Cow Country News- December 2023 by The Kentucky Cattlemen's Association

Happy

Holidays

From all of the livestock auction and dealer members of the Kentucky Livestock Marketing Association, we wish you a Merry Christmas. We appreciate the support of our customers in trusting the auction method to market their livestock and look forward to working with you in the new year.

2 • Cow Country • December

C O L UM NISTS 07 Andy Bishop: President's Thoughts 08 Ryan Quarles 10 Dave Maples: Thoughts from Dave 18 Dr. Michelle Arnold: Deciding Who to Cull and When 22 Chris Teutsch: GPS Guidance Improves Frost Seeding Efficiency 64 Darrh Bullock: To Test or Not to Test, That is the Question

F E AT U RE STORIES 14 Addressing the Rural Vet Shortage 20 Kentucky’s Vet Shortage: Producers’ Perspective 21 Life of a Rural Vet 24 Farm Credit Mid-America Now Accepting Applications for Scholarship Programs 29 Eastern Kentucky Hay Contest Winners Announced 32 Eden Shale Field Day 33 September Pork Exports Fairly Steady; Beef Exports Trend Lower 36 Estimate and Manage Your Largest Cost as a Cow-calf Operator 12 County News 26 UK Economic & Policy Update 34 Membership 38 Kentucky Beef Council 40 Kentucky Beef Network 43 Kentucky Angus News 47 Legislative Update 48 Calendar of Events 49 Advertisers Index 49 Classifieds

4 • Cow Country • December

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Cassie should have been a travel agent. When planning a trip possible, but at a certain point, like with our lodging, those options to our favorite stretch of beach, no detail is missed in her proposal. fall outside our budget parameters and may not even fit what we are Her presentation has the level of professionalism of a thesis defense. I looking for. am not kidding. She makes power points and can tell you the pros and When Cassie finally has it narrowed down to a few propercons of every property off the top of her head. If I have any questions, ties, she almost always knows what I will ask. I want to know which she addresses my query before the sentence has left my tongue. Some ownership group or management company has the property. Whether properties come with bikes and complimentary gym access, while oth- we are staying in the cheapest thing that meets our minimum staners don’t. Some are closer to our favorite breakfast spots, while some dard or enjoying somewhere nicer during the offseason, I am only are closer to other amenities. All of that has been considered when staying at a place under one ownership group or serviced by one she presents the three best choices. Along this stretch of coastline, management company. Both have a reputation for offering excellent multiple communities work for us, and she has already found the best customer service and accurately representing their properties. We value and offered her opinion for what is best, given the time of year have stayed at properties managed by others, and there is a reason I and the number of people going. She even keeps a PDF on her Google won’t look anywhere else today. Much like there are countless options Drive ready to send to anyone who asks for suggestions. It is safe to of places to stay and people to work with along that stretch of Florida say she has a reputation for making 30A recommendations. coastline, there are numerous seedstock breeders you can source your Naturally, there will be some tradeoffs regarding lodging ac- genetics from. In theory, a registered bull that has a genomic test and commodations and price. Some properties offer all of the best options has been semen tested should meet your needs. He should breed your for our trip, but those are well over the pay scale of a farmer and a cows. Likewise, every room on 30A represented by a reputable webteacher. She may deem other locations as “roach motels” that don’t site, should meet our needs. It is a place to stay near the beach. look like they have been updated since the last millennium. What That ownership group and management company have Cassie does best is sift through the options in our budget that range properties throughout the entire spectrum, and I have bulls through from merely clean with public beach access to the plushest thing we the whole range of acceptable quality options when it comes to what can afford with all the amenities. Depending on seasonal prices and they will do for your cow herd. Some properties they manage are just where we were at that point in our lives, we have stayed from top to a place to sleep; others are high-end mansions. Some bulls I sell are bottom and everything in between. We might have just been happy merely structurally correct options that will sire calves that hit the to be there when we were younger. We would pack our beach chairs graded pen at the sale barn. Other bulls we produce and offer through a cooler full of food, and just needed a clean place to sleep. We have frozen genetics are some of the most elite bulls in the breed for their recently been going during the off-season and found reasonable room combination of traits. However, for every single one of them, regardrates at places we could never afford during peak season. Every prop- less of price, I go into painstaking detail to evaluate and accurately erty has tradeoffs, and we have to consider those countless variables. represent them so that when my customers get that bull home, they There are apparent parallels when it comes to bull selection. are happy with the results. We collect all the data during the evaluaThere are 31 different EPDs or selection indexes on an Angus anition process and are more than happy to share it during the buying mal today. Much like all the variables that go into planning a stay, process. I encourage customers to ask me for the dam’s production every single one of those EPDs matters. However, they each matter records, phenotype data not printed in the catalog, and further inforto a varying degree to each individual. With no kids to lead to the mation about the sire group. I will sell every bull in the catalog, but beach, Cassie and I have no qualms packing our chairs and walking a more importantly, I want to ensure every bull best fits their buyer’s half mile to public beach access if it gives us a nicer room and closer needs and budget. I love it when I get calls a year later about how proximity to what we want to eat and do when we aren’t at the beach. happy a customer is with the bull they got from us, and I work as hard If I were pulling a little red wagon full of sandcastle supplies or if we as possible to eliminate the other kinds of calls through our breedhad grandparents with us, proximity to the sand is probably the most ing selections and customer service. Accurate representation of the important thing on our list. The same goes for which traits you value product you have to sell avoids surprises later, and that doesn’t matter the most in bull selection. If you aren’t breeding heifers, a CED over if you are selling lodging or breeding stock. 10 is probably not at the top of your list. If you use a bull as a true terminal sire, you probably don’t need to care about heifer pregnancy EPD. However, if you are breeding heifers and keeping daughters Joe K. Lowe II Contact joe.lowe@icloud.com for an additional monthly newsletter out of those heifers, those may be two traits you want to look at first (coupled with $M). I obviously want a bull to do as many things as

BULLS, BRED HEIFERS, AND BRED COWS AVAILABLE KENNETH D. LOWE 270-202-7186 - JOE K. LOWE II 270-202-4399

FINANCING AVAILABLE - WWW.OAKHOLLOWANGUS.COM

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OFFICERS:

KCA PAST PRESIDENTS:

REGIONAL DIRECTORS:

PRESIDENT Andy Bishop 6135 High Grove Road Cox’s Creek, KY 40013 (502) 350-7609

PAST PRESIDENT Cary King 250 Bright Leaf Drive Harrodsburg, KY 40330 (859) 613-3734

1972-73 Jere Caldwell† - Boyle

2003 Mark Williams - Crittenden

1974-77 Smith T. Powell† - Lincoln

2004 Paul Napier - Lincoln

1978-79 Larry Lovell† - Union

2005 Eddie Young - Washington

PRESIDENT ELECT Jeff Pettit 5745 US Highway 41 S Sebree, KY 42455 (270) 836-2963

KCA PROGRAM CHAIRMAN Daniel Hayden 6333 Herbert Road Whitesville, KY 42378 (270) 570-2815

REGION 1 Bobby Bell*.................................270-547-8547 Buddy Cook.................................270-275-1274 Ashley Holloway................................................. Leland Steely...............................270-339-3476 Gary Woodall...............................270-725-0819 Wayne Zoleman...........................270-315-7812 Mark Heimgartner........................270-875-2585 Jeremy Armstrong......................270-668-2056 Kenton Howard.................................................. Sara Roberson............................270-668-2428

VICE PRESIDENT Randy Warner 2717 Ratliff Road Sharpsburg, KY 40374 (859) 771-5280

KBC CHAIRMAN Joe Lowe PO Box 205 Smith’s Grove, KY 42171 (270) 202-4399

TREASURER Ken Adams 90 E Horseshoe Ave. Upton, KY 42784 (270) 734-1443

KBN CHAIRMAN* Allan Bryant BEEF SOLUTIONS CHAIRMAN* Jeff Pettit *ex officio

1980-82 John Masters† - Fleming

2006 Greg Ritter† - Barren

1983-85 Seldon Hail† - Laurel

2007 Don Pemberton - Christian

1986-87 Bob Vickery† - Wayne

2008 Billy Glenn Turpin - Madison

1988 Glenn Mackie - Bourbon

2009 Scotty Parsons - Christian

1989 Dale Lovell† - Muhlenberg

2010 Corinne Kephart - Shelby

1990 Steve Henshaw† - Union

2011 Greg Robey - Mercer

1991 Jerry Fraim - Grayson

2012 Mike Bach - Bath

1992 Glen Massengale† - Wayne

2013 Don Reynolds - Hart

1993 Dell King - Christian

2014 Steve Downs - Marion

1994 Kenneth Lowe - Warren

2015 Gary Woodall - Logan

1995 Dr. J.L.Cole - Monroe

2016 David Lemaster - Clark

1996 Harvey Mitchell - Mercer

2017 Chuck Crutcher - Hardin

1997 Jim Naive† - Spencer

2018 Bobby Foree - Henry

1998 Shelby Hughes - Logan

2019 Tim White - Fayette

1999 Hoppy Lovell - Barren

2020 Steve Dunning - Christian

2000 Charles Miller - Jessamine

2021 Chris Cooper - Madison

2001 Larry Clay - Perry

2022 Cary King - Mercer

2002 Jack Kimbrough† - Shelby

(Deceased)

†

Dan Miller discusses body condition scoring at Eden Shale Farm Field Day. Photo by Katie Pratt

REGION 2 Phyllis Gentry*............................502-331-1146 Thomas Bolton................................................... Fred Thomas...................................................... Bradley Willcox............................270-862-4142 Robbie Hatfield............................270-230-6716 Chris Imbruligo...........................270-993-0543 Maggie Vaughn...........................270-590-8017 Mike Jones..................................270-670-7588 Corbin Cowles.............................270-991-2534 Glen Byrd.....................................270-991-1186 Isaac Thompson.........................270-789-8712 Kenneth Green............................270-589-7175 Andy Joe Moore..........................270-590-0841 Brian Manion...............................270-868-0253 Joe Mike Moore..........................270-670-7493 Amy Cecil....................................270-427-7207 REGION 3 Allan Bryant*...............................502-548-1379 Allen Phillips................................502-220-0948 Wanda Hawkins...........................502-321-5602 Phillip Douglas............................502-552-0688 Larry Bryant................................502-845-4615 Amanda Hall................................859-333-5001 Nicole Goecke.............................606-782-2263 Ben Tinsley......................................................... Kevin Perkins..............................502-269-7189 Kyle Bush....................................859-588-4531 Michelle Simon...........................859-572-2600

VOLUME 36 • ISSUE 12 176 PASADENA DRIVE • SUITE 4 • LEXINGTON, KY 40503 • PHONE: (859) 278-0899 FAX: (859) 260-2060 • WWW.KYCATTLE.ORG • INFO@KYCATTLE.ORG

Dave Maples Executive Vice President Chief Operating Officer

Membership and Communications Coordinator

Rachel Cain

National Advertising Sales, LAN Debby Nichols (859) 321-8770

Beef Solutions Operations Manager

KBC Director of Industry Relations

Communications Manager

KBC Director of Communications

Video Production Specialist

Director of Kentucky Beef Network

Graphic Designer

KBN Program Coordinator

Staff Accountant

KBC Director of Education

KBN Industry Coordinator

Director of Operations & Policy

Carey Brown Kenny Allen Kelly Baird

Todd Brown

Bradon Burks

Amelia Carter Danny Coy

Jake Harrod Dan Miller

Katie Pratt

Becky Thompson Kelly Tucker

Nikki Whitaker

COW COUNTRY is published monthly by THE KENTUCKY CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any material which he feels is unsuitable for the publication. Although the highest journalistic ethics will be maintained, the KENTUCKY CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION limits its responsibilities for any errors, inaccuracies, or misprints in advertising or editorial copy. Advertisers and advertising agencies assume liability for all content of advertisements made against the publisher.

6 • Cow Country • December

REGION 4 Amy White*.................................859-227-2552 Brad Reynolds.............................859-200-1632 Derek Abney................................859-248-0200 Phillip Stamm.............................606-796-9175 Danielle Harmon.........................606-748-8059 Bruce Witt...................................859-585-8889 Jodi Purvis..................................606-336-3540 Mike Ravencraft..........................606-584-0310 Brandon Sears................................................... Danny Callahan...........................859-388-0910 Jason Crowe...............................859-582-0761 REGION 5 Adam Chunglo*..........................859-613-2985 Brent Woodrum...........................859-397-1078 Tommy Spalding.........................270-402-9157 Dean Craft...................................606-634-0191 Brent Ware..................................606-305-8612 Rick Brewer.................................606-682-2352 Brent Williams.............................502-817-1511 Gary Ford....................................270-402-2194 Aaron Burke................................859-265-1172 Ryan Miller..................................502-827-5027 Phillip Reese................................606-787-1629 Jared Foley..................................270-585-1331 * Denotes member of Executive committee

President's Thoughts Andy Bishop KCA President Co-written by Clara Belle Bishop Red and green are two of the most common colors used in the month of December. Millions of families will sit down late at night with steaming cups of hot chocolate and my personal favorite dessert of the season, warm Christmas cookies. With the most popular holiday of the year coming soon, consumers and producers have a lot to accomplish before the end of December. The countdown is on, and I can’t believe I’ll be finishing up the year in such a short amount of time. As we begin to finish the year out, cattle markets are in a good spot due to shrinking inventory, and we fully anticipate going into 2024 with 28.1 million head of beef cows, which is the smallest cattle inventory since the 1960s. With a smaller herd and higher prices for our calves come higher prices at the retail shelves for consumers. Retail prices recently set a record high with expectations that those prices will continue to escalate. With increasing beef prices at the grocery store, we will truly see the resilience of the American consumer to continue buying our product. Consumer demand was at an all-time high in 2021 while beef prices set a record, which can be attributed to the work of the Beef Checkoff. If you’ve had the opportunity to hear me speak this year, you will have heard my explanation about the value of imports and exports. American beef is renowned for the best tasting, highest quality beef in the world. With that high quality taste comes additional marketing challenges leaving beef marketers searching for ways to add value to the carcass for the American producer. First, that high quality taste can be attributed to excess fat. What do we do with all that excess fat that carries little value as a standalone product? Secondly, what do we do with the parts of the carcass that American consumers are not willing to purchase (i.e., beef tongue, tripe, liver, etc.)? The easiest solution to adding value to the excess fat is to blend it with lean trim. However, we are at a deficit in the United States for lean trim and an already shrinking cow herd. We have the ability

to import lean trim from other countries at a discounted value to blend with our excess fat, meanwhile adding value to that fat and selling it to the consumer. More than 72% of imported beef comes in the shape of boxed lean trim. Building trade relationships with other countries allows the opportunity to import product that adds value to our existing products and allows us to export an American product that our consumers aren’t willing to purchase all while adding value. These trade relationships are essential in adding value to the carcass, and as a matter of fact in 2022, the export market added $397 dollars per head in value to the carcass. I use the analogy of a grain farmer that owns cattle. If a grain farmer had the choice of making feed out of his corn for $4 a bushel of feed value or selling his product to a distillery in Bardstown for $6 a bushel and buy back commodity feed for his beef cattle at a cheaper price, which is the best financial decision for him? Just like in this example, the best way to add value to the carcass is to import the lean trim to blend with our fat and export the products that American consumers are not willing to purchase. That increased value of $397 dollars a head if divided equally among segments of the industry is worth about $8 a hundred weight for a 500-pound calf. The gains in export value reflect the work done by the United States Meat Export Federation, who is a contractor to the Beef Checkoff. In essence, the USMEF is using Checkoff dollars to build markets in 120 countries while creating value for all producers. A recent study has shown that for every dollar spent, there is a $24 dollar return on investment. With Christmas being right around the corner, this provides us with an opportunity to reflect on past events prior to when markets hit highs and lows. In 2003, American beef was affected by the well-known BSE and the “Cow that Stole Christmas,” which shut down export markets nearly overnight. When these markets reopened in 2008, countries like South Korea were boycotting in the streets, protesting American beef being

brought back into their country. In 2022, South Korea was the largest importer of American beef to the tune of $2.3 billion in a $12 billion export market. This example is due to the work of the United States Meat Export Federation and their service to our industry. Had producer members of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board not decided to use Checkoff dollars to support USMEF, those export numbers would be significantly lower, meaning lower value for the products we work hard to produce. Hopefully, this explanation of imports and exports gives you some insight into why that relationship exists and how it benefits the producer. With Christmas carols playing on the radio and “Home Alone” portrayed on the television screen, spending time with my family around the holidays is one of my favorite things to do. Even though the weather may be cold and snowy we can still look forward to the relationships created and the opportunities to bond with the people we love from the comfort of our own homes. I sincerely hope that everyone stays warm and cozy and enjoys drinking too much hot cocoa and eating one too many of those delicious Christmas cookies. With that, I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmasand a Happy New Year.

Andy Bishop

Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association President 502-350-7609 December • Cow Country • 7

Ryan Quarles Commissioner of Agriculture

My time as your agriculture commissioner is in its final weeks and the next commissioner has been chosen by you, the voters of Kentucky. As I finish out my term, I want you to know that I plan to meet with the new administration as many times as necessary to ensure as smooth a transition as possible. In the meantime, until my second fouryear term expires at the end of 2023, I’m going to continue to run the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. I plan to leave the next administration with “a full tank of gas.” When I was in high school, whenever I borrowed my dad’s truck, I knew that I better bring it back with a full tank or face the consequences. So, the next commissioner will step into the driver’s seat of a well-oiled machine running on a full tank. One thing I’m proud of is KDA has been there over the past eight years to help Kentuckians in their time of need, whether they were recovering from devastating natural disasters, such as tornadoes in Western Kentucky and flooding in Eastern Kentucky or struggling to feed their families. I made reducing hunger in the rural and urban parts of Kentucky a major priority during my time in office. In 2016, I launched the Kentucky Hunger Initiative, a first-of-its-kind effort that brought together farmers, charitable organizations, faith groups, community leaders and government entities to create a Hunger Task Force to begin a dialogue to help reduce hunger in Kentucky. Partnering with food banks across the state, I think we made progress against food insecurity, a critical issue facing one in six Kentuckians. I encourage our next commissioner to continue this fight. As I think back about the past eight years as your agriculture commissioner, here are a few other highlights: • It was my honor being elected and serving as president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) in 2020-21. I was the first Kentuckian in 20 years to serve in that leadership post, and it 8 • Cow Country • December

helped put Kentucky in the national spotlight. • Just this year, I formulated a working group, made up of agriculture industry stakeholders, to begin looking for solutions to end a shortage of large animal veterinarians in Kentucky. Four committees are still meeting and will report their progress soon, before I leave office. I hope our next commissioner will continue this important effort as well. • KDA teamed up with state universities and the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services to launch Raising Hope. With funds appropriated through the General Assembly and a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2022, Raising Hope works with farmers and their families to promote their mental

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and physical well-being. • Kentucky’s 2022 agricultural receipts reached record high of $8.3 billion, up from $6.9 billion in 2021. The value of livestock cash receipts totaled $3.47 billion, up 26% from the previous year. Crop cash receipts were $3.84 billion, up 14%. Kentucky ranks 24th nationally for all cash receipts and, for the first time, the top five commodities (corn, soybeans, broiler chickens, cattle, and other livestock) all exceeded $1 billion. With your help, I’ve managed to accomplish many of the goals I set out to do when I stepped into this role in January 2016. It’s been my absolute pleasure to serve you, and I thank you for the honor of trusting me in that capacity.

