official magazine of the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association • February 2010
Bull & Female Purchasing Economic Considerations, p. 12 • Hay Storage Methods to Keep Costs Low, p. 30
Limousin Cattle: A ThrivingBreed, starting on page 21
Coverage starts on page 36
ALSO INSIDE THIS ISSUE:GCA Convention Plans and Registration
see pages 64-69 for details!
2 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 3
18 ANNUAL REPLACEMENT HEIFER SALESponsored by Saluda County Cattlemen’s Association
Saturday - February 27, 2010 - 12:30 p.m. • Saluda Livestock Market - Saluda, SC
250 Open and Bred Heifers Selling� Sired by Angus, Red Angus and Gelbvieh bulls� Performance Tested� Now offering both open heifers and a select group of fall calving bred heifers� Calfhood vaccinated and on excellent herd health program� All heifers are BVD-PI tested� Sold in uniform groups of 2 to 5 head� Officially screened and sorted by Clemson University Extension Service Representatives
AUCTIONEER:Darren CarterSCAL#3385
Lunch provided by Saluda 4-H
For Information Contact:Saluda County Cattlemen’s AssociationPhil Perry, County Extension Agent201 East Church Street, Saluda, SC 29138-1403(864) 445-8117 (office), extension 115 • (864) 445-8413 (home)(864) 993-5145 (cell) • (864)445-8119 (fax) • email: [email protected]
TH
Consigned by 18 leading beef cattle farms:Henry & Wayne Black
Black Crest FarmsClinton & Vanoy ClarkJohn & Michelle Koon
Cecil GreeneJoey Greene
Junie GreeneDon & Marty Havird
Ira Jones Terry Kirkland & Ryan Mayo
Woody PadgetRiley Farms
Al RisingerBruce Rushton
Ed & Grace SatcherVirgil Wall
Yon Family FarmsJoe & Kay Yonce
4 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
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ContentsContentsVolume 38 / Number 2 / February 2010
GEORGIA CATTLEMAN (USPS 974-320, ISSN 0744-4451) is published monthly bythe Georgia Cattlemen’s Association, 100 Cattlemen’s Drive, P.O. Box 24510,Macon, Georgia 31212. Subscription rate of $45.00 per year. Periodical PostagePaid at Macon, GA, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER—Send addresschanges to GEORGIA CATTLEMAN, 100 Cattlemen’s Drive, P.O. Box 24510, Macon,Georgia 31212. For advertising information, contact Georgia Cattlemen’sAssociation, P.O. Box 24510, Macon, GA 31212. Phone 478-474-6560.Member Since 2000
GEORGIA CATTLEMEN’SASSOCIATION100 Cattlemen’s Drive, P.O. Box 24510Macon, GA 31212, phone: 478-474-6560fax: 478-474-5732, [email protected]
GCA & GEORGIA BEEFBOARD STAFFExecutive Vice President: Josh White, [email protected] of Operations:Michele Creamer, [email protected] of Industry Information:Ashley Hughes, [email protected] of Communications & Youth Activities:Katlin Mulvaney, [email protected] and facilities coordinator:Sherri Morrow, [email protected] administrative program specialist:Patricia Combes, [email protected] Administrative assistant:Stephanie D. Sims, [email protected]
MAGAZINE STAFFEditor: Josh White, [email protected]: Stephanie D. Sims, [email protected]: Sherri Morrow, [email protected] editorial: Katlin Mulvaney, [email protected] Editor: Ashley Hughes, [email protected]: Katlin Mulvaney, [email protected] Graphic artist: Gayla Dease, [email protected] GEORGIA CATTLEMANThe Georgia Cattleman magazine and the Georgia Cattlemen’sAssociation reserve the exclusive right to accept or reject advertisingor editorial material submitted for publication. The editorial contentcontained in this magazine does not necessarily represent the viewsof the Georgia Cattleman magazine or the Georgia Cattlemen’sAssociation.
GCA-GJCA MEMBERSHIP ANDMAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION FORM
Complete and mail this form to:
GCA, P.O. Box 24510Macon, GA 31212
478-474-6560, fax: 478-474-5732
Name _____________________________
Address ___________________________
__________________________________
City____________ State ___ Zip _______
Phone _____________________________
E-mail ____________________________
GCA Chapter _______________________
Sponsored by _______________________
Birthday __________________________
GCA dues, 1 year .............................. $50
GJCA dues, 1 year ............................ $15
Additional Chapter Dues, 1 Year ....... $ ___
TOTAL PAYMENT $ ______
Membership dues entitle you to receive a one-yearsubscription to the Georgia Cattleman magazine. TheGeorgia Cattleman is only available to GCA members.
Payment of GCA membership dues is tax-deductiblefor most members as an ordinary business expense.Complying with tax laws, GCA estimates 5% of the
dues payment is not deductible as a business expensebecause of direct lobbying activities. Also, charitable
contributions to GCA are not tax deductible for federalincome tax purposes.
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Association reports6 GCA President’s Report by Bill Nutt 9 GCA Executive Vice President’s Report by Josh White
10 GCA Leadership Report 71 Junior Cattlemen’s Report by Cole Brogdon80 CattleWomen’s Report by Carla Kelsoe
Industry news16 Leadership and Solutions from Your NCBA18 Forage Producers Plan Active Year21 Covenant Cattle Company: Honoring Past, Embracing Future22 What Drives Value in Feeder Cattle?28 Limousin Fits Today’s Commercial Industry32 Unpacking the HSUS Gravy Train45 52nd Tifton Performance-Tested Bull Sale53 USDA Meat and Livestock Trade Data Update 60 2010 Nominating Committee Appointed64 GCA Convention Section Begins70 NCBA Denounces Taiwan Beef Trade Restrictions74 Strategies in Case of an IRS Audit
Reader services7 Letters To and From the Editor
34 Good Deeds Gone Awry by Baxter Black50 Who Is Behind the Movement? by Dr. Charles N. Dobbins51 New Members72 County Connections76 Industry Obituaries78 Local Market Reports 81 Cooking BEEF with Ashley!86 Advertising Index 87 Calendar of Events
Expert advice12 Bull & Female Purchasing Economic Considerations
by Dr. Curt Lacy30 Hay Storage Methods for Keeping Costs Low
by Dennis Hancock54 Cottonseed: Still a Useful Supplement by Gary Hill, et al.
ABOUT THE COVERThe February 2010 Georgia Cattleman cover features
Limousin and LimFlex cattle grazing in north Georgia.Thank you to Nathan Williams of Williams Limousin,
Cumming, Georgia, for this preview of spring.
Performance Tested Bull Sale
Yon Predestined W217 16392641
Yon Predestined W185 16392640
Yon Objective W55 16371668
Yon Final Answer W172 16371660 Yon Predestined W166 16392638
Yon Predestined W19 16392623
Yon Bextor W71 16392462
Yon In Focus W183 16392582
For Sale Books or Information, Contact:Kevin & Lydia Yon
PO Box 737 • Ridge Spring, SC 29129(803) 685-5048 • Fax (803) 685-0548
Yon Bulls Add Value� Many Calving Ease Bulls with
Excellent Growth
� Quiet Dispositions
� Developed on a High RoughageRation
� Sound Feet and Legs
S S Objective T510 0T26 x Ironwood New Level
G A R Predestined x G A R Expectation 4915
G A R Predestined x Dalebanks Extender 6012
B WW YW Milk MB REA $ W $ B
0.7 53 93 24 .43 .46 35.19 56.90
B WW YW Milk MB REA $ W $ B
-0.3 63 118 30 .65 .36 31.22 62.56
B WW YW Milk MB REA $ W $ B
2.7 50 97 26 .71 .67 25.8 69.39
B WW YW Milk MB REA $ W $ B
3.1 51 98 26 .74 .34 25.36 61.77
B WW YW Milk MB REA $ W $ B
2.8 50 96 27 .65 .40 26.67 61.04
B WW YW Milk MB REA $ W $ B
3.0 54 97 27 .80 .37 26.87 57.16
B WW YW Milk MB REA $ W $ B
1.9 54 99 29 .45 .34 28.42 52.50
B WW YW Milk MB REA $ W $ B
3.0 51 104 26 .44 .15 22.06 51.70
S A V Final Answer 0035 x Bon View New Design 878
G A R Predestined x G A R Expectation 4915 Mytty In Focus x Bon View New Design 878
C R A Bextor 872 5205 608 x Bon View New Design 878
G A R Predestined x Hyline Right Time 338
Saturday, February 20, 2010 at Noon
20th Annual
Offering 150 Bulls, including sons of:Predestined (22)
Final Answer (15)Mytty in Focus (15)
Bextor (12)Objective (11)Net Worth (9)
New Design 878 (9)Extra K205 (8)
Matrix (7)Plus, 3 Sim Angus, 2 Balancers
Free Delivery in GA, SC, NCSatisfaction Guaranteed
Bid On-Line through DVAuction.comTelephone Bidding Also Available
www.dvauction.com
Videotapes/DVD’s on Request Preview the Bulls on our Website!
5 Full Brothers Sell
GEORGIA CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATIONLOCAL PRESIDENTS
ABAC......................................Riley HulseyAmicalola...............................Janice HayesAppalachian..........................Emmett FaristBaldwin-Jones-Putnam.........Melvin CoueyBanks .....................................Mike GordonBarrow .................................Linda CrumleyBen Hill-Irwin....................................VacantBerrien .................................Joe Allen KentBlue Ridge Mountain.................Bob KinnieBrooks........................................Jeff MooreBurke.........................................Sam KyzerCarroll ......................................Doug SmithChattahoochee Valley ............Scott BickleyClarke-Oconee........................Ric GraysonColquitt ...........................Thomas ColemanCook.........................................Sean RestaCoweta.....................................Jay DuncanCrawford Area ............................Jim HorneDecatur ...................................Stuart GriffinElbert ..................................James HogsedFloyd ..................................... Keith MicklerFranklin ..............................Charles TawzerGrady .....................................Caylor OuztsGreene Area...........................Lanis AdamsHall .................................Steve Brinson, Jr.Haralson ...........................Stanley WilliamsHarris ........................................ Dan DuvalHart ....................................Larry BramblettHeard.....................................Keith JenkinsHeartland................................Tony RogersHenry ......................................Marvin RoseHouston.................................Wayne Talton Jackson............................Kenneth BridgesJefferson..................................Arthur RiderJohnson Area.....................Jimmy HarrisonL.T.D.....................................Brian GoolsbyLaurens .................................Terry CroomsLincoln ................................Chris GoldmanLittle River ................................. Billy MaysLowndes ..................................Andy CarterLumpkin ............................Anthony GrindleMacon ....................................Carlton JinksMadison.....................................Lee BrownMeriwether........................Harvey LemmonMid-Georgia...................................Ed TriceMitchell ..............................J. Dean DanielsMiller.....................................Trent Clenney Morgan .................................Zeke LambertMurray.................................Michael BallewNorth Georgia ...........................Billy MartinNortheast Georgia................Curtis LedfordNorthwest Georgia .......Samuel DuckworthOcmulgee.............................Raleigh GibbsOgeechee .................................Jody BurnsOglethorpe ...............................Kelly PostinPachitla ..................................Scotty LovettPeach......................................Willis BrownPiedmont................................Todd TeasleyPiney Woods............................Chris Taylor Polk ...................................Glenn RobinsonPulaski................................D. J. Bradshaw Red Carpet..........................Harry PuglieseSouth Georgia....................Maxwell WilcoxSoutheast Georgia ..................Steve SmithStephens...................................Tony SmithTattnall............................Jessie J. DriggersTaylor .....................................Wayne SmithThomas.........................Charles R. ConklinThree Rivers...........................Neal StanleyTift .........................................Buck AultmanTri-County ..........................Nora GoodmanTri-State ............................... James BurtonTroup....................................Ross HoffmanTurner ....................................Randy HardyUniversity of Georgia................Katie SmithWalton...............................Sammy MaddoxWashington......................James HitchcockWayne ....................................Jonny Harris Webster ...................................Andy PayneWilkes ..................................David VanHartWorth ..................................Donald Gilman
Our Member-Driven Mission
6 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
by Bill Nutt
GCA President’s Report
As I write this, it is truly a time when the snow has beensnowing, the wind has been blowing, and we really need our love(and lots of clothes) to keep us warm! Snow and ice andextremely cold temperatures prevail outside here at JanBil Farmsin northwest Georgia as a result of the current cold spell. We have been breakingice in our cattle water points for several days now and will continue to do so as longas necessary. We are feeding extra hay and supplements and watching our herdclosely to monitor their conditions and look after their welfare.
A friend observed to me today that some of the outspoken animal welfareadvocates might learn a lot about what real concerns for animal welfare cattlemenand farmers have in our daily operations by coming with us as we break the ice andput out hay and feed in these extreme conditions. Realistically, we are not likely tosee that happen and, if it did, we probably would not change many minds. We canand should, however, continue to actively share our experiences and concernsabout animal welfare, environmental stewardship, regulatory agency impacts andsimilar issues with our friends and neighbors at every opportunity! This will help toprovide factual information and insights on these vital issues to some part of the98+% of our U.S. population that are not involved in or knowledgeable of foodand fiber production activities.
Our beef industry continues to face many unknowns as we manage our cur-rent operations and plan for the future. The depressed world economy is beginningto show some signs of improving and offers hope for eventual increases in worldbeef demand. The export markets that are so vital to our U.S. industry profitabili-ty are beginning to look a bit more favorable. The oversupply of pork and chickenthat compete with beef for the consumers’ dollars continues to work itself downand prices for these alternative proteins are increasing, as are beef prices. Beef herdnumbers are still low and beef production is essentially flat, so that the prices wereceive when we market our cattle are beginning to increase. At the same time, ourproduction input costs have come down a bit but remain moderately high, and theoutlook for key items such as fuel is uncertain. We also rejoice in the improvedmoisture conditions we are now experiencing and that we hope and pray continuethrough the year.
Bottom line here is that we can be cautiously optimistic about the future ofour beef industry in the face of substantial uncertainty. At the same time, goodbusiness strategy encourages us to manage carefully to control our productioncosts now and to review and refine our individual operations to be able to survivenow and thrive in the future as the economy improves. Our GCA magazine fea-tures multiple articles in each issue to focus in on and bring out information onmanagement techniques and ways to improve. Our thanks go to all the subjectmatter experts who are regularly preparing these articles. We very much appreci-ate their continued contributions and support of our Georgia Cattlemen’sAssociation activities.
Your Georgia Cattlemen’s Association is continuing to review and improve ourmultiple activities and operations as we continue our restructuring reviews. OurGCA mission – “to unite cattle producers to advance the economic, political andsocial interests of Georgia’s cattle industry” – is unchanged and drives our activi-ties. We are continuing to revise, refine and fine-tune the operational techniques inour Macon office to bring them up to date to conduct our operations with efficient,cost-effective, good business approaches. We are now essentially fully staffed basedon our current projected revenues and operating expenses. Our operational con-cept of having a Director of Operations responsible for office operations workingin parallel with our Executive Vice President is working out very well and is expect-ed to continue to improve the efficiency of operations. As an example of enhance-
BILL NUTT
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Continued on page 7
Dear Editor,I wanted to let you know how much
I’ve enjoyed the Georgia Cattleman magazinein recent months. First, it’s really great toget the magazine around the first of eachmonth. When spending money on adver-tising it is great to know potential cus-tomers will get your sale informationbefore the sale.
In addition, for many years I’ve alwayslooked at the magazine as a source ofinformation. Articles on forages, fertiliz-ers, animal health, cattle selection, etc.,have always been very useful. I reallyenjoyed the recent articles on the history ofthe Calhoun bull test put together by TedDyer, Shirley Myers and Dana Ham. To methere is nothing more important than pre-serving our Agricultural history, and theydid a superb job.
Also, the articles by Dr. CharlesDobbins keep us focused on the big pic-ture concerning the entire meat industryand ultimately might keep us all in busi-ness. Again, congratulations to you andyour staff for doing a great job.
Sincerely, Billy Moss, Athens
Magazine EvolutionAppreciated by Reader
IT’S YOURTURN!
Send your letter of 500 words or less tothe editor at [email protected]. Letters may
be edited due to space limitations.
Letters�to the Editor
R E A D E R S E R V I C E S
ments, we have now installed a system for electronic checkdeposits from our office, which saves time in deposits pro-cessing and handling and eliminates the daily trips to thebank required under the old system. We are also moving touse technology to improve responsiveness and efficiencies incommunications. Additional improvements can be expectedas the process continues. One way of describing our officesituation is that we are much better in our operational effi-ciencies than we were in the past, but not as good yet as weare going to be in the future!
Elsewhere in this magazine issue are articles describingtwo initiatives of related interest, one on the appointment ofa Nominating Committee for next year’s GCA officers andthe other on the appointment of a Constitution and By-LawsCommittee to coordinate updates of these items. New offi-cers will be elected and the Constitution and By-Laws revi-sions will be voted on by GCA voting delegates during theGCA Annual Convention coming up in April. Members areencouraged to contact the respective committees to provideyour thoughts and inputs on these vital areas. GCA prides
itself in being a member-driven organization, and here areopportunities for individual members to make your voicesheard in these processes.
The NCBA Annual Meeting will have been completed bythe time you receive this magazine issue. GCA will have beenrepresented well in this key meeting where NCBA will bevoting on major restructuring to align our national organiza-tion to more effectively address the many cattle industryissues we are facing. The expected changes are significant inscope and will likely have some implications for GCA that wewill have to address in the future.
The Georgia General Assembly is now in session. YourGCA Legislative Committee will continue to monitor ourinterests in the session. We plan to make use of email mes-sages to local chapters to keep you informed of activities ofinterest.
Once again, be sure to put our GCA Annual Meeting thefirst week of April on your calendars and make your plans toattend. See you there! In addition, sign up five new membersand bring them with you to the convention! - Bill Nutt
GCA President’s Report, continued fron page 6
The production of the GeorgiaCattleman magazine is truly a team effort.From the UGA Extension experts’ insight-ful articles to the U.S. Postal Service’s deliv-ery of the final product, there are manyplayers that must successfully execute theirassignments for the magazine to cross thegoal line each month.
As in any team sport, leadership isessential to winning the game. As I assumethe Editor’s role on the magazine team I amcompelled to thank Mr. Bill Nutt for doinga tremendous job stepping in as ActingEditor for the past six months. Not onlydid Mr. Nutt step up and volunteer in the
absence of an Editor, he has also allowedme to gradually assume the role as I havejuggled many other responsibilities asExecutive Vice President of GCA.
My goal is to continue to implementthe game plan of including as much rele-vant Georgia cattle news and editorial con-tent as possible combined with expertadvice that can help producers’ bottom line.Georgia Cattleman is a great magazine andwith your help and feedback we will striveto make it even better. Please send us yourcomments, suggestions, photos and ideas.This truly is your magazine.
- Josh White
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 7
Real Life Teamwork Behind the Magazine
This will be my last issue as ActingEditor of the Georgia Cattleman. The timehas come to pass the torch of the Editor’sjob for this magazine to our GCAExecutive Vice President. This will put thetasks associated with getting each issue outback to the arrangement used in recentyears. Josh has hit the ground running, islearning at a fast pace, and is eager to takeon this job.
I will still be actively interested in eachmonth’s magazine in the time remaining inmy term as GCA President. I look forwardto helping build on the momentum we havegenerated in the period I have served asEditor. Our hard-working magazine teamhas focused each issue to provide more use-ful and timely information to our readers,
we have added new features to communi-cate better, and we are getting printedcopies in the hands of our readers muchearlier each month. I am proud of theprogress that we as a team have made andfeel good about having been part of thatteam.
Please remember that this magazineexists to serve and support GCA member-ship and is the only part of our GCA oper-ations that is carried out on a for-profitbasis. Please continue to let us know howwe are doing, and share with us yourthoughts and ideas about our beef industrychallenges and ways we can make the mag-azine better for you. Finally, thanks to allthose who have supported and participatedin our team efforts. - Bill Nutt
Now Comes the Time for Passing the Torch
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
There’s No Substitute for Honesty and Integrity
Being the father of three youngchildren offers plenty of opportunitiesto teach and learn. As many of you whohave traveled this road before me know,it is often when our children make mis-takes that we all learn the most. A fewweeks ago my oldest, T.K., got up frombed crying right after saying prayers. Ittook him a minute to figure out that hedidn’t feel so good because he had liedto his mother about his performance atschool. He knew he would have somebrand-new birthday toys he hadreceived the week before taken away ifhe told the truth. We told him we wereproud of him for coming clean but theaforementioned toys would be takenaway. A great conversation followedabout how lying eats away at who weare. At first when we lie, other peoplecan’t trust us; but if we continue downthat path for too long, it is possible thatwe will no longer be able to trust our-selves. In fact, we can begin to lose ourown identity.
So what does all of this philosoph-ical stuff have to do with the cattlebusiness? Honesty and integrity are thefoundations of all aspects of a freesociety, and today, especially, of the cat-tle business. This issue of the GeorgiaCattleman portrays an excellent exampleof the difference between honest, hard-working farmers and ranchers runningtheir operation with integrity (see p.21)and the animal rights activist group theHumane Society of the United States(HSUS) persuading people to donatemoney to help animals when HSUSknows that very little of the money isused for that purpose (see p.32). Itappears that someone in this scenariodidn’t have a mom or dad instilling inthem the importance of honesty andintegrity when they were growing up. Idon’t know about you, but I am proudto be part of an industry that lists as itsmain goals providing high-quality,affordable, nutrient-rich and deliciousfood in an environmentally responsible
way. I urge you to continue to tell ourpositive story of cattle turning lowquality-forage, by-products and cropresidues into high-quality meat. If youhaven’t been telling this story, I urge
you to let GCA help you get startedtoday. Educating the consumer aboutour product and how we raise it is a keycomponent in advancing our Mission.We have many resources available at theGCA office, from coloring books tobrochures explaining how farmers andranchers improve their land, to help youin this endeavor.
A Cold Start to the New YearThe GCA staff and volunteer lead-
ers have hit the ground running in 2010and fortunately have had no pipes burstin the cold weather. I hope you havefared as well.
The biggest news so far this year,other than the arctic blast, has been therestructuring of the Georgia Houseleadership and, as I write this, commit-tee appointments are being made. TheGCA Legislative Committee hasalready begun contacting legislators tolet them know we are here. We haveseveral activities planned to remindthem that Georgia’s cattle industry isengaged in the political process.
Decreased revenue is the talk ofthe Capitol and the budget will certain-ly have to be tightened down even fur-ther. We’ll keep an eye on budget itemsthat affect our members as the sessionprogresses.
On the federal scene, the U.S.House and Senate have reconvenedand we are watching the same issueswe had our eye on at the close of 2009– with EPA regulations, climate changelegislation and Estate Tax reformtopping the list.
To stay up to date on breakingissues, be sure to sign up for our emailnews blast. Sign-up instructions are fea-tured on page 53 of this issue.
At GCA we are gearing up for con-vention and hope that you are makingplans to attend. Look for more infor-mation and an early registration formon pages 64 -69.
I look forward to seeing many ofyou at upcoming local chapter meetingsor at the Tifton Beef Cattle ShortCourse and Bull Sale which is alsoprominently featured in this issue. Ifyou have questions, comments, con-cerns, or even an encouraging word,please call the office or send an email.
GC
Executive Vice President’s Report
[Josh White is GCA and Georgia Beef BoardExecutive Vice President.]
�JOSH WHITE
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 9
I urge you to continue totell our positive story of
cattle turning low quality-forage, by-products andcrop residues into high-
quality meat. If youhaven’t been telling thisstory, I urge you to let
GCA help you get startedtoday. Educating theconsumer about our
product and how we raiseit is a key component inadvancing our Mission.
We have many resourcesavailable at the GCAoffice, from coloringbooks to brochures
explaining how farmersand ranchers improve
their land, to help you inthis endeavor.
Past PresidentsGeorgia Cattlemen’s Association
GCA OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
President: Bill Nutt [email protected] 6th Street Road, Cedartown, GA 30125770-748-6424
President-Elect: Bill [email protected] E Armuchee Road, Summerville, GA 30747706-397-8219
Vice President: Steve [email protected] Box 179, Waynesboro, GA 30830706-554-1993
Treasurer: Steve Barfoot [email protected] Rebie Road, Dudley, GA 31022478-676-3035
Past President: Mike [email protected] Williamson Road, Bowdon, GA 30108770-258-9411
Executive Vice President: Josh [email protected], 478-474-6560
Committee members:Chap Cromley, Brooklet, 912-842-9427, [email protected] Ford, Edison, 229-835-2873,[email protected] Gazda, Athens, 706-227-9098,[email protected] Harris, Screven, 912-586-6585,[email protected] Joiner, Carrollton, 770-832-7299,[email protected] Thompson, III, Buchanan, 770-646-2026,[email protected]
NCBA director:John Callaway, Hogansville, 770-583-5688Bill Hopkins, Thomson, 706-595-2885
Foundation president:Dr. Frank Thomas, Alamo, 912-568-7743,[email protected]
CattleWomen’s president:Carla Kelsoe, Calhoun, 770-480-7004
GCA REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTSRegion 1: Fred Kerce, 706-291-7811Region 2: Robert Harkins, 706-747-2464Region 3: Ron Ward, 706-213-9175Region 4: Bill Cline, 770-251-3518Region 5: Alan Verner, 706-557-2161Region 6: Ray Copelan, 706-453-7707Region 7: Gilbert Andrews, 706-561-9725Region 8: Danny McLeod, 770-358-4495Region 9: Mike Burke, 706-551-3025Region 10: Bobby Lovett, 229-732-3305Region 11: Emory Seay, 229-362-4735Region 12: Dr. Jim Strickland, 912-654-2151Region 13: John Moseley, Jr., 229-308-6355Region 14: Terry Harris, 229-498-5732Region 15: Randy Franks, 912-427-8036
GCA MISSIONSTATEMENT
The mission of theGeorgia Cattlemen’sAssociation is to unitecattle producers toadvance the economic,
polit ical and social interests ofGeorgia’s cattle industry.
1961-1963 Ben T. Smith, Atlanta1963-1966 Henry Green, Sr., St. Simons1966-1968 Dr. Jack Tuttle, Barnesville1968-1970 J.W. Trunnell, Cochran1970-1971 K.J. Hodges, Blakely1971-1972 Edward B. Pope, Washington1972-1974 George Berner, Warm Springs1974-1976 Dr. O.E. Sell, Milner1976-1978 Joe Gayle, Perry1978-1980 Sam Hay, Covington1980-1981 Lee Campbell, Carrollton1981-1982 Charles Baker, Calhoun1982-1983 Webb Bullard, Camilla1983-1984 Bobby Rowan, Enigma1984-1985 Harvey Lemmon, Woodbury1985-1986 Don Griffith, Buchanan1986-1987 Gene Chambers, Douglas1987-1988 Mike Peed, Forsyth1988-1989 Sam Payne, Calhoun1989-1990 Bobby Miller, Lula
1990-1991 Newt Muse, Carrollton1991-1992 Howard T. Jones, Foley, AL1992-1993 Mark Armentrout, Roswell1993-1994 Ralph Bridges, Lexington1994-1995 Lane Holton, Camilla1995-1996 Jim Goodman, Temple1996-1997 Dr. Frank Thomas, Alamo1997-1998 Joe Duckworth, Milledgeville1998-1999 Betts Berry, Chickamauga1999-2000 Curly Cook, Crawford2000-2001 Chuck Sword, Williamson2001-2002 Robert Fountain, Jr., Adrian2002-2003 Louie Perry, Moultrie2003-2004 Tim Dean, Lafayette2004-2005 John Callaway, Hogansville2005-2006 Bill Hopkins, Thomson2006-2007 Dr. Jim Strickland, Glennville2007-2008 Evans Hooks, Swainsboro2008-2009 Mike McCravy, Bowdon
GGeeoorrggiiaa CCaatt tt lleemmeenn’’ss AAssssoocciiaatt iioonn
10 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
BILL NUTT President
BILL BRYANPresident-Elect
STEVE BLACKBURNVice President
STEVE BARFOOTTreasurer
JOSH WHITEExecutive V.P.
