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Dr. Jamie Courter is your Mizzou Beef Genetics Extension Specialist

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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...
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Forty-Nine Performance Bulls Average $4581 at the 86th Southwest Missouri Beef Cattle Improvement Association’s Bull Sale

Eldon Cole, Livestock Specialist

The 86th Southwest Missouri Beef Cattle Improvement Association’s bull sale averaged $4581 on 49 bulls.  Leading the average were the 46 Angus bulls that made $4684.  Three Polled Herefords were harder to get bids on and each received a $3000 bid.

The consignment had outstanding performance data behind them and the knowledgeable bidders on the seats found the top prospects throughout the sale.  One thing that stood out again was the reluctance of buyers to go very high on bulls that had calving ease direct expected progeny differences (EPD) that were poorer than breed average.

The sale top of the evening was a May, 2014 Angus consigned by Truman L. Wiles, Willow Springs.  The bulls calving ease, weaning weight and yearling weight ranked him in the first percentile for Angus non-parent bulls.  His $Wean was also in the first percentile.  The 7-framebull brought $7000 from Kevin and Cheryl Dill of Niangua.

Close behind at $6750 was the entry from Blue Mound Angus, Fred Swartzentruber, Eldorado Springs.  Also a 7-frame score bull with EPDs for calving ease, weaning weight, yearling weight, milk $Wean and $Beef in the top 15 percentile or better was claimed by Travis Eck, Pierce City.

Two Angus bulls were sold for $6500 each consigned by Wiles and Norman Garton, Nevada.  The successful buyers were Brackenridge Brothers, Eldorado Springs and Charles Whisman, Shell Knob.  Each of the buyers regularly purchase bulls from this sale.

The three Polled Herefords were consigned by Bonebrake Herefords, Springfield.  The buyers were Two Bar D, Niangua, White’s Bar W Ranch, Ozark and Brian and Tara Wilson, Neosho.

The sale was held on October 26 at the Springfield Livestock Marketing Center.  Auctioneer was Jerry Lehmann, Lake Ozark.  Pam Naylor, Buffalo serves the SW MO BCIA as sale manager.

The next sale will be the last Monday of March.  Consignments for it will begin in late December.  For details on that you may contact Pam at 417-345-8330 or contact your nearest University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist.

More details on the BCIA may be found at www.swmobcia.com 

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