NALF Bottomline Newsletter

Winter 2011

Volume 13, Issue 1

INSIDE...

Limousin Commentary Limi Up Your Bottom Line

Full Circle Rediscover the Value of Efficiency.

Heterosis Ignored or Forgotten?

by Dave Daley, CSU, Chico

A Value Added Calf Crop Strauss adds value to Limousin influenced calves.

Cattle Breeding EPD’s & Percentile Rank

by Eldon Cole, University of Missouri Extension

Crossbreeding “Revisited” by Dr. Scott P. Greiner, Extension Animal Scientist, VA Tech.

Testimonials Don’t Take Our Word, Take Theirs

Commercial Marketing Director Meet NALF’s New Commercial Marketing Director

Bottom Line is published three times per year by the North American Limousin Foundation, 7383 S. Alton Way, Suite 100, Centennial, Colorado 80112; (303) 220-1693; fax: (303) 220-1884; www.nalf.org Executive Vice President Bob Hough, Ph.D., Ext. 120 Dir. of Communications Jonathan Beitia, Ext. 117

Rediscover the Value of Efficiency Jonathan Beitia, Director of Communications and Joe Epperly, Director of Commercial Marketing Looking at the trends in today’s cattle industry, one can see a number of challenges on the horizon. The national cowherd is down to its lowest level since 1958, corn prices remain double to triple as high as they were in 2005, and the number of cattle placed into feedlots this fall are some of the lowest since the 1990s. Margins continue to tighten throughout the industry and as margins tighten, efficiency becomes a key to profit.

Numerous Residual Feed Intake (RFI) studies are being conducted to test and evaluate efficiency of cattle on feed. But efficiency doesn’t start in the feedyard, it starts in the cow herd. Cows that consistently produce calves born early in the calving season and

stay in the herd longer are becoming increasingly more important to the bottom line. Limousin and Lim-Flex cows do just that.

Scientific evidence shows Limousin females are not only feed efficient, but are emerging as a leader in reproductive efficiency and are flexible enough to thrive under many environmental conditions. They are of moderate height and weight and produce medium-sized calves with little calving difficulty. Additionally, the calves are vigorous at birth, with a high proportion surviving until weaning. Research at the Meat Animal Research Center (MARC) showed Limousin leading all major breeds in percent of calf continued on page 15

LIMOUSIN COMMENTARY

Limi Up Your Bottom Line

By R.L. “Bob” Hough, Ph.D. Executive Vice President North American Limousin Foundation

R.L. “Bob” Hough

The data is in, the proof is indisputable, crossbreeding works and nothing works better than Limousin and Lim-Flex® on high percentage British based cow herds. Limousin add the extra muscle, cow longevity and moderate cow size that comes with breed complimentarily, plus the extra 25 to 30 percent in lifetime production gained from heterosis in a planned crossbreeding system. Any serious, profit driven commercial cattle producer simply cannot ignore the power of heterosis.

Why did our industry move away from cross breeding?

One reason was the power of Angus and their powerful backing of Angus branded product lines. Angus thought it could become the “Holstein” of the beef industry. Instead its role has become the maternal common denominator in most environments for a cross breeding system. The branded products had such a pull through effect that one breed started to dominate the market, but few people realize that to qualify for Angus branded product lines, the animal must only be 51 percent black hided and can be either horned or polled. Over 80 percent of Limousin qualifies for Angus product lines. It has gotten so bad that one breed executive I know keeps an ad on his wall for Angus dog food, clearly showing that Angus

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branded beef specifications are not a reason to not utilize the benefits of Limousin heterosis and genetics.

Good times are surely ahead of us. Combined with crossbreeding efficiency, we are experiencing an unprecedented tight supply of cattle, which means high feeder and fed cattle prices will continue. It is truly a bullish time in the beef industry, and a time to invest in good genetics.

Limousin cattle offer moderate milk and moderate mature cow size to fit into most any environment. People often don’t realize the cost of excessive milk. Not only is rebreeding slower, but high milking cattle have more visceral and organ mass, which cause them to have higher maintenance requirement year-round. In this time of low cost production, profit minded cattle producers are starting to look at very high milking cattle and breeds that are known for high milk, as something they just cannot afford.

Any good commercial beef producer must look at their breeding programs when buying Limousin and Lim-Flex ® bulls from the perspective of the product they will have to sell, feeder cattle, and the heifers they will retain. Most of the market is mainstream, 60 percent Choice and Yield Grade 2. continued on page 14

Winter 2011

BOTTOM LINE

Cattle Breeding: EPD’s & Percentile Rank Eldon Cole University of Missouri Extension Repetition is a tool used by teachers and I find it helps as we try to teach farmers new technology such as expected progeny differences (EPDs). We started stressing EPDs in our Southwest Missouri Beef Cattle Improvement Association bull sales back in 1988.

I’ve said many times that it’s a difficult lesson for farmers to grasp. Maybe they grasp it, but still question it’s accuracy. I feel the Show-Me-Select Heifer program where we require certain calving ease or birth weight limits on service sires in order for them to be SMS certified, has been a blessing in disguise for convincing many that EPDs work.

Little-by-little, more of you are trusting and using EPDs to guide your sire selection. The EPD values still seem hard for cattle producers to effectively use as they compare two or more bulls. Rather than getting hung up on which animal suits your needs with the EPD itself, I encourage you to look at Percentile Rank. It lets you know at a glance how an animal ranks within its breed for the various traits.

