential missed opportunity in herd improvement. In the past decade, advances in genomic technology have increased significantly, allowing producers to use this science to

Continued on page 42

MIDWEST BREEDERS Pope Farms Gelbvieh

Cedar Top Ranch Scott & Raberta Starr

212 Starr Drive • Stapleton, NE 69163 (H): 308-587-2293 • (C): 308-530-3900 cedartopranch@gpcom.net Eldon Starr: 1-800-535-6173 or Rich Johnson: 402-368-2209

Jeff and Jeanne Pope 26075 Willow Rd., Ravenna, NE 68869 Phone & Fax: (308) 467-BEEF Cell: (308) 390-0657 jeff@popefarms.com

www.popefarms.com

D Bar L Land and Livestock Doug Sanford 680 Beaver Valley Rd • Chadron, NE 69337

Home of CIRS Direct Current 1LU

Jeff Swanson • 308/337-2235 72408 I Road • Oxford, NE 68967

Commercial and Registered Gelbvieh and Balancer® Cattle for sale Cell: 620-546-4563 Email: dougjsanford@gmail.com Call for semen packages

Annual Sale—Last Saturday in February

GELBVIEH

BALANCER

Mark & Patty Goes 39414 SW 75th Rd. Odell, NE 68415 (402) 766-3627

The Profitpicture | 41

Continued from page 41

To simplify the use of what can be potentially complicated DNA test results, and to improve the accuracy of seedstock selection, many breed associations have spent years collaborating with research institutions and

profiled and the relationship between specific genetic markers and the EPD has been determined or “mapped.” Once the relationship between gene markers and a trait is determined, new animals are genotyped and their genetic

Incorporating DNA technology into a ranch management program allows producers to learn more about each animal’s true genetic potential earlier in life, which means herd improvement can be made faster. And faster genetic progress means a more efficient and profitable cow herd. universities across the country to develop breed-specific genomic tests to incorporate into their respective breed EPD calculations. The result of these efforts led to the availability of genomic-enhanced expected progeny differences (GE EPDs) – a single common currency that combines DNA marker results with traditional recording data.

signature is used to predict future performance.

Using large genotyping chips containing more than 50,000 genetic markers, highly-proven cattle in many breeds have been

The advantage of incorporating the genomic data into EPDs, allows producers to look at one set of

Most importantly in this process, the DNA information is used alongside pedigree data, the animal’s own performance (for traits like growth and ultrasound carcass characteristics) and the performance of its progeny, to ultimately create the GE EPD.

Kentucky & Tennessee

Breeders

“Superior Gelbvieh and Balancer Cattle”

Chris & Jordan Hampton Charles & Sue Hampton 839 Davistown Rd. • Celina, TN 38551 102 Merlin Dr. • Georgetown, KY 40234 Steve, Ashley, Jordan & Jason McIntosh 502-868-5726 Clifford & Faye McIntosh 502-863-1135

Breeding Gelbvieh since 1989

42 | February 2013

931-243-3213 H • 931-510-3213 C hampton@twlakes.net Registered Bulls & Replacement Females

genetic scores to determine an animal’s potential genetic merit. And by including the genomic data into the EPDs, the resulting EPDs are much higher in accuracy for young, unproven animals than EPDs without the genomic data included. Today, higher accuracy GE EPDs are available for animals registered with the American Angus Association, American Hereford Association, American Simmental Association and the North American Limousin Foundation. In the coming months, additional breed associations will also offer GE EPDs, including the American Gelbvieh Association. If breed-specific GE EPDs are not available, for an unregistered animal for example, there are other options. The National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium has worked with DNA service providers to validate panels of genetic markers shown to work in a number of breeds or crossbreeds. In this instance, the data are not incorporated into a breedspecific EPD, but instead the DNA information is used alongside whatever other measure of animal performance you have. As an example, the IGENITY® profile ranks animals on a 1-10 score based on whether they have more (or less) of a specific trait. In general, a higher score indicates greater genetic potential for that trait. Incorporating DNA technology into a ranch management program allows producers to learn more about each animal’s true genetic potential earlier in life, which means herd improvement can be made faster. And faster genetic progress means a more efficient and profitable cow herd. Cattle producers no longer have to wait until the first calf crop has been born, raised and harvested before they can make adjustments to their breeding program.

Using the power of DNA, seedstock producers can gain insight into an animal’s genetic merit earlier. The GE-EPDs can derive an estimate of genetic merit in a pre-weaned calf with an accuracy that previously would have required up to three years to determine. This tells the producer – with a much higher degree of certainty – how well that yearling bull or replacement heifer will meet their herd goals. Developing and purchasing seedstock is an important and long-lasting decision that can dramatically affect an operation’s profitability. Producers should not leave their profitability to chance by selecting cattle without knowing as much information as possible about an animal’s true genetic potential. Editor’s note: The American Gelbvieh Association is expected to release genomic-enhanced EPDs in the summer of 2013. For more information on AGA’s development of GE EPDs or for information and forms for DNA testing Gelbvieh and Balancer® animals visit the DNA testing page at www.gelbvieh.org or call 303-465-2333.

Thorstenson Gelbvieh & Angus

Selling 210 Feed Efficiency Tested Bulls 15 Gelbvieh • 50 Angus • 145 Balancer

Saturday, March 2, 2013

N New Sale Location • At the Ranch, Selby, S D N

Lot 45 Lazy TV Answer Z110 • Black Angus Final Answer/Bennett Performer/Alberda Traveler

BW: 0.6

WW: 53

YW: 95

Milk: 22

TM: 48

RE: .32

MB: .37

Lot 82 Lazy TV Answer Z364 • Homo Black Balancer® Final Answer/Sam Spade 02S/Lazy TV Beethoven

BW: -1.5

WW: 48

YW: 95

Milk: 19

TM: 43

Lot 91 Lazy TV Answer Z518 • Homo Black Balancer® Final Answer/Lazy TV Beethoven/Black Power

BW: -0.5

WW: 39

YW: 92

Milk: 20

TM: 39

RE: .29

MB: .25

RE: .34

MB: .22

Lot 191 Lazy TV Class Z471 • Balancer Lazy TV Second Class/Red Spread/Lazy TV Amadeus

BW: -0.8

WW: 48

YW: 91

Milk: 21

TM: 45

RE: .38

MB:.01

Thorstenson Video of all bulls will be available at www.Balancerbulls.com

Gelbvieh & Angus 12980 Cedar Rd., Selby, SD 57472

Vaughn & Wendy

Brian & DeDee

605/649-6262 605/649-9927 Fax: 605/649-7361 • E-mail: vwthor@sbtc.net

www.BalancerBulls.com

The Profitpicture | 43

Judd Ranch 35 Gelbvieh, Balancer th

at the ranch, Pomona, Kansas • Saturday, March

✔ Judd Ranch has been the #1 ranked Dam of Merit Cowherd in the Gelbvieh Breed for fifteen consecutive years! ✔ 99% of the sale bulls are out of an American Gelbvieh Association honored Dam of Merit dam or Dam of Merit cow family. ✔ Average Daily Gain on fall yearling bulls: a whopping 5.11 lbs./day!

✔ ✔ ✔

84 lb. average birth weight: 859 lb. actual weaning weight average on the sale bulls. Maternal cow power behind every sale bull: calving ease, growth, carcass, fertility. Several ET Full Brothers Sell. Judd Ranch bulls are very affordable. Annually 97% plus sell to commercial producers.

Judd Ranch Gelbvieh Herdsires & AI Sires

Astro

JRI Top Recruit

JRI Top Secret

JRI Profit Agent

JRI Cowboy Cut

Final Answer

Mytty In Focus

JRI Pop A Top

JRI Journey

JRI Extra Exposure

44 | February 2013

& Red Angus Bull Sale

2, at 12:00 noon • 1 hour southwest of Kansas City

250 Plus

Gelbvieh, Balancer® & Red Angus Bulls Sell

“The Complete Package” Calving Ease • Growth • Carcass • Fertility

• 144+ 17-19 month old Bulls • 106+ 12-14 month old Bulls ✔ 97% Sired by Breed Leading AI Sires ✔ 127 Black Polled Bulls ✔ 172 Homozygous Polled Bulls ✔ All Judd Ranch major herdsires are

enrolled in Carcass Testing Programs Quality Acceptance Guarantee on all

✔ Sight Unseen purchases

✔ Free Trucking in U.S. on purchases of $15,000 +

✔ Trucking is very affordable because Judd Ranch bulls annually sell into 20+ states

Visit our website • www.juddranchinc.com Judd Ranch Inc.

Dave & Cindy Judd Nick, Ginger, Brent & Ashley Judd Ranch Gelbvieh Maternal Strength

423 Hwy. K-68 • Pomona, KS 66076 785/ 566-8371 or 785/566-3770

Judd Ranch Red Angus Maternal Strength

Sale Consultant— CATTLEMEN’S CONNECTION CALL TOLL-FREE: 1-800-743-0026 For Your JRI “Complete Package” Sale Catalog The Profitpicture | 45

46 | February 2013

Editorial Bull Sale Season Before choosing your next herd bull or AI sire, take the time to evaluate where your breeding program excels and the direction your program is headed. Doing so will help you remain relevant in the beef industry. By Christian Hojer Well once again it is bull sale season. This is one of my favorite times of year because not only do I get to go around and look at a lot of cattle but I also get to talk with other breeders. For me this is very important because you meet people who have a lot of experience in the Gelbvieh breed and I can learn a lot from these people. The main reason why bull sale season is one of my favorite times of the year is because it allows me to see how I can better my own herd. One thing that we need to do as a breed is to keep improving. Whether it is going after better EPD traits or maybe shooting for better phenotype, there is always room for improvement. If we don’t continue to get better

then we will not stay relevant.

When it comes to improving my herd I first look at what my cattle do really well. In going after new traits, I don’t want to lose what my cattle already do really well. Things I look for when picking out a new herd bull or a new AI sire would include structure, weaning weight, birth weight, yearling weight, marbling, milk and carcass merit. The reasons these seven traits are a must is because that is what the Gelbvieh breed is known for, cattle that are structurally correct and flat out perform. The second thing I look for is the faults in my own herd so that I can improve them. For instance the Gelbvieh breed does a lot of things well but there are some things that we need to continue to improve to stay a viable breed in the beef industry. The things we need to improve on include marbling, depth, and

frame size. We have already made great strides to improving these three things but we need to keep improving. Back home I was talking to a guy that has a 2,000 head feedlot and he said that the best group of calves he had in 2011 was a pen of Balancer® cattle. Comments like this proves that we are headed in the right direction and that our hard work and determination to supply the commercial cattlemen with high performing, functional cattle. So this year when you’re looking for new herd sires or new AI sires think what you can do to improve your herd. The future is bright and we need to keep getting better. Editor’s note: Christian Hojer is a member of the American Gelbvieh Junior Association (AGJA) board of directors. He is from Lake Preston, S.D., and can be reached at hojer23@ hotmail.com.

Your Source for Gelbvieh and Balancer Genetics in the Northwest FOCUSING ON CALVING EASE, MATERNAL AND CARCASS MERIT WITH THE COMMERCIAL CATTLEMAN IN MIND.

LEDGERWOOD GELBVIEH FL

20 yearling and coming 2-year-old bulls for sale by private treaty this spring.

Samee Ledgerwood

141 Howell Grade Rd. • Clarkston, WA 99403 509-566-8805 • LedgerwoodGelbvieh@gmail.com “Seedstock that work for the commercial cattleman”

The Profitpicture | 47

News

Brand Your Calves with SmartCross® Ear Tags Gelbvieh breeders.

Brand your Gelbvieh and Balancer® crossbred calves with the SmartCross® ear tags from the American Gelbvieh Association. Three different tag options are available.

SmartCross is an easy crossbreeding program that shows commercial producers how to get to the profit center of the beef industry. SmartCross shows producers that already have a blend of Continental x British in the cow herd how to stay in the center using Balancer® bulls. SmartCross calves are well established as excellent feeding cattle that perform extremely well when sold on value-based grids. The SmartCross ear tag program identifies source, process and genetically identified feeder calves. No other tag program in the industry gives buyers as much confidence in buying quality feeder calves.

Cattlemen know the importance of correctly tagging their calves. The American Gelbvieh Association can make this process more convenient and efficient by offering SmartCross® ear tags available to commercial and

UPPER MIDWEST BREEDERS IOWA

McCabe Cattle Co.

Two Step Ranch

563-543-5251

563-543-4177

Lacey McCabe

Pat and Jay McCabe

Gelbvieh Farley, Iowa Balancers Annual Spring Bull Sale 60-80 Bred Females Each Fall

(E-mail): twostepranch@netins.net (web): www.mccabecattle.com

NORTH DAKOTA Chimney Butte RanCh Doug and Carol Hille 701/445-7383

3320 51st St., Mandan, ND 58554

chimneybutteranch@westriv.com www.chimneybutteranch.com Annual Production Sale 1st Friday in March

MINNESOTA

Brandywine Farm

Ridge Top Ranch

Gelbvieh-Angus-Balancer

30474 Brandywine Road Rushford, MN 55971

Black & Polled Private Treaty Sales

Breed-leading Performance from Quality Genetics

507-864-2063

Kevin: 402-510-8103 Al: 402-676-5292

th Street inquist 1135 190 inquist

Fonda, IA 50540

arms (712) 288-5349 arms Gelbvieh & Red Angus

Email: rickylin@ncn.net www.linquistfarms.com

LONE OAK GE L B V I E H

hornsandthorns@netins.net Eric Ehresman (319) 489-2275 20963 30th St. (319) 480-1564 Mechanicsville, IA 52306

48 | February 2013

(701) 624-2051 (H) (701) 720-8823 (C)

Tom Scarponcini

Neola, Iowa

Ricky Linquist

6700 County Rd. 19 S. Minot, ND 58701

Gelbvieh

SFI Schafer Farms, Inc.

