The_Ledger_fall_2018

THE LEDGER Association News | Features | Events & Shows FALL 2018

“Aberdeens Take Over Ames” 2018 AJAA Junior Show

19590 E. Main Street, Suite 104 • Parker, CO 80138

66205

Boelte-Hall

PAID

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage

Official Publication of the American Aberdeen Association

Sandford Ranches High Quality, Forage-Efficient Cattle Building a program on Faith, Family Values & Proven Genetics

Sexed heifer semen available!

DUFF Mercy Me 459 Aberdeen Reg# 28474 Ardrossan Orient x DUFF 927K Instinct 1541

DUFF Trust Me 2525 Aberdeen Reg# 22055 Fairwyn’s Low Beau 204M x DUFF Amigo 927K Juanda 071

Designed by AgTown.com

DUFF Trademark 16162 Aberdeen Reg# 36036 DUFF Mercy Me 459 x DUFF Dixie Erica 3528

DUFF Renovator 16163 Aberdeen Reg# 36038 MRG Peter X DUFF Aberdeen+ 457

At Sandford Ranches, we are utilizing these Aberdeen sires on our 2,500-head herd of registered Black Angus, Aberdeen Plus and commercial Angus beef cattle. We recognize the intrinsic value of a moderate framed, grass-efficient cow that can thrive on well-managed pasture. The progeny of these belly-dragging cattle support our 2,500-head stocker operation and allow us to capitalize on the added value of the Aberdeen Plus program in order to capture premium marketing opportunities. The efficiency of this type and kind of cattle has helped us grow from our humble beginning in 1986 to our current scale today as well as bring multiple generations into the family owned operation—strengthening our faith in Jesus Christ, our family and our business.

Sandford Ranches Jack Sandford, Greenwood, Texas sandfordcattle@gmail.com Call to order Semen — (940) 389-9225

Heaven Sent Ranch THe HudlOw FAMily

The Tradition Continues ...

Registered as Duff Aberdeen 4105

semen available: $35/straw Quantity discounts for 20+ more straws

SIRE: GTL Waylon W09 DAM: PRG248 Angus BD: 3/10/14

cattle foR Sale at all timeS

Heaven Sent Ranch

Jacob and Kendall Choctaw, Okla. Jacob: (479) 601-1551

Mike, Valerie and Hailey Fayetteville, Ark. Mike: (479) 841-9319

“Championship Genetics with Commercial Application and Eye Appeal”

Fall 2018 INSIDE THE LEDGER ON THE COVER

NEXT ISSUE ADVERTISING DEADLINE ISSUE: DEADLINE: Winter 2018 Nov. 20, 2018 The Ledger is recognized by the American Aberdeen Association as the official breed publication for Ab erdeen cattle; however, management, editing and financial responsibilities are vested in BluePrint Media LLC. We reserve the right to edit or refuse any copy or advertising material submitted for publication. BluePrint Media LLC hereby expressly limits its liability resulting from any and all mis prints, errors and/or inaccuracies in advertisements or editorial content. The opinions and views expressed in all editorial material are those of the writer or the person interviewed and not necessarily those of American Aberdeen Association. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: American Aberdeen Association, 19590 East Main Street, Suite 104, Parker, CO 80138. THE LEDGER The official publication of the American Aberdeen Association is published quarterly and mailed to AAA members and interested parties. MAGAZINE STAFF Publisher Blueprint Media P.O. Box 427, Timnath, CO 80547 email: info@blueprintma.com Managing Editor JESSIE TOPP-BECKER jbecker@blueprintma.com • (701) 307-0772 Editor LISA BARD • lbard@blueprintma.com (970) 498-9306 National Account Sales Manager DEAN PIKE • Dean.pike249@gmail.com (303) 810-7605 Creative Director KATHIE BEDOLLI • kbedolli@blueprintma.com (540) 752-6143 • fax: (540) 752-5856 Administration/Accounting LESLIE MCKIBBEN lmckibben@blueprintma.com (970) 556-9296 facebook.com/TheLedgerMagazine Materials Coordinator MEGAN SAJBEL Copy Editor LARISA WILLRETT

AJAA members from across the country participated in the 2018 AJAA Junior National Show and Competitions in Ames, Iowa, earlier this summer. Photo courtesty Cate Doubet. Additional photos of the Aberdeen Junior National Show can be found on her website at catedoubet.pixieset.com/ americanaberdeenjuniornationalshow/

FEATURES Learning Through Doing

8

With its Aberdeen herd and South down flock, the University of Findlay prioritizes hands-on learning. Meet the Rancher: Shea Esser Shea Esser and his family have grown their operation by focusing on quality and customer service. 2018 AJAA Junior Show Results 14

14

16

Final results from the recent AJAA Ju nior National Show and Competitions.

2018 AJAA Junior Contest Results

18

See who was victorious in the various AJAA Junior National competitions.

18

How Does Mature Cow Weight Influence Calf Weaning Weights and Profitability?

22

Research evaluates the impact heavi er cows have on cow-calf producers’ profitability.

16

DEPARTMENTS 6 President’s Column 6 Sale Report 7 AAA New Members 7 AAA Registry

11 Aberdeen Events 11 Logistics 11 Junior Corral 28 Ad Index

4 | THE LEDGER

FALL 2018 | 5

AMERICAN ABERDEEN ASSOCIATION 19590 East Main Street, Suite 104 Parker, CO 80138 • (303) 840-4343 info@americanaberdeen.com www.americanaberdeen.com BOARD OF DIRECTORS President JANIS BLACK • 2J Livestock PO Box 50693 • Casper, WY 82605-0693 (307) 234-0331 • (307) 262-1279 2jlivestock@gmail.com Vice President GARY GILBERT • Gilbert Aberdeen Angus 3986 Lindahl Rd. • Hermantown, MN 55810 (218) 348-7877 tgjgilbert@aol.com Secretary ROB FANNING • Fanning Cattle Co. 877 Oakland Lane • Harrodsburg, KY 40330 (309) 373-2996 fanningcattleco@yahoo.com Director WADE COFFEY • 7C Aberdeen Cattle Co. 4001 W Glencoe Rd. • Stillwater, OK 74075 (405) 880-6908 coffeyiron@cowboy.net Director NEIL EFFERTZ • Effertz EZ Ranch 17350 Hwy 1804 N.• Bismarck, ND 58503 (701) 471-0153 effertz@bektel.com www.loala.com Director DARWIN ENGELKES • Pine Hurst Farm 16927 H Ave. • Wellsburg, IA 50680 (319) 415-0540 pinehurstfarm@live.com Director DAVID SHOCKEY • Muddy Creek Ranch 101 Muddy Creek Rd. • Wilsall, MT 59086 (406) 600-7179 dshockey44@live.com www.muddycreekranchlowlines.com

