FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2026
SOUTHERN LIVESTOCK STANDARD
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Brought to you by American Simbrah Breeders
When the dominos fall;
it’s Simbrah! By Lindsay L. Allen
TMP Livestock Co., owned by David and Thuy Grimes who raise registered Simbrah cattle in East Texas, was established as a result of a domino effect. The first domino to fall was David and Thuy’s decision to invest in a market hog for their high school-aged daughter, Katarina. Even though the Grimes family was living in a suburb of Houston and in a gated community in 2008, they decided to enter the agricultural world and get involved in showing. After the hog project was complete, they upgraded to a steer project in 2009, another domino, which then led that same daughter to convince her parents that she needed a show heifer, of which she could breed and then show the offspring her senior year; this was the final domino in 2010, and the beginning of TMP Livestock Co. Not knowing much about cattle, David and Thuy wel-
Grandson, James at the ranch near Henderson, Texas.
David and Thuy Grimes’ grandson, Jacob participates in many of the leadership contests related to agriculture.
comed their agricultural teacher’s help in selecting a breed and an animal to start their family’s show career. The teacher took them to Smith Genetics, a registered Simmental, Simbrah and SimAngus outfit in Giddings, Texas. Since the dominos had already fallen, the Grimes’ family ended up purchasing not one, but three, females that day. “Our youngest, son Kaleb, was going to be tagging along to all the shows anyway, so we purchased a show heifer for him and decided we should get a third for Thuy and I,” David recalled. In 2012, they realized they needed to invest in land and leased pasture within 45 minutes of their home, which made for long daily drives to feed and tend the cattle. While Thuy acknowledges that at any point, they could have stopped adding animals to their herd or switched breeds, they had fallen in love with the Simbrah breed and so there has never been any thoughts of doing that. “The Simbrah breed of cattle is so versatile and durable in our environment and can continue performing in 100+ degree weather,” she continued, “But the real reason I love this breed is because of the junior program. Our kids are grown now and not competing, but the next generation of our family is, with our grandson showing Simbrah cattle and competing in all the educational contests offered by the junior programs.” Thuy is referring to the various public speaking, livestock judging and cattle-related quizzes/skill-a-thons that the Simmental/Simbrah junior programs host in conjunction with their state, regional and national shows. “It’s been wonderful to see what our kids and their peers gained by competing in those contests and how our grandson is benefiting now,” Thuy recalled, “At times, I think
I’ve loved the contests even more than I loved the cattle.” Kaleb’s involvement in the Texas Junior Simmental/ Simbrah Association (TJSSA) and American Junior Simbrah (AJSR) and all those contests influenced him heavily. He is now an agricultural science teacher in Montgomery, Texas and serves as an advisor to the Texas Junior Simmental/ Simbrah Association. He is recently engaged to Kailyn Capps, an agricultural extension agent for Washington Co. “Kailyn has become an instrumental part of our operation and family, providing showmanship guidance to Jacob, preparing cattle for show and becoming our premier showman, among other things,“ said David. Their daughter Katarina Axtell and her husband, Kelton, along with their other two sons live nearby. She remains involved in the family operation that was started by her desire to show. Her oldest son, Jacob is following in his mom and uncle’s footsteps and competing at all the majors and contests. He is also taking advantage of the knowledge learned in the TJSSA and AJSR contests to compete in events like public speaking and beef skill-athon at the various livestock shows. In 2017, when David retired, the Grimes were tired of driving an hour plus round trip every day to check on the cattle at the leased land. They moved to the East Texas area and bought land outside of Henderson that could allow them to expand the herd. “There was an idea put in our head by Tim Smith, owner of Smith Genetics, that raising cattle versus raising and then selling the show heifers once their show career is over, can be advantageous. We had decided early on that we would keep the heifers we were purchasing to show, which began the growth of our herd,” Thuy said.
TMP Livestock crew at a show.
Left to Right Grandson, Jacob, David Grimes, son, Kaleb and grandson, Conor.
