Brought to you by American Simbrah Breeders Hill Family Cattle Building their legacy in the Simbrah breed
East Bernard agriculture science teachers, Jayson and Annette Hill, are quietly building a legacy in the Simbrah breed, one calf, one student, one lesson and even one podcast at a time.
As agricultural science teachers and FFA advisors, the Hills have spent decades shaping young minds in classrooms across the state, from Huntsville to San Antonio to Wharton County. Today, with 38 years of combined teaching experience, their influence stretches far beyond the school bell. It reaches into the show rings of Texas, through the fences of their cattle operation and into the growing network of families, breeders, and youth who call the Simbrah breed home. From the classroom to the show ring
The Hills didn’t set out to become Simbrah breeders. Their entry into the breed came through a student who needed a second chance.
“In 2009, I had a student who was getting into trouble,” Jayson recalled, “His parents were ready to send him to military school, but I convinced them that what he really needed was more responsibility.”
They started small with a rabbit project, then a goat project, but Jayson saw the student needed something more. “Eventually, I told his parents he needed to show cattle,” he said. The family expressed interest in
By Lindsay L. Allen
Brangus, so Jayson, new to the area, asked around for local breeders. That’s when someone pointed him to a Simbrah sale happening soon.
The sale was MAS (Marketing American Simbrah), hosted by La Muñeca Cattle, and would be the entry point into the breed that the Hills have become “all in” on.
A breed and a community that felt like home
Prior to the MAS sale, Jayson met with Simbrah breeder Richard Foster, who took the time to explain bloodlines and breeders.
Jayson and Annette’s student purchased a Reavis Farms Inc. calf that day in March. By June, the student’s family had bought two more heifers from Smith Genetics.
“We were drawn in by the cattle at first,” Annette said, “but what made us stay was the people. Every year we’ve met someone new who has supported and encouraged us. That’s what solidified our decision to stick with Simbrah.”
Raising cattle and a cattleman
When their son, Kannon was born in 2013, the Hills already knew showing cattle would someday be part of his upbringing. “As he got closer to being 8 years old, we started thinking seriously about what breed he’d show,” Jayson said, “We considered others that our students had success with, but we came
back to Simbrah. We knew the cattle and we trusted the people.”
At their first Synergy Sale, hosted by Smith Genetics, they purchased Kannon a percentage heifer from Diamond RF Farms and a purebred Simbrah from Strack Farms Simbrah. “They were puppy dog gentle,” Jayson said. “We bought them on Saturday and by Sunday, Kannon walked them into the ring at the Synergy Showcase event.”
While the Hills had lined up a high school student to help Kannon, that helping hand wasn’t needed for long. “When Kannon’s name was called, he marched in on his own,” Jayson laughed. “Those calves hadn’t had much halter time, but they were calm and responsive. It was a great experience.”
Today, Kannon shows Smith Fabled Farmer’s Daughter, a standout female and the first daughter out of Pop Star from Smith Genetics. She’s taken home grand champion titles at the 2025 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (junior and open Simbrah shows), Simbrah RoundUp, the American Junior Simmental Association National Classic, Synergy, to name a few wins. Marketing Simbrah beef
While the Hills focus on raising show-quality females, many tied to elite cow families like Dancing Queen and Juliet, and/or sired by Follow My Lead, they also recently began exploring another side of their cattle business, beef production.
“We had a conversation about what to do with bull calves,” Jayson said, “We’d obviously prefer heifers, but bulls happen, so we decided to try feeding them out.”
Leaning on Annette’s family’s experience, they fed out a purebred Simbrah steer and a percentage steer. “I really thought the percentage would outperform the purebred,” Jayson admitted, “But I was wrong. The purebred excelled with about a 250-
pound difference in carcass weight.”
“The feedback has been so positive,” he said, “People who bought our beef are asking when we’ll have more. We’re seriously considering
how this side business could work long-term.”
Simbrah just makes sense in the Gulf Coast
“In the Gulf Coast region, Simbrah excels,” Annette said, “They’re made for this climate. As a producer, it just makes sense, and as a person, the people in the breed make
it even better.”
This October, like much of Texas, East Bernard is under a burn ban and struggling through drought, but Jayson remains impressed with how their cattle perform.
“We don’t have a single tree on the place. It’s hot and the grass is brown,” he said, “But our cows are still graz-
Farmer’s Daughter-A heifer that has done more than her share of winning for Kannon Hill. The heifer, sired by Smith Follow My Lead and from the Pop Star Cow Family won the Houston Livestock Show Open and Junior Shows in 2025. She will play an integral part in the Hill’s breeding program going forward.
ing, still thriving. That’s what I love, low-input cattle that do their job.”
A voice for Simgenetics
With a deep love for teaching and the breed, Jayson recently launched a new podcast, Simbrah Spotlight. It blends his background in education with his passion for cattle.
“The podcast focuses on Simgenetics overall,” he said. “We cover everything from show prep to feeding steers to industry data. It’s about educating and connecting people within this breed.”
Doing it as a family
At Hill Family Cattle, everything circles back to their core belief, “Whatever you do, do it as a family.”
Whether it’s raising show calves with their son, helping students choose their first project, teaching ag mechanics during the day, or selling beef to neighbors, Jayson and Annette Hill are living that motto every day.
From humble beginnings with a single student and a Simbrah. heifer to now raising champions for their own son and feeding Texas families, the Hills are a reminder that in agriculture, it’s not just about cattle, it’s about commitment, community, and the kind of legacy you build one calf at a time.
Smith Fabled
Jayson and Annette Hill are both agricultural science teachers.
The Hill Family travelled to Madison, Wisconsin this past summer to compete at the American Junior Simmental Association National Classic.
The Hills are very involved with not just helping their son, their students, but they can be found coaching and help at all junior SimGenetic events.
2026 letter designation is P
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.
• 2026 - P
• 2027 – R
Riddle and Schuetze honored
Scott Riddle and Fred Schuetze of Simmentals of
Texas 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, has announced their 12th Annual LMC & Friends GIVING Thanks Online Sale, on
CattleinMotion.com on Nov. 24-26. 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 Saturday, Feb. 8th. For entries and complete information visit the saarodeo.com.
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. 18th. 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, 2025. Sponsorships will continue to be accepted at the rate of $1,250 per sponsorship from Jan. 1 to Feb. 10, 2026 (postmarked/paid prior to Feb. 10, 2026) 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.sim-
brah-simmentalsuperbowl. com.
Condolences to Mercer family
Arthur Joseph Mercer III was born on June 6, 1947, in Temple, Texas and died on Oct. 2, 2025, at the age of 78 at his home near Belfalls, Texas after a long, fierce battle with cancer. He graduated from Temple High School in 1965 where he played
football and participated in Golden Gloves. After a semester at Blinn College he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in July 1966 to serve in Vietnam until 1968 during the beginning of the Tet Offensive. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Sargent having received a Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnamese Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and rifle Sharpshooter Badge. Mercer returned to Texas to study at Trinity University, San Antonio and Texas A&M University, College Station where he graduated with a degree in building construction in 1974. He married Beth Ussery of Weslaco, Texas in August 1974 after graduation and moved to Houston to work with Brown & Root (Continued on page 3B)
Pictured (left to right) Kenneth Airheart, Scott Riddle, Fred Schuetze and Victor Guerra.
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in their offshore marine division designing offshore drilling platforms. Before he was transferred to Bahrain, he was offered a position with Ussery Engineering Inc. in Weslaco, Texas to help expand his father-in-law’s business in the design and construction of underground drainage and irrigation pipelines on agricultural land in the Rio Grande Valley.
The Mercers moved to Monte Alto, Texas where they both worked for the family business. Mercer later left Ussery Engineering and started Mercer Apiaries, a commercial beekeeping business producing honey and providing pollination services to local farming operations for the production of cucurbit crops. Mercer Apiaries honey was featured in the Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog. He served as the president of the Rio Grande Valley Beekeepers Association, as well as the Texas Beekeepers Association, was a member of the Monte Alto Lions Club and served on the school board of the Monte Alto ISD. After the death of Beth’s father, he returned to the family business, changing the name
to Mercer & Ussery Inc. and expanded the operation to include municipal water and sewer construction projects while she ran the agricultural construction projects.
For a time, he held a private pilot’s license and flew a Mooney 252. They bought land, planted pasture, and raised Simbrah cattle naming that operation Filegonia Cattle Company. Both were active in the Rio Grande Valley Simbrah/Simmental Association for many years. They raised Louisiana Catahoula Leopard dogs, had a good cutting horse and cow horse as well as burros for halter breaking calves.
In 2008, the decision was made to shut down the business, pack up and move everything to Central Texas near Belfalls close to where most of his immediate family lived. He farmed some of his grandfather’s land until 2021 when he retired from farming to keep Beth’s cattle equipment running. He learned his mechanic skills from his father and uncle, Gary Hudgens, and was putting them to good use until his death. He rebuilt old cars with his brother, Mike, and could repair just about anything.
The tanks on his and Beth’s land are stocked with bass,
A PROGRAM BY
catfish, and perch that he introduced. He loved to fish and said that there was nothing more exciting than catching a tarpon on a fly rod before breakfast.
Mercer was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his wife, Beth; his brother, Mike Mercer and wife, Nancy of Temple; cousins, nieces and nephews; and a godson, Frank Barker of Cypress, Texas. A celebration of his life was held on Oct. 14th.
ASA welcomes Dr. Ben Crites
The American Simmental Association (ASA) is excited to welcome Dr. Ben Crites to the team as the ASA and IGS Director of Commercial and Industry Relations. Crites grew up in southwest Michigan where his family (Continued on page 4B)
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.
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.
SMITH BELLA AMELIA ANN 188H
SMITH HAPPIER TIMES 814H
SMITH RFI MY TIME 725E
Economic “Efficiency”: The utility of $Gain for improved feedlot performance
The business of a seedstock producer is to provide genetic improvement for traits pertinent to economic success through all segments of the beef industry. An example of this is premiums for higher-quality carcasses. These premiums have led to drastic genetic selection for improved marbling in most breed populations. For this reason, seedstock producers play a pivotal role in shaping the genetic foundation of the beef industry. Traits that are associated with actual profitability are what we animal breeders call economically relevant traits (ERTs).
Selection for ERTs ensures that commercial cattle producers have access to genetics that enhance profitability throughout the supply chain. Traditional selection for seedstock producers, however, has often over-emphasized growth traits such as weaning and yearling weight, and as such a more balanced
By Lane Giess, former American Simmental Association geneticist
approach is necessary to optimize biological and economic efficiency in our cow herds.
One of the more recent concerns in the business has been related to feed “efficiency” in feeder cattle. The reason for the quotes around “efficiency” is that in many cases, the tools we have developed to address feed conversion have been related to biological efficiency rather than economic efficiency, which can sometimes be antagonistic to meaningful improvement. A solution to this is the $Gain economic subindex developed by International Genetic Solutions to more appropriately address selection for improved feedlot performance by optimizing the economic efficiency during the finishing phase. Unlike traditional single-trait selection for dry matter intake (DMI) or residual feed intake (RFI), $Gain balances both the eco-
nomic component of average daily gain (ADG) and DMI, ensuring that the most profitable animals are identified. The result of $Gain is already factored into both $API and $TI, meaning we already factor the relationship of value of gain to the cost of intake in both indexes.
The $Gain prediction is expressed as the difference in daily profitability of animals in the feedlot based on their combination of DMI and ADG expected progeny differences (EPD). ADG is positively weighted by the value of a pound of gain, and DMI is negatively weighted by the cost of a pound of dry matter. For example:
Bull A = $0.10
$Gain EPD
Bull B = $0.00
$Gain EPD
You would expect progeny from Bull A to be $0.10 more profitable per day than progeny from Bull B due to a combination of feed requirements and growth potential. $Gain is fundamentally a
ratio-based prediction that accounts for both intake and gain. Animals that consume large amounts of feed but
News...
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owns a Christmas tree farm. He received his undergraduate degree from Michigan State University and completed his master’s and PhD at the University of Kentucky in reproductive physiology. His doctoral research focused on the impacts of selenium on beef cattle fertility. During his tenure at the University of Kentucky, he also served as an Extension associate and assisted with Extension programs throughout Kentucky.