Rob Arnold

Registered Gelbvieh & Balancers®

Balancer®

Dwight and Christina Dockter Bailey, Cheyenne, Cierra and Dalton

37740 240th Ave., Goodhue, MN 55027 Brian Schafer Lowell Schafer

1-888-226-9210 brian@schaferfarm.com

4956 41st St. SE, Medina, ND 58467 701-486-3494 • gbgelb@daktel.com

651-923-4587 www.schaferfarm.com

Private Treaty Bull Sale — Last Sat. in February Annually

Mattison Family Farm

Email: RLAGelbvieh@aol.com

Scott & Sonia Mattison Brianna, Nicole, Josh & Kallie 15995 Harvest Ave Lamberton, MN 56152 507-430-0505 • email: ssmattison@redred.com Purebred Gelbvieh and Balancer® Cattle

Visit www.golden-buckle-gelbvieh.com

u Dennis, Sherry, Jessica, Katie and Sarah Al and Peggy

u Mandan, ND • 701/663-7266 email: gustindd@wildblue.net www.gustinsdiamondd.com

SmartCross tagged calves must be: •

Sired by registered Gelbvieh, Balancer or registered Gelbvieh x Angus (red or black) hybrid bulls and out of Angus-based cows,

•

Preconditioned with the VAC 34 or VAC 45 program, and

•

Raised under Beef Quality Assurance guidelines.

The American Gelbvieh Association offers three designs of SmartCross tags. Producers can choose to buy one of two Management tags with the word SmartCross or the Marketing tag with the SmartCross logo, ranch name and unique 9-digit number. Tags can be purchased at any time as long as the calves have or will meet the above conditions. This allows producers to tag calves at birth with the Management tag. Producers can order blank tags and add their own numbers or order tags with a specific range of numbers with a limit five letters or numbers per tag. These tags will be orange with black numbers and letters. If producers would prefer, they can buy the Marketing tags at preconditioning time. This gives producers the option to include their ranch name (limit of 12 letters and spaces) and build a reputation for their high quality calves. These tags also include a unique national ID number (distributed by USDA) and have enough space on the front to be used as the primary identification for the calf or can be used to identify the seedstock producer. Roger Gatz of Cattlemen’s Connection explains that Judd Ranch, Pomona, Kan., gives 25 branded tags to each bull buyer. Customers

appreciate the gesture and often order extra tags to use on the calf crop. “It’s a smart idea to offer bull buyers name brand ear tags with a purchase. It’s free promotion and brand identification,” says Gatz. Judd Ranch gives out over 6,000 ear tags every spring to bull buyers. Their own program puts two tags on each calf at birth totaling over 1,000 tags for their own ranch operation. The first step to order Gelbvieh SmartCross tags is to complete the SmartCross Tag Certification Form and send it to the AGA office. The Certification Form can be found online at http://www.gelbvieh.org/ membership/MemberPrograms/eartags.html. If you have any questions, please call the AGA office at 303-465-2333 or email info@gelbvieh.org.

UPPER MIDWEST BREEDERS SOUTH DAKOTA ADKINS GELBVIEH

Gelbvieh & Balancer Performance Genetics Bulls and Heifers for sale by private treaty Gerald & Sarah Adkins

Julie Maude 605.381.2803 (C) Lori Maude 303.809.3789 (C) cj_llivestock@yahoo.com Hermosa, SD Quality Gelbvieh & Balancer® Genetics from a Trusted Source

Thorstenson Gelbvieh

Selby, South Dakota Annual Bull Sale 1st Saturday in March Brian & Dee Dee Vaughn & Wendy 605-649-9927 605-649-6262 www.Balancerbulls.com

(605) 354-2428 Cell gerald@adkinsgelvbieh.com www.adkinsgelbvieh.com

41606 195th St., Carpenter, SD 57322

Beastrom Gelbvieh Ranch Registered Gelbvieh & Balancer Cattle Bulls • Heifers • Embryos • Semen

Jim & Barb Beastrom Brandy Ludemann, Brittney Spencer

Ph: 605-224-5789 • 605-280-7589 (Cell) jimbeastrom@mncomm.com • www.beastromranch.com

www.bcvgelbvieh.com

Brent & Eve Vavra Nisland, SD • 605/257-2407

Ellison Gelbvieh & Angus Ranch Gelbvieh & Angus & Balancers

Private Treaty Sales • Bulls (Yearling & 2-yr.-old) & Heifers

Mitchel & Edna Ellison

Keith, Janice, Dustin & Britney

Jeff & Susie Ellison

9020 ND Hwy 49 Lemmon, SD 57638

9015 ND Hwy 49 Lemmon, SD 57638

701.376.3238

701.376.3526

Proven Genetics with Balanced Traits!

605-852-2131

kvolek@venturecomm.net www.volekranch.com

Don’t think you can afford a nice ad in Gelbvieh World? For $297 you can be in every issue for one year! Call Jennifer at the AGA office at

303-465-2333 The Profitpicture | 49

Editorial Crossbreeding - It’s Smart and Easy Using Balancer® genetics in a simple, easy crossbreeding program adds productivity, longevity, and profitability with crossbred cows and hybrid bulls. By Frank Padilla Crossbreeding is not a new thing. Progressive cattlemen have utilized it for decades to make production systems more efficient and to utilize breed complementarity in order to meet market and consumer demands. Crossbreeding allows producers to make a product that is in demand and do it at less cost, regardless of environment. People in the business world say that is good. After all, more profit is a good thing. It’s smart business. People say there is no such thing as a free lunch. In the cattle business there is a free lunch. It’s taking advantage of an organized

crossbreeding system. The benefits of crossbreeding have been proven many times over by university researchers and at the Meat Animal Research Center (MARC) in Clay Center, Nebraska. The crossbred female is 30 percent more productive over her lifetime due to increased fertility, calf survivability, increased weaning weights and most importantly longevity. The hybrid vigor advantages of the crossbred female make her more profitable to an operation over her straight bred counterpart. Do the math in your own herd.

It’s proven that with the crossbred cow you get an advantage of: +38 percent cow longevity; +25 percent lifetime productivity; +8 percent calf crop weaned; +5 percent weaning performance; +4 percent in calf yearling performance. It’s smart to take advantage of hybrid vigor. It

increases profit. Balancer® cattle are registered hybrid seedstock with documented pedigrees and EPDs. Balancer genetics combine Gelbvieh and Angus (red or black) to provide commercial cattle producers with an easy, management-friendly

Hybrid Vigor Advantages Advantage of Crossbred verses Straightbred Calf Crop Weaned.....................................................8% Weaning Weight.......................................................13% Yearling Weight...........................................................4% Carcass Traits..............................................................3% Cow Lifetime Productivity..................................25% Lifetime Average Cow Dollar Impact.... $1,000+

4TH Annual Southwest Iowa Gelbvieh & Balancer Bull & Female Sale March 22, 2013 – 1:00 PM CST • Creston Livestock Auction, Creston, IA Michael Bauer MJBC Gelbvieh Audubon, IA 712-563-2704 Mjbauer4320@hotmail.com Gary Martens Martens Gelbvieh Walnut, IA 712-764-5007 martensgl@yahoo.com

Call Tom Fry at Creston Livestock Auction (641-344-5082) at least 2 days before sale to qualify bid numbers.

50 | February 2013

Carl Reiste Rafter R Gelbvieh Adel, IA 515-993-4381 jmreiste@stineseed.com

For online bidding: www.crestonlivestock.com or www.cattlemenusa.com

path to crossbreeding. All polled, Balancer cattle combine the maternal, unequaled pounds of calf weaned per cow exposed of Gelbvieh with the added merits of the Angus and Red Angus breeds. Producers can choose the level of Gelbvieh in your Balancer genetics to best suit your cow herd, ranging from 25 to 75 percent Gelbvieh. With both Balancer bulls and females you gain the advantage of hybrid vigor. Hybrid genetics are proven successful in combining reproduction, growth and carcass traits into simple, welldesigned breeding programs for the commercial industry. It’s a simple crossbreeding solution. Documented research from MARC proves that Balancer cattle and other managed composites offer as much consistency as using the parental breeds separately. Crossbreeding is easy with Balancer.

profitability when utilizing it in a planned breeding system. Don’t believe otherwise. Using Gelbvieh and Balancer genetics in your crossbreeding system is smart and

easy. Don’t ranch without it. Editor’s note: Frank Padilla is the director of breed promotion for the American Gelbvieh Association. He has more than 20 years of ranching

Saturday, March 23, 2013 • 1:00 PM ET Chenault Ag Center • Mt. Sterling, KY

Selling 40

Gelbvieh & Balancer Bulls

Improvements in production from heterorsis are captured by having both a crossbred calf and a crossbred cow. The advantage of the crossbred calf is two-fold: an increase in calf livability and survival to weaning coupled with an increase in growth rate. A Balancer breeding system gives the producer the power and advantage of both the crossbred cow and crossbred calf. It’s smart and easy.

Homo black Post Rock Granite 200P2 sons like this one sell!

Balancer bulls possess paternal heterosis, resulting in improved productive and reproductive traits. Balancer bulls excel over straightbred bulls by having higher servicing capacity resulting in higher pregnancy rates. A higher serving capacity also results in more calves born in a fewer number of days. A shorter calving season gives the producer a more uniform calf crop with more pounds to sell. Hybrid bulls stay productive for a longer number of years, just like crossbred cows. It’s smart and easy to use Balancer bulls.

A homo polled, full brother to this Carolina Hero x Pearl L023 bull sells!

Crossbreeding is proven science. Cattlemen and cattlewomen can produce quality and have more

and feedlot experience in western Nebraska before going into breed association work. Padilla can be reached at frankp@gelbvieh.org or 303-465-2333.

28 Sixteen To Eighteen Month Old Bulls 12 Thirteen Month Old Bulls Most are Confirmed Homozygous Polled Many Homozygous Black Complete Performance Information and EPDS All Have Passed a BSE Sires Represented:

Homo black, homo polled Carolina Fortune sons like this one sell!

ALS Maverick 70T ALS Mason 14W Carolina Fortune 2564J Carolina Hero 4659M Trendsetter 55R Black Impact 3960N Post Rock Granite 200P2 Big N’ Rich 911P Tenderloin N407 Astro 407S Heavy Equipment 125M3 Free Agent 125J3

Sale managed by

Slaughter Sale Management

A homo black, maternal brother sired by Trendsetter sells!

For catalog or information contact:

David Slaughter

Two black, homozygous polled P016 sons sell!

162 Hastings Lane Fredonia, KY 42411 Phone: (270) 556-4259 E-mail: hmslghtr@aol.com

The Profitpicture | 51

Feature

Management of Bulls for Natural Service Cow-calf producers should properly manage their bull investment to increase their return on investment. Simple things such as doing a BSE, proper nutrition and preventing disease will help make sure your bull is breeding cows for many years. By Wayne Ayers One of the most important components of the “bottom line” for cow-calf producers is getting cows pregnant. Profits are determined by the maximum number of cows becoming pregnant in the shortest period of time and raising that calf until weaning. In today’s market, one 600 pound calf represents about $750.00 of gross income. The difference in value between the first calf born and the last calf

born in just a 30 day period is approximately 80 pounds and $100.00. If we start looking at the potential price differences over a 60 or 90 day calving period, the amount of money gained or lost can add up in a hurry. There are several components that contribute to the dollars made or lost in any given year, some of which are out of the producers control such as drought affecting growth rates.

But, many are within the control of or at least influenced by the producer. These include, but are not limited to, the distribution of calves born during the calving

In today’s market, one 600 pound calf represents about $750.00 of gross income. The difference in value between the first calf born and the last calf born in just a 30 day period is approximately 80 pounds and $100.00. season, the length of the calving season, the timing of the calving season, and disease prevention and control for both the calves and adults in the herd. Calving distribution and length of the calving season combine to reduce weaning weight variability, which can greatly influence individual calf value. The aim of timing of the calving season is to maximize gains by timing growth curves with nutrient/forage availability while minimizing input costs such as feeding stored forages during the least physiologically demanding period of the cow’s production cycle. The discussion to follow is not intended to exhaustively review the literature for all influences upon the profit margins of cow-calf producers, but to point out some important areas in the management of bulls for natural service.

Breeding Soundness Examination In the NAHMS Beef 2007-08

52 | February 2013

Part II survey it was reported that only 8 percent of all beef operations utilize artificial insemination (AI) as part of their management scheme. Nearly

20 percent of operations with inventories greater than 200 cows utilized AI in some fashion. When questioned about bull use compiled responses revealed that 94.2 percent of all cows and 79.2 percent of all heifers in the USA are exposed to bulls for natural service as the only means inducing pregnancy. The respondents also reported that they expect mature bulls to service 25-35 (some up to 50) and yearling bulls to service 17 females in a breeding season. Using an average bull:cow ratio of 1:25, this means that each bull represents approximately $18,750 worth of gross income per year. It would follow that if a single animal in the herd made this much contribution to the total income there would be specific attention to management of this resource. However, when producers were asked about one aspect of bull management, semen testing (Breeding Soundness Examination (BSE)), only 26.8 percent of respondents reported using BSE on a regular basis. The range was

WESTERN BREEDERS 18.1 percent for less than 50 cow operations to 61.1 percent of herds with greater than 200 cows. If bulls were purchased, leased, or borrowed the range changed for less than 50 and greater than 200 to 58.9 percent and 95.6 percent, respectfully (average of 71.3 percent). It would seem that most producers want delivery of a bull with the potential to be a satisfactory breeder but once delivered they assume nothing will change and the bull will remain fertile and a good breeder thereafter. There are several acquired causes of bull infertility, sub-fertility, or reduced breeding capacity, both temporary and permanent, which may strike at any age and time. These include but are not limited to orchitis, epididymitis, vesiculitis, testicular degeneration, traumatic injuries to the penis and prepuce, and limb injuries or arthritis (especially of the hind limbs). Some of these conditions are visible to the producer and therefore are treated or the bull is culled when detected. However, most of the inflammatory conditions would only be detected if a thorough BSE were performed. Current standards set by the Society for Theriogenology for a passing BSE are as follows: normal physical exam including feet/legs, eyes, vesicular glands, ampullae/prostate, inguinal rings, penis/prepuce, testes/spermatic cord, epididymides, scrotum (shape), and any other physical abnormality that could affect the ability

Using an average bull:cow ratio of 1:25, this means that each bull represents approximately $18,750 worth of gross income per year. It would follow that if a single animal in the herd made this much contribution to the total income there would be specific attention to management of this resource.