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A balanced set of numbers also helps to insure a consistent product. It has become the norm for registered breeders to promote extremes in a single trait. Some new epd becomes available and it is then pushed to the limit without taking into consideration what other traits it will affect. When we are continually chasing a popular trait, it becomes very easy to lose sight of all the basic traits needed for true profitability. Carcass data is starting to add premiums to feeder cattle. Exciting times are ahead, and the information utilized in this area will only help the industry produce a more consistent product for the consumer. It is still important not to select for extremes. There should be an optimum level for marbling and rib-eye that doesn’t affect basic traits that we need to get the calf to the feedlot. Certified Angus Beef recommends a +.65 marbling epd and a +55 dollar grid epd to qualify for their program. It seems rational for us to concentrate our efforts into producing cattle that are around these numbers but are still able to perform on grass. On March 4, 2024 we will be offering a set of bulls that will help your herd produce a consistent uniform set of calves. Heifers that you can count on to be fertile and last. Steers that will perform in the feedlot and produce a desirable carcass. They are backed by years of selection for the right mix of trait characteristics to ensure uniformity and consistency.

1669 Mill Creek Rd. • Flemingsburg, KY 41041 Chris Cannon: 606-748-0407 • Caleb Cannon: 606-748-0044 Charles Cannon: 606-748-0747 www.stonegatefarms.com • stonegateangus@gmail.com @stonegatefarmsky December • Cow Country • 9

Thoughts From Dave Dave Maples Executive Vice President As we round out another year, I want to touch on a few things that KCA has been involved in 2023. The organization reached a membership milestone when for the first time in the 50-year history of the organization the membership topped 11,000 members. This is very positive for a trade organization, especially when the national trend is on the negative side. From a financial standpoint, the organization is on a solid foundation. But if you look at where the association ended fiscal year 2023, it was just barely break even or a little negative. The membership dues have not increased in over 30 years, so we have to look for non-dues revenues. Your organization and staff have done a very good job when it comes to nondues revenue. I am excited when I see young staff members come to the table with ideas around the topic of non-dues revenue. As our accounting advisor explained to me, we are a tax-exempt organization, not a nonprofit.

Eden Shale Farm I had the opportunity to attend events at Eden Shale two times this past month. As I parked my car and looked out over that beautiful farm, I got chill bumps on my arm as I saw how beautiful the farm 10 • Cow Country • December

looked and the progress in the weaned calves as they walked the path around the steep terrain. I just know how much progress this farm as made in not only the cattle herd but in the educational opportunities. I take my hat off to Becky Thompson, Dan Miller, Greg Cole, Dr. Steve Higgins and a host of other people that have made Eden Shale what it is today. I always enjoy looking at the photos that are hanging on the walls in the tobacco stripping room and think about the people that got the farm started and laid the groundwork for what it is today. One of the main areas of work on the farm has been around the simple subject of water. At the farm, you will see demonstrations of several different cattle watering options. And the first thing that comes to several of the people’s minds that observe the demonstrations is that it’s not practical. But it makes you think, I hope. I was at my farm a couple of days

later, and my wife and I were filling up one of our watering troughs with a hose pipe. We have a one-hole and a two-hole automatic waterer for the cows, and I also added a big round trough that multiple cows can drink from and a smaller trough

that about three cows can drink from at one time. As we were waiting for the trough to fill, my wife asked me why the cows prefer to drink from this trough instead of the automatic waters. That was the point that Dr. Higgins was trying to make. Cattle are herd animals. They like waterers with enough surface area to allow several of them to drink clean water at once. CDC- Antibiotics Bradon Burks and I made our way to Atlanta the second week of November for the 13th Antibiotics Symposium held at Emory University, just across the street from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). You have seen pictures where CDC staff were in Kentucky back in September. One thing that I can tell you up front is that Bradon and I were in a gathering of people that had way more formal education than either of the two of us times whatever number you want to multiply by. The gentleman from Iowa State University told me, “to be proud that I was there and to please be in the room because these people can get way off base.” The symposium was about antimicrobial resistance. It was all about removing antibiotics from over-the-counter to a under the direction of a veterinarian, which I don’t have any problem with. But as we pass policy that impacts veterinary medicine, we need to consider farmers, their resources and their current access to veterinary care. We, and I use the term “WE,” are going to have to do a better job communicating and educating others about the current state of rural animal health services before we pass policy that puts additional hardships on our animals, veterinarians and producers. There are areas in our state that have no access to veterinary care, especially for large and food animals. Not only that, but we also have producers living in remote areas and producers with limited financial resources and inadequate cattle handling facilities. We are going to have to be careful as we address public policy that we don’t forget about the current veterinary challenges our rural producers face.

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BARREN COUNTY NEWS submitted by James Bailey

The Barren County Cattlemen’s meeting was held Thursday, Oct. 19 at the Barren County High School Trojan Academy. During the meeting, Brad Carter and Dr. Charles Townsend, representing Burkmann Nutrition, presented a program on the economics of feeding beef calves. Bradon Burks, director of education for the Kentucky Beef Council, made a presentation on Kentucky Junior Cattlemen’s Association programs. Pictured from left to right are Kelsey Kinslow, Dr. Charles Townsend, Brad Carter and John Reed, all from Burkmann Nutrition; Stan Buchanan of B&B Fencing and Don Wilson, treasurer of the Barren County Cattlemen’s Association. On display at the Barren County Cattlemen’s meeting was a safety exhibit on the dangers of poison hemlock designed and constructed by Cynthia Rowland. Poison hemlock is dangerous if consumed by livestock and is prevalent across the state. Rowland’s exhibit has been promoted by Kentucky Farm Bureau and was part of the National Health and Safety Week. A delicious dinner sponsored by Burkmann Nutrition and B&B Fencing was served.

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Members of the Bath County Cattlemen’s Association sliced ribeyes for their annual Court Day cooking event. They sliced around 2,500 ribeyes and sold around 46 boxes of Kentucky Cattlemen’s Ground Beef.

(270) 885-8474 Office orders@hamptonpremiummeats.com

December • Cow Country • 13

Addressing the Rural Vet Shortage Katie Pratt KCA Communications Manager Kentucky is the largest cattle producing state east of the Mississippi River but, like most of the country, is faced with a rural veterinarian shortage, especially for food animal veterinarians. According to the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners, just 3% of all veterinarians have practices that are 70% or more dedicated to food animals. Only 20% of all Kentucky veterinarians offer food animal services. The Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association, Auburn University, Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association and other partners have been working to develop the next generation of rural veterinarians focused on large and food animals and provide support to Kentucky’s existing large and food animal veterinarians. Mentoring Youth Kentucky high school juniors and senior, with an interest in food animal veterinary medicine are being mentored by upperclassmen in the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine through a veterinary services grant. Auburn received the three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The goal is for the Auburn students to help the high schoolers prepare for and succeed in veterinary school. “We really wanted to answer young people’s questions and help them understand the requirements, both academic and clinical hours, that they need to get into vet school,” said Dr. Cris Young, Auburn University professor and primary investigator on the grant. “Hopefully this will be one way to address the rural vet shortage.” Grace Jones of Scottsville, Ky. is in her fourth year at Auburn’s vet school and is one of the mentors. She has long wanted to help connect Kentucky students with their local veterinary community and also started the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association’s student chapter. “I think a lot of the pursuit of vet school starts with understanding what you are signing up for,” she said. “Student loan debt is high; the hours are long, and it’s 14 • Cow Country • December

really a career and a lifestyle.” Five Kentucky high school students were funded through the USDA grant. The other five were funded from a donations the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Foundation received from Bob Hall of Hallway Feeds in Lexington. In the mentorship program that began in September, Kentucky high school students meet with the Auburn students four times a year at locations across Kentucky and at Auburn.

Jones is one of the students that came to Kentucky for the rotations. She hopes to have a mixed-animal practice after she graduates and will soon start a preceptorship at a veterinary clinic in Richmond, Ky. “I realized I really liked working with food animals and horses while at an internship at a mixed-animal clinic in Illinois,” she said. “One of my life goals is to come back to Kentucky and have a mixed-animal practice.”

“The Auburn vet mentorship program has already been such a huge learning experience and great opportunity for myself and other youth involved,” said Callie Derossett, a junior at Henry County High School. “This program will not only help me get a better understanding of the requirements for acceptance into vet school but also allows me to make new connections and meet new people within the industry. The potential gain from this program is immeasurable.”

Hannah Crumpton, a fourth-year Auburn veterinary student from Alabama, took the class to gain more experience with large animals, particularly with beef stockers. She wants to have a mixedanimal practice after she graduates.

The Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association also supports Kentucky students currently enrolled in vet school through the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Foundation Veterinary Scholarship. The foundation has awarded a scholarship each year to third- and fourth-year College of Veterinary Medicine students. Since 2008, the foundation has awarded $72,000 in scholarships.

Veterinarians face several obstacles for offering large animal services. It is often more lucrative for them to focus on small animals compared to large ones. This can make a small animal focus attractive to recent graduates, who often carry a large amount of student loan debt coming out of vet school. A number of large animal veterinarians have retired in recent years. Many local veterinary practices have been purchased by large corporations, and the large corporations do not allow veterinarians in their practice to care for large animals.

Returning to Kentucky A native of Alvaton, Ky. and a graduate of Western Kentucky University, Dr. Young has strong ties to the state. This fall, he started a large and food animal-focused class at Auburn that spent two weeks at the end of October and first of November doing clinical rotations across Kentucky with local veterinarians. “I wanted to see if we could confirm or build an interest among our veterinary medicine students who think they want to practice on large animals and help them establish Kentucky connections, both in the industry and with local businesses,” Dr. Young said.

“It’s an adrenaline rush for me to work with large animals because of their size,” she said. “Through these rotations, I’ve learned to how to work quickly and efficiently and get good at what I’m doing.” Help for Kentucky’s Vets

The latter occurred in Christian County when Skyline Animal Clinic was bought by a corporate group. Hopkinsville Elevator purchased Skyline’s former large animal facility. They currently rent it to Dr. John Laster, a veterinarian who operates the Todd County Animal Clinic. The facility is the only large animal haul-in clinic in Christian County. Dr. Laster was able to get a $100,000 grant through the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund’s Large and Food Animal Veterinary

Incentives Program to purchase the equipment inside the facility, which will ensure it stays in the area for the foreseeable future. The Large and Food Animal Veterinary Incentive Program is in its first year and provides a 75% cost reimbursement for equipment purchases. Dr. Laster was one of the first recipients. In order to get the funding, Dr. Laster had to have a 5:1 match in county funds. Christian and Todd County Agricultural Development councils joined together to provide the match. Larry Bailey is a member of the Christian County Agriculture Development Council. He also raises horses, and his son has cattle. “If an animal goes down and you have to call a vet to make a farm visit, it can take as much as an hour for them to get

there, and you risk losing that animal the longer it takes for them to arrive,” Bailey said. “A horse costs anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000, and a cow is now bringing around $2,000 a head. They are too valuable to lose.” Bailey lives on the western side of Christian County. He said having the haul-in facility where he can meet a vet with a sick animal cuts his wait time in half. Lanny Boyd is also on the Christian County Agricultural Development Council. He said the haul-in facility is important to the county’s producers, particularly those with small herds. “A large number of our smaller producers do not have a good working pen to adequately care for their animals and this facility provides a place for them to take care of their animals,” he said.

For Laster, the program funds are improving his ability to serve his clients across the area. “We have four veterinarians in our practice, and we didn’t have enough equipment for all of us,” Laster said. “This will be a huge advancement in our ability to work and service our clients and their livestock.” With the funds, Dr. Laster said he was able to buy the equipment in the former Skyline facility, which included a chute and tilt table, and two new ultrasound machines and new vet boxes for their trucks. “The equipment is going to make a huge difference in our capabilities,” he said. “We can get calls fielded faster and use modern technology to do our jobs.” C ON TIN U E D O N PAGE 1 6

December • Cow Country • 15

experience and the business’s finances. They will then collect and analyze their findings and put them into a report that they will present back to the practice owner. Their report will provide feedback on the clinic’s overall operations and offer recommendations for improved efficiency, profitability and client experiences.

C ON TIN U ED FROM PA GE 1 5

The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board and Chrisitan and Todd County Agriculture Development Councils provided another 5:1 match up to $100,000 for Dr. Madelyn Orem to buy into Dr. Laster’s practice as a partner. “If we can help these small businesses pick up extra vets, it will only help us,” Bailey said. Dr. Laster said young vets fresh out of veterinary school often have a tremendous amount of debt which can prohibit them from being able to get loans to start their own businesses or even purchase a home. He called the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board’s program a game changer for young vets.

with students, recent graduates and rural Kentucky practice owners. “Veterinary medicine is hard enough to learn on its own, but veterinary students also need basic business knowledge as many of them will go on to operate their own clinics,” Sellers said. “This program is a great way for us to provide business education to our current and future veterinarians.” Sellers and veterinary students in his practice management class at Auburn will come to a Kentucky veterinary clinic for three days. They will look at how the veterinary practice operates, client

Sellers said not only does this provide veterinarians with important feedback about their business operations, but it will be an important learning experience for his students. “This experience will be invaluable to the students in what they will see and learn by looking at all the business aspects of a real veterinary practice,” Sellers said. “I hope they take the things they learn from practice management and are able to incorporate it into their own practices someday.” Sellers and his students will conduct practice management consultations at two Kentucky veterinary clinics in the 2023-2024 academic year and two more Kentucky clinics in the 2024-2025 academic year.

“When a young vet buys into a practice that almost guarantees that they will stay in the community,” he said. “The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board has done a great thing with this program, and I think we will see positive changes in the next five years in addressing the rural vet shortage.” Shoring up the financial side of veterinary medicine In the past, classes in veterinary school were focused on animal medicine with limited education on how to start and run a successful small business. Glen Sellers, clinical lecturer and researcher at Auburn University, is helping to change that. He initially received funding to assist new graduates in transitioning into rural practice and provide business analysis services to rural veterinarians through a four-year USDA grant. The USDA grant has ended, but in a collaborative effort between the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association and Auburn University, Sellers will continue working 16 • Cow Country • December

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Deciding Who to Cull and When Michelle Arnold, DVM (Ruminant Extension Veterinarian, UKVDL)

REASONG TO CULL

CULL COW LANGUAGE

1. Mean Disposition

Breakers (75-80% lean)- Highest conditioned cull cows (BCS ≥ 7), excellent dressing percentages

2. Open Females 3. Structurally Unsound/ Chronic Health Condition 4. Advanced Age 5. Poor PerformanceRecords 6. Phenotype-color, stature 7. Replacement Heifers that get pregnant late in the breeding season

Boners or “boning utility” (80-85% lean)Moderately conditioned (BCS 5-7), wellnourished commercial beef cows (usually highest price cull) Leans (85-90%)- Lower BCS (1-4), lower dressing percentages, susceptible to bruising during transport and expect more trim loss. Moving cows from lean to boner status can usually be done efficiently

Which cows in your herd are consistently making you money? Every year, the cow-calf producer needs to critically evaluate each female and decide if she is paying her upkeep or if she needs to be removed or “culled” from the herd. This is exceptionally important during times of drought or a year with marginal hay production as culling deeper in the herd may be necessary to manage the forage supply. There are also times it makes sense to keep or buy more replacement heifers and let older cows go, such as when the herd is getting older, cull cows are selling at favorable prices and the potential replacement heifers have the genetics to produce better quality calves. Open cows (those that are not pregnant) at the end of breeding season obviously are high on the cull list as they are difficult to financially justify. Beyond pregnancy status, what other variables are important to evaluate? Structural soundness, body condition score, age, annual performance and disposition are significant factors to consider when developing a “culling order” specifically for your farm. In addition, it is important not to keep replacements from sires or dams with undesirable traits that could be passed down to offspring. The culling order is essentially a ranking of the most important reasons a cow would NOT be a productive member of the herd on your farming operation. The following is a list of factors to carefully consider when deciding who to cull this year. • Disposition—A cow’s attitude is an important consideration in any cattle operation. Bad behavior has both a 18 • Cow Country • December

genetic component and is also learned by her calf at an early age. Mean, nervous, “high strung” cattle are dangerous to people, damage facilities, tear up fences and make gathering and working cattle difficult at best. Remember, a good cow can be protective of her calf without being dangerous and destructive. Bulls that show aggression towards humans should be culled immediately. • Pregnancy Status- A cow should produce a calf once a year and the sale of that calf needs to pay the dam’s “living expenses”. Diagnosing a cow as “open” (not pregnant) is as simple as having a veterinarian palpate for pregnancy at least 40 days after breeding or after the bull is removed. There are also several simple, inexpensive blood tests on the market that may be used post-breeding to determine pregnancy status. If multiple cows are found open at pregnancy check, work with your veterinarian to try to determine the cause. Summer heat and fescue toxicosis can be important contributors to low conception rates as well as infectious causes of abortion and early embryonic death. • Structural Soundness- Cattle exhibiting structural problems that adversely affect performance and are not correctable need to be identified and removed. Good feet and legs are essential for maintaining body condition, breeding, calving, self-defense and raising a calf. A conformational defect such as corkscrew claw (Figure 1) is regarded as a heritable trait and a strong reason to cull. Other

structural problems such as cows that have repeated episodes of vaginal prolapse during pregnancy (Figure 2), or cattle extremely sensitive to the effects of fescue toxicosis, should be removed from the herd as soon as the calf is weaned. • Udder Quality- Milk production in beef cows is one of the most important factors affecting calf pre-weaning growth and body weight at weaning. A structurally sound udder should be firmly attached and high enough that newborn calves can easily find and latch onto clean, average-sized teats. Cows with blind or light quarters, funnel or balloon shaped teats, teats that drag in the mud or with any previous history of mastitis are strong candidates for culling. Mastitis (Figure 3) will result in decreased milk production, reduced calf weaning weights and lifelong damage to the quarter. Udder quality in beef cattle is considered to be moderately heritable so females with good, or bad, udders tend to pass that trait to their daughters. Culling these cows with poor teat and udder conformation and selecting replacements with better udder traits will make a noticeable difference in calf performance. • Chronic Disease-Cows showing signs of chronic disease conditions that will not improve should be culled and only sold for slaughter. Two examples of chronic disease conditions include diarrhea and progressive weight loss from Johne’s Disease and bovine ocular squamous cell carcinoma or “cancer eye” (Figure 4). Waiting too long to cull may result in carcass condemnation at slaughter. • Age-Cows are considered most productive between 4-9 years of age. The size and shape of the teeth can be used to assess age but always evaluate tooth wear in light of the diet. Cows that eat gritty or sandy feeds and forages have increased tooth wear beyond their years. Regardless, cows with badly worn or missing teeth may have a difficult time maintaining body condition. However, aged cows that stay in good condition and raise a calf every year do not have to be removed just because of advanced age. • Poor Performance-Record keeping is an invaluable tool for evaluating performance. Readable visual tags on both the cow and calf allow one to match calf sale weights to their respective dams and also identify cows that did not produce a calf. Dams with inferior genetics and poor milk production produce lightweight calves that do not

Figure 1: Corkscrew claw (also called screw claw) is a heritable defect found most often in the outside claws of the rear legs. There is twisting of the toe in a way that places the side wall of the hoof in direct contact with ground. The condition begins with toes pointing inward instead of forward and leads to lameness due to improper weight distribution. Corrective trimming is necessary every 3-4 months.