Remember a 50 percentile rank means the animal is roughly average for that trait. As you reduce the percentile rank towards a 1, it indicates easier calving, lighter birth weights, greater growth, more milk, more intra-muscular fat, larger ribeyes and less fat over the rib. In contrast, as the percentile rank moves towards 99, the animal is heavier in birth weight,

LIMOUSIN’S COMMERCIAL CONNECTION

likely to cause greater calving problems, slower growing, produce lower milking daughters, less intra-muscular fat, smaller ribeyes and more rib fat.

Not all sale catalogs share percentiles with you and some breeders don’t even share certain EPDs to prospective buyers if they’re not flattering to their herd’s program. Of course, not every producer is looking for an animal that ranks in the top 10 or 20 percentile. You can end up with too much of a good thing when single-trait selection is used too much.

EPDs are not perfect, but they’re still the most accurate means we have to map out a breeding plan. On the horizon is DNA evaluation of hair, blood and semen to determine an animal’s breeding merit. These techniques already are being used in combination with actual EPDs in the Angus breed on some traits.

During our BSE clinics last week, a representative from an animal health company was on hand to discuss their DNAmarker technology. Several participants had him collect tail hair samples to be run for feed efficiency, marbling and tenderness. The beauty of DNA evaluation is it can be done on a newborn calf or as the rep said, even on an embryo before it’s put in a recipient cow. Now that’s high tech. So don’t be intimidated by the technology, just figure out how it can help you.

And, don’t forget, EPDs really work.

Winter 2011

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Heterosis Ignored or Forgotten?

Dave Daley California State University-Chico So why are we still talking about heterosis? I remember attending a cattlemen’s meeting in 1967, in Bangor California when I was 9-years-old. Our farm advisor gave this very clear, simplistic report on crossbreeding-and the data was irrefutable.

Crossbreeding generates economic returns for commercial beef producers. The following spring, my dad purchases the first Angus bulls to be used on a herd that ran very heavy to Hereford, with a smattering of “Durham” (Shorthorn) influence. It was not necessarily a popular decision with all the neighbors! Yet, 40 years later, I think that as an industry, we have ignored or forgotten the value of heterosis.

The classical work conducted at Fort Robinson in the early 1960’s, provided the scientific documentation for heterosis.

These elegant and truly remarkable germ plasm evaluation and germ plasm utilization studies at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (MARC) provide substantive and meaningful data on the value of crossbreeding. If we design breeding programs that capture direct and maternal heterosis, we can increase lifetime production by more than 20%. The literature is clear, overwhelming and consistent regarding the benefits of capturing heterosis in beef production systems.

I think back to my first animal breeding classes studying crossbreeding systems and discovering that nature was good to us – we were able to use both selection and crossbreeding to make genetic progress. Not only could we effectively utilize selection within breed for highly heritable traits, we could LIMOUSIN’S COMMERCIAL CONNECTION

also make significant improvement in lowly heritable traits with crossbreeding.

In graduate school in the early 1980’s I had the very fortunate experience to work with people like Bob Taylor and Jim Brinks – practical, skilled animal breeders – who had the ability to clearly elucidate the importance of designed breeding programs.

From the experience, I was one of a handful of people who met in Denver in 1990, to form a group that worked on the utilization of “composite” seedstock. What I particularly appreciated about those “out-of-the-box” thinkers is that it was not about protecting territory, but about making progress.

Heterosis (hybrid vigor) is the amount (percent) by which the crossbred average exceeds the average of the two (or more) parental purebreds for a measured trait.

From an economic perspective, the most important gains are made in lowly heritable traits that are often difficult to measure. Traits like calf livability, survival to weaning, conception rate, age at puberty and many others, all benefit from heterosis. The individual change in one trait is small, but the cumulative effect on total productivity and lifetime productivity is tremendous, ranging well over 20%.

I do not believe it is necessary to revisit the scientific evidence regarding hybrid vigor, but more importantly to address the failure of our industry to effectively utilize the powerful tool that nature has provided. For more reason, continued on page 7

Winter 2011

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Heterosis: Forgotten or Ignored? continued from page 5

pound (lb.) yearling expected progeny difference (EPD) is good, 100 must be better! It is intuitive! We have already done that with frame, growth (weight of all kinds), milk and carcass traits (both ribeye and marbling).

poultry and pork have seemed to figure out how to take advantage of genetic diversity and produce a consistent prodI sometimes have to ask myself, “So what is the trait of uct. The beef industry has not done so on a widespread basis. the year this time?” It is akin to the “flavor of the month” After participating in this industry at many levels (educaat the local ice cream shop. And, because we have often tor, cow-calf and stocker producer, purebred breeder), I chosen relatively highly heritable traits, we have not thought it appropriate to summarize 10 reasons that we have needed to crossbreed to achieve those goals. The subtle, ignored or forgotten about heterosis in our quest and cumulative improvement that heterosis proto make genetic progress. If assigning blame is 10 reasons vides does not lend itself to maximums. important there is plenty to go around, including that we have 3.) We have decided that measuring outputs is much of it directed to the historical direction of ignored or forgotten more meaningful than measuring inputs, as well our research and education at universities. about heterosis as easier to do. It is certainly easier to measure 1.) A cultural bias that clearly reflects “purecalf performance on an individual basis, rather in our quest breds as better,” if for no other reason than than all costs associated with that production. “I to make genetic they have a registration paper. Society, at can weight them at weaning quicker than I can progress. many levels, rewards purity. Is your dog regdetermine differences in treatment costs over istered? Does your quarter horse gelding time.” have papers? How far can you trace your 4.) Uniform phenotypes for qualitative traits (color) have a ancestry? Please don’t misunderstand – there is certainly distinct and real marketing advantage that is difficult to value associated with that record, particularly our ability ignore. That does not mean you cannot have uniformity to track performance and predict genetic potential of of color within a crossbreeding program, but the widepurebreds. But being purebred should not be a presumpspread and indiscriminate planning (or lack thereof) of tion of superiority. many crossbreeding programs certainly gave us some 2.) Our predilection for single-trait selection focusing on “biginteresting marketing challenges. Generally, it is easier ger is better.” This industry seems to choose a trait of to produce a uniform color in straightbred programs. importance and then puts an inordinate amount of prescontinued on page 8 sure on that trait, ignoring genetic antagonisms. If a 90-

LIMOUSIN’S COMMERCIAL CONNECTION

Winter 2011

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because they are so busy masking differences with artificial environments.

