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Previous issues of the BEEF Cattle letter
Issue # 617
December 31, 2008
Marketing Seedstock to Purebred and Commercial Breeders - John Grimes, OSU Extension Educator, Highland County
There is no question that the beef cattle business has undergone a very tumultuous period over the past few years. Significant changes within the beef industry combined with national and world economic woes have impacted every member of the entire beef production chain. No segment of the industry has been immune to these impacts including cow-calf producers, stocker operations, feedlots, packers, and even those involved in seedstock production.
According to statistics from the National Pedigreed Livestock Council, the twenty beef breed associations that are members of this group registered nearly 800,000 head of cattle in 2007. Not every eligible calf is registered and there are many crossbreds or hybrids utilized as seedstock in this country. The bottom line is that a relatively small portion of this country's approximately 33 million head cow herd is devoted to seedstock production. However, this small segment of production has a large impact on the overall beef industry.
Seedstock producers have the responsibility of providing the genetic material that will allow the beef industry to hopefully produce an ever-improving product for today's consumer. Technological advancements such as Expected Progeny Differences, heat synchronization programs, ultrasound measurements of carcass traits, DNA testing for various traits and genetic defects, etc. have allowed breeders to make significant progress towards improving economically important traits. This has allowed the seedstock producer to provide an animal to the commercial cow-calf segment with more background and performance than ever before.
However, producing a superior breeding animal is not enough in today's highly competitive market. How will you differentiate your product from other breeders like you? What services will you provide for your customers? What type of guarantee do you offer with your animals? What is your advertising program? What are your marketing options? These are a few of the tough questions facing today's seedstock producer.
EDITOR's NOTE: Potential solutions to the questions asked above and other pertinent issues will be covered in the presentation "Marketing Seedstock to Purebred and Commercial Breeders" which is a part the series of four February meetings entitled Managing Dynamic Change in the Beef Cattle Industry. 'Marketing seedstock' will be covered by John Grimes, OSU Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources, on the evenings Wednesday, February 11 in Hillsboro and Thursday, February 12 in Albany.
Managing Dynamic Change in the Beef Cattle Industry is sponsored by The Ohio State University Extension and Ohio Cattleman's Association with financial support from the Southern Ohio Agricultural & Community Development Foundation. These will be fast moving and forward thinking "must attend" sessions for cattlemen planning to stay on the cutting edge of a rapidly changing industry. Registration cost will be $50 for the first person from an operation, and $25 for each additional person from that same operation. Reservations may be made by completing the form under this link and sending it along with the registration fee to the Ohio Cattleman's Association. Call OCA (614.873.6736), John Grimes, Highland County Ag Educator (937.393.1918) or Rory Lewandowski, Athens County Ag Educator (740.593.8555) for more detailed information.
Crossbreeding With a Purpose - Pete Anderson, Extension Beef Cattle Specialist, University of Minnesota (excerpted from Anderson's publication "Crossbreeding Systems for Beef Cattle")
Crossbreeding must be planned. Simply mixing breeds at random will not produce the benefits that a well organized, thoughtful crossbreeding system can provide. Producers must avoid "mongrelization" of their cowherds. Uniformity of the cowherd is an often unappreciated trait. If a cowherd varies greatly in size and nutrient requirements, feed will be wasted since the cowherd will be fed to meet the needs of those with the greatest requirements. Otherwise, the nutritional needs of many cows will not be met.
Before designing a crossbreeding system, the production environment and goals (collectively called the production scenario) must be described. When the scenario is considered, high and low priority traits can be listed. For instance, a producer who has an abundant feed supply and intends to sell his calves at weaning every year, will consider milk production a very high priority. On the other hand, if a cattleman will feed his own calves to slaughter, lower milk production and the opportunity to take advantage of compensatory gain after his calves are weaned might be a better choice. Furthermore, if labor is abundant, pulling a few calves might be only a minor nuisance and calving ease would be only a moderate priority (it is the authors view that calving ease is never a low priority, it is either moderate or high). If, however, the cows will be observed only occasionally while calving, calving ease (unassisted births) could be the highest priority. When choosing priorities, a balance of traits is usually best. Remember that as the number of traits considered for selection increases, the amount of progress made in each trait will decrease. In other words, little progress will be made by a breeder who tries to select for everything at once.
OCA to Host District Meetings Featuring Educational Sessions for Beef Producers
As a service to its membership, the Ohio Cattlemen's Association (OCA) in partnership with the OCA Allied Industry Council is holding a series of district meetings located across Ohio during the months of January and February. Anyone with an interest in the cattle industry is invited and encouraged to attend. The meetings will begin at 7:00 p.m. with a complimentary dinner followed by educational speakers.
Meeting attendees in Districts 1 and 2 will learn from OSU beef team member Steve Boyles and District 9 will learn from OSU beef team member Francis Fluharty as they address management and nutritional strategies for feeding commodity co-products that improve production efficiency and help cattle feeding operations capture and maintain added value.
