Braunvieh_World_Summer_2022

FIELD DAY BRAUNVIEH

By Jessie Topp Becker, Managing Editor

More than 100 breeders from 13 states traveled to the rolling hills in north central Arkansas for a field day hosted by Chris and Nesha Smith on May 21. A similar event was hosted in Utah last year, which sparked the idea of the Smiths hosting a field day at their operation, Jay H Farms, in Rose Bud, Ark.

After visiting with Braunvieh Association of America (BAA) President Robert Williams and BAA Board member John Hall, Nesha Smith started planning the field day with help from Clydene Pittman. To get an idea of prior ity topics breeders wanted to learn about, Smith visited with Braunvieh breeders at cattle shows and association events, and Pittman distributed a survey. The results indicated that artificial insemination (AI) and marketing/ advertising were the two most important topics. “Fortunately for me, my neighbor is Ricky White with RCK Genetics,” Smith says. “He does AI and embryo work for a living, and hosts AI and preg-check classes. Ricky White came out for the field day and did a great presentation.” As part of his presentation, White discussed AI, embryo transfer and in vitro fertilization procedures, as well as the importance of having a good working facility and body condition scores, and how paying attention to details and timing are important factors in a successful AI program. He also talked about how utilizing AI sires and donors

allow any breeder, regardless of size, to make great ad vancements in their herds. Beyond simply presenting at the field day, White also donated a three-day class as a door prize item. Darren Richmond, who serves as the ad sales represen tative for Braunvieh World , spoke about marketing and sale preparation. Richmond’s presentation included a photo demonstration that stressed the importance of us ing high-quality photos in advertising and social media. “Darren has a great deal of experience in advertising and marketing, and his presentation provided valuable information for the breeders in attendance,” Smith says. In addition to White and Richmond, other speakers included:  Robert Williams, BAA president, who spoke about the association’s new total herd reporting and relationship with International Genetic Solutions/ DigitalBeef, and the importance of breeders supply ing as much data as possible. He also discussed the upcoming bull test at PX Feeders.

TOP: Field day attendees pose for a group photo. More than 100 breeders from 13 states traveled to Arkansas for the event. LEFT: Braunvieh Field Day attendees observe cattle at Chris and Nesha Smith’s operation, Jay H Farms, in Searcy, Ark. Jay H Farms includes a reg istered herd and a commercial Braunvieh-cross cow-calf operation, where they raise replacement females and ship their steers to the feedlot. ABOVE: Lunch time! As part of the field day, the Smith family provided a lunch, which included Braunvieh burgers.

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Braunvieh World  Summer 2022