Most recently, he served as the STgenetics Director of Beef Market Development, where he co-managed the beef team, conducted customer meetings, and assisted with sire acquisition. He and his wife, Jamie, reside in Paris, Kentucky, with their son McCoy. As a family, they enjoy traveling and visiting new places together. “We are in exciting times in the U.S. beef industry, with record high prices being captured across the country. As the U.S. cow herd rebuilds, there are great opportunities for producers to utilize Simmental and Siminfluenced genetics to increase performance, while keeping mature cow weight in check,” Crites shared.
Synergy auctions raise money for Simbrah promotion
Thank you to everyone who donated to the silent
exhibit superior growth rates are recognized as desirable, as are those that consume less but still maintain appropriate
auction. Over $2,100 was raised for Simbrah promotion at the recent Synergy Sale. Thank you to Twila and Belva Johnson for coordinating the auction.
Scholarships awarded at Synergy XVIII
Three $1,000 scholarships were awarded at the recent Synergy. These are sponsored by the Smith, Nieschwietz and Da Silva families.
growth. Conversely, animals that eat excessively without proportional growth, or those that eat minimally but fail to grow, are penalized within the prediction. This balance ensures that selection decisions are aligned with true economic efficiency, rather than simply reducing intake without considering performance outcomes. Many
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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. In addition to the news, all issues of the magazine and the annual Simbrah News Commercial Feature are archived on this site. Simbrah World 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.
Callie Heaton received the $1,000 Smith Family Scholarship.
Savannah Daniels received the $1,000 Nieschwietz Family Scholarship.
Gavin Hinckley received the $1,000 Rodrigo Da Silva Family Scholarship.
The links between cow-calf, stocker and feedlot segments of the beef industry
The beef industry is often described in segments— calves start on the ranch, many go through a stocker or backgrounding phase, and then enter the feedlot. But what happens early in a calf’s life doesn’t just stay there. Health, nutrition, and management decisions made before weaning or during grazing ripple forward, shaping feedlot performance, carcass quality and ultimately consumer demand.
A recent Applied Animal Science Special Issue highlighted how pre-weaning and stocker management affect cattle performance later in the
Economic...
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studies have found a positive genetic correlation between DMI and growth traits (weaning weight, yearling weight, etc.) exists. For instance, studies have shown that DMI is positively correlated with ADG, meaning that selection for reduced DMI alone can inadvertently lead to slower-growing, smaller-framed cattle. This trade-off underscores the importance of an economically driven approach like $Gain rather than a narrow focus on intake reduction.
Many breeders might argue that a tool that addresses this problem already exists in the Residual Feed Intake (RFI) EPD. Residual feed intake (RFI) has been widely used as a measure of feed efficiency, but it presents inherent challenges. RFI is calculated as the difference between an animal’s actual feed intake and its predicted intake based on maintenance
By Paul Beck, Oklahoma State University nutrition specialist
feeding phase and at harvest (DOI: 10.15232/aas.202502716). Here are a few key takeaways:
Health matters most
Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is still one of the costliest health challenges.
Calves treated for BRD during receiving gained less on pasture, entered the feedlot lighter, and finished with lower carcass weights. They didn’t “catch up” later, showing the value of preventing sickness.
Nutrition has mixed carryover Research showed limited long-term impacts of cow
and growth requirements. However, RFI merely quantifies variation rather than reflecting true feed efficiency. The issue lies in its failure to account for differences in growth and output, which are crucial in determining profitability. For example, two animals with the same RFI may differ significantly in total pounds gained, affecting their overall economic value in the feedlot.
Furthermore, biological efficiency — the concept underlying RFI — does not always align with economic efficiency. Different types of cattle can be profitable depending on the level of input received and their outputs. For example, cattle that consume more feed but achieve superior gains may be more valuable than those that consume less but grow at a suboptimal rate. While RFI may be related to profit in its attempt to identify more biologically efficient animals, it does not directly predict
or stocker nutrition. Winter supplementation of cows did not consistently affect later calf performance. Distillers grains boosted gains on pasture, but advantages disappeared in the feedlot. Beef × dairy crosses responded to higher early-life nutrition with better growth and marbling, but compensatory gains were mostly confined to early finishing.
Management leaves a mark
Calves weaned with lowstress methods or grown as yearlings tended to produce heavier carcasses with better quality grades than those shipped directly to the feed-
differences in profit. Because of this, there can be a large disparity between animals with the same RFI and actual profit. It is certainly possible for animals identified as being ideal for RFI to have a significantly poor ability to produce profit in the feedyard. A holistic approach that incorporates the economics of intake and growth is essential to optimizing profitability.
Producers should exercise caution when making genetic selections based solely on DMI reduction or RFI. While reducing feed intake may seem appealing, it can lead to unintended consequences such as smaller, slower-growing cattle that do not maximize economic returns. The $Gain prediction offers a more comprehensive selection tool by incorporating both intake and gain into a single economic framework.
$Gain and DMI are now available in the suite of EPD on Herdbook.org.
lot. Weaning strategy, grazing management, stocking rate, and calving season all influenced growth and carcass outcomes, though results were sometimes inconsistent. What this means for producers
The most consistent message is that healthy,
well-managed calves perform better all the way through the beef system. Preventing BRD, castrating before marketing, and using low-stress weaning methods are management decisions that continue paying off beyond the ranch gate. Nutrition programs support short-term
growth but don’t always carry over into finishing.
Early management decisions echo throughout the beef production chain. Keeping calves healthy and reducing stress is the surest way to add value in every segment.
~SLS
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
Registered Sire
Purebred Simmental
1/4 Simmental x 3/4 Brahman Purebred Simmental High level of heterosis in calf; highest (foundation Brahman)
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.
Simbrah promotional items available
The American Simmental Association (ASA) has marketing materials for the Simbrah breed. There is a brochure, as well as signs promoting Simbrahs as the
crossbreeding choice. For details on how you can get copies of the brochure for distribution and have the sign at events in your area, contact the ASA at 406/587-4531.
Registered Dam Comments
1/4 Simmental x 3/4 Brahman (foundation Brahman)
Purebred Simmental
3/4 Simmental x 1/4 Brahman 1/2 Simmental x 1/2 Brahman
Most heterosis overall; increased weaning weight without increased birth weights.
High level of heterosis in calf; highest expected weaning weights, but also a potential for increased birth weights.
Moderate level of heterosis in calf and a high degree of maternal heterosis; weaning weight potential similar to option two, but with less expected increase in birth weight.
