FBP Nov/Dec 2010

A NEWS SOURCE FOR COMMERCIAL BEEF PRODUCERS

NOVEMBER•DECEMBER 2010

VOLUME 2

ISSUE 4

FRONTLINE beef producer

Cow Efficiency & Industry Trends

ConsistenCy

Consistency...Consistency...Consistency...

That’s the best way to describe Hombre’s progeny.

Come see for yourself what all the talk is about!

The calving ease specialist! He is proving to be the bull for no problem calving while maintaining the extra dimension that can be hard to find in a calving ease package. Also, check out his IMF!

Hombre

Specialist

R10084741 l 2/5/07 Best Bet of Brinks 535H38 x Miss Brinks Trooper 392F53

R10112338 l 10/30/07 Suhn’s Affirmed 416N4 x Ms Brinks Bright Side 541K28 ePD’s %Rank

bw 2.7

ww 44 3%

yw 66 10%

Milk 8

M&g 30 10%

sc rea 1.5 0.44 2% 35%

iMf 0.02

Braxton

bw 1.1

ww 24

yw Milk 55 9 15%

ww 6

yw 28

Milk 17 10%

M&g 20

sc rea iMf 0.5 0.26 0.21 5%

Distinction

R10083210 l 2/24/07 Csonka of Brinks 30R4 x Ms Brinks Challenger 392M26 ePD’s %Rank

bw ePD’s -7.2 %Rank 1%

M&g sc rea 21 1.2 0.46 35% 10% 30%

R10114681 l 9/10/07 Suhn’s Next Step 331R7 x Suhn’s Miss Nimitz 416P30

iMf 0.16 10%

bw ww ePD’s -0.5 21 %Rank 25%

yw 42

Milk 19 4%

M&g sc 30 0.3 10%

rea 0.30

iMf -.01

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FRONTLINE Beef Producer 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS FEATURES

FRONTLINE Beef Producer

10 Reproductive Efficiency Begins with Selection

Commerical Marketing Programs

by Clifford Mitchell

11 Trends and The Unintended Consequences...

by Marcine Moldenhauer

DEPARTMENTS

4 Out Front

Beef Cattle Numbers Continue to Decline in 2010 - So What is the Value of a Good Producing Cow?

by Dr. Joseph Massey

Grant Keenen

Promotions Marketing Director

Ben Spitzer

Administration/Circulation

Frances Miller

Contributing Editors

Dr. Mark Enns Dr. Matt Hersom Dr. Joseph Massey Clifford Mitchell Marcine Moldenhauer Advertising

Melanie Fuller 979.828.5300

5 The Bottom Line

Looking into the Future - What Lies Ahead

by Grant Keenen

7 The Forefront

Will the Beef Industry Shift Southwest?

by Ben Spitzer

14 Nutrition Strategies

How Do We Measure Cow Efficiency

by Dr. Matt Hersom

15 Genetic Strategies

The Push for Feed Efficiency: How Will it Affect Our Cows?

by Mark Enns, PhD

Copy Editor

Elma Ryan Proofreader

Jim Bulger Operations

Mary Douglass Rosanne Sralla Patti Teeler

FRONTLINE Beef Producer is a product of:

Brangus Publications, Inc. 5750 Epsilon San Antonio, Texas 78249 Phone: 210.696.8231 Fax: 210.696.8718 Brangus Publications, Inc. Directors: Angelo Zottarelli - Chairman Dr. Joseph Massey - President Bill Davis - Secretary/Treasurer R.L. Robbs Don Cox Information appearing in this issue may be reprinted only with written permission of Brangus Publications, Inc.

LPC Livestock Publications Council - Member

On the Cover: 19 NEWS & NOTEWORTHY 22 STATE DIRECTORY 26 SERVICES 27 ADVERTISER INDEX 27 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

2 FRONTLINE Beef Producer

Brangus cows and calves trailing through the hills of Arkansas.

Brangus is Our Business Calving ease sires to limit dystocia, increase live calves and benefit cow longevity

Strong maternal emphasis for quality udders, increased fleshing ability and better dispositions

Selection for performance, muscle, structural soundness and tight sheaths

Adaptable genetics for harsher environments from southern Florida to Idaho, Arizona to Missouri and anywhere you need adaptability.

Increased heterosis advantage to improve your bottom line.

Contact your local ABS Representative or call 1-800-ABS-STUD to find out how the ABS Brangus lineup can go to work for you. ©2010 ABS Global, Inc. · 1525 River Road, DeForest, WI 53532 · Ph: 1-800-ABS-STUD · Fax: 608-846-6392 · www.absglobal.com FRONTLINE Beef Producer 3

OUT FRONT | by Dr. Joseph Massey

You demand more.

IGENITY® helps you deliver. Don’t buy or market another bull or select replacement heifers without inside information from the most comprehensive and powerful DNA profile available.1 Talk with an advisor from IGENITY today to get started.

Gary Felger Lohman, Mo. (573) 355-4709 gary.felger@merial.com Territory: Iowa and Missouri Brian Geneva Coweta, Okla.

(918) 457-7135 brian.geneva@merial.com Territory: southeastern Kansas, southwestern Missouri, western Arkansas, Oklahoma and northeastern Texas Zac Hall Bismarck, N.D. (701) 426-0285 zachary.hall@merial.com Territory: North Dakota and South Dakota Courtney Kealey Bozeman, Mont.

(406) 270-6290 courtney.kealey@merial.com Territory: Montana, Wyoming and Idaho Sam Lewis Schulenburg, Texas (979) 229-2431 sam.lewis@merial.com Territory: Texas Rick Pfortmiller Natoma, Kan. (785) 230-9507 rick.pfortmiller@merial.com Territory: Kansas and Nebraska Kristen Clark and the Customer Service Team, Duluth, Ga. (877) 443-6489 igenity.support@merial.com Territory: Representatives are available to service all states Dr. Kevin DeHaan Technical Services Director Taylor, Mo. (217) 430-4189 kevin.dehaan@merial.com Dr. Jim Gibb Technical Services Director Louisville, Colo.

(303) 664-9494 jim.gibb@merial.com

Data on file at Merial.

1

®IGENITY and the IGENITY Logo are registered trademarks of Merial. ©2010 Merial Limited. Duluth, GA. All rights reserved.

MEGLIGEN9073 (12/09)

4 FRONTLINE Beef Producer

Beef Cattle Numbers Continue to Decline in 2010 - So What is the Value of a Good Producing Cow?

