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SOUTHERN LIVESTOCK STANDARD
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Brought to you by American Simbrah Breeders
Sticking with Simbrah By Caitlin Richards A love for livestock started at a young age for Bobby Thornhill, owner of Shallow Water Ranch. It started with swine, while working for a large hog operation in Brown County near May, Texas. However, once in high school he was on the May High School FFA livestock judging team and he quickly fell in love with cattle – especially the eared cattle. “I always just liked the eared cattle,” Thornhill said. “We competed at the state level nearly every year [on the livestock judging team]. I learned what good cattle looked like at a young age from it, too.” In a way, when he married Jeanne, he married into the cattle business. His wife’s family had always been in the cattle business across the county line in Eastland County outside of Rising Star, Texas. Her grandfather started the Carter Angus Ranch and in the years following her family expanded it.
“We got married in 1979 and of course she brought some of her cows over to our place,” Thornhill said, “which were Angus.” With his love for eared cattle, he really wanted to diversify the herd with some Simbrah cattle. In 1983, the Thornhills went to the R.A. Brown Ranch in Throckmorton, Texas to do just that. They bought their first couple of Simbrah females from R.A Brown and were hooked forever. A lot happened for the Thornhills in 1983. They expanded not only their herd but also their family with the birth of their first son, Taylor. With a growing family, they purchased some land between May and Rising Star to build a home of their own. During the search to find water on the property, the Thornhills also found the name of their ranch – Shallow Water. “We had some water wells drilled and they were
This Shallow Water Ranch bred bull won the Houston Livestock Show All Breed Bull Sale High Grading American Influenced Bull in 2015.
A group of young Simbrah heifers at Shallow Water Ranch.
hitting water at 12 feet, again at 20 feet and again at 30 feet,” Thornhill said. “It is unbelievable. The driller said it was like hitting an underground river. So, we named the ranch Shallow Water because the water was so shallow.” Over the years, the Thornhills continued to expand their Simbrah herd, while expanding their family. After the births of their other two children, son Cooper and daughter Kendall, Shallow Water Ranch switched from raising primarily red Simbrah to black Simbrah in 1993. “It just seemed that if you took something to the sale barn to sell, if it was black it brought more money, and it didn’t make any difference on the quality,” Thornhill said. “So that’s when we started breeding for predominately black.” He sought out Wendell Reeder of WAR Ranch in Clarksville, Texas to partner with on a black, blazed face bull called War Chief. Since War Chief wasn’t homozygous black, he would still throw red calves. So, he kept every black heifer. He then bought a homozygous black and polled Simmental bull from Mike Mallett from Lampasas, Texas. War Chief’s heifers would then be bred with the Simmental bull to develop Shallow Water’s black Simbrah calves. After retaining these Simbrah calves, Bobby
raised a homozygous black and polled, purebred Simbrah bull – SWR Black Chief. The operation continued to evolve from there to where he consistently sells some of the highest grading bulls throughout the state. Today, Shallow Water has 60 cows with three herd bulls. Depending on the year, Thornhill will keep a range of heifer and bull calves from his fall and spring calving seasons. “It depends on the weather how many we can keep,” he said. “Then I am real critical about keeping bulls. If they don’t meet my standards, I don’t sell them as breeding bulls.” By weaning, Thornhill has the keepers already picked. The keepers must meet his criteria which includes having the potential to be one of his high grading bulls in the future. Most Shallow Water bulls are sold through private treaty and to a rancher in Colorado nearly every year. However, some are consigned to the All Breed Bull Sale at the San Antonio Livestock Show and the Houston Livestock Show, depending on the year. In 2015, one of Shallow Water’s bulls won the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo American Breed High Grading Overall title and they won the San Antonio High
Jeanne and Bobby Thornhill, owners of Shallow Water Ranch are pictured receiving the 2016 San Antonio All Breed Bull Sale High Grading Simbrah honor.
Grading Simbrah Bull honor in 2016. Besides their high grade, Shallow Water’s bulls are also known for how well they stay together. He takes special care in feeding his bulls well, so they maintain their weight and quality at the sale and beyond. Despite the awards and recognition, what the Thornhills enjoy most at the sales are the friendships they make. “I enjoy meeting all of the other ranchers and I like good cattle and looking at good cattle,” Thornhill said. “We have made a lot of friends going to sales through the years and we really enjoy that.” For this upcoming year,
the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo All Breed Bull Sale will be the only one he will consign due to a low number of bull calves in recent years. Over the years, Shallow Water Ranch produced not only bulls for commercial cow-calf operations, but also show heifers for his three children. All three of his children showed heifers, bred and raised at Shallow Water Ranch. “We just showed what we raised,” he said. “Every year we would do a little better. One of my boys once said ‘my gosh, Kendall has done a whole lot better than we did with our (Continued on page 4)
Shallow Water Ranch markets the majority of their Simbrah bulls by private treaty, but also participates in all breed bull sales connected with Texas’ major livestock shows.
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Feed intake project underway
Buzzard Hollow Ranch to host bull sale Buzzard Hollow Ranch will host their bull sale on Jan. 27th and the sale will be at the ranch in Granbury, Texas. The sale will be on www.DVAuction. com. The offering will include 50 plus Simmental, SimAngus and Simbrah bulls. For more information visit www.bhr-simmentals.com or call Fred Schuetze at 817/573-0957.
Tom Brothers Ranch schedules sale Tom Brothers Ranch, Campbellton, Texas, will hold a private treaty bid-off bull sale on February 10, 2018. The sale will be held at the ranch and the offer-
and Johnson Cattle Co., Kenedy, Texas ranked third overall in the Genetic Development Center (GDC) Summer 2017 Bull Test. The test included bulls of several breeds. The red, polled bull, Smith JCC Scarface 433D, scored a 145.3 ranking for GDC Efficiency Index, which ranked him third. He is a son of WHF Devils Cut and out of Smith Burch Glorious (Smith Nu Approach x Smith RFI Golden Glory). He posted an ADG of 3.21 lbs. Percentage The GDC Bull Test is Simbrah bull located at Navasota, Texas and includes a GrowSafe ranks high in system. For additional inoverall efficiency formation on upcoming in recent bull test tests, visit www.geneticdeA percentage Simbrah velopmentcenter.com or bull, owned by Smith call James Maddox with Genetics, Giddings, Texas, GDG at 979/587-5880. ing will include 40 SimAngus and Simbrah bulls. They will sell with complete performance information and interested cowmen are invited to visit their website, www.tom brothersranch.com, for photos and details. For additional information, contact Ellen Tom at 210/313-0020 or ellen@tom brothersranch.com or Philip Tom at 512/296-6845 or philip@tombrothersranch .com.
The American Simmental Association (ASA) is collecting feed intake data coupled with the carcass merit program and your help is needed. Your gift to the American SimmentalSimbrah Foundation, earmarked for the feed intake project, will help make collecting feed intake data a reality for ASA. For more information contact Fred Schuetze, research fundraising chairman, at 817/ 894-0563 or bhr@speednet.com. You may also contact ASA staff members Jackie Atkins at jatkins@ simmgene.com or Chip Kemp at ckemp@simmge ne.com.
Simbrah promotional items available The American Simmental Association (ASA) has marketing materials for the Simbrah breed. Materials include brochures and signs promoting Simbrahs as the crossbreeding choice. For details on obtaining brochures for distribution and signs at events in your area, contact the
SOUTHERN LIVESTOCK STANDARD ASA at 406/ 587-4531.