PRESIDENT ’S COLUMN  JANIS BLACK

Greetings! It is hard to believe that summer is already over and we are moving into fall. Now is the time we start looking over our herds, pre-conditioning and weaning calves, pregnancy testing our cows and making plans for the future. Speaking of the future, we as Aberdeen breeders have things to look forward to as well. Starting this fall, Dean Pike will be taking a booth to several state and regional cattle meetings and conventions where he

will represent the association. He will distribute our promotional materials and be talking to commercial cattlemen about what our cattle can do for them. The Board is very excited about this new promotional tool and what it can do for our association. Remember that Board of Director elections will be held this fall. There are three seats up for election this fall. David Shockey, Wade Coffey and I are cur rently at the end of our terms, and I am not eligible to run again. Please think about members who would be good Board members, read the updated rules to see the Board member qualifications and, most importantly, vote. We have a new sale manager for the National Sale that will be held at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colo., in January 2019. The manage ment company is JDA Livestock Marketing and Promotion. The National Sale Committee will be working very closely with them to choose the very best cattle in the breed to represent us at this sale as well as to determine where to advertise and promote the sale. Watch for further communication on the sale. We have made some changes to The Ledger in order to make it more viable. Among those changes, we will no longer be printing show results, EXCEPT for Junior Nationals and the National Show. We also will no longer be printing regional news. We will be putting regional news and other show results on the website instead, so it will still be available to all of our members. We will be printing extra copies of The Ledger for Dean to take to the state and regional meetings and conventions to hand out. This will make your advertising dollars go even further, so consider an ad in the next issue of The Ledger . I know we all have a busy fall in front of us, so I wish you good luck. Re member to always be kind to each other. TL ABERDEEN SALE REPORT Effertz EZ Ranch 12th Annual Focus on Efficiency Sale June 2, 2018  Bismarck, N.D.

AAA Representative  DEAN PIKE

Need assistance in purchasing Aberdeen cattle, marketing your program or herd management? Contact Dean Pike: (303) 810-7605 Dean.pike249@gmail.com

SALE AVERAGES 11 Fullblood Females

$4,236 $1,560 $5,450 $2,775 $2,714 $2,400

24 Moderator and Pureblood Females

5 4

Fullblood Bulls Moderator Bulls

44 Live Lots

2

Embryo Packages

For information about registering animals or membership, contact the AAA Office: 19590 East Main Street, Suite 104 Parker, CO 80138 • (303) 840-4343 The American Aberdeen Association is a not-for-profit corporation of North Dakota dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Aberdeen cattle . The International Year Code for 2018 is: F info@americanaberdeen.com www.americanaberdeen.com

55 Straws of Semen $119 On June 1, Aberdeen breeders from across the United States enjoyed a terrific presentation from Jerry Doan, Black Leg Ranch, McKenzie, N.D. His “Top Ten Ways to Increase Profitability” challenged breeders to find their niche and specialty in agriculture. He talked about various tools, including cover crops, cattle selection and calving in cycle with the weather to assist in profitability and enjoyment of business in agriculture. Saturday before the sale, Jay Fuhrer, conservationist with North Dakota’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, presented a hands-on soil demon stration. Continued 

6 | THE LEDGER

AAA WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS

ALC Aberdeens, Fairview, Tenn. Beasley’s Longview Ranch, Bell Buckle, Tenn. Rock-N-C Ranch, Farmersville, Texas Lyndon Foster, Corinth, Texas Kuehler Farms, Groom, Texas Shipley Land & Cattle, Masterson, Texas John E. Davis, Georgetown, Texas Sandford Ranches, Greenwood, Texas Chateau Monette, Payson, Utah Clover Field Farm, South Hill, Va. Morning Star Ranch, Winlock, Wash. TRG Ranch, Spangle, Wash. Vanden Heuvel Farm, Seymour, Wis. Glade Creek Farm, Cool Ridge, W.Va. D&G Farms, Odem, Texas G And H Ranch, Corpus Christi, Texas Brent and Shelley Vannoy, Houston, Texas Junior Members (17) Collin Guthrie, Spring Hill, Kan. Aiden Jack, Buckfield, Maine Lillian F. Sullivan, Excelsior Springs, Mo. Blaine Landes, Jamesport, Mo. Kallie Rummel, Missoula, Mont. Shaelynn Brown, Stevensville, Mont.

Active Members (51) Call Farms, Snowflake, Ariz.

Kimberly Thompson, Georgetown, Calif. Holli and Quinn McElwee, Wellington, Colo. The Urban at Stapleton, Denver, Colo. James Davis, Durango, Colo. Alan R. Atkinson, Cañon City, Colo. Wild Oak Farm LLC, Carlton, Ga. S & G Cattle Co., Garner, Iowa Frontier Cattle Co., Arlington, Iowa Steve Freund, Floyd, Iowa Matthew Freund, Floyd, Iowa Dubius Creek Ranch, Priest River, Idaho Suprenant Farms, Beecher, Ill. Walnut Ridge Family Farms, Salem, Ind. Hall Family Farm, Morehead, Ky. Triple T Livestock, Paulina, La. Dudley Farms, Marshfield, Mo. Rocking C Aberdeen Ranch, Bucyrus, Mo. Midwest Moderators, Hawk Point, Mo. Williams Aberdeen Farm, Essex, Mo. Hettinger Aberdeens, Three Forks, Mont. Snowy Mountain Livestock, Lewistown, Mont. JND’s Farm, Yadkinville, N.C. Maple Ridge Farms NC, Bear Creek, N.C. Whiskey Holler, Concord, N.C. Sunny Lea Farm, Broadalbin, N.Y. Peters Farm, Erin, N.Y. Tony Mercadante/Aaron Miller, Middlefield, Ohio JP Cattle Company, Findlay, Ohio Toby and Jeanne Stowers, Skiatook, Okla. Alsip Ranch, Scio, Ore.

