Author Archive

Posted on August 18, 2011 - by Russell

Longhorn Round-Up Auctions.com

Posted on June 29, 2011 - by Russell

TLBAA World Show and How we got where we are.

I recently attended the TLBAA World Show in Ft. Worth as one of several judges for the TLBT Gold Merit Contest.  Congratulations to all the winners and participants on a job well done.  I know it takes a lot of time, money and hard work to get to the World Show and the TLBT National Show.

 

I have watched the World Show grow and change since its debut in 1988.  Not all the changes have been for the better, but we’ll get to that a little later on.  I still have fond memories of participating in the first World Show.  I will forever cherish the friendships that have been foraged over my many years of showing and participating in the World Show.  Even though I was in Ft. Worth for only a day and half it was great to visit with old friends and stroll down memory lane.

That first show was actually called the “Texas Longhorn Exposition”.  It was comprised of three separate TLBAA shows: The new World Show, the Texas Gold Heifer Futurity and the TLBT National Youth Show (which was started in 1983).  Coordination of these shows was handled through the TLBAA office and qualifying shows for the World Show and National Youth Shows were organized by TLBAA Affiliate Associations and were held around the country.  In order to compete in the World Show and the TLBT National Show you had to have qualified by winning a 1^st or 2^nd place at a qualifying show.  Qualifying was not an easy thing to do, but when you did it you could be proud of that accomplishment and you would be invited to the show in Ft. Worth.  The cattle in the Texas Gold were nominated by their owners to compete in three classes for what at the time was one of the largest futurity premium pots ($50,000) of any cattle breed in the United States.

The 1988 Texas Longhorn Exposition was a huge success and was run almost entirely with volunteer workers. The Texas Gold had 60 heifers competing in three classes and representing some of the top breeding programs.  The competition was strong at TLBT National Youth Show with 59 exhibitors, 90 heifers competing in 7 classes, 43 bulls competing in 4 classes, 12 steers competing in 3 classes and total youth show entries of 145 head (of which I exhibited 5 head).  In that very first World Show all females were shown non-haltered with the bulls being the only haltered classes.  The competition was amazing. Of the 142 females entered 24 were in class one and no class had less than 19 head.  The mature cow classes 6 and 7 saw some of the legends of the breed like YO Samson Josefine 706 “Favorite” (sold for over $200,000, dam of numerous high-selling offspring), Archer 382 “Pepper” (ET Donor & dam of $24,000 heifer), Wichita Gold 3369 (ET Donor and High-Seller), Anita 75/8 (Donor & 1/10 interest $33,000), Red Lucy (Donor & $75,000), Archer 87 “Tar Baby”( Donor & $28,000 also the dam of JK Sterling), Measles Supreme (Donor), CF Lady Mandy (one of the longest horn WR cows), Miss Dixie 4 (dam of R3 Dylan) and Vice Versa (full sister to the $60,000 Impressive bull) go head-to-head.  In the three bull classes there were 52 entries.  The total entries for the World Show were 194 with 79 exhibitors.  The judges for this first of its kind Exposition were Longhorn Breeders.  A three judge system was used for the TLBT and World Show with a five judge panel for the Texas Gold Futurity.  All judging was based on our breed standards and resulted in champions that represented the standard very well. Several of the Champions from this show went on to have an impact on this breed.  The most noteworthy of these was the Grand Champion Bull, Jet Jockey.

