Early Fall Simtalk 2014

VOLUME 22 – NO. 4

Linking SimGenetics to Commercial Cattle

Table Of Contents

IN THIS ISSUE 6 Concentrating on Carcass

By Dan Rieder, Contributing Editor

14 Montana Vet Takes Russian Job

By Bob Sager, DVM

20 Reducing Replacement Heifer Costs Aaron Berger and Rick Funston, University of Nebraska

26 Weaning Strategies Aaron Berger, University of Nebraska

32 Winning Essay, Frank Baker Scholarship

By Heather Bradford, Kansas State University

DEPARTMENTS 30 From The Director of Education 42 Industry Update 62 Calendar of Events 66 Rates & Policies 68 Ad Index

About the cover: A well-muscled 2014 bull calf from the herd of Wesner Livestock Enterprises, Chalmers, IN. Photo by Hannah Wine.

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Linking SimGenetics to Commercial Cattle Published By the Register 2 Simmental Way Bozeman, Montana 59715-9733 USA 406-587-2778 • Fax: 406-587-8853 register@simmgene.com Business Manager Linda Kesler

CEO/Co-Editor Dr. Wade Shafer

Accounts Receivable Marilyn Roth

Co-Editor Paulette Cochenour

Production Manager Jim Largess

Contributing Editor Dan Rieder

Design & Production Joel Coleman Cynthia Conner

Advertising & Editorial Assistant Rebecca Price

ASA Publication, Inc., Board Chairman Bob Lanting Vice-Chairman Susan Russell

Dale Miller Dr. Calvin Drake Jim Butcher

Executive Secretary-Treasurer Dr. Wade Shafer

American

Simmental Association

1 Simmental Way Bozeman, Montana 59715-9733 USA 406-587-4531 • FAX: 406-587-9301 Canada Publications Agreement Number: 1875191

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Executive Committee Jim Butcher, Chairman Bob Lanting Vice Chairman Dale Miller, Treasurer Susan Russell Dr. Calvin Drake Dr. Wade Shafer, Executive Vice President Jessie Driggers: Immediate Past Chairman

North Central Area: Roger Finke (2015) 13 14th Avenue NE Berthold, ND 58718 701-453-3157 srf@srt.com Dr. Calvin Drake (2016) 540 Deep Creek Road Manhattan, KS 66502 785-587-5968 cdrake@interkan.net JW Brune (2017) 414 E 700 Road Overbrook, KS 66524 785-865-6624 jwbrune@embarqmail.com Erika Kenner (2017) 440 6th Avenue SE Leeds, ND 58346 406-581-1188 erika.kenner@gmail.com

Eastern Area: Brian DeFreese (2015) 7643 St Rd 25 S West Point, IN 47992 765-491-7421 bdefrees@purdue.edu Jessie J. Driggers (2015) 3649 Hugh Driggers Road Glennville, GA 30427 912-237-0608 jessie.driggers76@gmail.com Bill McDonald (2015) 2147 Walnut Spring Road Blacksburg, VA 24060 540-230-6225 info@mcdonaldfarms.com Gordon Hodges (2017) 1025 Pineview Farms Drive Hamptonville, NC 27020 336-469-0489 pvfghodges@yadtel.net Cliff Orley (2017) 1486 Mt. Wilson Road Lebanon, PA 17042 717-269-0128 corley01@comcast.net

Western Area: Jim Butcher (2015) 2470 Wolverine Creek Road Lewistown, MT 59457 406-350-0467 butcher@3riversdbs.net Robert J. Lanting (2016) 2181 B. North 2300 East Twin Falls, ID 83301 208-655-4257 lant4257@filertel.com Susan S. Russell (2016) 24614 Road G Sugar City, CO 81076 719-267-3265 wwfeed@centurytel.net Dale Miller (2017) PO Box 174 Gildford, MT 59525 406-376-3109 7dm0174@ttc-cmc.net

South Central Area: Scott Cowger (2015) 9024 N. Manning Ave. Kansas City, MO 64157 816-304-0371 cowgers@aol.com Jon Willis (2015) 2876 Simmental Lane Marietta, OK 73448 580-276-4884 jonwillis99@yahoo.com Tim Smith (2016) PO Box 330 Giddings, TX 78942 512-587-7896 smithgenetics1@gmail.com Blake Nelson (2017) PO Box 172 Warner, OK 74469 918-484-2291 mblakenelson@hotmail.com

Concentrating on Carcass A veteran Sandhills commercial breeder zeroes in on carcass characteristics.

The Helmer crew, front from the left: Doug, Brandi, Gary, Karen, Sheila and Steve.

In the back are the Helmer grandchildren: Kinley, Davin, Dawson, Austin and Alex.

By Dan Rieder

G

ary Helmer, who ranches with his wife, and two sons near Arthur, Nebraska, (population: 117) is acutely aware of the significance of strong carcass characteristics within the business of beef production.

“We are very concerned about the carcass quality of the cattle we produce. Years ago, we were retaining ownership through the feedlot and knew our marbling wasn’t very good. We tried a bull that had high marbling EPDs and we went from the middle 30% for Choice to more than 80%. We made that progress just by using that single, high-marbling bull — that made a believer out of me as far as EPDs relating to carcass,” he recalled.

“Another time we fed some steers and hadn’t been watching their ribeye EPDs very much. We used one bull that had been a zero for ribeye and one that was a bit on the negative side. When we got the data back, all the Yield Grade 4 carcasses came out of those two sires,” he reports. “So, we’ve been watching

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carcass EPDs on the ribeye, along with marbling and good growth ever since. Yes, carcass characteristics are very important to us, and we really love that data coming out of the feedlots.”

Helmer expressed his disappointment a year ago, when he sold his calves through a sale barn, but was unable to receive any carcass information. “Previously, we had been feeding cattle at Chappell Feedlot, which is located not far from here in the Nebraska Panhandle, and they were grading very well,” he says.

“Well, last year, we decided that we would just sell the calves outright. They brought a good price and we were pleased with that, but we lost every bit of carcass information on that calf crop,” he continued.

“So, this year, I called two feedlots just to find out what they wanted in the way of feeder cattle. During our conversation, I asked how we could make certain that we got our carcass data back. They told me that all it would cost us was the price of an EID (Electronic Identification) ear tag,” he said. “We’ll be selling some halfblood Simmentals and some high-marbling Angus and we are interested in obtaining a comparison of those carcasses. By going that EID route, we eliminate the need to retain ownership. It’s our choice, we can sell a percentage or all of them, whatever we want to do.”

The Cattle History His parents established Helmer Ranch in 1935, running straightbred Herefords in the grass-rich Sandhills.

Then in the mid-60s, Shorthorn bulls were introduced into the breeding mix. “Our weaning weights immediately jumped 30-40 pounds, and that’s when I first saw the value of hybrid vigor and crossbreeding,” he says. “That has always stuck in my mind — just how those Hereford x Shorthorn crosses performed.”

Helmer continues to rely on past experiences, and works hard to avoid making the same mistake twice. “We thought that if a little was good, then a lot ought to be better and we went too far with the Shorthorn breeding,” he said. “So we decided to change the breeds of our bulls, going to Gelbvieh, then Angus and Simmental, when Signal was in hot demand, in the 1970s. Our goal back then was primarily increasing those weaning weights.”

Over the next three decades, Helmer Ranch, along with most of the rest of the beef industry, moved to a heavily influenced Angus base. “Then, I recalled the issues my dad and I had when we went overboard on Shorthorn genetics. I had concerns that we may be going too far with Angus. I didn’t want to fall into that trap again.”

A few years ago, Helmer Ranch cows were being used as a cooperator herd in partnership with a purebred Angus breeder. “He was putting his halfblood Simmental x Angus eggs into our recipient cows,” Helmer explained.

“That was our first exposure to the SimAngus™ combination. He kept the halfblood bulls, and gave us the option of taking the heifers, which we did.”

Those same feedlot owners also indicated that they preferred to feed calves consisting of an Angus base with Continental influence, advice that reinforced Helmer’s own breeding plan. “And that’s what we’re trying to do at the present time,” he confirmed.

Today, the Helmers are maintaining a cowherd of 300 head, including 50 SimAngus females. They are using halfblood SimAngus sires on the SimAngus females and those same bulls on their straightbred Angus cows as well. “Angus have been a great breed for us, but I keep thinking back to our 1960s experience and what those crossbreds did for us,” he says. “If we can find the correct halfblood bulls, that’s the way I’d like to go, holding our herd at half and half.”

In addition to carcass quality, Helmer also pays special attention to udders and disposition. “I think that seedstock producers need to be watching both of those traits. We used one bull a few years ago whose daughters all had very large teats. That’s another mistake that we’d rather not repeat.”

They’ve employed artificial insemination for several years, with about a third of the herd bred by natural service cleanup bulls.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

One of Helmer’s well-muscled Simmental-sired calves. Note the rich stand of grass, for which the Sandhills are noted.

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Concentrating on Carcass CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

Farming is limited primarily under two large irrigation pivots, basically providing feed and hay for livestock use. Alfalfa and Sudex (a sorghum-sudangrass cross) are the predominant forages grown. Grass production varies from year-to-year, based on precipitation totals, which average 16-17 inches in a normal year. “We’ve had a wonderful spring this year, with 10 inches during June alone, and it came in light doses, soaking in as it fell,” he commented.

Typical Sandhills terrain consists of rolling hills with very few trees for natural shelter. The cattle graze on open range seven months out of the year with the winter-feeding season generally running from January through May. It has been calculated that a cow and calf require about 20 acres to sustain it through the year. The Helmer ranch consists of 6,000 acres, including one section (640 acres) of State School Trust Land.

50 Years and Counting Gary and his wife, Karen, have been married for 50 years, having met while both were students at Kearney State College.

After graduating, Gary taught at the high school level in Arthur even while he was helping his dad with the ranch. Fifteen years later, he quit teaching to devote full time to the ranch operation. Karen, also an educator, taught English, Spanish and French in Arthur and at Ogallala, which required a daily round trip commute of 60 miles.

They’re the parents of two sons, both of whom are involved in the ranch and live nearby with their families.

The oldest son is Steve, who also works for a local well driller. He’s married to Sheila, and has two children: a son, Austin, 18, and a daughter, Alex, who is 15. They reside on the ranch.

Doug works closely with his dad on the ranch and recently moved into a home about a mile from the ranch headquarters. Doug and his wife, Brandy, have two sons and a daughter: Dawson, almost 15; Davin, almost 13; and Kinley, 11.

“We are fortunate in that both our sons and their wives, plus all five of our grandchildren are in our lives every day. The grandchildren are the fourth generation to live on this place and they’re at ages where they’re a lot of help to us,” he said.

Arthur, located 30 miles north of famed Lake McGonaughy, is the county seat and only town in Arthur County. The nearest town of any size is Ogallala, which had a population of 4,737 after the 2010 census. “Ogallala is where we go to do our major shopping,” Helmer added.

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ssbred calf.

A young cow with her cro

One of Helmer’s cleanup bulls.

“We pay very close attention to EPDs,” he concluded. “We rely on those EPDs and the carcass data we get back from the feedlots to point our breeding program in the right direction.”

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A5 Purebred Simmental Bull Sire: Ankonian Caesar T004

A66

A93

Non Diluter Red SimAngus™ Bull Sire: THSF Freedom 300N son

SimAngus™ Bull Sire: B/R Destination 727-928

A84 Non Diluter Red Purebred Simmental Bull Sire: WS Beef Maker R13

Saturday, October 25, 2014 1:00 P.M. – Bulls Sell First • Lunch at 12:00 Noon At the ranch, Tyler, Texas Located one mile south of I-20 on FM 757 midway between Tyler and Longview.

Selling 90 Black and Red Purebred Simmental and Black SimAngus™ Bulls

Selling 75 Black and Red Purebred Simmental and Black SimAngus™ Females

• Yearling to Two-Year-Olds • All are polled • Most are A.I. sired by breed leaders in both Simmental and Angus • These bulls have been developed on a highforage diet — they are ready to go to work

• Bred Cows and Bred Heifers — some will have calves at side by sale day • A select offering of 3n1’s • All are polled • Most are A.I. sired by breed leaders in both Simmental and Angus and most sell with the service of proven A.I. sires • Guest consignments from TAG Simmental Ranch, Pittsburg, Texas and Alfred Bayer & Sons, Muenster, Texas

Z370 SimAngus™ Female Sire: TJ Sharper Image 809U Sells safe to Dual Focus for 3rd generation SimAngus™ calf.

Selling 120 Commercial Females

A23

• 50 heifers from 7P Ranch including true F1 Brahman x Hereford and a select few F1 Brahman x Simmental sired by 7P Ranch non diluter red Simmental bulls. Majority will sell as bred heifers — AI’d to calving ease Black Angus bulls and cleaned up with Black Angus bulls. The disposition is excellent on these heifers.

• 70 heavy bred F1 Brahman x Hereford heifers from guest consignor, Rio Neches Ranch, Tyler, Texas. All bred to good Black Angus bulls.

• All are Brucellosis vaccinated, all are wormed, all are up-to-date on all vaccinations • All bred heifers will be palpated by a licensed veterinarian • These heifers will sell in uniform groups, sorted as to like kind and pregnancy status

Purebred Simmental Female Sire: WS Beef Maker R13 Sells safe to Hook’s Yellowstone

Catalogs available on request. Click on our website, for more and updated information: www.7pranch.com Auctioneer: Mark Tillman 210-216-6754 TX LIC# 9642

A48 Purebred Simmental Female Sire: Nichols Manifest T79 Sells safe to Conneally Counselor

Sale Consultants: Warren Garrett • 903-316-2889

Joe Prud’homme and Family, owners 130 Surrey Trail • Tyler, Texas 75705 903-597-1607 home (nights) 903-592-8301 business (days) 903-530-2371 Joe’s cell 903-566-3240 Ranch • joe@7pranch.com 903-235-9112 Tom Barker, manager

Bruce Van Meter • 770-547-1433 Impact Marketing & Management, Inc. Marty Ropp • 406-581-7835 Allied Genetic Resources

View on-line catalog and videos of our sale offering starting October 4 at www.CattleInMotion.com

Commercial Heifers like these will sell!