Lauren Skor, Wildrose, N.D. Trygg Dahlstrom, Oakes, N.D. Mathias Dahlstrom, Oakes, N.D. Kara Swartz, Valparaiso, Neb. Kayli Bordovsky, Valparaiso, Neb. Clayton Cheney, Plattsburg, N.Y. Christopher Zautner, Delmar, N.Y. Kailey Gerber, Lubbock, Texas Wyatt McHam, Angleton, Texas Brooklyn Blanchard, Angleton, Texas Dustie Sandford, Greenwood, Texas

Ridgeline Farm, Oregon City, Ore. Chris & Sherry Beitler, Bethel, Pa. Andy Minihan, Canton, S.D.

Sale Report Continued from page 6

AAA REGISTRY

Sale cattle went to buyers from Texas, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, Arkansas, Michigan, Tennes see, Ohio, Oregon, Indiana and Oklahoma. The high-selling bull was a half interest in Lot 56, EZ Red Lodge, a fullblood son of Rob Roy, who sold to Charlie Waldoff, Needville, Texas, for $12,000. The high-selling cow, Lot 4, ILC Diamond Jules and her All Jacked Up bull calf, sold to the University of Findlay, Findlay, Ohio, for $8,000. TL

FEMALES

MALES

MONTH FB PB % FB PB % TRANSFERS April ‘18 26 3 17 39 22 54 267 May ‘18 41 8 18 34 16 61 209 June ‘18 12 6 21 33 13 34 127 July ‘18 33 14 24 48 37 66 254 Aug. ‘18 27 3 33 70 17 63 141

FALL 2018 | 7

Learning Through Doing

BY HANNAH JOHLMAN, FREELANCE WRITER W ith a moderately sized herd of 75 fullblood Aberdeen cattle, the University of Findlay of fers animal science students a unique, hands-on-learning college expe rience.

Many colleges require advising appointments, then students are left to sign up for classes on their own. At

Findlay, faculty advisors are with their students every step of the way, from guiding them through class registration to informing them about intern ships and career goals. “Most of the faculty are heavily involved,” McCarthy says. “We encourage students to sit down and talk about where they want to go. Some times students just need a sounding board with an idea, and we try to push them to look at options, ask questions and to get as much informa tion about other opportuni ties, not just lock themselves into one area.” Part of how students are en couraged to make life decisions

“We try to get the students involved in a number of ways through class or extra-curricular activities pretty early on so that our freshman are involved in animal handling – both food animal and equine – in their first year,” says Farabee McCar thy, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of Animal Science Pre-Veterinary Studies. The University of Findlay is a private university in Findlay, Ohio. Though a smaller col lege than most, with an average

The livestock show team’s big shows are in Louisville, Ky., and Denver, Colo. Students who go to these shows are chosen based on a reward system.

total enrollment of just over 4,000 students, the school is well known for its animal science and equestrian studies programs. The animal science department is made up of about 600 students who choose from three different programs: pre-veterinary, science or industry, allowing students to focus on one area. The pre-vet option includes several courses that are required by some veterinary schools in addition to normal, undergraduate animal science classes. The science option is directed more toward students who are interested in a career that is more lab-oriented or if they are consider ing graduate school. The industry option is more heavily weighted toward business and better for students who plan to work in the industry after graduating. “We’re a pretty small facility really, so we advise all of our students within the department,” McCarthy says. “We try to advise students from the time they arrive to develop some options and have an open mind about other careers in animal agriculture.”

in the short time they are at the school is through exten sive hands-on experiences at the Pre-Veterinary Barn and the Dr. C. Richard Beckett Animal Science Building, where students spend a good portion of their first two years learning practical animal handling, animal husbandry, care, restraint, nutrition and animal behavior.

Being on the livestock show team is a way for students to gain hands on experience around cattle and network throughout the industry.

Ten years ago, as student numbers were increasing, the animal science department received funds to put together a herd of livestock for study and research. “We had some animals, but no significant numbers, and we didn’t have a lot of the other species,” McCarthy says. “We’re kind of limited in terms of acreage, so I needed to have something that was going to give students opportuni ties, particularly the kinds of students we get who don’t have a lot of experience or background in large animals, but yet still have the numbers to meet our needs.”

Not all students are experienced in showing cattle, but each student is given various responsibilities at the show, working together for the good of the team.