Seminar assists producers in managing taxable income ARDMORE, Okla. — To provide farmers and ranchers in the Southern Great Plains with the latest information in preparation for tax season, the Noble Research Institute will host a free seminar, “Managing Taxes for Agricultural Producers.” The seminar will take place from 1:30-4:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, at Southern Tech, located at 2610 Sam Noble Parkway in Ardmore, Oklahoma. During the seminar, Noble Research Institute agricultural economists and Doug Dean, CPA, will provide information, tips and advice on new legislation, income and expense issues in agriculture, Section 1031, tax changes, and end-of-year planning strategies. "Time spent learning about the various aspects of your tax bill is always time well spent," said Dan Childs, agricultural economist. "This workshop will help provide producers
with the knowledge to help them successfully navigate some of the finer details of the tax process." This event is offered at no charge, but preregistration is required. To register, please visit www.noble.org/ events or contact Danielle Pacifico at 580-224-6376 or Trisha DeLozier at 580224-6377.
K State offers help with cattle handling facilities Cattle handling facilities are an excellent investment for the future of an operation. A well-designed handling facility allows the operator to work more efficiently saving time and reducing animal (and handler) stress. Design planning must incorporate an operation’s needs, available space, and budget to create a functional system. Many designs available from purchased books or the internet focus on a single portion of the facility system. An example of this would be either a tub design or a Bud box design. A new publication from K-State Research and Extension incorporates all (Continued on page 4)
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SOUTHERN LIVESTOCK STANDARD
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Cow-calf cost breakdown – cow depreciation By Aaron Berger Cow depreciation is frequently the second or third largest expense to the cowcalf enterprise after feed. Depreciation is a non-cash expense that is often overlooked by cow-calf producers. Depreciation for a cow is calculated as the following: Purchase Price or Replacement Cost – Salvage Value/Productive Years in the Herd To demonstrate how significant this expense can be, examine an example of current bred replacement heifer prices against today's cull cow values. Bred Two-Year-Old Heifer = $1800 Average Cull Cow Value = $800 Depreciation without death loss = $1000/head ($1800 - $800) The average number of productive years for most cows in a herd is somewhere from 3-5 years assuming a 10 - 20% cowherd replacement rate. Using five years, depreciation is $200 per head per year. At four years it is $250 per head per year and at three years it is $333.33. If you add in death loss at 2% on an average cow herd value of $1300 then depreciation expense jumps to $226 per head for five years, $276 for four years and $359.33 for three years. Cow depreciation is a significant expense! Aggressively identifying ways to reduce depreciation expense should be a goal for cow-calf producers. Depreciation can be reduced one of three ways. 1. Reduce replacement heifer development costs or the purchase price for bred heifers or cows. 2. Increase the salvage value of cows that are leaving the herd. 3. Increase the number of years a cow is productive in the herd. Purchase price or replacement costs Cow-calf producers purchasing bred females need to evaluate the cost of those females against expected productivity and revenue that will be generated from them. When most cow-calf producers think of buying bred replacements, they probably are thinking of purchasing bred heifers. However,
it may be that purchasing a different age group of cows would be more profitable and provide greater management flexibility. Cow-calf producers who raise and develop their own replacement heifers should enterprise replacement heifers separately from the cowherd to identify all of the costs involved. A producer should know their costs to produce a
weaned heifer calf. At weaning the producer should on paper "sell" the weaned replacement heifers to the replacement heifer development enterprise at market value. The replacement heifer enterprise "buys" the weaned heifers and then develops them into bred heifers that can be "sold" back to the cow-calf enterprise. Once the bred heifers are ready
to enter the herd, the cowcalf enterprise then "buys" these bred heifers at market value. While these transactions only occur on paper, and may seem unnecessary, it brings clarity to where expenses and value are being generated in the operation and which enterprises are profitable. Tracking all expenses that go into developing a bred replacement heifer is important to be able to
identify opportunities to optimize development costs. Salvage value In the depreciation equation, increasing the "salvage" value of cows leaving the herd often provides the greatest opportunity to reduce depreciation. Frequently, cow-calf producers pregnancy test and cull non-pregnant cows in the fall of the year. Other cows are frequently culled at this time as well for rea-
sons such as age, attitude, udders, structure, lumps, bumps, etc. This time of the year is also historically when annual cull cow values tend to be lowest for the year. Here are two examples of ways that value can be added to cows leaving the herd increasing their worth and thus reducing depreciation expense. 1. Have a long breeding season and a short calving (Continued on page 4)
HR MEGA RED SIRED CALVES HR MEGA RED ASA #2919219 Billy Hallak and Keith Strack are excited to announce that we have semen for sale on this Hallak bred sire and better yet, we have sexed semen. If you want to produce heifers in your operation, then consider HR Mega Red. He’s a homozygous polled, three-quarter Simbrah bull and he is a non-diluter, plus he has tested to be double red in color. He can change your herd to red. His sire is Mr Strack Y254, who has produced high quality calves for us year after year. His dam, MM Miss Nike 70Y is a black, homozygous polled Simmental donor in our program and she is being used to produce Simmental, Simbrah and percentage Simbrahs. HR Mega Red has a stout set of EPD numbers including a top 4% ranking for calving ease and overall, he is ranked in the top 2% of the breed for API and top 4% for TI.
You can be in control with HR Mega Red The First Bull in Simbrah To Our Knowledge That Has Sexed Semen $100 per unit for sexed semen 10% discount for orders over $500. $50 per unit for non sexed semen CALL BILLY HALLAK 903/203-8524 TO PLACE ORDER
Strack Farms 5465 PR 4280 Normangee, TX 77871 281-455-5896
HALLAK RANCH Billy & Malika Hallak 1167 Oval Drive • Athens, Texas 75751 903/203-8524 • Nhalla@hotmail.com
www.hallakranch.com
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Breakdown... (Continued from page 3)
season. The use of pregnancy diagnosis tools such as palpation and ultrasound can identify how far along a cow is in her pregnancy. Cows that will calve
later than the desired time period can be sold as bred cows and usually bring a premium to non-pregnant cows. 2. Capture additional value from non-pregnant cows by adding weight and selling into a seasonally
better market than the fall. The value per pound of weight gain may surprise you. This is especially true if you can move a cow from "Lean" into a "Boner/ Breaker" classification in a market where prices are increasing. Productive years in the herd Evaluate ways to cost effectively reduce cowherd turnover. The first reason cows are removed from the herd is because they are not pregnant. Young cows, especially those that are two or three years of age
are often the most vulnerable. Older cows toward the end of their productive life are vulnerable as well. Tools such as hybrid vigor, genetics that fit resources, health programs, development systems and strategic feeding/supplementation can be used to cost effectively reduce cowherd turnover. Cow depreciation is a significant expense. Cowcalf producers who aggressively manage to cost effectively reduce this expense will improve profitability. SLS
News...
fences and holding pens that are useful in a variety of facilities, regardless of design. Also included in the publication are designs for: •alleyways, •holding and sorting pens, •load outs, •fence passes, •calving pen. If you are considering building a new facility or replacing an existing one, this is an excellent resource to assist in the process. The publication can be found at (MF3349; https://www. bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pu bs/MF3349.pdf). SLS
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We’ve been in the Simbrah business for several years now and we continue to be pleased with the performance, efficiency and pounds of beef the breed delivers. In addition, they’ll hustle for forage and are insect and disease resistant. We love how they excel at production traits, but yet are low maintenance. They just flat out work. We have recently added the breeding power of Smith Just Because to our program. He’s a polled three-quarter sire that brings a top 3% in the breed ranking for All Purpose Index and 5% for Terminal Index. He’s backed by two proven lines—Smith Stout N Black and the Diva Cow Family.