Smith TMP Priceless Kicks 377N, the 2026 State Fair of Texas Open and Junior Show Grand Champion. Members of the TMP family in the photo include third from left Jacob, David, Kaleb, with Kailyn at halter and Thuy holding the banner. David added, “When we moved, we were able to add a few animals to our herd each year, which allowed us to grow. However, we didn’t want to grow in quantity only; we’ve been focused on quality too. Over time, we have brought in better bulls, kept replacement females and grown through breeding, planning and selective purchases.” The original plan was to focus on producing show quality heifers for juniors to purchase, but just like the herd has expanded, so has the aperture at TMP Livestock Co. In addition to selling show heifers, they offer bred females, open females and
bulls. “We’ve been flushing some of our elite donors and as a result, we have many embryos in the tank. This allows us to expand the herd more rapidly with different quality bulls verses one at a time. Our grandson is showing an embryo calf this year. Additionally, a few years ago we decided to invest in and raise high-quality bulls. We originally viewed bull calves as surplus for cash flow, but have come to view them as investments, be it for show bulls or herd bulls, ” explained David. TMP Livestock Co. primarily uses the bulls they are raising for natural ser-
vice and, as cover bulls on those females they have AI’d. When it comes to the primary genetics of the herd, TMP Livestock Co. is proud of the impact the Bella Bella, Priceless, Pure Diamond, Diva and Juliet Cow Families have had on their herd. They work closely with Smith Genetics and have several donors in partnership. Two elite females in their program were very pivotal for their son and grandson. In 2012 and 2013, Kaleb showed Smith Charming Moves 132Y, a member of the She Moves Cow Family and sired by Smith Evan. She was named the 2013 International Grand Champion Female and the 2013 Supreme American Female at the Houston Junior Show. In 2026, Jacob, their grandson, showed Smith Juliet Ashley Rene 215M to several championships, including the International Simbrah Champion Female title, Houston Junior Show championship and the Superbowl title. She is a member of the Juliet Cow Family and sired by Smith Rite on Time. But what makes them most proud is to see calves from their herd in the hands of juniors and being successfully shown. In 2026, one of their calves won the junior show at San Antonio For the 2026 fall and 2027 spring shows, Jacob is exhibiting a calf from one of Kaleb’s former show heifers. What began as a family’s introduction to the show ring has grown into a full-fledged cattle operation (Continued on page 2B)
NEWS You Can Use FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2026
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2027 Spring Total Herd Enrollment now open Spring calving is just around the corner, which means that the 2027 Spring Total Herd Enrollment (THE) season is open now through
the American Simmental Association. Get the best returns for the time and money you’ve invested into your herd by enrolling in THE! Submit your inventory: • Early (by Dec 15, 2026)
• Accurately (don’t pay for dams that are gone and make sure all new heifers and purchased cows are listed to ensure complete dam records) Don’t forget, you must
SOUTHERN LIVESTOCK STANDARD
submit an updated inventory to benefit from our early enrollment rates. Even if you don’t think there are any changes to your herd, review the list and submit your inventory today. Reminders: • Spring THE is for cows that calve between Jan.1 and June 30 • Spring Early Enrollment is from Oct. 15 to Dec. 15, 2026 • Spring Late Enrollment
is from Dec. 16, 2026 – Feb. 15, 2027 (incurs $1.00 late fee per dam) For more information check out the Index tab on the Herdbook page of www.simmental.org for instructions. Genetic tools for the commercial cattleman The commercial programs offered by the American Simmental Association (ASA) are an effort to provide genetic tools to the largest sector of the beef
industry; the commercial cattlemen. These efforts are supported through multiple ASA programs and the world’s most comprehensive beef genetic database. The three pillars to ASA Commercial Programs are the: Total Herd Enrollment — Commercial option (THE-CM), Cowherd DNA Roundup (CHR), and the IGS Feeder Profit CalculatorTM (FPC). These three programs allow you
When the...
knowledge, experiences and opportunities the breed has provided their family across generations. “We are extremely thankful to God for giving us the opportunities we have had in this business, some of them life-changing for our family. We are so grateful for the support and encouragement that we have gotten from family and friends in the barn
through the years. And we are especially appreciative for the guidance, support, encouragement and friendship that we have from Tim Smith at Smith Genetics” Today, David and Thuy remain focused on developing quality genetics that can benefit both junior exhibitors and cattle producers while continuing to improve their own herd.
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built on thoughtful breeding decisions, a commitment to quality and a deep appreciation for the Simbrah breed. For David and Thuy Grimes, success at TMP Livestock Co. is measured by more than the cattle they raise or the herd they continue to build. It is also reflected in the
(Continued on page 4B)
SOUTHERN LIVESTOCK STANDARD
A PROGRAM BY
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2026
PAGE 3B
Design
We feel we have Simbrah cattle that fit the design we have established for our program and in tune with industry demands. Those design elements include—predictability, proven and recognized genetics, functional and sound individuals with performance and style.
SMITH HAPPIER TIMES 814H
SMITH BELLA AMELIA ANN 188H
SMITH RFI MY TIME 725E
This Practical daughter is a cornerstone in our program and she adds the Bella Bella genetic line to our herd too. She has a top 15% ranking for API and 25% for TI.
What a combination of proven, predictable genetics 188H brings to our program. Her lineage combines the Bella Bella and Diva Cow Families. She ranks in the top 15% for API and 20% for TI.
Talk about a pedigree. This polled purebred Simbrah is sired by Smith Nu Approach, one of the most proven percentage sires ever in the breed and the dam is the LMC Topanga 5T/58 Cow that started the Debutante line. We appreciate the progeny she is adding to our herd.
We invite you to call us, or better yet come visit us and see our program.
3JK Cattle Co Scott and Janessa King and Family Zephyr, Texas • 325/200-8740 Because Genetics Matter
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2026
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News...
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to maximize the genetic awareness surrounding your program and to make better management and selection decisions. Each of these programs is designed to offer you assistance at three key management moments in your production system; breeding, heifer selection and weaning. For more information visit www.simmental.org Research release now available; American Simmental Association to Update $API and $TI by Dr. Elizabeth Dressler, ASA Lead Geneticist Economic selection indexes are a valuable tool for selection and mating decisions. One major benefit is that selection indexes combine several traits into one number that estimates expected progeny profitability for a specific production system. When you open a sale catalog to compare two bulls, economic indexes are designed to help answer a practical question: “Which bull is expected to sire the more profitable set of calves within this production system?” ASA publishes two economic selection indexes:
the all-purpose index ($API) and the terminal index ($TI). These indexes help Simmental breeders make more informed decisions by bringing the economic importance of several traits together in one easy-to-use tool. Why is ASA updating $API and $TI? $API and $TI are valuable tools for SimGenetic breeders and have helped make meaningful genetic progress in the breed. If you are a SimGenetic breeder who has used $API or $TI over the years, you have likely seen the value of these selection tools in your own herd. In other words, the previous indexes were not wrong. Breeders have made progress using them and they have served the breed well. ASA is making key updates so the indexes will be even better selection tools. The beef industry has changed in recent years, and our technology and ability to analyze data have also advanced significantly. Together, these changes give ASA an opportunity to build on what has worked and make the indexes even more accurate at predicting progeny profitability.
2027 letter designation is R International letters are designated for each year of birth. This option is easy to use in conjunction with numbers. For example, X001 and X002 might be used to indicate the first and second calf born in the year 2010. • 2027-R • 2028-S Guerra family honored The Carlos X. Guerra Familey, La Muñeca Ranch were recently honored by the East Texas Simmental/ Simbrah Association and Heart of Texas Simmental/ Simbrah Association for their years of dedication to the SimGenetic and beef industry as a whole. The presentation was made at the Fall Fest Sale, held earlier in the fall.
La Muñeca to host annual Giving Sale La Muñeca Cattle Co., Linn, Texas, will hold their 13th Annual LMC & Friends GIVING Thanks Online Sale, in November. This sale benefits several scholarships and causes, including the American Junior Simbrah Roundup. For additional details, follow them on social media and/or visit their website www.lamunecacattle. com. National Simbrah and Percentage Shows set The National Percentage and Open Simbrah Show will once again be held during the San Antonio Livestock Show. This year’s events will be Feb. 12th. For entries and complete information visit the saarodeo.com.
Pictured (l to r) Fred Schuetze and Joe Prud’Homme, past honorees, Sister and Carlos Guerra, Jane Travis, also a past honoree, Victor Guerra and Greg Clifton, auctioneer. Kenneth Airheart , sale manager, is pictured in front.
