All bulls have genomic-enhanced EPDs allowing you to make your selection based on more predictable genetics. Visit our website, MurphysGenetics.com, for each bull’s video, pedigree, updated performance information and pictures of their dams and grandams. Cattle and embryos are available for private treaty purchase.
IBA will be hosting virtual Nutrient Management Planning Workshops to assist producers in developing working nutrient management plans.
IBA gets the facts from Don Close, Senior Animal Protein Analyst at Rabo AgriFinance, on what producers can expect from the 2021 cattle market.
How much is matting really worth for cattle performance? This Illinois Beef Checkoff funded research study by Josh McCann, PhD aims to find the answer.
Long-time Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale consignor, Kramer Farms, knows the genetics producers need.
The “State of the Consumer” report highlights the opportunities and impacts of COVID-19 on beef demand for the coming year.
2021 Illinois Beef Expo changes have been implemented to adhere to COVID-19 mitigations and keep participants safe. Find the need-to-know information here.
Find out what programs and projects will be funded with your Beef Checkoff dollars for the 2021 fiscal year.
Shorthorn at sunset photograph taken by Betty Haynes at Little Grove Farm in Petersburg, Ill.
Illinois
Association 2060 West Iles Avenute, Suite B Springfield, IL 62704 www.illinoisbeef.com Phone: 217-787-4280 Fax: 217-793-3605
Buzz Iliff, Wyoming
President
IBA Board of Governors
Email: buzzwithcow@yahoo.com
Chair: Jay Miller, Atlanta
Vice Chair: Dave Duzan, Lexington Sec./Treas.: Shannon Welsh, Blandinsville
Directors
District 1
Jarad Carroll, Mt. Carroll, Jccattle07@gmail.com
1st term expires: 2019 | 2nd term expires: 2022
District 2
Jake Perino, Deer Grove, twinrailsoverp@gmail.com
1st term expires: 2022 | 2nd term expires: 2025
District 3
Jim Sundberg, Mendota, jimsfarms@gmail.com
1st term expires: 2020 | 2nd term expires: 2023
District 4
Shannon Welsh, Scotia, angus3@winco.net
1st term expires: 2023 | 2nd term expires: 2026
District 5
Betsy Pech, Lincoln, bpech55@gmail.com
1st term expires: 2021 | 2nd term expires: 2024
District 6
Matt Witte, Heyworth, matthewcwitte@gmail.com
1st term expires: 2022 | 2nd term expires: 2025
District 7
OPEN
At Large Directors
Jay Miller, Atlanta, miller@timbercrestvet.com
1st term expires: 2018 | 2nd term expires: 2021
Jake Fidler, Fariview, salebarn@mymctc.net
1st term expires: 2022 | 2nd term expires: 2025
Barney Gehl, Geneseo, barney.gehl@zoetis.com
1st term expires: 2018 | 2nd term expires: 2021
Dave Duzan, Lexington, duzanagy@mtco.com
1st term expires: 2018 | 2nd term expires: 2021
Andy Jones, Chapin, ajones@mix30.com
1st term expires: 2020 | 2nd term expires: 2023
Bruce Betzold, Nokomis, betzoldfarms@yahoo.com
1st term expires: 2022 | 2nd term expires: 2025
Larisa Willrett, Malta, lwillrett1313@gmail.com
1st term expires: 2022 | 2nd term expires: 2025
Paul Walker, Danvers Vice President
IBA Board of Governors
Email: pwalker@ilstu.edu
Chair: Scott Wetzell, Tampico
Vice Chair: Justin Rahn, Mt. Carroll
Sec./Treas.: Ken Dau, Sheridan
Directors
District 1
Justin Rahn, Mt. Carroll, justinrahn@hotmail.com
1st term expires: 2019 | 2nd term expires: 2022
Lou Lamoreux, Lanark, unclelou49@gmail.com
1st term expires: 2023 | 2nd term expires: 2026
District 2
Scott Wetzell, Tampico, sd_wetz@hotmail.com
1st term expires: 2020 | 2nd term expires: 2023
Bill Gebeck, Buda , wgebeck@aol.com
1st term expires: 2023 | 2nd term expires: 2026
District 3
Ken Dau, Sheridan, dau.kenny@gmail.com
1st term expires: 2019 | 2nd term expires: 2022
OPEN
District 4
Terry Boydstun, Abingdon, tboydstun@hotmail.com
1st term expires: 2019 | 2nd term expires: 2022
Thad Tharp, Monmouth, tthaddeus88@gmail.com
1st term expires: 2023 | 2nd term expires: 2026
District 5
T.J. Curtin, Blue Mound, tjcurtin78@gmail.com
1st term expires: 2019 | 2nd term expires: 2022
Darrin Smith, Alexander, dasmith@wildblue.net
1st term expires: 2023| 2nd term expires: 2026
District 6
Chase Brown, Warrensburg, cdbrown2@gmail.com
1st term expires: 2022 | 2nd term expires: 2025
Wendall Alwardt, Altamont, walwardt1@yahoo.com
1st term expires: 2023 | 2nd term expires: 2026
District 7
Ed Billingsly, Goreville, stoneridge@gmail.com
1st term expires: 2020 | 2nd term expires: 2023
Jim Meller, Anna, meller.hillcroft.james@gmail.com
1st term expires: 2019 | 2nd term expires: 2022
Executive Vice President
Joni Bucher, Past President
Travis Meteer, U of I Extension & BQA
Teresa Steckler, U of I Extension
Justin Rickard, ISU Ex Officio Members
Josh St. Peters, josh@illinoisbeef.com
Director of Communications
Betty Haynes, betty@illinoisbeef.com
Director of Industry Relations
Mareah Volk, mareah@illinoisbeef.com
Financial Officer/Business Manager
Nancy Betz, accounting@illinoisbeef.com
Buzz Iliff, Illinois Beef Association President
2020 is behind us which is welcome news to many of us in the cattle business as we look forward to 2021. A new year is a time of renewal: looking forward to a new calf crop, better markets, better trade deals, and hopefully better weather.
This past year has presented unprecedented challenges, but there were also many positive events. Money was appropriated for a foot-and-mouth disease vaccine on the last Farm Bill. This was an important step in being prepared for an outbreak. We must be diligent in keeping foreign animal diseases out of this country.
To be better prepared in the event of a foreign animal disease outbreak, we need to know where animals are located. We must also be able to track animal movement. Having a Premise Identification (I.D.) is one of the best ways for producers to know the location of livestock and to track movements immediately if an outbreak occurs. Obtaining a Premise I.D. is extremely easy to do by contacting the Illinois Department of Agriculture. All beef producers are better prepared to deal with an outbreak and protect the livestock industry through support of Premise I.D. Folks all over the country have been working diligently to keep diseases from
getting into the United States, and on how a foreign disease outbreak would be contained if one were to occur. This is not a one size fits all scenario.
Thank you to all producers who have become Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certified. BQA has been, and continues to be, a tremendous program. BQA ensures the consumer that beef producers are raising high quality beef in the safest and most sustainable way possible. Consumers can rest assured that beef producers are exercising excellent stockmanship in the care of their animals. Since in-person BQA meetings have been delayed, producers can both certify and recertify online. This old person was able to do it online, so it can be done. Grab a teenager if you need some help. Lets get all the producers that we can certified for BQA.
Calving season will soon be here and has started already in many areas. Have a good plan in place to make it as safe and successful as possible.
7AN528 GROWTH FUND | 18827828 | Payweight x WEIGH UP
Want to increase your assets? Invest in GROWTH FUND! This sire defies the odds in terms of genetic merit. His elite EPD profile provides modest Calving Ease with off-the-charts growth, RADG and $Weaning.
CE: 9 BW: 1.6 WW: 87 YW: 157 $W: 86 $B: 168
7AN595 MOVIN ON | 19573709 | Alternative E125 x PROPHET
Timely? Yes! This Alternative son was our pick at the Baldridge sale in 2020 and is backed by super cow B061. When you combine all the pieces and parts, you won’t find many better!
CE: 16 BW: -0.3 WW: 73 YW: 128 $W: 76 $B: 167
7AN580 HOME TOWN | 19266718 | Ashland x SURE FIRE
This moderately framed youngster is one of our top sellers. He offers incredible figures for Calving Ease, growth and carcass merit, and is a standout for shape, soundness, Docility and good looks!
CE: 16 BW: -0.6 WW: 68 YW: 127 $W: 77 $B: 223
7AN618 MARVEL | 19566408 | Blacklist x McKinley
MARVEL was one of the most talked about bulls in The Yards at the 2020 National Western Stock Show. He offers a flawless design which blends into a tremendous rib shape, extra body, added dimension and structural soundness.
CE: 9 BW: 1.6 WW: 87 YW: 157 $W: 86 $B: 168 CONTACT YOUR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE TO ORDER!
It is with great enthusiasm and much anticipation of good things to happen that the Executive Committee and the Board of Governors introduce Joshua (Josh) St. Peters as the new Executive Vice President (EVP) of the Illinois Beef Association. Josh’s first Executive Edge column will be in the March issue of Illinois Beef. Josh will start full-time as the IBA EVP on March 1. During January and February Josh will serve as a part-time private consultant to IBA in his role as EVP as he transitions from his EVP position at The Context Network to his full-time role as the IBA EVP.
Josh comes to IBA with 20 years of experience in ag marketing, communication and public affairs work. Josh is a former farm broadcaster on RFD Illinois and the Brownfield Network, and previously worked in communications for Illinois Farm Bureau. His past experience includes management roles at Pioneer Hi-Bred and Vice President for the largest ag advertising agency in the country. For the last five years Josh has been EVP at The Context Network, a management consulting firm that works with agriculture companies around the world.
Josh grew up in Bond County, where he was active in 4-H and FFA. Josh has been inducted into the Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame and is a past Illinois FFA Star in Agribusiness. Today John volunteers as Vice Chairman of the Illinois FFA Foundation. He has a bachelor’s degree in agriculture communication from the University of Illinois and studied ag economics in Kansas State University’s Master of Agribusiness program.
You can reach out to Josh via email at josh@illinoisbeef. com or by phone at (314) 202-2325.
IBA wishes Jill Johnson the best of luck in her new position as senior director of communications with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). Jill will work out of both the NCBA Denver, Colo. office and the Washington D.C. office. Jill guided IBA through a difficult period with few road bumps and great success. Thanks Jill, for a job well done. Jill is still working for Illinois beef producers, just in a different capacity. We have been able to reach out to Jill on a couple of occasions during the transition phase.