WE HAVE CATTLE FOR SALE AND WE HAVE MOVED OUR OPERATION TO HENDERSON, TEXAS
SOUTHERN LIVESTOCK STANDARD
facets of a system: Designing a Bud Box for Cattle Handling. The Bud Box design was utilized due to its simplicity and small area requirements. This publication illustrates several applications of a Bud Box handling facility. The document provides suggested dimensions of components such as chutes,
COME SEE US AND OUR SIMBRAHS!
210/524-9697 Fax 210/524-9690
Sticking... (Continued from page 1)
heifers.’ I said well I hope that means we are doing something right.” Together as a family, the Thornhills would travel all over the state to different auctions to purchase females to add to the herd. They all, of course, were Simbrah. Traveling all over allowed them to add different breeding from other producers who, according to him, were doing something right. “Our base herd is really from a lot of different ranches,” Thornhill said. “I have a lot of different Simbrah genetics in the herd.” He has always bred for what he calls functional cattle, which in his book, should do well in the show ring. For Thornhill, he looks for a deep body with good muscle and bone, and most importantly he wants them to be able track when they travel and have good udders. “We didn’t win every time we went to a show,” Thornhill said. “I didn’t breed for show, necessarily. I bred for good, functional cattle.”
His eye for functional cattle really paid off when his daughter Kendall won reserve grand champion in the senior division at the Houston Livestock Show Rodeo with one of their heifers. However, the show ring provided Kendall with much more than a trophy. She was able to pay for a large amount of her college education with scholarships from stock shows across the state. Today, they still sell a few show heifers to youth exhibitors. It isn’t necessarily his number one line of business, but he is happy to sell a heifer to any exhibitor who wants to buy. From their temperament and mothering ability to their quality, in Thornhill’s eyes, Simbrah are just ‘good’ cattle. The calves, he said, will ring a bell at a sale and raising them is simple with how gentle they are. “We have just always liked Simbrah,” Thornhill said. “They started out, years ago, advertising them as the world’s breed because they are the best of both worlds – you get Simmental and Brahman. And that’s true.” SLS
slivestock@southernlivestock.com
It’s Simple... Simbrah Works For Us Simbrahs have been part of Sklar and Son’s operation for more than 30 years. They work—that’s the simple,cut and dry,no nonsense reason.They work for us and more importantly,the resulting calves work for our customers.
LMC Superstar 5Y/165, one of our herd sires.Sired by LMC WFC Moose,who is a Smith Nu Wave II son. This genetic line is noted as one of the strongest ranking EPD lines in the breed.
Simbrahs are low maintenance,functional and productive cattle that take the elements of our geographic location in stride.The calves arrive small and start growing the minute they hit the ground. We are using sire genetics from La Muneca,Smith Genetics and Hagan Cattle Co.including Superstar,who is pictured here.
WE HAVE SIMBRAH BULLS AND SIMBRAH SIRED COMMERCIAL FEMALES FOR SALE. COME SEE US, SEE OUR CATTLE AND SEE HOW SIMBRAH WORK!
Sklar and Son Darrell and Mary Sklar • Shane and Jill Sklar 736 FM 234N • Edna,Texas 77957 • 361/782-8234 darrellsklar@gmail.com
SOUTHERN LIVESTOCK STANDARD
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017
Tools to use By Chip Kemp, American Simmental Association director of member and industry relations Imagine you are a FFA member and have the speech of a lifetime committed to memory. You vaguely remember your ag advisor saying something about “steers”. You tuned out the rest. A week later, the talk is well-rehearsed and strategically planned on how to groom and prep your show steer, BUT as you stroll in to wow ‘em you realize that you neglected to ask about the audience and what they truly wanted to hear. Turns out you are standing in front of a group of serious commercial cattle producers who want to better understand the cattle feeding business. They want to talk about steers all rightfeedlot steers and how they can generate those that grow faster, stay healthier and marble better. All of a sudden, your discussion of leg adhesive, appropriate halter fit, and the fact that you’ve proudly managed your calf’s gain down to a paltry 1.9 lbs. a day (so as to not get too heavy) seems pretty irrelevant to your audience. Awareness of your audience is the cornerstone of success. Knowing who you are talking to and working with is crucial, regardless of the endeavor. In our business, forgetting this step can send a commercial producer into a tail spin for years. Forgetting this step can send a seed stock producer out of the business faster than Apple can generate a new phone or nearly as fast as your local politician will disappoint you. So, what’s your purpose? For a profit-focused commercial producer it is relatively simple. It’s definitely not easy, but simple, as you need to produce as
210/524-9697 Fax 210/524-9690 slivestock@southernlivestock.com
many healthy, performance oriented, carcass-driven terminal calves as possible, while still being able to
select longevity minded daughters from the mix. If you can balance those two areas you are in a good
spot. Again, that is easy to say, but much harder to do. You can find sires that will generate tremendous terminal merit in your calves, but what is it doing to calving ease, cow stayability, cow herd maintenance costs? On the other hand, all of our mailboxes are full of sale catalogs that are advertising “maternal bulls”. So, what does that mean? Many organizations, associations and ranches have no meaningful maternal metric by which to truly identify maternally oriented genetics. So how then are those
PAGE 5B bulls “maternally focused”? I would urge you to listen to a talk from Dr. Matt Spangler, Univ. of Nebraska, at this year’s Fall Focus. That talk can be found at http://www.fallfocus.org/index.php/2017speakers-bios. Dr. Spangler makes the point that “maternal” means more than “I didn’t select for carcass.” Essentially, what he is arguing is that you need to be buying seed stock from folks who have a plan. Those ranches that have access to genetic tools that can balance both terminal merit with maternal merit.
To be clear, and I’ll let you do your own homework, there are very few breed associations (and hence seed stock breeders) that are provided genetic tools that can effectively view both. We are in a data driven world, like it or not. Your calf buyer is using data to best position himself. Your pharmaceutical provider is using data to earn and keep your business. I’d encourage you to hold your seed stock producer responsible and demand the genetic data that proves their bulls can (Continued on page 10)
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SOUTHERN LIVESTOCK STANDARD
Stockpiled forages reduce need, cost of hay, supplemental feed By Adam Russell OVERTON – Stockpiled forages and winter annuals can reduce the need for and cost of hay and other supplemental feed for beef cattle producers in regions with adequate annual rainfall, said a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert. Dr. Jason Banta, Agri Life Extension beef cattle
specialist, Overton, said producers can reduce the need for hay and supplements by providing stockpiled forage mid-November through December and winter annuals October through May. “If they choose these options, we want them to know how to best utilize them,” Banta said.