2010 GCA Constitution and By-LawsReview Committee Appointed
A Review Committee has beenappointed to identify and coordinaterevisions and updates to the GCAConstitution and By-Laws. ThisCommittee will identify and coordinatechanges needed to bring these items upto date.
The resulting proposed changeswill be voted on by chapter delegates atthe Annual Convention meeting inApril to approve them. The Committeeis responsible for reviewing the existingdocuments to update them to reflectcurrent operating requirements. A listof the proposed changes will be pub-lished and circulated in advance of theAnnual Convention.
The Review Committee will be co-chaired by Billy Moore and RobertFountain, with Joe Duckworth and BillBryan as Committee members.
GCA members are requested andencouraged to review the currentConstitution and By-Laws and to con-tact Billy Moore at (478) 986-6893 orRobert Fountain at (478) 955-2363 tolet them know of any changes you feelmay be appropriate for consideration.A copy of the existing Constitution andBy-Laws is available for your review onour GCA website, www.gabeef.org.
Please remember that GCA func-tions as a member-driven organization.Our Constitution and By-laws containthe governance requirements andguidelines that control our operations.This is a great opportunity to makeyour voices heard in the review processand to get the thoughts of all memberson the table for consideration in thisupdating. Let us hear from you as soonas possible! GC
EXPERTADVICE
Bull & Female PurchasingEconomic Considerations
By Dr. Curt Lacy, UGA Extension Economist-Livestock
12 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
IntroductionA quick perusal of the Georgia
Cattlemen’s Association calendarreveals that it is again that time of yearknown as sale season. In the comingweeks many cattlemen will be scouringsale catalogs, logging an incalculablenumber of miles, consuming immeas-urable gallons of diesel and consumingenough coffee and hot chocolate tofloat a battleship – all consumed insearch of the “right” bull or replace-ment female for their herds.
Some will buy, many will not, butmost will enjoy the quest and the fel-lowship that comes with researchingEPDs, discussing this bloodline versusthat one, so on and so forth. As weenter this time of year, I think it isimportant for cattle producers to taketime to think about what it is they aredoing and also consider all (or at least asmany as they can) of the factors thatmake a certain purchase a “good deal.”
Economics of Breeding StockIn economic terms, the breeding
animal is a capital asset that generates a
stream of income. Five things go intodetermining the amount you can affordto pay for an asset: the initial cost, theexpected annual net returns, the usefullife of the asset, the terminal or salvagevalue and the interest rate.
Net returns from an asset are deter-mined by revenue and cost. Breedingstock decisions impact net returns
through additional pounds to sell, high-er sales prices because of improvedquality, more desirable traits, etc. Netreturns can also be affected on the costside. For females, what will be theirannual maintenance costs, includingfeed and vet bills? Will some femalesstay in the herd longer due to genetics,breed, etc.? In addition to direct costs,indirect costs such as depreciation andinterest should also be included.
Correctly calculating depreciationand interest is often a challenge formany stockmen. However, it doesn’thave to be that way. Depreciation issimply a way of accounting for how theanimal’s usefulness is lost each year.The interest charge on this depreciationthen accounts for the amount of inter-est given up by having capital placed inthis investment as opposed to one ofsimilar risk and returns. If cattle arefinanced, then payment and interestamounts are quite acceptable to use.However, in that event, cull sales mustbe credited to payment amount.
The main point to understandabout depreciation is that it is affected
The main point to understand
about depreciation is that it is
affected by years of useful
life and the terminal or sal-
vage value of the asset. For
bulls or females, it may be
better to convert years to
calves produced during a life-
time. This approach may be
especially useful for bulls that
will be used to service a fall
and spring calving herd. The
terminal or salvage value is
the cull value.
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 13
by years of useful life and the terminalor salvage value of the asset. For bullsor females, it may be better to convertyears to calves produced during a life-time. This approach may be especiallyuseful for bulls that will be used toservice a fall and spring calving herd.The terminal or salvage value is the cullvalue.
To help the discussion make moresense, let us use the example of a cat-tleman that is considering purchasingone of two bulls which will be used toservice 30 cows per year. Bull A is ofunknown potential and lineage, and canbe purchased for $1,000. Since we real-ly don’t know anything about this bullother than our neighbor has him forsale, he looks good in the sale ring, etc.,etc., we are forced to assume that ourweaning weights, sales prices and costswill be unaffected by this purchase.
Bull B has EPDs and other infor-mation indicating that our weaningweights should be increased by about10 pounds at no additional cost to thecow herd. There is also reason tobelieve that in addition to weight, thisbull will help us add $3/Cwt. to ourexpected sales price (this could bebecause of the breed, better musclingor any number of factors). His pur-chase price will be $2,200.
Both bulls will cost $1 per day tomaintain ($365 per year), be in the herd3 years, service 30 cows per year (85percent calf crop) and have a cull valueof $900 (1,500 pounds @$65/Cwt.).
Figure 1 illustrates the process forestimating the difference in bull values.Even though this example is for bullsused to produce a terminal-cross, theconcept can be applied to bulls that willbe used for replacement heifers or toachieve other objectives. Whatever theobjective, readers should focus on theprocess and differences in the numbersas opposed to specific dollar amounts.
In this example, Bull B is worth anapproximate total purchase price of$2,858.95. To simplify the discussionand stay within the space requirementsof this article, we are excluding the costof capital in this final analysis.However, interested readers should beaware that the actual maximum price
will be somewhat like, but not apprecia-bly less than, the one shown here.
What happens if Bull B’s calves donot sell for more? In that instance BullA would be a better buy or Bull Bwould be worth only about $1,690.On the other hand, if Bull A actuallycauses a decrease in weaning weightsby 10 pounds and Bull B will increaseour weights by 10 pounds with nochange in price, Bull B will actually beworth $1,400 more than Bull A.
If both bulls stay in the herd fouryears, Bull B will still be worth about$1,600 more. However, if Bull A staysin the herd for four years and Bull Bonly three, then Bull A is far and awaythe better buy.
Although we could conduct an infi-nite number of what-ifs, the take-homemessage is that potential bull buyersshould consider more than just the pur-chase price. In the real world, the esti-mates that I have presented here will
not be known with certainty, so buyerswill need to adjust the results to fit theirrisk preferences. Also, this analysisassumes the additional pounds do notincrease herd costs any. If that is notthe case, then producers should adjustthe additional sales value by the appro-priate cost amount. Finally, our exam-ple does take into consideration thatsome bulls may be better suited to meetmultiple breeding objectives. To thatend, readers will need to massage theinput information and results to arriveat a reasonable conclusion.
A more refined version of thespreadsheet shown is available atwww.secattleadvisor.com in theDecision-aid/Budgets section. Alsoavailable at this Web site is theUniversity of Georgia ReplacementFemale Calculator for assistance inmaking decisions regarding bredheifers, bred cows and pairs.
Figure 1
Worksheet For Estimating the Value of Alternative Bulls
GC
Select Cattle Enterprises “Performance with Class”
Production SaleSaturday, February 27, 2010
1:00 p.m.NW Georgia Livestock Pavilion, Calhoun, Georgia
Selling 75-80
lots
* Simmental ** Simbrah *
* Sim-Angus ** Angus *
Boz RedcoatASA # 1586945
• Polled, Non-DilutedRed Purebred Simmental
• Selling 2 sets of embryos sired bythis deceased breed great!
ANDJ Jessie’s DreamASA # 2371038
• Homozygous Polled, Non–Diluted
Red Purebred Simmental• 2009 National Senior
Champion Female• Selling a full sib pregnan-
cy to the calf!
SCE Natalie T88RASA # 2252646
• Homozygous Polled /Homozygous Black
• Purebred Simmental• Selling 5 Full Sib
Embryos
��View catalog
in color online @ www.edjecattle.com
14 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
Impact Marketing and Management, Inc.Sale Management – Herd and Sale Consulting
R. Bruce Van MeterPO Box 667, Rome, GA 30162
770-547-1433 mobile • 706-290-9155 fax • [email protected]
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R. Bruce Van MeterPO Box 667, Rome, GA 30162
770-547-1433 mobile706-290-9154 [email protected]
BDV Black Camill C48ASA # 1678891
• Homozygous Polled, Homozygous BlackPurebred Simmental
• Selling embryos by TJ 57J The Gambler and Circle S Leachman 600U
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 15
Bulls • Open Heifers • Bred Heifers and Cows
Cow/Calf Pairs • Embryos • Pregnancies • Rare Semen Lots
Pigeon Mountain Simmentals
John and Becky Howard
LaFayette, Ga
423-413-4442
RNS Simmentals
Robert, Nolan, and Nelson Rhinehart
Calhoun, Ga
706-537-1910
Shady River Angus
Greg Walker
Calhoun, Ga
706-766-2323
GUEST CONSIGNORS
JBA Miss Roshanda ASA # 2016538
• Polled, BlackPurebred Simbrah
• Several sons sell! • A daughter sells with
a baby calf at side!
SCE Jolie S45ASA # 2370126
• Homozygous Polled /Homozygous Black
Purebred Simmental• 2009 NationalReserve Senior
Champion Female• SHE SELLS!
LLL Black ShebaASA # 1684406
•Homozygous Polled,Homozygous Black
Purebred Simmental• Selling a flush from this
money-making, founda-tion donor female
LLL Ms Big Country K102ASA # 2078998
• Selling a pregnancy byFreedom out of this newly
acquired donor
LLL Sarah’s Delight
ASA # 2252646• One of the most
consistent, good producing donors we have ever owned
• Selling full sib embryos to thistremendous female
Mr. LLL BasieASA # 2305848
•Homozygous Polled, Homozygous Black Purebred Simmental
•2007 National Senior Champion
•Selling a full brother, a full sib pregnancy and featuring his natural service!
Knights Red Bird 631FASA # 1917431
• Double Polled, RedPurebred Simmental
• Selling embryos fromthis popular female byWS Beefmaker and Ankonian Caesar
KSU Miss Pure Black 4JASA # 2025315
• Homozygous Polled,Homozygous Black Purebred Simmental
• Our former donor soldfor $31,500 to JayAnderson in Nebraska
• Selling a full sister bredto Mr. LLL Basie
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16 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
NCBA’s Government Affairs Team continues to work hard each andevery day to give producers like you a strong voice on Capitol Hill. Beloware just a few examples of how NCBA positively influenced the legislativeand regulatory climate for cattle producers over the past month:
NCBA Continues to Work for Death Tax ReformNCBA has been one of the lead groups advocating for true
death tax reform.While the House eventually passed a permanent extension
of current law, a similar move has been met with opposition inthe Senate.
If no further action is taken, the estate tax is scheduled tofully repeal for 2010, and come back in 2011.
Current law does not go far enough in providing relief forAmerica’s farmers and ranchers, who are disproportionately hitby this unfair tax.
NCBA is continuing the push for reform in the Senate,advocating for additional relief and an agriculture exemption.
E15 Blend Waiver Decision Delayed EPA has also announced that it will delay its decision on an
E15 blend waiver petition until mid-2010. The petition, filed bythe bio-fuels industry association Growth Energy, requested awaiver to allow for the use of up to 15 percent ethanol in gaso-line, an increase of five percent points over the current allow-able level. • NCBA submitted comments in July urging EPA to delay its
decision until an independent and comprehensive assess-ment is complete to determine how any changes to theRenewable Fuel Standard will affect corn and cattle mar-kets.
• Projections show that increasing the blend percentage from10 to 15% would require an immediate 4.5 billion gallons ofethanol, and would require approximately 1.6 billionbushels of corn – which is nearly equivalent to the amountof corn used by the cattle industry in an entire year.
• A recent report from the Government AccountabilityOffice found that between 2006 and 2008, the cost of feedmore than doubled for U.S. livestock as a direct result ofethanol production.
NCBA Submitted Comments and Letters onCurrent Issues Impacting the Cattle Industry• NCBA and “the Alliance to Keep U.S. Jobs” sent a letter to
President Obama urging him to work towards a swift reso-lution in the ongoing Mexican-trucking dispute, which con-tinues to put agriculture exports and imports, andAmerican jobs, at risk.
• NCBA submitted comments on concept papers by USDA’sAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)regarding updates to its Tuberculosis and Brucellosis eradi-cation programs.
• NCBA submitted comments on a proposed rule by USDA’sFood Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) regarding the inter-state shipment of meat and poultry products.
• NCBA and PLC submitted comments to the EPA in oppo-sition of a petition to ban a safe and effective prairie dogmanagement tool.
NCBA Staff Participated in Key Legislative,Regulatory and Industry Meetings• Animal Health and Welfare / Food Safety
o USDA symposium on “The Future of AnimalAgriculture” with Deputy Secretary KathleenMerrigan, members of Congress, and university andindustry leaders
o Food Industry Codex Coalitiono National Johne’s Working Groupo National Animal Health Lab Network o FDA-FSIS on traceabilityo Barnyard Coalition on food safety and antibiotics o USDA on animal ID
• Environment / Conservationo Senate Ag Committee on 590 standardso USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service about
Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP)opportunities
• Taxeso Senate staff to discuss estate tax priorities
• Public Landso Senior Department of Interior officials to discuss the
Department’s approach to curbing horse populationson public lands
• General o Agriculture officials at the Argentine Embassy to dis-
cuss FMD status, trade, food safety, and current legis-lation in the U.S. Congress
o USDA on immigration and agriculture labor needs o Hosted regional calls and held meetings with USDA,
AFBF, LMA, US Cattlemen, NFU and other nationalorganizations regarding the organizations recommen-dations of the Governance Task Force
o Hosted DC Agriculture PAC Groupo Barnyard Coalition on competitiono Colin Woodall spoke at the Utah Cattlemen’s
Association convention and the New Mexico StockGrowers’ Joint Stockmen’s Convention
o Burton Eller spoke at the “Bovine Connection” con-ference in ND
o Gregg Doud was a speaker at the Oregon and MissouriCattlemen’s Conventions
o Forrest Roberts, Colin and Gregg also participated inthe Cattlemen to Cattlemen Live Show, answering ques-tions from producers around the country about the lat-est policy issues affecting cattle producers
NCBA has represented America’s cattle producers since1898, preserving the heritage and strength of the industrythrough education and public policy. As the largest associa-tion of cattle producers, NCBA works to create new marketsand increase demand for beef. Efforts are made possiblethrough membership contributions. To join, contact NCBA at1-866-BEEF-USA or [email protected]. To contactCongress on these and other issues important to U.S. cattleproducers, visit http://capwiz.com/beefusa.
Source: Leadership and Solutions from Your NCBA, January, 2010 edition
NCBA Provides Strong Voice on Several Timely Issues
GC
I N D U S T R Y N E W S / N C B A U P D A T E S
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 17
18 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
Producers from Georgia and SouthCarolina have joined forces to learnmore about the forages that are thebasis for their livestock enterprises.The newly formed GA/SC PiedmontForage and Grassland Council will hosttheir 1st meeting at ‘Just More BBQ’near Pendleton S.C. on March 25.
Dr. Joe Bouton of the NobleFoundation will present “Opportu-nities with Improved Forage Varieties”and Dr. Chris Teutsch from VirginiaTech University will discuss “Buildingand Maintaining Soil Fertility in Timesof High Input Costs” in our keynotesessions. Additional research updatesfrom Georgia and South Carolina willbe presented by Drs. Dennis Hancock(University of Georgia) and JohnAndrae (Clemson University). A fieldtour of a local farm and a nearbyExperiment Station facility are alsobeing planned.
Then, the newly formed group willbe hosting the “Legume Managementin the Southeast” field day scheduledfor May 13 at the University of
Georgia’s Central Georgia Researchand Education Center near Eatonton,Ga. Producers from all over theSoutheast will gather to see howlegumes can be managed most effec-tively. In addition to the numeroushands-on demonstrations and activitiesbeing planned, participants will have anopportunity to learn legume manage-ment tricks from forage experts fromAlabama, Georgia, Kentucky and SouthCarolina. Plus, participants will have anopportunity to observe some of theresearch that is being done at one ofthe region’s most important Experi-ment Station facilities. Research high-lights include a sneak-peek at thenewest forage varieties in development,a comparison of forage legumes, and agrazing research trial assessing winterannual forage combinations.
Please block these dates on yourcalendar and plan to attend. More reg-istration information is available fromyour local Extension office or onlineat either www.georgiaforages.com orwww.clemson.edu/extension/livestock.
Georgia – South Carolina ForageProducers Plan Active Year
H a v e y o u b e e no n l i n e t o d a y ?
www.mmcattle.comwww.rolling-m-ranch.comwww.canoocheebulls.com
www.gasga.orgwww.shadydalefarm.com
www.gglcc.com
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 19
Monroe County H.E.R.D. SaleSELLING 80+ BRED
HEIFERS ON MAY 6, 2010
12:30 p.m.Sleepy Creek Farm near
Forsyth, GA
Data Available:
• A.I. Breeding & Sire EPD’s
• Pelvic Area
• Frame Score
• Disposition Score
• Weight per Day of Age
• Average Daily Gain
All heifers will sell confirmed safe in calf to calving
ease Angus Bulls.
All heifers were bred A. I. at least once to
Sinclair Net Present Value
(BW -1.8, WW +47, YW +86, Milk +32).
For more information or to receive a catalogue, call the
Monroe County Extension at (478) 994-7014.
Web info at http://www.ugaextension.com/monroe/Email at [email protected];
Type HERD in the subject line.
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 21
Tucked in the rolling hills ofFranklin County in northeastGeorgia, Covenant Cattle
Company runs 102 high-percentagecommercial Limousin cows and is anoperation rich in family heritage.Currently operated by Bradley andSusan Hart and Bradley’s sister, Leslie(Hart) Fordham and husband Randy,the farm was originally purchased byBradley and Leslie’s great-great-grand-father, Dennis W. Phillips, after theend of the Civil War. Bradley andLeslie’s father, Doyle “Pop” Hart,worked for Production Credit/AgGeorgia as a loan officer, raised broil-er’s for Pilgrim’s Pride and developedhis cow herd for over 30 years. He andhis wife of 55 years, Louise, were thefourth generation of the family toraise their family on this beautifulpiece of land.
In the 1970s, “Pop” Hart boughthis first Limousin bull to add growthand muscle to his Angus cow herd. Healso bought a pair of purebredLimousin cows. Leslie relates thestory of one Christmas asking for oneof those original cow’s heifer calvesfor her Christmas present. “OnChristmas Day there was a cow belland note that the heifer was mine. Inamed her Chrissy and ended upshowing her.” Leslie began her 4-Hcareer showing a Limousin steer in1978. “Over the years I purchasedLimousin show heifers and Pop kepthis Limousin-sired crossbred heifers,”says Leslie. “The herd grew fromthere. We still have granddaughtersand great-granddaughters of my showheifers in the herd today.”
Riding through the herd with thefamily, it is obvious they take greatpride in the quality of their cattle andthe herd’s gentle disposition. Leslierecalls, “we culled hard on dispositionand maternal ability in the early years.”As the herd numbers grew, the familybegan pre-conditioning their calvesand looking for other ways to addvalue. “A neighbor of ours, GuerryHall, approached Pop about cooperat-ing with him to combine calves andsell tractor-trailer load lots of calves toLaura’s Lean Beef Co. [see glossary] in2001.” The Halls and Harts have been
pooling their calves and selling toLaura’s Lean ever since. Laura’s Leanbuys all natural calves that have beenvaccinated according to their specifica-tions and preconditioned for at least45 days. They purchase high-percent-age Limousin cattle because of theirlean, high-yielding carcasses.
The operation remains truly afamily affair with everyone pitching inwhen necessary. With each of theprincipals working off the farm, every-one takes their turn making sure theherd is well taken care of.Unfortunately, Pop Hart passed awayseveral years ago, but not until he hadseen his baby girl married. Leslie hadknown Randy Fordham for years; theyhad shown cattle against each othergrowing up. They met again in theearly 1990s when Randy was workingat Partisover Ranch and Leslie, a vet-erinarian, was doing herd certificationtesting for brucellosis and T.B. “Itrained the entire day we worked thosecattle,” Randy relates sarcastically, “soI saw her at her best.” Several yearswent by and they ended up attendingthe same church. “Our first date wasattending the funeral for Mrs. SandraCook [wife of GCA President CurlyCook]," Leslie shares. They were mar-ried six months later.
Though saddened by the passingof their father, Bradley, Leslie and
Randy and Leslie Fordhamcheck cows with Leslie’s
brother, Bradley Hart.
Covenant Cattle CompanyHonoring the traditions of the past while embracing the technology of the future.
By JoshWhite
LIMOUSIN
22 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
their mother, Louise, made a covenantwith each other to move forward andkeep the farm together. They recentlypurchased a new group of herd siresthat were DNA tested to be homozy-gous polled, and are focusing on earn-ing additional premiums from Laura’sLean by using sires that are DNA test-ed homozygous for the F94L musclegene (see glossary). “We pay a varietyof bonuses for cattle that excel in ourprogram,” informs Tommy Baxley,
Director of Cattle Procurement forLaura’s Lean in the Southeast. “Cow-calf producers that use bulls that arehomozygous for the F94L gene auto-matically increase their bonus; it ishelping Laura’s take more of theguesswork out of how the carcasseswill hang.” Covenant Cattle Companyis committed to move their operationforward genetically and is looking toincrease their bottom line by takingadvantage of every premium theirmarket can provide.
From the humble beginnings of aCivil War veteran struggling to getestablished to the present family part-nership with all hands on deck, theHart family has come a long way infive generations without leaving theirfarm. The cattle have progressed fromthe smaller-framed, higher-marblingAngus of the 1960s to the all-natural,muscular cattle that Laura’s Lean sellsto their many health-conscious cus-tomers today. While the technologyand cattle type may have changed overthe years, this family’s love for andcommitment to their land, their cattleand each other only grows stronger.
Franklin County - Founded in 1784 and named after BenjaminFranklin, Franklin County is home to over 26,000 head of cattleand ranks second for beef cow numbers in Georgia. Franklin iseven stronger in poultry production, ranking first in the state inbroiler numbers.
Covenant - an agreement that defines the terms of a relation-ship.
Laura’s Lean Beef Co. - Founded in 1985 by Laura Freeman,the company has since grown to sell product in more than 5,800grocery stores nationwide. LLB markets its beef as a healthyalternative to chicken with its leaner composition. Their beef isalso hormone- and antibiotic-free. Additional information can befound at www.laurasleanbeef.com.
F94L - A gene discovered by Australian researchers that isfound predominantly in Limousin cattle. Causes increased rib-eye area, higher yield grades, and increased retail yield, withouta significantly negative effect on calving ease or maternal per-formance. For more information, visit the North AmericanLimousin Foundation Web site at www.nalf.org.
What DrivesValue in Feeder Cattle? By Frank PadillaDirector of Member & Commercial RelationsNorth American Limousin Foundation
The prices customers are willing topay for a certain product determine itsvalue in the marketplace. If they aresatisfied, they will return to buy thatproduct again. The same is true in thecattle industry.
Feeder-calf buyers demonstratetheir preferences through the pricesthey pay – on or off the farm or ranch.The value of various traits can varywidely from sale to sale and dependson the market conditions. Over time,however, we can determine a good esti-mate of what buyers prefer.
The factors that drive the value ofa feeder calf are its gender, weight,frame size, muscle score, health status,bloom and appearance of freshness.The market dictates the value of whichmanagement and marketing practices aproducer chooses.
Real-World ExamplesSeveral land-grant universities and
private entities have tracked feeder-calfdemand. An Internet search finds awealth of information from variousregions of the United States. AnOklahoma project estimated buyerpreferences with data from 20Oklahoma Quality Beef Network(OQBN) sales.
The research found buyers paidmore for the following:
• steer calves compared toheifers, bulls or mixed lots;
• medium-framed calves com-pared to large- and small-framedcalves;
• heavy-muscled calves com-pared to moderate and thin-muscledcalves;
• polled or dehorned-and-healed calves compared to hornedcalves;
• healthy calves compared tounhealthy-appearing calves;
• uniform sale lots compared tononuniform lots (including color); and
GC
A LLB tagged calf in Covenant’spre-conditioning program.
G L O S S A R Y
LIMOUSIN
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 23
• larger sale lots (even 15 to 20head) compared to single-animal lots.
Another study conducted by theUniversity of Arkansas documentedthe traits and management practicesthat can add value to a feeder calf.From 2000 to 2005, university staffmembers worked with U.S. Departmentof Agriculture (USDA) livestock-newsreporters to track data from 17 marketsacross the state. The data included thenumber of cattle sold at a time, gender,breed or breed type, color, polled orhorned, frame (large, medium or small),muscle score (1, 2, 3 or 4), fill (gaunt,shrink, average, full or tanked), condi-tion (very thin, thin, average, fleshy orfat), age (calf or yearling), health,weight, and price.
The results were similar to theOklahoma results. Here are a couple ofthe highlights.
• Discounts for unhealthy calvesranged from $15 to $38 per hundred-weight.
• Muscle was a major factor thataffected the selling price, regardless ofcalf weight.
Product SpecificationsIf you want to increase the value of
your calves, produce exactly what thefeeders are wanting: same-sex loads ofcalves that are light in flesh, like in kind,preferably weaned and with a history ofgood feedyard performance and carcassmerit. And use a good health program.
Another consideration for addingmore value is backgrounding. Thelonger you develop a calf at home afterweaning, the more immunity it devel-ops. That reduces the risk of sickness inthe feedyard. Through the years, themarketplace has discounted calves thathave sold unweaned or weaned for onlya short period.
Source-and-age verification isanother way to earn added value. It isout there, and it is real. It can be any-where from a $20 to $30 per head pre-mium. We also are seeing premiums forfeeder calves that are verifiably antibiot-ic- and hormone-free.
Historically, the average cow-calfproducer has not worried about thecalf ’s performance beyond weaning.Today, cow-calf producers need tounderstand the importance of feed effi-ciency, gain and carcass quality. They
must collect data to quantify how theircattle perform in the feedyard andpackinghouse. Producers should beconscious of those performance traitsin the bulls they purchase and be able tofurnish such data to their feeder-cattlebuyers upon request.
BalanceThe North American Limousin
Foundation’s (NALF’s) MainstreamTerminal Index ($MTI) is a multiple-trait selection tool, expressed in dollarsper head, designed to assist beef pro-ducers by adding simplicity to geneticselection decisions. It measures differ-ences in expected profit per carcassproduced for a mainstream grid (YieldGrade 1 or 2, Select to low-Choicequality grade, and no over- or under-weights or dark cutters).
NALF based $MTI on the assump-tion that Angus–Hereford cows in a
Donnie Davis971 Hwy 211 NEWinder GA 30680
770-868-6668 - Home770-867-4781 - Cell
Skyler Davis770-307-7036
Reserve Champion Female, 2009 Georgia Limousin Field Day
Big D will be offering 2 promising showprospects for sale at the Georgia LimousinAssociation Sale at the Georgia Beef Expo, Friday,April 2. They are:
• A Purebred black polled heifer prospect byAUTO Silverado
• A 3/4 Limousin, 1/8 Maine, 1/8 Angus blacksteer prospect
Both calves will be eligible for all GJLA premiumsand GCCPA points.
Big D Limousin
Congratulations to Mary
Seagraves on the success she had in2009 with BIGD
410U bred in our program.
Source-and-age verifica-
tion is another way to earn
added value. It is out
there, and it is real.
LIMOUSIN
24 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
two-breed rotation are mated toLimousin-influenced terminal sires.Further, the index assumes the result-ing calves sell into a commodity beefmarket with premiums and discountsbased on both quality and yield grades.It estimates how future progeny ofeach sire will perform, on average inthe same environment, compared toprogeny of other sires in the Limousinherdbook if you randomly mated thesires to similar herds of black-baldiecows.
When using $MTI, it is wise toselect simultaneously for economicallyrelevant traits (ERTs) that are notincluded in the index. NALF devel-oped the index for use in a terminal-sire situation in which Limousin andLim-Flex® bulls and mature, British-based cows produce calves for thefeedyard and a mainstream grid.Maternal traits, such as calving ease, arenot included in the index.
If you intend to use high-$MTIbulls on first-calf heifers, you also willwant to use expected progeny differ-ences (EPDs) for direct calving ease tominimize calving difficulty. Likewise, tokeep pace with the Limousin breed’stremendous improvement in tempera-ment, NALF also advises selection forsuperior docility EPDs. $MTI is impor-tant to feeder-cattle buyers, and youshould share information regarding itwith them.
