Serving the Bos indicus Cattle Industry of America | December 2011/January 2012 M ake Trails Home - M erry Christmas & Happy New Year THE EAR DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012 | 1 Contrary to a recent “research” article from some of our Northern cattle produc- ers, Bos indicus influenced cattle are per- forming well in the pasture, in the feedlot, on the rail, and on the plate. However, further research is needed to help combat these Northern biases and prove the true merit and profitability of the Bos indicus in- Columns fluenced animal. 3 Have You Heard...the Truth 6 The Science of Bos indicus 6 The Bos indicus influence, or Eared influ- ence, in our American breeds helps to make Features them the profitable choice of cattlemen throughout the country. Breeders need to 10 Embrace a Little EAR quit worrying about the Northern percep- tions and step up to “Embrace a Little Ear” and help to prove reality, not perceptions. Departments 12 American Breeds Coalition Headlines 12 Brahman Headlines 10 14 Brangus Headlines 17 Santa Gertrudis Headlines IBC Cattle Listings Page On the Cover: It’s Christmas at Cavender Ranches, Jacksonville, TX. Other Photo by Crystal Devoll 18 Industry News 22 Bos inducus Bulletin Board 23 Advertiser’s Index 24 Calendar 2 | DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012 THE EAR Have You Heard.... Serving the Bos indicus the Truth Cattle Industry of America 2011 has been a difficult year for The EAR Magazine c/o AMS Genetics many in the cattle business due to severe PO Box 10 drought along with increased input cost. Wheelock, TX 77882 The herds across Texas, Oklahoma, New Physical: Mexico and parts of Louisiana have been 10541 E OSR depleted considerably. Depletion num- Hearne, TX 77859 bers in these regions have been published Phone: 979/219-4599 as high as 50%. Fax: 979/828-5532 www.theearmagazine.com With all that said, as we reflect back on our difficulties this year, let’s try to rejoice in our blessings as well. 2011 saw record stocker, Crystal Devoll feeder, fat and slaughter cattle prices due to tremendous global de- Editor/Publisher mand for beef. The future appears bullish for even more increased 979/820-8358 demand. This surely holds well for cattle producers in the future. [email protected] Brad Wright This is a great time for Bos indicus cattle as well in proving that Billing they are the cow needed for the South. During this drought people 979/219-4599 are realizing the importance of an animal’s hardiness, heat tolerance [email protected] and environmental adaptability. Ranchers are convinced now, if they Mark Cowan were not before, that through difficult times that it pays to have EAR Advertising Sales in your cow herd. 903/495-4522 [email protected] Recently information and data was released from a so called Kyle Devoll research study named the Southern Carcass Improvement Project Advertising Sales 979/820-8362 (SCIP). It was conducted by one of the top Northern Angus ranches [email protected] in the country and two Universities. The project takes a few head of so called Southern Bos indicus cattle and considers them a represen- Richard Hood tation of the Southern cattleman’s genetic base. The report does not Advertising Sales 979/225-6140 say what the breeding and or the breed type is of the research cattle. [email protected] They look like Corriente in the pictures. The report goes into detail how all the Southern bred cattle performed negatively and when Trey Kirkpatrick Advertising Sales crossed to the Angus ranch’s bull that the offspring were higher per- 979/324-5518 forming and more profitable. With that said, the data that is being [email protected] published from this project is insulting to the intelligence of cattle ranchers across the nation. It should be considered and weighed Member: heavily on its merit. We at The EAR magazine want to thank everyone especially our advertisers in 2011. We have been overwhelmed with the support. Published on the first day of each month. Correspondence on all phases of We will continue in 2012 with our fair and balanced reporting of Bos the cattle business is invited. Publisher reserves exclusive right to accept indicus cattle. or reject advertising or editorial material submitted for publication in The EAR magazine. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to : The EAR c/o AMS Genetics, PO Box 10, Wheelock, Texas 77882, 979-219-4599, FAX 979-828- Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! 