The Cattleman's Source

American-International Charolais Association 11700 NW Plaza Circle Kansas City, MO 64153

Reference Sires:

LT Easy Blend 5125 LT Silver Distance 5342 LT Long Distance 9001 RC Montana 644 LT Leader Board 6110

GENETICS Functional cows are the foundation of our program.

Every cow in the herd has been born and bred on the Hebbert Charolais Ranch. Using performance sires from the Charolais breed’s most proven bloodlines, we have stacked the pedigrees emphasizing the important basic traits of calving ease, structural soundness, fertility and total performance.

MORE THAN GENETICS • All Bulls are Performance and Fertility Tested • Free Delivery within 300 Miles • Backed by a Breeding Season Guarantee

2012 SALE DATE

30th Annual Bull Sale

April 14, 2012

Family Ranching in the Nebraska Sandhills Since 1886

DAVID HEBBERT 62075 Hebbert Lane Hyannis, NE 69350 MOSE HEBBERT Box 292 Hyannis, NE 69350

308-458-2540 11

www.HebbertRanch.com

TURBOCHARGE your Herd Bull Battery TR PZC Rapid Fire 9775 ET

His first sons sell!

CCF Knob Creek 0808

Annual Bull Sale

March 9, 2012 at the ranch

140 Charolais & Angus Bulls 200 Commercial Heifers Ranch Raised Quarter Horses

Swegle Creek Kojo 514 ET

Bar S Ranch Ken & Pat Stielow David & Stephanie Dickerson

5302 182nd St. Paradise, KS 67658 (785) 998-4335

2

18344 Fairport Rd. Paradise, KS 67658 (785) 998-4386 stephanie@gorhamtel.com

Blending Proven Full French and Purebred Genetics Results

It all starts with a powerful, balanced and athletic bull!

With an emphasis on fertility, calving ease and heavy weaning weights, we’re meeting the demands of our commercial bull customers.

Substance

Productive

Muscle

Style

We’re your source for proven true outcross genetics!

Visit our website, give us a call or stop by for a visit.

Full French & Purebred Genetics Daniel Hammond

15300 Co. Rd. 2 • Florence, AL 35633 (256) 766-6354 4mogocharolais@earthlink.net

P.O. Box 186, Liverpool, Texas 77577 Larry Ludeke (832) 439-4666 Stan Cross (713) 859-1950 Daryl Renfrow (832) 444-5241 E-mail: larryl@qiminc.com

Visit us at www.barjcharolaisfarm.com 3

The Cattleman’s Source

Volume 11, No. 1 Fall 2011

ASSOCIATION STAFF Executive Vice President J. Neil Orth north@charolaisusa.com Director of Activities David Hobbs dhobbs@charolaisusa.com Director of Junior Activities Molly Schoen mmader@charolaisusa.com Recording Secretary Marilou Wegner mwegner@charolaisusa.com Director of Breed Improvement & Foreign Marketing Robert Williams rwilliams@charolaisusa.com Photo by David Hobbs

Reference Information Letter of Introduction...............................................7 Advertiser Listings by State...................................11-13 Advertiser Locator Map...........................................14-15 Pouunds Equal Profit. by Clifford Mitchell............................. 17

The Cattleman’s Source is published by:

American-International Charolais Association 11700 N.W. PLAZA CIRCLE, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, 64153 (816) 464-5977 • FAX (816) 464-5759 WWW.CHAROLAISUSA.COM

4

FIELD STAFF Central/Northeast Representative Call the AICA office for Information.

(816) 464-5977 North Central Representative Colt Keffer cell (765) 376-8784 ckeffer@charolaisusa.com Southeast Representative Floyd Wampler 207 Sparger Rd. Bristol, TN 37620-8846 cell (423) 612-2144 fwampler@charolaisusa.com Southwest Representative Wes Chism P.O. Box 150883 Arlington, TX 76015 cell (281) 761-5952 wchism@charolaisusa.com Western Region Associate Advertising Sales & Commerical Marketing Dennis Metzger cell (816) 519-8208

FLUHARTY FARMS it’s in

Black & White

H Performance Tested

H Quality in Volume

H First Breeding Season Guaranteed

HRange Ready

We handle the fine print...

SO YOU CAN MAKE THE HEADLINES HAngus Source

HCharolais Advantage HLoad lots of feeder cattle

H Partnership Retained Ownership Options

www.Fluhartyfarms.com Bill Pendergrass • (979) 203-6800 P.O. Box 348 • Gause, TX 77857 bill@fluhartyfarms.net 5

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THOMAS RANCH Troy & VeaBea Thomas 605-973-2448 18441 Capri Place Harrold, SD 57536 thomasranchcattle.com thomas@venturecomm.net

Groups of Charolais and Angus females For sale at the ranch, private treaty 6

country. Calves are being weaned much earlier, entire cowherds are being liquidated, ranchers are feeling extraordinary economic pressures from skyrocketing input costs and wildfires have burned millions of acres of pasture. Yet, the positive, even bullish attitude from producers in drought country is beyond explanation.

It’s a fact that beef producers are incredibly resilient. Always have been—always will be.

Cattle producers from across the nation realize our product, often described as a commodity, is in short supply.

Literally on a daily basis, agriculture analysts are presenting data that should make us all bullish on the business… if we’re listening.