As the World Show continued to grow and develop a female haltered division was added along with additional age divisions.  After a few more successful Longhorn Expositions the association was able to get Texas Longhorns accepted into National Stock Shows like Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and many more.  This did not seem like a bad thing at the time.  With this acceptance into Stock Shows came the introduction of our breed to millions of people and the use of professional all breed judges (Beef Judges) because the Stock Shows hired the judges they felt were qualified to judge several different breeds.  These shows also became qualifying shows for the World Show and the association started using these professional judges at the World Show. Thus the change in our breed began, especially when it came to show cattle.  These judges had little to no concern about the traits or our breed standards that make a Longhorn a Longhorn.  All they were looking for was weight per day of age and making the Longhorn fit the box standard that other breeds use.  At one point all cattle were weighed upon arrival at the World Show before being allowed to compete.  These beef judges have been and continue to be used today.  You may be wondering how these judges are changing our breed.  All of us like to win when we compete in any kind of competition because winning is the ultimate goal.  When exhibitors see that it takes a beefy and in most cases an over-conditioned animal to win then they will naturally start making a change in that direction in order to be more competitive.  It’s just human nature.  After years of this you can see the change which has resulted in a lack of breed characteristics and traits that have helped the breed survive for centuries.  When we do not pay attention to our breed’s traits and characteristics we are opening our breed up to being infused with the blood of other breeds either knowingly or unknowingly.

It’s time for the association to once again require that long time Longhorn breeders judge all the TLBAA shows in order to protect the purity and integrity of our great breed.  

The use of beef judges on the show circuit is not the only issue that has ignited undesirable changes in our breed.  The TLBAA Horn Showcase and the TLMA World Horn Championship must take and share some of the responsibility for some of the negative changes to our breed.  Much like with the creation of the World Show, the creation of a horn measuring contest seemed like a good idea at the time, after all the name of the breed is Longhorn.  Horn length has always been an issue, but with the creation of a measuring contest it has become the main focus of many breeders and they are willing to spare no expense to own the biggest and “the best”. There is nothing wrong with breeding for longer horns as long as you still have a functional Longhorn that exhibits all the other Longhorn traits.  Much like what we have seen happen on the show circuit, the exhibitors at horn measuring contests are slowly changing the breed by focusing on only one Longhorn trait, horn length. They focus on becoming more competitive which means they are going to breed for more horn length and base. But what we must remember is that Longhorns are not the only breed with long horns.  One of the other long-horned breeds is the Watusi.  If we do not keep the other characteristics of the Texas Longhorn in mind we are opening the purity of our breed up to being infused with the genetics of some of these other big-horned cattle. In my opinion this is already happening, because I am seeing more and more big-horned cattle that do not look phenotypically like a Longhorn.  In my opinion I am seeing Longhorns that are showing signs of Watusi influence not only because of their extreme horn and base, but also because of their poll, head shape, eye set, hips and tail head.  This introduction of non-Longhorn blood may or may not have been done intentionally.

If the association is going to continue to host and sponsor their measuring event then it is time that the association starts using modern technology to test for Watusi markers in all cattle entered in the contest.  One of the purposes and objectives of the TLBAA as explained in Article I of the TLBAA handbook is “to promote breeding practices to preserve the purity”.  I believe it is time the association steps up and takes action in order to protect the purity and integrity of our great breed.  Time may be running out and we may be fast approaching a point of no return.

I am not against or opposed to the Horn Showcase or the World Show.  They are good events in a lot of ways and generate a lot of exposure for our breed.  I just think it is time the association focuses on protecting the integrity of the breed at these events.  We need to be aware that unwanted changes to our breed have been quietly taking place right under our noses for many years.  We shouldn’t let these changes continue to happen or go unchecked.  As stewards of this great and historic breed our job is to protect the purity of the Texas Longhorn and to promote the functional traits that make it a viable breed.

Posted on June 20, 2011 - by Russell

TAHC to Discontinue Brucellosis Testing at Markets

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 17, 2011  

 

AUSTIN – The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) has announced that effective August 1, 2011, government subsidized Brucellosis testing at all Texas livestock markets will be discontinued, due to a lack of funding available to pay for future testing. The TAHC will no longer enforce the requirement that all test eligible (adult) cattle be Brucellosis tested for a change of ownership within Texas.

