SG_USA_July_2022

FOUR J CATTLE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

maternal and carcass traits, so he can use the results to predict the genetic merit of the steer mates. It also provides multi-sire parentage verification for the profiled calves, which helps him identify his better performing sires. “Feeding our cattle all these years has given us some valuable feedback on carcass quality and helps us to identify bulls that really increase marbling in our feeders,” Justiss says. “When we combine that with the advanced genetic test ing that’s available, we are excited to continue making great strides in our feedlot performance. “We have been feeding Santa Gertrudis and crosses for 30 years, and now we have tools to help fine tune the results.”

“We have had a significantly lower death loss in the feedlot than what I see across the industry, and I think some of that is heat-stress related,” he says. “The Gerts just have that natural ability to adapt to an arid climate like in the Texas Panhandle. “Most years, the calves make money and it’s sometimes a toss-up whether the Red Angus cross or the straight Santa Gertrudis make more money; it honestly just usually depends on what week they go to slaughter.” Just like in the purebred operation, the family’s progres sive carcass performance is a result of data collection and analysis, as Justiss uses harvest data and genetic evalua tions to make breeding decisions in his commercial herd. After visually identifying potential replacement heifers, DNA samples are pulled to cull the bottom end. The Igen ity Santa Gertrudis genetic panel he uses is focused on both Shows & Exhibits Committee – Tanya Bram, Chair The initial Shows & Exhibits Committee meeting was held May 31. This meeting was set to go over “hot” topics in the show world and set a plan to begin working on those issues. First and foremost, the Shows & Exhibits Committee wants to be more transparent with the membership. We are working on getting information out to the public as quickly as possible. A few topics of discussion from the meeting included the split between open show rules and junior show rules, “pay to-play” dates and times, judges list and, once again, trying to be clearer with the membership regarding changes, dates and judges list. Members can find a list of upcoming SGBI-approved shows on page 21 as well as on the association’s website, https:// santagertrudis.com/events/show-schedule . The next meeting will be held in person sometime during the National Junior Santa Gertrudis Show. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to a committee member before the next meeting. Breed Promotions Committee – Nancy Wunderlich, Chair The Breed Promotions Committee has been working on a couple different projects right off the bat. The first project is in conjunction with the Research & Education Committee. They are working on creating an udder and teat reference card to help breeders properly score their cows and be able to properly input that data back in the DigitalBeef database, if they choose. The second project is one left behind from last year’s Breed Promotions Committee – creating signage that mem bers can use to promote our breed in their local sale barns. This is a great way to promote Santa Gertrudis to producers across the country. We believe this committee’s mission is to focus on promot ing Santa Gertrudis to both internal (i.e. SGBI members) and external (other cattle producers) audiences. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to any committee members. Editor’s Note: A list of SGBI’s committees and their com mittee members was included in the June issue of Santa Ger trudis USA. A listing can also be found on the association’s website, https://santagertrudis.com/sgbi/committees. COMMITTEE REPORTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

The Justiss family retains ownership of the calves not selected to return to the herd and uses carcass data to make breeding decisions for improved performance on the rail. Advert isers R&M Farms.................................18 Red View Farms........................... 7. Richmond Photography

Grandview Farms.................. 13, 18 Graves Creek Ranch LLC...........18 Gray Oaks Farm. .....................5, 13 Gyranda Santa Gertrudis..... 17, 19 Hargis Farms...............................19 Harris Riverbend Farms.............19 Heath Farms................................18 Hefte Ranch................................19 Iron Oaks Cattle.....................11, 19 Jernigan Ranch..........................18 John Martin Ranches................19 KC Ranch LLC. ............................18 Kentucky National Sale. ............15 King Ranch Inc...........................24 La Campana Ranch. ...................12 Lucky L Farm................................11 MC Ranch....................................18 Myers Cattle & Land Corp.........19 Old Agency Reserve. ..................18 Olivarez Ranches........................19 Osborne Livestock....................... 7 Parker Farms................................ 7 Pitchford Cattle Co.. ..................19 Pinnacle Cattle Co. LLC.............19 Polled Power Genetics................ 5 Polled Santa Gertrudis Association............................... 5 Quail Valley Farms......................13

777 Farms..................................... 5 3WC Cattle...................................11 4S Farms......................................18 5J’s Cattle Company................... 5 American Cattle Enterprises......9 Alabama Connection Sale. ........13 Arrow Creek Santa Gertrudis.....11 Bieri Farms........................... 18, 22 Borchers Southern Y Ranches LP....................... 18, 23 Briggs Ranches...........................18 Buena Vida Cattle Company. ....18 C Bar C Ranch.........................7, 18 Carley’s Show Cattle...................11 Cherokee Ranch & Castle.........18 Corporron Acres.........................19 Cox Mill Farms............................18 Creech Farms............................... 5 Crosswinds Ranch......................19 Diamond S Ranch.......................19 District 6 Breeders...................... 7 District 6 Sale.............................15 Double TT Ranch........................19 Excell Santa Gertrudis................11. Flying C Ranch............................. 5 Four J Cattle. ..............................19 Fulton Farms. ..............................19 Goodin Farms..............................18

& Video.....................................19 Ridge Point Ranch.......................11 Rocking A Ranch. .......................19 Rockin B Farm..............................11 Rose Hill Ranch. .........................19 Running M Ranch.......................18 Santa Gertrudis Breeders of the Carolinas......................22. Santa Gertrudis Small Breeders Group........................11 Shampain Ranch. ........................ 7 Silverbrook Ranches..................19 Square Running M Cattle...........11 Strait Ranches...................... 19, 21 T&S Farm.....................................18 Thomas Burnett Cattle Farm.....19 Tideland Farms. ..........................18 Tinney Farms...........................2, 13 Triple P Ranch..............................11 Twisted “C” Farms......................18 Urbanosky Ranch.......................19 Vesper Ranch..............................19 VZ Cattle.......................................11 Wendt Ranches...................... 3, 19 Wiley Ranch. ................................9 Williams Farm.............................18 WindCrest Farm........................... 7 Wunderlich Farms......................19.

20

SANTA GERTRUDIS USA