The Stockman | April 2024

Musgrave Sky High CED 8 $B 141

Mahogany Prime Exciting Style son!

Riverstone Vegas Cool KR Casino son

Lazy JB Ego NWSS Champion!

Conley No Limit Beautiful balance & HOT sire!

S&R Stability Style son with extras!

Connealy Scotchman Powerhouse with top % EPDs!

Collison Alpha Exciting, bold, and complete! Silverias Heritage 2022 Am Royal Champion!

9 Mile One of a Kind CED 17 HB 212

Northline Tucker HOT, NEW TC Reds release!

KCW Cotton’s Yellowstone CE outcross back to Cotton

Showtime Game Over Awesome Marksman son!

H Montgomery Making champions!

Bar CK Red Empire Calving ease & elite API! RED HOT!

Rocking P Private Stock ‘22 Ft. Worth and ‘21 NAILE Champ!

KBHR Revolution

SJW Exit 44

NEW sire of champs!

first crop!

WOOD Ruthless NEW Relentless son!

CARD Compass Calving ease by True North

Platinum son-cool!

DUEL Icon JBOY One For All

Kung Fu Panda Dam is famous Bremer 960!

Done Right

WB Pendleton Sire of high sellers & champions!

STAG Good Times Ultra Hot 24 Karat x Style x Phyllis!

Silveiras Forbes ‘21 Cattlemen’s Congress Champion!

Silveiras Haras Primal Primo’s exciting, fancy full sib!

Hill Valley Reckoning Outcross to Style & First Class with extra mass, look & structure!

Conley South Point 8362 2020 NWSS Champion Bull!

BNWZ Executive Decision ‘23 NAILE Supreme Champ!

PVF Blacklist Ultra-stout ‘must use’ Insight son!

Bushs Wingman NEW outcross/performance/profile sire with CE!

Youngdale Defiance Canada’s finest genetics!

Silverias Convoy 2022 CC Res Champ & ROV Jr Bull of the year!

Closing Time

Ultra stout, deep Good Times son!

Jensen Virtual Exciting Primo son: ‘21 Champ @ IA State Fair & MN Beef Expo!

BNWZ Paisley ‘24 Cattlemen’s Congress Reserve Champion!

BNWZ Dignity NEW & exciting Insight son!

Bieber Stockman

Exciting calving ease, EPDs, & look!

MANN Pinnacle New & exciting maternal bro to Red Box!

NIO Progressive Awesome John Wick son!

OG CFCC Honor Roll ‘23 AM Royal Champion!

Showtime No Limit 88X x TCC Diana - AWESOME!

GHC Reagan Top Calving Ease & Marbling!

Redemption Hot Resource Son!

LLSF Dauntless EXCITING BALDY-ultra HI-TYPE!

Lover boy Extremely popular calving ease Simmy!

Clear Advantage Vantage Point x Sugar C4. Awesome EPDs!

TJSC Coping With Destiny ‘24 Cattlemen’s Congress Supreme Champ!

SO Remnant ‘24 Cattlemen’s Congress Res Champ! Hot Remedy son!

W/C Red Bird Exciting Bankroll x Angel!

WHF/JS Woodford Exciting 3/4

W/C

Chi genes!

Red Rocky 2 (Red Hot!)

Thanks for joining us! We are a free, premier livestock publication featuring and serving seedstock and commercial beef producers nationwide. Raising cattle is so much more than a hobby; it is our livelihood and our passion. We understand that, and in every issue want you to see not only incredible cattle, but also relatable, entertaining, and informative editorial features for the producer with 5 or 500 head.

To us, you are more than reader or advertiser; you are a beef producer. We are committed to doing our best for you, every day. Please feel free to communicate with us, your input is appreciated.

Bill and his wife, Nancy, have made their living in the cattle industry. He has provided marketing services for purebred and commercial breeders since 1970. Schermer Angus Cattle continues to be active in the NJAA and raises quality cattle near Clarion, IA. As owner of The Stockman, Bill leads by example providing producers with the highest level of customer service.

CHERYL

KEPES, Assistant Editor

417.766.0990

cheryl@stockmanmag.com

Working for The Stockman is the perfect combination of two of Cheryl’s favorite things: writing and cattle. Cheryl has decades of experience as a professional writer. She finds great joy in sharing stories about people in the agricultural industry. Cheryl’s family raises registered Angus, Red Angus, and Simmental cattle in Fair Grove, MO.

Sarah

Justin

POSTMASTER:

KIM BANKS, Graphics

507.530.0914

kkbanks@frontiernet.net

Kim is a graphic designer with many years of design experience. Producing creative marketing materials to help others look their best is what she loves doing the most. She and her husband, Kevin, along with their son, raise grain and have a small commercial cow/calf and feeder operation on the family farm near Lynd, MN.

SARAH HILL, Editorial Writer

307.274.0419

sarahhill1007@yahoo.com

Sarah lives on a small hobby farm near Arlington, SD, with her husband, Braeton, and their three daughters: Harper, 8, Vayentha, 5, and Aurora, 1. She grew up on a Missouri dairy farm and has an Agricultural Journalism degree from the University of Missouri. Sarah enjoys baking, reading, and gardening.

MARIA OPHEIM, Social Media Manager

507-828-1374

riawbr@gmail.com

Maria, her husband Cade, and daughter Tawnee, of Mound City, S.D. currently reside on their fifth generation commercial & Limousin cattle and grain operation. Maria also works as a R.N. She is excited to promote producers through The Stockman’s social media platforms!

TY BAYER

715.573.0153

tcreds@gmail.com

Ty works alongside his family in their purebred operations, Country Lane Farm and TC Reds near Ringle, WI. An advocate for youth programs and dedicated cow/calf man, he is excited to help producers merchandise their cattle.

MILES EDDY

507.841.1787

auctioneer2013@gmail.com

Miles grew up in southwest MN raising and showing cattle, and is currently residing in MO. When Miles isn’t working cattle he loves to use his auctioneer skills. He looks forward to working and meeting other producers and helping with all their advertising and marketing needs.

LORA HUTCHINS

615.293.3695

loralea1172@gmail.com

Lora owns and operates Destiny Angus Farm with husband Brian and daughter Morgan in Charleston, IL. They have raised and shown cattle successfully on the national level for several years. They also have owned a production herd with as many as 200 registered cows.

MARK SULLIVAN

816.304.0050

marksullivancattle@gmail.com

Mark Sullivan is a familiar face to many having worked for Sullivan Supply for many years. Mark brings many years of experience to The Stockman. Mark and his wife, Linda, and two children, Erin and Leo, live in Woodbine, Iowa, and have a small herd of Charolais cattle.

CORBIN COWLES

270.991.2534

corbin.cowles32@gmail.com

Corbin is an apprentice auctioneer and real estate professional for Schrader Real Estate and Auction company. He also helps run his family’s Angus and Simmental seedstock operation, Pleasant Hill Farms. Judging shows across the country and traveling are a couple hobbies of his as well!

JAN FORD

800.693.8048

jford17879@aol.com

With her passion for agriculture, Jan brings over 35+ years of advertising sales experience in the beef industry. She and her late husband Norm had a commercial Angus cow herd and grain operation near Tipton, IA, which her sons still manage today.

BARRETT SIMON

316.452.1792

barrett.simon8@gmail.com

Barrett comes with deep roots in both the Angus and Red Angus breeds with a growing base of customers marketing Continental based cattle as well. As an auctioneer, he represents many seedstock producers throughout the central plains. His direct ties to the commercial cattle industry are sure to be a benefit to customers of The Stockman.

STEVE WOLFF

701.710.1574

swolff318@yahoo.com

Steve is a third generation Hereford breeder - his family has been raising Herefords since 1951. He offers bulls by private treaty every year and has a heifer sale every fall. Steve also enjoys traveling to sales and shows whenever possible and likes camping as well.

MEET OUR SALES REPS

BRANDON CREAMER

970.596.4965

creamer b 150@hotmail.com

Brandon owns Lazy JB Angus with his parents and sister in Montrose, CO. Raised in the cattle industry, he has a true passion for it and loves marketing quality cattle throughout the US.

RON HINRICHSEN

785.770.0222

rlangus@bluevalley.net

For the past 30 years, Ron, his wife, Lynne, and their two children have owned and operated Hinrichsen Ranch, a registered Angus ranch in Westmoreland, KS. He has an extensive background in the agricultural industry and is excited to put it to work for each of his customers.

BRIGHAM STEWART / MEGAN COLLISON

785.747.8028

megancollisondvm@gmail.com

Brigham works alongside his parents at Mid Continent Farms, their large, multi-breed cow/calf operation in Kansas. Megan graduated from ISU as a DVM in the spring of 2021 and is a big part of her family’s Angus herd and Veterinary Clinic in Iowa.