Making an impact
By Martha A. Hollida
The junior associations and related opportunities in Simbrah have played a part in developing countless young leaders who are making a difference in agriculture and their communities. We’re spotlighting former members, revisiting their experiences and catching up on where life has taken them. Let’s catch up with Callie Henly Cline in this issue.
“I began showing Simbrah heifers at the age of eight and joined the Texas Junior Simmental Simbrah Association (TJSSA) soon thereafter,” Cline recalls. “From 2004 to 2015, my brother and I, along with our parents, never missed a TJSSA State Show.”
The family also made the rounds at junior nationals, Simbrah Synergy and every major Texas stock show. Along the way, she earned several TJSSA leadership titles including sweetheart, queen, director and eventually, president. “As a TJSSA scholar and now returning as a volunteer, the Simbrah breed has continued to impact my life beyond my time in the show ring,” she added.
Her dedication to livestock and leadership extended far beyond Simbrah. A ten-year San Augustine County 4-H member and an active FFA participant, Cline excelled in beef, swine, poultry, public speaking and community service projects. She served in officer roles at multiple levels and was named an Area IX officer and Ford Leadership Scholar. “My involvement in both organizations was monumental in setting the trajectory for my future,” she says. “I travelled, found great success, lifelong friendships and so much personal growth because of these organizations,” she said.
That trajectory led her to Texas A&M University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in agricultural communications and journalism and animal science in 2017, followed by a Master of Science in animal science focusing on consumer education in 2019. While at A&M, she was active in COALS Council, Saddle and Sirloin, and Aggie Relay for Life, experiences that further shaped her leadership and communication skills.
“My time in TJSSA, 4-H and FFA was really the steppingstone for everything that came after,” she reflects.
“Showing cattle was my passion growing up. It’s where I made my best friends and where I learned what I wanted to do with my life. The connections I made through those youth programs were pivotal in helping me decide my career path.”
That career path led her back to the youth livestock world she loves. She began working for Texas 4-H Youth Livestock and Agriculture
as a social media technician and cattle validation program assistant, eventually stepping into a full-time role with Texas 4-H while still completing her master’s degree. Today, she serves as the Texas 4-H Youth Development Program and Foundation Marketing and Communications Specialist, a position she’s held for eight years.
“My background with
Simbrah cattle is absolutely one of the biggest reasons I feel so strongly about what I do for the state 4-H program,” she says. “Without my experiences in the showring, I wouldn’t have the passion I do for helping youth find their own success stories.”
Cline’s love for livestock and family runs deep. A third-generation cattlewoman, she and her husband, Garrett, who has a Hereford background, now live in Bryan, Texas, with their children, Caleb, who will turn three in November, and oneyear-old Ellie. “They both
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Callie Cline and her husband, Garrett with children, Caleb and Ellie.
LMC Junior Round Up and Futurity held
The 38th Annual LMC Junior Round Up & LMC Futurity was held Oct. 4th, and the Guerra family expressed their thanks to the Lord for providing great weather and awesome groups of 4-H and FFA families to help them host this educational, family oriented, funfilled, rewarding, safe, and successful event.
“It has been a very rewarding labor of love for our family and team for 38 consecutive years to provide this leadership based junior event for thousands of 4-H and FFA kiddos. To hear their thoughtful questions after each speaker is very inspiring,” said Carlos X. Guerra.
Ella Hartzog, Brush Country 4-H & Hidalgo County 4-H vice president, led the 4-H motto, pledge, and prayer. Cecilia Guerra from Robert Vela High School FFA recited the FFA Creed.
Longtime friend, Steve Atzenhoffer coordinated the judging contest. The day long activities were made possible by many donors, the Edinburg FFA Booster Club, Edinburg & Edinburg
North FFA officers, Lauren and Logan Thomas, who served as judges and speakers. Greater State Bank was the premium sponsor.
Sponsors included Hidalgo County Farm Bureau, Doug Lightfoot Family, Chorizó de San Manuel, Creative Awards, Fernando Perez, Mueller Inc. - Frank Trevino, Martin’s Farm & Ranch, Tandy’s Farm & Ranch, Santos Escobar, Marco Barrientes, Ranger Gates - Steve Atzenhoffer, Charley Murphy, Frankie Reyes Family, La MuñecaFlores and La Muñeca Cattle Co.
“One of the many highlights of this event that our family is very proud of and looks forward to every year is the awarding of our LMC special awards. This is like our LMC Hall of Fame made up of very special people who have not only touched our lives but the lives of many others in our world,” explained Guerra.
The 2025 LMC Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Yolanda Chapa for her work with McAllen Pregnancy (Continued on page 10B)
High point intermediate winners in the judging contest were (l to r) Baker McGurk, Emma Vela and Jelena Quintero.
High point junior winners in the judging contest were (l to r) Camilla Gonzales, Graceyn Drake and Brynlee Danielle.
High point senior winners in the judging contest were (l to r) Valeria Alonzo, Roman Palomo and Jesus Osorio.
Award winners and the Guerra family pose for a photo at their 38th annual event.
Successful Synergy SimGenetic Sale held
SimGenetic breeders turned out in impressive numbers for the Synergy XVIII SimGenetic Sale held Sept. 27 in Giddings, Texas. Hosted by Smith Genetics, the weekend event drew a large and enthusiastic crowd for a full schedule that included cattle show and leadership contests for junior exhibitors. By sale’s end, a total of $1,885,750 had changed hands for a strong set of SimGenetic cattle consigned primarily by Smith Genetics and select customers.
Kelby and Sharon Boldt, Hempstead, Texas purchased half interest and half possession in Smith Like a Lady Juliet 521L from Smith Genetics. The female was sired by Smith Easy Like 21J and carried the maternal genetics of Juliet Cow Family. She sold safe in calf to Smith Follow My Lead.
The Sansom Family of 4S Cattle Co., Brenham, Texas, selected Smith Leading Detonation 037M to add to their program. The Smith Follow My Lead daughter was a third-generation member of the Priceless Cow Family as her dam is Smith SWFS Detonation, the heir apparent to the Priceless cow. Her full sister was purchased by Rodrigo DaSilva. Both were offered by Smith Genetics, who retained half interest and half possession of both females.