ARIZONA The Prosser Family

928/289-2619 928/380-5149 cell Winslow, AZ

www.bartbar.com • info@bartbar.com

RFI Tested Balancer®, Gelbvieh & Angus Bulls Sell Annually in April at Yerington, NV

COLORADO

Dave & Dawn Bowman 55784 Holly Rd. • Olathe, CO 81425

NEVADA

(970) 323-6833

www.bowkranch.com

Females for Sale Private Treaty

Dick & Jean Williams P.O. Box 156 Orovada, NV 89425 775•272•3442

“Pounds Make Profit in Your Pocket” Bulls & Heifers Private Treaty

OREGON

Maple Lake Livestock Company Madras, Oregon

MONTANA

M /L

High Desert Red & Black Gelbvieh & Balancer® Cattle doug@maplelakelivestock.com www.maplelakelivestock.com

541 - 475 - 9335

WASHINGTON

Continued on page 54 The Profitpicture | 53

Continued from page 53

of the bull to breed; sperm motility of greater than 30 percent; sperm morphology of greater than 70 percent normal; and age dependent minima for scrotal circumference (30cm at 12 months of age to 34cm for greater than 24 months of age). One area of the bull’s ability to impregnate cows that is not evaluated with any consistency in

the United States is libido and/or serving capacity. The evaluation of desire and/or ability of the bull to breed has been left to the observation of the producer and only seems to be critically evaluated when a potential problem is noted. This is most likely due to the time requirements of performing a good libido/

Montana & South Dakota Breeders

“Gelbvieh since 1973”

Kathleen Rankin 406-937-4815 1285 Nine Mile Rd. • Oilmont, MT 59466 krankin@northerntel.net www.kickinghorseranch.com Performance cattle for the real world.

Look for our consignments at the NILE Gelbvieh Sale • October 19, 2012 • Billings, MT Our Production Sale • March 21, 2013

Ken and Dale Flikkema 2 Mint Trail • Bozeman, MT 59718 (406) 586-6207 (Office) (406) 580-6207 (Cell) email: mcfg@imt.net Black, Purebred & Balancer Cattle “Our Aim is Your Target”

54 | February 2013

ADKINS GELBVIEH

serving capacity test. The assumption is made that if the bull is physically fit and has a passing BSE that he will have the desire and ability to breed cows, however, on occasion an observant producer will detect a “lazy” or “clumsy” bull. Yearling bulls may require time and even some assistance in “learning” how to breed cows (personal observation).

intromission was successful. The young bull mounted and successfully bred the heifer another three times over 15 minutes. They were separated, the tail tie released and both moved back to pasture. The owner reported observing successful breedings of other heifers over the next couple of days (personal observation).

Puberty in the bull takes place between 37 and 50 weeks and most producers recognize the need for a good plane of nutrition during this time.

Gelbvieh & Balancer Performance Genetics

Bulls and Heifers for sale by private treaty

(605) 354-2428 Cell gerald@adkinsgelvbieh.com www.adkinsgelbvieh.com

Gerald & Sarah Adkins

41606 195th St., Carpenter, SD 57322

Keith, Janice, Dustin & Britney

605-852-2131 kvolek@venturecomm.net www.volekranch.com

They have strong libido but may become frustrated, tired and quit mounting because they were not able to execute intromission. They usually “learn” with time how to perform this task. However, in one case an owner observed this behavior over several attempts over several days. The young bull was separated from any females in a pen while the tail of a female in estrus was tied to the side via a tail tie to the heifer’s neck to expose the vulva. The bull was brought to the heifer in a 20’x20’ pen. After a couple of mounts

Nutritional Effects on Bull Fertility When yearling bulls were fed restricted nutritional diets this resulted in reduced testicular mass, smaller ejaculate volumes, smaller seminal vesicles, and reduced sperm production. While feeding excessive energy levels have been shown to result in abnormal foot growth from laminitis. Also, there is increased risk of ruminitis which can lead to liver abscesses and the development of vesiculitis. There

can also be effects upon sperm morphology which is thought to be due to excessive scrotal fat which changed testicular thermal regulation. Puberty in the bull takes place between 37 and 50 weeks and most producers recognize the need for a good plane of nutrition during this time. However, research has shown that development of the critical cell lines such as Leydig and Sertoli cells take place much earlier. Proliferation and maturation of these cell lines takes place between 5 and 25 weeks of age. These cells are influenced by serum levels of FSH and LH.

may be transient or permanent. These elevations can be caused by fever, elevated environmental temperatures, inflammation of the scrotal skin and excessive scrotal fat and have all been shown to

have adverse effects. Frostbite of the scrotum has also been shown to initiate testicular degeneration. It is therefore recommended to vaccinate and booster vaccinate

bull calves in the pre-weaning period against respiratory diseases, clostridial disease, and removal of internal and external parasites with appropriate anthelmintics and anti-ectoparasite treatments. These Continued on page 56

In a series of experiments conducted to evaluate the effects of varied nutrition (mostly variations in concentrate/energy) during the postnatal period and pubertal to 70 week period showed that feeding adequate to high levels of nutrition between 5 and 25 weeks resulted in earlier onset of puberty and increased testicular size when compared to the low nutritional group. They also demonstrated changes in FSH and LH levels compared to controls. It would follow that the mature testicular size is determined by the proliferation and maturation of the Sertoli cells which are influenced by the plane of nutrition early in the bullâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life. It was concluded that a target average daily weight gain in the calfhood period of 5-25 weeks should be greater than 2.6 lbs/day with an adequate nutritional plane after that.

Disease Prevention The negative effects of any disease process such as respiratory disease such as decreased weight gain and poor feed conversion has the potential to delay puberty in weanling and yearling cattle. Elevations in scrotal/testicular temperature, even for short periods, have been shown to initiate testicular degeneration resulting in higher numbers of abnormal sperm in an ejaculate and even azoospermia. This

Trendsetter

Granite 5 Sons Selling

The Profitpicture | 55

Continued from page 55

vaccinations against venereal diseases such as vibriosis, and anti-parasitics should be repeated annually in advance of the breeding season.

An adequately functioning immune system is required for these vaccinations to be effective and to respond to bacterial and viral challenges, therefore, it is

The proper management of natural service bulls will help to ensure that the greatest number of calves are born in the earliest part of the calving season and therefore contribute to maximize profits for the cow-calf producer. It should also be pointed out that due to some regional variations in disease risks individual vaccination protocols should be developed with a local veterinary practitioner.

necessary to ensure adequate levels of nutrition especially energy, copper, zinc, and selenium are fed. An individual bull represents a very large contribution to the gross income of a beef producer and

therefore deserves to be developed and managed accordingly. This means that attention to nutrition as early as 5 weeks of age can have effects on its ability to be a successful breeder at maturity. A functional immune system is essential for the bull to remain healthy and to respond to preventative vaccinations and therefore adequate nutritional levels of protein, energy, micro and micro-nutrients (minerals) are necessary.

of the calving season and therefore contribute to maximize profits for the cow-calf producer. Editor’s note: The above is a proceedings from the Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle-Northwest held September 30 – October 1, 2011 in Boise, Idaho. It was written by M. Wayne Ayers, DVM, Caine Veterinary Teaching Center, University of Idaho, Caldwell, Idaho.

Even with attention to these details every bull should receive a breeding soundness exam every year prior to the breeding season so that only animals with the greatest potential to be a successful breeder are used. The proper management of natural service bulls will help to ensure that the greatest number of calves are born in the earliest part

The Profit-Making Combination Successful commercial cow-calf operators know they need a live calf first and then that calf needs to grow. Buying bulls with a combination of calving ease and growth is key.

Bulls sell March 2, 2013 at SEGA Gelbvieh south of Pierce, CO.

CJ&L Livestock works to breed bulls with that profit-making combination. We currently have black purebred Gelbvieh and Balancer bulls on feed with SEGA Gelbvieh near Pierce, CO. Sires represented include BUCK’s Carolina Rockin’, VRT Lazy TV Sam U451 and DCH Hille Thrasher T191.

Call for information and weigh reports. Julie Maude, 605-381-2803 Lori Maude, 303-809-3789 Hermosa, S.D. 56 | February 2013

Bulls like these sell March 2.

Pound-Makin’ GENETICS

Feature

The Importance of Sire Selection Purchase of bulls or semen should be viewed as a long-term investment. Consideration should be given to EPDs, DNA results, and other information offered by your seedstock provider to make desirable genetic change in your cow herd. By Dan W. Moser Bull selection presents an important opportunity to enhance the profitability of the beef production enterprise. For several reasons, bull selection is one of the most important producer decisions, and as such, requires advance preparation and effort to be successful. To effectively select sires, producers must not only be well versed in the use of expected progeny differences (EPD) and understand breed differences, they must accurately and objectively assess their current genetics, resources and management.

Furthermore, recent advances in DNA technology and decisionsupport tools add complexity to selection, but will ultimately enhance selection accuracy. Producers who stay up to date on advances in beef cattle genetics should profit from enhanced revenue and reduced production costs, as they best match genetics to their production situation.

Opportunity for Genetic Change Sire selection represents the greatest opportunity for genetic change. Genetic change in cow-calf operations can occur both through sire selection and through replacement female selection in conjunction with cow culling. Most producers raise their own replacement heifers rather than purchasing from other sources. This greatly

March 2, 2013 Private Treaty Opening Day A Powerful Set of Gelbvieh and Balancer® Bulls Red or Black • All Polled PAP Tested • Ultrasound Tested Bulls available to view at 10:30 a.m.

Lunch at Noon • Bid-off at 1:00 p.m.

Continued on page 58

Put Pounds on the Truck! And Quality Carcass On The Rail

Sale catalog online at: www.segagelbvieh.com

Steve & Gail Fiolkoski 16509 WCR 86 • Pierce, CO 80650

Phone: 970/834-2138 Gail’s Cell: 970/590-4862 Steve’s Cell: 970/381-0600 Email: gafiolk@aol.com

The Profitpicture | 57

Continued from page 57

limits contribution of female selection to genetic change because a large fraction of the heifer crop is needed for replacements. Depending on

of the heifers is retained, some average heifers will be in that group. Finally, the information used to select replacement heifers in commercial herds is limited.

Sire selection represents the greatest opportunity for genetic change. Genetic change in cow-calf operations can occur both through sire selection and through replacement female selection in conjunction with cow culling culling rate in the cow herd, usually one-half or more of the replacement heifer candidates are retained at weaning to allow for further selection at breeding time. So even if the best half

Producers may use in-herd ratios along with data on the heifers’ dams, but these types of data on females do not reflect genetic differences as well as do the EPDs used to select bulls.

In contrast, whether selecting natural service sires for purchase or sires to be used via artificial insemination (AI), the amount of variation available can be almost overwhelming. Producers can find bulls that will increase or decrease nearly any trait of economic importance. Furthermore, since a relatively few bulls will service a large number of cows, producers can select bulls that are fairly elite even when natural mating. Use of AI allows commercial producers to use some of the most outstanding bulls in the world at a reasonable cost, allowing for enormous amounts of genetic change, if desired. Finally, selection of bulls is more accurate than female selection. Seedstock breeders provide genetic information in the form of EPDs, which allow for direct comparison of potential sires

across herds and environments. Unlike actual measurements, EPDs consider the heritability of the trait to accurately predict genetic differences between animals. If AI is used, even greater accuracy is possible. Bulls used in AI may have highly proven EPDs, calculated from thousands of progeny measured in many herds and environments.

Permanent and LongTerm Change Genetic change is permanent change. Among management decisions, genetic selection differs from others in that the effects are permanent, not temporary. Feeding a supplement to meet nutritional requirements is beneficial as long as the feeding continues and health protocols, while important, must be Continued on page 61

26th Annual Production Sale February 23, 2013 • 1:00 p.m. CST at the Ranch Top quality herd sires in this offering

Balancer • 179X–16Z

Balancer • 925Y

Balancer • 220X–70Z

Your Source for POWERFUL Balancer Genetics Backed by 30+ years of proven superior feedlot performance. SIRES REPRESENTED: 50+

BALANCER: DJS Derringer 96X XXB Ludacris 039SET CTR Front Page 765T (Frank) PLA Mr Hauler 12XET (Bus)

Homozygous Black Bulls Sell

Call for a Sale Book

58 | February 2013

110 Bulls

Including 30 Balancer & Commercial Heifers

• 70 Balancer & Gelbvieh Yearling & Fall Bulls

GELBVIEH: TAU Gunslinger 19U ANGUS: SAV Final Answer 0035 DJS Last Call 44W SAV Pioneer 7301 GCC Total Recall 806T Connealy Final Product

Selling

Angus • 689–86Z

Jeff Swanson

308/337-2235 • 308/991-0727 (C) 72408 I Rd. • Oxford, NE 68967 swansoncattleco@yahoo.com

Auctioneer: Kyle Elwood • 785-493-2901

• 40 Angus Bulls View Sale Online at: www.superiorlivestock.com Register to bid prior to the sale • 800-431-4452

Guest Consignor: Rock Falls Ranch • Mark Williams 308-991-5628 • Bertrand, NE

s s e c of the c u S

Committed to the Commercial Cattleman 30th Annual Gelbvieh

Bull Sale

Saturday, March 16, 2013 1:00 PM CT – at the ranch, Lake City, SD

Selling: Yearling Gelbvieh Bulls Purebred, Three-Quarter, Balancer® Blacks & Reds – Polled All bulls DNA Tested and Ultrasounded

Featuring progeny from these Great Sires

Proof in the Program CONNEALY IN FOCUS 4

2013 NWSS Spring Heifer Division Champion BVLK Z202 Dam: PCCI Ms Ty 5182R

STON XPECTATION 14X

2007 National Champion Female PCCI Ms Ty 5182R

43523 111th St., Lake City, SD 57247 Neal: 605-470-0448 • Email: njpearson@venturecomm.net Kermit: 605-380-6030 www.pearsoncattleco.com

TR MR NEW DESIGN S649 The Profitpicture | 59

PHG Rockin The Bakken Z17

PRODUCTION SALE

PB Gelbvieh Bull Homozygous Polled SIRE: COLB Mr Xavier X812 DAM: PHG Ultra Violet U02 (PHG donor) 2013 Breeder’s Choice Gelbvieh Bull Futurity Champion and high selling bull at the National Sale.

Saturday FEBRUARY 16, 2013 1:00 PM (MST)

PHG Keystone Z20

At the Ranch, North of Dickinson, North Dakota

PB Gelbvieh Bull Homo Black, Homo Polled SIRE: COLB Mr Xavier X812 DAM: PHG Western Lady W14

50 PUREBRED GELBVIEH BULLS & FEMALES SELL

40 Purebred Gelbvieh Bulls • 10 Purebred Gelbvieh Open Heifers SPECIALIZING IN OUTCROSS GENETICS THAT WILL FIT THE NEEDS OF PUREBRED AND COMMERCIAL CATTLEMEN.