After diligently working to eradicate Brucellosis “Bangs” from cattle for almost 50 years, on February 1, 2008, the USDA declared Texas Brucellosis free. “The discontinuation of brucellosis testing will not affect Texas’ Brucellosis-free state status,” Dr. Dee Ellis, State Veterinarian, said. “We remind Texas producers, marketers and veterinarians however, that maintaining a Brucellosis-free Texas requires constant awareness and vigilance. Although the TAHC will no longer enforce the requirement for Brucellosis testing of adult cattle, cattle producers are encouraged to discuss the issue with their veterinary practitioner prior to purchasing replacement cattle,” Ellis said.

Brucellosis is a bacterial disease of cattle that can cause abortions, weak calves and low milk production. Humans can also catch brucellosis (undulant fever) most commonly by consuming unpasteurized milk products or handling contaminated birthing material when assisting with difficult calving situations in infected cows.

 

For questions or concerns regarding the termination of Brucellosis testing at livestock markets, please contact your local region office. Contact information for regional TAHC offices are as follows:

 

Region 1 (Amarillo, TX) Phone: 806-354-9335 Region Director: Dr. Brad Williams Supervising Inspector: Bob Young	Region 5 (Beeville, TX) Phone: 361-358-3234 Regional Director: Dr. James Lenarduzzi Supervising Inspector: Howard Helmers
Region 2 (Hempstead, TX) Phone: 979-921-9481 Regional Director: Dr. Mark Michalke Supervising Inspector: Dwayne Easley	Region 6 (Lampasas, TX) Phone: 512-556-6277 Region Director: Dr. Pete Fincher Supervising Inspector: James R. Dickison

 

 

Posted on June 17, 2011 - by Russell

Types of Cattle and Their Place in the Market

I have been in the Longhorn business for over 30 yrs. I have seen a lot of ups and downs in that amount time, including the high cattle prices of the oil boom era of the early 1980’s as well as the lows after the oil bust in the late 80’s and early 90’s. The industry went from seeing sale averages of $3,500 and up to watching averages fall to $600-$1,000. Before the fall of the market, the high-selling lots at most sales where in excess of $10,000 with several world record prices set during this time period. There were bull syndications being done on top bulls in the industry at the time in amounts exceeding $2 million.

 

When all this started coming to an end there were several things that help keep the industry going which included a good market for recreational cattle (ropers) and commercial cattlemen’s use of Longhorn cattle. Mainly Longhorn bulls to breed first calf heifers of other breeds. This was in part due to a strong national promotional advertising effort made by the association and breeders to appeal to the commercial cattlemen about the benefits of using Longhorn genetics. A good market ($800-$1,200) for the solid colored Longhorn bulls was one of the results. Bull calves had value not just as ropers, but as a first calf heifer bulls. This added to the bull calf’s value as a roper as well because there were fewer bull calves being sold as ropers. This promotional campaign also resulted in a good market for lower end cattle for use in commercial cow/calf operations. With a solid and realistic market price established for ropers, bulls and the lower end, the market for the better cattle started to slowly recover. As this started to happen more and more people started to get involved in the Longhorn industry because they could see that the Longhorn could be as profitable or more profitable than any other breed or a commercial cattle operation. This increase in interest help increase prices of Longhorn cattle at all levels of quality but it started at the bottom and worked its way up. 

 

In recent years we have seen a dramatic rise in Longhorn cattle prices with high sale averages, but once again, we are seeing the prices start to fall drastically. These recent years have been like a flash back to the 1980’s. Some of the fall in our cattle prices today are out of the control of our industry and are linked to our nation’s economy and the extreme drought that is continuing to affect a large part of the US. We can however work on establishing a base value for our cattle through better marketing of the value of Longhorn genetics to the commercial cattlemen, the benefits of Longhorn Beef to the American Beef Consumer who is becoming even more health conscious. I believe it is once again time to start climbing the ladder. Starting with the bottom end and pushing upward. It worked before and I believe it can again. It will be up to the breeders to help start the climb one step at a time. The commercial cattle market is seeing record high prices for all types of cattle. Some Longhorn cattle actually have more value at a commercial sale than they do at a registered sale. This will make the climb a lot easier now that ALL cattle are selling for higher prices at commercial auction barns. 