Smith Bella’s Lucky Girl 326M generated the attention and final bid from Randy and Karen Prince, Leander, Texas. The potential donor female was sired by Smith Isgrig Something in Red and was a fourth-generation member of the Bella Bella Cow Family. She sold in full and was safe in calf to Smith Steppin’ Up Your Game.
New breeders, Matthew and Caroline DeSarno, Lewisville, Texas, added an exceptional daughter of Smith Easy Like 21J and Smith Diva’s Dancing Queen. They purchased one half interest and one-half possession in the female, Smith Dancing Diva Miss Magic from Smith Genetics.
The Ebert family recognized the breeding superiority of Smith Phenomenal Darcy 83L. The two-yearold female combined the sire power of Smith Just Because and her dam was sired by Smith Have No Fear. She sold safe in calf to WLE Smith Mamba K203. The Eberts joined Smith Genetics in ownership in the female.
The Thorp family, Dayton, Texas selected a percentage Simbrah female to add to their growing program.
Smith Tiara’s Precious Lady, offered by Smith Genetics, was sired by Smith Follow My Lead. The Thorps purchased one-half interest and one-half possession from Smith Genetics.
New breeders, Kyle and Joy Matheson, Magnolia, Texas started their Simbrah
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Sandifer Family were buyers at Synergy XVIII.
Toby Triesch added SimGenetics to his program at Synergy XVIII.
Randy Prince was a repeat buyer at the Synergy XVIII offering.
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Center. The 2025 LMC Booster of the Year was Jody Drake from Alabama. Drake is a retired Army analyst who has become a performance guru in his Polled Brahman and Simbrah breeds. The LMC Educator of the Year recipient was Lauren Thomas, a young ag teacher at Lyford who brings a ton of energy to work every day.
Speakers included Pops Guerra, Fernando Pérez, Vidal Saenz, Steve Atzenhoffer, Alexander Garrison, Lauren Thomas, Jody Drake, Victor G. Guerra, Natali Meréz, Michael Patrick and Logan
Thomas.
The show ring featured competitions for showmanship, a show for cattle purchased directly from La Muñeca and a show for cattle produced from La Muñeca.
“Another great tradition we offer is our LMC Futurity, which was open to juniors who purchased their show calves from us or are showing a calf out of at least one LMC parent. Half of the premiums and awards are awarded in showmanship. We awarded over $7,500 in premiums and awards in the LMC Futurity this year in addition to the premiums for the judging contests and all the door prizes.
PINE RIDGE SIMBRAHS
Sydney Petrash exhibited the LMC Futurity Grand Champion Simbrah Female.
Kaitlyn Hendricks exhibited the LMC Genetics Grand Champion Simbrah.
Ace Wilson exhibited the Reserve Grand Champion Simbrah Female.
Rhyssa Silvas exhibited the LMC Genetics Reserve Grand Champion Simbrah.
Synergy Showcase awards junior exhibitors
The Synergy XVIII awarded youth exhibiting SimGenetics heifers more than $15,000 in prize monies and awards at their
annual event held Sept. 27-28 at Smith Genetics in Giddings, Texas. The event featured a showmanship contest with
divisions paying 10 places deep ($300 down to $25) and buckles were awarded to the first and second place of each age. There
was an overall grand champion and reserve grand champion showman that paid $1,000 and $500. In addition, leadership
contests in sales talk and skillathon were part of the weekend. Rusty Mertink judged the showmanship, while Barry Wesner
judged the heifers. The winners are announced in the photo captions.
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Smith Fabled Farmers Daughter, sired by Smith Follow My Lead. Exhibited by Kannon Hill. Senior and Grand Champion Purebred. $3,000 prize monies, buckle and banner. Sponsored by Smith Genetics.
Pilat Penny Outtaline. Sired by Smith Follow My Lead. Exhibited by Parker Pilat. Reserve Grand Champion Purebred. $1,500 in prize monies, buckle and banner. Sponsored by Smith Genetics and Pilat.
in prize
and
Smith
Smith Jazz Miss Mia Marie 993N. Sired by Smith Follow My Lead. Exhibited by Morgan Crane. Reserve Grand Champion Percentage Female. $250
monies, buckle
banner. Sponsored by Smith Genetics.
Smith Diva Do U Wanna Dance. Sired by Smith Follow My Lead. Exhibited by Kannon Hill. Purebred Calf Champion. $150 in prize monies. Sponsored by Smith Genetics.
Smith Pilat Penny’s Clover 82N. Sired by Smith Made Solid. Exhibited by Kaden Pilat. Purebred Reserve Heifer Calf. $100 in prize monies. Sponsored by Smith Genetics and Pilat.
Smith Miss Darling Diva 20M. Sired by Smith Follow My Lead. Exhibited by Jenna Tyler. Purebred Reserve Junior Champion. $100 prize monies. Sponsored by Smith Genetics.
Smith TMP Bella Paula Teresa. Sired by Smith Follow My Lead. Exhibited by Gavin Hinckley. Purebred Reserve Senior Champion. $100 in prize monies. Sponsored by Smith and TMP.
Smith Dancing Diva Georgia Gal. Sired by CFCM Caught Lookin. Exhibited by Kaden Pilat. Grand Champion Percentage Simbrah. $600 in prize monies, buckle and banner. Sponsored by Smith Genetics.
Fall and winter management strategies for the cow herd – sample, test, inventory and stage harvested hay
By Rick Rasby and Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension
Haying season is over, days are shorter, and cooler weather means winter isn’t far away. Beef producers will keep cows grazing as long as possible since it’s cheaper than feeding harvested forage. Dormant range, cool-season pasture, and cornstalks are excellent winter feed resources if grazing guidelines are followed.
Still, at some point before spring green-up, harvested hay will enter the ration. Now is the time to get that hay component organized.
Sampling hay
Contact the lab that you will send the hay samples to. The lab often provides plastic bags to put samples in (a quart zip lock will do just fine too), an information sheet
identifying the hay type, analysis you want the testing lab to perform, and billing and contact information.
For harvested forages like hay, use a hay probe to collect the sample for an accurate assessment. Most extension offices have a hay probe that can be checked out. Sample each hay by lot. A lot is hay harvested at a
similar time, from the same plant type and growth stage, and from a similar location such as a field. Because hay quality can vary due to differences from all the listed factors, sampling by lot ensures that a representative sample is provided for testing. Also remember when sampling a bale, core on the side of the bale that goes through the most possible layers, for example, the rounded side of a round bale or the short side of a square bale.