As everyone has heard through the grapevine, Illinois Beef Expo 2021 as we traditionally know it, had to be cancelled due to COVID-19. Illinois Beef Expo will be back in Springfield with improvements in 2022. This year the Performance Tested Bull Sale, the Mid-America Simmental Sale and the Illinois Angus Futurity Sale will be held at Lowderman’s Sale Facility in Macomb, Ill. The IPT Bull Sale will be held on Thurs. Feb. 25; the Mid-America Simmental Sale will be held on Fri., Feb. 26; and, the Illinois Angus Futurity Sale will be held on Sat., Feb. 27. Look for sale
advertisements later in this issue. The Illinois Beef Expo Junior Show and Trade Show will be held on March 12-14 at the Exposition Gardens in Peoria. The Illinois Beef Expo Board is working to make this a great event. The judges will be Shane Meier and Jon DeClerck. For 2021, this event will be a two-ring show (two rings of steers and two rings of heifers) to allow our junior members the opportunity to show twice in one weekend. More deatils about this event can be found on page 41. Stay tuned to the Illinois Beef Expo Facebook page and www.illinoisbeefexpo.com. For 2021 Illinois Beef Expo questions, please contact Mareah Volk, Wes Keller, Cori Malone or Ashley Beutke.
IBA will be hosting virtual workshops to assist Illinois Beef Producers in developing Nutrient Management Plans. These workshops are designed for medium size AFO’s (Animal Feeding Operations) but producers with CAFO’s are welcome to participate. Read more about these webinars on page 18.
The IBA Awards Committee is requesting award nominations for the 2021 IBA awards. These nominations recognize IBA members who “give it their all” and will be recognized at the IBA Summer Conference in June. All award nominations are due by March 8. The award categories are:
• IBA Farm Family of the Year
• IBA Commercial Producer of the Year
• IBA Seedstock Breeder of the Year
• IBA Environmental Steward of the Year
• IBA Outstanding Junior of the Year
More information about the nomination process and nomination forms can be found at illinoisbeef.com/ membership/awards.
Betty, Mareah and Nancy have been doing a great job in the office during our transition. Several programs promoting beef through social media, traditional advertisements, etc. are in progress. IBA worked diligently during 2020 to help secure USDA-CFAP and Illinois Business Interruption Grant CARES monies to support producers’ incomes (losses). The IBA Board of Governors is working to increase market price transparency. IBA is encouraging NCBA to be more proactive in its support of market price discovery and is actively working with 13 states to pursue policies that increase market price transparency. The IBA Executive Committee and the IBA Board of Governors welcome your input on these and other issues. Please feel free to contact staff or leadership with input and ideas. We want to serve the Illinois beef cattle industry to its fullest. Here’s to making 2021 a great year!
Travis Meteer, University of Illinois Extension Beef Specialist
Are you sifting through stacks of bull sale catalogs looking for your next bull? While bull selection can be a daunting task, your choice will impact your herd for years to come. Thus, taking some time to think about what you need from your next herd sire is important.
Here are some points to emphasize when it comes to bull selection.
Know your market. Understand what traits are value added-traits for your market. One of the best parts about the cattle industry is the different ways producers achieve their goals. While selling calves at weaning into the commodity market is the majority, some cattlemen are marketing in very creative ways. Some examples include: local freezer beef, retained ownership, alliances, branded beef programs, video sales, or fitting the production environment to a consumer demanded practice. These are all ways farmers are adding value to their calves. Your bull selection should be based on traits that are profitable in your market.
Don’t sacrifice functional traits or adaptability to your production environment. It is really easy to get caught up in the data, but remember these critters need to be sound and functional in the pasture. Good feet and legs, a strong libido, and docility are all imperative. Masculinity, big testicles, and a tight sheath are good phenotypic indicators of the right kind. Buying bulls that are raised in similar conditions to your farm is preferred. You can buy someone else’s genetics, but you can’t buy their management.
Require a passed Breeding Soundness Exam (BSE) and farm herd health protocols. I also suggest a quarantine period for new purchases. A minimum of two weeks will allow time for potential pathogens to break without exposing your herd. Many times cattle coming from a sale have experienced elevated stress. It is important to keep them on good feed, in a clean pen, and allow the quarantine period to run its course.
Identify and understand Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) and phenotypes that signify value added traits you are seeking. Calving ease (CE) is an important and valuable trait. Sometimes when talking to producers I hear them stressing both CE and birth weight (BW). BW is an indicator trait for CE, but you don’t get paid for light BW calves. You get paid by not having to invest time and labor in pulling calves. So, avoid putting too much downward pressure on BW, especially if the bull will breed cows. Another mistake I see is purchasing low BW bulls for cows. This is not necessary. Many times you can purchase a bull with average or betterthan-average calving ease for cows at a discount to “heifer bulls” with comparable growth. Smooth, flat shouldered bulls with decent CE EPDs are good value bulls for breeding mature cows.
If you sell your calves at weaning through the sale barn and keep your own replacements, EPD traits of priority should be CE, heifer pregnancy, stayability and weaning weight. Selecting for more yearling weight, milk production, or carcass traits are much less important in this scenario. If you retain ownership in your cattle through the feedlot and market to the packer, then yearling weight (YW) and carcass traits become much more relevant to your bottom line. Your ultimate goal should be to produce the most profitable product, thus seek traits that add value without increasing cost of production over the value of the trait.
Utilize appropriate multiple trait selection indexes. Find the sweet spot/profitable window in milk, yearling weight, and carcass EPDs. Avoid putting too much emphasis on one trait. Nearly all breeds now have dollar index values that help put economics to trait selection. These indexes can be extremely effective tools if the index scenario matches your operation. While we are not far from producers being
info@mlstubs.com
able to create their own indexes, for now it is important to read and understand what traits go into specific breed indexes. Combined value ($C) is one of the newest dollar values used by the Angus breed. It is an index that is expressed in dollars per head that aims to show value across the entire value chain. The index incorporates the most individual traits of any Angus dollar index, but some traits are weighted more than others. Ultimately, no index is perfect and the emphasis on certain traits may not always match your exact herd goals. However, understanding and utilizing indexes can help improve genetic value.
Don’t be fooled by index names. Beef value ($B) is a terminal index. It is a great tool for cattlemen that are not keeping replacements. This index will increase profitability of cattle in the feedlot and on the grid. Unfortunately, I have heard $B referred to as a comprehensive EPD index several times, which it is not. It is vital to understand that $B is a terminal index. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. The breeder or an Extension specialist will be able to help explain the numbers.
Demand higher accuracy for traits. Technologies are available for seedstock producers to increase the accuracy of EPDs on yearling bulls. Genomic-enhanced EPDs result in less risk, less change, and more predictability in how a yearling bull will sire. A bull buyer can feel more confident now than ever in EPDs when they are backed by genomic testing.
Heterosis. Crossbreeding systems are hard to deploy and maintain in small herds. However, leaving hybrid vigor on the table in a commercial herd is a big loss. Otherwise lowly
heritable traits like reproduction, health and cow longevity are best improved by crossbreeding. Crossbred cows and maternal heterosis is a key to profitability on commercial cow/calf operations. Studies have shown net profit per cow is increased by 75 dollars per cow per year because of maternal heterosis.
Buy the right size, type, and demand quality. I would compare this to buying a car or truck. If you have little money for gas (feed), then don’t buy a gas (feed) guzzler. Buy a bull that fits your cow herd. Your cows will tell you the right size and milk production for your management. If they come up open… they are not the right size or maybe milk too heavy. Now, you also want a bull that is the right type. You don’t buy a fancy sports car for a work vehicle, do you? So why buy a fancy, sexy bull to produce working kind cattle? To me there is a difference in fancy and quality. I suggest you demand quality. Select a product that will last and hold value. Look for signs that the breeder stands behind their product. That is a good sign of quality.
Seek value when buying a bull. The lowest priced bull is seldom the best valued. If you find a bull that has the traits you are looking for… buy him. Set a budget, but understand it is often hard to find everything you are looking for. Bulls with the traits you are seeking can add value to your cattle in a hurry. They can add far more value than a cow. The bull you buy this year will impact your herd for the next five years with his calves, but his daughters will impact your herd for the next 20 years. Make a good investment. Buy a bull that adds value to your calves and your cowherd.
Paul Walker, DI Walker Consulting
Numerous nutrition specialists, including myself, have written numerous articles regarding the feeding of byproducts from the corn ethanol industry. Hence, I question the need for another article regarding distillers grains (DGS) but, the ethanol industry is not standing still and innovative changes are occurring that are changing the nutritional value of DGS.
For several years now ethanol plants have been removing some of the corn oil from DGS (on the backend of ethanol production) to sell as an additional co-product. More recently, technology has been developed to remove some of the protein (on the front end of ethanol production) from the corn grain prior to fermentation. While several ethanol plants produce reduced fat DGS, few plants are currently utilizing the protein removal technology due to the high cost of its implementation. These changes in ethanol production change the nutritional value and the economical value of DGS as we currently know it. Ethanol production of the future will produce several value-added co-products and will change the feeding value of DGS. Distillers grain products of the not-too-distant future will include high value protein concentrates; corn oil; highly digestible, high fiber, low fat, low protein feed; as well as traditional DGS products with which we are familiar. It also is possible that only high protein, high fat and mineral feedstuffs will be produced as co-products of ethanol production, as the fiber component maybe used to produce ethanol. As I once told a Distillers Grains Conference in an invited presentation, the beef industry likes DGS just the way they are.
So, here are some rules-of-thumb for what we know now.
• When fed at 20% or less of the diet dry matter (DM), DGS is considered a protein feedstuff, as it is fed primarily to supply protein.
• When fed at greater than 20% of the diet DM, DGS is considered an energy feedstuff as it is providing both protein and energy.
• When DGS is fed at 25-45% of the diet DM, protein is overfed, exceeding NRC estimated requirements. The excess protein is utilized as an energy source along with the fiber and fat content. Even though protein is overfed, a diet containing DGS can still be more economical than a diet balanced for protein and energy without DGS.
• Dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) when fed as an energy source above 20% of the diet DM are usually too expensive for inclusion in beef cattle diets.
• High moisture DGS vary in water content.
• Wet DGS contains more than 60% moisture, usually only 30-40 DM.
• Modified wet DGS contains less than 60% moisture, usually 50-60 DM.
• DDGS and DGS vary in crude fat (CF) content sometimes referred to as high fat DGS (HFDGS) and reduced fat DGS (RFDGS).
• Condensed distillers solubles (CDS) is the syrup or stillage that is added to distillers grains to produce DDGS or DGS.
• Ethanol plants centrifuge (spin) the CDS to remove some of the fat prior to adding CDS to distillers grains.
• CDS is a liquid, contains 30 to 40% DM and can be fed as a feedstuff by itself, as part of DGS or as a part of a total mixed ration (TMR).
• DDGS, DGS and CDS contain relatively low calcium (0.20%), high phosphorous (0.40 – 0.80%) and high sulfur (0.20 – 0.80%) contents on a DM basis.
• RFDGS generally contains between 5.0% and 8.0% CF on a DM basis and has less energy than HFDGS.
• HFDGS generally contains between 10.0% and 12.0% CF on a DM basis and has more energy than RFDGS.