SOUTHERN LIVESTOCK STANDARD Superbowl once again to be held in San Antonio The annual SimbrahSimmental Superbowl will once again be held in conjunction with the San Antonio Livestock Show Junior Breeding Beef Heifer Shows on Feb. 17th. To be eligible to show, junior heifer exhibitors must have purchased a heifer from a paid sponsor and be entered in the San Antonio Junior Show. Superbowl entry deadline is Dec. 10th. If you are interested in being a sponsor, please make your $1,000 check payable to the Simbrah/Simmental Superbowl and submit to P.O. Box 330, Giddings, Texas 78942, postmarked prior to Dec.31, 2026. Sponsorships will continue to be accepted at the rate of $1,250 per sponsorship from Jan. 1 to Feb. 10, 2027 (postmarked/paid prior to Feb. 10, 2027) and sponsorship fee will increase to $1,500 after Feb. 10th. This allows funds to be deposited and awarded to juniors at the actual event. Complete details and entry form will be available soon at www.simbrah-simmentalsuperbowl. com. Synergy auctions raise money for Simbrah promotion
Thank you to everyone who donated to the silent auction. Over $1,880 was raised for Simbrah promotion at the recent Synergy Sale. In addition, 7N Ranch and Reavis Farms each paid $4,000 for embryos donated by Smith Genetics. Thank you to Twila and Belva Johnson for coordinating the silent auction. Scholarships awarded at Synergy XIX Four $1,000 scholarships were awarded at the recent Synergy. These are sponsored by the Smith, Nieschwietz, Da Silva and Mixon families. The Smith Family Scholarship went to Jenna Tyler; the Nieschweitz Family Scholarship was awarded to Kaden Pilat; the Rodrigo DaSilva Family Scholarship went to Lillian (Continued on page 5B)
Pictured (left to right) Jenna Tyler, Lillian Alvarado and Kaden Pilat. Braden Roethling was not available for a photo.
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2026
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Former junior Simbrah leader, Charley Martinez joins King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management Dr. Charles C. (Charley) Martinez has joined as director and Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Endowed Chair of the King Ranch® Institute for Ranch Management (KRIRM) and an associate professor in the Dick and Mary Lewis Kleberg College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. A native of Texas, Martinez earned his B.S. in agribusiness-ranch management from Texas A&M UniversityKingsville (’14) and his Ph.D. in agricultural economics from Texas A&M University (’19). Martinez and his family raise Simbrah and he and his wife, Vanessa (Hinojosa) came up through the junior programs in Simmental and Simbrah. Now their son, Henry has just started showing Simbrahs, and daughter Remi is sure to follow. Before returning to his alma mater in 2026, he served on the faculty of the University of Tennessee, where he earned tenure as an associate professor in agricultural and resource economics. During his time at Tennessee, he served as director of the UT Center of Farm Management and Associate Director of the R.E.M. Laboratory. His teaching, research, and Extension programs focused on farm and ranch financial management, livestock and meat market economics, ag-
News...
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Alvarado and the Mixon Family also awarded a $1,000 scholarship this year and it went to Braden Roehling. For Simbrah news, go online Simbrah breeders and enthusiasts are encouraged to visit www.simbrahworld. com for the latest news, calendar dates and show results. Simbrah is also very social. Check out our Facebook page for posts on a weekly basis. To get information on advertising opportunities please contact Martha at hollidacompany@gmail.com or call 903/316-8465.
www.SIMBRAH WORLD.com
ricultural risk management, experimental economics and public policy. His research centers on improving decision-making and profitability across the livestock sector. His work has examined cattle and beef price discovery, livestock insurance adoption, beef processing capacity and supply chain resilience, beef × dairy market development,
producer decision-making, farm finance and agricultural policy. He has authored over 26 peer-reviewed journal articles and secured over $33 million in competitive funding from USDA agencies, state governments, commodity organizations and industry partners to support applied research and outreach programs serving agricultural producers and agribusinesses.
As director of KRIRM, Dr. Martinez is committed to advancing the Institute’s mission of developing future leaders for the ranching industry through graduate education, applied research and meaningful engagement with ranch managers and industry stakeholders. His vision emphasizes the integration of economics, ranch management, and leadership
development to address the complex challenges facing modern ranch businesses. Through partnerships with producers, industry leaders, and academic institutions, he works to strengthen the long-term sustainability, stewardship, and profitability of ranching operations while preserving the values that have defined the ranching profession for generations.