Continued on page 10 ›

8 | THE LEDGER

Hello American Aberdeen Enthusiasts, We are honored to announce that we will be assisting the American Aberdeen Association and its member ship with the annual National American Aberdeen Sale at the National Western Stock Show in Denver. The 2019 National American Aberdeen Sale will be held on Thursday, January 24th, 2019 at 1 pm MST. Our team, James Danekas & Associates has been in the business for over forty years managing seedstock cattle sales throughout the country. As a family, we are also Aberdeen enthusiasts and proud owners of a few head. We believe in the breed and look forward to contributing to its promotion and growth. We are excited to work with the National American Aberdeen Association Sale Committee in implementing a few changes to better 2019’s event! Please see changes being implemented below: • A presale social will be held prior to the sale outside the Pepsi Arena. All sale animals will be displayed at this time giving potential buyers time to view the cattle and meet with the consignors. • Sale entry fee has been increased to $150. All entry fees will be applied to final sale expenses. • A sift process will be implemented at entry time by the Sale Committee. The National American Aberdeen Sale has been known for elite genetics and this process will help maintain that this event remains the upper echelon of American Aberdeen sales. The committee will look at both pedigree and photo(s) of the entry to determine if the combined quality of both fit the bill for the 2019 sale. If an animal is reject- ed, the entire entry fee will be refunded. With this being said, start early! Make sure you begin getting condition on entries and if you need assistance in achieving quality photos, we have supplied a list of livestock photographers that are located throughout the country in the entry packet. Each entry must have two photos submitted with entry – digital files only (photos may or may not be used in catalog de pending on photo quality). • Entries will be due by November 1st, 2018 to ensure the catalog is received 30 days prior to the auction. • Just a reminder – all entries must be entered in the National Western Aberdeen Show. Entry forms are available at www.nationalwestern.com Entry deadline is November 15. A link for this entry form will also be available on our website next to the sale entry forms. Entries are open to high quality registered American Aberdeen Fullbloods, American Aberdeen Moderators and American Aberdeen + cattle. *Reminder: All National Sale cattle must be DNA verified to their American Aberdeen lineage. Again, we are very excited to be a part of this superb event. We look forward to working with you and having a successful 2019 sale! If you would like to know more about us, visit www.jdaonline.com or feel free to call us anytime, we’d love to hear from you. Entries are available on the JDA, Inc. and the Ameri can Aberdeen Association websites - www.jdaonline.com & www.americanaberdeen.com Again, please start preparation early. The better prepared, the better your entry. Let’s make 2019 great!

530/668/1224 www . jdaonline . com

Live Auctions . TV Live on the Internet,Live Audio,Video Bidding

FALL 2018 | 9

Learning Through Doing Continued from page 8

He began researching smaller breeds that the program could also get involved in from a breeding standpoint and grass-oriented-type breeds that could put together a nice set of commercial cattle, but he kept getting drawn back to the Aberdeen. “The more I got to looking at them, they seemed like if we could get them bought at a reasonable price, they could be an opportunity that would work really well with some of our needs,” McCarthy says. The first 12 cattle came from two breeders – Spring Creek Farm in Iowa and Double J in Nebraska. Six years ago, the program purchased more cattle from the Univer sity of Georgia, which McCarthy says took the program to another level. “There were some national champion cows in there,” he says. “In fact, we still have offspring and we do some embryo work with them, so over time we have just simply tried to improve as a herd and also as a breed to try to bring some things to the table that other breeders could use. It’s always an ongoing process, but I think that we’re headed in the right direction with the cattle.” In addition to the cattle, after the success of the Aber deen cattle, the facilities became home to a flock of about 120 Southdown brood ewes. “It gives the students opportunities to work with the livestock and see some of the industry through going to Denver, Colo. and Sedalia, Mo.,” McCarthy says. “We’re always trying to provide more learning experiences for our students.” According to McCarthy, many of Findlay’s incoming students come from less production agriculture-oriented backgrounds, partly because he sees agriculture in general losing more young people in terms of having hands-on pro duction opportunities. “Most livestock operations have continued to increase in size while decreasing in number of producers. As a result, most of our students may have shown animals in 4-H, but they are not coming with real farm backgrounds,” he says. Now more than ever, McCarthy believes that it’s the university’s duty to prepare animal science students with experience so that they are able to deal with real-world problems and situations that arise in the industry on a day-to-day basis. And as much as students want to be involved on campus, McCarthy says the opportunities are there whether through clubs, research opportunities, internships, student employment or the livestock show team. Students are encouraged to join clubs, and McCarthy says that the Pre-Vet Club and the Block and Bridle club are the most active on campus. “The Block and Bridle club will take some trips and have events periodically, and the Collegiate FFA club puts on a judging clinic in the spring and they have put on steer shows in the spring as well.” Though Findlay doesn’t have a graduate studies pro gram, there are still opportunities for students to get involved, if that is what they are interested in. “It varies with the different faculty members in terms of how many students they work with, but in general, students who want to do research or be involved in some animal research are able to for a semester or year or even longer,” McCarthy says. Not only are internships highly recommended for most animal science students, they are required for students in

the science and industry options. Often, the internships are with veterinarians over the period of a summer, but students are encouraged to broaden their horizons and explore the many opportunities available to them. “Students are encouraged to find other internships and apply for those, but we have a faculty member that focus es a portion of her time on developing relationships with various operations and companies to try to generate some of those opportunities for our students,” McCarthy says. Internships are sometimes available through the animal science department, but students are also able to volun teer or work part time at the livestock units under the two fulltime barn managers. “Beyond them, it’s all student labor,” McCarthy says. At the barns, students learn how to do anything and everything, from processing cattle to checking health and doctoring the livestock. Once students have worked at the barns for a period of time, McCarthy says they are treated almost like employees in terms of responsibilities. “If they see something abnormal, students are sup posed to bring them in and try to get whatever needs to be done with them done,” McCarthy says. And for students who are interested in or have experi ence showing livestock, students make up the entirety of the livestock show team for both the Aberdeen cattle and the Southdown sheep. Students begin working with the cattle around the second or third week of the fall semes ter, when they start preparing for shows by halter breaking the calves to lead and rinsing and blowing them out. A reward system is used to decide which students get to go to the big shows like Louisville and Denver. “We get about 70 students who are interested,” McCar thy says. “But the students who are the most active are invited to help and show the cattle.” Each student is assigned jobs in whatever their skill is on show day, from pulling legs to making sure cattle are ready ringside to showing the actual animals, with the end goal being the same – giving students opportunities to network and learn their way around the livestock. “All of the students have opportunities to be on the show teams, and our curriculum really provides as much opportunity as they want to take,” McCarthy says. “We are trying to produce advocates for agriculture, and that starts with introducing and allowing students to get these kinds of experiences.” TL Near the end of the spring semester, students halter break show sheep and get them prepared for the upcoming show seasons, which concludes at the Ohio State Fair in August.