Figure 2: Cow with prolapsed vagina. This problem, seen in some pregnant cows, will reoccur year after year and is a strong reason to cull. Photo by Michelle Arnold, University of Kentucky.

Figure 3: Cow with mastitis in the left rear quarter. Photo by Michelle Arnold, University of Kentucky.

Figure 4: Cow with early cancer eye.

grow well. An overweight cow with a small calf that doesn’t gain weight as it should generally means the cow is keeping calories to herself rather than producing milk. Calves that get sick prior to weaning may indicate dams that produced poor-quality colostrum or have poor mothering ability. • Any health issues, treatments given, and veterinary visit or expenses should be recorded in a standardized format for every herd member. Record any abortions or stillbirths, any difficulties with labor and delivery, and all calf deaths. It is important that all calves born, whether dead or alive, are recorded and taken into consideration when the herd is being analyzed and record that information on the specific cow’s lifetime history. • Phenotype-Cows that do not “fit” the herd because of external features such as unusual breed, size, muscling and color are candidates for culling. These challenges may be overcome to some degree by choice of sire to balance out the unwanted traits. Remember that buyers of commercial calves look for uniformity in color, weight and frame in a set of calves and will pay a premium price for it.The last ones to go-If

conditions are such that only the best females can remain in the herd, consider selling those with the fewest productive years left such as bred cows over 9 years old. Also, bred heifers or thin cows that conceived late in the breeding season will likely have a difficult time rebreeding next year and may be good candidates to leave while pregnant. Since 20% of gross receipts in a typical cow-calf operation come from the sale of cull animals, pay attention to price seasonality and body condition score before sending these animals to market. Prices are historically highest in spring and lowest in late fall when spring born calves are weaned and many culls are sent to market. Adding weight and body condition to culls is an opportunity to increase profitability but can be expensive. Work with a nutritionist to come up with realistic cost projections before feeding cull cattle for a long period of time. When it comes to making decisions on who to cull, remember to consider functionality in your environment. Is she an “easy keeper”? Does she keep flesh and condition and raise a good calf, even when feed and forage is limited? Or does she give too much milk or is her frame size so large that you can’t keep weight on

her, even when pasture is plentiful? Is her pelvis so small and tight that calving is a problem for her and will become a problem in her offspring? Functionality leads to longevity and improved efficiency. By retaining more young cows in the herd, you can decrease the number of replacement heifers needed each year and cull cows that are only marginally profitable. Young cows also increase in value as they mature because the body weight of the cow and her calf ’s weaning weight will continue to increase until approximately 5 years of age. Longevity will also be improved through crossbreeding because hybrid vigor adds essentially 1.3 years of productivity or one more calf per cow! If considering buying heifers, UK has a decision support tool available at https://agecon.ca.uky.edu/ budgets (under the Livestock/Forages heading) to help you understand how to evaluate the investment potential for bred heifers in your specific circumstances. In summary, a herd of easy-keeping, efficient cows is possible through rigorous culling, careful selection of replacements and retention of young cows. Match your genetics to your management and environment for maximum efficiency, longevity and ultimately, maximum enjoyment of cattle production. December • Cow Country • 19

Kentucky’s Vet Shortage: Producers’ Perspective Katie Pratt KCA Communications Manager make farm visits because they have the extra transportation costs due to the long distances they are traveling to farms,” Graham said.

Photo by Heather Graham

Veterinarian shortages are found in pockets throughout Kentucky. The shortage is particularly critical in rural areas and in providers of large animal services, including cattle. While some areas of the state do have sufficient access to large animal veterinarians, cattle producers in areas with a shortage are faced with tough decisions and numerous obstacles when it comes to getting their animals proper care in a timely manner.

Another challenge with vets making farm visits is some producers, especially those with small herds, lack the needed on-farm infrastructure for the vet to make a farm visit. “Vets cannot go out to a producer’s farm, rope the cattle and then care for them,” Sebastian said.

About 30 miles south of Cincinnati, Pendleton County has had a large animal veterinarian shortage for some time. Over the years, veterinarians have retired, and those in the county now only practice on small animals. “It’s been a struggle for the past 10 years,” said Jeff Cox, who has 20 head of cattle as well as horses in Butler. “It has steadily gotten worse to the point where we are now. It’s impossible to get a large animal veterinarian to make a farm visit.” Fellow Pendleton County producer John Fitzpatrick echoed Cox. “It’s probably been 10 years since I had a vet come to my farm,” said Fitzpatrick, who farms in Falmouth and near DeMossville. For Pendleton County producers, the nearest veterinarian clinic with a haul-in facility is in Harrison County, and it is a 45- to 50-minute drive. There is no afterhours emergency vet service. If they have an animal that needs medical attention after hours, producers must wait until the next morning to call the Harrison County clinic and get an appointment. Full caseloads at clinics prohibit vets from making farm visits. “The Harrison County clinic is so busy that it would be difficult for them to send someone from the clinic to the farm,” Cox said. “And on many small farms, producers don’t have the help or the infrastructure to work on an animal safely.” Full caseloads and service delays Southeastern Kentucky producers have also struggled with adequate large animal veterinary services for a number of years. 20 • Cow Country • December

Some producers in Pendleton County also lack necessary on-farm infrastructure. “A lot of smaller producers don’t have onfam facilities to safely work an animal,” Cox said.

There are very few large animal veterinarians in the area. In addition to their regular clients, area vets also service the local stockyards, which creates a full caseload for them. Producers say vets will make farm visits, but it often takes a considerable amount of time for them to arrive. “We are looking at five or six hours, if you are lucky, to get a large animal vet on your farm,” said Arch Sebastian, Breathitt County producer. The nearest haul-in facility to Breathitt County is in West Liberty, which is at least an hour away for much of the county. Emergency calls and lack of on-farm infrastructure Sometimes an animal is too sick for producers to load into a trailer and go to a clinic. “It has to be something pretty bad for producers here to call a vet,” said Reed Graham, Wolfe County producer. “Vets are often an emergency call for many area producers.” Having a vet come to the farm can also be cost prohibitive for some producers, especially those with small herds. “Vets will often charge extra when they

Graham, who is also Breathitt County’s agriculture and natural resources extension agent, said the University of Kentucky Robinson Center recently received a grant to purchase a portable chute that is available to producers. He hopes that will help alleviate this obstacle for area producers. Additional challenges In southeastern Kentucky, it is also tough to get cattle medical supplies, including medicines, as most clinics do not keep them in stock on a regular basis. Producers must plan ahead and order supplies from their veterinarians before they start working cattle. Another challenge for producers, regardless of their location, is many of them also have off-the-farm jobs. They farm primarily on nights and weekends when most vet clinics are closed. When an animal gets sick, it can really upend their schedule. “If a cow gets sick, I have to take a day off work to get them treated,” Fitzpatrick said. In some situations, producers have lost animals because they couldn’t get them the care they needed quick enough. Cause for concern Unlike other parts of the state, Lincoln County currently has a couple of large animal veterinarians who make farm

visits and a nearby haul-in facility in Danville. However, Hustonville producer James Coffey worries it may not always be that way. All the area’s large animal veterinarians are at least 50 years old, and he fears the area could face a vet shortage in the next decade.

Life of a Rural Vet

“My concern is all of our veterinarians are going to retire and we are not going to have anyone to replace them,” he said. “It used to be that when a vet would retire, he would have a younger person ready to take over, and I don’t see that happening now.” Coffey runs a herd of around 400 cows and usually has a vet on his farm at least once a month. The vet helps him with pregnancy checking and with getting antibiotics, bull breeding soundness evaluations and vaccinations, among other things. “Our vet relationship is critical to our overall operation,” he said. “We raise, breed and sell all age classes of cattle. With the breadth of age groups and challenges we encounter, a vet is critical. We don’t have anyone on staff that is experienced enough to perform certain tasks like pregnancy checks.”

Dr. Caleb Jenkin is a veterinarian in Sturgis. He’s also a Union County cattle producer and has 325 head of cattle in partnership with his father, brother and brother-in-law.

County Livestock Market, which is an hour away in Ledbetter. When he is scheduled to work at the market, he is away from his clinic for the entire day.

He is the lone full-time vet at Stone Veterinary Clinic, which sees both small and large animals. His practice makeup is close to 60% small animals and 40% large animals.

“I could really use someone else who is a licensed to practice veterinary medicine in my clinic, who could continue to see small animals when I’m out servicing large animals, or vice versa,” he said.

“No other veterinarians work on cattle or have a haul-in facility for 60 miles in any direction,” he said.

Taking care of their own

Jenkin comes from a family of veterinarians based in Sturgis. His grandfather started the clinic in the 1966 and his uncle also worked there. His wife is also a vet.

In many situations, producers in areas with a vet shortage are relying on themselves and other producers to care for their animals. “We try to help each other out when we have sick animals so the animals get loaded on a trailer and to Harrison County,” Fitzpatrick said.

Photo by Heather Graham

“We try to take care of as many issues as we can on our own,” said Cox. “We have to be self-reliant.”

Jenkin grew up following his grandfather around to farm visits and in the clinic. From an early age, the Auburn College of Veterinary Medicine graduate knew he wanted to be a vet and return to Sturgis. He also knows he’s in the minority of vet school graduates who return to rural areas. “To get somebody to come to a place like Sturgis, they either have to be from the area or have a passion for working in rural communities,” he said. Jenkin doesn’t have a typical day, and he likes it that way. His mornings are often filled with surgeries and clinic appointments, most of which are small animals. He will continue to see large and small animals in the afternoon. He also serves as the veterinarian for the Livingston

Union County is a large row crop production area. Jenkin said because of this, cattle care is often seasonal, with producers wanting to do herd workings in the fall and spring. He will make farm visits as far as an hour away, but they often have to be for entire herd workings and scheduled in advance. Emergency farm visits during normal business hours are usually limited to 15-20 minutes away, due to the caseload inside the clinic. Like many rural veterinarians, Jenkin must juggle serving his clients and running a small business. While he really enjoys working with large animals, he also has a facility to maintain and bills to pay. Small animals are often more profitable to serve than large animals. “Covid really changed the veterinary industry because everybody got a new pet,” he said. “Small animal veterinary medicine in a mixedanimal practice is generally more profitable. It would be difficult for me to survive being only a large animal vet.”

December • Cow Country • 21

GPS Guidance Improves Frost Seeding Efficiency Chris Teutsch UK Research and Education Center, Princeton

Guidance utilizing the global positioning system (GPS) has long been used for various operations in row crop agriculture. However, the high price of these systems has limited use in low input, forage-livestock operations. Reduced prices and the availability of used guidance systems has the potential to increase the use of precision agriculture in ruminant operations. Currently, entry level guidance systems can be purchased for $1,000 to $2,500. Clover and other pasture legumes are important parts of sustainable grassland ecosystems. Legumes form a symbiotic relationship with Rhizobium bacteria. The Rhizobium bacteria fix nitrogen from the air into a plant available form and share it with the legume. In return, the legume plant provides the bacteria with a place to live (nodules on the root system) and an energy source (sugar from photosynthesis). Nitrogen fixation is the second most important biochemical process on earth following photosynthesis. In addition to nitrogen fixation, legumes improve pasture quality and animal performance, and new research from our USDA Ag Research Unit in Lexington shows that a compound found in red clover may help to alleviate tall fescue toxicosis.

Fig 1. Pastures were overseeded using a UTV equipped with a small spinner seeder

A recommended pasture management practice is to frost seed clover into pastures in late winter or very early spring. This Table 1: Pasture area (%) that was missed or double seeded in 2019 and 2021. Guidance

Missed-2019

Overlap-2019

Missed-2021

Overlap-2021

No Guidance

14.0

49.8

15.6

21.2

Guidance

10.0

3.0

10.0

3.6

P-Value

0.49

0.09

0.11

<0.01

Note: The P-value indicates if the differences observed between treatments are due to the actual treatments and not random chance. The lower the P-value the more certain we are that it was the treatments that caused the difference.

Table 2: Acres required to recover cost of guidance system ($2,000) based on cost of operation ($/acre) and overlap (%).

Fig 2. When frost seeding pastures, it is often difficult to see where you have already seeded. Utilizing a GPS guidance system allows operators to minimize misses and overlaps.

Overlap(%) 10 Cost of Operation(s)

Acres to Recover Cost of Guidance System

$/acre

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - acres - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

1,000

500

333

250

200

667

333

222

167

133

500

250

167

125

100

400

200

133

100

333

167

111

286

143

250

125

222

111

100

200

100

22 • Cow Country • December

is commonly done with an ATV/UTV equipped with a small electric spinner seeder (Figure 1). It is important to get uniform seed distribution, which is often easier said than done. This makes overseeding clover into pastures during the winter months a guess at best, often resulting in areas that received no seed and areas that were double seeded. Utilizing a GPS unit may improve the accuracy of overseeding pastures (Figure 2). A study that evaluated the impact of using a guidance system on the uniformity of seed distribution during frost seeding was conducted at the University of Kentucky’s Research and Education Center in Princeton. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications. The four pastures ranged in size from 6.7 to 10.4 acres and were overseeded using an UTV equipped a spinner seeder and Raven

No GPS

GPS

Fig 3. In 2019, frost seeding with no GPS (left) guidance resulted in an overlap rate of 49%. In this figure, the overlap with no GPS guidance (left) can easily be seen.

Cruiser II guidance system (Raven Industries, Sioux Falls, SD). The guidance system was initiated and covered with a bag, and then the four pastures were overseeded only by sight. The process was repeated a second time utilizing the guidance system. The entire trial was repeated in 2021 with a new operator. Frost seeding without GPS guidance resulted in a 49% overlap in 2019 and 21% overlap in 2021 (Table 1 and Figure 3). This clearly illustrates that some operators are better than others. Even so, at an overseeding cost of $24/acre, the increased cost of seeding without guidance would be $12/acre 2019 and $5/acre in 2021. Averaged across years, the cost of the guidance system ($1,500) could be recouped in as little as 175 acres. If a guidance system could be bought for $1,000 or less, producers could recoup the cost in less than 120 acres.

FEATURED UPCOMING EVENTS Forages at KCA • Jan. 12 • Central Bank Center, Lexington 2024 Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference • Feb. 8 • Warren County Extension Office, Bowling Green FENCING VIDEO This month’s featured video is Clover Frost Seeding and Forage Stand Renovation by Ray Smith and Chris Teutsch. This presentation was given as part of the Agronomy Day held on Feb. 1, 2023 in Mason County and is available on YouTube at https://tinyurl. com/yckznbbb FEATURED PUBLICATION This month’s featured publication is Frost Seeding Clover: A Recipe for Success by Chris Teutsch, Ray Smith and Jimmy Henning. This publication available online at https://tinyurl. com/6htzxxep or visiting your local extension office asking for AGR271. FENCING TIP Train livestock to electric fencing. Since electric fencing is a psychological barrier rather than a physical barrier, livestock must be trained to respect it. Choose a well-fenced holding paddock

These guidance systems are easily transferred between implements and could also be used for other operations such spreading fertilizer, lime or litter, no-till seeding, and herbicide application. Table 2 shows various combinations of overlap (%) and cost of operation(s) ($/acre) and the number of acres required to recoup the cost of the guidance system ($2,000). If multiple operations are conducted on a given pasture, the number of acres needed to recover the cost of the guidance system can be relatively small. For example, if $50/A of fertilizer is spread and $15/A worth of herbicide is sprayed, the total cost of operations would be $50/A + $15/A or $65/A. If we assume an overlap of 20% without guidance, the cost of this system could be recouped in approximately 155 acres (Table 2). While no two farms are the same, the use of GPS guidance could be a wise investment on many grazing operations in the state.

and install an offset wire about 30 inches above the ground. Make sure the energizer and grounding system are optimized to deliver a knee buckling and eye watering shock. Once animals are trained to the offset, set up a strand of polywire near the end of the paddock. Livestock should be fully trained within 48 hours. Cull animals that cannot be trained to respect electric fencing. FORAGE MANAGEMENT TIPS • If available, graze crop residues and cover crops that will not overwinter. • Begin grazing stockpiled pastures. Graze pastures with orchardgrass and clover first. Save pastures with tall fescue for late winter grazing. • Use polywire to strip graze pastures. Starting at your water source, allocate only enough forage for 2-3 days. No back fence is needed during the winter months. • Make plans to frost seed red and white clover onto closely grazed pastures in February. • Test hay and develop supplementation strategies to maintain body condition of cows. • Utilize hay rings to reduce hay waste. • Feed hay on your worst paddocks to build fertility. • Move hay points around to improve nutrient distribution. • Make plans to attend Forages at KCA. December • Cow Country • 23

Farm Credit Mid-America Now Accepting Applications for Scholarship Programs ELIGIBLE STUDENTS CAN APPLY THROUGH DECEMBER 2023 “We are excited to see the many career opportunities that exist in agriculture and related fields. We want to encourage young people to pursue these careers and nurture them in their journey because we recognize they are the future of our industry,” said Randy Barbee, Farm Credit Mid-America community investment manager. “By awarding financial support to tomorrow’s agricultural leaders, we are fulfilling our mission to secure the future of rural communities and agriculture.”

Farm Credit Mid-America is now accepting applications for its Customer Scholarship and Farm Credit MidAmerica Scholars programs. Children or grandchildren of Farm Credit MidAmerica customers as well as college students who plan to pursue a career in agriculture are encouraged to apply. Scholarship recipients are chosen based on academic performance, leadership qualities, community involvement and passion for promoting and being part of the future of agriculture. An employment outlook by Purdue and the United States Department of Agriculture estimated jobs related to food, agriculture, renewable natural resources and the environment would increase 2.6% between 2020 and 2025 to nearly 60,000 jobs annually. Farm Credit Mid-America’s scholarship programs encourage the next generation of agricultural leaders to pursue degrees in these fields.

The Farm Credit Mid-America Scholars program is available to rising college sophomores and juniors pursuing careers in agriculture. The program awards $5,000 in financial support over two academic years to 25 students each year. Recipients also participate in learning and travel experiences that develop leadership skills and enhance financial literacy. The Customer Agricultural Scholarship is awarded to children or grandchildren of Farm Credit Mid-America customers.

Each year, 36 students majoring in agriculture or pursuing an agricultural or rural community-related career at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, vocational or trade school receive a $1,500 scholarship. Farm Credit Mid-America’s collegiate scholarship programs are a part of its community investment initiatives, which will return nearly $4 million this year to programs and organizations that nurture the next generation of agriculture leaders, expand industry access for young and beginning farmers and promote agriculture’s value and economic impact. College-bound students who meet the eligibility requirements for a Farm Credit Mid-America scholarship are encouraged to apply before the December 31, 2023, deadline. Recipients will be announced in the spring 2024. To learn more about the scholarships or to submit an application, visit: www.fcma.com/scholarships.

