Cattlemen's News - December 2021 Issue

Looking ahead to a new year, we thank you for your friendship and your business!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

ON THE BLOCK with Jackie Moore

Bailey Moore: Granby, MO

M (417) 540-4343

Skyler Moore: Mount Vernon, MO M (417) 737-2615

FIELD REPRESENTATIVES It’s December but it sure doesn’t feel like it…a record breaking 75 degrees! We had our Value-Added sale on December 2. Those cattle actually got a little warm but fortunately that market got warm too!

December is proving to be a good month for all of us right here at the present time. We sold fat cattle for $1.42 and we saw those calves and yearlings come .05 to .15 higher. It was just rockin’! We had our big Yearling Special sale on November 22 and it was really good too. There is a lot of optimism in this market, and our weather sure makes it a good time to sell one or buy one so that plays into it as well.

As we get closer to Christmas, there will be some who will buy cattle to graze and there is a little wheat around, not as much as we need but some available. As we go into spring, typically it’s the best time to sell a fat one when the beef trade is the best. People are anxious to start grilling, and I’m very optimistic with this market. We know we killed a lot of cows around the United States because of the drought this last year. Another thing, we killed some because this market has just struggled and struggled for the last 2 years

and people have culled those cows pretty hard. I think these cow numbers are getting back in line where we have a good chance of getting a lot for some of them for the next few years. That would sure be a blessing. Things are definitely looking better!

We have a special cow sale coming up on December 15 following the regular sale.

Then, as we roll back around to the first of the year, we will have a Special Yearling sale on January 3 in conjunction with our regular Monday sale.

There will also be another Value-Added sale on January 6 followed by a Prime Time Livestock video sale. The way the optimism is, I think the market is finally playing in our favor.

It’s the holiday season…a time to be with our friends and family and consider all the blessings we have had this past year as well as looking ahead with optimism! This special time of year is to celebrate Jesus’ birthday and the many things he has done for us.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Jackie

ARKANSAS

Jimmie Brown M (501) 627-2493 Dolf Marrs: Hindsville, AR H (479) 789-2798, M (479) 790-2697 Billy Ray Mainer: Branch, AR M (479) 518-6931 *Cattle Receiving Station Jr. Smith: Melbourne, Arkansas M (870) 373-1150 *Cattle Receiving Station

Fred Gates: M (417) 437-5055 Brent Gundy: Walker, MO H (417) 465-2246, M (417) 321-0958 Jim Hacker: Bolivar, MO H (417) 326-2905, M (417) 328-8905 Bruce Hall: Mount Vernon, MO M (417) 466-5170 Mark Harmon: Mount Vernon, MO M (417) 316-0101

Kent Swinney: Gentry, AR M (479) 524-7024

Bryon Haskins: Lamar, MO M (417) 850-4382

KANSAS

J.W. Henson: Conway, MO H (417) 589-2586, M (417) 343-9488 *Cattle Receiving Station

Pat Farrell (Video Rep): Ft. Scott, KS M (417) 850-1652 Trent Johnson (Video Rep): Ft. Scott, KS M (620) 228-1463 Chris Martin (Video Rep): Alma, KS M (785) 499-3011 Alice Myrick: Mapleton, KS M (620) 363-0740 Bob Shanks: Columbus, KS H (620) 674-3259, M (620) 674-1675

LOUISIANA

James Kennedy: DeRidder, LA M (337) 274-7406 *Cattle Receiving Station

OKLAHOMA

Mark Murray: Westville, OK M (918) 930-0086 Chester Palmer: Miami, OK H (918) 542-6801, M (918) 540-4929 *Cattle Receiving Station Nathan Ponder: Afton, OK M (636) 295-7839 Troy Yoder: Chouteau, OK M (918) 640-8219

MISSOURI

Matt Hegwer: Video Rep Carthage, MO M (417) 793-2540 Larry Jackson: Carthage, MO M (417) 850-3492 Jim Jones: Crane, MO H (417) 723-8856, M (417) 844-9225 Kelly Kenney: Fair Play, MO M (417) 777-1045 Kelly Kissire: Anderson, MO H (417) 845-3777, M (417) 437-7622 Larry Mallory: Miller, MO H (417) 452-2660, M (417) 461-2275 Colby Matthews: Taneyville, MO M (417) 545-1537 Kenny Ogden: Lockwood, MO H (417) 537-4777, M (417) 466-8176 Jason Pendleton: Stotts City, MO M (417) 437-4552 Charlie Prough: El Dorado Springs, MO H (417) 876-4189, M (417) 876-7765 Dennis Raucher: Mount Vernon, MO M (417) 316-0023

Rick Aspegren: Mountain Grove, MO M (417) 547-2098

Cotton Reed: Exeter, MO M (417) 342-5373

Jared Beaird: Ellsinore, MO M (573) 776-4712 *Cattle Receiving Station

Russ Ritchart: Jasper, MO M (417) 483-3295

Klay Beisly: Nevada, MO M (417) 321-2170 Joe Brattin: Fairview, MO M (417) 439-0479

Lonnie Robertson: Galena, MO M (417) 844-1138 Justin Ruddick: Southwest City, MO M (417) 737-2270

Sherman Brown: Marionville, MO H (417) 723-0245, M (417) 693-1701

Alvie Sartin: Seymour, MO M (417) 840-3272 *Cattle Receiving Station

Joel Chaffin: Ozark, MO H (417) 299-4727

Jim Schiltz: Lamar, MO H (417) 884-5229, M (417) 850-7850

Rick Chaffin: Ozark, MO H (417) 485-7055, M (417) 849-1230

Cash Skiles: Purdy, MO M (417) 669-4629

Jack Chastain: Bois D’Arc, MO H (417) 751-9580, M (417) 849-5748

David Stump: Jasper, MO H (417) 537-4358, M (417) 434-5420

Ted Dahlstrom, DVM: Staff Vet Stockyards (417) 548-3074; O (417) 235-4088

Matt Sukovaty: Bolivar, MO H (417) 326-4618, M (417) 399-3600

Tim Durman: Seneca, MO H (417) 776-2906, M (417) 438-3541

Mike Theurer: Lockwood, MO H (417) 232-4358, M (417) 827-3117

Jerome Falls: Sarcoxie, MO H (417) 548-2233, M (417) 793-5752

Tim Varner: Washburn, MO H (417) 826-5645, M (417) 847-7831

Nick Flannigan: Fair Grove, MO M (417) 316-0048

Brandon Woody: Walnut Grove, MO M (417) 827-4698

Kenneth & Mary Ann Friese: Friedheim, MO H (573) 788-2143, M (573) 225-7932 *Cattle Receiving Station

Misti Primm and Cindy Thompson: Office (417) 548-2333

Trey Faucett: Mt. Vernon, MO M (417) 737-2610

Video Cattle Production: Matt Oehlschlager and Clay Eldridge (417) 548-2333

Dave Donica: Yard Manager 417-316-3031

December 2021

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE Nutrition; Planning for a New Year.

IN EVERY ISSUE 3I 6I 18 I 36-37 I

View from the Block Data Driven Decisions Network Know-How Market Report

CONTACT US OUR MISSION Publisher/Advertising: Mark Harmon Phone: 417-548-2333 Mobile: 417-316-0101 markh@joplinstockyards.com

Industry News 12 I Perspective 15 I Well-Balanced Show-Me-Select Sale 24-25 I 2022 Cattle Market Outlook 33 I Plan Now for Antibiotic Changes on the Horizon Management Matters 16 I Making Operational Goals for 2022 23 I Preserving Hay Quality 29 I Manage Winter Cattle Feeding and Feeding Areas 30 I Energy Needs For Beef Cows 32 I Winter Preparedness in Beef Herds 34 I Using a Systems Approach to Beef Cattle Reproduction 35 I Additional Causes of Variation in Reproductive Performance Trending Now 8-9 I Achieving Better Outcomes 10-11 I Choosing Winter Feeding and Water Sites 14 I The Supply Chain Snags Continue…

19 I Winter Challenges 20 I Why We No Longer Neighbor 21 I Culling Cows like a Business Professional 22 I Relive Old Traditions 26 I Handle Vaccines and Animals Properly 28 I Looking Ahead Into 2022

Editor/Design/Layout: Jocelyn Washam Cassie Dorran Rural Route Creations CN@joplinstockyards.com

AD DEADLINES *2nd Monday of each month for next month’s issue. Print deadlines, ad sizes and pricing can be found in the 2021 print media guide. www.joplinstockyards.com

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December 2021

Cattlemen’s News, published by Joplin Regional Stockyards, was established in 1998. With 10,000 customers and 450,000 plus cattle sold per year, this publication is an excellent advertising avenue for reaching customers from across the region. The publication puts today’s producers in touch with the tools and information needed to be more efficient and profitable for tomorrow. Circulation 10,000.

Although we strive to maintain the highest journalistic ethics, Joplin Regional Stockyards limits its responsibilities for any errors, inaccuracies or misprints in advertisements or editorial copy.

Advertisers and advertising agencies assume liability for all content of advertisements printed, and also assume responsibility for any claims arising from such advertisement made against the Stockyards and/or its publication.

Lost

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Crossbreeding Cross breeding

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Highest Total Relative Value ever recorded by IGS Feeder Profit Calculators for calves of this weight.

James Beck 1639 Pine Drive Grove, OK, USA 74344

918-786-6944 jimandsara@hotmail.com

Feeder Calf Info

Spring Calving Heifers available after Nov. 1.

~ Fall Calving Heifers

available after May 1.

69150 E. 128 Rd. Horned/Polled: Polled Wyandotte, OK, USA Color: Mostly Smokes, few yellows, 5 blacks 74370 Sex: Steer Head: 43 Avg. weight: 1025 Delivery date: 06/01/2018 Weight range: 900-1100 lbs Born 02/25/2017 to 05/20/2017 Weaned: 11/06/2017 USDA Process Verification NA Breed Composition: Angus: 50.29% Charolais: 40% Simmental: 9.71%

Total Relative Value

Treatment History

Vaccination 05/24/2017 . . . . . . . . Nasalgen, Virashield 6+L5 HB, Vision 8, Pinkeye Shield XT4 Vaccination 10/08/2017 . . . . . . . . Vision 8, Virashield 6+L5 HB, Nuplura PH Booster 03/14/2018 . . . . . . . . . . . Titanium 5, Pinkeye Shield XT4 Deworming 10/08/2017 . . . . . . . . Ivermectin Deworming 03/14/2018 . . . . . . . . Ivermectin Implant 05/24/2017 . . . . . . . . . . . Synovex C

$6.16/cwt

Relative Management Value Relative Genetic Value

$2.58/cwt $3.59/cwt

Relative Genetic Value: Predicted difference in value due to genetics between the calves being evaluated and the average Angus calves of the same sex, starting weight and management conditions.

Relative Management Value: Predicted difference in value due to management between the calves being evaluated and those same calves under the assumption of an industry average 60% BRD vaccinated and 60% weaned for 30 days or greater Total Relative Value: A combination of Relative Genetic Value and Relative Management Value.

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The projections, values, and other calculations produced by Feeder Profit Calculator™ are based on user inputs. IGS does not independently verify the information provided by users. The mathematical models and assumptions related to market conditions utilized in Feeder Profit Calculator™ may change significantly. IGS makes no representation that any Feeder Profit Calculator™ projection will be realized and actual results may vary significantly from Feeder Profit Calculator™ projections. The relative market values produced by Feeder Profit Calculator™ represent a relative valuation for comparison purposes only and do not represent an actual market value.

LOST CREEK CATTLE CO. WYANDOTTE, OK

Jim Beck, Owner 918-801-3649 jimandsara@hotmail.com Shannon Meador, Ranch Foreman | 417-456-2104

“CROSSBREEDING IS THE ONLY WAY I KNOW THAT YOU CAN GET SOMETHING FOR NOTHING AND IT IS CALLED HETEROSIS OR HYBRID VIGOR.”

DATA DRIVEN DECISIONS

Ranch Benefits From Reducing Methane

By Justin Sexten for Cattlemen’s News Rarely a day goes by where some media outlet doesn’t reference the role ruminants play in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the resulting climate change. This media focus is primarily on beef and dairy cattle’s environmental impact, in part, due to larger body weight and greater feed intake but also because few in the general public have any context for ruminant production beyond cattle.

to urine, a fairly constant 4-5% from the gross. Gaseous energy losses of 2-12% are also recorded at this step with metabolizable energy remaining. Finally ~15-20% of the gross energy may be lost as heat of fermentation and metabolism. This energy “loss” may be considered a useful adaptation to improve efficiency on cold winter days. Rough math suggests ~40% of a feedstuff gross energy can be used for maintenance and gain.

Those who track environmental issues are clearly aware of the nearly daily claims of net zero and carbon neutrality goals proposed by corporations in the not so distant future. Claims are made in response to the growing desire for some effort to move the needle in reduction of GHG emissions. Some quick math on the scope and scale of these claims suggest a carbon trading market will likely advance and evolve, offering a place for offset transactions while providing price discovery of climate change mitigation efforts.

A recent article in the Journal of Animal Science by Paul Smith and co-workers highlighted a novel method to manage methane and part of the associated 2 to 12% energy loss.

This evolution is an example of a technology market pullthrough. Create financial incentives to encourage practice changes that in this case sequester carbon or reduce GHG emissions.

Early adopters seeking to take advantage of the emerging carbon market continue to evaluate a host of programs intended to document pasture management, crop rotations and feed additives all aimed at offsetting or reducing carbon emissions within and beyond the beef supply chain.

The carbon trading market is the first beneficial thought many consider when evaluating the impact of managing GHG emissions at the ranch. While selling carbon credits may offer future revenue diversification, cattlemen may benefit from looking at GHG differently. This alternative approach to GHG management, while still emerging, is consistent with previous technology evaluations on these pages suggesting ag tech should solve first for operational challenges, then seek to address opportunities rewarded in the marketplace when evaluating return on investment.

your

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Animal Health.