Recently, Tom Brink, JBS Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, LLC, discussed the state of the industry and a look into the future.

The information is both frightening and exciting. A few points that should hit home for all Charolais producers are listed below.

• USDA projects beef production to fall more than ONE BILLION pounds in 2012 versus 2011.

• Great time to own cows IF…

(1) You have a competitive cost structure,

(2) The right genetics and,

(3) Management to compete in today’s marketplace.

• Feedyards are looking for more…

(1) Performance

(2) Health

(3) Carcass merit Brink used a ladder as a metaphor for creating more valuable feeder calves. He emphasized the fact you can’t climb the ladder without first stepping onto the first rung of the ladder. By having a solid first rung on the ladder, beef producers can metaphorically climb the ladder of profitability and create more valuable feeder calves. The first (bottom) rung of the ladder starts with the right genetics. Next step up the ladder is better health and immunity, followed by post-weaning management, uniform load lots and larger numbers/more loads. The last rung of the ladder can be described as “easy money”… age and source verification.

If the analysts are correct and they most always are, this dramatic reduction in supply will emphasize a problem that has been discussed for many years. A seedstock producer can no longer ignore the role his cattle play in the supply chain.

Those producers taking advantage of technology and available information to make genetic improvements AND know how their cattle perform up the food chain are now and will continue finding themselves in a unique position.

Our export markets for beef has a bright spot on the horizon. Again, if the analysts are correct, export demand will increase, further pressuring domestic supply. The USDA National Steer & Heifer Estimated Grading Report for the week ending 9/10/2011 listed the percentage of cattle offered meeting brand specifications (Schedule GLA) at 66.13%. In other words, more than 66% of all cattle processed during the week of 9/10 met the specifications to fit into a branded box. More than 25% of the cattle processed that week fell into the upper two-thirds of USDA Choice. Looking at the equation from the opposite perspective, barely one-third of the cattle processed during the week of Sept. 10, were commodity cattle. To further emphasis the fact; the demand for unknown genetics or cattle going into the feedyard with phenotype not known for quality, will leave little or no room for profit.

The perfect storm created by drought, floods, economy, social issues and politics may ultimately bode well for the beef industry as well as all of agriculture. Food in America is safe, abundant, accessible and affordable. Beef is tasty, a tremendous source of nutrients and available at many affordable price points.

At some point the consumer, likely three generations removed from agriculture, will realize we truly are all in this together. Debating the advantages of niches is nothing more than marketing to different lifestyle choices and socioeconomic strata. Meanwhile, it’s important all those engaged in the beef production keep an “eye on the prize”. Whether you are considering herd expansion or continuing to wait on desperately needed moisture, genetic improvement will absolutely be an important key to riding the next wave of success and profitability in the days to come.

Sincerely,

J. Neil Orth Executive Vice President

7

The Cattleman’s Source

It is difficult to find words to adequately or appropriately describe the catastrophic drought conditions in most of the

Wakefield Farms –

A name you can trust for Performance Tested Charolais Bulls Since 1962

RC Distance 3154 Pld

LT Council 0150 Pld

LT Distance x Whitehot BW: 90 lbs.

AWW/R: 826 lbs./121 AYW:/R: 1,432 lbs./115

Silver Distance x Cigar x YL06 EPDs: BW: -0.5 WW: 32 YW: 44 M: 8 TM: 24 SC: 1.3 REA: 0.17

EPDs: BW: 2.3 WW: 23 YW: 48 M: 12 TM: 24 SC: 0.6 REA: 0.42 MB: 0.04

Wakefield Farms Original Charter Member Minnesota Charolais Association Larry & Dan Wakefield 20701 150th St. • New Richland, MN 56072 (507) 317-3086 • (507) 475-1749 Kyle & Emily Wakefield • (507) 402-4640 kylerwakefield@gmail.com www.breedingcattlepage.com

When you are looking for your next herd sire, check out our offering! We strive to produce bulls that calve easily, have outstanding growth and carcass traits, sterling dispositions and are backed with a maternal cow herd that is second to none!

Selling Bulls by Private Treaty

Iowa Cattlemen Performance Tested Bull Sales Iowa Beef Expo Black Hills Stock Show

December 17, 2011

Buffalo County Fairgrounds, Kearney, NE

SELLING: 60 Head

Heifer calves, bred heifers and bred cows

FEATURING

Get & service of SCR Bronco 9026, service of SCR Tuffy 0119, and get and service of other leading Charolais sires.

Tom Sonderup

19488 Valley Rd., Fullerton, NE 68638 (308) 536-2050  (308) 550-0254 cell scrinc@hotmail.com  www.sonderupcharolaisranch.com 8

Sale managed by: Hubert Cattle Sales (785) 672-3195

EPDs: 5.7 0.9 42 81 5 3.5 26 1.1

Semen Available —$20/straw; $35 Signing Also avaialble from Bovine Elite 800-786-4066

EPDs: 0.2 3.0 43 71 12 -1.1 33 0.5

Bull Sale • March 31, 2012 Also available by Private Treaty

9

www.satterfieldcharolais-angus.com

6th Annual THOMAS CHAROLAIS, INC.

SPRING BULL SALE At the Ranch H Raymondville, Texas Wednesday, 1:00 PM • February 8, 2012

150

Breeding-Age Registered Charolais Bulls Offered

With over 1,200 Registered Charolais cows and three generations of the Thomas Family standing behind their product, when buying from Thomas Charolais, Inc., you not only get an animal that you will be pleased with, but you also get a customer service guarantee of a family dedicated to the continuity of their business.