Providing the highest level of customer service.

16

36

54

605 Sires + Donors embraces expansion to meet customer and industry demands.

Tracer Minerals LLC combines research and technology to create science-based health products for livestock, plants, and people.

46

60

spring fever.

In case anyone is wondering from my letter last month... Yes, my house is still standing, and yes, we are all alive and well! We still joke lightheartedly about the locked front door and the popcorn situation because adding a little more humor to our days never hurts. (See my editor’s note from the March 2024 issue for the full story).

What an incredible stretch of weather we have had these past months - we reached 70 degrees Fahrenheit recently! When my husband and I got married in 2011 we had a similar winter that year. It’s definitely memorable. Our 4-year-old has been requesting all sorts of summertime things like picnics, sipping lemonade on a beach towel on the front lawn, sidewalk chalk, and she couldn’t resist mentioning her swimsuit and the garden hose sprinkler! Thinking about these things seems absurd since March is only turning to April, but here we are in west central Minnesota with our windows open and kids playing barefoot outside. What a blessing!

We have constructed another great issue this month, featuring upcoming production sales and semen opportunities, just in time for breeding season. Also, don’t miss our timely feature stories on 605 Sires + Donors on page 16 and Tracer Minerals LLC on page 36.

Here’s to hoping you also have favorable weather wherever you are reading this issue. Spring is near!

TR SUPPLY SIDE 3262L | ANGUS

Sire: 44 Supply Side 9389 | AAA# 20813310

MGS: Basin Payweight 1682

TR WILDCAT 3099L | ANGUS

Sire: E & B Wildcat 9402 | AAA# 20814825

MGS: Woodhill Relevance

Pounds pay more than ever before, 3262L will deliver those in a potent fashion.

TR RALLY 3077L | ANGUS

Sire: KR Rally | AAA# 20813245

MGS: Flag Impression 10062

The KR Rally cattle are nding demand from stockmen who opt for phenotypic quality.

TMAS 1BBC MR CHIVAS 315 | RED ANGUS

Sire: ROJAS TR Chivas 17109 | RAAA# 4867858

MGS: Red Double B Backroad 2C

A striking built Chivas son that weaned o with over 800 lbs. of pay weight.

TR HOMETOWN 3055L | ANGUS

Sire: G A R Home Town | AAA# 20813238

MGS: EXAR Monumental 6056B

A specimen that ties together cow family, EPDs and phenotypic excellence.

TR WILDCAT 3757L ET | ANGUS

Sire: E & B Wildcat 9402 | AAA# 20816128

MGS: EXAR Stud 4658B

Curve bending genetics at their nest are found with this stud.

TMAS KING COWBOY 3727L ET | RED ANGUS

Sire: 4MC King Of The Cowboys 706 | RAAA# 4816793

MGS: PZC TMAS Firestorm 1800 ET Impressive phenotype proved to be heredity with from either side of the pedigree.

A performance and carcass quality standout of the o ering, pro t driving genetics!

TR MR GROWTH FUND 3424 | ANGUS

Sire: Deer Valley Growth Fund | AAA# 20836821

MGS: TR Mr Got Answers 0014X

Again in 2024 the fan favorite, Deer Valley Growth Fund sired stock rise to the top!

Graham Blagg: 530-913-6418

Jered Shipman: 806-983-7226

Tim Anderson: 605-682-9343

InnovationAgMarketing.com

TR C&S BADGE 1538 345 | CHAROLAIS

Sire: LT Badge 1538 PLD | AICA# M993089

MGS: M&M Outsider 4003 PLD

The highest TSI numbered bull in the o ering, that is just as impressive in the esh.

Thomas Ranch Black Angus bulls will sire feeder cattle that qualify for the Prime Pursuits program. Call Troy for more details about marketing options.

Troy & VeaBea Thomas | Clint, Cally, Tee & Tyler Kindred

18475 Capri Place - Harrold, SD 57536

Troy: 605-222-1258 | Cally: 605-222-1515

Ranch: (605) 973-2449 | info@thomasranchcattle.com

Thomasranchcattle.com

BA

BA

Growth and New Endeavors pportunities

By Cheryl Kepes photos courtesy 605 Sires + Donors

C605 Sires + Donors embraces expansion to meet customer and industry demands.

ory and Melissa Schrag’s business, 605 Sires + Donors, operates in a dynamic state of growth and expansion. In the years since its inception, 605 Sires + Donors has methodically expanded its facilities and technology to create a onestop genetic services center for its customers.

The company flourished right out of the gate. The genetic services business, located in Marion, S.D., started with one bull barn that held a maximum of 40 bulls. The Schrag’s initial business model centered on offering an all-encompassing bull stud service. Now after only seven years in business, the company possesses the facilities to provide services to 110 bulls and 100 donor females.

FACILITY EXPANSIONS

The additions through the years include bull barns, donor housing, an embryo center, a CSS facility (which houses bulls for international semen exports), as well as a sexed semen lab. And the expansion continues. The latest project on the horizon is an IVF center. The new facility is currently under construction.

“From the very beginning the goal was to provide a semen collection service for the seedstock producers in our area. It grew and mushroomed from there to eventually add IVF services, and then sexed semen services, and now the on-site IVF services. And we have taken every step gradually,” Cory Schrag, owner of 605 Sires + Donors, said.

Though growth is happening quickly, the Schrags work to ensure each addition occurs thoughtfully. “When looking at growth and expansion, we make sure we are able to meet the customers’ needs and they are still getting the quality of service they are looking for,” Cory explained.

CUSTOMER FOCUS

The genetic services business is a natural fit for the Schrags. In addition to running 605 Sires + Donors, the couple helps to manage Schrag-Nikkel Show Cattle – a cattle operation focused on producing show ring champions.

Growing up, Cory worked with registered Shorthorns, and Melissa registered Angus. When the two were first married, 25 years ago, they owned and operated an embryo transfer (ET) company.

“We both have a lifetime of experience in the seedstock industry. And that is something that really helped us as we got the business started – we were basically customers long before we were providers,” Cory shared.

Their intimate knowledge of what producers want from a genetic services company helps to guide their business decisions. “We knew what we wanted from a customer stand-

point, and we knew information was critical and communication was critical. So, we added a customer portal from the onset of the business,” Cory stated.

The portal allows customers to

log online and view their inventory, statements, and invoices. They can also check to see if semen or embryos have shipped. The Schrags say their customers appreciate the easy access to information, transparency, and open lines of communication.

IVF CENTER

In conjunction with ABS Global, 605 Sires + Donors is building an IVF center. At the facility, harvested oocytes will be fertilized and matured. In the past, the aspirated oocytes were transported to a lab in Sioux Falls, S.D., for fertilization and development, then brought back to 605 Sires + Donors.

The development of an IVF center allows the entire process to be conducted in one location. The onsite IVF center will also give customers access to the latest in reproductive technology.

The IVF center will have the technology and staff to offer reverse sort. “Until now we have used either conventional semen or sexed frozen semen and now with the technology that we have in place we will be able to reverse sort the fertilizations in the IVF space. Reverse sort is the big advantage that we will be able to offer with the new facility,” Cory stated.

ABS Global has hired one staff member to work at the new IVF center. Additionally, 605 Sires + Donors, plans to add two more IVF center employees. The facility is scheduled to open in June.

The additional staff hired for the IVF center brings the company’s total to 14 employees. In 2017, the company started with Cory, Melissa, and one other employee.

TEAMWORK

As the company has grown, the Schrags have worked to build a strong team. For each segment of the business, there is at least one employee overseeing that part of the operation. “The key when you have that many irons in the fire is you have to have someone focus on each one of those irons,” Cory said. “We have staff members in place that do an excellent job to make sure every area gets covered, and nothing gets neglected.”

CONVENIENCE FACTOR

Each addition the company has added through the years creates another element of convenience for customers. With the completion of the IVF center, 605 Sires + Donors will take one more step toward setting itself apart from other genetics services companies.

The number and variety of services 605 Sires + Donors offers at its location makes it unique in its field. “To have one location that can produce sexed semen, IVF embryos, and conventional semen is extremely rare. I can only think of one other one, and we would be the only privately owned one in the country,” Cory said.

FUTURE GROWTH

Following the company’s trajectory over the years, it may come as no surprise more expansion is in the works. The Schrags are looking into establishing IVF satellite centers in north and central South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa. The satellite centers would serve as collection sites for donors; harvested oocytes would be brought to the new IVF facility in Marion to be fertilized and developed.

No matter what new development is in the works, the Schrags proceed much thoughtfulness and with a focus on their customers’ needs. “We recognize the value of the genetics that the customers bring to us, and we take that very seriously. We make sure that every animal is cared for as if we owned them ourselves,” Cory expressed.

learn more 605sires.com

ANNIVERSARY SALE: Saturday, March 9, 2024 6:00 pm CST - Sioux Falls, S.D.

