The Profit Picture February 2019

February 2019 | www.GELBVIEH.org

CAPTURING VALUE IN TODAY’S COMPETITIVE MARKET TIPS FOR IMPROVEMENT FROM CALF MARKETING TO COWHERD MANAGEMENT

QUALITY CATTLE REIGN SUPREME

AGA President’s Take on Page 20

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Contents FEATURES

NEWS

Adding Value: Part I

Rippey Named Gelbvieh Association Commercial Producer of the Year 12

A Mindful Approach to Cow-Calf and Feedyard Management

6

Management and reputation matter dearly in today’s beef industry. Find out how it all comes together for industry wide improvement. By Rebecca Mettler

Third Annual Gelbvieh Carcass Contest Results Released 42

Adding Value: Part II Source and Age Verification Leads to more Marketing Opportunities

8

Learn more about AGA’s Balancer® Edge, a source and age verification program. By AGA Staff Over the Fence with Loren Fischer, Fischer Cattle Co., Nevada, Missouri 16 Loren Fischer, a cattle producer in west central Missouri, is the fifth generation of his family to be involved in agriculture. See what factors impacted his decision to run Gelbvieh and Balancer® bulls. By Tom Strahm Social Media: Good for the Ranch and Good for the Industry

By Kelsi Christian

Cover photo taken

by Angela Vesco

Dan and Kate Warner Named Gelbvieh Association Breeder of the Year 36

46

Docility Added to the Suite of Gelbvieh and Balancer EPDs

60

REQUEST YOUR FREE SUBSCRIPTION The Profit Picture is the commercially-focused publication published February and September by the American Gelbvieh Association, focused on issues important to the commercial cow-calf producer.

Sign up to receive your free subscription to The Profit Picture by subscribing online or completing this form and mailing to American Gelbvieh Association, attn: Profit Picture, 350 Interlocken Blvd., Suite 200, Broomfield, CO 80021.

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2 | February 2019

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Contents IN EVERY ISSUE

EDITORIAL

Contact Us

4

Quality Cattle Reign Supreme in Each Sector

By John Carrel, AGA President

20

We Believe in Industry-Focused Service

By Megan Slater, Interim Executive Director

24

Ad Index 98

Here’s to Aligning Yearly Aspirations with Reality

By Will Fiske

28

BREEDERS CORNER SECTIONS

Places to Be

My Choice is Gelbvieh 30

By Grace Vehige, American Gelbvieh Junior Association Gaining Ground

By Tom Strahm

34

A Look into Genetic Progress 62

By Tonya Amen, AGA Breed Improvement Consultant

350 Interlocken Blvd., Suite 200 Broomfield, CO 80021 Main phone: 303-465-2333 Fax: 303-465-2339 www.gelbvieh.org info@gelbvieh.org Facebook: American Gelbvieh Association Instagram: americangelbvieh

ASSOCIATION STAFF Megan Slater Interim Executive Director megans@gelbvieh.org (ex. 485) Tom Strahm Commercial Marketing Director tom@gelbvieh.org 785-547-7999 Taylor Buckley Data Service Coordinator taylorb@gelbvieh.org (ex. 479) Will Fiske Breed Growth Specialist will@gelbvieh.org 540-414-4833

4 | February 2019

Lynn Valentine Gelbvieh Media Productions Coordinator/Graphic Design lynnv@gelbvieh.org (ex. 486) Rebecca Mettler Editorial Content Coordinator rebeccam@gelbvieh.org 940-255-5471 Kelsi Christian Mulitmedia Coordinator kelsi@gelbvieh.org (ex. 482) Jake Renner Member and Youth Activities Coordinator jake@gelbvieh.org 303-465-2333

96-97

Southeast Breeders

67

Southern Breeders

75

Western Breeders

79

Midwest Breeders

82-83

Upper Midwest Breeders

90-91

Northeast Breeders

91

Service Center

92

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE John Carrel, President (2017) Columbus, MT • 406-322-5991 lauriecarrel@live.com Dan McCarty, Vice President (2018) Rifle, CO • 970-481-5217 mccartycattle@hotmail.com

Klint Sickler, Secretary (2017) Gladstone, ND • 701-483-5250 klintsickler@hotmail.com Walter Teeter, Treasurer (2016) Mt. Ulla, NC • 704-236-7980 waltert@republicrefrigeration.com

DIRECTORS Dustin Aherin (2018) Phillipsburg, KS • 785-302-1252 dgaherin@vet.k-state.edu Todd Bickett, DVM (2019) Chickamauga, GA • 423-667-3799 todd@bickettgenetics.com

Lori Maude (2019) Hermosa, SD • 303-809-3789 lori.maude@gmail.com Andrea Murray (2019) Kingfisher, OK • 405-368-9601 murrayfarm@pldi.net

Leland Clark (2017) Barnard, KS • 785-792-6244 prcc@twinvalley.net

Lowell Rogers, DVM (2018) Seminary, MS • 601-270-4152 lrdrsmiley@gmail.com

Doug Hughes (2017) Max Meadows, VA • 276-620-4271 lwhf@wiredog.com

Randy Sienknecht (2019) Gladbrook, IA • 319-290-3763 rmsink1209@msn.com

Jeff Loveless (2018) Spanish Fork, UT • 801-623-8308 olranch@aol.com

Jeff Swanson (2019) Oxford, NE • 308-290-3763 swansoncattleco@yahoo.com

Derek Martin (2018) Bucklin, KS • 620-397-6752 dmartin@kinsleyfeeders.com

Feature

Adding Value: Part I A Mindful Approach to Cow-Calf and Feedyard Management

By Rebecca Mettler

T

he beef industry has changed a lot in the last 10 years. The massive remodel within the U.S. beef industry’s cowherd started in 2010 and 2011 as a result of the massive droughts that plagued much of the country.

Such a dramatic event was not the easiest way to make improvements across the industry, but that’s how the cards fell.

Roughly 10 years ago the U.S. beef industry was grading 55 percent USDA Choice with 1 or 2 percent Prime carcasses. Since that time, the improvement has been substantial. The industry average is now 80 percent Choice or better, according to Craig Uden, co-owner of Darr Feedlot Inc. and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association immediate past president. Uden spoke at the fourth annual Cattlemen’s Profit Roundup held during the 48th Annual American Gelbvieh Association National Convention held in Nashville, Tennessee.

“How did it happen? We had a drought that eliminated 3 or 4 million beef cows,” Uden said. “People that stayed in business kept only their better females and started buying better genetics.”

Uden offers a different mindset than most cattle feeders because he also has a cow-calf operation. He believes that the cow-calf sector has the most significant opportunity for improvement with gains in reproductive efficiency and fertility, to name example areas.

“I believe that the efficiency is going to pass right on to the feeder. So we work right along with a lot of our customers from conception to the finishing point.”

holistic approach has a lot of merit,” Uden said.

“From weaning to finishing in my operation, we lose less than 1 percent of the calves and doctor about 3 percent.”

Uden believes that the cow-calf sector is going to have to take a look at a more holistic approach as it looks to the future and as the industry moves to more tools and technology.

Craig Uden, Darr Feedlot Inc., and NCBA immediate past president

Problems won’t be solved with a needle because the needle gets taken away. The control of antibiotics has already made its mark with the veterinary feed directive, for example.

Instead, knowing the health history and management of cattle entering his feedyard allows Uden to better manage and add value to the calves in the feeding phase of production.

Management Matters

“We want to know the positives and negatives on these cattle.”

Uden explains that if the cow does her job to take care of the calf, the calf is adequately vaccinated and managed properly, that eliminates the need for a lot of antibiotics.

For example, if Uden knows that the calves were born during a tough spring, Uden will manage the cattle in a different way, but it doesn’t mean that he doesn’t want to feed the calves.

“You have to be proactive instead of reactive. A

Building a solid and honest reputation as a cow-calf

6 | February 2019

Feature

producer is essential to success in this day within the beef industry. There are a lot of grids available for cattle to make money on, and packers are willing to share the premium with feedyards and those individuals who retain ownership to harvest. Obviously, cattle feeding is full of risk and reward, but premiums are built around the calves with a known history and backed by a solid reputation. Uden explained that it’s not uncommon to see upwards of a $15 cwt premium on the same weight of cattle from the same auction all because of reputation.

understanding and data sharing back and forth between the cow-calf producer and the feedyard. That’s something we try to do,” Uden said. “If you aren’t getting your data back, you need to find someone who will give your data back, so you know where you stand.”

“We reach out to people, and we try to buy from year in and year out because predictability is what the cattle feeders are looking for,” Uden said. “Predictability is going to be the big fish.”

A prediction of more regulatory influence is also on the horizon. “I’d like to say that it got shut off by the last administration, but with this recent election they will be back. We won’t see the rollback on regulations that we’ve seen recently,” Uden said.

Data sharing between the beef industry sectors is vitally important to the progression of high-quality beef.

Following the maze of information to make adjustments at the cowherd level is becoming more and more critical in a competitive industry. “How do you know where the targets are if you don’t know how they perform,” Uden said.

“Most cattle can be managed if there is an

Uden alerts producers that traceability is coming and that it will be a positive change for the industry. While there will be a lot of people that don’t like traceability, it will open a lot of doors and create a better information flow for producers.

Uden believes that there are challenges and opportunities for the industry, though it might be a tough couple of years. “But how we interact with each other and help each other out is the key to staying in business, staying profitable, and staying focused. That’s what’s going to make us successful in the long run.” FF

Adding Value: Part II Source and Age Verification Leads to More Marketing Opportunities

By AGA Staff

T

he Source and Age Verification (SAV) program has been in practice in the beef industry since 2004, and continues to play an important role in adding value for U.S. beef producers. SAV programs also offer buyers a level of certainty to a feeder calf purchase during a time in history where data and a knowledge is becoming much more important.

Recently, the American Gelbvieh Association partnered with IMI Global to introduce Balancer® Edge source and age verification program for Gelbvieh and Balancer sired feeder cattle.

Balancer Edge® meets the SAV base requirement and

8 | February 2019

establishes breed identification. Cattle are required to have a program-compliant EID tag before leaving the farm or ranch of origin. Producers can then choose to participate in additional program levels to be eligible for marketing into the China Export Verification program, the Non-Hormone Treated Cattle (NHTC) program for the EU, Verified Natural Beef, and others. In addition, Balancer® Edge documentation is eligible for establishing age of animals at the processor and is also now an accepted method of determining maturity of animals for grading purposes – ensuring they fall into the A maturity category if they are under 30 months of age at harvest.

Feature

“We are thrilled to partner with the Balancer® Edge program to add new market opportunities to their progressive producer base,” said Doug Stanton, vice president of business development at IMI Global. “Buyers continue to push for more options when it comes to cattle marketing. They are looking to maximize their value opportunity with an animal by having many directions to go with it, and verification programs add that kind of flexibility.

The Balancer Edge program will open new doors for producers to access markets they may not have been eligible for before, bringing more value back home to the ranch.”

Edge SAV program is easily bundled with NHTC, Verified Natural, GAP 5-Step Animal Welfare, and more.

IMI Global has been offering verification services to the beef industry since 1996 and is the uncontested leader in those services today. IMI is able to offer beef producers a wide range of program offerings, including Source and Age, NHTC, Verified Natural Beef, GAP 5-Step Animal Welfare, grass-fed, organic, and many more.

The added marketing flexibility that a SAV program provides keeps cattle producers and cattle feeders coming back to program cattle. It seems that market volatility is here to stay, so flexibility is a key benefit for each stage in the beef production chain.

The need for transparency in food production is only growing, and market options continue to reflect that.

Whether it be at the request of high value trade partners, or those here domestically, verification programs tied to value-added markets are increasing every day. The Balancer®

“Balancer® Edge provides the opportunity for producers utilizing Gelbvieh and Balancer genetics to participate in a breed-identified program and have their production practices verified to be able to add value and gain additional marketing opportunities for their cattle,” said Tom Strahm, AGA commercial marketing director. “In addition, IMI Global’s recent partnership with the IGS Feeder Profit Calculator™ allows producers to quantify the genetic merit of the animal’s they are selling.”

Producers can contact IMI Global at 303-895-3002 or online at www.imiglobal.com; or the American Gelbvieh Association at 303-465-2333 or online at www.gelbvieh. org for more information regarding participation in the program. FF

The Profit Picture | 9

Cattlemen’s Profit Roundup

Crossbreeding for Profitability

By Rebecca Mettler

P

rofitability is a crucial factor for operational sustainability in the beef industry. It’s true, technological advances throughout each sector of the industry can account for leaps and bounds in added productivity and profitability. However, getting back to the basics of heterosis through the use of crossbreeding and well-managed genetic selection can offer cow-calf producers the boost in profitability needed during this volatile time.

The practice of crossbreeding has been around for decades and certainly is not cutting-edge technology, but producers still need to be reminded of its power. Within the last 10 years, however, there has been a resurgence in the use of crossbreeding, according to Darrh Bullock, Ph.D., extension professor, beef cattle genetics with the University of Kentucky. Bullock presented a refresher course on crossbreeding at the American Gelbvieh Association’s fourth annual Cattlemen’s Profit Roundup, which was a featured event at the 48th Annual AGA National Convention, held November 28 through 30, 2018, in Nashville, Tennessee.

Trait categories Before a producer jumps headfirst into a crossbreeding program or drastically changes their management approach, homework is needed. It’s important to understand which traits can be most impacted by either well-managed genetic selection or through heterosis.

Within the three groups of traits—reproduction, production, and carcass— reproduction has the most significant economic impact.

“Regardless of your situation, but particularly if you are cow-calf producers, reproduction is going to be the driving force.”

Heterosis can have an impact on reproduction, and that is great news for producers willing to utilize crossbreeding.

Reproductive traits are lowly heritable traits, which means that managed genetic selection will not result in rapid

10 | February 2019

improvement, hence the beauty of heterosis and the need for proper management.

“Does that mean we ignore it, no. We don’t ignore it in our selection program, but we need to realize that our immediate benefits are going to be through good management, our health program, and nutrition program.”

Production traits, such as milk and growth have a considerable influence on economics as well. These traits are also moderately heritable and moderately influenced by heterosis.

“Both milk and growth are going to be equally important in getting us on the right point in terms of our production value. But, notice I didn’t say to maximize or anything else when I talked about production. We really have to get away from that, and I think that most of us are aware of that these days.”

End product traits are lowly impacted by crossbreeding or heterosis and are more highly heritable traits. With selection pressure, beef producers can make progress toward more favorable carcass traits.

Let’s talk profitability.

The thought process surrounding genetic selection on the cow-calf operation should focus on profitability.

At the most basic level, we define profitability as income minus cost.

“Thinking about profit from the income side of things is pretty simple, right? We have the weight that we sell, and we get a certain price for it. All we have to do is multiply those two together, and that’s income.”

Bullock reminds producers that determining the cost side of the equation is much more complicated.

The lack of selection pressure for some traits such as calving ease can negatively impact profitability through dystocia and are always tallied as costs. Conversely, some traits, such as milk and mature weight, affect both sides of the profitability equation, which makes determining their

impact more difficult.

Cattlemen’s Profit Roundup

“Milk. I think we all know it influences weaning weight, so it helps us on the income side. However, milk can also affect the cost side because the more milk a cow produces the cow’s maintenance energy goes up, too.”

Marketability of crossbred calves.

Producers might complain that they are strictly just price takers when it comes to marketing their weaned calves. However, there’s a genetic component to calf price, and it’s something that can influence price either positively or negatively.

The biggest influence that crossbreeding has on marketing comes from the performance advantage of crossbred calves. One study demonstrates that straightbred calves must receive an almost $16/cwt premium to compensate for reduced production compared to minimal crossbreeding systems.

Profitability beyond the calves.

profitability, Bullock looks at the pounds of calf weaned per cows exposed equation. The pounds of calf weaned per cow exposed formula takes into account reproduction, survival, the cows’ milk production as it relates to weaning weight, and genetics for growth.

“When you look at crossbreeding and the impact of heterosis on that trait, it’s over 20 percent.”

For traits such as longevity and replacement rate, which most can agree is undoubtedly important; the impact of heterosis is almost 20 percent on these traits as well.

“If you look at the most simple breeding programs out there, the two-breed rotation or two breed composite, you can improve profitability by over $80 per head. It hasn’t made anybody rich, but that’s a pretty good return on your investment.”

Bottom line, commercial cattle producers must practice both crossbreeding and targeted selection to gain the greatest economic benefit. FF

When talking about the impact heterosis has on

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The Profit Picture | 11

News

Rippey Named Gelbvieh Association Commercial Producer of the Year

G

ale Rippey, Rippey Farm, Galax, Virginia, was honored as the American Gelbvieh Association’s (AGA) Commercial Producer of the Year for 2018 during the awards banquet held at the 48th Annual AGA National Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.

Gale and his wife Gena were present at the AGA awards banquet to accept the award. Doug Hughes, owner of Little Windy Hill Farms, Max Meadows, Virginia, and the family’s longtime friend presented the Rippey couple with the award.

The AGA Commercial Producer of the Year Award honors individuals who use Gelbvieh and Balancer® genetics in progressive commercial cattle operations and are proactive in their promotion of the Gelbvieh and Balancer breed.

Rippey has worked hard to promote Gelbvieh and Balancer cattle over the past 20 plus years. He bought his first Gelbvieh bull in the early 1990s and immediately saw an increase in weaning weight and improved disposition. Rippey took over the family farming operation in 1998 and now has over 300 cows and has added an 500 head stocker calf division.

Rippey has built a reputation of selling replacement heifers that are second to none. Rippey’s investment in genetics has paid huge dividends. Roughly 75 to 80 percent of Rippey’s heifers are either retained in the herd or sold as replacement heifers to an ever-growing and loyal customer base. The strong demand for the bred heifers he sells in the fall can be attributed to Rippey’s progressive mindset and the Gelbvieh breed’s positive influence on maternal traits and cowherd efficiency. FF

Commercial Producer of the Year Award: Gale Rippey (middle) stands with his wife Gena (left) after receiving the award presented by Doug Hughes (right), AGA member and friend.

12 | February 2019

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Cattlemen’s Profit Roundup

Develop Heifers the Profitable Way

By Rebecca Mettler

H

eifer development isn’t cheap. Monetarily, it’s one of the most expensive areas of production in a beef operation. Plus, factor in the amount of time it takes to develop a heifer and a producer can start to understand just how much of an investment the process is to an operation.

Kevin Thompson, director of the Middle Tennessee Research and Education Center, in Spring Hill, Tennessee, spoke to the attendees of the fourth annual Cattlemen’s Profit Roundup held at the 48th Annual American Gelbvieh Association National Convention in Nashville Tennessee about keys for developing heifers.

The research center is also home to Kevin Thompson, director, theTennessee Beef Middle Tennessee Research and Heifer Development Education Center Program. Through the program, the center educates local producers on the proper ways to develop heifers so they can mirror that formula in their operations.

“It is so critical that everything we do sets these heifers up for success,” Thompsons said. “Every action that we take, every time we drive out into that pasture to check on them, we need to make sure that they look right, that they do not lack for anything, and we set them up for success.”

14 | February 2019

As the director for the Middle Tennessee Research and Education Center, Thompson is not only responsible for the beef operation, but also the dairy cattle herd, and it has made him a better beef producer. The experience has given him a better understanding of how vital reproduction is, and how influential that is on longevity, and ultimately on profitability.

How important is it to get heifer development right? Well, from the time it takes to conceive a heifer calf, wean, develop as a replacement, calve out and breed back, it’s roughly 40 months. That’s 40 months of work and 40 months without a profit from the heifer and several months without a paycheck from the heifer’s dam; talk about a significant investment!

“So let’s never skimp on nutrition, let’s never skimp on animal health, let’s never skimp on the quality of bulls that we decide to breed to those heifers because that results in our next generation of heifers,” urged Thompson.

1. Keep heifers born in the first third of the calving season.

One indicator of fertility is when the cow calves within a designated calving season. Heifers born in the first third of the calving season are likely going to end up calving earlier themselves. Although that’s not always true, it’s a good rule of thumb, according to Thompson. “That gives me the better chance of selecting heifer calves out of the more fertile females.”

2. Set the heifers to calve two weeks before the rest of the cowherd.

Doing so allows heifers to calve sooner, which gives them an extended time frame to recover from calving, start re-cycling, and ultimately rebreed quicker to calve during the first third of the season in the main herd.

“If we set our heifers up for success and they calve in the first third of the season, then we can keep their daughters to go back in the herd and we are keeping our

Cattlemen’s Profit Roundup

better genetics… and have a better chance of them being more fertile females that have more longevity in the herd.”

3. Calving difficulty is never a good thing.

If a producer has to pull a calf out of a first-calf heifer, she’s probably not going to calve in the first third of the calving season as a second-calf heifer. There’s a chance that she will drop out from the herd quicker because she’ll keep getting behind in her calving.

5. Be in it for the long haul.

Producing females that stay in the herd for an extended life should be a goal for each cow-calf producer. Doing it the right way is neither easy nor cheap, but it’s more profitable than having heifers drop out of the herd after one or two calving seasons.

“When we talk about developing heifers for the long haul, the only way we can be successful is if they’re profitable, which means they stay in the herd longer.” FF

4. Nutrition matters.

With poor nutrition the first thing to go is reproduction.

“Fertility is not only associated with genetics, not only with crossbreeding but how we manage them; it’s how we feed them,” Thompson said.

The importance of nutrition is the main reason why heifers should be developed separately from the rest of the herd.

However, there are producers across the country that don’t have the infrastructure to properly isolate their heifers and feed them differently, so it’s imperative that they find place to do so.

The Profit Picture | 15

Over the Fence

Over the Fence with Loren Fischer, Fischer Cattle Co., Nevada, Missouri

By Tom Strahm

F

ischer Cattle Co. is a diversified cattle and farming operation located in west central Missouri near the small community of Rich Hill. The operation is owned and operated by Loren Fischer and his family. Loren’s wife, Marcy, is a middle school teacher in nearby Nevada, Missouri. They have five children: Gus, Bella, Claire, Trey and Mackenzie. Gus is 1 year old, Bella is 5 years old, and the oldest kids are currently teenagers.

is his personal operation and business. His father has a separate farming and cattle operation, but also helps Loren on a daily basis. Loren says that his dad and uncles always selected good bulls for their commercial cowherds because they fed out their home-raised calves and sold them directly to packers.

Currently, Fischer Cattle Co. runs about 500 commercial cows and replacement females. They are primarily black cows, and Loren has been purchasing Balancer® bulls for over five years now. The cowherd is split into two calving seasons with approximately 60 percent calving in the fall and 40 percent calving in the spring.