The sale will be broadcast live and internet bidding will be available. To view and bid on this sale online, go to www.CattleInMotion.com

www.oregonsimmentalassociation.com www.missourisimmental.com SHO-ME Simmentals

Mike, Margo, Crystal, & Katelyn Alley 8925 SW Green • Culver, Oregon 97734 Home: 541-546-8171 • Cell: 541-948-3521 E-mail: mjalley@madras.net • Fax: 541-546-6420 www.barckcattle.com

Home: 417-776-1867 Mobile: 417-437-3224 Steve & Beth Gramith 6682 E. Hwy. 86 Neosho, MO 64850 Breeding, Raising & Marketing Quality Fleckvieh Fullbloods www.sho-mesimmentals.com

LUCAS CATTLE CO. Registered Simmentals, SimAngusTM & Angus Cattle Forrest & Charlotte Lucas, Owners Cleo Fields 417-399-7124 RT 91 Box 1200 Brandn Atkins Cross Timbers, MO 65634 417-399-7142 Office 417-998-6878 Jeff Reed Fax 417-998-6408 417-399-1241 www.lucascattlecompany.com Visitors Always Welcome

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www.coloradosimmental.com

Benda Simmentals Jim and Jay Benda 26106 366th Ave. Kimball, SD 57355 605-778-6703

www.southdakotasimmental.com

Jim: 605-730-6703 (Cell) Jay: 605-730-0215 (Cell) bendaranch@midstatesd.net

Black and Red Breeding Stock

Kipp Julson • 605-351-9088 48670 252nd St. • Garretson, SD 57030 doublejfarms@alliancecom.net www.doublejsimmentals.com Females by Private Treaty in the Fall.

Bulls for sale by Private Treaty.

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TRAXINGER

Reds, Blacks • Bulls and Females Private Treaty Sales

“Mark of Performance”

Mike and Terri Traxinger 11176 – 406th Avenue Houghton, SD 57449 Home: 605.885.6347 Mike’s cell: 605.294.7227 mtrax@nvc.net www.traxinger.com

Eichacker Simmentals

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25446 445th Ave • Salem, SD 57058 Steve & Cathy Eichacker 605-425-2391 or 605-421-1152 email: es@triotel.net Annual Bull Sale • March 6, 2015

Hill’s Ranch Simmentals Box 186 Stanford, MT 59479 406-566-2479

Bull Sale • March 2, 2015

hillssimmentalmt@yahoo.com • www.hillsimmental.com

Peck Simmentals Breed of Excellence

Prickly Pear Simmental Ranch Birthplace of the first Polled Black Simmental Bull Made in Montana Sale • February 7, 2015 Troy Wheeler, Cattle Manager: 406-949-1754 Don and Nancy Burnham • Gary Burnham 2515 Canyon Ferry Road • Helena, MT 59602 ASA No. 174 E-mail: burnhams@mt.net

Available by Private Treaty SimAngus™ Bulls, Bred Cows and Heifers

www.alabamasimmental.com

Bill & Marianne Peck 129 Yellowstone Trl • Whitehall, MT 59759 406-287-5669 • pecksimm@gmail.com www.pcksimm.8m.net

Registered Simmental, SimAngusTM and Angus

Timberland Cattle

Spring Female Sale, 1st Saturday in May Fall Bull Sale, 3rd Saturday in November Sales will be held at the Farm, 15281 Co. Road 49, Vernon, AL Bill Freeman, Owner • Thomas Pennington, Mgr. www.timberlandcattle.com • timberlandcattle@centurytel.net 205-695-6314 or 205-712-0359

Curtis Olafson 13043 84th St. NE Edinburg, ND 58227 701-993-8240 or 8450 Performance colafson@polarcomm.com Predictability www.bataolafson.com Personal Service Phone: (701) 384-6225

Terry Ellingson & Family

www.northdakotasimmental.com 5065 125th Ave. NE • Dahlen, ND 58224 tellings@polarcomm.com • www.ellingsonsimmentals.com Annual Production Sale, February 21, 2015

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SIMMENTALS Kevin & Lynette Thompson

5125 53rd St. Almont, ND 58520 701-843-8454 www.tntsimmentals.com Annual Bull Sale • Friday, February 13, 2015 Visitors always welcome.

Only 15 miles off I-94

SRF Simmentals Roger Roger and and Susan Susan Finke Finke family family 35500 35500 114th 114th Ave. Ave. NW NW • • Berthold, Berthold, ND ND 58718 58718 701-453-3157 701-453-3157 Roger Roger • • 701-453-3105 701-453-3105 Todd Todd email: email: srf@srt.com srf@srt.com

SYS SIMMENTALS Gary Sys 9400 205th Ave. SW Douglas, ND 58735 701-722-3244

Edge of the West Bull & Female Sale February 9, 2015

K

R

ENNE

www.oklahomasimmental.com

Willis Simmentals W S

2876 Simmental Lane Marietta OK 73448 willissimmentals@arbuckleonline.com

Quality Simmental Breeding Cattle

10 miles east on Hwy. 32, 1/4 mile north on Enville Road.

Bobby 580-276-2781(ph. & fax)

Jon 580-276-4884

Lazy U Ranch Dave & Debbie Umfleet 20858 West 10th St N • Haskell, OK 74436 918-693-9420 • davelazyu@aol.com TM Simmental & SimAngusTM Bulls Bulls & & Females Females

Roger, Jeanette, & Erika Kenner

5606 57th St. NE Leeds, ND 58346 Phone 701-466-2800 Erika 406-581-1188 erika.kenner@gmail.com Fax 701-466-2769 www.kennersimmental.com

SIMMENTALS

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“Double Doc� Bob Sager in his working clothes.

Montana Vet Takes Russian Job A long-time veterinarian, involved in the ASA Carcass Merit and Calving programs for the last decade, has launched another career.

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By Bob Sager, DVM DABVP (Beef cattle production) Ph.D. candidate

F

ifty years ago while a high school senior I was given a trip to the National Western Stock Show in Denver for my high school graduation gift. I was exposed to many new and incredible experiences.

Recently I had the same experience when I traveled to Bryansk, Russia to tour ranches owned by Miratorg and saw 110,000 cows owned by the same owner and toured a new feedlot built to handle the increased Russian demand for high-quality beef. There is no doubt Miratorg is bullish on beef production and with the Miratorg Stockholder’s vision and determination to produce high quality beef there will be success in the future.

Seldom have I seen determination and investment in the future of beef production as I did on my recent visit to Bryansk, Russia. Nowhere in the world is an investment in beef production taking place that is equal to Miratorg’s investment in future beef production. With quality genetics of Angus cattle from the U.S. and Australia two years ago, with sound decisions in beef production management, and with increases in experienced labor Miratorg is positioned to meet Russia’s demand for beef and may be exporting high quality beef to the European market and to the world in the near future.

I was honored last month to be invited by Miratorg Agribusiness Holdings to interview for a Senior Bovine Practitioner to lead BMC’s Veterinary Department activities in Russia. I was one of eight candidates invited to interview in Bryansk, Russia approximately 270 miles southwest of Moscow, Russia. The interview consisted of four days of touring several Miratorg ranches, touring Miratorg’s feedlot and the feedlot expansion process, and meetings with Miratorg’s Stockholders. One day consisted of meeting with Evgeniy Albokrinov, Miratorg’s beef production director discussing cow/calf herd health, based on my recommendations from observations of visiting many Miratorg ranches.

A past headline in the Moscow newspaper read ”Soon rib-eyes may take their place alongside vodka and cigarettes as Russian favorites.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin has an ambitious plan to cut his country’s $3 billion annual import bill for beef. He even aspires to return Russia’s beef industry to its pre-revolutionary stature. If all goes according to plan, Russia could someday send foreign beef suppliers like Tyson Foods (TSN) of Springdale, AR, and São Paulo-based Brasil Foods (BRFS) heading for customs.

Miratorg Agribusiness Holding, is the leading investor in the Russian agribusiness industry.

Miratorg is the largest meat producer and supplier in the Russian market, thanks to its high performing vertically-integrated agribusiness holding that took the leading positions in production, processing, logistic supplies and sales of agricultural products. Its investments into production, processing and agro-industrial infrastructure facilities implemented for the period 2005 to 2012 exceeded $2.7 B. Miratorg maintains the largest pork production in Russia, second largest poultry production in Russia, and the world’s largest vertical integrated beef production operation of 110,000 cows now with plans to expand to 225,000 cows in next 3 years. Presently there is a 37,000 head feedlot with expansion by September of another 45,000 head feedlot with a new packing plant located one mile from the feedlot.

The entire operation is owned by five stockholders, all Russian businessmen with extensive experience and success in agribusiness.

The company has integrated beef, pork and poultry enterprises from conception to retail distribution with annual production goals of 3M pigs, 50M broilers and 200,000 cattle. Miratorg employs 16,000 people in 16 Russian regions. The client base consists of more than 16,000 clients all over Russia.

Since 2011 Miratorg’s subsidiary, Bryansk Meat Company (BMC), started a new project with the importation of 125,000 Black Angus heifers from Australia and the U.S.. Bryansk Meat Company (BMC), the beef cattle division of Miratorg Agribusiness Holding, located in the Bryansk Region of Russia, is one of the largest and fastest growing beef cattle operations in the world.

The project began in June of 2011 with the importation of 125,000 Black Angus yearling heifers from Australia and the U.S..

On May 28 and 29, Miratorg received 22,000 yearling steers that were shipped up from Perth, Australia through the Suez Canal and trucked 24 hours from ports on the Black Sea. These yearlings were imported to meet future contracts for high-quality beef later this fall. In 2013 40,000 calves were weaned, 100,000 cows and heifers are scheduled to calve on 30 ranches in 2014. The first of two new state-of-the-art 40,000 head feedlots will be in use by spring of 2014. The beef processing plant (4,000 cattle per week per 8-hour shift) is under construction.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

Typical Miratorg Ranch unit, one of 33 with identical design.

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www.breedingcattlepage.com/ TNSimmAssoc/

Slate Farms &

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O M P A N Y

Female Select Sale/Herd Bull Select Sale Visitors Always Welcome

Steve Slate 4437 Highway 49 W Vanleer, TN 37181 931-206-5026 slatefarms@att.net www.slatefarms.com

www.illinoissimmental.com

Owner: Jim Berry 402-643-4429 402-641-2936 Cell

www.nesimmental.com

303 Northern Heights Drive • Seward, NE 68434 a.sloup@juno.com Nick, Andrea, www.sloupsimmentals.com Shane, Shelbi, Brevin, Natalie Join us at the Farm, October 18, 2014 and Haylie for our 20th Annual Production Sale.

Commercially Targeted Seedstock

Cattle Manager: Robbie Duis 815-858-4129 6502 Rt. 84 South Hanover, IL 61041 815-591-3731

www.wildberryfarms.net

Our Business Is Bulls Larry and Suzy Rhodes Anthony Rhodes 9350 Rte 108 Carlinville, IL 62626 217-854-5200 rhodesangus@royell.org

James, Merlin, and Delores Felt, Renee & Matt Schulte

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Western Cattle Source

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Jock & Brenda Beeson 100 Wohlers Drive Crawford, NE 69339 308-665-1111 (home) 308-430-2117 (mobile) 308-430-0668 (mobile) Email:wcsbeeson@bbc.net

57977 857 Road • Wakefield, NE 68784 402-287-2488 home • 402-369-1069 cell delores@feltfarms.com • www.feltfarms.com Herdsman, James Felt 402-369-0513 cell • jamesfelt02@gmail.com

Foxy Ladies Bred Heifer Sale November 29, 2014 • West Point, NE Ohlrich/Felt Farms Bull Sale February 7, 2015 • Norfolk, NE

Darby & Annette Line 35355 Arrow Road • Miller, NE 68858 308-627-5085 Darby Cell Just 30 minutes of I-80 www.trianglejranch.com

Annual Production Sale last Sunday in January

JC

JC

Triangle J Ranch

J&C SIMMENTALS

Black Simmental Bulls & Females Purebred to Percentage Jay & Kim Volk Clark & Leslie Volk Bob & Jeanette Volk 402-478-4565 402-478-4503 402-478-4350 volkjk@aol.com • 20604 US Hwy 30 • Arlington, NE 68002

Female Sale — December 6, 2014 Bull Sale — January 31, 2015

Berger’s HerdMasters FORSTER FARMS Just 20 minutes off I-80

Verlouis Forster Family 74096 Road 434 Smithfield, NE 68976-1039 Ph/FAX 308-472-5036 Verlouis Ph 308-876-2316 Alan Email: alan_forster@hotmail.com

“Red and Black, Polled, Pigmented Simmentals”

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Angus x Simmental Hybrids Both Red and Black Loren & Peggy Berger 308-532-0939 9339 E. Autogate Rd. 308-520-3836 Stapleton, NE 96163 berger@nque.com www.bergersherdmaster.com

Pine Ridge Ranch Pine Ridge Ranch Pine Ridge Ranch ATHENS, TX

Jane and Bill Travis billtravis@bigplanet.com

www.simbrah.com

9876 PLANO RD. DALLAS, TX 75238 Office: 214-369-0990 Cell: 214-850-6308

ROCK CREEK RANCH B L A C K , P O L L E D S I M M E N TA L S

www.kansas-simmental.com Ralph Brooks Cassidy Brooks 7440 Lake Elbo Rd. Manhattan, KS 66502 C: 785-556-0385

Jim & Jean Houck, 250 Road 392, Allen, KS 66833 • 620-443-5700 Jeff & Lori Houck, 3031 Road G, Americus, KS 66835 • 620-443-5751 Toll Free 866-687-4656 • www.houckrockcreekranch.com

Joe Mertz 785-456-9650 Bob Mertz 785-456-9201 Harold Mertz 785-456-9605 7160 Zeandale Road Manhattan, KS 66502 www.rivercreekfarms.com

25th Annual Production Sale February 11, 2015 Annual Production Sale March 20, 2015

Genetics That Work

JRW Farms, LLC Richard Woolwine, Owner 562 Marson Trigg Road Seminary, MS 39479

Brad Woods 601-441-0539 Johnny Ingram 601-408-4186 www.jrw-llc.com

Simmental Angus SimAngusTM

Steve & Mary Gleason • Jake, Becky, Ben, Joe & Sam 12410 Blazingstar Rd • Maple Hill, KS 66507 Phone: 785-256-6461 • Steve: 785-640-8060 • Jake: 785-640-8062 www.Sunflowergenetics.com

Dixson Farms, Inc. Carol Dixson, Kevin Dixson, & Lyle Dixson, D.V.M. 13703 Beaver Creek Rd • Atwood, KS 67730 785-626-3744 • drlyle@live.com www.dixsonfarms.com

DX

Cow Camp Ranch Kent, Mark and Nolan Brunner 3553 Upland Rd. Lost Springs, KS 66859-9652 785-466-6475 Kent 785-466-1129 Nolan 785-965-7168 Mark Black and Red Purebreds brunccr@tctelco.net Angus • SimAngus Halfbloods

Spring Bull Sale - Friday, February 27, 2015

THE MOSER RANCH SimAngus • Simmental • Angus

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Harry & Lisa Moser & Family Wheaton, KS 66521 Phone 785.396.4328 www.moserranch.com

23rd Bull Sale • November 8, 2014

Kaser Brothers Simmental Stephen Kaser H 785-346-5181 • C 785-346-6077 629 County 388 Drive Osborne, KS 67473

1103 Artesia Road Starkville, MS 39759 Home: 662-323-0744 Cell: 662-418-0686 Office: 662-324-7721

Mikell & Mary Cheek Davis, Owners

Farm Manager: Alex Gardner 662-769-2577

SIMBRAH

www.littlecreekcattle.com

www.texassimmentalsimbrah.com

Sarah J. (Sally) Buxkemper

2617 CR 400 Ballinger, Texas 76821 325-442-4501 sbuxkemper32@gmail.com www.rxsimbrah.com

Heat Adapted Cattle Simbrah TM SimAngusTM TM SimAngusTM HT Simmental

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Montana Vet Takes Russian Job CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

Feedlot built in 2013, with capacity of 49,000 head.

