Beef TIPS - Winter 2020 Edition

Winter 2020

CentralStar Cooperative

BEEF

Tips

Access the Best in Beef Genetics From planning which genetics you use, to organizing help for synchronization and breeding, the entire breeding season can be a bit daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. CentralStar Specialists are committed to making your breeding season simple and successful. Take a look at a few sires our Beef Specialists are excited about. For a full listing of bulls to fit your needs, check out the 2020 sire directory at mycentralstar.com/beef.

Contact your Beef Specialist today!

Indiana 14SM3101 FULLY LOADED One of the most exciting sires to enter our lineup this year and is a must use for eye-appeal! FULLY LOADED is a double-digit Calving Ease prospect backed by a great maternal sire stack.

14AN502 TAHOE Our top selling bull because he does everything well. Few sires can match his combination of Calving Ease, performance, maternal traits and carcass merit all while improving type and longevity.

Greg Beavers 812.345.2299 greg.beavers@mycentralstar.com

Michigan

Ginni Sheridan 517.256.6190 ginni.sheridan@mycentralstar.com

Northern Wisconsin

Scott Ellevold 715.781.5635 scott.ellevold@mycentralstar.com 7SM95 DECLARATION A powerhouse growth sire with added eye-appeal. Up-headed progeny with a classy look! First calf reports offer excellent Calving Ease and outstanding phenotype. A red gene offers mating flexibility.

7AN531 ENTICE An excellent combination of performance, maternal value and elite carcass merit.

Ranking in the top one percent of the breed for $ Combined which blends both maternal and terminal indexes.

Learn more about these sires at selectsiresbeef.com. Looking to order? Contact your CentralStar team member at 800.631.3510.

Southern Wisconsin

Trevor Yager 608.574.6142 trevor.yager@mycentralstar.com

PRODUCER PROFILE

OSWALT FAMILY FARM Vicksburg, Mich.

By Ginni Sheridan, CentralStar Beef Specialist

PHOTO: Four generations of the Oswalt Family, Vicksburg Mich.

Farm Background Established in 1898, Oswalt Family Farm located in Vicksburg, Michigan, has continually grown and prospered. From its humble beginnings as a peppermint farm, the 865-acre operation has been passed down through multiple generations.

The beef portion of the farm originated in the 1970’s when they introduced purebred Angus cattle to the farm forming the base of the entire herd. The Oswalt Family continued growing their numbers into the 1990’s when they became a closed herd and reached the capacity for their land base.

Today, Steve and Scott Oswalt, along with their families, own and operate Oswalt Family Farm.

Herd Info The farm is comprised of 325 Angus-based cows, 50 heifers and 1,200 ewes, which are marketed across the Midwest as freezer beef and lamb.

Over the last 20 years, Steve and Scott have prioritized uniformity in frame and udder quality. Cattle docility and temperament has also been a focal point for the farm as they place a high emphasis on culling to improve the temperament of the herd. Additionally, management practices, such as a tub and box handling system, have been implemented to help reduce the amount

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of stress placed on the cattle while handling.

As a result of their husbandry efforts, the Oswalt family was recognized by the Michigan Cattleman’s Association as the 2013 Cattle Business of the Year and the Commercial Business of the Year in 2014 by the Michigan Sheep Producer’s Association. The farm is dedicated to using sound agricultural practices and working as good stewards of their community.

Breeding Program To ensure an adequate supply of freezer beef for their markets, the cow herd is divided into two groups, spring and fall calving. This strategy is also mimicked in their lamb operation through an accelerated lambing system.

Recently the farm has switched to breeding with composite bulls that are one quarter to one half Simmental to increase muscling. In the fall of 2018, the Oswalts transitioned to breeding the fall calving group and heifers to Wagyu bulls through artificial insemination (A.I.). Bulls are utilized within the herd for the spring calving group, as well as any additional clean-up after A.I. The Wagyu bull selected for cross breeding heifers was chosen based on calving ease EPDs. Crossbreeding

provides the benefits of superior marbling and meat quality of Wagyu genetics, while keeping production costs lower with the feed efficiency and maternal instincts of the Angus breed.