Why did you choose to start purchasing Balancer® bulls?

“I wanted to implement a crossbreeding program and get more growth and performance in my calves so that I could sell more pounds. I also wanted to keep more of my home-raised heifers as replacements. The maternal

Fischer family (left to right) Trey, Kenzie, Gus, Marcy, Bella, Loren, and Claire Loren grew up in this area and is the fifth generation in his family to be actively involved in production agriculture.

Loren’s great-great-grandfather was a barn builder in the area many years ago. Throughout the decades, there have been transitional changes, and different family operations further diversified with hogs, dairy cattle, and feeding out home-raised cattle. Loren started raising cattle and farming with his parents, Ivan and Anita, but Fischer Cattle Co.

16 | February 2019

advantages of Gelbvieh and Balancer were appealing to me.

I had been purchasing replacements, and the mature cows were getting too big. I wanted to moderate frame size while adding performance.”

Loren buys bulls that offer a complete package including correct phenotype, moderate frame, and balanced EPDs across the board.

Over the Fence

Loren keeps replacements out of both the spring and fall calving herds. In addition to selecting heifers on desirable phenotype, he selects replacements out of his better-producing cows. All the potential replacement heifers are pelvic measured before he makes his final selections for replacements.

Over the last few years, Loren has made an effort to utilize his bull battery more efficiently. This is accomplished by running both spring and fall calving cows.

Loren says, “I also run more cows per bull than I used to.

My pregnancy rates have actually increased, and I have fewer injured bulls.”

What are some of the benefits of the Balancer replacement females?

“I’ve been able to accomplish the objectives of moderating frame size while at the same time increasing the productivity of the females. I believe these Balancer females have lower maintenance requirements because I now feed less hay and forage than I used to.”

Colorado, Kansas & Nebraska Breeders Delbert & Marilyn Raile & Sons

Jim Roelle 38148 CR 49 #7 Peetz, CO 80747 (H): 970-334-2221 • (C): 970-520-1224 jr.plateau@hotmail.com www.plateaugelbvieh.com

755 Road U St. Francis, KS

Featuring Black, Polled Gelbvieh & Balancer® genetics with balanced trait selection.

Next Bull Sale February 28, 2019.

Livestock Exchange,LLC., Brush, CO.

ulls

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100 YEARLING BULLS SELL!

Gelbvieh & Gelbvieh/Angus Balancer® FEB. 22, 2019 • MONTROSE, CO • 12:00 NOON

www.gelbviehbulls.net

or call Mark at 970.209.1956 • Dave at 970.323.6833

FEMALES AVAILABLE

Delbert cell Cody cell

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

MLM Gelbvieh Marlin Meyer

824 Road 3000 Superior, NE 68978 402-879-4976 mlm68978@yahoo.com www.gelbviehbulls.com

railegelbvieh.com email: dmraile@railegelbvieh.com

Promote your Operation Advertise with a State Round-up ad in the the two issues of the Profit Picture and the Herd Reference issue of Gelbvieh World

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Rippe Gelbvieh

Duane & Brenda, Dustin & Karla Rippe 6775 Road D • Hubbell, NE 68375 (H) 402-324-4176 Duane (C): 402-200-0096 Dustin (C): 316-323-4874 dustin.rippe@yahoo.com www.rippegelbvieh.com

“To produce superior Gelbvieh and Balancer® seedstock based on economically important traits, which provide more profitability for our customers, and ensure the consumer a very satisfactory eating experience.”

The Profit Picture | 17

Over the Fence

What other production enterprises are you involved in?

In addition to the cows, Loren has some row crop ground and raises his feed. He primarily grows corn, plus soybeans for cash crops. He raises other forages for silage for backgrounding cattle and puts up hay for the cows. He has been utilizing more sudangrass to increase the forage production needed for the cowherd.

“Over the last couple of years, I have been backgrounding more feeder cattle. I will buy groups of lighter calves, put them together, vaccinate them and get them straightened to sell as yearlings. I have also been doing some custombackgrounding for other individuals as well.”

For several years now, Fischer Cattle Co. has been custom growing and developing some Gelbvieh and Balancer bulls.

Loren receives the bulls after they have been weaned. The bulls are fed a growing ration targeting a 2.5 to 2.7 pound average daily gain until they reach about 1,400 pounds. Then the bulls are a fed a maintenance ration for the remainder of the time until they go back to the owners for a sale. Most of these bulls are sold at 18-20 months of age. The bulls

How do you market your home-raised Balancer calves?

“All of the steer calves are weaned, vaccinated, and grown here through the backgrounding program. We have been selling the steers as short yearlings, but will consider retaining ownership depending on the economic outlook.”

“After we select our replacement females we also background the rest of the heifers. For a couple of years now we have been retaining ownership and feeding the heifers in a commercial lot. We have sold different groups of these heifers on a live basis as well as on a grid. When we sold on a grid we have earned premiums over the base price, and will consider doing more of this in the future.”

Loren feels there is less risk associated with feeding his home-raised cattle than purchased feeders because the health is better, and he has an idea of their potential performance.

He likes the opportunity to try and make an economicallyinformed decision based on the market outlook.

What are some of your goals for the future? are kept on large pasture traps for the entire growing and maintenance periods. “The objective is to optimize growth instead of achieving maximum performance. This program is intended for proper development with lots of exercise.

The bulls aren’t too fat when they are sold and turned out to breed cows. They are in appropriate condition and are more structurally sound with good feet and legs,” Loren says.

18 | February 2019

“I want to continue to increase productivity as much as is reasonably possible while still maintaining an appropriate balance in many traits. I want to decrease inputs for the cows while increasing the return to my bottom line.”

“I like what we’re currently doing and am pleased with the results we’re getting. I think we are going in the right direction with Balancer genetics. We’re involved in multiple segments of the industry and these cattle have to work in each phase of production.” FF

Editorial from the Board

Quality Cattle Reign Supreme in Each Sector

By John Carrel, AGA President

T

he commercial producer is most definitely the backbone of our industry. Yes, we are becoming increasingly global and technological, but without the work ethic and hands-on expertise of the commercial producer, seedstock producers would be in trouble.

are proud to have them on their truck, it is gratifying.

Most commercial producers dream of and are energized by the picture I just painted. It is also extremely gratifying to be the seedstock producer who provided the bulls that produced those high-quality loads.

It is impressive and a feather in a breeder’s cap to win a prestigious show, and they deserve respect for that. It is also impressive to ship five loads of uniform 680 pound February born Gelbvieh or Balancer® steer calves on a crisp October morning. If the buyer is satisfied upon delivery, the neighbors are impressed during the gather, the brand inspector is wowed, and even the truck drivers

These types of feeder calves don’t just happen by accident. It is probably the result of a long-standing relationship between the commercial producer and their seedstock supplier. Whether you are retaining ownership or selling outright, I would be willing to bet both parties in this scenario (seedstock and commercial) know where the cattle are going, have a relationship with the feedyard, and want to see how the cattle perform. This enables both the seedstock provider and commercial operator to tweak genetics affecting the end product, thus maintaining a positive relationship with the feedyard.

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20 | February 2019

For the most part, the day of the door slammers is over.

By this I mean the commercial producer that doesn’t care where the calves go just as long as the check clears and once that truck door slams down, the calves are no longer their problem. With the current and impending advance of more source verification, traceability, and performance tracking, the feeder will surely remember which cattle performed well and which didn’t come closeout time.

The follow-through scenario mentioned earlier is ideal and, with the advent of technology, is becoming increasingly the norm. However, we must not forget the processing and retail segments that impact the end consumer. A hiccup in this segment of the process sends shock waves up the entire chain. In this part of the chain the players are much more consolidated and much larger.

Here are some interesting facts about one of beef ’s largest retailers to put all of this into perspective: • Walmart employs 2.1 million people, which is the same as the population of Iceland.

• Everyone in the United States will average 1.1 purchases at Walmart this year, and one-third of our population will visit a store this week.

Editorial from the Board

Need I say more; suffice it to say a recall or other problem at this level definitely sends shock waves throughout the beef pyramid.

So here are a few facts from the producer end of the spectrum from Farm Policy Facts, a non-profit organization of farmers and commodity groups tasked with educating members of U.S. Congress about the importance of agriculture.

• World population will grow from 7 billion to 9 billion by 2050.

• Farmers will need to double food production by 2050 to keep pace.

• And lastly, for every $1 spent on food, farmers receive less than 12 cents for the raw products.

He went on to explain what “a key role genetics are going to play going forward.”

To pull all of this together segment by segment is a little overwhelming. However, it is comforting to know we are associated with a breed that can do just that, and the Gelbvieh and Balancer breed’s commercial base is very astute at using the breeding pieces we provide.

As I write this, I have been watching a recipient cow calving out the window. She picked a nice dry spot, had it quickly, and got it up. The calf has sucked and is now curled up downwind of mother for a little protection. I guess I will go out and process it, so I don’t get behind.

Plus, I really want to check the sex and have a look at this mating. The old cow is not thinking anything about genetic progress or the annual beef sales for Walmart and just wishes I would leave her alone. FF

All of these statistics make a person feel pretty small when you are out tagging calves one at a time. However, a long journey begins with the first step, and as with most things, the producers who excel provide a high-quality consistent product.

He went on to say there are more than 150 successful branded beef programs, which speaks to the magnitude of the demand for premium beef products.

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Then, to link into our Walmart discussion, Stika said, “Signals from major retailers insinuate higher quality products are in high demand. More Choice and Prime cuts are hitting the shelves at major retailers like Costco and Walmart.”

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What I get from this is that the majority of these branded beef programs probably have rather strict quality guidelines, so we need to keep upping the ante on quality.

B

On average beef is 200 percent higher in price than chicken so…”We better offer more for that price; not more product, but more value.”

Breeding Gelbvieh genetics since 1971 AGA Member #1 Offering bulls for sale year round!

DO

John Stika, President of Certified Angus Beef (CAB), spoke at the recent Montana Stockgrowers Association Annual Convention. Here are a few takeaways from that talk.

DOBSON RANCH

K

• Walmart yearly sales surpass that of Target, Costco and Kroger, combined.

• 18 percent of all food stamp expenditures are at Walmart, which is about $13 billion in sales yearly.

• 90 percent of all Americans live within 12 minutes of a Walmart.

• Walmart net sales are larger than the GDP of Norway.

Dobson Ranch

Jim Dobson • 405.880.6173 John Dobson • 405.880.6661 Jared Bain • 580.716.4211 12460 E. River Road Kaw City, OK 74641

The Profit Picture | 21

379E2

Cowman’s Kind

CED BW WW YW MK 11 2.9 68 90 14

BULL AND FEMALE SALE

122F1

TM CEM YG CW REA MB FPI 48 8 -0.49 16 0.88 0.31 73.62

EPI 39

Homo black, homo polled PB 94 herdsire prospect by Astronaut out of a highly productive dam that ratios 98 BW, 102 WW, 100 YW on her progeny.

He has top 3% marbling EPDs and a whopping 124 IMF ratio to back it up.

He sells as Lot 1. Homo black, homo polled PB 88 herdsire prospect. He’s a ? brother to last year’s high seller to the ABS sire Armstrong. His dam is the only cow we’ve added to our ET program in 2 years, and she’s the first daughter of 7309T to enter embryo production for us. A spring calf that doesn’t give up much to the fall bulls for stoutness.

CED BW WW YW MK 9 2.3 67 90 21

TM CEM YG CW REA MB FPI EPI 54 4 -0.38 11 0.62 0.28 72.52 60.67

164F8

371E2 Homo black, Homo polled 50% balancer herdsire prospect that combines top 40% calving ease with top 3% growth and 10% marbling EPDs. He ratios 100 BW, 121 WW (in a 75 head contemporary group) with a whopping 18.59 REA (ratio 138) and 101 marbling ratio.

CED BW WW YW MK 13 0.2 78 121 23 CED BW WW YW MK 7 0.8 60 88 13

TM CEM YG CW REA MB FPI EPI 43 6 -0.18 13 0.31 0.66 77.97 77.62

TM CEM YG CW REA MB FPI EPI 62 8 -0.14 27 0.44 0.59 90.8 136.82

168A8

Homo black, homo polled 63% balancer with curve bending EPDs and a 100 BW, 106 WW, 110 YW, and 112 REA individual ratios. Big, stout, fallborn bull that can cover lots of cows.

Big time producing Quality Focus daughter that scores a 94 BW, 101 WW, 102 YW ratios on her progeny. This cow deserves donor consideration.

728E

CED BW WW YW MK 13 0.2 70 108 27

TM CEM YG CW REA MB FPI EPI 62 7 -0.1 45 0.57 0.33 79.38 127.23

1A8 CED BW WW YW MK 11 0.4 64 96 18

TM CEM YG CW REA MB FPI EPI 51 4 -0.35 22 0.71 0.2 72.05 93.67

Homo black, homo polled PB 88 ET son of 7309T and the old Granite 2135M that was the sire of the Gelbvieh landmark sire Post Rock Granite 200P2.

This is the exact result we hoped for when we made this mating.

Momma Maker daughter that is ultra complete with top 35% calving ease, 30% WW, 20% YW and 15% marbling EPDs. She leaves 2 outstanding daughters in the herd as her replacements.

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

CED BW WW YW MK 13 0 65 103 22

TM CEM YG CW REA MB FPI EPI 54 7 -0.07 27 0.32 49 79.96 113.43

FEBRUARY 23, 2019 • 12:30 PM (CST)

39E1

Post Rock Cattle Company Sale Facility • Barnard, Kansas

110 BULLS SELL • 60 FEMALES SELL

Gelbvieh and Balancer® • Including all six year old cows.

Truly outstanding black homozygous polled ¾ blood herdsire prospect that’s got outstanding EPDs across the board and the data to back it up. 119 WW ratio, 114 YW ratio with 111 REA and 105 IMF ratio on ultrasound from a dam with a 105 nursing ratio on 6 progeny.

743E

CED BW WW YW MK 12 1.7 79 122 17

TM CEM YG CW REA MB FPI EPI 56 2 -0.28 35 0.77 0.18 79.14 119.42

57F8

CED BW WW YW MK 13 -0.8 61 96 25

TM CEM YG CW REA MB FPI EPI 55 6 0.08 28 0.13 0.52 78.72 106.45

Herd bull deluxe homo black, homo polled balancer ET son of the noted 7309T donor and the Angus breed’s hottest sire Basin Payweight. Note the EPDs and actual data backing up this stud.

CED BW WW YW MK 12 1.4 75 108 20

333E8

TM CEM YG CW REA MB FPI EPI 58 6 -0.17 25 0.53 0.29 78.71 104.86

63% homo black, homo polled balancer sired by our new featured sire EGL Game Changer that we’re really pleased and excited about. Outstanding EPDs and individual data with a 16.82 inch REA and a 1200 lb. scan weight.

53A8

CED BW WW YW MK 8 0.1 72 107 23

TM CEM YG CW REA MB FPI 59 2 -0.35 28 0.83 0.35 80.5

EPI 83.8

CED BW WW YW MK 10 1.1 64 91 20

Last year, the distinguished C136 sire group was one of the most popular and sought after in his initial calf crop. This year, C136 is back with a larger and equally powerful group including 333E8 that combines awesome phenotypes with unequaled genotypes (EPDs). We think you’ll be impressed.

TM CEM YG CW REA MB FPI 52 2 -0.16 26 0.68 0.27 71.4

Sale broadcast live online at www.dvauction.com

EPI 32.8

Terrific ABS sired Brilliance daughter that has above breed average growth EPDs and excellent carcass genetics. She’s a member of our annual dispersal of every sound 6 year old that sells as a sale feature.

Broadcasting Real-Time Auctions

COWMAN’S KIND SALE FEATURES • • •

Videos of entire offering available online after February 1.

Free delivery or free care until May 1 on all bulls. See catalog for details.

All bulls will have ultrasound data, Genomic enhanced EPDs and are parent verified.

• • • •

First breeding season death and injury guarantee.

Customer service and customer satisfaction have kept us in the seedstock business for more than 55 years.

All six year old cows sell.

95% of bulls Homozygous Polled, 75% of bulls Homozygous Black

www.mms.bz SALE MANAGEMENT BY: Mitchell Marketing Service Chris Mitchell 334-695-1371 20180 NE Roy Golden Road Blountstown, FL 321424

Editorial from the Corner Office

We Believe in Industry-Focused Service

By Megan Slater, AGA Interim Executive Director

M

any breed associations today have transformed into offering more than just a way to keep track of pedigrees. The American Gelbvieh Association (AGA), for example, provides many programs and services for both the seedstock producer and the commercial cattle producer to help their bottom line in a modern beef industry.

the ability to gather more information to make more educated selection decisions within their herd. The AGA’s Smart Select Service is an online commercial cowherd database and herd management system offered

by AGA. This program is available to any producers with any breed of cattle for $1 per head annual enrollment.

Cows can be enrolled at any time, and all that is required is individual identification, estimated birthdate, and possible parentage. Dam production reports, progeny

Of course, the role of tracking pedigrees has not changed, and it is certainly still important, however, beyond that, the AGA of today helps offer producers much more information on their cattle than just a lineage. For several years now, calculating expected progeny differences (EPDs) reed associations have evolved to store through genetic evaluations has been a large and process huge amounts of data used for part of what breed associations offer. Breed large-scale genetic evaluation on every animal associations have evolved to store and process huge amounts of data used for large-scale genetic in the database. Such evaluations are beneficial evaluation on every animal in the database. Such for every sector of the beef industry. evaluations are beneficial for every sector of the beef industry, as high-performing seedstock for economically relevant traits can speed genetic improvement in commercial animals bound for the food supply chain. The AGA is a part of the performance reports, and herd summaries are some of International Genetic Solutions (IGS) multi-breed the reports generated. Smart Select can help identify genetic evaluation, which enables the AGA to serve strengths and weaknesses in the cowherd, enabling the commercial producer better. As a member of the producers to make better-informed breeding and IGS evaluation, Gelbvieh and BalancerÂŽ growth trait management decisions. and carcass trait EPDs are directly comparable with The AGA also provides commercial producers with other breeds within the evaluation such as Red Angus, valuable programs and services to help create more Simmental, and Limousin. This makes the search for opportunities for marketing Gelbvieh and Balancerthe right bull even easier for commercial producers. sired feeder calves.

Recently, this genetic evaluation moved to the advanced single-step method, which better incorporates genomic BalancerÂŽ Edge is a source and age verification data directly into the evaluation and thus makes the program for feeder cattle sired by Gelbvieh and EPDs even more accurate on all animals within the Balancer bulls. This program was initiated and released evaluation. by the AGA in partnership with IMI Global in August

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In addition to offering information on seedstock cattle, the AGA also offers commercial producers

24 | February 2019

2018. This program gives producers the opportunity to participate in a breed-identified feeder calf marketing

program with the option to customize. Balancer Edge® customers can choose additional value-added programs, which opens the doors to additional markets and the opportunity to generate even more value for their feeder calves.

The Balancer® Edge program requires a minimum of 75 percent of the sires used on an operation to be registered Gelbvieh and Balancer bulls, and these bulls must be a minimum of 25 percent Gelbvieh genetics.

The source and age verification process for this program requires producers to submit first and last calf born date, head count support, and registration papers of the sires to verify Gelbvieh genetics.

REGISTERED GELBVIEH & BALANCER® Move your herd forward by taking advantage of over 35 years of intentional A.I. breeding!

Your source for P.A.P. tested, calving ease and low birth weight EPD bulls!

Selling February 22, 2019 in the “Pot of Gold” Gelbvieh & Balancer® Bull Sale 100 YEARLING BULLS SELL!

Balancer® Edge is easily bundled with NHTC, Verified Natural, GAP 5-Step Animal Welfare, and more. Cattle must be enrolled in the program, and have a program compliant EID tag before leaving the farm or ranch of origin. The base enrollment level includes breed requirements with source and age verification and the cost of an EID tag for $3/head.

Feeder Finder is a free email service offered by AGA to promote and assist in marketing load lots of Gelbvieh and Balancer-influenced feeder cattle. Producers who have cattle to sell are encouraged to fill out the online form, or contact AGA staff to submit information about their cattle. Producers are invited to use this service whether the cattle sell by video auction, traditional livestock barn, or private treaty.

An email blast is sent to feedyards and potential buyers to notify them about when and where these cattle are available for sale. Interested buyers can sign up to receive the Feeder Finder emails on the AGA website.

For more information on the programs and services provided by the AGA, please visit www.gelbvieh.org or call 303-465-2333. FF

Selling sons out of Mr. Bow K 304 A (AMGV#1246524).

A trait leader for weaning weight!

FEMALES AVAILABLE PRIVATE TREATY

At Bow K Ranch we emphasize moderate-size, quality udders, calving ease, and are focusing on optimal tenderness and marbling.

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

WWW.BOWKRANCH.COM The Profit Picture | 25

News

How the New Genetic Evaluation Impacts Genetic Selection

By AGA Staff

I

n August 2018, the American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) transitioned to a new system for the national cattle evaluation. The AGA is a part of International Genetic Solutions (IGS), which is a collaboration between other North American beef breed associations. IGS invested in the new BOLT software, which brings with it the single-step genetic evaluation, a new, more streamlined method for incorporating genomic results into expected progeny differences (EPDs).

This partnership benefits the commercial beef industry by providing EPDs backed by millions of pedigree, performance, and genomic records, which are directly comparable across the partner breeds. Hands down, BOLT technology provides the best and most accurate method for genetic prediction. Below is a sampling of improvements brought on by BOLT: More Informed Genetic Selection Decisions: Purchasing bulls with genomic-enhanced expected progeny differences (GE-EPDs) allows commercial producers to make selection decisions with less risk due to an increase in the accuracy of a non-parent animal’s EPDs. The addition of genomic data to an EPD is comparable to adding another source of information, like progeny or pedigree records.

Specifically on lowly heritable traits, such as reproductive traits, genomic data has the potential to greatly increase the accuracy of an EPD prediction and can be demonstrated.

While the accuracy value associated with an EPD can be a bit difficult to understand in practical terms, the progeny equivalent table provides information that’s easy to comprehend in the most practical of terms – how many calves worth of data was added?

Progeny equivalent values in the table describe the number

26 | February 2019

of progeny with reported data for each trait that would be needed to match the amount accuracy provided by a genomic test. For example, the progeny equivalent for calving ease direct (CED) for Gelbvieh and Balancer® registered animals is 15, which means that the inclusion of a genomic test is the equivalent to having calved 15 heifers bred to a particular bull.