A second lot is being constructed right along the first, with additional capacity of 45,000 animals.

Editor’s note — Bob Sager, Wilsall, MT, retired as a cow-calf veterinarian, then obtained his master’s degree in animal nutrition in 2011.

He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in animal nutrition and will complete his degree in December 2014. This article is reprinted with permission of Dr. Sager and BEEF magazine.

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t), ft to righ ng of (le ti is n; s e n B o y w, c wbo ranch cre tern Oregon co n y; ia la s o s ik u nN AR ; Eas terinaria ter Irina e V y. re e p n r rg ia te e s in Rus nager S and ma

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REDUCING REPLACEMENT HEIFER DEVELOPMENT COSTS USING A SYSTEM APPROACH

Replacement heifer development systems that use lower-quality forages can cost less than more intensive systems. This publication focuses on key aspects of successful low-input replacement heifer systems.

By Aaron L. Berger, Extension Educator and Rick N. Funston, Beef Reproductive Physiology Specialist

Why Recommendations for Heifer Target Body Weight at Breeding Have Changed Genetic Selection

Berger

Funston

Replacement heifer development and cow depreciation is the largest expense in most cow-calf operations other than feed for mature cows. Producers should strive for systems that balance replacement heifer development costs, timely pregnancies, and cow herd longevity.

In the past several decades, post-weaning development of replacement heifers has focused on feeding heifers to reach a target body weight of 60 to 65 % of mature weight at breeding to achieve acceptable pregnancy rates (85 to 95 %) in a breeding season that ranges from 45 to 70 days. This development system was based on historical research that indicated heifers bred at approximately 14 months of age should reach this target weight to achieve acceptable pregnancy rates.

In an effort to reduce costs, recent research has focused on comparing traditional, more intensive replacement heifer development systems to systems utilizing more inexpensive feed resources to develop heifers to lighter target body weights at breeding (i.e., 50 to 57 % of mature weight compared with the traditional 60 to 65 % of mature weight). Research has demonstrated replacement heifers developed to lower target weights — but on a positive plane of nutrition before the breeding season through calving — can have acceptable pregnancy rates and longevity.

These lower-input systems allow producers to develop replacement heifers at lower cost without sacrificing reproductive performance. This publication highlights why recommended target weights for replacement heifers have changed and key aspects of successful low-input replacement heifer development systems.

Much of the research recommending heifers be at a target weight of 60 to 65 % of mature weight by breeding was conducted from the late 1960s through the 1980s.

Since then, the genetic makeup of the U.S. cowherd has changed significantly. Age of puberty does not seem to be limiting heifer development programs as it did in the past.

Heifers are reaching puberty at younger ages and at a lower percentage of their mature weight than has occurred historically.

Research contributing to this publication was conducted using current British and Continental genetics in the United States. The following genetic trends have been realized by widespread management changes and the use of Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) in the selection for a variety of traits, including scrotal circumference and yearling weight: • Decreased age at calving. Fundamental changes to the U.S. cattle industry include the now common management practice of heifers being bred as yearlings and calving for the first time as 2-year-olds, rather than calving as 3-year-olds. Over time, this practice has indirectly selected for heifers that reach puberty at an earlier age and a lower percentage of mature weight.

• Increased scrotal circumference in bulls. Average yearling scrotal circumference EPD for most breeds has increased significantly since the 1980s. Scrotal circumference in bulls moderately correlates with age at puberty in heifers. As average scrotal size increases, heifer age at puberty decreases. Selecting yearling bulls for larger scrotal size may have indirectly resulted in decreasing the average age heifers reach puberty.

• Increased mature cow weight. Major U.S. cattle breeds have been selected for larger yearling weights, resulting in heavier mature cows. However, increase in mature cow size has not resulted in heifers delaying puberty to larger weights. Consequently, heifers are reaching puberty at a lower percentage of mature weight than in the past when mature cow weights were lower.

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REDUCING REPLACEMENT HEIFER DEVELOPMENT COSTS USING

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SYSTEMS APPROACH

Greater Understanding of Heifer Development Physiology Timing of body weight gain. Timing when body weight gain occurs in replacement heifer development can reduce development costs. Heifers developed to 50 to 57 % of mature weight at breeding can still achieve acceptable pregnancy rates (80 to 95 % during a breeding season ranging from 45 to 70 days) if the period of slower weight gain is followed by a positive energy balance prior to and through the breeding season.

Heifers developed on crop residue or native range at low rates of gain have demonstrated compensatory gain in the spring when placed on higher quality forage. When this compensatory/higher rate of gain coincides with breeding, either A.I. or natural service, it appears to benefit conception and maintenance of pregnancy.

These research results contrast results of heifers developed in a drylot on moderate to high rates of gain through the winter. When placed on forage prior to or during the breeding season, heifers previously on a moderate to high level of gain often experience minimal weight gain, or in some cases, weight loss, for several days while adapting to this new forage resource. This neutral or negative nutritional change occurring around breeding may negatively affect conception rates and/or maintenance of pregnancy.

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a low-input development system can be a profitable commodity as they can be marketed as feeders.

Protein supplementation. Heifers developed on lowquality forage often require protein supplementation to more effectively use this feed resource and meet nutritional requirements. Avoid feeding excess protein when energy is limiting because it can negatively affect reproduction if this occurs immediately prior to or during the breeding season.

Use of ionophores. Monensin (Rumensin速) and lasalocid (Bovatec速) are ionophores approved for growing heifers. Ionophores affect the microbial population, increasing the efficiency of forage digestion. Research has shown either of these compounds in replacement heifer diets can decrease age at puberty and increase conception rates. In addition, ionophores can increase daily gains by 0.1 to 0.2 lb/day depending on the quality of the diet.

Possible Negative Effect of OverConditioned Heifers on Future Fertility Heifers developed in an intensive system of highenergy feeds often can be fed to a body condition score of 7 or greater at first breeding. Heifers over-conditioned at their first breeding may perpetuate the need for a higher level of body fat (requiring more feed resources) to breed back as 2- and 3-year-olds. Yearling heifers with a body condition score 5 at their first breeding are more likely to be fertile and conceive at a similar body condition score as 2- and 3-year-olds. Overfeeding heifers prior to breeding increases heifer development costs and may have a detrimental effect on heifer longevity.

Learning to be a Cow

An appropriate level of nutrition immediately prior to breeding and continuing through subsequent calving is required for low-input developed heifers to experience compensatory gain and attain sufficient size and body condition. This allows them to successfully calve and rebreed. Providing adequate nutrition during this phase has shown rebreeding rates as 2-year-olds to be equal to or greater than heifers that received higher energy during development and were a larger percentage of mature body weight at breeding. Body condition at calving should be 5 or greater.

Many producers using a low-input replacement heifer development system retain all potential replacement females and expose them for a short (45 days or less) breeding season. Remember, as the breeding season is shortened, fewer heifers will likely become pregnant.

Retain more heifers than needed for replacements to determine how heifers will respond to a lower-input development system. Non-pregnant heifers grown in

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Replacement heifers developed on forages (often lowquality) that they will consume as cows often are better adapted to their environment than heifers in intensive development systems. Grazing is a learned behavior, which suggests that heifers developed on grazed forages may acquire more experience consuming forage, allowing them to better use these same feed resources as cows.

Intensively developed heifers appear to undergo a learning and adaptation phase when introduced to forages.

This can coincide with a time when they are already nutritionally challenged as growing yearling heifers being bred for their first calves.

Supplementation Strategies for Summer Breeding of Heifers Current research validates the importance of nutrition prior to and through the breeding season to achieve acceptable pregnancy rates for heifers developed in a lowinput system. Many cow-calf producers have moved to later spring calving to decrease labor, increase flexibility in marketing calves, and decrease harvested feed costs.

This shift to later spring calving has resulted in heifers being bred in mid to late summer on pasture and rangeland where forage quality is often decreasing.

These heifers, while adequate in size and age for breeding, often have decreased pregnancy rates. A recent CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

REDUCING REPLACEMENT HEIFER DEVELOPMENT COSTS USING

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SYSTEMS APPROACH

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22

study demonstrated supplementing heifers during a late summer breeding season with a protein supplement (1 lb/hd/day of a 30 percent crude protein cube containing Rumensin®) on native range resulted in 20 to 25 percent greater pregnancy rates than heifers not receiving the supplement. When breeding occurs during decreasing forage quality, protein supplementation prior to and during the breeding season may be important to the success of the heifer development system.

References

Summary

This publication has been peer reviewed.

Development systems targeting 12- to 14-month-old heifers to be at 50 to 57 % of mature weight at the time of breeding can result in acceptable pregnancy rates.

These systems must employ adequate nutrition prior to and through the breeding season. These heifers need to experience compensatory gain from breeding to calving to ensure adequate size and body condition to calve and rebreed successfully.

Development systems using lower-quality forages allow heifers to be developed at lower costs than intensive development systems. When changing to a lowerinput system, initially retain more replacement heifers than needed. This will help determine how herd genetics will respond to a reduced nutritional environment during development.

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Endecott, R.L., R.N. Funston, J.T. Mulliniks, and A.J. Roberts. 2013. Implications of beef heifer development systems and lifetime productivity. J. Anim. Sci. 91: 1329-1335.

Funston, R.N., J.L. Martin, D.M. Larson, and A.J. Roberts. 2012. Nutritional aspects of developing replacement heifers. J. Anim. Sci. 90:1166–1171.

Disclaimer Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended of those not mentioned and no endorsement by University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension is implied for those mentioned.

Editor’s Note: This article was taken from the University of Nebraska Beef Website and is reprinted here with permission.

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MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

TO REDUCE STRESS AT WEANING AND IMPROVE CALF PERFORMANCE

By Aaron Berger, UNL Extension Educator Panhandle Research and Extension Center University of Nebraska–Lincoln This is the time of year when many cow-calf producers are weaning calves. The following are some important factors and strategies to remember when planning to wean calves.

Stress is the number one issue that impacts calf performance at weaning.

Berger Calves are being removed from their dams and a herd social structure in which they were comfortable. Plus, the calves are often being moved into different environment with new feed and water sources. As one rancher once put it, it is kind of like putting a bunch of junior high kids into a hotel room by themselves without a chaperone and telling them to figure life out! The following are things which can be done to reduce stress at weaning, helping calves stay healthy and adjust to their new environment.

Have a good herd health program plan Having a good herd health program plan can help to reduce sickness at weaning, improve the treatment response of those calves that do get sick and increase the overall performance of calves during weaning. Precondition calves prior to weaning.

Work with your veterinarian to plan vaccination strategies and treatment protocols.

In certain parts of the country, strategic mineral supplementation when the calves are with their dams prior to weaning may be beneficial for getting good immune response. Minerals such as copper, zinc, cobalt and manganese are important to immune system function. A lack of these minerals in feed sources or high levels of other minerals such as sulfur which can inhibit absorption of minerals can impact immune response.

Fence-line weaned calves have lower sickness levels.

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Introduce new feeds Introducing new feeds to calves while they are with their dams prior to weaning can help calves start on feed more quickly when they are weaned.

Feedstuffs should be palatable with minimal fines and dust. Feeds should be evaluated to determine if they have adequate levels of protein and energy to meet desired performance goals.

Consider a two-step weaning process Fence-line weaning calves or placing nose weaners into calves 4-7 days before removal from their dams are a couple of methods to accomplish this.

Both of these methods prevent the calves from nursing while still giving the calf social contact with its dam. This gradual process appears to help the calves forget about nursing and begin the transition to being on their own and part of a new herd.

Ideally, fence-line weaning should be in an environment that • allows both cows and calves to spread out along the fence, • has minimal dust present, and • provides feed and water resources for the calves that are familiar and close to the fence.

Consider supplementing calves while they are still with their dams beginning two weeks before fence-line weaning.

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THANK YOU to all the purchasers of CNS Pays To Dream T759 semen during the fall and spring breeding seasons. His popularity continues to grow as his progeny prove themselves in the show ring and from the pastures. We fully expect his 2014-2015 calf crop to be his best ever.

Keep a close eye on his progeny in the coming show season and you will soon see why so many have the confidence to use Pays To Dream in their breeding program!!

Mr. CCF Vision ASA# 2705828 The next great Purebred Simmental Bull Owners: Rustic Hills Cattle Company Hartman Cattle Company C&C Farms

Larry Johnson, Owner: 812-304-0361 239 E. 750 S. • Fort Branch, IN 47648 greatones@rustichillscattle.com Bill Couch, Herd Consultant: 812-664-0017

MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES TO REDUCE STRESS AT

WEANING AND IMPROVE CALF PERFORMANCE

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Leave calves in the pasture they are used to being in and move cows to the adjacent pasture.

A number of studies have shown calves that were fence-line weaned have lower incidents of sickness compared to their contemporaries that were hard weaned and immediately separated from visual and audio contact with their dams.

Early Weaning Health Considerations for Calves and Nutrition and Management for Early Weaned Calves are two webinars that further address some of the management practices presented here.

For research information about fenceline weaning, please see the following sources.

• Price, et al. 2003. Fenceline contact of beef calves with their dams at weaning reduced the negative effects of separation on behavior and growth rate. J Anim Sci 81: 116-121.

