Serving the Bos indicus Cattle Industry of America | July/August 2012 The Value of the American Breeds Angus Alternatives in the South Exporting Genetics - Yesterday & In the Future 35th Annual Tri-Star Santa Gertrudis Sale Saturday, October 20, 2012 • 11am at Briggs Ranches, Traylor Division Bloomington, Texas An offering of performance proven genetics from three of the most respected and consistent programs in the industry... Briggs Ranches, Corporron Acres, and Harris Riverbend Farms Auctioneer: Hoover Case For Information and a sale catalog, contact: Robert Briggs 361/573-7141 or Joe Jones 361/897-1337 Offering Quality Santa Gertrudis for 35 years! The eAR july/august 2012 | 1 Over the past several months I have written about the history, performance and impor- tance of the American breeds to the US beef industry. These breeds include any breed or cross that has Bos indicus (generally Ameri- can Brahman) genetics used in its creation. The most popular breeds usually included in this designation include the Beefmaster, Braford, Brangus, Red Brangus, Santa Ger- Columns trudis and Simbrah (the American Brahman was created in this country by combining several Bos indicus breeds and with these 4 Have You Heard...the Truth 6 six is considered one of the Eared breeds). Of course there are other American breeds, 6 The Science of Bos inducus perhaps not as widely used but very useful in the environment they were created. Features Cattle known as Ultrablacks today are one half Angus and one half Brangus, result- 10 Angus Alternatives in the ing in a Brahman content of 3/16. Many South of the breeders, at first called them Angus Plus. Charles Crochet started breeding Ul- 14 J.D. Hudgins, Inc. - Export- trablacks in 1996 by flushing his lead herd ing Genetics Yesterday & In sire, Confederate, to a 1680 daughter out of the famed 5H11 cow from Wehrmann and the Future to a top daughter of Paramont Ambush. His unique philosophy centers around the selection of superior cows that are of the right size, and breeding them to a dominant Departments 10 Angus or Brangus herd sires as he builds his program. Today, together with his wife 18 Charlotte, Crochet Cattle Company resides Brahman Headlines on a combination of rented and owned 20 land outside of Lafayette, Louisiana. Brangus Headlines 22 Santa Gertrudis Headlines A ranch who’s name is synonymous with Brahman cattle and international market- ing, J.D. Hudgins, Inc. of Hungerford, Texas. Other How the industry in the world has changed and affected the marketing of genetics in- 22 ternationally. Industry News 26 Bos inducus Bulletin Board 27 Advertiser’s Index 14 28 Calendar On the Cover: Brahman females in Panama at Ganadera Karla Mary. Picture taken by Milton Charanza during the 2012 World Brahman Congress. 2 | july/august 2012 The eAR Buy the NumBers selliNG 100 BraNGus Females Special Offerings will include choice flush lots from these females: Ms Salacoa Bragg 804Y6 Ms SVF Lambert 803Y2 Ms SVF Lambert 209Y selliNG 100 Bulls! Rancher’s Herd Sires - More and Better Than Ever! Salacoa Lambert 209Y2 Salacoa Patton 23Y69 SVF Mr Cadence 23Y42 October 26th Backed by the POWERFUL Salacoa Valley Cowherd: BW WW YW MILK TM SC REA IMF SVF Averages +0.19 +29.3 +52.9 +15.4 +30.6 +0.76 +0.49 +0.06 Fairmount, Georgia SVF %’s 30% 20% 15% 20% 20% 20% 20% 30% Breed Average 0.7 20.6 37.2 9.8 20.1 0.37 0.21 -0.01 David & Susan Vaughan, Owners Chris Heptinstall, Gen. Manager PO Box 185 Fairmount, GA 30139 706-337-2295 [email protected] www.salacoavalleybrangus.com Mark Cowan | [email protected] | 903-495-4522 Sales Consultant: Todd Harvey Trey Kirkpatrick | [email protected] | 979-324-5518 386-288-8059 | [email protected] Richard Hood | [email protected] | 979-224-6150 Brad Wright | [email protected] | 979-219-4599 The eAR july/august 2012 | 3 Have You Heard.... the Truth Serving the Bos indicus Cattle Industry of America It continues to be an exciting time in the The EAR Magazine cattle business, but it is also a challenging time. c/o AMS Genetics PO Box 10 New reports suggest that while parts of Texas Wheelock, TX 77882 are in much better shape than last year, the country as a whole is actually more drought Physical: 10541 E OSR stricken this year than last. 72% of the conti- Hearne, TX 77859 nental U.S. is “abnormally dry” or worse com- pared to only 32% this time last year. These Phone: 979/219-4599 Fax: 979/828-5532 conditions will keep the U.S. beef cow num- www.theearmagazine.com