• CDS contains about one fourth the amount of crude fiber (NDF and ADF) on a DM basis as DDGS.
• Most diets containing CDS, DGS, or DDGS must have added calcium to maintain a Ca/P ratio between 1.2:1 to 2:1.
• The greatest biological efficiency (lbs. of gain to lbs. of feed required) occurs around 25% DGS dietary inclusion (DM basis).
• The greatest economic efficiency (least cost:lb. to gain) occurs around 40% DGS dietary inclusion (DM basis)
• Modified wet DGS can be fed up to 70% inclusion (DM basis).
• DGS inclusion at 70% of DM equals greater economic efficiency than 0% DGS inclusion.
• As dietary inclusion of high moisture DGS increases so does average daily feed intake (ADFI) increase.
• As dietary inclusion of HFDGS increases above 40%, dry matter intake (DMI) decreases.
• As dietary inclusion of RFDGS increases above 40%, DMI increases.
• Expect similar average daily gain (ADG) regardless of DGS inclusion rate.
• Compared to control diets HFDGS improves feed efficiency (G:F ratio) more than RFDGS.
• Performance of cattle fed RFDGS differs from cattle fed HFDGS especially at 70% inclusion.
• At 70% inclusion RFDGS may decrease G:F ratio.
• Dietary inclusion of modified wet DGS at 40% of DM regardless of fat content (HFDGS or RFDGS), has little
effect on carcass characteristics.
• At 70% dietary inclusion RFDGS and HFDGS have a tendency to lower quality grade.
• CDS inclusion at 20% of dietary DM has no effect on DMI, ADG, and G:F.
• CDS inclusion at 40% of dietary DM may reduce DMI and increase G:F.
• CDS inclusion has no effect on carcass characteristics.
• CDS, RFDGS and HFDGS at 40% inclusion or less, result in similar quality grades as 0% by-product inclusion.
• CDS, RFDGS and HFDGS inclusion in diets have little effect on resulting meat shelf life.
• RFDGS and HFDGS dietary inclusion increase PUFA, PUFA/SFA and O6 fatty acids in beef tallow.
• HFDGS increases PUFA, PUFA/SFA and O6 fatty acids more than RFDGS.
• Limit feeding RFDGS, HFDGS or HFCDS to beef cows in late gestation and early lactation up to 58% of the diet DM will not negatively affect cow body weight and body condition score nor will it affect calf birth weight or dystocia.
• Feeding RFDGS above 43% of diet DM may decrease cow milk production.
• Limit feeding RFDGS up to 58% of the diet DM will not alter ADFI or daily DMI of beef cows.
• Limit feeding RFDGS at 25%, 43% or 58% of the diet DM costs less per day than supplementing with shelled com and soybean meal.
• Limit feeding beef cows RFDGS at 25% of diet DM costs less per day than supplementing with 43% or 58% RFDGS.
• HFDGS may reduce cow daily DMI when limit feeding beef cows corn silage-based diets containing 20% HFDGS.
• Supplementing beef cows with HFCDS may increase milk production compared to HFDGS or RFDGS when supplemented at 20% of DM.
The take home message from these rules of thumb is whether modified wet distillers grains contain higher fat (10-12%) or lower fat (5-8%), we can successfully feed finishing steers up to 70% of the diet dry matter without greatly compromising the outcomes. How much DGS is fed may depend on the amount of roughage included in the diets. All things evaluated, 35-40% DGS inclusion may be the most efficacious inclusion level, but depending on feedlot performance, total feed costs and degree of management expertise, 70% DGS may return the most dollars over feed cost if the price is right. Additionally, modified wet DGS is almost always more efficacious than DDGS.
Regarding the inclusion of ethanol by-products in beef cow diets, limiting DGS or CDS inclusion to 20-25% of the diet DM may be the most efficacious. Including DGS above 25% of the diet DM may reduce daily feed costs but the greatest economic efficiency for beef cows occurs when DGS is limited to 25% or less of the diet DM.
Abbreviations:
PUFA = polyunsaturated fatty acid
SFA = saturated fatty acid,
O6 = omega six,
ADFI = average daily feed intake
DMI = dry matter intake
IBA is pleased to welcome Sydney Trainor as the new IBA summer intern. Sydney will be focusing on communication, event planning, youth programs, and producer education efforts.
Sydney is originally from Shelbyville, Ill., where she grew up showing cattle and pigs. She was raised on her family’s farm assisting with cattle and crops. Sydney served as a Student Ambassador for Lake Land College, where she was actively on campus. She is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications with a minor in animal sciences from Oklahoma State University (OSU). As a student, she has remained involved in the ag industry through OSU Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow and OSU Collegiate Farm Bureau.
Sydney welcomes the opportunity to expand her knowledge of the beef industry and build relationships with cattle producers across the state.
“We are thrilled to start working with Sydney,” said Betty Haynes, IBA director of communications. “Her ag communications experience and passion for the beef industry will be of great benefit to our summer programs.”
IBA is offering a $1,000 registration stipend to one young leader to attend the 2021 Cattle Industry Convention and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Trade Show. The event will be held in Nashville, Tenn., from Aug. 10-12 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center.
Thousands of other cattlemen and women from across the country will be in attendance discussing issues and topics important to the industry. The Cattle Industry Convention is the oldest and largest national convention for the cattle business. The convention and trade show create a unique, fun environment for cattle industry members to come together to network, create policy for the industry and to have some fun.
“Cattle Industry Convention has been one of the most valuable experiences I have had during my time at IBA,” said Mareah Volk, IBA director of industry relations. “If you want to learn about the latest decisions and priorities in beef industry, this is definitely the opportunity for you.”
To be eligible, applicants must be ages 21-40 and be a member of both IBA and NCBA. The deadline to apply is April 1, 2020. The application is available online at illinoisbeef.com
With constant updates to rules and regulations on livestock operations, it can be difficult for farmers to identify the tools they need to be prepared for EPA on-farm inspections. Farm Gate is an educational program designed to address these concerns.
Farm Gate is designed for farmers with livestock operations of all sizes, with a special focus on small and medium sized operations. The program was created by the Illinois Farm Bureau and Illinois livestock groups to assist farmers with regulatory questions while providing educational opportunities and resources to help them meet industry standards and protect the environment.
This program also helps familiarize beef producers with the regulatory programs they may encounter through guidebooks, updated checklists, and access to industry experts.
For more information about Farm Gate, contact your local county Farm Bureau or visit www.ILFB.org/FarmGate.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) secured critical wins for cattle producers through the latest government funding and COVID-19 relief packages. The deal includes additional Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) support for cattle producers, expanded resources for state-inspected meat processors through inclusion of the Requiring Assistance to Meat Processors for Upgrading Plants (RAMP UP) Act, certainty that cattle producers can recoup payment losses by establishing a dealer trust, funding for agriculture quarantine inspection services and an extension of Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR). NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane issued the following statement:
“We are grateful to leaders on both sides of the aisle and both sides of Capitol Hill for working diligently to deliver this package that provides vital relief to U.S. cattle producers. This package addresses many of NCBA’s year-long policy priorities as well as our work to respond to the multiple market shocks producers have experienced over the past year.”
“Local meat processors across the country continue to be severely backlogged due to COVID-19. NCBA has advocated relentlessly for passage of the RAMP UP Act, which allocates federal grant dollars to these small businesses – the modified version of this bill included in the House package allows local processors to take advantage of interstate retail channels and provide greater market access, ensuring beef always remains in stock.”
“With the inclusion of funding for additional cattle assistance through CFAP, agricultural quarantine inspection services and the extension of LMR through Sept. 30, 2021, a tremendous amount of continuity and certainty is given back to ranchers and farmers across the country.
The Cattle Industry Annual Convention and NCBA Trade Show is one of the industry’s biggest events each year, bringing together cattlemen and cattlewomen from across the nation to do the work of our industry. Unfortunately, the current pandemic presents challenges that make bringing people together difficult. With the health and safety of our attendees, exhibitors, sponsors, and partners in mind, NCBA has made the difficult decision to postpone the in-person event to August 2021.
Originally scheduled for Feb. 3-5, 2021, the convention and trade show will now take place Aug. 10-12, 2021. While the event may have a new date, both the convention and trade show will continue to take place at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
“Despite the move of the main event to August, we will still hold business meetings in February to ensure we continue to meet the needs of our members and the industry,” said NCBA CEO Colin Woodall. “When we do gather the nation’s cattle producers together again in August, we’ll have the opportunity to include new events and activities in Music City, including many that just aren’t available during the winter months, so although we’re disappointed in the date change, we’re excited to see Nashville during the summer, as we take advantage of all the fun and excitement the city has to offer.”
For up-to-date convention information about the 2021 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show, visit convention.ncba.org
by Dr. Paul Walker, Professor Emeritus
The Illinois Livestock Management Facilities Act (LMFA) requires a livestock management facility owner or operator at a facility of 5,000 or more animal units (AU) to prepare, maintain, implement, and submit to the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) for approval of a waste (nutrient) management plan. The LMFA requires a livestock management facility owner or operator at a facility of 1,000 AU up to 5,000 AU to prepare, implement, and maintain a waste management plan. If the AU at the facility is between 1,000 AU and 4,999 AU, the waste management plan does not require IDOA approval. According to the LMFA, a livestock management facility owner or operator of less than 1,000 AU is not required to prepare and maintain a waste management plan. This last fact has been perceived by those in the livestock community as a good thing and by numerous environmental activists as an inherent weakness to the LMFA. As an aside, since passage of the LMFA in 1996, livestock manure has been recognized as a nutrient that has benefit as a soil amendment as opposed to a waste that must be disposed. Therefore, throughout the rest of this article I will refer to manure management plans as nutrient management plans (NMP) rather than waste management plans.
During the last decade, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), as the regulator for environmental health, safety and contamination has made random
inspections of livestock facilities 1,000 AU and larger. These facilities are referred to as unpermitted large CAFO’s (Confined Animal Feeding Operations that do not need a federal NPDES permit). During these inspections, to ensure compliance with the LMFA, the IEPA has reviewed the nutrient management plan for each operation. Beginning in 2020 the IEPA has initiated a program to inspect medium AFOs (CAFOs containing between 300 and 999 AU).
According to the LMFA, medium AFO’s are not required to have NMP’s, but a random IEPA inspection most likely will address many of the issues covered in an NMP.
