Featured Post

Dr. Jamie Courter is your Mizzou Beef Genetics Extension Specialist

Image
By Jared E. Decker Many of you have probably noticed that things have been a lot less active on the A Steak in Genomics™   blog, but you probably haven't known why. In January 2021, I was named the Wurdack Chair in Animal Genomics at Mizzou, and I now focus on research, with a little bit of teaching. I no longer have an extension appointment. But, with exciting news, the blog is about to become a lot more active! Jamie Courter began as the new MU Extension state beef genetics specialist in the Division of Animal Sciences on September 1, 2023. I have known Jamie for several years, meeting her at BIF when she was a Masters student. I have been impressed by Jamie in my interactions with her since that time.  Dr. Courter and I have been working closely together the last 6 weeks, and I am excited to work together to serve the beef industry for years to come! Jamie holds a bachelor’s degree in animal science from North Carolina State University and earned a master's degree in animal
1 comment

2017 Cattle Raisers Convention Common Traits of Successful Ranches

Dr. Rick Machen
King Ranch Institute

Successful Ranches share 1 common trait, and 5 components of that trait. 
Succesful Ranches are Stewards of the Resources
  1. People 
  2. Resources 
    • Natural (soil and water, plants)
    • Animals
  3. Financial
  4. Customers


1. People
*raise
*hire
  • Integrity
  • Work ethic
  • Motivated
  • Competent

A strong work ethic is not inherent, it is learned. The younger the learner,  the stronger the ethic.
People who are successful ranchers are life long learners.
It is easy to be passionate on easy, happy days. Are we passionate on the bad days, such as the people suffering from fires in Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma?

2. Resources
How does that energy from the sun taste? Cattle convert the grass growing from the energy from the sun into high quality protein.
Good Stewarts realize they can't control how much they get, but they can manage what they have. Gracing management is huge, must have a grazing plan.
Have to manage invading species.
In Texas if you remove the juniper canopy, the native grasses come back from the existing seed bank.
They match the production of the cow to the production of the environment.
Performance Measures:
  • Conception rates
    • Cowherd
    • 2nd calf cows
    • 1st calf heifers
  • Calving ease (short season with calving ease service bulls)
  • % calves born in first 30 days
  • % calf crop weaned
  • Pounds of calf per acre

Example ranch that is very successful:
  • 97% calf crop weaned 
  • 350 day calving interval
  • $280 cow cost

Cattlemen have been practicing sustainability for decades. Matching the cow to her production environment.
Diversification will be important as we move forward. Oil, multiple species, recreation, etc.

3. Financial
Hay, supplement fee, depreciation...
Avoid fed feed costs. Has feeding hay become a habit? What can you do to reduce feeding hay?
What is your cost of production? If I make a small change here what is the revenue outcome?
Smart ranches invest wisely, save when possible, expect and prepare for the tough times.
There are certain items we need to have to operate. Too many ranches suffer from  "hardware disease", i.e. lots of equipment, trailers, and other unnecessary purchases.
Never buy what you can lease, never lease what you can borrow.

4. Customers
Have to make sure we are meeting the concerns of today's customers.

5. People (again)
Need to look at generational transfer. Involve them when they are young.
Use teamwork.
"Keep the ranch in the family and the family in the ranch. " -Donnell Brown
Location: San Antonio, TX, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Show-Me-Select Board Approves Genomic Testing Requirement for Natural Service Sires

Image
All bulls purchased after February 1st, 2019 for use as natural service sires in the Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program ™  must be DNA tested to have genomic-enhanced EPDs. All bulls used as natural service sires after February 1st, 2020 must have genomic-enhanced EPDs, regardless of when they were purchased. Seedstock producers classifying bulls as Show-Me-Select qualified in sale books must have genomic-enhanced EPDs on those lots. Bulls purchased prior to February 1st, 2019 will be grandfathered into the program, as is the common practice with all natural service sires. However, this grandfather grace period will end February 1st, 2020. At that time for a bull to qualify for use in the program, it must have genomic-enhanced EPDs. Why the change? The Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program has the goal of producing premium heifers that perform predictably as 2 year olds. The program has a history of requiring Show-Me-Select producers to go beyond typical cat
Read more

New Show-Me-Select Sire EPD Requirements Announced

Image
At the January 4th Show-Me-Select Board of Directors meeting, new service sire EPD requirements were approved. All sires, artificial insemination and natural service, must meet minimum Calving Ease Direct (CED) EPD requirements. In addition to yearly updates, two changes were made. First, no Birth Weight EPD requirement will be published. All commonly used breeds now have CED EPDs available. Second, all breeds in the International Genetic Solutions (IGS) genetic evaluation are now set to a common requirement. In the summer of 2018, breeds within the International Genetic Solutions switched to a single-step BOLT multi-breed genetic evaluation. The EPDs for animals in the IGS genetic evaluation are directly comparable across breeds. In 2017, the Red Angus requirement for CED was a CED of 8, which represents the 30th percentile. Less than 5% percent of heifers breed to a bull with a CED EPD of 8 or larger had calving difficulty. We feel that this require is meeting the need to re
Read more

Bob Hough Comments on Changes at Breed Associations

Bob Hough recently posted the following comment on Facebook (posted with his permission): Early in my career at a breed association, the much beloved American Angus breed executive told me that the secret to success running a breed association was to have a top junior program, keep the books straight, and make sure the numbers (EPDs) don't change. This philosophy meant Angus valued stability in their genetic predictions over keeping them up-to-date with the latest science. The Angus Association also marketed extremely effectively the infallibility of their EPDs because of the size of their database. I will start with the later. Yes, a database needs certain critical mass to make sure the animals are tied, but that can be achieved in a modest size database. After that, data quality far and away outweighs data quantity in assuring the most precise and reliable EPDs possible. On the former point, Angus breeders are simply not use to change. This is not the case in most breed associ
Read more