T

he data continues to point to a high slaughter rate for cows and the placement of heifers in feed yards is up; therefore, the trend for a declining beef cow herd in the U.S. is still in place. It looks like it may take at least another year or 18 months before the trend is reversed. This may be the year to consider expansion of your herd, as the price of cows and replacement heifers may be higher into 2011 and beyond. The decline of the national beef cow herd has many ramifications not the least of which is the pressure that will be placed on a beef cow. As cow numbers decline the expectation for increased production from each cow becomes greater. We are producing the same amount of beef with the current cow herd as we did when we had 15 million more beef cows. The potential problem is that with improved economic conditions if consumption was to shift upward we could find ourselves with a real shortage of beef. Consequently, expectation of production from each beef cow will be put under great pressure since it will take several years before we could expand cow numbers again.

already discovered that Brangus cattle coming from Brangus operations produce well in the yards while Brangus type calves that are put together do not.

The importance of the Brangus breeding will continue to have significant value in the feed yards and ultimately in beef production.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. Massey has served as Executive Vice President of the IBBA since 2004. In 2007, he started Genetic Performance Solutions, LLC, a breed registry services and performance analysis company serving the cattle and breed association industry— a joint venture between the IBBA and the Red Angus Association of America. GPS manages online registry programs for breed associations and the data base management of performance data like multibreed EPDs.

The value of Brangus cows becomes even more obvious when one understands that the commercial cattlemen can breed these cows to Brangus bulls or British breeds like Angus and Hereford and produce The value of the good producing beef cow should calves that will perform only increase over the next several years, so now is the in the feed yards and time to make sure that you know what your cow herd will yield and grade. is capable of producing. The Brangus cow may be the The Brangus calf has only cow that is well adapted been to produce consistently in the one of the best kept secrets in feed Southern and Southeastern reyard performance. By lumping the The value of the gions of the U.S. In breeding Brangus calf into Brahman cross capability alone she has the gecalf category the feeder has been good producing beef netic make up to produce not discounting them. I believe that cow should only only in very tempered regions this perception is starting to change increase over the of this country but in very hot, in many yards and we will conarid and humid conditions. tinue to identify yards that work next several years, The fact that she is a composite with Brangus calves. We know that so now is the time of 5/8 Angus and 3/8 Brahman Brangus calves will not only yield to make sure that leads to all the benefits associand grade but have been found to you know what your ated with high heterosis, such produce beef that is also tender. as high fertility, calving ease, cow herd is capable milk production and maybe The Brangus Association is conof producing. the most important aspect tinuing to work towards identifying which is her ability to produce more yards that will pay top dollar a calf that weans every year. for the Brangus calves. Now is the The multi-generations Brangus cow has a proven time to be investing in the right kind of cow; and the history of performance with predictability. Do not Brangus cow fits most commercial operations going get confused with the many Brangus type cows that forward. Developing working relationships with a are produced each year by placing an Angus bull on Brangus breeder can produce opportunities for the a half blood cow. The feed yards in the U.S. have future.

THE BOTTOM LINE | by Grant Keenen

Looking into the Future - What Lies Ahead

T

he chill of fall is here and the days are getting shorter. have continued to increase their purchases this Some areas in the Midwest have already had a light frost year. This trend will continue to provide preand it won’t be long now until the beautifully painted miums for age and source verified cattle. leaves begin falling to the ground. Fall calves are hitting the ground and it’s time for fall cattle working and Taking all factors into account, I believe weaning and bull sales are also in full swing. Corn harvest is now deep the cow calf producer will surely see profitable into the Northern plains, soybeans are being comtimes in the future. Feedbined and wheat planting time is here. I guess fall is er’s demand for weaned and just as busy as any other time of the year. preconditioned cattle is at A cow-calf an all time high. Health operation that Speaking of corn, this year’s harvest is not yielding or high risk cattle and high ABOUT THE AUTHOR combines weaning, what was expected. Early drastic amounts of rain in feed costs do not mix and Grant Keenen is the Director widespread regions and then severe heat that plagued the never will. There is just no of Commercial Marketing pre-conditioning, Heartland this summer have done much more damage to room for those cattle with Programs for the IBBA. For age and source the corn crop than what experts anticipated. Don’t misincreased production costs. any questions or inquiries verification claims understand me, there are places yielding over 150 bushel/ Sure, un-weaned and un- regarding IBBA Commercial to their calves can acre dry-land and 200 bushel/acre irrigated, but I personconditioned calves will be Programs, such as OptimaxX and Brangus Gold, Grant ally know several farmers whose irrigated corn did not bought, fed, and will make expect to reach the can be reached by phone at average 100 bushel/acre. The shortfall in the corn harvest money. However, they will 210.696.8231 or by email at top end of market has pushed prices up around that $5/bushel mark and be discounted well below grant@int-brangus.org. prices... over which will have some impact on cattle prices. How the market price at the time high could corn go? I am not sure, but in analyzing all of they are bought from the the factors that contribute to corn and other commodity cow-calf producer. Weaning and vaccination programs prices, I could realistically see it moving a bit higher yet. are becoming the norm, so do not get left behind and let your product be discounted. As mentioned above, age and source verified If corn continues to increase, we could expect cost of gains to increase cattle are also going to continue to be in demand for quite some time. This substantially in the feed yards. When this happens, feeder cattle prices typi- process is really very simple and can add several dollars to the price of cattle. cally trend down. Demand for light calves will probably weaken, especially The International Brangus Breeders Association has a program, OptimaxX, during the fall season, while heavier cattle placements will be sought. This that is in place to help producers age and source verify their cattle as well as time of the year the market is generally saturated with light weight spring claim Brangus genetics. A cow-calf operation that combines weaning, preborn calves because people are just not willing or able to wean on the farm or conditioning, age and source verification claims to their calves can expect to ranch. Therefore, a person should again see some incentive to background reach the top end of market prices and avoid those unnecessary discounts for their weaned calves and sell in the spring if the management and resources common cattle. permit.

There is money to be made, but a person has to be willing to seek it!

Nevertheless, supply and demand is still the primary price determiner and beef has been in strong demand all summer long and looks to continue into fall and winter. As for supply, we all know the beef cow herd is decreasing and the total numbers of fed cattle are also diminishing. However, retail beef supply still seems to be comparable to slightly larger than a year ago. Some of this is due to dairy cow retirement and the continuing culling of beef cows. Once cow slaughter slows, I believe we will see the total beef production numbers trend down. With demand staying constant and numbers continuing to shrink, cattle prices should stay strong leading to great future opportunity.

