Building a herd, or even maintaining a herd, that works for your unique operation, in your unique environment and helps to enhance profitability, marketability and sustainability on your ranch requires diligence.
That diligence begins at the sale for most operations when buying herd bulls, but it’s easy to get swept up in those moments.
“There are always a handful of bulls that are right at the top of the sale — the ones that everybody wants — but only a handful of people will be able to get that bull bought and take him home,” says Robert Williams, Trust In Food sustainable livestock technical manager. “The reality is, there are a lot of bulls at the sale that will fit differently in different programs.”
“When genetics for reproduction, growth, functional traits and efficiency align with cattle adapted to their environment, the result is a more sustainable beef production system.”
Williams brought together experts at the most recent Trust In Beef Sustainable Ranchers Tour stop in Kingsville, Texas, to share how you can change focus at the sale and reap the benefits for your operation.
Make a Plan and Stick to It
Lindsay Upperman, ABS Global beef genetic services manager, says a successful sale begins before you walk into the barn door.
“Start with what you need,” she explains. “What are the one or two traits that you’re looking for to improve in that next calf crop? Do you not have as much weaning weight? Do you need more fertility or reproductive efficiency in your females?”
Once you’ve narrowed your goals, Upperman says you can narrow the number of bulls that fit within those percentile rankings.
“I know a lot of people don’t like those numbers, but they help a lot,” she explains. “If you’re choosing at that 50th percentile, that’s breed average for that sire or that group of animals, and if you choose above that, you’re doing better than the breed average in that given trait.”
Selecting animals in those upper percentile rankings moves the herd average where genetic improvement is needed, but is the top 1% always better?
Robert Wells, King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management professor of practice and endowed chair in ranch management, cautions the top rankings can be deceiving.
“The top 1% is not always better,” he stresses. “Think about your environment. If you’re down here in south Texas, we’re in a drought. A top 1% bull in lactation and milk is not where we need to be.”
He adds: “Think about the mature size of your cow. If you’ve got a small cow, maybe you need to add a little bit. But if you’ve got a large cow, that we don’t want to select for those really, really heavy growth type individuals, especially if we’re going to be making maternals happen.”
Then comes the bidding. Upperman recommends you stick to your plan in that decision as well.
“Now, how much better dictates how much money you want to spend on that animal at the end of the day,” she says. “Pick the 10 best bulls that fit maybe those two or three traits you’re looking for to get into your next set of calf crop. Go from there and see what you can give. But I would say try to offset as best you can, because obviously the more you pay, that doesn’t always mean you’re going to get, 10 percentage points better, so definitely offset with what you’re going to get.”
Wells says having a solid plan for the day means you are in a much better position when bidding begins.
“When you go to those auctions, it’s really, really easy to get caught up in the moment, and next thing you know that auctioneer is going really fast, and all sudden, you’re buying a $10,000 bull,” he says.
Use EPDs wisely
“Using EPDs (expected progeny differences) does work every day of the year,” Wells says. “Using those EPDs to look at production practice parameters, such as weaning weight, yearling weight, looking at your marbling scores — that’s how the industry has been able to have this remarkable spurt-up on our carcass characteristics.”
Taking into account genetic traits are one way the industry as a whole has seen significant improvement, but the same can hold true at the ranch-gate as well.
“It can be huge,” Wells adds. “I’ve seen producers who have increased their weaning weights by over 100 lb., and not increase the cow size and not do anything different, other than just putting the right genetics in that cow.”
Make Smart Matches
Each breed can contribute unique genetics and characteristics. Successful ranchers find ways to leverage those traits alongside operational goals and the environment around them.
“Different breeds bring an asset to your herd — a special set of characteristics or traits that are going to offset the other part of that group that is mating, so making sure that you’re utilizing that,” Upperman explains. “And again, thinking, are we retaining females? Does that mean two breeds work better in that female mating than maybe a terminal cross? And nine times out of 10, that’s true. Just make sure you’re thinking about both ends, and maybe it’s not just one breed that capitalizes on all of those.”
Wells shares a critical tip that can help differentiate breed selection at the sale.
“Your cow works 365 days of the year, so match your cow to your environment, but match your bull to your market,” he says. “Think about breed complementarity for cows, because she has to work every day of the year. The bulls only work 60, maybe 90 days. Make sure that cow fits your environment. Because if she doesn’t fit your environment, it’s like trying to push a rope up a hill. It’s not going to be very successful. And if you do it, it’s going to be very costly. And then use breed complementarity to match your bull to your marketing outcomes.”
No matter what is out there at your next bull sale, Upperman say the primary tool you have is your gut.
“There’s always going to be something new, there’s always going to be the next best thing, the next tool, because that’s what geneticists like to do is try to make things better,” she says. “We’re trying to give you new things to utilize that may help within your herd. But if it doesn’t fit within your productivity, your profitability for your herd, then why are you considering it? Use what you have and what is already there that gives you profit.”
Farm Journal’s Trust In Beef shares information about how investing in sustainability can build profitability and legacy on your ranch. Visit www.TrustInBeef.com for additional resources or to learn how to connect with a future Sustainable Ranchers Tour event.
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