LAZY JM RANCH

– LOT 59 –

MC ENDURE 210K

#44528391

DOB: 09/07/22

CED: 2.5 • BW: 4.2 • WW: 65

YW: 101 • CHB: 164 210K

#44528536

DOB: 03/10/23

CED: 2.3 • BW: 2.2 • WW: 66

YW: 103 • CHB: 143 89L

• BW: 0 • WW: 79

YW: 135 • $B: 165 • $C: 265 81L

– LOT 60 –

MC RED BARON 211K #44524897

DOB: 09/08/22

CED: 6.4 • BW: 1.2 • WW: 67

YW: 101 • CHB: 108 211K

– LOT 94 –

MC KING 84L

#44529004

DOB: 03/09/23

CED: 9 • BW: 0.9 • WW: 69

YW: 114 • CHB: 148 84L

For better fly control, get with the program.

Improved fly control starts with the Y-TEX® Insecticide Tag Rotation Program.

Insecticide resistance is a growing threat to cattle producers everywhere. What worked last year may be totally ineffective this year, which is why it makes sense to adopt the Y-TEX® Insecticide Tag Rotation Program.

Only Y-TEX® offers fly tags in three different chemical classes, allowing you to rotate from one class to another to protect your cattle as well as the long-term viability of current active ingredients. In fact, university research shows that rotating tags is one of the best ways to forestall resistance in horn flies, face flies and other damaging pests.

To discover how the Y-TEX® Insecticide Tag Rotation Program can help you stop resistance dead in its tracks, see your livestock products supplier or come visit us at www.y-tex.com today.

AAA 20669450

Woodhill Comstock X Woodhill Patent $M 61 $C 287

Lot 24

AAA 20669588

Woodhill Reality X Woodhill Robust Y3-A15 $M 61 $C 307

Lot 5

AAA 20743172

Tehama Testament X Woodhill Blueprint $M 73 $C 316

Lot 6

AAA 20669470

Woodhill Endurance X Raven Powerball 53 $M 76 $C 307

Lot 31

AAA 20669804

Tehama Testament X Tehama Sierra Cut Z118 $M 68 $C 298

Lot 18

AAA 20743180

Sitz Accomplishment 720F X Confidence Plus $M 82 $C 247

Lot 80

AAA 20671232

Basin Safe Deposit 6249 X Woodhill Robust X53-A122 $M 71 $C 273

Lot 19

AAA 20780700

Woodhill Comstock X Woodhill Robust X53-A122 $M 71 $C 316

Lot 53

AAA 20858687

HCC Whitewater 9010 X Woodhill Granite X353-C355 $M 81 $C 276

Lot 26

Extension Education

Rick Rasby, Nebraska Extension Specialist

Kacie McCarthy, UNL Cow-Calf Specialist University of NE - Lincoln, UNL Beef beef.unl.edu

TUniversity research you can use.

MANAGING AND DEVELOPING YOUNG BEEF BULLS

here are as many ways to feed and develop young beef bulls as there are seedstock producers. There are various reasons that bulls are managed and fed the way they are. Whether bulls are developed on the ranch, in a commercial facility, or at a central bull test, they are usually fed to gain 2.8 to 4.0 pounds daily from weaning to one year of age.

One of the most common complaints from beef producers is the run-down condition of young bulls after their first breeding season. Most young bulls will lose condition and weight during their first breeding season. However, minimizing the loss of body weight and condition will extend the bull’s usefulness and productivity especially during their initial breeding season.

IDEAL DEVELOPMENT

Can bulls be over-conditioned and/or under-conditioned before the first breeding season? The answer is yes. If we use the 1 to 9 scale for body condition, over-conditioned would mean BCS of 7 or greater. One might think over-conditioned young bulls are better than under-conditioned bulls. If bulls are

over-conditioned and they are expected to lose condition during the breeding season, at least they will still be in good condition at the end of the breeding season. Over-conditioned bulls entering the breeding season may be less active during the breeding season, especially if the breeding season occurs during the heat of summer. The same could be said for under-conditioned bulls in that their activity may be limited.

It is like the porridge being too hot, too cold, or just right. The idea

is to develop and manage young bulls so that they are just right for the breeding season. In other words, they are in their working clothes and toned up ready to perform their duty. In most cases, feeding and managing bulls to be in body condition score 6 (1=emaciated; 9=obese) at the start of their first breeding season is adequate. Body condition score 6 equates to body fat of about 20% to 23%. This body condition is the same as the target body condition of heifers at their first calving.

MANAGING AVERAGE DAILY GAIN

As bulls fed to high ADG (3.5 ADG and greater), the likelihood of increasing body fat also increases. As bulls are pushed to higher ADG, care must be taken to insure and control digestive upsets that can impact the liver in the form of liver abscesses, feet in the form of founder, and rumen integrity. Not managing the feeding program to eliminate digestive upsets has the potential to reduce the longevity of young bulls.

We have used distillers grains and corn gluten feed in our bull development diets. Distillers grains and corn gluten feed have been used as both a protein and energy source. In the process of producing ethanol and fructose (corn syrup), the starch in corn is removed. The remaining byproduct is greater in protein, energy, and phosphorus compared to corn. Removing some starch in the

diet and replacing it with essentially a high-fiber energy source reduces the incidence of digestive upsets. In addition, if some corn byproducts are used, it is likely that phosphorus can be removed from the supplement. In most cases calcium will be

needed in the supplement. In growing bull diets, it would be critical that the calcium to phosphorus ratio not be below 1.6:1. As always, feeds that are used in the diet need to be priced competitively into the diet.

Extension Education

AFTER BREEDING SEASON

Care of young bulls after the breeding season is important. Bulls should weigh 75 to 80 percent of their mature weight at the start of the second breeding season. If mature weight of the young bulls is estimated to be 2,000 pounds and at the beginning of their first breeding season, they are 1300 (65% of mature weight) pounds and they lose 200 pounds during the first breeding season, then to be 75% to 80% of their mature weight by the start of the next breeding season, it calculates that they need to gain 400 to 500 pounds.

Between the end of their first breeding season and the start of their second breeding season, these young bulls need to gain about 2 lb/ day. Native grass quality is peaking and starting on the decline in July and August and bulls will gain about 1.5 lb/day without supplementation. Young bulls will need

some supplemental energy and protein before the second breeding season. Consider trying to get bulls back to their working clothes and target weight well ahead of the start of the second breeding season. For a spring breeding season, consider feeding these bulls some protein and energy beginning about Christmas time. Starting this early allows you to put weight back on gradually with smaller amounts of a high energy feed. This doesn’t have to be accomplished in a dry lot and could be fed on pasture or when the bulls are grazing corn stalk residue.

Care and development strategy doesn’t require that young bulls be pampered in an artificial environment. It does suggest to at least give them a chance to be productive and remain in the herd as long as you want them there by providing adequate, but not excessive feed. The bull battery is an expensive investment, manage the young ones so

that you get a reasonable return on that investment.

Finally, make sure bulls that will be used in this breeding season have gone through a Breeding Soundness Examination. Yearling bulls purchased from Seedstock producers have gone through a BSE. If bulls are developed on the ranch, have a veterinarian perform a BSE. Bulls who experience extremely cold conditions with low windchill and are not provided protection and bedding, can have damage to the scrotum and testicles resulting in no or low semen production. It is best to have a BSE performed well before the start of the breeding season to determine if additional bulls need to be purchased.

Courtesy University of NE - Lincoln, UNL Beef Interviews with the authors of BeefWatch newsletter articles become available throughout the month of publication and are accessible at: www.go.unl.edu/podcast.

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#1 Warranty Available: As long as you own our corral, we will take care of you period. Call us to learn more.

CHEMISTRY Good

Tracer Minerals LLC combines research and technology to create science-based health products for livestock, plants, and people.

Founder and owner of Tracer Minerals LLC, Chris Schuetze, utilizes his science background and livestock industry knowledge to develop products designed to improve animal health and production. Schuetze’s research through the years has played a pivotal role in the development of technology aimed at maximizing the consumption and benefits of trace minerals. Though his work originally focused primarily on the livestock industry, it’s expanded to include products designed to improve the overall health of people, pets, plants, and crops. The company derives inspiration from the following quote from chemist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Dr. Linus Pauling, “You can trace every sickness, every disease and every ailment to a mineral deficiency.”

COMPANY BEGINNINGS

Chris Schuetze established Tracer Minerals in 2014. The company, headquartered in Cimarron, Kansas, is solely family owned. Chris’s wife, Carol Schuetze, works as the company’s marketing manager. His oldest daughter, Sarah Montgomery, runs the research and regulatory departments; and his youngest daughter, Rachel Ross, oversees production and warehouse operations. The company’s team of employees consists of engineers, animal scientists, and nutritionists.