In evaluating the demand and current economic conditions, the beef industry has been very blessed the last couple years. Our domestic demand has been stable to slightly higher all year, while foreign demand has really gained strength. The weak US dollar compared to foreign currency has helped support beef exports. Our beef customers are able to buy our superior product for a comparable to competitive price of other beef producing countries. The countries that require beef imports to be from age and source verified cattle FRONTLINE Beef Producer 5

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6 FRONTLINE Beef Producer

THE FOREFRONT | by Ben Spitzer

Will the Beef Industry Shift Southwest?

T

his issue focuses on Cow Efficiency and Beef Industry Trends. How can we as an industry become more efficient in our production? We have made great strides in the last 50 years as an industry. We feed almost twice as many people with the same number of cows. There is still a lot of room for improvement. I don’t think we will ever see the historical highs again in this country. Land for agriculture is losing out to houses and shopping centers all across the country. How can we as an industry reinvent ourselves to face the challenges of the next 50 years? The answer most probably lies outside our own industry.

I just recently returned from visiting Brangus bull customers in South Florida. (In case you didn’t know, Florida is not just beaches and amusement parks, it is a huge cattle state ranking 10th in the country for cow/calf numbers with many large operations using Brangus genetics.) I was fortunate to travel on Southwest Airlines for a change. In the past, I have not lived in a market that Southwest served, since I just moved to San Antonio, this was my first trip on the airline. I have read quite a bit on the company and its successes, so I was eager to study every aspect of my trip. What I saw got me wondering how we could translate their success in their industry to success in ours.

For those of you not familiar with Southwest, its story is unique. In an industry marked with companies operating under bankruptcy, in the red or having very small profit margins, Southwest has managed to be very successful and grow from a scrappy startup to the most traveled airline the last several years. Southwest Airlines will fly any plane, as long as it’s a Boeing 737, and let passengers sit anywhere they like, as long as they get there first. Year end results for 2009 marked Southwest’s 37th consecutive year of profitability. This is not by accident. They chose to adapt to their business environment, adjusting to the demands of their customers.

If you travel Southwest and pay attention, you can tell that they have scrutinized every aspect of their service. From how you board, how they take care of you during the flight, the condition of their well-traveled fleet to the employees’ attitude, the company is a well-oiled machine. The airline operates lean and employees know that the best service with the least cost will benefit them in the form of dividends from profit.

Husband and wife team Kevin & Jackie Freiberg scrutinize Southwest in their book, NUTS! Southwest Airlines’ Crazy Recipe for Business and Personal Success. Some of you may remember Kevin as he was a speaker at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Convention a few years back. I would enthusiastically recommend you read this book.

Many of their observations can be adapted to your own beef business.

Whether you are a large operation or you have just a few cows, you can find

opportunity and inspiration to improve. The Freibergs identify the following points to Southwest’s success: Leaders Leading Leaders 1. Walk your talk 2. Focus on things you can control 3. Be prepared 4. Sharpen your political skills 5. Love people into action 6. Listen for more than you hear Leadership from the Inside Out 1. Leadership inspires motivation 2. Make a commitment 3. Honor People’s efforts 4. Believe in people

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ben Spitzer is Marketing Programs Director for the IBBA. Ben can be reached by phone at 210.696.8231 or by email at ben@intbrangus.org.

Go Nuts 1. Find a purpose you’re crazy about 2. Make your life and work an adventure 3. Believe in people and they will believe in themselves 4. Don’t take yourself too seriously 5. Dare to Dream 6. Be Yourself 7. Dare to be different 8. Pursue love before techniques 9. Choose service over self-interest I know many of you at this point are a bit out of your comfort zone. After all, this is a beef cattle publication, not Forbes or Inc. magazine. We have relied on tradition and how we’ve always done it for far too long. Tradition is important, but reflecting on the past is much more enjoyable when you are profitable.

There are many aspects of our industry that are rapidly changing. If beef producers (cow/calf, seedstock, stockers, feedlots, etc.) fail to adjust, they will struggle to be profitable. In our operations there will be tremendous opportunity for those who are willing to adjust and change their business strategies. Higher input costs and lower demand have forced us to cut out waste and become more efficient in our production. Why would anyone go back to old practices that they have proven inefficient?

Take a little time and look at your operation. Really dive into why you operate the way you do and why things work or don’t. Maybe it’s time for a change… or maybe not. You will only know if you take time to see where your operation fits.

Embrace change. Embrace opportunity. Go Nuts!

FRONTLINE Beef Producer 7

raw per st 0 0 .

0 d $5 ertifie CSS C en Sem

Cadillac Lineage MR CR Fred 99/N26 SG Tonto 820/H7 Transformer of Brinks, Summit Sire Geronimo of Brinks, Summit Sire

Sire Rankings Top 20% in Weaning Weights Top 15% in Maternal Milk Top 10% in Maternal M&G

Champion Progeny CH Miss Beauty 396/U 3 time - Grand Champion 2008-2009 CH Miss Erica 890/U Grand Champion 2010 Division Champion 2010 2 time Reserve Grand Champion 2009 CH Miss Lucky Lady 804/U 2 time - Grand Champion 2010 8 FRONTLINE Beef Producer

BW 2.4

WW 32

YW 46

Milk 14

MM&G SC 30 0.3

Triple JR Cattle Company 2321 Schulze Road Muldoon, Texas 78949 Jim & Chip Gibson 713-906-8141 281-831-4476 www.triplejrcattleco.com

BW 205 365 ADG 81 769 1464 4.35

WDA 4.05

SC 36.4

5K Cowbelle Ranch 550 Hall Road Pontotoc, MS 38863 Wyliss & Kippy Kemp 662-488-1360 662-489-5335 www.5kcowbelleranch.com

FRONTLINE Beef Producer 9

FEATURE | by Clifford Mitchell

Management and Genetics Reproductive efficiency begins with selection

E

fficiency has become a big word for most cattlemen of recent times. Volatile grain prices and most costs related to the production scenario have producers constantly looking to get the most return from these resources. Conversions, rate of gain and other measures are easy to monitor for most outfits and often come to the forefront as chief indicators of efficiency.

Any indicator of performance that can be measured is a good thing for most producers to evaluate. These indicators are often easily deciphered and can be used for steady improvement. Evaluating reproductive efficiency is a little different story. Sometimes the results are a little harder to see and cattlemen tend to make some excuses for poor performance in this arena.

Getting cattle into production is the first step in defining some of the efficiencies associated with the maternal lines. Proper treatment and development will ensure these females readily step into the role of productive momma cow.

“Puberty is a function of age and weight. Physiologically, Bos Indicus cattle are later maturing and have a slower growth rate which makes it difficult for them to breed up sometimes,” says Dr. Joe Paschal, Texas AgriLife Extension, Corpus Christi, Texas.