10 | THE LEDGER

LOGIST ICS  NE I L EFFERTZ

H ello American Aberdeen Association members and American Junior Aberdeen Association (AJAA) mem bers! I hope that you are all doing well and getting geared up for the fall and winter shows and sales, and other Aberdeen events. This past June, the AJAA hosted a very successful 2018 Junior Na tional Show and Competition in Ames, Iowa, on the Iowa State University campus. AJAA members from across the country entered more than 80 cattle for the annual event. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners! The AJAA Board of Directors thanks all of the sponsors who made this show possible. Having great sponsors made it pos sible to provide numerous meals and fantastic awards for the juniors to take home with them. We are also happy to announce the 2018-2019 AJAA Board of Directors, who were elected during Junior Na tionals, including Duncan Haiar, Jaysie Schoenfeld, Jaci Brown, Jordan Gilles, Taylor Kruger, Carson Schnieders and Madalyn Gabel. We look forward to serving the junior members this year! As we near the end of 2018, we are beginning to plan for the 2019 Junior National Show. The AJAA Board of Directors is excited to announce that the 2019 Junior Na tional Show and Competition will be held at the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Lawrence, Kan. Mark your calendars for June 24-29, 2019! All AJAA members are invited and encouraged to participate! Please be on the lookout for more information and details coming soon. Our next event will be held in conjunction with the 2019 National Western Stock Show and the National “W hen the going gets tough, the tough get going!” My coach told me that years ago, and it’s a slogan that has served me well over the years. Here’s a twist on it that is certainly applicable to market ing Aberdeen breeding stock in this day and age – “When marketing gets tough, use the best bulls!” Use bulls that are well known to be among the breed’s best. Their offspring will always be in demand and highly sought after. No matter what the market saturation level, their sons and daughters will sell. This has been proven in many breeds more highly saturated with breeding stock for sale than American Aberdeen. Another key component to this analysis is the phrase “breeding stock.” Just because an animal is sired by a reg istered bull and out of a registered dam does not neces sarily mean it’s “breeding stock.” Keep in mind that if our breed is going to continue to improve, only bulls that are above average should be kept as breeding stock to propa gate the next generation of Aberdeens. In most herds, this means at least half of the male calves should be castrated and sold for beef. This theory should also apply to many marginal, below-average heifer calves. Many fullblood breeders are hung up on the fact that their cows are fullbloods and expect their calves to de

American Aberdeen Show and Sale in Denver, Colo., in January. The annual AJAA fundraising auction will be held again this year during the annual banquet. We hope to offer a variety of lots, including genetic opportunities via semen, embryos and, of course, a high-quality donation heifer. The AJAA Board of Directors is currently looking for lots to add to the highly successful fundraising auction. If you have something to offer, please reach out to any of the Junior Board members and we will be glad to assist you. Thank you again to everyone for all your support this past year. Hope to see all of you in Denver next January! TL ABERDEEN EVENTS October 14-16 Northern Intl. Livestock Exposition, Billings, Mont. 21 American Royal Aberdeen Show, Kansas City, Mo. November 3 Aberdeen Supreme Sale, Gallatin, Mo. 14-15 NAILE Aberdeen Show, Louisville, Ky. January 2019 23-26 American Aberdeen Assn. National Sale, Open and Junior Show, Denver, Colo. March 9 Shetler Cattle Company Aberdeen Production Sale, Dickinson, N.D. mand top dollar, just because they are fullbloods. Many fullblood cows raise nice, healthy calves each year, but not all of those calves will be above-average, fullblood Aber deen “breeding stock.” These same fullblood cows can be great producers if used differently. They are generally small-framed and when bred to a Moderator or Moderator Plus bull or an easy calving bull of a different breed, they can efficiently raise excellent, highly marketable Moderator or Aberdeen Plus calves that will routinely wean well in excess of 50 percent of their dam’s weight – a great benchmark for extremely efficient Aberdeen cows. These percentage calves also efficiently produce high quality beef that is in high demand in the locker beef trade. They are also marketable at local sale barns, often bringing premium prices and no discount. Another very effective use for lower-end fullblood cows is as recipients for superior-quality embryos. They are per fectly capable of raising a fullblood calf and will be much cheaper to maintain than a full-size recip. All Aberdeen breeders are capable of thinking outside the box or we wouldn’t have Aberdeen cattle. We certainly can think out of the box when it comes to enhancing the productivity of our middle- and lower-earning cows to make them all they can be. That’s how the tough get go ing! TL

JUNIOR CORRAL  DUNCAN HAIAR, AJAA PRESIDENT

FALL 2018 | 11

12 | THE LEDGER

G rass M aster C attle BIG GAIN WITHOUT BIG FRAME! Not all moderate-framed cattle are made the same. No matter what segment of the beef industry you are breeding for, our cattle need to gain to be profitable. At GMC, our Aberdeen Moderators are achieving frame moderation goals while remarkably increasing weight per day-of-age from birth to 12 months. These multi-generation calves are gaining 2.2 to as high as 3.3 pounds every day they are alive, measured to 12 months, which is grass turn-out time here. Calves are weaned at 8 to 9 months off the cow with no creep and usually foraging crop residue the final 3 months on the cow. They are fed a grain-free, high-nutrient ration through winter. It has taken 17 years of genetic selection with the help of carcass ultrasound and strict culling to maintain calving ease, while increasing gain with muscle and flesh with modest frame increase. Most of our nations’ commercial cow herd show big gains due to big frame growth. They require one-third more land usage and are certainly not a fit for high-quality grass-fed beef. Our mission has been, and will be, to produce calving-ease cattle that gain muscle and flesh on forage in a timely manner. GMC Aberdeens will increase ribeye per 100 wt., and demonstrate higher marbling with fine, textured, tender end product. Stop in this fall and pick your low-maintenance champions, including jaw-dropping red fullblood and Moderators by Ducati, Rob Roy and others. Rick Lloyd GRASS MASTER CATTLE

GMC Pitt Bull A531X

A531X is co-owned with grass-fed producer Gabe Brown, Brown's Ranch, Bismarck, N.D.