Heterosis: Forgotten or Ignored? continued from page 7 5.)

Heterosis is very difficult to visualize and even more difficult to measure. Because heterosis is expressed as a small net positive in many traits, we do not know it when we see it. Slight changes in morbidity, age at puberty, conception rate and significant changes in longevity are not easily observed. However, we all know when calves gain faster in the feedlot.

6.)

The presentation of complicated crossbreeding systems as a “normal practice” to diverse cattle operations, especially the countless small beef herds in the U.S. Many of the systems that we teach as part of standard animal breeding or beef production courses have very limited application in the real world. Most beef herds are too small to implement the “standard systems.”

7.)

Our penchant for telling people how to modify their environment in order to “get heavier calves, higher percent calf crop and more total pounds,” rather than how to increase net worth. How many new supplementation programs can you develop in order to get your heifers bred or wean bigger calves? In fact, we can recommend programs for noncycling females… you just have to pay for it and then pass those genetics to the next generation. Heterosis provides some improvement in traits at relatively low cost. How-ever, we have obscured the opportunity for producers to focus on those traits,

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8.)

Historically, there has been active resistance to crossbreeding from some traditional marketing outlets, some purebred producers and (in some cases) breed associations. I would like to commend many of the associations who, quite recently, have taken the risk of suggesting where their animals fit most effectively in crossbreeding programs.

9.)

Inappropriate use of breeding diversity. Nothing undermines crossbreeding more quickly than the unplanned “Heinz 57” or “Breed of the Month Club” approach. For those who were willing to experiment in crossbreeding, there was often very poor planning of the combination of breeds and the selection within those breeds.

10.) Our industry and university systems have focused on individual trait measurement for more than 50 years. We have done a very poor job of incorporating real world economics into our models. We have EPDs for a plethora of traits, and we are adding more. Economic indices are starting to catch up, but we are still behind. Has anyone thought about measuring return per acre or return on investment? We have had a disconnect between agricultural economists and animal science that has not been well bridged. We tend to think lineally rather than laterally, which has reduced the applications of innovative crossbreeding. continued on page 9

Winter 2011

BOTTOM LINE

Heterosis: Forgotten or Ignored? continued from page 8

Summary So where are we now? In the Far West, as in much of the U.S., we have seen a move toward less crossbreeding and more reliance on a single breed. Generally, that has been quite positive, because many of the herds were crossbred and had high levels of heterosis.

Therefore, five to eight years of one breed has reduced heterosis, but provided a consistent, highly marketable product, with some maternal heterosis still pressing in the cow here.

Recently, I am hearing concern from some very large, progressive producers, as their cows become more straightbred in a tough environment.

Longevity, rebreeding and calf survivability all become important issues.

I don’t think it is because they have brought the wrong bulls or managed their ranch incorrectly. It is because they have forgotten or ignored heterosis.

It is time for many producers to design long term, simplistic plans that capture maternal heterosis. I would not want to manage cattle in any environment without that incredible value.

LIMOUSIN’S COMMERCIAL CONNECTION

And, the tougher the environment, the more critical hybrid vigor becomes. For those of us who are educators, we need to work more effectively in presenting straightforward workable solutions. We need to renew our efforts in education producers that selection is not about maximums—other than sustained profit. Animal breeders do not need to give us one more individual EPD that measures outputs. We need to incorporate dollars and we need to measure inputs.

With all of the potential pitfalls in utilizing heterosis, I have observed success in pockets of the industry. Producers, who have developed a plan, targeted a market, understand their resources and environment and are focuses on profit are successfully capitalizing on heterosis.

I see terminal systems with moderate crossbred cows under limited feed producing a successful product that performs in the feedlot. I see other ranches that are highly focuses on quality, using moderate crossbred cows mated to produce 3/4-blood calves for specific marketthe heterosis is lower, but the market rewards are real.

There is no single solution. However, as we turn the corner in the cattle cycle and begin to experience somewhat lower prices, I am confident that we can no longer forget how to reduce input costs—and heterosis has to be part of the equation.

Winter 2011

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BREEDER SPOTLIGHT

Want to advertise in the BREEDER SPOTLIGHT section?

It’s easy! Call Jonathan Beitia at 303-220-1693 for all the details.

NORTH CENTRAL REGION BREEDERS

LC IH M O U S HI N RA NCH A R L E S U N T F A M I L Y PRIVATE TREATY SALES • Bulls • Females • Semen

C a t t l e Yo u C a n Tr u s t . . . P e o p l e Yo u C a n Tr u s t

Jimmy Ridings ~ Owner 1912 CR 4120 ~ Meridian, TX 76665

308-473-8521

10329 Highway 136 · Oxford, NE 68967 Dan Hunt · cell 308-991-3373 huntlimo@huntlimousin.com · www.huntlimousin.com

Phone: (254) 597-0044 www.colonialoaksranch.com e-mail: colonialoaksranch@htcomp.net

Charles Linhart: (641) 340-1306 David Linhart: (641) 446-6906

21314 OSR Madisonville, TX 77864 Mobile (281) 808-3473 Home (903) 344-2331 www.counsilfamilylimousins.com

Linhart Limousin When in the market for

top-quality genetics, give us a call.