Across Breed Comparison: Because AGA breeders have chosen to collaborate with members of other North American breed associations to pool their pedigree, performance, and genomic data for a multi-breed NCE, most Gelbvieh and Balancer® animals’ EPDs can be directly comparable with other animals in the registries of other partner breed associations within the IGS group.

Gelbvieh and Balancer EPDs that are excluded from direct comparison included: heifer pregnancy, 30-month pregnancy and dry matter intake. The $Cow, efficiency profit index and FPI™ indices are unique to the AGA and are not comparable across breeds.

Calving Ease EPDs: Previously, if a group of heifers all calved unassisted, their birth data (calving scores and birth weights) could not be used in the evaluation due to the absence of variation. The new release now allows for the use of data from contemporary groups with no variation.

This change resulted in thousands of calving scores and birth weights becoming available for genetic prediction in the BOLT-powered EPDs, reducing bias and providing you with calving ease direct (CED) and calving ease maternal (CEM) EPDs with even more power to predict the difference in ease of calving in heifers.

Carcass EPDs: In addition to migration to the BOLT software, several important improvements and upgrades to the carcass EPDs were deployed. Now a true multitrait evaluation with all carcass and ultrasound traits plus weaning weight and post-weaning gain is used. This compared to the old evaluation where carcass EPDs were simply an index of the carcass trait and its corresponding ultrasound trait. These carcass model improvements lead to a slight increase in accuracy for carcass EPDs. FF

Staff Editorial

Here’s to Aligning Yearly Aspirations with Reality

By Will Fiske

E

ven though we’re headed into the second month of 2019, the new year is still fresh and full of possibilities. It’s a time to step back and reflect on the progress from the past year, all while setting goals and expectations for the year ahead. However, it’s not always measurable progress that we have the opportunity to reflect on, especially in the world of production agriculture. For many cattle producers across the country progress has been a relative term. In fact, 2018 was best defined as managing the hand dealt by Mother Nature.

For producers in the eastern region of the United States this hand consisted of steady wet weather, resulting in numerous management obstacles set before crop and cattle production.

Those in the western region had their share of challenges as they experienced drier-than-normal weather, exposing them to greater risk of wildfires. Though weather conditions are hardly controllable there are numerous opportunities that can be taken advantage of to better position a cattle operation for growth, efficiency, and profitability. It’s these opportunities that I plan to focus my attention on as the breed growth specialist of the American Gelbvieh Association (AGA). In this position it is my goal to educate the membership of the AGA and their customers regarding the resources available from the AGA to achieve success.

In 2019, my New Year’s resolution with the AGA is to further enhance existing AGA programs, develop research tools, and enrich marketing networks for the direct benefit of the membership and their customers. I look forwarded to spending a lot of time on the road this spring working with breeders and commercial bull buyers of Gelbvieh and Balancer® genetics. I see the time spent with AGA members and commercial cattle producers as the best way to better understand the balance of their production systems and current obstacles. I was once told, “In order to chart a successful path for the future, we must know where we have been in the past and where we currently are.” There is not a better way to gain this knowledge than building genuine rapport with the people of the AGA and other industry partners.

28 | February 2019

Looking to the future, economically relevant areas deemed important by both AGA members and commercial cattle producer will be pursued. Such projects will play a vital role in benchmarking the performance of breed, improving the accessibility of data management tools, and advancing genetic progress. Ideally, research results will identify marketing opportunities that can be leveraged to expand seedstock and commercial market demand of Gelbvieh and Balancer, thus securing the success of the breed.

These initiatives are designed around the needs of Gelbvieh-Balancer producers, that they may be available to better position the AGA to grow and succeed in an ever-changing beef industry. Nevertheless, the success of the AGA isn’t feasible without prioritizing the success and needs of the greater commercial cattle producer.

One variable that remains constant from 2018 to 2019 in the U.S. beef industry is the demand for superior genetics that will surpass expectations from pasture to plate. Gelbvieh and Balancer cattle have the proven ability to succeed throughout the beef value chain. In the modern state of the U.S. commercial cowherd, Gelbvieh and Balancer genetics are extremely complementary in crossbreeding programs. Holding a prevalent role in improving profitability through increasing fertility, longevity, feed efficiency, and more pounds of calf weaned per cow exposed.

As we’re now in the second month of 2019, we’re 30 days closer to aligning yearly aspirations with reality. Regardless of your experience with Gelbvieh and Balancer genetics, I encourage you to contact the AGA staff so that we may be of service in helping you achieve your goals of 2019 and making it the best year to date.

“If you fail to dream you will lose your vision. Without vision, man will perish. ” FF

400 Angus, Gelbvieh & Balancer Bulls will sell in Seedstock Plus Sales this spring!

Arkansas Bull & Female Sale

North Missouri Bull Sale

Hope Livestock, Hope, AR March 2, 2019 75 - 2 year old & 18 month old bulls!

Large selection of Seedstock Plus Influence females!

Breds, Pairs & Opens!

February 23, 2019 Kingsville Livestock, Kingsville, MO Selling 125 - 18 month old bulls!

ALL BLACK! CALL TOLL FREE FOR YOUR CATALOG TODAY 877-486-1160

NOTE! Location Change For Red Reward Sale!

email: john@seedstockplus.com

South Missouri Bull & Female Sale

March 23, 2019 Joplin Regional Stockyards, Carthage, MO Selling 125 - 18 month old & yearling bulls & 100 open heifers!

ALL BLACK!

ALL SALES! Bid & Buy at:

DVAuction

• • • • • • • •

RED REWARD Bull & Female Sale

March 9, 2019 Wheeler Livestock Auction Osceola, MO Selling 75 RED Gelbvieh & Balancer bulls and 100 RED open heifers

Guaranteed Sight-Unseen Purchases!

Let us help you find the bull to fit your program & needs!

Free Trucking on every bull! No fine print!

The best disposition & soundness sort!

Extensive Data & Genomic EPDs! All bulls are coat color & polled tested & Sire Verified!

All Bulls Are Semen & Trich Tested!

Over 200 RFI tested bulls sell in these sales!

Videos of sale bulls on website the week before the sale! www.seedstockplus.com.

Junior Editorial

My Choice is Gelbvieh

By Grace Vehige, American Gelbvieh Junior Association President

C

hoices. Life is filled with so many choices. While there are times that I feel burdened to make a decision, I always remind myself that I should count my blessings for having a choice to make in the first place. I never realized how many choices and opportunities my life has presented me, but I am certain that there is one choice that has changed my life for the better.

led us through time as ambassadors, board members, agricultural-focused students and now cattle producers.

We have been able to accomplish all of this through our learned skills from the junior association and the people we have been grateful enough to meet along the way.

I have had the opportunity to travel all across the country and visit places such as Wyoming and Tennessee to share the news and updates of the AGJA. It’s my job Choices begin at an early age. When I was a little to report to the American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) girl, I wanted to grow up and be a veterinarian. Shortly Board of Directors on all activity and ideas from the after this decision came the idea to become a marine junior association. I biologist and live near see this position is a the ocean. Next was privilege because I my desire to be a nun can communicate to and a teacher both… unior breed associations are unique adult members why the or maybe my dad because they offer opportunities for young junior association is planted that idea in so vital to the success my head. There was a people to develop skills in communication, of their association time when I wasn’t sure critical thinking, sportsmanship, teamwork, and the agricultural if my choices would and decision making. industry as a whole. lead me to a life in the Now I would like to agricultural industry. communicate this same I’m almost ashamed to subject to you. admit that now, but I’m thankful that isn’t how my cards played out. I couldn’t Let me ask you this: how do you become comfortable tell you when it happened exactly because there wasn’t doing something? Well to me, the answer is simple. You any single moment that made things click, but I do know just do it again and again until you’re good at. In the that I chose to pursue a lifestyle and a career revolving movie “Hondo” John Wayne taught the young boy to around the agricultural and the beef industry because of swim by throwing him in the water. “Just reach out in the experiences I have had through the Gelbvieh breed. front and grab a handful of water,” John Wayne said. I

J

My family has raised Gelbvieh and Balancer cattle since 1993, and trust me, there are days when we wonder if what we’re doing is right because the beef industry’s a tough business. However, there has never been an instance when my family has questioned what the Gelbvieh breed has done for us. My brothers and I have all been raised through the American Gelbvieh Junior Association (AGJA). With halters in hand by 8 years old and minds full of questions, our paths have since

30 | February 2019

think that for our breed to continue to grow and make progress, we have to have cattlemen and women who not only have the knowledge and skills to be successful but the desire to do so. To me, the future of our breed and the beef industry lies within the hearts and minds of those in junior breed associations. I am confident that by continuing to support our juniors, we will be helping the ones who will one day be in your shoes as adults.

Junior breed associations are unique because they

offer opportunities for young people to develop skills in communication, critical thinking, sportsmanship, teamwork and decision making. Based on observation of our junior association, I can say with confidence that our members encompass all of these skills plus passion and Grace Vehige addressing the AGA integrity. In a world Board of Directors at the National that is constantly Convention in Nashville, Tenn.. adapting to change and technology, opportunities for young people to learn the importance of communication, honesty and hard work come few and far between. Our junior members can learn and perfect the simple things that allow for a person and a company to be successful.

Teach us while we are young so that we can be confident and comfortable when we grow old. I ask for you to recognize that what we do is not solely focused on a week-long cattle show. Rather, recognize that we are creating an opportunity for our young people to make a choice that allows for growth and innovation. Our junior association is giving young members the choice to learn, enhance, and perfect skills that will enable them to transition into roles that will not only make their families proud but make our breed proud.

I chose to place my bet on Gelbvieh, and I hope that you continue to do so, too. FF

Golden Buckle Gelbvieh

OPEN HOUSE Treaty e t a v i r Saturday, February 23, 2019 P d n a Starting at 12:00 Noon (cst) Bull At the Ranch Sale Female View videos and sale book at www.golden-buckle-gelbvieh.com

Feel free to contact us ANYTIME for bulls and females for sale!

Selling 35 Purebred Bulls & 45 Purebred SIRES REPRESENTED INCLUDE: • DCHD Captain Morgan 217C ET & Commercial • DCHD Coors 070C Heifers • DVE McGraw 21B • RWG X-Static Bounce B416 • PHG Darth D12 • AWB Birch’s Cold One 4D

Contact us for more information!

Dwight & Christina Dockter Family 4956 41st St SE Medina, ND 58467 701-486-3494 gbgelb@daktel.com golden-buckle-gelbvieh.com

Find us on Facebook

The Profit Picture | 31

Fast Facts

Who we are:

The American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) is a beef cattle breed association dedicated to recording, promoting, and improving Gelbvieh-influenced cattle. The AGA was started in 1971 and now consists of approximately 1,000 members with a registry database that contains over 1 million animals including approximately 40,000 currently active Gelbvieh, Balancer®, and Gelbvieh-influenced cows.

The Strengths of Gelbvieh: The Gelbvieh breed is well known throughout the industry for their maternal strengths and superior growth.

With these attributes, Gelbvieh and Balancer cattle fit well into a crossbreeding system and provide genetics that work for the commercial cattle business.

The high costs associated with the development or purchase of replacement females make sustained production in a herd essential. Gelbvieh females are proven to stay in the herd longer.

longevity and low yield grading ability with the carcass qualities of Angus.

Balancer cattle offer a simple and powerful way to maintain hybrid vigor and a profitable blend of British and Continental genetics without a complicated crossbreeding system. These cattle fit well into all aspects of the beef industry including commercial cow-calf operations and on the rail.

Looking to Buy Bulls this Spring?

If you’re a producer looking to purchase new genetics for your herd this spring, use www.gelbvieh.org as your go-to resource for Gelbvieh and Balancer sale information.

The upcoming events calendar can be found under the Marketing tab on the website homepage. Also, don’t forget to check out the sale catalog page on the AGA website at www.gelbvieh.org/exchange/sale-catalogs to view upcoming sale catalogs posted by AGA members. A listing of the upcoming sales and AGA events can be found on page 96 and 97 of this edition.

Mark your Calendar for the Gelbvieh and Balancer® Episode of “The American Rancher” Mark your calendar for Monday, February 25, at 8:00 p.m. CST to watch the premiere of the AGA’s new episode of “The American Rancher” on RFD-TV (Dish channel 231 and DirecTV channel 345). The episode will re-run on Tuesday, February 26, at 12:00 a.m. CST and again on Sunday, March 2, at 11:00 a.m. CST.

AGA’s Commercial Marketing Staff

What is a Balancer®?

Balancer cattle are registered hybrid seedstock that have documented pedigrees and expected progeny differences (EPDs). The American Gelbvieh Association was the first beef cattle breed to recognize and include a hybrid animal as registered stock.

Balancer animals are 25 to 75 percent Gelbvieh with the balance of Angus or Red Angus. Balancer cattle combine the Gelbvieh growth, muscle, leanness, fertility,

32 | February 2019

The American Gelbvieh Association has outstanding marketing staff that understands both the beef business and the Gelbvieh breed. They are available to help commercial cattlemen find Gelbvieh or Balancer genetics to fit your program or assist in marketing Gelbvieh-influenced breeding animals or feeder cattle. To contact AGA’s commercial marketing staff simply call the AGA office at 303-465-2333.

Staff Editorial

Gaining Ground

By Tom Strahm

O

ver the years Gelbvieh and Balancer® sired feeder calves have been gaining acceptance within multiple segments of the commercial beef industry. At the same time, the American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) staff has made a concerted effort to work hard to help Gelbvieh and Balancer breeders’ commercial customers. Our goal is to provide commercial producers with valuable programs and services to enhance their bottom lines.

Balancer® Edge Balancer® Edge is a source and age verification program for feeder cattle sired by Gelbvieh and Balancer bulls. This program was initiated by the AGA in partnership with IMI Global, and was first released in August 2018.

This program gives producers the opportunity to participate in a breed-identified feeder calf marketing program with the option to customize. Balancer Edge® customers can choose additional value-added programs, which opens the doors to additional markets and the opportunity to generate even more value for their feeder calves. (See page 8 and 9 for details).

Integrity Beef The AGA works to increase the use of Gelbvieh and Balancer® genetics in responsible and sustainable global beef systems. In May 2018 AGA efforts resulted in Gelbvieh and Balancer bulls becoming accepted as a sire breed for use in the Integrity Beef Alliance program. The Integrity Beef Alliance, a program from the Nobel Research Institute, simplifies cow-calf producer management decisions and increases the marketability of calves through the production of high-quality, uniform, preconditioned cattle.

The Gelbvieh and Balancer breed is one of the latest breeds to be accepted as a sire choice for calves entering the terminal calf program. Terminal bulls are required to have EPDs in the top 20 percent of their respective breed for weaning and yearling weight.

Gelbvieh and Balancer bulls fit well into the Integrity Beef Alliance program because of their ability to sire calves exceling in growth and performance at weaning time. Gelbvieh and

34 | February 2019

Balancer-influenced calves carry that performance advantage into the feedlot with increased feed efficiency along with high percent retail yield on the rail. Gelbvieh and Balancer genetics are also well known throughout the industry for their superior mothering ability, which is advantageous for commercial producers who retain their own replacement females.

Feeder Finder Feeder Finder is a free email service offered by AGA to promote and assist in marketing load lots of Gelbvieh and Balancer-influenced feeder cattle. Producers who have cattle to sell are encouraged to fill out the online form, or contact AGA staff to submit information about their cattle.

An email blast is sent to feedyards and potential buyers to notify them about when and where these cattle are available for sale. Interested buyers can sign up to receive the Feeder Finder emails on the AGA website.

Producers are invited to use this service whether the cattle sell by video auction, traditional livestock barn, or private treaty.

Smart Select Service Smart Select Service is an online commercial cowherd database and herd management system offered by AGA. This program is available to any producer and any breed of cattle for $1 per head annual enrollment. Cows can be enrolled at any time, and all that is required is individual identification, estimated birthdate and possible parentage.

Dam production reports, progeny performance reports, and herd summaries are some of the reports generated.

Smart Select can help identify strengths and weaknesses in the cowherd, enabling producers to make better-informed breeding and management decisions.

For more information about these or other programs offered by the AGA, please visit www.gelbvieh.org or contact the AGA office at 303-465-2333. FF Editor’s Note: Article first appeared in the December 2018 Gelbvieh World.

Markes Family Farms REGISTERED PUREBRED GELBVIEH SPRING PRIVATE TREATY OFFERING

V 93 PUREBRED BULLS V Quantity

Age

Birth Date

Price

15 54 24

17 months 12 months 5 months

Sept./Oct. 2017 Feb./March 2018 Sept./Oct. 2018

$1800 $1800 $1600 to $1800

We will wean these in April.

A great selection of Registered Purebred Gelbvieh Bulls We price our cattle to sell quickly!

V 30 PUREBRED HEIFERS V Quantity

Age

Birth Date

Price

30

5 months

Sept./Oct. 2018

$1000 to $1200

We will wean these in April.

They will make an excellent set of cows.

Our 200+ purebred Gelbvieh cows produce an excellent set of cattle that we can offer to you.

Our herd is the product of 40 years of careful Gelbvieh breeding and we invite you to come take a look.

We price our cattle to sell quickly and we look forward to your phone call.

CALL TODAY FOR THE BEST SELECTION! TRUCKING AVAILABLE • WE SHIP CATTLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY!

Whenever you think of Gelbvieh Cattle, think of

Markes Family Farms Oklahoma’s Largest Gelbvieh Breeder

News

Dan and Kate Warner Named Gelbvieh Association Breeder of the Year

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an and Kate Warner of Warner Beef Genetics, Arapahoe, Nebraska, were honored as the American Gelbvieh Association’s (AGA) Breeder of the Year for 2018 during the awards banquet held at the 48th Annual AGA National Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.

over 400 registered Gelbvieh, Balancer and Angus females and 500 Gelbvieh and Angus commercial cows. The success of their cowherd revolves around breed-leading herd bulls, an aggressive AI and ET program, and unmatched customer service.

Dan and Kate were present at the AGA awards banquet to accept the award. Scott Starr, Stapleton, Nebraska, a longtime friend and fellow Gelbvieh and Balancer® breeder, presented the Warner couple with the award.

Each year Warner Beef Genetics hosts an annual bull sale in the spring and female sale in the fall. They have also partnered with two other breeders from Nebraska and Oklahoma to start a fall bull sale in Texas, with the goal of increasing demand for Gelbvieh and Balancer genetics in that area of the country.

Dan and Kate own and operate Warner Beef Genetics along with Dan’s parents, Monte and Kristie Warner, and brother and sister-in-law Darren and Amy Warner. Warner Beef Genetics is a family operation that has been in the cattle business for over 50 years. The operation consists of

Warner Beef Genetics has been a member of the American Gelbvieh Association since 1998. Over the years, Warner Beef has raised several bulls and females that have positively impacted the breed. Dan is a former member of the AGA Board of Directors, serving the association for six years, including time on the executive committee as vice president.

As an active member of the AGA, Dan currently acts as the breed improvement committee chair. FF

The American Gelbvieh Association named Dan and Kate Warner of Warner Beef Genetics the AGA Breeder of the Year for 2018. Left to right: Dan and Kate Warner, Arapahoe, Neb.; Scott Starr, Stapleton, Neb.

36 | February 2019

Mark your calendars for

THE SELECT CUT ONLINE BULL & FEMALE SALE High Quality Bred Heifers, Cow/calf Pairs and Bulls will be available.

MARCH 14, 2019

Lot 2 Chambers F1811 Open Heifer

Lot 1 Chambers F1803 Open Heifer

Sired By Davidson Jackpot 74Z

Sired By Bennett Y6

Lot 17 Chambers F1815 75%

Lot 13 Ridenhour D60 38% • Platinum Bred Cow

Lot 16 Ridenhour E63 75% Bull

Lot 23 Ridenhour E65 94% Bull

Homo Black Homo Polled Bull Sired By Chambers D1605

sells with heifer calf by Hilley X102 and bred back to Davidson Jackpot 74Z

Sired by Carolina Leverage

Online auction with:

RIDENHOUR CATTLE FARM Purebred Quality, Performance and Maternal Traits.

Justin Ridenhour (704-239-4032) justride1572@bellsouth.net Salisbury, NC 28144

Sired by Reflex

CHAMBERS GELBVIEH CATTLE Purebred & Balancers Ken Chambers Chambrsken@gmail.com 336-707-3822

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AGA EPD Dictionary

E

quipping commercial producers with all of the tools necessary to make a smart bull buying decisions is important. Since American Gelbvieh Association’s release of BOLT-powered EPDs, the majority of EPDs are BOLT EPDs, which means that Gelbvieh and Balancer® animals BOLT EPDs can be directly compared with other animals in the registries of other partner breed associations within the International Genetic Solutions (IGS) group. Gelbvieh and Balancer EPDs that are excluded from BOLT include: heifer pregnancy, 30-month pregnancy, and dry matter intake. The $Cow, efficiency profit index, and FPI™ indices are unique to the AGA and are not comparable across breeds.

terms of percent probability, that a bull’s daughters will stay productive within a herd to at least six year of age.

The stayability EPD is one of the best measures currently available to compare a bull’s ability to produce females with reproductive longevity.

Maternal Traits

Weaning weight (WW): Predicts the difference, in pounds, for weaning weight (adjusted to age of dam and a standard 205 days of age). This is an indicator of growth from birth to weaning.

Calving ease direct (CED): Percent of unassisted births of a bull’s calves when he is used on heifers. A higher number is favorable, meaning better calving ease. This EPD can be vital to a rancher looking to decrease the amount of calves pulled in his herd.

Milk (MILK): The genetic ability of a sire’s daughters to produce milk expressed in pounds of weaning weight.

Calving ease maternal (CEM): Represented as percent of unassisted births in a sire’s first-calving daughters. A higher number represents more favorable calving ease.

This EPD is important to a rancher’s bottom line because it predicts which animals produce daughters with a genetic pre-disposition to calve unassisted as heifers.

Heifer pregnancy (HP): Predicts the probability that a bull’s daughters will become pregnant as first-calf heifers in a regular breeding season, expressed as a percent. A higher value of this EPD is favorable, meaning that a higher percentage of a sire’s daughters get pregnant as first calf heifers compared to other sires in his contemporary group.

30-month pregnancy (Pg30): Predicts the probability that a bull’s daughters will become pregnant and calve at three years of age, given that they calved as first-calf heifers.

This EPD is expressed as a percent, again, with a higher number being more favorable meaning a higher percentage of a sire’s daughters will calve at three years of age, given they calved as first-calf heifers.

Stayability (ST): Predicts the genetic difference, in

38 | February 2019

Docility (DOC): Is reported as a percentage, with higher numbers indicating a higher percent of offspring receiving a disposition score of 1 (docile).