By Cheryl Kepes photos courtesy Tracer Minerals LLC

Tracer Minerals LLC focuses on creating and marketing amino acid chelated trace mineral products for use in beef and dairy cattle; crops and plants; poultry, equine, swine, goats, and sheep; as well as pets and people. “I love the chemistry of real amino acid chelates because of what it can do for animals and people. It makes such a difference,” Chris Schuetze, owner of Tracer Minerals LLC, said.

Prior to starting Tracer Minerals LLC, Chris worked in the pharmaceutical and animal nutrition sector. He holds a degree in agriculture with minors in chemistry and biology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

THE SCIENCE

The products researched, developed, and sold by Tracer Minerals LLC center around technology designed to create trace minerals that are more readily absorbed compared to other trace mineral supplements. Through his many years in the industry, Chris has been a major contributor to the development of efficient, absorbable trace mineral products.

Tracer Minerals LLC’s products stem from processes that have been

perfected over 50 years of manufacturing. The company’s signature products, amino acid chelated minerals, are designed to ensure maximum uptake by the body.

According to researchers, many regular trace mineral products on the market breakdown early in the digestion process. Thus, the supplements can lose a significant portion of their efficacy before they can be utilized throughout the body.

According to Tracer Minerals LLC, its products use amino acids to carry trace minerals past the stomach and into the intestinal tract for maximum absorption. The science behind the products comes from a unique chelating process.

above Chris and Carol Schuetze, owners of Tracer Minerals LLC.

CHELATION PROCESS

Tracer Minerals LLC utilizes its proven technology to produce amino acid chelated products. The process of chelation entails stabilizing the trace mineral by binding it to an amino acid. “Chelate comes from Latin word claw - like a Lobster claw picking up a piece of sand. The process makes the mineral electrically neutral, so it doesn’t interfere with digestion and resists antagonisms to make it to the jejunum (second part of the small intestine) intact as a whole molecule,” Chris said.

The chelation process molecularly attaches the mineral to a single amino acid which in turn provides an additional pathway of absorption to increase overall mineral levels

in the body. Chris explained, “We take a single mineral, for example zinc or magnesium, and attach it to a single amino acid. When we do that, it’s a new molecule that’s absorbed in the jejunum as amino acid, then the amino acid smuggles the metal into the bloodstream.”

Amino acid chelated minerals are the most readily usable forms of minerals. Tracer Minerals LLC employs a unique chemistry in its process that meet the specific requirements of amino acid chelated minerals as defined by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).

above Infrared imaging shows how oxidative stress affects joints and growth plates resulting in pain and lower productivity.

below Joint degeneration is a significant problem in feedlot and dairy cattle that is greatly reduced by using Tracer Min -

BENEFITS OF AMINO ACID CHELATED MINERALS

Mineral deficiencies in cattle can cause a host of problems including reduced conception rates, low weaning weights, poor immunity, and feet and leg issues. According to Tracer Minerals LLC, when producers provide amino acid chelated minerals to

their animals on a regular basis, they can expect to see improvement in herd hormone function, immunity, and energy utilization. The optimum absorption of trace minerals can also positively impact health, performance, growth, development, and fertility in animals to improve the overall profitability of producers.

HUMAN AND PLANT SUPPLEMENTS

The science implemented by the company to produce its products for animals is similarly utilized in the development of its products for humans. Tracer Minerals LLC makes a human mineral and vitamin supplement called Life Bal-

ance Complete. The supplement is created with amino acid chelated and complexed trace minerals including Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Magnesium, Potassium, Iron, Selenium, Vanadium, Boron, Chromium, Molybdenum, and Calcium.

The company states the metals benefit people’s immune, reproductive, and endocrine systems and help to reduce oxidative stress by supplying minerals required for the completion of many biochemical reactions in the body.

Tracer Minerals LLC also offers amino acid chelated micronutrient fertilizer for crops and plants. The specially formulated fertilizer is designed to be stable and neutral allowing it to pass through and into the plant instead of getting trapped on the leaf’s surface.

ONGOING RESEARCH

The company relies on past and current research to guide its processes and product development. Tracer Minerals LLC consistently conducts clinical trials to deter-

above The Tracer Minerals LLC team. Front row: Sarah Montgomery, Carol Schuetze, Rachel Ross, and Rachel Fansler. Second row: Maddie Prescott, and Ethel Kelley. Back row: Mike Prescott, Clayton Zimmerman, Chris Schuetze, Cody Washam, and Aaron Ross. Not pictured: Buck Chastain, Brian Urquhart, and Bill Carinder.

mine the efficacy and benefits of its products.

One of its comprehensive clinical trials compared feedlot cattle given the company’s amino acid chelate minerals to cattle fed one of its competitor’s products. According to a third-party research group and Tracer Minerals LLC’s findings, the chelate group had a 30 percent reduction in first treatments for illnesses. The chelate group also had a 500 percent decrease in second treatments. Additionally, the animals in the chelate group had 86 percent fewer liver abscesses, healthier lungs, improved cost of gain, and showed a significant increase in profitability at processing.

“I love the chemistry of real amino acid chelates because of what it can do for animals and people. It makes such a difference.”

- Chris Schuetze, owner of Tracer Minerals LLC

FUTURE

Innovating and researching the best methods to enhance animal health and the viability of the production animal industry serves as a guiding principle for Chris and his team at Tracer Minerals LLC.

The science-driven company looks forward to a future filled with new discoveries and opportunities to advance the overall health of animals, plants, and people.

learn more tracerminerals.com

Seeds in Season

Functional forage and pasture.

contributed article by Justin Fruechte, Product Expert - Ag Renovo Seed, Brookings, S.D. renovoseed.com

WINTER KILL

Even after a mild winter? It’s possible.

Abnormally warm temperatures in February and March have been welcomed by all livestock producers. Haystacks and silage piles have lasted much longer than anticipated and many plants are starting to break dormancy. Due to the heat waves followed by cold snaps, some alfalfa and grass stands did get nipped and will see winter kill.

It would be extremely rare if a native stand or long-lived pasture experiences winter kill. However, the crops that are vulnerable are alfalfa and introduced grass stands. Grasses such as orchardgrass, tall forage fescue, perennial ryegrass, timothy, and meadow fescue have a reputation of thinning if winter conditions get too tough. If you experience winter kill, there are three ways to handle renovating the fields.

ROTATE OUT

If the injury to your field is incredibly vast, the best option is to cut your losses and rotate out. On an alfalfa stand, your nitrogen credits carry some weight heading into a corn crop, so it’s not a full loss.

PLANT ANNUAL FORAGES

Another scenario is you experience winter kill on an old stand with less than five plants per square foot, but you want to limp it along one more year. In this scenario, you have a long list of annual forages to choose from. If you can get into the field early in the spring, a cool season grain such as forage oats and forage barley will really boost your early cuttings.

Along with that, I suggest planting Italian ryegrass. The Italian ryegrass will ensure regrowth, so you get some additional forage in every cutting of alfalfa. If you take a first cutting and are extremely disappointed with the stand, there is a window to overseed in early June. If you find yourself in this scenario, take a look at pearl or Japanese millet. They thrive in the

heat and can grow extremely fast through the summer months before they die with the first frost.

MAINTAIN PRODUCTION

In the third scenario, you have a young field that has less than 15 plants per square foot, and you want to keep it in production. If you planted the stand one year prior, you can plant alfalfa into it. However, alfalfa does create an autotoxicity that prevents the germination and growth of other alfalfa plants around it. So, if the stand is older than a year, you’ll need to look at perennial grasses or clovers for inter-seeding options.

Improved varieties of medium red clover have proved to be suitable for maintaining quality hay in alfalfa for two to three years. Persistent cool season perennial grasses should be used here, which includes

meadow fescue, orchardgrass, and tall forage fescue.

Don’t let your fields turn into the old, worn-out sod bound stands that never reach your expectations. When you have the opportunity to make sure your fields are productive this spring, take it! Your punctual effort will pay off in bales produced.

Photos courtesy Renovo Seed learn more renovoseed.com

Renovo Seed, Brookings, S.D.

The team of folks at Renovo Seed have roots that run deep in farming, agriculture, and in the overall respect for the landscape. They opened their doors in 1987 and continue to walk alongside farmers, ranchers, and landowners across thousands of acres throughout the Midwest.

S B C Northgate 795H

SimAngus™ ASA# 3770516

Homo Black & Homo Polled

sire: HPF Quantum Leap Z952 dam: S B C Eclipse 537D

owned by: Circle M Farms, Stephens Beef Cattle & Bramlet Simmentals

Semen: $40 / unit conventional

Rocking P Private Stock H010

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Hetero Black & Homo Polled

sire: HPF Quantum Leap Z952 dam: RP/BCR Stylish Love F158

owned by: Circle M Farms, Red Rivers Farms, and Rocking P Livestock

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owned by: Rocking P Livestock, Circle M Farms, Red River Farms & Griswold Cattle.