For stockpiled Bermudagrass and bahiagrass, producers should bale the field for hay or graze the pasture 3-6 inches tall in the first part of September each year. Then fertilize and allow growth until the first frost, which is typically by mid-November in East Texas, Banta said. After the frost, the forage can be
Stockpiled winter forages can provide four to six weeks of protein and energy for cows and calves and reduce the need for and cost of supplemental feed and hay. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Adam Russell)
utilized until the first part of January. “Utilizing stockpiled forage helps us avoid feeding hay for 4-6 weeks potentially,” he said. Banta said producers should “strip graze” the pasture by using electric fencing to restrict cows’ access to the forage if possible. “Provide access to what they could eat in two to four days,” he said. “Then every few days move the fence to allow more access. Restricting access will help prevent the cattle from wasting the available forage.” The forages should be utilized by the first of January to mid-January in high rainfall areas because rain will begin to reduce quality and palatability for cattle, Banta said. “If we fertilize and have good growing conditions, the stockpiled forage should meet all nutrient requirements for dry cows,” Banta said. “Additionally, it will meet the requirements for most lactating cows. However, in some situations small amounts of supplements may be needed depending on the forage quality, milk production and body condition score of the lactating cows.” In those cases, Banta said lactating cows should generally receive 1-2 pounds of a high-protein supplement per cow per day. Legumes and winter annual grasses such as ryegrass, small grain rye and wheat, can also be used to reduce the need and cost of hay. “Those forages will be extremely high in both protein and energy,” he said. However, utilizing winter annuals and legumes differs for replacement heifers, pregnant females in late gestation, and cow/calf pairs, Banta said. “If abundant winter annual forage is available, pairs and replacement heifers can be grazed full time in lieu of feeding hay,” he said. “In contrast, pregnant females in late gestation should be limit grazed on winter annuals to avoid potential increases in calf birth weights and calving problems.” Banta said late-gestation cows should be limited to two-hour grazing ses-
sions daily. “After a couple days, the cows should be accustomed to the routine and become easier to remove from the winter annual pastures,” he said. Grazing dry cows or pairs on winter annuals or legumes should also negate any need for protein or energy supplements, Banta said. Producers should, however, provide minerals with moderate-to-high, 5-
13 percent, magnesium to reduce the chances of grass tetany in lactating cows. “If utilized effectively, grazing stockpiled forages and winter annual forages can tremendously reduce winter feeding costs for producers,” he said. “Whatever is spent on seed and fertilizer can be more than made up in quality forage.” SLS
Shallow Water Ranch
WE HAVE THE BLACK SIMBRAHS YOU NEED LOOK FOR OUR BULLS AT THE SAN ANTONIO AND HOUSTON ALL BREED BULL SALES IN 2018! Show heifers also for sale calf scramble certificates welcomed. Breeding Registered BLACK Simbrah Since 1993.
Shallow Water Ranch
21501 CR 496 • Rising Star, Texas 76471 Bobby and Jeanne Thornhill 254/643-6715 (R) • 325/647-4030 (C)
BEEFING UP OUR SIRE LINEUP
Smith Just Because
We have recently added the breeding power of Smith Just Because to our sire lineup. He’s a polled three-quarter sire that is a son of Smith Stout N Black and has the proven Diva Cow Family represented on the maternal side of the pedigree. Just Because represents cutting edge genetics in the Simbrah breed and we’re excited to bring his proven lineage, powerful phenotype and his top 3% ranking for API and 5% for Ti. We’re excited about the future with Just Because and our other sires.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE REPLACEMENT FEMALES FOR SALE-CALL US
JOHNSON CATTLE CO. Wayne Johnson 830/391-2571 • Kenny Johnson 361/438-3413 wjohnson4945@sbcglobal.net Tim Smith consultant • 512/587-7896 • smithgenetics1@gmail.com Follow us on Facebook-Johnson Cattle Company, Kenedy, Texas
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017
SOUTHERN LIVESTOCK STANDARD
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Chute side vaccine management By Taylor Grussing “Shoot, I messed up the Mix for 30 minutes. minutes. Since MLV should everything up in case the vaccines.” If these words Don’t mix more modi- be used right away and can- chute breaks or cattle numhave ever been uttered fied-live virus (MLV) vac- not be stored for future use, bers do not match up with while processing cows and cine than can be used in 30 don’t get excited mixing the amount of vaccine that calves, it may be time for is available. Use a clean implementation of some transfer needle to mix simple chute side organizaproducts and draw up new tion tips. A good vaccinadoses into the syringe with tion program is only as a brand-new needle every good as the techniques time to prevent contaminaused in each step of admintion. Check label for dosage and istration. Seventy percent route of administration. of beef operations adminisThe last thing we want ter vaccines to cows and Here is a sample labeled cooler and vaccines ready for anyone who is calves at least one time This syringe is labeled “3” to correspond with labeled vaccine “3” in the (Continued on page 10) loading syringes. every 12 months according cooler and is one way to keep everything in order on vaccination day. to the National Animal Health Monitoring System. With many dollars being invested in vaccines and herd health each year, it’s important to make sure the vaccines are taken care of, as well as administered correctly to get the most bang for your buck. LMC Gold Medal has a championship pedigree being out of two very popuHere are some quick, lar and productive International Champions - LMC Rhino and LMC WFC easy tips to simplify the Dream Girl. He himself is the 2013 National Champion. He is producing champrocess and stay organized pions at all levels. Of more importance is how well his sons are doing in bull chute side during the fall processing. tests and in the sales arena. Both Commercial and Simbrah breeders love the Start with clean equipment. muscle, correctness, docility and practicality of his progeny. He is the best Draw up boiling or hot Simbrah bull we have ever seen and used. water into the syringe barWe have several good sons competing in the RGV Bull Test with the top rel and dry as much as poshalf selling in the RGV Performance Test First Annual Online Bull Sale next sible. Periodically, syringes spring. These bulls can be seen at Rio Beef Feedyard. can be taken apart and A BIG HEARTY THANKS goes out to all of our semen, heifer and bull buyboiled for a more thorough LMC Gold Medal is owned by 6G Ranch, BETM. Louie Flores and La ers. We are excited and proud of how well our Gold Medal cattle are doing for cleaning; however, some Muneca Cattle Co. He can add pedigree clout, power, performance and you. We appreciate how so many of you refer to them as THE COWMAN'S plastic or nylon syringes market demand for your next calf crop. Semen sells - 5 units for $1,500. KIND!! 5 units of semen sell in our LMC & Friends Giving THANKS Sale IV. may not hold up to this process. Do not use chemical sterilants. Keep vaccines cool and out of direct sunlight. Sunlight and UV light will inactivate vaccines so keeping vaccines and syringes in a cooler with ice packs while processing is critical in the summer. Low Dam - LMC WFC Dream Girl - International Champion and Sire - LMC Rhino - 2011 International Champion sired by LMC BBS Layla is a LMC Gold Medal daughter owned by cost vaccine coolers can be twice National Champion. We have several of her daughLM Full House, 2004 International Champion. Rhino is one MacKenzie Groce that just recently won the State Fair of made with a plastic bucket ters by different sires working in our herd. of the heaviest muscled bulls of all time. Texas. THE COWMAN'S KIND!! and lid or styrofoam cooler by cutting holes in the lid or side. More elaborate vaccine coolers can be made with plastic coolers, pvc pipe and a drill. View Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service’s Chute Side Vaccine Cooler to learn how to make your own! MIL GRACIAS to our repeat and volume bull buyers CONGRATS to our 2017 LMC Award Winners - Booster At the recent ABBA Performance Bull Test & Sale, LMC Humberto Vela and Mark Cluck on their recent volume Boening Bros., Educator - Celinda Alvarado and Volunteer bred POLLED bulls placed 3, 8 & 10th with all 4 of our Label everything. purchases of Gold Medal sons. Doug Martin. THANKS for all you do!! bulls being in the top 7 sellers averaging $7,150 selling to Label all vaccines to 3 states. WHY? They are THE COWMAN'S KIND!! MIL corresponding syringes GRACIAS to all who bid and bought bulls!! with duct tape or different colored knobs and markers. In addition, label the s Friend place in the vaccine cooler LMC & HANKS T that they should be Giving e IV l 7 a Carlos X. Guerra Family S returned to after every use 1, 201 er 18-2 ated!! b m P.O. Box 81 • Linn, Texas 78563 e v to prevent mess ups when No don ceeds tion.com o r p 956/383-7566 Office • 956/802-1641 Carlos l l A grabbing the syringe for the mo attlein c . w 956/330-1963 Carlos Jr. w w next animal. A simple 1, 2, We have a fancy set of Polled Brahman, Simbrah and 956/607-5515 Victor 3 system can be utilized to Simbravieh heifers for sale at this time. We also have an www.lamunecacattle.com excellent set of bulls on the RGV Bull Test. You are welalleviate any need to come at any time to visit La Muneca. lamunecacattle@aol.com remember exact names of products.