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417.863.8446 1.888.360.9588

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A quick review of where feed energy is lost will highlight the opportunity for energy savings at the ranch through GHG management. Recall the energetics of ruminant feeding starts with gross energy, representing the initial available energy (100%) in a feedstuff. The greatest energy loss occurs due to indigestibility, where 3050% of gross energy is lost in manure. One could argue this loss represents the greatest opportunity for improved energy efficiency in the cow herd using improved forage harvest and storage methods. That’s fodder for another article.

The next loss to what is now digestible energy occurs due

Previously when selecting replacement animals on the basis of reduced daily methane output, a related reduction in productivity was observed. Historically, low methane output is associated with low feed intake and marginal performance. Dietary interventions such as high grain diets or ionophores can reduce methane production of the group, but an individual animal will still rank differently than their contemporaries as methane production is a moderately heritable trait.

This Irish research team evaluated residual methane emissions (RME), defined as the difference between the predicted and observed methane output relative to intake and performance.

The index, while correlated to methane output, was not related to other production traits offering the ability to make selection decisions for methane “efficiency” without indirectly reducing performance.

When cattle were categorized as low RME (desirable) compared to high RME (undesirable) they produced approximately 30% less methane on the 77% concentrate diet regardless when measured as daily methane output, or methane per unit carcass weight or feed intake.

The mechanism behind methane efficiency was also explored in this experiment. Rumen fermentation patterns followed the expected trends toward greater propionate production in low RME cattle and greater acetate and butyrate in high RME cattle.

While not conclusive, the fermentation patterns suggest further research into the microbial populations is warranted.

While the residual methane emission index is not ready for sire selection catalogues just yet, this project highlighted the variation that can exist across the population. Where there is variation, there is opportunity to select for improvement. Because methane is an energetic cost to the animal, mitigation solutions in the form of management or selection will benefit us at the operational level while addressing broader environmental goals.

Justin Sexten is the Vice President of Strategy - Performance Livestock Analytics.

L&L

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We Build Equipment Sheds, Hay Barns, Shops & More!

*Prices subject to change **Travel required outside 100 mile radius

THANK YOU Customers and Friends FOR A GREAT 2021!

From all of us

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

ON THE CALENDAR December 15, 2021

Cow and Bull Special Sale View more information www.joplinstockyards.com

December 20, 2021 Last Sale of the Year (all classes of cattle)

December 21-31, 2021 Closed for the holidays

January 1, 2022

Open to receive cattle for the January 3 sale

January 3, 2022

Re-open - regular sale plus Yearling Special

January 6, 2022

Value-Added Sale Prime Time Livestock Video Sale to follow at 5 PM

January 19, 2022

Cow and Bull Special Sale View more information www.joplinstockyards.com

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TRENDING NOW

Achieving Better Outcomes Through Early BRD Detection and Treatment

By Jacques Fuselier, DVM, DACT, DABVP, Technical Services Manager, Merck Animal Health Early detection of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is critical.

It provides a greater chance of success with the first treatment, which means cattle will feel better quicker and get back to healthy behaviors sooner. Early detection also provides a chance to reduce lung damage and consolidation, which if they occur, can linger with the calf for the rest of the feeding period.

Because cattle are prey animals, early disease detection is challenging. They are wired to hide any signs of weakness or

sickness, until the point when they cannot hide it anymore.

When you start noticing signs of disease, the animal likely already is a couple days into the disease process.

The typical but subtle signs that an animal is sick and/or needs to be further evaluated include lowered head or drooping ears, slowness to get to the bunk, and/or less movement than its counterparts. During feeding, you can more easily assess activity and monitor which animals may not be feeling as well.

Operations should have protocols for assessing and treating sick animals. It is important to evaluate each animal and not work on assumptions.

(Florfenicol and Flunixin Meglumine).

BRD can lead to permanent lung damage and lower production.1 That puts your profitability at risk. But when you spot the signs, that’s the time to act with the dual-therapy treatment of RESFLOR GOLD:

Together, they produce consistent results and you can see improvement in as little as six hours. Choose RESFLOR GOLD, the treatment therapy producers and veterinarians have trusted for over a decade.

Bebas Neue Bold (Adobe Typekit) Invention Bold, Italic, Regular Myriad Pro Bold Condensed, Condensed Myriad Variable Concept Semibold Condensed

MERCK

Lekeux P. Bovine respiratory disease complex: a European perspective. Bov Pract. 1995;29:71-75.

1

MAHCattle.com • 800-521-5767 ©2021 Intervet Inc., doing business as Merck Animal Health, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. All rights reserved. US-REF-210800001

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Study evaluates NSAIDs A study evaluated three NSAIDs – flunixin, ketoprofen, and carprofen – each used in conjunction with an antibiotic (ceftiofur) in the treatment of naturally occurring BRD.1 All three NSAIDS reduced fever more than the antibiotic alone. However, flunixin and ketoprofen reduced it more quickly and to a greater extent than carprofen. Flunixin reduced the extent of lung consolidation more than the other two NSAIDS, and by significantly more than the antibiotic alone.

Continued on next page

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: Animals intended for human consumption must not be slaughtered within 38 days of treatment. This product is not approved for use in female dairy cattle 20 months of age or older, including dry dairy cows. Use in these cattle may cause drug residues in milk and/or in calves born to these cows. A withdrawal period has not been established in pre-ruminating calves. Do not use in calves to be processed for veal. For more information, see packaging insert.

53742_ResflorGold_GoldenOpportunity_Stocker_JoplinStockyards_6-25x10_FA_ps.indd 1

Trim (Flat Size): 6.25"w × 10"h Bleed: N/A Live Area: N/A Folds To: N/A

Using a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) – which is called an ancillary medication – with an antibiotic at first treatment can be helpful.

An NSAID often is given to help reduce fever caused by BRD.

Florfenicol – fights all four major BRD bacterial pathogens Flunixin Meglumine – a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, to reduce fever associated with BRD

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Fever and inflammatory response are important at the very beginning of the infection. They create an environment that is harmful to the virus or bacteria.

In time, these responses can become damaging to healthy tissue.

RGB 4-color process + Spot (Name Pantone colors here) Spot color (Name Pantone colors here)

RESFLOR GOLD

®

× 4-color process

to target both infection and fever with a single dose of

Different bacteria release different toxins that cause the calf to release certain enzymes and proteins to try to fight the disease. This causes inflammation. When inflammation occurs, it is non-specific, so damage occurs to all cells, not just the bacteria. In the case of BRD, the innocent bystanders are cells that make up the healthy lung tissue.

53742_ResflorGold_GoldenOpportunity_Stocker_JoplinStockyards_6-25x10_FA_ps.indd

When you spot BRD, that’s your

Filepath: /Volumes/GoogleDrive/Shared drives/Merck 2021/ CATTLE/01 ANTI-INFECTIVES/52905 Anti-Infectives 2021 Ad Resizes/02 CREATIVE/04 FINAL FILES/_PrintAds/Resflor Gold/ AD RESIZES/53742_ResflorGold_GoldenOpportunity_Stocker_JoplinStockyards_6-25x10_FA_ps.indd Additional Information: N/A

Deciding to use an NSAID We typically do not know if a case of respiratory disease is caused by a virus or bacteria. If a virus is involved, a secondary bacterial infection often is on board. We talk a lot about the “bug” and “drug” when selecting a treatment protocol. However, the third component is the “host”, which in the case of BRD, is the calf, specifically their lungs.

Continued from previous page Resflor Gold® (Florfenicol and Flunixin) combines a powerful antibiotic with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, so antibiotic and ancillary medication can be given in a single SubQ dose. It is indicated for treatment of BRD associated with Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Histophilus somni, and Mycoplasma bovis, and control of BRD-associated pyrexia in beef and non-lactating dairy cattle.

Being able to use a product that is proven effective early in the process can help decrease disease and improve the comfort and welfare of the animal. A veterinarian can help determine which antibiotic is best based on the stage of the disease.

treatment. This product is not approved for use in female dairy cattle 20 months of age or older, including dry dairy cows. Use in these cattle may cause drug residues in milk and/or in calves born to these cows. A withdrawal period has not been established in pre-ruminating calves. Do not use in calves to be processed for veal.

Copyright ©2021 Intervet Inc., d/b/a Merck Animal Health, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. All rights reserved.

STAY CONNECTED

1. Lockwood, P. W., Johnson, J. C., & Katz, T. L. (2003). Clinical efficacy of flunixin, carprofen and ketoprofen as adjuncts to the antibacterial treatment of bovine respiratory disease. The Veterinary record, 152(13), 392–394. https:// doi.org/10.1136/vr.152.13.392

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: Animals intended for human consumption must not be slaughtered within 38 days

To learn more about Joplin Regional Stockyards, visit www.joplinstockyards.com

Visit us at I-44 & Exit 22 Carthage, Missouri 64836

Follow us on facebook Joplin Regional Stockyards

LIVESTOCK RISK PROTECTION The Livestock Risk Protection Plan enables cattle producers to protect themselves against market price declines. Essentially, LRP is a tool to insure your equity position if the market drops unexpectedly.

Producers can customize coverage based on the type of feeder cattle or fed cattle, weights, number of head, sale dates, and expected sale price. Feeder cattle prices are based on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and fed cattle prices are based on the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Contracts are available from 13 weeks to 52 weeks and coverage levels range from 70% to 100%.

Producers have the opportunity to take advantage of federal subsidies which range from 35% to 55%, depending on coverage levels. This is a change from previous years where federal subsidy levels were capped at 13%.

Producers can choose to cover from 1 head up to 6,000 head per sales contract and can cover a maximum of 12,000 head per year. If the actual ending value is below the coverage price, the producer will receive an indemnity payment for the price difference. An example from the Nov. 29, 2021, market with a 39-week contract covering 98% of the board price is shown below.

In this example, the first row of 100 steers shows the producer protected his $64,193 investment by insuring he would receive a minimum of $129,960 at sale’s closing. This insured a gross profit of $61,440, or $614.40 per steer. LRP can be customized to protect any operation and multiple contracts may be secured throughout the year.

For more information on Livestock Risk Protection, please call: Brian Youngblood at 417-825-1203 or Kevin Charleston at 417-850-5470.

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TRENDING NOW

Q & A: Choosing Winter Feeding and Water Sites Questions answered by Andy McCorkill, livestock field specialist for the University of Missouri Extension 1. A very important decision for many producers is where to feed the animals when the cold months hit. Expand on the following factors that affect winter feeding: topography, soil variations, sun exposure, wells, springs, protection, etc.

Trying to outguess mother nature is all but impossible; for that reason, I hesitate to get stuck in a rut of only having one particular area for wintering the herd if at all possible. It takes a bit of common sense and “thinking like a cow” to set things up for the right conditions. Over the last several winters, mud has been one of the biggest hurdles we as producers and our herds have faced. When mud becomes a problem look for places where the soil is well drained and tends to stay dry, typically found on higher ground. Having a good stand of grass under foot will help insulate against the mud, as will moving feeding areas around to keep from trampling in that grass, reducing its insulating abilities. Moisture from above can be an issue, so some tree cover may help protect from a cold rain. Windbreaks are another thing to consider; most of our worst winter weather comes out of northern winds, so plan accordingly. Although water consumption isn’t near as high through the cold winter months, we have to consider it. Making sure the water source remains open so the herd can drink is important. Running water such as a spring or branch is a nice luxury that some have, making the chores much easier. Frost free waters help ease the burden but have to be properly installed and maintained to be truly frost free.

2. Site selection of a winter feeding area is critical in protecting pasture for future grazing periods. Explain how concentration of manure and feeding losses can be improved by rotating where animals are fed within a pasture.

I am a big fan of moving feeding areas around for several reasons, many of them similar to why we encourage a rotation across the farm throughout the growing season. The first reason is that as we move feeding areas, we also spread out the manure and the nutrients it contains, recycling those nutrients and essentially fertilizing while we feed hay. To that note, if hay is coming off of your land, it’s advisable to feed it back

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on the fields it came from if possible, putting those nutrients back to work on the land they were harvested from. At current fertilizer prices (the manure from a ton of hay fed amounts to around $60 in fertilizer value) getting those nutrients back on the ground they came from will reduce the required fertilizer needed on that field over time. If you’re buying hay or bringing it in from other places, you’re essentially bringing in fertilizer in your hay. Besides manure and nutrient distribution being improved with moving feeding areas round, soil compaction can be reduced, with proper planning, to spread out foot traffic over a larger area. Avoid wetter ground while it’s wet and utilize it either when dry or the ground is frozen. Moving feeding areas has led to a reduction in sickness such as scours and parasite problems.

As we near the end of winter and the grass is starting to come on, there may be times that a reevaluation of the feeding plan becomes necessary to allow the majority of the farm to get set up for a successful grazing season. Utilizing a “sacrifice” pasture process may help set that process into motion. In this process, a specific pasture is selected to hold the herd while the rest of the farm gets a fighting chance at a growing start. When selecting a sacrifice pasture, pick one that needs a little attention from a fertility standpoint and maybe has some weed pressure or other issues that need attention anyway. Allow the sacrifice pasture a longer rest and recovery period, and sometimes you’ll find that pasture to be better than it was before you used it.

When it comes to hay feeding method, there are pros and cons to every method. One of the more popular methods is to unroll hay across the field. Unrolling hay is one of the best and easiest ways to spread manure out and also spreads the feeding area, so even timid cows can get in and eat. The method does, however, have its drawbacks. Primarily, hay waste can be quite high if too much is given at once; the hay has palatability issues. For that reason, it is recommended to only unroll a day’s feeding at once and unroll hay that is free of weeds and trash, so you don’t spread undesirables around the whole farm. There are times when having that waste is warranted, for providing a barrier between snow or wet ground under foot.