“If you are planning to breed heifers to calve at 24 months, you can’t wean them and put them out on dry pasture and expect them to breed up. With our Brangus females we expect them to calve at 2 and usually have a high percentage that calve in the first 30 days,” says Danny Farris, Farris Ranching Company, Tuscola, Texas.

Heifers are always a delicate piece of the puzzle. Identifying parameters and the production protocol is a good first step for most producers.

“Producers have to identify a target weight for these heifers, according to what the goal is for mature cow size,” Farris says. “If you reach that target weight at 14 to 15 months of age those heifers should be cycling.”

“Step up the rate of growth in these heifers. Make sure all of the animals have proper weight and age to reach puberty,” Paschal says. “This will insure the majority of those heifers are coming into heat at the proper time.”

Nutrition plays a big role in this process. Developing these heifers in an economic manner and reaching proper target weight at the right time can be achieved.

“These heifers require better nutrition and better management. Get these cattle to some high quality forages to help develop them. You may 10 FRONTLINE Beef Producer

have to use some supplement, but you don’t have to push these heifers real hard to change growth rate,” Paschal says. “It is important to make sure all of the heifers reach the target weight, it’s not an average weight. If it’s an average weight, half the heifers will be below the target weight and will have trouble cycling. It doesn’t make a difference how you get them there, just make sure all heifers are at the target weight when you’re ready to breed them.”

“You have to know where heifers are weight wise and when you plan to breed them. Most years we have wheat pasture available and it doesn’t take a lot of effort to make sure those heifers get to the target weight,” Farris says.

“Producers have to be aware they can’t just go off age when they start breeding these heifers.

You have to reach that target weight for the whole group to get them cycling. Some producers will have enough experience to know those heifers are getting there just by looking at them. Other cattlemen may need to take individual weights.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Clifford Mitchell is a second generation cattleman who currently owns and operates Elkhorn Creek, a freelance communications business in Guthrie, Oklahoma. Upon graduation from Oklahoma State University he began a career in communications, starting as a field reporter.

Mitchell currently writes for a wide range of beef publications.

Proper mineral supplementation is sometimes over looked. Asking heifers to conceive and calve at the desired age may already be pushing them just a little. Mineral, is a big part of keeping the system functioning.

“A good mineral program, for your area, is essential,” Farris says. “You can’t cheat your genetics they need the tools to express them. A proper mineral program can help those cattle, at different times of the year, stay in top condition.”

“It’s always worth investing in a good mineral program. Certain programs might look at chelated minerals because they do have value in some production scenarios,” Paschal says. “Start while you are developing these heifers and carry this program through breeding. Make sure they have proper mineral consumption.”

Blending management with genetic selection always can help the bottom line. Most cattlemen know the cow herd and which female lines continually produce with above average results or are the first to calve every year. Fertility sometimes gets lost in the selection process. Producers have so much information available, often maternal traits fall through the cracks.

“I know how my female lines perform. I want to have 70 to 75 percent of the calves born within the first 30 days of calving season. It boils down to selection process and how they are managed,” Farris says. “Brangus cattle are just as fertile as any other breed. You have to select for early maturity. It doesn’t take long to build up fertility if you select the right heifers. Our fertility and maturity really shows up in the scrotal circumference of our bulls.”

Continued on page 13

FEATURE | by Marcine Moldenhauer

Trends

and The Unintended Consequences . . .

I

f you’re like me, I like making my own decisions, having the freedom to choose how I run my business, who I do business with, what the terms and conditions of the agreement look like, and then living with the results. Additionally, I like having the opportunity to be paid a premium for my cattle if I have gone above and beyond to create a particular value in the market place.

So why, during this past 15 years, does there seem to be a continual all out assault on these basic rights in the livestock industry. It would seem to be a logical thought, that most producers have a strong drive to be independent thinking businessmen and women. These business people (producers) I believe are capable of making their own choices on how to run their business, who to do business with, while keeping their business just that, THEIR business. They don’t want or need other producers or government interfering with these basic and unique choices or decisions.

From this you might be thinking what difference does it make; Well that probably depends on how you decide to define “independent” and having an understanding that the recently published USDA proposed rule for PSA may put these choices at risk. Depending on how you define “independent” is key. There are several definitions in Webster; 1. In politics; free from the authority, control, or domination of somebody or something else especially not controlled by another state or organization and able to self-govern.

2. Able to function by self, able to operate alone because not dependent on somebody or something else.

3. Self supporting – not forced to rely on another for money or support.

4. Showing confidence in self. Capable of thinking or acting without consultation with or guidance from others.

Regardless of which definition you want to choose or cling to, the fact remains that successful livestock producers / operations do not want or need anyone making rules which change or restrict their individual ability to make choices which benefit their unique operation.

At this point you’re probably thinking what does this have to do with my cattle business /operation today. Well, plenty.

If you have not heard or read, USDA has published in the Federal Register (June 22, 2010) proposed amendments to the Packers and Stockyards Act. Why now you might ask and what are those proposed changes, how might they affect you, and your operation?

There are two basic key points to understand before you can start to understand what is going on; One is judicial the other is political.

From the judicial stand point, the case which is relevant and started much of this is the class action lawsuit in 2004 when the attorneys for Henry Lee Picket Vs Tyson (then IBP) convinced a jury that Tyson’s contracting of cattle had lowered the market for all producers who sold cattle to Tyson during a five year period of time during the 1990’s. Even though the District Court did over rule the jury, per Tyson’s request, the case was appealed to a US Circuit Court where the District Court’s ruling was upheld; the PSA exist only to prevent unfair marketing practices.

It would be easy for most producers who are busy managing their operation and don’t know all of the details to be inclined to think that an injustice

had occurred since big business won….or was it. Again, your view probably depends on if you as a producer want the ability to, well, be independent.

If you want to be creative with your operation, be free to negotiate your own agreements and those be kept private, be paid from that agreement, and manage to improve your profitability, then you would you would say justice was served….which most producers I know would say is absolutely what they want. What they absolutely don’t want is government or anyone else to dictate how they market their livestock, what they get paid, and other private details of the agreement.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Marcine Moldenhauer, Owner and President of Meat≈Link Management, a Livestock and Meat Business Consulting Firm; Contact Information: Wichita, Kansas 67230, Office 316-7338506, marcine_moffice@att. net

What should be disturbing regardless of which side of this issue you are on are the actions on the political front. The legislation in the 2008 US Farm Bill directed USDA to write rules to clarify in the Packers and Stockyards Administration (PSA) what it meant for a meatpacker to give “undue preference” to one farmer over another.