• Boyles et al. 2007. Effects of weaning strategies on performance and health of calves during feedlot receiving. Prof. Anim. Sci. 23:637.

• Buskirk et al. 2007. Effect of weaning method on calf performance. J. Anim. Sci. 85 (Suppl. 1).

Abstract W249.

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Ideally, fence-line weaning allows both cows and calves to spread out along the fence.

Editor’s Note: This article was taken from the University of Nebraska Beef Website and is reprinted here with permission.

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Sunday, September 14, 2014 Hope, Indiana

Bojangles x Angus Bred to IC Stylin’

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Check our website www.beshearssimmentals.com for sale updates and videos.

Visitors always welcome!

FROM THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

By Jackie Atkins, Ph.D. I am always reminded of going back to school as fall approaches and the excitement and trepidations a new year of learning promises.

This fall take your chance to go back to school with the ASA. We are holding the first of what we hope is an annual rotating board meeting each fall where members can meet new people, see old friends, and learn new information with the ASA. The 2014 fall board meeting (September 8-11) will be preceded by a free daylong educational symposium. The focus of the educational session is applied information in beef cattle genetics and new developments in genetic evaluation featuring talks from an outstanding lineup of presenters: Drs. Dorian Garrick (who holds the Jay Lush Endowed Chair in Animal Breeding & Genetics, Iowa State University); Bruce Golden (Department Head and Professor, Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo), and Matt Spangler (Associate Professor, Extension Beef Genetics Specialist, University of Nebraska).

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Following the educational symposium, all members are welcome to attend the ASA-hosted barbeque and open committee sessions to hear about the American Simmental Association’s new programs. To register, find more information, and see updates as they occur, visit www.simmental.org or call us at 406-587-4531.

I hope we will see many of you there!

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THE EFFECT OF QUANTITY AND

BREED COMPOSITION OF GENOTYPES FOR GENOMIC PREDICTION IN PUREBRED OR CROSSBRED CATTLE

By Heather Bradford

Introduction The implementation of genomics enabled producers to more accurately select young animals for breeding resulting in a decrease in generation interval. Beef cattle typically have long generation intervals compared with species like poultry and swine, and genomic selection can increase response to selection. Genomic selection should have the most benefit for traits that are hard to measure, measured late in life, sex-limited, and measured after harvest (Hayes and Goddard, 2010). Traits like female fertility are sex-limited and difficult to measure while being economically relevant to producers. Selection for female fertility would benefit greatly from the inclusion of genomic data to increase accuracy. There are many economically relevant traits that beef producers could better select for by using genomics.

Review of Literature Linkage A quantitative trait loci (QTL) is a gene that affects a quantitative trait. Phenotype results from the total of the effects of all QTL including dominance and any gene interactions, environment, and the interaction of genetics and environment. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is a single base difference in a DNA sequence that may or may not be located within a gene. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) results when a SNP allele and QTL allele are linked and inherited together more often than expected (Hayes and Goddard, 2010). Meusissen et al. (2001) first proposed genomic selection using all SNP markers simultaneously. This method relies on dense SNP panels with the intent that all QTL affecting a trait are in LD with at least 1 marker (Hayes and Goddard, 2010).

Because of the LD between SNP and QTL, the association between SNP and QTL affecting a trait of interest can be used to create genomic predictions.

These genomic predictions are the sum of the effect of each SNP on the trait of interest. Across-breed LD is much more restricted than within-breed LD due to differential selection since the divergence of individual breeds (Hayes and Goddard, 2010). Because

of the difference in LD across breeds, genomic predictions historically needed to be breed-specific.

The accuracy of genomic predictions was largely the result of LD, and the loss of LD resulted in less accuracy in subsequent generations (Habier et al., 2007). Thus, SNP effects have to be periodically re-estimated because of the erosion of LD. A population of genotyped animals with phenotypes or very accurate breeding values is typically used for estimating SNP effects. This group is referred to as a training or reference population while a separate group of animals with genotypes and phenotypes or breeding values is the validation population. The SNP effects estimated from the training population are used to predict genetic merit in the validation population. The accuracy of the genomic prediction, referred to as a genomic breeding value (GBV), direct genomic value (DGV), or molecular breeding value (MBV), can then be assessed in the validation population, because the validation population was independent of the training population that was used to develop the predictions. Genetic correlations between the genomic prediction and phenotypic trait data can be estimated with a two trait animal model using REML (Kachman, 2008). The square of this genetic correlation is the percent of the additive genetic variance that was explained by the genomic test (Thallman et al., 2009). Genomic results are then incorporated into traditional genetic evaluations resulting in genomic-enhanced expected progeny differences (GE-EPD).

Number of genotyped animals As more animals are genotyped, researchers can better estimate SNP effects resulting in more accurate genomic predictions. Simulations with various training population sizes and relationships to the validation population showed accuracy increases when the size of the training population increases, even if those animals are many generations removed from the validation population (Saatchi et al., 2010). In a study of 9 breeds for feed efficiency and carcass traits, breeds with larger training populations had greater accuracies than average (Bolormaa et al., 2013). The number of animals in training had a greater impact on lowly heritable traits, and the relationship to the training population became less important for those traits (Saatchi CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

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THE EFFECT OF QUANTITY AND BREED COMPOSITION OF GENOTYPES FOR GENOMIC PREDICTION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 32 IN PUREBRED OR CROSSBRED CATTLE

et al., 2010). As beef cattle training populations increase, the greatest impact on accuracy should be for lowly heritable traits.

As the adoption of genomic technology has increased, there has been the opportunity to evaluate the realized increase in accuracy resulting from an increase in the size of the reference population. Direct genomic values for Uruguayan Herefords were more accurate when using predictions for American (n = 1,081) instead of Uruguayan Herefords (n = 395; Saatchi et al, 2013). The difference in accuracy likely resulted from the larger training population for the American Hereford prediction and not the relationship to the population used in training. There was a linear increase in accuracy exceeding 0.10 as the size of the reference population increased from 500 to 2,500 head of crossbred sheep (Daetwyler et al., 2012b).

However, the increase in accuracy would not be expected to continue to increase linearly as the size of the reference population continues to increase. Predictions from small reference populations with fewer than 1,000 individuals become considerably more accurate as more animals are included in the reference population.

Accuracies continue to improve as the reference population grows from 1,000 to 1,000’s of individuals. When combining 3 Nordic Red populations with individual reference populations of 1,562 animals or fewer, reliabilities increased by a magnitude of 3 to 8% on average with a total reference population of 3,735 animals (Brøndum et al., 2011). Increasing the training population from 1,300 to 5,250 animals while using the same methodology resulted in predictions that on average explained 18% more genetic variation and increased accuracy by 0.40 (Boddhireddy et al., 2014). Reliabilities were 5 to 32% greater when using a combined Chinese and Nordic Holstein population of 7,387 instead of only 2,171 Chinese Holsteins (Zhou et al., 2013). Predictions were more accurate even when combining populations of the same breed from different countries. There has been a consistent increase in accuracy as more animals were added to small to moderate sized reference populations.

Research in dairy cattle has evaluated the impact of larger training populations when there are many genotyped animals. Reliabilities increased 10% on average when combining European Holstein populations to create reference populations with more than 9,000 bulls compared with individual country reference populations with 3,000 to 4,000 bulls (Lund et al., 2011). Improve34

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ments can still be made when reference populations contain several thousand head. Adding 3,593 foreign bulls to the U.S. Holstein evaluation with over 10,000 genotypes increased reliability by 2 to 3% (VanRaden et al., 2012). As the number of genotypes increases, the improvement in accuracy from a larger reference population isn’t as substantial and would be expected to continue to decline.

Because of the accuracy increase that results from larger training populations, combining genotyped populations to develop genomic predictions is of interest. The main focus in the beef industry has been genotyping purebred populations to develop predictions that are then used within that breed. Due to the cost of genomic testing and the number of proven animals needed for training, combining these populations could improve prediction accuracy. However, a very diverse training population could result in less accurate predictions because the training population is now less related to the individual breeds that are being predicted.

Many simulations have been performed in addition to research in beef cattle and other species to evaluate the impact of the relationship between the training and validation populations.

Relationship between training and validation The relationship between the reference animals and the populations that the genomic predictions will be used in affects accuracy. (Daetwyler et al.

2012a) demonstrated that a large proportion of the accuracy of predictions results from the strong relationship between the reference and validation populations. When the training population consisted of generations that were more similar to the validation population, prediction accuracy was greater than if distant generations were used (Saatchi et al., 2010; Pszczola et al 2012). The animals in the more recent generations tend to be more related to the young animals in which the genomic tests are being used. The importance of the relationship of the training and validation populations likely resulted from recombination that took place between generations and reduced the LD between the markers and QTL (Saatchi et al., 2010). As LD erodes, accuracy decreases when a different SNP is associated with the QTL than in the reference population. When animals had a greater average squared relationship to the reference population, those animals had greater reliabilities (Pszczola et al., 2012). If an animal has relatives in the reference population, more confiCONTINUED ON PAGE 36

THE EFFECT OF QUANTITY AND BREED COMPOSITION OF GENOTYPES FOR GENOMIC PREDICTION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 34 IN PUREBRED OR CROSSBRED CATTLE

dence can be placed on the resulting genomic predictions because relatives with similar LD between SNP and QTL were used to estimate SNP effects.

Because of the importance of the relationship between the reference and validation populations on accuracy, there has been much research on the breed specificity of genomic predictions.

Within-breed prediction In the beef industry, much emphasis has been placed on developing predictions for use withinbreed with the results incorporated into national cattle evaluations. A simulation study by (Kizilkaya et al. 2010) found slightly greater correlations between true and estimated breeding values when training and validating in purebreds compared with training and validating in a multibreed population.

Estimates for genetic correlations between GBV and the respective traits were 0.14 to 0.81 in Angus (Saatchi et al, 2011; Northcutt, 2013; Boddhireddy et al., 2014), 0.18 to 0.52 in Hereford (Saatchi et al., 2013), 0.39 to 0.76 in Limousin (Saatchi et al., 2012), and 0.29 to 0.65 in Simmental (Saatchi et

al., 2012). Generally, there was sufficient LD between SNP and genes for traits included in national cattle evaluations to achieve strong genetic correlations. Because of these results, several beef breed associations currently publish GE-EPD. Connectedness within-breed can also affect the accuracy of predictions for animals that are distantly related to the training population. Genomic predictions developed for American Herefords were less accurate when used in Argentinian, Canadian, or Uruguayan Herefords, possibly resulting from lesser relationships to the training population or genetic by environment interactions (Saatchi et al., 2013). When comparing reliabilities for Red dairy cattle from 3 European countries, the within country predictions were always more reliable than if predictions were developed in 1 country and used in the others (Brøndum et al., 2011). Because the reference populations were of similar size, the loss in accuracy again resulted from the lack of connectedness between countries.

Further analysis revealed that the correlation of LD phase between countries ranged from 0.46 to CONTINUED ON PAGE 38

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At Echo Ridge Farm, Atkins, VA October 11, 2014 12 Noon EST

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THE EFFECT OF QUANTITY AND BREED COMPOSITION OF GENOTYPES FOR GENOMIC PREDICTION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 36 IN PUREBRED OR CROSSBRED CATTLE

0.86 (Brøndum et al., 2011). This correlation suggests there has been some divergence in the Red breed in these countries which impacts the ability to develop across-country genomic predictions.

When using the American Hereford prediction in Argentinian Herefords, animals with American Herefords in their pedigree had on average greater correlations between DEBV and GBV than those without American genetics (Saatchi et al., 2013).

Similarly, DGV accuracies were less when using Angus predictions in an Angus herd that was closed for many generations and was less related to the training population (Saatchi et al., 2011).

These studies demonstrated the importance of the training population being a representative sample of a breed to obtain accurate estimates of genomic merit across the population.

Across-breed prediction It would be convenient if predictions could be developed in 1 breed and used for other breeds, but this approach has produced very poor accuracies. Simulations trained in one breed and predicted in another resulted in significantly less accuracy than training in the breed of interest (Toosi et al., 2010). When Angus trained predictions were used in other breeds, simulations accounted for less than one-third of the genetic variation that was achieved in Angus (Kizilkaya et al., 2010). These simulations did not demonstrate favorable results for using breed-specific predictions across breeds. When breed-specific predictions for Angus, Hereford, or Limousin were used across breeds, in most cases the genetic correlation was not significant and in a few instances was slightly negative despite a moderate, positive genetic correlation when validating within-breed (Kachman et al., 2013). On average, the genetic correlation from using predictions developed in Herefords on Angus sires was not different from 0 while predictions developed specifically for Angus had the greatest accuracies (0.24 to 0.61; Weber et al., 2012b). Similar results were observed in Holstein and Jersey dairy cattle (Hayes et al., 2009).

Using 50,000 SNP has not been sufficient density to use predictions across breeds. Breeds have different LD which erodes the accuracy of predictions developed in one breed when the prediction was used in another breed. The use of genomic predictions across breeds has not been feasible due to the limited prediction accuracy.

Multibreed for purebred prediction Another approach would be to combine data for many purebreds to develop predictions that were then used for individual breeds. Combining populations resulted in greater accuracy, especially for lowly heritable traits, than training on each population individually (de Roos et al., 2009). Predictions were more accurate when trained in a multibreed population instead of a purebred population and validated in the same purebred (Bolormaa et al., 2013). This possibly results from capturing more of the variants within the breed of interest. Genetic correlations averaged 0.47 (0.10 to 0.73) when trained on only Simmentals and 0.55 (0.18 to 0.91) when trained on Simmental, Angus, Red Angus, Gelbvieh, Brangus, Hereford, and Charolais (Saatchi and Garrick, 2013). This is of interest because animals registered with the American Simmental Association do not have to be purebred Simmental. Only calving ease maternal and weaning weight maternal were not more accurate with the multibreed training population (Saatchi and Garrick, 2013). Stayability was unchanged because there was no information for this trait in the other breeds. With the additional breeds, the size of the reference population more than doubled compared with only Simmental animals (Saatchi and Garrick, 2013). These studies suggest a benefit from combining single breed reference populations. Not only is the size of the reference population greater, but the reference population can capture more of the variation within the breed of interest.

Predictions that were developed without including the breed of interest were less accurate than if that breed had been included in training.

