Braunvieh World Summer 2024

President’s Message with Todd Hill

It is very clear that the seedstock cattle industry is in trying times. Extended drought has plagued many of our members, causing herd reductions across the board. As producers, our costs of input have mostly doubled (or more) in the last three years. And while higher prices at the sale barn are welcome, it has caused many seedstock producers to sell calves at weaning rather than develop them into registered animals, negatively impacting the association’s revenue. I have been on several other breeds’ websites, and it is clear that the issues our breed is dealing with are issues ALL breeds are dealing with. So, what should breeders do to remain a viable force in the marketplace? First, I think we need to clearly identify not only who our customer is, but what they are looking for. Those who were able to attend the annual meet ing heard a poignant presentation on the subject by International Genetic Solutions Director of Commercial and Industry Operations Chip Kemp. Kemp knows the seedstock business and what it takes to be successful. He made a clear case that, for the breed not only to survive but thrive, we must recognize that our customer is the commercial cattleman looking to improve his/her genetic package. We must ask them what they need to be successful. Are they looking for more maternal? More growth? Is poll status important? Is color important? What birth weight is acceptable? Then we must produce what our customer needs, not what we think they need! Let that sink in for a minute. Are you asking those questions and mak ing the appropriate adjustments in your program, or are you producing what you think the customer needs and wondering why he doesn’t show up at your farm/ranch? The answer to that question is fundamental to your program’s success in the marketplace. If you are struggling, I would ask myself hard questions about this very thing. Be a part of the solution. In his presentation, Kemp was very clear – our customer is demanding cattle backed by more performance data and more accurate EPDs. Simply put – more proof and less fluff. We all need to try to improve the quality of our herds, and you simply can’t manage what you don’t measure! Saying our cat tle are good is simply NOT enough! We need to performance test more bulls. It is up to us as breeders to turn in accurate data on the largest contemporary groups possible to improve the accuracy of our EPDs. For all who consider themselves to be seedstock producers, whether you have five head or 100, we use THR and turn in data on the ones we register AND the ones we don’t. I can’t tell you how critical that is to the future success of this breed. Second, be a part of the solution. If you have an idea that would improve what we are doing, share it with a board member. If you see an issue we need to deal with, please call me or another board member so we can address them appropriately. If you are not on the list already, go to the home page of the website and find the link to sign up for the association’s eblasts. They are the best source for information coming from the association. I assure you, this board has been busy trying to use what assets we have at our disposal to position the Braunvieh breed to flourish when things turn our way. We are preparing the launch of a new, more user friendly and resource ful website at half the cost of the current one. We are planning the launch of a YouTube channel where you can post approved videos about anything on the subject of Braunvieh. We are working to build a better system of communica tion with members. It is an honor to lead this organization. We all love these cattle. The Braun vieh is the BEST continental cross on English cattle. Let’s build the breed’s reputation together. Let’s put aside our differences and work together to move the breed to the place in the market it deserves! BW

BRAUNVIEH ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA 7607 NW Prairie View Rd. Kansas City, MO 64151 (816) 599-7780 info@braunvieh.org www.braunvieh.org BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT • TODD HILL Childress, TX (806) 681-9333 ranchdh@gmail.com SECRETARY • DEANA IMHOFF Boonville, MO (660) 888-3349 deana@imhofffamilyfarm.com VICE PRESIDENT • COLBY KING Webbers Falls, OK (918) 773-2153 4kbeef@4kingsranch.net TREASURER • TYLER LISTER Lindsay, OK (508) 210-9910 tlister.tolconsultingllc@gmail.com DIRECTORS ERIC ARMINTROUT Peculiar, MO (816) 590-6056 darkside.braunvieh@me.com SEAN LEHMANN LeRoy, KS (620) 490-0206 selehman@gmail.com DANIEL ROBERTS Franklin, KY (270) 598-9848 randdfarmsbraunvieh@msn.com MOLLY MIRASSOU Weatherford, TX (408) 690-9961 molly@starranchcattle.com JASON PFEIFER Russell, KS (785) 483-1805 pfeiferjason@yahoo.com TODD CLUBB Vinton, IA (319) 330-3590 todd.a.clubb@gmail.com EDDIE ZEIGENBEIN Campbellsburg, IN (812) 620-3422 eddiezeigenbein@gmail.com ROBERT WILLIAMS Section, AL (256) 228-6416 wwcattle@gmail.com

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Braunvieh World  Summer 2024