Separately, but related, in early 2020 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Illinois General Assembly had seven proposed bills (two in the House and five in the Senate) that if passed and enacted would have been detrimental to the livestock industry. Five of these proposed bills were directly related to livestock operations and NMPs. These bills were HB4574 COUNTIES CODE ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, SB2251 LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT FACILITY, SB2252 MUNI-CODE-LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT, SB2253 EPA LIVESTOCK WASTE WATER, SB2998 ANIMALS WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN, and SB3156 ANIMALS-WASTE/ SOIL PHOSPORUS. Senate Bill 2998 if passed would have required livestock facilities of less than 1,000 AU to prepare and maintain NMPs and would have required facilities
housing more than 5,000 AU to file NMPs with both the IDOA and IEPA - not just the IDOA as now required. No matter how small a producer’s operation, this bill would have required every operator to have an NMP. Senate Bill 3156 provided that livestock waste may continue to be applied to soil if the average Bray P1 or Mehlich Test result for soil phosphorus is 70 lbs. or less of elemental phosphorus per acre (rather than the current 300 lbs./acre). It further provided that if the soil phosphorus test is 70 lbs./acre (as opposed to the current 300 lbs./ac) or more the owner/operator shall not apply livestock waste until test results indicate there is less than 70 lbs. of elemental phosphorus per acre.
IBA opposed these proposed bills and was prepared to actively work on behalf of all cattle producers in Illinois to prevent these bills from becoming law. Once the General Assembly meets in session again, IBA expects these bills to again surface. IBA is prepared to lobby against any similar bills from becoming law, but IBA needs your help. It takes money to lobby against these bills. Because Beef Checkoff monies cannot be used to lobby nor for political reasons, IBA’s only sources of funds to work on the producer’s behalf are IBA membership dues and Political Action Committee donations. Therefore, if you are not an IBA member consider joining to help your operation stay viable. In addition, the IBA is recommending producers take a proactive approach regarding NMPs. If medium size AFOs voluntarily develop
NMPs, this pre-emptive strategy actively provides legislators evidence that these proposed bills are not necessary. Having an NMP available when IEPA makes a random facility visit provides IEPA inspectors documentation that the operation is in compliance with best management practices.
To support this initiative, IBA will be hosting webinars this winter to assist producers in developing NMPs. It is in the Illinois cattle industry’s sustainable interest that every animal feeding operation (whether large CAFO or medium size AFO) have an NMP. To simplify things, IBA with the assistance of Ted Funk and UIUC Extension will assist producers in developing working NMPs. This working NMP is not as complicated, for example, an NRCS-funded Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) developed by a technical service provider, but it does provide the necessary components required for sustainable manure management. If your operation, regardless of size, does not have an NMP, consider attending one of the upcoming NMP webinar workshops.
The goal of the webinars is to help you develop a tailormade NMP for your operation, and to give you the tools to manage and organize the plan as efficiently as possible. Though the first webinar will be for a larger audience, followup assistance for individual farm operations will be made available after the initial meetings.
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IBA gets the facts from Don Close, Senior Animal Protein Analyst at Rabo AgriFinance, on what producers can expect from the 2021 cattle market.
Q: Could you start by painting a picture for producers of the key aspects and events of 2020 that will continue to influence 2021?
A: I am going to start by saying that I think the worst of it is over. The cattle from the huge backlog we had from the shut down and in slaughter in May and June have been worked through the system. We are still going to have to deal with phase two, and that was the big feeder cattle placements June through September. Those cattle will be finished and coming to market, primarily in the first quarter and the first half of the second quarter of 2021. Once we get through that big block of marketings, the available fed cattle supply from there forward looks very manageable. The second half of 2021 is optimistically good.
Q: What areas of change do you feel will most affect how quickly the world recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic?
A: Certainly, the easy answer on that one is the implementation of the vaccine and just how fast it can be distributed to the population. Once we see an impact on the hospitalization and death rate, a huge sense of relief will come to consumers and we can start to rebuild the economy. Clearly in that same timeline, there are a lot of unknowns - the
change in administration being the most obvious. We do not really know what new policies are coming, but I do anticipate more stability, in both domestic government and in international governments. There should be some calming effect in government stability, helping the overall mentality of the marketplace. As far as additional stimulus money, I cannot help but think the new administration is going to do something for average American consumers.
Q: What opportunities and risks does the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic present for the cattle market?
A: The 2020 Oct.1 cattle-on-feed number, I think, will be the largest on-feed number we will see for the next three to six years. The extreme leverage, or lack of leverage, problem
that cattle feeders have had with buyers will steadily start to recover into the new year and certainly accelerate through the second half of 2021. This will put cattle feeders in much stronger negotiating positions with packing plants as we go through 2021. For the long-term pull and just the natural occurrence of the cattle cycle, I think we are absolutely at the trough of as bad as it’s going to look right now.
Q: What changes do you see in animal protein, in particular beef production, for the post-COVID-19 world?
A: If there have been any positives from the COVID-19 experience, it has been that overall protein demand and specifically, beef demand, has been exceptional. As people were forced to work from home, they did not have the expenses from commuting, going out to eat, etc. As that money increased the average level of disposable income, consumers elected to eat better at home and it drove beef prices all summer.
Q: How will higher feed prices, increased government engagement, and the drought continue to affect the cattle market?
A: Higher feed prices are a change, but not a deal breaker. It changes the economics and changes what people can pay for feeder cattle. At this point in time, we are still working with a projected ending stock of 1.5 billion bushels of corn. It is a bit of an inconvenience but not a panic. The potential volatility of the corn market could be a real challenge to work with. I do not necessarily think that prices will go measurably higher than where we have just been. I think the $5.00 range is kind of a topside on prices and would think the low ebb on prices would be something back in that $3.50 to $3.60 area. Government is a big unknown, but we are starting to see the leadership of a Biden administration come together. One observation that I have seen is there is an absolute laser focus on the EPA, USDA, and the Interior Department. I think there are two big lookouts from that. The first is the environmental regulations that production agriculture must deal with for both grains and livestock. From the USDA side I think there will be more pressure to focus on food and nutrition policies and less emphasis on support to traditional production agriculture. I am careful how to choose my words here, but I think it will be a frustrating number of years for
producers with USDA.
The expansion of the drought through the western states has influenced the decision to liquidate cows. The acceleration of liquidation and the impact that has on the speed we consolidate will be a big uncertainty for 2021.
Q: What risks and opportunities do you see in the global market that will affect beef producers domestically?
A: The global market right now is probably in one of the most interesting phases that I can recall. We are still seeing the influence from urbanization and the influence from higher income and wages across Southeast Asia, and that by itself has generated a lot of demand. The impacts from African swine fever and the rate of protein imports that China has made for the last 18 months have also generated demand. I am skeptical if this will continue. China is rapidly rebuilding their hog inventory. I would expect the rate of protein purchases that China has been making to slow down.
These impacts will have different influences on all global producers. Australia, specifically, has been heavily influenced by trying to recover from their drought. Cattle slaughter for 2020 has been off 30 to 31% there. They just have not had the supply to be a big player in the export market and will not be for the next two to three years.
Brazil has totally adjusted their market commitment to exports. They have been exporting about 60% of their total production and have driven the value of the Brazilian Real down to make the prices of their commodities more competitive globally.
Domestic beef consumption in Brazil has been off as much as 10% in 2020, but it is starting to come back. Considering all those statistics, I think Brazil and to a similar degree, Mexico, are in a very vulnerable position. I think they have expanded too much, too fast, too far, and it will likely have negative fallout.
The third one I would mention is the likelihood of a hard Brexit. Every beef producing country in the world is courting the U.K. as aggressively as possible trying to get in line to be a beef supplier to the U.K. over the EU.
If you add the African swine fever problem they have had in Eastern Europe and they now have in Germany, there will be a tremendous amount of volatility to protein supplies in Europe. That could ultimately open the door for the U.S. to have an improved opportunity to be a supplier to Europe. That is probably the biggest development that we will see unfold in 2021 directly influencing the U.S.
Q: According to your animal protein outlook, one of the hottest issues that you will be tracking in 2021 is technology. Could you briefly discuss your outlook on how this will affect beef production in 2021?
A: Technology experts that really did not have meat production on their radar are suddenly really interested in what technology they could bring to the industry. We automatically think of robotics and that is not where we see this going, at least initially. We predict seeing new technology in packing plants to record data and track efficiencies. You could see software that monitors equipment inside a plant and gives plant management a heads up when something is preparing to break instead of waiting until it breaks.
I think preparatory data analytics and intervention data analytics, will probably be ahead of robotics. The other huge technology driver is the ever-increasing pressure on finding labor for the packing industry.
Q: How do you feel sustainability will impact beef production in 2021?
A: Sustainability’s impact on beef production is only getting started. It is going to be a focal point and the centerpiece of how all of agriculture does business in the future. There are several things being done from both regulatory and technological perspectives to make agriculture more sustainable.
Tremendous progress is being made to record and track carbon sequestration. There will be an increased opportunity for producers to get paid for banking carbon in the soil. That will be an interesting development that could bring a lot of outside money into agriculture. Sustainability is all you hear about and will continue to be a buzz word into 2021.
Q: What should producers expect for cattle prices into 2021?
A: I do not think it is unrealistic for April futures to get to the $1.20 level. If they do, I would be very keen to lock some of it up. I think 2021 is going to be a real challenge for price forecasters. Due to how the fed cattle supply will be distributed, the first half of the year could be flat and choppy. We could be looking at a situation where third, but particularly fourth quarter prices are actually higher than second quarter or spring high prices. We are thinking we could see cash cattle prices in the fall, winter, or early winter next year in the $1.20 to $1.25 slot. To see back half prices higher than first half prices is a big anomaly. 2021 could be a tough year for those who live by the seasonality of market.
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The “State of the Consumer” report highlights the opportunities and impact of COVID-19 on beef demand for the coming year.
The number of consumers who say they intend to eat beef at least weekly increased from 67 percent to 72 percent compared to 2019, and consumer positive perceptions of beef reached 70 percent for the first time, according to a new report released by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, that examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on consumer attitudes, behaviors and perceptions.
“The impact of the pandemic has been transformative in every corner of our economy,” said Buck Wehrbein, 2020 NCBA Federation Division Chair. “The good news is that consumers are choosing beef more often as they adapt to cooking more at home.”
The report outlines what consumer behaviors have changed, what behaviors may be permanent and how the beef industry has and continues to respond. With support from the 44 state beef councils and the Beef Checkoff program, current market and consumer research provides insight into the past year and helps inform programming and response in order to keep beef as the top protein choice for consumers.
“NCBA’s checkoff-funded market research program allows us to evaluate and understand the consumer landscape, especially as its dynamics continue to shift,” NCBA Senior
Director of Market Research Shawn Darcy said. “As a result, this helps all checkoff programs be more efficient, whether through promotion, education or information distribution.”
With unemployment rates climbing higher during the pandemic than they have in decades, 65 percent of consumers remain very concerned about the impact of COVID-19, especially with its effects onto the economy. Despite not knowing how this pandemic will continue to shape the consumer landscape, the “State of the Consumer” report provides valuable information to help the beef industry better understand the quickly changing environment. Key takeaways include:
• Online ordering for both groceries and meal ordering is likely here to stay. It is expected online ordering and delivery will grow at a more rapid pace than originally projected due to COVID-19. Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner., managed by NCBA, will continue to complete first-of-its-kind exploratory e-commerce marketing campaigns to help the supply chain accelerate the sales of fresh beef in this rapidly changing environment.