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Raising your own replacements or buying them: What do the numbers say? By Charles C. Martinez, Ph.D. and Cooper Larson, King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management Graduate Student Replacement females represent one of the largest capital investments in a cow-calf operation. During the current phase of the cattle cycle, producers have been faced with unprecedented replacement female values, often ranging from $3,000 to more than $6,000 per head. As replacement costs continue to rise, the question facing many ranchers is whether it makes more economic sense to retain and develop home-raised heifers or purchase replacements from the market. While genetics, adaptation and herd health considerations all play important roles in replacement decisions, economics ultimately determines long-term sustainability. A replacement female must generate enough future revenue through calf production and salvage value to recover her acquisition or development costs while providing an acceptable return on her invested capital. Net Present Value (NPV) analysis provides a useful framework
for evaluating these alternatives because it accounts for both the timing and magnitude of future cash flows. Simply stated, NPV helps answer whether a replacement female is expected to generate more value than she costs over her productive lifetime. To compare the economics of different replacement strategies, we looked at seven scenarios: keeping homeraised heifers or purchasing replacements at prices ranging from $1,000 to $6,000 per head. We then ran each scenario 1,000 times to account for the real-world reproductive performance and cow longevity. Conception rates were allowed to vary throughout the productive life of the cow, beginning at 75% heifer conception, reaching 93% during peak production years and gradually declining as females aged. These assumptions reflect the biological reality that reproductive performance, longevity and productive lifespan ultimately
Table 1. Economic performance of alternative replacement female strategies. Strategy
Average NPV
Minimum NPV
Maximum NPV
Payback Period (Years)
Home-raised
$2,392
$955
$4,181
4
Purchase $1,000
$2,825
$1,539
$4,425
1
Purchase $2,000
$1,900
$613
$3,499
2
Purchase $3,000
$974
-$313
$2,573
3
Purchase $4,000
$48
-$1,239
$1,647
6
Purchase $5,000
-$878
-$2,164
$721
12
Purchase $6,000
-$1,804
-$3,090
-$205
12
drive the economic value of breeding females. The results in Table 1 reveal the strong relationship between replacement cost and profitability. As initial purchase price increased, net present value declined substantially. Purchased females valued at $1,000 generated the highest average NPV at $2,825 per head, followed
by home-raised females that were capitalized into the herd at the age of two at the cost of production, assumed to be $1100 per animal per year. Purchased females valued at $2,000 with an average NPV of $1,900 were the third most profitable option. Returns continued to decline as purchase costs increased, with $3,000 females averag-
Figure 1. Cumulative distribution functions for net present values of alternative replacement female strategies. (Curves farther to the right indicate greater profitability and higher probability of achieving positive net present values.) ing $974 and $4,000 females averaging only $48. At purchase prices of $5,000 and $6,000, expected returns became negative, averaging -$878 and -$1,804 per head, respectively. Average returns only tell part of the story. The range of outcomes associated with each strategy highlights the risk producers assume as replacement costs increase.
The $1,000 purchase scenario generated positive returns in every simulation, with NPVs ranging from $1,539 to $4,425 per head. In contrast, the $6,000 purchase scenario never generated a positive economic return, producing NPVs that ranged from -$3,090 to -$205. Home-raised replacements performed consistently well, (Continued on page 7B)
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Synergy Sale sees strong demand for SimGenetics
The Synergy XIX SimGenetic Sale drew a strong crowd of breeders and enthusiasts to Smith Genetics in Giddings, Texas, on Sept. 26. The annual event combined a quality offering of SimGenetic cattle from participating members with a full slate of activities, including cattle shows and leadership contests for junior exhibitors. Randy and Karen Prince, Leander, Texas were volume buyers at the sale and included in their purchases
was Smith Leading First Lady127N, a daughter of Smith Follow My Lead with the Topanga/Debutante Cow Family reflected maternally. The high seller of the sale at $60,000 sold safe in calf to Smith Steppin’ Up Your Game. They also purchased Smith Because Ima Bella 853N for $53,000. This young female, sired by Smith Just Because, is a direct daughter of Smith Bella Bella. Both lots were from the Smith Genetics program. Bob and Tammy
Maiorano, Driftwood, Texas added Smith Leading With Moves 602M to their longstanding program for $50,000. The female was sired by the breed leading sire, Smith Follow My Lead and her dam carried the She Moves Cow Family genetics. She was also from the Smith Genetics breeding program. Smith Bella’s Next Step 231L drew the attention of several bidders. Toby Triesch made the final bid of $46,000 for the Smith Steppin’ Up Your Game sired female. Her
dam is a Smith Ciao Bella daughter and was from the Smith Genetics herd. Gerald Brown, Missouri City, Texas also added a member of the Smith Bella Bella Cow Family to his herd. He purchased Smith Bella Bella Baby for $44,000. She was sired by Smith A.R.C. No Kidding and was safe in calf to Smith Follow My Lead. She was bred in the Smith Genetics program. Volume buyers included
Randy and Karen Prince, Toby Triesch, Matthew and Caroline DeSarno and Nate and Karli Robb. Participating in the Synergy event included Fralise Farm and Ranch/ Triple J Ranch, Burch Cattle, TMP Livestock, Hensgens Brothers Cattle, Nieschwietz 7N Ranch, Reavis Farms, McCrary Farms and Smith Genetics. Auctioneer was Terry Reagan, Boerne, Texas. Randy Prince
Raising...
profits and lower economic risk. Both the $1,000 purchase strategy and homeraised replacements consistently outperformed higher-priced alternatives. As purchase prices increased, the distributions shifted left, indicating lower expected returns and a higher likelihood of economic loss. The results suggest that replacement fe-
male values above approximately $4,000 place significant pressure on profitability and require exceptional biological performance to justify the investment. Another valuable metric for producers is payback period, or the number of years required to recover the initial investment. Purchased females valued at $1,000
recovered their cost within approximately one year. Purchased females valued at $2,000 and $3,000 required two and three years, respectively. Home-raised replacements required approximately four years to recover development costs. In comparison, $5,000 and $6,000 replacement females required nearly twelve years
to recapture their original investment. Because many commercial cows do not remain in production for that length of time, recovering such large upfront costs becomes increasingly challenging. The biological assumptions used in this study help explain these results. Peak conception rates generated
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generating positive returns across all simulations while maintaining a relatively narrow range of outcomes. The cumulative distribution functions illustrated in Figure 1 highlight these differences clearly. Curves shifted farther to the right represent higher expected
Matthew DeSarno and his daughter
Nate and Karli Robb
the majority of lifetime calf revenue, allowing females to recover their initial investment relatively quickly. However, as cows aged and reproductive performance declined, the opportunities to generate additional revenue diminished. Expensive replacement females therefore face a narrower margin (Continued on page 10B)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2026
Synergy Showcase awards junior exhibitors
PAGE 8B
The Synergy XIX event at Smith Genetics in Giddings, Texas, awarded $15,000 in prize money and awards to youth exhibiting
SimGenetics heifers during the Sept. 26-27 event. The weekend featured a competitive showmanship contest, leadership competitions in
sales talk and skillathon and recognition of outstanding exhibitors and heifers. Casey Henly evaluated showmanship, while Braden House
judged the heifer show. Showmanship awards included payouts through 10 places in each division, buckles for first- and second-place
SOUTHERN LIVESTOCK STANDARD
finishers in each age division, and $1,000 and $500 awards for the overall grand champion and reserve grand champion showmen, respec-
tively. Participating sponsors provide the funding for the show. Winners are identified in the accompanying photo captions. (Continued on page 11B)
Champion Purebred Simbrah: Smith Hills Girl Next Door, sired by Smith Isgrig Something in Red. Exhibited by Kannon Hill. He received $3,000 for the win. The winning entry was sponsored by Smith Genetics.
Reserve Grand Champion Purebred Simbrah: Smith Diva Do U Wanna Dance, sired by Smith Follow My Lead. Exhibited by Kannon Hill, who received $1,500 for the win.
Grand Champion Percentage Simbrah Heifer: Smith Bella Ima Lil Sis 19F, sired by Smith Isgrig Something In Red. Exhibited by Jakob Sansom and sponsored by Smith Genetics. He was awarded $300 for the win.
Reserve Grand Percentage Simbrah Heifer: Smith Bella I Gotcha Sis 91M, sired by Smith Isgrig Something In Red. Exhibited by Ryleigh Sandifer and sponsored by Smith Genetics. She received $150 for the win.
Grand Champion Simmental: Smith The 9 and young showmanship group, saw The 10-11-year-old showmen saw Zadie Pilat (l) won the 12-13-year-old group, DMM Look Like Dat 24P, sired by WLE Preston Pilat (l) take first place and Ryder Bates take first, followed by Brentley San- followed by Kannon Hill, Jacob Merritt, Smith Mamba K203. Exhibited by Jake Coppic placed second. difer and William Burch. Ryleigh Sandifer and Chase Allen. Tortorice and sponsored by Smith Genetics. Tortorice received $300 for the win.