Growth Traits Birth weight (BW): Predicts the difference, in pounds, for birth weight of the calf.

Yearling weight (YW): Predicts the expected difference, in pounds, for yearling weight (adjusted to a standard 365 days of age). This is an indicator of growth from birth to yearling.

Carcass traits Yield grade (YG): Differences in yield grade score, which is a predictor of percent retail product. Smaller values suggest that progeny will have a better lean to fat ratio.

Carcass weight (CW): Differences in pounds of hot carcass weight, adjusted to an industry standard age endpoint.

Ribeye area (REA): Differences in ribeye area in inches between the 12th and 13th rib. Greater ribeye areas are preferable.

Marbling (MB): Predicts the differences in the degree of marbling within the ribeye as expressed in marbling score units. Greater marbling numbers are preferable and are an indicator of higher carcass quality grades.

Fat (FT): Differences for fat thickness, in inches, for a carcass over the 12th rib, smaller numbers of fat thickness are preferable as excess fat can be detrimental to yield grade.

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Efficiency Traits Dry matter intake (DMI): Represents the average daily dry matter intake per day consumed in pounds. A negative, or lesser value, is more favorable. For example, Bull A has a DMI EPD of .15 and Bull B has a DMI EPD of -.20, so the progeny of Bull B consume, on average, .35 pound less dry matter per day than progeny from Bull A.

Indexes Total maternal (TM): An index that combines growth and milk information as a prediction of the weaning weight performance of calves from a sire’s daughters. As an index, this value is not reported with an accompanying accuracy. A greater TM value means a mother that returns comparatively higher weaning weights on her calves. TM Index = MK EPD + ½ WW EPD. $Cow: Represents the genetic value in dollars of profit of an animal when retained as a replacement female relative to other animals in the herd. A higher number represents more profitable genetics for maternal productivity. $Cow will serve producers in selecting bulls

that will sire daughters with stayability and reproductive efficiency as well as other traits that lead to profitability in a production system, such as milk, calving ease, moderate mature weight and the ability of calves to gain. A female’s genetics also influence the performance of her calves in the feedlot and at slaughter, so traits such as feed efficiency and carcass value are also included in $Cow. Efficiency profit index (EPI): An economic selection index developed to aid producers in selecting for more feed efficient cattle that still have acceptable amounts of gain.

The EPI provides slight negative pressure on intake, while keeping gain at a constant value. By selecting on this index, producers will be able to find those animals that gain the same amount as their contemporaries while eating less.

FPI™: An economic selection index, which stands for feeder profit index, is designed to aid producers in selecting sires whose progeny will perform in the feedlot and are sold on a grade and yield standpoint. Well ranking sires for FPI have higher marbling and carcass weight than their contemporaries. As a terminal index, little emphasis is put on maternal traits such as stayability and calving ease. FF

2019 Production Sale February 23, 2019 “Solid Genetics; Solid Future”

Squeakin’ By-LK Farms Gelbvieh ~ Balancers Squeakin’ By-LK Farms Kyle and Lori Kuker 64636 719 RD Shubert, NE 68437 (402)883-2366 (402)883-7246 (402)245-7512 www.Facebook.com/sqblkfarms www.sqblkfarms.com sqblkfarms@gmail.com

Bulls, Pairs, and Open Females

*All bulls are virgin bulls and are semen tested and vaccinated. Heifers selling as open heifers are guaranteed to be open.

Bidding starts at 7:00 am on February 22, 2019 and ends at 7:00 pm on February 23, 2019.

View/bid on lots at DvAuction.com

The Profit Picture | 39

News

Renner Joins American Gelbvieh Association Staff

T

he American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) would like to welcome Jake Renner to the staff as member and youth activities coordinator.

Renner grew up in the rural community of Pratt, Kansas, where he was involved in 4-H and spent a large majority of his time focusing on livestock projects. In 2013 Renner graduated from Fort Hays State University where he studied animal science and competed on the livestock judging team. For the past five years he has been a county agent for K-State Research and Extension (KSRE) in Kingman County covering agriculture and natural resources as well as a 4-H and youth development. Renner is currently finishing his final year of graduate school at Kansas State University pursuing a master’s degree in agricultural education and communication.

In his role as member and youth activities coordinator,

he will guide the American Gelbvieh Junior Association (AGJA) and help to develop the next generation of leaders in the beef industry. Renner will also be tasked with enriching the membership experience for AGA members.

“Through KSRE I have found a passion for informal education and seizing any opportunity to work with the youth of the beef industry to help them find their place. I am excited about the opportunity to mentor and advise the members of the AGJA to find their passion within the beef industry,” says Renner. “I am looking forward to serving as the liaison between the AGJA and the AGA/American Gelbvieh Foundation as we think outside the box and work toward creating strong standing relationships with industry leaders for support on all levels. I am honored to have the opportunity to work with the AGA team moving forward.”

“We are excited to continue to grow the AGA team with talented individuals like Jake. His experience and education in youth development and passion for agriculture makes him a great fit to lead and help develop the youth and ultimately the future of our breed,” says Megan Slater, AGA interim executive director.

Renner began his role on January 2, 2019, and will be based in Lincoln, Nebraska. Renner can be reached at 303-465-2333 or via email at jake@gelbvieh.org. FF

South Dakota & Minnesota Breeders SwenSon Gelbvieh Dean Swenson

17513 Hwy 10 Little Falls, MN 56345 swen@centurylink.net (h) 320.632.5848 • (c) 320.630-5536

Polled • Purebred Red • Black

40 | February 2019

Keith, Janice, Dustin & Britney

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

News

Fiske Joins American Gelbvieh Association Staff

T

he American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) is pleased to announce and welcome Will Fiske as the breed growth specialist.

In this role, Fiske will be involved with data analysis projects, assist the AGA marketing team’s efforts to further grow demand for Gelbvieh and Balancer®influenced cattle, and facilitate and increase the use of AGA’s commercial cowherd database, Smart Select Service.

“I’m truly honored and excited to serve the membership of the AGA and work with such an excellent team,” says Fiske. “I look forward to connecting our members and their customers with profitable opportunities in today’s beef industry through technologies and markets.”

A native of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Fiske grew up in the commercial cow-calf and stocker business. Taking an active role in 4-H and FFA as well as serving as a junior

board director of the National Junior Angus Association also encouraged his passion for the beef industry.

With bachelor’s degrees in agribusiness and animal science from Virginia Tech, Fiske managed a heifer research and development facility before pursuing a master’s degree in animal breeding and genetics at Kansas State University.

While at Kansas State, Fiske was involved with projects that assessed structural soundness of purebred cattle. Additionally, Fiske was involved with a nutritional supplementation study. His thesis work includes the development of a genetic evaluation for a Bos indicus cattle breed (Afrikaner) in South Africa. Most recently, he served as a contractor with American Angus Association’s Angus Genetics Inc., collecting and analyzing foot data in Angus herds across the country.

“We are excited to have Will joining the AGA team. His expertise and industry experience are sure to be an asset for the AGA as we continue to become a progressive breed association in today’s modern beef industry,” says Megan Slater, AGA interim executive director.

Fiske began fulltime with the AGA on January 2, 2019, and is based in Manhattan, Kansas. Fiske can be reached at 303465-2333 or via email at will@gelbvieh.org. FF

Tennessee, Arkansas & Oklahoma Breeders Martin Cattle Company

“Superior Gelbvieh and Balancer Cattle”

Chris & Jordan Hampton Charles & Sue Hampton 839 Davistown Rd. • Celina, TN 38551

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

David & Rita Martin Oklahoma’s Largest Gelbvieh Breeder Chris Markes 580-554-2307 Chris@MarkesFamilyFarms.com Excellent bulls available.

We sell 80 bulls a year all over the country.

Come see why!

Transportation available.

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

Private Treaty Sales Available Year Round

The Profit Picture | 41

News

Third Annual Gelbvieh Carcass Contest Results Released

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esults of the third annual American Gelbvieh Foundation (AGF) Steer Challenge and Scale and Rail Sire-Identified Carcass Contest were announced during the 48th Annual American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) National Convention awards banquet on Friday, November 30, 2018. Producers from South Dakota took home top honors with prize payouts totaling $4,750.

The AGF continues to help advance the Gelbvieh and BalancerÂŽ breed through its support of research and development. For this reason, the AGF launched the Steer Challenge and Scale and Rail Sire-Identified Carcass Contest in 2016. These two projects together provide the information and funds necessary to generate datasets to advance Gelbvieh and Balancer carcass merit.

The AGF Steer Challenge is a competition amongst individual Gelbvieh and Balancer-influenced steers in which the judging criteria focuses on carcass value and average daily gain in the feedyard. The Steer

Al Knapp, American Gelbvieh Foundation president (right) presented AGF Steer Challenge winner Scott Hamilton (left), and his wife Paula (middle), of Hamilton Farms, Hitchcock, S.D. with their awards.

Challenge gives an opportunity for participants to donate a steer to the AGF. All proceeds from the donation go toward research and development within the breed.

In its third year, six ranches participated at Roode Feedyard in Fairbury, Nebraska. All steers were harvested and index values were calculated in July 2018 with a total of 156 individual carcass data records. The Gelbvieh and Balancer breed continues to prove itself on the rail with 90 percent of these carcasses obtaining a quality grade of USDA Choice and better. In addition, 92 percent of the steers were USDA Yield Grades 1,2, and 3. These steers averaged a 958-pound hot carcass weight with an average daily gain of 3.81 pounds per head with a

42 | February 2019

5.47:1 feed conversion on a dry matter basis.

Hamilton Farms, a commercial operation near Hitchcock, South Dakota, won big at this event. Scott Hamilton, who was named AGA’s Commercial Producer of the Year in 2016, had the champion Balancer steer in the average daily gain category with the winning steer gaining 5.17 pounds per day. They also had the runnerup Balancer steer in the average daily gain category with the steer gaining 4.99 pounds per day. In the AGF Steer Challenge portion of this contest Hamilton Farms had the champion steer in average daily gain with the animal gaining 4.36 pounds per day. That same animal also had the highest carcass value index in the steer challenge portion of the contest with a 17.20 square inch ribeye, 1,043 hot carcass weight and graded USDA Choice, Yield Grade 2 carcass. Hamilton Farms took home $2,250, which was the highest amount of prize money awarded for this year’s event.

Eagle Pass Ranch, Highmore, South Dakota, owned the champion pen of Balancer steers in the Scale and Rail Contest with a total carcass value index of 3,357.66.

They had the champion Balancer steer in the carcass value category with an animal hanging a USDA Choice, Yield Grade 2 carcass with a 16.90 square inch ribeye and 1,048 pound hot carcass weight for a total carcass

News

value index of 1,124.They also had the runner-up Balancer Steer in the carcass value category with an animal hanging USDA Choice, Yield Grade 3 carcass with a 16.65 square inch ribeye and a 1,046 pound hot carcass weight. In total, Eagle Pass Ranch took home $1,500 in prize money.

In the Gelbvieh division, CKS Gelbvieh, Collins, Iowa, was the winner, owning the steer for top average daily gain and carcass value indexing steer as well as champion pen and won $1,000 in prize payouts. CKS Gelbvieh’s winning steer in the average daily gain category gained 4.40 pounds per day. Their top carcass steer had a carcass value index of 996.92, a hot carcass weight of 936 pounds, and a ribeye area of 16.22 square inches. This steer also hung a Yield Grade 2 and USDA Choice carcass. CKS Gelbvieh also owned the champion pen of Gelbvieh steers with a total carcass value index of 2,913.26.

To view full results, including all closeout data, please visit the projects page under the Foundation section of www.gelbvieh.org. FF

The Profit Picture | 43

Feature

Social Media: Good for the Ranch and Good for the Industry

By Kelsi Christian

T

wo pharmacists turned beef marketers and one mom of three turned their love for the beef industry into social media empires with a reach spanning the country. Meet JaTanna Williams, Natalie Kovarik, of Ranch Wives Beef Co.; and Terryn Drieling, of Faith Family & Beef. These three ladies have one thing in common: a passion and love for agriculture, which they’ve turned into a substantial digital presence.

JaTanna Williams resides in southwest Montana near Three Forks and Natalie Kovarik lives in central Nebraska near Orb; they are the brains behind Ranch Wives Beef Co. In the fall of 2017, a single phone conversation lead to one of the biggest leaps of faith they have taken, creating Ranch Wives Beef Co., a

ranch direct beef business. As fifth and sixth generation ranchers they both had a strong desire to be more seriously involved in agriculture. So, they set out on a mission to make quality beef direct from the ranch accessible to all. Just 17 months later, their business has become a major success.

“So far, online marketing has been our primary focus. Aside from the costs of our website, we have been able to market our company for very little cost input through Instagram. An online presence is vital because it has also allowed us to show our customers who is raising their beef.”

Through Instagram, a popular social media platform,

Performance cattle for the real World dedicated to Gelbvieh for 45 Years 50 years of continual whole herd AI Over 35 years of Performance Testing

SIRES REPRESENTED: CORN HUSKER KHR 25A KHT 52C IMPACT Z204 KHR 14B KHR 13B GRANITE YALE SOLAR ECLIPSE KHR 67A BLACK GRANITE NEXUS REDEMPTION

A nnual Production Sale – March 21, 2019 Western Livestock Auction • Great Falls, MT

40 Performance Tested Yearling Bulls and 20 Open Heifers Red and Black • Purebred and Balancer

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

1285 Nine Mile Road

Olimont, Montana 59466

Jim & Kathy Bjorkman 406-937-4815

www.kickinghorseranch.com krankin@northerntel.net

Jeanette Rankin 406-937-3728

46 | February 2019

Feature

JaTanna and Natalie have not only been able to market their product, but also show people how cattle are raised, fed, and handled with care. They have created a relationship and connection with consumers and other producers by showing everyone the humanity and love behind ranching. And what better way to do that then

Nebraska Sandhills where her family has been raising beef for more than 40 years. She earned a bachelor’s of science degree in animal science with an emphasis in feedyard management and went to work on the animal health crew at a corporate feedyard. Terryn worked at the same feedyard for more than seven years. She now lives on a large cattle ranch with her husband and three kids. The move from full-time work at the feedyard to working on the ranch and becoming a mom has given her the flexibility to devote more time to sharing information about beef and pursuing that passion.

T

hey have created a relationship and connection with consumers and other producers by showing everyone the humanity and love behind ranching.

direct from their ranch to others homes via Instagram?

Located just a day’s trip away from JaTanna and Natalie is Terryn Drieling, founder of the Faith Family & Beef blog. Terryn grew up on the feedyard in the

“A few months after resigning my post at the feedyard I started Faith Family & Beef, which was on February 11, 2014. While I was working at the feedyard, it had come to my attention that more and more people were interested in learning where their food came from. And my passion for telling the story of beef also grew during that time.”

Faith Family & Beef was up and running for months before any social media came on board. It started with a Facebook page, then followed by Instagram, and now

MLM GELBVIEH

OPEN HOUSE PRIVATE TREATY KICK-OFF SALE Monday, March 4, 2019 • At the Ranch

Selling: 32 Bulls • Gelbvieh & Balancer® • Red & Black • 100% Polled

Ultrasound Tested • DNA Tested and have GE EPDs • Fertility Tested • Negative BVD-PI3 Test • Satisfaction Guaranteed

Sires Represented:

Viewing at 11:00, Lunch at 12:00, Final Bids at 1:00

Gelbvieh Sires – Secret Link, Mr Impact, Cartwright, Pistol Pete & Post Rock 27A2 Balancer Sires – Wow Factor, Optimizer, Probity, & Profit Producer Angus Sires – KCF Bennett Absolute & Cox Ransom 5032 Red Angus Sire – Brown Premier X876 & Feddes Oscar X28 All bulls are guaranteed High selling bull in our 2018 Sale.

He has a half brother selling in this year’s sale.

MLM Gelbvieh are in the top 10 in the nation for Dams of Merit!

Offering free feed and care until April 1

MLM GELBVIEH Marlin Meyer

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

Videos available mid-February www.gelbviehbulls.com

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

The Profit Picture | 47

Feature

also has a Pinterest and Twitter presence. Over these four social media accounts, the blog now has a following of over 29,000 users across the digital platforms.

Terryn’s number one goal with Faith Family & Beef is to help other mothers grow their confidence in the beef they feed their families. Through digital platforms and marketing, she has created a community where people can come with their questions about beef and feel good about the answers they find.

These three ladies have quite a bit in common.

Passion and drive are just two examples, but one of the biggest things is that they have all created an online community focused around their business or lifestyle.

And none of them have any major digital media training that sets them apart from other beef producers. “We want to be a source of information for the consumer.

And we want to encourage our fellow ranchers/farmers to tell their story as well. Advocating for our ourselves is one of the most important things we can do,” says the ladies from Ranch Wives Beef Co.

& Beef if they have any advice for other producers who are getting their feet wet in the digital world.

Surprisingly, they both said the same thing: be authentic and transparent and don’t be afraid to share yourself to an audience outside of the beef industry. They think consumers crave and respond to the real you vs. the curated you. It makes you more human and easier to connect with. Go for it, because any operation can benefit from creating branding through social media.

As Terryn from Faith Family & Beef said, “It’s important to me that the agriculture industry has an online presence because if we’re not telling our story, someone else will, and it may not be a good one. It’s important for us to be in this space to tell our story. But maybe, more importantly, we need to be there to get to know our customers and build relationships with them so we can help them understand the how’s and why’s of what we do.” FF

We asked Ranch Wives Beef Co. and Faith Family

Adkins Gelbvieh Private Treaty Bull Sale Open House Sat. Feb 23 11:00AM – 3:00PM (Lunch will be Served) • Sale Location: 41872 200th St., Iroquois ,SD 57353 Offering 30 Gelbvieh and Balancer Bulls – 20 Yearlings and 10 2yr. Olds

GLAG ADKINS BRUISER 809F • HE SELLS! •All bulls have Ultra Sound Carcass Data •Many bulls DNA tested Homozygous Black

GLAG ADKINS OKLANOMA 824F • HE SELLS! •All Bulls will have DNA Genomic Enhanced EPDs •All Bulls will be Semen tested and Breeding Soundness Evaluated

For Sale catalog and videos go to www.adkinsgelbvieh.com • Gerald Adkins 605.354.2428 Like us on Facebook!

48 | February 2019

9th Annual Production Sale Sunday, February 17, 2019, 2:00 (CT) at the Ranch, Clearbrook, MN Please join us Saturday, February 16 for our Open House and view the sale offering

90 Lots Sell

55 Gelbvieh, Balancer and Red Angus Bulls 35 Gelbvieh, Balancer and Red Angus Bred Heifers

LRL Daybreak F152 Homo Black 75% Balancer Bull Sire: JKGF New Horizon Dam: DDGR Abby 3A Balanced EPDs with 13 of 15 traits breed average or above. Heavy muscled, deep bodied with herdsire potential. Homo Polled test pending.

LRL DeWALT F148 81% Gelbvieh Bull Sire: Post Rock Power Built 37B8 Dam: LRSF Nellie C62 Tremendous EPD strength, 93 BW ratio, 112 WW ratio, The Whole Package. Incredibly thick and attractive bull out of a super productive young cow.

Homo Polled test pending.

LRL Gold Standard F17 38% Balancer Bull Sire: H2R Profitbuilder B403 Dam: LRSF Royal B41 Calving ease bull with top 40% CE, 10% BW, 20% Growth traits. Deep bodied, wide topped and extremely sound.

Homo Polled test pending.

LRL First Down F12 50% Balancer Bull Sire: JKGF Ditka C85 Dam: LRL Terace D147 Our leadoff bull from a tremendous set of bulls sired by Ditka C85.

Top 30% CE with top 15% Growth.

Homo Black Homo Polled test pending.

LRL Record Year F50 ET Purebred 1A Red Angus Bull Sire: H2R Profitbuilder B403 Dam: LRL Lakota 33R Excellent structured bull. Smooth shouldered, deep bodied and thick butted. Top 18% Gridmaster index and top 15% growth traits

LRL Arianna E118 ET Homo Black Homo Polled Purebred 94% Gelbvieh Sire: Carolina Leverage Dam: DDGR Arianna 77B A very complete ET daughter of Leverage out of our Arianna 77B donor.

Excellent EPD’s. Top 3% growth, top 15% calving ease and top 10% stayability and indexes.

Dan Larson David Larson Mark Larson Matt Larson

402-560-4052 218-766-3323 218-766-3690 701-371-8305

www.lostriverlivestockmn.com 12866 Lindberg Lake Road Clearbrook, MN 56634

News

American Gelbvieh Association Elects Leadership

M

embers of the American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) elected five candidates to the board of directors at the annual membership meeting held November 30, 2018, during the 48th Annual AGA National Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.

Newly elected board members are Todd Bickett, Chickamauga, Georgia, and Lori Maude, Hermosa, South Dakota. Re-elected to serve a second term was Andrea Murray, Kingfisher, Oklahoma; Randy Sienknecht, Gladbrook, Iowa; and Jeff Swanson, Oxford, Nebraska.

The AGA Board of Directors also elected individuals to serve in leadership positions on the executive committee for 2019. John Carrel, Columbus, Montana, was elected as AGA president.

Dan McCarty, Rifle, Colorado was elected vice president. Klint Sickler, Gladstone, North Dakota, was re-elected secretary; and Walter Teeter, Mount Ulla, North Carolina was re-elected treasurer.

Other members of the AGA Board of Directors are: Dustin Aherin, Phillipsburg, Kansas; Leland Clark, Barnard, Kansas; Doug Hughes, Max Meadows, Virginia; Jeff Loveless, Spanish Fork, Utah; Derek Martin, Bucklin, Kansas; and Lowell Rogers, Seminary, Mississippi.

Retiring members of the 2018 AGA Board of Directors were Scott Starr, Stapleton, Nebraska, who served as president in 2017 and 2018; and Dennis Gustin, Mandan, North Dakota. The AGA would like to thank these members for their years of service on the AGA Board of Directors. FF

The American Gelbvieh Association elected directors and officers for 2019 during its national convention in Nashville, Tennessee. Front row (left to right): Interim Executive Director Megan Slater, Broomfield, Colo.; Secretary Klint Sickler, Gladstone, N.D.; President John Carrel, Columbus, Mont.; Vice President Dan McCarty, Rifle, Colo.; Treasurer Walter Teeter, Mount Ulla, N.C. Back row (left to right): Lori Maude, Hermosa, S.D.; Leland Clark, Barnard, Kan.; Derek Martin, Bucklin, Kan.; Jeff Loveless, Spanish Fork, Utah; Jeff Swanson, Oxford, Neb.; Doug Hughes, Max Meadows, Va.; Dustin Aherin, Phillipsburg, Kan.; Lowell Rogers, Seminary, Miss.; Andrea Murray, Kingfisher, Okla. Not pictured are Todd Bickett, Chickamauga, Ga., and Randy Sienknecht, Gladbrook, Iowa

50 | February 2019

Source & Age Verification Program for Feeder Cattle Sired by Gelbvieh & Balancer® Bulls

BALANCER EDGE

®

$3.00/hd STEP 1: Gather calving records documenting the first and last calf born for the season. Have a head count of your cows. Have copies available to show IMI Global representative.