Free Continental U.S. trucking to a central location available on $10,000+ purchases per buyer.

For more information on the sale or a catalog, please contact us at:

thomasra@gte.net OR on the web at

www.thomascharolais.com Mitch Thomas 956-535-0936 Tonnyre Thomas Joe 956-535-0942

Sale will also be broadcast on Superior Internet Auction and viewed at www.superiorlivestock.com

THOMAS charolais, inc.

SINCE 1936

Good Cattle, Good People, and Commitment Guaranteed!

200 Bulls Sell • 11th Annual10Fall Bull Sale • Oct. 17, 2012

State Listings

KANSAS

ALABAMA

6 – Bar S Ranch Ken & Pat Stielow 5302 182nd St.• Paradise, KS 67658 (785) 998-4335 David & Steph Dickerson 18344 Fairport Rd.• Paradise, KS 67658 (785) 998-4386 E-mail: stephanie@gorhamtel.com www.barsangusranch.com (see page 2)

1 – MOGO Full French Charolais

Daniel Hammond 15300 Co. Rd. 2 • Florence, AL 35633 (256) 766-6354 E-mail: 4mogocharolais@earthlink.net www.mogocharolais.com (see page 3)

2 – Walden Farms

Tony Walden P.O. Box 24 • Brantley, AL 36009 (334) 527-3021 office (334) 527-8774 fax waldenfarms@alaweb.com (see page 27)

7 – Fink Beef Genetics Galen, Lori and Megan Fink 15523 Tuttle Creek Blvd.• Randolph, KS 66554 (785) 293-5106 • (785) 532-9936 Galen Barrett Broadie (620) 635-6128 Gene Barrett (785) 224-8509 E-mail: finkbull1@twinvalley.net www.finkbeefgenetics.com (see inside back cover)

ARKANSAS 3 – Satterfield Charolais & Angus

P.O. Box 331 • Norfork, AR 72658 Mark & Nancy (870) 499-5379 • (507) 644-9274 cell Loyd & Joanne (870) 499-7151 E-mail: Satterfieldcharolais@centurytel.net www.satterfieldcharolais-angus.com (see page 9)

MINNESOTA 8 – Wakefield Farms

Larry, Kyle & Dan Wakefield 20701 150th Street • New Richland, MN 56072 Larry: (507) 317-3086 Dan: (507) 475-1749 Kyle: (507) 402-4640 E-mail: kylerwakefield@gmail.com www.breedingcattlepage/wakefieldfarms.com (see page 8)

GEORGIA 4 – Kensington Cattle Company

P.O. Box 539 • Woodburry, GA 30293 (706) 553-5455 office (706) 553-5456 fax (706) 601-0800 Roland Starnes (863) 899-4869 James Stice (see page 27)

MISSOURI 9 – Mead Angus Farm

21658 Quarry Road Barnett, MO 65011 Alan Mead: (573) 216-0210 Bub Raithel: (573) 253-1664 Office: (573) 302-7011 • (573) 348-8325 fax E-mail: meadangus@yahoo.com www.skally.net/mead (see page 20)

ILLINOIS 5 – MDL Farms

Matt Lafever 916 170th Ave. • Joy, IL 61260 (309) 537-3677 home • (563) 260-8193 cell MDLFarms@Frontiernet.net

10 – Windy Hill Charolais

Stan & Mary Bonacker & Family 7095 Burgess Ford Road Cedar Hill, MO 63016 1-800-810-9432 • (636) 285-6073 Stan: (314) 550-2554 David: (314) 974-5230 E-mail: stan@windyhillcharolais.com www.windyhillcharolais.com (see page 21)

11

NEBRASKA

OREGON

11 – Dybdal Charolais

16 – Romans Ranches Charolais

Larry & Krista Dybdal 88361 575th Ave. • Newcastle, NE 68757 Home (402) 692-3704 • Cell (402) 841-9784 Email: kldybdal@nntc.net www.dybdalcharolais.com (see page 32)

Bill Romans Family 2200 6th Ave. West • Vale, OR 97918 Jeff: (541) 212-2223 • Bill: (541) 212-1514 E-Mail: romansranches@hotmail.com www.romanscharolais.com (see page 16)

12 – Hebbert Charolais

SOUTH DAKOTA

David Hebbert 62075 Hebbert Lane • Hyannis, NE 69350 (308) 458-2540 Mose Hebbert Box 292 • Hyannis, NE 69350 www.hebbertranch.com (see page 1)

17 – Thomas Ranch

Troy, VeaBea & Cally Thomas 18441 Capri Place• Harrold, SD 57536 (605) 973-2448 E-mail: thomas@venturecomm.net www.thomasranchcattle.com (see page 6)

13 – Sonderup Charolais Ranch, Inc. Tom Sonderup 19488 Valley Road • Fullerton, NE 68638 Home: (308) 536-2050 Cell: (308) 550-0254 E-mail: scrinc@hotmail.com www.sonderupcharolaisranch.com (see page 8)

18– Vedvei Charolais Ranch

Alan & Deb Vedvei 44213 204th St. • Lake Preston, SD 57249 (605) 847-4529 • Fax: (605) 847-4810 E-mail: vedvei@rapiddatasystems.net www.vedveicharolais.com (see back cover)