Semen: $50 / unit conventional $200 / unit sexed

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G302

Craig McCallum, Owner

214.882.9523

1983 N Stodghill Rd

Rockwall, TX 75087

SimAngus™ ASA# 3797367

Homo Black & Homo Polled

sire: PVF Insight 0129 dam: RP/MP Built To Love A021

owned by: Circle M Farms

Semen: $50 / unit conventional $200 / unit sexed

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606.584.7581

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Connealy

$30,500 for 1/2 Interest raised by Stagemeyer, sold by Rosebud Cattle Co

Raised by Hickey Land and Cattle, sold by Rosebud Cattle for $20,500

Sold by Collison Angus for $9,250

Collison Angus sold for $21,000

Extension Education

Karla Wilke, UNL Cow/Calf Systems and Stocker Management

Kacie McCarthy, UNL Cow-Calf Specialist University of NE - Lincoln, UNL Beef beef.unl.edu

GUniversity research you can use.

CHASING THE ELUSIVE SECOND CALF

etting first time mother cows bred for the second time is probably one of the strongest challenges for most beef producers. It can be extremely frustrating at the time of pregnancy diagnosis to find a high percentage of those young cows, the future of the cowherd, to be open. More importantly, it is expensive.

In addition to the loss of income from the potential calf crop, is the depreciation of the cow. If a bred heifer is developed or purchased for a value of $2800 and is sold as a slaughter cow after one calf for $1350 (current market value in Nebraska), then the depreciation cost of that cow is $1450. That is a substantial loss.

Producers often express the sentiment that they do not baby their heifers because if a heifer cannot make it in their environment, she does not need to be there. There is value in that statement in that selecting heifers for milk production or maintenance requirements that do not match what the environment can provide is likely to result in cows not breeding or not breeding on time.

However, the other side of that argument is that mature cows do not have the same requirements as growing, lactating first calf heifers. It is a little like expecting apple trees and orange trees to both produce apples. One tree can do it rather well, while one cannot do it at all.

Growing, lactating cows have greater nutrient requirements and smaller rumens than mature cows making it difficult for them to meet their nutrient needs with the same diet as the cow. Therefore, young cows managed on a different ration, and in a different pasture or pen from mature cows allows them to consume a diet more balanced for their needs and removes competition for feed from older bigger cows.

For example, if all cows and heifers were fed 3.5 pounds of dried distillers as a supplement per day and given the rest of the diet as good quality meadow hay, this would meet both the energy and protein needs of the mature cow. The heifer, because of her smaller rumen size and increased nutrient requirements would likely be short 2 pounds of total digestible nutrients (TDN) per day. TDN is used as a measure of energy the cow requires.

While most heifers would be turned out to lush green grass during breeding, and would most likely be able to meet their nutrient needs at that point, it is important they not be below a body condition score (BCS) 5 on a 1-9 scale at that point. Research has shown

a young cow in a BCS 4 does not breed back as well as those in a 5 or 6. Therefore, it is important for first calf heifers to achieve a BCS 6 by calving.

Many heifers are maintained on hay and supplement two to three months before breeding but after calving. Lactation and growth are large nutrient requirements for the heifer and whether or not those needs are met can determine whether she is able to stay in the herd or not.

Research from Nebraska has shown that heifers calving earlier in their first calving season remain in the herd longer and produce heavier calves at weaning. These heifers are more likely to be cycling by the start of the subsequent breeding

season and more likely to get pregnant which increases profitability and longevity. These data are a good reminder to set up replacement heifers well for this breeding season ensuring that their nutritional requirements are being met as well.

Ensuring that young cows are being set up for success moving into subsequent breeding seasons through adequate nutrition, health and reproductive management will be key to herd profitability and a successful approach in the upcoming breeding season.

Courtesy University of NE - Lincoln, UNL Beef Interviews with the authors of BeefWatch newsletter articles become available throughout the month of publication and are accessible at: www.go.unl.edu/podcast.

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Veterinarian View

IHealth & Reproduction questions answered and explained.

contributed article by Dr. Vince Collison Collison Embryo and Veterinary Services, Rockwell City, Iowa collisonembryoservices.com

COPPER

Just as important as Vitamin A for cattle.

’ve written extensively about the importance of vitamin A in cattle. Cattle have evolved as foragers, so their metabolism is highly dependent on vitamin A which is abundant in green growing forage. So much of the health and wellbeing of cattle comes from having adequate levels of vitamin A in their system. On the mineral side, the trace mineral copper is also extremely important for many things related to the health and reproductive efficiency of cattle.

DEFICIENCY ISSUES

Copper deficiency can cause a variety of symptoms and copper is one of the key trace minerals for optimum reproduction. Listed are some of the main symptoms associated with copper deficiency.

• Hair that is brown in a normally black-haired calf. This is one of the more common symptoms you will see in cattle.

• Poor growth and possibly watery diarrhea.

• Enlarged joints in young calves, specifically epiphyseal enlargement.

• Anemia.

• Poor reproductive performance.

• Breed differences: Continental breeds such as Simmentals, Charolais, and Limousin require 40 percent more copper than smaller breeds such as Angus.

DEFICIENCY CAUSES

Causes for copper deficiency are usually associated with mineral imbalances. One of the most common causes is increased molybdenum in the diet. Molybdenum is found in high concentrations in boggy areas of a pasture. If your pasture has an area like this, there are high levels of molybdenum in the grass of these areas. The molybdenum will tie up copper in the rumen and make the copper unable to be absorbed. In my experience, this is one of the most common causes for copper deficiency.

I was transferring embryos in a pasture a few years ago and commented on how nearly all the black calves had brown hair. I also pointed out a large boggy area and brought up the possibility of copper deficiency. The producers made the comment that they had fenced off that area in the past and had not seen that much problem

with brown hair in the past. Only when they quit fencing this area off did they start having more of the brown-haired calves.

In another case where there was a large boggy area in a pasture, I actually saw calves that had swollen epiphyseal areas in their joints that was causing lameness. This herd was also experiencing a higher rate of bovine respiratory disease as well. In both of these two cases, the herds were Simmental which probably accentuated the problem due to their higher requirement for copper.

SULFUR INTAKE

Other causes for deficiency are high sulfur intake. Feed products such as distillers grain and other byproducts can be high in sulfur. Also, water can be high in sulphates and can potentially cause a tying up syndrome where sulfur binds to copper making it unable to be absorbed. High iron intake can interfere with copper as well.

IMPACT ON REPRODUCTION

My main with concern with copper is related to reproduction. When a cow ovulates, she will form a corpus luteum (CL) at the site of ovulation. The CL is the structure that will produce progesterone and maintain the pregnancy. This is the structure on the ovary that we check before transferring an embryo to a recipient cow.

There is a high amount of copper in a corpus luteum, so to form a good CL, the copper in the cow’s system needs to be adequate. If she cannot form a proper CL, the cow will not maintain a pregnancy and will either cycle back in heat or possibly lose the pregnancy early. If I am kicking a lot of recipients out on a transfer group for no CL or poor CL’s, I always consider low copper as a possibility.

PREVENTION

Prevention of copper deficiency starts with having a good mineral out all the time. Copper is probably only absorbed at a rate of 5 percent of what’s consumed, so having mineral out all of the time gives the cow time to have high enough levels going into breeding season.

One thing that can help absorption of copper is to feed a chelated trace mineral product. Chelation can also help if you have situations where you might have interference of copper absorption. Such as high iron or sulfates in the water or when feeding byproducts. We feel that chelation will compensate for these situations. We use a mineral product that has 2500 ppm of copper. Part of the trace mineral in this product is chelated.

There is another product our clients have used with success that has 1500 ppm. These are both minerals that are formulated as breeding minerals.

If you think you’ve experienced some of these issues that I’ve mentioned, it would be good to look at your mineral product and make sure it is formulated to meet the needs of copper for the cow. Many minerals do not have copper levels that are this high and probably won’t have any portion chelated so as to keep the cost lower. If you are going to spend the money for AI or embryo transfer, the benefits of the better breeder minerals will outweigh the cost.

There is an injectable product that has copper in it as well. We have used this with good results, and it can be a good thing to give prior to going into a breeding season. Especially if you are not sure of the mineral status on a group of purchased cows or situations where the wrong type of mineral has been fed and you need to get caught up on the copper

needs of the cow. We like to give this product to all incoming donors that are boarded at the ET center since we don’t know where they stand on mineral status at the time of entry. We have had clients give this product even at the time they insert CIDRS into recipients and gotten along well.