For more information about $MTIand NALF’s EPDs, contact its homeoffice at (303) 220-1693 or visit the“Genetic Evaluation” section of theNALF Web site (www.nalf.org).
ResultsGetting the most value for feeder
cattle is becoming more of a teameffort. From the seedstock producer tothe cow-calf producer to the feederand packer, everyone needs to worktogether to produce the best productpossible for the consumer. That, inturn, will add more value for all links inthe chain.
The fact is the process of earninga premium in the marketplace –whether at the auction market, off thefarm or ranch, or in the packinghouse– begins at home. GC
LIMOUSIN
For more information and a list of our breeders,
contact LillianYoungblood
at (229) 567-4044.www.georgialimousin.org
LIMOUSIN
26 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
Purebred & FullbloodLimousin Club Calves
PINEYWOODS FARMSLOUIE PERRY & SONS
ROUTE 6 • MOULTRIE, GEORGIA 31768(229) 324-2245 324-2433 324-2796
T.L.C. RANCH
(706) 742-2369931 Hargrove Lake RoadColbert, Georgia 30628
Nila Corrine Thiel Paul Thiel, HerdsmanOwner Steven Thiel, Herdsman
“Leaner cattle for today’s beef industry”
WHITE ACRES LIMOUSIN FARM
Josh & Erin White167 White DriveStockbridge, GA 30281(770) 474-4151
Using today’s top AIsires to produce
quality Red & BlackPolled Bulls & Heifers
Visitors always welcome!
GEORGIA LIMOUSIN ASSOCIATION
Big D Farms, Inc.Limousin Cattle
Chemilizer Medicators
ALLEN LIMOUSIN FARMS
Polled Percentage CattleP.O. Box 1182 • Social Circle, Georgia 30025
J. DAVID ALLEN, DDS, OwnerHome: (770) 270-1338Office: (770) 981-9400Farm: (770) 464-3421
Donnie Davis971 Hwy 221 NEWinder, GA 30680
Home 770-867-4781Cell 770-868-6668
visit us online atwww.georgialimousin.org
for cattle for sale, news,calendar of events and more
PRESIDENT: Larry Walker266 Silver Dollar RoadBarnesville, GA 30204
VICE PRESIDENT: Skyler Davis971 Hwy 211 NE
Winder, GA 30680770-307-7036
[email protected]/TREAS.: Lillian Youngblood
330 Youngblood RoadAshburn, GA 31714
229-567-4044229-567-1584 (cell)
WWW.MINCHEWLIMOUSIN.COMYour Georgia Connection for Limousin Cattle!
Minchew FarmsCalvin and Brenda Minchew
9001 Hawkinsville RoadMacon, GA 31216
478-781-0604 • [email protected]
HOWARD LIMOUSINFARM
using all top AI siresLarry and Joyce Howard
1350 Old Chattanooga Valley Rd.Flintstone, GA 30725
706-931-2940 • cell 423-596-3819
Bulls, Heifers, Cows & EmbryosFor Sale At All Times!
AI sires used
extensively in our AI &
EmbryoTransplantPrograms
Nathan & Morris Williams6160 Broadwater Trail Cumming, GA 30040Home: 770-887-3708Cell: 404-886-8003www.williamslimousinfarm.com
Registered Purebred, Fullblood & LimFlex Cattle
MARK THESE DATES!Georgia Beef Expo Limousin Sale 1:00 p.m. • Friday, April 2, 2010
Georgia Limousin Association AnnualMeeting will be held July 23 in conjunction
with the Georgia Limousin AssociationAnnual Field Day (Jr. Heifer/Steer Show)
July 23-24, in Athens, Ga.For more information, contact Lillian Youngblood
oungbloodYLIMOUSIN
330 Youngblood Rd.Ashburn, GA 31714
229-567-4044R.E. and Lillian Youngblood
Fullblood and Purebred Cattle
Sayer & SonsFarm
“Your trusted source of quality Limousin for over 30 years”Jimmie Sayer
12800 Bowens Mill Rd., Ambrose, GA 31512 912-359-3229 • cell 912-592-1904
Dexter and Nicholas Edwards209 Willard Edwards Road • Beulaville, North Carolina 28518
910/298-3013 • Fax: 910/298-6155 • Nicholas, mobile 910/290-1424email: [email protected] • Nicholas, email: [email protected]
LIMOUSIN
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 27
We have long yearlings and 2-year-old bulls ready to go to work!
• Purebred bulls sired by Lodestar, Excellante, Dakota, and Pure Power• LimFlex bulls sired by Basin Franchise and EXAR 263C
Look for our female consignments at
the Georgia Limousin Association Sale
at the GA Beef Expo April 2nd.
CMC LimousinJerry Bradley, manager • 678-201-2287
John Spivey, ownerMcDonough, Georgia
Comecheck
usout!
Howard Limousin FarmPAFA Frontier Freedom 723
Semen $30 per unit, volume discounts
owned with: Belle Shoals Farm, Easley, SC
864-304-7122
White Acres Limousin, Stockbridge, GA 770-474-4151
Williams Limousin Farm, Cumming, GA 404-886-8003
BULLS FOR SALE! We have a select few black & polled purebred sons andgrandsons of JCL Lodestar 27L that are ready for service. Come take a look at ourbulls and visit the scenic NW Georgia and Chattanooga area. Our farm is located at thefoot of Lookout Mountain.
FRONTIER FREEDOM is our LimFlex son of TC Freedom 104(Angus) that combines calving ease, growth, carcass andmaternal into an attractive and genetically sound package.Give us a call for exciting genetics from this sire.
Larry and Joyce Howard • 1350 Old Chattanooga Valley Rd., Flintstone, GA 30725 • 706-931-2940 • cell 423-596-3819
LIMOUSIN
28 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
The Limousin breed has a long andproud heritage of serving the commer-cial cow-calf sector. The fact that, whenthe association was founded, it wascalled a foundation instead of an asso-ciation was to help differentiate it fromother breed associations of the time.According to founder Dick Goff, “Weneeded an organization that wouldcombine breed registration and pedi-gree services with a performancerecording and research entity as well.”Thus, the Limousin breed has a longhistory of being performance- andresearch-based – all in an effort to servethe beef industry better.
Early on, research from OklahomaState University demonstrated theLimousin breed’s ability for calving easeand calf vigor when compared to theother Continental breeds. This long hasbeen a hallmark of the Limousin breed.Continental growth and excellentmuscling were obtained without thecalving problems often associated withthose traits. Early research also showedthat Limousin cattle were unequaled inefficiently producing red-meat yield perpound of input.
The North American LimousinFoundation (NALF) also was one ofthe pioneers in producing genetic pre-dictions, being the first to send whole-herd expected-progeny-difference(EPD) reports – including cows – tobreeders in 1985. Up until that time, theindustry had produced only sire sum-maries. Extensive surveys of commer-cial customers and long-range planningalso identified breed weaknesses, andNALF’s 1985 strategic plan identifiedscrotal circumference and dispositionas areas that needed attention. Inresponse, NALF has generated EPDsfor scrotal circumference and docilitythat have changed the breed dramatical-ly. Limousin breeders recognized theweaknesses some of their cattle pos-sessed and fixed the problems; there-fore, the Limousin cattle of 2010 arevery different from those of 1985.
Research also identifies Limousin
as the outstanding breed for feed effi-ciency. That is of huge importance intoday’s cattle industry. The Limousinadvantages in feed efficiency, calvingease, growth and muscling truly make itthe Continental breed of choice whenbreeding British-based cows. HalfbloodLimousin cattle sell well, excel in thefeedyard and are ideal for commoditygrids.
One of the products the Limousinbreed has to offer is the Lim-Flex®(Limousin and Angus or Red Angus)hybrid. These bulls offer tremendousflexibility for commercial producerswho wish to maintain a lower percent-age of Continental genetics in their cowherds. That is especially important forthose wishing to hit the upper two-thirds of the Choice quality grade butwant to avoid Yield Grade (YG) 4. Lim-Flex cattle also can be straightbred forthe commodity market while maintain-ing heterosis, a uniform cow herd and asimple crossbreeding system.
As for marketing options,Limousin can help in many ways.NALF has a feeder-calf listing service.You can sell listed cattle by privatetreaty, through an auction market or ona video auction. There also are manyspecial Limousin-influenced feeder-calfauctions at markets across the country.We also will be advertising for the firsttime in the major video-auctioncatalogs to help cattle selling in thosevenues.
For producers breeding higher-per-centage Limousin cattle who keep themnatural, Laura’s Lean Beef is an excel-lent outlet for feeder and finished cattle.Strauss Brands takes natural veal calves
straight off their mothers with no pre-conditioning; and it pays the same forbull, steer and heifer calves, making anexcellent premium market for thosewho can meet their target carcassweights. Strauss Brands ideally wantscalves that are about 50 percentLimousin and 50 percent Angus.Contact Director of Member andCommercial Relations Frank Padilla,(303) 220-1693, Ext. 123, for moreinformation about either of those pro-grams.
New this year, we will update – freeof charge – nonmember commercialcustomers’ EPDs for their bull invento-ries based on the latest InternationalLimousin Genetic Evaluation.Remember, to take advantage of thatservice, your seedstock supplier musthave transferred the bulls to your own-ership. EPDs will be available after thefirst of the year, and you can obtainthem by contacting Frank.
For those bull customers who havebeen using Limousin genetics, I thankyou. For those who are not, it is time totake another look. Limousin is the ulti-mate complimentary breed for Angus-and Red Angus-based cow herds. Thebreed is right for today’s market andeconomic circumstances. It is a breedthat has taken pride, from the begin-ning, in basing itself on science. Whenit has had a problem with the cattle, ithas not swept it under the rug but stoodup and fixed the problem. TheLimousin breed always has taken thelong-term attitude of doing what isright for its customers, America’s com-mercial cattle producers.
Limousin Fits Today’sCommercial Industry
By R.L. “Bob” Hough, Ph.D. ¶ Executive Vice President ¶ North American Limousin Foundation
GC
LIMOUSIN
Register now for 2010 Georgia BeefAmbassador contest, which will be held
April 3, 2010 during the GeorgiaCattlemen’s Annual Convention and Beef
Expo in Perry. The Georgia BeefAmbassador contest is open to all youth
ages 13 through 20. There are two
divisions - Senior and Junior. For
the Senior Division, the
contestant must be age 17
but not over 20 by Jan. 1, 2011. For the Junior
Division, the contestant must
be age 13 but not over 16 by
Jan. 1, 2011.
The Georgia CattleWomen’s Association and Georgia Beef Board are the primary sponsors of this educational contest.
2010 Beef Ambassador Program
If you have any questions, please contact Ashley Hughes at
478-474-1815 or [email protected].
Thepurpose of the
Beef Ambassadorcontest is for youth to
know the nutritional andeconomic values, cooking
principles, safe handling, andversatile use of beef, aswell as the importance of
beef as an agriculturalproduct.
Contestantentry forms must be
received by March 1, 2010.The entry form can be accessedon the GJCA and GCWA web-sites at www.gabeef.org. Youmay also call the GCA office
for a copy of the entryform.
THIS IS A GREAT LEARN-
ING OPPORTUNITY FOR
THE FUTURE LEADERS
OF THE AGRICULTURAL
INDUSTRY. The contestants
chosen as the Georgia Beef
Ambassadors will have a
great time gaining invaluable
knowledge of the beef indus-
try from pasture to plate. The
Senior Ambassador winner
will also compete in the
National Beef Ambassador
competition to be held in
South Dakota in 2010.
2009 winners.... Are YOU afuture
winner?
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 29
30 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
EXPERTADVICE
Hay Storage Methods forKeeping Costs Low
By Dennis Hancock, UGA Forage Extension Specialist
For most beef cattle operations inGeorgia, hay is a critical component ofwinter feeding. However, hay is THEmajor expense for beef cattle operations.Keeping hay costs low generally requireshay to be stored efficiently and cost-effec-tively. Regardless of how one stores theirhay, there is a cost associated with it. Yes,even hay stored outside on the ground hasa cost associated with it. In fact, I wouldargue that the cost of storing hay outsideon the ground is much higher than thecost of building a barn to store that hay.In this month’s article, I seek to provideinformation about various hay storageoptions, including the amount of loss thatcan be expected and the approximate costof each storage method.
Damage to Hay Subjected to the Elements
Hay that is stored outside and subject-ed to wetting and drying cycles will devel-op a fibrous, weathered layer. This isbecause nutrients (carbohydrates, lipids, fatty acids, etc.) areleached or washed out of the forage each time the plantmaterial is wetted. The loss of nutrients in this way effec-tively causes the fiber component of the forage to representa larger proportion of the dry weight. As a result, the weath-
ered layer will commonly have a TDN value of 40 percent orless (see Table 1 on next page). Interestingly, the crude pro-tein of weathered forage actually increases, since proteins arenot leached as readily as carbohydrates or other components.Nonetheless, the quality of the weathered layer is low andanimals will rarely eat this portion of the bale. Evidence ofthis is often seen where the animals eat into the middle of around bale, leaving the weathered layer behind as a “dough-nut”-shaped shell.
The layer of weathered material is not unlike the thatchused as a roofing material on primitive huts. Like roofingthatch, the weathered layer must be thick enough to preventwater from penetrating. The depth to which this weatheredlayer forms is dependent upon many factors. Weathering isdeeper when rainfall is poorly shed from the bale. In roundbales, the strands of forage fiber are oriented in parallel tothe flow of water and this allows for comparatively less infil-tration. For round bales, the largest amount of water infiltra-tion usually occurs when bales are not densely formed (i.e.,not tight).
Most modern variable-chambered (belt-type) balers havesettings to alter the density of the bales. If bales are to bestored outside, it is important to increase the bale density.However, there is a tradeoff to the benefit of bale density.Making very dense round bales (> 12 lbs of dry matter/ft3)risks mechanical stress on the baler and decreases the ability
Unfortunately, the rainfall and relatively
high humidity levels in Georgia some-
times causes the weathered layer to stay
moist (if not saturated) for considerable
lengths of time. This problem is made
worse by storing the bales in the shade
or too closely to neighboring bales.
When organic matter is kept moist in this
way, it is subjected to deterioration and
decomposition (i.e., rot). Additional rain-
fall following this breakdown causes
additional leaching and penetrates
deeper into the bale’s surface.
Figure 1. This bale exhibits the extremes of weathering losses.After 2 years of outside storage, the weathered layer extended14 inches deep (~74 percent of the bale’s volume is lost toweathering).
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 31
of the animal to pull large bites of forage from the bale whenit is fed.
Unfortunately, the rainfall and relatively high humiditylevels in Georgia sometimes causes the weathered layer tostay moist (if not saturated) for considerable lengths of time.This problem is made worse by storing the bales in the shadeor too closely to neighboring bales. When organic matter iskept moist in this way, it is subjected to deterioration anddecomposition (i.e., rot). Additional rainfall following thisbreakdown causes additional leaching and penetrates deeperinto the bale’s surface.
Losses Associated with Weathering When Hay is Stored Outside
Weathered layers will often be several inches thick. Balesthat are insufficiently dense and/or improperly stored maysuffer weathering depths of up to 12 inches (see Figure 1,page 30). Generally, however, an average weathered layer of4 to 6 inches should be expected if bales are stored outsideon the ground. Since animals typically refuse, bed down in, orsoil the weathered material, this layer is essentially a completeloss. When considering the volume held within the outermost inches of the cylindrical bale, losses of even a few inch-es represent a substantial portion of the whole. This is espe-cially true of shorter bales (i.e., less bale diameter). For exam-
ple, a 4-inch weathered depth on a 5-ft bale will equate toabout 25 percent loss. So, for every 4 bales stored outside,only 3 bales worth of hay will be consumed by the cattle.Storing 4 bales outside costs the producer at least the equiv-alent of one bale of hay (typically $35-40).
Though weathering is the largest source of hay loss, it isnot the only source of dry matter loss. Respiration and otheraerobic deterioration can occur even at low levels of mois-ture. Much of this loss occurs in the first few weeks of stor-age, especially if the moisture of the hay is above 15 percent.Poorly tied bales, rodent damage, and other incidental issuescause minor losses, as well. As a result, it is expected thatmost hay will lose at least 2 to 5 percent of its dry matter,regardless of storage method. This will be true, even if thehay is stored in a barn or similar structure (Table 2).Unfortunately, however, the most popular method for stor-ing hay (outside on the ground) has the highest loss of drymatter and is mostly the result of weathering.
It is important to understand the value of this loss.Table 3 demonstrates that the lost hay can represent a sub-stantial cost, depending on the value of that hay. If the for-age is of negligible value, weathering losses may merely be anacceptable cost of storage. However, hay producers have asignificant investment in their hay (fertilizer, lime, pesticides,equipment, time, etc.). Bales that are produced in excess ofthe producer’s need are also of considerable value, particu-larly in drought years.
Hay storage is not cheap, regardless of the methodused. However, I often remind folks that if you are storinghay outside on the ground, you likely are paying for a barnwhether you want to or not. If you are storing your hayoutside, I encourage you to take a closer look at the costs inthis system.
For more information on how to reduce your hay costscan be found on our website at www.georgiaforages.com andyou can contact your local University of GeorgiaCooperative Extension office at 1-800-ASK-UGA1 for moreinformation. The recently updated publication entitled“Economics of Farm Storage Buildings” is an excellentsource of additional information on this subject.
To obtain a copy of this publication, visit the forageswebsite for the direct link to this publication(http://pubs.caes.uga.edu/caespubs/pubcd/B1173/B1173.htm) or contact your local Cooperative Extension office. GC
Hay Type Portion Digestibility Crude Protein
Grass unweathered 58.8 13.5
weathered 42.5 16.4Grass –
legume mix unweathered 56.5 14.2
weathered 34.2 16.9
% of dry weight
Table 1. Digestibility and crude protein of weathered and unweathered grass and grass-legumehay. (Adapted from Lechtenberg et al., 1979. Purdue Univ. Agric. Exp. Stn. West Lafayette, IN.
Twine Net wrap
Pole barn 2-5 2-5Hoop structure 2-5 2-5
Tarp 5-10 5-8Stack pad,
covered stack 5-10 5-8uncovered stack 15-40 10-30
Plastic wrap 5-10 N/AOutside on ground
well-drained 20-40 15-40poor drainage/shaded 30-60 30-45
% of dry weight
Table 2: Typical ranges in storage losses for various hay storage methods.
Table 3
32 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
There are only two things certain in life, as the saying goes, anda byproduct of one of them requires nonprofit organizations to filepaperwork with the IRS. So now that the deceptively namedHumane Society of the United States (HSUS) has submitted its“Form 990” for 2008, the Center for Consumer Freedom thoughtit was time to take a close look. The tax filing itself is a bit moredetailed than ones in the past, thanks to some new IRS rules. Andmore detail equals a clearer picture of exactly what HSUS is doing– and what it’s not doing – with all its money.
HSUS reported spending almost $20 million on “campaigns,legislation, and litigation” – enough to worry any livestock farmeror hunter looking to keep their chosen lifestyle alive. The groupcollected over $86 million in contributions, and spent more than$24 million on fundraising, including $4 million on professionalfundraisers. Think about it: 28 cents of every dollar contributed toHSUS goes back out the door to raise more money. HSUS evenpaid a single “lockbox” company more than $4.2 million to countand process its cash hauls. The Center for Consumer Freedom saidthey won’t comment on that company’s curious “ALF” initials (forArizona Lockbox & Fulfillment).
The bottom line is the same as it ever was: HSUS rakes in mil-lions from unsuspecting Americans who may confuse the animalrights group with an unaffiliated local humane society. And with allthis cash flying around, it’s no surprise that 41 HSUS employeesmade at least $100,000 last year. All told, HSUS paid out more than$30.9 million in salaries, wages and other employee compensation.
HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle earned more than $250,000 insalary and benefits in 2008. The Center for Consumer Freedom
would not begrudge him a large salary, of course: He runs an ani-mal-rights business “charity,” after all.
But the real trouble lies in where most HSUS money doesn’t go:to pet shelters. In contrast with the group’s extravagant spending onpeople, HSUS’s total grant allocation was less than $4.7 million. Andof that, almost half went to a political campaign committee called“Californians for Humane Farms,” the main lobbying organizationresponsible for California’s “Proposition 2” ballot initiative.
For all the cute pictures of puppies and kitties on HSUS para-phernalia, you’d think it would operate a pet shelter, or at least givea substantial portion of its money to one. But HSUS has lobbyingto do, a PETA-inspired agenda to push, meat eaters to stigmatize,and livestock farmers to put out to pasture. Lobbying? Oh, yes.HSUS takes four full pages to detail its lobbying activities on thestate and federal levels.
With all the politicking going on, the animals – rememberthem? – seem to get lost in the shuffle. The Center for ConsumerFreedom added up the totals, and HSUS gave only a little morethan $450,000 – that’s just half of one percent of its total budget– in grants to organizations providing hands-on care to dogs andcats. That’s less than 11 percent of what it paid “ALF” just to countits money.
The Center for Consumer Freedom is musing today aboutHSUS’s next big self-marketing blitz, and some new slogans itmight want to use. Their favorite? “HSUS: Feed the lawyers, savethe fundraisers, screw the pets.”
You may find additional information on HSUS at the websitewww.consumerfreedom.com. Source: Center for Consumer Freedom
Center for Consumer Freedom Report: Unpacking the HSUS Gravy Train
GC
For more information contact:Todd Shultz Owen ThomasonJackson Co. YF Advisor Franklin Co. YF Advisor706.336.8900 [email protected] [email protected]
34 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
Most of us in our daily liveshave occasion to be a GoodSamaritan. It’s a tenet in theCowboy Code: to be kind to theless fortunate, to help someone inneed. Selfless deeds like stoppingto help a stranded motorist, feed-ing the neighbors’ dogs and hors-es while they are away, or eutha-nizing an old cat… well, maybe Ishouldn’t count that as a gooddeed, but I am a veterinarian!
However, in spite of ourgood intentions, our generosity can backfire! Like offering totune Willie Nelson’s guitar, or painting someone’s car whilethey were away, or as a surprise, cutting down the big oak treein the neighbor’s yard so they can have a better view of thereclaimed open pit mine.
There are many versions of friends helping friends whoare doing something in the dark that needs illumination: likesiphoning gas, or adjusting the acetylene torch, or sticking abloat! I can still hear the scratch of a match and Hank say-ing, “Here, lemme hep ya!” as my trocar penetrated theswollen rumen! The explosion lit the night sky, sterilized thesurgical field, set the brim of my hat on fire and singed mymoustache! But, he meant well.
I ran into Scott at the Wheat Growers meeting. He
reminded me that he had come to a poetry gathering I haddone in Ogden, Utah. He had worried that he would not beable to get a good seat; tickets were scarce. “But,” he said,“to my good fortune I managed to get a single on the fourthrow center!
“It was great,” he told me. “There were lots of fancy-lookin’ cowgirls prancing down the aisles, boots shinin’ andcurls bouncin’. Maybe one or even two would have the seatsnext to mine!”
Five minutes before the curtain rose, he heard the usherescorting an elderly lady down the aisle with her walker.They stopped at the end of his row. Those seated rose so shecould work her way to the seat right next to him! The usherstood her walker in the aisle.
Scott said the lady was nice and laughed a lot. She man-aged to stand up during the patriotic piece, and then later atthe conclusion of the show. As she stood to leave, she tot-tered and seemed to collapse! Scott slid his hands underneathher armpits and caught her. She was so light, so frail, heremembered. She said something he didn’t catch and thentoppled over again! Once more he stepped in to save the day!
“Why don’t you just sit down and I’ll go get your walk-er,” Scott offered.
She turned to look at him and said, “I was trying to tellyou, sonny, the usher’s got my walker and is waiting for me.And if you’ll just let me pick up my purse, I’ll go!” GC
[Baxter Black is a cowboy poet and author. Visit his site at www.baxterblack.com.]
Good Deeds Gone Awry
BAXTER BLACK, DVM
R E A D E R S E R V I C E S
www.svfbrangus.com
Char-No FarmRegistered Brangus and Ultrablacks
Black Simmental /Angus Composites
C.E. (CHUCK) & NORMA SWORD545 Scott RoadWilliamson, GA 30292(770) 227-9241• 770-468-3486 (cell)www.charnofarm.com • [email protected]
HollonvilleHighway 36212 Miles West
of Griffin
PERFORMANCE TESTEDREGISTERED
BRANGUSAllen Mebane, Owner
Joe Reznicek, General Manager
Rt. 1 Box 266, Aliceville, AL 35442
205/373-2269 • 205/373-6686 FAX
B R A N G U S
David and Susan VaughanBen Spitzer, General Manager
706-337-2295 Office864-723-3779 [email protected]
PO Box 185Fairmount, GA 30139
www.svfbulls.com
Emmett C. Harrison3637 Old 179 South, Whigham, Ga. 39897
(229) 872-8164
RESIDENT HERD SIRES
ECH Jackson
ECH Cadence
Sugar Ray of Brinks 512K3
Sir Loin of 895K4
CERTIFIED HERD 242 - JOHNES LEVEL 2 GAJ 0017
RegisteredBrangus Cattle
Sean and Lynn Parker530 Fredonia Church Road
Barnesville, GA 30204770-358-6826
NNVV BBrraanngguuss FFaarrmm
300 Falling Springs RdRydal, GA 30171
770-796-4163 - Home770-547-6291 - Cell
Steve, Rena, Stephen and Sarah Vaughan
For the best inREGISTERED & COMMERCIAL BRANGUSMike Coggins • Lake Park, GA 31636229/559-7972 Office • 229/559-6097 Fax888/237-9120 Cell • Email: [email protected] located just off I-75, on the Georgia-Florida line.
BLACKWATER CATTLE CO.C
Georgia Brangus Breeders
To receive a catalog or other information, contact:
• Angus
• Brangus
• Charolais
• Gelbvieh
• Gelbvieh - %
• Hereford
• Limousin
• Simmental
• Simmental/Angus
One of the oldest and most respected performance test sales in the U.S.!
WednesdayMarch 3, 2010 • 12:30 P.M.
near Tifton, Georgia
Selling Approximately 80Outstanding Bulls!
Auctioneer: Gerald Bowie GAL #177
This year, 117 bulls are being tested, and the top two-thirds of these will be sold. This willafford buyers a large selection of the top breeding bulls available in Georgia in 2010. The stateof the art facility design, deep sand soil type and large lots have given these bulls ample exercise. They will be sound and ready for work. The official 112-day feed test gain records,205-day adjusted weaning weights, 365-day adjusted yearling weights, hip heights, ultra-sound data, and EPD's will be available. All sale bulls tested negative for PI-BVD.
Only the top two-thirds of the bulls will sell — the best of the best!
The test center is located 14 miles northeast of Tifton on Georgia Hwy. 125 or 12 miles east of I-75 (Exit 78) on Georgia Hwy. 32 near Irwinville.www.tifton.uga.edu/pc-web
Dr. Robert Stewart & Patsie CannonUGA Extension Animal ScienceP.O. Box 748 • Tifton, GA 31793
229/[email protected] and [email protected]
Georgia Cattlemen’s AssociationP.O. Box 24510
Macon, GA 31212478/474-6560
SALE-DAY PHONE: 229/831-5416
52nd Annual
36 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
84-Day Performance Highlights:Breed Number Average Daily Gain Weight Per Day
of Age
Angus 60 4.70 3.46
Brangus 1 3.93 3.36Charolais 4 4.74 3.29Gelbvieh 8 5.02 3.37Gelbvieh % 5 4.82 3.22Hereford 6 3.99 3.12Limousin 3 4.04 3.25Simmental 21 4.64 3.29Simmental/Angus 9 5.05 3.61
Total Averages 117 4.68 3.39
Sale catalogs available upon request. Visit us at www.tifton.uga.edu/pc-web/
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 37
Come a day early for the Beef Cattle Short Course!
38 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
Lot# Sire ADG Ratio WDA Ratio73 S S Objective T510 OT26 4.26 91 3.57 10374 B C Matrix 4132 4.74 101 3.71 10775 C R A Bextor 872 5205 608 4.11 87 3.28 9576 C R A Bextor 872 5205 608 4.65 99 3.57 103
84-DAY REPORT
Check out ourbulls at Tifton!