What has surprised packers and their allies on this issue is how much farther USDA went in the proposed rule; including language that one can argue that undermines Congressional intent, and contradicts years of case law. Basically significant government overreach and interventions beyond what Congress had mandated.

Looking back, this should not have come as a big surprise, politically speaking. The Obama administration appointed J. Dudley Butler to preside over GIPSA. Mr. Butler is an attorney who used to sue packers on behalf of poultry growers, and is a former member of R-Calf and OCM. So how might the current proposed PSA rule injure you as a producer?

Well there are many ways depending which segment of the industry you are in and which species you produce. One thing is certain, every segment will be greatly impacted and much of the way business is conducted will change if the proposed rule stands as it is written today, both sides agree on this.

Cull Cow Market: With fall upon us many decisions are being made at the ranch level; As you make these decisions, consider this as you haul those cull cows to market.

Today, there may only be a couple of order buyers buying cull cows in your local livestock market. However, each of them most likely carry an order for 2, 3 or even 4 cull cow packers, this is not a new or unusual practice.

Under the USDA PSA proposed rule, each buyer would only be allowed to carry one order, therefore bidding only for one packer and only on those specific cows which fit their one order. Thus one could argue reducing the number of buyers for your cull cows which could lower the market value of those cows. Others might argue that all of the cull cow packers would send Continued on page 18 FRONTLINE Beef Producer 11

12 FRONTLINE Beef Producer

Continued from page 10.

“Whether you AI or turn out bulls, you have to select heifers from cattle at the front end of the calving season. You have challenged these genetics and they are responding by calving in the first 30 to 45 days of calving season,”Paschal says. “This will help the extra management pay for itself. Producers have to team genetics with nutrition. This starts by picking replacements out of the more fertile females.”

Selection varies from outfit to out fit and depending on resources most operations will keep a few extra heifers. Usually, the middle cut of those females is harder sort or could need a little more time.

“I usually keep about 30 percent more heifers than I will need. I am always culling. There will be a few that won’t breed and I’ll get rid of some that have structure problems,” Farris says.

“It’s always good to have some bred heifers to sell because that is a specialty market and they usually bring a pretty good price.”

When to calve heifers is highly debated and will be different on a lot of operations. Assigning the proper costs to the development process will help producers decide the most economical time for heifers to calve. Calving season, weather patterns and common sense will also impact this decision.

“It could get expensive if producers let heifers slide three months and then try to push them to that target weight in 30 to 45 days. At 24 months heifers will have more difficulty calving than those that calve at 30 or 36 months of age,” Paschal says. “Heifers that calve at 27 to 30 months of age probably didn’t reach the target weight at the desired age. Those cattle will have extra cow costs against them right out of the gate due to 30, 45 or 60 days of additional nutritional management. That extra carrying cost will pay for some extra feed in the development process. Reaching minimum target weight is usually cheaper than additional cost. Every month later that she calves, it costs at least an extra $30 per head.”

“Economically you have to calve these heifers somewhere between 24 and 30 months of age.

You can’t hold them to 36 months that is too long. It’s a lot easier to take a heifer from 550 pounds to 750 pounds than it is to get weight on later,” Farris says. “Each individual producer needs to weigh the circumstances and see how much additional inputs he can put into those cattle. Most producers can’t afford to free up ground and have no production. At the same time, if you are a spring calving herd only, calving heifers at 30 months of age isn’t an option. Each producer has to make the best use of his resources and management.”

Nutrition, maturity and age all play a role in getting heifers to cycle. Producers need to know heifers are cycling and keep records. This

will answer some questions when cattle are preg checked.

“It is a good idea to make sure heifers are cycling before you use a synchronization program or turn bulls out. Putting these heifers where they can see bulls will have a psychological affect and may help heifers start cycling,” Paschal says. “If they can smell bulls, this sometimes will help get them show signs of estrus. AI programs help these cattle calve in a short period of time to proven calving ease bulls and you can still clean this group up with out losing much time.”

“I brand our heifers about the time they are a year old. From branding until breeding, I can tell if those heifers have been cycling. This helps a lot because I can tell the ones that have been ridden,” Farris says. “More importantly, this helps me identify the heifers that aren’t cycling. These may be problem cattle or later maturing females that need to be culled.”

Making sure cattle are cycling and at the right level of maturity are important factors. In some areas, weather patterns will also impact how heifers breed and later maturing females sometimes have little chance to conceive.

“I have never had a 100 percent breed up in a short breeding window. I know sometimes these heifers cycle in waves and it may overwhelm my herd bulls in a single sire pasture,” Farris says.

“During our breeding season, it starts to get hot the last week of June. We could easily string together some 100 degree days. This is not good on anything, especially heifers that are trying to cycle.”

“Producers have to plan their breeding season. The heat makes it hard for cattle to breed and stay bred,” Paschal says. “Sometimes producers don’t have a lot to say about the weather. That is why it is important for heifers to be cycling and ready to breed. Thirty days could make a lot of difference. When it gets hot it’s hard for those heifers to cycle and bulls have reduced semen quality. Try to plan your breeding season for good temperatures.

Handling cattle properly will always pay dividends. Working with potential herd members to cull for docility has become a big step to improving conception rates and increasing performance levels. This could be an important step in the keep/cull decision process.

“Anything we can do to improve disposition will help remove the “poor feeders and poor breeders,” Paschal says. “The easier those cattle are to handle the better breed up you are going to have in certain management scenarios.”

The time it takes to develop heifers properly, reach target weights and then identify which cattle have added value is a long process. Changing Continued on page 18 FRONTLINE Beef Producer 13

NUTRITION STRATEGIES | by Dr. Matt Hersom

How Do We Measure Cow Efficiency

I

ncreasing efficiency of production in the beef cattle business is an ever evolving and ongoing pursuit. In the feedlot production efficiency can be relatively easy to measure for growing cattle. Feed inputs and weight or carcass outputs can be measured and efficiency assessed for individuals and/or similar groups of cattle. In contrast, the measurement of efficiency is more difficult for the cow herd in production settings because of the expansive nature of cow-calf production.

Cow Herd Measures

So what can be measured at the cow-calf level and what is important for the cow-calf producer. To improve the efficiency of cow-calf production an understanding of the outputs (calf ) and inputs is imperative.

Let’s tackle the outputs first. The easiest output to assess is the calf.

Whether you asses the calf output at weaning time, as a yearling, or some other time point, the calf is the output of cow-calf system. The easiest assessment is the number of calves that hit the ground either at birth or at weaning. In this case if a cow produces a calf that cow has a production efficiency of 1 (1 calf per 1 cow). This is the most basic and necessary measure of production efficiency. Without a calf, a cow has no outputs and other measures of efficiency are irrelevant.