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La Muneca Cattle Company hosts 39th Annual LMC Junior Roundup Good rains and the coolest day of the year since April set the stage for the 39th Annual LMC Jr. Roundup and LMC Futurity. The field day participants were treated to a great set of speakers, both educational and motivational. A cattle and hay judging contest was also hosted by La Muneca with the help of a few gracious volunteers. To round out the day LMC juniors and kiddos showing LMC genetics participated in the LMC Futurity Show. La Muneca thanks the sponsors, speakers, Edinburg North High School FFA, Edinburg High School FFA Booster Club, judges, volunteers, raffle prize donors, kiddos, parents, as well as the 4H and FFA leaders. Congratulations to Dean Fuchs for winning this year’s top prize of $1,000 in the LMC Raffle. The sponsors included: Greater State Bank, Hidalgo County Farm Bureau, Mueller Inc. - Robert Banda, Fernando Pérez, Creative Awards, Chorizó de San Manuel, Creative Awards, Santos Escobar, Jenna Hein, Aubrey Daniell, Pepe Guerra, Jose Rios Family, Víctor Guerra, Martin’s Farm & Ranch Supply, Tandy’s Farm & Ranch and La Muñeca-Flores Cattle Co. La Muneca also thanks their long-time friend and partner Steve Atzenhoffer for coordinating the judging contest. We also appreciate Javier Moreno, Vidal Saenz, and Carlos Guerra Jr. for your help in setting up the contests. Finally, we would like to thank Jacki Daniell for helping and making sure that every kiddo won a door prize. The dynamic set of speakers did an awesome job of inspiring our large group of 4-H and FFA students proven by the many and most ever interesting questions asked by kiddos of all ages. Your time and efforts were much appreciated speakers. We would also like to thank our LMC Futurity judge, Marco Barrientes who put on a very educational showmanship clinic plus excellent reasons on how and why he placed the cattle in the show. It was a great learning experience for all. Thank you Marco for your annual dona-
tion of your hand made halters for our showmanship champions as well. The juniors competed for and received over $5,500 in cash and awards through the LMC Futurity and LMC Genetics Show. A highlight of the day is always our LMC Special
2026 LMC Special Award Winners
LMC Field Day Contest Champions - High Point Jr. was Henry Martinez, High Point Intermediate was Emma Awards, this yea’rs recip- - Dolly Guzman, 2026 LMC Vela and High Point Senior was Maddie Flowers. Picients were: 2026 LMC Volunteer of the Year Award tured with sponsor, Baker McGurk. Educator of the Year Award (Continued on page 12B)
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2026
Raising...
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for error because fewer high market years remain available to offset high acquisition costs. Put another way, regardless of what a cow costs, she can still only produce one calf per year. These findings do not suggest that producers should avoid purchasing replacement females altogether. Individual ranches may justify paying premium prices for elite genetics, specific maternal traits, or rapid herd expansion opportunities. However, the results empha-
SOUTHERN LIVESTOCK STANDARD size the importance of viewing replacement purchases as long-term investments rather than short-term market opportunities. High purchase prices alone do not create value; future productive performance creates value. For many commercial cow-calf operations, retaining and developing high-quality home-raised replacements may offer one of the most attractive combinations of profitability and risk management. Home-raised females generated strong economic returns while allowing producers to main-
tain control over genetics, environmental adaptation, and herd health. Likewise, producers purchasing replacements at more moderate price levels are generally able to achieve favorable returns without exposing the operation to excessive financial risk. As the cattle industry continues to navigate record cattle prices and historically expensive replacement females, disciplined investment decisions remain critical. The results from this analysis suggest that (Continued on page 15B)
SOUTHERN LIVESTOCK STANDARD
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2026
Synergy Showcase... (Continued from page 8B)
The 14-15 age group was won by Parker Jakob Sansom took the honors in the col- Pilat (l) followed by Griffin Dodson, Ben Burch and John Patton Reavis. legiate division.
Jenna Tyler (l) was named the overall Jenna Tyler (l) won the very competitive champion showman and received $1,000. 16-18 age group, followed by Areaya Mc- Parker Pilat (r) was named the reserve Neal, Kaden Pilat, Morgan Tilley, Emily overall showman and received a check for Burch, Lillian Alvarado and Wyatt Glass. $500. They are pictured with Casey Henly, judge and Tim Smith.
FOR ALL THINGS SIMBRAH VISIT
SIMBRAHWORLD.COM OR FOLLOW THE FACEBOOK PAGE.