bers from rebuilding, keeping supplies low and prices high for the foreseeable future. The opportunities for wealth Crystal Devoll and prosperity in the beef cattle industry are abundant, but will only Editor/Publisher be recognized by those breeders able to control input costs and reap 979/820-8358 these elevated revenues as profit. [email protected] As the demand for lower input costs increases, the impact of Brad Wright breed type, management style and breeding program will become Billing much more evident. Profitable breeders will optimize breed comple- 979/219-4599 [email protected] mentarity and heterosis to gain efficiency. Breed complementarity is hugely important to utilize a cow herd that matches the environment Mark Cowan and bulls that match the market. Heterosis, as has been said before, Advertising Sales 903/495-4522 is the only “free” tool available to the cattle industry. Profitable pro- [email protected] ducers will make use of both maternal and direct heterosis to add productivity, efficiency, pounds and most of all dollars to the bottom Kyle Devoll Advertising Sales line of their operations. 979/820-8362 This spring, buyers have demanded more “ear” in replacement [email protected] females. Data presented at this year’s BIF Convention suggests that Richard Hood this trend may be here for a while. 42% of the cattle in the U.S. Advertising Sales reside in an area regarded as “sub-tropical”; however, only 8% of the 979/225-6140 registered cattle in the country are Bos indicus influenced. Based on [email protected] demand, breeders in this region of the country are becoming increas- Trey Kirkpatrick ingly aware of the advantages of the “Eared” female in these temper- Advertising Sales ate environments to lower input costs. This topic has been discussed 979/324-5518 [email protected] at length by regular EAR contributors over the last few months and continues this month with another great article from Dr. Paschal Member: about the value of the American Breeds. I hope everyone is having a great summer, and I look forward to seeing you at one of the great Beef Industry events of the year, the 58th Annual Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course, August 6-8, 2012. Published on the first day of each month. Correspondence on all phases of the cattle business is invited. Publisher reserves exclusive right to accept or reject advertising or editorial material submitted for publication in The EAR magazine. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to : The EAR c/o AMS We look forward to serving you. Genetics, PO Box 10, Wheelock, Texas 77882, 979-219-4599, FAX 979-828- 5532. Brad Wright 4 | july/august 2012 The eAR Don Thomas & Sons Join us for 22nd Annual “Cadillac of Brangus” Sale dinner September 8, 2012 - 12 Noon Friday the 7th at the farm near Madison, Missouri 55 Registered Brangus Females 25 coming 2 year old Brangus Bulls ENTIRE OFFERING 200 Commercial Females - Pairs, Breds, Opens BORN & BRED ON THOMAS FARM DTS Power Ball 106Y R10216717 Lombardi of Brinks 468N10 x Skyhawks Ms Abbie 106P4 BW WW YW Milk TM SC REA IMF Fat EPDs 0.7 33 38 6 22 0.20 0.17 -0.05 -0.003 Austin’s Sweetie Pie-155Y R101934447 Mr Thomas Odyssey 610S2 x M Thomas 81H5-155S BW WW YW Milk TM SC REA IMF Fat EPDs 0.9 22 36 6 17 Safe to Mighty Mouse. AI’d 3/15/12. 18146 Hwy 151 Madison, MO 65263 Don Thomas 660/263-4560 l 660/651-1805 Keith Thomas l 573/473-6719 LOCATED 12 MILES EAST OF MOBERLY ON HWY 24 Quality Brangus Since 1973. www.thomasbrangusranch.com Sale broadcast by: Sale Management: Mark Cowan, [email protected], 903/495-4522 Ms Thomas Sugar Baby 200Y Trey Kirkpatrick, treyk@amscattle,com, 979/324-5518 ns Richard Hood, [email protected], 979/224-6150 o ti R10216697 Brad Wright, [email protected], 979/219-4599 u ol Whitfield of Brinks 209U23 x Ms Thomas 81H5-200S1 www.amscattle.com S e ttl BW WW YW Milk TM SC REA IMF Fat Sale Consultant: Ca EPDs 1.8 29 50 2 16 0.40 0.46 0.08 0.007 John McKnight, 501/281-1040 Open heifer The eAR july/august 2012 | 5 The Value of the The Science of Bos indicus featuring Dr. Joe Paschal American Breeds Professor & Livestock Specialist Texas AgriLife Extension Corpus Christi, Texas Over the past several months I have written about the history, perfor- vide cattle that would mance and importance of the American breeds to the US beef industry. thrive in the less than These breeds include any breed or cross that has Bos indicus (generally Amer- ideal environmental ican