GMC Marksman by GMC Rifleman with 3.3 WDA birth to 12 months

MM 24232

Ultrasound at 22 months of age ▪ REA: 20.87 ▪ BF: .15 REA/CWT: 1.61 ▪ Ribeye Ratio: .53 ▪ IMF: 5.0 ▪ Tenderness: 2.2

Rick Lloyd ▪ Chamberlain, S.D. 605-730-6152 grassmastercattle@gmail.com

75% Moderator ▪ DOB: 6/6/2013 ▪ BW: 53 Sire: RLL Scooter ▪ Dam: GMC Crystal Clear Y531

FALL 2018 | 13

Shea Esser, Esser Family Livestock A Commitment to Raising High-Quality Livestock with a Passion for Service BY JESSIE TOPP-BECKER, MANAGING EDITOR

I t was 2004 when the Esser family purchased their first Aberdeen cattle – two open heifers from Fairwyn Farms. Since then, the Bloomington, Wis., operation has grown its herd to 45 Aberdeen cows, largely Mod erators with a select number of fullbloods. For many years, the Essers maintained a dairy farm be fore selling the cows and moving to a small acreage. “We wanted a breed that we could expand with on our small acreage, and Aberdeens fit the bill,” Shea Esser explains. “Their docility, easy fleshing ability, functionality, stocking rates and beef quality were what really made us consider the breed.” Esser Family Livestock is a true family operation. Shea’s wife, Madeline; parents, Pat and Kim; and brother, Cordt, each contribute to the operation in their own unique way. Over the course of the past 14 years, the Essers’ pro gram has made great strides and evolved from the hobby it started as to include a more rigorous breeding program. “Our cows have a type and kind, and work in many facets of the industry,” Esser says. “We strive to produce problem-free cattle that have a lot of longevity. Udder qual ity, fertility, docility and fleshing ability are traits that we largely focus on.” Aberdeens’ ability to moderate frame size and improve carcass traits and quality is the driving reason the family continues to raise this breed of cattle. Esser admits Aber deens are not “the one-stop-shop to the commercial beef business,” but says “they are an important tool in the belt that more should consider.” “The nation’s cow herd, in general, is too large in frame size, and our breed offers the solution,” he adds. The operation is focused on raising high-quality breed ing stock that impacts its customers’ bottom lines, and Esser is proud of their passion for serving customers. “We do our very best to make sure that our customers’ purchases are exactly what they are looking for and suit their needs,” he says. “Our success is dependent on their success. We build relationships with people, not just make the sale.” Esser has been around Aberdeen cattle for a large por tion of his life and had the opportunity to serve on the

inaugural American Junior Aberdeen Association (AJAA) Board of Directors (what was referred to as the American Low line Junior Associa tion at that time). He served on the Board from 2008 to 2015. Although he was excited to run for a position on the Board, when it came

time to fill out the application, Esser had some reserva tions. “At the time, I was under the qualified age, we had no name, five cows and knew hardly anyone,” he says. Thanks to some encouragement from his mom, Esser completed the application and was elected to a position. That experience taught him a valuable lesson, which was to “always believe in yourself and what you think is right.” Being an AJAA member was a rewarding experience and one that has had a lifelong impact on Esser’s life. He en courages all youth to get involved in the association, or any youth organization. “The youth associations in the cattle industry are some of the best out there,” he says. “I strongly encourage every junior to take advantage of the opportuni ties they present.” Involvement in a junior association, such as AJAA, teach es many valuable skills – networking, teamwork, public speaking and more. Esser is confident that participation in AJAA will give young people a solid foundation and propel them to a bright future. “Members don’t even know that what they are participating in is helping to mold their skills to make them some of the best youth in the nation.” Through his involvement in AJAA and the American Aber deen Association, Esser has built many friendships. “These cattle have taken me across the United States and helped me build relationships with countless numbers of breed ers,” he says. A testament to the solid friendships built over the years, many Aberdeen breeders celebrated with Shea and Mad eline at their Sept. 15, 2018, wedding. “We would like to thank each and every one of them for their well wishes.” TL Shea and Madeline share a love of Aberdeen cattle.

Esser Family Livestock exhib ited the Supreme Champion Full blood Aberdeen and Grand Cham pion Fullblood Bull, FCC Night Shift, at the 2017 Houston Interna tional Aberdeen Show.

Shea Esser and his family raise Moderator and fullblood Aberdeen cattle on their Bloomington, Wis., operation.

14 | THE LEDGER

FALL 2018 | 15

2018 Aberdeern Junior National Show AJAA Parade of Champions The 9th Annual American Junior Aberdeen Association (AJAA) Junior National Show and Competitions, “Aberdeens Take Over Ames,” was held June 18-23, 2018, in Ames, Iowa.

16 | THE LEDGER

Emma Vickland judged the Owned Steers and Females competition and Chris Cassady, Ph.D., judged the Bred and Owned Bulls and Females competition.

FALL 2018 | 17

Contest Winners 2018 Aberdeern Junior National Show

18 | THE LEDGER

BIG BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL RED & BLACK THESE HEIFERS SELL IN SUPREME, NOVEMBER 3, 2018 GALLATIN, MISSOURI

AS JASE REGISTRATION #26139 This 4 year old Red Fullblood bull is the sire of these Red Fullblood heifers that are selling in Supreme. The heifers speak for the breeding capabilities of Jase. Bluey is not in Jase’s pedigree. He is correct, deep, thick and long making him one of the most attractive Red Fullblood bulls available. CONTACT US FOR SEMEN AND CERTIFICATES!

BORN 2-25-18 SIRE AS JASE

BORN 3-11-18 SIRE AS JASE

BORN 2-18-18 SIRE ALL JACKED UP

BORN 2-22-18 SIRE ALL JACKED UP

FOR SALE AT THE FARM BRED BLACK RED GENE CARRIER, FULLBLOOD HEIFERS BRED TO AS JASE

FALL 2018 | 19 ALLEN SIEVERKROPP • 22288 SAGEBRUSH FLATS ROAD • EPHRATA, WA 98823 • 509-750-4203 SIEVERKROPP@GMAIL.COM • SFOURFARMS.COM

Ausmerica Apex Bringing Aberdeen Genetics to the Peak! Calves arriving in Sept./Oct.