NORTH DAKOTA

19 – Wienk Charolais Ranch

44210 205th St. • Lake Preston, SD 57249 1-800-848-4350 • Fax: (605) 847-4118 Arnold & Carol Wienk: (605) 847-4350 Arnold Cell: (605) 860-1111 Jeff & Jody Eschenbaum: (605) 847-4880 Jeff Cell: (605) 860-0505 Sterling & Courtney Eschenbaum (605) 203-0137 E-mail: acwienk@rapiddatasystems.net www.wienkcharolais.com (see page 21)

14 – Effertz Key Ranch

Gerald & Loretta Effertz & Family P.O. Box 640• Velva, ND 58790-0640 Kevin: (701) 338-2980 Roger: (701) 728-6459 Neil: (701) 223-5202 Bryan Dean: (701) 624-5104 E-mail: ekrinc@srt.com www.effertzkeyranch.com (see Inside Front Cover)

OKLAHOMA

TEXAS

15 – Nipp Charolais

20 – Bar J Charolais

Curtis & Brenda Nipp HC 66, Box 76• Overbrook, OK 73453 (580) 668-3332 (580) 513-3555 cell E-mail: nippcharolais@yahoo.com www.nippcharolais.com (see page 22)

P.O. Box 186 • Liverpool, TX 77577 Larry Ludeke (832) 439-4666 Stan Cross (713) 859-1950 Daryl Renfrow (832) 444-5241 E-mail: larryl@qiminc.com www.barjcharolaisfarm.com (see page 3)

12

21 – Dennis Charolais Farm

Eric, Angie, Haley & Brayden 170 Rock Bluff Rd. • Saint Jo, TX 76265 (940) 995-2161 www.dennischarolais.com (see page 25)

Need assisstance finding Charolais genetics contact an AICA

22 – Fluharty Farms, LLC.

Bill Pendergrass P.O. Box 348 • Gause, TX 77857 (979) 203-6800 E-mail: bill@fluhartyfarms.net www.fluhartyfarms.com (see page 5)

23 – Hann Family Spring Valley Ranch

Roy Hann 1300 Walton Drive • College Station, TX 77840 Office: (979) 696-7414 Ranch: (979) 279-2587 Fax: (979) 696-9245 (see page 23)

24 – Thomas Charolais, Inc.

Representative

PO Box 595 • Raymondville, TX 78580 (956) 535-0936 Mitch Thomas (956) 535-0942 Tonnyre Thomas Joe E-mail: thomasra@gte.net www.thomascharolais.com (see page 10)

FIELD STAFF

Services

Central/Northeast Representative Call the AICA office for Information.

(816) 464-5977 North Central Representative Colt Keffer cell (765) 376-8784 ckeffer@charolaisusa.com Southeast Representative Floyd Wampler 207 Sparger Rd. Bristol, TN 37620-8846 cell (423) 612-2144 fwampler@charolaisusa.com Southwest Representative Wes Chism P.O. Box 150883 Arlington, TX 76015 cell (281) 761-5952 wchism@charolaisusa.com Western Region Associate Advertising Sales & Commerical Marketing Dennis Metzger cell (816) 519-8208

25 – Outfront Cattle Service

Dennis Adams P.O. Box 10590 College Station, TX 77842 (979) 693-1301 (979) 229-4472 E-mail: dennis@outfrontcattle.com www.outfrontcattle.com (see page 16)

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16 17

18 19

11

12 13

25 6

7

15 21 25 23

22

24

14

Numbers on map correspond to state listings, page 11-13.

8

5 9

10

3 1

2

4

20

15

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POUNDSl EquaPROFIT Terminal cross system strives for perfection

T

by Clifford Mitchell

he market system has often based premiums or discounts on hide color, niche market designation or tried and true health programs. End product or value-added products were industry “buzz words” associated with cattlemen getting the most for their product. In most cases, before instrument grading and during periods of a high Choice/ Select spread, commercial operators abandoned conventional wisdom to shoot for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Time-tested management tools, like crossbreeding, were abandoned in the search for the Holy Grail.

With widespread implementation of instrument grading, high feed costs and supply issues, pounds delivered to the marketplace solidified its position as the chief indicator of profit for most commercial operations.

“When we first started using Charolais genetics, we weren’t thinking of anything but the extra 50 pounds associated with hybrid vigor,” says Rusty Daniel, Wood Ranch, Coleman, Oklahoma.

“We tried Charolais bulls because we wanted more uniformity in our calf crop. Our weaning weights have increased 100 pounds since we started

using Charolais bulls. That’s a big difference with today’s prices,” says Tom Loftin, Windthorst, Texas.

Crossbreeding systems can be as complicated or as straightforward as a management team wants to make them to produce the raw material for today’s beef industry. For some breeders, a terminal cross system is easily managed from a sire breed composition and the female side of the equation.

“In 2000, I began purchasing F1 tiger stripe females from the special sale in Ft. Worth and have purchased at least one pen every year since. I started using Charolais bulls, in a terminal cross system, eight years ago and I am really pleased with the added growth and extra pounds I get at weaning,” says Bruce Jones, Lindsay, Oklahoma.