52nd Annual
Lot 74
Owners: Arnold & Susi Brown229 Cook Road, Griffin, Ga. 30224
770-228-5914
BBRROOWWNN''SS TT WWIINN OOAAKKSS AANNGGUUSS FFAARRMM
52nd Annual
LOT# SIRE ADG RATIO WDA RATIO
77 G A R Predestined 6.05 129 3.56 10378 TC Total 410 5.98 127 3.52 102
GENETICS • PERFORMANCE • GENETICS • PERFORMANCE • GENETICS
GENETICS • PERFORMANCE • GENETICS • PERFORMANCE • GENETICS• GE
NE
TIC
S •
PE
RFO
RM
AN
CE
• G
EN
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ICS
•• G
EN
ET
ICS
• PE
RFO
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• GE
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Superior Genetics -Powerful Performance
Lots 66-71 available March 3 at Tifton Bull Test Sale
Gillis Angus FarmHerd Certified & Accredited
Windell & Lawanda Gillis, Eastman, GA 478-374-4868 • 478-231-8236 (cell)
84-DAY REPORTLOT # SIRE ADG WDA RATIO WT.
66 Woodhill Foresight 5.37 3.71 107 1452
67 S A F Directive 5.38 3.48 101 1376
68 S A V Net Worth 4200 5.38 3.60 104 1416
69 S A F Directive 4.94 3.67 106 1426
70 Sitz New Design 458N 5.42 3.76 109 1436
71 Sitz New Design 458N 5.45 3.32 96 1310
51st Annual
Yearling bullsavailable
at the farm!
Lot 68
Check out OUR Lots 77 and 78
March 3rd in Tifton! Theywere the top two gainingangus bulls on the 84-day
weigh period!
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 39
Collins and Son Ted A. Collins • 693 Old 179 South • Whigham, GA 39897 • 229-762-4259
84-DAY REPORTLot # Sire ADG RATIO WDA RATIO WT.141 SC Shadowbrook 503 ET P 4.51 95 3.55 108 1376
142 Orr's Super Value 405 P 4.77 101 3.64 110 1316
143 Orr's Super Value 405 P 4.57 96 3.25 99 1174
POLLED CHAROLAIS CATTLE
52nd Annual
Lot 141 Lot 142
Driggers Simmental FarmJessie & Chrissy Driggers
3649 Hugh Driggers Road, Glennville, GA912-654-3814 • www.driggsimm.com • [email protected]
Lot 32 Lot 44
84-Day Report
Lot # Sire ADG Ratio WDA Ratio Wt.
32 WS Beef Maker R13 5.33 115 3.08 94 1068
34 GW Lucky Dice 187H 5.19 112 3.23 98 1052
44 SM (LRS Preferred Stock 370C) 5.07 100 3.25 90 1036
52nd Annual
Come to Tifton and check out our
lots 32,34,44
Yes, welook
this good!Come see
us inTifton!
See you in Tifton!
Billy Hargis (owner)P.O. Box 396, Rocky Face, Ga. 30740
(706) 673-5039 • [email protected]
Lot# Sire ADG Ratio WDA Ratio79 Bon View New Design 878 4.13 88 3.68 10780 TC Total 410 4.70 100 4.03 117
“Producing Better Angus Cattle”
HAF All Toll U1201 (Adj. Wean Weight 892)
51st Annual
84-DAY REPORT
Lot 80
VERNER FARMSGELBVIEH ••••••••• BALANCER
5100 Davis Academy Rd., Rutledge GA 30663Alan Verner: 706-342-5667 • Adam Verner: 706-474-0091
[email protected] • www.vernerfarms.com
84-Day ReportLot # Sire ADG Ratio WDA Ratio Wt.188 AN (S A V Final Answer 0035) 4.49 93 3.39 105 1328189 AN/GV (PRTY Parti Boy 580R E) 4.61 96 3.46 107 1186
Lot 189
Bulls Like This For Sale
At The Farm
52nd Annual
Lot 11 - Top indexing Limousin bull through 84 days
Proud consignor of the top indexing and top selling bull in the 2009 Tifton Bull Test
Sayer & Sons FarmYour trusted source of quality Limousin for over 30 years
Jimmie Sayer, 12800 Bowens Mill Rd, Ambrose, GA 31512 912-359-3229, cell 912-592-1904
Sire:COLE SuddenImpact 50S
Dam:SCCC DailyDouble BJK
12D
For your consideration
from Four Mile
Farm,Blakely,Georgia:
Lots #88 & #89
FOUR MILE FARMJames Holman
230 Lakeview Drive, Panama City Beach, Fla. 32413850-259-2502
52nd
Lot 88
Lot 89
84-Day ReportLot # Sire ADG Ratio WDA Ratio Wt.
88 TC Total 410 5.87 125 3.47 100 125089 TC Total 410 5.02 105 3.53 102 1286
52nd Annual
Both bullssired by
TC Total 410 & from
Pathfinderdams
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 41
42 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
SELECT FROM UGA BULLS SELLING IN ATHENS AND TIFTON
AI-sired Bulls Display Outstanding: Weaning Weights, EPDs, Muscling, Growth
Focus on EPD Bull Sale, February 11, 2010 University of Georgia, Athens
• Choose from 15 yearling and 2-yr-oldAngus bulls from Tifton Campus
• Choose from 33 yearling and 2-yr-oldbulls from UGA – Athens
• Performance tested, All Passedbreeding soundness examinations
Tifton Bull Test Sale, March 3, 2010 Tifton Bull Evaluation Center, Irwinville, GA
Tag 83 - Performance bull, dam by 878 sired by SAV Net Worth 4200
Tag 84 - Bred for Outstanding Growth, Dam: 3-time New Design Pathfinder Cow
Tag 85 - Lower birthweight, high weaningbull from an EXT dam
Animal and Dairy Science Dept. Contact: Mrs. Alana N. Franklin, Beef Mgr. 229-386-7095
UGA Tifton Campus, Tifton, GA Dr. Gary M. Hill, Beef Research 229-386-3215
Tag Sire Birthdate Birth wt Wean Birth Wean Year ADG WDA
83 SAV Net Worth 4200 1/5/09 78 729 2.7 51 95 4.92 3.52
84 TC Gridiron 258 1/4/09 90 792 3.9 56 95 4.65 3.75
85Bushwacker QH Objective3J15
1/7/09 75 760 2.1 59 95 4.49 3.45
------------EPDs----------- 84-d 84-dTifton Campus Bulls in Tifton Bull Sale
Tag 83
Tattoo Sire Birthdate Birth wt Wean Birth Wean Year ADG WDA
9610 Mile High 1/4/09 74 706 0.7 51 98 4.23 3.20
9620 Gardens EXT 1/5/09 85 713 2.5 40 70 4.60 3.21
9681 Bushwacker S138 2/4/09 62 650 -0.9 48 82 3.35 3.10
------------EPDs----------- 84-d 84-dThree Bulls in Focus on EPD Bull Sale
Bull 9610
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 43
Performance
Cattle
with Eye Appeal
Meldon Farm 52nd Annual
Melvin & Donna Porter 706-654-8283
84-DAY REPORT
Sire:B C Marathon 7022
Lot# Sire ADG Ratio WDA Ratio111 S S Objective T510 OT26 5.02 107 3.47 100112 TC Total 410 5.32 113 3.52 102113 B C Marathon 7022 4.85 103 3.71 107115 S S Objective T510 OT26 4.94 105 3.55 103116 B C Marathon 7022 4.73 101 3.61 104117 B C Marathon 7022 5.40 115 3.58 104119 B C Marathon 7022 4.49 96 3.65 106120 B C Marathon 7022 4.30 91 3.76 109
Stonegate FarmBob Neligan
485 Milledgeville RoadEatonton, Ga. 31024
706-318-0068
Stonegate Farm hasagain consigned a set of
quality Hereford bulls with today’scattlemen in mind. These bulls should
produce excellent replacementdaughters along with steers that grow
and grade well for added profit inyour operation. Look them up
on March 3 in Tifton!Lot# Sire ADG Ratio WDA Ratio3 Stonegate 207 5071 4.52 113 3.31 1064 Boyd New Standard 6070 4.35 109 3.05 98
Lot 3
84-DAY REPORT
44 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
YEAR # SOLD SALE GROSS AVG. PRICE & BREED OF TOP SELLER1959 77 Bulls $51,765 $672 $1,425 Polled Hereford1960 137 Bulls $57,130 $417 $2,550 Polled Hereford1961 61 Bulls $30,695 $503 $1,450 Polled Hereford1962 61 Bulls $37,755 $619 $1,500 Angus1963 59 Bulls $34,165 $579 $1,180 Polled Hereford1964 75 Bulls $35,180 $469 $1,450 Polled Hereford1965 51 Bulls $27,285 $535 $1,075 Charolais1966 65 Bulls $35,825 $551 $1,000 Angus1967 79 Bulls $47,425 $600 $3,250 Angus1968 87 Bulls $54,075 $622 $1,850 Polled Hereford1969 82 Bulls $55,835 $681 $1,975 Charolais1970 80 Bulls $75,210 $940 $3,500 Angus1971 75 Bulls $79,955 $1,066 $4,000 Angus1972 83 Bulls $72,305 $871 $4,400 Angus1973 75 3/4 Lots $93,010 $1,228 $5,550 Polled Hereford1974 78 Bulls $102,710 $1,317 $3,500 Polled Hereford1975 89 1/6 Lots $82,395 $924 $12,000 Polled Hereford1976 78 1/4 Lots $70,640 $903 $2,250 Charolais1977 83 Bulls $86,175 $1,038 $4,000 Polled Hereford1978 98 Bulls $128,700 $1,313 $3,700 Polled Hereford1979 90 Bulls $174,775 $1,942 $8,500 Angus1980 92 Bulls $164,350 $1,786 $16,100 Angus1981 75 3/4 Lots $137,900 $1,829 $17,100 Santa Gertrudis1982 81 Bulls $148,600 $1,835 $34,000 Angus1983 83 1/2 Lots $147,550 $1,767 $30,000 Polled Hereford1984 82 Bulls $115,300 $1,406 $3,600 Angus1985 71 Bulls $99,650 $1,404 $4,300 Angus1986 87 2/3 Lots $110,750 $1,263 $8,400 Angus1987 73 Bulls $118,900 $1,628 $7,000 Charolais1988 81 Bulls $153,600 $1,896 $7,000 Simmental1989 79 2/3 Lots $160,000 $2,014 $6,500 Angus1990 87 Lots $190,850 $2,194 $5,000 Angus1991 81 Lots $174,800 $2,158 $5,000 Angus1992 76 Lots $174,200 $2,292 $8,500 Angus1993 90 Lots $210,800 $2,342 $7,000 Saler1994 95 2/3 Lots $211,500 $2,211 $6,000 Angus1995 113 Lots $218,750 $1,936 $10,000 Limousin1996 145 Lots $228,400 $1,575 $4,100 Angus1997 157 Bulls $272,900 $1,738 $7,500 Angus1998 149 Bulls $265,600 $1,783 $5,000 Angus1999 133 Bulls $215,500 $1,620 $6,500 Charolais2000 130 Bulls $246,100 $1,893 $5,000 Angus2001 136 Bulls $257,100 $1,890 $4,900 Angus2002 144 Bulls $262,300 $1,822 $4,800 Angus2003 121 Bulls $245,800 $2,031 $5,300 Angus2004 115 Bulls $252,900 $2,199 $4,200 Angus2005 118 Bulls $271,800 $2,303 $7,000 Angus2006 117 Bulls $280,800 $2,400 $6,000 Angus2007 125 Bulls $216,300 $1,730 $7,100 Angus2008 94 Bulls $202,000 $2,149 $5,000 Angus2009 107 Bulls $190,800 $1,783 $5,800 Angus
Sale History at a Glance
half interest
*
*
Type Year Test Perf. Breed Lot # Consignor Sire
ADG 2006-07 49th 6.45 Gelbvieh 32 Wagner Performance Cattle GRU Mustang 019MADG 2002-03 45th 6.42 Angus 120 Twin Dreams Farm N Bar Emulation EXTADG 1991-92 34th 6.18 Angus 26 Flythe Angus Farm Hoff Hi Spade SC 491
WDA 2001-02 44th 4.45 Angus 167 Meldon Farm Leachman Right TimeWDA 2000-01 43rd 4.38 Angus 100 Lemmon Cattle Enterprises GDAR SVF Traveler 234D
YrlgWt 2000-01 43rd 1673 Angus 100 Lemmon Cattle Enterprises GDAR SVF Traveler 234DYrlgWt 1999-00 42nd 1576 Gelbvieh 41 Hadden Farms JBOB Mr 86C ET
Index 2005-06 48th 10.19 SimAngus 214 James Fordham Roths Millcreek UniqueIndex 2008-09 51st 10.08 Lim-Flex 20 Sayer & Sons Farm LM (SAYF Hunt 18P)
OVERALL PERFORMANCE RECORDS
*
Last Yearat Tifton...
High indexing Overall andLim-Flex, & Limousin,
Sayer and Son
High indexing Angus,Brown's Twin Oaks
High indexing Simmental,Boatright's Simmentals
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 45
WE ARE APPROACHING THE CONCLUSION OF 52 YEARS
OF EVALUATING BULLS AT THE TIFTON BULL TEST, MAK-ING IT THE OLDEST CONTINUOUS PROGRAM IN THE EAST-ERN UNITED STATES. From the beginning, the test wasdesigned to compare genetic differences in the growth rate of
bulls from various purebred herds across the state (all breeds)by keeping the environment and ration constant for a givenperiod of time. The intent is two-fold: Purebred breeders areencouraged to know more about their herds by identifyingsuperior genetics, and cattle producers are given an opportu-nity to buy the tested animals. In addition to average dailygain, other important measurements have been added atappropriate times over the years. Our goal is to provide asmuch information as possible for producers to make aninformed decision when choosing herd sires.
The Tifton Bull Test has been the source of outstand-ing performance genetics and this year’s group is no excep-tion. There are 117 bulls from nine breeds that started thetest and have performed exceptionally well. Today’s dataincludes Average Daily Gain (ADG), Weight Per Day ofAge (WDA), Birth Weight, Adjusted 205-day Weaning Wt.and Ratio, Adjusted 365-day Weight and Ratio, ScrotalCircumference at 12 months of age, Ribeye Area fromUltrasound, Percent Intramuscular Fat from Ultrasound, FatThickness from Ultrasound, Adjusted Yearling Hip Heightand Frame Score.
On March 3, this set of performance tested bulls will beoffered for sale at the Tifton Bull Evaluation Center nearIrwinville. Feel free to be a part of this exciting event. Comeearly on Tuesday, March 2, for the Tifton Beef Cattle ShortCourse. Look the bulls over that afternoon; then return forthe offering of bulls from the 52nd Tifton Bull EvaluationCenter Performance Test on Wednesday, March 3. Reportsand catalog can be viewed anytime after they are posted atwww.tifton.uga.edu/pc-web.
Tifton Bull Test Historical Info1. At the conclusion of this year’s test, over 7,640 bulls will havebeen evaluated through the Tifton Program. Nearly $7.3 million willhave been generated as a result of the sale of the top two-thirds ofthese bulls.2. ADG in the first years (~1958-59) was 2.5 lbs/day. Now, ADGwill be over 4.0 lbs/day.3. Yearling weight in the first test was 840 lbs. Last year, theaverage adjusted yearling weight was 1,268 lbs.4. In the 1958-59 test, eight breeds were represented: Angus,Red Angus, Charbray, Charolais, Horned Hereford, PolledHereford, Santa Gertrudis, and Shorthorn. In the 52nd test, ninebreeds are represented: Angus, Brangus, Charolais, Gelbvieh,Gelbvieh-Percentage, Hereford, Limousin, Simmental, andSimAngus.5. There have been seven UGA faculty supervise the Tiftontests: Byron Southwell, W.C. McCormick, Hollis Chapman, WalterNeville, Clyde Triplett, Robert Stewart and Johnny Rossi.6. Three auctioneers have sold most of the sales: Tom McCord(1st – 8th sales), W. Scott Wilson (10th – 17th sales), and GeraldBowie (19th – the present time). Bobby Wilson, Ham Hamilton,and Carroll T. Cannon have also conducted sales.7. Collins & Son (Fred and Ted) are the longest continuous con-signors. They have tested Charolais bulls since 1969.8. Othella Hudson of Ocilla is one of the longest-term buyers. Hebought a Polled Hereford bull in the 1960 sale for $275. Last yearhe also purchased a Polled Hereford bull.
Introducing the 52nd Tifton Performance-Tested Bull Sale
Article by Dr. Robert Stewart Tifton photos by Katlin Mulvaney
GC
46 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
S & R FarmJeremy Dorminey
2520 New Hope RoadAmbrose, Ga. 31512
[email protected] • 912-389-0761
• Our Lot #61 is the highest indexing Angus bullthrough the 84-day weigh period gaining 5.83 lbsper day
• Also selling a Purebred, black, polled high perform-ing Limousin as Lot #12. He posted a 4.4 lb ADGthrough 84 days
Look for our females selling in the Georgia Beef ExpoAngus and Limousin sales on April 2nd in Perry, GA.
52nd Annual
Lot 61
The ABAC Cattlemen’s Associationin conjunction with the
ABAC Alumni Association would like to invite
All Alumni and Friends of ABACAs Well as GJCA Members
To a Reception Thursday April 1 from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
In Roquemore Building
For more information please contactDr. Mary Ellen Hicks,Faculty Advisor
ABAC Cattlemen’s Association229-391-4802
YouAre
CordiallyInvited
“March 3!”
“I’ll be looking for YOU
at Tifton!”
d
-
Chianina Bulls Make
the Difference
rseFARMS, INC.
P.O. Box 330Stephens, GA 30667
Roddy Sturdivant Rob Postinmobile phone: (770) 372-0400 home: (706) 759-2220office phone: (770) 921-3207 barn: (706) 759-2209
GeorgiaChianina
P.O. Box 330 • Stephens, GA 30667
706/759-2220
Chiangus & Chiford Cattle
Wayne & Jill Miller, Owners
email: [email protected]
P.O. Box 68 • Talmo, GA 30575
Phone: (706) 693-4133 or FAX: (706) 693-4359 SPONSOR
Show Steers & HeifersBreeding Bulls
Tim & Judy Gilstrap1355 Wrights Mill Rd.
Commerce, GA 30530706-335-7448
TTAALLMMOORRAANNCCHH
K & MIrish Durham Polled Shorthorns
• Calving Ease• Milking Ability• Gentleness
Ken & Marilyn Bridges • Ph. 706-768-3480
1030 Richard Bridges Rd. • Commerce, GA 30529
OSBORN FAMILY
SHORTHORNSRegistered Shorthorn CattleCharles, Vickie, Kelli, Kristi & Katie
2700 Greensboro Hwy.
Watkinsville, GA 30677
706-769-4336
GEORGIAPOLLED SHORTHORN
BREEDERS
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 47
* Full sibs to the number 1 and
number 2 indexing Hereford bulls
at the Calhoun Bull Test
* Embryo Transfer bulls
* Stacked pedigree with two-time
national grand champion grandsire
and the popular P606 grandsire
Billy Martin, owner1359 County Line Road, Cumming, GA 30040
770-886-6849 • Cell: 404-376-6414 • [email protected]
Lot 6
84-Day Report
Lot # Sire ADG Ratio WDA Ratio Wt.5 Star Bright Future 533P ET 3.74 94 3.27 105 1324
6 Star Bright Future 533P ET 4.32 108 3.18 102 1288
52nd Annual
Check me out at Tifton!
48 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
Tenderloin Members ($600+)
AgGeorgia Farm CreditAgSouth Farm CreditSouthwest Georgia Farm CreditFPL Food, Shapiro Packing CompanyFuller Supply CompanyIntervetMerialPennington SeedsPurina MillsSouthern States
T-Bone Members ($300-$599)Athens Seed Co., WatkinsvilleCallahan Charolais Farm, CarnesvilleFranklin County Farm Bureau, CarnesvilleGeorgia Development Authority, MonroeUnited Bank, BarnesvilleWare Milling Co., Waycross
Rib-Eye Members ($150-$299)
Aden’s Minit Market, DouglasBB&T Bank, DainelsvilleCatoosa County Farm Bureau, RinggoldFirst Georgia Banking Company, JeffersonFlint River Mills, BainbridgeGreen South Equipment, AthensManor Cattle Company, ManorMurray Mix Concrete Inc., ChatsworthNatruChem, ConyersNovartis Animal Health,
Crystal River, Fla. Pasture Management Systems,
Mount Pleasant, NCSunbelt Ag. Expo, Moultrie
Sirloin Members ($75-$149)
Abercrombie Garage, DahlonegaAgGeorgia Farm Credit, DublinAgGeorgia Farm Credit, RoystonAgPro Industries, Eastman Amicalola EMC, JasperB & M Metals Cedartown, CedartownB B & T Bank Dahlonega, Dahlonega Bank of Camilla, CamillaBank of Hiawasse, Blairsville, Blue Ridge,
and HiawasseBanks County Farm Bureau, HomerBartow County Farm Bureau, CartersvilleBekaert Corp., DouglasBlue Sky Ag Marketing, CalhounBraswell Cattle Company, AthensBurke Truck and Tractor, WaynesboroC & B Processing, MilledgevilleCarroll E.M.C., CarrolltonChattooga Farm Bureau, SummervilleCircle R Ranch & Livestock Equipment,
Ft. Meade, Fla.
Citizens Bank Washington County, Sandersville
Colony Bank Wilcox, RochelleDahlonega Chiropractic Life Center,
Dahlonega Dogwood Veterinary Hospital, NewnanDosters Farm Supply, RochelleEastonollee Livestock Market, EastonolleeEdward Jones, CarrolltonEnterprise Banking Company, Abbeville Farm and Garden Inc., CorneliaFarm Touch Inc., Dewey RoseFarmers State Bank, LincolntonFields Auto Parts, ComerFirst Benefits, Inc., MaconFloyd County Farm Bureau, RomeFort Creek Farm, SpartaGerald A. Bowie, Auctioneer, West PointGlennville Bank, GlennvilleGraham Law Firm, DanielsvilleGreg’s Meat Processing, ComerHarris County Farm Bureau, HamiltonHartford Livestock Insurance, WatkinsvilleHoney Farm & Ranch, Inc., RockmartDavid Hilliard, CPA, McRaeIntervet, Saluda, SCIvey’s Outdoor and Farm, AlbanyJ&B Tractor Company, WaynesboroJackson EMC, HullJames Short Tractors & Equipment, Inc.,
CarnesvilleJasper Banking Company, JasperLasseter Implement Co., LLC, OcillaLaurens Co. Farm Bureau, DublinLHC Farms, Rocky FordMacon Co. Veterinary Hospital, MontezumaMadison County Chamber of Commerce,
DanielsvilleMadison County Farm Bureau, DanielsvilleMadison Co. Hardware, DanielsvilleMartin and Martin Cattle Company,
Williamston, SCMason Tractor and Equipment Company,
Blue RidgeMerchants and Citizens Bank, McRaeMerchants and Farmers Bank, ComerMeriwether County Farm Bureau, GreenvilleNortheast Georgia Livestock, AthensOconee County Chamber of Commerce,
WatkinsvilleOconee County Farm Bureau, WatkinsvilleOconee State Bank, WatkinsvilleOconee Well Driller, WatkinsvilleOwens Farm Supply, ToccoaPalmetto Creek Farm, HamiltonPickens County Farm Bureau, JasperPolk County Farm Bureau, Cedartown Rhinehart Equipment Company, Rome
Rollin-S-Trailers, MartinR.W. Griffin Feed, DouglasR. W. Griffin, LLC, RochelleSilver Creek Feeders, Treynor, IowaSouthern States, CarrolltonSouthern States, GriffinSouthern States, RoystonStokes Farm, CovingtonStovall Dairy, DanielsvilleThompson Appraisals, SopertonTroup County Farm Bureau, LaGrangeUnion County Bank, BlairsvilleUnion County Farm Bureau, BlairsvilleUnited Community Bank, CarrolltonUnited Community Bank, ClevelandUnited Community Bank, Dahlonega Wallace Farm & Pet Supply, Bowdon
JunctionWards Service Center, Inc., DexterWayne Chandler Plumbing & Well,
DanielsvilleWhite County Farmers Exchange, ClevelandWhitfield County Farm Bureau, DaltonWhitner and Lewis Farm, AtlantaWilcox Co. Farm Bureau, RochelleWilkes County Stockyard, Washington
GCA ASSOCIATE
MEMBERSHIP FORM
Complete and mail this form to:
GCA
P.O. Box 24510
Macon, GA 31212
phone: 478-474-6560
fax: 478-474-5732
Name _____________________________
Address ___________________________
__________________________________
City____________ State ___ Zip _______
Phone _____________________________
E-mail ____________________________
GCA Chapter _______________________
Sponsored by _______________________
Membership levels: Tenderloin $600+.............................._____
T-Bone $300-$599....................._____
Rib-Eye $150-$299....................._____
Sirloin $75-$149....................._____
TOTAL PAYMENT $ _______
Each month, the GCA Associate Members section recognizes GCA’s allied-industry and business members.To become an associate member, complete the form on the bottom of the page or call 478-474-6560.GCA members are encouraged to use the services of these industry-supporting professionals.
R E A D E R S E R V I C E S
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 49
GA National Fair ChampionShorthorn Heifer shown by Taylor Schieszer E, Jackson County FFA
GA National Fair ChampionHereford Steer Champion
shown by Krissi McCurdy, Murry County FFA
Pic
ture
s n
ot
printe
d in t
he J
anuary
2010 m
agazin
e
Vegetarians and organic farmers do sobecause they wish to get back to nature. Theycould care less if anyone else joins theirquest. Yet there is a constant push and pres-sure to require everyone to remove meatfrom their diet. The primary organizationthat has a focus to remove meat from ourdiet is an animal’s rights group called PETA(People for the Ethical Treatment ofAnimals). As I have mentioned before, thegroup is smart, dedicated and well funded.(The Humane Society of the United States,while supporting vegetarian diets, is not asfocused on removing meat from the humandiet as PETA.)
PETA’s method of operation comesdirectly from “Rules for Radicals,” a book bySaul Alinksky, known as the Father ofAmerican Radicalism. He was a communityorganizer active in the Chicago area andother locations from the 1930s until his deathin the early 70s. The key rules are summa-rized below:1. Power is not only what you have, but
what the enemy thinks you have.2. Never go outside the expertise of your
own people.3. When possible, go outside the expertise
of the enemy. Look for ways to increaseanxiety, insecurity and uncertainty (neg-ative publicity).
4. Make the enemy live up to its own rules– keep them busy responding.
5. Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon –create fear and anger.
6. A good tactic is one that your peopleenjoy.
7. A tactic that drags on too long becomesa drag. Don’t become old news.
8. Keep the pressure on, never let up, keepthe opponent off balance. Attack,Attack, Attack.
9. A threat is usually more terrifying thanthe thing itself. Perception is reality.
10. If you push a negative hard enough, itwill push through and become a posi-tive.
11. The price of a successful attack is a con-structive alternative.
12. Pick a target, freeze it, personalize it andpolarize it. Go after people, not institu-tions – people hurt faster. Direct per-sonalized criticism and ridicule work.PETA looks for projects that will gener-
ate publicity and sympathy, plus contribu-tions from the public. It focuses on removing
meat from the human diet and providing ani-mals the right to sue their owner, amongother projects. Vegetarian diets and organicfarming are perfect foils for PETA. PETAcan support and encourage vegetarian dietswithout being too visible and yet carry outtheir focus of removing meat from humanconsumption. They really do not care that avegan diet, unless carefully supplemented, isunhealthy. Rule 8 applies here: Keep the pres-sure on – attack, attack, attack! Rule 10 –Push a negative hard enough, it will becomea positive: If you can get someone else to bethe point of attack, so much the better.
Who do you think is behind the deci-sion by the Baltimore School System toremove meat from the menu for the MeatlessMonday Program? The program is certainlynot based on scientific evidence and deprivesthe children of an opportunity to receive abalanced diet during school time. Many chil-dren rely on the school feeding program astheir main source of balanced nutrition, sinceit may not be available at home.