PHG Bakken Z35 PB Gelbvieh Bull Homozygous Polled SIRE: RWG Why Me 9515 DAM: CVV Miss 57P ET Prairie Jewel (PHG donor)

PB Gelbvieh Bull Homozygous Polled SIRE: RWG Why Me 9515 DAM: MCFG 153R (PHG donor)

Average weaning weight for all bulls selling 753 pounds without creep feed. ADG since weaning is 4.3 pounds per day for the entire group of bulls selling.

PHG Cash Money Z06 PB Gelbvieh Bull Homozygous Polled SIRE: DVE Davidson Payday 59W DAM: PHG Tiki T77

www.prairiehillsgelbvieh.com

PHG Missouri Basin Z59

PHG Z69

PB Gelbvieh Bull Homozygous Polled SIRE: DVE Davidson Payday 95W DAM: PHG R03

PB Gelbvieh Bull SIRE: RWG Why Me 9515 DAM: CVV 35X

GALEN SICKLER KLINT SICKLER 10190 22nd St SW 2171 102nd Ave SW Gladstone, ND 58630 Gladstone, ND 58630 701-225-9212 Home 701-483-5250 Cell 701-260-1853

SALE MANAGEMENT BY: Mitchell Marketing Service

www.mms.bz

Chris Mitchell 334-695-1371 Randy Sienknecht 319-290-3763 2262 C Avenue • Gladbrook, IA 50635

CattleDesign®

60 | February 2013

Continued from page 58

maintained year after year. However, once a genetic change occurs, that change will remain until additional new genetics enter the herd. Whether selecting for growth, carcass traits or maternal performance, those traits, once established in the herd, are automatically passed on to the next generation.

this reason, purchases of bulls and semen should be viewed not as a short-term expense, but a long-term investment into the efficiency and adaptability of the beef production enterprise.

Editor’s note: Dan Moser is an associate professor in Animal Sciences and Industry at Kansas State University. He can be reached at dmoser@k-state.edu or 785-5322459.

Professional Beef Genetics Open House Bull Sale Saturday, March 23, 2013 • 1:00 PM

Seedstock breeders provide genetic information in the form of EPDs, which allow for direct comparison of potential sires across herds and environments. Unlike actual measurements, EPDs consider the heritability of the trait to accurately predict genetic differences between animals. Sire selection has a long-term impact. Regardless of whether a selected sire has a favorable or unfavorable effect on the herd, if his daughters enter the cow herd, his effects will remain for a considerable period of time. Assuming a sire is used for four years and his daughters are retained, his impact will easily extend into the next decade. And, while each generation dilutes his contribution, his granddaughters and great-granddaughters may remain in the herd a quartercentury after last sired calves. For

One stop source for Balancer®, Angus and SimAngus Genetics Selling the best of 232 head currently on test 74 Balancer® • 41 Angus • 117 SimAngus 180 Forage Tested 18-month-old bulls • 52 Fast-track Yearling bulls

Balancer® Sires Include: Hille Majesty • GT Shear Force • Tenderloin N407 • Dakota Gold

Angus Sires Include: Hoover Dam • GAR Game On • HA Program 5652

SimAngus Sires Include: GW Predestined 701T• Dikeman Sure Bet • GW Premimum Beef • Shear Force 38K • New Trend Way Cool

A sample of bulls selling REG

TAG

SIRE

Maternal Grandsire

1220519

Y580

DCH Hille M118 Majesty

EGL Tenderloin N407

-2.8

112

0.22

0.15

1220626

Y532

DCH Hille M118 Majesty

JBOB Carolina Fortune 2564

-2.7

102

0.20

-0.08

1220637

Y546

DCH Hille M118 Majesty

JBOB Carolina Fortune 2564

-0.8

120

0.24

-0.05

1220534

Y501

DCH Hille M118 Majesty

JHL LCC Atlas N029N

-2.7

104

0.24

-0.03

1220557

Y509

DCH Hille M118 Majesty

JHL LCC Atlas N029N

-0.2

111

0.26

-0.06

1220609

Y531

DCH Hille M118 Majesty

JHL LCC Atlas N029N

-.3

104

0.15

-0.03

1220569

Y627

DCH Hille M118 Majesty

JHL LCC Atlas N029N

-0.3

113

0.31

-0.05

1220585

Y679

DCH Hille M118 Majesty

KCF Bennett Foundation P137

-2.3

100

0.15

0.01

1220338

Y615

DCH Hille M118 Majesty

LAW Starrs Valiant 1086L

-1.7

0.05

-0.06

1220515

Y582

DCH Hille M118 Majesty

OZZ EXT Governor 3N

-4.2

106

0.26

0.06

1220608

Y722

EGL Tenderloin N407

B/R New Frontier 095

0.7

111

0.44

0.77

1220643

Y609

EGL Tenderloin N407

Premium Blend R/H 802N

0.0

108

0.27

0.46

1220497

Y734

G T Shear Force

KCF Bennett H356

1.9

112

0.16

0.42

1220543

Y503

Lemar Dakota Gold 18T

EGL Tenderloin N407

-2.9

112

0.63

1220309

Y637

RHFB Carolina Fort 2210R

JBOB Carolina Fortune 2564

2.1

116

059

0.04

This bull and the high selling Balancer® in our 2011 Fall Sale are brothers to the 13 Hille Majesty sons qualifying for this sale.

4 miles west of Montrose Missouri on Hwy H Call Toll Free 1-888-PBG-BULL (724-2855) • Email pbgbulls@aol.com For complete listing of our bulls visit our website: www.pbgbulls.org The Profitpicture | 61

News

Crossbreeding Made Easy with Balancer® Balancer hybrids offer a simple and powerful way to maintain hybrid vigor and the proper blend of British and Continental genetics in your cow herd in a simple and easy crossbreeding program. Many crossbreeding systems are complicated. It takes multiple pastures and intense management to get the most value out of some crossbreeding systems. The American Gelbvieh Association’s SmartCross® system is different. With the SmartCross system, a Gelbvieh or Balancer® bull can be used on any cow herd base to get you to the profit center of the beef business in one cross. Tom Brink of JBS Five Rivers Cattle Feeding spoke about the beef business at the 2012 NCBA Cattlemen’s College. He believes that the ideal feeder animal consists of 50 to 75 percent Angus, 25-50 percent Continental and 25 percent or less other breeds. “The Continental breed will bring in leaner, more

muscular cattle and are often easier to handle,” he said. Balancer cattle are registered hybrid seedstock with documented pedigrees and EPDs, and many are backed by genomics profiles. Balancer animals are 25 to 75 percent Gelbvieh with the balance Angus or Red Angus. Balancer cattle combine the Gelbvieh growth, muscle, leanness and fertility with the maternal and marbling of Angus. Producers can chose the percentage of each breed to best suit the marketing target for their calves. Registered Balancer hybrids combine the Angus advantages with Gelbvieh growth, muscle leanness, fertility, moderate mature cow size and unequaled pounds of calf per cow exposed in a single animal.

And, documented research proves that Balancer hybrids offer the same consistency as their purebred parents with improved uniformity of composition. Plus, Balancer bulls and females are registered seedstock, complete with documented breed composition and EPDs. Using Gelbvieh on your Angusbased cows is the optimum fit in today’s competitive beef industry. You will get cattle that fit the pasture, the feedlot and the meat case. Plus, you get the priceless bonus of the industry’s most respected replacement females. Whether you keep or market these replacements, Gelbvieh x Angus cross females add dollars to your pocket.

For producers needing heat tolerant cattle the American Gelbvieh Association offers the Southern Balancer® program. The Southern Balancer combines 6.2550 percent Bos indicus breeding with at least 25 percent Gelbvieh genetics. This combination produces cattle with superior maternal

TRIPLE PLAY RANCHES

8th Annual Production Sale Thursday, March 21, 2013 – 1:00 PM – Huron, SD v Gelbvieh & Balancer v Yearling Bulls v Two Year Old Bulls v Replacement Females

62 | February 2013

Forbes Ranch Troy & Pam Forbes Arlington, SD 605-530-4764 Leonhardt Cattle Co. Jacky Leonhardt Lake Preston, SD 605-530-2586

v Black & Red

www.tripleplayranches.com

strengths, market acceptability and environment adaptability. “Take a look at the largest, most successful commercial operations and you’ll find crossbreeding is the standard rather than the exception as they exploit maternal heterosis to increase production, but mostly in order to reduce cost. Rather than focus on pounds, they focus on the cost per pound of production, relative to the possible revenue per pound,” commented Matt Spangler, Beef Genetics Extension Specialist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Spangler went on to say, “Commercial cattle producers must realize that no single breed excels in all areas that affect profitability. Breed combinations can be engineered to accommodate environmental constraints and meet marketing objectives.” Use registered Balancer bulls and take advantage of management convenience and hybird vigor in a single package.

This Final Answer Son Sells

Volek Ranch Keith & Janice Volek Highmore, SD 605-852-2131

Request the Paper It Pays On your next Gelbvieh or Balancer® purchase, ask your seedstock supplier to transfer the registration paper. Transferred registration papers add value to your purchase: • Authenticate pedigree, performance and genetic information • Access to value added marketing services through the American Gelbvieh Association • Free 1-year subscription to Gelbvieh World and The Profit Picture • New buyers receive an informational packet about Gelbvieh and Balancer®

• Updated EPDs and performance information • Track pedigree information to manage inbreeding and maximize heterosis • Create a connection to your seedstock provider and the American Gelbvieh Association • Solidify your reputation as a professional cattle producer who is committed to genetic improvement

Get access to information and tools to help make your operation more profitable through registration transfers. American Gelbvieh Association 10900 Dover Street Westminster, CO 80021 303-465-2333 www.gelbvieh.org

The Profitpicture | 63

News

Beef Checkoff Continues to See Success with its Programs The beef checkoff had a very successful year driving demand for beef both within the United States and abroad. With cow numbers for 2013 projected to be down over 1 million head, the checkoff continues to do more with less. As calendar year 2012 comes to a close and we reflect back on the year, it’s hard to select only a few program highlights to share because there were so many. To be brief, we bring you the Top 5: 1. BOLD research: Registered Dietitians and other health professionals received factual, scientifically supported beef nutrition information following the publication of the remarkable checkoff-funded Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet (BOLD) research study published in January in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. News of the study reached thousands of health professionals through an educational webinar about beef ’s role in a heart-healthy diet.

introduce four American Heart Association certified extra-lean beef cuts that meet its criteria for saturated fat and cholesterol. The four beef cuts are the Top Sirloin (select grade); Boneless Petite Roast, Filet, Kabob, and Stir-Fry. 4. US Beef Exports: Central and South America have emerged as top growth markets for U.S. beef with even greater potential for the future. Working against a global market where beef imports are generally down, the Central/South America region is up sharply through the first nine months of 2012, purchasing 57.7 million pounds of U.S. beef valued at $99.2 million, increases of 36 percent in volume and 73 percent in value over last year.

2. Greystone Culinary Event: The checkoff hosted an exclusive culinary education seminar at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone. More than 30 leading research and development chefs from nationally recognized companies attended the “beefimmersion” course and received a 360-degree education that included culinary innovation, butchering techniques, and handson training with alternative beef cuts.

5. 2011 National Beef Quality Audit: The National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA) is a comprehensive survey that evaluates beef industry efforts to continuously improve beef quality. Extensive enhancements were made to the 2011 NBQA design to provide the industry with direction on factors beyond the physical characteristics of beef, such as food safety, sustainability, animal well-being, and the consequences/impacts of beef production practices.

3. American Heart Association Certified Beef Cuts: Food City worked with the beef checkoff to

We continue to face challenges as an industry and as a checkoff program. At their 2013 Outlook

64 | February 2013

& Strategies Seminar, CattleFax stated that they expect the US cattle inventory to be 89.8 million head on Jan. 1, 2013, down over 1 million head (1.1 percent) from a year ago. That means in 2013, your checkoff will once again be doing more with less.

consumer needs in the coming year, the checkoff has developed a new committee structure. “Our new committee structure will make us more focused on consumer preferences in order to achieve greater program results,” says Brackett. “We realized that this was necessary in order to

Checkoff-funded market research has also found that perceptions about beef are more positive than perceptions about the way cattle are raised. “The great thing about our checkoff program is our ability to adapt to and embrace change,” says Kim Brackett, Cattlemen’s Beef Board sec./treas. and producer from Buhl, Idaho. “While we reflect back on the many program successes this past year, it’s amazing how far our checkoff investment goes and producers should be proud of that. But we also have been charged with an incredible task of providing safe, wholesome beef both in the US and outside our country’s borders, and we have to do it with fewer resources.” Checkoff-funded market research has also found that perceptions about beef are more positive than perceptions about the way cattle are raised. This gap will be a critical, ongoing measure of the effects of communications and issues management programs designed to inform and reassure consumers about beef production. To address these ever-changing

maintain beef ’s positive image and the image of our industry with consumers; and, we hope the synergies this new committee structure presents will help move the needle on beef demand. “I’m both energized and excited about the possibilities in 2013 and hope every fellow producer feels the same.” For more information about your beef checkoff investment, visit www.mybeefcheckoff.com. The Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. The checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. States retain up to 50 cents on the dollar and forward the other 50 cents per head to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board, which administers the national checkoff program, subject to USDA approval.

SOUTHEAST BREEDERS KENTUCKY

M & W Farms

Producing Black, Polled Genetics for Today & Tomorrow.

Maryville, Tennessee

Quality Black Bulls & Heifers for sale Lynn Waters 3525 Tuckaleechee Pike Maryville, TN 37803

Double Bar H Gelbvieh • Balancer • Angus

Davis Holder Family 9595 Bugtussle Road, Gamaliel, KY 42140 270-457-BEEF 270-670-2499 Cell =H =H

Walter & Lee Teeter 1380 French Belk Rd. • Mt. Ulla, NC 28125 (704) 664-5784

Mick Ainsworth 1613 Derby Road P.O. Box 154 Jackson Springs, NC 27281 910-652-2233 Cell: 910-638-8436 Mick’s email: longleaf@etinternet.net

102 Merlin Dr. Georgetown, KY 40234

Grass Grown • Carcass Quality & Performance

Steve, Ashley, Jordan & Jason McIntosh 502-868-5726 Clifford & Faye McIntosh 502-863-1135 Breeding Gelbvieh since 1989

lynnmwfarms@gmail.com

Looking for a sale or event? Check Places to Be on the website: www.GELBVIEH.org

VIRGINIA

W L

Get ready for upcoming sales!