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Continued from previous page Hay rings often result in less waste than unrolling, but concentrated feeding areas can not only lead to killing out the grass beneath and trampling of the ground, but also possibly illness and injury by the animals. Moving rings regularly will help from experiencing such issues. It’s also important to note that not all rings are created equally. Having a solid skirt at the bottom will help keep hay from falling through; slanted bars tend to entice cows to keep their head in eating instead of pulling large wads of hay out, hence reducing waste. Cone type feeders that keep the hay up off the ground and then having some sort of restriction on top will keep cows from reaching over to pull hay out. Regardless of the feeding method, quality hay will always see lower amounts of waste, ensuring more of your feed dollar makes it across the finish line.

3. What should be considered when winter conditions become muddy and animal energy requirements increase?

When it comes to our animals, mud poses two challenges, both of which can lead to excessive stress on the herd that can hinder productivity and animal health. According to research, having to walk through as little as 4-8 inches of mud causes a reduction in feed intake of as much as 15%. Increasing the amount of mud to 1 foot has shown intake decreases as high as 30%.

Standing in mud and having it caked on the cattle’s hair also increases the rate of heat dissipation from the animal’s body, making it harder for them to keep warm. This results in a 10-25% increase in maintenance energy requirement. Feedlot calves have been recorded as having gains decreased by as much as 25% in instances where the mud is deeper than a foot.

When you couple the decrease in intake and increased energy requirements together, the impacts on animal performance and profitability can start to add up to a bad situation. For the cow-calf guy, they’re going to see their herd get thinner in short order from the continual battle with the mud. Milk production may also be affected, leading to a lighter calf at weaning. On top of that, if you’re preparing for the breeding season alongside the compounded mud stresses, the cow herd will likely take longer to return to cycling, delaying their breeding and likely decreasing weaning averages for the next year’s calf crop. For the backgrounder and feedlot operator, decreased performance is going to lead to more days on feed and a decrease in feed efficiency, potentially as much as a 50-60% increase in costs of gain. On top of this, one has to consider the added likely health implications that come along with weather stress such as foot rot and respiratory issues. If baby calves are involved, scours will likely become an issue on top of possible death loss associated with cold stress and possible trampling while stuck in the mud.

4. What are the advantages of concrete or gravel pads under hay feeders, feed bunks and waterers during the winter months?

A solid gravel pad or concrete under foot in high concentration areas such as around water sources, feed bunks, and hay feeding areas is a good first step to overcoming the battle with mud. Having a solid base under foot will help keep the mud from getting too deep in such areas, but it takes some further management to get past the finish line. Frequent scraping to keep manure and feed waste from building up in excess is often required. Many feedlots will have dirt mounds built up in the pens to allow cattle somewhere to get up out of the mud at least part of the time. Waterer maintenance will help keep mud down around water sources. Check floats for leaks and make sure they’re set to the right level. If they are set up with an overflow valve to keep them “frost free” make sure it has been properly installed so the overflow water is plumed in a way that gets it out of the feeding area, preferably underground or directly into a nearby body of water. Having a sloped pad,

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whether it be concrete or gravel, that is at least 12 feet out from the water tank will help.

Proper planning of the lot, if in a confinement situation is another point that needs to be considered. The site should have some slope, so water is less likely to stand. If on concrete it isn’t as big of issue, but even on gravel, a well-drained soil will help keep the ground firm and reduce the likelihood of deep mud.

Sizing the lots for the amount of cattle held is another factor than needs planned out from the beginning. For cows, 500-800 square feet of space per pair is needed, depending on the stage of production and amount of time spent in confinement. For calves 250-300 square feet per head is a good place to be. The addition of geo-textile fabric or some other means of keeping the gravel from falling through or rolling away in high traffic areas such as water and feeding locations is often advisable. A limited amount of cost share money is available from Natural Resources Conservation Service and MO Soil and Water Conservation programs to help with building winter feeding areas. If you’re having issues with mud, I would encourage you to talk with your local folks about how they may be able to help you.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Perspective

By Chris Chinn, Director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture As this year draws to a close, I’ve been working hard to keep the right perspective. After nearly two years of highs and lows, there are so many terrific things to celebrate from the world of agriculture. Before we move to 2022, let’s take a look back at some exciting moments from this year: Harvest wrapped up with a relatively normal growing year and nice harvest numbers. Projections for a near-record harvest didn’t quite come to fruition, but farmers saw good results for the most part. Some areas of the state saw as much as 10 inches of rain over just a few days earlier this spring.

Flooding hampered those areas, but much of the remainder of Missouri saw a good crop year with strong commodity prices.

Missouri Prime Beef Packers opened their doors in Pleasant Hope earlier this year, bringing as many as 300 jobs to the area. This family owned business provides beef to retail locations all across the Midwest, including product under the Show Me Beef brand. All of the Show Me Beef is raised by ranchers right here in our state. It is so exciting to see these products and know Missouri cattlemen and cattlewomen raised them. I have even seen Show Me Beef product in northeast Missouri.

Beyond those products, Missouri Prime Beef Packers is invested in Missouri through projects such as harvesting carcass steers from the Missouri State Fair and from the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association Profitability Challenge. We are proud to have them in our state.

After a year of youth livestock shows only in 2020, the Missouri State Fair returned with a full agenda of activities. I like to think of the Fair as Missouri’s largest family reunion, and that certainly was the case in August. Our State Fair staff heard many positive comments from folks happy to be in Sedalia to celebrate agriculture. In total, there were 23,787 entries across the fairgrounds and more than 330,000 visitors. It was so exciting to have a traditional Missouri State Fair and to see our youth exhibitors show off the best of Missouri agriculture.

Speaking of celebrations, Missouri celebrated its Bicentennial on Aug. 10. Towns large and small across the state held parades, festivals and throwback events to recognize the historic occasion. Governor Parson hosted a variety of events in the state capital, including a two-hour Bicentennial Parade featuring historical entries like the 1947 Cadillac owned by J.C. Penney. MDA celebrated the past and looked to the future with our parade entry. Boonville FFA member Seth Timm drove his restored 1959 Minneapolis Moline tractor ahead of a modern John Deere tractor. Missouri 4-H and FFA officers joined me to acknowledge the future of agriculture.

Last month, our team wrapped up the 49th Governor’s Conference on Agriculture. It was so good to be back together in person, where we hosted two terrific days of speakers and learning sessions. The nation’s best agriculture economists looked at the top issues facing our industry and what they mean for 2022 and beyond. We recognized deserving recipients of the Missouri Agriculture Awards, as well as winners of the Focus on Missouri Agriculture Photo Contest.

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One of the highlights of the conference again this year was the Best of Missouri Grown Reception, where attendees enjoyed a menu filled with dishes created using product grown, raised and produced in Missouri. From the beef and lamb carving station to the sweet mashed potatoes and bacon bourbon Brussel sprouts, each dish featured ingredients from the Show Me State. A fan favorite was the buffalo chicken mac & cheese, which included Missouri-raised chicken and fresh pasta from a St. Louis-based company.

The Missouri Grown Reception is such a terrific way to connect nearly 600 people with state products. Our Ag Business Development team works to make those connections all through the year.

Earlier in the same week as the Governor’s Conference, American Foods Group announced plans to build a beef processing facility in Warren County. This will be the 5th plant for the family owned American Foods Group, joining facilities in Wisconsin, Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota. At full capacity, the plant will employ 1,300 people and process 2,400 head per day. I can’t underscore what a victory this plant is for producers all across Missouri. Not only for cattlemen, who will have another option for their cattle, but also for grain producers who will grow the product to feed those cattle to finished size. Several other states were in consideration for the plant, and we are thrilled that AFG chose Missouri.

We are proud to have joined our partners at the departments of Economic Development and Natural Resources to pave a way for American Foods Group to choose Missouri over several other states. Workforce development and job creation are founding principles for Governor Parson, and the AFG plant is a major “win.”

Swift Processed Foods opened a new meat production plant in Moberly in May, creating 200 jobs in the region, and announced an Italian meats and charcuterie production facility that will bring more than 250 jobs to Columbia. A ready workforce, proximity to transportation and a pro-business attitude from state and local leadership is helping companies like these invest in Missouri.

Training up the next generation is also vital. The University of Missouri is building two mobile training units to teach meat processing skills to help address labor shortages. The Missouri legislature provided $20 million in funding to expand small and medium-sized meat processors in our state.

Today, there are 27 more facilities in Missouri than this time last year. But the one thing holding many of these processors back is the lack of labor. These mobile units are designed to teach processing skills, as well as retail sales, managing budgets and inventory management. The units will be ready for use in 2022.

These are just a few of the highlights from Missouri agriculture and your Missouri Department of Agriculture in 2021.

Rest assured, as you plan to put seeds in the ground and prepare for that next calf crop, we are right here beside you, ready to help in any way possible. I am excited to see what the list of 2022 wins will show at this same time next year.

TRENDING NOW

The Supply Chain Snags Continue…

By Gregory Bloom for Cattlemen’s News I had hoped that this would be nearly over by now, but the current supply chain crisis that’s choking out our nation’s ports is sadly going to take some time to unwind.

How has the problem affected you?

You may not have experienced any disruptions at all in supplies at your operation. I hope that’s true for you, but supply delays are effecting more and more businesses all around us.

It all depends on how much stuff you buy that comes from overseas, especially China. For example, if you’ve tried to buy paint recently at many paint dealers, you’ve probably noticed that they’re surprisingly out of the primary thing they sell: paint. And, this is just one example of many.

I painted my house, barn, and outbuildings this last month and purchased the paint at Sherwin-Williams Paints where I have a wholesale account. I was never able to get all the paint I needed at one time but had to make several trips to several different stores because often the stores I tried were out of paint. The reason they were out of paint is because many of the components in paint are imported from China. My paint store rep told me that a lot of the paint they need to fill orders

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is stuck in the ports, probably on a ship floating just offshore.

If you have trucks, cars or tractors that need parts, you’ve probably felt the pain of being told that the parts are on back-order because of the long delays at the ports.

A restaurant chain where I sell beef burgers buys custom printed paper bags from China. They used to be able to get their bags in about a three month order-date-to-delivery timeframe. Now they have to wait six to eight months to get their bags from China. Subsequently, due to the supply and demand imbalances created, the cost of their bags has nearly tripled during COVID shutdowns. Again, this is just one example of many.

According to one freight company I use, Rose Trucking: “California ports have seen minimal relief, even with new efforts to unclog some of the extreme congestion they have been facing. An effort to clear the ports was put into place by the Biden Administration, charging long-dwelling containers $100 per day, with the fee increasing by $100 each day they dwell. The ports have also extended their gate times to accommodate earlier morning pickups in an effort to remove containers faster.

However, the issue of finding available truckers to remove said containers remains a very large problem. The issues extend out from there, with chassis and equipment being vastly unavailable and warehouses filled to capacity. Earlier this week, approximately 90 vessels were anchored off the California coast waiting to berth, meaning half a million containers stuck in limbo.

Ports in northeast states such as New York, New Jersey, and Maryland are also facing heavy congestion. The bottlenecks here are no different than seen elsewhere, where a lack of trucking resources is putting everything weeks behind schedule. New York has a multitude of congestion fees tacked on by trucking companies, making the cost of delivering containers close in price to the ocean freight!”

My company spent a considerable amount of time recently looking for trucks to haul chilled beef boxes from our Denver warehouse to ports or consolidation locations in the Midwest.

We now have to pre-plan for many weeks in advance to find trucks that will haul freight. The beef we sell isn’t necessarily getting stuck in ports, it’s just that there aren’t as many drivers or trucks to be found even for simply dropping at a single warehouse destination. This makes it much harder to do what used to be normal business. In the meantime, we’re scrambling to adjust to this ‘new normal.’

The best we can do at this point is to try to plan ahead as much as possible for our supply and distribution needs and order early for things we’re certain to purchase. Stockpiling is not always a viable solution. It’s not even a practical option when you’re dealing with perishable goods. Let’s hope things settle down in early 2022!

Gregory Bloom is the owner of U.S. Protein, an international distributor of premium meats. Contact him at greg@usprotein.com.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Well-Balanced Show-Me-Select Sale

Below: Skyler and Bailey Moore search for bids in the ring and on the phone.

By Eldon Cole for Cattlemen’s News The 45th Show-Me-Select Bred Heifer Sale at Joplin Regional Stockyards on November 19 did not have some of the extreme highs and lows of past sales. The average price for the 173 head of February to May calving heifers was $1,790. The price range was from $1,500 to $2,100 with most heifers falling in the $1,700 to $1,900 area.

Above: The top selling Show-Me Select heifers at Joplin Regional for $2,100. The seller was Marvin Phipps and the buyer was Richard Ragsdale.

The sale top of $2,100 was consigned by Marvin Phipps, Cassville, Missouri, and the buyer of the heifers was Richard Ragsdale, Mammoth Spring, Arkansas.

The five black Angus-cross heifers were AI bred to Schiefelbein Effective and are due to calve February 27. Marvin entered 11 heifers and their overall average price was $1,963, also a sale top among the 13 consignors. Marvin has been in the Show-Me-Select program since the May 2019 sale and was always one of the top three or four consignors.

Unfortunately, he passed away the day of the sale due to a heart attack.

Other consignors averaging in the $1,900 plus area were Dale Rector Farms, Rogersville, Missouri, $1,932 on 14 head; Greg Lenz, Everton, Missouri, $1,912 on eight head; Dichtomy Cattle Co., Rocky Comfort, Missouri, on 20 head for an average of $1,902. The latter two were first time consignors.

The volume buyer was Tom Kissee, Springfield, Missouri, with 22 head bought at an average price of $1,920. As with most of the SMS sales, more than 60% of the heifers went to repeat buyers.

