Santa Gertrudis Source February 2025

BREEDERS OF THE CAROLINAS SALE May 10, 2025 Union County Agri Center, Monroe, N.C. Find a seedstock producer who can help you reach your goals. When you know what traits you’re looking for in a bull, a quick phone call to a seedstock producer can be helpful for them to guide you in the direction of what bulls might be a good fit. Looking deeper at their catalogs, you’re going to find the premier bulls in the top few lots, but by studying the bloodlines and EPDs you can likely find full brothers or similar genetics farther down in the sale that are going to work just as well for your herd. Remember, the “best” bull is a relative concept. Most seedstock producers are striving to produce the next elite genetics in the industry, so you don’t have to spend too much time shopping if you can find a producer you trust. If you don’t know the producer, read about the operation’s philosophy, and learn about their reputation and the customer service they provide. If possible, visit their operation or ask for cow photos to learn more about how their operation goals could align with yours. In summary, bull purchasing decisions are unique to each herd due to differences in producer-specific produc tion goals and inputs. It’s important to your cattle busi ness to understand bloodlines, EPDs and indexes to make informed decisions. Take time today to evaluate whether your current bulls are meeting your criteria of a successful cow herd or if it’s necessary to make a change. When those bull sale catalogs begin arriving, you’ll be better prepared to make informed decisions that align with your long-term goals and operational needs.

Referencing an article about returns on your bull invest ment, Matt Spangler, Ph.D., Extension beef genetics spe cialist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), said, “Using a bull without any known EPDs is risky, given that you have no idea what his genetic potential is. Using a bull that might be cheaper but that does not excel in traits that are drivers of profit for you can end up either slowing prog ress or eroding progress that you have made.” Consider your budget and return on investment when deciding how much to spend on a herd sire. Your investment in bulls is not only economic-based, it’s an investment in genetic longevity and your future calf performance. The decision to invest in high-dollar bulls or more affordable options is influenced by your long-term goals and financial capabilities. Whether you have terminal or maternal-focused goals, choosing a bull that can maxi mize profit from your calves will provide the largest return on investment. You can also look at the data, as several cattle breeds – in cluding Santa Gertrudis Breeders International – have eco nomic selection indexes based on your production system: maternal, terminal and general-purpose. Maternal indexes focus on improving profitability in herds that retain females and sell calves at weaning. Terminal indexes are designed for commercial producers that retain ownership of their calves and market them on a merit-based carcass grid. General purpose indexes assume that producers retain ownership of some animals and keep replacement females.

52 nd Annual

OVER 100

REGISTERED & SANTA GERTRUDIS- INFLUENCED LOTS

SALE COMMITTEE Tony Creech (919) 427-4679 Josh Bowman (336) 215-4774 Dennis Lee (336) 202-4138 Jody Standley (919) 291-4212 Scott Sherrill (404) 402-5601 TO CONSIGN & CATALOG REQUESTS Darren Richmond (423) 364-9281 djrichmd@gmail.com

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SANTA GERTRUDIS SOURCE

11

FEBRUARY 2025