Meeting attendees in District 4 will hear from John Grimes, OSU Extension Educator for Ag & Natural Resources for Highland County, as he discusses improving fertility rates in the cow herd through sound genetic and herd management programs and offers strategies for dealing with today's genetic defects.
Meeting attendees in Districts 5, 7, 8 and 10 will hear from David White, senior director for policy research and development with the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation as he discusses the passage of Proposition 2 in California and its potential short- and long-term impacts on livestock production.
Meeting attendees in District 6 will learn from Jeff McCutcheon, OSU Extension Educator for Ag & Natural Resources in Knox County, and District 3 will learn from Clif Little, OSU Extension Educator for Ag & Natural Resources in Guernsey County as they discuss how pasture management and alternative forages can be utilized to reduce feed costs in all cattle operations.
Meeting attendees in District 6 will hear from Loudonville Farmer's Equity Nutritionist Todd Audrey and Districts 7 and 12 will hear from OSU beef team member Steve Boyles as they address the importance of mineral supplementation and provide effective strategies for producers in Ohio.
Meeting attendees in District 11 will hear from David White, senior director for policy research and development with the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation as he discusses recently established EPA rules and regulations for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and their impact on beef cattle operations in Ohio.
Cattlemen will also learn how they can participate and make a grass roots impact in Columbus and Washington D.C. on the issues that can impact their everyday businesses; and learn more about what OCA can do for them.
According to OCA President Mike Carper of Delaware County, "OCA's district meetings are designed to take OCA to the cattlemen, making it even easier for OCA members to have a voice in directing their organization and to encourage members to recruit other members and to give them some valuable management information in the process."
For complete details about each meeting, including detailed directions, visit www.ohiocattle.org or call the OCA office at (614) 873-6736.
Light a Candle - Steve Suther, Director, Industry Information, Certified Angus Beef (reprinted with permission from the CAB "Black Ink" publication, December, 2008)
December brings the winter solstice, the longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere. Across much of the country, frost is settling into the ground. Those inclined to analyze the economy say we are in the midst of some dark times financially, too.
While cow-calf producers have had some good years in this decade, the overall trend has been a reduction in herd operators, down 25% in 20 years. You could worry about the dark side of erratically higher costs and unknown markets. A winter storm could wreak havoc next week.
But this is also the season of hope. People learned ages ago that this darkness gives way to light, springtime and multifaceted redemption. Yes, we are fewer, our herd smaller in number. But in the balance of supply and demand, that makes beef potentially more valuable as the world's population continues to grow.
We celebrate every birth, from the divine to the ordinary. The anticipation, waiting for these events brings thoughts of the unseen wonders in our lives. To focus, we prepare. We may purchase or craft gifts to welcome a newborn baby or commemorate a world-changing event. Children may even shake a few wrapped presents to gather data on what's inside.
It's up to adults to make sure the kids understand all the symbolism, but in many families, the exchange of gifts is preceded by hints or even lists. When we know the kids well enough, we can make their eyes light up when they open a gift, in a material-world parallel of the spiritual.
Amidst joyous screaming on a Christmas Eve in Kansas, one parent said to another, "I don't know what it is yet, but that's the reaction you want."
In the cattle world, we may palpate or use ultrasound to peek, and get a better idea of when to prepare for calving. Did we prepare for everything that will follow? Have we been good, followed the Golden Rule of win-win cattle dealings, built up relationships to give consumers what's on their list?
Beginning in the south and working its way north, any day now, the moment will arrive.
She will lay down in the natural shelter of an embankment, windbreak, your calving shed or a clean pasture and bear down for a few minutes to bring forth an everyday miracle - all the more so if it's her first.
Soon, she stands to encourage the newborn to nurse. It puts a smile on your face when you check her that morning. You don't know what it is yet, but that's the reaction you want.
A moment or two with the ear tagger and a few other formalities and you leave them to strengthen the bond that will last for half the year while you record the facts and go on with your day.
But you keep thinking about the great expectations you have for this year's calf crop. You're getting ready to make sure their next owner has only pleasant surprises. You don't know yet if they will bring less than a dollar or more than $1.25 per pound when you sell, but you're determined to make them worth the top end bid.
Stocker and feedlot operators expect at least average genetics, health, growth. They drop all sorts of hints, sometimes publish lists and always bid accordingly. Keep their wish list in mind, and understand the ultimate wishes come from consumers. Light a candle for demand.
What have you got wrapped up in your herd? Do all you can to make sure those packages being delivered this season will exceed expectations for all customers down the line. The year starts with very few limits on the good things that can happen if we keep our focus.
Visit the OSU Beef Team calendar of meetings and upcoming events
BEEF Cattle is a weekly publication of Ohio State University Extension in Fairfield County and the OSU Beef Team. Contributors include members of the Beef Team and other beef cattle specialists and economists from across the U.S.
All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status. Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Ag. Admin. and Director, OSU Extension. TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868
Fairfield County Agriculture and Natural Resources