Evolution of measuring cow efficiency necessitates greater and more precise assessment. The next step is to measure calf body weight at a determined time, often weaning. Numerous research activities have utilized calf weaning weight as an assessment of efficiency. Intuitively, a heavier calf would indicate a more efficient cow. However, weaning weight alone does not adequately address the efficiency equation because there is no measure of input. Therefore, cow body weight is a common input measure for determining cow-calf efficiency. This common assessment of efficiency provides tangible measures of both output (calf weaning weight) and input (cow body weight) that are familiar to cow-calf producer. One potential complication in this assessment is what cow body weight to utilize. Mature cow body should be utilized, but when in

the production cycle is the cow body weight assessed is an important consideration. This ratio of calf weaning weight to cow body weight is likely the most common index of cow-calf efficiency. For a cow-calf producer that markets calves at weaning this is the easiest measure of efficiency and provides immediate feedback on the cow’s efficiency of production. Variations on the calf to cow weight ratio include utilizing cow metabolic body weight. Using cow metabolic body weight ABOUT THE AUTHOR (BW0.75) provides a way to normalize dif- Dr. Hersom is currently ferences between cows in terms of body size an Assistant Professor and frame differences. However, different and Extension Beef Cattle research has indicated that metabolic body Specialist at the University weight provides no better estimation than of Florida, specializing in the development of normal cow body weight. strategic nutritional and

The efficiency equation requires vi- supplementation programs able and enterprise important inputs in both to optimize beef cattle the numerator and the denominator. The performance utilizing output assessed on the calf could be used to forage and roughage based create a measure of any number of things. diets and evaluation of calf While weaning weight is a common mea- production and growing sure there are others to consider. Variations practices to improve animal performance in integrated include calf weaning value (dollars) which beef production systems. would consider the differential price of different weight calves. Additionally, if calves are retained through finishing, value in the feedlot or carcass value could be utilized as output measures. While cow body weight is a sufficient measure for input, it is not a true measure of input of resources but rather a static measurement. True assessment of inputs dictates a more specific identification of the inputs into the cow that produced the calf. Those inputs could be defined as pounds of feed offered, acres of pasture, pounds of energy (TDN) input, dollar input costs per cow, etc.

Multiple assessments of cow efficiency can then be made with the different outputs and the choice of input measurement would be specific to the comparison made.

Interpreting Cow Efficiency

The measurement of efficiency does not occur in a vacuum.

Consideration of cow efficiency must be made in light of the cow production environment. Likewise, a producer’s goal can’t be to just maximize outputs and minimize inputs to increase short-term efficiency and expect cow herd efficiency to be maintained across the long-term. Optimization of efficiency through appropriate levels of outputs and inputs should be the main consideration. For instance, a 300 lb. weaning weight may not be acceptable for many producers, however if that calf was weaned early and the nutritional-management inputs into the cow were minimal, then the production efficiency in that particular system could be quite high.

Whereas, a 700 lb. weaning weight for a calf produced from a cow that has to be continually supplemented because of high production demands and a poor nutritional environment can result in disappointing production efficiency. Likewise, the cow body weight Continued on page 18 14 FRONTLINE Beef Producer

GENETIC STRATEGIES | by Mark Enns, PhD

The push for feed efficiency: How will it affect our cows?

O

ver the last few years, our industry has increasingly become concerned with rising feed costs, especially in the feedlot. This heightened concern has lead to considerable research into genetically improving feed utilization in the feedlot and correspondingly, considerable capacity in the ability to measure feed intake in individual animals has been added to our industry. Numerous universities, breeders, and organizations have installed these individual feed intake systems. The Beef Improvement Federation has also recognized the need to improve feed utilization and has developed guidelines for feed intake tests. No doubt selection to improve feed utilization in the feedlot will begin in earnest as new tools are developed.

With the new information to compare, evaluate and select breeding cattle, the competitive spirit amongst breeders is often renewed, sparking a race to produce the most efficient animals. Often this leads some to practice single trait selection which in turn often results in unintended consequences on other traits. With the new emphasis in the beef industry, I thought it would be prudent to discuss early results evaluating the relationship of feed intake measures and with cow performance. Admittedly, the majority of research is in its preliminary stages and only recently have results begun to be published, but with multiple breeds developing or having released expected progeny differences (EPD) for feed utilization, this is an even more timely topic.

There are a variety of ways to express improvements in feed utilization from feed to gain ratio, residual feed intake, and residual gain. Expected progeny differences have recently been released by several organizations for residual feed intake (a lower EPD is favorable) and for residual gain (a higher EPD is favorable). No matter which option is chosen by those organizations, all of the measures are based on individual measurement of feed intake on feeding animals.

As with the release of EPD for any new traits, there is always the concern that some ABOUT THE AUTHOR breeders will focus selection pressure solely Dr. Enns’ research focuses on methods to genetically on those traits bringing about unintended evaluate and select changes in other economically relevant traits. animals that fit their When it comes to the relationship of feedlot production environment feed utilization traits and cow herd perfor- both biologically and mance, the background research is relatively economically. These efforts sparse with the majority of North American include development of research coming from Dr. John Basarab’s pro- new methods for evaluating gram in Alberta. While that environment is and improving cow and heifer fertility, cow different than ours, there is still considerable maintenance requirements, to learn. First preliminary research shows time to finish in the feedlot; that cows that produced high, medium or and development of low residual feed intake progeny were simi- methods to better use lar in overall pregnancy, calving and weaning economic information in rates where high residual feed intake animals selection decisions for require more feed to gain the same amount as increased profitability of compared to medium and low residual feed beef production. intake calves (remember—low residual feed intake is most favorable). Additionally Dr. Basarab reports that cows producing the more efficient calves tended to be fatter and had lower death rates than cows producing less efficient offspring. For cow-calf producers this is good news and should be considered a favorable relationship. All of the high, medium, and low utilization cow groups had the same weight of calf weaned per cow exposed to breeding. The one concern is that cows producing the more efficient calves tended to calve 5 to 6 days later than cows that produced less efficient progeny. If this preliminary research is affirmed with further research, breeders would need to be cognizant that improving feedlot feed utilization could result in cows that breed later in the breeding season. This trend (not a significant trend) was also reported in heifers with the more efficient heifers having a tendency to have lower pregnancy rates than the less efficient heifers.

Feed utilization in feedlot cattle is an economically relevant trait and is receiving more selection emphasis in many breeding programs. Most traits of importance for the cow-calf producers do not seem to have an unfavorable relationship with feed utilization in the feedlot. However, early indications are that cows producing more efficient feedlot calves and more efficient heifers may have a tendency to conceive later in the breeding season. This tendency bears monitoring by breeders to avoid any undesirable consequences for those focusing selection decisions on feedlot feed utilization traits.