“I like good Northern genetics in my black cows, they are the right mature size, flesh easy and breed back,” Daniel says. “We purchased our first set of

“When we first started using Charolais genetics, we weren’t thinking of anything but the extra 50 pounds associated with hybrid vigor.”

- Rusty Daniel, Wood Ranch, Coleman, Oklahoma

17

I started using Charolais bulls, in a terminal cross system, eight years ago and I am really pleased with the added growth and extra pounds I get at weaning.”

$

“I try to select bulls with high grow numbers, weaning and yearling weight EPDs, that also have some ribeye and marbling for our terminal cross program,” Daniel says.

“Growth is still the most important trait. Until something changes, it’s what steps on the scale that matters.”

Managing the crossbreeding system defines most operations. With pounds looking to be the chief indicator of profit well into the future, terminal cross programs will signal a recommitment to crossbreeding, taking advantage of traits that provide economic advantages.

“We retained ownership on a set of calves to make sure we were heading in the right direction. It worked well with most calves gaining over three pounds per day and grading 70 percent Choice with mostly YG 2 cattle,” Daniel says.

“We had to peel the hide off that first group to get some benchmark data. We sent the entire calf crop of Char cross calves the second year and were very pleased with the results. The carcass premiums we got paid were like icing on the cake because we could do what we’re doing and get paid extra. Pounds still matter most in our operation.”

“I like the fact everyone knows my calves are Charolais sired. The heifers usually weigh within 25 pounds of our steer calves,” Loftin says. “Even in a tough year like this, I had to wean early and my calf crop still averaged 519 pounds at weaning.”

“It’s a big advantage. Everyone knows my calves are Charolais sired

Charolais bulls in the fall of ’06 and have been very happy with the results.”

“When we purchased our first Charolais bulls, we were in the process of transitioning our cow herd to all black momma cows,” Loftin says. “The Integrity Beef program positioned us to sell a pre-conditioned calf at the first of December.”

Selecting genetics that fit the sire side for most operations becomes simplified in the terminal cross system.

Identifying bulls that produce the intended product has been made easier with the information provided by seedstock producers in the form of Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) and actual data.

“I select bulls that are in the top 20 percent of the breed for weaning weight and yearling weight EPDs because that’s where I get paid. This is good information and it has been a very reliable selection tool,” Loftin says.

“I do pay attention to the calving ease numbers during the selection process, but I want those bulls to produce pounds.”

“When I select bulls, I am looking for bone, muscle and some stretch. The EPDs are important, but my bulls have to have a small head and a certain look,” Jones says. “Charolais bulls will change my F1 cows a lot in one generation, providing an acceptable product at the market place.”

$

– Bruce Jones, Lindsay, Oklahoma.

18

$

when I go to market. My heifers weigh right with the steers and they bring almost as much as their steer mates,” Jones says. “Calves cost more to produce today than they did a few years ago and the extra pounds I get provides more return.”

Marketing programs have helped commercial operators transition to “price makers”, rather than just selling calves on a certain day. Reputation genetics and a proven track record create opportunity.

“When I market calves at Apache Livestock, I bring load lots and they have done an excellent job promoting my product,” Jones says. “My calves are starting to get a good reputation.

It has created repeat business and some interest to buy my calves off the farm, which is another avenue to increase profit.”

“Feeding our calves for two years created some good benchmark data and provided a good reputation for our cattle,” Daniel says. “We market 750 to 800 pound calves to the same buyer every year.”

Geographic areas and coffee shop talk have a lot to do with bull selection for some outfits. Past performance dictated some apprehension, but new age genetics provide a testament to the improvements made within the Charolais gene pool.

“The Integrity Beef program helped us change our genetics and I was a little apprehensive, at first, with the Charolais bulls. My granddad had a couple Charolais bulls in the early 70s and he taught me to cuss calving those cows out,” Daniel says. “A lot has changed in 40 years. The Charolais genetics kept their ability to produce pounds and decreased birth weights while improving calving ease. We check our mature cows once a day and have virtually no trouble calving.”

“I haven’t had any calving problems,”

Loftin says. “I really like the disposition of my calves. They have been very easy to work with.”

“The Charolais breed has made great improvements in calving ease over the years, while maintaining calf vigor, growth and the other positive traits.

I have pulled two calves in the eight years I have used Charolais bulls,” Jones says. “The calves out of my F1 cows are pretty docile and I attribute that to the sire side.”

The terminal cross system calls for a reputable source of replacement females to keep consistent cow herd numbers. Extra pounds defines the system and creative operators look for any opportunity to keep the calf crop uniform.

“We were buying heifers and artificially inseminating them to low birth weight Angus bulls. I thought we were losing some pounds in this scenario and tried to skip this step and breed our heifers to a proven calving ease Charolais bull. We got some funny looks and were prepared to check those heifers around the clock,” Daniel says.

“We had about 90 calves in a five day period and were checking those cows twice a day because those calves jumped up and took off. Even though he was a heifer bull we didn’t sacrifice growth. At weaning, we couldn’t tell the difference between calves from the first calf heifers and the mature cows.”

The end product, pounds at weaning or market weight, make for good comparison conversation. It has been well documented that reproductive efficiency is the true indicator of profit.

Live calves and high conception rates are the first step.