Anything related to trace minerals is complicated as there are many interactions that occur between the different trace minerals. There are usually PhD nutritionists who formulate these minerals for the major mineral providers. It is best to use a product that has been formulated for breeding cattle and rely on the expertise of the people formulating it to get a trace mineral that is balanced for best results. As always, work with your nutritionist and veterinarian to determine what is best for your herd to get the best results.

learn more collisonembryoservices.com

Dr. Vince Collison is co-owner of Collison Embryo and Veterinary Services PAC in Rockwell City, Iowa.

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In the kitchen with Barb Carruthers

My four boys and I operate Carruthers Brothers Ranch near Baltic, S.D., along the I-29 Corridor. We run about 200 head of registered Red Angus cattle and calve both a fall and a spring herd. The boys are active in both 4-H and FFA and we have shown cattle at BHSS, Watertown Farm Show, Sioux Empire Farm Show, as well as state fairs in Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota. Carter, my oldest son, is working on his masters. Carson is attending South Dakota State University (SDSU) College of Pharmacy. Colby is a senior and Connor is a sophomore both at Tri-Valley High School. Colby and Connor are actively assisting in the day-to-day operations of the ranch when they are not participating in football, track or FFA. I work for CHS Inc. as a nutritional consultant, namely beef cattle, and cover the southeastern portion of South Dakota. Growing up on a Hereford operation in southwestern Minnesota near Lake Benton, up on the Buffalo Ridge, is where I developed my love for cattle and horses. I would raise and show Hereford cattle at the county level, state level, and at many junior national shows all over the United States. My grandfather, Jack Delaney, would always say that raising cattle was not for the weak-hearted, but there is no better way to raise a family. After college at SDSU, I went to work for Trans Ova Genetics where I bought my first Red Angus donor cow and that was the start of my Red Angus herd. Pursuing a career in sales, I went to work for Schering-Plough Animal Health and was in western South Dakota. In 2000, I was transferred to a territory in Minnesota, and we moved to the ranch near Baltic, S.D. That was the beginning of the Carruthers Brothers Ranch.”

Carruthers Brothers Ranch - Baltic, S.D.

STOCK Kitchen

Cowboy approved recipes used by our favorite country cooks.

What is your favorite thing to make?

Mexican Lasagna.”

What is your favorite cooking tip/trick?

One of my secret ingredients in my famous Red Angus Chili is adding a can of beer. It makes the meat tender.”

What is your least favorite job in the kitchen?

Doing the dishes.”

Where did you learn to cook? ”

I learned to cook from my mother along with both my Grandma Caraway and Grandma Delaney. All of them are excellent cooks. I learned to make several amazing dishes.

MEXICAN LASAGNA

Barb Carruthers

1-2 lbs. hamburger

1 can enchilada sauce (hot)

1-1.5 oz. pkg. taco seasoning

10 or more soft shell corn tortillas

1 large pkg. fiesta cheese (Monterey Jack, Cheddar, Queso Quesadilla, Asadero)

Brown hamburger and drain fat, mix in seasoning to the hamburger and set aside. Then in 9x10 inch pan, spray cooking spray and put a layer of soft shell tortilla shells on the bottom layer of the pan. Then start adding a layer of seasoned meat and pour half a can of enchilada sauce over the meat and a layer of cheese on top of that to finish the layer. Put on another layer of tortilla shells and start the process over and add in the remaining enchilada sauce. Top with as much cheese as desired. However, if you add too much cheese it could run over the edges of the pan. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes or until the cheese is lightly brown.

RED ANGUS CHILI

Barb Carruthers

1 lb. (Red Angus) hamburger

PIÑA COLADA CAKE

Barb Carruthers

1 box yellow cake mix with pudding

¼ c. oil

3 eggs

1 ½ c. water

2 /3 to 1 c. coconut

1 can tomato sauce

1 can Rotel diced tomatoes

1 can chili beans

1 can Hunts chili seasoned tomatoes

1 can beer

1 pkg. of original chili (McCormick) seasoning

Brown hamburger and drain fat. Mix meat, sauces, beer, tomatoes, beans, and seasoning in a big kettle. Simmer on a low temperature for a couple of hours. Serve with cheese and crackers.

SALE OFFERING:

Selling by private treaty every day at the ranch.

1 – 8.5 oz. can Real Cream of Coconut for Piña Coladas & Delights

1 – 12 oz. container Cool Whip

Mix together cake mix, oil, eggs, water, and coconut. Pour in a 9x13 inch greased, floured plan. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 to 35 minutes. As soon as the cake is done, poke with a meat fork. Pour one, 8.5 oz. can of Real Cream of Coconut for Piña Coladas & Delights (you may not want to use the whole can because it is very rich) over the warm/hot cake. Let it cool. Frost the cake with Cool Whip and sprinkle with additional coconut (if desired). Refrigerate.

At The Ranch - Pequot Lakes, MN - 1:00 PM (CST)

120 Angus Yearlings Sell

70 Bulls - 50 Open Heifers

Real Cattle Raised By Real Cattlemen

At Flying W Ranch, we strive to breed cattle that excel on a range environment. Our cows are expected to be fertile, early maturing, and easy fleshing. They must calve unassisted and care for their calves on their own. 99% of our calves are born outside with no assistance and only the trees for protection.

Where Performance and Growth is Bred in, Not Fed On

Generations of selection without feeding creep feed has allowed us to identify the superior maternal bloodlines of our herd. The yearlings offered on our sale were raised on only grass and their mother’s milk with NO CREEP FEED. As yearlings, they have been developed in a realistic range environment with a high forage and low concentrate diet. These bulls have been bred and raised to work for you!

More Than Great Genetics

Free delivery in Minnesota and surrounding states. All bulls have been ultra-sounded and are performance and fertility tested and fully backed by a 1 year breeding guarantee.

Dustin Wiese: (218) 537-0096

dustinwiesefwr@gmail.com

Cody Wiese: (218) 232-8601

codyawiese@gmail.com

Can’t Join us in person?

Bid

www.flyingwranchllc.com

Sale Barn Study

IA review of the current cattle market.

COLD WEATHER BUT HOT CATTLE

contributed article by Kirk Lynch Lynch Livestock Inc. and Humeston Livestock Exchange, Humeston, Iowa humestonlivestockexchange.com

As I wrote this article, we have received our first snowstorm of the winter and my four little ones could not wait to throw on their snow pants and go play in the white stuff! Me on the other hand, not so excited about leaving the warmth and comfort of my office. It is because they are looking forward to joy and fun and I am dreading frozen waters and/or sick cattle. Either way, it is safe to say that winter is upon us!

this fat cattle deal to continue an upward trend going into the new year and into spring. How high we can go, that is the million-dollar question!

PROMISING MARKET CONTINUES

t is officially spring. Easter has come and gone, and in my country as I am writing this article, there is some field work that has begun. With the weather we have had all winter I can say we are ahead of schedule as far as the workload compared to past years, the same can be said about the cattle mar kets. I may sound like a broken re cord every month, but the outlook continues to be very promising and bullish.

Feeder cattle continue to bring record soaring prices. You hear of grass calves, depending on their weight, being in the $3.00 to $4.00 range. It has been a dry winter in most of the Midwest and these pric es will only get higher if we get some moisture to ensure that there will be some grass for these calves to go on. All bigger cattle continue to be in the $2.00 to $3.00 range as the futures boards all look impres sive as we have the lowest cow herd numbers in 73 years.

Now to look at some of the market reports that we have been seeing in the barns. The fat cattle market has been on a hot streak for several weeks, until this past week, when we experienced a slight dip in the market. We have seen some highs in the mid to high forties, but these have been some extremes. Most cash cattle in the country have been trading at forty level or slightly higher the past couple of weeks. I expect there to be a few bumps in the road, but I expect

The higher fat cattle market is driving a higher price for the feeder cattle market as well, even with the higher feedstuff inputs. We have seen some front end big strings of 800 pounds bringing well into the sixties and some 600-pound cattle bringing into the seventies and eighties. Once again these are some extreme tops. We have been trying to fill up our own lots as fast as possible, as I am not sure the feeder cattle are going to get any cheaper. We have been able to find cattle at cheaper prices than that and so when we do projects they are in the black.

The cull cow and bull market has lagged the fat market, as from all reports there have been around six

Kirk Lynch, Lynch Livestock Inc., Waucoma, IA Kirk is the Beef Division manager for Lynch Livestock Inc. and oversees all aspects of their backgrounding and cattle feeding operations throughout Iowa and Kansas. He is also deeply involved in the newly reopened Humeston Livestock Exchange in Humeston, Iowa. In addition, Kirk and his wife Mary own and operate Heartland Simmentals in Northeast Iowa, which is a seed stock operation that consists of 500 registered Simmental and Angus cows. They have four children: Gabrielle (8), Brayden (7), Vivian (5), and Bianca (1).