• Consumers are cooking more meals at home now than prior to COVID-19. This means they are searching for information to help them cook meals at home. Though
expected to continue for the short term, a long-term shift is difficult to assess. NCBA will continue to utilize a variety of techniques by pushing out cooking information and recipe inspiration through digital, social media and traditional media platforms and leveraging impactful, high-profile influencers or thought leaders to teach consumers how to cook.
• Consumers are spending more time at home and online than prior to COVID-19. Along with that comes the rise of more TV and movie-streaming platforms and the decline of in-person movie theater watching experience, which could signal a long-term shift in consumers using more media “inside of the home” compared to “out-of-home.” NCBA will continue to utilize a variety of marketing platforms to continuously reach the consumer through paid, earned and owned digital, social and traditional media platforms.
• Currently, consumers are more focused on spending their money on essential needs, such as groceries, household supplies and personal care and cleaning products. This will likely adjust back at some point; it is just a matter of when. NCBA, as a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, will continue to look for opportunities to remind consumers that beef is the classic comfort food that they want as the centerpiece of their dinner.
• Positive consumer perceptions of beef and beef production increased during the pandemic and will likely remain higher for the next several months. Consumers may return to expressing concerns about food production when focus evolves from current concerns. NCBA will continue programs that educate consumers about beef and beef production.
Beef demand has remained strong to-date. Consumers increased weekly beef eatings and were willing to pay more for the product. With strong domestic consumer demandbuilding programs Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner., and other demand building programs, NCBA will keep focused on keeping this strong demand going through innovative checkoff-funded programs.
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How much is matting really worth for cattle performance? This Illinois Beef Checkoff funded research study by Josh McCann, PhD aims to find the answer.
by Joli A. Hohenstein
Rubber mats on concrete slats are considered a necessity for cattle comfort in many barns. But the new wave of indoor cattle feeding facilities with slatted floors creates a conundrum: How important are the mats in barns like these? And do they really impact ROI?
University of Illinois researchers are studying flooring in pens – concrete slats, new and old rubber mats – to determine how much value they have year over year.
“You’re putting a pretty expensive consumable in these barns,” says Josh McCann, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Animal Sciences. “Do they pay for themselves, or is this an additional cost they can’t cover? Does performance equate to that cost?
Concrete v Rubber
Illinois scientists structured studies to compare rubber mats to slats alone, and also look at stocking density. They used the University of Illinois Beef Facility, a 10-acre field laboratory built in 2004 with eight cattle barns and the capacity to hold 1,000 beef cattle. These experiments looked at early-weaned calves in different facility setups.
Researchers surmised that rubber floor matting would improve steer performance and locomotion. They wanted to determine the effect of bare concrete, new and old pebble flooring and new anchored flooring on steer performance, carcass traits and locomotion. Next, they would look at how stocking density impacted the results.
The first experiment kept cattle on slats for 350 days, and 209 days on flooring treatments. These 208 Angus crossbred, fall-born steers were housed in 32 pens (eight pens per treatment). This meant six or seven steers per pen, with 36 to 43 square feet per steer.
Steers were randomly allotted to one of four treatments: no matting on concrete slatted floors, 12-year-old Animat Pebble matting, new Animat Pebble matting and new Animat Maxgrip matting. Researchers used two types of flooring. The first, Animat’s Interlock Rubber Flooring System, has a pebble-top design, which the company says maximizes traction. It has cut-out holes and sits on top of the slats. The second, Maxgrip, has a diamond-shaped surface for more traction and less slippage, and an anchoring system to keep the mats in place.
At the end of this first experiment, average daily gain was 3.83 on concrete and old mats, 3.99 on Pebble and 3.96 on Maxgrip.
The second experiment compared bare concrete, 15-yearold Animat Pebble flooring and new Animat Pebble flooring at industry standard stocking densities. This time, 189 Angus crossbred, fall-born steers were stocked in 21 pens (seven pens per treatment). This put nine steers in each pen (28 square feet per steer). Cattle were on slats for 280 days, with
Cattle on new rubber flooring experienced the most gains in body weight, compared to concrete or old rubber mats.
153 days on flooring treatments.
Average daily gain was 3.73 on concrete, 3.77 on old mats and 3.80 on new mats. Five steers were slaughtered four to six weeks early, and four of those were in concrete pens.
So what does this all mean? Do rubber mats really make a difference? In the University of Illinois experiments, rubber matting increased the average gain of cattle by 2 to 5%. That translates to a 13 to 33 lb. increase in final body weight –which is worth $15 to 38. If we assume a mat cost of $155 per head capacity, that translates to break even, even by the most conservative estimates.
In addition, researchers found a definite impact to different stocking densities.
“There is a consequence of over-stocking,” McCann says. “If you are stocked more densely, you might sacrifice weight.”
In one pen, researchers stocked cattle densely, even a bit more than industry averages, McCann says – and they saw less benefit to the rubber mats. But the cattle on bare concrete still performed the worst, regardless of stocking density.
“You see [the consequences] in mobility and performance,” he says. “That is a benefit you’ll see using rubber matting.”
Illinois researchers assessed locomotion with a scoring system from normal to severely lame. They observed improved locomotion scores for cattle on both new and old rubber mats, compared to concrete. As the mats age, they’ll continue to benefit animal mobility and welfare.
Typically, mats last two to seven years.
“If [the mat] lasts five years, and two sets of cattle come through every year, then you could have 10 sets of cattle on those mats,” McCann explains. “If you choose not to use mats, you have more mobility issues in your cows.”
That means you need to have more marketing endpoints for cattle that need to be sold early, which makes it even more important to evaluate cattle structure and mobility before putting cattle on slats. Not all cattle are going to feed well on slats up to the heavy weights we’re now targeting.
“Some cattle are fine on concrete, but the greater percentage of cattle aren’t going to make it to the end of cattle slaughter,” says McCann. “If you have cattle that die early, they’re going to die at a lower body weight.”
You can make allowances for this, of course. Sorting cattle that have mobility issues is easier than slaughter. But providing alternative flooring may offer cattlemen more flexibility in getting cattle where you want them to be.
The bottom line on rubber flooring, says McCann: “We’re improving their comfort. It’s important even from a public facing perspective. It’s pretty essential for cattle welfare.”
New rubber mats improved performance, with a 4% increase, or 0.1 lb average daily gain, or 30 lbs of body weight, compared to concrete and old mats.
Long-time Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale consignor, Kramer Farms, knows the genetics producers need.
by Barb Anderson
Just as the fashion industry reveals its new season of design on the runways of Paris and the automobile industry unveils the latest car models at annual shows worldwide, Kramer Farms intuitively knows the Angus genetics that will meet their commercial customer needs.
“You have to be willing to adapt as the beef industry changes to be successful,” says Brady Kramer, one of the farm’s co-owners. “Any seedstock operation should be ready to capitalize on opportunity, handle adversity and change with the times. You can’t be set in your ways.”
Brady and his wife, Brittney, are part of family-owned Kramer Farms, along with Brady’s parents, Keith and Denise Kramer. Brady and Brittney, who is a kindergarten teacher, have two young sons, Owen, 3, and newborn, Hudson. The boys are the sixth generation to live in the family’s circa 1894 farmhouse near Farina, Ill., in Fayette County. Keith and Denise live about eight miles away on another family farm owned by the couple.
Keith and Denise also have two daughters with ties to agriculture. The oldest, Bethany, is a CPA and married to
Blake Lane, who is employed by Marathon Petroleum and is a part-time farmer near Kinmundy, Ill. They have two boys, ages 6 and 4. Their youngest daughter, Sarah, is a credit analyst for FNB and is married to Blake Bauer. The Bauers have a row-crop farm and raise purebred Simmental cattle. Their operation, Bauer Enterprises, is located near Bingham, Ill.
Keith and Brady farm more than 1,500 row crop acres and have pasture. Keith also is an Asgrow and DeKalb seed dealer. The seedstock Angus herd includes 60-70 momma cows, but Brady says there are up to 100 head on the farm at any given time, including replacement heifers, butcher beef and sale animals. The south-central Illinois geography suits their management style.
“My parents, Eugene and Marilyn Kramer, started the Angus herd in the late 1950s,” says Keith, who has several siblings also involved in the cattle business across Illinois.
“And in fact, we still have some of the same cow families that he originally brought to the farm.”
A look back through the pedigrees shows 10-13
generations of particular Angus cow families with solid genetics have been kept in production on Kramer Farms, including Blackcap Ladies and Evergreen Ericas. About 25 years ago, Keith added the Blackbird line with a show heifer purchased for Brady. That cow family also has been well suited to the herd’s makeup.
“These cows work well in southern Illinois, where we have primarily fescue pastures. Our cow families are acclimated to the fescue and they do very well on it,” says Brady. According to USDA, fescue is easily adapted to growing conditions in southern Illinois because it is relatively drought resistant and grows well in the acid soils commonly found in the region.
The overall production goal of Kramer Farms is to raise functional Angus cattle with natural volume and thickness. Brady and Keith look for sound feet, calving ease, eye appeal and docile disposition. Good growth also is important to attract bull buyers.
“All of these traits have stood the test of time for us,” says Keith. “We have always tried to raise the most productive beef cattle for commercial customers. Twenty years ago, we were raising for the show ring, too, but as our kids grew up, our focus shifted primarily to bull buyers.”
The Kramers manage two seasons for calving. About onethird of the cows calve in December or January and the other two-thirds calve in the fall. For efficient AI management, they synchronize females in groups of five to 10 at a time with CIDRs (controlled internal drug release).
“We moved to fall calving so that the bulls we have for sale have more age on them – 16 months instead of 12 months.
They are better for bull sales and they can handle more cows,” says Keith. “We also weigh all of our calves and register most of them with the American Angus Association. We turn in all of the data and use the association’s management programs to help us screen the animals and be sure we are using the best genetics for our cow families.”
The Kramers don’t stick with just one bull.
“We like to offer something new to our buyers, so we try and switch up some of our genetics every couple of years,” says Keith. “We look for the same characteristics in bulls that we do in our females because that is what our customers want.”
Docility is a priority for handling cows on the farm, too.
Brady says Brittney and the boys like to be part of the action and having a compliant herd helps everyone feel more comfortable.
Most recently, the Kramers have had good success using Basin Payweight 1682. The bull is known for producing deep bodied, easy fleshing cows and also for calving ease. In addition, they are using a younger Angus bull, Mogck Entice, with an EPD package that offers moderate birth with tremendous growth and carcass traits in the top 15 percent of the breed and disposition in the top one percent. SAV Resource sons the Kramers have raised on their farm also have been popular with commercial customers, offering disposition and productivity advantages.