Level One - Culls – As breeders it is our responsibility to cull our herds of inferior cattle that should not be in our breed. These are cattle that have genetic defects and are of just overall poor quality. Whether or not we breeders like to admit it we have some calves that need to be culled out of the breed. These cattle have little too no value. They do not have the body frame, volume, weight, milk production or fertility to be of use to the commercial buyer. 

Level Two – Beef Grade – These are the cattle that do not have the pedigree, conformation, or horn that a seed-stock producer would want to use. Maybe they are poor breeders, poor milkers or maybe have a bad udder. They could be of any age or sex so long as they are healthy. At this time it is up to the individual as to how they market or sell Longhorn beef. Those who sell Longhorn beef generally price their hamburger meat for around $4 per pound and up. An 800lb animal will yield about 300lbs of hamburger meat which establishes a value of $1,200 on this type of animal. There are some slaughter houses that will pay you a hanging weight price which in most cases is a better price than you will receive for the live animal at a sale into today’s current market. You can sell your beef this way without having to market your beef yourself. At registered Longhorn sales these types of cattle will currently sell for well under $1,200. In most cases the selling price will be around $400 per head which leaves little profit after paying the sale consignment fees. There are a large number of cattle that fit into this category and the next category, Cow/Calf Producer Grade. By removing these cattle from the industry it will help balance the supply and demand which will help increase the value of the Cow/Calf Producer Grade and the Registered Seed-stock cattle. 

 

Level Three - Cow/Calf Producer Grade – What is a cow/calf producer looking for in a cow? He is looking for a calf raiser, a cow that can wean a fat and healthy calf. These cattle need to have a good body, udder and be sound breeders. The cattle in this group lack good horn or pedigree to be used by most seed-stock producers. These cattle are of value to the cow/calf producer. When these types of cattle are sold in a registered sale they currently will bring about $400 per head. I know of several cases were these types of cattle have sold in a registered sale for $300-$400. The buyer then hauled these cattle straight to the local auction barn and sold the cattle, made a profit of $100-$150 per head. I have seen reports of Longhorn cows with non-longhorn sired calves sell for $550-$750.00 at some sale barns. If the base value of the Beef Grade cattle is established to be about $900-$1,200.00 for an average 800lb cow then the Cow/Calf Producer Grade cattle should be worth at least that same amount or slightly more. If they are not worth that amount on the hoof then they can be sold as beef. There are a large number of cattle that fit into this category and the next category, Registered Seed-stock cattle. By developing a market for these cattle with commercial cattle producers it will help balance the supply and demand by their offspring not being registered. This would also increase the value of the Registered Seed-stock cattle. 

 

Level Four - Registered Seed-stock Cattle – These are quality Longhorn cattle that have all the desirable Longhorn traits with good genetics, conformation and good horn development for their age (55-65”). They are used to produce the next generation of Registered Texas Longhorn Cattle. If we established a market and the value of the cattle on the lower rungs of the ladder at around $1,200 then it stands to reason that the value for Registered seed-stock should be in excess of $1,200. Currently that is not the case with most of the cattle that would fall into this category selling under $1,200. 

 

Level Five - Elite or Top End Registered Seed-stock Cattle – These are top quality Longhorn cattle that excel in all the desirable Longhorn traits for their age. These cattle have outstanding production records that show consistency in producing top quality offspring. These cattle almost always sale for a respectable price and their value is usually set by the buyers who are looking for the best of the breed. There is only a minimal percentage of the breed that would fall into this category. To produce cattle that would fit into this category should be the goal of most breeders.