QUALITY GELBVIEH CATTLE

Advertise in Gelbvieh World or the Profit Picture

TENNESSEE NORTH CAROLINA

865.660.9227

Quality Gelbvieh & Balancer® Cattle

Dr. Daryl Wilson Tyler Wilson (276) 676-2242

LITTLE WINDY HILL

Farms Doug & Sue Hughes 6916 Peppers Ferry Road Max Meadows, VA 24360 H 276/637-3916 C 276/620-4271

Joe & Gwen Wilson (276) 628-4163

Registered (276) 614-0117 (C) Gelbvieh Cattle

17462 Fenton Dr., Abingdon, VA 24210 • TrebleWRanch@aol.com

ClinCh Mountain Gelbvieh

John & Liz Loy (865) 687-1968 (865) 235-8869 (C)

7611 Dyer Rd. Luttrell, TN 37779 j.b.loy@att.net

Bulls & Heifers for Sale

WEST VIRGINIA

“Superior Gelbvieh and Balancer Cattle”

Chris & Jordan Hampton • Charles & Sue Hampton 839 Davistown Rd. Celina, TN 38551 931-243-3213 H 931-510-3213 C hampton@twlakes.net

Registered Bulls & Replacement Females

The Profitpicture | 65

Adams Ranch: Genetics that Fit the Environment The 15th largest cow-calf operation in the United States utilizes natural selection, carcass data and crossbreeding with Gelbvieh to produce cattle that thrive in their central Florida climate. By William McIntosh In Florida you not only find endless miles of sandy beaches and retirement communities you also find a large agriculture community. According to the University of Florida, agriculture

generates $126.7 billion in revenue and employs 1.9 million people. Florida is also the 15th largest cow-calf state in the United States. In central Florida, just west of Fort Pierce, you will find Adams

Ranch, the 15th largest cow-calf operation in the United States. Founded in 1937 Adams Ranch is a fourth generation cattle operation devoted to producing cattle that are adapted to fit their land, climate, insects and their available feed resources. In 1937, Alto Adams Sr. purchased a large tract of land west of Fort Pierce. In 1947, Alto “Bud” Adams Jr. became a partner in the cattle operation after returning home from the military at the end

of World War II. Bud implemented a pasture improvement program and began crossing Hereford bulls on the existing Brahman cows. The Hereford breed was selected to complement the Brahman, adding muscle and performance. They also were one of the heartiest British breeds at the time and offered more heat tolerance being red-hided. At that time the cow herd consisted of about 1,500 cows. Adams selected replacement Continued on page 68

LONE OAK GELBVIEH

Lone Oak Gelbvieh is excited to announce we're moving home. We are thankful for the relationships built through the Midwest Performance Bull Sale the last seven years. Please join us March 23, 2013 for our first annual Private Treaty Kick-off and some down home hospitality. Cattle will be ready for viewing after 9:00 AM. Bring the whole family and enjoy a meal on us as you appraise our bulls. Bid off will begin at 2:00 PM.

Eric Ehresman 20963 30th St. Mechanicsville, IA 52306 hornsandthorns@netins.net 319-489-2275 • 319-480-1564

Selling Gelbvieh, Angus, Red Angus, Balancer • Bulls are yearlings and 18 months of age 66 | February 2013

The Profitpicture | 67

Continued from page 66

females based on the following factors: eye pigmentation, udder soundness, calving ease and performance. “These crossbred cows were some of the first to be selected for

weaning and yearling weight. This is one of the longest production tested herds in the country,” said Bud Adams. The Adams Ranch Braford herd was the foundation of the International Braford

Association and the United States Braford Breeders being member number one in both Associations.

Natural Selection Adams Ranch has always

Since 1983

REGISTERED GELBVIEH CATTLE Our foundation is designed and built on 29 years of A.I. breeding.

REDS

BLACKS

BALANCERS 22nd Annual

“Pot of Gold”

Gelbvieh, Angus & Balancer Bull Sale February 22, 2013 ®

Olathe, Colorado

Your source for P.A.P. tested, calving ease and low birth weight EPD bulls! Many Herdsire Prospects • Review the data online Females for Sale Private Treaty At Bow K Ranch we emphasize moderate size, quality udders, and built-in calving ease.

www.bowkranch.com David & Dawn Bowman • Andrew & Sarah Bowman 55784 Holly Rd. • Olathe, CO 81425 • (970) 323-6833 •

68 | February 2013

believed in natural selection. All the 8,000 plus cows calve unassisted. They do not pull calves and they do not have to due to the fact that for the past 70 years cattle that did have calving problems did not last very long; their genetics were eliminated from the population pretty quickly. Another way they use natural selection to insure fertility is that all their replacement heifers are exposed to bulls at 15 months of age and the open ones are sold as feeders. No second chances. They also breed their cows in multiple sire pastures to insure the next generation is sired by the most fertile and active bulls. Adams Ranch has selected for eye pigment and a red hide color due to the extreme heat and humidity of south central Florida. Due to the climate and pasture improvement programs they are able to graze the cow herd year around. The Adams family have selected cattle that can get bred, milk well and maintain their body condition on strictly grass. “Our cattle are raised as commercial cattle and are treated as such. They were bred naturally in multiple sire herds. All calved unassisted. Severe selection and culling eliminated bad eyes and bad udders. Selection was made on economical traits,” continued Bud.

Gelbvieh – Red Angus – Braford Composite In 1990, Adams Ranch developed their ABEEF® composite, a registered trademark of Adams Ranch. The ABEEF composite is composed of 50 percent Braford, 25 percent Gelbvieh and 25 percent Red Angus. The Adams composite is modeled from the research data that came out of the USDA Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Nebraska in the late 1970s. That research showed that heterosis increased performance by 18 percent and that a hybrid cow would produce 23 percent more than a straightbred cow over her lifetime.

Adams crossed Red Angus and Gelbvieh bulls on their Brafrod cows, then mated the F1s to make the ABEEF composite. By selecting breeds of cattle that complement one another they have been able

for feedlot performance and carcass merit. “Nineteen years ago a composite breeding program was begun by using the Braford base cow herd to cross Red Angus and

“Since 1990 Adams Ranch has used Gelbvieh bulls to create a composite of ½ Braford, ¼ Gelbvieh and ¼ Red Angus. Since we are a cow-calf ranch, we must have good maternal traits plus growth and red meat. This is why we choose Gelbvieh as our Continental breed.” -Bud Adams to design a composite that can thrive in their harsh environment, and still produce feeder calves that meet or exceed industry averages

Gelbvieh. This was patterned after USDA research at Clay Center. This is basically how commercial poultry and swine are bred. It

is designed to complement Red Angus quality, Gelbvieh muscling, and Braford maternal, insect and heat tolerance. It maximizes heterosis while achieving uniformity. DNA and ultrasound aid selection. This has succeeded beyond our imagination.” Bud noted.

selection criteria. “We have always had a strong focus on performance but with the use of ultrasound and DNA data we can select for traits that are expensive to progeny test for like tenderness and feed efficiency,” said Mike Adams, CEO and third generation of Adams Ranch.

The Gelbvieh breed was selected to add performance, muscle, maintain a moderate mature size and early puberty. “Since 1990 Adams Ranch has used Gelbvieh bulls to create a composite of ½ Braford, ¼ Gelbvieh and ¼ Red Angus. Since we are a cow-calf ranch, we must have good maternal traits plus growth and red meat. This is why we choose Gelbvieh as our Continental breed,” said Bud.

Each year the Adams Ranch retains ownership on a group of cattle they feed at Decatur County Feedyards in Oberlin, Kan. Mike said “Being a cow-calf producer in Florida we are as far removed from the end product as you can get. We primarily feed cattle so we can get performance, feed efficiency, and carcass data back on our calves to make sure we are producing a product that the consumer perceives as a quality product.”

Focused on Carcass Quality

Using ultrasound and DNA, Adams Ranch has been able to produce southern cattle that meet the industry demands for beef

Adams Ranch has added ultrasound and DNA data to their

Continued on page 70

SOUTHERN BREEDERS ALABAMA

TEXAS

Kittle Gelbvieh Farms Quality Black Gelbvieh Cattle Johnny D. Kittle 816 Co. Rd. 36 Geraldine, AL 35974 Cell (256) 996-4140 www.kittlefarms.com

ARKANSAS

H ODGES R ANCH

15702 Hodges Rd., Omaha, AR 72662 Hodgesranch@live.com

Jim & Pat Dromgoole 4403 Winding River Dr. • Richmond, TX 77469 Home

OKLAHOMA

(281) 341-5686 • Ranch (979) 561-8144

www.dromgoolesheaven.com Show Cattle Managers: James & Shannon Worrell • (325) 258-4656

LeGRAND Eugene (870) 426-5333 Diana (870) 426-5334 Neal (870) 426-4469

Ed LeGrand

809 S. Redlands Rd. • Stillwater, OK 74074

405-747-6950 • alane@c21global.com Homo. Black, Homo. Polled • Breeding Stock Available

Gelbvieh & Balancer Bulls & Heifers Available Private Treaty Sales

Promote for Success! EXCEPTIONAL

BULLS & HEIFERS

TRUCKING AVAILABLE

Upcoming Advertising Deadlines: April Gelbvieh World Early copy deadline: February 20 Regular rates deadline: February 27

Call 303-465-2333 today! The Profitpicture | 69

Continued from page 69

cattle that can hang a carcass that will Quality grade Choice, with Yield Grades of 1 and 2. “A group of 73 steers we fed out graded 50 percent Choice or higher. We had one steer that

graded high Choice, Yield grade 1. We have felt that if you can raise one high performance animal, through selection we should be able to raise 1,000 high performing animals. This is what makes our

industry so interesting, as we strive to make our cattle and product better,” added Mike. Due to the success the Adams Ranch has seen with their ABEEF composite they offer bred and

MIDDLE TENNESSEE GELBVIEH/ANGUS INVITATIONAL April 13, 2013 • 1:00 PM CT • Centerville, TN. Hosted by Armstrong Cattle Co.

SELLING:

v 40 plus Registered Gelbvieh & Balancer Females v 50 plus Commercial Gelbvieh Influenced Females v 20 plus Gelbvieh & Balancer Service Age Bulls

EARLY CONSIGNORS: Armstrong Cattle Company Miller Gelbvieh Farm Blue Wells Farms JenJoe Farms Gelbvieh Bar None Ranch S & S Gelbvieh Armstrong Cattle Company Steve Armstrong 4874 Hwy 50 Centerville, TN 37033 615•418•2124

70 | February 2013

Quality Females such as this one sell! Sale managed by

Slaughter Sale Management For catalog or information contact:

David Slaughter

162 Hastings Lane Fredonia, KY 42411 Phone: (270) 556-4259 E-mail: hmslghtr@aol.com

open replacement heifers and two year old bulls in their annual production sale in November. In the past 20 years Adams Ranch has been able to create a great demand for their genetics due

Using ultrasound and DNA, Adams Ranch has been able to produce southern cattle that meet the industry demands for beef cattle that can hang a carcass that will Quality grade Choice, with Yield Grades of 1 and 2.

to the fact that through breed complimentary and heterosis, the ABEEF composite is tailor made to fit their climate, environment and the beef industry. The Adams Ranch is working hard to continue their rich heritage of beef production and environmental stewardship while passing these values on to the next generation. Currently there are four members of the fourth generation involved in the management of the ranch. By continuing to focus on their nononsense approach to selection and beef production, Adams Ranch will be a viable business for generations to come. Editor’s note: William McIntosh is the central regional area coordinator for the American Gelbvieh Association. He lives in Georgetown, Ky., and can be reached at williamm@gelbvieh.org or 502-867-3132.

SERVICE CENTER

Subscription and Advertising Information

Cattlemen’s Connection Specializing in

• Gelbvieh Semen Sales • Consulting • Order Buying (all purchases guaranteed) Roger & Peg Gatz (785) 742-3163 Call Toll-Free:1-800-743-0026

AUCTIONEER

Are you a livestock photographer, an auctioneer, aspire to be a sale manager or graphic designer?

P.O. Box 146 • Rose, OK 74364 918-479-6410 office/fax 918-629-9382 cellular

Put your ad in Service Center and promote your services!.

Visit our Web Site: www.cattlemensconnection.com

Ronn Cunningham

For the best ultrasound data contact… The National CUP LabTM & Technology Center

Place your ad today!

303-465-2333

Gelbvieh World Advertising Rates STANDARD ISSUES:

Full Page 1/2 Page 1/3 Page 1/6 Page

$650 $425 $325 $150

Full Page 1/2 Page 1/4 Page Column inch

$675 $450 $275 $30

Color:

Four Color One Additional color

To run as Black/white Color photos

Advertise Your Operation in Gelbvieh World or the Profit Picture Contact William or Brian to discuss your options.

2/3 Page 1/2 Page Isand 1/4 Page Column inch

$525 $450 $250 $30

Feb./Oct. Commercial Profit Picture

Photo scans:

P.O. Box 627 • Ames, IA 50010 (515) 232-9442 cuplab@cuplab.com www.cuplab.com Ultrasound Equipment Sales & Service

SUBSCRIPTION RATES: A one-year subscription to Gelbvieh World may be purchased for $35. Members of the AGA pay $35 of their membership dues to receive a subscription to Gelbvieh World. Gelbvieh World mails on or around the 25th of the month prior to publication date. Canada and Mexico - $60 U.S. for one-year. Other foreign - $85 U.S. for one-year.

JR Page 1/3 Page 1/6 Page

$525 $350 $200

$300 additional $150 additional

$10 each $20 each

Special production such as photo retouching is billed at cost at the rate of $60/hr. CLOSING DATE: Ad materials and editorial deadline is the 25th of the month two months prior to publication date. (December issue deadline is October 25th). Ads for sale dates prior to the 15th of the month of publication are discouraged. For Feb./Oct. (Commercial Editions) and June/July (Herd Reference Edition) please call for rate specials and deadline information.

Call today: 303/465-2333

All your A.I. needs!!