We also have cattle for sale! YEARLING BULLS SHOW HEIFERS Ask for our price list.

Semen available at $25/straw

2012 NAILE Champion Get of Sire and Sire of 2014 Kr yptonite

Home of Doc Holliday and Encore!

NAILE Champion Purebred Heifer.

CC Violet – a “typical” Kryptonite daughter

Semen $20/straw

www.crosscreekcattle.com Cell: 270-606-0965 Email: crosscreekcattle@gmail.com

'CROSS CREEK FARMS Ron & Cindy Jackson Bluett 909 Travelstead Rd. • Adolphus, KY 42120

ABERDEEN SUPREME SALE | NOVEMBER 3, 2018 | GALLATIN, MO

RED FULLBLOODS SELL!

S )

SUN 220 E FF 35627 Bred to Ez Skywalker FM 34641 (Red Fullblood Bull) for a Spring 2019 Fullblood Red Calf

SUN 174 D FF31540 Bred to EZ Skywalker FM 34641(Red Fullblood Bull) for a Spring 2019 Red Fullblood Calf

SUN 218 E FF35628 Bred to EZ Skywalker FM 34641(Red Fullblood Bull) for a Spring 2019 Red Fullblood Calf

SUN 229 E FF 37759 Full Sister to Sun Joy 213D FF34941 That Sold in Denver

SECREST CATTLE COMPANY Justin Secrest | 405-880-4755 | Sunset Hill Ranch | 5818W. McMurtry Road | Stillwater, OK 74075

20 | THE LEDGER

Casper, WY (307) 262-1279 LivestoCk 2J

ABERDEEN  MARKETPLACE

Fine Line Farm LLC

Aberdeen Angus Breeding Stock and Grass-fed Beef

Mike and Linda Wehner PH: (812)-873-0012

CM DuCati 3C hoMe of CM LowLines

Charleen Mellott Chamberlain, SD 57325 (970) 420-8143 lowlinecattle2@gmail.com

Dallefeld Cattle Co. DC Karl & lisa DallefelD 6729 K & K Rd. Worthington, Iowa 52078 (563)590-7929 karld@prairiecreekseed.com ABERDEEN ANGUS & HEREFORD CATTLE Fullblood & Percentage Deep Creek Seedstock Marketing the higheSt in Quality FeMaleS & BullS www.DeepCreekSeedstock.com

Jim & Deanna Moris 8339 Adams Lane • Cassville, WI 53806 Phone: 608.725.5552 • Cell: 608.642.1837 Jim@highvoltagefarms.com www.highvoltagefarms.com H usung F arm Jack & Lucille Husung 18549 Deer Ridge Rd. Moody, TX 76557 (254) 681-4811 cell jwhusung@hotmail.com B reeding C hampion L owLines

Visit our website to see our cattle for sale: bblowlines.com

Bill Kauffman 610.842.8415

23 Mountz Rd., Morgantown, PA

N D ale & C anDee n ewman Stillwater, Okla. (405) 880-1429 (405) 880-6638 bar.n.newman@gmail.com B ar N r aNch Home of Herd Sires: Vitulus Branded Red Bar N RePete 21C Concentrating on Quality Rather Than Quantity

Jillane Pike 140246 Mitchell Heights Road Mitchell, NE 69357 jillpike79@gmail.com

(720) 891-5171 

To place an ad in The Ledger, contact Sales Representative: DEAN PIKE (303) 810-7605 • Dean.pike249@gmail.com

WINTER ISSUE ADVERTISING DEADLINE Reserve your ad by Nov. 20, 2018!

FALL 2018 | 21

How Does Mature Cow Weight Influence Calf Weaning Weights and Profitability? BY ERIC A. DEVUYST, PH.D., PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY; COURTNEY BIR, PH.D. CANDIDATE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, PURDUE UNIVERSITY; MEGAN ROLF, PH.D., ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCES AND INDUSTRY, KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY; AND DAVID LALMAN, PH.D., PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL AND FOOD SCIENCES, OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY

T here is increasing concern about the long-term trend toward heavier beef cows. A recent study by Maples, Lusk and Peel 1 shows that heavier carcasses have cost the U.S. beef industry $8.6 billion due to reduced consumer demand. Studies consis tently find that consumers want thick-cut steaks. However, large ribeye and loin cross-sectional areas prevent retailers from serving thick steaks while maintaining desired por tion size. We recently evaluated how heavier cows impact the profitability of cow-calf producers. Data from the American Angus Association demonstrates that expected progeny differences (EPDs) for mature weight have increased steadily since the late 1970s, while frame size is un changed. In Figure 1, genetic trend for Mature Height (MH) is relatively flat, while Mature Weight (MW) has increased by nearly 40 pounds. Since frame size is unchanged, that means the cow herd has added more muscle, bone and visceral organ mass.

Concurrent with the increase in weight, comes in creased nutritional requirements and reduced stocking rates. The question then is: Are higher cow weights eco nomically justified given heavier weaning weights? Using data on more than 3,000 cows from three re search stations in Oklahoma and Arkansas, we recently estimated calf weaning weights as a function of mature cow weight. The resulting function shows a less-than-linear increase in weaning weight as cow weight increases. In Figure 2, the solid curve is the estimated 205-day weaning weight for a spring-calving, 6-year-old Angus cow on native pasture. Results show the curve is below the dashed line, which reflects mature cow size. This means that each additional pound of mature cow weight adds less to calf weaning weight. Weaning weights increase, but at a decreasing rate. So, increasing mature cow size from a 950-pound cow to a 1,000-pound cow increases wean ing weight by 6.8 pounds. However, increasing mature cow size from a 1,750-pound cow to an 1,800-pound cow in creased weaning weight by only 4.7 pounds. Both increase mature weight by 50 pounds, but with different results. Given that stocking rates decline as cow

weight increases, and that weaning weights are concave in cow weight, heavier cows are unlike ly to be the most profitable on a per acre basis – and our analysis confirmed this suspicion. Over all of the scenarios we considered (spring and fall calving, Angus cows and Brangus cows, native pasture and Bermuda pastures), lighter cows outperformed heavier cows over a 10-year period when profits are computed per acre. Our model also considered the higher cull value of heavier cows, differences in stocking rates and supplemental feed costs, and price variations over time. Figure 3 shows per acre net present value of beef cows by mature weight. Values fall from $39.75 per acre per head for 950-pound cows to $22.63 per acre per head for 1,800-pound cows. While results will differ for individual produc ers, the economics are pointing to reducing cow weights to improve economic returns. Even if our analyses are off by 20 percent, the economically optimal mature cow weight is less than 1,200 pounds. So, how does a producer with heavy cows adjust cow weight? Just as it has taken the industry several years to reach the current situ ation, producers will need to adjust over time. Producers will need to reestablish a maternal line in the herd. They should breed cows with desirable phenotypic and genotypic traits to