STEP 2: Fill out the form on www.gelbvieh.org to apply for Balancer® Edge and order tags.

STEP 3:

Send form via mail or email: IMI Global 202 6th Street, Ste. 400 Castle Rock, CO 80104 info@imiglobal.com

Value added options available: NHTC Verified Natural GAP Certification

*Additional auditing and cost may be involved

STEP 4:

Participate in a phone audit and off-site records review.

STEP 5: Market calves with the Balancer® Edge program.

www.gelbvieh.org | 303.465.2333

Judd Ranch 41 Gelbvieh, Balancer st

®

at the ranch, Pomona, Kansas • Saturday, March

P P P

Judd Ranch has been honored as the #1 Dam of Merit Cowherd in the Gelbvieh Breed for 20 of the past 21 years, 1998–2018!

P P P

81 lb. average birth weight: 870 lb. actual weaning weight average on the sale bulls.

100% of the Gelbvieh & Balancer sale bulls feature Judd Ranch honored Dam of Merit Genetics. Maternal Cow Power behind every sale bull.

Average Daily Gain of fall yearling bulls: 4.790 lbs/day! 231 black polled bulls sell. 297 homozygous polled bulls sell

114 purebred Gelbvieh, 183 Balancer® & 15 purebred Red Angus bulls sell.

46 of the 50 top selling bulls in the 2018 sale sold to commercial producers. Catalog online!

Don’t miss Judd Ranch on The American Rancher!

Judd Ranch will be featured on The American Rancher Monday, February 11 at 8:00 PM central time.

The episode will also air again at midnight Tuesday, February 12 and Sunday, February 17 at 11:00 AM on RFD-TV (Dish 231 & DirecTV 345) Set your DVR’s! You won’t want to miss the Judd Ranch premier on RFD-TV the week of February 11!

& Red Angus Bull Sale

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

312 Plus

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

Gelbvieh, Balancer® & Red Angus Bulls Sell

• 173+ 17-19 month old Bulls • 139+ 12-14 month old Bulls P 99% Sired by Breed Leading AI Sires P 231 Black Polled Bulls P 297 Homozygous Polled Bulls P All sale bulls are

Judd Ranch born and raised.

P Quality Acceptance Guarantee on all Sight Unseen purchases

P

Free Trucking in U.S. on purchases of $20,000 +

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

Visit our website • www.juddranch.com Judd Ranch Inc. Dave & Cindy Judd Nick, Ginger, Brent & Ashley

Judd Ranch Gelbvieh Maternal Strength

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

Judd Ranch Red Angus Maternal Strength

Sale Consultant— CATTLEMEN’S CONNECTION

CALL TOLL-FREE: 1-800-743-0026 For Your JRI “Complete Package” Sale Catalog

News

Al and Mary Knapp Inducted into Gelbvieh Hall of Fame

A

l and Mary Knapp of Basehor, Kansas, were inducted into the American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) Hall of Fame for 2019. The induction took place during the awards banquet at the 48th Annual AGA National Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.

Dustin Aherin, Phillipsburg, Kansas, presented the award to the Knapp family. He expressed his sincere gratitude towards the couple on behalf of his family and the numerous other individuals throughout the country whose lives have been positively influenced by the Knapps.

The AGA Hall of Fame recognizes individuals for their lasting contribution to the growth and development of the Gelbvieh breed. Hall of fame inductee selection criterion includes contributions to breed promotion efforts, leadership provided to the association and the breeding of superior genetics that are of great influence within the Gelbvieh and Balancer® cattle population.

2019 American Gelbvieh Association Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony: (left to right)Al Knapp, Mary Knapp, and Dustin Aherin

Over the past 22 years the Knapps have had a tremendous impact on the AGA and more importantly, the people within it. While running a successful Gelbvieh operation the Knapps served 16 years as American Gelbvieh Junior Association (AGJA) advisors. Al has served on the AGA Board of Directors, and served as AGA president in 2010, In addition, the Knapps currently serve on the American Gelbvieh Foundation (AGF) Board of Directors, with Al serving as AGF president.

Montana Breeders Quality livestock that Work for you Performance + Safety = Profit from Pasture to Plate

“Gelbvieh since 1973”

Gelbvieh

Carcass Quality • Calving Ease • Tenderness • Docility

Quarter Horses

Want to Please • Strong Bone • Intelligent • Athletic 1496 Goose Creek Rd. • Raynesford, MT 59469 Ranch Phone: 406.738.4220 • BarJRGelbvieh@3rivers.net BarJRGelbvieh.com

54 | February 2019

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

Our Annual Production Sale, March 21, 2019

Al and Mary Knapp take servicecentered leadership to a whole new level and their passion for fellow breeders and the association’s youth is the standard of the breed. Both the AGA and AGJA are improved associations because of the relentless efforts and sacrifices of the Knapps. FF

News

Docility EPD Added to the Suite of Gelbvieh and Balancer® EPDs

T

he American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) released the BOLT-powered docility expected progeny difference (EPD) in January 2018. This is the latest update to the extensive suite of EPDs used to accurately describe registered Gelbvieh and Balancer® cattle.

Docility is an important trait that impacts beef operations’ bottom lines in each sector of the industry.

Studies have shown that animals with calmer dispositions are more productive both on the ranch as well as in the feedyard and ultimately exhibit higher carcass values and greater tenderness, among other advantages. Plus, factor in the labor shortages in the feedyard and on the ranch and more docile cattle that are easier and safer to handle are more valuable than ever.

Higher docility EPD values for Gelbvieh and Balancer animals indicate a more favorable temperament. Over the past 20 years, the Gelbvieh and Balancer breed has gained favorable progress in docility on top of a solid foundation of historically docile cattle. However, the range of docility EPDs of active sires proves that there is genetic diversity, which means further progress can be made. It’s also important to note that in herds where temperament is not currently a concern, differences will not be as intensely realized. FF

Lone oak CattLe

Please join us Saturday, March 16, 2019 for our Bring your family and meet ours. Cattle 7th Annual Bull Sale available for viewing after 9:00 AM. Auction begins at 1:30 PM at the Farm.

Come early for Beef & Beans.

One of the Highlights from last year’s sale.

OFFERING: 40 Yearling & 13 Fall Aged Bulls 15 Open Heifers • 6 Bred Heifers • 20 Young Cows LONE OAK Featuring the influence of these great sires: C AT T L E

Basin Payweight 1682 SAV Resource Cowboy Up Effective

King Rob Carolina Exclusive Buddy Boy Vindicator B912

Eric & Heather Ehresman

20963 30th St. • Mechanicsville, IA 52306 319-480-1564 hornsandthorns@netins.net www.loneoakcattleiowa.com

Sale catalogs and videos available at Lone Oak

Moderate, Fertile, Performance Cattle!

Cattle Iowa or Lone Oak Cattle Facebook.

High Quality Balancer, Gelbvieh and Hybrid Cattle Available late February/early March

56 | February 2019

Editorial

Don’t Skimp on Protein for Pregnant Cows

N

ot feeding pregnant cows enough protein can have serious consequences.

Underfeeding protein to stock cows through their winter gestation has serious consequences, a North Dakota State University Extension livestock expert warns.

“If insufficient protein and nitrogen are provided and degraded in the rumen, forage digestion will be reduced and the cow may not meet caloric needs and lose weight,” says John Dhuyvetter, Extension livestock systems specialist at the North Central Research Extension Center near Minot, N.D. “Furthermore, the developing fetus may be undernourished, impacting development, vigor and survival at birth, and future outcomes. Both colostrum and milk quality and quantity can suffer.”

Typical mature, late-gestation cows weighing about 1,400 pounds will need approximately 2.5 pounds of protein intake a day. Some 60 to 70 percent of the protein should break down in the rumen to supply sufficient nitrogen for rumen microbes.

The remaining 30 to 40 percent of the protein that’s undegraded in the rumen and bypasses to the lower gut, along with microbial-passed protein, will supply the cow and growing fetus with required amino acids and protein.

At full intake, this equates to 7 to 8 percent crude protein in the diet.

“This won’t always be quite enough, depending on both the feeds being used and the cows being fed,” Dhuyvetter notes. “Certainly for younger cows still growing and developing muscle and skeletal tissue (and associated with less intake), an 8 to 9 percent crude protein ration is needed.”

He adds that feeds high in bypass protein such as distillers grains or low in protein digestibility such as straw require feeding at a higher level of protein formulation to make sure rumen fermentation is maximized.

Producers have many options and feeds for supplementing protein to inadequate rations. One of the

58 | February 2019

easiest is to include a higher-protein hay such as alfalfa with lower-protein grass and silage.

Byproduct feeds are another option. They have concentrated protein levels and can be limit-fed to supply added protein. Often, protein supplied at .3 to .5 pound per day fixes deficiencies.

“The appropriate feeding rate depends on the protein level in the supplemental feed and what’s needed to meet the cow’s requirement,” Dhuyvetter explains.

For example, a cow receiving a silage and straw ration having a 6.5 percent crude protein level will need .5 pound of added protein to bring the ration up to 8 percent crude protein. This can be met with 1.3 pounds of canola meal at 39 percent crude protein or 1.8 pounds of dried distillers grains at 28 percent crude protein. FF Source: NDSU Extension Service

A Cowman’s Best Friend at Calving Time!

Fits ATVs and UTVs!

Safe Processing!

Designed for Processing Safety...

Now available - Enables quick and safe calf catching! with - Convenient, step-in access of producer! digital scale!

- Holder secures calf for easy processing!

- User-friendly inside release of calf to cow!

- Move calves easier with cow following!

- Less cow stress, mother can see and smell calf!

- Reduces danger while working new calves!

- Quick Mount/Dismount on both ATV & UTVs!

Moving Pairs is Easy!

Easy and Safe Catching!

Safe Release!

Robert Burry, PA - “I am 63 and work alone so I wouldn’t be calving without it. You can do a much better job of processing the calf when you don’t have to worry about mama! I would recommend it to anyone.”

Lucian Jordan, NC - “This is the best thing since sliced bread. No more fighting the cow, no rush getting the tag in or band on. This is the safest low stress tool on the farm.”

Cole Kilpatrick, IA- “It has made handling calves much easier and safer. Our cows, for the most part, are docile, but knowing we have the added safety of the Safety Zone Calf Catcher has truly allowed us to operate more efficiently.

Hands down the best customer service I have had in years.”

ONE PERSON can now SAFELY and EASILY process calves without concern of the protective mother cow!

Watch action video at SafetyZoneCalfCatchers.com For local dealers or to order, call 877-505-0914!

DEALER INQUIRY INVITED

RIPPE GELBVIEH

[Using data to increase your profits]

“Information is the oil of the 21st century, and analytics is the combustion engine.”

- Peter Sondergaard

Join Us!

“What gets measured, gets managed.”

- Peter Drucker

Go where the DATA is: For Females: • Track Udder Scores • Measure Cow Size • Measure Cow Efficiency through percentage body weight weaned

For Carcass: • Feed out our Steers every year and receive individual carcass data

For Bulls: • Disposition Scores

• Ultrasound Bulls

• Higher Accuracy EPDs through genomic EPD testing

• Ultrasound Females

Avg. Dam Weight of bulls in the sale is 1229 Avg. Dam Efficiency of bulls in the sale is 60% 38% of the bulls in the pen are heifer bulls

Feeder Profit Index is an economic selection index designed to aid producers in selecting sires whose progeny will perform in the Feedlot and are sold on a grade and yield.

This is an index where it ranks sires whose progeny should do the best in the feedlot.

• Homozygous Polled and Black tested

Avg. Birth Weight 81; Avg. Weaning Weight 724 91% are Homozygous Polled 93% of Black Bulls are Homozygous Black

AVERAGE PERCENTILE RANK OF SALE BULLS EPDS Black Balancers TOP 24% of Calving Ease TOP 30% of Weaning Weight TOP 30% of Yearling Weight [ TOP 13% of Feeder Profit Index Red Balancers TOP 27% of Calving Ease TOP 44% of Weaning Weight TOP 45% of Yearling Weight [ TOP 45% of Feeder Profit Index Black Purebreds TOP 38% of Calving Ease TOP 16% of Weaning Weight TOP 11% of Yearling Weight [ TOP 8% of Feeder Profit Index

Guest Speaker, Troy Applehans March 8, 2019 • 7:00 pm • Belleville Country Club Troy is the CattleFax market analyst responsible for feeder cattle and cow/calf regions of the Southern Plains region as well as Southeastern states of the U.S.

Complimentary Lunch at 12:00

104 Bulls, 67 Black Balancers, 11 Black Purebreds, 26 Red Balancers, 10 Fall Bred Heifers, 70 Black and 37 Red Commercial Heifers Here is what we stand for: • Customer service after the bull is sold

[

[

Belleville, KS • Belleville 81 Livestock Sale Barn Auctioneer: Kyle Elwood, Salina, KS

• Balanced EPD profile • The Essentials: Sound, Big Bodied, Moderate Framed and Muscular • Reliable and honest data • Proper Bull development

Nevada 1170Y

• Crossbreeding • Get the benefit of heterosis and hybrid vigor here!

Video of the bulls, data, and catalog will be posted at www.rippegelbvieh.com RIPPE GELBVIEH Hubbell, Nebraska Dustin: 316-323-4874 402-200-0555 Duane: 402-200-0096 (Cell) www.rippegelbvieh.com

Sons Sell

Raising Bulls for Commercial Cattlemen that fit today and tomorrow.

[Using data to increase your profits]

Saturday, March 9, 2019 at 1:00

RIPPE GELBVIEH

RIPPE GELBVIEH BULL SALE

Staff Editorial

A Look into Genetic Progress

By Tonya Amen, AGA Breed Improvement Consultant

I

n addition to the benefits offered by crossbreeding discussed in the article titled “Crossbreeding for Profitability” on page 10 in this publication, Gelbvieh and Balancer® cattle offer breed advantages that make them logical for meeting the production goals and improving profitability of commercial farms and ranches.

Below, you’ll find several graphs showing the genetic trend for various traits of importance from growth, to longevity and fertility to carcass traits. Genetic trend graphs and tables are used to show genetic progress over time. In the tables on the next page, you’ll find the average EPD for animals born from 1999 to 2018.

This will give an idea about where the breed has placed

focus. The trends reveal that focus has been placed on maintaining reasonable calving ease, adding growth, ensuring longevity and fertility, while keeping an eye on giving you the ability to produce quality, industryaccepted carcasses. Using EPDs provided through the International Genetic Solutions multi-breed evaluation will help you fine-tune your genetic selection to match your goals and environment.

Figure 1, shows genetic trend for calving ease and birth weight and Figure 2 shows genetic trend for weaning weight, yearling weight, and milk. These trends show that Gelbvieh breeders have placed focus on producing genetics that should offer great potential for weaning and yearling growth. At the same time, they’ve

10TH Annual Southwest Iowa Gelbvieh & Balancer Bull & Female Sale

March 15, 2019 • Creston Livestock Auction, Creston, IA

All bulls are feed efficiency tested and ultra sounded.

Heifers have GE EPDs.

Michael Bauer MJBC Gelbvieh Audubon, IA 712-563-2704 Mjbauer4320@hotmail.com Gary Martens Martens Gelbvieh Walnut, IA 712-764-5007 martensgl@yahoo.com

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

62 | February 2019

Carl Reiste Rafter R Gelbvieh Adel, IA 515-490-3561 creiste.rafterr@yahoo.com

For online bidding: www.cattleusa.com and click on www.crestonlivestock.com

kept an eye to not letting milk get out of hand, thus ensuring that maintenance requirements of Gelbvieh or Balancer-sired replacement females will be reasonable.

Calving ease has also been a focus, to ensure, live, thriving calves with less worry about calving problems.

Raile Gelbvieh/Balancer® Bull Sale Burlington Livestock Exchange, Burlington, CO Thursday, March 14, 2019 • 12:30 PM MST

Selling 45 Yearling Bulls Ultrasounded, DNA Tested, Tested BVD Negative, Semen Tested First Year Breeding Season Guarantee Free Board Until April 1st Balancer Sires: RAIL King Jams 3127A RAIL Full Load 565C RAIL Mr Brilliant 401B PLA Down Payment 15D DLW Edison o45B BAG Outback 4D

Figure 1.

RAIL Founding Father 880F

Figure 2.

The benefits of maternal hybrid vigor and the value of keeping Gelbvieh and Balancer-cross females in your commercial herds is discussed elsewhere in this publication. In addition to the huge value of maternal hybrid vigor for fertility and longevity, Gelbvieh also offers the added benefit of having breed advantages in Stayability and Heifer Pregnancy, and is the only breed to evaluate pregnancy at 30 months of age, which answers the question: “Do they breed back as second-calf heifers?”

Figure 3 (page 64) shows incredible improvements in heifer pregnancy (do bulls daughters get bred as heifers) as

RAIL King James 3127A

AI Sires: SAV Renown 3439 JRI Profit Producer 257B32 JRI Probity 254B28 3G EZ Money 209Z TTT Mighty Hot ET

Email for a catalog

Matt & Sarah Raile • Delbert & Marilyn Raile 755 Road U • St. Francis, KS Delbert cell • 785-772-1141 Matt cell • 785-332-8399 Home • 785-332-2756

www.railegelbvieh.com • email: dmraile@gmail.com The Profit Picture | 63

Staff Editorial

well as Preg 30. Stayability, a measure of longevity has also seen modest improvements.

rib-eye size for the carcass weight. One of the biggest success stories in use of EPDs to meet goals set by the breed is illustrated in the tremendous gain in genetic for marbling. With the U.S. market continuing to signal a phasing out of the Select grade and emphasis on high

Figure 3.

Of course, in the end, the goal is to have a high quality, carcass with adequate marbling, and appropriate

Figure 4.

Wilkinson Gelbvieh

Privat e

T r eat y

Bul l

S a l e

Kick Off to Private Treaty Sales–

Saturday, March 30th 2019 • at the Ranch in Model, Colo.

38 Balancer and Gelbvieh Yearling Bulls • All are Polled • Majority are Black Ultrasounded, PAP, Fertility and Trich tested • GE EPDs

Plus Several Pens of Replacement Heifers • Bulls available for viewing anytime, contact Bill (719) 680-0462 • Lunch provided at noon Bid Off begins at 1:00 pm

For more information: Visit us on the web:

www.wilkinsongelbvieh.com Find us on FaceBook:

Wilkinson Gelbvieh Ranch

Catalogs will be available the first week of March.

See our website or FB for a link to the videos of the bulls.

Find us on Facebook

Focusing on Function – in the pastures, in the feedlot and on the rail

64 | February 2019

AGA Member since 1986

Bill, Nancy & Sydney 23115 Co. Rd. 111.3 Model, CO 81059 (719) 846-7910 (719) 680-0462 bnwbulls@bmi.net Commercially Focused

Choice and Prime, this is a trait that cannot be ignored.

The American Gelbvieh Association and its members have long focused on the meeting the needs of the commercial industry. In addition, breeders have used the genetics and tools available for genetic improvement to ensure continued success and profitability of our commercial partners. FF

The Profit Picture | 65

Editorial

Beef Cattle Market: 2018 in Review and a Look Ahead

By Josh Maples, Assistant Professor & Extension Economist, Department of Agricultural Economics, Mississippi State University

L

arge supplies, record exports, and trade concerns are just a few of the topics that dominated the beef headlines in 2018. Amidst all of these factors, U.S. calf and yearling prices have showed relatively consistent strength throughout the year. 2019 will likely bring a mostly flat year for national herd growth, which will position the industry at a pivotal point for supplies and prices moving forward. In this article, we’ll dig a little deeper into a few key drivers to watch in 2019.

Cattle and Calf Supplies Cattle and beef supplies have been growing since the price peak in 2014-2015 and this continues to be the primary headwind to higher prices. The 2018 U.S. calf crop

Bull Sale Mark your calendars!

February 28, 2019 1:00 PM MST. Livestock Exchange, LLC. Brush, Colorado Selling 40 Top Quality, High Performing and Calving Ease Balancer® and Gelbvieh Bulls

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

Like us on Facebook at Plateau Gelbvieh

66 | February 2019

was about 8.5% larger than it was in 2014 – that is nearly 3 million more calves on the ground. However, that growth has been slowing recently with 2019 expected to be close to flat for cowherd growth. It takes time for the expansion that has already occurred to work through the cattle and beef supply chain. The stage is already set for modestly larger calf and beef supplies in 2019. We can look to 2014-2015 as a mirrored example. 2014 was the low point for most of the cattle supply numbers (number of cows, calf crop, etc.), but 2015 was the lowest year of beef production.

Beef Production and Supplies Beef production was over 13 percent higher in 2018 than in 2015. Current forecasts suggest an increase of just under 2 percent in 2019. Put it all together and that would be an approximately 15 percent increase in beef production in just four years. This would be the fastest four-year growth since 1973-1977. Following the cattle supply story, the increases are slowing. With respect to the cattle cycle, recent cowherd trends suggest 2020 could potentially mark the end of the current U.S. cattle inventory build-up. But it is worth noting that this is looking like a unique cattle cycle. History might suggest that after herd growth stops, herd declines will follow.

But the ingredients for near-term herd declines are not

Breeders Corner

Southeast States KENTUCKY

TENNESSEE

W L

H

F

Coles Bend Cattle Company

Raising registered Gelbvieh and Balancer® cattle since 2000.

Trent Jones Smith Grove, KY • 270.590.5266

NORTH CAROLINA Quality Gelbvieh, Angus & Balancer Cattle

Quality Gelbvieh & Balancer® Cattle

ClinCh Mountain Gelbvieh

QUALITY GELBVIEH CATTLE

LITTLE WINDY HILL

Farms Doug & Sue Hughes 6916 Peppers Ferry Road Max Meadows, VA 24360 C 276/620-4271 lwhf@wiredog.com

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

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

Bulls & Heifers for Sale

“Superior Gelbvieh and Balancer Cattle”

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

Registered Bulls & Replacement Females

DUANE & WENDY STRIDER, OWNERS

Promote Your Operation Advertise with a State Round-up ad in the two issues of the Profit Picture and the Herd Reference issue of Gelbvieh World

(336) 964-6277

ccrosscattle@yahoo.com • ccrosscattle.com

CCRO CAROLINA EXCLUSIVE 1230Y

CCRO CAROLINA LEVERAGE 3214A

THE HERD THAT CONSISTENTLY PRODUCES CATTLE WITH PERFORMANCE, CARCASS AND EYE APPEAL.

