Industry Education

Mr. James Fordham Breeder of the Top Indexing Bull Overall with his SimAngus Bull.	Mr. and Mrs. Charles Flythe and they were the breeders of the Top Indexing Purebred Simmental Bull.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   2015 Calhoun Bull Test High Indexing Bull Overall - Purebred Simmental bred by Rick Wood, Woodlawn Farms. Woodlawn Farms also bred the High Indexing SimAngus Bull.

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2015 GSSA Annual Meeting & Banquet

GSSA Commercial Cattleman of the Year Terry Chandler, Danielsville, GA	GSSA Field Day Host Wendell & Nan Gibbs, Ranburne, AL	GSSA Golden Book Award Callie Moss
AJSA Gold Merit Award GSSA Member: Gibson Priest	GSSA Breeder of the Year John Callaway, Callaway Cattle Company	GSSA Golden Book Award Gary Farmer

Summer Fly Control

Cow tagged with 2 tags.

Warmer weather always brings out flies . For cattle that means either Horn Flies or Face Flies or both . Not only are flies annoying but they cause weight loss due to sucking blood from the cow but also cause her to milk less and they can also spread pinkeye . The cow suffers and her nursing calf suffers .

   Research has shown that when flies are controlled nursing calves will gain 1/3 lb more per day than when there is no fly control .
Assuming flies are controlled for 100 days , usually June through September, you could expect an additional weight gain of 35 to 40 lbs . At todays prices that's an additional income of $60 to $70 .

   If you use Fly Tags to control flies your cost will be about $6.75 per cow/calf pair . This is based on using 2 tags for the cow and one for the calf and tags costing about $2.25 each . This is a return of over $50 per calf . If tags are used always use 2 per cow and one for the calf to get good control . Remember to remove the tags at the end of fly season to prevent flies from building resistance to certain chemicals .Always switch chemicals each year .

  Other methods can also be used such as spraying , back-rubbers and certain pour-ons . Consult your local vet for additional information relating to controlling flies.

GSSA Supports Beef Industry Scholarship Challenge 
View PDF - click here!

Spring Forage and Wildlife Newsletter
View PDF - click here!

Congratulations to GSSA members Alex Tolbert and Cole Elrod who had both the High Indexing Simmental and SimAngus bulls at the recent Calhoun Bull Test Sale. They also had the high selling bull. Presenting the plaques is Dr Gary Hill, