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Hereford and Red Angus Heifers Recruited for Genomics Research

The University of Missouri is recruiting 2,500 Hereford heifers and 2,500 Red Angus heifers to participate in a heifer puberty and fertility genomic research project. Heifers should be registered Hereford, registered Red Angus, or commercial Hereford or Red Angus. Hereford x Red Angus crossbred heifers targeted for the Premium Red Baldy Program would also be a good fit for the research project. Producers must be willing to work with a trained veterinarian to collect the following data: ReproductiveTract Scores collected at a pre-breeding exam 30 to 45 days prior to the start of the breeding season. PelvicMeasurements (height and width) collected at the same pre-breeding exam 30 to 45 days prior to the start of the breeding season. Pregnancy Determination Using Ultrasound reporting fetal age in days. Ultrasound will need to occur no later than 90 days after the start of the breeding season. In addition, heifers must have known birth dates and have weights recorded eithe
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Heifer Sale Exceeds Expectations

by Eldon Cole, Livestock Specialist
Headquartered in Lawrence County, MO

The skidding cattle market the past few months resulted in considerable pessimism prior to the 33rd Show-Me-Select (SMS) Bred Heifer Sale at Joplin Regional Stockyards on November 20.  However, when the last of 293 heifers left the ring, the average price of $2477 brought smiles to most of the sellers.

The previous 32 sales results predicted an average heifer price just under $2000 per head.  That forecast is based on the week’s average price per head for a 550 pound, Medium and Large Frame, Number 1 Muscle steer at the Joplin and Springfield markets.  That average amounted to $1011 per head according to the Missouri Market Summary.

The SMS heifer average of $2477 divided by the steer average resulted in a 2.45:1 figure.  In the previous sales the highest ratio was 2.4:1.  Since the SMS sales began in 1997 at Joplin the smallest ratio was 1.65:1 in 1999.

There was a standing room only crowd at the sale along with 254 viewers on DV Auction.  Buyers came from Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas and they took 110 (38%) heifers out of the Show-Me state.

The high-selling heifers for the evening was 5 head from Gilmore Farms, Aurora.  They were F1 Angus-Hereford heifers bred AI to TH 122 711 Victor 719T, a Polled Hereford.  The buyer was David Diggins, Moundville for $3200.  Gilmore topped the overall consignment average with a $2975 price on 8 heifers.

Circle S Chicks, Dusty and Valene Sturgeon, Starks City had the second high consignor average at $2838 for their 40 head of Red Angus heifers bred AI to Bieber Makin’ Hay 9913.  Two buyers each took 20 head, Harold Haskins, Diamond and John G. Harris, Russellville, AR.

John and Janet Massey, Aurora consigned 10, Angus-Simmental heifers that claimed the third high consignor average at $2684.  Following close behind was 38, Angus-Hereford cross heifers from John Wheeler, Marionville that averaged $2651.

The volume buyers of heifers were Harris who took 27 head to Arkansas.  Following him, Haskins ended up with 22 head.

As usual, repeat buyers were abundant with 21 of the 39 buyers being repeat customers. The repeat buyers bought 162 (55%) of the heifers. The 160 head of AI bred heifers sold for $2604 per head. Those bull bred averaged $2325, $279 behind. Only 10 head were tagged Tier Twos and they averaged $2800. Tier Two indicates the heifers were sired by AI bulls who had attained specified EPD accuracy ratings for calving ease direct, calving ease maternal, weaning weight, carcass weight and marbling.

Show-Me-Select cooperators are presently breeding or soon will breed heifers for the May 20 sale in southwest Missouri. For details on how to participate in the value added program contact your University of Missouri extension livestock specialist. Rules and regulations may be found at: http://agebb.missouri.edu/select/prgmreq.htm

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