ANNUAL BULL & FEMALE SALE 2 SATURDAY IN NOV. ND

Private Treaty Sales Available Year Round.

Producing Black, Polled Genetics for Today & Tomorrow.

VIRGINIA REGISTERED POLLED GELBVIEH C.H. Morris & Sons, LLC

Roger Morris • C.W. Moss 928 Morris Road Appomattox, VA 24522 434.574.6592 Roger Morris C.W. Moss 434.315.4294 434.391.4458

For information about advertising, call Lynn at the AGA office • 303.465.2333

Gale Rippey Farms SPECIALIZING IN COMMERCIAL BALANCER® FEMALES

Galax, Virginia

276.233.0999 • grippey@embarqmail.com Walter & Lee Teeter 1380 French Belk Rd. • Mt. Ulla, NC 28125 (704) 664-5784

Promote for Success!

Upcoming Advertising Deadlines: March Gelbvieh World Ad deadline: February 4 Call 303-465-2333 today!

www.knollcrestfarm.com knollcrest@knollcrestfarm.com Office (434) 376-3567 Fax (434) 376-7008 James D. Bennett 434/376-7299 Paul S. Bennett 434/941-8245 Jim G. Bennett 434/664-7935 Brian R. Bennett 434/664-8309 Dalton G. Bennett 434/664-7946 PO Box 117 • Red House, VA • 23963 Total Performance Bull Sale • Nov. 29, 2019

The Profit Picture | 67

Editorial

obvious at this point. Prices have mostly remained at or above profitable levels for cow-calf producers, which does not provide much incentive for liquidation.

Beef Demand While larger supplies will remain the biggest headwind to stronger prices in 2019, strong domestic and international demand for U.S. beef is continuing to provide price support. A strong domestic economy is supporting beef demand despite the larger supplies of beef and also larger supplies of other proteins chicken and pork. Domestic beef consumption per person in 2018 was about 57 pounds and is forecasted to grow slightly in 2019. Internationally, robust exports have supported the demand profile for beef and, therefore, cattle.

Beef exports have risen by over 20 percent over the past 2 years, which has helped absorb some of the beef production increases.

More modest export growth is forecasted for 2019, but it is worth noting that the modest forecasts the past two years have been sharply exceeded.

beef demand led to stronger-than-expected calf and yearling prices. These have been important transition years that coped with the sharp supply increases.

Looking ahead, slower herd growth numbers begin to paint a brighter price picture for 2019 and 2020 if domestic demand and exports continue to grow. FF Source: Mississippi State University

Summary The past few years have been a demand-driven environment where stronger-than-expected

Iowa Breeders

Neola, Iowa

Gelbvieh-Angus-Balancer Black & Polled Private Treaty Sales Breed-leading Performance from Quality Genetics

Kevin Gunderson: 402-510-8103

68 | February 2019

Al Schulz: 402-676-5292

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

E-mail: jwelle@evertek.net

Martens Gelbvieh

Gary Martens 2126 500th St • Walnut, IA 51577

712.764.5007 (H) • 712.249.5744 (C) martensgl@yahoo.com

Annual Bull and Female sale in March with the Southwest Iowa Gelbvieh Group

Editorial

The Three Stages of Parturition

By Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University Emeritus Extension Animal Scientist

A

s the spring calving season approaches, an increased understanding of the parturition process is helpful.

The more we understand about the physiology of the process, the more likely we are to make sound decisions about providing assistance. Parturition or “calving” is generally considered to occur in three stages.

Stage 1: The first stage of parturition is dilation of the cervix.

The normal cervix is tightly closed right up until the cervical plug is completely dissolved. In stage 1, cervical dilation begins some 2 to 24 hours before the completion of parturition (2 to 6 hours would be most common).

During this time the “progesterone block” is no longer present and the uterine muscles are becoming more sensitive to all factors that increase the rate and strength of contractions. At the beginning, the contractile forces primarily influence the relaxation of the cervix but uterine muscular activity is still rather quiet. Stage one is likely to go completely unnoticed, but there may be some behavioral differences such as isolation or discomfort. At the end of stage one, there may be come behavioral changes such as elevation of the tail, switching of the tail and increased mucous discharge. Also relaxation (softening) of the pelvic ligaments near the pinbones may become visually evident, giving a “sunken” appearance on each side of the tailhead.

Checking for complete cervical dilation is important before forced extraction (“pulling”) of the calf is attempted.

Stage 2: The second stage of parturition is defined as the delivery of the newborn. It begins with the entrance of the membranes and fetus into the pelvic canal and ends with the completed birth of the calf. So the second stage is the one in which we really are interested. This is where we find all of the action.

Clinically, and from a practical aspect we would define the beginning of stage two as the appearance of membranes or water bag at the vulva. The traditional texts, fact sheets, magazines, and other publications that we read state that stage two in cattle lasts from 2 to 5 hours. Data from Oklahoma

70 | February 2019

State University and the USDA experiment station at Miles City, Montana, would indicate that stage two is MUCH shorter. In these studies, assistance was given if stage two progressed more than two hours after the appearance of water bag at the vulva. The interesting thing about the data was that the heifers calving unassisted, did so in about one hour after the initiation of stage two, and mature cows calved within an average of 22 minutes of the initiation of stage two.

Those that took longer needed assistance. These and other data would indicate that normal stage two of parturition would be redefined as approximately 60 minutes for heifers and 30 minutes for adult cows. In heifers, not only is the pelvic opening smaller, but also the soft tissue has never been expanded. Older cows have had deliveries before and birth should go quite rapidly unless there is some abnormality such as a very large calf, backwards calf, leg back or twins. If the cow or heifer is making good progress with each strain, allow her to continue on her own. Know your limitations.

Seek professional veterinary help soon if you encounter a problem that cannot be solved easily in minutes.

Stage 3: The third stage of parturition is the shedding of the placenta or fetal membranes. In cattle this normally occurs in less than 8 to 12 hours. The membranes are considered retained if after 12 hours they have not been shed. Years ago it was considered necessary to remove the membranes by manually “unbuttoning” the attachments.

Research has shown that manual removal can be detrimental to uterine health and future conception rates.

Administration of antibiotics usually will guard against infection and the placenta will slough out in 4 to 7 days.

Contact your veterinarian for the proper management of retained placenta. An important ingredient for your calving season preparation is the Oklahoma State University Extension Circular E-1006: Calving Time Management for Beef Cows and Heifers. Cow calf producers will want to download this free circular and read it before the first calf is born this spring. FF Source: Oklahoma State University

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BALANCERS® | GELBVIEH | SIMANGUSTM | SIMMENTAL | FUSIONTM | ANGUS | RED ANGUS

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Editorial

Bull Selection Principles—Be an Educated Consumer Matt Spangler, UNL Associate Professor and Beef Genetics Extension Specialist

F

or many, this is the time of year when bull purchasing decisions occur. Before you buy a bull, consider what you need to improve.

The key questions that every rancher needs to answer are: 1. What are my breeding/marketing goals?

2. What traits directly impact the profitability of my enterprise?

3. Are there environmental constraints that dictate the level of performance that is acceptable for a given trait in my enterprise?

Pound-Makin’ GENETICS

Once these three questions are answered, sire selection becomes much simpler. The answers to these questions inherently lead a producer to the traits that are economically relevant to their enterprise. We call these traits Economically Relevant Traits (ERT).

Fundamentally these are traits that are directly associated with a revenue stream or a cost. All traits that are not ERTs are indicator traits, or a trait that is genetically correlated to an ERT but not an ERT itself.

A classic example of an indicator trait is birth weight.

Selection to decrease birth weight in an attempt to reduce the prevalence of dystocia is practiced by numerous commercial bull buyers. However, birth weight does not have a direct revenue source or cost associated with it. The trait that does have a cost associated with it is calving ease (or difficulty). Calving ease is related to the level of assistance needed during a calving event. Although ® the two are related, the genetic correlation between calving ease Red or Black • All Polled • PAP Tested and birth weight is only between -0.6 and -0.8, suggesting that birth Bulls available to view at 10:30 a.m. weight only explains 36-64% of the genetic differences between animals Lunch @ Noon • Sale at 1 p.m. for calving difficulty. Consequently, to reduce calving difficulty, bulls should be selected based on calving ease EPD and birth weight EPD should be ignored.

MARCH 2, 2019 Bull Sale

A Powerful Set of Gelbvieh and Balancer Bulls

Put Pounds on the Truck!

And Quality Carcass on The Rail

Sega Gelbvieh Steve & Gail Fiolkoski 16509 WCR 86 • Pierce, CO 80650 Gail’s Cell: 970/590-4862 • Steve’s Cell: 970/381-0600 Email: gafiolk@aol.com • www.segagelbvieh.com

72 | February 2019

Sale catalog online at: www.segagelbvieh.com Like us on Facebook @segagelbvieh

Selecting to improve multiple traits simultaneously can be cumbersome, but is necessary given multiple traits act together to inform the profitability of cowcalf enterprises. Just open up any sale catalog and it is easy to become

confused immediately. Economic indices can help alleviate this confusion.

An economic index is a collection of EPDs weighted by their economic value such that traits with greater impacts on production goals have a larger economic weight associated with them. These tools allow producers to select bulls based on their genetic potential to improve net profit.

When making selection decisions based on economic indices, it’s important to consider your particular breeding objective and the traits that will achieve desired production goals. For instance, if your production goals included retaining replacements and selling cull heifers and steer progeny at weaning, then an index that assumes all offspring are sold on a grid-based system is inappropriate for your operation.

It is also important to know the breed average values for particular indexes and to use percentile ranks to determine how far above or below average a particular animal is compared to the rest of a breed.

For more information relative to EPDs and selection indices, go to www.eBeef.org FF

The Profit Picture | 73

39th Annual Bull Sale • Monday, February 25, 2019

1:00 p.m. CST (Lunch at 11) • At the Ranch • 20453 Cendak Rd, Pierre, SD

Selling 80 Black and Red, Gelbvieh and Balancer® BullS Catalog and videos at www.BeastromRanch.com & www.DVAuction.com

Born to Breed, Bred to Perform

BEAS 8900F • 3/11/18

BABR 8309F• 3/7/18

BA50 • Sire: BABR Intensity 4248B

PC25 • Sire: HXC Conquest 4405P

BABR 8320F • 3/4/18

BEA 807F • 3/22/18

BABR 8307F • 3/10/18

BABR 8342F • 3/6/18

PB88 • Sire: BABR 5201C Reload ET

PC50 • Sire: BEA Closer 301A

BA50 • Sire: BABR “Stewart” 6350D

BA50 • Sire: BABR Capone 5200C

Our 2019 sale offering excels in structure, function and pounds. Both the sons and daughters of our herd sires offer real world fleshing ability backed by generations of productive females that take the “guess work” out of each calf crop. The sale will be broadcast live DVAuction.com. Catalog and videos of all lots will also be available on www.BeastromRanch.com or www.DVAuction.com. Please join us February 25th. Visitors are always welcome.

Watch and bid live online at DVAuction.com Wes & Brittney Spencer 605-280-0204

Jim & Barb Beastrom 605-224-5789

Shad & Brandy Ludemann 605-280-3915

Southern States

Breeders Corner

ALABAMA Kittle Gelbvieh Farms Q u a l i t y B l a ck & R e d G e l b v i e h C a t t l e

Dustin Kittle

816 Co. Rd. 36 Geraldine, AL 35974 Cell (256) 996-5822 www.kittlefarms.com

ARKANSAS

H ODGES R ANCH

Neal

(870) 426-4469 or (870) 704-9450

Martin Cattle Company David & Rita Martin

256 Boyce Road Judsonia, Ar 72081 C: 501.278.7614 www.martincattleco.com

Private Treaty Sales Available Year Round

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

Quality Gelbvieh & Balancer Genetics Available Private Treaty Sales

Duane Miller

Cell: 870-84405664 duane83@centurytel.net www.millergelbvieh.com

OKLAHOMA LeGRAND Ed & Alberta LeGrand

809 S. Redlands Rd. • Stillwater, OK 74074

405-747-6950 • alane@c21global.com

Homo. Black, Homo. Polled • Breeding Stock Available

Koehn Cattle Co. Patrick Koehn

73243 Carter Rd., Goltry, OK 580-541-2633 koehncattlecompany@gmail.com

Gelbvieh Genetics at Work

EXCEPTIONAL BULLS & HEIFERS

TRUCKING AVAILABLE

TEXAS

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

(281) 341-5686 • Ranch (979) 561-8144

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

The Profit Picture | 75

Editorial

Trick your Cows into Calving in Daylight Hours

P

roducers who want more cows and heifers calving in daylight hours should try to delay putting out hay and cubes until late in the day.

“It may sound like an old wives’ tale, but it works and has unbiased research behind it,” said Eldon Cole, a livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension.

There are many reasons producers like calves to be born in daylight hours, Cole said. First, it’s usually warmer.

Second, it’s easier to find assistance from a neighbor or a veterinarian. A third reason could be fewer sleepless nights for the owner or caretaker of the cows.

“The late feeding time should start at least four weeks before the beginning of the calving season,” he said.

“Research trials from Canada and the United States have varied the late feeding time from 4 in the afternoon to 10 p.m.”

76 | February 2019

There are some problems if a producer has cattle on pasture where they can graze all day. Some Missouri cattle producers who strip-graze stockpiled fescue religiously can wait until late afternoon to move the fence to fresh pasture.

“The class of females that are of most need for daytime calving are first-calf heifers,” Cole said. “If your management system allows your feeding time to be altered to very late afternoon, I would encourage you to try it.”

Field studies and researchers have seen daytime calvings move to around 80 percent or higher when late-in-the-day feeding is practiced, he said. FF Source: University of Missouri Extension

BULLS... BULLS... BULLS... 10th Anniversary Sale

Genetic POWER Gelbvieh and Balancer® Bull Sale J Bar M Gelbvieh JKGF DITKA E970

•

SATURDAY, MARCH 9 1:00 PM CST • SPRINGFIELD, MO SPRINGFIELD LIVESTOCK MARKETING CENTER

J & K Gelbvieh Farms JKGF FRONTIER E008

PB 88% Gelbvieh Bull Heterozygous Black Homozygous Polled Sire: DLW New Frontier 33A ET Dam: JKGF A008 Full brother to JKGF Eight Seconds (AI Sire) Top 1% marbling, top 2% FPI, top 15% WW, YW

JKGF LEVERAGE E104 ET 50% Balancer Bull Homozygous Black Homozygous Polled Sire: JKGF Ditka C85 Dam: JKGF Miss Kara Z97 ET Top 5% WW, top 15% YW, top 20% CE

JEMG J BAR M E850 ET

63% Balancer Bull Homozygous Polled Sire: BGGR Gravity 803A Dam: JEMG Lee Ann 650U Maternal brother to 3 AI sires Top 10% WW, top 15% YW

Purebred 88% Gelbvieh Bull Homozygous Black Homozygous Polled Sire: CCRO Carolina Leverage 3214A Dam: JKGF Miss Fortune C106 ET Top 1% for WW, YW and FPI, top 2% MB & REA

JEMG J BAR M E531 ET

63% Balancer Bull Homozygous Polled Sire: BGGR Gravity 803A Dam: JEMG Lee Ann 650U Maternal brother to 3 AI sires Top 10% WW, top 15% YW

•

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

•

100% of bulls selling are sired by leading AI sires

•

All bulls sell with a First Breeding Season Guarantee

Selling 100 Gelbvieh and Balancer® Bulls FALL 16-18 MONTH OLD BLACK AND RED BULLS • SPRING YEARLING BLACK AND RED BULLS Many bulls selling are homozygous black and/or homozygous polled.

J BAR M GELBVIEH Jon E. & Edna Miller

1221 NE US Hwy 50, Knob Noster, MO 65336

660-620-9708 cell

Please no Sunday calls!

J & K GELBVIEH FARMS, INC. Jerry & Karen Wilson 335 Gelbvieh Lane, Ava, IL 62907 618-521-8620

Broadcasting Real-Time Auctions

www.mms.bz SALE MANAGEMENT BY: Mitchell Marketing Service Chris Mitchell 334-695-1371

BULLS

FOR SALE Purebred and Balancer Bulls.

Yearlings, Fall Aged, and Select Older Bulls. Also selling 10 RED PUREBRED BULLS! AVAILABLE NOW BY PRIVATE TREATY. Contact Brad Ridinger at 303-810-0582 or email Carol@RidingerCattleCo.com Visit www.RidingerCattleCo.com for more information.

Many full and half brothers are available, including these two!

RID R BANDIT 7140E ET - BA63 AAD R Lawman 1467B x SEPT Promises A701 ET CED: 10 BW: 1.7 WW: 67 YW: 102 MK: 20 ST: 11 CW: 29 REA: 0.65 MB: 0.25 FPI: 73.05

RID R BUFORD T JUSTICE 7151E - BA63 AAD R Lawman 1467B x SEPT Promises A701 ET CED: 10 BW: 2.1 WW: 72 YW: 108 MK: 18 ST: 11 CW: 29 REA: 0.65 MB: 0.25 FPI: 75.43

Ridinger Cattle Company, LLC Brad & Carol Ridinger • Deer Trail, CO • www.RidingerCattleCo.com Brad: 303-810-0582 • Carol: 303-517-1871 • Carol@RidingerCattleCo.com Follow us on Facebook at Ridinger Cattle Co. Visit our website, call, or message us for more information. Listings of available bulls will be posted on our website and Facebook page. We welcome you to the ranch to view the bulls!

Breeders Corner

Western States ARIZONA The Prosser Family

MONTANA Quality livestock that Work for you Quarter Horses Want to Please Strong Bone Intelligent Athletic

Gelbvieh Carcass Quality Calving Ease Tenderness Docility

1496 Goose Creek Rd. • Raynesford, MT 59469 Ranch Phone: 406.738.4220 • BarJRGelbvieh@3rivers.net BarJRGelbvieh.com

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

www.bartbar.com • info@bartbar.com

RFI Tested Balancer®, Gelbvieh & Angus Bulls Sell Annually in April at the Ranch

COLORADO

Barry & Dena Bolton

406.538.5280 H 406.366.0162 C 515 Knapp Lane PO Box 826 Hilger, MT 59451 dena@boltondoublebranch.com www.boltondoublebranch.com

WASHINGTON LEDGERWOOD GELBVIEH Gelbvieh • Red Angus • Balancer® Pete & Samee Charriere

FL

2633 Hwy 12 East • Clarkston, WA 99403

509-566-8805 • LedgerwoodGelbvieh@gmail.com “Seedstock that work for the commercial cattleman

WYOMING

9/9

Nine Bar Nine Gelbvieh Wesley Brown

3794 Rd. 215 • Cheyenne, WY 82009 307-351-6453 • ninebar9@hotmail.com Purebred Bulls, Heifers & Select Embryos Performance BRED in, Not FED in!

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

We want to keep up with AGA members.

(970) 323-6833

www.bowkranch.com

Females for Sale Private Treaty “Pot of Gold” Gelbvieh Angus & Balancer® Bull Sale

Please send in information to be included in the Gelbvieh World, the Profit Picture and on our website:

Fri., February 22, 2019 • Montrose, CO

Jim Roelle 38330 CR 49 Peetz, CO 80747

(H): 970-334-2221 • (C): 970-520-1224 jr.plateau@hotmail.com www.plateaugelbvieh.com

NEVADA

• Items for Events of Interest • News for Information Exchange • Dates for upcoming shows and field days.

• State Association news Plus, add us to your mailing lists when sending out sale catalogs.

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

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

Send all items to: Gelbvieh World 350 Interlocken Blvd., Ste. 200 Broomfield, CO 80021 lynnv@gelbvieh.org

The Profit Picture | 79

Editorial

The Accumulating Impacts and Costs of Trade Wars

By Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist

E

volving market dynamics make it easy to underestimate how the impacts and costs of trade issues will continue to grow in 2019. Many agricultural markets have been impacted thus far and the damage will grow and spread unless resolutions are forthcoming promptly. Trade issues will have accumulating impacts in a variety of ways as more time passes.

The most obvious impacts of trade wars are the direct impacts of tariffs and disruptions in trade flows in specific markets. This includes numerous agricultural markets; in particular soybeans and pork as a result of reciprocal tariffs with China; and pork and dairy markets as a result of the retaliatory tariffs from U.S. imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum. The new NAFTA (USMCA) agreement is not yet ratified and implemented but, in any event, much of the benefit is negated by these other tariffs. Economic impacts of tariffs may be initially limited mostly to changes in margins

if the disruptions are perceived to be short-lived. Later the impacts will evolve from the initial market shock to larger and more permanent adjustments. With more time and on-going uncertainty about trade issues, more and more of the cost of tariffs are passed on to buyers; alternative products flows develop; and lost market shares become much more difficult to undo. The direct costs of tariffs are difficult to measure but certainly grow over time.

Even more difficult to measure are the lost opportunities associated with trade issues. It’s difficult to know how much you lost from something you never had. For example, the U.S. withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) two years ago. The remaining eleven countries continued and launched the revised TPP (CPTPP) in January 2019. Not only does the U.S. not have the benefit of tariff adjustments and increased market access with TPP; going forward the U.S. will

One of the West’s most outstanding offerings of yearling and coming two-year-old Gelbvieh, Angus and Balancer Bulls

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be increasingly less competitive and likely lose ground relative to TPP participants. The stated U.S. intention to negotiate bilateral trade deals with Japan and others has so far not resulted in new agreements or even serious discussions. Any agreements that may result are many months if not years away. In China, the U.S. beef industry had barely begun to build on the market access achieved in 2017 before tariffs hit in 2018.

What was expected to be a lengthy process to grow market share for U.S. beef is now at a standstill. While the tariffs didn’t result in significant direct impact since little U.S. beef was exported to China but it certainly is restricting any chance for U.S. beef to participate in the growing Chinese market for beef.