Brahman) genetics used in its creation. The most popular breeds usually conditions produce included in this designation include the Beefmaster, Braford, Brangus, Red a market acceptable Brangus, Santa Gertrudis and Simbrah (the American Brahman was created calf and perhaps most in this country by combining several Bos indicus breeds and with these six importantly improve is considered one of the Eared breeds). Of course there are other American profitability. Profit- breeds, perhaps not as widely used but very useful in the environment they ability is what drove Mr. Adams, Mr. Lasater and Mr. Kleberg to develop the were created. breeds associated with their names (Braford, Beefmaster and Santa Gertru- One breed that comes to mind is the Charbray (5/8 - 13/16 Charolais and dis), not the desire to create new breeds. 3/8-3/16 Brahman). This breed was developed after F1 crosses made in the Originally some of these breeds used a specific “formula” to allow new 1930s (using Charolais cattle imported from Mexico) were found to be faster breeders to breed new cattle and register them into the herd book. Offspring growing, more heat tolerant and tick resistant, and better grading (in terms from these registered cattle were automatically considered purebreds eligible of overall carcass composition) in tropical and subtropical environments for registry. Later some of the American breeds that had a specific percentage they were bred and raised. Charbray cattle were fairly widespread in the Gulf cross allowed for some variation to fit specific production environments and Coast areas and even in some areas of the west but never as numerous in marketing preferences which has proved useful in the long run. Some envi- either number of cattle nor in number of breeders as the other Eared breeds. ronments require less Bos indicus influence, some require more, and many The Association was merged with the American International Charolais As- markets tend to discount excessive influence (except in replacement females). sociation in the 1960s and is responsible for the registry. I have seen a lot of In addition to providing a desirable blend of the parental breed types, Charbray cattle in Central and South American (in Brazil the Charbray are often to fit your environment and market, there are large number of breed- called Canchim) and the breed is fairly well represented in Australia. In the ers and animals from which to select. These breeds (like all purebred cattle) US the breed tended to be larger framed and later maturing than the British produce their own replacements which is as beneficial today as it was 50 or breeds (even though they were fast gaining and efficient on grass and in the 75 years ago to their founders. You don’t have to rebuild your replacements feedyard) and when those breeds began to moderate their frame and move when they are culled due to nonperformance, herds can be resupplied with towards improved carcass merit, many Charbray breeders were no longer in cattle of the desired breed percentages without rebuilding the crosses. In ad- business. However there are still a few Charbray breeders and cattle around dition, most of these breeds have comprehensive performance testing and and their bulls are in demand by the folks who know their value. EPD prediction that can include ultrasound and genomic data So what is the value of an American breed? Another value accrued in combining breeds is hybrid vigor or heterosis. So what is the value of an American breed? First there is the genetic value The benefits of hybrid vigor or heterosis are well known. The crossbred off- of the breeds used in the cross. Many times when my colleagues talk about spring has a gene from each of the parental breeds on every locus on each crossbreeding, this is sometimes glossed over in favor of emphasizing hybrid chromosome and the products produced by these genes interact to generally vigor or heterosis. As my good friend and mentor Dr. Rodney Robertson, improve the trait in a wide range of environments. Generally the harsher Executive Director of the United Braford Breeders Association once said to the environment is, the greater the improvement can be. In most cases, this me when we were graduate students “Heterosis is just the icing on the cake, response is significant (as in fertility, maternal ability and longevity) increas- the ingredients (the breeds used) are what makes the cake taste good. If the ing productivity 10-25%. The