LMC Gold Medal A COWMAN’S KINDA BULL
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Description of a Simbrah From the American Simmental Association website Simbrah is a composite breed. Animals containing 5/8 Simmental blood and 3/8 Brahman or Zebu blood are designated as purebred. A sixteenth of other breeds is allowed making it easy to incorporate traits such as polled or other characteristics for specific purposes into the purebred. The flexibility of the “floating sixteenth” also allows for a slight shift in the amount of Simmental and Brahman in the purebred. This enables Simbrah to better adapt to the different environmental conditions in which they are produced. Within this wide genetic pool, the purebred
Simbrah breeder can perfect his own type. This standard is not intended to limit the imagination or goals of individual breeders, but is only a guide that has been put together by established breeders to help new breeders, judges, and others to better define the breed called Simbrah. The Simbrah has been described as the “All Purpose American Breed”, meaning that it is not only an outstanding choice for maternal and survival characteristics in a hot environment, but it produces a modern, lean, high-quality beef product. Size Simbrah is a moderate
to large breed with most cows in the range of 1,1001,500 pounds and bulls in the range of 1,800-2,500 pounds. Color Simbrah cattle are widely available in both red and black color, so that cattlemen can choose accordingly for their program needs. Hair type Fine, sleek hair is desirable in the summer for its ability to reflect the sun’s heat rays. The red color is also good in this regard. Most Simbrah grow enough hair in winter to thrive up into the central plains of the U.S. Skin Simbrah animals usual-
ly have more loose skin, in the dewlap and navel area, than Simmentals. This added surface area, in the dewlap, is part of the adaptability to hot climate inherited from the Brahman. Pendulous sheaths and “lazy prepuce” should be avoided with the sheath not hanging lower than the knees and with a preferred forward angle. Some Simbrah animals are as clean as any Simmental in their underline. The rationale for this is that a pendulous sheath can easily become damaged and the bull can become nonfunctional. Conformation The Simbrah is a beef
SOUTHERN LIVESTOCK STANDARD animal and, as such, shows evidence of muscling. Bulls are much more muscular than females. No hump (or very little) is present, but bulls do have a noticeable crest. The topline is long, strong, and muscular, but some slope from hooks to pins is common. The rump should be long with thickness of muscle evident down into the stifle area. The body should have a large capacity with very good spring to the ribs and adequate depth in both flank and heart-girth. Shoulders should be sloping and neatly laid into the body to help prevent calving difficulty. Legs and feet should be very sound with some angle to the hocks and pasterns allowing for a long easy stride and cushioning of impact. Hooves should be relatively large in proportion to body size and
have two claws of equal size and shape. Feet should be straight, allowing the animal’s weight to be carried evenly. Bulls should have well-developed secondary sexual characteristics with large scrotal circumference at sexual maturity. Yearling scrotal circumference has been shown to be associated with early puberty and high fertility in daughters as well as good fertility in bulls. Cows and heifers should appear feminine, with well developed and strongly attached udders and small evenly spaced teats. Maturity and longevity The earlier maturity of the Simmental is desirable in the Simbrah with animals able to breed by 14-15 months of age and produce progeny by age two. The longevity of the Brahman is (Continued on page 9)
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Shrink: How does it affect your bottom line? Dr. Brandi B. Karisch, Mississippi State University Extension beef cattle specialist For most of us, transportation is an in-evitable part of life. We transport ourselves to and from pastures to check cows, to and from work, to and from children’s activities. For our cattle, transportation is also an in-evitable part of life. Cattle are often transported as they move through each sector of the beef industry, from your farm to the sale, from the sale to their new owner. It’s important to realize that transportation can be a very stressful event in a calf’s life. Not only are they exposed to new conditions and diseases along the way, but there will also be periods of time where feed and water deprivation during transport results in weight loss, better known as shrink. There are two basic types of live weight shrink in cattle. Excretory shrink is lost from urine and feces, and is the easiest form of shrink to replace. Indeed, it has been shown that excretory shrink accounts for the bulk of weight loss. Fecal loss has been shown to account for approximately 65% of total lost weight, and 28% of the total weight lost has been shown to come from urinary excretions. However, this still leaves a portion of weight loss from another source. The second type of shrink comes from tissue loss, and is much harder to replace. Tissue loss comes from the loss of fluid from actual
Description... (Continued from page 8)
advantageous, with many cows able to remain in efficient production to age 15 or older. Temperament Simbrah animals are alert and cows are protective of their calves. They should be tractable and able to be worked easily in groups. Animals with dangerous or difficult dispositions should be culled. Polled or horned Polled Simbrah are popular and becoming more numerous. The polled gene can come from any polled foundation animal or from either Simmental or Brahman, or both. An additional gene called the African Horn Gene must be considered in breeding polled Simbrah.
muscle and fat cells. Shrink is affected by many factors including: transit time, transit distance, weather conditions, cattle handling methods, cattle type (frame size, age, sex, and body condition), previous nutrition, and overall management. Previous studies have shown that combined effects of shipping and handling have a greater impact on weight
lost than fasting (holding cattle off feed and water) alone. The majority of shrink occurs during the initial part of the trip. In fact, cattle may lose half as much weight in 25 miles as compared to 200-mile trip. Another way to think of this is that cattle will lose weight at a slower rate in the latter part of a trip compared to the beginning part of the journey.
Fill and diet can also affect the degree of shrink. Cattle that are on a diet that produces more gut fill, such as lush gray or baleage, are typically expected to undergo a greater percent shrink as compared to cattle on hay or a high-concentrate diet. A preconditioning program designed to reduce stress by having cattle weaned and started on feed for a certain period
of time may also decrease shrink as well as weight recovery after transport. Calves that are weaned on the truck typically experience a greater amount of shrink than preconditioned calves. Several management factors can have an impact on shrink. Low stress handling is an important part of minimizing shrink. As shrink has been shown to
be linked to stress, any practice that decreases stress is helpful. Implement practices such as avoidance of rough handling, moving slowly and quietly when handling cattle, and not overcrowding trailers. Cattle with poorer temperaments may also experience higher levels of stress when handled and transported, and thus higher levels of (Continued on page 10)
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Tools... (Continued from page 5)
meet your expectations. And that doesn’t mean simply asking what a bull’s actual birthweight and yearling weight are. If that is the grand total of genetic awareness you demand then you are selling yourself and future generations short. If they can’t provide meaningful, comparable data, I assure you someone else can. Make them earn your business. Make them aware of their audience. The purpose of a seed
stock producer is a bit more of a moving target, but still in the end is rather simple – to sell bulls and heifers at a premium. Basic business principles are at play here. I’m a firm believer in the power of capitalism. And I’m confident those of us in the real world understand that concept much better than the folks in Austin or Washington D.C. If you produce a superior product people may be willing to pay more for it. “May” is the key. You have no right to assume that just because you believe your product is
better, that a potential customer will see it the same. And even if your product is demonstrably better, that doesn’t absolve you from the need to effectively share the message and market your product. Benjamin Franklin, a founding father of the greatest nation on the planet, reminds us “The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of a low price is forgotten.” Bull providers must not only be engaged and responsive, but must be nimble and willing to
SOUTHERN LIVESTOCK STANDARD
evolve. You must produce bulls that are reflective of your environment and can add value to your customers. Be self-reflective and self-accountable. If bull sales have been stagnant, have the courage to ask why. Remember what your customer is looking for: healthy, performance oriented, carcass-driven terminal calves and longevity minded daughters. Do your genetics do those things? Really? Can you prove it? Are you effectively using genetic tools that clearly demonstrate what your cattle (Continued on page 14)
Lazy SF Ranch is home to e Simbrah, Simmental, v a H ! Fleckvieh, and we have e F1 Simbrahs W em BULLS • REPLACEMENT • FEMALES Th SHOW HEIFERS WE HAVE THEM Come visit us when it’s Simgenetics you need. We have built our herds on proven and profitable lines!
Lazy SF Ranch Craig and Doug Schultz • 6899 Rossignol Road • Bell City, LA 70630 Craig 337-802-2173 – Doug 337-540-8901 • lazysfranch@live.com
We would love to show you some South Louisiana hospitality
Chute side... (Continued from page 7)
to do is give the wrong dose of a vaccine in the wrong method. Read vaccine labels and set syringes to the correct dosage before starting. Also, determine the correct method of administration (subcutaneous or intramuscular) and put the correct size and length of needed on the appropriate syringe. Other Considerations Once everything is in order, processing cattle is much more enjoyable for everyone involved. Strive
Shrink... (Continued from page 9)
shrink. Cattle type will also impact shrink, with heifers generally experiencing more shrink than steers. Getting back to the title of this article, how does shrink affect your bottom line? Quite simply, the majority of cattle in the U.S. sell by the pound, and less pounds equals less money in your pocket. Taking advantage of some of the practices reflected here will help to reduce shrink in calves. Let’s look through an example: If we have a 600 lb. steer, and he to utilize beef quality assurance best management practices by giving vaccinations in front of the shoulder in the neck region. Proper injection sites are not only safer for the animal and handler, but also the meat quality and wholesomeness. Lastly, remember to clean everything up and inspect all equipment before properly storing. These simple steps can help maximize efficiency when working cattle, while also improving efficacy of health programs leading to more profitable cattle on the operation.
was worth approximately $1.50/lb., we expect a check of $900. However, if he weighed 600 lbs. before we took him to the sale, we’d expect him to experience some shrink around 6%, which equals 36 lbs. lost. Now he weighs 564 lbs. If we received the same price per pound, our check now sits at $846. That’s $54 lost just due to shrink. Of course, this doesn’t take into account the increase in price per pound we’d expect for a slightly lighter animal. If we were able to cut the shrink in half to 3% through management practices, or by negotiating a set pencil shrink on farm fresh cattle, we’re now selling a 582 lb. animal, which gives an extra $27. While shrink may be an inevitable part of handling and transporting cattle. Improvements in management practices and paying close attention to factors that have been shown to affect shrink can lessen the impact on your bottom line. References Parish, J.A. and J.D. Rhinehart. 2009. Understanding and Managing Cattle Shrink. Mississippi State University Extension Publication 2577
Come See Our Bulls... r tered o s i g e r r nd et fo e mark lls, come by a h t n i e r ' u ut "If you ial Simbrah b . Througho rc ck at comme ok at our sto d for cattle th e o l erage select take a igh, av e have h w , , s s t r h a eig the ye birth w calves. w o l t i b y the le exhi attle b nd doci c a l s l n t e i s a is to d look a daily g t n e a k e r a m o m c If your en you should h t pound, " ls. our bul z odrigue Joe B. R
Call us today to schedule a visit to the ranch and see the bulls we have for sale and the breeding that is behind them.
Registered Simbrahs
Joe B. & Nelda Rodriguez 2854 CR 331 Floresville, TX 78114
Mobile: 210/275-0839 www.lamorracattle.com
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017
SOUTHERN LIVESTOCK STANDARD
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We named him this for lots of reasons and we are anticipating some super things from him.
Hensgens Brothers Cattle We’re your source for registered Simbrahs & F1s Commercial Simbrah Influenced Heifers Simbrah Bulls Burch Super Bull Too
WE HAVE A GROUP OF 45 SIMBRAH FEMALES FOR SALE NOW. Call us to discuss as these females are the kind that will add to your bottom line. Loaded with quality.
Hensgens Brothers Cattle Tony -- 985-992-8068 Nick -- 337-581-8188 Joe -- 985-992-9119
HB
136 Deer Park Ln Rayne, La 70578 hbcattle@yahoo.com
•He’s a son of Smith Satisfies and his dam is our 326 donor that is a daughter of PRR Red Ammo and out of the great La Muneca female 3E/89. •He ranks in the top 5% of the breed for Maternal Calving Ease; top 10% for Calving Ease, Birth Weight and BackFat; top 20% for Yield Grade and top 30% for Marbling. Plus he’s in the top 25% for both API and TI. •He’s solid red, polled, long bodied, very clean in his lines and stout.
WE HAVE CATTLE FOR SALE BY PRIVATE TREATY. IF YOU NEED BULLS OR REPLACEMENT FEMALES, COME SEE US. WE ALSO HAVE 5 SHOW HEIFERS FOR SALE.
BURCH FARMS
Rickey Burch Family • P.O. Box 755 • Hempstead, Texas 77445 979/826-3231 office • 713/206-2579 cell • burchfarms@peoplepc.com • www.burchcattle.com
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017
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Brush up your BCS skills Go beyond body condition score basics with these 10 tips... thousands of cows or just a quick tips to help boost By Kayla Jentz Whether you’ve scored handful, here are some your body condition score (BCS) skills. Some tips may be refreshers while others may be new to you. Regardless, all will help you become a better herd manager. “Body condition scoring can tell you quite a bit about your herd, and the We raise Simbrahs by choice and believe they have a lot to results can be used to make offer the industry. important management decisions,” says N.T. Cosby, Ph.D. and cattle nutritionWe find them to be: ist with Purina Animal Low Maintenance Nutrition. “Because the High Performing data captured is so vital, it’s good practice to recalibrate Good Milkers your scoring skills.” Heat Tolerant Here are 10 tips to brush Fertile up your BCS skills: 1. Calculate the percentEasy Calving age of each BCS in your When you’re in the market for bulls/replacement females, herd. For example, 23 cows come to South Texas and visit us. We are conveniently in a 115-cow herd with a 5 located outside of Floresville and would love to show you BCS equals 20 percent of our cattle. the herd. However, do most cows fall between 4.5 and 6 BCS, or are the majority Richard and Betsy Foster and Richard III between 3.5 and 7? Both P.O. Box 88 • Floresville, Texas 78114 situations result in roughly 713/412-4487 (Richard III) the same average score (5 Or 713/412-4480 diamond rf@peoplepc.com BCS), but they tell differ-
Simbrahs hoice by C
ent stories of herd performance. 2. Score on a regular basis. There are three key times to collect scores: 60 days before calving, at calving/pre-breeding, and at weaning. It’s most important to score 60 days before calving because the condition in which a cow has her calf impacts how quickly she will return to estrus. 3. Get another perspective. If you see your cows every day, it’s difficult to notice if they’re losing weight, so have someone else look at your cows occasionally. It’s also helpful to have multiple people scoring to cross-check. Keep a BCS scoring guide handy to recalibrate. 4. Write scores down. Written records help identify trends, especially in groups with a consistent BCS. A simple chart on a notebook page can work well. Down the left column list the possible scores (1 to 9), including half scores. As you evaluate the herd, put an X in the row corresponding to the animal’s BCS. This format makes it easy to quickly tally across the row and calculate the percentage of the herd at each score.
SOUTHERN LIVESTOCK STANDARD 5. Capture a representative sample. Aim to score 60 to 65 percent of cows for a holistic picture of the herd. Larger range or challenging environments may prove difficult to achieve this percentage. In those situations, use known cattle patterns to your advantage. For instance, score at the time of day you know cattle visit a water source or when you might expect them behind a wind break. 6. Don’t forget to include the date and conditions. Date your scoresheet and make note of the weather conditions on the day you scored. You’re more inclined to score higher on a bright, sunny day than on a cloudy, overcast day. These notes can provide additional insights as you compare datasets. 7. Focus on young and old cows. Young cows and older cows serve as a good barometer for the herd. They’re often the first to show visual change with any environmental, management or nutritional challenges. Keeping close tabs on these early indicator groups and making necessary adjustments can help avoid a whole-herd impact.
8. Pictures can’t tell the full story. Taking pictures of cows on your cell phone can be a handy way to monitor BCS, but beware of shadows that can make it difficult to accurately score. You’ll be able to tell a BCS 4 from a 6, but it’s harder to distinguish a BCS 5 from a 5.5. It’s particularly challenging to tell differences in photos on mostly black cattle. 9. Maximize your time spent observing. While in the pasture, observe other management factors. Do you need additional fly control? Are mineral feeders full? Should you move a feeder to move cattle into an underused pasture area? 10. Act on the data. Forage quality and quantity change as seasons change, but body condition should remain steady. If you’re seeing a shift toward a lower BCS or suspect a shift could happen soon, it’s time to look at supplement options. A protein supplement with intake control properties can provide energy to complement your forage and maintain cow body condition through all seasons. SLS
Bull Power. . . Smith Just Because A Polled Three-Quarter Sire • Sired by Smith Stout N Black Ranks in the top 1% of the breed for API and top 4% for TI Has a top 1% ranking for calving ease and a top 4% for birth weight
Smith Dustin N Black A Polled Purebred Simmental • Sired by Flying B Cut Above
McCrary Smith Inspired A Polled Three-Quarter Sire • Sired by Smith McCrary Andy Black Ranks in the top 1% of the breed for API and top 3% for TI. Has a top 1% ranking for calving ease and a top 2% for birth weight
SMITH RFI MCCR Gangster Polled Purebred Simbrah Sire • Sired by Smith Satisfies Has a top 10% ranking for API and TI
FOR YOUR SIMBRAH BULLS AND SIMBRAH FEMALES, CONTACT US! Mark and Martha McCrary 903/667-5135 • 903/278-6819 • mamamc4@aol.com • 307 North Runnels • DeKalb, Texas 75559 We accept calf scramble certificates. • www.mccraryfarms.net
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017
Guide offers help on hiring and keeping employees By Linda Geist University of Missouri (MU) Extension recently released its current Farm Labor Guide. Finding and keeping dependable work-
ers is one of the largest challenges today for farm/ ranch owners and managers, says MU Extension agricultural economist Joe Horner. “As farms and
Finding and keeping dependable workers is one of the largest challenges today for farm/ranch owners and managers.
ranches grow in size, learning to recruit, manage and retain high-quality employees becomes even more critical.” The free online publication is MU Extension’s response to requests for a simple guide to navigating the complexities of human resources management, Horner says. The guide is available as a downloadable PDF file at www.agebb.missouri.edu/c ommag/farmlabor. Horner, MU Extension agricultural economist Ryan Milhollin and agribusiness consultant Alice Roach created the guide to help employers make decisions that lead to a quality workforce and satisfied employees. The guide divides the employment process into six segments: recruitment; hiring; onboarding, training and mentoring; operations; retention; and termination. (Continued on page 14)
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Tools... (Continued from page 10)
offer? Every business has to occasionally look inward to evaluate how they are doing relative to their mission. The seed stock business is no different. Your customers demand cattle that can tolerate a harsh southern environment. Your customers not only benefit from your genetics, but they can also get a huge bonus by responsible use of heterosis. The science is clear, heterosis gives them heavier calves and cows that last longer. Are you helping them with the full picture of genetics on their ranch? The long and short of it
Guide... (Continued from page 13)
Horner says the guide gives a systematic list to identify and hire suitable employees. The guide covers safety, employee compensation and other human resources protocols. Horner says it is important to decide on the needs of the operation before the employee search begins. Does the farm or business need full-time or part-time help? What are the hours that the employee is needed? Is the work seasonal or year-round? After the employer makes these decisions, Horner recommends creating a formal job description. This helps job seekers decide if they qualify for a job or have an interest. It also helps the employer track whether applicants qualify, need training and if goals are met after the hire. It sets expectations of the employee’s role and relationships with coworkers, vendors and others. The guide outlines six steps to writing a job description and tells where to publicize job postings for best results. It also offers advice on interviewing, including a list of acceptable and unacceptable questions, and general work rules such as overtime. The guide discusses subjects such as background, drug and reference checks, as well as needed paperwork, taxes and employment laws. It follows through with options for training and mentoring. The guide lists numerous free online resources to recruitment and hiring from extension specialists across the country. SLS
is that seed stock providers and commercial producers must use the most robust genetic tools available if they wish to keep their ranch brand relevant for the next generation. That means the best genetic partner in the business. Whether you are selling seed stock or are a progressive commercial cattleman, I’d encourage you to visit the tools offered by the American Simmental Association and International Genetic Solutions. Take a look at the best EPDs and Selection Indexes in the business (as cheap as $500
SOUTHERN LIVESTOCK STANDARD
for commercial producers), the IGS Feeder Profit Calculator (free of charge), the ASA Cow Herd DNA Roundup ($15 DNA is unheard of), or learn more about the most extensive and varied offering of heat tolerant and slick haired cattle in the business. If you’d like to learn more visit simmental.org and internationalgeneticsolutions.com. If you want to discuss these tools feel free to contact me at ckemp@ simmgene.com. Empower yourself! Empower your customer! Chip Kemp
27th Annual San Antonio Livestock Show All Breeds Bull & Commercial Female Sale Females & s ll u B t e Bes r! Selling Th as To Offe H s a x e T That
February 13 & 14, 2018 At The San Antonio Livestock Show Auction Facility • FEATURING •
Schedule of Events Tuesday, February 13 8:00 A.M.-12:00 Noon - Viewing of Sale Cattle 12:30 P.M. - All Breeds Bull Show 2:30 P.M. - Commercial Female Show Sponsored by Capital Farm Credit
525 Commercial Females - Pairs, Bred & Open Heifers of All Breeds 70 Breeding Age Bulls - These cattle will be the best from some of the top ranches throughout Texas.