The Show-Me-Select program is guided by producers around the state who cooperate with local veterinarians, University of Missouri Extension both state and field specialists along with cooperating sale barns and the Missouri Department of Agriculture graders. The team effort goes to educating cattle owners about the use of technology to improve the efficient production of beef cow-calf enterprises. It is one of the most effective ways to add value to good quality heifer calves.

If you would like to participate, contact your nearest Extension field specialist in livestock. The next Show-Me-Select sale at Joplin Regional Stockyards will be May 20. Those heifers have already been given their pre-breeding exams and many will be AI bred in late November-early December.

Eldon Cole is the livestock field specialist for the University of Missouri Extension.

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MANAGEMENT MATTERS

Making Operational Goals for 2022

By Eric Bailey for Cattlemen’s News I have a simple operational goal to propose for 2022: Feed less hay next year than you do this year. Here is how I would go about doing it.

Stocking rate Does your forage base support the number of cows on your farm? If you are feeding hay over 100 days per year, then I would argue that it does not. If not, are you managing grazing, or do cows have run of the whole farm? Installing even a simple rotational grazing system can do wonders for forage productivity. The idea is simple. Cows prefer higher quality forage. When they have access to a large area, they will repeatedly graze the same plants, keeping them short, while ignoring others. In this system, there is no rest for your high-quality forages. Breaking pastures into smaller areas allows you to incorporate rest periods into pastures.

The second benefit of breaking large pastures into smaller areas is that it forces cattle to graze less selectively. When that happens, we increase forage utilization rate. Continuous grazing systems (cows grazing the same pasture year-round) only harvest a quarter to a third of the forage produced in a year. We use the term “harvest efficiency” or “forage utilization rate” when describing the proportion of forage in a field grazed by a cow. A simple rotational grazing system will increase harvest efficiency from 25% to 40%. That is 60% more feed that ends up in a cow’s mouth. Further intensification of grazing management will raise harvest efficiency above 40%. Missouri pastures are not that big. Spend a few hundred bucks on some polywire, step in posts, and a solar fence charger (if you do not have access to electricity).

When there is too much grass One of the deceptive aspects of tall fescue pastures is that we have too much grass for about 60 days and not enough grass for the next 300 days. At least, that is the way that most folks frame forage management, which leads down the rabbit trail of iron disease. I define iron disease as being invested in as-

sets that depreciate. Think about hay production for a second.

It takes a lot of equipment to swath, rake, bale, store, transport and feed to have cows waste hay. I estimate that it costs three times as much to feed hay as it does to make cows graze.

Don’t buy that new piece of hay equipment in 2022. Invest in fencing and water infrastructure to allow cattle to graze hay ground or to improve your grazing system.

Why do we even run cows?

At the risk of being shunned, I will make a bold statement.

Conventional cow-calf production is a terrible business. It takes significant asset investment and capital and each cow produces about 0.85 calves per year, if everything goes right.

We have gotten too specialized in our cattle management. The question should be, “Why is 100% of our carrying capacity taken up by something that might produce 40% of its bodyweight per year as saleable product?” I am of the opinion that we could do a lot of good on farms if we thought about splitting carrying capacity between cows and growing cattle.

It is much easier to move growing cattle on and off the farm.

You could increase stocking rate dramatically when forage is growing rapidly and move the growing animals off during times of poor forage growth (summer slump & winter). There are many custom grazing arrangements that could be made to bring cattle on the farm during the spring and fall when forage is growing. You do not have to go out and risk the market moving against you when buying stocker cattle. Graze someone else’s stocker cattle. Graze someone else’s cows. I’ll bet you can graze them cheaper than they can feed hay.

Missouri has the most productive forage system I have seen, and there is still so much untapped potential. I am proud to live and work in this state, because the best is yet to come. Try to have an open mind as you set goals for next year, and think about how you can make the cows work more, while you work less.

Eric Bailey is the State Extension Beef Nutrition Specialist for University of Missouri.

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NETWORK KNOW-HOW

Adios, 2021….

By Erin Hull for Cattlemen’s News Let me start by saying that I am not one to wish any time away. I learned several years ago that not everyone is blessed to see another year, so you should never wish time away.

With that being said, 2021 cannot end soon enough.

I shall start with the bad news first (I always like to end on a high note): I should have known back in February that we were in for a rough ride for the year. Our annual family ski vacation started off with a bang. On our first (and only) day of skiing my cell phone starting ringing off the hook. It seems that two cows I did not think were close to calving both decided to deliver during a cold spell while our non agriculture farm sitter was in charge of the joint. Thankfully they were seasoned cows who had perfectly healthy calves. To top off two unexpected calves, our water lines froze. Sadly, these two events were the highlight of our vacation. The very next day the ski resort got hit with approximately 72 inches of snow which resulted in high avalanche risk. Who knew an entire ski resort and town could literally close down, under state law. For the next 72 hours, my family was locked inside our hotel. Yes, locked inside. For the first twelve or so hours, it was exciting. After that, we were all miserable and quite tired of looking at one another.

After recovering from possibly the worst “vacation” ever, enter the wettest spring and summer we have ever seen. While most of the country was in drought conditions and burning up, we were soggy and under water. Spring crops were put in late and sometimes “mudded” in. Spring pastures were growing slowly but were so wet we did not dare have cow traffic on them in fear of ruining root systems. As pastures grew, we had no choice but to turn the cows out and hope they did not destroy them. Our wet spring turned into an even wetter summer. While I do not know the final tally for summer rainfall, I was told it was in excess of 30”. We had two rain events that delivered between six and eight inches of rain per event. We were literally under water and floating away. As I saw farmers and ranchers from all over the country begging for moisture, I wished so badly that I could share ours with them. God knows we did not need it.

Just when I had hoped we had rounded the corner, cold mud season began. As soon as the cows were pulled off of pasture, it was apparent that my “pet” cow, Simone, was not fairing well in the mud. She was a very large cow with a bad hip.

The mud was making navigation for her very difficult. I had a little heart to heart with her and I knew the right decision

was to not make her suffer in the mud. I made a promise to her years ago that she would never leave our farm and I was not going to break the promise. Rather than ship her off and collect a few bucks, I chose to have her euthanized at the farm and buried. While not everyone may agree with this decision, I did not care. She would not leave the farm. Simone was a cow that taught me how to be a better farmer. She was a cow that always sought me out when I walked into the pasture. She was a cow that just wanted me to scratch her head. She was not just a cow. She was my pet. Rest easy old girl.

Now onto the good: With “These Times” still causing issues throughout the country, my husband was grounded from much air travel. This meant he was home and able to take over most of the farm duties. As I reflect, I do not remember feeding the herd in the windy cold even once. It was very nice to have him home (and I’m hoping he will remain grounded for the winter of 2022).

Colleges and schools were not holding many field trips so this meant Virtual Farm Tours. I’ll be the first to admit that I was less than pleased. How could people learn about the farm without being at the farm? Let me just say that technology is amazing. I was able to provide a few virtual tours that were downright amazing. This made me aware that we can provide tours to groups that cannot travel to the farm for various reasons, and our reach can be much wider than it ever has been.

The sky is truly the limit!

Our public school district has not had an FFA chapter in decades. With the help of the local agriculture community, we became a squeaky wheel and we did get grease! Have a brand new FFA chapter that our daughter is the VP of. We have an agriculture teacher who is amazing and the school has just hired another agriculture teacher! Our future is BRIGHT! And last but not least, the many hours and years my daughter (and I) have invested into 4-H and cattle showing paid off. She finally left the ring with a trophy in her hand. She was awarded the Senior Showmanship Award at a local dairy show and I could not have been more proud of her and her hard work. It has made all the years of tears worth the effort. The 2022 show season is going to be amazing.

And while I never want to wish any time away, I am happy to see 2021 come to a close. Cheers to an amazing holiday season and a wonderful New Year!

Advertise your business, sale or upcoming event on our Facebook page!

Contact Mark Harmon today to place your advertisement markh@joplinstockyards.com

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TRENDING NOW

Winter Challenges Just like any season, winter comes with its own set of cold weather challenges.

When cattle have access to quality nutrition and facilities during the cold winter months, they are healthier, have more successful pregnancies and have better rates of gain.

Now is the time for beef producers to prepare their cattle operations for winter. Follow this checklist for tips to winterize your cattle operation:

https://www.nationalbeefwire.com/channels/3-feeder-flash

1. Stockpile bedding Ensure that you have plenty of bedding available to keep your cattle warm and dry throughout the winter months. In the winter, it takes more bedding for an animal to maintain its body temperature.

It is recommended to mix wood shavings and straw to help keep animals warm and dry.

NUTRITION PROGRAM

THE MINERAL FOR EVERY STAGE OF LIFE

2. Prepare shelter Pasture shelters for cattle can help the animals retain body heat while keeping them out of the wind during winter. Inspect shelters and make any necessary repairs, including leaky roofs. If you have an enclosed shelter for cattle, make sure it is well-ventilated. Having shelter ready for your animals before winter weather hits will help minimize stress and ease the transition.

3. Establish water access If you use heated livestock waterers, check to see if they are working properly. Heated water buckets or water heaters will also help prevent water from freezing.

When using heated elements or heated water buckets, make sure that electrical cords are kept out of animal’s reach.

The Blueprint program utilizes Alltech’s Total Replacement Technology™ (TRT) — 100% organic chelated trace minerals to: • Improved calf immunity • Increased weaning weights • Higher conception rates • Increased heifer pregnancies

4. Keep enough feed on hand As the weather cools down, animals’ nutrition requirements go up. It’s important to assess pastures and hay fields. Additionally, planning supplemental feed strategies can help meet cattle’s protein and energy needs. Keeping your herd healthy all winter long begins before the cold weather arrives.

To further protect cattle, ensure proper cattle fly control starts in late fall. This will help limit the number of overwintering flies that jumpstart fly populations each spring.

Kelly Smith Hubbard Feeds Account Manager 417-855-9461 1400 Nettleton | Thayer, MO 789 Worley Dr. | West Plains, MO

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TRENDING NOW

Why We No Longer Neighbor

By David Burton SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Many Americans recognize that relationships with neighbors are different today than 20 or 30 years ago.

One study from the Harvard Medical School shows that 50 years ago, neighboring was talked about in terms of social relationships, but today it is spoken of in terms of etiquette. Specifically, things like “be quiet and leave me alone.”

“People seem to have their favorite theory about why things have changed. I’ve heard the blame placed on things like fenced yards, homes without front porches, too much indoor entertainment, electric garage doors, and even air-conditioning,” said David Burton, a community development specialist with University of Missouri Extension. “But those are all external sources of blame, while the actual responsibility rests with each of us and our choices.”

Because of research over the past decade, Burton says that we now know that there are four primary reasons why American’s do not exercise hospitality with their neighbors as much: loneliness, busyness, retreat mentality, and entertainment focus.

Being lonely can cause people to interact less with those around them.

“It seems contrary to what you might think, but you do not reach out to others if you are lonely and often say no to social invitations. We currently have an epidemic of loneliness in America,” said Burton.

The second factor is busyness. American’s love to be busy but busy schedules do not leave enough margin in our lives for interaction with neighbors.

“We complain about being busy, but at the same time, we love

to tell people we are busy. Being busy makes us feel important.

We take on too many tasks, we sign our children up for too many activities, and we clutter our schedule with things seven days a week,” said Burton.

Our retreat mentality is the third factor. “I just want to go home and relax” is a verbal example of this. Or, as someone recently told Burton, “My home is my retreat, and I don’t want anyone to bother me there.”

“Our home can be our safe place but using it as a fortress of solitude is not healthy,” said Burton.

And the fourth identified factor is our focus on entertainment.

“We buy larger televisions, connect them to the internet, and entertain ourselves until we fall asleep. We sit and watch Netflix and play video games until bedtime. The average American watches 3.1 hours of television per day. No wonder we don’t have time for neighbors,” said Burton.

The answer to all four of these factors rests with us and our choices. The city or the county government cannot fix it, and neither can your homeowner’s association.

By ignoring neighbors, Burton says you are giving up your social capital and putting your physical and social health at risk along with the health of our community and your nation. Yes, the impact of reduced social interaction is that serious.

“Now that you know why we do not neighbor, it is time to start taking a few simple steps to change course. Be intentional about being outside. Watch and speak to neighbors that you see. And take steps to learn and use the names of your neighbors. That is the starting line so get on your mark,” said Burton.

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Neighboring is the art and skill of building relationships with the people who live in the closest proximity to you.

Being a good neighbor offers tremendous health benefits, leads to reductions in crime, reduces loneliness, improves communities, and improves your quality of life.

University of Missouri Extension is at the forefront of a national movement that recognizes the importance of neighboring in community development. MU Extension is offering classes like “Neighboring 101” and “Becoming an Engaged Neighbor” along with two annual neighboring events as a way to raise awareness and encourage others to focus on neighbors.

To learn more about our “Engaged Neighbor” program or the impact of neighboring, go online to https://extension.missouri.edu or contact David Burton by email burtond@missouri.edu or telephone at (417) 881-8909.

“Becoming an Engaged Neighbor” can also be found on Facebook.

TRENDING NOW

Culling Cows like a Business Professional

By Rebecca Mettler for Cattlemen’s News Beef cattle producers are in the business of raising beef, but sometimes the act of running a business gets lost in the day-today activities on the farm or ranch. For some, it’s much more enjoyable to be in the pasture with the cows than it is to be in the office putting pencil to paper or thinking of business and marketing strategies.

The world is full of necessary evils and culling cows might be in your list of top five necessary evils on the ranch because it feels like failure. But, what if beef producers treated culling decisions like a business strategy and turned a necessary evil into an opportunity?

“Culling an open cow is like waiting to fire an employee until they just don’t show up to work,” proclaimed Jordan Thomas, Ph.D., state beef reproduction specialist, University of Missouri (MU), during the Whole System Management of Beef Cattle Reproduction program at the MU Southwest Research Center, Mount Vernon, Missouri.