Finally, the uncertainty of global trade turmoil takes a significant but largely immeasurable toll on the economy. It is nearly impossible to know how much trade and investment has been postponed or abandoned as a result of trade uncertainty the past two years. The combined direct impacts; lost trade opportunities; and on-going uncertainty are reducing growth potential for U.S. and global economies and those impacts are likely to grow in 2019 barring improvement in trade issues. The U.S. macro economy has been strong thus far but that doesn’t mean that there were no trade impacts and, more importantly, it doesn’t mean that the economy can continue to absorb trade related blows without more obvious damage.

The beef industry enjoyed strong demand and supportive trade in 2018 but who knows what it might have been without trade impacts. More importantly, growing trade impacts on domestic and international markets could mean that (obvious) negative impacts will be apparent in 2019 while lost opportunities that are less obvious will no doubt continue and grow. FF Source: Oklahoma State University

The Profit Picture | 81

Breeders Corner KANSAS

Midwest States

Judd Ranch Inc.

Bar Arrow Cattle Company

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

26 E. Limestone Rd. • Phillipsburg, KS 67661

LIZ OSWALD 620.662.0862 (h) ANDY OSWALD 620.662.5489 (o) 620.664.4692 (c)

HUTCHINSON, KS

CORY HOFFMAN Herdsman 620.960.1189 (c) oswald.j@sbcglobal.net

S

G

ie elbv

John & Carla Shearer

620.628.4621

Annual Production Sale 1st Saturday in April

diamond v gelbvieh Randy odle

Harriman Santa fe

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

82 | February 2019

#1 Active Balancer Sire “B006” Marb & Feeder Profit Index (feedlot performance, carcass merit)

Balancer & SimAngus Bulls & Females

Bob Harriman (660) 492-2504

Private Treaty Listing www.bhsf.us

bharriman39@hotmail.com

Transfer the registration on the bulls you sell and give your customers the tools to become more profitable.

WWW.KANSASBULLS.COM

660 • 492 • 2808

Top of the breed sales (every day)

Send his credentials with him...

Orrin & Kevin Holle Oberlin, KS 785.626.0081

Balancer® Bulls on K-31

Route 1, Box 407 • Butler, MO 64730

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

1210 G Rd. Stockton, ks 67669 785.737.3319 diamondv@live.com Building Gelbvieh Genetics since 1989

Holle Gelbvieh

Specializing in Forage Raised

For information, contact:

2815 Navajo Rd. • Canton, KS 67428 circle_s@hometelco.net 620.654.6507 (John Cell) • 620.654.6731 (Johnny Cell)

B/F Cattle Company Culling practices on cows/bulls second to NONE!

h

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

e-mail: knappa@swbell.net

MISSOURI

Stuar t Jar vis

e-mail: bararrow@ruraltel.net • 785/543-5177

Purebred A.I. Seedstock Bulls and Heifers Available.

Al, Mary & Nick Knapp Cell: (913) 219-6613 18291 158th Street H: (913) 724-4105 Bonner Springs, KS 66012 FAX: (913) 724-4107

Breeders Corner

Midwest States

NEBRASKA

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

Committed to raising quality seedstock Registered Gelbvieh and Balancer® Cattle

Elmer, Brenda, Brad & Benny McWilliams Asbury, MO 64832 • 417-642-5871 • 417-529-0081(cell)

GELBVIEHV BALANCERV ANGUS

Private Treaty Bull & Heifer Sales • Orchard, NE Val Livingston • www.88ranch.com • 402-655-2288

Squeakin’ By-LK Farms Gelbvieh Bulls Black

Kyle & Lori Kuker Shubert, NE

Balancer Females Red

402-883-7246

402-883-2366 402-245-7512 sqblkfarms.com Facebook.com/sqblkfarms sqblkfarms@gmail.com

J. J. Boehler

NOWACK

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

Cattle Company Owensville, MO

Registered Gelbvieh & Balancer Cattle

Jared, Caisie, Brooke & Cameron

Gilbert & Debra

573.280.4633 573.646.3477 Bulls marketed through Seedstock Plus Go to seedstockplus.com for sale dates, catalogs & videos

Cedar Top Ranch Scott & Raberta Starr 212 Starr Drive • Stapleton, NE 69163

Jeff Swanson • 308/337-2235 10908 724 Road • Oxford, NE 68967 Annual Sale—Last Saturday in February

GELBVIEH

BALANCER

(H): 308-587-2293 • (C): 308-530-3900 cedartopranch@gpcom.net

ROCKING GV GELBVIEH

Eldon Starr: 1-800-535-6173 or Rich Johnson: 402-368-2209

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

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Polled Fullblood Gelbvieh Cattle

Nebraska & Missouri Kyle Helms – NE Cody Helms – NE/MO 308-962-6940 303-842-9071

RogeRs Valley FaRm gelbVieh

Missouri Office 417-309-0062

Visit us at– www.flyinghgenetics.com Flying H Genetics

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Consistent Genetics Adding Pounds & Profit

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

417-753-3578(h) • 417-576-0687(c)

email: whiteoakfarms@live.com

Registered Gelbvieh & Balancer®

Gelbvieh F Balancer F Red Angus F Angus F Angus Hybrids Randy & Leslie Lemke 1757 Road 2500, (H) 402-756-7090 Lawrence, NE 68957 (C) 402-469-2284 rllemke@gtmc.net www.lemkecattle.com

Promote Your Operation Advertise with a State Round-up ad in the two issues of the Profit Picture and the Herd Reference issue of Gelbvieh World

For information about advertising, call Lynn at the AGA office • 303.465.2333 The Profit Picture | 83

Editorial

Managing Limited Hay Supplies

By Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler, Associate Extension Professor, University of Kentucky

Steps: 1.

Determine hay needs – Hay needed to overwinter a cow can be estimated relatively easily. If you know the mature weights of your cows, multiply the average weight by 3% and then by the expected number of days you will feed hay. For example, if cows at a body condition score 5 weigh 1,300 lbs, the daily hay needed would be 1,300 lb * 3%/100 = 39 lbs. Assume you began feeding hay November 15 and expect to feed until April 15, the hay needed equals daily intake in lbs X Number of months X 30 = 39 lbs X 5 months X 30 = 5,850 lbs. If bales provide 800 lbs of good forage (exclude rot/spoiled hay), the number of bales needed would be 5,850 lb /800 lb/bale = 7.3 bales/cow for the feeding period. Always add 10-20% more due to feeding losses, spoilage and longer feeding periods. Inventory hay stores in the early winter as hay will be cheaper at the start of the winter as opposed to later when hay stocks are lower.

2.

Match hay quality to animal needs – Use limited forage wisely by matching quality to stage of production. Growing and lactating animals have the highest nutritional needs. As you consider the annual production of a beef cow, nutritionally we tend to break them out to late gestation, early lactation, late lactation, and the dry, mid-gestation period. During late gestation, particularly the last 60-75 days before calving, the fetus is growing rapidly increasing nutrient needs of the cow. Additionally, mammary tissue development and colostrum formation require additional nutrients. As cows calve and freshen, nutritional requirements increase with milk production. Peak milk production occurs around eight weeks post-calving and corresponds with the highest nutritional needs during the production year. Nutritional needs may decrease after peak as milk production decreases. However, some research has shown that cows may sustain high levels of milk production out to 120 days post-calving. Thus, it is important to monitor cow body condition through lactation and make feeding adjustments as needed.

This is important for fall calving beef cows as they may require additional supplementation to support higher

84 | February 2019

levels of milk production. Feed the highest quality forage during lactation to minimize body condition loss and supplementation needs. As cows are weaned and milk production ceases, nutritional needs are greatly reduced.

Dry, non-lactating cows that have weaned 6-8 month old calves should be in the second trimester of gestation. The nutritional needs to support fetal development at this point are low and corresponds to the lowest nutritional requirements for the production year. Utilize lower quality forages at this point to conserve higher quality forages for other phases of production. See the table below for guidelines on forage quality needed at different stages of production for mature beef cows. These assume cows are in good body condition and no environmental stress (i.e. mud, wet haircoats, etc…).

Stage of Production Dry, mid-gestation Late gestation Early lactation

% TDN 45-50% 50-55% 60-65%

% CP 7-8% 8-9% 10-12%

Less Time – Limited hay stores can be stretched if you have the ability to limit the amount of time cows have access to the hay. This can only be done for mature cows that are in the dry, mid-gestational stage of production and are 5-6 body condition scores. Young and thin cows need additional feed to grow and replenish body stores and should not be limit fed. Purdue research demonstrated that limiting access to 8-12 hours did not have detrimental impacts on body weight or condition of mature cows. In this work, restricting access to hay to 8 hours reduced hay disappearance by approximately 15%. Restricting access time to hay, however, resulted in a linear decrease in body weight gain in young, second calf cows. Researchers at the University of Illinois reported findings from a similar study. Simmental cows in the last trimester were limit fed for approximately 90 days. Access time to hay in this study was ad libitum (free-choice), 9, 6 or 3 hours. Hay disappearance decreased from 34 lbs Continued on page 86

13th Annual

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Editorial

Continued from page 84

of dry matter for free-choice cows to approximately 18 lbs for cows having only 3 hours of hay access. Cow body weight gains decreased linearly as the time restriction increased. Body condition score changes followed similar trends to weight changes. In the second trial conducted hay access was restricted to only 6 or 9 hours. Again, hay disappearance decreased as access time was limited.

Body weight and body condition score changes were not impacted by restricting hay access in this trial. These studies utilized above average quality grass/legume hay.

The level or degree of restriction will be dependent on the quality of the forage. Low quality forage should not be restricted. Cows will need to consume as much low quality forage as they can due to the low digestibility and low nutrient concentrations. If this management is used, the herd will need to be separated by age and production as lactating cows, late gestational and young or thin cows should not be restricted.

3.

Reduce feeding losses – Managing hay feeding can also aid in stretching limited hay stocks. Research demonstrated increased losses when unrolling hay on the ground. Hay is trampled into the mud from being walked and laid upon. Defecation and urination on hay will prevent intake as well. Research from North Dakota has also demonstrated that feeding with a hay processor on the ground leads to increased hay losses compared to feeding in a hay ring. Leaf shatter and small forage particle loss leads to lowered utilization.

If using a processor and one wants to minimize losses, place processed hay in a feeder or bunk rather than on the ground. Hay rings should have sheeting around the bottom to minimize hay losses. Improved designs that keep bales elevated on the ground while allowing dropped hay to fall within the hay feeder also lower feeding losses. These feeders are more expensive up front but if hay is expensive, they can lower feeding costs. It is important these hay feeders are managed. If hay builds up inside the feeder and the cattle don’t consume the hay due to rot or mold, move the hay ring. If the hay is not of low quality, allow animals to consume the hay that is lying on the ground within the ring before placing a new bale in the feeder. Allowing the hay to build up to the top of the ring/sheeting/tire in these newer designs will increase losses when a new bale is offered as hay will fall out over the edge of the ring or tire. Further, placing hay rings on a feeding pad can lower losses from hay that

86 | February 2019

falls outside the ring on the ground. This hay may be consumed off the ground on a feeding pad while it would otherwise be trampled into the mud around the feeder.

4.

Hay replacement – Replacing hay with other feedstuffs to supply the nutrients needed is feasible. A word of caution, when restricting hay the rumen will not be full. Stretch receptors on the rumen will lead to cows seeking to eat something even though nutritionally they won’t need to eat. This can lead to tree and fence damage or even cows getting out looking for something to eat.

Giving access to low quality forage ad lib can curb this by giving cows something to eat and fill the rumen. Corn stover, wheat straw and other low quality forages can be used.The typical fescue hay will contain 50-54% TDN and 7-9% protein on a dry matter basis. If one were to offer 1 lb of dried distillers grains, the protein supplied would be the equivalent of 3-4 lbs of hay while the energy from the distiller grains would replace 1.75 lb of hay. For dry, gestating cows soybean hulls can be used to replace average grass hay at a rate of 1.5 lbs of soyhulls per pound of hay. Cows should always be offered at least 8-10 lbs of long stemmed forage to maintain rumen health and lower the incidence of bloat. Other feedstuffs can be used to develop a low hay diet for beef cows. Be sure to work with a nutritionist to ensure the nutrient needs of the cows are met and to lower the risk of digestive disorders.

Other nutrients should not be overlooked. The rumen is approximately 80% moisture and a beef cow may need 10-20 gallons of water a day. If water availability is restricted, intakes will be depressed and milk or performance will be reduced. A high quality loose mineral should be provided at all times to ensure mineral and vitamin requirements are met. If supplement is offered, considered including an ionophore such as monensin or lasalocid to improve energy efficiency.

Research has demonstrated the cows will maintain similar body condition when fed 200 mg/hd/d of monensin on 5-10% less feed.

Sound management will allow you to conserve hay without sacrificing animal productivity. Remember that the animals’ nutritional needs should always come first.

Work with your local county extension office or nutritionist to ensure the nutritional needs will be met. Here’s to not losing a boot in the mud. FF Source: Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky

Editorial

Preparing for Calving Aaron Berger, Nebraska Extension Beef Educator

P

lanning and preparing for the calving season can help to minimize calf loss, increasing the percent calf crop at weaning.

For some the calving season is almost upon us, while for others, the start of the calving season is still a few months away. The following are practices to consider in preparing for the upcoming calving season.

1. Pay attention to nutrition needs of bred heifers or cows prior to calving. Adequate body condition at the time of calving for young females and mature cows is important as it impacts stamina during delivery of the calf, colostrum quality, calf vigor, and also impacts subsequent rebreeding.

Adequate nutrition during the last trimester of pregnancy and especially the last 50 to 60 days prior to calving is important. Two-year-old heifers and three-year-old cows are vulnerable during this time period. These young females are still growing themselves while growing a calf inside them. As this calf grows and takes up room, rumen capacity is impacted and the amount of feed the young female can eat is reduced. The impact of this condition can be compounded when this time period prior to calving coincides with bitter cold weather and available forage that is low in energy and protein. Body condition can deteriorate rapidly under these conditions.

2. Review with your veterinarian your herd health plan.

The production system should be discussed, identifying critical control points where management could reduce risk and effectively improve herd health. Utilize treatment records from last year to identify particular areas where problems occurred. Use this information to develop a plan to specifically address management options to mitigate health problems that have historically been an issue. If needed records have not been kept, what records should be kept in the upcoming year that would provide information that would be helpful in making management and husbandry decisions?

3. Examine calving facilities making sure they are in good working order. Frequently it has been 9 to 10 months since calving facilities have been used. Inspect gates,

88 | February 2019

pens, alleys and head catches, fixing or replacing broken items. Good lighting is an important part of a calving facility. Check lights and have replacement bulbs on hand.

Thoroughly clean calving areas, pens and barns. Starting the calving season with clean areas can help slow the development of health problems related to “dirty” areas that can encourage disease proliferation.

4. Check your calving supplies. Make sure you have on hand plastic sleeves, obstetrical lube, obstetrical chains or straps, esophageal feeders and calf feeding bottles. Have a conversation with your veterinarian about products they would recommend that you have on hand to address common treatments for calving related problems. This can include things such as oxytocin, and antimicrobials.

Products to address post-calving complications such as calcium solutions and electrolytes could be beneficial as well. Having these products readily available allows for timely use and can enhance the likelihood that animals will recover when treatment is needed.

Test flashlights or spotlights to make sure they are working as well. Inventory halters, ropes, and other tools that may be needed. Make sure the fetal extractor (calf puller) is clean and working properly.

5. Review the stages of parturition (calving) and understand when assistance is needed. There are several good Extension resources available to producers to help them identify and understand the stages of calving. “Assisting the Beef Cow at Calving Time” from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension and “Calving and Handling Calving Difficulties” by Robert Mortimer DVM Emeritus Faculty from Colorado State University are two such resources. Review how to correct abnormal presentations and assist the heifer or cow during calving.

Knowing your limitations and when it is time to call your veterinarian could save the calf ’s life, the cow’s life or both.

6. Have colostrum or colostrum replacement products on hand. Absorption of quality colostrum is critical for passive immunity. The calf ’s ability for absorption of immunoglobulin across the intestine decreases rapidly 6

to 12 hours after birth. Therefore it is critical that the calf receive colostrum during this time. It is a good practice to immediately milk out a heifer or cow when she is assisted at calving and provide this colostrum to the calf. When possible, have the calves nurse to get this colostrum.

If quality or quantity of the colostrum is a concern, other sources of colostrum or colostrum replacement products should be used. Use caution when bringing outside sources of colostrum into the herd as disease transfer can occur. The best source of colostrum is from within your own herd. Colostrum replacement products can be a good option to utilize when calves are not vigorous at birth, after a prolonged calving event, cold stress or where there is poor maternal bonding. Visit with your veterinarian about which colostrum replacement products are best for your operation.

7. Have a plan and equipment for warming calves if calving during cold weather. Calves born during cold, wet conditions can quickly succumb to hypothermia. Have facilities, tools and supplies on hand to deal with this type of event. For mild hypothermia, (body temperature between 94 and 100°F) giving a calf warm, body temperature colostrum or colostrum replacement products along with drying the calf off with towels and warm air can quickly bring a calf ’s temperature back to normal. For extreme hypothermia a combination of warm colostrum with a warm bath can be used. Calves should be dry, alert and have a normal body temperature before being returned to their mother.

8. Plan to provide wind protection along with a clean, dry environment. Wet, muddy conditions are stressful both to cows and calves. This kind of environment also provides a situation where disease proliferation is more likely to occur.

A fresh crop of calves is something cow-calf producers look forward to each year. Having a plan and preparing ahead of time for the calving season can help to minimize calf loss and reduce stress on those caring for the cowherd.

For more information on management practices to improve calving success, visit the beef.unl.edu website. FF

Gelbvieh/Balancer® Show 1:00 PM ET, Friday, March 1, 2019

Gelbvieh/Balancer® Sale

11:30 AM ET, Saturday, March 2, 2019

Junior Heifer & Steer Show

8:00 AM ET, Sunday, March 3, 2019

Selling 35 Lots:

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

2018 Beef Expo Champions

Grand Champion Gelbvieh Bull Dream Works 740E Consigned by Daryl & Carrie Dorossett, KY Purchased by Circle T Gelbvieh, KY

Grand Champion Balancer Bull American Gambler Consigned by Green Hills Gelbvieh, NC Purchased by Janine LeRoux, KY

Grand Champion Gelbvieh Female Miss Bertie 960D Consigned by Gentle G Farm, KY Purchased by Kevin Mohl, TX

Grand Champion Balancer Female Damzel 626D Consigned by Pleasant Meadows Farm, KY Purchased by Cave Creek Cattle, TN

Sale Managed by: Slaughter Sale Management David Slaughter 162 Hasting Lane Fredonia, KY 42411 270-556-4259

Source: University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Like us on Facebook at Slaughter Sale Management

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

The Profit Picture | 89

Breeders Corner IOWA

Upper Midwest States

MINNESOTA

6700 County Rd. 19 S. Minot, ND 58701 (701) 624-2051 (H) (701) 720-8823 (C)

Brandywine Farm

Rob Arnold

Email: RLAGelbvieh@aol.com

Registered Gelbvieh & Balancers®

Tom Scarponcini 30474 Brandywine Road Rushford, MN 55971

507-864-2063

GS

Ridge Top Ranch Neola, Iowa

Gelbvieh-Angus-Balancer Black & Polled Private Treaty Sales

Breed-leading Performance from Quality Genetics

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

Gelbvieh

SFI Schafer Farms, Inc.

37740 240th Ave., Goodhue, MN 55027 Brian Schafer Lowell Schafer 1-888-226-9210 651-923-4587 brian@schaferfarm.com www.schaferfarm.com

Street inquist 1135 190 inquist Fonda, IA 50540

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

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

u

Dennis & Sherry Gustin Mandan, ND • 701/663-7266 email: gustindd@gmail.com Family www.gustinsdiamondd.com Al and Peggy Gustin

Private Treaty Bull Sale — Last Sat. in February Annually

SwenSon Gelbvieh

Ricky Linquist th

Balancer®

u

Dean Swenson

17513 Hwy 10 Little Falls, MN 56345 swen@centurylink.net (h) 320.632.5848 • (c) 320.630-5536

Polled • Purebred • Red • Black

SOUTH DAKOTA

LONE OAK

Promote Your Operation

C AT T L E

Eric Ehresman 20963 30th St. Mechanicsville, IA 52306

hornsandthorns@netins.net

(319) 489-2275 (319) 480-1564

Martens Gelbvieh

Gary Martens 2126 500th St • Walnut, IA 51577 712.764.5007 (H) • 712.249.5744 (C) martensgl@yahoo.com

Advertise with a State Round-up ad in the two issues of the Profit Picture and the Herd Reference issue of Gelbvieh World Call Lynn at the AGA office • 303.465.2333

Triple H Farms Roy & Nancy Holste 3113 260th Street Clarinda, IA 51632

712-303-0263 • 712-303-1947

Bulls and Heifers for sale Private Treaty

90 | February 2019

Bulls and Heifers for sale by private treaty (605) 354-2428 Cell gerald@adkinsgelbvieh.com Gerald & Sarah Adkins www.adkinsgelbvieh.com 41606 195th St., Carpenter, SD 57322

NORTH DAKOTA Beastrom Gelbvieh Ranch Chimney Butte RanCh

Annual Bull and Female sale in March with the Southwest Iowa Gelbvieh Group

HH H

ADKINS GELBVIEH

Gelbvieh & Balancer Performance Genetics

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

Jim & Barb Beastrom Brandy Ludemann, Brittney Spencer

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

Doug & Carol Hille

3320 51 Street, Mandan, ND 58554 701-445-7383 or 701-220-2083 st

Email: chimneybutteranch@westriv.com Website: chimneybutteranch.com Annual Production Sale 1st Friday in March

lori.maude@gmail.com

Lori Maude 303.809.3789 (C) Julie Maude 605.381.2803 (C)

Hermosa, SD

Annual Bull Sale 3rd Saturday in December.

Upper Midwest States

Breeders Corner

Northeast States 34261 200th Street, Highmore, SD 57345 AJ Munger 605-521-4468 Commercial Sales Andy LeDoux 785-527-3188 Registered Sales 1-855-303-BULL • www.eaglepassranch.com

Send his credentials with him...

ILLINOIS J & K GELBVIEH FARM, INC. Jerry & Karen Wilson 335 Gelbvieh Lane, Ava, IL 62907 618-521-8620 • jkgf88@frontier.com

REGISTERED GELBVIEH AND BALANCER®

INDIANA

Transfer the registration on the bulls you sell and give your customers the tools to become more profitable.