Emphasis on global warming caused bycattle and the charge that low-level use ofantibiotics in animal feeds increases bacterialresistance in humans are good examples ofrules 8, 9 & 10. If you push a negative longenough, it will become a positive. Perceptionis reality. There is no scientific evidence thatcows are a major factor in global warming(less than 3%) or that increased bacterialresistance is occurring due to animal use ofFDA-prescribed low levels of antibiotics. Infact, the evidence on bacterial resistance is inthe other direction.
Intimidation, deception, misinforma-tion, unsupported assertion and repetitionare tools of PETA. They will adopt any topicthat will give them publicity, a chance to fur-ther their focus or redefine the current status,elicit public sympathy, encourage wealthydonors, increase public contributions orenhance opportunities for intimidation.
Frequently, companies think that it isless expensive and that they will have lessnegative publicity to just do what PETAdemands or use a little payola. It is interestingthat PETA can suddenly overlook real orimagined transgressions when money ismade available. Jesse Jackson was a master atthis process, using “discrimination” as thefocus while eliciting money from companies.PETA is pretty good at this tactic as well.Review rules 1,3,4,5,8,9,10,11,12.COWTOONS
�In My OpinionWho is Behind the Vegetarian/Organic Farming Movement?
By Dr. Charles N. DobbinsDr. Dobbins is retired from the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine faculty
GC
50 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 51
Directions: I-75 To Exit 41, Easy Calving, Smooth PolledRight Onto Roundtree Br. Rd., Charolais With An Emphasis4 Mi. To Farm Sign On Right On Milking Ability
LITTLE RIVER CHAROLAISMarshall & Mary Beth Bennett Buck & Jean BennettP.O. Box 406 1175 EM Rogers RoadAdel, Georgia 31620 Adel, Georgia 31620Phone: (H) 229-219-0486 Phone: 229-549-8654
(O) 229-896-4517
Tony WaldenRegistered Charolais
office: 334-527-3021
home: 334-527-8704
fax: 334-527-8774
P.O. Box 24 Brantley, AL 36009
Georgia-Florida Charolais AssociationFor information on the Georgia-Florida Charolais Association,
contact Emmett Callahan, President, 7050 Stonebridge Road, Carnesville, GA 30521706-384-4235 • [email protected]
Polled Charolais CattlePerformance Testing for over 35 years
Ted A. Collins693 Old 179 South
Whigham, GA 39897
Oak Hill FarmHome of Bennett Charolais
Wayne & Lois BennettBarn: 770-893-3446Home: 770-893-2674Cell: 770-826-9551
1779 Holcomb RoadDawsonville, GA [email protected]
www.oakhillfarmga.comCattle for Sale Private Treaty
Collins & SonHerd Certified& Accredited
229-762-4259
Plan to attendThe Fall Sale -
Oct. 16, 2010
GCA Welcomes New Members!Jerry & Tammy Anderson,
ElbertonRichard Austin, III,
LafayetteCarson Kevin Bennett,
MurrayvilleJimmy & Loretta Billings,
Pine MountainChaz Bridges, CommerceColton Bridges,
CarnesvilleRodney Bryan, Bryan’s Half Fast
Farm, Inc., ColquittBushwater Farms, ColquittEddie Cobb, ColquittBrandon Cox, Kenansville, NCTom Dance, Oak Knoll Farm,
Clinton, SCDavid Cox, ToccoaJacob L. Dasher, Veja Farm,
GlennvileJeremy Dominey, S & R Cattle
Farms, Ambrose
Hugh Guthrie, CedartownHaralson Co. Farm Bureau,
BuchananJohn Hawkins, Dixie Moon Farm,
WhiteDoug Houser, RayleKatrina Jones, Ga. FFAFoundation, SwainsboroJohn Kartsonis, Jacksonville, FLLight Farms, Rogersville, TNDanny Lovering, ColquittJim Martin, ColumbusAndy McClure, Blairsville
Tony Mock, ColquittKenneth Moore,
GreensboroKaren Morris, HamiltonOglethorpe Feed & Farm,
StephensDonnie Patterson, Sr.,
ToomsboroTracy Pickle, ColquittDonald Pritchard,
GreensboroBryan Simmons, LexingtonMatt Simmons, LexingtonChris Sullivan, CochranCalbert Stephens, LincolntonJoe Studier, GuytonBreck Tillery, CedartownRocky Tillery, CedartownD. J. Torbert, ColquittWilliam W. Wells, III, CovingtonMorris Williams, WilliamsLimousin Farm, CummingAnthony J. Yawn, Eastman
“Welcometo the Herd!”
52 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
Offering the Stars of 201045 FANCY PUREBRED AND CLUB CALF PROSPECTS
Featured sires include Irish Whiskey, Dream On, Freedom, Raven, Lookout,Gridmaker, Pioneer, Big Daddy, Shockwave, Ali, Monopoly, Milkman and others.
THE
“1”Vol. II
WINNING EDGE GENETICS GROUPMM CATTLE CO - BOWDON GA.
C&H FARMS - OPELIKA ALA.CALLAWAY CATTLE CO - HOGANSVILLE GA.
THRONE STOCK FARM - LEXINGTON GA.P&M FARMS - CARROLLTON GA.
GAZDA CATTLE CO. - ATHENS GA.PADGETT FARMS - BOWDON GA.
LAZY J FARM - OPELIKA ALA.Watch our websites for info and pictures:
EDJESALES.COM/WINNING EDGEMMCATTLE.COM • CHFARMS.NET
CALLAWAYCATTLECOMPANY.COMFor information contact:
RANDY PRICE • C&H FARMS • 334-559-0483 • [email protected] MCCRAVY • MM CATTLE CO • 770-328-2047 • [email protected]
JOHN CALLAWAY • CALLAWAY CATTLE CO. • 770-355-2165 • [email protected]
CARROLL CANNON - AUCTIONEER
The pocket-size record book provides an effective way for cattle-men to keep more efficient production records and enhance prof-itability for their operations. The Redbook provides more than 100pages to record calving activity, herd health, pasture use, cattle inven-tory, body condition, scoring section, summary of death loss, calvingand cattle treatment, and an annual calendar with a notes/addresssection.
IRM Redbooks are $5 each, plus shipping and handling. You mayorder them online at www.gabeef.org, through the GCA online storeor contact Stephanie or Sherri at the GCA office at 478-474-6560.
2010 NCBA IRM Redbooks Available
The 2010 NFREC BeefCattle/Forage Field Day will be held onThursday, March 25, 2010. The fieldday will be held at the University ofFlorida’s North Florida Research andEducation Center Beef Unit.Registration will begin at 8 a.m. (CT)with the program beginning at 9 a.m.and lasting until 3 p.m. Lunch andrefreshments will be provided.
The field day will include presenta-tions and demonstrations along withfield tours of ongoing research. Topicsto be covered include: 1) vaccinationsand parasite control, 2) protein andenergy supplementation, 3) mineralsupplementation, 4) developing an AIprogram, 5), haylage and silage options,6) pasture weed control, 7) pasture for-age varieties, and 8) ongoing foragestudies.
The NFREC Beef Unit is part ofNFREC Marianna. The Beef Unit islocated about one mile west ofGreenwood, Fla. on Highway 162.Additional information can be obtainedby calling (850) 482 9904 or (850) 4821252, or visit the NFREC web site(http://nfrec.ifas.ufl.edu). A registrationfee of $10 will be charged.
Beef Cattle, Forage FieldDay March 25 in Florida
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G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 53
We encourage you to take advantage ofour E-MAIL UPDATES. As issues arise and the face of theindustry changes, we are striving to keep you informed. Thesetools will allow us to communicate with producers in the mostefficient way possible. To sign up and be a part of our team, pleasego to our Web site, www.gabeef.org/gca and click on the link, “JoinThe GCA Email List!”
Don’tmissout!
In November 2009, beef exportstotaled 172.56 million pounds, carcassweight. Compared to exports from oneyear ago, the November 2009 exportdata is 27 percent greater; the summa-tion of all of the 2009 beef exportstotals 1.699 billion pounds for the year,which is only 3 percent less than the2008 beef export results.
According to the USDA Meat andLivestock Trade Data, all of the coun-tries within their data set reportedincreases in beef exports fromNovember 2008 to November 2009with Hong Kong showing the greatestincrease from 2.582 million pounds to10.027 million pounds during the year,a 288 percent increase. Based onpoundage of beef shipped, the largestU. S. export markets were Mexico(41.90 million pounds), Canada (30.87million pounds) and Japan (22.37 mil-lion pounds). Of the largest markets,Mexico purchased 4.6 percent morebeef this year, while exports to Canadaand Japan were 20 and 43 percent high-er, respectively.
Egypt reduced the pounds of U. S.beef being imported into the countryfrom January to June 2009, importsaveraged 119 percent greater from Julyto November. China (Taiwan), howev-er, remained stagnant from year-to-yearin exports into the country. Alsorecorded by USDA, Vietnam showedsignificant volatility in beef importsduring the year with a 71.3 percentgreater amount in November 2009compared to the previous year.
USDA Meat and LivestockTrade Data Update
NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen
Each week, episodes of NCBA’stelevision show, Cattlemen toCattlemen, debut at 8:30 p.m. onRFD-TV (carried by most cable andsatellite networks.) The show also airsWednesday at 10:30 a.m. and Saturdayat 9 a.m. (ET).
Don’t forget, you can also watchNCBA’s show any time by visitingwww.CattlemenToCattlemen.org.Also, follow it on Twitter at NCBAC2C and become a fan on Facebookby searching NCBA’s Cattlemen toCattlemen.
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54 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
Feeding whole cottonseed (WCS) as a winter supplementfor beef cattle has been a traditional practice across theSouthern USA for decades. However, prices spiked in 2008,reaching costs greater than $400/ton ($0.20 /lb), and pricesremained at $200/ton or greater throughout 2008 and early2009. In autumn 2009, locally available cottonseed at somegins in South Georgia could be purchased for $120 to$135/ton at the gin, or about double the prices paid in 2006-2007 ($65/ton). With cottonseed prices in the $150 to $160range, beef cattle producers may reconsider feeding thislocally available by-product.
The question remains, “How much cottonseed should befed to wintering beef cows on hay-based diets?” The “thumbrule” that has been suggested for years is to feed 0.5 percentof average cow weight (5 lb WCS/cow daily for 1000 lbcows; 6 lb WCS/cow daily for 1200 lb cows; etc.). Some pro-ducers self-feed WCS, to save labor costs and allow moretime for winter activities. Several producers polled about howmuch WCS beef cows will consume in a free-choice or self-fed feeding system had varying responses, but most assumedabout 5 to 6 lb/cow daily. Experiments were conducted atTifton Campus to determine the amount of free-choiceWCS consumed by non-pregnant beef cows on hay-baseddiets, and to 1000 lb beef steers to determine effects ondietary digestion.
In a two-year study, non-lactating, non-pregnant beefcows (42 cows/year; breeds used: Angus, Polled Hereford,Brangus and Braford) were fed bermudagrass hay free-choice on dormant bermudagrass pastures. Cows wereassigned to supplement treatments with regard to initialweight, breeding, cow age and initial body condition score.In 2005, initial cow wt was 1141 lb, with average age of 3.7year, 4.5 body condition score. In 2006, cow initial weightwas 1276 lb, average age was 6.3 year, with 4.5 body condi-tion score (BCS; Scale 1-9, 5= average flesh). Supplementtreatments included three levels of whole cottonseed: 0.25percent of initial cow weight (Low WCS), 0.5 percent of ini-tial cow weight (Recommended WCS), or free-choice (FCWCS) for 63 day beginning Nov. 3, 2005, and for 70 daybeginning Oct. 5, 2006. Bermudagrass hay (two year avg.analyses, DM, CP, TDN, %, respectively, were: 92.0, 10.9,53) was fed free-choice in hay rings in each pasture, alongwith a free-choice 8 percent P mineral. Hay disappearancewas closely monitored and WCS intake was measured on adaily basis.
In a related study, large beef steers were fed hay withfour WCS treatments (TRT) for 42 day in a feedlot (Phase 1),to allow adjustment to high WCS intake on a FC WCS diet.Then steers were individually-fed the diets for 17 day to
determine precise dietary intake and digestibility (Phase 2). InPhase 1, beef steers (32 head; 998.6 lb initial wt; Brahmanpercentage crossbred) were randomly assigned to four TRT(four steers/pen and two pens/TRT). Free-choice round balebermudagrass hay (93 percent dry matter (DM), 13.4 percentcrude protein (CP) was fed in hay rings in the feedlot.Supplement TRT included hay without WCS or hay withWCS fed at three levels: WCS at 0.25 percent initial steer wt(Low WCS); WCS at 0.5 percent initial steer wt (Med WCS)and WCS fed free-choice (FC WCS). After adjustment in thefeedlot in Phase 1, steers (28 head; 1089.7 lb initial wt) fromeach treatment in Phase 1 were individually-fed the same foursupplement TRT. Hay (Tifton 85; 92.6 percent DM, 16.8 per-cent CP, 53 percent TDN) was coarsely ground (2 to 4 inchlength of cut), and WCS (DM basis: 25.5 percent CP, 15.3percent crude fat) was fed as in Phase 1. During the last 10days steers on all TRT were fed ground corn (0.48 lb/day) asa carrier for a digestibility marker, used with fecal and feedanalyses to determine apparent digestibility of dietary organ-ic matter (OM), CP, acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutraldetergent fiber (NDF) was determined.
The two-year average intake of WCS and hay by beefcows is shown in Table 2. Hay disappearance was greatest(P < 0.01) for cows on the Recommended WCS treatment.The FC cows consumed cottonseed at 9.8 lb/d, as-fed basis,and cows had similar intake on this TRT each year. Based onfat content of the WCS, this resulted in FC WCS cows con-suming 1.61 lb fat/cow daily, which was a huge amount offat to be metabolized by ruminal microbial populations.Interestingly, cows on the FC WCS treatment had the high-est total feed DM intake, with both Recommended WCS and
EXPERTADVICE
Cottonseed: Still a UsefulSupplement for Wintering Beef Cows
By Gary. M. Hill1, Matt. H. Poore2, Dixie J. Renney1, Alana N. Franklin1
1Animal and Dairy Science Dept., Univ. of Georgia, Tifton Campus; 2Dept. of Animal Sciences, North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 55
FC WCS TRT having similar, but higher (P < 0.01) total feedDM than cows on the Low WCS treatment. This resultedfrom the stimulation of hay intake by feeding theRecommended WCS and FC WCS treatments. Cows onRecommended WCS and FC treatments had higher ADGthan cows on Low WCS (Table 1). More younger, thinnercows were used in 2005 than in 2006, therefore ADG wasgreater for cows in 2005 than in 2006. Although cows hadsimilar initial BCS, feeding WCS at Recommended or FC lev-els significantly increased cow BCS in each year. No notice-able diarrhea or adverse health effects were observed forcows on the FC WCS TRT.
During both years of the study, intake patterns were dif-ferent for each pen of cows on the FC WCS treatment.Cows on FC began the study at the Recommended WCSlevel, and increased intake leveled off after six weeks eachyear. By the day 28 of each year, WCS intake was above 11lb/cow, as-fed. We observed that after six weeks, one pen ofcows each year continued to consume 10 to 11 lb of WCSdaily, but the other pen quickly decreased consumption to 4to 7 lb daily until the experiments ended. Therefore, resultssuggest that free-choice feeding of WCS to beef cows couldlead to erratic intake in herds, and cows apparently differ intolerance and metabolism when fed higher levels of fat, fiberand protein.
To determine effects of free-choice WCS feeding ondietary digestibility, large two-year-old beef steers were usedbecause of their size, rumen capacity, and weights similar tomany beef cows. Beef steers were fed four WCS diets in afeedlot for 42 day, which was the time required by FC cowsin the two year experiment to reach maximum WCS con-sumption levels. Then, seven steers from each Phase 1 feed-lot treatment were individually-fed hay and WCS diets fordetermination of feed intake and diet digestibility. In Phase1, steers fed Med WCS at 0.5 percent body weight consumed4.1 lb WCS/day, but steers on the FC WCS TRT reachedaverage consumption of 6.6 lb/day, 2.5 lb/day more thansteers fed at 0.5 percent of body weight. Unlike cows inTable 1, steers had lower hay intake with increasing level ofWCS consumed, which may reflect feedlot vs. pasture condi-tions and difference in size of cattle. Steers fed Med WCSand those on FC WCS had similar 42-day ADG (ADG 1.87and 1.94 lb, respectively), which were higher ADG than onother TRT. During Phase 2, steer weights were higherbecause of gains made during Phase 1, and intake of WCSwas higher for steers on Med WCS and on FC WCS (Table2). Hay intake declined with increasing WCS consumption,and hay intake was highest for the Hay Only TRT, interme-diate for MED WCS TRT and lowest for the FC TRT (P <0.01). Steers on Low WCS and Med WCs had higher totalfeed intake than steers on hay only, and total feed intake washighest for the FC TRT. Digestibility coefficients for organ-ic matter and crude protein were similar for all treatments(Table 2). Hay used in this experiment averaged 16.8 percentcrude protein, well above average for bermudagrass hay fedto beef cows. A trend was observed for slightly reduced
ADF digestibility for Med WCS and FC WCS treatments. AsWCS increased in the diets, digestibility of NDF tended togo down, and NDF digestibility was lower (P < 0.05) for FCWCS than for Hay Only. This reflects the adverse effects ofincreased fat on fiber digesting bacteria.
In addition to being costly in dollars spent for excessWCS, feeding free-choice or self-feeding WCS can affectoverall dietary digestibility, leading to reduced cow perform-ance. At $160/ton ($0.08/lb) for WCS, the cost of self-feed-ing WCS to cows, based on data in Table 1, would be$0.78/day (9.8 lb WCS X $0.08), compared with $0.46/day(5.8 lb WCS X $0.08) if cows were fed WCS at the recom-mended rate of 0.5 percent of cow body weight. If WCSprices were greater than $160/ton, obviously daily cost ofsupplementation would be higher, especially if WCS was self-fed.
Acknowledgement: Research sponsored, in part, by a grant from Cotton, Inc., Cary, N.C.
Abbreviations: WCS = Whole cottonseed; Trt=Treatment; DM= Dry matter; DMD = Dry matter disappearance; FC = Free-choice feeding; ADF = Acid detergent fiber; NDF = Neutral Detergent Fiber.abcd = Means in same row with different superscript letters differ (P < 0.01).e = During last 10 days all steers fed ground corn (0.48 lb/day) as a carrier for a digestibility
marker.xy = Means in same row with different superscript letters differ (P < 0.05).
Abbreviations: WCS = Whole cottonseed; Trt=Treatment; DM= Dry matter; DMD = Dry matter disappearance; FC = Free-choice feeding.ab = Means in same row with different superscript letters differ (P < 0.01).xy = Means in same row with different superscript letters differ (P < 0.05).c = Year affected cow ADG (P < 0.05); 2005 vs. 2006 ADG = 1.19 vs. 0.95 lb.d = Initial BCS averaged 4.5 for cows used in each year
(Scale: 1= emaciated. 5= normal flesh, 9= obese).
Table 1. Average hay disappearance and cotton-seed consumption by cows (2005, 2006)
Table 2. Steer feed intake and digestibility of hayand cottonseed diets
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G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 57
www.santagertrudis.com
GEORGIA SANTAGERTRUDIS BREEDERS
Georgia Santa Gertrudis Associationwww.gasga.org
3175 Bridgeshaw DriveCumming, GA 30040Phone: 678.852.7301
Email: [email protected]
THIS SPACEIS
RESERVED FOR YOU!CALL
GEORGIA CATTLEMAN478-474-6560
ADAMS RANCHRegistered Red Brahman Cattle
Quality, gentle bulls andheifers for sale. Also haveSimmental and Simbrah.
3837 Stateline Road Cliff AdamsBowdon, Georgia 30108 770-258-2069
GEORGIABRAHMANBREEDERS
Georgia Red Angus Breeders706-882-7423
Registered Red AngusSince 1965
ANGEL FARMS2445 Gadsden Road S.W.Cave Spring, GA 30124
R.L. (Bob) Angel • (706) 777-3968
CAMP’S RED ANGUSRegistered I-A
Rogeal & Sue CampHome: (770) 466-8094 3599 Marce Camp Rd.Mobile: (404) 210-3965 Loganville, GA 30249
“Red, A Step Ahead”
Jim & Alvina Meeks, owners Raymond Prescott, mgr.803 Phillips Road 1986 Trinity Church Rd.Greer, SC 29650 Gray Court, SC 29645(864) 682-3900 (864) 682-2828
McLean Red AngusJim and Alynda McLean206 Morningside Drive
Alma, GA 31510(912) 632-7985, (770) 595-3542
[email protected] Red Angus since 1970
Lazy S FarmRED ANGUS
Mike and Debbie Smith2699 West Grantville Rd.
Newnan, Ga. 30263OFFICE 770-253-7099
FAX 770-253-1468
JanBil FarmsRed Angus & Red Simmental
Red Power for Ultimate Beef Quality & Profitability
Janet & Bill Nutt 1418 Sixth Street Road,Cedartown, GA 30125
770-748-6124 • [email protected]
THIS SPACEIS
RESERVED FOR YOU!CALL
GEORGIA CATTLEMAN478-474-6560
HUDSON RED ANGUSREGISTERED MATERNAL RED ANGUS
JIM AND LINDA HUDSON
P.O. Box 287
Broxton, GA 31519
Home (912) 359-5546
Office (912) 384-0956
Fax (912) 384-2218
Dr. R.E. “Bob” Wagner1495 Parkview Blvd., Stone Mountain, GA 30087
AGNER
ERFORMANCE
ATTLE
(678) 684-3725
GELBVIEH ~ BALANCER ~ ANGUS
Dr. R.E. “Bob” Wagner1495 Parkview Blvd., Stone Mountain, GA 30087
AGNER
ERFORMANCE
ATTLE
(678) 684-3725
GELBVIEH ~ BALANCER ~ ANGUS
HADDEN FARMSRoute 1 • Gibson, GA • 30810
Larry & Holly Hadden
800-348-2584 • 706-831-1679
Breeders of Purebred Cattle Since 1952
Georgia Gelbvieh Breeders
Rocky Ford Red AngusSam & Georgia Thurmond
706-335-6441
2412 Waterworks RoadCommerce, GA 30529
“Since 1968”
Commercial Cattle
WARTHEN, [email protected]
58 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
Windell & Lawanda Gillis (478) 374-48682891 Hawkinsville Hwy. Eastman, GA 31023
Cell 478-231-8236
• Accredited• Certified
• No Creep• Est. 1979
• AHIR
WYNDER SMITHANGUS
2186 Pete Smith Rd.Wynder • 478/252-5905
Charles Smith • 478/252-5622
AHIR HerdEstablished 1982
Source of Great Females6585 Jett Rd., Dawsonville, GA 30534HILLSIDE Angus Farm
See our menu for success atwww.hillsideangusfarm.com
Jay Tinter, owner Billy Kidd, Manager404-316-4969 Terrell Higgins, [email protected]
MULE CREEK CATTLE CO.
Phone: 478-956-2288 Cell: 478-396-4474
Black Angus
Clint, Kim, Will & Samuel SmithP.O. Box 820
Wadley, GA 30477(478) 252-0292
Clint’s Cell: (706) 551-2878
Smitty, SuzAnne, Tatum &Beau Brinson Lamb
(229) 386-0491Smitty’s Cell:
(229) 392-1409
• Accredited • Certified • AHIRJohne’s Level 2 Test Negative
Throne Stock FarmChris, Julie, Katherine, Haley
& Hank Throne111 Duck Pond Rd.
Lexington, GA 30648706-302-2675
Angus • Sim-Angus • Club Calves
BARNETT ANGUS FARMSINCE 1947
Specializes in raising bulls on forage.
Marion Barnett, Jr. 1685 Lexington RoadWashington, GA 30673
Office: 706-678-2890Cell: 706-202-8435
®
6133 Peach Pkwy • Byron GA 31008
22nndd PPrroodduuccttiioonn SSaallee MMaayy 22,, 22000099
Georgia Angus Breeders
Custom Built Since 1982Home of Hillside Juniatti ND 598 (Third Generation Pathfinder® Cow)
Hillside Georgina ND 6475 (Second Generation Pathfinder® Cow)
Hillside Dividend 47 (Second Generation Pathfinder® Cow)
For more information on GAA activities, contact:Christy Page
638 Lake Crest DriveJefferson, GA 30549
706/[email protected] • www.georgiaangus.org
Dues - $35 per year
For more information on GJAA activities, contact:David & Carolyn Gazda, Jr. Advisors
1985 Morton Rd.Athens, GA 30605
Jr. Dues - $10 per year
Turnpike Creek FarmsReg. Blk. Angus & Blk. SimmentalCertified & Accredited Herd #152
David T. Williams & Sons
1555 Workmore-Milan Rd.Milan, GA 31060
April 1,2 & 3, 2010Pasture Bid
SaleDavid (229) 362-4716Doug (229) 860-0320Derek (229) 315-0986
Visitors
Always
Welcome
BullsForSale
THIS SPACEIS
RESERVED FOR YOU!CALL
GEORGIA CATTLEMAN478-474-6560
Georgia Beef Expo Southeastern AngusShowcase Sale
Friday, April 2, 2010Georgia National Fairgrounds
Perry, GA
Southern National Junior and Open AngusShows
June 4-5, 2010Perry, GA
** Entry information will be available in April
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 59
Cloud Brothers Angus
PERFORMANCE TESTEDREGISTERED ANGUS
Clark, Wally and Sam
3072 Univeter Rd • Canton, GA 30115
Herd Certified & Accredited AHIR
770/479-5947 (Wally) • 770/345-6308 (Sam)
COCHRAN ANGUS FARM2505 GA Highway 198
Baldwin, GA 30511
Richard Cochran706/677-3917
Farm located on GA Hwy. 198 south of Baldwin
BRIDGES ANGUS FARM119 Ralph Bridges Road
Lexington, GA 30648Ralph Bridges (706) 743-5517
Alan Bridges, manager
home 706-743-5817 mobile, 706-340-1421
TIM SULLENS, Manager706-864-7885
VIRGINIA WHITNEROwner
404-255-4459
WHITNER AND LEWIS ANGUS FARM
Route 1Dahlonega, GA 30533
570 Chestnut Hall Lane NWAtlanta, GA 30327
IAFIdone Angus Farm
Chuck & Dot Idone469 Pioneer RoadMacon, GA 31217
478-986-6819www.idoneangus.comHerd Certified & AccreditedAHIR
PERFORMANCE IS NOT AN OPTION
Benny BowenP.O. Box 449 • Swainsboro, GA 30401
Farm: (478) 237-6825 Home: (478) 237-8459
REGISTEREDANGUS CATTLE
DREW & KAYLAR HOWARD2576 BELL ROAD SYCAMORE, GEORGIA 31790
(229) 567-2344 Fax (229) 567-2352 [email protected]
~ Pedigree and Performance ~We have Registered Angus Cattle that combine both elite
pedigrees and strong performance. Bulls are available.
1651 Deep South Farm Rd.Blairsville, GA 30512
Line breeding with GRAHAM ANGUS Genetics.Following GRAHAM’S Program begun over 45 years ago.
Best of stock. Complete records.
Phone and fax706-745-5714
BUD HILL
Will & Josh Cabe721 Sosby RoadCarnesville, GA [email protected]
Burnis Coleman IIIPhone/Fax (803) 593-4846 • Cell (706) 832-7011
Email: [email protected]
201 Bellevue Plantation Rd. Perkins, GA 30822
A.H.I.R“QUALITYGENETICS”
Jarrell AngusJohn Jarrell
348 West Old Wire RoadButler, GA 31006 • 770-468-4812
2200 Centennial Church RoadWhite Plains, GA 30678
Robert Lanier, Owner
Lamont EnnisGeneral Manager
850-352-2020
Cattle that Work154 McKaig Loop • Rising Fawn, GA 30738
Ted Dyer
(423) 605-1034
Jeremy Dyer
(423) 605-2431
Clay Bussell - Herdsman (478) 232-8729
Wasdin Angus RanchCattle and Hay AvailableOwners: Ed & Dot Wasdin
Ranch: 229-769-3964Cell: 229-873-1230********************
"Quality and customers come first!"