FRONTLINE Beef Producer 15

16 FRONTLINE Beef Producer

FRONTLINE Beef Producer 17

Continued from page 13.

the growth rate and selecting for earlier maturing females will help get these heifers into production at an early age.

Cattlemen must be able to provide a specific level of management, use proper selection and hope for good forage resources to make selected females dollar generators.

“As cattlemen establish a system for developing females to the proper target weight, nutrition may need to be worked on until some selection pressure can be put on fertility within the herd,” Paschal says. “I like to have those heifers in BCS 6 at breeding because I want a little insurance.

Plan to have high quality forages or supplement them, whatever works as long as you reach target weight. Producers can have success calving American breed cattle at 24 months on age with proper management.”

“It is easier to make some decisions with more experience and records you keep. There are a lot of factors. Everybody has a protocol that works within their management scenario,” Farris says. “Selecting ranch raised females that are developed and managed in my environment is worth a lot to me. It takes three years from the time you make a breeding decision to see if you made the right choice. Find what works and use it to your advantage.”

FERTILITY AND TRICH TESTED

Continued from page 11.

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order buyers as the alternative. This adds cost and depending on the number of cull cows that go through the market, they might not send anyone at all.

As a result the case could be made that this would lower the market since there are less buyers. This would be an unintended consequence.

Producer Alliances: Many producers have worked hard to improve your genetics, build a loyal customer base (feeder buyer or feed yard), and choose to participate in alliances, producer cooperatives, collaborative agreements, contracts, or any other form of a marketing arrangements you can think of.

These agreements are normally producer driven as a way to be paid for the performance, hard work, and extra effort...being recognized as differentiation in the market place for a value created. These would no longer be available or legal. Another unintended consequence.

Retained Ownership: For the producer who retains ownership through the feeding phase with intentions of getting paid a specific premium from a packer for the additional value created. Those premiums you are paid per your agreement are at risk of going away. Another unintended consequence.

All of this is due to the change in liability and burden of proof. In a nut shell, the change requires the packer to justify why any differentiation in price is paid, those agreements must be approved by GIPSA and be available on the USDA

website, and a producer who was not paid the same does not have to show injury or just cause to them or the market place.

A major disappointment is that USDA has yet to conducted an updated economic study specific to the impact of the proposed rules to the producers, the market, each industry, the consumer, and the workers employed at the plants which would be seriously impacted.

The good news is time has not run out yet for producers of cattle, hogs, poultry, and all other interested parties. November 22, 2010 is the deadline for public comment on this issue.

I would encourage all producers to first read the proposed PSA rule, talk to the people who have dissected this rule, such as state cattlemen’s organizations, Livestock Marketing Association, and NCBA to name a few. Get informed and get engaged by making your comments.

There have been many articles written with significant detail, opinions, and interviews detailing the proposed USDA PSA proposed rule. I would highly recommend reading them: several are in Feedstuffs, the September issue of Meating Place, and others. A final message is: Be Careful What You Ask for, You Just Might Get It….and the unintended consequences.

Continued from page 14.

input can lead to potential misinterpretation of information. Take for instance a 400 lb. calf from a 1,000 lb. cow which results in a 0.50 efficiency. Compare that to a 480 pound calf and a 1,200 lb. cow which results in the same 0.50 efficiency, but with a 20% increase in cow body weight. Several considerations should be examined; is the 1,200 lb. cow sustainable in the production system long-term, or is a 400 lb. of calf economically sufficient for annual financial management.

The regular calculation of cow efficiency is a good practice to help make management decisions regarding production systems. Ranking of efficiency can be used to make culling decisions, nutritional management decisions, or alterations in on-going management processes.

The efficiency calculation can identify cows that may have a lower than average milk production, inadequate nutritional status to achieve production goals, or timing of the production cycle may need to be altered.

However, the use of cow efficiency calculated with calf weaning weight and cow body weight as a genetic selection tool may be limited. The limi18 FRONTLINE Beef Producer

tation occurs because the efficiency measurement or index is calculated using two different individuals (calf and cow) in different production scenarios (growing vs. mature). Genetic selection, particularly for cow efficiency, should be based on indices that utilize additional criteria.

Assessing cow efficiency is a discreet measurement relative to a set of production parameters. Calculated cow efficiency can be utilized to make relative comparisons between cows managed similarly and exposed to similar production environments. That is the key to utilizing efficiency measures amongst cows. Without similar production settings, making comparisons between cows or groups of cows can be complicated by production bias. Knowledge is power to make critical enterprise decision.

Utilizing calculations to determine cow production efficiency can be an important tool for any cow-calf producer to examine their enterprise.

NEWS&NOTEWORTHY In the market...

A recent Tenderness test conducted by Cargill Meat Solutions shows Brangus influenced feeder cattle surpass industry expectations. The Warner-Bratzler Shear Force test was performed on a random sampling of 301 head of Brangus steers. The test yielded tremendous results with 98.7% of the cattle being Tender. This set of OptimaxX age, source and genetic verified cattle also exceeded that particular feed yard’s average of about 92% tender.

FRONTLINE Beef Producer 19

2011

GLOBAL BRANGUS

RoundUp

Bring your Breeding Program to the WORLD! Because the global demand for IBBA genetics is significant and growing, IBBA has put together a unique marketing opportunity for any IBBA member interested in ‘Going Global’. The 2011 Global Brangus Roundup will take place on Sunday, March 6 and will cap off the IBBA Annual Convention and International Brangus Show activities for the year. This one-day event will include a Texas-style meal with entertainment, industry vendors, the IBBA Breeder Showcase Presentation and an excellent oppurtunity to visit with fellow cattlemen from around the world. We are expecting over 200 Brangus breeders and cattlemen from across the globe. These breeders have interests in semen, embryos, and live cattle from both red and black programs.

The IBBA Breeder Showcase is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to expose your breeding program and genetics to the global Brangus community. Participation is open to any IBBA member. There are multiple involvement options, but pen space is limited and will be issued on a first come, first served basis.

A current health certificate will be required on all cattle being exhibited.