Wishing You a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year! Lexington

East

South

KY Hereford Autumn Harvest Sale Saturday, December 2, 2023 12:00 PM

Monthly Cow Sale Friday, December 22, 2023 6:30 PM

Traditions Hereford Influence Sale Thursday, December 7, 2023 10:30 AM

Profit Thru Performance Monday, December 4, 2023 11:00 AM

Richmond

Monthly Cow Sale Friday, December 15, 2023 6:30 PM

Lexington CPH Sale Wednesday, December 6, 2023 5:30 PM Certified Hereford Influence Sale Thursday, December 14, 2023 6:00 PM Monthly Cow Sale Wednesday, December 20, 202 6:30 PM

Hog, Goat & Sheep Sale Monday, December 11, 2023 1:00 PM Campbellsville Monthly Cow Sale Friday, December 1, 2023 7:00 PM

Lexington Christmas Pony Sale & Holiday Vendors Saturday, December 9, 2023—10:00 AM

bgstockyards.com 24 • Cow Country • December

#wearebluegrass

OTH ER

OSH BROTH ER NT I C

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OSH BROTH ER NT I C

WN, KY

OTH ER

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Steve McIntosh

(502) 868-5726 December • Cow Country • 25

EC O NO MI C & P O L I C Y U P D A T E

Prospects for Winter Backgrounding 2023-2024 Greg Halich and Kenny Burdine University of Kentucky After several years of cattle selling at frustratingly low prices, continued herd liquidation has led to tight supplies and much higher calf prices in 2023. While markets have pulled back in recent weeks, calves and heavy feeders are moving at prices $50 to $70 per cwt above what was seen a year ago. Feed prices have also decreased over the last several months, and most feeds will cost less this winter than last. Hay will likely be an exception in parts of Kentucky as a result of drought conditions. Hay markets tend to be much more regionalized due to high transportation costs, so significant hay cost differences can occur across regions. All of these factors should be taken into consideration when one considers placement of calves into backgrounding programs this fall.

Table 1. Winter Backgrounding Budget Estimate

Hauling

head

$15

At the time of this writing (Oct. 24), March 2024 CME© feeder cattle futures were trading around $238 per cwt. As winter backgrounders consider purchasing calves this fall, these late winter futures prices provide market expectations for feeder cattle sale prices. With an early spring futures price of $238, and an estimated -$6 basis, an 800 lb feeder steer in Kentucky would be expected to bring around $1,856 (800# @ $232 per cwt) in March. Of course, actual basis is heavily impacted by local market conditions, lot size, cattle quality, location and numerous other factors. The -$6 basis discussed previously assumes that cattle are of relatively good quality and are sold in potload-sized groups.

Other (water, etc)

head

$12

Interest

8.5%

rate

Death loss

2.5%

The AMS Kentucky Weekly Livestock Auction Summary for the week ending on Oct. 21 reported a state average price for 450500 lb steers of $248 per cwt and a state average price for 500-550 lb steers of $245 per cwt. This market continues to evolve, and additional costs could be incurred putting together groups of calves for placement. For the purposes of the first table, we estimated the purchase price for a 500 lb steer at $255 per cwt, or something close to $1,275 per head. There is always a large range in calf prices, so individuals are encouraged to apply this process to the type of calves they typically buy. We also need cost estimates on wintering those calves and selling them in the spring. While we provide an estimate for a specific winter program, costs will vary based on local conditions and the specific backgrounding program. Feed is the major cost, and producers should consider all potential feeding options including commodity feeds, corn and corn silage. For this scenario, we will consider a single program where calves are fed 1.5% of their body weight per day of a 3-way blend of corn gluten, soy hulls and shelled corn and another 1.5% of their body weight per day of grass hay. While performance will vary, we will assume a rate of gain of 2.5 lbs per day, which would put on 300 lbs in approximately 120 days. The 3-way blend is valued at $285 per ton, and grass hay is valued

The Agricultural Economics Department publishes the Economic and Policy Update towards the end of each month. Each issue features articles written by extension personnel within the department and other experts across the country.

26 • Cow Country • December

Revenues

# units

unit

price/unit

total

Feeder

800

lbs

$2.32

$1,856

Expenses Stocker Calf

500

lbs

$2.55

$1,275

Hulls/Gluten

0.585

tons

$285

$167

Hay

0.585

tons

$100

$59

head

$12

Mineral Vet/Med

head

$30

Selling/Marketing

head

$25

$39 $34

Total Expenses

$1,671

Return to Land, Capital and Mgt

$185

Table 2. Expected Variable Costs Fall 2023 500 lb steer

600 lb steer

Feed

$167

$200

Hay

$59

$70

Vet/Medical

$30

Mineral

$12

$14

Commission/Sale

$25

Trucking

$15

$18

Interest

$41

$45

Death Loss

$36

$31

Other (water, etc)

$15

Total Variable Costs

$398

$449

Note: Interest and death loss vary slightly by purchase price.

at $100 per ton. Health costs are assumed to be $28 per head, transportation costs are estimated to be $15 per head, and selling/ marketing expenses are set at $25 per head. An interest charge of 8.5% is included and death loss is assumed to be 2.5% for 500 lb steers and 2.0% for 600 lb steers (discussed later in article). These costs will vary by location and operation, so readers are encouraged to come up with their own estimates. Several of these cost estimates are worth careful consideration. For example, we have assumed selling/marketing expenses of roughly $25 per head, which assumes that producers are paying the reduced commission rates associated with large groups. However, many producers will be selling in smaller groups and likely paying higher

Topics will vary greatly but regularly include marketing, management, policy, natural resources, and rural development issues. If you would like to recieve this newsletter by email, please contact Kenny Burdine at kburdine@uky.edu.

You can also view current and past issues online at https://bit.ly/2PoHsZj Co-editors: Kenny Burdine, Alison Davis, and Greg Halich

Table 3. Target Purchase Prices For Various Gross Profits Fall 2023 Gross Profit

500 lb steer

600 lb steer

$50

$2.81

$2.58

$100

$2.71

$2.50

$150

$2.62

$2.42

$200

$2.52

$2.34

$250

$2.43

$2.26

Notes: Based on costs in Table 2 and sales price of $2.32/lb and $2.28/lb for 800 lb and 900 lb sale weight respectively for 500 lb and 600 lb purchased steers.

commission rates on a per head basis. Vet and medicine costs are assumed $30 per head. In Table 1, projected returns are $185 per head this winter based on the previous discussed assumptions. Producers are strongly encouraged to modify these assumptions for their individual programs to better reflect calf values and expected spring basis, as well as cost estimates and feed prices for their area. It is also worth noting that labor, depreciation and interest on owned capital are not included in the budget, so the return shown is a return to land, capital and management. Producers should ask themselves if that return adequately compensates them for their time, capital investment, management and risk. The two key assumptions made in Table 1 include the cost of the calves being placed and the expected sale value in the spring. Changes in calf placement costs will greatly impact winter backgrounding returns. For every $5 per cwt decrease in the purchase price of the calves, the return to land, capital and management increases by $25 per head. The second assumption, the sale price for the feeder steer won’t be known with certainty until spring. Note that the assumed spring sale price in the analysis is $232 per cwt and the projected return is $185 per head. A $23 per cwt decrease in sale price would result in actual returns falling to $0. While feed price does not have as large an impact on profit as sale price, a $25/ton decrease in the price of the 3-way blend would increase expected profit by $15, and vice versa.

Table 3 can also be used to adjust target purchase prices to your cost structure. If your costs are $50 per head higher than the assumptions made in this analysis, then you would shift each targeted profit down by one row. For example, you would use the $150 gross profit to estimate a $100 gross profit if your costs were $50 higher. An alternative approach would be to spread the additional costs over the purchase weight. In that way, each $1 increase in costs reduces target purchase price by $0.20 per cwt for a 500 lb steer and $0.17 per cwt for a 600 lb steer. Given the assumptions of this analysis, returns to winter backgrounding have the potential to be attractive given the lateOctober calf market and late winter CME© Feeder Cattle Futures. However, given the importance of expected sale price on returns, winter backgrounders are encouraged to explore opportunities to manage downside price risk through contracting, futures and options, LRP insurance and other strategies. Figure 1 below depicts March CME© Feeder Cattle Futures from DTN over the last seven months, which has shown significant volatility. Note that the March CME© Feeder Cattle Futures contract was trading in the low $225’s in early-April, but was up in the mid $270’s in midSeptember. Most importantly, it has dropped almost $20 cwt in the last week. While it does appear that the market is currently offering good opportunity for winter backgrounding, there are many factors that will impact cattle markets between now and late winter. So time spent thinking about risk management strategies is likely time well spent. Winter backgrounders should carefully calculate their breakeven purchase prices for calves and be opportunistic as they approach this fall. Figure 1. March 2024 CME© Feeder Cattle Futures from DTN (close 10/24/23) 270.0 267.5 265.0 262.5 260.0

Table 2 shows a side-by-side comparison of our assumed costs for placement of a 500 lb steer and a 600 lb steer. The same feeding and gain assumptions are made, but feed costs are higher for the 600 lb steer due to his increased bodyweight. A few other costs also increase, such as mineral, transportation and interest.

257.5

The cost estimates from Table 2 are used to estimate target purchase prices for both 500 and 600 lb steers, given a target gross return, in Table 3. A range of gross returns from $50 to $250 per head were used to create Table 3, which are used to estimate a range of purchase prices. For 500 lb steers, target purchase prices ranged from $2.43 to $2.81 per lb. For 600 lb steers, target purchase prices ranged from $2.26 to $2.58 per lb. In both cases, the current calf market likely presents profit opportunities.

247.5

255.0 252.5 250.0

245.0 242.5 240.0 237.625 235.0

Here is an example of how this works for a 500 lb steer, targeting a $150 gross profit per head: 800 lb steer x $2.32 (expected sale price) $1,856 Total Variable Costs - $398 Target Profit - $150 Target Purchase Cost $1,308 Target Purchase Price = $1308 / 500 lbs = $2.616 per lb

232.5 230.0

■

227.5 225.0

@GFH24

222.5 220.0

APR03 APR25 MAY17 JUN08 JUN30 JUL24 AUG15 SEP06 SEP29 OCT23 December • Cow Country • 27

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28 • Cow Country • December

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Eastern Kentucky Hay Contest Winners Announced Photo by Jimmy Henning

OVERALL CHAMPION: ADAM McCORD, Fleming County PLACE

NAME

COUNTY

SCORE (CP+RFV)

ALFALFA HAY First

Adam McCord

Fleming

165

Second

Jim Rice

Fleming

104

ALFALFA/GRASS HAY First

Derek Johnson

Johnson

159

Second

Darren Stanfield

Lewis

155

Third

Daryl Grannis

Fleming

153

First

George Smith

Boyd

130

Second

Thomas Green

Magoffin

129

Third

Edison McCarty

Magoffin

128

First

Danny Blevins

Boyd

131

Second

Kelvin Gay

Robertson

123

Third

Darren Stanfield

Lewis

122

MIXED HAY

GRASS HAY

ALFALFA HAYLAGE First

Chris Mitchell

Fleming

138

Second

Dan McCord

Fleming

136

ALFALFA/GRASS HAYLAGE

For 30 years, the Eastern Kentucky Hay Contest has helped producers improve their hay and silage production. The contest is a cooperative effort between Eastern Kentucky extension agents, Highland and Mountain cattlemen’s associations and faculty from the University of Kentucky and Morehead State University. All producers who submit samples receive a forage quality analysis from the UK Forage Program, under the guidance of Chris Teutsch, UK extension forage specialist. If desired, producers may request a ration for feeding their hay. Proper feeding helps these producers avoid the loss of production and ensure their livestock get the nutrition they need during the winter.

In 2023, producers from 17 Kentucky counties submitted 453 samples for analysis, and 372 samples entered the contest, which is optional. For 2023, all hay samples submitted averaged a 95 in relative feed value, 121 in relative forage quality, 12.4 in crude protein and 57 in total digestible nutrients. All 2023 silage samples averaged 105 in relative feed value, 129 in relative forage quality, 13.5 in crude protein and 60 in total digestible nutrients. Counties with the highest average scores from their top 10 samples include Fleming, 145, first place; Robertson, 132, second place; and Lewis, 127, third. Counties who submitted the most samples were Carter with 124, Fleming with 61, and Morgan with 43.

First

Taylor Saunders

Robertson

152

Second

Tom Saunders

Robertson

139

Third

Matt and Kenton Comer

Mason

112

MIXED HAYLAGE First

Jeff Zawadski

Menifee

137

Second

Glen Lyons

Elliott

125

Third

Danny Carroll

Carter

116

GRASS HAYLAGE First

Jimmy Newsom

Fleming

139

Second

Lynn Phipps

Morgan

139

Third

Ray Sammons

Boyd

117

SMALL GRAIN HAYLAGE First

Taylor Saunders

Robertson

129

Second

David Horn

Boyd

101

SUMMER ANNUAL HAYLAGE First

Chris Mitchell

Fleming

102

Second

Ray Sammons

Boyd

99 December • Cow Country • 29

JANUARY 10-12 • LEXINGTON Early Bird Registration (October 1 - December 15) $60 • Registration (After December 15) = $85 Number

Event

Cost

Totals

Full Registration (Includes Trade Show and Business Meetings)

$60

Trade Show Only

$25

Junior Registration (21 years or younger)

$25

Evening Banquet

$68

Banquet Preferred Seating (Table of 10)

$700

Women’s Session 1: Glass Etching

$50

Attending

FRIDAY, JANUARY 12

Total Amount Due Names as they should appear on badges. Please only one family or individual per registration form. NAME

NAME

ADDRESS

CITY, STATE ZIP CODE

COUNTY (Required)

PHONE

CREDIT CARD TYPE

CREDIT CARD NO.

EXPIRATION DATE

SIGNATURE

REGISTER BEFORE DECEMBER 15 and be entered to win one of two $50 CABELA'S GIFT CARDS Mail to: KCA Convention Registration • 176 Pasadena Drive Lexington, Kentucky 40503 • Or email: info@kycattle.org

For Hyatt reservations call 1-800-233-1234 and give Code G-CTLX or ask for Kentucky Cattlemen’s Block or register online at https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/group-booking/LEXRL/G-CTLX 30 • Cow Country • December

W E D N E S DAY, JA N UA RY 10 10:00-5:00 Trade Show Move-In

Exhibition Hall A&B T H U RS DAY, JA N UA RY 11

7:00-6:00 Registration Hours

Exhibition Hall A&B

7:00-10:00 Trade Show Move-In

Exhibition Hall A&B

9:00-11:30 Beef Efficiency Conference - Getting Ahead of What is to Come

Meeting Room 7-8

10:00 Trade Show Opens

Exhibition Hall A&B

11:30 Welcome Lunch

Exhibition Hall A&B

1:30-3:30 Opening General Business Session

Meeting Room 7-8

Welcome 2024 Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association Convention - Andy Bishop 2023 KCA President Opening Remarks - Johnathan Shell, Commissioner of Agriculture FMD Preparedness - Dr. Franklyn Garry, Colorado State University 4:00-5:00 Women's Session 1: Crafting, Etched Glass (Ticket Required)

Exhibition Hall A&B

6:00 Trade Show Closes

Exhibition Hall A&B

7:30-9:30 KCA Roundup Reception

Kentucky Room* F R IDAY, JA N UA RY 12

6:30-5:00 Registration Hours 7:00-9:00 County President Breakfast (Invitation Only)

Registration Booth Regency Ballroom-Hyatt*

8:00 Trade Show Opens

Exhibition Hall A&B

10:00-11:00 Regional Meetings

Meeting Rooms 1-5

10:00-11:00 KJCA - KCA Convention Scavenger Hunt

Exhibition Hall A&B

11:00 KCA - Concessions Lunch in the Trade Show

Exhibition Hall A&B

12:00 KJCA - Lunch

Meeting Room 5

1:00 KJCA - Educational Activity

Meeting Room 5

12:30-2:00 Closing Business Session

Meeting Rooms 7-8

2023 Financial Review - Ken Adams, KCA Treasurer Kentucky Livestock Innovation Center Update - Nikki Whitaker, Director of Operations & Policy A Year in Review and 2024 Outlook - Dave Maples, KCA Executive Vice President 2:30-3:30 Understanding your Checkoff Dollars - Panel Discussion 2:00 Trade Show Closes

Meeting Rooms 7-8 Exhibition Hall A&B

2:00 KJCA - Officer Meeting (Current KJCA Board Members Only)

Meeting Room 5

2:15 KJCA- Annual Membership Meeting & KJCA Board of Director Elections

Meeting Room 5

2:30-4:30 Forages at KCA - Harnessing the Power of Soil Life

2 0 2 4 K CA C O N V E N T I O N & T RA D E S H OW AG E N DA

Welcome Where we are in the industry - Dr. Gordon Jones Bovine Congestive Heart Failure - Why Should I Care - Dr. Scott Spiedel, Colorado State University Managing Grass to Get the Most - Dr. Matt Poore, North Carolina State University A Cattlemen’s Perspective on Sustainable Management - Steve Wooten, CO Cattlemen What I heard - Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler & Daniel Hayden Speaker Q&A Panel

Meeting Room 6

Welcome & Introduction - Dr. Chris Teutsch, University of Kentucky Introduction to Pasture Ecology & Regenerative Grazing - Dr. Chris Teutsch, University of Kentucky Pinhook Farm... A Regenerative Journey - Seth Watkins, Pinhook Farm UK Forage Extension Update - Dr. Ray Smith, University of Kentucky 2:30-4:30 Women's Session 2 : Mindfulness and Wellbeing 3:00 KJCA - Reception 5:00-6:00 KCA Leadership Alumni & Past President’s Reception (Invitation Only) 6:00 Evening Banquet (Ticket Required)

Meeting Room 4 Meeting Room 5 Exhibit Hall Pre-function Ballroom 1&2

KCA & KBC Awards 2024 KCA Hall of Fame Inductions Foundation Auction *Events located in Hyatt Hotel

December • Cow Country • 31

E DEN SHA LE FIE L D D AY The Kentucky Beef Network hosted the annual Eden Shale Open House Saturday, Oct. 21. Participants had the opportunity to tour the farm, see its herd and learn about the best management practices that are installed across the farm’s 961 acres.

32 • Cow Country • December

September Pork Exports Fairly Steady; Beef Exports Trend Lower September exports of U.S. pork were down slightly from a year ago but maintained a robust pace, according to data released by USDA and compiled by USMEF. Beef exports continued to struggle compared to last year’s record totals but showed increasing strength in Western Hemisphere markets. Another outstanding month for Mexico bolsters September pork exports Pork exports totaled 221,140 metric tons (mt) in September, down less than 1% from a year ago, while export value fell 4% to $643.7 million. September export value to Mexico increased 18% year-over-year to $207.6 million, the third highest month on record. Exports also increased strongly to Central America and Australia and trended higher to the Caribbean, Taiwan, New Zealand, Vietnam and Malaysia. For the first three quarters of 2023, pork exports increased 9% year-over-year to 2.13 million mt and climbed 7% in value to just under $6 billion, led by record-large shipments to leading market Mexico.