The fat cattle market continues to creep up slowly as the packers can move the product and begin to move it for a little profit here and there. The way the numbers and fundamentals are set up we real ly should have fat cattle bringing $2.00 to $2.10, but the continued cutback in numbered slaughtered (last week it was over 400,000 less

Humeston, Iowa 641-877-6092

percent more last year, making supply of cows. down, which be into next year, cow and bull with the same market.

The breeding been up and cently, I heard commercial pairs $2,000 and then can buy all the I want for $1,200 are looking to now is the time reasonably priced with increased are going to be ply over the next Wishing everyone Christmas and

I think that is sure going to payout as I think not only young cows and heifers will be worth something, but

In the News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PURINA ANIMAL NUTRITION IS OFFERING $20,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS

Scholarships are open to students with experience in animal agriculture.

Purina Animal Nutrition, along with the Land O’Lakes Foundation, has opened its scholarship program designed to assist students with experience in agriculture and livestock production in pursuing their passions and furthering their educations.

Now, along with undergraduate students, current high school seniors who have experience raising and caring for small or large livestock, equine and/or poultry, are eligible to apply for one of four $5,000 scholarships. Along with the impact animal agriculture has had on their lives, desired applicants will be able to demonstrate academic excellence, leadership skills, community involvement and have a clear vision for their future.

Scholarship applications will be accepted March 18 through April 17. Awardees will receive their scholarship funds for the Fall 2024 semester at their current or anticipated educational institution. The scholarship is open to all high school seniors who plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school for the entire upcoming academic semester/term and undergraduate students enrolled in an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ANGUS FOUNDATION’S COMMERCIAL CATTLEMEN SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

Students whose families use registered Angus genetics in their commercial operations can apply until May 1.

Applications are open for the Angus Foundation’s Commercial Cattlemen Scholarship, which awards four $1,500 scholarships to outstanding young people in the beef industry. This scholarship is unique from others offered by the Foundation as it aims to support students specifically from the commercial sector of the industry.

“We’re proud to offer this scholarship opportunity to students from commercial cattle backgrounds,” said Jaclyn Boester, Angus Foundation executive director. “We recognize the importance of supporting young people using Angus genetics and want to help them succeed in our industry.”

Students should be pursuing an undergraduate or vocational degree at an accredited higher education institution. Selection emphasis is placed on the applicant’s knowledge of the cattle industry and their perspective on the Angus breed.

“I want to look at the DNA sequence of cattle and see what I can do with it,” said Addison Hillman, a 2023 Angus Commercial Cattle-

men’s Scholarship recipient studying animal science with an emphasis in biology and biotechnology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Young men and women whose families use Angus genetics in their commercial operations are eligible to receive the scholarship if they have transferred a registered Angus animal into or out of their herd in the past 36 months (on or after May 1, 2021).

— Written by Staff, Angus Communications

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE GOEHRING, RIFE INDUCTED INTO IOWA HEREFORD HALL OF FAME

Bill Goehring of Libertyville, Iowa and Jack Rife of Wilton, Iowa are the newest members of the Iowa Hereford Hall of Fame. They were inducted at a ceremony during the Iowa Hereford Breeders Association (IHBA) banquet at the Iowa Beef Expo. The Iowa Hereford Hall of Fame honors people who have had a significant impact on the breed in the state.

Bill Goehring’s Devotion to the Cattle Industry

Bill Goehring’s original plan was to get his animal science degree from Iowa State University and become a field man – most likely, a dream job for a boy who had grown up with cattle since purchasing his first Hereford heifer at age 9. He did get the degree, in June of 1986, but two months later, his father bought the local livestock auction market in Keosauqua, about 20 miles from their home farm in Libertyville –and the rest, as they say, is history.

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Between his sophomore and junior years at ISU, Bill went to the WorldWide College of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa, developing the skill that serves him well in his current career. Before Bill’s dad bought the sale barn, he and Bill managed farm sales in the area. When they took over the sale barn, they first focused on developing the pig sale and Bill was the feeder pig auctioneer. As the barn’s cattle auctioneers retired, he took on that role and has been auctioneering the cattle every week for the last 25 years.

Bill and his wife Becky, who he met when she was working in the sale barn café, bought out the rest of the market from his dad in 2008 and Bill set out to get more competition for packer cows and bulls. He was so successful in fostering competition that the market at Keosauqua Sales Company is the highest of any around, drawing sellers from as far as 100 miles away. It is one of the few markets in the country that sells all classes of livestock on the same day (every Saturday), along with hay and other outside items.

Bill’s philosophy as a market owner is that it’s his job to make sure the cattle sold there bring full value.

Goehring Herefords began in 1973, and it didn’t take long for the entire family to immerse themselves in breed activities. Both Bill and his sister, Debbie, were active in the Iowa Junior Polled Hereford Association, with Bill serving as president. Their parents, Gary and Mary, served as junior advisors for most of Bill’s junior career, most notably in 1984, when Iowa first hosted the Junior National Polled Hereford Show in Des Moines. It was during this time that Bill filled his first national leadership role, as a member of the National Junior Polled Hereford Council, an experience he says introduced him to a lot of people he is still in contact with today.

Memorable experiences from his junior days include going to Knoxville, Tenn., to purchase a heifer from John Nicely that was later named champion at the Nebraska-Iowa junior show in Council Bluffs, that was judged by Glen

Klippenstein. The heifer later got beat in a show judged by Joe Lewis, who said she was too dark red. Lewis became one of Bill’s mentors, as did Montie Soules, who Bill says helped him as much as anybody, especially in establishing the market.

He fondly recalls going with Floyd McCaskill from Illinois to the Bar JZ sale in South Dakota and also attending dispersal sales of the Farris herd in Texas, Star Lake Ranch in Oklahoma, and Rice Ranch in Wyoming. Nowadays, a local farmer and Angus breeder who is also a pilot flies him to many sales and cattle events, allowing him to participate and attend the activities and still not miss the commitments and demands of the sale barn.

Goehring Herefords’ registered cow herd consists of 150 spring-calving cows and 50 fall-calving cows and their commercial Angus herd includes 400 spring-calving cows and heifers. They breed 100 registered heifers very year as well as 450 black and black-whiteface heifers for their annual sale the first Wednesday in December. Additionally, they background 800 to 1,000 steers and finish 500 cattle at custom yards. They sell around 80 yearling and 2-yearold bulls each year and have also developed a strong private-treaty customer base for registered cows and heifers. Their consignments regularly top the female offering at the Iowa Select Hereford Sale at the Beef Expo.

Bill has been involved with the Iowa Beef Council and both the National and Iowa Livestock Marketing Associations, serving as the Iowa chairman for two years. He has been on the board of both the Iowa Polled Hereford Association

above (l-r): Bill Goehring and Iowa Hereford Breeders Association President Thad Espenscheid.

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and the Iowa Hereford Breeders Association and most recently served two years as IHBA president. He has organized several well-attended IHBA tours in the southeast Iowa area.

He judged the national Hereford show in the yards at the National Western Stock Show in Denver in 2013 and 2015. In recent years, one of Bill’s hidden talents has come to light as he writes a weekly blog (“Bill’s News”) on the sale barn website. Originally intended to communicate and inform people about the market, he found people engaged better with the “story” format and it just took off – it currently has a huge number of followers.

He was elected to the board of directors of the American Hereford Association in 2019 and finished his term as board president last October.

Bill acknowledges that serving on the national Hereford board and being its chairman has been his biggest professional accomplishment,

but he derives the most satisfaction from having helped his boys engage in what the business is all about and getting them in a position to continue with what they’ve been doing for the last 30 years. All four of Bill and Becky’s sons – Luke, Curtis, Ted, and Colby – are involved in the sale barn and livestock operation, having literally grown up in and around it. Each has his own area of responsibility, from feeding the cattle each morning, overseeing herd health, hauling cattle, calving the Hereford and Angus cows to managing the commercial sale barn, and all are on hand on Saturdays to make sure things run smoothly.

Bill and Becky have been married since 1987 and she has moved from the café to the sale barn office, where she manages the clerical part of the operation and in Bill’s words, “is the glue that ties it all together.” One of their daughters-in-law now runs the kitchen. The Goehrings have five granddaughters and one grandson.

Bill’s career didn’t put him on

the road as a fieldman, but it has introduced him to even more people, places, and experiences than he ever expected.

Jack Rife’s Lifetime of Involvement in the Cattle Industry

In 1957, Jack Rife needed an FFA project. His father, who kept some commercial cattle and milked cows on their farm at Wilton, took him to a Hereford dispersal in north central Iowa, where they purchased a bred cow with a heifer calf at side. Jack’s new herd – and his FFA project – soon expanded to three when the cow gave birth to another heifer calf. Those three foundation animals – the first Herefords the Rife family had – were the start of not only what was originally Rife Hereford Farms but a lifetime of devotion to the breed.