Cows would be considered an operation’s employees if the cowherd was looked at with a business mindset. Each year, ranch management is tasked with identifying cows that are invited to get their employment contract renewed for another year.

“What if we thought about it as if all the cows were going to get sold once they weaned off a calf, and we had to choose which ones we would buy again?” said Thomas.

Cow value fluctuates drastically throughout the cow’s life. In a perfect world, producers would get to sell cows when they are worth more money… but we don’t live in a perfect world. Even though science hasn’t given us a crystal ball, there are still clues that can point to which cows are more likely to fall out of the herd.

Data shows that 13 to 18 percent of cows confirmed pregnant late in the breeding season, regardless of age, will come up open next year. Instead of shouldering a massive devaluation as open females, Thomas suggests selling late-conceiving cows before they calve, as that is when cows are typically overvalued in the market.

For spring calving cowherds, selling late-conceiving bred cows can result in reduced winter hay/feed costs because fewer cows will be carried over during the winter months of January through March, when more than 60 percent of the feed costs are generated in a cow-calf operation.

Marketing late-conceiving cows benefits the operation’s annual revenue because of its impact on weaning weight as well. One research study looked at the average weaning weight of heifers’ calf weights based on when they conceived and birthed their first calves.

“Heifers that conceived during the first 21 days of their first breeding season weaned a heavier calf in their second year and through year six because they set up a pattern of early conception,” Thomas explained.

Thomas admits that early conceiving heifers could have a genetic advantage from a fertility standpoint, but from a systems perspective, the advantage comes from managing days postpartum as well.

Early conceiving heifers wean heavier calves throughout their lives due to advantages in calf age at weaning to the tune of an additional calf of weaning weight combined. Plus, these females stayed in the herd 1.2 years longer on average.

“Marketing cows for a shorter breeding season, in my opinion, is the single most important reproductive technology, and as someone who uses artificial insemination, CIDRs and prostaglandin, of which all of those are important, a shorter calving season is really where we get a lot of value,” Thomas said.

Culling cows is not a failure from a business perspective.

Culling cows instead, frees up equity tied up in animals that are a poorer investment. Thus, the producer can redeploy the freed-up equity into more productive cattle.

Thomas explained that the business savvy way to make culling decisions would be to have a longer breeding season and have a veterinarian pregnancy check females and base marketing decisions on pregnancy diagnosis. However, he also recognized that it might be extremely difficult for some producers to sell a pregnant female. Culling by pregnancy diagnosis requires a focused approach, and producers who can keep themselves honest without backtracking on the strategy.

“We may need to wait until the calf is weaned, and we can sell a second or third period cow,” Thomas said. “That may be a good opportunity, but we really shouldn’t calve her out unless we have a good opportunity to sell pairs.”

Galen:785.532.9936 Gene: 785.224.8509 finkbull1@twinvalley.net & FaceBook

Some producers may be tempted to market cull cows after they add more flesh and weight.

However, Thomas believes that cattle producers are in the business of marketing grass.

“Grass sells a lot better wrapped in calf hide than it does cowhide,” said Thomas. “I like to get rid of cows rapidly, so I can get grass through the calf instead of the cow.”

Rapidly marketing cows opens up opportunities to extend the length of the grazing season, feed less hay/supplement and bring total cow carrying costs down dramatically. Plus, in fall calving systems, selling poorly profitable cows frees up more forage to achieve higher weight gains on calves post weaning.

Bottom line, the cowherd will never reach a level of productivity that you don’t cull for, according to Thomas.

“You won’t have a calving season that gets spontaneously shorter,” said Thomas. “Instead, you must use a shorter breeding season and/or make decisions on late-conceiving females based on pregnancy diagnosis.”

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TRENDING NOW

Relive Old Traditions

By B. Lynn Gordon for Cattlemen’s News What a difference a year makes. The holiday season of 2021 could not come fast enough for many families. Thrills and excitement to share the holiday with family are racing across the country almost as fast as Santa travels on Christmas Eve. Distance, high-risk family members, or restrictions kept many families apart in 2020. The word of the year was, “Zoom,” and we seemed to all become armchair technology wizards learning to do everything virtually. Although Zoom allowed us to stay connected, it’s not the same as a hug or handshake. Differences occurred from family to family. Some families were fortunate to have many or all their loved ones close by. Using precautions, they were still able to gather for the holidays.

However, some of your friends or neighbors may have family members strewn all over the world.

I fall into this category. Leading up to Thanksgiving 2021, I found myself traveling through the Denver airport on my way to see family members. Two years ago, I was in the same airport (November 2019) almost precisely to the date. Little did I know that when I made the trek north to Canada (where I was raised), it would be the last time in 24 months, that I would see my mother, my sister and her family. When COVID-19 hit, the Canada/U.S. border was closed immediately and did not open until August 9, 2021. Work commitments and regulations prevented me from jumping in my car and heading north the moment the border opened.

A lot has happened with my family in two years. My mother moved into an assisted living facility. My nephew got married and is now the father of a future cattleman. The anxiety and disappointment of not being part of these life-changing moments was difficult to swallow. No doubt about it, the pandemic created a challenging situation for many folks.

A good friend, who makes his livelihood in the beef industry, learned first-hand what a helicopter ride and 10-days in the ICU was like as he battled COVID-19 early in the pandemic. His doctor gave him breathing exercises to do, and he did them relentlessly. The doctor told him he was the most devoted person. He responded to the doctor, “I want to see my daughter again.” None of us asked for COVID-19 to impact our life, and none of us asked for it to threaten our health.

Fortunately, Christmas 2021 will be different. As the pandemic eases, families are making plans to get together to share in family traditions. Traditions reinforce values, our culture and

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are a crucial part of our identity. Traditions are unique to each family. What is one of your family traditions? Was it passed down from generation to generation, or is it relatively new and will shape your family from now on? Traditions are emotionally beneficial and give families many years of memories and happiness. They allow us to have a unique connection with our family that we may not have with others.

As 2021 allows many of us to return to our time-honored traditions, it brings a sense of relief and contentment. Family traditions and holidays are rituals that represent a shared value by a group of individuals. Because we hold these rituals so close when they are disrupted, it feels like our values and traditions are under attack. We often think family gatherings are stressful, and they can be. Still, research also shows that rituals with families or friends can outweigh the impacts of stress – improving medical and psychological health.

Were you forced to change your family traditions during the pandemic? How did you feel? What family milestones and memory-making events did you miss out on? Research has shown that quality time with loved ones is nature’s stress reliever.

I recently heard the statement, “Don’t focus on gifts this year; the gift is being with family.” We don’t know what’s ahead in 2022, so live in the moment today. Put down your cell phones on Christmas day and visit with family and friends. Laugh and enjoy a Christmas feast; take the time to ask your parents or grandparents about the family history; they love to talk about the past. If you don’t appreciate it now, you will as you get older. Play board games, tell stories, share about your adventures of the past year.

My trip to Canada over Thanksgiving was my opportunity to relive a family tradition in addition to a long-await visit. My family spent many years exhibiting purebred cattle at Canada’s largest livestock show – The Canadian Western Agribition.

Fortunately, we were able to continue our tradition by attending the show’s 50th Anniversary celebration.

I hope you can be with family or friends this Christmas, revisit old traditions, continue making memories, or begin a new ritual or tradition this year.

Happy Holidays.

MANAGEMENT MATTERS

Preserving Hay Quality

By Eric Bailey for Cattlemen’s News Technological advances such as the round baler have reduced labor needs on the farm. Today, this is as important as ever due to the increasingly difficult nature of hiring quality employees to work on farms. However, as we have focused on increasing our labor efficiency, we have lost the forest for the trees. Current storage methods for harvested forage bear little resemblance to methods from 60 years ago. Nevertheless, I argue that we did a better job of preserving hay back when we invested sweat equity rather than capital into forage preservation.

per cow). Try to focus on gross margin (revenue minus cash costs) rather than just revenue when making efforts to improve your business. Raising beef cows is inherently a capital-intensive, low-margin business. Do not invest heavily in depreciating assets, and make the cow harvest forage herself!

More information about beef cattle production can be found on the University of Missouri Integrated Pest Management YouTube page.

Eric Bailey is the State Extension Beef Nutrition Specialist for University of Missouri.

It would be improbable to preserve hay quality completely. Also, the round bale is more convenient to make, haul, store, and feed. However, it has led to sloppier hay storage and feeding by most producers. Back when small square bales were the norm, it was common to store hay under a roof. Today, many round bales rot out in the fencerow for six months before feeding. Exposing stored forages to the elements reduces quality through the leaching of nutrients. Think about making coffee or tea. We expose the grounds to water and then drink it once it has steeped. Even with net wrap, the same process happens, to an extent. The equally troubling but less considered problem is when the ground underneath a bale gets wet, and the moisture wicks up into the bale, leading to spoilage. Net wrap reduces spoilage and weathering but does not eliminate it. The more surface area exposed to the elements, the greater quality losses from stored forages will be. Remember, the outer six inches of a 5’ bale represents 36% of the feed in a bale. If much of it spoils, like the picture below, a significant portion of the hay harvested is lost.

The best things to do to preserve hay quality are: 1) store it under a roof, 2) store it off the ground, 3) minimize the surface area exposed to the elements, 4) use net wrap rather than twine when making bales.

Given the investment required to make, store, and feed hay, I advocate for feeding as little hay to beef cows as possible. My analysis of Missouri hay and grazing systems suggests that it costs 2-3 times as much to feed hay as it does to let the cow harvest forage on her own. If that is not possible, I encourage producers to evaluate their resources.

If you are consistently feeding hay for more than 100 days a year, you likely have more cattle than your land base can support. Cattle have undoubtedly gotten bigger in the last 50 years, yet most still use historical generalizations of stocking rate (Ex. number of acres December 2021

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INDUSTRY NEWS

2022 Cattle Market Outlook

By Derrell S. Peel for Cattlemen’s News Cattle markets are ending 2021 with prices for feeder and fed cattle higher year over year. It took much of 2021 to get market factors realigned and all moving in the same direction, but the momentum is building late in the year and expected to continue for 2022.

Total cattle inventories declined from the 2019 peak of 94.8 million head to 93.6 million head in 2021. The beef cow herd was 31.2 million head in 2021, down from 31.7 million head in 2019. Peak feedlot production should have happened in 2020, but pandemic disruptions pushed peak feedlot numbers into 2021. Average feedlot numbers began to decline year over year in the second half of 2021 and are expected to continue declining in 2022.

Drought was widespread across the West in 2020 and expanded across the northern plains in 2021. There is little doubt that the drought is adding to cow liquidation in 2021. Beef cow slaughter for the year-to-date through early November was up 8.7 percent year over year and up 11.8 percent over 2019.

Drought areas are struggling with reduced range/pasture and hay production. USDA reported September prices for alfalfa hay up 24.4 percent year over year and other hay prices up 16.9 percent for a national average. In the hardest hit drought areas, price increases are much higher, with North Dakota, for example, seeing September alfalfa hay prices up 112.5 percent year over year and other hay prices up 74.6 percent.

Strong exports of corn and soybeans, driven by Chinese demand, have pushed feed grain and protein feed prices sharply higher in 2020. Despite a large 2020 harvest (corn crop is projected to be the second largest crop and soybeans the third largest crop), prices are expected to remain elevated at least through the current marketing year as demand keeps ending stocks tight. Feedlots are seeing sharply higher cost of gain, up 40-50 percent year over year. Cow-calf and stocker producers will face higher supplement prices this winter.

Pandemic disruptions in 2020 caused a bunching of feedlot production in the first half of 2021. At the same time, labor limitations restricted slaughter capacity and resulted in a slow progress to process the bulge of fed cattle. Packers have relied heavily on Saturday slaughter to process cattle in 2021, with average Saturday slaughter up 16.0 percent year over year. Fed carcass weights jumped sharply in 2020 due to pandemic disruptions but have dropped below year earlier since May. Lower carcass weights are the result of feedlots becoming more current in marketings, along with the high cost of feed helping to temper carcass weights going forward.

Beef production is projected to be at a record level of 27.5 billion pounds in 2021. Pandemic delays in 2020 pushed peak beef production into 2021, up roughly 1.3 percent year over year. Beef production is declining late in 2021 and will continue to decline in the coming year, projected to decrease by roughly 2.3 percent in 2022. Beef demand has remained strong through all the turmoil in supply chains for the past 18 months. Retail beef prices have risen in 2021 as high as the brief peak in prices during the worst beef supply disruptions in 2020. Two waves of high wholesale boxed beef cutout values this year have reflected the strong underlying beef demand and the continuing inventory challenges of restoring food service across the country. Per capita beef consumption is expected to decrease in 2022 simply because of smaller beef production, but demand is strong as evidenced by continued high retail prices.

Beef exports are on pace for a new record level in 2021.

Through September, year-to-date beef exports are up 21.0 percent year over year and are up 9.3 percent over previous record exports in 2018. Increased beef exports are led by rapid growth in the China/Hong Kong market, up 152.2 percent year over year for the January – September period. Through September, beef imports are down 6.2 percent year over year in 2021 after increasing last year. Cattle imports from Canada and Mexico are both down this year, with a decrease of Continued on next page

info@mlstubs.com

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TERRITORY MANAGERS Gary West 731-335-3023 Jeff Anslinger 816-244-7340 Logan Kennedy 417-592-1764

THANK YOU

TO OUR WRITERS AND CONTRIBUTORS

from Cattlemen’s News

We appreciate your support in helping put producers in touch with the information needed to make their operations successful.

Continued from previous page 18.7 percent for the first nine months of the year. Total feeder cattle imports from Canada and Mexico are down 21.2 percent and imports of fed and non-fed slaughter cattle from Canada are down 11.6 percent for the year-to-date. Cattle exports have increased the past couple of years, particularly to Canada. So far in 2021, cattle exports to Canada are up 84.8 percent and are equal to 70.8 percent of cattle imports. A relatively small number of cattle are exported to Mexico, but these exports are up 256.3 percent year over year.