27195 175th St. Leon, IA 50144 www.linhartlimousin.com

BQA II Certified Herd Certified Brucellosis and TB Free Your call or visit is welcome

Lonely Valley Limousin PUREBRED AND ANGUS COMPOSITE BREEDING FOR 20 YEARS

Annual Bull Sale last Monday of February Stan, Mike, Mark, Dean and Chad Settje Mail us at dsettje@settje.com Chad (402) 285-9013 • Dean (402) 783-2105 560th Ave. • Creston, NE 68631

Schott

Limousin Ranch Jim & Priscilla Schott

Davis Limousin Ranch Brad, Norma & Blair Davis

27601 108th St. McLaughlin, SD 57642 jschott@westriv.com

12500 Hwy. 279 • Brownwood, TX 76801 325/784-5071 • 325/784-7674 fax 325/647-7681 cell • info@davislimousin.com

6 0 5 - 8 2 3 - 4 9 74

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Straight Limousin 2173 Morgan Ave. * Logan, Iowa 51546 712-648-2180 * 712-592-1350 (Jay’s cell)

Jay & Lori Straight * Jordan & Jackson Jamie, Scott & Brayton Myer Jenelle & Adam Klein

De Ma r Fa rm s “Unparalleled black Limousin genetics”

www.straightlimousin.com

AI and ET bulls for the commercial market

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION BREEDERS

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Your Homozygous Headquarters

EXPRESS RANCHES

Hiram and Darenda ◆ 806/375-2346 Bret, Hayley, McKinley & Boone ◆ 806/375-2345 Box 110, Allison, Texas 79003 begertranch@wildblue.net ◆ www.begertranch.com

2202 N 11TH STREET YUKON, OKLAHOMA BOB FUNK, OWNER 800-664-3977 405-350-0058 FAX squires@expressranches.com

A large number of breeding-age bulls available.

Trophy hunts available (deer, quail & turkey).

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www.expressranches.com

Joe & Margaret Hoot 630 VZ CR 4124 Canton, Texas 75103 (903) 829-8082 DeMarHome@aol.com

Craig Laroue Ranch Manager (903) 292-9080

WESTERN REGION BREEDERS

Fuhrmann Black Limousin BULLS AVAILABLE FOR SALE PRIVATELY AT THE RANCH

Absarokee, MT

Roy Lee Fuhrmann

406-328-4393 www.gateslimousin.com

2335 FM 1200 • Gainesville, TX 76240 Roybull@earthlink.net Ranch – (940) 665-6985 Mobile – (940) 727-2452

gary@gateslimousin.com

h Call us about the bulls & females we have available privately.

Limousin & Lim-Flex Seedstock P.O. Box 1531 Camdenton, MO 65020

Owners: Daryl & Wally Cunningham

30849 CR 56 • Iliff, CO 80736 • lewislimousin@kci.net Les & Elaine Lewis • 970-362-4321 • Les Cell 970-630-1283 Mat & Wendy Lewis • 970-521-0545 • Mat Cell 970-580-8209

Committed to Excellence

Limousin & Lim-Flex Bulls and Females for Sale Privately!

“Ranch Tested, Customer Approved”

Little Luckiamute Limousin Gene & Virginia Raymond Arne & Stacy Hanson (785) 448-3708 (785) 448-6142 “THE BRAND OF BREEDER RESPECT AND COMMERCIAL APPEAL”

Ves and Marge Garner, Harlen and Anita Garner 4952 N. Rd. I Vale, OR 97918 541-473 - BEEF

www.luckilimo.com

Font used for Ranch Qualityregular Limousin Genetics You Can Count On name isFor Watson 9700 Slaughterville Rd. Lexington, Oklahoma 73051

Font used for Ranch name is Watson regular

405/527-7648 491 E. 12000 S. Draper, Utah 84020

hayhooklimousin@valornet.com Edna Manning 405/306-1316 cell

Judy Bugher 405/306-1315

Bob Millerberg * (801) 566-4665 home * (801) 561-9911 office * (801) 673-9911 cell bob@crestfinancial.org Jim Millerberg * (801) 254-6610 home * (801) 303-6017 office * (801) 301-2953 cell

KEETON LIMOUSIN 10510 CR 1100 • Wolfforth, TX 79382 Leonard & Betty Keeton 806-866-9440 LLKT@door.net

Lyle & Shana Keeton fax: 806-866-9441 806-866-9049 BULLS • CLUB CALVES • HEIFERS

Give us a call for more information about our private-treaty offerings of Limousin and Lim-Flex® genetics.

Conveniently located 60 miles northeast of Denver, CO.