“Pork exports achieving another $200 million month in Mexico is fantastic,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom, “But the good news doesn’t end there, as growth in regions such as Central America, the Caribbean and Oceania helped offset lower shipments to China and Japan.”

seen several Asian trading partners step up efforts to stimulate their economies and ease pressure on consumers. In the meantime, bright spots for U.S. beef continue to emerge in the Western Hemisphere, led by strong demand in Mexico.”

Beef exports struggling in Asia, climbing in Western Hemisphere

September lamb exports higher to Caribbean but lower overall

September beef exports totaled 98,757 mt, down 15% from a year ago and the lowest of 2023, while value fell 12% to $795.5 million. Exports were lower across the board to major Asian destinations but gained momentum in Mexico, Canada, Central America, Colombia and Africa.

September exports of U.S. lamb totaled 245 mt, down 9% from a year ago, while export value fell 11% to $1.17 million. Exports trended higher to the Caribbean, including increases to Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic and the Leeward-Windward Islands, but were lower to Mexico and Canada. For January through September, lamb exports were down 5% to 1,872 mt, valued at $9.5 million (down 10%).

For January through September, beef exports were 13% below last year’s record pace in volume (980,100 mt) and down 18% in value ($7.49 billion). “U.S. beef continues to face tough sledding in our Asian markets, where weakness in major currencies persist and consumer confidence remains guarded,” Halstrom said. “In the past few weeks, we have

A detailed summary of the JanuarySeptember export results for U.S. beef, pork and lamb, including market-specific highlights, is available from the USMEF website.

January 11 - 12, 2024 Central Bank Center Email Dan Miller for more information at dmiller@kycattle.org

SPONSORSHIP & EXHIBITOR OPPORTUNITIES AG INDUSTRY TRADE SHOW

December • Cow Country • 33

MEMBERSHIP DIVISION 3

2024

2023

Diff

Out of State

-20

Campbell

-32

(UP TO 75 MEMBERS)

Now through January 1st, members who join KCA could be eligible to win a Priefert Squeeze Chute and Headgate for their County Chapter! The County Chapter that retains 75% or more memberships based on the previous year’s ending membership total will be entered in to a drawing to win. Winners will be announced at the 2024 KCA Convention and Trade Show.

DIVISION 1

2024

203

Diff

DIVISION 2

Shelby

222

378

-156

Lincoln

213

227

Adair

208

Barren

196

(151+ MEMBERS)

Madison

Woodford

-27

Grant

-37

Rockcastle

-30

Russell

-30

Mason

-41

Taylor

-30

Estill

-27

Ohio

-24

Todd

-33

Calloway

-32

McCreary

-16

2024

2023

Diff

Highlands

-16

Pulaski

146

-52

Hancock

-14

Northeast Area

103

-19

326

-118

Carroll

-24

Trigg

104

-45

482

-286

Scott

121

-63

Fleming

127

-72

Caldwell/Lyon

119

-65

Monroe

128

-75

174

307

-133

Breckinridge

173

269

-96

Marion

165

301

-136

Franklin

135

167

-32

Christian

132

333

-201

Grayson

131

237

Bath

122

Hart Henry

(76-150 MEMBERS)

Wayne

-20

Simpson

-21

Montgomery

-34

Oldham

-42

Whitley

-30

Nicholas

-24

-44

Trimble

110

-58

-106

Louisville Area

-28

348

-226

Purchase Area

-36

Union

118

244

-126

Garrard

109

-63

Butler

-17

113

192

-79

Owen

-44

Clay

-13

-79

Anderson

109

-64

Livingston

-3

Bracken

109

188

Meade

104

167

-63

Mountain

-52

Knox

-17

Edmonson

204

-105

Lewis

-36

Crittenden

-13

Clark

185

-87

Daviess

121

-80

Bullitt

-18

Washington

221

-130

Webster

-38

Northern Kentucky

168

-90

McLean

-11

Boyle

101

-61

Mercer

192

-121

Hopkins

-14

Fayette

-44

Menifee

-12

Jackson

118

-80

Muhlenberg

-41

Henderson

-4

Bourbon

-60

Powell

-2

Clinton-Cumberland

-32

Magoffin

-2

-47

Gallatin

-5

-6

Jessamine

218

-148

Hardin

160

-95

Green

160

-96

Casey

172

-111

Larue

157

-96

Logan

206

-147

Nelson

Laurel

151

-93

Pendleton

-64

Eastern Foothills

Warren

159

-105

Twin Lakes

-40

Pike

-5

Metcalfe

151

-101

Allen

112

-95

Harlan

-1

Harrison

153

-108

Robertson

-62

Bell

If you need anything for membership, please contact

Rachel Cain at (859) 278-0899 or rcain@kycattle.org December • Cow Country • 32

Totals as of: November 14, 2023

2024

2023

Difference

5,315

11,114

-5,799

2023-24 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION * MEMBERSHIP YEAR 10/1/23– 9/30/24

NAME

SPOUSE NAME

FARM NAME

ADDRESS

CITY

STATE

ZIP

COUNTY

RECRUITED BY

PHONE

FAX

*Payments of KCA membership dues are tax deductible for most members as an ordinary and necessary business expense. However, charitable contributions of gifts to KCA are not tax deductible for Federal Income Tax purposes. Due to new IRS regulations, $2.24 of your dues would not be deductible. Approximately $12 of your dues will go towards the monthly publication Cow Country. PLEASE CHECK THE MEMBERSHIP(S) YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN: KCA MEMBERSHIP ($30/YR) Membership dues are $30 unless otherwise listed below

NEW

RENEWAL

KCA COUPLE MEMBERSHIP To add your spouse, please add $15 to your KCA Membership KENTUCKY JUNIOR CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION ($10/YR)

NEW

RENEWAL

I WOULD LIKE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE YOUNG PRODUCER’S COUNCIL

COUNTY DUES Dues are $30 except for the counties listed below. Allen...............................$40 Anderson........................$25 Bourbon.........................$20 Boyle ..............................$35 Bullitt..............................$20 Butler..............................$25 Franklin ..........................$25 Highlands .......................$20 (Boyd, Floyd, Johnson, Lawrence, & Martin)

Hopkins ..........................$35 Laurel.............................$35 Louisville Area ................$20 (Jefferson, & Spencer)

Magoffin .........................$20 Menifee ..........................$25 Mountain........................$25 (Breathitt, Knott, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Morgan, Owsley, Perry & Wolfe)

Oldham ..........................$35 Taylor..............................$20 Twin Lakes ......................$20 Warren ...........................$40 Wayne ............................$25 Whitley ...........................$25 Woodford......................$25

TOTAL MEMBERSHIP: KCA

KJCA

TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS: CATTLEMEN’S FOUNDATION DONATION (voluntary)

TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED: ALL DONATIONS TO KCF ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE

IF YOU WOULD ALSO LIKE TO JOIN THE NATIONAL CATTLEMEN’S BEEF ASSOCIATION The NCBA is now a State Marketing Partner with the KCA. You can pay your dues to both organizations with one check, at the same time. # HEAD

DUES

1-100

$160

1,001-1,250

$1,227

101-250

$320

1,251-1,500

$1,493

251-500

$480

1,501-1,750

$1,760

501-750

$693

1,751-2,000

$2,027

751-1000

$960

> 2,000

$2,027 + $0.4053/HD

# HEAD

DUES

Complete and return to: Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association 176 Pasadena Drive • Suite 4 • Lexington, KY 40503 Join online at www.kycattle.org or call (859) 278-0899

December • Cow Country •• 35 35

Estimate and Manage Your Largest Cost as a Cow-calf Operator Kenny Burdine University of Kentucky As we move further into fall, winter feeding will move into the forefront of cow-calf operators’ minds. Most cow-calf operations have already begun feeding hay or will do so very soon. Winter feed costs are likely the largest cost for a cowcalf operation and are impacted by the number of days an operation feeds hay, the cost of the hay (or other feeds) that is fed, and the efficiency of the feeding program. The number of winter feeding days is largely a function of stocking rate and pasture conditions throughout the grazing season. At the national level, the percentage of pasture rated poor and very poor has been lower than last year, but higher than the average of the previous 5-year period. In the Southeast, pastures are generally in worse condition than last year and considerably worse than the

2017-2021 average. In Kentucky, a lot of cow-calf operations have been feeding hay for a while and will see a higherthan-normal number of feeding days this winter. At the same time, hay values are not always easy to estimate because most operations produce their own hay. What hay does get sold is typically sold privately, so there is limited public data on the market price of hay fed by cowcalf operators. Hay is also unique in the sense that there can be wide ranges in hay values across regions due to the high costs associated with moving hay from one area to another. For these reasons, producers really have to put a value on the hay they feed based on what it cost them to produce it or what they paid for it, if purchased.

WINTER HAY COST PER COW PER DAY Storage and Feeding Loss

Estimated Hay Cost Per Ton $60/ton

$80/ton

$100/ton

$120/ton

15% loss

$1.03

$1.38

$1.72

$2.06

30% loss

$1.25

$1.67

$2.09

$2.51

45% loss

$1.60

$2.13

$2.66

$3.19

Assumes 1300 lb cow consumes 2.25% BW per day 36 • Cow Country • December

Finally, feeding efficiency is sometimes the forgotten factor in winter feed costs because it can be hard to observe and quantify. There is always a loss associated with feeding as cattle don’t utilize 100% of the hay. This is typically a function of hay storage and feeding method, and there is merit in looking for economical ways to limit losses at these two points. I use the table below in Extension programs as a way to discuss the variation in winter feeding costs based on hay values and losses associated with storage and feeding. Costs are expressed on a daily basis with the assumption of a 1,300 lb. cow consuming 2.25% of her body weight each day. The number of hay feeding days can be multiplied by the daily costs to estimate hay cost per cow through the winter. Over the last couple of years, hay values in Kentucky have seemed to shift from the left half of the table to the right half and that has had a significant impact on the cost of wintering cows. For illustration, a $20 per ton increase in hay value leads to an increase of $0.35 per day at the 15% loss level and increases at higher loss levels. Similarly reducing storage and feeding losses from 30% to 15% results in a savings of $0.37 per cow per day when hay is valued at $100 per ton and increases as hay becomes more valuable. Having a feel for winter feeding costs can be a crucial first step in understanding cow-calf profitability and is definitely something that cow-calf operators should seek to manage.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR REMITTING THE CHECKOFF ASSESSMENT?

pays

SELLER However, both the Buyer and the Seller are responsible for seeing that the Checkoff is collected and paid.

50¢

THROUGHOUT THE CATTLE PRODUCTION CYCLE LIVESTOCK MARKET - When cattle are sold through a livestock market or video market, the Market collects and remits the Beef Checkoff assessment.

or BUYER Generally the Buyer is responsible for collecting the Beef Checkoff assessment from the Seller.

BEEF CHECKOFF COLLECTION

QUALIFIED STATE BEEF COUNCIL

$1.50

Cattlemen’s Beef Board invests in national Checkoff programs, while Kentucky Beef Council invests in state programs. If you are a producer from one of these seven states - Alaska, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island - you will remit directly to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board. If you have any questions regarding who is responsible for remitting the Checkoff assessment or how to remit payment, please contact your State Beef Council or the Cattlemen’s Beef Board at (303) 867-6304. 3 Exceptions to Beef Checkoff Collection: 1. Non-producer status: If a person (or company) owns cattle for 10 days or less, purchases the cattle to facilitate the transfer of ownership to a third party, and certifies that any Checkoff dollars due from the previous owner have been collected, then that person qualifies as a “Non-Producer” and the Checkoff assessment is not due when qualified cattle are resold. 2. Organic Exemption: In the 2002 Farm Bill, Congress created a process exemptiing organic producers from paying Checkoff program assessments. 3. Pre-Payment: Producers can also choose to “prepay” the Checkoff assessment when shipping cattle out of state for feeding and still retain ownership on the cattle. This allows the producer to direct half of the $1-per-head national Checkoff assessment to the beef council in the state where the cattle were raised, rather than the state where the cattle will be fed. Note: To claim any of these exemptions, the person selling the cattle must provide the proper ‘document’ to show that the Checkoff assessment is not due at the time of sale. Thus, the rule of thumb for all cattle sales is that the person paying the producer should collect either a “Dollar or a Document.”

CATTLE DEALER/ORDER BUYER - When cattle are sold to a Cattle Dealer or Order Buyer, the Dealer/Order Buyer collects and remits the Beef Checkoff assessment. ANOTHER PRODUCER - Both the Buyer and the Seller are responsible for making sure that the Beef Checkoff assessment is collected and remitted. For clarity and consistency, we encourage the Seller to take on this compliance responsibility. VEAL GROWER - When dairy calves are sold to a Veal Grower, both the Buyer and the Seller are responsible for making sure that the Beef Checkoff assessment is collected and remitted. For clarity and consistency, we encourage the Seller to take on this compliance responsibility. CATTLE SHOWS AND FAIRS - When producers sell their animals at fairs or cattle shows (4H/FFA shows, Purebred cattle shows, etc.), the Organization that runs the sale collects and remits the Beef Checkoff assessment. FEEDLOT - When cattle are sold directy to a feedlot, the Feedlot collects and remits the Beef Checkoff assessment. PACKING PLANT - When cattle are sold to a packing plant, the Packing Plant collects and remits the Beef Checkoff assessment. DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER BEEF SALES - When producers market their cattle as beef, the Producer is responsible for remitting the Beef Checkoff assessment.

PRIVATE TREATY SALES CHECKOFF INVESTMENT FORM State and National Beef Promotion and Research Programs Information is required by 7 CRF 1260.201. Failure to report can result in a fine. Information is held confidential per 7 CRF 1260.203. TODAY’S DATE

ID NUMBER (IF KNOWN)

SELLER’S NAME

BUYER’S NAME

ADDRESS

CITY

STATE

ZIP

CITY

SELLER’S SIGNATURE

STATE

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0581-0093. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average one hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

ZIP

BUYER’S SIGNATURE

Both the seller and the buyer are responsible for making sure that the $1 per head assessment is collected and remitted to the Kentucky Beef Council. DATE OF SALE

TOTAL NUMBER OF CATTLE SOLD

STATE OF ORIGIN*

per X $1.OO Head Feder-

al Checkoff

$1.OO per Head State Checkoff

Total Checkoff Payment for Federal and State

PERSON REMITTING FORM

BUYER

SELLER

PHONE

*If the cattle purchased came from another state within the last 30 days, indicate from which state the cattle were purchased.

Send Report and Remittance to: Kentucky Beef Council 176 Pasadena Drive Lexington, KY 40503 For additional information: call 859-278-0899 or email beef@kycattle.org

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

December • Cow Country • 37

12 Mile Farm, KBC Host Dietetic Students Amelia Carter Director of Industry Relations, Kentucky Beef Council

On Oct. 16, 18 dietetic students from Cincinnati State joined the Kentucky Beef Council at 12 Mile Beef in California, Kentucky. This outing was an opportunity to connect future dietitians back to the farm and allow them to see firsthand the care and dedication farmers put into every aspect of their operation. During the tour, the matriarch of 12 Mile Beef, Cyndi Bezold, along with her children, their spouses, and even a few grandchildren, taught the students about their efforts to raise and provide quality beef to their local community. The tour included discussions regarding the life cycle of cattle on their farm, herd health practices, sustainability practices, feed rations, and rotational grazing, and even a chute side explanation of humane cattle handling practices. The students were then shown the walk-in freezer where 12 Mile Beef stores their products. They

38 • Cow Country • December

were able to see a few different cuts they offer and learn more in-depth about the harvest-to-market process. After the tour concluded, the students were treated to lunch of and prepared by 12 Mile Beef, sampling their ground beef and chuck roast. Dietitian Janine Faber rounded off the day with a presentation regarding food safety, healthy choices, dispelling cattle and beef myths, and possibly most importantly - an explanation on why health professionals and agriculture connections are so integral. Faber pointed out that consumers have many questions about where their food comes from and how it was raised, and they will often look to their healthcare team for answers to these questions. As agriculture and beef farming are consistently evolving and improving, it is vitally important to lessen the divide between consumers and

experts in this field. Connections like 12 Mile Beef and KBC aim to bridge that gap and provide resources and experiences they can build upon and pass along as they continue with their careers. Throughout the day, many of the students expressed a desire to continue their education to go further into specialized areas of nutrition, including diabetic care, post-surgical care, athletics/sports, pediatrics, and much more with a great interest in beef 's role in a balanced, healthy diet. Their passion gave way to many questions for our hosts and a lively discussion among all participants. KBC would like to extend a special thanks to Cyndi Bezold, Rebecca and Johnathan Bezold, and Jenna and Chad Bezold for hosting and to Michelle Simon with UK Extension and Janine Faber for lending their expertise.

Carey Brown

Chief Operating Officer

In the November issue of Cow Country, I gave a general overview of our procedures to develop a marketing plan and reviewed some highlights from our consumer research. One of our strategies is called Raised and Grown. This will implement reputation management strategies that reshape the narrative about sustainable beef production and the environment. From our research, we found that most consumers are comfortable with the safety and nutritional aspects of our product (beef) but not nearly as comfortable with the production practices on the farm. Given that so many consumers are removed from the farm, we must do a better job of exposing them to Kentucky producers and how they manage their farms. When asked how much consumers trusted several production practices, most were not sure or distrusted the statements presented to them. For example, when asked if consumers trusted that antibiotics are used responsibly, 33% said they trusted this statement, 23% said they distrusted this statement and 44% said they were unsure. There are plenty of ways we can talk to consumers about this, and your Beef Checkoff funds can be used to promote the practices used on the farm. Our objectives for this strategy are to show that beef is raised humanely and produced in an environmentally friendly way and that consumers can trust the people that raise the animals. Some of our tactics to show this will include: • Digital and social advertising that will push people for more information to kybeef.com • Continue to host influencer tours to bring more people to the farm to see first hand what it looks like and to be able to ask questions • Using videos of Kentucky farmers to highlight their story and farm (If you know of a producer you think would be a good representative, email cbrown@kycattle.org) • Using our local beef directory on

1. RAISED & GROWN - Implement reputation management strategies that reshape the narrative about sustainable beef production and the environment. Defend our beef producers’ ability to sustain their business.

2. NUTRITION - Positively engage in the sustainable nutrition conversation and beef’s key role in responsibly feeding people.

3. BEEF’S MULTIPLE ADVANTAGES - Promote and capitalize on the multiple competitive advantages of beef as the top protein choice compared to other proteins. Address the consumer’s price/value concerns.

4. STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT - Strengthen producer understanding & support for their Beef Checkoff investment by educating and engaging them in Beef Checkoff programs.

kybeef.com to highlight beef farmers selling beef directly off the farm and give consumers a connection to a local farm • Creating a beef spokesperson and advocacy training program to identify beef producers that would be effective spokespeople and be willing to speak at events • Continue to sponsor Ag in the Classroom mobile trailer that visits schools across Kentucky with the beef message • Use television segments to highlight our beef producers • Continue to work with foodservice groups to provide training and farm tours • Promote the role producers play in beef 's positive impact on a sustainable food system through schools and other youth events, including the YARDS classroom The second strategy involves positively engaging in the sustainable nutrition conversation and beef ’s key role in responsibly feeding people. The objectives are to show that beef is a great source of protein and to agree that beef is nutritious and a healthy choice in their diet. Tactics for this strategy include:

• Digital and social advertising and sending them to kybeef.com for all nutrition information • Participating in health professional conferences and continuing education webinars • Extend national efforts to distribute beef nutrition education toolkits to physician offices in Kentucky • Continue to support the UK Food as Health program and encourage beef as part of a healthy diet • Communicate and engage with undergraduate programs and dietetic internships to present and engage students with beef 's role in a healthy diet • Support the efforts of the Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative by funding programs to hit large audiences in the Northeast with the positive beef message • Support Team Beef enthusiasts as a way to encourage beef 's nutrition story and use the members to engage in other Checkoff-funded events throughout the year These are a few of the tactics in two of our strategies. Next month, we will finish up with our last two strategies. December • Cow Country • 39

Jake Harrod

Program Coordinator, Kentucky Beef Network

In October, the Kentucky Beef Council and the Kentucky Beef Network partnered to host the first-ever Kentucky Junior Cattlemen's Academy in Elizabethtown at the Hardin County Extension office. The Kentucky Junior Cattlemen’s Academy gives youth the opportunity to deep dive into educational programs and hands-on learning. The focus of this year’s academy was to prepare youth who may be interested in competing in the Kentucky Junior Cattlemen’s Cattle Working Contest that will be held for the first time in April 2024. This year's academy encompassed Beef Quality Care Assurance training, cattle working/handling, vaccine/needle handling, and other BQCA-related demonstrations. We had 65 juniors from 24 counties participate in the activities and complete their BQCA certification. Juniors started the day by going over a team problem that mimicked the process of buying vaccines for a herd of cattle to be worked. Juniors had to figure out the size of the dosage needed for the cattle they were given and then determine the cost per dose of vaccine. Following this, they were taught how to read a vaccine label, how to make a processing plan, and all tools and implements needed to properly and safely work cattle. They were led through these activities by Kevin Laurent from the University of Kentucky, Ryan Miller of Animal Health International, Bradon Burks with Kentucky Beef Council and Ben Lloyd, Jacob Settles, Dan Miller and Becky Thompson of the Kentucky Beef Network. After lunch, everyone headed outside for breakout groups. The groups rotated through three stations that included chute-side demonstration, implant and ear notching station, and vaccine and needle handling. At the chute-side demonstration, youth were shown how to handle cattle while in the handling facility, vaccine management, vaccinating calves and record keeping. While at the implanting and ear notching stations, youth had the opportunity to take ear notches and give an implant. To finish up the breakout groups, the juniors 40 • Cow Country • December

were given different types of syringes and needles and walked through when and how to use them. Additionally, juniors were shown how to give injections based on whether the injection was subcutaneous or intramuscular. They also were given expired modified live vaccine so they could practice rehydrating using a transfer needle. All of the supplies needed for these stations were given by Katherine Goodpaster at Neogen and Ryan Miller at Animal Health International. A huge thank you to both of them for helping

making our inaugural Kentucky Junior Cattleman’s Academy such a success!! To finish up the day, everyone in attendance had the opportunity to complete their BQCA certification. This was a great day for our juniors with many of them going home with new knowledge and skills that they will be able to put to use. The group of junior cattlemen we had was great, and if anyone is wondering, the future of the cattle of the cattle industry looks bright based on what we saw at the academy.

Eden Shale Update Dan Miller Industry Coordinator, Kentucky Beef Network There are many ways to measure success depending on what you value. The production data is always important to measure if you want to measure progress. Profitability is a must if you consider your farm a business and not a hobby. Additionally at Eden Shale we measure another metric that most farms do not, visitors. 2023 has been another busy year with lots of interests in the workings of Eden Shale. We have hosted more tours and field days this year than we ever have since KBN took over the farm in 2013. In the years leading up to COVID, we were conducting roughly 30-35 tours a year. Each year, we hosted an increasing number of people culminating with over 780 people coming through our gates in 2019. Since reopening after the pandemic our numbers have rebounded slowly at first, but have picked up speed the last two years. This year has been our greatest number of events putting our total at 40 tours with 525 visitors (and I’m sure I’ll book more after this goes to print). This is exactly the purpose we had for Eden Shale Farm 10 years ago when we started it. We envisioned the farm to be a working classroom where students, producers, and industry professionals could gather and learn about different ways to tackle some of the varying production challenges that Kentucky faces.

However, producers are not the only folks who have come to the farm. We have had the opportunity to host regulatory and governmental agencies including Kentucky Energy and Environmental Cabinet’s Division of Conservation, Division of Water Basin Coordinators, NRCS, and folks from the regional EPA office in Atlanta. Other non-producer groups have included a UK Health and Occupational Safety class, Farm Credit employees, high school FFA chapters, Auburn vet students, and college students from Eastern Kentucky University and University of Kentucky. During the past year, these different groups have had a wide variety of people including beef producers from 42 Kentucky counties as well as visitors from Indiana, Tennessee, Ohio, Oregon, North Carolina and Alabama. This year we have also had an international audience. Early in the year we had the opportunity to host a group of 15 Chinese nationalists that were touring the United States. This was the first time that I have ever presented with a real time interpreter standing next to me. In addition to China, we had attendees

from Canada, Mexico, Australia, Puerto Rico and South Africa. We have now had the privilege of hosting foreign visitors from 16 different countries (6 of the 7 continents) since we started operating the farm. While it does take time out of production to host these tours, we do consider it a measure of success of the work that Eden Shale Farm has been able to accomplish. I want to thank everyone who has made this success possible and especially for the inquisitive folks who have taken time out of their busy schedule to come visit the farm. I do appreciate it.

K E N T U C K Y B E E F N E T W O R K F I E L D A S S O C I AT E S

Ben Lloyd

Whitesville, KY (270) 993-1074 benlloyd0223@gmail.com

Ron Shrout

Winchester, KY (606) 205-6143 ronshrout@bellsouth.net

Charles Embry

Cave City, KY (270) 646-5939 dale.embry@yahoo.com

Jacob Settles

Springfield, KY (859) 805-0724 jacob.settles4@yahoo.com December • Cow Country • 41

ANGUS ANGUS THE BUSINESS BREED THE BUSINESS BREED

BOYD BEEF CATTLE 6077 Helena Road BOYD BEEF CATTLE Mayslick, KY 41055 6077 Helena Road Charlie Boyd II: (606) 584-5194 • Blake Boyd: (606) 375-3718 Mayslick, KY 41055 www.boydbeef.com • cboyd2@maysvilleky.net Charlie Boyd II: (606) 584-5194 • Blake Boyd: (606) 375-3718 www.boydbeef.com • cboyd2@maysvilleky.net

BRANCH VIEW ANGUS BOYD BEEF CATTLE 927 OldVIEW Liberty PikeRoad • Hustonville, KY 40437 BRANCH ANGUS 6077 Helena (859) •KY www.branchviewangus.com Mayslick, 927 Old238-0771 Liberty Pike • 41055 Hustonville, KY 40437 James S.Charlie & LuAnn Coffey, & Donna Coffey(606) 375-3718 II: (606)Donald 584-5194 • Blake Boyd: (859) 238-0771 •Boyd www.branchviewangus.com www.boydbeef.com • cboyd2@maysvilleky.net Annual Sale- Donald 2nd Saturday in April James S.Production & LuAnn Coffey, & Donna Coffey Annual Production Sale- 2nd Saturday in April BRANCH VIEW ANGUS

BURKS CATTLE CO. 927 Old Liberty Pike • Hustonville, KY 40437 531 Rick Rd. 238-0771 BURKS CATTLE CO. (859) • www.branchviewangus.com Park City, KY 42160 531 Rick Rd. James S. & LuAnn Coffey, Donald & Donna Coffey Eddie Burks • (270) 991-6398 Production Sale- 2nd Saturday in April Park City,Annual KY 42160 www.burkscattle.com Eddie Burks • (270) 991-6398 www.burkscattle.com BURKS CATTLE CO.

BURTON531 & SONS ANGUS Rick Rd. Joe D. or & Karen Burton Park City, KY 42160 BURTON SONS ANGUS

480 Hill Rd. Nancy, KY991-6398 42544 Eddie Burks • (270) Joe D.Hominy or Karen Burton Joe: (606)www.burkscattle.com 305-3081 480 Hominy Hill Rd. Nancy, KY 42544 Located miles West of Somerset • klburton01@windstream.net Joe: (606) 15 305-3081 Bulls &15 females treaty. Inquiries Welcome. Sell only what we would buy. Located milessold Westprivate of Somerset • klburton01@windstream.net Data&driven since Bulls females sold1981. private treaty. Inquiries Welcome. Sell only what we would buy. BURTON Data driven since 1981.& SONS ANGUS Joe D. or Karen Burton 480 Hominy Hill Rd. Nancy, KY 42544

COFFEYJoe: ANGUS FARMS (606) 305-3081 Located Road 15 miles West of Somerset • klburton01@windstream.net COFFEY ANGUS FARMS 661 Hopewell Bulls & females 661 Hopewell Road sold private treaty. Inquiries Welcome. Sell only what we would buy. Liberty, KY 42539 Data driven since 1981. Liberty, KY 42539 Matt Coffey: (270) 799-6288 Matt Coffey: (270) 799-6288 Dewey Coffey: (606) 706-2699 Dewey Coffey: (606) 706-2699 COFFEY ANGUS FARMS Genetics for Maximum Profitability since 1984 Genetics for Profitability since 1984 661Maximum Hopewell Road

Liberty, KY 42539 Matt Coffey: (270) 799-6288 DAVIS BEND FARMS Dewey Coffey: (606) 706-2699 DAVIS FARMS 2315 BEND Davis BendforRoad Genetics Maximum Profitability since 1984 2315 Davis Bend Road

Canmer, KY 42722 Canmer, KY 42722 timmothyljeffries@gmail.com timmothyljeffries@gmail.com www.davisbendfarms.com DAVIS BEND FARMS www.davisbendfarms.com 2315 Davis Bend Road (270) 528-6435 Tim: (270) 528-6605 • Leslie: Tim: (270)Canmer, 528-6605 • Leslie: (270) 528-6435 KY 42722

timmothyljeffries@gmail.com www.davisbendfarms.com FALL CREEK ANGUS Tim: (270) 528-6605 • Leslie: (270) 528-6435

FALL CREEK ANGUS 448 Corder Farm Road 448 Corder Farm Road Monticello, KY 42633 Monticello, KY 42633 Ronnie Corder FALL CREEK ANGUS Ronnie Corder 448 Corder Farm Road (606) 348-6588 (606) 348-6588 Monticello, KY 42633 Ronnie Corder (606) 348-6588

HAMILTON ANGUS FARMS HAMILTON ANGUS FARMS Eddie Hamilton 2142 Stilesville Road Eddie Hamilton 2142 Stilesville Road ScienceHill, Hill,KYKY42553 42553 HAMILTON ANGUS FARMS Science edjohami@aol.com Eddie Hamilton 2142 Stilesville Road edjohami@aol.com (606)271-1286 271-1286 Science Hill, KY 42553 (606) Bullsand andedjohami@aol.com FemalesforforSale Sale Bulls Females (606) 271-1286 Bulls and Females for Sale

HERITAGEFARM FARM HERITAGE TomMcGinnis McGinnis HERITAGE FARM Tom 1024Hinkle Hinkle Lane• Shelbyville, • Shelbyville, TomLane McGinnis 1024 KYKY (502)633-1634, 633-1634, home •• (502) 633-5100, work 1024 Hinkle Lane Shelbyville, KY work (502) home • (502) 633-5100, (502) 633-1634, (502)655-0164, 655-0164, cell home • (502) 633-5100, work (502) cell (502) 655-0164, cell

HILL VIEW FARMS Jimmy Gilles HILL VIEW FARMS 5160 Lee Rudy Road Jimmy Gilles Owensboro, KY 42301 5160 Lee Rudy Road (270) 929-5370 Owensboro, KY 42301 jcgilles86@gmail.com (270) 929-5370 THE BUSINESS BREED jcgilles86@gmail.com

ANGUS

HILL VIEW FARMS JOHNSON FARMS ANGUS Jimmy Gilles Angus Bulls & Females JOHNSON FARMS ANGUS 5160 Lee Rudy Road Slaughters, KYFemales Angus Bulls KY & Owensboro, 42301 Keith: (270)KY 635-0723 Slaughters, (270) 929-5370 Reese:(270) (270)635-0723 635-1137 Keith: jcgilles86@gmail.com Reese: (270) 635-1137

bmsmith@duo-county.com

ST. CLAIR FARMS REGISTERED ANGUS

JOHNSON FARMS ANGUS

SMITHLAND ANGUS FARM Eric & 80, Sherry St. REGISTERED Clair KY 42642 ST. CLAIR FARMS ANGUS 5202 East Hwy Russell Springs, 13433 Rough Road • Falls of Rough, KY 40119 & Sherry St. Clair(270) CharlesEric “Bud” &Falls Pam of Smith: 866-3898 Home: (270) 257-2965 • Cell: (270) 617-1079 Falls of Rough Road • Falls of Rough, KY 40119 Henry 13433 & Melissa Smith: (270) 866-2311

www.stclairangus.com Home: (270) 257-2965 • Cell: (270) 617-1079 Performance Tested Bull & Female Sale April 2020 www.stclairangus.com Performance Tested Bull & Female Sale April 2020

LYNN CREEK FARMS

MT. MORIAH ANGUS FARMS Kris and Sara Lynn 2184MORIAH Bardstown Rdand FARMS Bob, Kathy, Rob, Janna Clark (859) 748-5558 MT. ANGUS Springfield KY 40069 1446Kathy, Kennedy Rd. Harrodsburg, KY 40330 Bob, Rob,Bridge and Janna Clark (859) 748-5558 573-721-6663 1446 Bridge •Rd. Harrodsburg, KY 40330 Bob: Kennedy (859)339-2610 Rob: (859)612-1594 Bob: (859)339-2610 • Rob: (859)612-1594 mtmoriahfarms1@gmail.com mtmoriahfarms1@gmail.com www.mtmoriahangus.com MT. MORIAH ANGUS FARMS www.mtmoriahangus.com

Bob, Kathy, Rob, and Janna Clark (859) 748-5558 1446 Kennedy Bridge Rd. Harrodsburg, KY 40330 FOUR KINGS ANGUS Bob: (859)339-2610 • Rob: (859)612-1594 FOUR KINGS ANGUS mtmoriahfarms1@gmail.com 250 Bright Leaf Dr. • Harrodsburg, KY 40330 www.mtmoriahangus.com 250 Bright Dr. • Harrodsburg, KY 40330 Cary & KimLeaf King

ST. CLAIR FARMS REGISTERED ANGUS Eric & Sherry St. Clair 13433 Falls of Rough Road FARM • Falls of Rough, KY 40119 TAMME VALLEY Home:TAMME (270) 257-2965 (270) 617-1079 Jacob Tamme, Owner-Operator VALLEY• Cell: FARM www.stclairangus.com Jacob Owner-Operator (859)Tamme, 583-7134 Performance Tested Bull & Female Sale April 2020 (859) 583-7134 jacob.tamme@gmail.com

jacob.tamme@gmail.com www.tammevalley.com & Find us on Facebook! www.tammevalley.com & Find us on Facebook!

TAMME VALLEY FARM Jacob Tamme, Owner-Operator (859) 583-7134 TRIPLE D ANGUS jacob.tamme@gmail.com TRIPLE D ANGUS Nathaniel & Darla Denham www.tammevalley.com & Find us on Facebook!

Nathaniel & Darla Denham Nathaniel(Bub), Sarah, Ashley Denham Cary & Kim King Nathaniel(Bub), Sarah, Ashley Denham (606) 423-2457 • (606) 875-0780 Carymking@yahoo.com • fourkingsangus.com (606) 423-2457 • (606) 875-0780 Carymking@yahoo.com • fourkingsangus.com Cary Cell: (859) 613-3734 • Colby Myers - Purebred Manager tripledangus.com Cary (859) 613-3734 • Colby Myers - Purebred Manager TRIPLEtripledangus.com D ANGUS FOURCell: KINGS ANGUS 250 Bright Leaf Dr. • Harrodsburg, KY 40330 Cary & Kim King Carymking@yahoo.com • fourkingsangus.com Cary Cell: 613-3734 • Colby Myers - Purebred Manager OLD BARK(859) FARM

OLD BARK Hill, FARM 370 Ferrill Buffalo, KY 42716 370 Ferrill Hill, Buffalo, KY 42716 Kenley Conner (502) 905-7825 Kenley Conner (502) 905-7825 Registered Angus Cattle Registered Angus Cattle OLD BARK FARM 370 Ferrill Hill, Buffalo, KY 42716 Kenley Conner (502) 905-7825 Registered Angus Cattle 4040 Taylorsville Rd 4040 Taylorsville Rd Taylorsville, KY 40071 Taylorsville, KY 40071 Gordon Schubert Gordon Schubert 502-477-2637 • 502-548-8440 4040 Taylorsville• 502-548-8440 Rd 502-477-2637 Anne Patton Schubert Taylorsville, 40071 Anne PattonKY Schubert 502-477-2663 • 502-548-2359 Gordon Schubert

Nathaniel & Darla Denham Nathaniel(Bub), Sarah, Ashley Denham (606) 423-2457 • (606) 875-0780 TWIN CREEK FARM tripledangus.com TWIN CREEK FARM

Shawn, Melissa, Devin & Dylan Gibson Shawn, Melissa, Devin & Dylan Gibson (270) 337-3072 or (270) 692-5304 (270) 337-3072 Dennis & Emilyor (270) 692-5304 Dennis & Emily or 270/402-4338 TWIN CREEK FARM 270/337-2128 270/402-4338 Shawn,270/337-2128 Melissa, Devin or & Dylan Gibson (270) 337-3072 or (270) 692-5304 Dennis & Emily WHITEorFARM 270/337-2128 270/402-4338

WHITE FARM Tim and Amy White Tim and Amy White 3664 Military Pike • Lexington, KY 40513 3664 Military Pike • Lexington, KY 40513 Home: (859)223-0326 WHITE FARM Home: (859)223-0326 (859) 509-5401 • Amy (859)227-2552 Tim and Tim: Amy White Tim: (859) 509-5401 • Amy (859)227-2552 3664 Military Pike • Lexington, KY 40513 whitefarm4@twc.com Home:whitefarm4@twc.com (859)223-0326

502-477-2663 • 502-548-2359 502-477-2637 • 502-548-8440 Anne Patton Schubert 502-477-2663 • 502-548-2359

Tim: (859) 509-5401 • Amy (859)227-2552 whitefarm4@twc.com

KENTUCKYANGUS ANGUSASSOCIATION ASSOCIATION KENTUCKY

NAME

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION KENTUCKY ANGUS ASSOCIATION

NAME

Returnto:to:Shayna ShaynaGibson Gibson1535 1535 Fallen Timber Road MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Return Fallen Timber Road New Castle, KY 40050 • Annual Dues $35 New Castle, KY1535 40050 • Annual Return to: Shayna Gibson Fallen TimberDues Road $35