 

Level Six - Collectable Cattle – These are the cattle that are the extremes in the breed with the main focus being on horn length. The value of the cattle in this category is most often determined by the numbers on a tape measure rather than the overall quality of the animal or their production. Their value is unpredictable and is set by the individual who desires to own one of the longest horn animals in the breed and willingness to pay for that privilege. Their value is not affected by the price of the cattle below them on the ladder and their prices have almost no effect on the cattle on the lower ladder rungs. Only a very small percentage of the cattle in our industry fall into this category. This also means that only a very small percentage of breeders will ever produce a cow that will end up in this category.

 

As we look at these categories of cattle within our industry a couple of very important things must be noted. One is no matter how good the breeding or breeding program is there are going to be cull cattle, but with good breeding practices and strict culling by breeders the numbers can be limited. The second is that the majority of breeders are producing cattle that end up in the middle categories of Beef Grade, Cow/Calf Producer Grade and Registered Seed-stock. The problem with this is that the supply of these types of cattle is high and the current market demand is low. In order to change this we need to decrease the number of cattle. This can be done by processing more cattle for beef and/or selling more cattle for use in a cow/calf operation, basically removing these cattle from the registered herd inventory. In recent months there has been a steady rise in beef cattle prices and a shortage of slaughter ready cattle. The increase in beef cattle prices has resulted in an increase in price for Longhorns at local auction barns. Now is the time for our associations and breeders to take advantage of these higher prices and to also increase awareness of the benefits of using Longhorn genetics by using a national promotional campaign with the goal being to increase the demand for Longhorn genetics which would increase the interest for Registered Longhorn Seed-Stock Cattle. If most of the members of our association produce cattle at are in these middle categories then one would think that the associations would be focused on helping to promote these types of cattle that make up the largest percentage of the cattle in the Association. However, as most of us know, this is not the case because the associations’ promotional focus seems to be more on the Elite or Collectable cattle. For the needed change to take place, the Longhorn industry most stop emphasizing the single trait of long horns and start focusing on the historical traits that have made this breed viable for hundreds of years.

Posted on May 15, 2011 - by Russell

Buying Cattle at Auction vs. Private Treaty

Is it better to purchase cattle at an auction sale or private treaty?

We are going to take a look at the pros and cons of these methods when purchasing cattle for your breeding program. Let’s talk about auction sales first. What is the definition of an auction? An Auction is an occasion for selling things to the highest bidder. It is a public occasion when things are sold to the people who offer the most money for them. It seems that in today’s Longhorn industry most cattle are bought and sold at auctions. In the spring there seems to be an auction every weekend. Auctions are a simple and fast way for a seller to sell cattle.

What are some of the positive reasons for purchasing at an auction?

1)      With consignment sales there is usually a larger variety of genetics or pedigrees available at an auction.

2)      These different genetics from numerous breeding programs are available in one location.

3)      At ethically run sales, you know what the true market value of the cattle are on that particular day by what the buying public is willing to pay for those cattle.

a.       There have been sales where this is not always the case. At some sales a floor or minimum has been set by the sale promoter to keep the sale average higher. They do not let the buyers set the market price for the sale.

b.      There have been other sales where the crowd attendance has not been good and bidding has been low which has allowed buyers to purchase cattle at below market prices.

4)      Making purchases at a sale where the buyer’s name is called out can be good publicity for your breeding program. You might even get your photo published in one of the breed magazines.

5)      Attending a sale is also a social event and a good way to meet other breeders.

6)      Most sales require that all cattle have health papers, so you can be somewhat assured that the cattle are healthy. 

What are some of the reasons for not buying or for being cautious when buying at an auction?

1)      Always remember that the animal is being offered for a reason.

a.       Ask yourself “why is this animal being sold?” Is this animal in the sale because it has a defect such as poor fertility, bad udder, poor quality offspring or bad habits. Have you seen this animal in several different sales within the last year? Repeat sale appearances could mean there is a problem with the animal.

b.      The animal could be in the sale simply because the seller is overstocked, is short on pasture/hay or has kept offspring out of this animal.

But how do you know which of these is the case. You must be observant when looking at the animal, ask questions of the seller if they are available and check production records.