Jack earned his animal science degree in 1965 from Iowa State University, where he was on the judging team. He bought his first Polled Hereford bull from Keith

below From left: Good friends Brian and Craig Jackson of Jackson Hereford Farms, who assisted with the presentation, Jack Rife, IHBA President Thad Espenscheid, and Jack’s granddaughter Delaney Rife.

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Hoelzen’s Triple H Ranch in Muscatine, during one of their bull sales. In addition to the strong set of performance-tested bulls there, he recalls also being impressed by one of the other sale attendees – legendary Chicago Blackhawks hockey player Bobby Hull, who had his own Hereford herd at the time.

Subsequent herd sires came from Buell Jackson & Sons, Mechanicsville, and Farrell Siehl of Grinnell. He recalls that the Siehl bull was red with a black tail, which was supposed to indicate some enhanced genetic traits, but isn’t sure that was ever validated. More recently, he has used bulls from Barber Ranch in Texas, most notably BR Charles Hutton 6033, the 2019 National Western Stock Show senior champion. His longstanding friendship with the Jackson family led him to another current herd bull, a Jackson-bred son of Endure 173D that Jack is high on.

One of Jack’s early mentors was breeder Henry Doerfer of Muscatine, who taught him all about pedigrees. That sparked a lifelong interest in pedigrees, as Jack is a self-proclaimed “pedigree freak.” He enjoys tracing bloodlines far past those shown on a registration paper and is enthusiastic about the new American Hereford Association program that allows you to trace a pedigree way back, nearly to its early origin.

Jack is also an avid collector of old sale catalogs – his oldest dates to 1907. He has an extensive collection of Hereford Journals and Hereford Worlds and says the herd bull editions alone would stack to at least six feet high.

In the 65-plus years he’s been in the business, Jack says he has seen cattle types go from the “belt buckle” animals to ones “you could

crawl underneath” and back to more moderate animals. He embraces new technology and says that DNA testing fascinates him.

He has long been a supporter of Hereford youth. He and his wife Sharon were the second advisors for the Iowa Junior Hereford Association in the early ‘70s, serving in that capacity for five or six years. At the time, the junior advisors were required to also serve on the Iowa Hereford Association board and Jack jumped at the chance to do that as well.

From 1982 to 2002, Jack served in the Iowa Senate, during which time he was minority leader for five years. He was also a regional representative for Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao during five years of the George W. Bush administration.

In 1996, he was able to use his political clout to help Iowa Polled Hereford and Junior Polled Hereford Associations host the Junior National Polled Hereford Show in Des Moines. Back in those days, the host state was expected to carry the major financial load for putting on the event and thus had to do significant fundraising to cover the expenses. Working with a fellow state senator who was seeking funding for the national junior Angus show, Jack got a $5,000 allocation of state funds to the Polled Hereford Junior National included in a Senate bill. Thanks to his efforts, the steering committee was able to meet its fundraising goal and the weeklong event was a huge success.

Locally, Jack has been involved with Muscatine County Cattlemen and the Muscatine County Farm Bureau. He was president of the latter group when George H.W. Bush was running for president and Jack was able to get him to speak at the group’s annual banquet.

Jack and Sharon, a native of Boone, have been married over 50 years. The herd’s name was changed to R&R Cattle Company when son Charly became more active in its operation following a stint at Beartooth Ranch in Montana. There are currently over 80 spring-calving cows in the herd, which Jack takes care of himself with no hired help, just the family. The Rifes regularly consign to the Iowa Beef Expo sale and exhibit at the Iowa State Fair.

Today all four of Jack’s grandchildren – daughter Emma’s children, Tyler and Jessica Mach; and Charly’s daughters, Delaney and Kennedy Rife – own cows in the R&R herd. They have been active in the show ring and in the Iowa Junior Hereford Association, with Delaney having been a director and Kennedy now serving as treasurer.

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Written by the Iowa Hereford Breeders Association

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About the Stockman.

I grew up near Mount Hope, Ohio where my family milked cows and raised Percheron draft horses. In 2009, I moved to Iowa to join the team at Summit Agricultural Group. Today I manage Summit’s purebred cow/calf herd. We raise Angus, Red Angus, Simmental, and Charolais cattle and sell private treaty bulls every spring. We also offer females year-round via private treaty. Percheron draft horses are another passion of mine, and we raise several foals every year.”

Your favorite non-farm activity to do in your free time?

What is free time? In all seriousness, when we do get away from the farm, we enjoy going to college football and basketball games, and spending time with family and friends.”

What is your least favorite job on the farm?

Picture/video day when we used to do online sales (or cleaning the house).”

Describe your best and worst day.

My worst day/week was a couple years ago when we had a cold, windy February and had blizzard-like conditions for two straight weeks during calving. Enough said. The best day every year is when the grass is green, and I can turn pairs out. The other best day was when I married my lovely bride… and yes, we got married on the farm.”

What about the beef cattle industry excites you the most?

We’re in a really great spot here at Summit – we’ve worked so hard for many years and feel like we finally have the set of cattle genetics that we’ve been striving towards. Our calves not only grow well, but are also very efficient. Stop out sometime and take a look for yourself. Outside of our cattle operation, I serve on our county cattlemen’s board and as the beef superintendent for our county fair. It’s very rewarding getting to see so many young people passionate about and involved in the beef industry.”

Your go-to sorting apparatus?

Rattle paddle or a flag.”

Which animal (any species) has left the greatest impact on you?

I would have to say Summit Supreme X01, our Charolais herd sire. He was the first bull we exhibited with success and gained a lot of friends along the way. But I can’t forget the gray mare, Marvel’s Nikita - she was the definition of a “gentle giant.” She was calm and sweet to be around, but as soon as she set foot in the show ring it was game on - she knew it was her time to shine. She loved her job.”

The most important lesson you’ve learned in this business?

There’s been plenty of lessons, but some of the most important have been: Enjoy the highs because there’s plenty of lows. There are never too many friendships. And finally, stick to your breeding goals and what works for your operation.”

UPCOMING SALES:

Private treaty offerings available year-round.

What is the most used tool on your farm? How old is it?

A Bobcat Ranger – aka Ol’ Faithful. It might only be two years old, but it has seen a lot of miles and has plenty of stories to tell.”

Summit Agricultural Group of Hubbard, Iowa

BALDRIDGE WORKING CLASS

*Tehama Patriarch F028

OWNERS

Chas & Misty Wheeler Paris, MO, 573-473-2508 mistywheeler4@yahoo.com

Clint & Adana Stevenson Hobson, MT, 406-366-9023 stevensonsddot@yahoo.com

Jud & Denise Baldridge North Platte, NE, 308-520-2221 jud@baldridge.net

Eldon & Kathy Starr Stapleton, NE, 308-530-0825 bullbarn@bullbarn.com

*Cherry

+*Baldridge

Cherry Crk Envita B211 S

+*Hoover No Doubt

+*Baldridge Isabel B061

#*S S Niagara Z29

Tehama Elite Blackbird D826

#+*KM Broken Bow 002

+Cherry Crk Envita 1042 S

#*Mogck Bullseye

*Miss Blackcap Ellston J2

#+*G A R Prophet

*Baldridge Isabel Y69

Multi-trait balance & superiority is one of the main characteristics that separates “Working Class” from the pack and enabled him to be the $70,000 top-selling bull in the 2024 Baldridge Performance Angus Bull Sale.

“Working Class” offers slam dunk heifer-safe calving ease, solid performance, strong heifer pregnancy, $ Maternal and ranks well for PAP, docility and end product excellence with great phenotype.

Individual Performance: BW 68 lbs, BWR 96, 205 wt: 665 lbs, WWR 105, 365 wt: 1214 lbs, YWR 107 with 127 contemporaries. Adj. IMF 6.26, Ratio 117; Adj REA 14.5, Ratio 118; Adj Rib Fat 0.33, Ratio 138, 18-month scrotal measurement of 40.0 cm.

His dam has joined the Baldridge embryo program and is a full sister to the highcapacity sire, Baldridge Pappy, and a maternal sister to the balanced trait, strong phenotype sire, Baldridge Gibson, at Select Sires. The foundation 3rd dam, “Y69”, is the most influential cow in Baldridge history and is having a huge impact on the nation’s cow herds.

CSS semen is being collected at ORIgen, Huntley, MT, 866-867-4436. For semen, contact Eldon Starr, Bull Barn Genetics: 800-535-6173.

Al & Jeanne Conover Baxter, IA, 515-491-8078 conover@conoverauction.com

GW Genetics

Gary Wall

Jolley, IA, 406-208-8536

Gary.wall1974@gmail.com

Craig,

Cherry Crk Blue Collar G275

Sire of Baldridge Working Class

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