FARM NAME FARM NAME

New Castle, KY 40050 • Annual Dues $35

ADDRESS ADDRESS

CITY CITY

PHONE 1

KENTUCKY ANGUS ASSOCIATION KENTUCKY ANGUS ASSOCIATION

to: Shayna Gibson 1535 Fallen TimberRoad Road ReturnReturn to: Shayna Gibson 1535 Fallen Timber New Castle, KY 40050 • AnnualDues Dues$35 $35 New Castle, KY 40050 • Annual

PLEASANT HILL FARMS Gil, Mary, Corbin, Caroline, and Catherine Cowles PLEASANT HILL FARMS 500 Rockfield Richpond Road Henry B. Smith President: Gil, Mary, Corbin, Caroline, and Catherine Cowles Rockfield, 42274 ViceKY President: Anne Patton Schubert 500 Rockfield Richpond Road (270) 843-9021 • Fax (270) 843-9005 Rockfield, Secretary/Treasurer: KY 42274 Shayna Gibson Located 7 miles west(270) of Bowling Green, 1/2 mile off Hwy 68/80 (270) 843-9021 • Fax 843-9005 Located 7 miles west of Bowling Green, 1/2 mile off Hwy 68/80 PLEASANT HILL FARMS SMITHLAND ANGUS FARM Gil, Mary, Corbin, Caroline, and Catherine Cowles SMITHLAND ANGUS 5202 Richpond East Hwy 80, FARM Russell Springs, KY 42642 500 Rockfield Road 4437 East“Bud” Hwy 80, Russell Springs, 42642 Charles & Pam Smith: (270)KY 866-3898 Rockfield, KY 42274 Henry Bryan, Melissa, Bryanna Blane Smith Henry &• Fax Melissa (270)and 866-2311 (270) 843-9021 (270) Smith: 843-9005 606-271-7520 Located 7 miles west of Bowling Green, 1/2 mile off Hwy 68/80

LYNN CREEK FARMS Angus Bulls & Females Kris and Sara Lynn LYNN CREEK Slaughters, KYFARMS 2184 Bardstown Kris and Sara LynnRd Keith: (270) 635-0723 Springfield 40069 Reese:Bardstown (270)KY 635-1137 2184 Rd 573-721-6663 Springfield KY 40069 573-721-6663

PHONE 1

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

President: Henry B. Smith Vice President: Anne Patton President: Henry B. Schubert Smith Secretary/Treasurer: Shayna Gibson Vice President: Anne Patton Schubert Secretary/Treasurer: Shayna Gibson

EMAIL EMAIL

STATE STATE

ZIP ZIP

PHONE 2

KENTUCKY ANGUS ASSOCIATION NEWS Shayna Gibson, Secretary/Treasurer www.kentuckyangus.org • kyangusassociation@gmail.com •

@kyangusassoc •

@kyangusassociation

Dear Kentucky Angus Breeder, It is time to start thinking about entries for the Kentucky Angus Sweepstakes Show and Sale. For almost four decades this show and sale has been held in conjunction with the Kentucky Beef Expo the first weekend in March. This show and sale has always offered some of the best Angus Cattle around, and this year will be no exception. We need entries and want to see this event grow! As in years past the Kentucky Sweepstakes Committee will work with the directors and members to manage and coordinate this show and sale. It is important to start thinking about your entries; get your cattle up and start prepping! Talk to your neighbors and friends and let’s get our entry numbers and attendance to grow! We need your support to keep this event going, whether you are an exhibitor or bidder! Classifications for the show and sale: Haltered cattle - will be shown in the traditional format by age class breaks, will include a junior owned division. Embryos – this option has been added to allow breeders and producers to consign embryos to the sale. Un-haltered cattle - will be stalled and shown in a pen format. Options have been added to allow breeders and producers to enter open heifers, bred heifers, and cow calf pairs. Phenotype and Genotype cattle – new to the un-haltered division, offering the opportunity for breeders and producers to enter cattle that will be evaluated on both genotypes and phenotypes. The Kentucky Sweepstakes Committee is also offering, for a minimal fee, our Kentucky Angus Juniors and committee members will watch and care for your un-haltered cattle the days they are to be on display in Louisville. PLEASE!! Start thinking about consignments for this event! We need an increase in numbers! Sale date will be March 2, 2024

If you are interested or have any questions, please feel free to call me or reach out to a committee member! Sincerely, Wesley Womack 270.484.0556

remember these important dates! DECEMBER 31

JANUARY 11-12

MARCH 2

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DUE

KCA Convention Lexington, KY Stop by and see our booth!

Kentucky Angus Sweepstakes Sale Louisville, KY KY Fair & Expo Center

KAA Social 4 pm to 6 pm Annual Meeting, 5 pm

KENTUCKY

GELBVIEH GELBVIEH KENTUCKY

A S S O C I AT I O N

David Slaughter, President.......................(270) 556-4259 JoeA Piles, President...........................(502) 507-3845 S SVice OC I AT I O N PatTilghman,Secretary/Treasurer..............(270) 670-8449

AA Joe LAND & CATTLE Piles, President............................................................................................................................(502) 507-3845 LARRY CLARK & SONS LLC

Registered Gelbvieh & Balancers Registered Gelbvieh Cattle Johnnie Moore, Vice President...........................................................................................................(270) 670-7814 Cynthiana, KY 106 Clark Houk Road • Greensburg, KY 42743 Tilghman, Secretary/Treasurer.......................................................................................................(270) 670-8449 LukePat Arthur (859) 298-8323 Larry Clark, Owner & Operator luke.arthur93@gmail.com (270) 299-5167 • (270) 405-6848 Bulls • Show Prospects • Embryos Lpclarkandsons@msn.com BRIAN W. DYER, DVM Bulls sell with GE EPD’s • Show Prospects

ASHWOOD SPRING GENETICS

& Lindsay Arthur BARLuke IV LIVESTOCK

Cynthiana, Barry, Beth & BenKY Racke • Brad Racke

7416859-298-8323 Tippenhauer Rd. • Cold Spring, KY 41076 Phone (859) 635-3832 • Barry cell (859) 991-1992 Brad cell (859) 393-3677 • Ben cell (859) 393-3730 Fax (859) 635-3832 • bar4@twc.com

BAR IV LIVESTOCK

BEEBarry, LICK Beth GELBVIEHS & Ben Racke • Brad Racke

Eddie Reynolds 7416 Tippenhauer Rd. • Cold Spring, KY 41076 277 Phone Old Bee(859) Lick 635-3832 Rd. • Barry cell (859) 991-1992 CrabBrad Orchard, KY 40419 cell (859) 393-3677 • Ben cell (859) 393-3730 606-379-2281(H) 606-305-1972(C) Fax (859) 635-3832 • bar4@twc.com Bulls & Females for sale

BEE LICK GELBVIEHS

Eddie Reynolds 277 Old Bee Lick Rd. Crab Orchard, KY 40419 606-379-2281(H) 606-305-1972(C) Bulls & Females for sale

CD FARMS

BRAY’S GELBVIEH CATTLE Clayton & Debbie Cash & School Betty KRoad Bray 1214Niles Ottawa Brodhead, KY 40409 1568 Bray Ridge Road (606)-308-3247 Bedford, KY• (606)-758-8994 40006 Gelbvieh-Balancer Bulls & Heifers (502) 255-3584 For Sale by Private Treaty

Owner/Manager GELBVIEH/BALANCERS CLIFFORD FARMS 2050 Glasgow Road 3459 KY HWY 1284E Burkesville, KY 42717 Cynthiana, KY 41031 Brian, Lauren, Kristen Barry, Emily & Julia Since 1937 (270) 864-5909 Cattle for sale at all times. (859) 234-6956

FULL CIRCLE FARMS

BRIAN W. DYER, DVM Registered Gelbvieh Cattle

Owner/Manager Brad Burke GELBVIEH/BALANCERS 989 Metcalf Mill Road • Ewing KY 41039 2050 Glasgow Road (H) 606-267-5609 Burkesville, KY 42717 • (C) 606-782-1367 gbb789@windstream.net Brian, Lauren, Kristen Barry, Emily & Julia (270) 864-5909

FULL CIRCLE RICH HILLFARMS GELBVIEH

Registered Gelbvieh Cattle Frank McAninch Brad Burke 1341 Iven Godby Road 989 Metcalf Mill Road • Ewing KY 41039 KY 42539 (H)Liberty, 606-267-5609 • (C) 606-782-1367 606-787-0120 gbb789@windstream.net

richhillfarm@windstream.net

KILBOURNE GELBVIEH

East Bernstadt, KY 606-843-6583 cell 606-309-4662 Black Replacement Heifers & Bulls Available Embryo transplant & AI sired calves

MOCKINGBIRD HILL FARMS

CD FARMSUPCOMING EVENTS

Clayton & Debbie Cash Saturday May 15 1214 Ottawa School Road Kentucky Junior Gelbvieh Show & Learning Clinic Brodhead, KY 40409 (606)-308-3247 • (606)-758-8994 McIntosh Brothers Farm • 3348 Frankfort Road • Georgetown

Registered Gelbvieh Cattle Shane Wells 10172 Provo Rd. Rochester, KY H: 270-934-2198 C: 270-791-8196 swells@logantele.com

Burley Fields Livestock Center • 709 Oil Fields Road • Horse Cave Cynthiana, KY 41031 Call Carrie Derossett for more information. (270) 404-0828 Since 1937 Bradbury Farms Entry and room information available at www.gelbvieh.org (859) 234-6956 Gelbvieh/Balancer Females (Juniors/Regional Shows/AGJA Eastern Regional) Tom Bradbury Fisherville, KY (502) 817-2869

BRADBURY FARMS Taylor Bradbury

American Gelbvieh Association 303-465-2333 | www.gelbvieh.org JOIN KENTUCKY GELBVIEH ASSOCIATION Mail to: 690 Lick Branch Road, Glasgow, Kentucky 42141 FARM NAME

YOUR NAME

Gelbvieh-Balancer Bulls &Clinic Heifers 10AM Learning • 12:30PM Show For Sale by Private Treaty Call William McIntosh for more information. (502) 867-3132

Friday May 28 - May 30 CLIFFORD FARMS AGJA Eastern Regional Junior Show “Run for the Roses” 3459 KY HWY 1284E

Meeting modern industry demands: • Added Fertility • Increased Efficiency • More pounds of calf weaned

ADRESS

PLEASANT MEADOWS FARM

Gary & Pat Tilghman Carrie & Daryl Derossett Family Lindsey & Garland Gilliam Family PLEASANT FARM 690 LickMEADOWS Branch Road Glasgow, KY 42141 Gary & Pat Tilghman 270.646.7024 • pleasantmeadowsfarm@hotmail.com Lindsey Tilghman Jones Family Carrie & Daryl Derossett Family 690 Lick Branch Road Glasgow, KY 42141 270.646.7024 • pleasantmeadowsfarm@hotmail.com

(502) 817-4421 BRADBURY Gelbvieh/Balancer Females Hay and Straw FARMS Tom Bradbury • Fisherville, KYAvailable (502) 817-2869 Taylor Bradbury (502) 817-4421 Hay and Straw Available

2024 Annual Kentucky Gebvieh Association Membership Meeting Saturday, January 27, 2024 • Nelson County Extension Office 317 S Third Street • Bardstown, KY 40004 11:30 am (EST) • Lunch will be provided.

CITY, STATE

ZIP

PHONE

Dues are $25/year, payable to Kentucky Gelbvieh Association

For information on joining the Kentucky Gelbvieh Association or to advertise in this ad, please contact Pat Tilghman at 270-670-8449 or send an email to pleasantmeadowsfarm@hotmail.com

Dues are $25/year, payable to Kentucky Gelbvieh Association

Kentucky Hereford Association Kentucky Certified Hereford Influenced Sale December 14, 2023 Blue Grass Stockyards Lexington

Contact Information: Chris Hopper, KHA President 606-584-7842 or L.W. Beckly, DVM 859-779-1419

WELLS FARM Polled Herefords

Toby & Debby Dulworth 2492 S. Kirkman Road LaCenter, KY 42056 (270) 224-2993 dogwood@brtc.net Herefords that thrive on forages. www.dogwoodherefords.com

439 Flatwoods Frozen Camp Rd, Corbin KY 40701 Bobby & Brenda Wells (606) 523-0569 or (606) 344-0417 wells_farm@yahoo.com Kevin, Angela, Kenlea & Kyler Murray (606) 528-1691 or (606) 682-8413

KHA OFFICERS President: Chris Hopper 606-584-7842 Secretary/ Treasurer: Melinda Watson 859-625-8660 melindawatson8660@gmail.com

NJB Limited Dale Stith

5239 Old Sardis Pike Mays Lick, KY 41055 dalestith@yahoo.com (918) 760-1550 Home of Select Sires’ Boyd Fort Knox 17yxz54040

TK4 Herefords

K3 CATTLE REGISTERED HEREFORDS 6077 Helena Road Mayslick, KY 41055 Charlie Boyd II 606-584-5194

Annual Bull Sale second Saturday in March Hereford and Angus Bulls

MPH Farms

Registered Polled Herefords PAUL L. HANCOCK 8559 KY 56 Owensboro, KY 42301 270-771-4194

Chambliss Hereford Farms

THOMAS FARM

Brad, Carla, Clay & Clint Chambliss

1101 Driftwood Lane Elizabethtown, KY 42701 Home (270) 982-3905 Cell (270) 668-7126 fax 270-735-9922 www.chamblissherefordfarms.com

KYLE BUSH K3CATTLE@YAHOO.COM 859-588-4531 198 HICKS PIKE CYNTHIANA, KY 41031

Jackson Farms

Registered Polled Herefords PO Box 215 Cross Plains, TN 37049 615-478-4483 billymjackson@aol.com “Farming the Same Land Since 1834”

Eric & Ronnie Thomas 2396 Union City Rd. Richmond, KY 40475 (859) 623-5734 Eric’s Cell (859) 314-8256

“Cattle for sale at all times”

WCN Polled Herefords Since 1961 Bill Norris

2220 Celina Road Burkesville, KY 42717

Phone (270) 433-7256 Cell (270) 433-1525 “Every calf needs a white face”

Bulls & Females for sale

Tim & Peggy Wolf 12939 Peach Grove Road Alexandria, KY 41001 Home: 859-635-0899 Cell: 859-991-3484

Polled Hereford and Gelbvieh Cattle 3459 KY Hwy. 1284 E. Cythiana, KY 41031

133 Edgewood Drive • Stanford, KY (606) 365-2520 home/fax (606) 669-1455 cell

Victor- influenced cattle bred for performance on grass.

“Black cows need a good Hereford Bull”

992 Knotts Road

(859) 234-6956

Brandenburg, KY 40108 (270) 422-4220 tstaples@bbtel.com

Windy Hills Farm

Registered Polled Herefords

Ben, Jane, Shelby and Lincoln

Jackie D. Perkins II 367 Mt. Pisgah Rd. Bremen, KY 42325 (270) 543-3586

Breeding to produce good cows since 1981

BECKLEY HEREFORDS L. Wayne Beckley • 1420 Fitchburg Rd. Ravenna, KY 40472 • 606-723-3021 Cell: 859-779-0962 L.W. Beckley D.V.M 284 Pyrse Lane • Irvine, KY 40336 Cell: 859-779-1419 • Clinic: 606-726-0000

PILE STOCK FARM HANSELL PILE, JR.

12045 St. John Rd. Cecilia, KY 42724 270-735-5192 270-862-4462 12 miles West of Elizabethtown

www.beckleyherefords.com

LINEBRED VICTOR DOMINO CATTLE

Multi-Trait Selection

Fertility Calving Ease Danny Miller Disposition Milking Ability jmspolledherefords.com 4850 Caldwell Ridge Rd. 270-465-6984 Knifley, KY 42753 270-465-6984 270-566-2694

TUCKER STOCK Tucker Stock Farms FAR

“Breeding Polled Herefords “Registered Angus and Polled Herefords” “Registered Angus for over 58 Years” and PolledA.Herefords” John Tucker II Breeding cattle for sale at all times.

1790 Hidden Valley Lane John Tucker II Hudson, KY 40145

1999 Walnut Hill Rd. 1790 Hidden Valley Lane (270) 257-8548 Hudson, KY257-8167 40145 Lexington, KY 40515 Office (270) 270-617-0301 (859) 271-9086 18-month-old Angus & Polled Hereford Bulls F “Bulls always for Sale” cell (859)533-3790

WATSON LAND & CATTLE Peyton’s Well Polled Herefords The Lowell Atwood Family

Tony & Kathy Staples

WOLF FARM

Registered Polled Herefords

HEREFORDS

Codee Guffey • 1815 Grassy Springs Road Versailles, Kentucky 40383 (502) 598-6355 rockridgeherefords@gmail.com www.rockridgeherefords.com

Matt, Melinda, Harlee, & Wyatt Watson 6196 Mount Sterling Rd Flemingsburg, Kentucky melindawatson8660@gmail.com Matt - 606-748-1600 Melinda - 859-625-8660

CATTLE FOR SALE AT ALL TIMES

HEAD TO

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IGS STAND TOGETHER

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KEVIN AND RACHEL BARRON Crestwood, Ky (502) 905-5851 rkbarron812@gmail.com SWAIN SELECT SIMMENTAL 12113 Green Valley Dr. Louisville, KY 40243 swainselect.com swainselect@gmail.com facebook.com/swainselectsimmental Fred & Phyllis: 502-599-4560 Chi & Angie: 502-287-2116

JUDY AND RONDAL DAWSON 1156 Buzzard Roost Road Shelbyville, KY 40065 502-593-5136 • jrdawson22@outlook.com

ROCKING P LIVESTOCK 8308 Orangeburg Road Maysville, KY 41056 Chan: 606-584-7581 Keith: 606-584-5626 rockingplivestock@maysvilleky.net BRIAN & HEATHER SWAIN 3906 Pottertown Road Murray, KY 42071 • 270-293-4440 wksbswain@murray-ky.net SIMMENTAL AND SIMANGUS BULLS FOR SALE 1939 Huntertown Road Versailles, KY 40383 BULLS FOR SALE Chris Allen 859-351-4486 callenuky@hotmail.com Dr. Henry Allen 859-229-0755

BRET AND LAURA JACKSON 859.533.3718 or 859.707.7200 BILL KAISER • Shelbyville, KY • 502.639.4337

406.205.3033 • internationalgeneticsolutions.com

JOIN KENTUCKY SIMMENTAL ASSOCIATION Mail to: Laura Jackson 1254 Cynthiana Road Paris, KY 40361 FARM NAME

YOUR NAME

ADRESS

CITY, STATE

ZIP

WORK PHONE

HOME PHONE

Call or visit one of these Simmental breeders for cattle that work!

www.kysimmental.com Membership Fee is $25.00

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES NCBA AGAIN STRONGLY OPPOSES USDA’S DECISION TO ALLOW PARAGUAYAN BEEF IMPORTS WASHINGTON (Nov. 10, 2023) – The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) strongly opposes the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) decision to allow Paraguayan beef imports starting next month. NCBA has repeatedly raised concerns with USDA over Paraguay’s history of foot-andmouth disease (FMD) and the outdated information used to justify Paraguay’s access to the U.S. market. NCBA is concerned that USDA’s failure to use information from recent site visits in the risk assessment may pose great risk to the safety of the U.S. cattle herd. “USDA based their decision to allow beef imports from Paraguay on a deeply flawed risk assessment that uses old data from site visits that were conducted more than nine years ago. Paraguay has a history of FMD outbreaks, and it is unclear if their inspection system can provide an

equivalent level of safety for animal health to prevent a possible FMD outbreak on U.S. soil,” said NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs Kent Bacus. "Paraguay heavily relies on private sector funding for most of its FMD mitigation measures, and USDA did not consider the risk associated with Paraguay’s economic downturn over the last several years. "Gaining beef access to the U.S. market has been the top priority for Paraguay in multiple rounds of trade discussions. Unfortunately, this is not the first time that a foreign country’s beef access to the United States was a pre-determined outcome and used as a bargaining tool for other U.S. interests. The dismissal of legitimate concerns from U.S. cattle producers is unacceptable and USDA should halt this unscientific, unsafe rulemaking. While winning friends and allies in South America may be part of the

long-term interests of U.S. diplomacy, it should not be done on the backs of U.S. cattle producers or by putting at risk the health and livelihood of the safest and most efficient cattle and beef production system in the world.” Background NCBA filed comments earlier this year calling on USDA to continue blocking fresh beef imports from Paraguay due to Paraguay’s history of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and the outdated information from site visits in 2008 and 2014 that were used to justify Paraguay’s access. NCBA also raised concerns about Paraguay’s ability to fund and administer FMD safeguards and called into question the security of the borders they share with other countries including Brazil. NCBA urged USDA to continue the ban on Paraguayan beef imports until a thorough review can be conducted and U.S. cattle producers are assured Paraguay is able to provide an equivalent level of safety for U.S. consumers and livestock.