Reproduction Program Oswalt Family Farm utilizes a 7-day CO-sync + CIDR® protocol as it can be used on cows and heifers, and requires minimal handling or added stress.

CentralStar’s turnkey reproductive services are used to A.I. cattle based on the protocol timeline. The reproduction program has helped fulfill their niche marketing strategy of running a bulk freezer meat business. Additionally, it provides a reassurance that the heifers have been bred to known calving ease bulls and calve within a set time frame.

CentralStar’s Role The Oswalt family acknowledges the benefits of employing specialists in various areas throughout their operation. CentralStar has been a key partner in bringing expertise and knowledge to the farm. The utilization of CentralStar’s Beef Specialists provides the farm with the tools needed to meet their business goals.

You’re Invited Beef informational meetings

Join us for the beef informational meeting in your area to learn about: • Beef sires • Herd management products • Reproductive solutions

• Synchronization protocols • Diagnostic testing options • and more...

RSVP by Feb. 7 to 800.288.7473 with: Name/farm name Number attending Which meeting/tour

Dates and locations:

Tuesday, Feb. 18 - 6:15 p.m. registration Jakes Northwoods 1132 Angelo Rd Sparta, Wis. 54656 Wednesday, Feb. 19 - 6:15 p.m. registration Dodger Bowl 318 King St Dodgeville, Wis. 53533 Monday, Feb. 24 - 6:15 p.m. registration Milwaukee Grill 2601 Morse St Janesville, Wis. 53545 Saturday, Feb. 29 - 11:00 a.m. registration Ale House 1501 N Broadway St Menomonie, Wis. 54751

Winter Beef Tour Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020 Select Sires MidAmerica 41 W 394 U.S. Highway 20 Hampshire, Illinois 60140

11:00 a.m. - Welcome 11:30 a.m. - Self-guided facility tour 12:00 p.m. - Beef bull parade 12:30 p.m. - Lunch

See firsthand many of the Select Sires and Accelerated Genetics sires available for your breeding program!

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Herd health tools for every stage.

Get your copy of the January 2020 Big Book and Product Catalog. Ask your CentralStar Specialist or call 800.631.3510.

CONVERT™ Day-One Calf Gel

Contains a special blend of naturally occurring direct-fed microorganisms, L-form Lactobacillus, microbial sugars, enzymes and specialized proteins that can be used regardless of the challenges. No antibiotics.

Proven safe and effective. Use when calves are lethargic, not eating and overall doing poorly.

Day One Calf Gel Single Dose 15cc

$7.50

Special offer buy 16 get 2 FREE (Jan. 1 to Feb. 28, 2020)

Day One Calf Gel 60cc

$18.00

Special offer buy 5 get 1 FREE (Jan. 1 to Feb. 28, 2020)

Tri-Purify

Tri-Purify is a dietary feed supplement that provides pure, natural essential oils that have a strong antibacterial effect to improve the natural immune system. Combines live, naturally-occurring microorganisms to enhance the environment of the digestive tract. Tri-Purify also contains nutraceuticals, intestinal bacteria and live cell yeast.

Tri-Purify 36ct

$81.00

CONVERT™ Day-One Calf Bolus

Designed for newborn calves, CONVERT Day One Calf Bolus contains enzymes to enhance nutrient absorption and selected organic acids to lower the pH in the small intestine.

This assists in the reduction of scourcausing organisms by altering their growth environment. The CONVERT Day One Calf Bolus is an extremely concentrated product.

Day One Calf Bolus 10ct

Day One Calf Bolus 40ct $170.00

Accel RS

A new complete calf recovery solution for use when calves exhibit decreased appetite and/ or high incidence of scours. Use in place of all current calf rehydration products. This product contains dextrose and glucose to re-energize a calf. Accel RS allows calves to rehydrate, which is essential in the recovery process.

Contains Tri-Mic WD to heal the calves gut and re-populate the “good bugs.”