2)      You have to make a buying decision in a matter of a few seconds before the auctioneer slams the gavel and says “sold”.

3)      You can get caught up in the bidding and end up over spending.

4)      The consignor will need a higher sale price for the animal due to their added expenses, high consignment fees and commissions that are charged by most sales.

5)      You should always be aware of who you are bidding against.  In some cases it might be a friend or someone who has been instructed to run the bidding up to the price the seller wants for that animal.

6)      At some sales a floor or minimum has been set by the sale promoter to keep the sale average higher. Sales have the right to do this, but the floor prices should be announced before the sale. This is not always done and it creates a problem for you as a buyer, because you won’t know the true market value of the cattle. Market Value: the amount that a seller could expect to obtain for property or goods sold on the open market.

7)      Sometimes you can end up traveling to a sale only to have all the cattle you are interested in sell for prices that are out of your price range. You still have the travel expense, but no cattle to show for it.

Now let’s take a look at some of the aspects, both positive and negative, of purchasing cattle by “private treaty”. Private Treaty is the sale of property according to terms negotiated between the buyer and seller. This method of selling and purchasing cattle generally only involves the seller and the buyer. There is no auctioneer, ringmen, multiple buyers or sale management company involved in this type of sale. It is more of a one-on-one approach.

What are some of the negative reasons for purchasing cattle by Private Treaty?

1)      May require a great deal of traveling in order to acquire different genetics that you are interested in adding to your program.

2)      As a prospective buyer you may feel pressured by some sellers to make a purchase. Most breeders will be happy to show you their cattle and program without pressuring you to make a purchase.

3)      The price is set by the seller and it may or may not reflect the market value of the animal. In other words, if you plan on reselling the animal shortly after you have purchased it, you may or may not get your money back out of the animal. When you consider the price, you need to decide if you are willing to pay that amount to have the animal in your herd. Is the animal worth it to you? It’s that simple.

4)      You will probably receive little to no public recognition of your purchases unless the seller places a “thank you” ad in a breed magazine. This could be considered a pro or a con depending on the buyer’s perspective.  

What are some of the positive reasons for purchasing cattle by Private Treaty?

1)      This is a more personal way of buying cattle. The buyer and the seller are able to develop a personal relationship.

2)      Buyers are able to view cattle in their natural state, in the pasture.

3)      Sellers do not always offer their best cattle at auctions, but will price them and offer them at private treaty.

4)      The buyer is able to get an overview of the seller’s breeding program and their management practices.

5)      You are able to ask questions of the seller.

6)      In most cases you will be able to view animals that are related to the animal you are looking at purchasing such as offspring, sire, dam and siblings.

7)      You do not have to make a buying decision in only a few seconds, you can take your time.

8 )      Most breeders will be happy to show you their cattle without pressuring you to buy cattle. They just enjoy showing their cattle to folks who have an interest in the breed.

9)      Some breeders offer discounts or package deals on multiple purchases.

10)  When you contact a breeder about coming to view their cattle you can also ask about their prices. This will let you know if the trip could result in you making a purchase before you spend the money to travel to the breeder’s ranch.

In the thirty years that I have been involved in the Longhorn industry I have purchased cattle at auctions and by private treaty. I have found that in most cases I have been happier and more profitable with the cattle I purchased by private treaty. I have also developed long lasting relationships with the breeders I have purchased cattle from by private treaty.  I’m not saying that all my purchases at auctions have been unprofitable or that I was unhappy with all of them. I just feel I came out a little better on my private treaty purchases. If you are building a Longhorn herd I would recommend that you give some serious thought to not only purchasing cattle at auctions but also taking advantage of the private treaty method of purchasing cattle. You do have options.  