Feeder and fed cattle prices are expected to average 8-11 percent higher year over year on an annual basis in 2022. With generally higher cattle prices expected, producers at all levels have better profitability prospects in 2022. However, increased revenues will be challenged by higher input costs and cost management will be critical going forward.

Derrell S. Peel is an Agribusiness and Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist for the Department of Agricultural Economics at Oklahoma State University.

54th Annual Missouri Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show

MISSOURI CATTLE INDUSTRY CONVENTION

JANUARY 7-9, 2022 OSAGE BEACH, MISSOURI

LOCATION CHANGE! Margaritaville Lake Resort 494 Tan Tara Estate Drive, Osage Beach,MO 65065

Register to Enjoy Cattlemen’s Education Series | Kickoff Party & Happy Hour Prime Rib Banquet Dinner | Foundation Auction Over 100 Trade Show Vendors | MCA, MCW, MBIC Meetings and so much more!

To Register: www.mocattle.com | Meetings & Events | Annual Convention & Trade Show (573) 499-9162 | www.mocattle.com | 2306 Bluff Creek Dr. Columbia, MO 65201 December 2021

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TRENDING NOW

Handle Vaccines and Animals Properly for Optimal Immune Response

By Dave Sjeklocha, D.V.M., technical services manager, Merck Animal Health Successful immunization requires proper vaccine handling and administration, and animals that are in a physiological state to respond to vaccination. Follow these do’s and don’ts to achieve effective immunization: Do store vaccines at 35 to 45 degrees F. For modified live virus (MLV) vaccines, store and handle both the vaccine cake and sterile diluent according to label directions. Mixing the cake with warm diluent can greatly shorten or eliminate the effectiveness of the vaccine. Freezing is harmful as well and can damage both MLV and killed vaccines.

For best results, store vaccines in a well-functioning refrigerator and avoid storing products in the door where temperatures can fluctuate. A refrigerator thermometer is a wise investment to monitor temperatures.

Don’t reconstitute too many doses at once.

MLV vaccines should be used within two hours of mixing. If you have 200 calves to vaccinate, don’t mix all 200 doses and then start vaccinating. It’s important to mix as you go and allow for unexpected delays. Discard any unused reconstituted vaccine at the end of the day.

Do mix the vaccine carefully.

When reconstituting an MLV vaccine, use a swirling or rolling motion versus shaking, which can damage the MLV within the vaccine.

Don’t expose loaded syringes to sunlight.

Once mixed, an MLV vaccine should be kept cool and out of direct sunlight. Setting a syringe down on a table or tailgate can cause the vaccine to warm up and lose effectiveness. Coolers can be purchased or constructed with openings to insert syringes between vaccinations.

Do protect vaccines from contamination.

Always use a clean needle when filling a syringe from the bottle. Don’t reload a syringe from a bottle using a needle previously used to administer a vaccine to an animal. Sanitize syringes after use, using only hot water for MLV vaccine syringes. Soaps and disinfectants can be used for killed vaccine syringes, but rinse thoroughly.

Don’t overlook employee training.

Make continuing education for all employees a priority.

Whether using an on-site or custom crew for processing, be sure to fully explain and reinforce protocols for proper vaccine handling and administration.

Do prepare cattle for immunization.

For effective immunization, cattle must be healthy and physiologically able to respond to vaccination. Handle incoming calves carefully and provide bedding, clean water, hay, and feed to help them overcome the stress of a new environment.

For more information on cattle vaccination, visit MAHCattle. com.

Copyright ©2021 Intervet Inc., d/b/a Merck Animal Health, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. All rights reserved. All trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

Holiday Bucket List Make this holiday season one to remember with family and friends!

Bake Christmas cookies.

Relax by the fireplace.

Get/make a new Christmas ornament.

Watch a holiday movie.

Read a Christmas book.

Make a gingerbread house.

Donate toys/clothes to needy children.

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Go look at Christmas lights.

Wear Christmas socks or shirts.

Drink hot chocolate.

Build a snowman.

Send Christmas cards.

Sing Christmas carols.

Host a holiday party.

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m e e ry t t

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TRENDING NOW

Looking Ahead Into 2022 – Thinking About the Unknown

By Scott Brown for Cattlemen’s News Higher cattle prices appear to be in store for 2022. USDA’s latest November projections show fed cattle prices will average nearly $10 per cwt higher than in 2021. The optimism for higher cattle prices includes an expectation of fewer cattle and less beef in 2022 than in 2021. USDA expects a nearly 900-million-pound decline in beef production next year. Drought and tough economic conditions continue to set in motion reduced cattle and beef supplies, and there will be little to stop this trend in 2022.

The prediction of a reduction in market-ready cattle in 2022 makes sense when 2021 year-to-date cattle placements are compared to January 1 feeder cattle supplies outside of feedlots.

Cattle placements have been running strong relative to available supplies, suggesting some pulling ahead of cattle into feedyards.

This is due in part to drought areas of the country sending calves to feedyards earlier than usual in order to save hay and pastures for their cow herds.

Once the current supply of market-ready cattle can be processed, the situation could quickly reverse into one in which processors need to aggressively pull cattle from feedyards, which often leads to lower slaughter weights at the same time that slaughter numbers decrease. This reduces the beef supply and tightens processing margins, providing a double boost to cattle values.

However, many things could derail the more positive outlook for cattle prices in 2022.

Domestic beef demand has been strong for a few years, and 2021 continues that trend. However, the important question is if this demand strength continues into 2022. Consumers are facing record-level beef prices today. The October 2021 choice beef retail prices hit $7.90 per pound, a record level for the third consecutive month. The question that is often raised is whether demand for beef is choked off as consumers face record beef prices. The good news is that competing meat prices are also at record levels. Pork retail prices have been at record levels for seven consecutive months in 2021.

Less clear in 2022 are the lingering effects of the pandemic. Inflation has raised the prices of nearly all commodities, and consum-

ers may find that paychecks will not stretch as far as they did in 2021 and will reduce their meat consumption as they attempt to offset the inflation they are facing. This uncertainty remains one that must be evaluated as 2022 unfolds.

International demand for U.S. beef is also an area to watch in 2022. USDA’s latest outlook shows that 2021 beef exports will increase by about 500 million pounds relative to the 2020 level. And that same outlook suggests a modest decline in U.S. beef exports for 2022. This reduction is due to both demand by major importers as well as increasing supplies from competitors.

Developments in the Australian cattle sector appear to put them in a stronger competitive position than they have been in for a few years as they have dealt with drought conditions. A recently released quarterly outlook from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) projects a 7.2 percent annual increase in Australia’s beef production for July 2021 – June 2022. This follows a decrease of 12.7 percent for calendar year 2020 and a further 7.0 percent decrease this year.

China demand for U.S. beef is also worth watching as we head into 2022. Chinese imports of U.S. beef have been around three thousand metric tons a week for 2021 and represent an increase relative to 2020 export levels. However, further increases will be needed in 2022 if growth is to continue.

Feed costs also remain uncertain as 2022 planting decisions have been complicated given the large increases in crop inputs, especially fertilizer prices. If corn acreage is reduced in 2022 due to the input price increases, feed costs will remain elevated for feedyards.

Although the 2022 outlook for cattle prices appears bullish given the decline in market-ready cattle expected for next year and could provide some positive economic opportunities that have not been seen for a few years, there are plenty of issues to watch that could derail higher cattle prices in 2022.

Scott Brown is a livestock economist with the University of Missouri. He grew up on a diversified farm in northwest Missouri.

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MANAGEMENT MATTERS

Manage Winter Cattle Feeding and Feeding Areas for a Successful Feeding Season

By Patrick Davis, for immediate release from the University of Missouri Extension Stockton, Mo.- “As winter approaches, proper cattle feeding and feeding area management is important to animal health and performance,” says Patrick Davis MU Extension Livestock Field Specialist. Below, he discusses winter cattle feeding and feeding area management strategies for a successful feeding season.

“Help your pastures by moving hay feeding locations frequently to help reduce mud and adequately distribute manure,” says Davis. Cattle producers can feed hay daily by rolling it out across the pasture.

Also, producers may implement bale grazing which involves placing hay bales throughout a field and utilizing electric temporary fence to allocate bales daily to the cattle herd. Davis suggests both of these options to cut down on wastage, animal congregation resulting in mud, and adequately distributing cattle manure and fertility which leads to better pastures in the long run.

“Consider pastures that you plan to renovate or with poor grass stands as potential hay feeding areas,” says Davis. He urges hay feeding in these areas to provide fertility to help improve the current grass stand or for future renovation projects.

“If animals are required to congregate in a feeding area during the winter months make sure to pick the proper location and manage the location to cut down on moisture and mud,” says Davis. Select a south facing slope as far away from water as possible. South facing slopes allow more sunlight which helps to dry the area and warm the cattle. Also, the location should have a nearly level slope to cut down on runoff. Consult with your local MU Extension agriculture engineer on strategies that might help reduce mud and moisture in winter-feeding areas, which will help lead to adequate health of the cattle during the winter months.

“To feed cattle efficiently through the winter months, sort cattle by size or body condition and feed according to need. Also make sure adequate bunk space is available for supplement consumption,” says Davis. Visit with your local MU Extension Livestock Field Specialist about sorting and feeding cattle to meet their nutrient need during the winter months. Make sure there are at least 24 inches of bunk space per cow, 18 inches per growing calf, or 12 inches per feedlot calf. Davis urges cattle producers to use these suggestions to efficiently meet cattle nutrient needs during the winter months which helps promote cattle health, performance, and profitability.

Davis urges cattle producers to implement these strategies to cut waste as well as promote optimum health and performance of cattle through the winter-feeding period which should lead to optimum profitability. For more information on topics discussed contact your local MU Extension Center.

Patrick Davis is the field specialist in livestock for the MU Extension in Cedar County.

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MANAGEMENT MATTERS

Energy Needs For Beef Cows

By Eldon Cole for Cattlemen’s News Mt. Vernon, MO – Whether you have late winter, spring or fall-calving cows you should be evaluating them for body condition now. The evaluation process is fairly simple as you just need to look at the herd and decide whether you need to feed them more based on their fleshiness.

Body condition scores (BCS) start at 1, which means the animal is barely able to get up and move. Thankfully, we don’t see many of those. Even 2 and 3 score animals are not seen often. A 4 has most of the ribs and backbone visible. The animal is probably somewhat weak but just overly thin. A 4 animal is likely to not breed back promptly. 4’s need to be given extra concentrate feed such as corn, soybean hulls, corn gluten feed or dried distillers grain.

A 5 is the borderline animal. They may be thin enough the last pair or two of ribs can be seen, and there’s very little or no fat in the brisket and around the tail. As with the 4’s, they will be in need of extra energy just not as much as the 4’s.

A 6 animal is a good target to shoot for and smooth throughout.

Fat is visible in the brisket; the ribs are all covered and the back is rounded. A 7 will show a full brisket with obvious fat deposits around the tailhead, and the ribs will be very smooth.

Animals that score a 4 will need between 80 and 100 pounds of added weight to move to a 5, so don’t wait too long to up their energy intake.

Historically, we in Extension tell you that most farms need to feed more energy supplement than protein. If you talk to a feed salesman they may push a protein tub, block or liquid supplement. Of course, in many cases you could need both, so let’s walk through the process of evaluating both the feed resources and the beef females.

First of all, you need to know what your current feed supply consists of. Have you had any of your pastures, hay, haylage or silage tested? A forage test will cost you in the $20 to $30 range but will tell you so much more as you shop for feed. I feel if your forage supply runs in the mid-50’s on total digestible nutrient (TDN) you’re in good shape. The protein will likely be close to the 10% range. The secret is to have an adequate supply. Stockpile fescue should be adequate in nutrients until January. The important issue is whether the supply of fescue is adequate for the animal’s dry matter needs.

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The next concern is to know how many of your cows need help.

By this I mean how many do you think are in need of more or better feed and when will they need it. A mature cow that does not have any ribs showing is probably a 6 BCS and shouldn’t need any extra special energy. However, as winter weather arrives nutrient needs increase.

An exception to the above statement is the first-calf female that’s a heavy milker. She should benefit from extra feed in order to get bred back within 80± days. That allows her to have a calving interval of 12 months, which should be a goal of every beef cow operator.

Surely not every cow or heifer will be in the danger area of needed supplement. However, if animals are thin and forage supply is poor, low 50’s – high 40’s, on TDN, bump their quality and quantity of feed as soon as you can. If you’ve been doing a good job of watching them and only a few are in danger of low BCS, then sort of those animals and feed accordingly. If you’re lucky or a good manager, you have some stockpiled fescue the needy cattle can run on now. Save your best hay for after the first of the year.

Unfortunately, feeds of all kinds, whether it’s a by-product or plain shelled corn will be expensive this season. Thus, be a good shopper, and don’t feed animals that don’t need to gain weight.

Sort your herd as best you can to not supplement cattle that are 6’s and above on BCS. Ionophores improve forage utilization, so whenever possible, add them to your supplement. The extra cost should be just a few cents per head, per day.

Watch for ways to reduce hay and haylage waste. Big bale feeders are examples of allowing up to 30% waste. The cone shaped feeder is a winner when it comes to saving valuable energy. Feed your outside stored hay first. Also, it would be the best to feed it to cows in the best body condition.

Don’t feed lice or ticks during the winter. Establish an insecticide treatment to control irritating pests. This is as valuable as adding a few pounds of high TDN supplement. Your control method may be nothing more than a charged back rubber or dust bag.

Eldon Cole is the livestock field specialist for the University of Missouri Extension.

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MANAGEMENT MATTERS

Winter Preparedness in Beef Herds

By Anita Ellis for Cattlemen’s News They say that here in the Midwest, if you don’t like the weather, just wait a little bit and it will change. Sometimes, for the worst. So, it only makes sense to be prepared. We can do that this winter with a few simple preparedness tips.

sorghum sudangrass, be prepared to stop grazing at the first frost in case of prussic acid accumulation in the damaged plant. If this first frost was not killing, and another frost event occurs, wait about seven to 10 days to return to grazing.

Nutrition Assess your animals’ nutritional requirements as the cold temperatures begin. An animal’s stage of production will dictate their nutrient requirements. Depending on the wind chill and precipitation, their energy requirements could increase even more.

Wind Blocks Around this time of year in Missouri, constant wind speeds average about 9 mph with gusts averaging 23 mph. Typically, speeds under 5 mph have little effect on the temperature, however, with a wind speed of 8 mph at 29o F, the temperature can feel 8-11 degrees colder.

One way we can prepare our animals, is to assess their Body Condition Score (BCS) before winter hits. This scale is a subjective measurement of body condition from 1 to 9. A score of 1 describes an emaciated animal, and 9 being a score for an obese animal. Have all cows at a score of 5 or 6. Heifers that are about to calve during this time certainly need to be at a score of 6 for their BCS.

Specifically, cattle energy needs go up by about 1% per degree drop below the critical temperature, depending on what that animal’s critical temperature is. According to South Dakota State University, with a dry, winter coat for a mature cow, the critical temperature is at freezing (32o F). Therefore, during that 29 degree day, with 8 mph constant wind and 23 mph gusts, a cow can have a 10-32% increase in her energy needs.

It is important to provide feed and water, but rather than providing more and more feed, you can cut costs by providing windbreaks and other cold mitigation techniques. These include breaks made by man-made materials, natural breaks (near food and water), and bedding.

For some of us, this first part of hay season was successful, and –hopefully, many were able to fill hay storage. However, considering the dry weather in August and September, stockpiled fescue may be short for many. For those able to utilize stockpiled pastures, strip graze this by moving an electric wire back either daily or every few days for the most utilization of the forage.

If stockpiled fescue and hay are in short supply, consider other hay alternatives such as silage, grazing crop residue, ammoniated wheat straw or other low-quality forage, just to name a few. This, in combination with other feedstuffs such as soybean hulls, wheat middlings, or cottonseed hulls, can really stretch out your forage supply.

In addition, compare prices and cost per pound of energy or protein for supplementation. An example of this math would look like: cost per pound of nutrient (crude protein or total digestible nutrients) = cost per ton/[(2,000 x dry matter) x nutrient of feedstuff]. Say that soybean hulls cost $200/ton and are 90% dry matter and are at about 77% TDN (total digestible nutrients; measure of energy); that math will pencil out to 200/ [(2000 x .90) x .77] = $0.14 per pound of TDN. By getting hay tested for a nutrient analysis, you can do this same math to determine which is truly a cheaper source per pound of nutrient.

For those grazing hay alternatives such as standing milo or

Warming Calves Have a plan and a kit for those calves born in extreme cold.

Monitor the calf’s temperature with a thermometer, and if their body temperature falls below 100o F, you will need to intervene. If a calf does need to be warmed, do it gradually.

Whatever works for your operation, whether it is bringing the calf inside, warm water baths or warming boxes, have all items prepared. In addition, discuss with your vet other strategies to keep a calf healthy in case of such an event.

Water Sources Feed intake will be reduced if water is restricted. While cattle can consume snow as a water source, it will not be significant enough to meet their needs. Whether it is a low-budget, polyethylene tank with a water heater or tire tanks, be sure to check that everything is in working order before temperatures get cold enough to freeze water. Maintenance matters.

Anita Ellis, extension field specialist, central region coordinator Show-Me Select, University of Missouri Extension.

Holiday Schedule Closed for the Holidays December 21 - 31 Open to Receive Cattle January 1 for January 3 sale

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Plan Now for Antibiotic Changes on the Horizon In 2023, antibiotics that are currently available over the counter will require a veterinarian’s prescription.

From the University of Missouri Extension, Writer Linda Geist Source: Craig Payne, 573-882-8236 COLUMBIA, Mo. – While 2023 might seem a long way off, it’s not too early for livestock producers think about how recent Food and Drug Administration guidance might affect their operations, says University of Missouri Extension veterinarian Craig Payne.

On June 11, the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine published Guidance for Industry No. 263 (GFI #263) in the Federal Register. The document outlines a strategy and timeline for bringing all medically important antibiotics that are currently available over the counter under veterinary oversight. This will affect several antibiotics familiar to livestock producers.

If you have a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR), the impact will be minimal because a veterinarian will be able to issue a prescription for these antibiotics, says Payne.

If you don’t have a VCPR, now is the time to find a veterinarian willing to work with you to ensure future access to antibiotics.

Under a VCPR, a veterinarian must have sufficient knowledge of your operation to make medical judgments, he says. It also means you agree to follow the veterinarian’s instructions.

In 2017, many antibiotics used in the feed or drinking water of livestock moved from over-the-counter status to requiring a Veterinary Feed Directive or prescription. However, a small percentage remained available OTC in other forms, such as injectables, intramammary tubes and boluses, Payne says.

GFI #263 specifically addresses this small percentage. The FDA expects the labels of these remaining OTC antibiotics to display the following language

by June 11, 2023: “Caution: federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.”

Examples of affected products Cephapirin, cephapirin benzathine • Intramammary tubes: ToDAY and ToMORROW Gentamicin • Injectables: Garasol, Gentamicin Piglet Injection Lincomycin • Injectables: Lincomix 100, Lincomix 300, LincoMed 100, LincoMed 300 Oxytetracycline • Injectables: Liquamycin LA-200, Noromycin 300 LA, Bio-Mycin 200, Agrimycin 200, etc.

• Boluses: Terramycin Scours Tablets, OXY 500 Calf Boluses Penicillin G procaine, penicillin G benzathine • Injectables: Penicillin Injectable, Dura-Pen, Pro-Pen-G, Combi-Pen 48, etc.

• Intramammary tubes: Masti-Clear, Go-dry, Albadry Plus Sulfadimethoxine, sulfamethazine • Injectables: Di-Methox 40%, SulfMed 40% • Boluses: Albon, Sustain III Cattle & Calf Boluses, Supra Sulfa III Cattle & Calf Boluses Tylosin • Injectables: Tylan 50, Tylan 200

“This will end over-the-counter sales of antibiotics, and livestock owners will need a prescription from a veterinarian in the future if they want access to antibiotics,” Payne says.

He emphasizes that antibiotics won’t necessarily have to be purchased through a veterinarian, but a prescription will be required.

Strong tax and financial incentives make solar extremely favorable for commercial and agricultural businesses.

The 26% federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is a universal and important incentive for solar customers. The REAP Grant provides financial assistance to agriculture producers and rural small businesses to purchase, install, and construct renewable energy systems. Also, under the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS), a bonus depreciation deduction is allowed for qualifying Agriculture and Commercial properties.

GFI #263 is available at www. fda.gov/media/130610/download.

More information from the FDA: • GFI #263: Frequently Asked Questions for Farmers and Ranchers • List of Approved New Animal Drug Applications Affected by GFI #263

Missourians view renewable energy as a vital link to tackling fiscal and environmental issues. Missouri receives a generous amount of sunlight that averages around five daily peak sun-hours representing an attractive opportunity to save money by investing in a solar PV system. Missouri also has a Renewable Portfolio Standard that requires all utility companies to get at least 15% of their energy from renewable sources by 2021, and 0.3% of the total energy must come specifically from solar power.

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MANAGEMENT MATTERS

Using a Systems Approach to Beef Cattle Reproduction to Identify Common Problems

By Rebecca Mettler for Cattlemen’s News Thinking about beef cattle reproduction from a systematic approach may not come naturally to some producers, but the mindset can provide insight into common problems with reproductive management.

“At the level of the brain she’s not able to have normal estrous cycles,” Thomas said. “How long that lasts depend on a lot of things: how old she is, her body condition score, her energy balance, stress, or how much milk she produces.”

It’s natural for producers to think of the problems they have in their herd’s reproduction as special scenarios, but in reality, it’s best to assume problems are of common causes not special causes, according to Jordan Thomas, Ph.D., state beef reproduction specialist, University of Missouri (MU). Thomas recently spoke at the Whole System Management of Beef Cattle Reproduction program at the MU Southwest Research Center, Mount Vernon, Missouri.

Managing the postpartum interval in cattle so it and the following estrous cycle lines up correctly with the breeding season is an important reproductive tool.

Reproduction is a complicated loop system with many processes within the system feeding back into other areas.

A change in one part of the system negatively or positively feeds back into one or multiple other processes within the system. Add a delay in time before the results of a change are realized and things get really complicated.

For example, if a producer moves to a shorter calving season, they will have older heifers on average. Older heifers will result in more heifers conceiving earlier in the breeding season, which will have a positive impact on the ability to maintain a shorter calving season. The problem is that it takes at minimum three years to see the benefits of a shorter calving season, which is an extremely long delay in the system, according to Thomas.

Analyzing common causes for variations in beef reproduction can lead to improvements of pregnancy rates among cowherds, even well managed ones. Common causes for variance in beef cattle reproduction include: Postpartum Interval Body Condition Age of Female Energy Balance Male Fertility Stress Improved reproductive management within the above areas can create a positive impact on an operation’s bottom line.

“The goal is to increase margin of every cow,” Thomas said.

“We implement systems and get statistical process control going in the right direction, so we can actually get larger gross margins per unit.”

Increasing productivity per unit of production increases the value of the product, which impacts the gross margin per unit. However, the major opportunity for financial impact is to control costs of production. The two biggest costs of production are cow carrying costs and cow depreciation cost.

Postpartum Interval and its Impact on the Reproductive Management System Postpartum interval is the period of time between calving and the first estrous cycle.

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The cow that conceives on the first day of a 60-day breeding season will calve around the first day of the calving season, which sets her up with the opportunity to be successful in the subsequent breeding season. She will likely be through the postpartum interval and cycling before the start of the breeding season. As a result, it’s possible that she could conceive again on the first day of the breeding season.

In contrast, the cow that conceives on the last day of a 60day breeding season and calves on the last day of the calving season has a greater likelihood of being open at the end of the next breeding season.

“There’s a portion of the next breeding season that she’s not having normal estrus, which has multiple implications,” Thomas said. “First, she doesn’t just magically become the female that is conceiving on the first day of the breeding season. She will very likely have only one or two opportunities to conceive at all during the breeding season.”

Cattle need multiple opportunities to conceive or producers can’t expect good pregnancy rates in cattle. The population of late-conceiving cows within a herd is set up for reproductive failure, according to Thomas.

“And the mind-blowing this is that we consider a 60-day breeding season to be pretty short,” Thomas said.

Reproductive problems can occur in even in well managed systems. Late conceiving cows are bad investments because they drive up the second most impactful expense in the cow-calf business, which is annual cow depreciation.

Studies show that calving date affects the number of cows calving in the subsequent year. Calving on day 41-60 of the calving season resulted in 13 percent of cows failing to calve during the next calving season and 18 percent of cows calving in days 61-80 of an extended calving season failed to calve next year.

The aforementioned failure rates are much more impactful to the operation’s annual cow depreciation costs and replacement costs than the 7 percent failure rate for cows that calve on days 1-20.

Postpartum interval, along with other factors, has a lasting impact on reproductive success. Taking a look at the cowherd’s reproductive performance from a systematic approach to identify causes of variation in reproduction can help producers take strides toward a shorter calving season, which will help control costs and increase the productivity per unit of production.

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MANAGEMENT MATTERS

Additional Causes of Variation in Reproductive Performance

By Eldon Cole, Field Specialist in Livestock, University of Missouri Proper reproductive management in beef cattle requires a working knowledge of several different disciplines of livestock management. Some of the most common causes of variation in reproductive performance were also touched upon at the Whole System Management of Beef Cattle Reproduction program at the University of Missouri (MU) Southwest Research Center, Mount Vernon, Missouri.

Body Condition and Energy Balance Patrick Davis, MU field specialist in livestock, reviewed the 1 to 9 body condition scoring (BCS) system that is widely adopted across the industry. The target score is a 4, 5 and 6. A score of 1 is extremely thin and weak while the 9 is obese. He encouraged the scoring to be done at calving, breeding and weaning.

Bull breeding soundness clinics have been in place since 2005 to create an awareness of the need to have bulls examined at least once a year, The clinics are held each March and October.

Year in and year out, the fail rate runs about 10 percent on over 4,700 bulls examined. The single biggest cause of failure is a percent normal sperm count of less than 70%.

When asked about what gave them the most problems with bull management the audience said prices, hoof problems, and the neighbors’ bulls. I wrapped up the presentation by asking participants if they really needed to own a bull or if bull leasing or total artificial insemination could be an option.

Research shows that a 5 and 6 BCS cow is ideal for colostrum production. The ideal time to adjust BCS is during the cow’s dry period following weaning. He added that cows which lose weight can be a factor in culling.

Jordan Thomas, Ph.D., MU state beef reproduction specialist, added that another factor in adding weight to a cow is to do it during periods of abundant forage and excessive energy reserves. For optimum breed-back, a first-calf heifer should be at a 6 or 7 BCS, otherwise their postpartum interval will not allow her to calve back in 365 days.

Forage Considerations Impacting Reproduction Jill Scheidt, MU field specialist in agronomy, gave a review of three fescue toxicity issues: grass tetany, ergot and endophyte.

Tetany can occur under various forage varieties and, not just fescue and is associated with low phosphorus in soils. It affects cows with young calves nursing them.

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Ergot is a fungal growth in the seed head of a variety of grasses and grains. The symptoms may resemble fescue toxicity but are more extreme.