• Provides access to value added marketing services for customer’s calves • Commercial customers receive a free 1-year subscription to Gelbvieh World and the Profit Picture • Allows customers to track pedigree information to manage inbreeding and maximize heterosis

3 G Ranch

Thorstenson Gelbvieh

Selby, South Dakota Annual Bull Sale 1st Saturday in March

Brian & Dee Dee 605-649-9927

Vaughn & Wendy 605-649-6262

www.Balancerbulls.com

Keith, Janice, Dustin & Britney 605-852-2131

kvolek@venturecomm.net

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

Gelbvieh Cattle For Sale Carl, Rebecca & Emily Griffiths

1577 N 600 E • Kendallville, IN 46755

260/897-2160 • ggge3g@embarqmail.com

Your call or visit is Always Welcome

OHIO

Get ready for upcoming sales!

Advertise in Gelbvieh World or the Profit Picture

350 Interlocken Blvd., Ste. 200 Broomfield, CO 80021 303-465-2333 www.gelbvieh.org

The Profit Picture | 91

Breeders Corner All your A.I. needs!!

Bull Barn Genetics 35 Years in business

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

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Service Center

Ronn Cunningham AUCTIONEER P.O. Box 146 • Rose, OK 74364 918-629-9382 cellular

Eldon & Kathy Starr

210 Starr Dr • Stapleton, NE 69163 bullbarn@bullbarn.com 800-535-6173 www.bullbarn.com

Dan McCarty • Auctioneer • • Professional Ring Service • 970-481-5217

Cattlemen’s Connection

Specializing in

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

Visit our Web Site: www.cattlemensconnection.com

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

Put your ad in Service Center and promote your services!

Place your ad today!

303-465-2333

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Gelbvieh World Advertising Rates

CLOSING DATE: Ad materials and editorial deadline is the 25th of the month two months prior to publication date. (December issue deadline is October 25th). Ads for sale dates prior to the 15th of the month of publication are discouraged.

Full Page $780 1/3 Page $392 Column inch $30

For Feb./Sept. (Commercial Editions) and June/ July (Herd Reference Edition) please call for deadline information.

92 | February 2019

STANDARD ISSUES: Full Page $717 1/2 Page $454 1/3 Page $347 Column inch $30

2/3 Page 1/2 Page Isand 1/4 Page

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Feb./Sept. Commercial Profit Picture 1/2 Page 1/4 Page

Color: Four Color $300 additional One Additional color $150 additional

$504 $309

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

Call today: 303/465-2333

Saturday, March 30, 2019 • 1:00 PM ET

g n i ll e S Selling 30 ts o L 0 6 Gelbvieh & Balancer Bulls

Chenault Ag Center • Mt. Sterling, KY

Many Homozygous Black and Homozygous Polled Stout red, homozygous polled herd sire prospects sell!

Selling 30

Gelbvieh & Balancer Females Semen auction to benefit the Jimmy Christopher Scholarship Fund. Please bring your semen tank to support the Juniors.

Some of the breed’s top A.I. sire will be offered.

Sale managed by

Numerous powerful, homozygous black herd sire prospects sell!

Two Black Impact / Ms Fortune 63X sons sell. Also selling frozen embryo packages from 63X.

Slaughter Sale Management The first Godfather 575C progeny offered at auction!

For catalog or information contact:

David Slaughter

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

This Exclusive daughter sells!

Like us on Facebook at Slaughter Sale Management

THE SELECT CUT ONLINE BULL & FEMALE SALE CLOSING THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2019

25 Lots of High Performing Gelbvieh & Balancer Bred & Open Females Plus a Select Number of Profit-Making Performance Bulls

Digital Catalog, Videos and Photos Available February 1 at:

RIDENHOUR CATTLE FARM

CHAMBERS GELBVIEH CATTLE

Purebred Quality, Performance and Maternal Traits.

Justin Ridenhour (704-239-4032) justride1572@bellsouth.net Salisbury, NC 28144

Purebred & Balancers Ken Chambers Chambrsken@gmail.com 336-707-3822

Why an Online Sale?

• Market Cattle in a Low Stress environment compared to a Live Auction.

• Buyers from across the Nation have an Opportunity to Bid and Buy. • Perfect for Operations which have limitations of Resources and Facilities to conduct Live Auctions.

Visit

or call Rance Long 918.510.3464 or Jeff Stansberry 615.479.1852 for details.

GRU FORTUNATE SON 343F

GRUND BEEF GENETICS

Sire: Basin Payweight MGS: Trendsetter Homozygous Polled 50% Balancer Heifer Bull CE in top 10% of breed Ranks in top 20% of the breed for WW and YW

• Moving the Industry Forward •

We are dedicated to adding VALUE for every segment of the Beef Industry.

Genetics move the Beef Industry!!

CED 16

BW 0.5

WW 72

YW 107

MK 23

TM 59

CEM 10

HP PG30 7.18 -0.49

CW 25

REA MB FPI 0.23 0.34 80.57

Sire: EGL Day Money (Hard Drive) MGS: Nexus 50% Red Balancer Ranks in the top 10% of the breed for WW and YW CED 12

BW 0.5

WW 73

YW 110

MK 19

TM 55

CEM 6

HP PG30 3.68 0.61

24th ANNUAL PRODUCTION SALE February 27th, 2019 – 1:00 p.m. CT Oakley Livestock, Oakley, KS 85 Balancer, Gelbvieh, Red Angus, Angus, and Sim-Angus

YG -0.06

GRU FANTASY 645F

We are fully committed to the COMMERCIAL CATTLEMAN! Come join our list of satisfied cattlemen that continually sell market topping feeder and fat cattle!

ST 8

ST 13

YG -0.20

CW 29

REA MB FPI 0.55 -0.03 71.09

GRU FRONTMAN 503F Sire: GRU John 316C MDS: Black Impact 63% Black Balancer Ranks in the top 10% breed for WW, YW, REA, and FPI CED 9

BW 2.5

WW 77

YW 118

MK 22

TM 61

CEM 5

HP PG30 6.17 1.38

ST 14

YG -0.20

CW 37

REA MB FPI 0.80 0.50 83.83

GRU MR DECLARATION 672F Sire: HXC Declaration 5504 MGS: Flashback 100% Red Angus Ranks in the top 10% of the breed for WW, YW, Gridmaster HB 201

GM 51

CED 11

BW -0.1

WW 71

YW 114

MILK MB 25 0.29

REA 0.13

GRU PROPHET 550F Sire: Prophet 5119 MGS: Black Impact 38% Black Balancer Ranks in the top 10% of the breed for WW, YW, Marbling and FPI CED 12

BW 1.1

WW 80

YW 122

MK 18

TM 57

CEM 9

HP PG30 3.96 1.19

ST 10

YG 0.01

CW 34

REA MB FPI 0.38 0.56 88.23

GRU FOREMAN 272F 94% Black Gelbvieh Sire: Bo (Chico Loco) MGS: Sam x Granite Ranks in the top 25% of the breed for WW, YW, Marbling and FPI

GRUND BEEF GENETICS 302 Ash Street, Sharon Springs, KS Jerry Grund • 785.821.1022 grundbeefgenetics.com

CED 12

BW 2.0

WW 69

YW 102

MK 31

TM 66

CEM 7

HP PG30 7.09 0.91

ST 16

YG -0.45

CW -7

REA 0.59

MB FPI 0.14 73.58

Places to Be

February 2019 Feb. 4

Feb. 8

Feb. 9

Feb. 12

Feb. 16

Feb. 17

Feb. 18

Feb. 19

Feb. 21

Feb. 21

Feb. 22

Feb. 23

Feb. 23

Feb. 23

Feb. 23

Feb. 23

Feb. 23

Feb. 25 Feb. 25

Feb. 27

Feb. 28

Taubenheim Gelbvieh 30th Annual Production Sale, Amherst, NE Lemke Cattle Annual Production Sale, Lawrence, NE Prairie Hills Gelbvieh Annual Bull Sale, Gladstone, ND Gelbvieh Gold Sale at Iowa Beef Expo, Des Moines, IA Overmiller Gelbvieh & Red Angus Annual Production Sale, Smith Center, KS Lost River Livestock 9th Annual Production Sale, Clearbrook, MN Eagle Pass Ranch Annual Spring Bull & Maternal Edge Female Sale, Highmore, SD Cedar Top Ranch 41st Annual Maternal Empire Bull Sale, Burwell, NE Gustin’s Diamond D Gelbvieh Annual Production Sale, Mandan, ND Nebraska Cattlemen’s Classic Gelbvieh Show & Sale, Kearney, NE 28th Annual “Pot of Gold” Gelbvieh & Balancer Bull Sale, Montrose, CO Adkins Gelbvieh Private Treaty Bull Sale Open House, Iroquois, SD Golden Buckle Gelbvieh Private Treaty Bull & Female Sale Open House, Medina, ND Swanson Cattle Company 32nd Annual Production Sale, Oxford, NE Post Rock Cattlemen’s Kind Bull & Female Sale, Barnard, KS Seedstock Plus North Missouri Bull Sale, Kingsville, MO Squeakin’ By-LK Farms Production Sale, Shubert, NE Beastrom Ranch 39th Annual Bull Sale, Pierre, SD AGA’s new American Rancher Spring Episode 8:00 PM CST RFD-TV Grund Beef Genetics 24th Annual Production Sale, Oakley, KS Plateau Gelbvieh Bull Sale, Brush, CO

March 2019 Mar. 1-2 Kentucky Beef Expo Gelbvieh/Balancer Show &

Sale, Louisville, KY

96 | February 2019

Mar. 1

Mar. 1

Mar. 2 Mar. 2

Mar. 2

Mar. 2

Mar. 2

Mar. 2

Mar. 2 Mar. 4

Mar. 4

Mar. 4

Mar. 5

Mar. 8 Mar. 9

Mar. 9 Mar. 9

Mar. 11

Mar. 12

Mar. 14 Mar. 14 Mar. 15

Mar. 16

Mar. 16

Mar. 16

Chimney Butte Ranch Annual Production Sale, Mandan, ND Davidson Gelbvieh & Lonesome Dove Ranch 30th Annual Bull Sale, Ponteix, SK, Canada SEGA Gelbvieh Spring Bull Sale, Pierce, CO Thorstenson Gelbvieh & Angus 38th Annual Production Sale, Selby, SD Judd Ranch 41st Gelbvieh, Balancer & Red Angus Bull Sale, Pomona, KS Seedstock Plus Arkansas Bull & Female Sale, Hope, AR Hilltop Farms Annual Gelbvieh Bull & Female Sale, Carthage, MO Flying H Genetics 39th Annual Roughage N’ Ready Herd Bull Sale, Arapahoe, NE Sheridan Ranch 24th Annual Bull Sale, Burley, ID Hojer Ranch 27th Annual Gelbvieh & Balancer Production Sale, Huron, SD MLM Gelbvieh Open House & Private Treaty Kickoff Sale, Superior, NE Black Gold Genetics 13th Annual Share the Gold Bull Sale, Pritchett, CO Warner Beef Genetics “Genetic Investment” Bull Sale, Arapahoe, NE Quest of the West Cattle Sale, Spanish Fork, UT Genetic Power Gelbvieh & Balancer Bull Sale, Springfield, MO Rippe Gelbvieh Bull Sale, Belleville, KS Seedstock Plus Red Reward Bull & Female Sale, Humansville, MO Twin View Livestock Purebred Gelbvieh Bull Sale, Brooks, AB, Canada Bar Arrow Cattle Company 29th Annual Production Sale, Phillipsburg, KS Raile Gelbvieh/Balancer Bull Sale, Burlington, CO The Select Cut Online Bull & Female Sale 10th Annual Southwest Iowa Gelbvieh & Balancer Bull & Female Sale, Creston, IA Lone Oak Cattle 7th Annual Bull Sale, Mechanicsville, IA Flying H Genetics 22nd Grown on Fescue Grass Bull & Bred Heifer Sale, Butler, MO Midwest Beef Cattle Consultants 16th Annual Open House and Bull & Female Sale, Carthage, IN

Mar. 21

Mar. 23

Mar. 23

Mar. 30

Mar. 30

Mar. 30

Kicking Horse Ranch Annual Production Sale, Great Falls, MT Seedstock Plus South Missouri Bull Sale, Carthage, MO Cranview Gelbvieh 15th Annual Genetic Progress Sale, Rugby, ND Bluegrass Gelbvieh Invitational Bull & Female Sale, Mt. Sterling, KY Wilkinson Gelbvieh Private Treaty Bull Sale Kick Off, Model, CO Harriman Santa Fe “Top of the Breed” Bull Sale, Windsor, MO

April 2019 Apr. 6

Apr. 13

B/F Cattle Company with Cleland Cattle Company Maternal Integrity Gelbvieh and Balancer Bull Sale, Butler, MO Knoll Crest Farm 49th Total Performance Bull Sale, Ranch House, VA

Places to Be

May 2019

May 11 Middle Tennessee Gelbvieh/Angus Invitational,

Centerville, TN

October 2019 Oct. 12

Oct. 26

Judd Ranch 29th Annual Cow Power Female Sale, Pomona, KS Flying H Genetics 23rd Grown on Grass Bull & Bred Heifer Sale, Butler, MO

November 2019 Nov. 16 3rd Annual Red River Bull Sale, Wichita Falls, TX Visit the online version of Places to Be at www.gelbvieh. org for additional dates on upcoming sales and more information on each event.

Editor’s Note: If you have sale or event information for this listing, please email the information to kelsi@gelbvieh.org.

This includes tours, expos, field days and other Gelbvieh events. Places to Be at www.gelbvieh.org contains additional contact information for each event.

PUREBRED GELBVIEH BULLS SELLING MARCH 11TH IN BROOKS, ALBERTA, CANADA

AWB BIRCH’S THE BOXER 21D

AWB TWIN VIEW NATALIE 19F ET

PROGENY OF THE BOXER AWB TWIN VIEW MAYWEATHER 39F Canadian National Champion Sr Heifer Calf

AWB TWIN VIEW SUGAR 26F

2018 Canadian National Champion Bull Homo Polled, Diluter Free, PB94 Exportable Semen Packages Available We are happy to assist in health testing and transport across the U.S. border.

Canadian National Champion Sr Bull Calf

Canadian National Champion Reserve Sr Heifer Calf Aaron Birch & Joe Barnett Parkbeg, Saskatchewan, Canada 403 485 5518 • www.twinviewlivestock.com

The Profit Picture | 97

Ad Index

3 G Ranch............................................91 ABCS Gelbvieh...................................90 Adkins Gelbvieh.......................... 48, 90 AGA.....................................................51 American Rancher.......................... IFC B/F Cattle Company...........................82 Bar Arrow Cattle Company....... 82, 99 Bar JR Gelbvieh............................ 54, 79 Bar T Bar Ranch, Inc..........................79 Beastrom Gelbvieh Ranch.......... 74, 90 Black Gold Genetics...........................85 Bluegrass Invitational Sale.................93 Boehler Gelbvieh................................83 Bolton Cattle Ranch...........................79 Bow K Ranch............................... 25, 79 Brandywine Farm...............................90 Bull Barn Genetics....................... 20, 92 Canadian GV Assn.............................92 CattleList................................................9 Cattlemen’s Connection................ 1, 92 C-Cross Cattle Company..................67 Cedar Top Ranch........................83, BC Chambers Cattle Company...............37 Chimney Butte Ranch................. 69, 90 C.H. Morris & Sons, LLC..................67 Circle S Ranch.....................................82 CJ&L Livestock...................................90 Clinch Mountain Gelbvieh................67 Coles Bend Cattle Company.............67 Cranview Gelbvieh...................... 33, 90 Cunningham, Ronn...........................92 Danell Diamond Six Ranch...............79 Davidson Gelbvieh...............................5 Diamond L Farms..............................75 Diamond V Gelbvieh.........................82 Dobson Ranch....................................21 Dromgoole’s Heaven..........................75 Eagle Pass Ranch................................91 Flying H Genetics........................ 71, 83 Gale Rippey Farm...............................67 Gelbviehauction.com.........................94

98 | February 2019

Gelbvieh Gold IA Beef Expo.............65 Genetic Power Bull Sale.....................77 Golden Buckle Gelbvieh....................31 Green Hills Gelbvieh..........................67 Grund Beef Genetics..........................95 GS Ridge Top Ranch................... 68, 90 Gustin’s Diamond D Gelbvieh... 87, 90 Hampton Cattle Company......... 41, 67 Harriman Santa Fe...................... 76, 82 Hart Farm Gelbvieh.................... 73, 82 Hilltop Farms............................... 19, 83 Hodges Ranch.....................................75 Hojer Gelbvieh Ranch........... 40, 57, 91 Holle Gelbvieh....................................82 J&K Gelbvieh Farm..................... 77, 91 J Bar M Gelbvieh......................... 77, 83 Judd Ranch, Inc..................... 52, 53, 82 Kentucky Beef Expo...........................89 Kenyon Cattle LLC.............................68 Kicking Horse Ranch............ 46, 54, 79 Kittle Gelbvieh Farms........................75 Knoll Crest Farm........................... 3, 67 Koehn Cattle Co.................................75 Land of Oz/ John C Oswald..............82 Lambert, Doak....................................92 Ledgerwood Gelbvieh........................79 Lemke Cattle.......................................83 Linquist Farms....................................90 Little Windy Hill Farms.....................67 Lone Oak Cattle........................... 56, 90 Lonesome Dove Ranch........................5 Lost River Livestock...........................49 Loveless Gelbvieh...............................27 M&P Gelbvieh....................................83 Markes Family Farms............ 35, 41, 75 Martens Gelbvieh........................ 68, 90 Martin Cattle Company.............. 41, 75 McCarty, Dan......................................92 Miller Gelbvieh...................................75 Mitchell Marketing Service........ 77, 92 MLM Gelbvieh....................... 17, 47, 83

Mulroy Farms......................................82 Murray Farms.....................................11 Nine Bar Nine Gelbvieh.....................79 Nowack Cattle Company...................83 Overmiller Gelbvieh..........................81 Pennington Seed.................................15 Plateau Gelbvieh.................... 17, 66, 79 Post Rock Cattle Company.. 22, 23, 82 Pot of Gold Sale..................... 17, 44, 45 Prairie Hills Gelbvieh.................... 7, 90 Raile Gelbvieh.............................. 17, 63 Ridenhour Cattle Farm......................37 Ridinger Cattle Company..................78 Rippe Gelbvieh....................... 17, 60, 61 Rocking GV Gelbvieh........................83 Rogers Valley Farm Gelbvieh............83 Safety Zone Calf Catcher...................59 Sawtooth Gelbvieh Cattle & Hay......79 Schafer Farms, Inc..............................90 Seedstock Plus Genetics....................92 Seedstock Plus.............................. 29, 92 SEGA Gelbvieh...................................72 Sheridan Ranch...................................80 Southwest Iowa Bull & Female Sale.62 Squeakin’ By-LK Farms.............. 39, 83 Swanson Cattle Company........ 83, 100 SweetPro..............................................55 Swenson Gelbvieh....................... 40, 90 Taubenheim Gelbvieh........................83 The 88 Ranch.......................................83 Thorstenson Gelbvieh................. 13, 91 Thull Gelbvieh Farm..........................91 Triple H Farms....................................90 Triple K Gelbvieh................................82 Twin View Livestock..........................97 Volek Ranch................................. 40, 91 Warner Beef Genetics ....................IBC White Oak Farms...............................83 Wildwood Acres.................................91 Wilkinson Gelbvieh.................... 64, 79

Bar arrow Cattle Company 29 ANNUAL PRODUCTION SALE TH

InCreasIng marBlIng InCreasIng rIBeye sellIng: 80 Gelbvieh & Balancer Bulls InCreasIng FpI 20 Gelbvieh & Balancer Fancy Open Heifers perFormanCe maternal aBIlIty CarCass puttIng the whole paCkage together March 12, 2019 • 1:00 PM CST At Bar Arrow Cattle Company North of Phillipsburg, Kansas ®

®

2019 NWSS Reserve Champion Gelbvieh Pen of Three Bulls

Stuart Jarvis

For sale book or video, call or email Stuart or go online to www.bararrowcattlecompany.com

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

GeneticINVESTMENT WARNER BEEF GENETICS

Bull Sale

Tuesday, March 5, 2019 • 1:00 PM ( CST ) At the Ranch, Arapahoe, NE

CED BW WW YW MILK YG 11 2.0

75

111

9

CW REA

MB

FPI

-0.16 49 0.82 0.67 86.56

DLW 0008E

12 1.4

67

100

CW REA

MB

DLW 0318E

70

106

MB

FPI

15 -0.06 46 0.63 0.55 82.91

38% Balancer® Bull Homozygous Black, Homozygous Polled Brookings Bank Note 4040 x DLW Ms U271 3048A ET

FPI

23 -0.23 22 0.67 0.44 78.62

50% Balancer® Bull Homozygous Black, Homozygous Polled DLW Sand Trap ET x DLW Ms Destiny 318X ET

11 0.4

CW REA

DLW 1010F

34% Balancer® Bull Homozygous Black, Homozygous Polled Baldridge Jennings Z064 x ABL X Hail

CED BW WW YW MILK YG

CED BW WW YW MILK YG

CED BW WW YW MILK YG 13 1.5

69

104

CW REA

MB

DLW 3124F

50% Balancer® Bull Homozygous Black, Homozygous Polled DLW Sand Trap ET x DLW Ms X514 3519A

GELBVIEH & BALANCER® BULLS

FPI

17 -0.26 19 0.66 0.43 79.60

CED BW WW YW MILK YG 12 -0.9

66

90

CW REA

MB

FPI

14 -0.26 10 0.52 0.25 74.69

DLW 1202E

57% Gelbvieh Bull Homozygous Black, Homozygous Polled DLW Edison 6718X x DLW Ms Paltinum 1202Y of 7105

CED BW WW YW MILK YG 12 -0.8

65

101

CW REA

MB

FPI

17 -0.08 14 0.35 0.43 78.59

DLW 020F

38% Balancer® Bull Homozygous Black, Homozygous Polled SEPT Copperfield ET x XXB Miss Tenderloin 020X

Selling 125 lots

ANGUS BULLS

Sale broadcast live online at www.dvauction.com

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

Broadcasting Real-Time Auctions

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

41ST ANNUAL

MATERNAL EMPIRE BULL SALE

FEBRUARY 19, 2019 12:30 PM • BURWELL, NE SELLING 200 COMING 2-YEAR OLD BALANCER, ANGUS & RED ANGUS BULLS

CEDAR TOP RANCH Scott & Raberta Starr 212 Starr Drive • Stapleton, NE 69163 308-587-2293 • 308-530-3900 (C) email: cedartopranch@yahoo.com

Do One Thing... Do It Well...We Raise Beef Cattle