The accuracy of multibreed prediction in Australian sheep was always less if the breed for prediction was excluded from the training population (Daetwyler et al., 2012a). However, if the breed to be predicted was included in the reference population, multi-breed predictions were no more accurate than single-breed predictions (Pryce et al., 2011). If the within-breed predictions are based on a large enough reference population, the potential benefit from multibreed predictions might be very minimal. If multibreed predictions someday achieved equivalent or greater accuracies than within-breed predictions, all breeds of interest would need to be included in the training population.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

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THE EFFECT OF QUANTITY AND BREED COMPOSITION OF GENOTYPES FOR GENOMIC PREDICTION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 38 IN PUREBRED OR CROSSBRED CATTLE

There was very little difference in the accuracy of GBV when using a Holstein or Holstein and Jersey reference population to validate in Holsteins, but there was an increase in accuracy when using the combined instead of the Jersey reference population to validate in Jerseys (Hayes et al., 2009). This could result from the very small number of Jersey bulls with genotypes. The addition of more genotypes, despite the breed, allowed for more accurate genomic predictions. Using a Holstein, Jersey, and Brown Swiss reference population, resulted in an increase in accuracy for some traits in Jersey and Brown Swiss above that of the single-breed prediction (Olson et al., 2012). Again, there was no benefit for Holsteins to use multibreed predictions but some benefit for smaller breeds with fewer genotypes. Incorporating 2 breeds in the reference population to predict a third breed increased prediction accuracy compared with using 1 of the breeds to predict a different breed (Pryce et al., 2011). Again, the improvement in accuracy could result from the larger reference population used to predict marker effects in a different breed. Given a reference population of sufficient size, there has been no consistent benefit to using a multibreed population to develop predictions for use in purebreds. Yet, while training populations of sufficient size are being collected, multibreed predictions could help improve accuracy until enough animals were genotyped to produce reliable predictions.

Crossbred for purebred prediction Another scenario is collecting data on crossbred animals for use in purebreds although this situation is unlikely in the beef industry with a lack of pedigree and performance recording in crossbred cattle. Simulations demonstrated, as the number of breeds represented in the crossbred population increased, the accuracy of predicting one of the purebreds decreased (Toosi et al., 2010). This decrease in accuracy could result from a decrease in the prevalence of haplotypes from the breed of interest in the training population as population size was held constant. That breed would then have a lesser contribution to the estimation of marker effects. Using the crossbred U.S. Meat Animal Research Center Germplasm Evaluation Program (GPE) population for training and validating in a purebred population resulted in MBV accuracies generally ranging from 0.20 to 0.40 with less accurate predictions in Charolais for most traits, likely a result of limited Charolais

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influence in the training population (Weber et al., 2012a). Validation in the 2,000 Bull Project animals, consisting of influential bulls representing 16 beef breeds, resulted in genetic correlations ranging from 0.19 to 0.37, which were similar to validation in purebreds (Weber et al., 2012a).

Greater accuracies are being achieved in the beef industry by using within-breed predictions (Saatchi et al., 2011; Saatchi et al., 2012; Northcutt, 2013; Saatchi et al., 2013; Boddhireddy et al., 2014). An analysis of crossbred sheep of primarily Merino decent resulted in greater accuracies for Merinos than for terminal breeds (Daetwyler et al., 2010). Thus, the breed makeup for the crossbred population was important, and the breed of interest needed to be well represented in the crossbred genetics. There are many challenges associated with using crossbred genotypes in the beef industry, mainly the lack of complete pedigree and performance recording outside of research herds.

The use of crossbred predictions for many breeds appears less feasible.

Another approach to using crossbred genotypes has been to model breed-specific SNP effects. Modelling with breed-specific compared with acrossbreed SNP effects resulted in similar prediction accuracies for a variety of simulation scenarios (Ibรกn z-Escriche et al., 2009). As marker density increased up to 2,000 markers on one chromosome,

there was less value in using breed-specific SNP effects (Ibรกn z-Escriche et al., 2009). The use of breed-specific SNP effects required large breed differences to justify the additional effects in the model, and this model had an advantage when large training populations were used (Ibรกn zEscriche et al., 2009). Developing reference populations of sufficient size to justify the use of breed-specific SNP effects will be challenging in the beef industry. Very few of the 2,500 SNP with the largest effect were common to the GPE and 2,000 Bulls populations (Weber et al., 2012a). These results suggest a potential need for breed-specific effects to better account for both differences in LD and the magnitude of the SNP effect across breeds.

Crossbred prediction Although genetic evaluation of crossbred beef cattle is not common, a cheap genomic test for economically relevant traits would be a valuable genetic selection tool for commercial producers.

In addition, many beef breed associations include hybrid animals in their genetic evaluations, and

breed-specific predictions might not be as accurate in those composite animals. Genomic predictions based on 3,000 SNP for feed efficiency in AngusBrahman crosses had accuracies ranging from 0.13 to 0.36 (Elzo et al., 2012). The small number of SNP could have contributed to the limited accuracy that was achieved from those genomic predictions. The accuracy of crossbred predictions was numerically less in most cases than within-breed predictions; however, those estimates had large standard errors (Mujibi et al., 2011). Larger reference populations incorporating a broader sample of the possible breed crosses might improve accuracy as more of the population of interest would be used to develop predictions.

Purebred or multibreed for crossbred prediction Because most phenotypes in the beef industry are collected on purebreds, creating predictions based on the purebred data for use in selecting crossbreds could be beneficial. Training on Angus, Angus and Red Angus, or Hereford resulted in weak MBV accuracy (0.01 to 0.43) for growth and carcass traits when validating in the crossbred GPE population (Weber et al., 2012a). MBV accuracy tended to be less than that achieved with a multibreed training population consisting of sires in the 2,000 Bull Project (Weber et al., 2012a). Using a multibreed instead of purebred training population should produce better predictions for crossbred animals because breeds differ in the LD between SNP and QTL. Training on 2,000 Bull Project and validating on GPE yielded moderate genetic correlations (0.13 to 0.42) with little or no improvement from including breed effects in the DEBV for the 2,000 Bull Project (Weber et al., 2012a). Training on a multibreed population instead of a purebred population increased accuracy more for composite breeds than purebreds (Bolormaa et al., 2013). Genotypes and phenotypes on purebreds can be useful to develop predictions for crossbreds. The American Angus Association and Zoetis currently market a genomic test for commercial Angus-influence cattle. This test provides predictions for a couple economically relevant traits, and commercial producers are using this test to add value to feeder cattle and to select replacement females. If the beef industry were to move toward larger scale crossbred genetic evaluation, establishing genomic predictions from existing purebred databases appears to be the most feasible method. Including many breeds in the reference population would help make these predictions more relevant for a wider array of commercial producers.

Conclusions and Implications to Genetic Improvement of Beef Cattle As the use of genomic testing in the beef industry grows, reference populations of greater size are being established by individual breed associations. Breed-specific genomic predictions are becoming more accurate as a result of the increase in genomic testing. Research on using genomic predictions developed in 1 breed for use in another has not been favorable. Yet, pooling genotypes from multiple breeds to develop predictions for a purebred was promising for increasing accuracy past that achieved with only the purebred genotypes. The use of multibreed predictions could be of interest to smaller breeds with fewer genotyped animals and breeds that register percentage animals. Smaller breeds could benefit from the larger reference population that could be assembled from combining genotypes. Breeds with hybrid animals could benefit from the inclusion of the LD from other breeds to develop more accurate predictions.

There is potential benefit from genetic evaluation at the commercial level. Because there is no infrastructure for performance recording in commercial cattle, genomic testing is a more feasible option to identify the genetically superior crossbred cattle.

Preliminary research has demonstrated the feasibility of developing accurate genomic predictions from purebred or multibreed populations to use in crossbred individuals. As genomic predictions become more refined in the seedstock industry, there is the potential to develop cheaper genomic tests for economically relevant traits in crossbred cattle.

Editor’s Note: This award winning paper was presented in conjunction with the Frank Baker Memorial Scholarship by Heather Bradford, a student at Kansas State University. It is reprinted with permission of the author and the Beef Improvement Federation. For complete bibliography, refer to the following link: http://beefimprovement.org/ library-2/convention-proceedings T

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41

INDUSTRY UPDATE Government Sources “Most Reliable” A Food Demand Survey, conducted in Oklahoma, asked consumers to rank 15 different sources for their trustworthiness about meat information.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ranked one-two, flying in the face of a popular anti-government trend that advocates for not “trusting anything the government stands for.”

Ranking third was the American Medical Association, while the Center for Science in the Public Interest and the Humane Society of the US ranked fourth and fifth. Meat industry organizations like NCBA and USMEF were ranked in the middle of the pack, and news outlets like the New York Times ranked very low, along with corporate outlets.

Checkoff Support Highest in 21 Years According to a recent survey, support for the beef checkoff has reached 78%, the highest in more than two decades. The random survey was conducted by the independent firm Aspen Media and Market Research.

The survey found: • 80% say the checkoff had contributed to a positive trend in demand.

• 79% say the checkoff represents their interests.

• 77% say the checkoff is there for them in a crisis.

• 71% say the checkoff contributes to profitability.

• 67% believe the checkoff is well-managed.

Farm Income to Remain High Despite lower prices for many agricultural products in the short term, USDA is projecting US farm income to remain historically high through much of the next decade.

The prediction is based on the assumption that current ag policies will remain in effect.

Global economic growth is projected to average 3.2% annually over the next 10 years with stronger growth in developing countries.

US economic growth is projected at 2.6% annually. Prices for corn, oilseeds and other major crops are expected to remain strong over the period.

Cattle Numbers Contract Again Not unexpectedly, US cattle inventories shrank again in 2013, although heifer numbers tend to suggest a shift toward expansion, according to USDA’s January Cattle Report. In that report, all cattle totaled 87.7 million head, down 2% from 2012. That is the lowest inventory of all cattle since 1951.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 44

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Broker x Triple C Diamonds

United x Shimmer

Lookout x Sheza Bandit

United x Sheza Star T800

Pays To Dream x Spring Velvet

Payday x In Dew Time

Payday x In Dew Time

Wide Track x Kashmere S330 Bred to Bismarck

Shocking Dream x Lady Prime Bred to Allegiance

Upscale x Chosen One Bred to United

Pioneer x Dream On Bred to Allegiance

Star Player x Navigator Bred to Wheelman

High Voltage x Kiss Me Not Bred to GSC All In

Shocking Dream x Kashmere S330 Grandmaster x Shimmer Bred to GSC All In Bred to Tuition

American Pride x Sheza Star T800 Bred to Tuition

Consignors: KenCo Cattle Company, C&C Farms, Clover Valley Simmentals and Tylertown Simmental

Sale Managed by

Ken Butner, owner • 615.405.6105 Randy Favorite, manager • 931.588.1210 www.kencocatttle.com kenb@kencodistributors.com

Doug & Debbie Parke Drew & Holli Hatmaker 153 Bourbon Hills • Paris, KY 40361 859-987-5758 • 859-987-0709 fax 859-421-6100 mobile • pleent@aol.com

INDUSTRY UPDATE A total of 38.3 million females calved during 2013, down just 1% from the 38.5 million head a year ago. That is the fewest calving females since 1941. In Kansas, calving beef cow numbers were up 6%, with Arkansas and Missouri increasing by 4%. Idaho calving numbers led the decline, down by 13%.

Precision Ag Gains Acceptance In the past 15 years, farmers have increased their use of precision agricultural technologies dramatically, according to a survey conducted by USDA’s Economic Research Service. The use of yield monitors has seen the most significant jump, following by the adoption of guidance systems.

CONTINUED

Just three years ago, a variation of precision agriculture was used on more than 70% of corn acreage surveyed. The survey also found that some farmers were slower to incorporate the technologies, primarily because of uncertainty about the economic returns and complex technology.

USDA Approves School Lunch Flexibility A decision has been rendered by the US Department of Agriculture that makes the current flexibility in the National School Lunch Program permanent. The announcement allows schools to serve larger portions of lean protein and whole grains.

Reaction to new school lunch guidelines that were intended to help curb childhood obesity had been largely negative. Lawmakers and school districts reached the decision that original guidelines were too strict and were not providing adequate nutrition, leading to USDA’s decision to offer temporary flexibility, and finally, making that flexibility permanent.

Typical Meat Buying Resuming For the first time since the recession hit in 2009, consumers appear to be shifting away from their focus on lower prices and concentrating more on value, quality and variety when shopping for beef and other proteins.

When the recession took hold, more than half of shoppers made significant changes in their meatbuying habits. Now, 36% have indicated they plan to spend more on meat and poultry than in 2013.

The increase is seen as an indication that consumers are easing up on the money-saving measures used during the depths of the recession.

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RX Prescription composites Bred to take the HEAT and produce a quality product

INDUSTRY UPDATE

CONTINUED

Ground Beef Gaining Share

RX London’s Fire

ASA# 2498236

The US is becoming a nation of consumers of ground beef, according to an economist with Rabo AgriFinance.

The trend may be reason enough for the beef industry to take a serious look at whether or not the production system needs to be tweaked.

Currently, 60% of all retail beef sales, foodservice and grocery stores alike is in the form of ground beef.

A couple of decades ago, the price ratio of steaks to ground beef was 2.5 to 1. Now that figure has eroded and the current ratio is 1.5 to 1 — and not because steak prices have come down, it is because ground beef prices have increased.

A promising yearling, now a CMP proven sire that is non-dilute, homozygous polled and slick haired for heat tolerance.

SIMBRAH Sarah J. (Sally) Buxkemper 2617 CR 400 • Ballinger, Texas 76821 USA 325-442-4501 sbuxkemper32@gmail.com • www.rxsimbrah.com

Bulls and Heifers for sale

by Private Treaty.

Safety, Freshness Top Consumer Values Consumers put more value on safety and freshness when it comes to purchasing the livestock products of milk, ground beef, steak and chicken breasts. That’s according to a nationwide survey conducted by Kansas State Univesity.

The four products representing a variety of animal products, include a relatively low and a relatively highcost product, that are relatively common in the average diet. By rank, safety was first, followed by freshness and price. Environmental impacts, animal welfare, origin and convenience were ranked as less important.

Home Cooked Food Healthier Food prepared away from home is typically higher in calories and lower in nutrition and now makes up more than one-third of all calories purchased in the US. Consumers tend to believe that full-service restaurants provide healthier food than fast-food restaurants, but some studies have found higher calories, fat and sodium levels in the food provided by full-service establishments. Furthermore, nutrition information provided at full-service restaurants has lagged behind that of fastfood businesses.

Boundaries of “Local” Food “Local” is one of the current buzzwords that consumers face when they are shopping for groceries.