Bull Barn Genetics

30 Years in business

• Gelbvieh • Angus • Red Angus • Simmental • Club Calf • Shorthorn • Dairy • Charolais • Hereford

• Sheaths • Gloves • Cito Thaw Units • MVE Tanks • A.I. Kits

Eldon & Kathy Starr

210 Starr Dr • Stapleton, NE 69163 bullbarn@accessdirectwb.net 800-535-6173

William 502/867-3132 Eastern

Brian 936/554-1600 Central

ADVERTISING CONTENT: The Editor and/or the Director of Administration reserve the right to reject any or all advertising on any reasonable basis. Gelbvieh World and/or American Gelbvieh Association assumes no responsibility for the advertising content as submitted. Advertisers assume all responsibility for the accuracy and truthfulness of submitted advertising containing pedigrees or statements regarding performance. Advertisers shall indemnify and hold harmless Gelbvieh World and American Gelbvieh Association for any claims concerning advertising content as submitted.

www.bullbarn.com

The Profitpicture | 71

News

Calving Season: The First 21 Days A breeding target for replacement females should be to have at least 60 percent of the heifers pregnant during the first 21 days of the breeding season. Doing so will assist with management of stocking rates, feed resources and marketing options. By Carl Dahlen With this in mind, producers may want to consider their heifer development and management strategies and related costs a few different ways. We are all very cognizant of the costs associated with developing heifers through their first breeding season. Producers may not wish to retain any more heifers on breeding pastures than they wish to keep for themselves to control costs. However, an alternative method of stocking replacement heifer breeding pastures would be to stock enough heifers so that the number of replacements needed would be met solely by

those heifers becoming pregnant during the first 21 days of the breeding season. To achieve this stocking rate, the number of heifers on breeding pastures would need to increase according to the proportion we anticipate becoming pregnant early. Data from the North Dakota Beef Cattle Improvement Association’s Cow Herd Appraisal and Performance Software (CHAPS) revealed that the proportion of females becoming pregnant during the first 21 days of the breeding season ranged from 58 to 64 percent during the past 10 years. Therefore, we would

conservatively estimate that 60 percent of the heifers would become pregnant during the first 21 days. To calculate the stocking rates of breeding pastures in this scenario, we would divide the number of replacements

is herd-specific, and producers knowing the proportion of heifers becoming pregnant early in their herds should anticipate accordingly. Perhaps the benchmark of 65 percent of the cows becoming pregnant within the first 21 days is achieved

Identify the heifers that become pregnant early in the breeding season, and take advantage of the additional longevity and accumulated weaning weight that accompany these early calving heifers. we are targeting to retain by 60 percent (0.60). For example, if a producer wishes to retain and calve out 50 replacement heifers, 84 heifers would be stocked onto breeding pastures (50 ÷ 0.60 = 84 total heifers). The divisor used

regularly and only 77 heifers would need to be kept. The number of heifers mentioned above is obviously a much larger number of heifers than normally would be run on

SEEDSTOCK QUALITY BRED HEIFERS • BALANCERS AND SIMANGUS, DROUGHT REDUCTION AI due date 3/10/13, 60 head due in the first 30 days Mates to the bulls in our record breaking fall ’12 sale Managed to make excellent reputation brood cows Extra depth of rib, muscling, function, and problem free Pelvic measured, synchronized, AI, cleanup w/calving ease bulls of same breed type Generations of top sires: Tenderloin, Marbling 2401M, Hille Majesty M118, Trendsetter 55R, Bennett S30, Atlas N029N, Just Right, Shear Force 38K, Predestined 701T, Dual Focus, Combination, GW Premium Beef, Graduate, Stetson, Final Answer, Sitz Upward, Dakota Gold, Prophet, Top Hand.

Group several or all to start or add to a top registered or commercial herd and save. Take advantage of all this heterosis – a huge double shot of free! (cows & calves) 17 month old BULLS, Balancer®, SimAngus, forage developed, tough, more longevity, and ready to serve your cows for calves that are heavier and command premiums.

Bob Harriman Genetics Montrose, MO 660-492-2504

bharriman39@ hotmail.com 72 | February 2013

R/H Atlas N029N 8093W • Paternal brother to some heifers

many operations. Several items are critical to the success of developing a successful system of retaining only those females pregnant within the first 21 days of the breeding season:

nonpregnant heifers and for heifers that became pregnant after the 21-day breeding target - Remember that we started

with a high-quality group of replacements, and because of the diversity in the beef industry, the heifers that became pregnant

outside of one producer’s target may be exactly what another producer is looking for. If natural-service bulls are used, Continued on page 74

• Enough high-quality heifers and bull power to stock breeding pastures at suggested rates - If sufficient numbers of high-quality replacements are not available but a second-tier group of heifers is available, then producers are faced with another question: What is better for the long-term profitability of the herd - a better-quality heifer that likely will not last in the herd, or a slightly lower-quality heifer that likely will last in the herd? This can be answered only by the herd manager. • Enough winter feed supply and grazing pasture, or money to secure each, to develop extra heifers - Aside from that exception of producers who normally retain nonreplacement heifers as yearling stocker cattle, grazing plans and stored feed supplies would need to be adjusted to facilitate the greater number of breeding heifers maintained. • A method of identifying heifers that are pregnant within the first 21 days of the breeding season - Accuracy and timing of pregnancy diagnosis are critical when building a system that relies on knowing when conception occurred. The earlier pregnancy determination can be conducted relative to breeding, the more accurate it will be. In addition, the timing of pregnancy determination is critical to ensure that all pregnant heifers are detected and appropriately classified into groups according to estimated conception dates (for more details, see the August 2011 article in The Ranch Hand titled “Consider Early Pregnancy Checking”). • A solid marketing plan for

The Profitpicture | 73

Continued from page 73

then a market for a group of bred heifers needs to be secured. Additionally, a favorable market for nonpregnant heifers should be identified. Quite likely, the open-heifer markets will be complemented by the timing

heifer a single time via artificial insemination and not run any cleanup bulls. Pregnant heifers are kept and open heifers are sold as stockers at the end of summer or retained through the feedlot phase. In either

of heifers calving early in the calving season, producers may want to implement a system that focuses on retaining only these heifers. Before making this decision, several items need to be considered and a thorough plan developed. In addition, producers should evaluate nutrition and management decisions that offer heifers the greatest likelihood of early pregnancy.

Producers should evaluate nutrition and management decisions that offer heifers the greatest likelihood of early pregnancy of pregnancy determination (see previous item) because nonpregnant heifers identified early could be sold as grass calves in the late-summer yearling markets. An additional production system utilized by some beef operations is to breed each

However a question remains: Is early calving per se what leads to the benefits highlighted in the above paragraphs or is it something inherent in heifers that naturally calve early that drives the observed advantages? Whether heifers that become pregnant early only as a result of additional management experience the same benefits of longevity and calf performance as those heifers that become pregnant early without

case, both systems identify the heifers that become pregnant early in the breeding season, and both systems take advantage of the additional longevity and accumulated weaning weight that accompany these early calving heifers. Given the lifelong benefits

intervention is unknown at this time. Either way, I hope that you have a high proportion of heifers calving within the first 21 days of the calving season that go on to wean large, healthy calves and continue to stay in the herd for many years to come! Editor’s note: Carl Dahlen is an Extension beef cattle specialist at North Dakota State University. He can be reached at carl.dahlen@ ndsu.edu or 701-231-5588.

Open House & Kick-off Sale Monday, March 4th, 2013 • At the Ranch Selling

35 Bulls • Gelbvieh & Balancer® • Red & Black • 100% Polled Ultrasound Tested • DNA Tested • Fertility Tested • Satisfaction Guaranteed Viewing at 11:00, Lunch at 12:00, Final Bids at 1:00

EGL Tenderloin

Purebred sires represented:

JKGF Trensetter • JRI Pop A Top

Balancer sires represented:

SDCG X-Factor • EGL North Platte • EGL Tenderloin

Angus sire represented:

HA Image Maker • Pine Coulee Emblazon W103

Red Angus sire represented: BHR Golden Boy 453B

MLM GELBVIEH Marlin Meyer

824 Road 3000 • Superior, NE 68978 402.879.4976 mlm68978@yahoo.com

GREAT RIVER RANCH Norman Pensoneau

P.O. Box 349 • Chester, IL 62233 618.826.4846

Website www.gelbviehbulls.com

74 | February 2013

Directions: The Open House will be held at the ranch at Superior, NE. From the 14/136 junction north of Superior, go 6 miles west on 136, then 1-1/4 miles north.

Predictable Performance

JRI Great Western

Midland Proven Midland Bull Test • the Granddaddy of Performance Tests

Middle Creek bulls consistently top the Midland Bull Test for ADG, WDA and RFI for 6 years and counting.

The Man 113U

Efficiency Matters A split load of 2011 Calves gained 3.67 and converted 5.91 to pound of gain.

23 Bulls are on test Look for our Performance Bulls at the Midland Bull Test Sale • April 3, 2013 Sires Represented:

Mytty In Focus

AN – Lazy TV Kahuna S705 • 4 sons GV – JRI Great Western 254N68ET • 3 sons GV – GOTT Winter 52W • 2 sons GV – MCFG Bruce Almighty • 1 son GV – MCFG The Man 113U • 1 son GV – MCFG Middle Creek Star 10S • 1 son AN – 109 Mytty In Focus • 2 sons GV – SDCG X-Factor 202X • 3 sons AN – CAR Efficient • 1 son Producing Top Gaining Balancer® cattle.

Also... 29 bulls for sale by private treaty beginning March 1, 2013.

Middle Creek Farms Ken and Dale Flikkema

2 Mint Trail • Bozeman, MT 59718 (406) 586-6207 (Office) (406) 580-6207 (Cell) email: mcfg@imt.net

The Profitpicture | 75

News

Gelbvieh Females have Maternal Superiority In the last 15 years, Gelbvieh and Balancer breeders have made a conscious effort to improve udder and teat quality, as evident by the trends of more than 40,000 udder and teat scores submitted to the American Gelbvieh Association by members.

Improved Udder Quality

Cow-calf producers who consider female longevity are more profitable. Beef cow stayability is an indication of a bullâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daughtersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ability to enter the breeding herd and remain productive at least until six years of age. Stayability is an economically relevant trait and has a large influence on herd profitability. The costs associated with development or purchase of replacement females is substantial. A study conducted at Colorado State University evaluated the economic variability of average cow herd stayability. Essentially the study determined that a one unit increase in overall herd stayability resulted in an increase in profit of $2,500 for herds with 40 percent of the cows remaining in the herd to six years of age.

76 | February 2013

Source: American Gelbvieh Association udder scores reported by members.

One factor that influences female stayability is udder and teat quality. Udder and teat soundness are a concern for a number of reasons: 1) labor associated with extra costs and reduced convenience; 2) longevity, which may be reduced because of injury or mastitis; 3) calf performance, affected by a reduction in milk flow, or lower colostrum intake by newborn calves having difficulty nursing oversized teats; and 4) udder and teat characteristics appear to be heritable. This means there is definitely variation in the udder quality of daughters from different sire groups. Thus, change can be made through selection. Since the mid-1990s, Gelbvieh breeders have focused on improving udder quality by collecting udder suspension and teat size scores. Udder suspension scores range from 9 (very tight) to 1 (very pendulous) and represent assessments of udder support. Teat size scores range from 9 (very small) to 1 (very large, balloon shaped) and are subjective assessments of teat length and circumference. A total of 47,104 udder scores have been reported by members to the American Gelbvieh Association since its inception. In a 16-year

time span, overall udder quality for Gelbvieh and Balancer females has improved. Currentyear data shows Gelbvieh and Balancer females have very desirable udder quality, with tight to intermediate udder suspension and small to moderate teat size. The Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Neb., continues to be the leading source of unbiased information for beef producers on breed differences through genetic evaluation. The most recent report, Germplasm Evaluation Program Progress Report No. 22, shows the Gelbvieh breed is still the leader for traits affecting maternal cow ability, just as it did thirty years ago. Gelbvieh females offer more maternal milk leading to heavier calf weaning weights. Use the American Gelbvieh Association’s EPDs for milk

(MK) and total maternal (TM) to match the amount of milk that fits your environment and feed resources.

Add Pounds through More Maternal Milk

Source: U.S. Meat Animal Research Center Progress Report #22

Wilkinson Gelbvieh Ranch 156 years experience in the cattle industry, with 27 years raising Gelbvieh Raising the kind of cattle that provide

Functionality Predictability Profitability No Fads, No “Silver Bullets”, No “Next Greatest Thing” Just good, solid cattle that will work for you! Private Treaty Bull Sales beginning March 16, 2013

Wilkinson Gelbvieh Bill, Nancy & Sydney

RANCH

23115 Co. Rd. 111.3 Model, CO 81059 (719) 846-7910 or (719) 680-0462

E-mail: bnwbulls@bmi.net

The Profitpicture | 77

News

Pregnancy Detection Beyond Palpation Four methods are available to help beef producers detect pregnancy earlier in the breeding season. Producers should evaluate which option is best for their program. By Kasey Miller Wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it be handy to know if a cow was pregnant sooner after insemination, so open females could be re-synchronized and artificially inseminated (AI) the second time earlier in the breeding season? Matt Lucy, professor of animal science at the University of Missouri (MU), explained four tests using new technology to detect pregnancy earlier are in the works.

78 | February 2013

While pregnancy tests offer options, MU's Matt Lucy warned that trying to detect pregnancy too early could backfire with more opens than expected due to later embryonic loss. The first test, called Early Pregnancy Factor (EPF), looks at an immunosuppressive glycoprotein in the blood and is supposedly able to detect pregnancy two days after

breeding. A pregnancy kit was brought to market in the 1990s, Lucy said, but three different studies found the kit to be unreliable. The second measures interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) expression. This claims to detect pregnancy by day 16-18, though Lucy said it is more accurate at 20 days. The test uses a process called reverse-transcriptase PCR (RTPCR) to analyze RNA from leukocytes in the blood. Lucy noted that ISGs have not been commercialized. The third option is progesterone monitoring of blood or milk. Lucy said this is more

popular in dairy cattle. The first true example of chemical testing, it detects whether a decrease in progesterone (meaning the cow is not pregnant) has occurred 21 days after breeding. However, since multiple samples increase likelihood of accuracy (and beef cattle are not milked regularly), Lucy said this method has limited applicability in beef cattle. A more reliable test, he explained, is for the presence of pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs) in the blood. This test can detect pregnancy after 25 days. PAGs are only produced in the placenta, so there are fewer chances for false

positives. These tests are available commercially, he noted. The original PAG test is available under the trade name BioPRYN® through BioTracking LLC. Blood samples should be collected approximately 30 days after insemination and shipped to the lab at room temperature for analysis. Results are given to the producer by telephone, mail, fax or email. The company reports a 99.9% accurate negative predictive value. The positive predictive value is a little lower (about 95%) because some cows that slip an embryo may have PAGs in the blood.

early could backfire with more opens than expected due to later embryonic loss. He recommended deciding on a testing method that coincides with the goals of the

Editor’s note: This article is reprinted from Angus Journal coverage of the ARSBC 2012

BULL &

FEMALE SALE

Saturday, February 23, 2013

DCHD 725Z

1:00 PM (CST)

Napoleon Livestock Auction, Napoleon, North Dakota

SELLING 140 GELBVIEH LOTS

60 Purebred Gelbvieh Bulls 25 Purebred Gelbvieh Open Heifers 55 Commercial Open Heifers Register and bid live online at www.cattleusa.com

These tests offer producers options, but Lucy warned that trying to detect pregnancy too early could backfire with more opens than expected due to later embryonic loss.