“I have been real happy with my breed up rates,” Loftin says. “Those Charolais bulls get the job done and most years we get a 90 to 95 percent pregnancy rate in a 90 day breeding season.”

continued on page 28

19

PROVEN, PREDICTABLE Genetics with ADDED VALUE

Mead Easy Pro J863 Pld

Mead Objective J702

Herd Sire prospect sired by LT Easy Pro and from a dam sired by ASC Eliminator 032. He combines phenotype with tremendous individual performance posting a Weaning index of 107.

Extreme EPDs from a second generation pathfinder® dam who records BR 5 @96, WR 5 @106, YR 4@106 and %IMF 4 @107. He earned a Weaning index of 111!

BW

WW

YW

MILK

CW

REA

FAT

MARB

BW

WW

YW

MILK

Marb

RE

$W

$B

0.2

26

40

16

9

0.07

0.004

0.22

+2.2

+65

+110

+28

I+.51

I+.35

+33.45

+57.79

MEAD FARMS 69th Anniversary Production Sale 11 A.M. • Saturday • October 22, 2011 Held at the Mead Sale Headquarters in Versailles, MO

100 Performance-Tested Bulls Sell Angus • Charolais • Red Angus • Hereford

Bulls in Volume with Generations of Proven AI Sires.

Mead Angus Farm Since 1942

21658 Quarry Land • Barnett, MO 65011 Office (573) 302-7011 • Fax (573) 348-8325 E-mail: meadangus@yahoo.com www.skally.net/mead Alan Mead, Owner (573) 216-0210 Bub Raithel, Manager (573) 253-1664 Sale books mailed on request 20 - call or e-mail today!

Your Proven Charolais Source For 53 Years we have produced Seedstock Charolais Genetics. Cattlemen across the nation have invested in our performance bulls and foundation females.

“Our Guarantee––Customer Satisfaction”

43rd Annual Bull Sale

April 28, 2012 • At the Ranch Selling 125 Bulls & 25 Replacement Heifers

Complete Performance Records • EPDs • Ultrasound

Quality Performance Fall Yearling Bulls Available Private Treaty

44210 205th St. • Lake Preston, SD 57249 1-800-848-4350 • Fax: (605) 847-4118 acwienk@rapiddatasystems.net www.wienkcharolais.com Arnold & Carol Wienk: (605)847-4350 Arnold Cell: (605) 860-1111 Jeff & Jody Eschenbaum: (605)847-4880 Jeff cell: (605) 860-0505 53 Years of Seedstock Production Sterling & Courtney Eschenbaum: (605) 203-0137

Brand of Quality

Cattlemen, Ask Yourselves These Questions...

Do you want your calves to be born unassisted?

Do you want your calves to be up and nursing within a couple of hours?

Do you want to add up to 75 lbs. to your calves at weaning?

Do you want your calves to be ready to go into the feedlot after only 60 days preconditioning?

Do you want your calves to finish at 1,200 lbs. to 1,300 lbs?

If you answered yes to Do you want your calves to grade mostly Choice? any of these questions, Do you want your calves to yield mostly 1’s & 2’s? you need to contact Stan Do you want your calves to bring a premium at the packer? or David at Windy Hill Charolais Farms. We have spent over 45 years developing Charolais cattle that excel at calving ease, early vigor, early growth with heavy post We have bulls available at all times to help you achieve these goals. weaning gains, excellent Stan and Mary Bonacker and Family gains and feed conversion 7095 Burgess Ford Road • Cedar Hill, MO 63016 in the feedlot. Complete Stan: (314) 550-2554 • David: (314) 974-5230 Toll Free: 1-800-810-9432 • Fax: (636) 285-6073 ultrasound records since 1997.

Evenings: (636) 285-8825

CHAROLAIS FARMS

Stan@windyhillcharolais.com www.windyhillcharolais.com

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NIPP CHAROLAIS Bulls Available For Sale Private Treaty

EC Reliable 5043 Pld

M789648 DOB: 3-18-10 BW: 92 lbs. AWW/R: 865 lbs./116 AYW/R: 1,545 lbs./111 ADG: 4.3 lbs. Yrlg. Ultrasound REA: 17.9 sq. in.

Semen: $20 straw$25 signing Available From: Bovine Elite, LLC (800) 786-4066 www.bovine-elite.com

NIPP CHAROLAIS

Curtiss & Brenda Nipp

HC 66, Box 76 • Overbrook, OK 73453 (580) 668-3332 • (580) 513-3555 cell nippcharolais@yahoo.com www.nippcharolais.com 22

y l i m a F n n a H

s e h c n a R y e l l a V g Sprin Providing the Best Genetics for the Commercial Producer

Cooley Denton 5036S EPDs: 7.3 -0.6 25 56 -1 5.4 12 0.5

Ranch Raised Ready to Work HANN FAMILY SPRING VALLEY RANCHES Roy Hann 1300 Walton Dr. College Station, TX 77840 23

Office: (979) 696-7414 Ranch: (979) 279-2587 Fax: (979) 696-9245

There are lots of ways to make more money with Charolais genetics.

we just made it

The Charolais Advantage is a source- and ageverified program designed to add even more value to your Charolais genetics. Co-branded through a third-party process verified program, the Charolais Advantage can provide additional marketing opportunities to those producers using Charolais genetics in their herds.

EASIER

The Benefits of Verification

The Process is Simple

Since December 2004 and the discovery of a BSE-infected animal in the U.S., the closing of our borders and gradual reopening of export markets resulted in limited export restrictions.