“For 2021, we will have calves from Entice and Basin Payweight, along with Basin Payweight Plus and Linz Exemplify,” says Brady. Exemplify is known for siring calves with eye appeal that are structurally correct and easy fleshing. “We will also have some replacement heifers out of Musgrave 316 Stunner who is recognized for strong calving ease EPDs.”
While Brady and Keith sell some females privately and market their top heifers through the Wabash Valley Angus Association annual sale in the spring, bull sales are where they feel they connect with the commercial customer base.
Kramer Farms is a long-time consignor at the Illinois Performance Tested (IPT) Bull Sale held during the Illinois Beef Expo in Springfield, Ill., each February. They also sell many bulls through private treaty.
“We like the IPT sale best because it is a statewide auction that draws buyers from other states, too. It gives us a lot of exposure we wouldn’t get with just on-farm bull sales,” says
Keith. “We take the best number of bulls and weights to enter in that sale. And since there is an EPD focus, you have to qualify to sell at that sale. We generally try and take four or five bulls each year.”
Keith and Brady have participated in online sales in the past but find the IPT Bull Sale and other purebred Angus auctions fit their operation’s philosophy best.
“What we are doing to market bulls is working, so I don’t think we need to change that,” says Keith. “The cattle are important to us, but we have to balance them with other enterprises, too.”
Most recently, Kramer Farms has participated in the food security wave that has overtaken American consumers during the pandemic. While they have always sold some butcher beef, they are finding the market to be really hot right now and think it will likely continue.
“We have had more calls than usual from people looking for beef, and I think that will increase as consumers remain interested in food security and buying local,” says Brady. “It has been difficult to secure appointments at custom processors with some booking a year in advance.”
As he looks to the future, Brady says the focus of the herd will remain on providing the most sought-after Angus genetics that can meet the needs of their commercial customers.
“We will maintain our row crop enterprise and keep about the same herd size for our cattle,” he says. “Our herd size is relevant and integral for the land size we currently have, and it would be too expensive in this area to purchase land and turn it into pasture to try and expand.”
During the 52-year history of the IPT Sale, more than 4,800 bulls have sold for more than a total $8.8 million dollars. Kramer Farms bulls rank among the top dollar getters in recent years, with Keith and Brady having sold one for $8,800 about five years ago. At the time, that price was ranked the third-highest sale price ever for the event.
In 2020, Kramer Farms had the second and third highest selling Angus bulls in the IPT Sale, both bringing well over the average bull sale price. The Kramers have four bulls entered in the 2021 sale.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, our priority always has, and always will be, the health and well-being of our exhibitors, vendors, volunteers and staff. Exhibitors and attendees of the 2021 Illinois Beef Expo will be expected to follow all rules and regulations put forth by the Illinois Beef Expo Board of Directors and Expo Gardens at a date closer to the event.
Exhibitors are expected to have original registration papers for verification purposes with them at the show on all animals, except commercial breeding females, market heifers, and crossbred steers. No copies, faxes or electronic registrations will be accepted. No exceptions!
No pre-entries are accepted for the 2021 Illinois Beef Expo. All check-in will occur virtually. Early virtual check-in will be open from Sunday, March 8th at 8:00am until Thursday, March 11th at 11:59pm. Early virtual check-in entries are $55/head per ring. Late virtual check-in will continue until Friday, March 12th at 4:00pm at $75/head per ring. All animals MUST be checked in by 4:00 pm on Friday March 12. NO CHECK-IN WILL OCCUR IN-PERSON AT THE SHOW. A link to the virtual check-in form will be posted on the Illinois Beef Expo web site and Illinois Beef Expo Facebook page. If internet access is a problem for you, please feel free to call the Junior Show Coordinators for assistance with check-in during the set time frame. Exhibitor Number cards can be picked up at the show at the designated times. At this time IBA dues and Stalling fees will need to be paid (if applicable). Entry fees are non-refundable after entry slip is processed.
Heifer classes will be offered for any breed that has at least 7 head.
No heifers need to physically be checked in at the show. All check-in will occur virtually to help accommodate physical distancing. A copy of breed heifers’ registration papers will be required at virtual check-in. Commercial heifer exhibitors will need to declare a weight at virtual check-in. All breed champions and reserves will have tattoos and registration papers verified after they win their breed. Any animal may be subject to a spot check.
Steer classes will be offered for any breed that has at least 7 head.
No steers need to be physically checked-in at the show. All
check-in will occur virtually to help accommodate physical distancing. A copy of breed steers’ registration papers will be required at virtual check-in. All steer exhibitors will need to declare a weight at virtual check-in. All breed champion and reserve steers will be required to weigh after their respective breed wins, and must make a 5% weigh-back.
Stalling for approximately 160 head (and tack) is available in the barns at the rate of $10/stall. Stalls in Barns 2 & 3 are available on a first come, first serve basis- No pre-reservations of stalls is needed for these barns. Billing for these stalls will occur upon picking up your exhibitor numbers. Barns 1, 4 and 5 can be pre-reserved in bulk (½ barn) by calling Ashley Beutke at 217-801-0599 by March 1st. These reservations will need to be paid prior to the show. NO BEDDING WILL BE PROVIDED - PLEASE PLAN ACCORDINGLY!
All stalls MUST be cleaned completely prior to leaving the fairgrounds. Dumpsters will be available outside of the stalling barns.
Trailer stalling is encouraged to promote physical distancing. All trailer stalls MUST be cleaned completely before leaving the fairgrounds. Dumpsters will be provided in the trailer lot.
No junior show cattle, setting up of stalls or reserving of stalls is allowed on the fairgrounds prior to 8:00am on Friday, March 12, 2021. No exceptions!
Saturday, March 13, 2021 -
Ring A Judge: Shane Meier will begin promptly at 9:00am Ring B Judge: Jon Declerck will begin as soon as the first breed concludes in Ring A
• Steer Breeds alphabetically (beginning with Angus)
• AOB Steers
• Crossbred Steers
• Market Heifers
• Top Five Steer Selection in Ring A, followed by Ring B
Sunday, March 14, 2021 - Heifer Show
Ring A Judge: Jon Declerck will begin promptly at 8:00am Ring B Judge: Shane Meier will begin as soon as the first breed concludes in Ring A
• Heifer Breeds alphabetically (beginning with Angus)
• AOB Heifers
• Commercial Heifers
• Top Five Heifer Selection in Ring A, followed by Ring B
Map of EXPO GARDENS 1601 W Northmoor
Camping Spots Available with Partial Hook-Up
Call Expo Gardens (309-691-6332) for reservations
*Stalling Information for Barns 1-5: -No reservations will be taken for Barns 2 & 3. They will remain open on a first-come, first-serve basis for stalling. Stalls can begin to be claimed starting Friday, March 12th at 8:00am. Fees for this barn are $10/stall to be charged at the time of Exhibitor Card pick-up.
-Barns 1, 4 & 5 will be rented on a bulk 1/2 barn (approximately 40 stalls) minimum reservation basis. Barns 1, 4 & 5 will not be opened unless filled. Contact Ashley Beutke at 217-801-0599 for reservations.
**Absolutely no cattle allowed on the grounds or stalls set-up until 8:00am Friday. ALL EXHIBITORS
Bowman’s Caramel Apple
Downey Equipment
Earlybird Nutrition
Elanco
Farm House Bling
Friedman Distributing, Inc.
Goodfield Contractors, LLC
Harvest Solar
Holland Street Boutique
Downey Equipment
Little Moo Boutique Merck
ProHarvest Seed
Proud Souls Boutique
PS Boutique
ShowStopper Equipment
Stephens Trailer
Stone’s Cutting Edge
Sullivan’s Show Supply
Too Crazy Ladies
…olytica, the leading cause of BRD.1 NUPLURA® PH is the fastest M. haemolytica prevention on the market with protective immunity within 10 days of vaccination. And it’s not just fast. NUPLURA PH is also incredibly gentle2 on cattle and proven safe for use in calves as young as 28 days. And when fast meets smooth, you meet your goals.
To learn more about fast and smooth BRD prevention, contact your herd health veterinarian, Elanco representative or visit NUPLURA.COM
Illinois Charolais Association Officers
President: Sharlene Bullard - 815-358-2827
Vice President: Nick Bertsche - 815-822-4417
Secretary/Treasurer: Robb Creasey - 309-255-7799
Members:
LaFraise Farms, Flanagan
Dale Bertsche - 815-796-2950
Breeding good cattle isn’t complicated. Cattle feeders give us the ultimate report card. According to Jared Wareham, Top Dollar Angus, “No other option offers the greatest terminal crossbreeding value from the ranch through the feeder like a really good set of smokes or buckskins that are at least 50% Angus or Red Angus.”
Use a registered Charolais bull and genetic verification through CharAdvantage to earn more premiums.
Steve Bertsche - 815-769-4440 American-International Charolais Association 11700 NW Plaza Circle - Kansas City, MO 64153 www.charolaisusa.com
Bertsche Farms, Flanagan Troy Bertsche - 815-674-1244
Bullard Cattle Co., Cornell Paul Bullard - 815-358-2827
Creasey Charolais, Macomb Robb Creasey - 309-255-7799
D-Mar-Mac Charolais, Warsaw Sam Zumwalt - 217-256-4619
Tom Engel, Flanagan - 815-796-4440
Grand View Farm, Hanover Don Kautz - 815-591-3766
Grove Charolais, Metamora Keith Grove - 309-222-0287
Grusy Bros., Gridley - 309-747-2696
K&D Cattle, Elizabeth Kelley - 815-275-8904 Devin - 815-858-2318
Wayne & Diane Moore, Piasa 618-410-3308
Nord Farms, Bloomington Ron Nord - 309-828-1448 Ellen & Jerry Cassady -309-212-0488 Eric & Samantha Nord Karl Messman
Rob & Lucy Nord, Clinton -217-935-2656
TC Cattle Services, Vandalia Doug Thurnau - 618-604-4714
WGB Charolais, London Mills 309-251-1485
Baxter Black, cowboy and former large animal veteranarian
Grandpa Tommy’s dad used to say “A cowful is a substantial quantity.” According to my research, the rumen on a mature cow can hold up to 300 pounds. And by anybody’s standards that is quite a bit.
Say you had a cowful of pocket change. You’d almost need a cow to keep it in. Say you had a cowful of wet laundry. It would take a forklift to get it in the dryer. Say you had a cowful of manure. Well, I guess a lot of us do.
If cowful became an accepted unit of measure it could replace the antiquated English standards like the dram and the rod. And those bland, simple minded metric names that somehow sound communistic; kiloliter, hectometer, decigram. Can you picture in your mind a decigram? Is it the weight of a decimated graham cracker? Or ten grandma’s standin’ on the scale?
Under the cowful system 15 scoopfuls would equal a cowful. Two bootfuls would make a scoopful, two hatfuls would make a bootful. Half a hatful would equal a capful. 6 canfuls, as in beer cans, makes a capful. One canful equals 40 thimblefuls, 20 teardrops in a thimbleful.