Kevin & Julie Ochsner and family 30300 WCR 388 • Kersey, CO 80644 • H: 970-351-6008 • M: 970-396-5525 tenderleanbeef@hughes.net

RANCH RAISED BULLS & HEIFERS FOR SALE

JIM HCR 74, Box 146 Fort Davis, TX 79734-5005 (915) 426-3435 • fax (915) 426-3126

P.O. Box 30435 Billings, MT 59107

DYER “Se Hablo Spanglish” jfdyer@hughes.net

www.bigbendtrailers.com

RIVERDALE RANCH Red & Black Limousin Registered & Commercial 3830 Huckleberry Road • West, MS 39192 Jim Jolley, Manager riverdal@netdoor.com

TERRY OʼNEILL

662-967-2407 fax: 601-605-4724

LIMOUSIN’S COMMERCIAL CONNECTION

Winter 2011

Limousin • Red & Black Angus Red & Black Angus Composites Select Seed Stock Producer

406/373-6016 (ranch) 406/373-6048 (fax) tomahawk@mcn.net www.tomahawklimousin.com

Visitors always welcome

Brad & Janet Waddle 440 Road 161 Pine Bluffs, WY 82082 307-245-3599 waddlelimousin@rtconnect.net BULLS AND FEMALES AVAILABLE AT THE RANCH

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Limi Up Your Bottom Line

bred Limousin or 75 percent Lim-Flex® bull, and then go into a straight breeding program with 50 percent Lim-Flex®.

This is where I have challenged our purebred Limousin Based on last year’s video auctions, quarter-bloods were the breeders. We are making some fantastic 50 pertop-selling cattle, probably aiming for over 60 cent Lim-Flex ® ; perfect for the commercial percent Choice, with half-bloods perfectly Limousin are industry. Breed Lim-Flex ® to Lim-Flex ® and acceptable. Three-quarter-bloods were more in the right place keep the percentage at or around 50 percent.

“Laura’s Lean” type of cattle, and it was necesat the right time Lim-Flex® cattle can fit almost any niche market sary to keep them natural. Without some type of with the right traits or enter the mainstream market. preconditioning you can expect a discount, as cross breeding I am so excited about the Limousin breed source and age verification always seemed to right now. We have taken care of our docility takes back hold of bring premiums, and keeping cattle natural is a problems, and all the cards in the beef industry bonus no matter what the percentage. our industry. seem to be lining-up in our favor of Limousin and On the female side, 50 percent is without a Lim-Flex®. Limousin are in the right place at the doubt where you are going to gain the most hetright time with the right traits as cross breeding takes back erosis. The progeny probably have the most flexibility to either hold of our industry. I like being on a winning team and I feel enter Laura’s Lean or the mainstream market depending on that I am on one with Limousin in terms of the impact it can how they are managed. The nice thing about 50 percent cattle have on commercial herds. is the ease of management. First, you can use either, a purecontinued from page 2

BREEDER SPOTLIGHT EASTERN REGION BREEDERS

The Greenbrier Cattle Company Jim and Jay Justice and Family Office - 540-423-1200 Jeff Kaufman, manager Jeff - 540-280-5388 28011 Horseshoe Rd., gbcattleco@gmail.com Culpeper, VA 22701 Joint Bull Sale on April 1, 2011 in Harrisonburg, VA

inerich Land and Cattle Co. BOB MINERICH

OWNER OFFICE: (859) 328-7118 FAX: (859) 328-7120 HOME: (859) 328-4104

2003 Barnes Mill Road Richmond, Kentucky 40476-0536

REGISTERED LIMOUSIN “Breeding Prime Cattle” minegwen@aol.com

Larry Smith

www.tubmillcreekfarms.com

347 Davidson Road West Harrison, Indiana 47060 Evening: (812) 637-2303 Day: (513) 367-0218 www.loganhills.com

Scott Minges, We Cater To Commercial Cattlemen

Manager (812) 637-5554 Cell: (513) 616-8499

John & Kitty Goodish 152 Florida Lane New Florence, PA 15944

724-235-2178 Joint bull sale on April 1, 2011 in Harrisonburg, VA

LIMOUSIN SERVICES Seedstock Consultants Specialized Sales 2300 Monument Ave. * Richmond, VA 23220 Ph: (804) 353-2220 * Fax: (804) 353-2221 Keith Kissee * Cell: (817) 821-6263 Email: kkseedstock@comcast.net

“Marketing Limousin Seedstock Throughout North America” Today’s high operating costs are enough to make cattlemen see red. Everyone is looking for ways to lower costs and maximize gain.

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Randall O. Ratliff 3610 Bear Creek Ln Thompson’s Station, TN 37179 Office: 615.791.8982 Fax: 615.791.8983 Mobile: 615.330.2735 www.rrmktg.com e-mail: sales@rrmktg.com

WWW.FULLBLOODLIMOUSINALLIANCE.ORG FULLBLOOD = FULL BENEFITS

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Winter 2011

BOTTOM LINE

rates after their first breeding seasons. To help improve age 16 at puberty, NALF introduced scrotal circumference EPDs in 1994. As with stayability, 14 scrotal circumference has shown an impressive genetic 12 trend growing by 350% in the past 10 years.

10 According to a 2007 report 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 1990 by the U.S. Meat Animal Source: North American Limousin Foundation EPD genetic trends for stayability Research Center, Limousin first calf heifers achieved 87% pregnancy rate that rivaled that of Angus and surpassed that of Gelbvieh. In the same study, Limousin cows lead all breeds continued from page 1 in the number of calves born and weaned. In addition, Limousin steers were equal to or greater than every other breed crop born and weaned. with 63.7% retail product.

