Ginette Kurtz
The Source
Invest your profits in your cow herd.
The combines are rolling fast, and the bins are already busting at the seams. The price of corn is not nearly as exciting as the price of cattle, but lower feed costs for beef producers coupled with remarkable cattle receipts may give you a headache at tax time. Start preparing now for the increased income.
My family opted to update our handling facilities. The younger generation wants to continue in the cattle business, and the older generation wanted to decrease the physical demands. That made the decision pretty easy. Plus, with an equipment upgrade it would lower the number of people needed to work. That’s a big payoff for our operation.
Updating your handling facilities may give you the opportunity to increase the number of head you artificially inseminate (AI) or maybe this is the start for an AI program. The benefit of using high-quality Angus bulls can pay dividends on your first calf crop.
Synchronizing your herd can also increase returns. Marketing a large number of high-quality, uniform calves born in a shortened calving window is another profit driver. It doesn’t stop there if you retain heifers; it will increase the genetic quality each year. It has been said that 80% of your herds’ genetic base is from the sire.
Don’t forget the scale! When you make plans to update your facilities, many times producers overlook the benefits of adding a scale. Knowing what your calves weigh at weaning time may be your golden ticket to increased profit. It gives you a way to compare the dam to every other dam in your herd. Don’t forget, if you know the sire of each calf you can use that in your comparison, too.
DNA investment
Another investment that could potentially increase your future profit is to DNA-test your prospective replacement heifers. GeneMax™ (GMX™) Focus is a test for high-percentage (75% or greater) Angus-based commercial cattle. At $17 per test, this is a significant investment, but knowledge is profit. The potential gain from those scores could pay for the test in a short amount of time.
What information do you get from GeneMax Focus?
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1. Zoetis HD 50K-tested Angus sires can be matched to tested animals. This could give you an indication if a bull is lounging under the shade tree rather than working.
- 2. GMX Score — the genomic results for marbling and gain are weighted. They are based on historical averages and industry economic trends. The individual’s GMX Score is ranked against the GeneMax database and given a value from 100 to 1. The higher value is more favorable.
- 3. GMX Marbling and GMX Gain — the genomic predictions are again ranked against the GeneMax database, but these values range from 5 to 1. Again, the higher the value, the more favorable for marbling and gain. Note that you will receive a score for GMX Marbling and another score for GMX Gain.
It is best to utilize these scores in conjunction with data you have collected. I have talked with several producers who have utilized GMX Focus. One producer sorts by GMX Scores first and follows up by checking the weights, sire and dam information. Last, but not least, is the visual appraisal. If he really needs a tie breaker, so to speak, it comes down to the GMX Marbling score. Another producer prefers to sort on visual appraisal first then follow up with the paper work. He contends they need to have good feet and legs before he goes any further in the evaluation.
I can’t complete this column without mentioning AngusSource® and AngusSource Genetic. AngusSource is a USDA Process Verified Program that verifies group age, source and a minimum of 50% Angus genetics. Producers who enroll in this program will be issued a white tamper-evident tag for each enrolled calf.
The American Angus Association, on the other hand, does the genetic verification for AngusSource Genetic. Each enrolled calf in this program is issued a neon green tamper-evident tag to show enrollment.
Producers who want to list their cattle on our online site need to be in one of the programs. An email is sent weekly advertising the cattle for sale. Each listing contains the source, group age and lists each of the enrolled calves’ sires. These are both low-cost marketing programs that can convey important genetic information to potential buyers.
Want to go the extra mile? GMX Scores can now be added to your Marketing Documents. Test one-third of your AngusSource or AngusSource Genetic enrollment group. Call AngusSource before ordering your GMX Focus test to find out more information about adding DNA technology in your program. Promote your high-quality Angus genetics at marketing. Advance your management decisions to a new level.
Editor's Note: Ginette Kurtz is the director of commercial programs.
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