BRANCH & LAKE CATTLE FARM
3935 Johnson Lake Rd.Cedartown, GA 30125
Bobby Harrington,Owner
404-634-1040Hal Ridgeway,
Farm Mgr.404-403-2261
Owners: 229 Cook RoadArnold & Susan Brown Griffin, Ga. 30224
(770) 228-5914
Registered Angus
2020 Mt. Moriah • Dallas, GA 30132www.poefarms.net
All Natural Beef
Mickey & Patricia PoeOWNERS
404-697-9696
Jason JohnsMANAGER
678-796-3239
Visitors Make Us Happy!C.L. & Joyce Cook
1185 Highway 11 SouthSocial Circle, GA 30025
(770) 787-1644C.L.’s Cell (678) 910-4891
Chris Wallace, Manager, Cell (678) 313-1594Bulls for Sale at the Farm
PO Box 539 • Woodbury, GA 30293706-553-5455 Office • 706-553-5456 Fax
Roland Starnes, Managing Partner • 706-601-0800James Stice, Customer Service • 863-899-4869
Dan Beckham, Owner • 415-830-0509www.kensingtoncattlecompany.com
“Keeping Business in the Business Breed”
60 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
The nominating committee for2010 GCA officers has been appointedand is open for business. ThisCommittee will solicit and coordinatenominations for the slate of GCA offi-cers that will be voted on by chapterdelegates at the Annual Conventionmeeting in April.
The Committee is responsible forcoming up with a slate of candidateswho are qualified to hold the offices asspecified in our Constitution and By-Laws. (See related article on page 10 ofthis issue.) Candidates should be willingand available to serve and fulfill therequirements of the office they arenominated for by attending meetingsand devoting the time necessary toeffectively function.
A list of the nominee slate will bepublished and circulated in advance ofthe Annual Convention. TheCommittee will identify and nominatecandidates for: President, PresidentElect, Vice President and Treasurer forone-year terms; two ExecutiveCommittee positions for two-yearterms; and Regional Vice Presidents forRegions 2, 5, 6, 8, 11 and 14. TheRegional V.P. positions will be for
three-year terms, with the exception ofRegion 6 which will be for two years tocomplete the term of the currentRegional V.P. who has asked to bereplaced.
The Nominating Committee willbe chaired by Immediate Past PresidentMike McCravy. Committee membersinclude Bobby Miller, Robert Fountain,Chap Cromley, Paul Thompson, RobertStewart, and Billy Moore. President-Elect Bill Bryan will serve as an ex-offi-cio member.
GCA members are encouraged tocontact any member of theNominating Committee if you areinterested in serving or if you wish tosuggest a fellow member for a leader-ship role. You can also contact any ofthe current GCA officers who will beglad to pass your inputs to the commit-tee. You will find contact phone num-bers and email addresses on page 10 ofthis issue of the magazine.
GCA functions as a member-driv-en organization. This is a great oppor-tunity to make your voices heard in thenomination process for 2010 leadershippositions. Let us hear from you as soonas possible!
2010 GCA Nominating Committee Appointed
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G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 61
R E A D E R S E R V I C E S
Do you know the reason Bill Clinton spent so much timetrying to define what “is” is?
The reason lies with the simple truth that words matter. Allgood politicians and bureaucrats know the value of crafting notjust an accurate message but a polished and perfect message.They are communicating to the voting masses and do not wantto risk offending a single one of them. So they strive to be hon-est, yet as polite as possible in order to keep every vote.However, there are millions of people who vote every day withtheir pocketbooks on your livelihood and we talk to them withphrases that will ensure they vote for our opponents!
We must revisit the issue of how we describe ourselves.Words that hurt our image with consumers have changed in thelast 20-plus years. In the 1970s and 80s “agribusiness” was pop-ular. Computerized farming and ranching signaled to the con-sumer that we were modern and sophisticated, just like them. Sowe began calling ourselves “producers” and “growers” in order toappeal to their preferences. We still refer to ourselves that wayand we all run “operations” as part of an “industry.” Except nowthe housewife who buys beef in the store thinks of smokestacksand factories when she hears those words. Not the image we par-ticularly want, is it?
For those detractors to political correctness, I am not ask-ing you to change your brevity to longwinded prose. In fact, justthe opposite. Simplifying our language would be better. Thepride we have taken in becoming more efficient has led to acanyon of misunderstanding with people who buy beef. Ratherthan boasting about scientific advances, defending genetic
breakthroughs, and promoting production progress, we simplyneed to communicate that we have made food better, safer andtastier.
With this thought in mind, what can you do to improve theway you talk to people about what you do? Let me suggest afew words in your vocabulary to get rid of, and what you mightthink about replacing them with.
Producer – Farmer or RancherIndustry – TradeOperation – Farm or RanchEfficient – GreenGrow – Care forSlaughter - HarvestMeat – FoodConsumers – FamiliesNow, in the following sentence replace the new words with
the ones we are accustomed to and see how different it mightsound to a housewife. In the beef trade ranchers care for cattle that areharvested for food that families love.
Marketing specialists like Truth In Food’s Kevin Murphy(whom I stole this idea from) would argue that cattle ranchersneed to begin making the shift back to words that everyone canidentify with as wholesome and positive. I would agree andremind us all that there should be less “ag” and more “culture”in our daily conversations with each other, our friends andneighbors.
Nate Jaeger is a Field Representative for NCBA and can be contact-ed at 205-533-3206 or [email protected]
Words MatterNCBA News From the Field
GC
By Nate Jaeger, NCBA Eastern Field Representative
Join Both Today - GCA ($50) and NCBA (see dues below)...
If paying by credit card, please complete the information below:
GCA base dues - $50 $ _______________NCBA dues - select from categories listed below * + $ _______________TOTAL DUES AMOUNT ($50 GCA plus NCBA dues) = $ _______________* NCBA Membership Categories (select one to calculate your NCBA dues):
Member Benefits. Beef Business Bulletin, National Cattlemen, Winter and SummerMeeting Producer Education Opportunities, Board Representation via State Affiliate,may represent State Affiliate in Committee Meetings and on the Board of Directors, par-ticipation in the Member Business Meeting, representation in Washington D.C.
62 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
Cattle Enterprises1230 Reeves Rd., Midville, Ga. 30441-9998
Tommy Mead(706) 554-6107 • Fax: (706) 544-0662
www.meadcattle.com
301 Dennis Station Rd., SWEatonton, Georgia 31024
(706) 484-1799cell phone: 706-473-1374
WHALEY POLLED HEREFORDSA Program to Watch
A Name to RememberOwners: Truman and Starr Whaley
2634 River Bend Road
Dalton, GA 30720
Res. (706) 277-3240; Office (706) 277-3993
“Home of Great Victors”
POLLED HEREFORDS1095 Charles Smith Rd., Wadley, Ga. 30477
CSR Polled HerefordFarm
Steve RobertsRt. 1, Box 4260
Alapaha, Ga. 31622Phone: 229-532-7963
Hed Certified and Accredited.
Whitey & Candler HuntP.O. Box 488, 255 W. Jefferson St.
Madison, GA 30650706/342-0264 (off.) 706/342-2767 (home)
www.innisfailfarm.com
PlantationSam and Pat Zemurray
477 Honey Ridge RoadGuyton, GA 31312-9661
Office: 912/772-3118 Night: 912/234-7430
Charles E. Smith, owner(478) 252-5622
CHEROKEE FARMSPOLLED HEREFORD CATTLE AND BERMUDA HAY
Phone:
Jimmy 478-986-3426
Ed 478-986-3303
Cell 478-972-0912
LEONARD POLLEDHEREFORDSSherman LeonardP.O. Box 280 706/695-8351 dayChatsworth, GA 30705 706/695-2008 night
Private treaty cattle for sale at all times.
Herd Certified & Accredited
VISIONARY CATTLERay, Debbie & Carole Hicks
660 Seaburn Vickery Rd.Statesboro, GA 30461
Phone: 912-865-5593
email: [email protected]
DOUBLE FARMBBRegistered Polled Herefords
Bobby Brantley 478-552-93281750 Wommack-Brantley Road Tennille, Georgia 31089
Cows & Bulls
For Sale at
Private Treaty
Herd Certified
& Accredited
No. 127
Georgia Hereford Association
farm manager: Bryan Massengale
home 770-599-3302; barn 770-599-1157
P.O. Box 275, Senoia, GA 30276
certified and accredited herd No. 114
owners:
Ed and Delores Davidson
home 770-599-8342
office 404-888-6805
1298 S Main St., Jasper, GA 30143Phil and Loy Mullinax 706-692-9358 or 706-692-9139
Herd Manager: Joe Chastain, 770-894-1998VISITORS WELCOME! Semen, embryos and cattlefor sale at all times. Herd certified and accredited.
1651 Deep South Farm Rd.Blairsville, GA 30512
Line breeding Neil Trask Plato Dominos for over 40years with Felton blended in. Thick Muscled. Grass
Performers. Complete Program. Full Records.
Phone and fax706-745-5714
BUD HILL
660 Seaburn Vickery Road, Statesboro, GA 30461 • 912-865-5593
The Wesley Rakestraw Family401 Butler Industrial Drive • Dallas, GA 30132
Tom & Tammy Boatman770-354-4195 OR 404-372-6754
www.jwrlandandcattle.com
478-553-8598
Quality Polled HerefordsAt Affordable Prices
The J.E. Jeans Family
Owners
Gray, Georgia
Since 1963
525 District Line RoadAmericus, GA 31709
(229) 924-0091Cell (229) 337-0038 or (229) 886-7465
J. TAYLOR NEIGHBORSPOLLED HEREFORDS
J. TAYLOR NEIGHBORSPOLLED HEREFORDS
Pat Neligan437 Milledgeville Road,
Eatonton, GA 31024706-485-8373
Bob Neligan485 Milledgeville Road, Eatonton, GA 31024706-485-9577 • 706-318-0068 cell
Hereford -
The Maternal BreedSince 1960
Johnson Polled HerefordsRegistered Polled Herefords
Thomas R. Johnson, OwnerCows & Bulls
For Sale atPrivate Treaty
Herd Certifiedand Accredited
No. 205
7731 Bastonville Road • Warrenton, Georgia 30828Home: 706-465-2421 • Cell: 706-339-4607
HEREFORDS
Home of “The Ugly Bull”PO Box 254 • Watkinsville GA 30677
BlackHatRanch.com
Hunter Grayson (706) 206-1824
THIS SPACEIS
RESERVED FOR YOU!CALL
GEORGIA CATTLEMAN478-474-6560
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 63
The ideal size of the mature beefcow has been discussed for years.The relationship of animal size to
performance and efficiency is moreimportant than ever today in makingpurchasing and culling decisions. Thereal question: Is there a difference in the% calf weight weaned among differentmature size beef cows?
A study of 438 cows at theNorthwest Georgia Research andEducation Center was conducted todetermine differences in mature cow sizeand % calf weight weaned in relation tothe cow’s age.
The study started last fall. Each cowwas weighed three times during the year(pregnant, nursing a calf, and weaning).Each of these weights was averaged toget the mature cow size. The calves wereweighed at weaning and adjusted to 205days. These adjustments also consideredthe birth weight of the calf and the ageof the dam. Then a percentage of the
cow weight weaned was calculated oneach cow.
Below is a summary of the results:
The results indicate that the heavierthe cow’s mature weight the less efficientshe is in raising a calf. Cows less than1300 pounds showed a 45+ cow weightweaned percentage.
It also showed that the youngercows were the most efficient in percentof cow weight weaned. Those cows that
were under 4 years of age showed a 44+cow weight weaned percentage.
These results indicate that maximum
efficiency can be achieved by keepingyour mature cow size less than 1300pounds plus keeping your cow herd asyoung as possible. It would be a greatgoal to have a herd average of 50 orhigher as it relates to percent cow weightweaned.
If you are not routinely weighingyour cows annually, you may find itinteresting to know your present cowsize plus find out just how efficient she isby weighing her calf at weaning. If youdo not have scales on your farm, checkwith your local county extension agent orlocal cattlemen association; mostcounties have access to portable scales.
This fall we continued the study oncow size and efficiency at the NorthwestGeorgia Research and Education Center.The first weights taken this fall when thecows were pregnant showed anapproximate 100-pound increase inweight. This increase is possibly due tothe favorable weather conditions foradequate forage production during 2009.This is another reason to weigh yourcows annually. This information could bevery helpful in planning nutritional needsplus helping maintain appropriate bodycondition scores.
Efficiency has become a buzz wordin the cattle industry. Finding ways toreduce cost, while marketing more value,will make raising cattle more enjoyable.Keep cow size in mind as you look forways to be more efficient in youroperation. Take the time to weigh yourcow herd and see how efficient yourcows are in producing a calf.
EXPERTADVICE
Beef Cow Size – Efficiency Study
By Ted G. Dyer, UGA Extension Animal Scientist
Actual Weaning Wt. Avg. 599 • Adjusted 205 Weaning Wt. 592 • Avg. % Cow Wt. Weaned 44.36%
438 Mature Cows • Average Wt. - 1352
Wt. # of % of % of # of % of # ofRange Cows Cow Wt. Age Cow Wt. Cows Age Cow Wt. Cows1700 4 34.0 14 41.5 1 5 42.5 861600 23 37.0 13 41.0 1 4 44.0 641500 68 39.0 12 43.0 5 3 46.0 351400 94 42.0 11 42.0 15 2 48.5 911300 94 45.0 10 42.0 111200 56 46.5 9 41.5 71100 53 49.0 8 40.5 281000 42 51.5 7 41.0 44
THE RELATIONSHIP OF ANIMAL SIZE TO PERFORMANCE AND EFFICIENCY is moreimportant than ever today in making purchasing and culling decisions. Take the time to weighyour cow herd and see how efficient your cows are in producing a calf. GC
NEW educational opportunities in store on April 1-3 atGCA’s 49th Annual Convention when experts will discuss
research, trends and recommendations at key breakout sessions. Which ofthese sessions will YOU plan to attend?
Adding Value by Hitting a Branded Beef
Target. Come and hear representatives from
Certified Angus Beef, Certified Hereford Beef
and Laura's Lean Beef as they describe how
commercial cattlemen can produce calves that
will fit their specifications. Learn about the
increased profit potential when selling cattle
into these programs. This session will conclude
with an opportunity for the audience to ask
questions of these beef marketing leaders.
Conservation: Good for the Environment,
Good for You and Your Farm. Jonny Harris,
winner of the 2009 National Cattlemen's Beef
Association Region II Environmental
Stewardship Award, along with the Natural
Resources Conservation Service, will be
giving a presentation on how conservation
efforts on your farm can benefit not only the
environment, but your farm's bottom line as
well. Come see how you can work with your
local NRCS representative on how to invest
in the future of your operation.
Marketing Session at GCA Convention, with Curt Lacy, Carroll Cannon and John
Moseley, Jr. As marketing cattle in truckload lots increases in popularity, many cattlemen are
considering the merchandising methods available for cattlemen to add value to their calf-crop.
In addition to receiving a higher price as opposed to single-head sales, producers usually
experience less shrink and pay lower marketing costs. However, in order to receive these
benefits, cattlemen need to provide well-managed, uniform groups large enough to satisfy the
buyer's demands. Additionally, there are other terms that sellers may not be familiar with, such
as pencil shrink, price-slide, etc. We will also address producers’ questions, such as: Whatconstitutes a load lot? What pre-sale management protocol is needed? When will I be paid? You
will find the answers to these questions and many others as you see the dynamics of load-lot
marketing at work. To learn more about the ins and outs of marketing cattle in load lots and learn
if it may be right for you, make plans to attend this session. We will cover the whys, hows and
what-ifs of marketing in load lots and allow you to see first-hand how this marketing method
works.
64 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
Mark YourCalendars for April 1-3, 2010!
The 49th Annual GCA Convention, Trade Show and
Beef Expo is set for April 1-3, 2010 in Perry, GA. This
is one event you don’t want to miss! This is shaping up
to be an exciting event! There will be lots of
educational events, more cattle sold than ever and not
to mention a new and improved trade show.
YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS THIS!
5 Great Improvements to the 2010 Convention#1 No Registration Fees – That’s right; it will not cost you to attend
the educational seminars, trade show or to network with your fel-low cattlemen!
#2 New Multi-Purpose Building Layout – All of the trade show, withthe exception of a few outside vendors, will be located in theMulti-Purpose Building. The sale ring is now in the middle of thebuilding.
#3 More Producer Focused Educational Seminars – Hear more aboutwhat is working for other producers across the state. Learn waysto reduce cost and maximize income.
#4 Lower Meal Costs – We have worked really hard to use buildingsthat cost less and search for caterers who will do a better job at alower cost to you. We know the economy is tight and we areworking hard to make it less expense for your family to attend!
#5 More Sales & Cattle – We have more cattle scheduled to sell thanany other Expo in history. This is THE place to see more cattle fromthe top breeders in the South. You truly win!
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 65
66 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2010
8:00 a.m. Cattle & Heavy Equipment move-in
THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2010
9:00 a.m.Registration Opens
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.Livestock Marketing Seminar, Dr. Curt Lacy
11:00 – 12:00 p.m.Live Cattle Video Tele Auction
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.Pfizer’s Cattlemen’s College - NCBA Update
Luncheon with Nate Jaeger
12:00 p.m.All cattle in place
12:00 – 5 p.m.Trade Show Open
1:30 – 3 p.m.Pfizer’s Cattlemen’s College -
PI/BVD Animal Health Session
2:00 p.m.Georgia Farm Bureau Beef Commodity Meeting
3:00 p.m.Commercial Heifer Pen Show Judging
3:00 – 4:30 p.m. Pfizer’s Cattlemen’s College –
Dennis Hancock “Forages”
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.ABAC Reception
7:00 – 9:00 p.m.Membership Awards Dinner
2010 GCA CONVENTION & BEEF EXPO
TENTATIVESCHEDULE
FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 2010
8:00 a.m. Registration Opens
9:00 – 4:30 p.m. Trade Show Open
9:00 - 10:30 a.m. GCWA Education Seminar
9:00 – 10:30 a.m. Pfizer’s Cattlemen’s College - Cliff Lamb
“Developing heifers for reproductive success”
9:00 – 10:30 a.m. Pfizer’s Cattlemen’s College
“Adding Value by Hitting a Branded Beef Target”
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. GCA General Membership Meeting
10:00 a.m. Milk & Cheese Break
11:30 a.m. Georgia Cattlemen’s Foundation meeting
11:30 – 1:00 p.m. Tradeshow Luncheon
12:00 p.m. Angus Sale in Multi-Purpose
1:00 p.m. Limousin Sale in Beef Barn
1:00 – 2:30 p.m. Pfizer’s Cattlemen’s College
“Conservation: Good for the Environment,
Good for You and Your Farm”
2:00 p.m. GCCPA Annual Meeting
2:00 p.m. GCWA Meeting and Dessert Social
3:00 p.m. Commercial Heifer Sale in Beef Barn
4:00 p.m. Beefmaster E6 Commercial Heifer Sale in Beef Barn
4:30 p.m. Club Calf Sale Preview in Multi-Purpose
5:30 p.m. Georgia Hereford Association Annual Meeting
6:00 p.m. Southeast Brangus Association Annual Meeting
7:00 p.m. Cattlemen’s Ball
GCA Foundation and Magazine Back Cover Auction
7:00 p.m. Georgia Hereford Association Banquet
7:00 p.m. Georgia/Florida Charolais Association Social
7:00 p.m. GJCA Western Roundup
SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 20107:00 a.m. Registration Opens
7:30 a.m. Breakfast with Beef
Check-R-Dee sponsored by
Purina Mills
8:30 a.m. Beef Ambassador Contest
Registration
9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Beef Ambassador Contest
9:00 a.m. GJCA Cook-Off Contest
9:00 – 12:00 p.m.
Trade Show Open
9:30 a.m. Charolais Sale
in the Multi-Purpose
9:30 – 11 a.m. Leadership Idea Exchange and
Communications Training
11:30 – 12:30 p.m.
New Products & Junior Awards
Luncheon (including Scholarships
and Beef Ambassador)
12:00 p.m. Hereford Sale in Multi-Purpose
12:00 p.m. Brangus Sale in Beef Barn
2:00 p.m. Club Calf Sale in Multi-Purpose
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 67
GCA CONVENTION MEAL & EVENT RESERVATION FORM, APRIL 1-3, 2009
Advance Meal & Event Reservation due by March 24, 2010
To receive these prices, form must be received by March 24, 2010
MEAL TICKETS
Thursday Lunch and Cattlemen’s College Number of People________ x $10.00 = $__________
Thursday Membership Awards Dinner Number of People________ x $15.00 = $__________
Friday Trade Show Luncheon Number of People________ x $10.00 = $__________
Friday Night Cattlemen’s Ball Number of People________ x $25.00 = $__________
GJCA Western Round-Up and Dinner Number of People________ x $5.00 = $__________
Saturday Beef Check-R-Dee Breakfast Number of People________ x $12.00 = $__________
Saturday New Products & Junior Luncheon Number of People________ x $10.00 = $__________
TOTAL = $__________
Complete a separate pre-registration form for each individual, couple or family that will be picking up a registration packet at the convention.
A packet will be made containing your convention tickets if
you pre-register. Your pre-registration packet may be picked
up at the convention registration desk upon arrival.
List names of individual or family members pre-registering:
1. ________________________________________
2. ________________________________________
3. ________________________________________
4. ________________________________________
Name _____________________________________________________________
Address____________________________________________________________
City_____________________________ State______________ Zip ____________
Phone (_____)_______-_____________ Email ____________________________
County/Chapter _____________________________________________________
CREDIT CARD PAYMENT
Card # _____________________________________
Expiration Date ______________________________
Signature ___________________________________
Make checks payable to GCA and mail with this form to:
Georgia Cattlemen’s Association
P.O. Box 24510
Macon, GA 31212
Create Your Own Package
ROOM RESERVATION INFORMATIONThe Holiday Inn is the convention headquarters hotel. Contact
the GCA office if you need additional information.
HOLIDAY INN478-987-3313
Room Block Cutoff Date: March 24, 2010(Ask for the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association room block)
Visa Mastercard American Express
Early Bird Special:
Save $30 when you pre-register!
No Registration Fees!
Early Bird Prices!
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 69
BEEF INDUSTRY SCHOLARSHIP CHALLENGE
This unique contest focuses on juniorcattlemen’s knowledge and skills in all areas of
beef production. The goal of the contest is toprovide an educational experience to better
prepare youth for careers in agriculture. Juniorscompete in subject matter stations that
emphasize various facets of the beef industry,including business and finance aspects. The
stations are based on real world situations thatevery beef producer faces.
$10,000 in Scholarships* * * * * * * * * *
Registration Deadline:April 15, 2010
June 11-12, 2010* * * * * * * * * *
University of Georgia -Athens, GA
Georgia Junior
GJCACattlemen’s Association
For more information contact:
Georgia Junior Cattlemen’s Association
P.O. Box 24510
Macon, GA 31212
(478) 474-6560
www.gabeef.org/gjca
Now a 2-Day Event with Exciting Improvements.Watch upcoming magazine issues and your
emails for details and registration forms.
Rounding up all JuniorCattlemen on April 2!
What better place can you meet new friends, eatyummy fajitas and find out NEW exciting changeswith the Georgia Junior Cattlemen, than GJCA
Western Round-Up?? TheGJCA Officer team isexcited about what 2010holds and wants to have a Westerntheme party at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 2, in conjunction with theGeorgia Cattlemen’s Convention inPerry. Bring one NON-junior memberand you will be entered in a drawingfor a GJCA embroidered garment bag! GJCA officers invite you to a Western theme
party. (Not pictured is Clay Black.)
70 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
NCBA is extremely disappointed thatTaiwan has reversed its decision on a care-fully negotiated science-based bilateral beeftrade protocol. Despite a recent agreementto allow a full reopening of the Taiwan mar-ket to U.S. beef, Taiwanese lawmakersannounced that additional restrictions wouldbe placed on U.S. beef imports, due toalleged safety concerns. “In our view, theissues expressed by politicians in Taiwanhave absolutely no basis in scientific fact, andfly in the face of Taiwan’s own risk assess-ment,” said Gregg Doud, NCBA chief econ-omist. “To suggest that there are any safetyconcerns related to U.S. beef is outrageous.”
After two years of negotiations, theU.S. and Taiwan reached an agreement,finalized in October, which would havebrought Taiwan into compliance with sci-ence-based World Organization for AnimalHealth (OIE) guidelines, thus allowingimports of U.S. beef and beef productsfrom cattle of all ages. Taiwan appears tohave disregarded sound science and ignoredthe agreement by placing additional restric-tions on beef and beef product sales toTaiwan.
The U.S. has exported record sales toTaiwan over the last three years, with beefexports valued at: $101 million in 2006;
$107 million in 2007; and $128 million in2008. The U.S. is on pace to set a record in2009 based on the latest figures available,with $114 million in beef sales throughOctober.
“Taiwan’s decision to abrogate a por-tion of this agreement is extremely disap-pointing,” Doud continued. “It’s particular-ly concerning given the fact that we consid-ered Taiwan to be a trusted trading partneras a member of the World TradeOrganization.”
NCBA is urging the Obama adminis-tration to explore every available option torectify this situation as soon as possible.
TEL-O SALE 2010 CALENDAR
P.O. BOX 1306WAYNESVILLE, NC 28786
828-454-0267 OFFICE828-454-0268 FAX
SERVICES OFFERED:CATTLE MARKETING • HERD HEALTH PROGRAMS
NUTRITIONAL PROGRAMS • FARM VACCINATION PROGRAMSRECORD KEEPING
Tuesdays at 10:00 AM
PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT www.selex-video.com
OWNERS/OPERATORSJohn Queen480 Queen Cove RoadWaynesville, NC 28785828-421-3446
Evans Hooks79 Highway 57 EastSwainsboro, GA 30401770-316-9611
� February 2, 2010� March 2, 2010� April 6, 2010� May 4, 2010� June 1, 2010� July 6, 2010
� August 3, 2010� September 7, 2010� October 5, 2010� November 2, 2010� December 7, 2010
NCBA Denounces Taiwan Beef Trade Restrictions
NCBA submitted comments in earlyJanuary to the U.S. Department of Justice(DOJ) regarding the upcoming DOJ-U.S.Department of Agriculture (USDA) work-shops to explore competition and regulato-ry issues in the agricultural industry. Thecomments were submitted in response to anotice in the Federal Register last August.
Because agricultural commodity mar-kets are all distinctly different, NCBA ispleased that DOJ will hold a separate anddistinct workshop for beef marketing onAug. 26 in Fort Collins, Colo. NCBA madeseveral recommendations regarding thestructure of this workshop, including hav-ing several panel discussions on produc-tion, marketing trends, economics and legalissues.
NCBA also recommended that risk-management practices and anti-trust lawsbe covered as part of the workshops andthat any economists selected to presentshould have peer-reviewed, publishedresearch specific to the beef industry.
NCBA policy supports a free-marketsystem. The U.S. cattle and beef marketsare already closely monitored through avariety of government regulatory enforce-ment statutes and authorities, including butnot limited to, the Packers and StockyardsAct, state regulated weights and measures,and the Commodity Futures TradingCommission.
It’s important that federal regulatorscontinue to work to prevent anti-trust, col-lusion, price fixing and other illegal activi-ties that could damage the viability of themarket and interfere with market signals,while at the same time keep a level playingfield for cattle producers.
NCBA Submits Commentson Ag Competition
GC
GC
I N D U S T R Y N E W S
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 71
“You’ve got to stand for somethingor you’ll fall for anything.”
These words are lyrics to a popularsong and are truer than you may know.The junior cattlemen of today havebeen given a responsibility, a responsi-bility to stand for what we believe in.Every day, People for the EthicalTreatment of Animals (PETA),American Society for Prevention ofCruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and otheranimal rights activists are trying to spon-sor and pass legislation that would harmour industry and make our desired wayof life virtually impossible. It is the obli-gation of today’s juniors, tomorrow’scattle businessmen and women, tobecome educated and stand againstthose that would seek to destroy ourindustry.