For most hays, 20 subsamples should be taken per lot and then mixed before the sample bag is filled and submitted to the laboratory. This helps capture variation in the hay. When sampling, try to take samples at random from bales. Don’t seek out good spots or avoid bad ones as this can skew results providing an inaccurate assessment of the hay quality.
Testing hay
The most cost-effective analysis for most hays is a NIRS analysis. For this type of analysis, it is important to identify the sample (alfalfa, summer annual, prairie hay, bromegrass, etc.). Most common hays have a robust NIRS database for labs to pull from, but complex mixtures or rare hay types may still be best analyzed using traditional wet chemistry. If you have any questions, reach out to your lab of choice before submitting for confirmation on types of analysis (NIRS, wet chemistry) to use.
If hay will be fed to beef cows, test for moisture, percent crude protein, and total digestible nutrients (TDN). TDN cannot be directly tested but is a calculated value. You can request minerals as part of your NIRS analysis. If there is a need to test for other minerals, the lab can do that using another testing procedure. Summer annuals should also be tested for nitrates. Hay inventory
Inventory hays by type (alfalfa, grass hay, summer annual, etc.). Inventory each hay type by quality, including high (percent crude protein and percent TDN), moderate, and low. Count the number of bales by type and quality. Take a weight of each hay type by quality and calculate total pounds of each type. This will help determine the number of feeding days for each hay type and quality.
(Continued
Testing and organizing hay by quality and nutritional content can help make sure cows are getting their nutritional needs met at the right times.
Age 10-11 (left to right) Zadie Bates, 1st place $300 and buckle, Tilden Lightfoot, 2nd place $250 and buckle, Brentley Sandifer, 3rd place $200, and William Burch, 4th place and $150.
16 and over winners (left to right) Callie Heaton, 1st place $300 and buckle, Morgan Crane, 2nd place $250 and buckle, Kate Martin, 3rd place $200, Jenna Tyler, 4th place $150, Areaya McNeal, 5th place $100, Aubrey Schneider 6th place $75, Savannah Daniels, 7th place $50 Kaden Pilat 8th place $25, Lillian Alvarado 9th place $25 and Gavin Hinckley, 10th place $25.
12-13 Winners (left to right) Kannon Hill, 1st place $300 and buckle; Brynn Pilat, 2nd place $250 and buckle, Jacob Merrit, 3rd place $200, Bryleigh Sandifer,4th $150, Stockton Lightfoot 5th place (not pictured) Ben Burch, 6th place $75 and John Patton Reavis, 7th place $50.
14-15 winners (left to right) Emily Burch, 1st place $300 and buckle; Paisley Lightfoot, 2nd place $250 and buckle, Parker Pilat, 3rd place $200, Brooklyn Hurst, 4th place $150 and Griffin Dodson, 5th place $100.
Overall Showman won $1,000 and reserve overall $500. (Left to right) Rusty Mertink, judge, Callie Heaton, grand champion, Morgan Crane, reserve grand champion and Tim Smith, host.
Making...
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love going to cow shows and spending time on their grandparents’ ranches,” she explained. Garrett serves as director of operations for Armstrong Properties, while she continues to balance her career with volunteer service as superintendent for the State Fair of Texas British and Continental Cattle Show and the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo Open Cattle Show.
Her reflections on her upbringing are filled with
Fall...
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Cows will eat more of the high-quality hay compared to the moderate and low-quality hay because it is easier to digest.
Cows will eat between 2.0 and 2.5 percent of their body weight on a dry matter basis. As you budget the amount of hay needed, account for storage losses (10% to 25%) and feeding losses (10%). It is important to store hays in such a way to reduce storage losses. Store big round bales on the round side with space between them and not in low places where water settles. Additionally, limit or control
gratitude and perspective.
“Patience and putting your kids first are the things I learned firsthand from my parents,” she says. “They devoted countless hours to helping my brother and me grow through showing cattle.
I hope I can be half the show parent they were.”
For Cline, the lessons learned from the barn and the showring have shaped every facet of her life, from communication and leadership to patience and perseverance.
“The benefits of programs like TJSSA, 4-H, and FFA
(by mowing) the growth of weeds around the bales.
The following calculations will help you determine the amount of hay to budget per cow. If cows, on average weigh 1,200 pounds and the hay quality is moderate to high, each cow will eat 30 lbs. per day. When accounting for feeding losses (10%), this calculates to 33 lbs. per head per day on a dry matter basis. To determine the amount needed on an “as-fed” basis, look at the hay analysis to get the dry matter content. If the moisture content is 15%, then the dry matter content is 85%. Most baled hays will be between 84% and 90% dry matter. Divide 33 lbs./hd/day
are immeasurable,” she says. “The family time, the friendships, the life lessons — they last forever.”
And now, as she plans for her own children to take their first steps into the showring, that legacy continues. “I will never be able to fully communicate how thankful I am for where I was raised and all the people who mentored me along the way. It truly was the best childhood I could imagine and the reason I am who I am today. The Simbrah breed was an integral part of that,” she concluded.
by 0.85 to determine pounds per head per day “as-fed”. For this example, the amount is 39 pounds per head per day. If storage losses are 15%, you will need to budget 45 pounds per head per day.
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Successful...
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program with Smith Brite Eyes On U 41N. The February 2025 daughter of Smith Follow My Lead carried some impressive EPDs and they purchased one-half interest and one-half possession from Smith Genetics. Auctioneer was Terry Reagan.
Monitoring bulls and cows for reproduction
Reproductive efficiency is the cornerstone of profitability in the cattle industry, where the ability to wean healthy calves directly impacts the bottom line. For commercial cattle producers, high conception rates, successful pregnancies and healthy animals are not just goals—they are essential for sustaining and growing their operations. However, reproductive failures in both bulls and females can disrupt this process, leading to significant financial losses. Understanding the root causes of these failures is critical for improving herd fertility and ensuring that producers achieve the high weaning rates necessary for long-term success.
Before conception, there are several factors at play that may lead to a high percentage of open cows later in the breeding season. It’s best to consider the bull and the female in every scenario when you are managing the herd.