While consumers’ translations of the word varies, a study of Canadian consumers by University of Kentucky researchers pinned down the most common definition.

The study determined that consumers were likely to select local beef if originated within 100 miles. The government’s Food Inspection Agency, on the other hand, requires that local beef originate within 30 miles of where it is sold.

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INDUSTRY UPDATE Restaurants Follow Trends The National Restaurant Association has projected that 2014 is all about local sourcing, environmental sustainability and nutrition. Locally sourced meat and seafood ranked number one among trends listed in the survey.

Popular trends include nose-to-tail and root-to-stalk cooking, along with pickling, dark greens and Southeast Asian fare. Previous trends that lost ground include grass-fed beef, yogurt, sweet potato fries and organic coffee.

CONTINUED

Ag Provides 9.2% of All Jobs During 2012, 16.5 million fulland part-time jobs were related to agriculture, about 9.2% of total US employment. Direct on-farm employment provided more than 2.6 million of these jobs.

Employment in the related industries supported another 13.9 million positions. Of this number, food services and drinking businesses accounted for the largest share — 10.8 million jobs, and food manufacturing supported another 1.8 million. The remaining agriculturerelated industries together account for another 1.5 million jobs.

Ag Reduces Climate Impacts US agriculture is not the negative force that some believe when it comes to producing greenhouse gases. Such gases derive from a number of sources with the top three being electricity production, transportation and industry.

Agricultural emissions linked to food production, on the other hand, have remained flat, while production has increased significantly over the past two decades. For 100 years, the carbon footprint per unit of agricultural production has gone down substantially. In the world’s developing countries, the carbon footprint of food production is much greater, primarily because crop yields are much lower.

Biofuels Utilize Crop Waste An ethanol plant, located in Emmetsburg, IA, will be one of first producers of biofuels made exclusively from crop waste, primarily using cobs and other corn stover.

POET-DSM is a joint operation between ethanol maker POET LLC and DSM, a Dutch chemical group.

The $250 million facility was projected to go on line in June, and will produce 7-12 million gallons of ethanol by the end of 2014. Ultimately, the plant is expected to reach an expected production capacity of 25 million gallons annually.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 52

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ASA Publication’s SimTalk Production Schedule Deadlines

Plan to attend Montana’s Choice Sale, the following events, or contact Montana Simmental Association members to see what they have to offer you!

MSA Members Bull and Private Treaty Sales Date

Ranch/Sale

City

Phone

December 6, 2014

Montana’s Choice Simmental/SimAngus™ Sale

Billings

208-267-2668

February 2, 2015

Gateway Simmental Breeding Value Bull Sale

Lewistown

406-538-9695

President:

February 4, 2015

Begger’s Diamond V Ranch Genetic Source Bull Sale

Wibaux

406-796-2326

February 7, 2015

Prickly Pear Simmental Ranch Bull Sale

Helena

406-949-1754

February 12, 2015

Lassle Ranch Simmental – 22nd Annual Bull Sale

Glendive

406-486-5584

Robert Hayes Wilsall, MT 59086 406-578-2354 rhayesparton@hayesranch.com

February 16, 2015

Bulls of the Big Sky Bull Sale

Billings

208-267-2668

March 2, 2015

Hill’s Ranch Production Sale

Stanford

406-566-2479

March 7, 2015

Trinity Farms Generations of Excellence Sale

Ellensburg, WA

509-968-4800

March 17, 2015

Open Gate Ranch Sale

Simms

406-467-2082

April 18, 2015

Nelson Livestock Co. Production Sale

Wibaux

406-588-3371

Private Treaty

Rocking L 4 Ranch

Bonners Ferry, ID

208-691-6656

Private Treaty

Andrea Cocergine

Butte

406-479-0010

Private Treaty

Dean and Karen Wang

Baker

406-978-3672

Private Treaty

Zimmerman Simmentals

Stevensville

406-369-2970

Private Treaty

H and H Livestock

Sandpoint, ID

208-290-7804

Board of Directors

Vice President: Jeff Koch Big Timber, MT 59011 406-860-0211 jskoch@triangle.com

Secretary/Treasurer: Maureen Mai Bonners Ferry, ID 83805 208-267-2668 rymocattle@gmail.com

INDUSTRY UPDATE Distiller’s Waste Finds New Outlet The boom in ethanol has created so much tonnage in distillers dried grains that US livestock producers cannot feed it all without exceeding recommended livestock levels. A considerable amount is being exported, but new domestic markets are needed as well.

USDA researchers believe that they have found a rather unique outlet — kitty litter that is nearly 100% biodegradable, a major advantage over clay-based litters that now dominate this rather large market.

CONTINUED

Consumers Losing Trust in Food System In spite of slight improvement in the public’s perception of farming and agriculture as an industry, about 25% of consumers report that they have lost confidence in the food system.

Causes of this “lack of trust” included: biotechnology as a factor in food safety; diseases such as E. coli, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, and Avian influenza; plus personal experience such as food poisoning.

Expiration Dates Confuse Consumers

A $65 Burger!

Researchers from Harvard law School contend that the expiration dates on food labels cause “mass confusion” among consumers and contribute to huge volumes of food that are thrown away each year.

Their report indicates that more than 90% of Americans prematurely toss food away because they misinterpret food labels as indicators of food safety. Phrases like ‘sell by’, ‘use by’, and ‘best before’, are often misinterpreted and leading to a false confidence in food safety.

During the most recent holiday season, a Los Anglesbased restaurant announced its “Money’s No Object” burger, M.N.O. for short at three locations in New York, San Francisco and L.A. Offered as part of its annual truffle season promotion, the price was listed at $65.

The burger was made from Wagyu beef and topped with a port reduction and freshly shaved white truffles.

For an extra $10 in New York, the buyer can order gras.

As a bonus, the company points out that diners would also receive a shirt.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 54

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INDUSTRY UPDATE CONTINUED

SDSU Studies Female’s Energy Intake

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NIVERSAL SEMEN SALES, INC. 2626 Second Avenue South Great Falls, MT 59405 800-227-8774 406-453-0374 406-452-5153 Evenings 406-453-0510 Fax unisemen@universalsemensales.com

Mobile: 217-433-0242

Together Allied’s breeder owners market over 5,000 SimAngusTM, Simmental, Angus and Red Angus bulls annually. Our commercial customer base includes 600,000+ females, resulting in your best supply of commercial replacement females and quality feeder cattle. Allied’s full circle approach assists in selecting the right genetics for your operation and offers the marketing opportunities and flexibility needed to profit from them. Our value proposition begins with superior genetics but won’t end there.

For further information on our mission, services and detailed sale listings visit:

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Marty Ropp • 406-581-7835 Clint Berry • 417-844-1009 Garrett Thomas • 936-714-4591

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www.universalsemensales.com

Researchers at South Dakota State University are studying how changes to a beef cow’s energy intake during the second trimester of pregnancy might affect her offspring’s beef quality. Known as fetal programming, the concept suggests that during development of the fetus, important biological parameters can be manipulated.

The study showed that “altering maternal energy during mid-gestation impacts the fat deposition of the offspring ” — calves from cows in a negative energy group had a more favorable distribution of carcass fat.

Influencing Calving Time More and more science is available to support a simple management strategy that can increase the number of cows that will calve during the daylight hours, when a cows is more likely to be seen and assisted, if needed.

The easiest method, according to multiple studies, of inhibiting nighttime calving is by feeding cows at night. The physiological mechanism is unknown, but some hormonal effect may be involved. Rumen motility studies indicate the frequency of rumen contractions falls a few hours before parturition. It is suggested that night feeding causes intraruminal pressures to rise at night and decline in the daytime.

Pecan Shells Offer Antimicrobial Option A study in the Journal of Food Science has shown that extracts from pecan shells may be effective at protecting meats, such as chicken, from Listeria growth.

When this extract was tested on raw chicken skin, it decreased the levels of pathogens by 100 times and at the same time, reduced the levels of spoilage organisms by more than 1,000 times, greatly increasing shelf life.

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October 4, 2014 1:00 PM TB Resistance in Genes?

Researchers have identified cattle genes that could allow genetic selection for resistance to bovine tuberculosis (bTB). On a global scale, this zoonotic pathogen is estimated to cause up to 15% of human tuberculosis cases and is considered to be the fourth most significant livestock disease in terms of human health impact.

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Edinburgh in the UK, suggests that genetic marker-based selection for resistance to bTB has the potential to make a significant contribution to control of the disease.

Rolling Hills Farms Sale Facility Belle Center, Ohio Sale Consignors: Rolling Hills Farms, Ferguson Show Cattle, Erv-N-Del Farm, Chippewa Valley Angus, Ruffing Family Farm, Isler Family Simmental

311N

S629

Selling a granddaughter

by Shear Force

Selling this donor along with IVF embryos

Value of Distiller’s Grains Dropping Cattlemen who use distiller’s grains as a relatively low-cost protein and energy supplement for wintering cattle on feedyard rations, are now faced with changes in the nutrient profile of the byproduct.

Apparently, ethanol plants that supply distiller’s grains are starting to strip out the oil from the product, which will drop fat content from 10% to the 2-3% range. To compensate, feeders will be forced to replace much of the distiller’s grains with both dry and wet corn to keep the energy level of the ration consistent.

U46

Z110G

Selling a daughter

by Lock N Load

Selling embryos by CDI RimRock

0074

1003

Mytty In Focus x Rito 616 Bred to Upgrade

Objective x TC Advantage Bred with sexed Upgrade

Animal Protein May Benefit Aging A diet high in animal protein may be of great benefit in aging individuals, according to results of a new study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

With life expectancies rising and the number of older people on the increase, the discovery takes on added significance.

The research, performed by Japanese scientists, focused on “identifying nutritional factors that contribute to maintaining higherlevel functional capacity, to prevent deterioration of daily living.” In general, they found that animal proteins help the body build and repair tissue along with fighting infections.

Z43H

9031 Rito 4L60 x 878 Bred to Uno Mas

Selling the dam of this past top-selling bred

Contact us today for a Sale Book!

Bob, Nancy, Bill and Marcia Hoovler 3437 State Route 67 • Belle Center, Ohio 43310 937-464-9913 • www.rollinghillsfarmssimmentals.com Bob Hoovler 937-538-1329 • Marcia Hoovler 937-538-1537

Sale Managed By

Doug & Debbie Parke Drew & Holli Hatmaker 153 Bourbon Hills • Paris, KY 40361 859-987-5758 • 859-421-6100 Cell pleent@aol.com www.parkelivestock.com

CONTINUED ON PAGE 56

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55

INDUSTRY UPDATE

CONTINUE

Organics Not More Nutritious

GM Crops Beneficial

Although buying organic fruits and vegetables helps protect the environment, research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that they have no nutritional advantage over their conventionally grown counterparts.

While conventionally grown products contain more chemical residue, no studies have proven that the amount of chemicals we ingest cause any harm.

And much of the research linking pesticides with disease has been done on farmers who have been exposed to huge quantities.

Biotechnology has deliver a substantial increase in farm income, while providing substantial benefits to both farmers and consumers, according to a economic study from the United Kingdom. The study attributes an additional 110 million tons of soybeans and 195 million tons of corn between 1996 and 2011to biotechnology.

The environment also benefits because farmers are adopting conservation tillage practices, building weed management practices around benign herbicides, and reducing insecticide through use of insectresistant crops.

Wide Track x Reflection Bred to GLS Integrate

Sweet Meat x Gambler Bred to All Around Sale managed by:

SM

LLC

Doug and Debbie Parke Drew and Holli Hatmaker 153 Bourbon Hills Paris, KY 40361 859-987-5758 859-421-6100 Cell pleent@aol.com

Look for catalog online at: parkelivestock.com

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SIMTALK

Z 21 In Dew Time x Emma Bred to New Direction

03

58

1X

Double Down x Club King Bred to Bettis

A6 50

MMF Hal x MMF 402P Bred to RCR Stetson

WRS Invictus x All In Bred to SDS Graduate

A6 3

40 2A

Top Grade x Setting the Pace Bred to W/C Paleface

37 1A

87

A2

6A

17

Pesticide Use Greater Than Reported

Lucky Dice x Bush Focus Bred To Agent Utah

Emblazon x Premium Beef Bred to MMF Jules

Consignors: Swain Select Simmental 502-245-3866

Reality Farms 502-667-0142

Wayward Hill Farm 859-351-4486

Double Diamond 859-588-9122

Welsh Simmentals 270-427-4717

Maple Leaf Farm 859-227-7323

Rocking P Livestock 606-584-7581

Stephens Beef Cattle 606-782-7640

Misty Meadows Farm 502-593-5136

Bluegrass Genetics 502-321-0934

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) believes that pesticide use is vastly under-reported and has implications in the decline of bees, among other beneficial insects. Recent reporting by USDA indicates a substantial drop in pesticide use on corn.

According to the UCS, however, the reporting does not include insecticides and fungicides used to treat most of the seeds used to plant over 90 million acres of corn over three years.

Feed Affects Efficiency, Climate A recent study shows how an animal’s geographic location and diet changes its efficiency in producing byproducts and meat, and the amount of greenhouse gases it produces. The study, reported by the National Academy of Sciences, analyzed livestock feed for cows, sheep, pigs and poultry in different parts of the world.

Results show that livestock in many parts of the world are far less efficient in converting feed to food, and livestock in developing nations produced significantly higher levels of greenhouse gases. On a global basis, it was found that pork and poultry is produced more efficiently that dairy and beef.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 58

INDUSTRY UPDATE

CONTINUE

Schmacon™ Introduced Schmacon™, consisting of smoked and cured glazed beef slices, is one of the latest successes generated by checkoff-funded projects. “The product looks and smells as tantalizing as bacon; crisps up like bacon in a fraction of the time; and fully satisfies with delicious all-beef flavor, as a much healthier alternative,” according to a checkoff press release.

The new product, called “beef’s answer to bacon,” was named winner of the prestigious 2014 Food and Beverage Innovations Award, presented annually by the National Restaurant Association.

Food Production by Printer The Natural Machines Company is receiving orders for its amazing Foodini, a 3D printer than can print food.

The printer will be available in mid-2014, for a purchase priced of $1,300.

Demonstrations have shown that the Foodini is loaded with capsules of fresh ingredients, either prepared with a food processor or purchased separately, then prints three-dimensional food one thin layer at a time. Reportedly, the machine can make sauces, dough, batter, purees, chocolate, candy and even meat and vegetable fillings.