Activist groups’ sole purpose is topresent information to the public in away that sways their opinions. They usenational advertising campaigns showingsad-eyed puppies and kittens in pitifulconditions and stumbling cattle to makeit appear as though the majority of ani-mals in the U.S. need their protection.By twisting the apparent conditions ofthese visual images and by pumpinghundreds of thousands of dollars intopoliticians’ campaigns, the activistgroups coerce the public into unrealisticlegislation and unnecessary regulationof animal industries.
The following is a quote taken froman activist Web site called HumaneUSA:
“We helped to elect a more animal-friendly Congress… join with us now inpushing forward our agenda for animalsin the 111th Congress…. Humane USAis the only national Political ActionCommittee that can donate directly toanimal-friendly candidates.”
Humane USA went on to explainhow they, and the politicians they finan-cially support, had been successful inchanging the wording of the Farm Bill.They “also succeeded in knocking twoharmful provisions out of the Farm Bill,which would have negated state and
local animal protection laws and given a$12 million subsidy to the veal industry.”These so-called friends of animals arevocal. They are financially and political-
ly powerful. As the old saying goes, withfriends like these who needs enemies.
So, what do we do? It’s time to take a stand for what we
believe in. It is time to becomeinformed and to inform the public ofthe reality of our food chain. As a mod-ern teenager living in today’s society, myfriends often have a hard time under-standing why I would want to raise andshow cows. They do not understandthat without people like the producersof the Georgia Cattlemen’s Associationthere would be no steak to eat at thesteakhouse and no hamburgers atMcDonald’s.
While attending the Georgia-Carolina State Fair in Augusta, Ga., toexhibit my cattle, I was approachedrepeatedly by not only children, but theparents of those children, who hadnever touched or even seen a cowbefore. One lady even asked me, “Youmean this is really where hamburgercomes from?”
Just as our adversaries are doing, wemust launch a public relations campaignto inform the public of the realities ofanimal food sources.
With the elimination of cookingclasses in high schools and elementaryfield trips to the farm, we have inadver-tently lost the knowledge of where foodcomes from.
In recent years our country haschanged from agriculturally based com-munities to primarily urban and innercity areas. Most people have not been
raised on a farm. The thought of killingsomething to eat it disgusts them.However, very few people will turndown a well-prepared and appealingsteak. They do not have any idea what ittakes to get steak on their plate. So, weneed to tell them. We must be our ownadvocates. The public needs to knowthat if they want to keep eating steaks,they must not give in to the propagandagenerated by the animal rights activists.They must know the reality of our ani-mal food sources. The public must bewilling to help the farmer and ranchermaintain his ability to produce animalsfor the food chain. If we tell them, theywill listen and respond. People do notusually let anything get between themand their food. But, they must under-stand where the food comes from. Thatis our challenge as Georgia JuniorCattlemen. We need to spread the truthin a respectful and intelligent way.America needs us. We need the public tohelp us fight off the attacks of thosehurting our industry and those passinglaws against it.
The Junior Cattlemen must draw onthe wisdom of those preceding us andlearn to advocate for ourselves in themodern political world. We will be theones inheriting the problems of today.Let us start now becoming informed,informing the public and defending ourbusiness against those bent on destroy-ing it.
The ranching lifestyle is a traditionfrom hundreds of years ago. From thevery first cowboy to the cattleman oftoday, we have always had to take astand for what we believe in, whether itwas the railroad, homesteader or animalrights activists. We have always met theissues head-on. This time should be nodifferent. We must begin now, even asjuniors, defending what is rightfullyours, such as in the use of land andwater, way of life, freedom to farm andmaking a living doing what we love. It isimportant to stand for what we believein, because if we don’t it will be takenfrom us.
Junior Cattlemen’s ReportStanding For What You Believe In
By Cole Brogdon
GC
“Survivors: Get Down
and Get Dirty.”
72 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
G. Green Cattleman of the Year Award2009 (photo 1). Gordon Green of JonesCounty (left) received the 2009 Cattleman ofthe Year Award from the Baldwin-Jones-Putnam Cattlemen’s Association at theirChristmas Awards Banquet held in Gray onDec. 14. He produces purebred Charolais cat-tle on his farm in Jones County and utilizescross fencing and heavy-use areas in feedinghis cattle. He also produces his own hay andregularly tests his hay for feed quality throughthe Jones County Extension Office/UGA FeedLab in Athens. Pictured right is Bob Neligan,Awards Committee Chairman.
Apple Valley Feed DSA Award 2009(photo 2). Mr. Paul Moncrief and Apple ValleyFeeds of Gray were recognized with the 2009Distinguished Service Award from the Baldwin-Jones-Putnam Cattlemen’s Association. Hislong-time commitment to the local cattlemen inthe Jones County area and his service overthe years to the local chapter were mentionedfor this award. Pictured on the left receivingthe award for Mr. Moncrief is his grandson,Reagan Skinner, who was also his first feedsalesman when he started his local livestockfeed business in 1992. Bob Neligan (right),Awards Committee Chairman, made theaward presentation.
J. Leverett Env. Stewardship Award2009 (photo 3). Jere Leverett (left) of BaldwinCounty received the 2009 EnvironmentalStewardship Award from the Baldwin-Jones-Putnam Cattlemen’s Association for his con-servation efforts in turning a 110-acre cutoverland area into a productive cattle farm. Hisconservation practices include streamsidefencing, development of heavy-use feedingsites, and installation of watering tanks to pro-tect water quality.
Mid GA Livestock Top Hand Award2009 (photo 4). Mid-Georgia Livestock Marketof Jackson was presented with the 2009 TopHand Award from the Baldwin-Jones-PutnamCattlemen’s Association. Their commitment tohelping cattle producers receive top prices fortheir cattle they sell through several marketingtechniques and their support of the B/J/PChapter was mentioned for the award.
Receiving the award representing Mid-Georgia Livestock Market is Joe Ezzard (left),Sales Representative.
C. Washburn Presidents Award 2009(photo 5). Clay Washburn (left) of JonesCounty was presented with the 2009President’s Award from Melvin Couey (right),outgoing President of the Baldwin-Jones-Putnam Cattlemen’s Association at the B/J/PCattlemen’s Association Christmas AwardsBanquet held in Gray on Dec. 14. He, alongwith his wife, Mary Ann, and sister, Jo, serveda delicious meal of smoked brisket with all thetrimmings and provided decorations for the2009 Christmas Awards Banquet. They alsoworked tirelessly throughout the year to helpprepare for all of the meal functions for the cat-tle producer meetings that were held acrossthe three-county area.
C O U N T YBaldwin-Jones-PutnamCattlemen’s AssociationPresents Annual Awards
Mid-Georgia Cattlemen’s Association(MGCA) held their annual membership meet-ing and ladies’ night in Thomaston on Nov. 12,2009. The prime rib dinner was sponsored byAgSouth. After the dinner, MGCA hay contestwinners were announced, the queen was rec-ognized, retiring officers thanked, new officersrecognized and awards were presented.Some highlights follow.
In photo 1 above, Sean Parker, retiringpresident, is shown with Norma and ChuckSword who own Char-No Farm and wereawarded MGCA Purebred Producer of the
Year. They raise Brangus and Sim-Angus cat-tle in Pike County and have both been veryactive in MGCA, GCA and CattleWomen’sAssociation. Chuck has served as GCAPresident and Norma as GCWA Treasurer,along with being supportive of Junior pro-grams. In photo 2, MGCA members enjoy asilent auction fund raiser. In photo 3, Betty Joeand Fred Greene, pictured with Sean Parker,were honored with the Dr. O. E. Sell ServiceAward. The Greene family has served manyyears on both the local and state levels. BettyJoe served as Georgia CattleWomen’s and
MGCW Association’s President, where sheassisted with Georgia Beef Cook-Offs andmany other events. Fred was very involved inthe building of the GCA office and has been amentor to younger cattlemen in his area. Thefamily also sponsors the MGCA HarveyGreene Memorial Scholarship Program andhas helped with many youth programs. Theyraise commercial cattle in Monroe and Upsoncounties.
Contributed by Cynthia Douglas andDana Ham
Green is Cattleman of the Year
1 2
3 4 5
Mid-Georgia Annual Membership Meeting and Ladies Night Highlights
1 2 3
GC
GC
Grand Prize
Contest ends November 30, 2010
2010Chapter Membership
To the chapter with the largest membership increase.
Birmingham, Alabama
1010 North 24th Street
Birmingham, Alabama 35201
Phone: (205) 323-4431
1-800-633-4960
Dothan, Alabama
(334) 794-7812
1-800-633-7533
Douglas, Georgia
(912) 384-8104
1-800-241-7702
Montgomery, Alabama
(334) 263-7316
1-800-782-5739
1-800-527-8616
Previous
winner:
2008
Lumpkin County Chapter
SPONSORED BY:
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 73
74 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
Excessive business deductions bylivestock or general farmers, orhorse owners – or, for that mat-
ter, most any other business – triggerIRS audits. If you are audited in con-nection with any farming, livestock orhorse activity, the IRS will usuallystart with one tax year and thenlook back or forward for otheryears to see the history of lossesor profits.
If audited, it’s crucial to havedocumentary evidence not onlyto substantiate the deductions,but to show how they relateto your venture, and howthe records help provethat you are operating in abusinesslike manner.
For most people, theIRS will want to knowhow you have the time tooperate the activity along-side your principal occupa-tion. Most people have dayjobs that provide their principalsource of income, and theyattend to farm activities in theevenings, weekends and in other freetime. It is helpful if you maintain atime log that shows, week by week, theamount of time you put into the ven-ture and what you did.
Practical PointsThere are several practical points
that one should observe in connectionwith an audit of any kind:
1. First, you should have your rep-resentative (an accountant, CPA orsometimes if the stakes are large, a taxattorney) find out what the IRS agent islooking for. Sometimes there may sim-ply be some minor discrepancies thatare in issue. Often the IRS will issue aDocument Information Request thatdetails what needs to be gatheredtogether.
2. If your business records are notquite in order, be sure to straightenthem out so they are in a presentableformat. If you have a corporate minute
book, for instance, make sure it hasbeen updated. Make sure that anylicenses and permits are in order.
3. Only provide those documentsspecifically requested.
4. If the IRS agent wants you to“waive” the statute of limitations, thisis usually not advisable. There is nobenefit to giving the IRS more time oropening up further opportunities forthem to make a fishing expedition outof your tax returns.
5. Assuming you have a represen-tative, it is usually better to let him orher meet with the auditor alone. Yourpresence is not required and could givethe agent an opportunity to try and tripyou up with difficult questions thatreally need to be analyzed beforeresponding.
6. The agent might want to know ifyou have an “exit strategy” in the eventyou experience continuing losses. Itwill be helpful to have a writtenBusiness Plan that shows how andwhen you expect to turn a profit.
7. It is helpful if you can show thatyou have done things to develop thefarmland, rehabilitated dilapidatedstructures, installed new fencing, refur-bished or built new barns, enhancedirrigation and water access, and soforth. If the property had appreciatedin value, it is helpful to provide a formalappraisal.
8. The agent will probably look for“recreational elements” to try and showthat the activity is really something of apleasure farm rather than a real effortto make money.
9. Keep in mind that the agent isnot exactly an enemy, but at the same
time he or she has the overridingpurpose of raising revenue
and looking for anyopportunity to deny
tax deductions. Ifyour deductionsare denied, theagent will issue awritten reportdetailing that the
activity is “not con-ducted for profit.”
Often it is necessary toeducate the IRS agent on your
particular area of farming, live-stock or horse breeding, to help him orher understand how money can bemade in this field and the challengesyou expect to overcome.
If you do not prevail in the yearselected for audit, the IRS will almostalways proceed to audit further yearsthat are still within the statute of limita-tions (three years from date of filing).
As previously discussed in this col-umn, it is never advisable to concede anaudit, but to fight it in IRS Appeals orTax Court where you are likely to get abetter outcome.
[John Alan Cohan is a lawyer who has servedthe livestock, farming and horse industries sincel98l. He serves clients in all 50 states, and can bereached by telephone at (3l0) 278-0203 or viae-mail at [email protected], or you can visithis website at JohnAlanCohan.com.]
GC
Strategies in Case of an IRS AuditBy John Alan Cohan, Attorney at Law
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 75
Registered Beefmasters
3C BEEFMASTERS385 Stokes Store Road, Forsyth, Georgia 31029
L. Cary Bittick John Cary Bittick
(478) 994-5389 (478) 994-0730
GEORGIABEEFMASTERS
DANFOWIN FarmBalanced PerformanceSimmentals
Edwin FosheeP.O. Box 331Barnesville, GA 30204(770) 358-2062
D F W
Georgia Simmental-Simbrah BreedersGeorgia Simmental/Simbrah Association
Gail Hilley, Sec.-Treas.8881 Hwy. 109 West • Molena, GA 30258
(770) 567-3909
Hat Creek SimmentalsFull-Blood
Full-FleckviehCattle and
SiM-Angus Crossbreds
661 Uly White Rd., Hartwell, GA 30643
Nick, Angie &Audrey McGee
706-376-6012 home706-436-6662 cell
8881 Hwy. 109 WestMolena, Georgia 30258
770-567-3909Email: [email protected]
THIS SPACEIS
RESERVED FOR YOU!CALL
GEORGIA CATTLEMAN478-474-6560
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsackrecently announced that USDA hasalready made more than $175 million indisaster payments to America’s live-stock producers after implementingtwo new programs in 2009.
“America’s farmers and ranchersdeserve efficient and effective assis-tance programs to help get through nat-ural disasters,” said Vilsack. “While theprevious ad hoc disaster assistance toooften was too little, too late, because wewere able to get these new programs upand running quickly, we are alreadybeginning to achieve Congress’ goal ofhelping producers recover losses rapid-ly and more thoroughly.”
The Livestock Indemnity Program(LIP) and the Livestock ForageDisaster Program (LFP), authorized inthe Food, Conservation and EnergyAct of 2008 (Farm Bill), replace previ-ous ad-hoc disaster assistance programs
and are funded through the AgriculturalDisaster Relief Trust Fund.
LIP provides payments to eligiblelivestock owners and contract growerswho suffered eligible livestock deaths inexcess of normal mortality as a directresult of an eligible adverse weather
event including hurricanes, floods, bliz-zards, disease, wildfires and extremeheat and cold. Eligible livestock underLIP include beef cattle, alpacas, buffa-lo, beefalo, dairy cattle, deer, elk, emus,equine, goats, lambs, poultry, reindeer,sheep and swine.
LFP provides payments to eligiblelivestock producers who have sufferedlivestock grazing losses due to qualify-ing drought or fire. Eligible livestockunder LFP include beef cattle, alpacas,buffalo, beefalo, dairy cattle, deer, elk,emus, equine, goats, llamas, poultry,reindeer, sheep and swine. For lossesbecause of drought, eligible areas aredetermined using the U.S. DroughtMonitor, which can be found at theFSA Web site.
For more information or to applyfor LIP or LFP and other USDA FarmService Agency disaster assistance pro-grams, visit your FSA county office.
USDA Livestock Disaster Assistance Exceeds $175 Million Programs Provide Timely Disaster Assistance for Livestock Losses
The Livestock Indemnity
Program provides
payments to eligible
livestock producers who
have suffered livestock
grazing losses due to
qualifying drought or fire.
Beef cattle are among the
eligible livestock under
the program.
GC
I N D U S T R Y N E W S
76 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
I N D U S T R Y O B I T U A R I E S
Former President of Northeast Georgia Livestock Auction Among DeathsHoward Watson McCants Sr. , 94,
AthensHoward Watson McCants Sr., 94,
of Athens, passed away on Tuesday,December 15, 2009.
A native of Taylor County, Ga.,Mr. McCants was the son of the lateRentz Edward and Mattie AnthonyMcCants. He was preceded in death bythe mother of his children, SarahParsons McCants; and widow, EmilyMcKinnon McCants. He was a 1938graduate of the University of GeorgiaSchool of Agriculture with a degree inPoultry Science. He was employed bythe Crosby Hodges Milling Company inBirmingham, Ala., before joining hisbrother, Ralph, in 1947, at ClarkeCounty Milling Company. He was asso-ciated with the milling company untilhis retirement in 2005.
Mr. McCants has served asPresident of the Northeast GeorgiaLivestock Auction, Past President andmember of the Clarke-OconeeCattlemen’s Association, and a memberof the Roundtable Organization. Hewas a member of the Union MethodistChurch in Taylor County and hadattended Colbert Baptist Church forthe past 15 years.
Survivors include children and theirspouses, Betty Bracket and husband,Ernest, of Monroe; Maxine McCantsof Salisbury, Conn.; Howard Jr.“Chuck” McCants and wife, Geraldine,of Hull; Mary Fitzpatrick of Ila; andstepdaughter, June Terry of Alabama;brothers, Horace McCants of Alabama;Franklin and Asbury McCants, both ofButler; grandchildren, Ernest MarshallBrackett III, Carol Lynn Puffer, GaryCook Brackett, Sarah Beth Starrett,Howard McCants III, Joyce BrookeHarness, Reuben Caleb Fitzpatrick andCarrie Michell Willis; four step-grand-children, eight nephews and one nieceand special care givers, Shari Taylor andMildred Greene.
Funeral services were held 11 a.m.,Friday, December 18, at the chapel ofBernstein Funeral Home with Rev.Brad Wilson officiating. Interment fol-lowed in Evergreen Memorial Park.Members of the Board of Directors of
the Northeast Georgia LivestockAuction served as honorary pallbearers.
Donations may be made toHospice Advantage, 135 AthensParkway, Suite A, Athens, GA 30606.
Online tributes may be made atwww.mem.com. Bernstein FuneralHome was in charge of arrangements.
Marian Porter, 80,Jefferson
Marian Davis Porter, 80, diedFriday, November 27, 2009, following aperiod of declining health.
Born in Jackson County, she wasthe daughter of the late Malvin Henryand Demaris Thurmond Davis. She wasa retired case worker for the elderlywith the Jackson County Departmentof Family and Children’s Services andwas a member of the Academy BaptistChurch. Mrs. Porter was preceded indeath by her husband, Storey Porter;and a brother, Norris Davis.
Survivors include a son and daugh-ter-in-law, Melvin and Donna Porter,Jefferson; daughters and sons-in-law,Diane and Charles Oliver, Demaris andFred Gurley, and Susie and PhilThurmond, all of Jefferson; grand-daughters, Stephanie Oliver and Wade
Walker, Allison Porter and JustinSeibert, and Taryn Gurley; grandsons,Jason and Sybil Oliver, Hutch Porter,Ryan Gurley, Caleb Thurmond, CainThurmond; six great-grandchildren;one great-great-grandchild; brothers,Lewis Davis, Joel Davis, Phil Davis, allof Jefferson, and Stanley Davis,Cumming; and sisters, Faye Davis,Athens, Marsha Davis, Duluth, andMolly Brannon, Flowery Branch.
Funeral services were held Sunday,November 29, at the Academy BaptistChurch with the Revs. Clark Ivey andLee Hunter officiating. Burial was atJackson Memorial Gardens inCommerce. Honored as pallbearerswere Jason Oliver, Hutch Porter, RyanGurley, Caleb Thurmond, CainThurmond, Wade Walker, Justin Siebertand Davis Walker.
Memorial contributions may bemade to the Academy Baptist Church,c/o Imogene Roncadori, 3777Commerce Rd., Jefferson, GA 30549,or to Family Connections, c/o JacksonCounty Department of Family andChildren’s Services, Athens St.,Jefferson, GA 30549.
Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson,was in charge of arrangements. GC
Please send an acknowledgement to:Name: ______________________________________________________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________
City: __________________________________ State: ________________ Zip:____________
My name: ___________________________________________________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________
City: __________________________________ State: ________________ Zip:____________
By contributing to the Georgia Cattlemen’s Foundation, you willhonor and preserve the memory of a special person while providingimportant funding toward long-term goals, including scholarships,educational research programs and youth activities. And, like thememories you share with your loved ones, this is a gift that will lastforever. Each gift will be acknowledged and contributions are taxdeductible.
Memorialize someone...
Please mail form and donation to the
Georgia Cattlemen’s Foundation, P.O. Box 24510, Macon GA 31212.
Enclosed is my gift of _____$25 _____$50 _____$100 _____$______________ In memory of _________________________________ In honor of _______________________________
Name of person to be remembered (please print):__________________________________________________________________
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 77
THE BEEF CHECKOFFTHE BEEF CHECKOFFIt’s the law - no one is exempt!
DID YOU KNOW?• Every time you sell a bovine animal, regardless of age, sex, breed,
purpose, or number a dollar-per-head is due.
• The dollar is to be collected by the buyer from the seller, although
both parties are responsible.
• The checkoff is designed so that everyone pays their fair share.
HOW ARE CHECKOFF DOLLARS BEING USED?• Beef and veal television, radio and print advertising.
• Food safety, health and nutritional research.
• Product technology and development.
• Educating consumers and children about beef’s role in a healthy diet.
• Refuting issues that could negatively impact the industry.
WHO PAYS?• When cattle are sold, the buyer of the cattle must withhold $1 per head
from the seller’s purchase price. Failure to do so is a violation of the
law and may be subject to a $5,500 penalty.
HOW DO YOU PAY?• Complete a remittance form and send it with your
check to the Georgia Beef Board, PO Box 116797,
Atlanta, GA 30368-6797. For more forms, call the
Georgia Beef Board at 877-444-BEEF.
Beef Promotion & Research Program
Private Treaty SalesCheckoff Investment Form
Date:
Seller:
Address:
City, State, Zip:
Seller’s signature:
Total # Sold: X $1 per head = $
Dale of Sale:
State of Origin:
Buyer:
Address:
City, State, Zip:
Buyer’s Signature:
Person remitting assessment:
The beef checkoff continues toexpand their online recipe presence onthe Web site, Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.,after recent focus group data andstudies that show consumerssearch forrecipes onbeef pack-ages or online.
Online recipedatabases are becom-ing so important thatrecently allrecipes.com announced ithad become the biggest online reciperesource, with numbers that make itrival “Better Homes & Gardens.”
Checkoff News: Capturing Food Dollars
COOKING HINT:GCA members don’t have to go
online to find good recipes. Tastybeef recipes are served up eachmonth by Ashley Hughes, in herregular feature column, “Cooking
BEEF with Ashley!” See thismonth’s recipe on page 81 of thisissue of the Georgia Cattleman.
GC
78 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
R E A D E R S E R V I C E S
GEORGIA LIVESTOCK MARKET NEWS
Local Sale ReportsSouthern Cattle Co.,
Marianna, FLOctober 24, 2009
Brangus Bulls, averaged $2,470Charolais Bulls,
averaged $1,767Angus Bulls,
averaged $2,331
188 Bulls,averaged $2,237
Adams Ranch, Fort Pierce, FL
November 12, 200974 Bulls, averaged $2,000
138 Heifers, averaged $760
Sunshine Farms Carcass-Merit Bull Sale,
Clanton, ALDecember 5, 2009
Total 96.5 Bulls, 37 ½ Sim, ½ Angus,
averaged $3,06128 ¾ Sim, ¼ Angus,
averaged $3,321
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 79
R E A D E R S E R V I C E S
15 PB Simmental bulls, averaged $3,283
1 ¼ Sim, ¾ Angus, averaged $5,750
5 5/8 Sim, 3/8 Angus, averaged $3,700
2 Ultrablack, averaged $3,000
Ray Cattle Company, Hackleburg, AL January 1, 2010
40 Bulls, averaged $1,579
44 Commercial Open Heifers, averaged $872
6 Commercial Bred Cows, averaged $1,125
22 Commercial Pairs, averaged $1,134
Pine Ridge Simmentals SouthernHeritage Bull Sale, Valdosta, GA
January 9, 201060 Bulls, averaged $1,68058 Bred, averaged $742
118 Total Lots, averaged $1,218
Feeder Cattle Sale Reports
Hodge Livestock Network (GA Lots)
January 7, 2010Load Lots of Steers: 725 lbs (1 load)
$90.00; 875 lbs (1 load) $86.90800 lbs (1 load) $88.00Load Lots of Heifers:625 lbs (1 load) $88.80; 760 lbs (1 load) $84.60;780 lbs (1 load) $81.00; 835 lbs (1 load) $79.75
Northeast Georgia Livestock,Athens, GA
December 16, 2009Load Lots of Steers:
580 lbs (1 load) $95.80Load Lots of Heifers: 700 lbs (1 load) $83.70; 650 lbs (1 load) $84.50;
580 lbs (1 load) $87.10; 600 lbs (1 load) $86.60; 750 lbs (3 loads) $83.90
Split Loads (Heifers-Steers): 750 lbs (1 load) $79.80;
675-750 lbs (1 load) $83.60-88.60
January 6, 2010Load Lots of Steers:
600 lbs (1 load) $94.70; 750 lbs (1 load) $86.25785 lbs (1 load) $87.20; 850 lbs (2 loads) $86.90; 785 lbs (1 load) $90.60;850 lbs (1 load) $85.80Load Lots of Heifers:590 lbs (1 load) $86.50; 775 lbs (1 load) $81.75; 750 lbs (3 loads) $84.00
Southeast Livestock Exchange,Swainsboro, GAJanuary 5, 2009
Load Lots of Steers:750 lbs (1 load) $89.10; 850 lbs (1 load) $86.60;800 lbs (1 load) $93.00; Load Lots of Heifers:700 lbs (1 load) $85.00; 760 lbs (1 load) $83.70; 765 lbs (1 load) $81.25; 780 lbs (1 load) $81.95; 750 lbs (1 load) $80.60
Load Lots of Holsteins:825 lbs (5 loads) $68.50; 1090 lbs (3 loads) $67.30
ATTENTION PRODUCERS:Do you need updated weekly or daily market data? The information you need is just a � click
away! Follow these quick steps online to get current data right now from the Livestock MarketNews Service:
GO TO http://www.secattleadvisor.com
� CLICK “Local Market Reports” on left side of page.
� CLICK “Georgia”
� CLICK on your Auction Market of choice.
T I M E L Y M A R K E T D A T A
GEORGIA CATTLEWOMEN’S ASSOCIATIONwww.gabeef.org/gcwa
OFFICERSPresident: Carla KelsoeP.O. Box 246Calhoun, GA [email protected]
President Elect: Brenda Brookshire6179 State Hwy 60Suches, GA 30572706-747-3693
Vice president: Nanette Bryan2830 E Armuchee RoadSummerville, GA 30747706-397-8219
Secretary: Paula Myers1290 Gumlog RoadYoung Harris, GA 30582706-745-5760
Treasurer: Cynthia Douglas5500 Barnesville HighwayThe Rock, GA 30285706-647-9414
Past president: Linda Crumley1343 Hog Mountain RoadWinder, GA 30680770-725-7804
Parlimentarian: Peggy Bledsoe
Directors: Pat Bobo, Rachel Austin, Ruth Hice,Betty Copelan, Ann Payne, Betty Nash
AMERICAN NATIONAL CATTLEWOMENPO Box 3881, Centennial, CO 80112303-694-0313, fax: 303-694-2390
CattleWomen’s ReportConvention Sure To Be Prize Event
By Carla KelsoeI hope that this article finds every-
one in good health, good spirits andwarmer than January.
It’s hard to believe that the GCAAnnual Convention and Beef Expo arejust around the corner. Once again,Georgia CattleWomen’s Association islooking forward to all of the events.This year we will be hosting an educa-tional seminar with the UGA MeatScience Department on Thursday,April 1. Everyone is welcome to attend.Some delicious samples will be served.Also, we would like to invite everyoneto the GCWA Meeting and DessertSocial on Thursday too. Don’t worry;the meeting will be short and thedesserts will be fabulous. There will beentertainment and door prizes, with aGRAND prize given at the end of themeeting. For those of you who attend-ed the meeting and social last year, thecommittee has been working hard tomake it bigger and better this year!Make sure not to miss it!
As always, GCWA will be in chargeof the welcome booth in the TradeShow area with snacks and goodiesavailable for purchase. The proceedswill benefit the Cattle Drive forHunger, which gives to charities in theform of beef certificates. Ruth Hice isbusy working on another beautiful quiltto be raffled once again for GCWAsponsorships.