Figure 1. Mature Weight (MW) and Mature Height (MH) EPDs for Angus cows. Source: American Angus Association, 2018.

Figure 2. Influence of mature cow weight on 205-day calf weaning weight. Source: Bir et al. 2018 2

Continued 

22 | THE LEDGER

ABERDEEN  MARKETPLACE

America’s Fullblood Red Lowline Foundation Herd LAZY G www.lazyglowline.com LOWLINES

Sigel SunSet Ranch

Cadott, Wisconsin 715.215.9864

Tunk Mountain Ranch ABERDEEN CATTLE

USA#18469 StarViewFarmLtd.com Home of GMC Rifleman B9900 Co-owned with Grass Master Cattle JEFF & TERI SCHELKOPF P.O. Box 343 Sutton, NE 402-469-7294 Star View Farm Lowline  Aberdeen Bulls  Cows  Calves Breeding exceptional aBerdeen & Moderator cattle for all prograM types. Mark & TaMMy Gilles 715.215.9864 sigelsunsetranch@gmail.com 970 - 691 - 0623  SVFSales@mail.com AUS#13545 CAN#1249 Yukon Jack 28Y Son of Yarra Ranges Jackaroo Semen  Embryos

Glenn & Nancy Chapman LGL Lazy G Lowlines Vale, Oregon (541) 473-4248

Darren & Katherine Wise 1765 Tunk Creek Rd. • Riverside,WA 98849 509/846-3075 (D) • 509/846-3013 (K)

LAZY G lowlines

tunkmountainranch@live.com TunkMountainRanch.com

lowlineangus@hotmail.com

Neenah Creek l i ve s tock Specializing in ReD ameRican abeRDeen Breeding for the Best REDAmerican Aberdeen Genetics

Dale Krebs, Owner (608) 584-5605

www.neenahcreeklivestock.info 2892 county Rd. g • Oxford, Wi 53952 email: dale@neenahcreeklivestock.info

American Aberdeen Cattle 100% NZ Kiko Goats

www.sharidonfarms.com

Don Brown & Shari Schroeder 9795 Bruns Rd. Richmond, MO 64085 (816) 419-3514 sharidonfarms@gmail.com

triplescattleco@windstream.net

Y4 Ranch Missy Ousley, & Cowan Perkins Owners

Continued from page 22

tive but have a lower projected mature weight. It could take up to 10 years to replace heavy cows, but the economics point to improved profitability. TL

moderately sized mature bulls and retain heifer calves that are both phe notypically and genotypically attrac

27810 Hwy. 20 West Hines, Oregon 97738 (541) 589-4852 (541) 589-1475 y4ranch@yahoo.com

y4ranchlowlines.com

Footnotes 1 Maples, J.G., Lusk, J.L., and Peel, D.S. 2016. “When Bigger Isn’t Better: Steak Size and Consumer Preferences,” 2016 Annual Meeting, July 31- August 2, 2016, Boston, Mass., Agricultural and Applied Economics Association. 2 Bir, Courtney A., E. A. DeVuyst, M. Rolf, and D. Lalman, 2018. “Optimal Beef Cow Weights in the U.S. Southern Plains,” Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 43(1): 103-117.

Figure 3. Net present value per head per acre by mature cow weight for spring calving Angus cows on native pasture. Source: Bir et al. 2018 2 .

FALL 2018 | 23

They Sell at the Supreme!

They have all been pasture exposed to

WDL R2D2 239C Reg. #MM27976 from 6-30-18 to 9-1-18

and will be verified bred by sale date.

JJ Red Velvet 2E DOB: 4-12-17 Moderator Bred Heifer Reg. #MF34985

JJ Aston 6A DOB: 3-25-13 Moderator Bred Cow Reg. #MF20605

2J LIVESTOCK Casper, Wyoming (307) 262-1279 2jlivestock@gmail.com 2J LIVESTOCK

JJ Leah 10B DOB: 5-31-14 Fullblood Bred Cow Reg. #FF25918

JJ Merle 12F DOB: 4-19-18 Moderator Heifer Calf of JJ Ashton 6A Reg. #MF37687

Setting the Standard in american aberdeen geneticS D&JFarm

SelliNg 2 SHow pRoSpeCtS just like Victoria at the Aberdeen Supreme Sale, Nov. 3, 2018, gallatin, Mo. the heifer calf sells!

DBJ JER LindyVictoria 2018 Junior National Reserve Champion Fullblood Heifer

A Fairwyn Legacy Daughter sells! Out of an EZ Update dam, this female has so much voLume and cApAcity . She is sure to catch your eye and have a halter-handling! A DBJ Ben 233C daughter (Boxcar x Maggie), out of an LTL Creede daughter. Born 4/8/18, she is Long-boDieD with a beautiful profile. notAbLe peDigree from this show prospect.

bred by d&J Farm

All JAcked up

Sired by:

Born: 3/17/17 Exhibited by: OliviA prunty, Runnells, Iowa This heifer is an example of the kinD and quALity of females raised at D&J.

D&J Farm Dwane Riedemann Sutherland, Iowa 51058 (712) 446-3441 (712) 260-1891 (cell) driedemann@hotmail.com

24 | THE LEDGER