Accel RS 4oz packet Accel RS 6lb Accel RS 25lb

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$48.00

Special offer buy 15 get 3 FREE (Jan. 1 to Feb. 28, 2020)

$2.75 $55.00 $125.00

First Day Formula® Colostrum Replacer A colostrum replacement or supplement for newborn calves. First Day Formula contains dried, natural bovine colostrum safe for newborn calves and is fortified with essential vitamins and minerals.

First Day Formula CR 500gram $35.00 First Day Formula CR 20lb $575.00 CR Deluxe 500gram $41.50 CR Deluxe 20lb $690.00 CS (supplement) 200gram $14.50

RFID Tags

Official USDA 840 Ultra EID tag is ISO compliant. The USDA Premise ID number is required (issued by the Department of Agriculture in your state) to purchase. The extended small male allows for a deeper location placement in the ear. Receive a five percent discount when you order online at mycentralstar.com.

Allflex ‘840’ Ultra EID tag $2.75 Online Price $2.63

Stack the Deck with the right

Synchronization Protocol

By Ginni Sheridan, CentralStar Beef Specialist

Are you getting the most out of your estrus synchronization program? Stack the deck in your favor by following these four tips to help shorten your calving intervals and jump-start late calving or anestrus cows.

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Understand the impact of a proper Body Condition Score (BCS).

Follow an approved synchronization protocol precisely.

Use your resources.

Don’t go at it alone.

Ensuring your cows and heifers are prepared for the physical demands of breeding can make all the difference in conception rates. A study from South Dakota State University found that the ideal BCS for a two-year-old heifer is a 6, while older cows can meet their requirements with a BCS of 5. In fact, thin cows (BCS <5) tended not to exhibit a heat until almost 80 days after calving. Recording a BCS at calving is a practice that will allow you to identify which animals may need additional supplementation to get them to proper conditioning for breeding season.

There are an abundance of synchronization protocols for heifers and cows. A thorough review of the options will help determine which ones will net the best results based on your operations specific facilities, management style, and labor.

Once a synchronization protocol is selected, consider the number one reason a program will succeed or fail… compliance.

There are multiple tools and services at your disposal to help you with the synchronization process. The free Estrus Sync Planner available at www.selectsiresbeef.com outlines which shots to administer and when, along with the estimated costs for your herd. Additionally, save on time and labor costs by using products like Estrotect™ or Kamar™ heat monitors for protocols requiring heat detection throughout the day.

Work with your CentralStar Specialist, it’s what we’re here for. Within our lineup you can find Fertility Verified bulls that have been field tested and achieved Select Sires industry leading quality standards.

Contact one of our Specialists to help you get started on a synchronization protocol that best fits your herds needs.

How does this affect you?

Say you are maintaining a 12-month calving interval, the more chances you have to breed the more likely you are to stay on target with your breeding goals. In an eightweek breeding season cows that cycle early will have three opportunities to conceive. In contrast, cows that don’t show heat until after the second week only have two chances.

Maintain your timeline and follow your protocol accurately. Shots not given at the correct time or with the proper dosage will reduce the efficacy of the protocol. For example, intramuscular shots should be given with a 1½ inch, 18- or 20-gauge needle to ensure it adequately reaches the muscle.

View synchronization protocols at selectsiresbeef.com/resources.

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A.I. Management t s i l k c e h C Inadequate preparation and using improper A.I. techniques can be detrimental to the overall success of your breeding program. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let small mistakes add up to big problems for your beef herd. Take a look at this A.I. management checklist before jumping into the breeding season to eliminate those common missteps.

NUTRITION Monitor Monitor and provide adequate nutrition before during and after breeding.

Body Condition Score (BCS) Cows and heifers should calve at a BCS 6.

Heifers Heifers should be at 65 percent of mature weight by breeding.

Supplementation Provide adequate mineral supplementation to cows and heifers that may require it.

Follow Through Develop an upward plan of nutrition throughout the breeding season.