Contact Grant Keenen at the IBBA office for further details, (210) 696-8231 or grant@int-brangus.org

Breeder Showcase Displays

$350 for the first Breeder Showcase Display $200/additional Breeder Showcase Display

Bull Showcase Options Herd Sire Diplay

One bull over 30 months of age

Herd Sire Prospect Display

One bull 18-30 months of age

Bull Calf Display

One or Two bulls less than 18 months

Female Showcase Options Brood Cow Display

One cow over 30 months of age

Cow-Calf Pair Display

One pair, calf less than 7 months of age

Heifer Display

One or Two heifers less than 24 months

20 FRONTLINE Beef Producer

Breeder Showcase Display Includes:

• Full Page Ad & Pedigree Info for all Cattle in Program Book *design assistance not included • 2 Promotional Items inserted in Attendee Bags • 2 Event & Meal Tickets • One Designated Animal through Presentation Ring • 2-3 Minute Presentation * emceed in English and Spanish *The above is maximum per breeder, regardless the number of pens*

Vendor Sponsor Package $500 per Vendor Booth Space

***Package may be shared by multiple vendors, but benefits will not increase!***

Vendor Sponsor Package Includes: • Full Page Ad in Program Book *design assistance not included • Display Booth Space *approx. 10’x10’ w/ table if needed • 2 Promotional Items inserted in Attendee Bags • 2 Event & Meal Tickets

Plan to join the IBBA and the rest of the Brangus Global Community at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The International Brangus Breeders Association Bull Show is Friday afternoon, March 4, 2011 and the IBBA Female show is on Saturday, March 5, 2011.

Then stay over for the‌.

GLOBAL BRANGUS ROUNDUP Presented by: International Brangus Breeders Association

Sunday, March 6th 10:00 am

Buses depart Holiday Inn Astrodome Hotel for the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds in nearby Rosenberg, TX

11:00 am

IBBA Welcome

11:30 am

Texas Style Lunch & Entertainment

12:30 pm

Cattle Available for Viewing

1:30 pm

IBBA Breeder Showcase Presentation We bring the ranches to you! Leading IBBA breeders of Brangus and Red Brangus from across the US will display Herd Sires, Prospect Sires, Proven Females and Replacement Female Prospects from their breeding programs.

2:30 pm

Walk the Alleys, Look at Cattle and Visit with Fellow Cattlemen

5:00 pm

Board Buses for Return to Holiday Inn Astrodome Hotel

For more information contact Grant Keenen 417.540.6570 m 210.696.8231 o www.GoBrangus.com

FRONTLINE Beef Producer 21

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FRONTLINE Beef Producer 23

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ADVERTISERSINDEX ADVERTISER

PAGE

ADVERTISER

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5K Cowbelle

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Dotson, Wes

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Oak Creek Farm

BC

ABS Global

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Elgin Breeding Service

26

Oakley, Lakin

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American Marketing Services

9, 26

Farris Ranching

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OvaGenix

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Barnes, Tommy

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GeneTrust

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Global Roundup

20-21

Salacoa Valley Farm

12

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Circle X Land & Cattle Complete Dispersal of Camp Cooley Genetics CUP Lab

IBC

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Southern Cattle Company

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Lambert, Doak

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Livestock Photos by Nancy

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Triple JR Cattle Company

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CALENDAROFEVENTS NOVEMBER • 2010

JANUARY • 2011

5-6

GeneTrust at Chimney Rock Bull & Female Sale - Concord, AR

8

12-13

Cowman’s Kind Blackwater Bull Sale - Lake Park, GA

FEBRUARY• 2011

13

Hill Country Brangus Breeders 35th Annual Reg. Bull & Female and Com. Female Sale - San Angelo, TX

12

3rd Annual Best in the West Sale - Marana, AZ

13

Perry Ranch Brangus Bull & Female Sale - Pauls Valley, OK

18-19

TBBA Springtime Sale - Salado, TX

19 - 20

Complete Dispersal of Camp Cooley Genetics - Franklin, TX

24

The Stars & Stripes Sale VIII - Raymond, MS

20

Heart of Alabama Bull Sale - Uniontown, AL

26

Spitzer Ranch Pro. Cattlemen’s Brangus Bull & Commercial Female Sale - Fair Play, SC

TBBA Sale - South Texas/Coastal Area

DECEMBER • 2010

MARCH • 2011

4

GeneTrust at Cavender Neches River Ranch - Jacksonville, TX

6

Global Roundup - Rosenberg, TX

16

TBBA Sale - San Saba, TX

12

Quail Creek Brangus - Steele, AL

22

GeneTrust at Suhn Cattle Company - Eureka, KS

FRONTLINE Beef Producer 27

28 FRONTLINE Beef Producer

Your SOURCE for Top Quality Registered & Commercial Brangus Cattle Registered & Commercial Females Available Now!

Bulls for Sale Now! Proud Members of

GO TEXAN

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Circle Land & Cattle Co., Ltd. Bobcat Bottoms Ranch • Persimmon Creek Ranch Spring Valley Ranch • Windy Hill Ranch • Vista Ridge Ranch

located just off Hwy. 6 and OSR 1415 E. OSR • Bryan, Texas 77808 Office: (979) 776-5760 • Fax: (979) 776-4818 Website: www.circlexbrangus.com Steve Densmore, Cattle Mgr., (979) 450-0819, cell • (979) 778-1055, home Chris Duewall, Operations Mgr., (979) 777-6803, cell

Breeding Brangus Since 1967

Grass + Forage Efficient Easy Fleshing Cattle = Profit ANNUAL FORAGE TESTED BULL SALE • OCTOBER 29, 2011 OUR LOW INPUT CONSERVATIVE PHILOSPHY HAS KEPT US IN THE CATTLE BUSINESS FOR 43 YEARS! Oak Creek Farms- Your genetic source for: • Easy Fleshing Efficient Moderate Cattle • Good Breed Characteristics • Excellent Replacement Heifers • Females with good maternal traits • Fertility and Longevity in Cattle • Calves that require less time in the feedlot • Cattle that Thrive in Hot Humid Climates OCF Target 8N2

Since 1967 we have practiced a conservative philosophy in breeding Brangus and Red Brangus with grass and legumes forming the foundation of our cattle operation. During the past forty three years, feed lots have based their operations on cheap feed, fuel and fertilizer. With today’s high input of cost, there is a demand for our forage based easy fleshing OCF Bulls that will produce steers requiring less time and money to finish in the feedlot.

To further our program we have added DNA testing as one of our breeding tools, going on seven years. Pfizer’s DNA MVP genetic testing identifies the desirable heritable traits that we want to breed in our cattle. DNA results are used as part of our Oak Creek Total Herd Management Program to produce fertile, easy fleshing efficient bulls for the serious cattleman.

Oak Creek Farms • info@oakcreekfarms.com John & Carolyn Kopycinski • Chappell Hill, Texas 979/836-6832

Directions from Houston: Hwy 290 (60 mi west) then 4 mi south on FM 1371