Longevity is typically defined as a length of productive life Milking ability is another trait for which Limousin females spent within the herd, has long been a strength of the Limouhave gotten a bad rap. Optimum is the key word to use when sin breed. It has been estimated that the break-even age of a discussing milking ability, however. Problems are associated commercial cow is between five or six years of age. Based on with both low and high levels of milk production. For examNorth American Limousin Foundation (NALF) data, the averple, cows with extremely high levels age cow culled due to age is older of milk have higher maintenance than 12 years. While longevity has requirements, are harder to breed the potential to reduce the rate of back on schedule and might have a genetic progress by increasing gengreater incidence of teat and udder eration interval, it allows producers problems. to be more selective when evaluatLimousin females produce intering replacement females. In turn, mediate levels of milk both 12 fewer replacements are retained, hours and 200 days following partuthus lowering the cost of replacerition. Limousin breeders have ment heifer development. It allows made great strides toward improvmore animals to be marketed, lowing milking ability increasing the ers production costs due to lower breed average by a third since 1990. total energy requirements for Their intermediate milk levels help with lower maintenance mature cows, and allows for an increased proportion of high and quick rebreeding. producing mature animals in the herd.

Genetic improvements in docility also have been substantial The NALF performance program has addressed cow over the years. Since NALF published the first genetic evalualongevity through its Stayability expected progeny differtion for docility in 1995, breeders have aggressively culled anience (EPD). The stayability EPD is a tool for predicting mals with unacceptable dispositions. The genetic trend for genetic differences in the likelihood of animals producing Limousin docility EPD (See Figure 2) has been nothing short of daughters that remain in production past age 6. As seen in outstanding. Breeders can use sires with high docility EPDs in the table below, the Limousin breed has increased the avercontinued on page 16 age stayability EPD by more than 55% since 1990. The prolonged, favorable genetic trend in stayability results Figure 2. Limousin Breeders Focus on Delivering Disposition from years of breeders diligently culling open cows, fertility-testing bulls and requiring heifers to calve by their second birthday. The trend also shows modern Limousin breeders are committed to providing reproductively superior cattle to the commercial industry.

Yearling Limousin heifers 1990 1995 2000 2005 2009 have had a reputation as lateSource: North American Limousin Foundation EPD genetic trends for docility maturing with low pregnancy Stayability EPDs (%)

Figure 1. Cows That Last

Docility EPDs

Rediscover the Value of Efficiency

LIMOUSIN’S COMMERCIAL CONNECTION

Winter 2011

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Rediscover the Value of Efficiency

Figure 3. Current rank of four major Continental Breeds, based off of MARC trial results

continued from page 15 Feed Efficiency

Repro/Maternal 1st Calf Heifers

Repro/Maternal 3-6 Year Old Cows

the mating process to produce replacement Time Fat Thickness Breed 187 d 0.45 in Weaned% Born Alive % Weaned % females that will not have temperament problems. Other breeds are beginning to offer genetic Simental 2 2 2 2 2 information regarding docility, yet all breeds have Gelbvieh 3 3 4 2 3 lines of cattle with temperament problems.

1 Limousin 1 1 1 1 11 Angus is one such breed who is developing docilCharolais 4 4 1 2 3 ity EPD. Perhaps the most compelling evidence of the * Ranking determined from results published in the 2007 Germ Plasm Evaluation Report, ARS-USDA Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, Nebraska. strengths of the Limousin female is in efficiency.

1 Denotes ranking amongst all breeds included in study (Hereford, Angus, Red Angus, Simmental, Gelbvieh, Limousin, Charolais) When compared to Angus, Hereford, Red Angus, Simmental, Charolais and Gelbvieh cows, as feed resources in changing environmental conditions. shown in the following table. Limousin females rank highest Limousin genetics offer value not only in carcass traits but in the number of calves born per cow exposed and in the also in maternal traits. With their moderate size, long life span, number of calves weaned per cow exposed. The difference in optimum level of milk production and pasture to the plate effithe number of calves born to Limousin females and the numciency, Limousin cows are an excellent choice under a wide ber of calves born to the other Continental breeds tested in variety of production environments and market targets. the study can mean as much as $30 more per cow per year.

Limousin cattle have been progressing with quality grade Limousin also outperformed all other continental breeds in and when combined with British based cattle create optimum feed efficiency at 187 days on feed and at 0.43 inches of back heterosis. Several feeders have reported to NALF groups of fat according to a recent report published by the Meat Anihalfblood Limousin x Angus steers grading above 70% Choice, mal Research Center (MARC). above 70% Yield Grade 1 or 2. The resulting progeny will While British breeds tend to be more efficient when feed is encompass the additional Quality Grade of British breeds limited and Continental breeds are more efficient when feed while incorporating the added value of retail product, yield intake is high, Limousin cows are highly efficient in either case. grade and heterosis. Rediscover the value of efficiency.

That suggests Limousin females are more flexible than females Rediscover the benefits of Limousin genetics. of other breeds – being able to adapt more readily to changing

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Winter 2011

BOTTOM LINE

Crossbreeding “Revisited” Dr. Scott P. Greiner Extension Animal Scientist, VA Tech As I travel around the Commonwealth (and across the U.S. for that matter), there is renewed enthusiasm for crossbreeding among cow-calf producers. The benefits of crossbreeding systems in the beef sector have been extensively researched over the years, and the practical implications of the benefits of crossbreeding are as relevant and important today as they were 25 years ago. While very little has changed from a science perspective, as an industry we have seemed to “rediscover” crossbreeding. There are likely many contributing factors to this movement, not the least of which is the challenging economic realities of today’s beef business. Commercial cow-calf producers are faced with optimizing a number of economically important traits, while simultaneously reducing costs of production in order to remain competitive.

There are numerous benefits to a well-designed crossbreeding system. This article is designed to summarize these benefits into key points which are based on both research and observed results in the field.