5532. Richard Hood THE EAR DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012 | 3 The First Calf Crop is on the Ground We are excited about the quality in his calves. Contact us about putting these genetics to work in your herd. DMR GOODNIGHT607W3 Goodnight has gone GLOBAL! Semen is available for export (CSS and Australian qualified), R10149999 l 607W3 l Suhn’s Alydar 416N3 x CR Miss Blackhawk 607R so don’t miss out. EPDs: BW 2.8 | WW 31 | YW 61 | Milk 8 | TM 24 | SC 1.40 | REA 0.56 | IMF -0.03 | Fat 0.006 l The $35,000 high selling bull at the 2010 Genetrust-Chimney Rock Bull Sale. l An own son of the calving ease specialist Alydar, and out of a powerful Blackhawk daughter. l Use to add growth and power while maintaining milk and fertility. John & Sherry Milam, Owners Roy & Debbie Schoenig, Owners Mark Cowan, [email protected], 903/495-4522 753 Hinson Rd l El Dorado, AR 71730 Grady Green, Registered Cowherd Manager PO Box 88 l Honey Grove, TX 75446 Trey Kirkpatrick, treyk@amscattle,com, 979/324-5518 870/314-3673 l [email protected] 903/249-4352 (Roy) l 214/679-5474 (Debbie) Richard Hood, [email protected], 979/224-6150 Cattle Solutions Cattle Joe Parson, Ranch Manager 903/495-3618 Brad Wright, [email protected], 979/219-4599 Dannery Roberson, Commercial Cowherd Manager www.amscattle.com 870/310-8134 l www.dragginmranch.com 4 | DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012 THE EAR The First Calf Crop is on the Ground We are excited about the quality in his calves. Contact us about putting these genetics to work in your herd. DMR GOODNIGHT607W3 Goodnight has gone GLOBAL! Semen is available for Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! export (CSS and We hope your 2012 is looking bright. We are very excited about our young females that will be impacting our program in 2012 and beyond. Australian qualified), R10149999 l 607W3 l Suhn’s Alydar 416N3 x CR Miss Blackhawk 607R so don’t miss out. EPDs: BW 2.8 | WW 31 | YW 61 | Milk 8 | TM 24 | SC 1.40 | REA 0.56 | IMF -0.03 | Fat 0.006 l The $35,000 high selling bull at the 2010 Genetrust-Chimney Rock Bull Sale. l An own son of the calving ease specialist Alydar, and out of a powerful Blackhawk daughter. l Use to add growth and power while maintaining milk and fertility. T529 23X11 803X 535U9 U877 David & Susan Vaughan, Owner Watch for bulls available Private Treaty Chris Heptinstall, Gen. Manager John & Sherry Milam, Owners PO Box 185 and Information on upcoming sale Roy & Debbie Schoenig, Owners Mark Cowan, [email protected], 903/495-4522 753 Hinson Rd l El Dorado, AR 71730 Fairmount, GA 30139 dates in the spring of 2012. Grady Green, Registered Cowherd Manager PO Box 88 l Honey Grove, TX 75446 Trey Kirkpatrick, treyk@amscattle,com, 979/324-5518 706-337-2295 870/314-3673 l [email protected] 903/249-4352 (Roy) l 214/679-5474 (Debbie) Richard Hood, [email protected], 979/224-6150 [email protected] Cattle Solutions Cattle Joe Parson, Ranch Manager 903/495-3618 Brad Wright, [email protected], 979/219-4599 Dannery Roberson, Commercial Cowherd Manager www.salacoavalleybrangus.com www.amscattle.com 870/310-8134 l www.dragginmranch.com THE EAR DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012 | 5 Need for The Science of Bos indicus featuring Dr. Joe Paschal Professor & Livestock Specialist Texas AgriLife Extension Eared Breed Corpus Christi, Texas Research Warm Climate Adapted Cattle Already Exist by the US cattle in- dustry. Most of these Recently I had the opportunity to read a “research” article (perhaps an became today’s Bos advertisement is a better description) in an online beef industry magazine. It indicus influenced reported on the improvement in feedyard gain and carcass quality grade with or “Eared” breeds: the use of non Bos indicus bulls on Bos indicus crossbred cows in a single Beefmaster, Braford, generation (we might call it an F1 cross). There was nothing unique reported Brangus, Red Bran- in the results, it is well known that Bos indicus crosses don’t marble as well gus, Santa Gertrudis, and may not gain as well as some non Bos indicus crosses, particularly if the Simbrah, to name a few of the more numerous. There were others and still bulls used were in the top percentages of their breed for those traits. The are some new ones that want to use Eared genetics, especially in one area. presentation of the representative animals, particularly the one purported These Eared breeds have the one thing that the dominating non Bos indicus to represent the typical Southern Bos indicus cross female, made the entire breeds would pay dearly to have: tropical environmental adaptability and all article seem more like an ad than research and not much was said about that it confers to about 1/3 of the US cowherd that lives in the southern US. profitability, only the difference in value of the carcasses. In fact the number of non Bos indicus breeds that have or want to incorpo- rate Bos indicus genetics at some level has increased in recent years because Since the 1940s, Bos indicus crosses (usually Brahman crosses with Here- they want access to those Southern cows.