Every carcass qualifying for export must meet age verification requirements.

While the current USDA position regarding mandatory identification is “voluntary”, market signals continue to support the implementation of programs offering product guarantees for both ranch (or origin) and age of the animal.

The USVerified program meets all source and age verification requirements and the Charolais genetic verification will be made through the AICA office.

The result can lead to marketing opportunities.

1. While not mandatory, participants are 1. encouraged to obtain a premise number from their respective state.

2.

2. Calves must be • sired by a registered Charolais bull, or from a son of a registered Charolais bull.

• out of Charolais cows or a Charolaisinfluenced cows sired by a registered Charolais bull.

3. All registration information must be verified 3. through the AICA office.

4.

4. All cattle enrolled in this program have a known age from at least first calf to last calf born or by day/month/year.

5.

5. Only cattle enrolled by the original owner are eligible.

6.

6. All cattle enrolled must be owned by the producer participant.

7. Only enrolled cattle will be identified with a 7.

Charolais Advantage EID tag.

8.

8. Hanging tags are available on request.

Contact

For enrollment and fee information, contact Marilou Wegner, American-International Charolais Association, (816) 464-2474, ext. 400 or email mwegner@charolaisusa.com.

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A Brand with Postive Results...

Donors:

DCF Polled Gold 591 Field Rep x AJ

EPDs: 1.2 2.5 45 74 8 5.8 31 0.7

Many Time Champion Dam of Champions Top 10 Show Dam

Their Offspring:

DCF Pure Gold 802 Field Rep x 914

EPDs: 2.1 1.3 32 54 13 3.4 29 0.9

2010 National Champion 2009 Reserve National Champion

Our Bulls:

Field Rep 2158 P ET

EPDs: -2.5 2.3 43 73 12 3.3 34 1.0

Sire of Champions Top 10 Show Sire

Semen $18 straw ; $25 Signing Contact Bovine Elite

Dennis Charolais Farm

Bull Sale January 28, 2012

Eric, Angie, Haley & Brayden Dennis 170 Rock Bluff Road Saint Jo, TX 76265 (940) 995-2161 www.dennischarolais.com

For Sale: Three Tress Wind 2638 Semen $20 straw ; No Signing 25

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The Fall Sale 300 Charolais

Selling OCTOBER 15, 2011

and Angus Bulls

12:00 noon CST Walden Farms Sale Barn

Walden Farms

P.O. Box 24 Brantley, AL 36009 334.527.3021 office 334.527.8774 fax waldenfarms@alaweb.com PO Box 539 • Woodbury, GA 30293 706-553-5455 Office • 706-553-5456 Fax

WALDEN FARMS

Dan Beckham, Owner • Roland Starnes, Managing Partner 706-601-0800 James Stice, Customer Service 863-899-4869

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continued from page 19

The Integrity Beef Program

T

he Integrity Beef Program (IBeef ) is a value added calf (VAC 45) program initiated by the Noble Foundation Agricultural Division and cooperative producers who work with the organization. The program is led by the participating producers, the Integrity Beef Alliance. The Alliance works collaboratively with Noble Foundation consultants to provide technical support for program efforts. The mission of the Integrity Beef Alliance is to simplify cow/calf producer management decisions and increase the marketability of calves through the production of high quality, uniform, and age-and-source verified preconditioned cattle. IBeef is a designed to be a terminal breeding program whereby calves are produced that have the greatest opportunity to be efficiently productive through each phase (calf, stocker, feeder) of beef production.

The Integrity Beef program has a prescribed management protocol for breeding cattle and a defined management protocol for calves produced in the IBeef program.

All breeding animals are required to follow a herd health protocol as prescribed by each producer’s large animal veterinarian, maintain a breeding season no longer than 90 days, and all new animals into the program must test negative for PI-BVD. Breeding female phenotype guidelines include at least 50% British breeds (Angus, Red Angus, Hereford), no more than 3/8 Brahman influence, and no Longhorn, Corriente, or dairy influence. Bulls must be Angus or Charolais having EPD’s in top 20% of their respective breeds for weaning weight and yearling weight. Annual health records, papers on purchased bulls, and production data are required by the Alliance for continued participation in the program.

The production requirements and protocol for IBeef calves are they must be sired by IBeef accepted bulls, have individual calves identified, have first and last birthdates of calf crop recorded, be dehorned, bull calves castrated, be age-andsource verified at or before weaning, be preconditioned for a minimum of 45 days, and follow a specific health protocol as defined by the Integrity Beef Alliance. IBeef calves are eligible to be marketed as Integrity Beef Alliance calves if all protocol criteria are met.

Although Integrity Beef Alliance producers may market their calves as they see fit, the Alliance with the assistance of the Noble Foundation, host an annual comingled calf sale, usually the first week of December at the OKC West stockyard at El Reno, Okla. After following the stringent preconditioning protocol, producers nominate their calves and provide age-and-source certificates and health documentation. The IBeef calves are delivered to the stockyard three days before the sale. Calves are screened and outlier calves are sorted off. Each producer’s calves or sorted into uniform groups based on sex, size, and breed composition. A USDA livestock grader at the stockyard grades and weighs the calves, and allocates calves to designated pens to form large uniform lots of comingled calves. These calves are marketed as “value stacked”, comingled Integrity Beef Alliance calves. Marketing data analyses reveal annual premiums realized from IBeef calves marketed through the comingled calf sale ranging to over $20/cwt.