AgriLabs Develops VetGun™

Red and Black Heat Tolerant SimGenetic Cattle Simbrah – SimAngus™HT – SimAngus™ and Simmental

The VetGun™ , developed through AgriLabs by SmartVet, is a new breakthrough method of delivery for treating insects. It is described as “an innovative, timesaving approach to applying insecticide-filled gel capsules to control horn flies and lice on cattle.

Each VetCap, fired by the VetGun, contains a precise dosage of an EPA-approved insecticide, and is designed to burst on impact, releasing its contents which then begin to migrate across the animal’s hide. The VetGun is powered by CO2 and is accurate up to a range of 15-20 feet. Animals generally show little reaction and immediately return to feeding.

Bulls and Replacement Heifers for Sale Private Treaty.

Real-Time Test for Trich Life Technologies Corporation has announced the availability of the only USDA-licensed, real-time PCR test to detect Tritrichomonas foetus, a sexually transmitted disease in cattle that leads to early embryonic losses and infertility, causing significant economic impact on the cattle industry.

The VETMAX-Gold Trich Detection Kit provides veterinary diagnostic laboratories with a test that provides highly sensitive and specific results. Accurate testing to identify positive bulls is the only method of preventing spread of Trichomoniasis disease prior to cows being exposed.

Our Cattle are bred to take the HEAT, HUMIDITY and INSECTS in challenging environments while maintaining fertility, performance and carcass quality.

ZZ

FILEGONIA CATTLE COMPANY

Joe Mercer 327 CR 459 Lott, TX 76656

Home/Office: 254-984-2225 Cell: 956-802-6995

www.filegoniacattle.com • bethmercer1974@gmail.com

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ASA

Beth Mercer PERFORMANCE R E C O R D S

CONTINUED ON PAGE 64

www.breedingcattlepage.com/ Simmental/iasimmassoc/

www.breedingcattlepage.com/ vsa/index.htm

www.mnsimmental.com Dr. Lynn Aggen Office: 507-886-6321 Mobile: 507-421-3813 Home: 507-886-4016

Performance with Quality

Matt Aggen Mobile: 701-866-3544 Home: 507-772-4522 Email: mattaggen@hotmail.com

Harmony, MN 55939 www.oakmfarm.com

Sargeant Farms Simmental Cattle BULLS

AND FEMALES AVAILABLE

BY PRIVATE TREATY

Owner • Howard E. Sargeant Box 400, Forest Lake, MN 55025 651-464-3345 • 651-464-2662

Farm Manager: Adam Trest 52309 Fleming Logging Road Sandstone, MN 55072 320-245-2830 • 320-630-3608

Jass Simmentals Reds and Blacks Available Steve, Alan & Mark Jass 1950 Quincy Avenue • Garner, Iowa 50438 641-587-2348 or 641-587-2174 641-860-0645(c) or 515-689-6219(c) www.jassimm.com • email: jassimm@comm1net.net

www.breedingcattlepage.com/ INSimmAssoc/index.htm Lanting Enterprises, LLC

Contact us about our Private Treaty Sales.

2181 B N 2300 E Twin Falls, ID 83301-0643 208-655-4257 208-731-6646 Bob’s Cell 208-655-4371 John’s Home lant4257@filertel.com

Promise Land Ranch Mike & Cathy Stoltey Family 374 Promise Lane • Plummer, ID 83851 208-686-1515 (H) • 208-699-2335 (M) michael_stoltey@yahoo.com

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Mark, Jame, Anna & Peter Krieger PO Box 145 Universal, IN, 47884 www.kriegerfarms.com

812-239-5102, Mark mark@kriegerfarms.com 812-208-0956, Jame jame@kriegerfarms.com 269-470-7553, Anna 812-208-8224, Peter

Annual Sale First Sunday in October

www.washingtonsimmental.org

Angus • SimAngusTM • Simmental Mike & Paulette Forman Ellensburg, WA 98926 509-968-4800

Robb & Debbie Forman Ellensburg, WA 98926 509-201-0775

Generations of Excellence Sale March 7, 2015

www.trinityfarms.info

CALENDAR AUGUST

30-9/2 LMC GenePLUS Online Sale V — www.cattleinmotion.com

SEPTEMBER 1 6 13 14 15 17 20 20 21 25 27 27

The Female Sale at Eby Ranch — Emporia, KS NC Fall Harvest Sale — Union Grove, NC Silver Towne Farms 28th Annual Production Sale — Winchester, IN Field of Dreams Production Sale — Hope IN Houck Rock Creek Ranch Fall Private Treaty Bull Sale — Allen, KS (pg. 28) Bullseye Breeder’s Angus & SimAngus™ Bull Sale — Oakdale, CA (pg. 44) Heart of Texas Simmental/Simbrah Association Fall Fest Sale — Hearne, TX KenCo Family Matters Sale — Auburn, KY (pg. 43) Illini Elite Simmental Sale — Shelbyville, IL (pg. 47) Circle Ranch Beef Solutions Bull Sale — Ione, CA (pg. 71) 47th Annual Black Harvest Calf Sale — Valparaiso, IN Ferme Gagnon & Guests 18th Annual Simmental Production Sale — Cheneville, QB 27 Head of the Class Sale — Louisburg, KS (pg. 39) 27 Martin Farms “Open House at the Farm” — Lyles, TN (pg. 67)

OCTOBER 4 4 4 5 5 8 11 11 11 12 17 17 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 19 24 24-26 25 25 25 25 25 25 26 26 27 28 31

Bar 5 Extravaganza Fall Production Sale — Markdale, ON (pg. 48) Buckeye’s Finest Sale — Belle Center, OH (pg. 55) Keystone Classic Heifer Showcase Sale — Harrisburg, PA The Harvest at Krieger Farms — Universal, IN (pgs. 35, 60) Wisconsin Simmental Midwest Fall Roundup Sale — Lancaster, WI (pg. 8) 40th Annual R.A. Brown Ranch Bull Sale — Throckmorton, TX (pg. 59) Belles of the Bluegrass — Mt. Sterling, KY (pg. 56) Legends of the Blue Ridge Sale — Atkins, VA (pg. 37) Mark Yazel Cattle Co.'s "The Fall Finale" Sale, Vinita, OK, 63 Factory Direct “Retirement Sale”, West LaFayette, IN MN Beef Expo Icons on Ice Sale — Minneapolis, MN MN Beef Expo White Satin on Ice — Minneapolis, MN 20th Annual New Direction Sale — Seward, NE (pgs. 16, 52) IBEP Performance Bull Test Sale — Springville, IN Little Creek Farms’ Magnolia Classic — Starkville, MS (pg. 21) MN Beef Expo All Breeds Sale — Minneapolis, MN MN Beef Expo Simmental Sale — Minneapolis, MN Route 66 SimGenetics Road to Success Sale — Strafford, MO Tennessee Fall Showcase Sale — Lebanon, TN The Black Label Event, Volume V — Grandview, TX (pg. 61) Buckles & Banners Sale — West Point, IA Simbrah Synergy VII — Giddings, TX 7P Ranch Annual Fall Bull & Female Sale — Tyler, TX (pg. 11) Flying H Genetics Fall Bull Sale — Lowry City, MO (pg. 1) McNeill Farms Performance Bull and Female Sale — Seagrove, NC Midwest Made and Friends Simmental Sale — Prairie City, IA Pennsylvania Fall Classic Sale — Waynesburg, PA Tanner Farms Pasture Performance-Tested Bull Sale — Shuqualak, MS (pg. 23) Heartland Performance with Class Sale — Waverly, IA The 2nd Annual Social Simmental Sale — Urbana, OH (pg. 31) Rust Mountain View “Queens of the Pasture” Sale — Turtle Lake, ND (pg. 45) Williams Cattle Company’s Show Heifer and Donor Prospect Sale — Follett, TX 20th Annual Hokie Harvest Sale — Blacksburg, VA

NOVEMBER 1 1 1 1 1 2 7 8 8 8 8 13-15 15 15 15

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Irvine Ranch 10th Annual Production Sale — Manhattan, KS (pg. 9) Land of Lincoln Sale — Altamont, IL Pigeon Mountain Simmental’s Fall Bull Test Sale, Rome, GA Professional Beef Genetics Bull Sale — Windsor, MO (pg. 58) Yon Family Farms Bull and Female Sale — Ridge Spring, SC Hawkeye Simmental Sale — Bloomfield, IA NLC Simmental Female Production Sale — Wessington, SD Deer Creek Farm Simmental Sale — Lowesville, VA Gibbs Farms’ 9th Annual Bull & Replacement Female Sale — Ranburne, AL (pg. 73) Moser Ranch 23rd Bull Sale — Wheaton, KS (pg. 53) Western Showcase Sale — Moses Lake, WA Two Fast Nickels Online Bull Sale — www.cattleinmotion.com JRW Farms’ 2nd Annual “Fall Harvest” Private Treaty Bull Sale — Seminary, MS Timberland Cattle’s Best-of-the-Black Angus & SimAngus™ Bull Sale — Vernon, AL (pg. 13) Trauernicht Simmental Nebraska Platinum Standard Sale — Beatrice, NE CONTINUED ON PAGE 64

CALENDAR

INDUSTRY UPDATE

CONTINUED

NOVEMBER

CONTINUED

Season Long Insect Control A broad-spectrum premise spray called Annihalator™ Polyzone® has been introduced by Bayer HealthCare, LLC’s Animal Health Division.

According to the company, the product provides livestock producers with long-term control of crawling, flying and wood-infesting pests.

The technology allows the product to withstand aggressive surfaces, severe weather and wash-off conditions for up to 90 days. The residual enables users to maintain control with fewer applications, thus resulting in reduced labor.

16 19 21 22 22 22 22-25 23 28 29 29 29 30 30 30

DECEMBER 5-7 6 6 6 6 8 10 13 13

USDA Approves BRD Vaccine Agri-Labs has reported that USDA has approved use of its newly formulated PULMO-GUARD®, a vaccine used in prevent bovine respiratory disease (BRD). The vaccine, marketed by Agri-Labs, works against Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida.

Made with a low-reactive, watersoluable adjuvant, PULMO-GUARD PH-M “is easy on animals and offers exceptional effectiveness,” according to a company press release.

ST

(Cont.)

Hudson Pines Farm The Living Legacy X Sale — Campbellsburg, KY North American Select Simmental Sale — Louisville, KY “Southern Excellence” Bull Sale — Wadley, AL Missouri Simmental Association’s Fall Roundup Sale — Springfield, MO Shenandoah’s Shining Stars — Quicksburg, VA The Buckeye Best of Both World’s Female Sale — Newark, OH LMC “Giving THANKS” Donation Online Sale — www.cattleinmotion North Central Simmental Fall Classic — Alden, IA Ruby Cattle Co. “Livin’ The Dream” Production Sale — Murray, IA Foxy Ladies Bred Heifer Sale — West Point, NE (pg. 16) Genetic Perfection Sale — Fremont, NE Trennepohl Farms Right By Design Sale — Middletown, IN Cow Time Sale — Wahoo, NE Red Dirt Divas Female Sale — Marshall, OK The Chosen Few at Janssen Farms — Gilmore City, IA

13 13 13 13 14 20 20

Hoosier Beef Congress Junior Show and Sale — Indianapolis, IN J&C Simmentals Female Sale — West Point, NE (pg. 16) Jewels of the Northland Sale — Clara City, MN Montana’s Choice Simmental Sale — Billings, MT (pg. 51) Next Step Cattle Company’s Annual Bull Sale — Auburn, AL Dakota Made Production Sale — Salem, SD Double Bar D Farms Simmental “She’s Got The Look” Female Sale — Grenfell, SK Driggers Simmental Farm Bull Sale — Glennville, GA Hartman Cattle Company’s 19th Annual Customer Appreciation Sale — Tecumseh, NE North Alabama Bull Evaluation Sale — Cullman, AL North Dakota Simmental Association’s Showcase/Classic Sale — Mandan, ND Pride of the Prairie Simmental Sale — Seymour, IL Purdue Golden Girls Cow Sale — West Lafayette, IN Value By Design Female Sale — Anita, IA Season Finale XII — Hillsboro, OH South Dakota Simmental Source Sale — Worthing, SD

JANUARY 2015 3 10 17 17 19 20 25 28 31

Royal Edge Sale — Ames, IA Tanner Farms Pasture Performance-Tested Bull Sale — Wiggins, MS (pg. 23) SimMagic On Ice — Denver, CO University of Florida Bull Test Sale — Greenwood, FL National Western “The One” Simmental Sale — Denver, CO Wild Wild West Sale — Brighton, CO Triangle J Ranch Annual Production Sale — Miller, NE (pg. 16) Sioux Empire Simmental Show & Sale — Sioux Falls, SD Double J Farms’ 41st Annual Private Treaty Simmental Bid Bull Sale — Garretson, SD (pg. 12) 31 J&C Simmentals Annual Bull Sale — West Point, NE (pg. 16)

FEBRUARY 1 Traunernicht Simmental Nebraska Platinum Standard Bull Sale — Beatrice, NE 2 35th Annual Gateway “Breeding Value” Bull Sale — Lewistown, MT (pgs. 51, IBC) 4 Begger’s Diamond V Big Sky Genetic Source Bull Sale — Wibaux, MT (pg. 51) 5 Stavick Simmental’s 15th “King of the Range” Bull Sale — Aberdeen, SD 7 Black Hills Stock Show and Sale — Rapid City, SD 7 Dixie National Simmental Sale — Jackson, MS 7 Olrichs/Felt Farms Bulls Sale — Norfolk, NE (pg. 16) 7 Prickly Pear Simmentals Made In Montana Sale — Helena, MT (pgs. 13, 30, 51) 7 Ruby Cattle Co. & RS&T Simmental Performance Bull Sale — Lamoni, IA 7 Springer Simmentals Sale of Value Based Genetics — Decorah, IA 8 Blue River Gang’s 33rd Annual Simmental, SimAngus™ & Angus Production Sale — Rising City, NE 8 Rydeen Farms 17th Annual “Vision” Sale — Clearbrook, MN 9 Annual Iowa Simmental Sale — Des Moines 9 Edge of the West Bull and Female Sale — Mandan, ND (pg. 13) 10 Bata Brothers/Olafson Brothers 18th Annual Joint Simmental Bull and Female Sale — Rugby, ND 11 River Creek Farms 25th Annual Production Sale — Manhattan, KS (pgs. 17, 69) 11 Traxinger Simmental Annual Bull Sale, Claremont, SD 11 Werning Cattle Co. Production Sale — Emery, SD 12 10th Annual Bichler-Johnson “Quality Not Quantity” Production Sale — Linton, ND T

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S

Rates and Policies Ad Sales Staff For All Your Advertising Needs

S

imTalk is an 8 1/8 x 10 7/8 inch publication produced by the Register, the official publication of the American Simmental Association. Published four times annually, SimTalk is a glossy, full-color publication with a circulation of 50,000+ and targets commercial users of SimGenetics. Advertising in SimTalk provides a unique opportunity to brand and trademark your program to thousands of potential customers. If you are serious about communicating with the commercial beef business, consider an advertising presence in every one of our four annual issues.