Female reproduction
From a pre-breeding season standpoint, Dr. George
Perry, beef cattle reproductive physiology professor for Texas A&M AgriLife Research, said, “One of the biggest contributing factors to reproductive failure in your herd is females that have not initiated their estrous cycle before the breeding season, which is usually a defined 60- to 90-day period. There can be many reasons for her not to cycle. Perhaps she was a late calving cow, or she hasn’t had the proper nutrition she needs, which is usually a result of drought,” he continued, “Young cows put their nutrition toward themselves, and nursing cows put their nutrition toward milk production and in neither scenario is reproduction a priority for the female. This is why adequate nutrition is so important – because reproduction will be overlooked when there is a deficit.”
He stated that the ideal goal is that cows are in good condition and are far enough removed from the post-partum stage that they can begin cycling or cycling again.
Echoing that, Dr. Carla
By Lindsay L Allen
Huston, beef extension veterinarian and professor for Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, stressed the importance of quality nutrition for breeding cows, too. “When we are in drought, the following year’s hay quality may be low or inconsistent quality and this sets off a domino effect of less than desirable body condition scores (BCS) which leads to difficulty in rebreeding the females in your herd,” she said.
She also stated that different diseases could be another reason that cattlemen are seeing infertility in their herds, noting that bovine viral diarrhea and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis are often times culprits. Leptospirosis is also a common disease that is not easy to diagnose, but easily spread through water and urine (via ponds/creeks) and will lead to infertility. Having a good vaccination program as part of a comprehensive biosecurity program will help protect your herd against some of these more common culprits.
Because there can be many factors at play that are impacting conception, calving and weaning rates, Huston encourages producers to have their herd palpated or ultrasound checked for pregnancy every year by their local veterinarian. “If you don’t monitor your pregnancies, how do you know if you are having losses or issues and at which stage of the process you experience loss. A veterinarian can tell you if your cows are cycling or not
Fall...
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Storage can also affect the quality of the hay.
Staging hay
With inventory complete, consider organizing the stackyard by hay and forage quality. Stage by type (alfalfa, grass hay, summer annual, etc.) and quality. If some hays like summer annuals are high in nitrates, make sure you know where these hays are in the stackyard because they need to be diluted with other hays to be fed at a safe level.
and can help pinpoint causes of loss and infertility. If you wait till cows should be calving to start paying attention and then realize she is without calf, you have now wasted nine months of feed and time on her,” Huston said.
Another factor at play that Perry mentioned was molds, which are not always visible or able to identify based on color alone, and can grow on feed due to the humidity of the gulf coast region and some molds can cause abor-
Consider identifying these bales by spray painting the bale wrap with a N. Organize the bales in the stackyard, so that you can easily get to each hay quality and type. Work with your Extension Educator or nutritionist to determine when and what to supplement when the hay doesn’t meet the cow’s nutrient requirements based on her stage of production (stage of gestation and stage of lactation).
Planning ahead for winter feeding takes time but pays
tions in cattle.
Male reproduction
When a female is infertile, it impacts the ability to produce and wean one calf. When a bull is infertile or has trouble breeding, the impacts can be devasting. Managing bulls for fertility is so important and starts with a breeding soundness exam (BSE). Perry recommends a BSE yearly for herd bulls. “Just because a bull passed the test last year
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off. By testing hay, organizing inventory, and staging bales for easy access, you can match forage supplies to cow needs and stretch resources further. Combined with strategic use of cornstalks and other grazing opportunities, a thoughtful hay plan helps maintain cow performance while controlling feed costs through the winter months.
Article by Rick Rasby, Nebraska Extension Beef Specialist and Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Livestock Educator.
Benefits of early culling open breeding heifers
By Mark Z. Johnson, Oklahoma State University Extension beef cattle breeding specialist
Early culling of open breeding heifers has several benefits to your cow-calf operation’s bottom line. Pregnancy can be diagnosed by palpation at 60 days and by ultrasound as early as 30 days, so now is the now is the time to act and cull the open heifers. In addition to reducing grazing pressure on pastures, there are sev -
Monitoring...
(Continued from page 15B)
doesn’t automatically mean he will pass it again. Maybe his testicles were stepped on, frostbite on the scrotum can be an issue depending on where you live or perhaps something degenerative is taking place…regardless, you can’t automatically assume that he will pass a BSE every year,” Perry said, “All these scenarios and more can
eral other long-term benefits. Typically, we should expect well developed yearling heifers, at 65% of their mature weight, going into their first breeding season to conceive in a fairly short (4560 days) breeding season. The easiest time in a beef breeding female’s life to get bred should be as a well-developed yearling heifer.
impact semen quality. When I get calls from producers about pregnancy rates being really bad in their herd that season, I begin questioning the bull.”
Huston pointed out that across the southeastern part of the country we are seeing more and more cases of trichomoniasis. She points out that the increase in cases is partly a result of more states requiring a trichomoniasis test for bulls for sale or
Because of this, culling open heifers as soon as possible leads to:
- Improving the longterm reproductive performance of your cowherd. Reproductive traits are low in heritability; nevertheless, culling open heifers will improve the genetic potential for reproductive performance in your cowherd by
movement, which is helpful for breeders to be aware of since this disease causes infertility.
Similar to the females, where nutrition is king, bulls need to be properly managed, even in the offseason. Perry said that an active bull that is being used to his full potential will lose about 100 pounds during the breeding season. “The question you have to ask yourself is “Does he have 100 pounds to lose?’” he said. In
eliminating the sub-fertile heifers. From a business standpoint, reproductive success (percent calf crop weaned) is of critical economic importance in the cow-calf sector.
- Culling open yearling heifers right now still gives them the potential to be marketed as yearlings. At this age they still have the
the same breath, he reminds producers that cottonseed is a great source of nutrition for females but for males it can negatively impact fertility and should be avoided.
He continued on the topic of managing fertility through your bull by saying, “Bulls are the most common animal you introduce to your herd, from a biosecurity aspect, you need to quarantine the bull for two weeks and test the bull for Trichomoniasis
potential to finish out while in the A maturity group and harvest as fed cattle reaching the most valuable Quality Grades (Choice and Prime).
It is good management practice to breed heifers to calve a little ahead of our mature cow herd. It permits us to concentrate our management efforts during the heifer’s calving season and,
and Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus before releasing him to the herd,” Perry recommended.