American breeds, with the exception of some ingredients aren’t any good the icing won’t make it taste any better”. It doesn’t mild inbreeding (the opposite of crossbreeding) that might have occurred to just apply to the breeds but to the genetic value of individuals involved in “fix” a type (coat color, white markings, polledness) have all retained some making the breeds as well. In the original foundation animals of these dif- of the original heterosis created from the initial crosses which is valuable to ferent American breeds there weren’t any EPDs or adjusted weights or con- commercial and purebred breeders alike. This retained heterosis is expressed temporary groups, just outstanding individuals based mostly on physical ap- in the straightbred cattle but is also observed when these breeds are mated to praisal. For traits high in heritability this was good enough (it had to be) to unrelated breeds. ensure some accuracy in selection response and once the progeny were on There is a long history of using the value of using American breed females the ground further culling based on their performance could be continued. in tropical and subtropical environments and breeding them to British or Most of the Eared breeds (with the singular exception of the American European breed bulls (sometimes related by breed, sometimes not) to pro- Brahman which is a blend of Bos indicus breeds) have Bos indicus genetics duce a terminal cross market calf. The American breed cow provides adapt- blended in some proportion with one or more British or European breeds. ability, fertility, maternal ability and longevity and the non-American breed The Bos indicus genetics supplied the valuable genetics for adaptability in sire provides more growth and marketability. The American breed cows are tropical and subtropical environments (heat and parasite tolerance, resistance often easier to find and not as expensive as most F1 females and are a valuable to disease, ability to digest coarser forages due to increased retention time, asset. American breed bulls are also used on non-American breed females to thicker enamel on their teeth, and increased longevity) that the British and produce the same crosses but since the American female is more productive European breeds lacked. In turn, those British and European cattle provided than the non-American one in these environments, profitability is generally valuable genetics for increased gain, muscling and carcass merit. The idea was lower. American breed cows and bulls are a short cut to most of the benefits to develop a crossbred animal that blended these traits in an ideal to pro- of crossbreeding (use of breeds in desirable combinations and heterosis) while 6 | july/august 2012 The eAR retaining the attributes of other purebred associations (registration, perfor- Bos indicus to fit your specific environmental and market conditions, have mance testing and accurate and timely EPD calculation). reliable and accurate performance data and EPD for most traits, and can The American breeds and their crosses are valuable to southern US beef provide a shortcut to producing an acceptable and profitable market calf! v production. They provide high levels of hybrid vigor, vary in percentages of Profitability is what drove Mr. Adams, Mr. Top Left: Tom Lasater, founder of the Beefmaster breed. Lasater and Mr. Kleberg to develop the Middle: Beefmaster bull from early in the breeds associated with their names (Bra- breed’s development. ford, Beefmaster and Santa Gertrudis), not Bottom Left: A modern day Beefmaster bull. the desire to create new breeds. Top Left: Robert J. Kleberg, Jr., the founder of the Santa Gertrudis breed. Middle: Monkey, one of the foundation bulls of the breed. Bottom Left: A modern day Santa Gertrudis bull. Top Left: Bud Adams, founder of the Braford breed. Middle: AR Muscles 1, calved in 1957, pictured in 1967. Bottom Left: Young Braford bull, currently in the UBB bull development program. Left: Charbray bull from Caney Creek Cattle Company in Oakwood, TX. The Charbray breed is 5/8 - 13/16 Charolais and 3/8-3/16 Brahman. This breed was developed after F1 crosses made in the 1930’s (using Charolais cattle imported from Mexico) were found to be faster growing, more heat tolerant and tick resistant, and better grading (in terms of overall carcass composition) in tropical and subtropical environments they were bred and raised. The eAR july/august 2012 | 7 8 | july/august 2012 The eAR