Posted on April 22, 2011 - by Russell

You Can Purchase Proven Producers

Posted on April 12, 2011 - by Russell

Brown Brothers Cattle Co. Private Treaty Dispersal Sale

Special announcement of the Brown Brothers Longhorn Private Treaty Herd Dispersal.  I will be managing the sale of the herd for Mrs. Jean Brown. She has managed to maintain the herd in Lott, Texas since her husband’s passing but now has made the tough decision to sale the herd.

 

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for serious Longhorn breeders to quickly build a high quality program or add some top quality cattle to their existing programs. The herd contains a number 65” to 73” horned females that are sired by some of the best bulls that the Longhorn industry has to offer….Phenomenon, Impacts Rear Admiral, GF Southbrooke, Unlimited, Equalizer, Julio’s Thunder, Don Julio, Buzz Saw, Overwhelmer, Boomerang and Shadowizm. In addition to all the 65 to 73 inch horned cattle sired by these great sires this herd also includes a rare and special group of 10 young females and one junior herd sire all sired by JR Hot Damm. The daughters and grand-daughters of JR Hot Damm are making a name for themselves by having record setting horn measurements and topping sales across the country. Most recently a grand-daughter was one of the top sellers of the 2011 Legacy Sale at $31,000. Her dam was a 70” horned JR Hot Damm daughter. One of his daughters sold for $8,500 at the 2010 Cherry Blossom Sale. There are not that any daughters and sons of JR Hot Damm around so these females and bull alone are a great opportunity.

The great opportunity with this herd doesn’t stop with the JR Hot Dam genetics. There is also a full sister to the $150,000 Phenomenal Dorothy cow who is by Phenomenon and out of Doherty 6. One of the main herd sires is a half brother to Phenomenal Dorothy. He is out of the great Doherty 6 cow and by the super producing Equalizer bull. Another one of the special females in this herd is Trew Spirit, a full sister to the great JM Sue bull. If you are serious about owning some of the best Longhorn genetics the industry has to offer you will want to take a look at this top-of-the-line herd.

The herd consist of approximately 73 head, not including nursing calves. I have attached a PDF file with some photos and basic information about this great herd. All inquires for more detailed information on the cattle pedigrees, prices, photos or to set up an appointment to view the cattle in person should be directed to me at russellh@longhornroundup.com or 409-381-0616. PDF file of the cattle pedigrees bbcc-group-1-mature-cows , bbcc-group-2 , bbcc-heifer-group-3 

Thank You For Your Time,

Russell Hooks

Posted on January 14, 2011 - by Russell

List Your Cattle For Sale Here

Posted on January 8, 2011 - by Russell

Improving Your Herd

By Carolyn Hunter      

 

           Breeders have always had traits that appealed to them or that they felt made their cattle more marketable.  But it takes a large herd of cattle to close a herd and develop a bloodline.  If It is the rare cattleman who is completely satisfied with his herd.  Most ranchers are constantly looking for ways to improve their cattle.  They note the strengths and weaknesses of their herd and start to look for the kind of cattle that can diminish the weaknesses.  To do this they usually turn to outside sources.
            There are four bases of selection available to the livestock breeder, namely (1) selection based on type of individual, (2) selection based on pedigree, (3) selection based on show ring winnings, and (4) selection based on production testing.     
            The first two bases are closely related and are the most prevalent means of selection in the Texas Longhorn breed, since the Texas Longhorn show circuit is fairly new and few breeders in the past kept records of performance (although this is changing).

PEDIGREE OR BLOODLINE

            Dr. Harlan Ritchie, TLBAA Breed Advisory member from the University of Michigan, defines a bloodline as a group of related cattle within a breed that trace to a common ancestor.  These may be either sire lines or female lines.
the herd is too small, then the level of inbreeding goes up quickly and vigor and vitality is lost.
            Building a bloodline is also a slow process, requiring a minimum of 15-20 years.  Ritchie also advises laughingly, “It helps if you are independently wealthy because you have to make a living through those years and may be forced to sell some of your breeding stock off.”
            “Your advantage is that you are the only one who has these cattle,” says Ritchie, “thus supposedly making them more valuable.”
            “However, you also have less of a base to choose from,” he adds, “while those who have the whole population to choose from can go past you in a hurry.  They can take the bloodlines the breed has to offer, cross them and actually have superior cattle by crossing the lines.  If lines are distantly enough related, there’s enough difference in them, and there’s been normal mating between those lines, you might get a little extra vigor or kick when you cross them.”
            In summary, if you’re perfectly content that you have the best cattle in the breed, then you don’t need to use outside stock.  But if you have a specific problem in a herd of cattle and you want to change that very rapidly, then you would probably want to go to an outside source.