Apparently – thanks to our greatstaff and Julie McPeake with SoutheastAg Net – GCWA along with GCA PastPresidents, Presidents and Presidents-Elect will be divided into teams to com-pete for the Cattlemen Ball entertain-ment. I’m not going to tell y’all what wewill be doing; you will just have toattend to find out. I can promise you itwill be interesting and a lot of fun towatch!
GCWA is hosting the BeefAmbassador Contest, which will beheld Saturday, April 3, in theRoquemore Building. The BeefAmbassador Contest is a great way toget youth more involved in – and edu-cated about – the industry. The contestis open to ages 13 to 20, including 4-H,
FFA, FHA and other youth organiza-tions. There are senior and junior divi-sions. All winners will receive a cashprize. The winner of the senior divisionwill have the opportunity to travel inthe fall to the National BeefAmbassador Contest in Rapid City, S.D.Entry forms must be postmarked byMarch 1. For more information andrules, go to Georgia Cattlewomen con-test at www.gabeef.org or call AshleyHughes at the Georgia Beef Board at(478) 474-1815. Also, check out page29 for more information on the event.
I truly believe that with all the hardwork of the GCA Staff andConvention Committee, this will be theBEST Convention and Beef Expo todate. I look forward to seeing everyonethere. In closing, I would like to sendmy thoughts and prayers to BrendaBrookshire, who lost her mother dur-ing the Holiday Season. GC
KELSOE
80 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
Grilled Peppery Top Round Steak with Parmesan AsparagusMarinade time: 6 hours or overnight
Total recipe time: 30 to 40 minutes • Makes 4 servingsINGREDIENTS1 beef top round steak, cut 3/4 inch thick (about 1 pound) 1 pound asparagus, trimmed 1 teaspoon olive oil 3 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese Salt Hot cooked orzo (optional) Marinade:1/4 cup red wine vinegar 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon fresh thyme 2 large cloves garlic, minced 2 teaspoons steak seasoning blend 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
INSTRUCTIONS1. Combine marinade ingredients in medium bowl. Place
beef steak and marinade in food-safe plastic bag; turnsteak to coat. Close bag securely and marinate inrefrigerator 6 hours or as long as overnight, turningoccasionally.
2. Remove steak from marinade; discard marinade. Tossasparagus with oil. Place steak in center of grid overmedium, ash-covered coals; arrange asparagus around steak. Grill steak, uncovered, 8 to 9 minutes (over medi-um heat on preheated gas grill, covered, 10 to 11 minutes) for medium rare (145°F) doneness, turning occa-sionally. Grill asparagus 6 to 10 minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill, covered, 8 to 12 minutes) oruntil crisp-tender, turning occasionally.
3. Immediately sprinkle cheese over asparagus. Carve steak into thin slices. Season with salt, as desired. Servewith asparagus and orzo, if desired.
Nutritional Information Per ServingNutrition information per serving: 238 calories; 10 g fat(3 g saturated fat; 6 g monounsaturated fat); 64 mg cholesterol; 272 mgsodium; 5 g carbohydrate; 2.5 g fiber; 31 g protein; 6.0 mg niacin; 0.5 mg vitamin B6; 1.5 mcg vitamin B12; 4.9 mg iron; 34.6 mcgselenium; 5.5 mg zinc.This recipe is an excellent source of protein, niacin, vitaminB6, vitaminB12, iron, selenium and zinc; and a good source of fiber.
Recipe from www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com
Makes 4servings... or perhaps a specialValentine’sDay meal for 2 - with leftovers. �
Cooking
BEEFwithAshley!
By Ashley Hughes
Cooking BEEF with Ashley!BEEF-STUFFED PEPPERS
Total recipe time: 1-3/4 hours • Makes 4 servingsRecipe from www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com
INGREDIENTS1 pound ground beef4 medium green, red or yellow
bell peppers3/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup quick-cooking white rice3 tablespoons ketchup
1/2 teaspoon salt1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Sauce1 can (14-1/2 ounces) Italian-style diced
canned tomatoes, undrained1 tablespoon ketchup1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
INSTRUCTIONS1. Heat oven to 350°F. Cut tops off bell peppers; remove seeds.2. Combine ground beef, onion, rice, 3 tablespoons ketchup, salt, 1/2 teaspoon oregano and
pepper in large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Spoon into peppers; stand peppers in 8 x8-inch baking dish.
3. Combine sauce ingredients; pour over peppers. Cover dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bakein 350°F oven 1-1/2 hours, until instant-read thermometer inserted into center of pepper reg-isters 160°F. (Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed ground beef. Color is not areliable indicator of ground beef doneness.)
Nutritional Information Per ServingNutrition information per serving: 342 calories; 14 g fat (5 g saturated fat; 6 g monounsaturat-ed fat); 77 mg cholesterol; 739 mg sodium; 29 g carbohydrate; 3.7 g fiber; 25 g protein; 5.4 mgniacin; 0.6 mg vitamin B6; 2.1 mcg vitamin B12; 4.1 mg iron; 19.3 mcg selenium; 5.7 mg zinc.This recipe is an excellent source of protein, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, iron, seleniumand zinc; and a good source of fiber.
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!As a Florida native, I quickly realized
that winters in Georgia are a little colder than
those experienced in my home state. Being
an extremely warm-blooded individual, I
have come to learn that warm, hearty meals
are one of the best ways to help shield me
from the cold! There is something about beef
that is so comforting, especially when the
temperature outside is barely above freezing.
Beef Stuffed Peppers is a great one-dish meal
that not only tastes amazing, but satisfies
your soul. By combining protein-rich lean
ground beef and bell peppers full of vitamins,
this recipe allows you to continue your quest
for healthy meal options in 2010.
As a chef “wanna be,” I am always
looking for ways to give my meal
presentations a little more pizzazz. By using
multi-colored bell peppers and some fresh
herbs as a garnish, this recipe will dazzle your
family and friends. (Just for your own
reference, the red, orange and yellow peppers
are more mild and sweet than green peppers,
so if you have finicky eaters at home, let
them try some of the different colored
peppers to match their taste preferences.) The
best part about this meal preparation is that it
takes very little time to put together, so you
have more time to spend with your loved
ones, most likely around the fireplace or
heater if the temperatures outside are still
chilly!
One thing to always remember is that
when you are working with ground beef,
ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS use a meat
thermometer! Since ground beef color can be
affected by different variables, such as
temperature, age and environmental factors, it
is not a reliable indicator of doneness; thus a
meat thermometer is the only true way to
ensure the safety of your food. Place the
thermometer into the thickest part of the dish
without touching the sides for an accurate
internal temperature reading. Ground beef
should always be cooked to 1600 F to
guarantee that any possible food
contaminants are thoroughly destroyed in the
cooking process. Food safety first! I hope
that you enjoy this recipe, and make sure to
check out the CattleWomen’s page for a
romantic Valentine’s meal recipe! �
�
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 81
�� ��
��
82 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
MIKE JONES
PUREBRED LIVESTOCKAUCTIONEER GAL #978
19120 GA Hwy 219West Point, GA 31833
Ph. 706/884-6592www.mikejonesauctioneer.com
SoutheasternSemen Services, Inc.
• Semen Collection • Semen Storage
• Semen Shipping • Semen Sales
• Storage Tanks • Custom BreedingScott Randell
16878 45th Rd. • Wellborn, FL 32094
386-963-5916
Conveniently Located For Accessbility To All Southern States
Randy Daniel348 Daniel RoadColbert, GA 30628706/788-2533
Daniel LivestockService
Distributors for:Pearson ChutesRiverode Galvanized Equip.Paul ScalesStoll TrailersBarrett Trailers
AUCTIONEERS
LIVESTOCK SERVICES
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTSfor more information or to advertise, call 478-474-6560
LIVESTOCK FEED
Martin’s Cattle Serviceswww.martinscattleservices.com
Bill & Stephanie MartinP.O. Box 683, Jefferson, GA 30549, (706) 367-8349
Distributor: Titan West Livestock Handling EquipmentC.U.P. Certified Carcass Ultrasound
Embryo Transfer ServiceRUSS PAGE, PhD
(706) 769-0797
On-Farm Semen Collection Embryos and Semen For Sale
Pregnancy Ultrasounding Synchronization and Breeding
Sexing Pregnancies Semen Testing Bulls
One Company For All Your Cattle Reproductive Needs
Reproductive Progress - 1201 Sunset Ridge • Watkinsville, GA 30677
REPRODUCTIVE PROGRESS
www.gabeef.org
Allen SouthardAuthorized ABSRepresentative770-869-1609
Gillsville, GA 30543ABS-USA
PO Box 459 Deforest, Wisconsin 53532
LIVESTOCK SERVICES
Embryo Transfer Ultrasounding for Early PregnancySynchronization & Breeding ProgramsFetal Sexing
DEAVER BEEFALOBEEFALO ARE FORAGE
EFFICIENT AND EASY CALVING
Bulls, Cows, Semen and Meat for Sale
O.E. “CORKY” DEAVER1088 Liberty Hill Rd. • Blairsville, GA 30512
706/374-5789 Visitors Welcome
Jim Cumming706-342-3740
Cell 706-318-8844D. J. Bradshaw
Cell 478-957-5208
CATTLE FOR SALE
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
700 Acre Ranch/Liberty Co., FLUnlimited water supply
D. E. BILLINGSLEYLic Real Estate Broker
Alabama/Florida/Georgia/Montana850.510.3309
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Frank Malcolm, CLU
Lin Malcolm
MALCOLM FINANCIAL GROUP“Since 1974”
ESTATE, ELDER CARE,
AND FARM SUCCESSION
PLANNING“Folks don’t plan to fail,but many fail to plan.”
www.georgiaretirementcouncil.com
MEMBERS: PIEDMONT AND MORGAN COUNTYCATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATIONS
Fertility testing BullsA-I training
WayneAnsley
1369 J. Warren Rd.Cornelia, GA 30531
Home: (706) 778-1445Cell: (706) 499-3869
* Authorized Representative ** 35 years experience *
CHICKEN LITTER
TRIPLE E POULTRYEstablished 1976
Delivered In Bulk 25 Ton Loads.243 TALKING ROCK DR. N
BOB EDWARDS JASPER, GA 30143(706) 692-5149 CELL: (404) 408-3709
Greenview Farms, Inc. HEREFORDS & BRAFORDS
FOR SALE
Selection of Coming 2-yr-old Bulls30 open & 30 bred Hereford HeifersCall Jonny Harris • 912-294-2470
Eat MoreBeef!
You are enjoying the currentissue of the Georgia Cattleman.
Call 478-474-6560to advertise in the next issue
of this magazine.
Georgia Cattleman
HIGHVIEW FARMSBreeding Cattle Since 1973 • Williamson, GA
Hereford, Angus and BaldiesFor Sale Private Treaty
Call Harold Leo Corley at 770-567-3942 or 678-333-3509
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 83
Beef Management Calendar for the Month of FebruaryGENERAL
• Pull soil samples on bermuda andbahia pastures and hay fields toplan spring fertilization and liming.
• Check with your county agentabout pasture weed control. This isthe best time to spray for muskthistle control.
• Check mineral feeders and contin-ue to feed high magnesium miner-al supplement to cows on wintergrazing or tall fescue.
• Fertilize tall fescue pasture andover-seeded grazing. Apply 60 lbsN per acre in addition to soil testrecommendations.
• Do not graze winter annuals closerthan 4". Overgrazing can reducetotal winter production.
SPRING CALVINGJanuary, February, March
• Check cows frequently duringcalving season.
$5,895 $10,995
TRAILERS ~ FENCING ~ ETC.
STOCKYARDS
Dugger Tent Inc.• Colorful Tents, All Sizes • P.A. & Lighting Equip.
• Complete Corral & Pen Systems • Chairs & Tables• Auction Platform & Sale Ring • Bleachers
Bob Dugger • 205/594-59311848 Slasham Rd. • Ashville, Alabama 35953
Office (229) 776-7588Fax (229) 776-3509www.tysonsteel.com
361 Doerun RoadDoerun, GA [email protected]
HAY
Bermuda RectangularBales for Sale
Call Lee BaileyPinehurst, GA229-239-0537
Bermuda Hay Bales4'w x 3'h x 8'l
Sheltered & WellFertilized
Gene Roberts • 1-800-241-8794Lori Roberts: 706-988-8327 • Joey Roberts: 706-318-8848
132 N. McIntosh Street, Elberton, GA 30635www.rockinrtrailers.com
replacement heifers. Follow labelinstructions.)
• Check on the condition of bullsduring breeding season. Providesupple-mental feed as needed.
• Remove bulls from heifers aftera 45-60 day breeding season.
Editor’s Note: This BeefManagement Calendar is provided bythe Cooperative Extension Service /University of Georgia College ofAgricultural and EnvironmentalSciences/Athens.
Each monthly list is divided intothree sections: general, fall calving andspring calving. Management practicesin the general category are seasonal andapply to most cattle producers inGeorgia.
The fall calving list is based onOctober 1 through December 20 calv-ing dates, and the spring calving list isbased on January 10 through March31 calving dates. These dates are notnecessarily the best dates for all produc-ers but were chosen because they arereasonably close to what many produc-ers use. Establish calving dates basedon your feed resources and availabilityof labor.
A cow’s energy and proteinrequirements increase greatly at calvingand remain high through breeding sea-son. It is best to plan breeding seasonfor the time of year when forage quali-ty is at its best.
• Tag calves at birth. Record birthdates, tag numbers and cow ID.
• Castrate, dehorn and implantcalves at birth.
• Make sure bulls are in good con-dition for breeding heifers nextmonth. Trim feet, conductbreeding soundness exams andprovide additional feed if need-ed.
• A cow’s nutrient needs increaseby at least 50% after calving. Ifpossible, separate dry cows, firstcalf heifers and cow-calf pairs tofeed more efficiently.
FALL CALVINGOctober, November, December
• Vaccinate calves over 3 monthsold with clostridial vaccines(black-leg). Check with yourlocal veterinarian about otherproblems in your area.
• Castrate and dehorn any calvesmissed at birth.
• Implant calves. Steers that wereimplanted at birth can be re-implanted. (Synovex-C andRalgro are approved for use in
TRAILERS ~ FENCING ~ ETC.
GC
MISCELLANEOUS
I N D U S T R Y N E W S
THIS SPACEIS
RESERVED FOR YOU!CALL
GEORGIA CATTLEMAN478-474-6560
86 February 2010 • G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N
Magazine and online advertising is available. Call 478-474-6560.
ABAC Cattlemen’s Association 229-391-4802..........................................46
ABS Global / Allen Southard 770-869-1609 ..........................................82
Accelerated Genetics 776-778-1445... 82Adams Ranch 772-461-6321..................8Agri-Steel Structures, Inc.
800-359-8613 ..........................................83 American Angus Regional Manager
706-227-9098..........................................79American-International
Charolais Assoc. 816-464-5977 ..........51American Simmental Association
406-587-4531 ..........................................84Big D Limousin 770-868-6668..............23Billingsley, D. E., Real Estate Broker
850-510-3309 ..........................................82Boehringer Ingelheim
www.bi-vetmedica.com ......................85Bricton Farm 678-910-4891....................38Brown’s Twin Oaks 770-228-5914.......38Bull Whisperer 478-397-7201 .............82CMC Limousin 678-201-2287 .............27Classified Ads .....................................82, 83Collins & Sons 229-762-4259 ............39Commercial Cattle ...................................57Cut Above Brangus Sale
205-594-5307..........................................35Daniel Livestock Service
706-788-2533 ..........................................82Deaver Beefalo 706-374-5789 .............82Double Bar B Angus Ranch
478-783-4563..........................................40Driggers Simmental Farm
912-654-3814...........................................39Dugger Tent Inc. 205-594-5931 ..........83Edwards Land & Cattle Co.
910-298-3012 ..........................................24F-R-M Feeds 800-841-8502 ..................17Farm Credit Associations of Georgia
800-673-0405............................................2Floyd Farms Feed & Supply
706-498-2136 ..........................................82Fort Dodge
www.bi-vetmedica.com ......................85Four Mile Farm 850-259-2502..............41Fuller Supply Company
800-241-7702 ..........................................73Genex Cooperative ..................................82Georgia Angus Association
706-387-0656..........................................58Georgia Angus Breeders
706-387-0656 ..................................58, 59Georgia Beef Board Private Treaty
Checkoff Form ......................................77Georgia Beefmasters ................................75Georgia Brahman Breeders.....................57
Georgia Brangus Breeders......................34Georgia Chianina Breeders
706-759-2220..........................................47Georgia-Florida Charolais Breeders
706-384-4235 ..........................................51Georgia Gelbvieh Breeders ...................57Georgia Hereford Breeders
912-865-5593 ..........................................62Georgia Limousin Association
229-567-4044 ...................................25,26Georgia Limousin Breeders
229-567-4044.........................................26Georgia Polled Shorthorn
Breeders ...................................................47Georgia Red Angus Breeders
474-934-6998 .........................................57Georgia Santa Gertrudis
Breeders 678-852-7301 ..................... 57Georgia Simmental Association ...........84Georgia Simmental-Simbrah
Breeders 770-567-3909.......................75Gillis Angus Farm 478-374-4868 .......38Graham Angus Farm 229-432-9249....3Greenview Farms 912-586-6585..........82Hargis Angus 706-673-5039..................41Hay for Sale 229-239-0537...................83Highview Farms 770-567-3942 ..........82Howard Limousin Farm
706-931-2940 ..........................................27Intervet 800-521-5767 ............................56Jones, Mike 706-884-6592 ....................82KMG 800-322-8177.................................49Malcolm Financial Group
800-844-4820.........................................82Meldon Farm 706-654-8283..................43Monroe County HERD Sale
478-994-7014...........................................19More Than A Bull Sale
615-666-3098 ..........................................60North American Limousin Foundation
303-220-1693 ...........................................25Northeast Ga. Young Farmer
Replacement Sale 706-336-8900......32Online Links 478-474-6560 ............... 18Pasture Management Systems
980-581-0755 ..........................................53Performance with Class Sale
770-547-1433 ......................................14,15Quail Creek Brangus
205-594-5307..........................................35Red Hill Farms 615-666-3098 ..............60Reproductive Management Services
229-881-9711............................................82Reproductive Progress
706-769-0797 ..........................................82Rockin’ R Trailers 800-241-8794 .......83S & R Farm 912-389-0761 ......................46
Saluda County Cattlemen’s Heifer Sale864-445-8114.............................................3
Santa Gertrudis Breeders Int’l 361-592-9357...........................................57
Sayer & Sons Farm 912-359-3229 ........41Select Cattle Enterprises
770-547-1433 ......................................14,15Southern Cattle Co. 334-685-7286 ......33Southern Shootout 770-851-0691 ........20Southern Stateswww.southernstates.com.......................19Southeast AgNet 850-492-7196 ..........18Southeast Livestock Exchange
828-454-0267 .........................................70Southeastern Semen Services, Inc.
386-963-5916 ..........................................82Spitzer Ranch 864-972-9140 ..................11Stonegate Farm 706-318-0068 .............43Sunset Ridge Herefords
770-886-6849..........................................47 Sweetlix 877-933-8549........................77The “One” Sale
770-328-2047 ...................52, back coverTifton Bull Test Sale
229-386-3683 ....................................36,46Triple E Poultry 706-692-5149 ...........82 Tyson Steel 229-776-7588 ....................83UGA Bulls in Focus on EPDs
& Tifton Sales 229-386-3215 ............42Verner Farms 706-342-5667 .................41Wilkes County Stockyard
706-678-2632 ..........................................83Winning Edge Genetics Group
770-328-2047..........................................52Yon Family Farms 803-685-5048 ..........5
For the General Classified Ad section see pages 82 and 83
R E A D E R S E R V I C E S
Call GCA at 478-474-6560
for rates and information
about these upcoming
Georgia Cattlemanadvertising opportunities:
�Hereford, Club Calf Feature, Beef Expo/Convention (March)
�New President, JuniorSpotlight, Hay & Forage (April)�American Breeds, Chianina
Feature (May)�Beef Month Feature, Grilling,
Retail Beef Sales (June)
G E O R G I A C AT T L E M A N • February 2010 87
February 2, 2010SLE Tel-O-SaleCall 828-454-0267[see advertisement, page 70]
Georgia Agribusiness CouncilState Legislative Breakfast,Atlanta, GA Call 800-726-2474
February 6, 2010Canoochee Spring Turnout Bull SaleAlma, GA Call 912-237-0608[see advertisement, January page 27]
February 6, 2010Clemson Bull Test andHeifer Sale Clemson, SCCall 803-284-3343 Ext 231
February 11, 2010UGA Focus on EPDs Bull Sale Athens, GACall 706-542-9102[see advertisement, January page 5]
February 12, 2010Wilkes Co. Front PastureCommercial Female Sale Washington, GACall 706-318-5457[see advertisement, January page 35]
February 13, 2010Tokeena Angus PT Bull &Female SaleSeneca, SC Call 864-247-0000 [see advertisement, January page 39]
February 13, 2010Black Crest Farms SaleSumter, SC Call 803-481-4451
February 13, 2010Dixie National Simmental Sale,Jackson, MS
February 15, 2010Cowboy Poet Contest deadlineBooth Western Art MuseumCartersville, GACall 770-387-1265[see advertisement, August page 47]
February 17-21, 2010Georgia Junior NationalLivestock ShowPerry, GA
February 20, 2010Yon Family FarmsPT Angus Bull SaleRidge Spring, SC 803-685-5048[see advertisement, page 5]
February 27, 2010Spitzer Ranch PT Brangus Bull and Brangus Gold Commercial Female SaleCalhoun, GACall 864-972-9140[see advertisement, page 11]
February 27, 2010Select Cattle EnterprisesPerformance with Class Production Sale,Calhoun, GACall 770-547-1433 [see advertisement, pages 14-15]
February 27, 2010Saluda County Cattlemen’s Replacement Heifer Saluda, SC Call 864-445-8117 Ext 115[see advertisement, page 3]
February 27, 2010SEBBA Dixie National SaleTunica, MS
March 2, 2010SLE Tel-O-SaleCall 828-454-0267[see advertisement, page 70]
March 2, 2010Tifton Beef Cattle Short CourseIrwinville, GACall 229-386-3683[see advertisement, page 37]
March 3, 2010Tifton Bull SaleIrwinville, GACall 229-386-3683[see advertisement, page 36]
March 3-5, 2010Beef Industry Safety SummitDallas, TX Call www.BIFSCo.org[see article, December page 23]
March 6, 2010Kentucky Sweepstakes SaleLouisville, KY
March 12, 2010Northeast Georgia Young FarmerReplacement SaleCarnesville, GACall 706-336-8900[see advertisement, page 32]
March 13, 2010Quail Creek BrangusCut Above Brangus SaleCullman, ALCall 205-594-5307[see advertisement, page 35]
March 13, 2010Sarratt Farms Angus Bull AngusBull & Commercial Female SaleGaffney, SCCall 864-902-0736
March 15, 2010Graham Angus Spring Open House Sale Albany, GACall 229-432-9249[see advertisement, page 3]
March 19-20, 2010Southern Shootout Club Calf SaleTemple, GA Call 770-851-0691[see advertisement, page 20]
March 20, 2010The “One” SaleWinning Edge GeneticsCarrollton, GACall 770-328-2047[see advertisement, page 52 and back cover]
March 20, 2010Ridgefield PT/RFI Bull & Female Sale Brasstown, NCCall 828-837-6324[see advertisement, January page 20]
March 20, 2010More than a Bull SaleRed Hill FarmsLafayette, TNCall 615-666-3098[see advertisement, page 60]
March 20, 2010Southern Impulse Club Calf SaleCarnesville, GACall 706-384-7119
March 20, 2010Song of the SouthSalers Production SaleRising Fawn, GACall 706-398-0576
March 25, 2010GA/SC Piedmont Forageand Grassland CouncilMeeting and SeminarsPendleton, SCwww.georgiaforages.com[see article, page 18]
March 25, 2010NFREC Beef/Forage Field DayMarianna, FL Call 850-482-9904
March 26, 2010Stephens County Young FarmersFemale Replacement SaleEastanollee, GA
March 27, 2010Southern Tradition SaleAlapaha, GA
March 27, 2010Southern Cattle Female SaleMarianna, FLCall 334-685-7286[see advertisement, page 33]
March 27, 2010Kensington Cattle CompanyFemale SaleWoodbury, GACall 706-553-5455
March 27, 2010SE Red Angus “Grasstime” AuctionCullman, ALwww.seraa.org [see advertisement, December page 37]
March 27, 2010State 4-H Livestock Judging ContestAthens, GA
March 27, 2010Deer Valley Farm Spring Angus Bull SaleFayetteville, TN
April 1-3, 2010GCA Convention and Beef ExpoPerry, GAAngus SaleCommercial Heifer Sale
Limousin SaleCharolais SaleHereford SaleBrangus SaleBeefmaster E6 SaleClub Calf SalePerry, GA Call 478-474-6560[see schedule and info, pages 64-69]
April 6, 2010SLE Tel-O-SaleCall 828-454-0267[see advertisement, page 70]
April 17, 2010Edwards Land & Cattle Co.Mature Cowherd Dispersalof Registered Limousin & Lim-FlexClinton, NCCall 910-298-3012[see advertisement, page 24]
April 20, 2010Georgia HERD SaleIrwinville, GACall 229-386-3683
April 24, 2010UGA Bulldog BonanzaBenefit Horse SaleAthens, GACall 706-542-9092
May 4, 2010SLE Tel-O-SaleCall 828-454-0267[see advertisement, page 70]
May 6, 2010Monroe County HERD SaleForsyth, GACall 478-994-7014[see advertisement, page 19]
May 13, 2010Legume Management inthe Southeast Field DayEatonton, GAwww.georgiaforages.com[see article, page 18]
June 1, 2010SLE Tel-O-SaleCall 828-454-0267[see advertisement, page 70]
June 2, 2010Georgia HERD SaleCalhoun, GACall 706-624-1403
June 4-5, 2010Southern National Juniorand Open Angus ShowsPerry, GaCall 706-387-0656[see advertisement, page 58]
June 11-12, 2010GJCA Beef Industry Scholarship Athens, GACall 478-474-6560[see advertisement, page 70]
July 6, 2010SLE Tel-O-SaleCall 828-454-0267[see advertisement, page 70]
July 23-24, 2010GA Limousin Association Annual Meeting & Field DayAthens, GACall 229-567-4044[see advertisement, page 26]
R E A D E R S E R V I C E S�
The Matrons of
The last few years we have been fortunate enough to have
bred and produced some of the most competitive Angus
heifers in the Southeast. These females have not only
excelled in the show ring, but they have gone on and made
functional cows in the pasture. We place an emphasis on
sound, balanced trait cattle that not only look good but also
perform and produce. After 30+ years of showing cattle and
all the fads that we have been through, we are certain of one
thing. The “RIGHT KIND” never go out of style!
On March 20, look for maternal sibs and progeny by these
females and more, sired by breed-leading sires.
Watch our website for more info on this year’s offering!
www.mmcattle.com
Produce the
Right Kind!
Mike & Christy McCravy
34 Williamson Rd.
Bowdon GA 30108
770-328-2047
[email protected] / www.mmcattle.com
We invite you to
“The One”March 20, 2010
Carrollton, Ga.
12 noon
Gridmaker x K57 036Reserve Cow/Calf 2009 NJAS,
also Champion 07 GNF. Her Dam has also been
one of our top producers. Progeny of these by
OCC Missing Link and BC Lookout.
Gridmaker x BAR ExtChamp. Sr. Yearling 08 East. Reg.
Also Champ. 07 Futurity. Progeny by BC Big Daddy and BC Lookout.
Tradition x FrameMany Time Champ. 06 & 07, The Petunia line of
females have been real work horses for us.Currently 10 reside here. They will have progeny
by BC Raven, BC Lookout, SAV Pioneer andGridmaker.
Freedom x WesternSr. Heifer Calf 06 NAILE, Res. Sr., Yrl. 07 NAILE
Champ. 06 GNF, High Point GCCPA 07. TheHeather Family has been good to us. Currently 12
are working in our herd. The Heathers will haveprogeny by Lookout, Raven, Big Daddy, Pioneer
and Freedom.
THE
“1”Vol. II