Solutions to the endophyte may include diluting with legumes or other forages such as warm season grasses. Other aids that appear to help include deworming, ionophores, growth promoting implants, ammoniation of fescue hay and chemical seed head suppression with a herbicide.

Tim Schnakenberg, MU field specialist in agronomy, took the class out to the field on a very windy, cold look at stockpiled fescue being grazed by the center’s fall-calving cows. He pointed out that the poorest stockpiled fescue is better than the best fescue hay. The source of that data was a three-year West Virginia study. He added the amount of available growth is highly dependent on the weather, and it may vary from 1,500 to 3,500 pounds per acre.

Schnakenberg pointed to an Arkansas study that showed a 100 percent conversion to novel fescue varieties work, indicated converting as little as 25 percent of your “hot” fescue to a novel would give an improvement in cattle productivity.

Male Fertility I reviewed some basics regarding the bull and the role he plays in the cow herd. I stressed that a bull pasture is important to keep the bull in when you’re not in the breeding season. The bull actually only needs to be with cows about 40 percent of the year if you have two, 75-day breeding seasons.

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December 2021

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COW AND BULL SALE December 15, 2021 4:30 PM following regular cow sale

Expecting 1000 Cows and Several Breeding Age Bulls!

25 – good quality home-raised commercial black Angus spring calving bred heifers.

Glenn Hamill of Adair, OK.

100 – home-raised Angus cows, 4 to 7 year-olds, with 16 fall pairs, balance start calving March 1st, bred to Angus bulls, big fancy cows. FMI JW Henson 417-343-9488.

58 – good quality home raised commercial black Angus spring calving bred heifers. Betty Hamill (Russell Hamill Trust) of Adair, OK.

170 – complete dispersal of black and Char X cows, 4 to SS years old, bred to Angus or SimAngus bulls, starting calving in February. FMI Troy Yoder 918-640-8219.

We have not held any of these heifers back for ourselves nor sold any of them off the farm, these will be of the highest quality heifers and have sold at JRS for years with great results from the buyers.

20 – black heifers, bred to LBW black baldie bulls, starting in February. FMI Troy Yoder 918-640-8219.

All above heifers will be 30 months old at time of calving, bred to registered Angus low birth weight (70#) bull with 45 day calving window starting 02/15/22. All heifers were vaccinated at 9 months of age for Brucellosis (bangs) at weaning by Pryor Vet Clinic and have been on an excellent vaccination and mineral program. Heifers on our farm never receive any growth implants. Our cattle have excellent herd health and the only cattle purchased on our beef cattle operation for the past 25 years is virgin registered Angus bulls. Ready to turn out to pasture, received 2nd round of Vira-Shield 6 w/Lepto Vibrio, pinkeye, blackleg, and Cydectin wormer during Pryor Vet Pregnancy tested on 09/20/21 (had a 95% conception rate). Very docile, easy to handle and in excellent condition. Call 918-915-0818 for more information.

30 – black Angus pairs, 6 to short and solid, calves weigh 200 pounds. FMI Tim Durman 417-438-3541.

150 – 4 to 7 year-old cows, 120 black & bwf, 30 red and Charolais X, bred to Angus & Charolais bulls, 2nd and 3rd period. FMI Bryan Haskins 417-850-4382.

29 – Angus cows, 5 to 6 year-olds, 19 have calves by side, balance springers, bred to Sim Angus bulls. FMI Nick Flannigan 417-316-0048.

16 – Angus or Charolais X, 3 to 6-year-olds, bred to calve Feb or March, bred to Angus bulls. FMI Nick Flannigan 417-316-0048.

30 – Red Angus heifers, their breeding is back to the Canyon Bull, (Bred to Becton Nebular bull) start calving first of February, weigh between 1050 and 1150. FMI Charlie Stark 417-793-8488.

100 – bred heifers, 90 blacks, 10 reds, and a few baldies, start calving end of February, bred to LBW black or Red Angus bulls, heifers weighing 900 to 1100 pounds. FMI Jr. Smith 870-373-1150

30 – Angus X Cross cows, 5 to 7 year-olds, 20 calves by side, more by sale day. FMI Nick Flannigan 417-316-0048.

15 – Angus cows, 3 to 7 year-olds, start calving in mid-February, bred to a registered Angus bull, he sells as well. FMI Charlie Stark 417-793-8488.

32 – Angus cows, 5 to 8 year-olds, starting calving February 1st, bred to Sydenstricker Angus or Jamison Hereford bulls. FMI Nick Flannigan 417-316-0048.

68 – black Angus cows, 5 and 6 year-olds, bred to a Hereford bull, start calving March 1st. FMI Tim Durman 417-438-3541. (Complete Dispersal)

14 – Angus cows, 3 to 6 year-olds, cows out of Circle A genetics, bred to Bushes Easy Decision Angus bull. FMI Nick Flannigan 417-316-0101.

12 – Red Angus heifers, avg 1000-1100 lbs, 20 months old, pelvic measured track examed, Bieber Spartacus daughters, bred June 19th, 2021, calving date March 29th, 2022, 100% guaranteed to be a AI bred to Polled Hereford bull. FMI Bailey Moore 417540-4343.

15 – Angus cows, 4 to 5 year-olds, with Sim/Angus calves, bred back to In Do Time Sim/ Angus bull. FMI Bailey Moore 417-540-4343.

15 – home-raised Red Angus heifers, start calving in March, bred to Macintyre Red Angus bull. FMI Bailey Moore 417-540-4343.

20 – fancy, home-raised Ultra Black heifers weighing 1000 to 1200 pounds, bred to Ultra Black bulls, start calving February 2022. FMI Larry Mallory 417-461-2275.

I-44 and Exit 22 I Carthage, Missouri JRS Office 417.548.2333 Skyler Moore 417. 737.2615 Bailey Moore 417.540.4343 Jackie Moore 417.825.0948

View more information at www.joplinstockyards.com Cattlemen’s View or JRS facebook!

MARKET WATCH Market Recap: Feeder Cattle Auction, Yearling Special November 22, 2021 I Receipts 12,811 **CLOSE** Compared to last week feeder steers traded 3.00-7.00 higher. Feeder heifers traded 3.00-5.00 higher. The offering consisted of several thousand high quality cattle. Perfect Fall weather along with the Yearling Special sale drew a large number of buyers and sellers. Demand was very good for high quality heifers. Overall demand was good on a heavy supply. Supply included: 100% Feeder Cattle (65% Steers, 33% Heifers, 2% Bulls). Feeder cattle supply over 600 lbs was 80%.

Feeder Steers: Medium and Large 1 pkg 284 230.00; 300-400 lbs 192.00-211.00; 400-500 lbs 178.00-191.00; 500-600 lbs 161.00181.00; 600-700 lbs 155.00-173.00; 700-800 lbs 156.00-171.00; 800-900 lbs 155.00-169.00; 900-1000 lbs 151.00-162.00; 38 hd 1007 lbs 143.00. Medium and Large 1-2 350-400 lbs 175.00-186.00; 400-500 lbs 162.00-175.00; 500-600 lbs 147.50-165.00; 600-700 lbs 143.00155.00; 700-800 lbs 147.00-156.50; 800-900 lbs 144.50-158.00; 900-1000 lbs 135.00-143.00.

Feeder Heifers: Medium and Large 1 300-400 lbs 158.00-172.00; 400-500 lbs 144.00-162.00; 500-600 lbs 142.00-156.00; 600-700 lbs 144.00-155.00; 700-800 lbs 144.00-157.75; 800-900 lbs 136.00-155.00; 125 hd 901 lbs 145.00; 12 hd 1005 lbs 134.00. Medium and Large 1-2 300-400 lbs 150.00-157.00; 400-500 lbs 132.00-142.00; 500-600 lbs 130.00-141.00; 600-700 lbs 133.00-143.00; 700-800 lbs 132.00146.00; few 800-850 lbs 136.00.

Feeder Bulls: Medium and Large 1 400-450 lbs 175.00; 500-600 lbs 152.00-161.00; 650-700 lbs 145.00-147.00. Medium and Large 1-2 300-400 lbs 170.00-178.00; 450-500 lbs 156.00-160.00; 500-600 lbs 140.00-154.00; pkg 603 lbs 138.00.

Source: USDA-MO Dept of Ag Market News Service, Lonnie Peetz, Market Reporter, (573) 751-5618, 24 Hour Market Report 1-573-522-9244 36

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December 2021

MARKET WATCH Market Recap: Feeder Cattle Auction November 29, 2021 I Receipts 8,342 Contact one of our field representatives today! **CLOSE** Compared to last week feeder steers under 600 lbs. traded 3.00-8.00 Bailey Moore Missouri 417-540-4343

Pat Farrell Kansas 417-850-1652

Kolt O’Brien Kansas 620-724-0980

Jackie Moore Missouri 417-825-0948

Nick Flannigan Missouri 417-316-0048

John Parrish Texas 254-679-1259

Skyler Moore Missouri 417-737-2615

Jim Hacker Missouri 417-328-8905

Jason Pendleton Missouri 417-437-4552

Matt Oehlschlager Video Production 417-548-2333

Bryon Haskins Kansas/Missouri 417-850-4382

Nathan Ponder Oklahoma 636-295-7839

Clay Eldridge Video Production 417-316-1490

JW Henson Missouri 417-343-9488

Jim Schiltz Missouri 417-850-7850

Rick Aspegren Missouri 417-547-2098

Matt Hegwer Missouri 417-793-2540

Jr. Smith Arkansas 870-373-1150

Sam Boone Okla./Texas 940-235-9668

Trent Johnson Kansas 620-228-1463

Delbert Waggoner Kansas 620-583-9483

Luke Carr Kansas 620-205-6940

Larry Mallory Missouri 417-461-2275

Brandon Woody Missouri 417-827-4698

Rick Chaffin Missouri 414-849-1230

Chris Martin Kansas 785-499-3011

Troy Yoder Oklahoma 918-640-8219

Tim Durman Missouri 417-438-3541

Mark Murray Oklahoma 918-930-0086

higher, with heavier weights trading steady. Feeder heifers traded 3.00-9.00 higher with the most advance on weights under 500 lbs. Supply heavy with demand good to very good. Supply included: 100% Feeder Cattle (61% Steers, 37% Heifers, 2% Bulls). Feeder cattle supply over 600 lbs was 54%.

Feeder Steers: Medium and Large 1 300-400 lbs 195.00-222.00; 400-500 lbs 180.00-217.00; 500-600 lbs 162.00-179.00; 600-700 lbs 157.00-167.00; 700-800 lbs 156.00-169.00; 800-900 lbs 150.00-165.10; 900-950 lbs 153.50162.50. Medium and Large 1-2 300-400 lbs 180.00-190.00; 400-500 lbs 162.00-177.50; 500-600 lbs 147.50-162.00; 600-700 lbs 144.00-157.00; 700-800 lbs 148.00-155.00; 800-850 lbs 152.00-156.50; 900-1000 lbs 146.00151.75; pkg 1026 lbs 136.00.

Feeder Heifers: Medium and Large 1 pkg 297 lbs 179.00; 300-400 lbs 160.00-178.00; 400-500 lbs 150.00-169.00; 500-600 lbs 144.00-161.00; 600-700 lbs 146.00-162.00; 700-800 lbs 144.00-155.00; 800-900 lbs 135.00146.00. Medium and Large 1-2 300-350 lbs 150.00-157.00; 400-500 lbs 130.00-145.00; 500-600 lbs 130.00-143.00; 600-700 lbs 132.00-145.00; 800850 lbs 135.00-138.00.

Feeder Bulls: Medium and Large 1 pkg 290 lbs 225.00; 17 hd 337 lbs 200.00; 30 hd 409 lbs 186.00. Medium and Large 1-2 500-600 lbs 137.50152.00; 600-650 lbs 131.00-142.00.

Source: USDA-MO Dept of Ag Market News Service, Keith Hyde, Market Reporter, (573) 751-5618, 24 Hour Market Report 1-573-522-9244.

Visit www.primetimelivestock.com for future sale dates!

MARKET WATCH

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www.joplinstockyards.com

Market Recap: Special Value-Added Auction December 2, 2021 I Receipts 5,494 *****CLOSE***** No recent Value Added sale for a price comparison. Comparable to Monday’s regular feeder cattle sale, feeder steers under 650lbs traded 4.00 to 9.00 higher and feeder steers over 650lbs traded steady to 3.00 higher. Feeder heifers under 650lbs traded 5.00 to 8.00 higher and heifers over 650lbs traded steady to 3.00 higher. A very active market today at the JRS with moderate to heavy supply and very good demand. Supply included: 100% Feeder Cattle (58% Steers, 42% Heifers). Feeder cattle supply over 600 lbs was 43%.

All cattle in this report were from a verified value added health program and marked as Value Added.

Feeder Steers: Medium and Large 1 300-400 lbs 212.50-225.00; 400-500 lbs 190.00-205.00; 500-600 lbs 175.00-189.00; 600-700 lbs 163.75-176.50; 700-800 lbs 160.50-167.25. Medium and Large 1-2 400-500 lbs 175.00-191.00; 500-600 lbs 158.00-176.00; 600-700 lbs 157.00-168.00; 700-800 lbs 154.00-162.00; 800-850 lbs 157.50-160.00.

Feeder Heifers: Medium and Large 1 400-500 lbs 160.00-178.00; 500-600 lbs 157.00-165.00; 600-700 lbs 154.00-164.00; 700-800 lbs 149.00-155.00. Medium and Large 1-2 300-400 lbs 161.00-170.00; 400-500 lbs 152.00-168.00; 500-600 lbs 144.00-159.00; 600-700 lbs 147.00-156.00; pkg 854 lbs 144.00.

Source: USDA-MO Dept of Ag Market News Service, Grace Erickson, Market Reporter, (573) 751-5618, 24 Hour Market Report 1-573-522-9244.

December 2021

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