PB Gelbvieh Bull DCH R126 Roy x SGAR Gaugler Gal 725T

DCHD 90Z

DCHD 145Z

PB Gelbvieh Bull DCH R126 Roy x DCHD 090S (Eight Ball)

PB Gelbvieh Bull

DCHD 726Z

DCH W287 Wow x DCHD 145W (Tremor)

CDOC 101Z

Lucy was optimistic that PAG tests could assist beef producers in detecting pregnancies sooner, though he said that transrectal ultrasounds could be done about the same time as PAG tests and offer the benefit of detecting dead embryos and nonviable pregnancies. Though, with added certainty of ultrasound comes the added cost of ultrasound equipment and technical skill needed.

PB Gelbvieh Bull DCH T504 Tremor x SGAR Gaugler Gal 726T

DCHD 133Z

PB 88% Gelbvieh Bull BDOC Bailey’s Guy 205X x DCH T101 (Majesty)

PB Gelbvieh Bull

Dwight and Christina Dockter Bailey, Cheyenne, Cierra and Dalton

DCH W128 Westby x DCHD 133U (Rambo)

CattleDesign®

These tests offer producers options, but Lucy warned that trying to detect pregnancy too

provided online at http://www. appliedreprostrategies.com/2012/ SiouxFalls/newsroom.html.

reproductive program for each individual operation.

4956 41st St. SE, Medina, ND 58467 701-486-3494 • gbgelb@daktel.com

SALE MANAGEMENT BY: Mitchell Marketing Service

www.mms.bz

Chris Mitchell 334-695-1371 Randy Sienknecht 319-290-3763 2262 C Avenue • Gladbrook, IA 50635

Find Us On

Facebook

Visit www.golden-buckle-gelbvieh.com for complete sale listing and videos.

The Profitpicture | 79

Feature

Chimney Butte Ranch Building Value into Annual Gelbvieh Production Sale Your Feeder Cattle Friday, March 1, 2013 • 1:00 PM CST Kist Livestock, Mandan, ND

Selling 70 bulls Bred females sold by private treaty Video of cattle will be available online February 10, 2013.

The top 5 selling bulls in the 2011 North Dakota Golden Rule Sale were sired by Chimney Butte raised bulls.

Chimney Butte Ranch Doug & Carol Hille

3320 51st Street, Mandan, ND 58554 701-445-7383 or 701-220-2083 E-mail: chimneybutteranch@westriv.com Website: chimneybutteranch.com

The factors that drive the value of a feeder calf are its sex class, weight, frame size, muscle score, health status, bloom and appearance of freshness. The market dictates the value of what management and marketing practices a producer chooses to do. By Frank Padilla Value in the marketplace is determined by the prices customers are willing to pay for a certain product, and if they are satisfied, they will return to buy that product again. The same is true in the cattle industry. Feeder calf buyers demonstrate their preferences through the prices they pay, on or off the farm or ranch. The value of various traits can vary widely from sale to sale and depends on the market conditions. However, over time, a good estimate of what buyers prefer can be determined. Several land grant universities as well as private industries, have tracked feeder calf demand. An Internet search finds a wealth of information from various regions of the United States. In an Oklahoma project, buyer preferences were estimated with data from 20 Oklahoma Quality Beef Network sales. The research found that buyers paid more for: • Steer calves compared to heifers, bulls or mixed lots; • Medium framed calves compared to large-and small-frame calves; • Heavy-muscled calves compared to moderately and thin-

muscled calves; • Polled or dehorned and healed calves compared to horned calves; • Healthy calves compared to unhealthy appearing calves; • Uniform sale lots compared to non-uniform lots, includes color and; • Larger sale lots, even 15-20 head, compared to single lots. Another research study conducted by the University of Arkansas documented the traits and management practices that can add value to a feeder calf. In 20002005, U of A staff worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture livestock news reporters to track data from 17 markets across the state. The data included: the number of cattle sold at a time, gender, breed or breed type, color, polled or horned, frame (large, medium, or small, muscle score (1, 2, 3 or 4), fill (gaunt, shrink, average, full or tanked), condition (very thin, thin, average fleshy or fat), age (calf or yearling), health, weight and price. The U of A results was similar to the Oklahoma results. The highlights included: • Discounts for unhealthy Continued on page 82

80 | February 2013

Our Customers Come First! Performance, Experience, Service Along with

Cannon Valley Ranch 28th Annual

Private Treaty Bull Sale Saturday, February 23, 2013 • 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the Farm near Goodhue, Minnesota

Located 7 miles north of Goodhue, Minnesota on Hwy. 58, then 2 miles east on County Rd #3

Selling 75 Balancer® & Angus Bulls Sons of these High Accuracy, Breed-Leading sires sell!

Coleman Regis 904

Performance:

• Complete Performance Information • 24 Years of Carcass Ultrasound Data • DNA Tested • Fertility Tested • Breeding Soundness Guarantee

Since 1886

CTR Goodnight 715T

Mushrush Lock ‘N’ Load U213

Experience:

• Quality and Volume • 10th Largest Gelbvieh Breeder • 4th Largest Owner of Dams of Merit • Largest source of Balancer Genetics in Upper Midwest/ Great Lakes Region

“Proud of our Past, Focused on the Future”

Service:

• Sight Unseen Purchase Satisfaction Guarantee • First Breeding Season Guarantee • Volume & Loyalty Discounts • Housed Until Needed • Cash Discounts • Deferred Payment Program

Schafer Farms

25765 Cty. 3 Blvd. • Goodhue, MN 55027

Brian Schafer

1•888•226•9210

Lowell Schafer 651•923•4587

Bruce Waugh

507•381•1570

Email: brian@schaferfarm.com

www.schaferfarm.com The Profitpicture | 81

Continued from page 80

feedlot performance and carcass merit, and use a good sound health program.

calves ranged from $15-$38 per hundredweight; • Muscle was a major factor that affected selling price regardless of calf weight;

Along with a good health program, another consideration

If you want to increase the value of your calves, produce exactly what the feeders are wanting. Same sex loads, calves that are light in flesh, like in kind, preferably weaned, and with a history of good feedlot performance and carcass merit, and use a good sound health program. If you want to increase the value of your calves, produce exactly what the feeders are wanting. Same sex loads, calves that are light in flesh, like in kind, preferably weaned, and with a history of good

for adding more value is backgrounding. The longer you develop a calf at home after weaning the more immunity it develops and that reduces the risk

of sickness in the feedlot. Through the years, calves that have sold unweaned or weaned for only a short period have been discounted in the marketplace.

their feeder cattle upon request. Buying registered bulls backed by documented parentage pedigrees and performance trait EPDs adds value to their calves.

Source and age verification is another way to earn added value. It is out there and it is real. It can be anywhere from a $20-$30 per head premium. We are also seeing premiums being paid for feeders that can be verified as antibiotic and hormone free.

The American Gelbvieh Association feedlot merit EPD is a multiple-trait-selection index, designed to assist beef producers by adding simplicity to genetic selection decisions. It measures differences in expected profit per carcass produced on a mainstream grid (Yield Grade 1 or 2, Select to low Choice Quality Grade, and no over or under weights or dark cutters).

Historically the average cowcalf producer has not worried about the calf performance beyond weaning. Today cow-calf producers need to understand the importance of feed efficiency, gainability, and carcass quality and collect data to quantify how their cattle perform in the feedlot and on the rail. Producers should be conscious of these performance traits in the bulls that they purchase and be able to furnish such data to the buyer of

The feedlot merit EPD is based on the assumption that AngusHereford cows in a two-breed rotation are mated to Gelbvieh influenced terminal sires. The resulting calves sold into a commodity beef market with premiums and discounts based on both Quality and Yield Grade and gives an estimate of how future

A nnual Production Sale—March 21, 2013 Western Livestock Auction • Great Falls, MT

“Gelbvieh since 1973”

Over 35 Years of Performance Testing

Jim & Kathy Bjorkman

Purebred Bulls • Balancer® Bulls • Purebred Heifers • Balancer® Heifers Red or Black, 100% Polled Sires represented: KHR 47R, KHR 26P, KHR 08W, Trendsetter, KHR 09W, KHR 25X, Pop A Top, KHR 05T, KHR 26X, Webster, Ten X, KHR 17W, Profit Agent, Urie 26U Complete performance data, DNA and Ultrasound results available.

For your next herdsire or female purchase look to Kicking Horse Ranch.

82 | February 2013

(406) 937-4815 krankin@northerntel.net www.kickinghorseranch.com

George & Jeanette Rankin (406) 937-3728 1285 Nine Mile Road Oilmont, MT 59466

progeny of each sire are expected to perform, on average, compared to progeny of other sires in the Gelbvieh herdbook if the sires were randomly mated to similar herds of black baldy cows; as well, if the calves were exposed to the same environment.

consumer, which in return will add more value for all links in the chain. The fact is the process of earning a premium in the marketplace, whether in the sale barn, off the farm or ranch or on

the rail, begins at home. The current EPDs provided for all traits can be found on the American Gelbvieh Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website at www.gelbvieh.org. As well, the latest sire summary can

be downloaded at this site or a hard copy can be requested by calling the American Gelbvieh Association office at 303-465-2333

The American Gelbvieh Association feedlot merit EPD is a multiple-traitselection index, designed to assist beef producers. When using feedlot merit, it is wise to simultaneously select for economically important traits that are not included in the index. The index was developed for use in a terminal sire situation in which Gelbvieh and Balancer bulls are bred to mature British cross cows and all calves are placed in the feedlot and sold on a mainstream grid. Maternal traits, such as calving ease, are not included in the index. If you intend to use high feedlot merit EPD bulls on firstcalf heifers, you will also want to use EPDs for calving ease direct to minimize calving difficulty. Likewise, in order to keep pace with the Gelbvieh breedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tremendous female production traits, selection for superior maternal EPDs is also advised. The feedlot merit EPD is important to feeder cattle buyers and information regarding it should be shared with them. Getting the most value for feeder cattle is becoming more of a team effort. From the seedstock producer to the cow-calf producer to the feeder and the packer, everyone needs to work together to produce the best product possible for the

The Profitpicture | 83

Places to Be February 2013 Feb. 2 Feb. 2 Feb. 4 Feb. 9 Feb. 9 Feb. 12 Feb. 16 Feb. 16 Feb. 19 Feb. 21 Feb. 22 Feb. 22 Feb. 23 Feb. 23 Feb. 23 Feb. 23 Feb. 24 Feb. 25 Feb. 25 Feb. 27 Feb. 27

Lost River Livestock Production Sale, Clearbrook, MN Seedstock Plus Tennessee Bull & Female Sale, Columbia, TN Taubenheim Gelbvieh 23rd Annual Production Sale, Amherst, NE LeDoux Ranch Production Sale, Agenda, KS Dixie National Gelbvieh Show, Jackson, MS GBOI Gelbvieh Gold Sale, Iowa Beef Expo, Des Moines, IA Overmiller Annual Production Sale, Smith Center, KS Prairie Hills Gelbvieh Bull & Female Production Sale, Gladstone, ND Cedar Top Ranch Annual Production Sale, Burwell, NE Gustin’s Diamond D Gelbvieh Annual Production Sale, Mandan, ND 22nd Annual Pot of Gold Bull Sale, Olathe, CO Nebraska Cattlemen’s Classic, Kearney, NE Golden Buckle Gelbvieh Bull & Female Production Sale, Napoleon, ND Swanson Cattle Company 25th Annual Production Sale, Oxford, NE Schafer Farms Inc., 28th Annual Private Treaty Bull Sale, Goodhue, MN Seedstock Plus North Missouri Bull Sale, Kingsville, MO D Bar D and Rosehill Gelbvieh Farm Production Sale, Mandan, ND April Gelbvieh World Advertising Deadline Beastrom Ranch Annual Bull Sale, Pierre, SD Grund Beef Genetics, Sharon Springs, KS Plateau Gelbvieh Bull Sale, Brush, CO

Mar. 1 Mar. 1 Mar. 2 Mar. 2 Mar. 2 Mar. 2 Mar. 2 Mar. 2 Mar. 2 Mar. 4

Handel Farms 20th Annual Production Sale, Platte, SD Chimney Butte Ranch Annual Gelbvieh Production Sale, Mandan, ND KY Beef Expo Gelbvieh & Balancer Show and Sale, Louisville, KY Davidson Gelbvieh & Lonesome Dove Ranch 24th Annual Bull Sale, Ponteix, SK SEGA Gelbvieh Private Treaty Bull Sale Opening Day, Pierce, CO Judd Ranch 35th Gelbvieh, Balancer® and Red Angus Bull Sale, Pomona, KS Thorstenson Gelbvieh & Angus Bull Sale, Mobridge, SD Circle M Farms 7th Annual Production Bull Sale, Woodbury, TN Flying H Genetics 33rd Roughage ‘N Ready Herd Bull Sale, Arapahoe, NE Hojer Gelbvieh Ranch Production Sale, Lake Preston, SD

March 2013

A m e r i c a n

Mar. 4 MLM Gelbvieh & Great River Ranch Private Treaty Kickoff Sale, Superior, NE Mar. 5 Warner Beef Genetics Annual Production Sale, Arapahoe, NE Mar. 9 Tennessee Agribition Gelbvieh & Balancer Show and Sale, Lebanon, TN Mar. 9 J Bar M Gelbvieh and J&K Farms Bull Sale, Springfield, MO Mar. 9 Midwest Beef Alliance Bull Sale, Tina, MO Mar. 9 Rippe Gelbvieh Bull Sale, Belleville, KS Mar. 12 Bar Arrow Cattle Company 22nd Annual Production Sale, Phillipsburg, KS Mar. 16 Oklahoma Sooner Select Sale, Stillwater, OK Mar. 16 Pearson Cattle Company Annual Bull Sale, Lake City, SD Mar. 16 Post Rock Cattle Co. “Cowman’s Kind” Bull & Female Sale, Barnard, KS Mar. 16 Minnesota Gelbvieh Association 15th Annual Opportunity Sale, Fergus Falls, MN Mar. 16 North Carolina Maternal Edge Sale, Clinton, NC Mar. 16 Flying H Genetics 10th Grown On Grass Bull Sale, Lowry City, MO Mar. 20 Eagle Pass Ranch Bull Sale, Highmore, SD Mar. 21 8th Annual Triple Play Bull Sale, Huron, SD Mar. 21 Kicking Horse Ranch Annual Production Sale, Oilmont, MT Mar. 22 Southwest Iowa Gelbvieh & Balancer Bull and Female Sale, Creston, IA Mar. 23 Bluegrass Gelbvieh Invitational Bull Sale, Mt. Sterling, KY Mar. 23 1st Annual Lone Oak Gelbvieh Private Treaty Kickoff Sale, Mechanicsville, IA Mar. 25 May Gelbvieh World Advertising Deadline Mar. 30 Seedstock Plus South Missouri Bull & Female Sale, Carthage, MO

April 2013 Apr. 2 Apr. 3 Apr. 6 Apr. 12 Apr. 13 Apr. 13 Apr. 13 Apr. 27

G e l b v i e h

Schroeder Ranch 15th Annual Gelbvieh & Balancer Production Sale, Mitchell, SD Midland Bull Test Bull Sale, Columbus, MT Circle S Ranch 6th Annual “Going to Grass” Production Sale, Canton, KS Cranview Gelbvieh Genetic Progress Sale, Rugby, ND Central Tennessee Gelbvieh/Angus Invitational, Centerville, TN Knoll Crest Farms Total Performance Bull Sale, Red House, VA Seedstock Plus Southwest Feed Efficiency Bull Sale, Yerrington, NV Bluegrass Gelbvieh Invitational Sale, Mt. Sterling, KY

A s s o c i a t i o n

Area Coordinators “There are more than 60 sales this spring. If you are in need of Gelbvieh or Balancer® bulls or females don’t hesitate to contact me. If you’re looking for commercial females, I can help you there as well.”