Crossbred Cows Make Better Females: The largest single benefit to crossbreeding is realized the in the crossbred cow.

In fact, approximately 60% of the total advantage in heterosis LIMOUSIN’S COMMERCIAL CONNECTION

(hybrid vigor) in a crossbreeding system can be attributed to the crossbred cow. The large advantage is derived from the reproductive advantages of the crossbred cow. She simply is more apt to rebreed following calving, which results in more longevity (she stays in herd longer since she is not culled for being open). This advantage, coupled with the superior mothering and maternal ability of the crossbred female results in more pounds of calf at weaning per cow exposed.

With reproduction being the most economically important performance trait, the merits of maintaining a crossbred cow fully justify implementation of a crossbreeding program. We all understand the concept that open cows are not profitable.

Add to this the advantage of the crossbred in longevity, and the crossbred cow has more years to dilute out the costs of developing her as a heifer. Collectively, these differences in reproduction and longevity favorably impact both costs of production as well as production output.

Crossbred Calves Weigh More: For most cow-calf producers selling feeder cattle, net income is derived primarily from calf sales. This net income is a function of number of calves continued on page 20

Winter 2011

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Crossbreeding “Revisited” continued from page 19

ly, milk production growth, and mature size may be most effectively optimized by crossing two or more breeds. The cumulative effect crossbreeding has when several traits are considered is more important than any one particular trait.

Effective crossbreeding programs must be designed to optimize performance, not necessarily maximize it.

sold, calf weight, and calf value per pound. Crossbreeding impacts the first two of these in a major way. First, crossbred calves exhibit hybrid vigor at birth and through weaning- put another way they are more apt to survive to weaning and be Crossbreeding Has Become Simplified: Several advances in sold. More calves born (see above) and more calves alive technology have made crossbreeding much simpler to apply equate to more pounds to sell. Along with this, heterosis and sustain, particularly for small cow herds. The availability impacts calf growth favorably resulting in heavier weaning of hybrid/composite bulls allow for the introduction of hybrid weights than the average of the parental breeds used to form vigor into the calf crop without wide fluctuations in the crossbred. breed type. Technology has allowed for the compuNo one breed tation of EPDs on these hybrid bulls, so as an indusCrossbreeding Balances Genetics: Crossbreedor no one bull try we can apply selection practices in same fashion ing provides the ability to take advantage of the within a breed as we use them in purebred seedstock. Similarly, strengths of two or more breeds to produce offcan meet all we have DNA genotyping at our disposal to relativespring that have optimum levels of performance in ly cheaply manage traits such as coat color. Anothseveral traits. This has become more of a chalof our needs. er change which has evolved in Virginia is the lenge in today’s beef industry as we have many availability of commercial crossbred females. There new tools and EPDs at our disposal from which to make are a significant number of producers which market bred genetic decisions. No one breed or no one bull within a breed females. These females are crossbred, with built-in maternal can meet all of our needs. Crossbreeding allows us to capheterosis and by purchasing replacement heifers cow-calf proture the strengths of two or more breeds, and match breeds in ducers benefit from a simpler breeding system (terminal sire) a complimentary fashion. A simple example is the ability to and fewer management groups to tend to in their operation (no balance Quality and Yield Grade potential, two classically weaned heifer calves or developing yearling heifers). Lastly, antagonistic traits. The established superiority of British advances in estrus synchronization research has resulted in breeds can be matched with the known advantages in several protocols which utilized timed-AI breeding. Through muscling and leanness of Continental breeds to produce calf AI, the best bulls of any breed are at a producer’s disposal for with a balance of these economically important traits and the incorporation into their herd. ability to meet various market and consumer targets. Similar-

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Winter 2011

BOTTOM LINE

Don’t Take Our Word, Take Theirs

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A carefully constructed British X Continental can come a lot closer to hitting most of the targets for reproduction, production and end-product than any straightbred I’m aware of.

Dr. Jim Gosey, University of Nebraska Beef Specialist

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The amount of feed required per unit of retail beef produced is the ultimate biological measure of beef production efficiency. Limousin calves produced the same amount of trimmed retail product with roughly onehalf as much feed weaning to harvest as compared to Angus and Hereford calves.

Gregory et al., J. Anim. Sci. 72:1154

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There have been cutability issues and overly fat cattle that the higher percentage Angus cattle bring to the industry. Our buyers say the ideal Angus percentage is 50 to 75%.

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Our cattle have to be stout, easy fleshing, maternal, and able to fend for themselves. Lim-Flex do this better than any other type of cattle we’ve ran.”

Hybrid vigor is still very important at the cow/calf level and you can’t get that by crossing Angus on Angus for multiple generations. But structured crossbreeding has been too hard to implement, especially for small producers. So the hybrid bull is convenient and brings the muscle that the continental breeds offer to the table.

Tom Brink, Five Rivers Ranch Cattle Feeders

Some of these old cows we’re running are 93 to 95 models. Those cows are 15 to 17 years of age. They calve well, wean heavy, and keep breeding back. They’ve paid for themselves a long time ago. As long as they continue to hold together structurally, maintain good udders, and hold their condition, they can continue to stay.”

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Winters up in this country can be pretty tough to say the least. When snow piles up, temperatures drop and the wind begins to howl, the fact that Lim-Flex calves hit the ground on their feet nursing is key to calf survival and long term health.

Casey Deuter, South Dakota

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Limousin bulls can transform an average to below average set of cows into a set of calves that will top the market. No other breed puts the muscle shape and expression on a set of calves like Limousin.