ESTRUS SYNCRONIZATION AND A.I. Facilities and Labor Have adequate facilities and labor for gathering cattle, administering synchronization treatments, and A.I.

Synchronization Protocol Choose the best synchronization protocol for your herd.

Heat Detection If utilizing heat detection, have trained labor available to observe cattle or use a heat detection aid.

Timeline Create a calendar to follow with synchronization treatments and A.I. dates.

SIRES

HERD HEALTH Vaccinations Administer pre-breeding vaccinations at least 30 days before breeding.

Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) If not already, become familiar with BQA guidelines for injections and proper needle size.

Synchronization Protocol Start your synchronization protocol at a minimum of 40 days postpartum.

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Proven Sires Use proven, high accuracy sires to accomplish goals set for your breeding and marketing programs.

Semen Obtain semen well in advance to avoid breeding delays.

DAY OF INSEMINATION Cattle Handling Practice proper cattle-handling to reduce stress and overheating -- as stress reduces fertility.

A.I. Gun Warm the A.I. gun prior to loading to prevent cold shocking the semen.

Semen Preparation Water temperature for thawing should be between 95 and 98 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep semen warm after thawing.

Timing Inseminate at the correct time, in accordance with heat detection or synchronization protocol.

POST INSEMINATION Heat Detection Monitor cattle with heat detection aids to ensure conception after A.I.

Nutrition Reduce sudden changes in nutrition during and after breeding.

Transportation Avoid transporting from seven to 20 days after breeding. The stress of transportation can cause embryonic loss.

Pregnancy Detection Confirm pregnancy as early as 28 days postbreeding with CentralStarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s blood pregnancy test.

Placement Be sure semen is placed in the correct location just inside the uterine body.

Have realistic expectations for your A.I. pregnancy rate and be sure to understand every part of what you are doing.

Consult your CentralStar team for help as you navigate through the breeding season to avoid the little but costly mistakes this year.

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Presorted Standard Class U.S. Postage PAID Lansing, MI Permit #505

CowManager® P.O. Box 23157, Lansing, MI 48909-3157 800.631.3510 • mycentralstar.com Return Service Requested

CowManager detects every cows’ fertility status even when a cow is not coming in heat or when she aborted.

• Monitors each cow 24/7.

• The most accurate data to tell you which cow is in heat.

• Better information on when to precisely breed.

Try CowManager for 90 days. Sign up at www.mycentralstar.com/cowmanager.

CentralStar its agents or employees cannot and do not guarantee the conception rate, gender, quality or productivity to be obtained in connection with the use of its products or recommended techniques. It makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever, expressed or implied, which extend beyond the description of its products and hereby disclaims all warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. In the unlikely event that any of our products shall be proven to be defective, damages resulting from their use shall exclude consequential damages and be limited to the purchase price of the product. Find complete trademark and warranty statement at mycentralstar.com/production-information. ™Agrarian Solutions and CONVERT are trademarks of Agrarian Solutions, Middlebury, Ind. ®CIDR is a registered trademark of DEC International, NZ, Ltd. ®CowManager is a registered trademark of Agis Automatisering. ®FIRST DAY FORMULA is a registered trademark of Select Sires, Inc. ™ESTROTECT is a trademark of Rockway, Inc. ®KAMAR is a trademark of Kamar Inc., Steamboat Springs, Colo.

Connect with us at:

Blood Pregnancy Test Blood pregnancy testing through CentralStar is quickly becoming standard practice for beef producers. Blood testing is a convenient and affordable way to detect pregnancy in your herd with greater than 98 percent accuracy. Blood pregnancy testing can be performed as early as 28 days post-breeding. Blood samples submitted for pregnancy detection can also be tested for diseases that negatively affect your herd such as, Johne’s, BLV (leukosis), and BVD. Conveniently order your sampling supplies online at www.mycentralstar.com.

Take advantage of multi-test discounts on the same sample.

To learn more visit www.mycentralstar.com/diagnostic-services or call 800.631.3510.

Pregnancy results are available within 24 hours of receipt via text, email, or online.