Beef Improvement Federation recognizes value of Bos indicus genetics

The 44th Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Annual Meeting and Research Symposium was held April 18 - 21 in Houston and was co-hosted by the American Brahman Breeders Association (ABBA) and Texas AgriLife Extension. The conference is considered the beef industry's premier event. Over 300 industry professionals, researchers, academia and ranchers gathered from across the nation to report on and discuss the most recent beef industry research, and to work to make this research applicable to the ranching world. The ABBA is pleased to have had this year's meeting focus on the influence of Bos indicus genetics in the United States. The conference concluded with two optional bus tours that visited South Texas or Gulf Coast ranches. Two ABBA member ranches were part of this tour.

Each year, the BIF selects one outstanding seedstock producer and one outstanding commercial producer to receive recognition at its annual meeting. This year, the ABBA is pleased to announce V8 Ranch of Boling, Texas as the recipient of the BIF Seedstock Producer of the Year award. V8 Ranch was recognized Friday, April 20 at the 44th BIF Annual Meeting and Research Symposium's award lunch.

The ABBA is also delighted to have nominated Kempfer Cattle Company of Saint Cloud, Fla. as its nominee for the BIF's Commercial Producer of the Year award. Kempfer was recognized Thursday, April 19 at the conference's awards lunch.

V8 Ranch was selected from 12 seedstock producer nominees, and Kempfer Cattle Company competed in a category of eight other producer nominees. The ABBA is proud to support association members in receiving this esteemed recognition.

Through this event, Bos indicus genetics, and especially Brahman cattle have been recognized for their value in the U.S. beef industry. This is another major step in promoting the benefits of Brahman and Brahman F-1 crosses to the country's most prominent beef industry representatives, the people who will educate and influence our nation's cattlemen.

The Williams family of V8 Ranch in Boling, Texas receive the 2011 Seedstock Producer of the Year award from the Beef Improvement Federation.

George Kempfer (second from right) of Kempfer Cattle Co. in Saint Cloud, Fla., is recognized as a nominee for the Beef Improvement Federation Commercial Producer of the Year award.

Chris Shivers, ABBA, and Dr. Joe Paschal, Texas AgriLife Extension were honored Friday as co-hosts of the 44th Beef Improvement Federation annual meeting and research symposium.

BIF attendees enjoy a hay ride around J.D. Hudgins, Inc. on Saturday, April 21 as a part of the Gulf Coast Ranches tour in conjunction with the Beef Improvement Federation conference.

V8 Ranch's show cattle were on display for BIF attendees on the Gulf Coast Ranches tour on Saturday, April 21. V8 Ranch was the second stop on the ranch tour trip.

Dan Wendt of Wendt Ranch in Bay City, Texas shows off his Santa Gertrudis herd during the final leg of the Gulf Coast Ranches tour.

Miami International Show and Sale Results

Grand Champion Female - IS Miss Paparazzi owned by IS Ranch of Trenton, Fla.

Reserve Grand Champion Female - Miss V8 169/7 owned by L2 Ranch of Branford, Fla.

Grand Champion Bull - JDH Expression Manso 735/4 owned by Dyess Farms of Bassifeld, Miss., and J.D. Hudgins, Inc. of Hungerford, Texas

Reserve Grand Champion Bull - Mr. V8 16/7 owned by V8 Ranch of Boling, Texas

Magic City Sale Average - $5,100 on 7 lots (6 heifers, 1 pair)

 

Congratulations to the showmen and sale consignors.

 

Carcass Evaluation Program Update

On March 26, the American Brahman Breeders Association (ABBA) headed to Graham Land and Cattle Co. in Gonzales, Texas to re-implant its carcass program steers and to collect data.

One hundred fourteen (114) head of steers representing 11 breeders in three states went into the Gonzales feed yard in December and were started on an intermediate grow ration. On March 26, the steers were re-implanted and weighed. Steers were then split into two groups based on their weights, and were started on a finishing ration.

One group, weighing 750 pounds and above, is expected to finish and be harvested in roughly 120 days. The other lighter-weight group, weighing 749 pounds and under, should finish and be harvested in 170 days. Carcass data will be collected on these cattle at harvest. The data will be added to the genetic evaluation, and used to calculate carcass EPD’s for six traits.

Blood samples were also collected March 26, and will be used to further validate DNA markers for carcass traits.

Statistics:

114 head • 11 breeders • 3 states

Averages-

Frame Score:                 Medium

Muscle Score:                 2 (Scores range from 1-4; 1 being the heaviest muscled, 4 being the lightest)

In Weight:                      504 lbs

Re-Implant Weight:        789 lbs

Days on Feed:                110 days

Average Daily Gain:        2.5 lbs

Packed crowd for the 14th Annual LBA F-1 and Brahman Sale

Saturday, March 24 played host to the annual Louisiana Brahman Association (LBA) Brahman and F-1 Sale held in Carencro, La. The sale followed the trend of this spring's Brahman and F-1 sales, drawing a large crowd, selling quality ABBA program females and returning profits to ABBA members.

Cattle sold well at this year's sale. Registered Brahmans sold as follows: pairs averaged $2,320 per head, breds averaged $2,400 per head and open and exposed females averaged for $2,232 per head. Certified and Golden Certified F-1 females followed the same pattern with pairs bringing an average of $2,800 per head, bred females averaging $2,303 per head and open females averaging for $1,663 per head.

Triple Son Farms of Cut Off, La. and Centerville, Texas received honors for consigning the champion Certified and Golden Certified F-1 pairs. The champion Certified and Golden Certified F-1 bred pen was consigned by Seven L Cattle of Roanoke, La. and the champion Certified and Goldent Certified F-1 open pen award was given to consignor Robert Doucet Cattle Company of Jennings, La.

Champion Bred Pen - Seven L Cattle of Roanoke, La.

Champion Open Pen - Robert Doucet Cattle Co. of Jennings, La.

Champion Pair Pen - Triple Son Farms of Cut Off, La. and Centerville, Texas