Overall, for both the bulls and females in the herd, a good vaccination program should be in play, along with an established relationship with your local veterinarian that can assist in helping you meet your herd goals. It’s also good to test your hay and soil so you have a solid understanding of how to sup-
as importantly, to give them a little extra time to breed back and calve on schedule the following year. With this in mind, hold your replacement heifers accountable. Cull opens as soon as practical to save on feed bills, capture their maximum value and improve the fertility of your cow herd. ~SLS
plement and meet your nutritional goals and monitor your fence lines that are shared with neighbors and animals you aren’t familiar with. Reproduction efficiency is the key to making a profit in this business and it will take forethought and continual monitoring of your herd and management practices to ensure both bulls and cows are in a position to produce and wean a calf. ~SLS
The sky’s the limit for drones on the farm
The technology has moved from novelty to necessity on many farms and ranches.
Source: University of Missouri Extension COLUMBIA, Missouri.
– Enthusiasm for drone use in agriculture is growing quickly, says Caleb O’Neal, University of Missouri Extension field specialist in plant science.
O’Neal teaches classes about drones across the state. He’s seen interest from farmers, commercial sprayers, cow-calf operators, real estate professionals and some who are just curious about new technology. According to the American Spray Drone Coalition, acres sprayed in the United States increased from 4 million to 10.3 million from 2023 to 2024.
Drones much like the ATVs in the 1980s
O’Neal likens increased drone usage to what happened decades ago with all-terrain and utility task vehicles. “Back in the 1980s, it would have been rare to see a UTV being used on a farm,” he says. “Visiting farms today, I’m hard-pressed to find an operation larger than
20 acres that doesn’t have some type of UTV that they utilize on a regular basis.”
This likely will be the case of drones on the farm as more farmers and ranchers see what an incredible tool they are, he says. “Drones have progressed from being a neat toy we might get our kids for Christmas to becoming a necessity for many agricultural operations.”
Drones save time and money
Drones with high-resolution cameras can reduce the need for ground-based field inspections, O’Neal says. They can help row crop farmers identify nutrient deficiencies, locate areas of poor soil health, scout for insects and disease and make crop stand assessments.
Livestock producers can monitor fences and availability of water and can make sure animals are where they should be without even opening a gate. Drone technology lets cattlemen quickly check
“Time is one of a rancher’s/farmer’s most valuable and limited resources, so the more of it we can save while still completing the task, the better,” O’Neal says.
estrus indication patches for optimized breeding timing, monitor cows during calving season, look for hidden newborn calves and look out for potential predators.
“Time is one of a rancher’s/farmer’s most valuable and limited resources, so the more of it we can save while still completing the task, the better,” O’Neal says.
Drones in precision ag
But precision agriculture is where drones truly shine, he says. “Using data-driven insights, drones can enable farmers to apply site-specific fertilizers, pesticides and other inputs to maximize return on investment,” he says.
“A pasture with a rash of blackberry weeds in isolated areas has great potential for a prescription herbicide ap-
plication where only the problematic areas receive treatment via a spray drone, as opposed to a broadcast application where the entirety of the field is treated whether it needs it or not. A targeted spray application like this minimizes waste, reduces negative environmental impact and often can leave more dollars in the wallet of the landowner due to reduced chemical costs.”
Drones provide accessibility
Drones also provide access to hard-to-reach areas of the farm, turning unproductive acreage into a moneymaker.
“In my neck of the woods in southwestern Missouri, the topography can be quite unforgiving, with some areas
too harsh to allow access by ground spray rig or even ATV,” O’Neal says. “With an aerial piece of equipment like a utility drone, landowners can now get herbicide applications on these problematic areas and put them into useful forage production. With current land values reaching for the heavens, it can be difficult to justify buying more acreage as we try to expand our farming operations. It may be a more prudent investment to ensure every acre of land we already own is highly productive. If we can reclaim a quarter acre here and a half acre there on property we already own, it can add up quickly and make sense from an investment perspective.”
Training required
While drones are a wonderful asset in modern farming, there are inherent risks, as well as state and federal licensing requirements, says O’Neal.
Training programs hosted
by MU Extension equip farmers and applicators with many tools for determining flight parameters different spray applications. Through research, MU Extension specialists have also found that there are times when conventional equipment such as a ground spray rig is a better option for an effective application.
“Drones are another tool available to modern farmers, and as most farmers will agree, you can never have too many tools,” says O’Neal. “As drone technology continues to advance, its potential uses in agriculture grow as well. On many farms, drones are saving producers time, reducing input costs and bringing new levels of productivity to their land. Drones are no longer futuristic machines; they are transforming agriculture today, and they are tools that can enable farmers to optimize every acre and ensure their operational success.”
To learn more about Simbrah . . . .
Website: Simbrahworld.com and simmental.org
Facebook: Simbrah World
Print: Simbrah News publishes once a month in Southern Livestock Standard
SIMBRAH CALENDAR
2025
• Nov. 24-26 – LMC & Friends 10th Annual Giving THANKS Online Sale
• Dec. 5-7 – Bayou Classic Show, Lake Charles, Louisiana 2026
• Jan.11 – National Simmental Sale, Cattlemen’s Congress, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Jan. 12 – Open and Junior Simbrah Show, Cattlemen’s Congress, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Jan. 26 – Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Junior Simbrah Show, Fort Worth, Texas
• Jan. 30 – Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Open SimGenetic Show, Fort Worth, Texas
• Feb. 7 – Fort Worth Commercial Heifer Sale, Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, Fort Worth, Texas
• Feb. 14 – National Simbrah and Percentage Simbrah Show, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, San Antonio, Texas
• Feb. 17 – Junior Simbrah Show, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, San Antonio, Texas
• Feb. 18 – Simbrah/Simmental Superbowl, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo San Antonio, Texas
• Feb. 18 – San Antonio All Breed Bull and Commercial Female Sale, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo
• Mar. 4 – Houston All Breed Bull & Commercial Female Sale, Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, Houston, Texas
• Mar. 4 – International Simbrah Show, Houston Stock Show & Rodeo, Houston, Texas
• Mar. 10 – Junior Simbrah Show, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Houston, Texas
• Mar. 26 – Junior Simbrah Show, Rodeo Austin, Austin, Texas
• May 16 – 6th Annual Back To Grass Sale, Henderson, Texas
American Simbrah - The World’s Breed
Please Contact These Progressive Breeders