The dosage for penicillin would read: 4 teardrops per 5 scoopfuls of body weight IM.
For Blackleg four-way vaccination: 1 thimbleful SQ.
Repeat in 60 days.
Bizarre, you say. If cowful was a measure of weight or volume, possibly the distance between postholes would become the standard unit of measure for length, i.e. 660 post holes per section line - 4 thumbs to a hand, 3 hands to a foot, 4 feet to a coyote length and 2 coyote lengths to a posthole.
Decibels of loudness would be described in more understandable terms. From chicken peck to pig squeal for everyday sounds. Loud noises would be categorized as small wreck, big wreck and heck’uva wreck.
“So, did you hear about Orbin gettin ‘bucked off? Musta sailed 5 coyote lengths, hit the side of the grain bin with a moose bugle and two cowfuls of pellets fell on him. Smashed him flatter’n a rabbit ear.
“They got him to the Doc in half a coon’s age, transfused him with a six pack of type 0 negative and removed a posthole of intestine. He’s doin’ okay but he’s lost about six hat fulls.
“He’s been a sheep’s gestation recovering. Doc says it’s shock, but I figger it just scared a pea waddin’ and a half out of him. Well, I gotta go. I’ve got an appointment in 4 1/2 shakes of a lambs tail.”
Since the holidays looked a little different this year, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, ensured one thing remained the same - Beef. It’s What’s For Holiday Dinner. Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. provided something for everyone during the holiday season. To remind consumers across the country that beef was the only protein that they wanted to feed their families for the holiday season, Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. returned to broadcast television. For the first time since 2003, Beef Checkoff-funded advertisements and the iconic Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand were on television, where a limited number of ads aired during the Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas movies.
Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. released the ‘Drool Log’ video last year—a two-hour long video of a Beef Prime Rib Roast slowly cooking over an open flame—which created quite the following with more than 14 million videos views. This year, NCBA looked for the opportunity to make even more people salivate over beef by placing a new—and shorter—version of the Drool Log on a television network that creates similar meaningful connections with its audience. New fifteensecond Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. Drool Log ads appeared throughout late November and December on the Hallmark Channel’s holiday programming event “Countdown to Christmas” as part of a limited holiday broadcast and digital ad buy to have a broader reach with consumers during the holiday season.
“As a beef producer, it’s exciting to see checkoff dollars making the holiday season a little more special by bringing Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. back to broadcast television,”
said Buck Wehrbein, NCBA Federation Division Vice Chairman. “While broadcast television is usually out of reach, the opportunity to advertise on the Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas movie marathon boiled down to the right network, the right ad, the right time and the right price tag. It was great to share the nostalgia of Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. ads on television with the next-generation of consumers.”
In addition to bringing the iconic brand back to broadcast television, the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand helped consumers navigate how to make the perfect holiday meal through fully integrated digital and social media efforts.
These efforts included:
• New versions of the “Beef Drool Log” videos that were shared across digital and social media platforms
• “Beef Drool Log” Zoom meeting backgrounds were available for those who celebrated the holidays virtually
• An updated holiday landing page on BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com served as a one-stop shop for all beef holiday cooking needs
• Cutting-edge technology was used to make BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com shoppable (meaning you could click on any recipe and be taken to an online shopping cart for a local grocery store)
• Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. worked with two partners to run e-commerce campaigns during the month of December to increase beef sales
• Food and nutrition influencers and celebrity chefs were leveraged to create their own beef recipes for the holiday season for more experienced at-home chefs
The Illinois Beef Association is working diligently to help Illinois beef producers in the midst of COVID-19. IBA has developed the Illinois Local Beef Directory as a resources to help members promote their businesses.
Must be an IBA member
To be included on the Illinois Local Beef Directory: 1. 2. 3.
Must be an Illinois resident Must fill out the form on the front page of www.illinoisbeef.com.
For specific questions about the Illinois Local Beef Directory, please contact betty@illinoisbeef.com. For questions regarding IBA membership, please contact mareah@illinoisbeef.com.
President: Tyler Rhode
Vice President: Joel York
Secretary: Aaron Schafer
Business Manager: Doug Turner
Past President: Trevor Kuipers
Bureau County: John DeRycke
Central Illinois: Luke Lemenager
Illinois Valley: Open
Lamoine Valley: Tracy Rawlings
Logan County : Carla Jurgenson
Northern Illinois: Jarad Carroll
South Central: Richard Hurst
Wabash Valley: Shaye Harre
Sale Manager: Lee Stremsterfer
Directors At Large:
Grant Bedel
David Jenkins
Jim Marsh
Joel York
Kyle Beutke
Jeff Dameron
Brent Henkel
Clay Sellmeyer
Dan Naughton
Greg McClure
Lee Stremsterfer
David Mool
Greg McClure
Acclaimed show cattle honored during the Awards Dinner Nov. 8 in Kansas City, Mo.
The Roll of Victory (ROV) Breeder of the Year, the ROV Show Heifer of the Year and Show Bull of the Year were named at the 137th Annual Angus Meeting on Nov. 8 in Kansas City, Mo. Angus cattle have a tradition of excellence in the show ring, and this history continues in show rings around the country each year. The American Angus Association® offers the ROV Show Program to recognize show-winning animals, their sires, dams, breeders and owners during the 2019-2020 show season.
“To be recognized as an ROV winner is a true testament to an Angus breeder’s success and commitment to the breed,” said Mark McCully, American Angus Association CEO. “There is an incredible amount of time, passion and dedication that is put toward earning an award like this. There is no question that these cattle stand out among the rest and are incredibly deserving of this honor.”
The ROV season runs from June 1 through May 31 and consists of 19 shows. Points for these shows are accumulated on an annual basis.
reliable business partner is difficult to come by. Contact Casey Jentz to locate Angus genetics, select marketing options tailored to your needs, and to access American Angus Association® programs and services. Put the business breed to work for you.
Regional Manager Casey Jentz: Cell: 608-234-1998 cjentz@angus.org
The ROV Show Heifer of the Year was Seldom Rest Bardot 8021, owned by Sara Sullivan of Dunlap, Iowa. This heifer was grand champion female at the 2019 North American Livestock Exposition ROV, champion female at the 2020 National Western Stock Show ROV and champion Angus Female at the 2020 Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.
The ROV Show Bull of the Year was HAG McK Model 1748, owned by Dameron Angus Farm of Lexington, Illinois; Sexing Technologies of Navasota, Texas; and the Haggards of Modoc, Indiana. HAG McK Model 1748 was the reserve champion Angus bull at the 2019 North American Livestock Exposition ROV, champion Angus bull at the 2019 Keystone International Livestock Exposition ROV and the reserve at the 2020 National Western Stock Show ROV.
Recognized with top honors as the ROV Breeder of the Year was Express Ranches, Yukon, Oklahoma. Express Ranches has won Breeder of the Year every year since 2012, a 9-year streak.
World’s largest beef breed organization continues to be guided by industry thought leaders. Five new directors were elected to the 2020-2021 American Angus Association® board of directors, as well as a president and chairman, and a vice president and treasurer of the board, during the 137th Annual Convention of Delegates hosted in Kansas City, Mo.
Delegates voted to represent Association members at the 137th Annual Meeting and elected the 2020-2021 officers and directors. Directors can serve up to two three-year terms on the board and, if elected, serve additional one-year terms in office as president and chairman and/or vice president and treasurer.
Elected to their first terms are Mark Ahearn, Texas; Smitty Lamb, Ga.; Charles Mogck, S.D.; Darrell Stevenson, Mont.; and Jerry Theis, Kan.
Board Members Elected
Mark Ahearn and his family established Turner Meadow Ranch in East Texas in the mid-1980s. Apart from his 35-year career in law enforcement, Ahearn’s passion has always lied in raising high-quality Angus cattle. He has studied pedigrees and learned the business from the ground up. His family has grown their herd to about 200 females while being active in the Texas Angus Association. Ahearn served in a leadership role with the Texas Angus Association for 16 years. In addition to creating numerous educational opportunities and sale events, Ahearn was also responsible for creating and writing the policy for the Raymond Moore Endowment Scholarship Fund which benefits Texas Junior Angus members.
Smitty Lamb grew up on a small row crop farm in East Georgia where he discovered his passion for Angus cattle at an early age. He followed that drive to the University of Georgia (UGA) where he earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science and a master’s degree in meat and muscle biology. His career eventually led him to an opportunity in the cotton industry, but he always came home to Angus cattle. His family has owned and operated Ogeechee Angus Farm since 1997, and it has since become one of the most reliable sources for Angus genetics in the Southeast. Since 2017, Ogeechee Angus Farm has marketed more than 100 bulls annually. Lamb has served in leadership roles with the Georgia Angus Association, as well as the chairman of the Southern National Angus Show committee and the co-committee chair of the 2009 National Junior Angus Show. The Lambs were awarded the Georgia Angus Association Member of the Year in 2017 for their service to the organization.
Charles Mogck is a third-generation Angus breeder from South Dakota. Mogck has built upon his family’s heritage in the breed and increased their herd to 400 registered females while marketing 120 bulls annually. They farm 2,000 acres of corn, beans and wheat with an additional 2,500 acres of pasture and hay ground. Mogck & Sons routinely buys feeder cattle from their commercial customers, which allows them to collect data on their customers cattle. Their operation actively utilizes Association programs such as MaternalPlus™ and Angus Herd Improvement Records (AHIR). Mogck records ultrasound, carcass and genomic information to make the best decisions for the future of their herd.
Darrell Stevenson has strong ties to the Angus breed and a history of activity in the Montana Angus Association. Stevenson’s grandparents were charter members of the Montana Angus Association in 1951, and his father participated in the first National Junior Angus Showmanship contest in 1967. His father was on the Montana Angus Association and American Angus Association board of directors as well, serving as president from 1992-1993. Stevenson now continues his family’s legacy by operating Stevenson Angus Ranch. He is actively involved in international Angus events and has attended shows in Argentina, New Zealand, Scotland and Russia. In 2010 Stevenson created a partnership with two Russian businessmen to form an international beef venture between the two countries. Due to the success, Stevenson has since overseen shipments of Angus cattle to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
Jerry Theis is a devoted second-generation Angus breeder and lifetime member of the American Angus Association. His parents established April Valley Farms in 1952 in the Salt Creek Valley area of Leavenworth County, Kansas. Theis continues his family’s diversified operation, now consisting of Angus cattle, crop and swine production. Cattle are marketed through their annual spring production sale as well as private treaty. April Valley Farms was recognized as a Historic Angus Herd by the American Angus Association in 2019. Jerry graduated from the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1991 and currently operates a mixed-animal veterinary practice. He and his wife are actively involved in the Kansas Angus Association and currently serve as the Kansas Junior Angus Association advisors. He served two terms on the Kansas Angus Association board of directors and as president in 2010.
For more information about the American Angus Association board of directors, visit www.angus.org.