“Now is the time to evaluate your bull battery. Take advantage of high market prices to replace your herd sires with new genetics. Call me and I can to help locate the genetics to fit your program.”

Brian Rogers

William McIntosh

CENTRAL REGION brianr@gelbvieh.org (936) 554-1600 (C)

EASTERN REGION williamm@gelbvieh.org (502) 867-3132 (C)

Western region Gelbvieh members and commercial producers should contact Frank Padilla at the American Gelbvieh Association office at 303-465-2333.

84 | February 2013

The Profitpicture | 85

Ad Index 2R-2B Gelbvieh.............................53 3 G Ranch......................................35 ABCS Gelbvieh.............................48 Adkins Gelbvieh.....................49, 54 AGA...............................................63 Area Coordinators........................84 Armstrong Cattle Co....................70 B/F Cattle Company.....................40 Bar Arrow Cattle Company..32, 40 Bar IV Livestock...........................65 Bar T Bar Ranch, Inc..............46, 53 Beastrom Gelbvieh Ranch...22, 23, 49 Blackhawk Cattle Company........35 Bluegrass GV Invitational...........51 Boehler Gelbvieh..........................40 Bow K Ranch..........................53, 68 Brandywine Farm.........................48 BV Ranch.......................................49 Cattlemen’s Connection...........1, 71 C-Cross Cattle Company......21, 65 Cedar Top Ranch................. IFC, 41 Central TN Sale............................70

86 | February 2013

Chimney Butte Ranch............48, 80 Circle M Farms.............................24 Circle S Ranch.........................19, 40 CJ&L Livestock.......................49, 56 Clinch Mountain Gelbvieh..........65 Cranview Gelbvieh...................9, 48 Cunningham, Ronn.....................71 D Bar L Land and Livestock........41 Danell Diamond Six Ranch.........53 DDM Gelbvieh..............................35 Diamond L Farms........................69 Double Bar H................................65 Dromgoole’s Heaven....................69 Eagle Pass Ranch..........................13 Ellison Gelbvieh & Angus Ranch. 49 Flying H Genetics................. 41, BC Forbes Ranch................................62 Gelbvieh Bull Barn.......................71 Gelbvieh Guide.............................71 Gelbvieh Profit Partners..............87 Goettlich Gelbvieh Ranch...........53 Golden Buckle Gelbvieh........48, 79

Green Hills Gelbvieh....................65 Grund Beef Genetics..............30, 31 GS Ridge Top Ranch....................48 Gustin’s Diamond D Gelbvieh..48, 76 Hampton Cattle Company....42, 65 Handle Farms................................83 Harriman, Bob........................40, 72 Hart Farm Gelbvieh.................3, 40 Hartland Farm..............................40 Hill Top Haven Farm...................65 Hodges Ranch...............................69 Hojer Gelbvieh Ranch..................14 J & K Farms.............................35, 88 J Bar M Gelbvieh....................40, 88 Judd Ranch, Inc................40, 44, 45 Jumping Cow Gelbvieh..........10, 11 Kenyon Cattle LLC.......................28 Kicking Horse Ranch.......53, 54, 82 Kittle Gelbvieh Farms..................69 Kleinschmidt Gelbvieh................37 Knoll Crest Farm..........................27 KY Beef Expo................................15 Lambert, Doak..............................71 Ledgerwood Gelbvieh............47, 53 LeDoux Ranch..............................40 Lemke Cattle.................................41 Leonhardt Cattle Company.... 49, 62 Linquist Farms..............................48 Little Windy Hill Farms...............65 Lone Oak Gelbvieh.................48, 66 Longleaf Station............................65 Lost River Livestock.....................25 M&P Gelbvieh..............................41 M&W Farms.................................65 Maple Hill Farm............................35 Maple Lake Livestock Co............53 Markes Family Farms.......18, 36, 69 Martin Cattle Company.........18, 69 Mattison Family Farm.................48 McCabe Cattle/Two Step Ranch..48 McIntosh Farm.......................42, 65 Middle Creek Farms........53, 54, 75 Miller Gelbvieh.............................69 Minnesota GV Assoc...................33 Mitchell Marketing Service..............7, 10, ..............................11, 60, 71, 79, 88, IBC MLM Gelbvieh..................41, 52, 74

Mulroy Farms................................40 National CUP Lab........................71 NS Ranch.......................................69 OHR Red Angus...........................29 Overmiller Gelbvieh....................78 Pearson Cattle Co.........................59 Plateau Gelbvieh.....................34, 53 Pope Farms Gelbvieh...................41 Post Rock Cattle Company.....7, 40 Pot of Gold Sale............................52 Prairie Hills Gelbvieh...................60 Professional Beef Genetics..........61 Raile Gelbvieh.........................20, 28 Register Farms..............................65 Ridinger Cattle Co..................10, 11 Rippe Gelbvieh........................52, 67 Rocking GV Gelbvieh..................40 Rogers Valley Farm Gelbvieh.. 5, 40 Sandy Knoll Farm...................17, 28 Sawtooth Gelbvieh Cattle & Hay.53 Schafer Farms, Inc..................48, 81 Schroeder Ranch.....................28,73 Seedstock Plus Genetics..............25 Seedstock Plus...............................85 SEGA Gelbvieh.............................57 Slaughter Sale Management.15, 51, 70 Spring Flood Ranch.....................40 Spring Valley, LTD........................51 Stuecken Brothers.........................16 Swanson Cattle Company.....41, 58 SW Iowa Bull Sale.........................50 Taubenheim Gelbvieh..................41 The 88 Ranch.................................40 Thorstenson Gelbvieh............43, 49 TJB Gelbvieh.................................33 Treble W Ranch............................65 Triple K Gelbvieh..........................40 Triple Play Bull Sale......................62 Volek Ranch......................49, 54, 62 Warner Beef Genetics .............. IBC White Oak Farms.........................40 Wildwood Acres...........................35 Wilkinson Gelbvieh...............53, 77 Yoder’s Prairie Acres..............35, 38

The Profitpicture | 87

Barry “Slim” Cook Chief Operating Officer P.O. Box 3025, Cody, WY 82414 307-272-2024

Contact GPP for marketing your Gelbvieh and Balancer® influence feeder cattle.

• Feed conversion to pounds gained

• Dry matter intake

• Feedlot gain

Gain & Efficiency

• Cutability

• Ribeye size

• Pounds of lean meat

Retail Yield

• Increased Quality Grade

• Grid premium potential

• Feed to heavier weights

Carcass Value

Gelbvieh-sired cattle added $53.17 per head on a low spread and $36.67 per head in a high spread over Angus-sired cattle when based on Quality and Yield premiums/discounts and carcass weight in a Choice/Select spread market based on data from Colorado State University’s Maxwell Ranch SmartCross® research.

Pounds Pay

Gelbvieh & Balancer Genetics Perform in the Feedlot ®

SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2013 SPRINGFIELD LIVESTOCK MARKETING CENTER, SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI

J Bar M Gelbvieh and J&K Farms BULL SALE and Commercial Female Sale LWHF JKGF Y353

JKGF Y03

JEMG Y590

HOMOZYGOUS BLACK, HOMOZYGOUS POLLED Purebred Gelbvieh Bull Sire: HYEK Black Impact 3960N Dam: JKGF Twila 353W

HOMOZYGOUS BLACK, HOMOZYGOUS POLLED Purebred Gelbvieh Bull Sire: Post Rock Silver Dam: JKGF 3T

JEMG Y566

Purebred Gelbvieh Bull Sire: RHRT Independence L19 Dam: JCGR Bar GT Anna 114T

JKGF Y005

JEMG Y564

HOMOZYGOUS BLACK, HOMOZYGOUS POLLED 63% Balancer® Bull Sire: TMGC Stubro Gunnison 39W Dam: JEMG Miss Elaine T168

•

Calving Ease, Performance and Carcass bulls targeted for both the Purebred and Commercial Cattleman

•

100% of bulls selling are sired by leading AI sires

•

All bulls sell with a First Breeding Season Guarantee

HOMOZYGOUS BLACK Purebred Gelbvieh Bull Sire: HYEK Black Impact 3960N Dam: JKGF Ms Julie W005

HOMOZYOUS POLLED Purebred Gelbvieh Bull Sire: KIT Tabasco J26 ET Dam: JCGR Bar GT Ms Pearl 531W

Selling 200 Head 80 Gelbvieh and Balancer® Bulls FALL 16-18 MONTH OLD BLACK AND RED BULLS • SPRING YEARLING BLACK AND RED BULLS Many bulls selling are homozygous black and/or homozygous polled.

120 Commercial Pairs and Bred Heifers

CattleDesign®

J BAR M GELBVIEH

88 | February 2013

Jon E. & Edna Miller 28760 Norway Rd, Stark City, MO 64866 417-632-4925 home • 417-437-5250 cell Please no Sunday calls!

J & K FARMS Jerry & Karen Wilson 335 Gelbvieh Lane, Ava, IL 62907 618-426-3885 • 618-521-8620

www.mms.bz SALE MANAGEMENT BY: Mitchell Marketing Service Chris Mitchell 334-695-1371 Randy Sienknecht 319-290-3763 2262 C Avenue • Gladbrook, IA 50635

Tuesday, March 5, 2013 • 1:00 PM (CST) At the Ranch, Arapahoe, NE

Selling 145 lots

115 Gelbvieh & Balancer® Bulls

30 PUREBRED GELBVIEH BULLS • 85 BALANCER® BULLS

30 Gelbvieh & Balancer® Females

DLW Ambition 450Z ET Purebred Bull SIRE: HYEK Black Impact DAM: FHG Flying H 217B/EC203N

First Breeding Season Guarantee 50% of bulls selling are Homozygous Black

DLW Powerdrive 628Z 50% GV, 50% AR Balancer® Bull SIRE: DLW Red Power 583U DAM: DLW MS C Canyon 628S DLW MS Good Night 243Z of 5120 50% GV, 50% AN Balancer® Cow SIRE: CTR Good Night 715T DAM: DLW MS 338 5120R ET DLW Net Worth 5115Z 50% GV, 50% AN Balancer® Bull SIRE: SAV Net Worth DAM: DLW MS Season 5115R

2013 NWSS Champion Pen of Three Bulls.

DLW MS Go Daddy 274Z of 003 13% Gelbvieh Hybrid Cow SIRE: Bar S Go Daddy 0281 DAM: DLW MS Balance 003X

SALE BROADCAST LIVE ON THE INTERNET www.dvauction.com

BetterBULLS BetterBUY at a Bulls • Registered Females

www.mms.bz

SALE MANAGEMENT BY: Mitchell Marketing Service

WARNER BEEF GENETICS Dan and Kate Warner 42198 Road 721, Arapahoe, NE 68922

Chris Mitchell 334-695-1371 Randy Sienknecht 319-290-3763 2262 C Avenue • Gladbrook, IA 50635

Dan Warner: 308.962.6511 Monte Warner: 308.962.6136 Darren Warner: 308.824.2950

CattleDesign®

The Profitpicture | IBC

GELBVIEH | BALANCER

| ANGUS | SIMANGUS

| SIMMENTAL

ARE YOU READY?

uest To Req the Sale ll, f eos ca copy o a hard k and/or Vid le at Boo T Ky or TEX ics.com , il a m e enet inghg 2-6940 y ﬂ @ kyle -96 or 308

Sire: S A V Iron Mountain • Balancer® • BD: 1/29/12 CE

6.3/.28 3.7/.31 73/.24

111.23

25/.17

0.07/.06 0.48/.05

Nebraska Bull Sale 120 Bulls Sell Sat., March 2nd • Arapahoe, NE

Missouri Bull Sale

Sire: Flying H 14N/Pro 15W ET • Balancer® • BD: 1/29/12 CE

12.4/.28 -0.4/.32 68/.22

108/.22

28/.17

0.40/.12 0.50/.11

105 Bulls Sell Sat., March 16th • Lowry City, MO

Sire: Flying H Professor • Balancer® • BD: 2/12/12 CE

9.0/.29 1.6/.33 88/.27

130/.26

25/.19

0.31/.12 0.64/.12

FLYING H GENETICS Dick & Bonnie Helms Missouri Nebraska Jared & Jill Wareham Kyle & Kayla Helms Ph: (417) 309-0062 Ph: (308) 962-6940 jared@flyinghgenetics.com kyle@flyinghgenetics.com

www.flyinghgenetics.com BC | February 2013

Sire: Western Hauler 028S • Balancer®• BD: 1/24/12 CE

7.2/.31 0.8/.34 65/.29

103/.28

26/.23

0.01/.11

0.34/.1