Space and four-color rates for SimTalk: Space Rates

Nancy Chesterfield 406-587-2778 nchesterfield@simmgene.com

1 page 2/3 page 1/2 page 1/3 page 1/4 page 1/8 page 3-inch mini 2-inch mini 2-inch card 1-inch card Classified Ads

Non-Contract

2X Contract

4X Contract

$890 $840 $760 $730 $510 $480 $380 $370 $260 $250 $150 $115 $85 $289/year, 4 insertion $220/year, 4 insertions $2.00/word, $24.00 minimum,

Four Color

$800 $700 $460 $350 $230

$300 $200 $150 $100 $75 $50 $30 $15 $60 $40 must be prepaid

SimTalk Deadlines for Publication:

Rebecca Price 406-587-2778 rprice@simmgene.com

Late Fall 2014 January 2015 March 2015 Early Fall 2015

Sales Close

Ad Materials

Camera Ready

Mail Date

Sept 22 Dec 5 Jan 23 July 24

Sept 29 Dec 12 Jan 30 Aug 3

Oct 6 Dec 22 Feb 6 Aug 17

Oct 17 Jan 9 Feb 19 Aug 24

ASA/SimTalk Membership Directory 2015 Deadlines for Publication: May 1

International Sales

Jeff Thomas 406-581-8859 jdthomas@bresnan.net

Subscriptions • Domestic $50/year • First Class $100/year • All International $100/year (US)

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SIMTALK

May 8

May 22

June 8

Send all ad materials to: register@simmgene.com or Fax: 406-587-8853 A non-refundable fee of $50.00 will be assessed if a client does not meet deadlines or if the client commits to advertising and cancels after the deadline or if the ad must be dropped to ensure on time publication.

Advertising materials (including photos) must be in SimTalk office by the dates listed above.

SimTalk, which mails by bulk rate, assumes no responsibility for actual receipt date.

Design Charges Advertising rates are for camera-ready ads only.

Additional design charges will apply to any ad that is designed by ASA Publication, Inc. Layouts & Proofs Although every effort will be made to provide proofs on all ads, proofs are guaranteed only if all ad material arrives in SimTalk office prior to deadline.

Terms All accounts are due and payable as invoiced.

Interest charges of 1.5 percent per month (18 percent APR) will be added to accounts 30 days past due. If an account becomes 60 days delinquent, all ASA Publication, Inc. work may be suspended until full payment is made. After review by the ASA Executive Committee, ASA privileges may be denied to those with accounts over 90 days delinquent.

Advertising Content SimTalk and its staff assume no responsibility or obligation to verify the accuracy and truthfulness of advertising copy submitted to SimTalk. However, SimTalk reserves the right to reject any advertising copy or photo which SimTalk deems unsuitable for publication for any reason, including copy or photographs which are false or misleading. SimTalk assumes no responsibility for the accuracy and truthfulness of submitted print ready ads. Advertisers shall indemnify and hold harmless SimTalk for any claims concerning advertising content as submitted. Advertising containing pedigrees or statements regarding performance must conform to records kept by the American Simmental Association. Copy deviating from official records may be changed as necessary without advertiser consent.

Editorial Policy Opinions expressed are the writers’ and not necessarily those of SimTalk. Photographs are welcome, but no responsibility is assumed for material while in transit or while in the office.

c/o the Register 2 Simmental Way Bozeman, Montana 59715-9733 USA 406-587-2778 • Fax 406-587-8853 register@simmgene.com

AD INDEX Alabama

Illinois

Genex Custom Collection . . . . . . . . . 54 Gibbs Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Moore Farms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Timberland Cattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Allied Genetic Resources . . . . 5, 16, 24, 42, 54, 58, 69, 73, IBC Black Diamond Genetics . . . . . . . . . . 47 Can Am Cattle Company. . . . . . . . . . 47 Fox Creek Cattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Hopewell Views Simmentals . . . . . . . 16 Horner Show Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Illini Elite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 JR Simmentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Martin Cattle Sales, Larry . . . . . . . . . 54 Rhodes Angus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Rincker Simmentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Schick Cattle Company . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Wildberry Farms Simmental Cattle . . 16 Wright-Way Simmental . . . . . . . . . . . 47

California Bruin Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Circle Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Gonsalves Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Colorado Altenburg Super Baldy Ranch, LLC . 12 Lechleiter Simmentals. . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Georgia C&C Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27, 43

Idaho H and H Livestock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Lanting Enterprises, LLC. . . . . . . . . . 60 Promise Land Ranch. . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Rocking L 4 Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Indiana Beshears Simmentals . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Clover Valley Simmentals . . . . . . . . . 43 Field of Dreams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Gold Buckle Cattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Krieger Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35, 60

Rustic Hills Cattle Company . . . . . . . 27 Wesner Livestock Ent.. . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Iowa Brink Fleckvieh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Jass Simmentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Ruble Cattle Services . . . . . . . . . . 8, 37 Springer Simmental. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Kansas ART-JEN Simmental Farm . . . . . . . . 74 Brooks Simmental Ranch . . . . . . . . . 17 Cow Camp Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Dixson Farms, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Gold Bullion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Head of the Class . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Hofmann Simmental Farms . . . . . . . 17 Irvine Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Jensen Simmentals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Kaser Brothers Simmental . . . . . . . . 17 Mark Yazel Cattle Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Moser Ranch, The. . . . . . . . . . . . 17, 53 River Creek Farms . . . . . . . . . . . 17, 69 CONTINUED ON PAGE 70

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AD INDEX

CONTINUED

Kansas (continued)

Minnesota

Rock Creek Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . 17, 28 Sanders Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 SEK Genetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Sunflower Genetics LLC . . . . . . . . . . 17 White Star Cattle Co.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Oak Meadow Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Sargeant Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Kentucky Bluegrass Genetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Double Diamond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 DP Sales Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39, 43, 52, 55, 56 Family Matters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Maple Leaf Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Misty Meadows Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Reality Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Rocking P Livestock . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Stephens Beef Cattle . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Swain Select Simmental . . . . . . . . . . 56 Wayward Hill Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Welsh Simmentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Louisiana Global Fleckvieh Genetics . . . . . . . . 74 Rugged R Cattle Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Robinson Cattle Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Michigan Freedom Run Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Triple Z Simmental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

CLASSIFIEDS ◆ For Sale: Semen on proven bulls: Canadian Salvator, EDN Destiny, Extra, Frenchie, Fortune, C&B Red Patch, Bar 5 Statesman, Signal, Salvator, Ueli and more. Call 563-419-2444. ◆ It Pays to Advertise!

Cost: $2.00 per word, $24.00 minimum, must be pre-paid. Copy: Must be submitted in writing, along with full payment. Count as one word each: entire address number; entire street; entire phone number; entire name. Mail your classified ad copy and your payment to: the SimTalk Classifieds, 2 Simmental Way, Bozeman, MT 59715.

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SIMTALK

Mississippi JRW, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Little Creek Farms, LLC . . . . . . . 21, 74 Tanner Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Forster Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Hartman Cattle Company . . . . . . . . . 27 J&C Simmentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Sandy Acres Simmnental . . . . . . . . . 16 Sloup Simmentals . . . . . . . . . . . . 16, 52 Triangle J Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Western Cattle Source . . . . . . . . . . . 16

New York Missouri Cattle Visions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Flying H Genetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Genex Custom Collection . . . . . . . . . 54 Harriman Santa Fe (Bob) . . . . . . . . . 72 Lucas Cattle Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12, 62 Owen Bros. Cattle Company. . . . . . . 53 Professional Beef Genetics . . . . . . . . 58 Rotert Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 SHO-ME Simmentals . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Steaks Alive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BC Windsor Livestock Auction . . . . . . . . 58 WW Cattle Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Hudson Pines Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

North Dakota Dakota Xpress. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Ellingson Simmentals . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 James Creek Simmental . . . . . . . . . . 74 Keller Broken Heart Ranch . . . . . . . . 13 Kenner Simmentals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Olafson Brothers Simmentals . . . . . . 13 Rust Mountain View Ranch . . . . . . . . 45 SRF Simmentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 SYS Simmentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 TNT Simmentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Montana

Oklahoma

Begger’s Diamond V Ranch . . . . . . . 51 Bulls of the Big Sky . . . . . . . . 13, 24, 51 Cocergine, Andrea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Gateway Simmental & Lucky Cross . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51, IBC Genex Custom Collection . . . . . . . . . 54 Hill’s Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13, 51 Lassle Ranch Simmentals. . . . . . . . . 51 Made in Montana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Miller Simmentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Montana Simmental Association . . . . 51 Montana’s Choice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Nelson Livestock Company. . . . . . . . 51 Open Gate Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 ORIgen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54, 65 Peck Simmentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Prickly Pear Simmental Ranch . . . . . . . 13, 30, 51 Universal Semen Sales, Inc. . . . . . . . 54 Wang, Dean and Karen . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Zimmerman Simmentals . . . . . . . . . . 51

Hall, Billy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Lazy U Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Mark Yazel Cattle Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Morris Farm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Ratcliff Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Willis Simmentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Nebraska Berger’s HerdMaster . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 BF Black Simmentals . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Felt Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Ohio Buckeye’s Finest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Chippewa Valley Angus. . . . . . . . . . . 55 Erv-N-Del Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Ferguson Show Cattle. . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Hearthstone Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Isler Family Simmental . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Phelps Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Rolling Hills Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Ruffing Family Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Select Sires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Sheiderer Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Strausbaugh’s Black Simmental . . . . 31 The Social . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Pennsylvania SVJ/D&D Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

CONTINUED ON PAGE 72

AD INDEX

CONTINUED

South Dakota

Virginia

Benda Simmentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Double J Farms Simmental Cattle. . . 12 Eichacker Simmentals. . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Genex Custom Collection . . . . . . . . . 54 S/M Fleckvieh Cattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Traxinger Simmental . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Werning Cattle Company . . . . . . . . . 12

Legends of the Blue Ridge . . . . . . . . 37 Rocky Hollow Farm Simmental Cattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Virginia Simmental Association . . . . . 37

Washington Trinity Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51, 60 Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Tennessee KenCo Cattle Company . . . . . . . . . . 43 Martin Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16, 67 R&R Marketing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Red Hill Farms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16, 42 Slate Farms & Cattle Co.. . . . . . . 16, 67 Tylertown Simmentals . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Wall Bros. Farm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Water’s Edge Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Texas 7P Ranch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Black Label Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Bois d’Arc Land & Cattle Co. . . . . . . . 17 Brush Country Bulls. . . . . . . . 17, 46, 58 Filegonia Cattle Company . . . . . . . . . 58 Flying F Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Fullblood Simmental Fleckvieh Federation . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Pine Ridge Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . 16, 57 R.A. Brown Ranch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 RX Simbrah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17, 46 Shipman, Jered, Auctioneer . . . . . . . 54 Shipwreck Cattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Simbrah Synergy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Smith Genetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Southern Jewel Cattle Co.. . . . . . . . . 39

Wisconsin ABS Global, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3, 12 Accelerated Genetics . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Genex Cooperative, Inc. . . . . 19, 54, 69 Wisconsin Simmental Association. . . . 8

Canada Bar 5 Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Bohrson Marketing Services . . . . . . . 48 Double Bar D Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Dwayann Simmentals . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Fleckvieh Forum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Gibbons Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Le Group BBBG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

American Simmental Association . . . . . . . . IFC, 2, 4, 25, 36, 49, 50, 68 Montana Simmental Association . . . . 51 Virginia Simmental Association . . . . . 37 Wisconsin Simmental Association. . . . 8

Livestock Services ABS Global, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3, 12 Accelerated Genetics . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Allflex USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Make our current strong cattle prices even better with superior proven genetics: High weaning % and heavier weights Hybrids: Gain the many heterosis benefits including nearly 25% more lifetime production from crossbreeding.

Older: Eighteen months old to settle more cows/heifers early in the breeding season.

Forage developed: Stand the rigors of our fescue country.

Thick, deep, stretchy, disposition selection.

Professional Beef Genetics Bull Sale Nov. 1, 2014 • Windsor, MO and private treaty Harriman Santa Fe (Bob) Montrose, MO 660-492-2504 bharriman39@hotmail.com

SIMTALK

Martin Cattle Sales, Larry . . . . . . . . . 54 ORIgen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54, 65 R&R Marketing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Ritchey Livestock ID . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Ruble Cattle Services . . . . . . . . . . 8, 37 SEK Genetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Select Sires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Shipman, Jered, Auctioneer . . . . . . . 54 Superior Productions. . . . . . . . . . . . IBC Universal Semen Sales, Inc. . . . . . . . 54

Associations

SimAngusTM, Balancer Bulls, Bred Heifers

72

Allied Genetic Resources . . . . 5, 16, 24, 42, 54, 58, 69, 73, IBC Bohrson Marketing Services . . . . . . . 48 Cattle Visions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 CattleInMotion.com . . . . . . . . . . . 11, 48 DP Sales Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39, 43, 52, 55, 56 DVAuction . . 21, 35, 39, 43, 53, 56, 59, 63 Fullblood Simmental Fleckvieh Federation . . . . . . . . . . . 74 GeneSeek a Neogen Company . . . . 36 Genex Cooperative, Inc. . . . . 19, 54, 69 Genex Custom Collection . . . . . . . . . 54 International Genetic Solutions (IGS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC LiveAuctions.TV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Miscellaneous ASA Performance Advocate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 9, 13, 16, 17, 73 ASA Publication, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . 49, 50 ASA Science Forum . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Carcass Merit Program (CMP) . . . . . . . . . . . 9, 12, 16, 46, 73 Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Have you Herd? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12, 16 Incredibly Affordable Catalogs. . . . . . 33 Sales Call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 SimAngus™ HT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 SimChoice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 SimGenetics Profit Through Science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC, 2, 4, 36, 68 Simbrah. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 SimTalk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49, 50 Total Herd Enrollment (THE) . . . . . . . . 12, 13, 16, 17, 58, 60 tReg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 WLM Kenneth Ambrose Memorial Heifer Scholarship . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

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