John Campbell, Winter Livestock, La Junta, Colorado

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Muscularity is one thing our producers could really work on to improve the value of their calves. As weight increases, buyers pay less of a difference for breed type. But muscling impacts the price, no matter what the weight.

Tom Troxell, Livestock Extension Specialist, University of Arkansas, as told to BEEF magazine

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It seems that many other breeds tend to bunch up and stay in lower lying areas, not fully utilizing available feed.

Our Lim-Flex cows are typically scattered from the top of the mountain, clear down into the bottoms when we gather.

Harley Coleman, Charlo, MT

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Those old quarter and halfblood Limousin cows are some of the best out there.

Jim Odle, Superior Livestock Auction

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Cattle-Fax forecasts a $60/cwt. average cow price…that’s a pretty healthy cow price. Fat cattle will bring $95-$100 cwt. for 2011, with feeder calves bringing $123/cwt., up $6 more than this year. The big wrinkle will be corn prices. If they increase, feeder calves will be cheaper. It’s time to retain and rebuild, but will we do it? It takes 38 percent more credit/capital to operate in the current environment. We are going to have to continue to have conversations with our bankers about that. They have a right to be cautious, but we need to be allowed to keep doing business.

Greg Doud, NCBA’s chief economist at the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association annual convention

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Limousin dams tended to have the highest calving and weaning rates because they were able to have heavier calves with less calving difficulty and higher survival rates.

Comerford et al., J. Anim. Sci. 64:65-76

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Lim-Flex adapt quicker to their environment than any other breed wehave ran in the past.”

Not only do Lim-Flex females off unprecedented longevity, but they are extremely fertile and maternally inclined.”

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Lim-Flex adapt quicker to their environment than any other breed we have ran in the past. Plus, they spread out better over the range, making better use of available feed, resulting in decreased need for supplementation.

Andy Bailey, Hiko, NV

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LIMOUSIN’S COMMERCIAL CONNECTION

Winter 2011

Taking advantage of using two or more breeds that complement each in the improvement of desired traits for our many different environments, managements, and feed resources makes “dollars and sense”. Hybrid vigor bring about improvement in a number of economically important traits at little or no additional cost.

James Bennett, Knoll Crest Farms, Red House, VA

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Meet the New Commercial Marketing Director Joe Epperly joined the North American Limousin Foundation (NALF) staff as the director of commercial marketing in November of 2010. His primary goal will be to work with commercial cow-calf producers, auction markets, and feedyards to promote the use of Limousin and Lim Flex® genetics and to increase the value of Limousin-influenced cattle. Hitting the ground running, Epperly has been making herd visits, developing articles, and planning trips to Limousin and Lim-Flex® influenced events this winter and spring.

Epperly was raised in Moneta, VA, where he worked for his family’s livestock market and registered seedstock operation.

Throughout his youth, Epperly assisted with marketing cattle through the livestock market to feedlots in Kansas and Nebraska, where his family developed and marketed their bulls and feeder calves. Though his family decided to sell their livestock market in 2003, they continue to market feeder calves to backgrounding and feeding operations throughout the Midwest.

He obtained his bachelor’s degree in Animal and Poultry Sciences from Virginia Tech. While at Virginia Tech he worked as a herdsman at the research herd, was a member of the livestock judging team, and an active member of Block and Bridle. Most recently, he was the assistant manager of Murcielago Farms, 1,200 head registered seedstock operation in the state of Virginia.

Growing up, he was active in FFA holding numerous leadership positions on the chapter level and becoming a State Officer.

He was recognized for his work on his family’s operation, being named Star in Beef Production Proficiency and earning a silver rating for Star American Farmer. As a state officer and a part

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time college student, Epperly traveled the state speaking to over 11,000 Virginia FFA members. While serving on a National Junior Angus Association Board, he had the opportunity to travel and speak across the United States along with representing the organization at events in Mexico and Canada.

Through Epperly’s travels, Joe Epperly he will promote Limousin-influenced cattle across the United States. “We are building demand for Limousin-influenced cattle,” said Epperly. “They work in a variety of systems and environments. Lim-Flex® is quickly becoming one of the dominant hybrid crosses in the commercial industry.”

“Mainstream acceptance of Limousin genetics was displayed this summer during Superior Livestock’s Video Royale sale in Winnemucca, Nev., where Limousin influenced cattle were sold at a premium,” continued Epperly. “A total of 71 Limousin-influenced lots were offered during the Royale, with a total of 9,617 head rivaling the traditional top-tier cattle markets. The use of Limousin genetics is steadily growing across the country.”

In 2010 the North American Limousin Foundation assisted in the marketing of approximately 75,000 head of Limousin-influenced cattle. Contact the North American Limousin Foundation to see how Epperly can help you with your operation.”

Winter 2011

BOTTOM LINE

7383 S. Alton Way, Suite 100 Centennial, Colorado 80112-2339

WANTED: FEEDER CATTLE

Five Star- the largest procurer of Limousin-Influenced feeder cattle in the United States- has teamed up with Strauss Brands Inc., Choice Livestock and Select Feeders to provide supplier pre-approval services & supplydevelopment strategies for its ʻfree-raisedʼ veal program, as well as several other branded programs.

For details contact...

Wendell Geeslin 970-396-6958 wendell@5starcattle.com

Nia Elliott 970-231-6278 nia@5starcattle.com

FIVE STAR CATTLE SYSTEMS • P.O. BOX 1140 • PLATTEVILLE, CO 80651 • 5STARCATTLE.COM

Seeking 1/4 to Full Blood Limousin-Influenced Calves & Feeder Cattle