Participation into the program is by invitation or nomination once a producer meets the basic requirements for herd health and management as described in the Integrity Beef Alliance protocol. For more information go to www.noble.org/ag/ iBeef or contact the Integrity Beef Alliance Executive Director at 580-224-6446.

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“The Charolais bulls are really aggressive. I may be a little bull heavy when it comes to turn out, but I don’t like to take any chances getting cows bred. Some days there will be three or four cows in heat and you have to have enough bulls to get the job done,” Jones says. “I like to keep those cows calving in a tight 60 day season in the spring and fall.”

“One thing about Charolais bulls, when you turn them out “Our weaning weights have increased 100 they’re going to get cows bred,” pounds since we started using Charolais bulls.

Daniel says. “We have a 90 day That’s a big difference with today’s prices,” breeding season, but 75 percent – Tom Loftin, Windthorst, Texas of those calves will be born in the first 45 days and we’re usually done calving in a 75 day period.”

Since terminal cross programs Good genetics and proper management rely on outside sources for replacements, are staples of any good operation. Getting bull longevity and salvage value are the most out of the available resources important to commercial operators. and finding the product that fits the “A good bull is the cheapest current market are stepping stones to a investment you can make. Longevity sound bottom line. Returning to utilizing and salvage value are also advantages crossbreeding systems in commercial you get using Charolais bulls,” Jones operations is not some medieval treasure says. “Unfortunately, injuries occur or hunt, but should define a renaissance bulls have to be culled on fertility. Any period within the industry. extra salvage value you can get helps “You always have to strive to get when you have to pay what you pay for better. The current herd sires we good bulls in today’s market.” employ are getting the job done.

“As a whole, we keep those bulls until Hopefully, I can do a good job they are seven years old and have had selecting their replacements,” Daniel good success with bulls lasting to that says. “Our cows are good mothers and age,” Loftin stated. the calves have plenty of vigor. This is Tying the program together with the first step to getting that pay check correct cow herd and sire selection is the at the end of the day. Proper selection goal of most operations. Utilizing the provides the pounds we’re looking for tools of the trade to get positive results and the extra benefit of carcass merit is will be different with each operation. money in the bank.”

$

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Visit www.charolaisusa.com or www.nebraskacharolais.com for more information 30

Request your free subscription!

Mailed three times a year, The Edge is focused on Charolais-influenced genetics in the beef cattle industry.

Contact Judy Clements: jclements@charolaisusa.com (816) 464-2474

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“Turbo” Charge Your Bull Battery Easy Calving u Growth u Eye Pleasing u Muscle u Highly Marketable

M741172 Sire: SCR Mr Turbo 4009 Dam: FC Ms Magic Josie EPDs: CE: -1.2 BW: 1.4 WW: 56 YW: 73 M: -5 MCE: 2.2 TM: 23 CW: 36 REA: 0.46 F: -0.005 MB: -0.02 FC Turbo 756 P is going to be the lead sire we use heavily. There will be many of his sons along with sons of HCR Institute 5054 Pld, TLC Integrity 5087P ET and more! Turbo is the sire of a $20,000 yearling in the spring of 2010. His sons are highly thought of by commercial cattlemen who are looking to add extra pounds to their calf crops.

Owned with Funk Charolais. Semen available.

If you are in the market for high quality Charolais bulls stop by to view our bulls. Call us for more information or visit our website www.dybdalcharolais.com.

Watch for our Consignments

at the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Classic and Sioux Empire Farm Show

Bulls Sale - April 11, 2012 Laurel Sale Barn, Laurel, Neb. 50 Yearling Charolais Bulls

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Dybdal Charolais Larry & Krista Dybdal 88361 575th Ave • Newcastle, NE 68757 Home: 402-692-3704 • Cell: 402-841-9784 email: kldybdal@nntc.net www.dybdalcharolais.com

Megan, Lori & Galen Fink 15523 Tuttle Creek Blvd., Randolph, Kansas 66554 Ph/Fax: 785-293-5106 Galen: 785-532-9936 Lori: 785-532-8171 Megan: 785-410-5559 Email: finkbull1@twinvalley.net Website: www.finkbeefgenetics.com Commercial Services Representatives Barrett Broadie: 620-635-6128 Gene Barrett: 785-224-8509

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Years of Multiple Trait Selection

WCR Sir Fa Mac 2244 The Benchmark Sire

For 25 years, VCR has stacked generations of Balanced Multiple Traits to provide our customers with profit producing herd bulls.

We will have a top quality set of fall and spring yearling bulls and select females for sale by private treaty.

VCR Sir Duke 914 Pld 19-Time Multiple Trait Leader

1986 VCR Pasture scene

The Future..

Our next step Herd Sires – stacked pedigrees and balanced numbers - inlcude Rhinestone, Dakota Style and Real Deal.

Commerical Semen Available

Stop by the ranch or give us a call!

Vedvei Charolais Alan & Deb Vedvei

44213 204th St. Lake Preston, South Dakota 57249 (605) 847-4529 Fax (605) 847-4810 vedvei@rapiddatasystems.net 2000 AICA Seedstock Producer of the Year www.vedveicharolais.com

Put a VCR Performance Bred and Evaluated Bull to work in your pasture!