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La Muneca... (Continued from page 9B)
- Brian Jones and the 2026 LMC Booster of the Year Award - Jose and Yarelly Rios. The first ever LMC ANIMO
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Award to be awarded at the cipients on the well deserved LMC Field Day was also recognition and we appreciate earned by Adrian Garza. all that you do for so many. Congratulations to these reWe hope you will mark
your calendars now for our 40th Annual LMC Junior Roundup scheduled for October 2, 2027. Thank you
once again to everyone who attended and made the 39th Annual LMC Junior Roundup a success.
Junior Showmanship Winners-Champion Ellie Petrash, Senior Showmanship Winners-Champion Atalie Petrash, LMC Futurity Grand Champion Simbrah Heifer-LMC Reserve Champion Alessandra Hinojosa, 3rd Place Kes- Reserve Champion Bella Cantu, and 3rd Landrah More- LN Button P668, sired by W/C Bet On Red and exhibited sler Campbell, 4th Place Jacek Moreno, and 5th Place no. by Jacek Moreno. Brynlee Daniell.
LMC Futurity Reserve Grand Champion Simbrah Heif- LMC Genetics Show Grand Champion Simbrah Heif- LMC Genetics Show Reserve Grand Champion Simbrah er-LMC Nellie 5N/34, sired by FCC1 KNC Light On er-HIUP Jessie 6N, out of LMC ATZ Jojo Rabbit 5J/161 Heifer-LHH Vada 643P, sired by RGV LMC Net Worth Black and exhibited by Ellie Petrash. and exhibited by Atalie Petrash. M418 and exhibited by Alessandra Hinojosa.
Simbrah Source: American Simmental Association
The American Simmental Association maintains the registry for the Simbrah breed. Simbrah combines the strengths of two of the most populous breeds of cattle in the world — Simmental and Brahman. The fertility, milking ability, and rapid growth of the Simmental are comple-
mented by the heat tolerance and hardiness of the Brahman. What is a Simbrah? Animals of 5/8 Simmental and 3/8 Brahman breeding are registered as purebred Simbrah. Other combinations of not less than 1/8 Simmental, 1/8 Brahman, and not more than 3/8 other breeds
are registered as percentage Simbrah. Breeders can select combinations that perform best in their production environment, and which also best satisfy market demand in their area. The Simbrah population presently makes up roughly 2% of ASA registered animals.
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SIMBRAH CALENDAR 2027
• Jan. 10 – Cattlemen’s Congress Junior Simbrah Show, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • Jan. 10 – Cattlemen’s Congress Open Simbrah Show, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • Jan. 25 – Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Junior Simbrah Show, Fort Worth, Texas • Jan. 29 – Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Open Simbrah Show, Fort Worth, Texas • Feb. 6 – Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Commercial Heifer Sale, Fort Worth, Texas • Feb. 12 – National Simbrah and National Percentage Simbrah Show, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, San Antonio, Texas • Feb. 16 – San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Junior Simbrah Show, San Antonio, Texas • Feb. 17 – Simbrah-Simmental Superbowl, San Antonio Stock Show
& Rodeo, San Antonio, Texas • Feb. 17 – San Antonio Stock Show All Breed Bull and Commercial Heifer Sale, San Antonio, Texas • Mar. 3 – International Simbrah Show, Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, Houston, Texas • Mar.3 – Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo All Breed Bull & Commercial Heifer Sale, Houston, Texas • Mar.9 – Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Junior Simbrah Show, Houston, Texas • Mar.25 – Austin Livestock Show & Rodeo Junior Simbrah Show, Austin, Texas • May 22 – 8th Annual Back to the Grass Sale, Henderson, Texas • Sept. 11 – Fall Fest Annual Sale, Henderson, Texas • Sept. 25-26 – Synergy XX, Giddings, Texas • Oct. 2 – La Muñeca’s 40th Annual LMC roundup & Futurity, Linn, Texas
American Simbrah - The World’s Breed Please Contact These Progressive Breeders
Raising...
(Continued from page 10B)
producers should focus less on current market excitement and more on expected lifetime profitability. Whether replacements are raised or purchased, the females that create the
most value are those that remain productive, breed consistently, and wean calves year after year. Ultimately, replacement decisions should be based not on what a cow costs today, but on what she is expected to earn over her lifetime.
FOR ALL THINGS SIMBRAH VISIT
SIMBRAHWORLD.COM OR FOLLOW THE FACEBOOK PAGE.
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