FFA AND 4-H MEMBERS RECEIVE FREE ADMISSION TO NCBA TRADE SHOW AT CATTLECON24 CENTENNIAL, Colo. (Nov. 13, 2023) – The next generation of agricultural leaders are invited to attend the NCBA Trade Show at CattleCon24 for free on Friday, Feb. 2. FFA and 4-H members can receive free trade show admission on Next Gen Ag FFA & 4-H Day, which will include a variety of events and activities for youth and families. Courtesy of Culver’s, the first 250 FFA members to register will receive complimentary Friday NCBA Trade Show admission. FFA members and alumni are also invited to the Culver’s Blue Jacket Custard Social. Nationwide is providing complimentary Friday NCBA Trade Show admission to the first 250 4-H members who register. Nationwide is also sponsoring a special Learning Lounge session about careers in agriculture featuring Mary-Thomas Hart, chief counsel at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. “Youth engagement is critical to the

future of America’s rural communities, and industry events like the NCBA Trade Show are great places to learn about career opportunities while building a national network of producers and industry experts,” said Hart. “As a 4-H alumnus, I look forward to meeting 4-H members from across the country who are excited about civic engagement and a future in cattle production.” NCBA Trade Show attendees can explore more than eight acres of displays and exhibitors offering the latest advancements, from equipment and technology to pharmaceuticals and feed supplements. In addition to finding the right product or service to solve any problem, there are a variety of educational opportunities within the show. Attendees can stop in the Learning Lounge to enjoy informal, faceto-face talks in an intimate setting right on the trade show floor. The popular Stockmanship & Stewardship

Demonstration Arena also returns with stockmanship experts providing lowstress cattle handling demonstrations, Beef Quality Assurance educational sessions, industry updates and facility design sessions. Cattle Chats will feature beef industry educational sessions, and the Chutes and Scales Showdown will offer a side-by-side comparison of equipment where producers can watch cattle run through chutes then get handson experience. Other activities include an appearance by the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile, the “Pups & Popsicles” reception featuring furry friends and refreshing treats, and entertainment throughout the trade show. To receive free Friday NCBA Trade Show registration, FFA members must use the code FFACULVERS, and 4-H members, 4HNW. A variety of other registration options are also available. For more information and to register and reserve housing, visit convention.ncba.org.

December • Cow Country • 47

CALENDAR OF EVENTS DATE

EVENT

LOCATION

Dec 1

Total Performance Bull Sale

Red House, VA

Dec 1

Monthly Cow Sale

Campbellsville, KY

Dec 2

7th Annual Fall Highland Cattle Auction

Springfield, MO

Dec 2

Kentucky Hereford Association Sale

Lexington, KY

Dec 4

Profit Thru Performance Feeder Sale

Lexington, KY

Dec 6

CPH Sale

Lexington, KY

Dec 7

Traditions Hereford Influence Sale

Stanford, KY

Dec 7

CPH Sale

Owensboro, KY

Dec 9

Christmas Pony Sale

Lexington, KY

Dec 11

Hog, Goat and Sheep Sale

Richmond, KY

Dec 12

CPH Sale

Guthrie, KY

Dec 14

Certified Hereford Influence Sale

Lexington, KY

Dec 15

Monthly Cow Sale

Stanford, KY

Dec 20

Monthly Cow Sale

Lexington, KY

Dec 22

Monthly Cow Sale

Mt. Sterling, KY

Jan 6

20th Genetic Excellence Angus Bull Sale

Cookeville, TN

Jan 11-12 KCA Convention and Trade Show

Lexington, KY

Jan 11

UT Bull Development and Evaluation Program Sale

Spring Hill, TN

Jan 31Feb. 2

NCBA Cattle Con

Orlando, FL

Feb 24

Pleasant Hill Farms Spring Production Sale

Rockfield, KY

Feb 26

Woodall 29th Annual Spring Production Sale

Quality, KY

Feb 26

Robert Elliott and Sons Sale

Adams, TN

Mar 2

Kentucky Angus Sweepstakes Sale

Louisville, KY

Mar 2

Judd 46th Gelbvieh, Balancer &Red Angus Bull Sale

Pomona, KS

Apr 13

Branch View Angus Sale

Hustonville, KY

kentuck ycattlemensbeef.com

SALERS T H E

B A L A N C E D

48 • Cow Country • December

B R E E D

DIAMOND J SALERS

Donald Johnson • 11660 N. Hwy 1247 • Eubank, KY 42564 606-379-1558

WILLIS FARMS

Danny Willis • 964 Johnson Rd • Frankfort, KY 40601 • 502-803-5011 drwc21@aol.com

DEL-SU FARM

Howard & Sue Edwards • 420 Rose Rd • Somerset, KY 42501 606-679-1675 • Jeriah Privett • 606-416-1154

CLA SSI FI ED S

REGISTERED RED ANGUS BULLS AND FEMALES FOR SALE * FREE DELIVERY* FOUR WINDS FARM

New Castle, Kentucky

(502) 296-1044

PERFORMANCE TESTED PUREBRED ANGUS BULLS FOR SALE Call 270-202-7186 for more info or check out www.oakhollowangus.com for current availability. POLLED HERFORD BULLS FOR SALE 19–20-month-old Polled Hereford bulls. Good selection. Low birthweight, medium frame. Free Delivery Available. JMS Polled Herefords, Knifley, KY Danny 270-566-2694 Trent 270-566-2000 RED FULLBLOOD LIMOUSIN BLACK PUREBRED LIMOUSIN For sale year-round at farms Cows, bulls, heifers and semen A C H Holdings, Bowling Green, KY Stephen Haynes 270-799-8685 REGISTERED BLACK SIMMENTAL BULLS Many blaze faced. Excellent EPD’s. Semen Tested. Delivery Available. Maximize your profit with proven performance. All bulls qualify for new CAIP cost-share. Adam Wheatley 502-349-2665

ADVERTISE IN OUR CLASSIFIEDS $15 FOR FIVE LINES OR GET A BOX THIS SIZE FOR $105 CALL KATIE PRATT

(859) 278-0899

MULTI-ISSUE DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE

AD INDEX Allison Charolais

BioZyme Inc.

BREEDING AGE HEREFORD BULLS FOR SALE AT ALL TIMES Over 60 years of Line 1 Hereford Genetics. Groups of open and bred heifers available for sale at all times. Chambliss Hereford Farms. 270-668-7126

Blue Grass Stockyards

Burkmann Feeds

Central Kentucky Ag Credit

Dutch Creek Farm

RED ANGUS, SIMANGUS, CHAROLAIS, ANGUS FOR SALE Red Hill Farms, Lafayette, TN, 615-666-3098 Bart, Sarah and Ty Jones Gordon and Susan Jones, 270-991-2663 Visit us online - www.RedHillFarms.net Contact us for cattle and semen availability. Annual Production Sales: More Than a Bull Sale – 3rd Saturday in March Maternal Monday – 3rd Monday in May Bulls & Females of Fall Sale – Last Saturday in October

Genetic Excellence Angus Bull Sale

Hampton Premium Meats

Hayes Trailer Sales

JD 60/ 630/ A & B antique tractors Meyer 585 Mixer truck ready to go!!! SVL Kubota 90- open station track loader-$28,500 Horning 1403-used - option on j d or new holland mounts New Idea 3723 manure spreader- $11,995 New Holland 790- choppers- base units-3 Artex SBX 800-manure spreader Farmco feeder wagons Used Dion-3 row corn header 2014-NH 240 CHOPPER- HORNING PROCESSOR John Deere 8300 Drill - two innstock ESCH 5612-$48,000 no till drill New Holland 790- chopper Farmco feeder wagons Used Dion-3 row corn header John Deere 6300-2 wd- cab and loader John Deere 6400- 4wd- loader John Deere- 3975 chopper- with deere processor Artex-SB 200- new in stock Artex SB 600 new in stock Farmco hay wagons in stock HORNING CORN 1402/03 headers - ready to load Horning Processors- order yours today Esch tedders in stock Tye 7 seeder- 800 acres John Deere- 4020- 3 to select from 15 silage wagons to select from Call Charlie today 859-608-9745 WWW.REDBARNANDASSOCIATES.COM

Kentucky Angus

42-43

Kentucky Cattlemen's Ground Beef

Kentucky Gelbvieh Association

Kentucky Hereford Association

Kentucky Salers Association

Kentucky Simmental Association

KLMA

McBurney's Livestock & Equipment

McIntosh Brothers

Mid South Ag LLC

Middle TN AgResearch & Education Center

National Cattlemen's Beef Association

New Holland

Oak Hollow

Pleasant Hill Farms

Pogue Chevrolet

Premium Supplements, LLC.

Stone Gate Farms

W/W Cattle Company

Woodall Angus

BRED ANGUS HEIFERS All raised on farm For March, April calves Pregnancy checked, CAIP Gentle, moderate-framed 270-537-4225

December • Cow Country • 49

To Test or Not to Test, That is the Question Darrh Bullock Extension Professor, University of Kentucky Recently, I have had many discussions with colleagues and beef producers on the topic of genomic testing commercial beef heifers. The more I discuss this topic the more I realize it is similar to peeling an onion – it has many layers and sometimes it can get a little irritating. The irritation is not from the conversation, but rather because it is complicated and to some degree depends on what perspective you are coming from as to whether it may be considered a good idea or not. In this article, I am going to try to clear the water a bit to help producers make the decision of whether or not it is a good tool for them to use. First, I need to lay some groundwork. The genomic testing of commercial heifers is a process of collecting DNA in the form of hair, blood or tissue from heifers and sending them to a testing lab to get an estimate of their genetic merit for a fee. Results are sent back in a form similar to Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) so that direct comparisons can be made on the heifers for specific traits and indexes which is the combining of several important traits based on economic merit. A producer can then rank the heifers and decide which ones to keep or cull. As with any practice that is available in beef production, I suggest there are some factors that need to be considered: • Does the technology work? • Does the technology return more than it cost (return on investment)? • Are there alternative methods to reach the same goal that are more cost effective? • All the points above are dealing with financial considerations, but there may be other things to consider such as: • How complicated is it to implement? (in this case, fairly simple) • Is it safe and does it meet animal welfare standards? (absolutely) • Am I willing to invest in a technology that may not be cost effective now, but likely will be in the future? 50 • Cow Country • December

The one argument that I hear, but don’t think is at all plausible, is to implement the practice just because others are doing it or because it is the hot, exciting new thing. It is easy to get caught up in the hype of technology without fully determining its value in your operation. Commercial Heifer Genomic Testing Technology The basic technology behind the commercial heifer genomic testing is similar to what is used in seedstock cattle to compute Genomically Enhanced EPDs. These technologies are proven to be effective, but they are not perfect. Many articles that I have seen seem to imply that when you genomically test you always keep back the best ones, but unfortunately that is not true, there are imperfections in the system. It gets even more complicated because the level of effectiveness of the test is dependent on the breed make up of your commercial herd. The closer related your herd is to the herd that was used to quantify the markers for the test, the more accurate the test is for you. In other words, markers that are established using predominantly Angus cattle are less effective when used on predominantly Limousin cattle than if used on high percentage Angus. That is why some of the more accurate tests have breedspecific percentage requirements. Many of these more accurate tests require a high percentage of one breed, and I would argue that any benefits gained through these tests would be lost in reduced heterosis in your herd. Crossbreeding is the best practice available to generate high quality commercial replacement heifers, regardless of how you end up selecting them. Return on Investment Do the increased returns you get through selecting heifers based on their genomic test outweigh the cost of genomically testing your herd? The answer to this question is likely “it depends,” but there is no solid evidence to clearly answer this question. Based on some preliminary

simulation work, there may be a small positive return on investment for producers that retain ownership and get paid on a high-quality grid on the rail. However, for most Kentucky producers who market their calves at weaning or after backgrounding/stockering, there is not likely a return on investment, especially considering that you need to test the entire calf crop of heifers which costs around $30/head. If you consider that heifers make up half the calf crop and the normal replacement rate of females is about 15%, then for every heifer you keep there are two heifers that you cull. Therefore, for the heifers you retain, the cost is about $90 (3 heifers times $30). Alternative Methods An alternative method that may be a better use of available dollars is to spend some of the money that you would spend on a genomic test to purchase a Genomically Enhanced EPD bull that better fits your needs. With this method, you can buy higher accuracy bulls that have the genetics for good maternal traits (including reproduction traits) and then select heifers based on when they are born. Research supports that selecting the older heifers improves early pregnancy rates and subsequently gives them a greater chance of rebreeding for their second calf. When you select based on the genomic test alone, you are likely to keep some of the younger heifers that may struggle through the process of breeding and re-breeding, which could be a significant financial burden. Perhaps the best strategy is to keep the very oldest heifers, test the middle ones and cull the youngest ones, then keep the best of the middle group along with the older heifers. I strongly recommend that you do not take the limited approach of just testing the “best” ones; that method means you are making your selection decisions first and then testing, which wastes both your time and money. Greater Good With technologies, such as genomics, there are two factors driving them

to reach the point of a positive return on investment: improvements to the technology making it more accurate and price reductions due to economies of scale (the more consumers buy it, the cheaper it is to make and pass on those savings). Both factors may be impacted by early adopters and when the technology achieves the threshold of affordability, they are able to take advantage of it. Technology is a great thing and can have a positive impact on our bottom line and our lives in general. However, I strongly feel that each technology must be scrutinized and must show a positive return on investment before I can fully back its widespread adoption

in the beef industry. Many of you may remember that prior to genomics being incorporated into the computation of EPDs, I was very cautious of their use as a standalone selection tool. However, once the technology matured and the science advanced to give us Genomically Enhanced EPDs, I have been fully supportive of the technology’s use in seedstock operations. Does that mean I flipflopped? No, the circumstances changed, and I altered my stance to fit the current conditions. I suspect at some time in the future you will see an article by me extolling the advantages of genomically testing your commercial beef heifers, I’m just not there yet!

VISIT US TODAY! ALL AGES WELCOME SCHEDULE A GROUP VISIT CHOOSE YOUR LESSON PLAN CATERING IS AVAILABLE

TIMELY TIPS FOR DECEMBER Spring-Calving Cow Herd • Be sure that weaned heifer calves are on a feeding program that will enable them to reach about 65% of their mature weight before the start of the breeding season. Rations should be balanced to achieve gains sufficient to get heifers from their current weight to that “target” weight. Heifers should reach their target weight approximately 30 days before the start of the breeding season. • Body condition is important. Plan an adequate winter program for cows to be at least body condition score 5 (carrying enough flesh to cover the ribs) before the calving and breeding season. This will help them to breed early in the spring. Thin cows should be fed to regain body condition prior to winter. Don’t let cows lose weight/condition. Supplementation will most likely be needed. Find low-cost supplemental feeds to meet the nutrient needs of cattle. • Divide the herd into groups for winter feeding: - weaned heifer calves - first-calf heifers, second-calvers and thin mature cows - the remainder of the dry cows, which are in good body condition - herd sires • Begin feeding the lowest quality forage to dry cows which are in good condition during early winter and save the best hay for calving time or for weaned calves. • Order and number ear tags for next year’s calf crop this winter. It is also a good time to catch up on freeze branding and replacing lost ear tags. Fall-Calving Herd • The fall breeding season has started. Breeding can best be accomplished on stockpiled fescue pasture; otherwise, cows with calves should be fed 25-30 pounds of good quality hay or its equivalent. Supplement with grain, if needed, and minimize hay waste. DON’T ALLOW THESE COWS TO LOSE BODY CONDITION PRIOR TO OR DURING THE BREEDING SEASON. It is easy to wait too long to start winter feeding. • If you haven’t turned bulls out yet, have a Breeding Soundness Evaluation (BSE) performed on them (even if you used them this spring). A BSE is a risk management tool as BSE’s accurately identify infertile bulls. • Observe performance of bulls during breeding season. Watch cows for return to estrus, if you see several in heat, try to determine the cause and consider changing bulls. General • Complete soil testing pastures to check for fertility and pH. • Consider putting down geotextile fabric and covering with gravel in feeding areas before you begin hay feeding to minimize waste of expensive hay. Or, perhaps, construct concrete feeding pads for winter feeding areas. • Another option to consider for winter feeding is bale grazing. Bale grazing helps spread nutrients across the pasture and can have regenerative effects on your pastures. • Monitor body condition and increase feed, if needed, for all classes of cattle. It often gets cold in December and the nutrients needs of cattle increase as temperatures fall below their comfort level. Be especially mindful of cold, wet conditions and increase energy availability. Consult your nutritionist to ensure that your rations are meeting the nutrient requirements during stressful weather.

THE YARDS is an education center focusing on the science and practices of the beef industry. Educational opportunities provide a unique learning experience based on its location in the Blue Grass Regional Stockyards Marketplace. This environment fosters complex thinking, experiential learning, and life skill application. BBURKS@KYCATTLE.ORG (859) 382-4303

December • Cow Country • 51

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from your Local Ag Lender.

The entire Central Kentucky Ag Credit team understands that livestock producers work hard, long hours throughout the year. During the Christmas season, we hope you and your family enjoy the rest, peace, and contentment that can make the season special.

Our Ag Credit family sends best wishes for a great Christmas season to all.

AgCreditOnline.com

Danville 859-236-6570 Frankfort 502-875-0863 Lebanon 270-692-4411

Lexington 859-252-4717 Paris 859-987-4344

Richmond 859-623-1624 Stanford 606-365-7500