A Steak in Genomics™

Tom Brinks CEO Red Angus Association of America What does it take to create Valuable Feeder Cattle? 1. Starts with the right mindset. We can have cattle that excel for both maternal and carcass traits. 2. Understand the key value attributes for cattle going through the supply chain, then breed and manage your cattle accordingly. Cattle that stay healthy, grow and grade are winners! If it takes more than two sentences to describe the breed make-up of your cattle, it shows that you don't have a plan for your cattle. If you don't have a plan for your cattle, you can expect to receive discounts on your cattle. If you can briefly describe your cattle, e.g. 100% Char-Angus, 100% Red Angus on Santa Gertrudis, 100% SimAngus, etc. 3. Plug in to a value-added marketing program. You need to use some sort of value added program. These programs verify Health Genetics Natural Nutrition Source What makes your calf crop unique? What is noteworthy about your calves? Pr...

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 People  Resources  Natural (soil and water, plants) Animals Financial 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 ...

Dr. Clay Mathias King Ranch Institute After adjusting for inflation, there was an 18% increase in calf value from 1990 to 2015. The big cost categories are Depreciation, Feed, and Labor. The drivers of these are corn, oil, ag land and minimum wage. Corn cost increased 24%. Oil increased 284%. Ag land increased by 134%. Labor only increased by 9%. "Like calf prices, all of these increased more than inflation." Mathias said. We have seen a 30 to 50 lb increase in weaning weight over the past 20 years in the seedstock sector. We have data-driven tools for selection decisions such as genomic-enhanced EPDs. In Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma: Pregnancy rate from 1993 to 1995 was 89%. In 2013 to 2015 it was 90%. Weaning rate from 1993 to 1995 was 84%. In 2013 to 2015 it was 84%. Weaning weight from 1993 to 1995 was 525 lbs. In 2013 to 2015 it was 525 lbs. Pounds of calf weaned/cow exposed was 439 lbs. It was 438 lbs. in 2013 to 2015. Identical trends are see...

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Applications are being accepted for the second annual University of Missouri Division of Animal Sciences Youth Leadership Academy. Twenty high school students with an interest in agriculture and the livestock industry will attend the May 31-June 3 event at MU’s Animal Science Research Center. “The intensive four-day event focuses on increasing knowledge of Missouri’s diverse and dynamic livestock industry, as well as building participants’ leadership and communication skills,” says Marcia Carlson Shannon, MU Extension swine specialist. Students receive personalized instruction and interaction with counselors, professors and livestock industry leaders. They learn leadership skills, tour leading agricultural operations and businesses, and discuss current issues regarding livestock production, Shannon says. Applications are available at MU Extension centers in each county and from FFA advisers. MU Extension, MU Division of Animal Sciences and Friends of the MU Animal...