Photos by Karen Hiltbrand, American Angus Association
Super
Louisville, Ky. | Nov. 16 | Judge: Jack Ward, Mo.
Photos by Karen Hiltbrand, American Angus Association
Senior
Senior Champion Bull of the Year
Dameron Angus Farm
Sire of the Year
Reserve Sire of the Year, Prairie View Farm
Reserve Senior Champion Bull of the Year, Cross Creek Farms Inc.
Kansas City, Mo. | Oct. 24 | Judge: Garrett Lampe, Ill.
Photos by Legacy Livestock Imaging
Kansas City, Mo. | Oct. 23 | Judge: Bob May, Wis.
Photos by Legacy Livestock Imaging
Race horse style close at 3 p.m. on
We’ve consistently delivered the very best genetics from our breeders across the state representing $300+ $C genetics and heifers made for the photo backdrop. That rich history continues in 2021 with a new online platform sale.
Show heifers, production females, bred heifers, bulls, embryos and semen all sell online
LK Forever Lady 033
Birks Emblynette 2020
PVF Surveillance 4129 x EXAR Forever Lady 6883 March Show Heifer Prospect Daughter of the $16,000 many time champion including the Supreme at MO Cattlemen’s All Breed Show
DL Dually x Byergo Elia 7471 February Foundation Female Powerhouse production EPDs of +96 WW and +170 YW paired with a beautiful phenotype
Silveiras Style 9303 x Champion Hill EMBLYNETTE8674
May Show Heifer Prospect Intermediate division heifer calf bred for the big lights and backdrop
Mohnen Rip x H S Emblazon Erica 179
BUBS Southern Charm AA31 x Checkerhill Danica 735 Bred to Square B True North 8052 Front pasture female offering an unique blend of phenotype, marbling and $C
Choice of any Spring 2021 ET calves of this mating
Byergo Black Magic 334 x Byergo Clover 595 Conventional Sexed Heifer Embryos Breed leading genetics from a 300+ $C cow that is employed in the donor program at Byergo Beef in MO & Baldridge Bros in NE
Offering the first calves ever born out of the powerful young herdsire and the famous Hillside cow “179”
PLUS: Offering 3 straws of Dameron First Class Semen!
Consignments by: Behlmann Angus, Birk Beef Cattle, Brinkley Angus Ranch, Byergo Beef Genetics, Checkerhill Angus, Clearwater Farm, Colonial Ridge Farms, Jonathan Durahm, Gleonda Angus, Reed Gooden, Hat Creek Genetics, High Point Farms, Hillside Angus Ranch, Hunter Angus, M Bar M Cattle Co., Meyer Cattle Company, Moyer Cattle Company, Osage Grass & Livestock, Sinning Cattle Company, Sydenstricker Genetics, Triple C Cattle Co., Valley Oaks Angus, Wheeler Angus and more!
For additional information, contact Missouri Angus Association General Manager Julie Conover at 734-260-8635 or julie@missouriangus.org. Sale book and additional information available at our website: MissouriAngus.org. For 2021, the Sale books will be posted online, but not mailed.
Join us in person or via zoom for our annual meeting and banquet on be Saturday, February 27 at the Courtyard by Marriott in Columbia, MO beginning at 3 pm. Visit our website or Trails for more details.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021
PRESIDENT Dave Roome
309-945-8400
VICE-PRESIDENT
Gene Stumpf 618-407-8374
TREASURER
Buddy Edenburn (217) 649-0108
MEMBERSHIP SERVICES
Dr. Tamar Crum 217-820-0964 illinoishereford@gmail.com
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Randy Kline, 309-824-9937
Matt Johnson, 309-883-9466
Phil Tjardes, 815-383-0003
Brent Lowderman, 309-221-9621
Luke Goldstein, 217-663-3390
Cody Crum, 217-248-7282
Jodi McMillan, 815-751-2293
Chad Benedict, 217-246-5099
Kent Burns, 618-521-3199
To place advertisements or your latest Hereford news contact:
Betty Haynes Director of Communications Illinois Beef Association 2060 West Iles Ave., Suite B Springfield, IL 62704 217-787-4280
betty@illinoisbeef.com www.illinoisbeef.com
Wayne Sage, well known Illinois Hereford breeder, died on Oct. 18, 2020 after a short illness. He began his lifelong love of Hereford cattle when he purchased Hereford heifers for his high school FFA project. The first year he and Roxie, accompanied by Bill and Ola Gourley, became IJHA sponsors they took a group of young members to the AJHA convention in Kansas City, Mo. When someone laughed at the Illinois delegation he vowed this would not happen again and the next year and many years after Illinois won the Pride of the Nation Award. He helped start the annual Club Calf Sale with benefits to summer show winners that had purchased their calves at that sale. He loved to rub shoulders with breeders and youngsters from other states and made many life-long friends. He felt his greatest accomplishments were taking a carload of bulls to the National Western, having his own production sale, and showing bulls at The American Royal.
Wayne was born May 26, 1939 to Fred and Reka Albers Sage. He married Roxie Schweineke on Oct. 15, 1961. She survives. Also surviving are his 3 children, Sandra (Bill) Whalen of Crane, Mo., SueAnn (Jim) Billimack of Metamora, and Kevin (Lisa) Sage of Ogden. He is survived by 9 grandchildren. He was a member of St John Lutheran Church of Royal where he was baptized and confirmed. Memorials may be made to the National Hereford Youth Foundation or Kopmann Cemetery Association.
John Meents, AHA Field Staff, jmeents@hereford.org, 419-306-7480
Demand for Hereford genetics continues to be extremely strong even with all the craziness that is happening in the world today. Here is some data that shows strong demand in Illinois:
Registered Herefords averaged at auction in Illinois:
• 2001 19 Bulls @ $1282
• 2010 40 Bulls @ $3512
• 2020 33 Bulls @ $3319
66 Females @ $1613
267 Females @ $3214
289 Females @ $4462
Registered Herefords averaged at auction in USA:
• Sept 2004-Aug 2005 739 Bulls @ $2757
• Sept 2009-Aug 2010 4426 Bulls @ $3192
• Sept 2014-Aug 2015 2011 Bulls @ $6672
• Sept 2019-Aug 2020 2152 Bulls @ $4632
1031 Females @ $2015
5018 Females @ $2439
3221 Females @ $5831
3632 Females @ $3902
The reason for the demand in Hereford cattle is that the Hereford breeders have made BETTER HEREFORD CATTLE in the past 20 years. Research at commercial projects (Harris Ranch & Circle A) supports the facts that Herefords genetics:
1. 7% higher pregnancy rates in Hereford-sired females compared to Angus-sired females
2. $51 more net income from a black baldy cow verse a straight black cow per year
3. $20 advantage per head in feed efficiency is noted with Hereford Influenced feeders
4. $30 advantage per head in feedlot profitability on calves sired by Hereford bulls
5. Birth weights are lower, weaning weights, yearling weights, and marbling scores are higher!
Heterosis is the most affordable and most profitable breeding strategy to boost herd performance. A benefit of crossbreeding - heterosis improves calf health, performance and provides advantages in fertility and reproductive efficiency.
This data does not take into consideration one of the strongest advantages of having Hereford cattle – disposition! As I have traveled across the Midwest in the past 40 years and been on hundreds of farm and ranches, the number of stories told on bad disposition black cattle are too numerous to mention.
The bald-face truth about Herefords is that these amazing white face cattle deliver: unmatched fertility, notable docility, increased longevity, improved soundness, optimum milk, lower inputs, universal adaptability, unrivaled hybrid vigor, feed efficiency, added growth, enhanced health, quality carcass traits, and documented tenderness with exceptional flavor.
MAKE YOUR CATTLE BETTER TODAY BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO MARKET THEM TOMORROW VIA HEREFORDS FOR FERTILITY, DOCILITY, EFFICIENCY AND LONGEVITY!
Kings, IL 61068
James home 815-562-4946 James cell 815-761-7523
Malcolm 815-761-8462
As I sit down to write this note, it is the middle of December and the weather has been mild for northwest Illinois. We have had plenty of sun, some rain and very little snow with temps in the 20’s and 30’s. I will take this for the next three months and be very happy.
The big news this time is that the Illinois Beef Expo held in Feb. in Springfield has been cancelled. Maybe by next year we will be back to somewhat normal but for now we are making new plans. As the Illinois Simmental Association Board, we have decided to still have our Mid-America Simmental Sale and Annual Banquet. We are moving it to Macomb to the Lowderman Sale Facility. We are very thankful to Lowderman’s for helping us with this change. As of now the sale is going to be on Fri., Feb. 26 at noon. The Annual Illinois Simmental Banquet and Awards Ceremony will be held at Lowderman’s after the conclusion of the Mid-America Simmental Sale at approximately 3:00 p.m. Please watch social media and the state website for updates.
We are also looking forward to fundraising events for the 2022 National Classic we are hosting in Madison, Wis. The juniors have already held a successful holiday craft online sale. Some of the breeders have also been very generous and have made donations through their production sales with special lots. Thank you to all of you who have donated or purchased. Curt Rincker is our fundraising chairman and he has a great bunch of volunteers on his committee. If you are interested in making a donation, please get ahold of Curt, an ISA member, or IJSA member.
I hope everyone had a great holiday season and is staying healthy. This can be a busy time of the year with a majority of the breeders calving cows, maintaining herd health and battling the effects of mother nature. Please stay safe out there and best wishes this calving season!
- Scott
Scott Frederick, ISA President
1120 Carter Street • Fairview, IL 61432 www.fairviewsalebarn.com
Tuesday: 10 a.m.
Fat Cattle & Jake Fidler: 309-224-2226
Bob Garber: 309-696-9798
Slaughter Cows/Bulls Ray Johnson: 309-337-6029
Thursday: 12 p.m.
Goats, Sheep, Feeder
Laura Fidler: 309-778-2225
Bob Fidler: 309-224-2327
Cattle, Cows/Bulls salebarn@mymctc.net
Illinois Beef, printed bi-monthly, is the official publication of the IBA. It serves as the voice of Illinois’ 12,000 beef producers. Illinois Beef readers are decision makers.
The first and only intranasal vaccine with both viral and bacterial pneumonia protection.
The color of unmatched protection against IBR, BRSV, PI 3 , Pasteurella multocida and Mannheimia haemolytica .
Nasalgen® 3-PMH is a one-of-a-kind respiratory vaccine that is safe to use in young calves for a strong, healthy foundation. And a unique BluShadow® diluent means there’s no second-guessing which animals have been vaccinated. This cattle friendly vaccine is one more way Merck Animal Health Works for you.
Learn more at Nasalgen.com.
Nasalgen® 3
IBR, BRSV, PI3
CHOOSE YOUR LEVEL OF BRD PROTECTION
Nasalgen 3-PMH
IBR, BRSV, PI3
+ Pasteurella multocida
+ Mannheimia haemolytica