Wednesday, February 14 7:30 A.M. - Cattlemen’s Breakfast 10:00 A.M. - All Breeds Bull Sale The Commercial Female Sale is immediately following the All Breeds Bull Sale
For more information or sale catalogs contact:
7320 Triple Elm N. San Antonio, Texas 78263 (210) 648-5475 Office • (210) 648-4939 Fax aj1mihalski@aol.com
Southern Livestock Publishing, Inc. Jim Banner - Michael Sturgess P.O. Box 791364 San Antonio, Texas 78279-1364 (210) 524-9697 Office • (210) 524-9690 Fax slivestock@southernlivestock.com
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• CALENDAR •
Nov. 18-21-LMC & Friends Giving THANKS Online Sale IV Dec. 17-Louisiana Simmental/Simbrah Association’s Bayou Classic Show, Lake Charles, Louisiana 2018 Jan. 22 -Fort Worth Livestock Show Junior Simbrah Show, Fort Worth, Texas Jan. 27-Buzzard Hollow Ranch Bull Sale, Granbury, Texas Jan. 27- ASA National Sale, Fort Worth, Texas Jan. 28-ASA National Open Simbrah Show, Fort Worth, Texas Feb. 3-Fort Worth Stock Show Commercial Female Sale, Fort Worth, Texas Feb. 10-Tom Brothers Private Treaty Bid Off Bull Sale, Campbellton, Texas Feb. 12-National Simbrah and National Simbrah Percentage Show, San Antonio Livestock Show, San Antonio, Texas
Feb. 14-San Antonio Livestock Show All Breed Bull and Commercial Female Sale, San Antonio, Texas Feb. 14-Simmental-Simbrah Superbowl, San Antonio, Texas. Feb. 15-16-San Antonio Junior Breeding Heifer Shows, San Antonio, Texas Feb. 28-Houston Livestock Show Commercial Female & Registered Range Bull Sale, Houston, Texas Feb. 28-International Simbrah Show, Houston Livestock Show, Houston, Texas Mar. 8-11-Houston Livestock Show Junior Breeding Heifer Shows, Houston, Texas Mar. 8-18-Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show, Mercedes, Texas Mar. 22-24-Star of Texas Junior Breeding Heifer Shows, Austin, Texas Mar. 23-La Muneca Cattle Co. Jackpot, Linn, Texas Mar. 24-La Muneca Cattle Co. $ellabration, Linn, Texas
American Simbrah - The World’s Breed Please Contact These Progressive Breeders * Semen & Embryo Sales * A.I. & ET Equipment Sales * MVE & Taylor Wharton Tanks * A.I./Palpation Clinics * TruTest Scales * Professional Exporting & Importing * Semen & Embryo Warehousing * A.I. Consultation
Ronnie Reeves 9660 FM 713 Dale, Texas 78616
512/507-5719 rrtranspo@yahoo.com
Bovine Elite, LLC 3300 Longmire Drive College Station, Texas 77845 800-786-4066 • 979-693-0388 • 979-693-7994 Fax carl@bovine-elite.com • www.bovine-elite.com
LOST CAUSE RANCH Jody Matejicek 7189 CR 180 Anderson, Texas 77830
979/224-3121 (c)
M HODGES CATTLE COMPANY Sam Hodges 1311 Goliad St. Houston, TX 77007 903/701-7929 SamHodges90@gmail.com
lostcauseranch @yahoo.com
Robertson Farms Ryan Robertson
SIMMENTAL & SIMBRAH BULLS & FEMALES Featuring the influence of WHF Devils Cut
14846 South Hwy 183 Luling, TX 78648 512-217-6205 rtfarms@gmail.com
Quality... Quantity... Integrity KENTUCKY DIVISION Quarter Horses, Simmental and Simbrah Cattle
Strack Farms Smith Andy N Black
Jason Smith, Aimee & Andy Nienaber, Lisa & Nathan Naive, William & Beth Smith For information contact Tim Smith, smithgenetics1@gmail.com • 512/587-7896
5465 PR 4280 Normangee, Texas 77871 281-455-5896
SIMBRAH CATTLE LITTLEFOOT CATTLE COMPANY Doug, Karen, Daniel and Kevin Lightfoot 4410 Meyer Road Needville, Texas 77461 Home: 979/793-3482 • Cell: 832/473-0671 dlitefoot@yahoo.com • www.Littlefootcattle.com
RND
Cattle Services
KATHY HUTTO & JEFFREY REED 9660 FM 713 Dale, Texas 78616 512/507-5718
Featuring Sargeant daughters
Embryos for sale sired by Charismatic
Simmental and Simbrah For cattle information contact Tim Smith, 512/587-7896
STARTING WITH THE BEST BURESH CATTLE
Roberto N. Davila Semen, Embryos, Custom AI Services International Live Cattle Marketing P.O. Box 2133 College Station, Texas 77841 (956) 975-9050 • rndcattle@gmail.com Se habla español
ESTES RANCH Simbrah-Simmental
Paul Estes 580-675-2407 home, 940-357-1454 cell Dr. Ben Estes, DVM 940-357-1483 cell estesfamily@swoi.net 4100 CR 290 Wellington, TX 79095
MELSON SIMBRAH Mark Nelson P.O. Box 1085
Caldwell, Texas 979/777-0771 markamelson1855@hotmail.com
We have the influence of Priceless in our young program.
Bob Buresh 5152 Loma Alta Drive Frisco, Texas 75035
For information contact our consultant, Tim Smith, 512/587-7896
Knezek Simmental/ Simbrah Ranch
★
2015 National Division Champion
Red and Black Show Heifers, Bulls & Steers Call For Your Next Champion Superbowl Eligible!
Brian Knezek 2140 Morris Community Road Yoakum, Texas 77995 361/293-1590 Mobile • knezek@gvec.net www.knezeksimmentalranch.com
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017
PAGE 16B
SOUTHERN LIVESTOCK STANDARD
What to know when negotiating a land transaction When negotiating a land transaction, be sure you know what you are buying. Addressing the following economic considerations, while not a comprehensive list, will help make a land purchase an enjoyable experience. Easy to miss considerations It is more common than one would think that the acreage being represented is not accurate. The best
way to know for sure is with a survey completed by a qualified surveyor. Minerals under the surface are sometimes not mentioned. Do all, a portion or none of what the seller owns go with the surface? The seller may not own any of the mineral interest. Growing crops may be in progress at the time of transaction. Who is respon-
sible for harvesting and marketing the crop, and who keeps the proceeds? Is there any kind of lease or easements the buyer is obligated to and for how long? Are there improvements on the property that are portable that may be in question? An environmental assessment may be wise if there is any history of the land having exposure to potential pollutants.
Agree on prices of depreciable assets When a property has depreciable assets attached to it or are included in the sale, it is important for both parties to agree on how the total price is to be allocated to the various assets. A seller may have ordinary income to recapture due to depreciation. The buyer may want to allocate a portion of the purchase price to a particular asset that is eligible to depreciate such
as fences, pecan trees or barns. The basis for depreciation for these assets is determined by this initial allocation. If the Internal Revenue Service happens to select the buyer's and seller's income tax returns to audit, it would be very good if the seller sold an asset for the same amount as the buyer listed it on their depreciation schedule. It should be noted that the correct time for the buyer to allocate the pur-
chase price between the land and any depreciable assets is in the purchase year. Any assets the buyer chooses to depreciate must start in the purchase year. Otherwise, it will require an amended return to be filed if the buyer did not list a particular asset on the depreciation schedule in the purchase year and chooses to do so at a later date.
“Part of the negotiation process should include an agreement as to who pays what at closing.
“
By Dan Childs, Noble Research Institute
Buying in different states The process of purchasing land in Oklahoma is a little different than purchasing land in Texas. Title insurance is used extensively in Texas to guarantee good title; whereas, in Oklahoma an abstract containing the property history is usually reviewed by a competent attorney to determine if the property has a clear title. A buyer must be careful to ensure they are getting a good title for the property, one without any liens or any kind of encumbrances. In Oklahoma, it is preferred to have a warranty deed. Sometimes a quitclaim deed can be acceptable when attempting to purchase land when owned by several owners. Who pays what at closing Part of the negotiation process should include an agreement as to who pays what at closing. There are a variety of costs generally expected to be paid at closing, such as: document filing fees, attorney fees, realty fees, revenue stamps, lender fees and maybe even liens paid. Who pays the property taxes for the purchase year should also have been discussed. If it was agreed that the seller pays a pro rata share, then it is often paid at closing. If these items are previously discussed and agreed to, it reduces the possibility of any surprises. SLS