Show-Me-Select Heifers to Sell May 16
The 30th sale of Show-Me-Select (SMS) bred heifers will begin at 7 p.m. on May 16 at Joplin Regional Stockyards in Carthage, Mo. The offering for this sale consists of 260 heifers due to calve from Aug. 13 to Nov. 30.
The offering is primarily commercial heifers, mostly black and black baldies. There are ten, Hereford x Brangus (Super Baldies) and around 25 red and red baldy heifers. The heifers are from 21 consignors, most have sold heifers previously through the southwest Missouri SMS sale.
"The positive SMS reputation over the years has made these regional sales well-known across the country," said Eldon Cole, livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension.
According to Cole, there are several management practices that contribute to this positive reputation of the Show-Me- Select Heifers.
A few of those reasons are: a well-planned health program from weaning to sale time; tested negative for BVD-PI; calfhood vaccinated for brucellosis; passed a pre-breeding exam which included meeting a minimum pelvic area; bred to calving ease bulls; AI bulls required to not only have calving ease EPDs that are acceptable, they must have a 0.60 accuracy; around 80% of the heifers were pregnancy checked via ultrasound which improves estimates of calving date.
During the nearly one-year development program, the heifers are screened for bad attitudes, eye problems, conformation weaknesses and body condition scores by University of Missouri Extension livestock specialists and market graders with the Missouri Department of Agriculture.
"These efforts help improve the likelihood that the heifers you buy will be blemish free," said Cole.
Heifers selling on May 16 are guaranteed to be bred and remain so for 30 days. Heifers found open, by a veterinarian within that time will be eligible for a refund of the purchase price or the seller may replace her with one of similar value, if available.
Past buyers praise the calving ease, the temperament and the accuracy of expected calving dates of the SMS heifers. Based on calving surveys, fall-calving SMS heifers have a 5 percent assist rate on calving. Heifers that calve in the February-April period require around a 10 percent assist rate.
"There will be exceptions, but the real measure of satisfaction is the 65 percent and better repeat buyer rate for the heifers," said Cole.
More details may be found on the web at www.swmobcia.com or contact sale coordinator, Eldon Cole at 417-466-3102 or by email colee@missouri.edu
Source: University of Missouri Extension