            Stockmen need to be informed relative to the factors which influence the rate of progress that can be made through selection.  The Stockman’s Handbook lists these factors:
            1.  The heritability of the character.  When heritability is high, much of that which is selected for will appear in the next generation, and marked improvement will be evident.
            2.  The number of characters selected for at the same time.  The greater the number of characters selected for at the same time, the slower the progress in each.
            3.  The genotypic and phenotypic correlation between traits.  The effectiveness of selection is lessened by (1) negative correlation between two desirable traits or (2) positive correlation of desirable with undesirable.
            4.  The amount of heritable variation measured in such specific units as pounds, inches, numbers, etc.
            5.  The accuracy of records and adherence to an ideal.  It is a well established fact that a breeder who maintains accurate records and consistently selects toward a certain ideal or goal can make more rapid progress than one whose records are inaccurate and whose ideals change with fads and fancies.
            6.  The number of available animals.  The greater the number of animals available from which to select, the greater progress that can be made.
            7.  The age at which selection is made.  Progress is more rapid if selection is practiced at an early age.  This is so because more of the productive life is ahead of the animal, and the opportunity for gain is then greatest.
            8.  The generation interval.  Usually it is possible to reduce the generation intervals of sires, but it is not considered practical to reduce materially the generation intervals of females.  Thus, if progress is being made, the best young males should be superior to their sires.  Then the advantage of this superiority can be gained by changing to new generations as quickly as possible.  To this end, it is recommended that the breeder change to younger sires whenever their records equal or excel those of the older sires after accounting for age and year differences.
            9.  The caliber of the sires.  Since a much smaller proportion of males than of females is normally saved for replacements, it follows that selection among the males can be more rigorous and that most of the genetic progress in a herd will be made from selection of males.

HERITABLE TRAITS IN TEXAS LONGHORNS

            The Texas Longhorn is known for many outstanding traits that can be of benefit to those cattlemen who are striving to improve their herds.
            One quality the Texas Longhorn breeders have always concentrated on is that of low birth rates and ease of calving, according to Dr. Charles McPeake, TLBAA Breed Advisory Committee member and Past Director of the Breed Improvement Federation.  “Heritability is fairly high for that as a growth trait,” he says.
            “Natural selection took care of the size, shape and development of the udder, and heritability for this is also quite good,” he continues.
            Fertility is another heritable factor, which is evidenced by the early sexual maturity of the breed as well as the long productive life of the female into the teen years.
            The Texas Longhorn’s genetic resistance to certain diseases and parasites is another trait than can reduce losses and cut down on the cost to produce a pound of beef.
            Adaptability to different climates is evidenced by the fact that Texas Longhorns are doing well in all parts of the United States as well as Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand.
            One important trait that has been researched is the lean beef that the Texas Longhorn produces with less fat, but higher yield grade.
            These traits are important to any cattleman, not just a Texas Longhorn breeder.  The genetics of the Texas Longhorn plus these heritable characteristics make this unique breed the perfect animal to use in crossbreeding programs.
            If you’re already a Texas Longhorn breeder, you may also be looking for horns and color.  You are fortunate that there are several established bloodlines which can offer these, as well as the natural characteristics of the Texas Longhorn.

Source: 1996 TLBAA Breeders Handbook, Vol. 8, No. 11, page 56. 

Posted on January 3, 2011 - by Russell

Falls Creek Longhorns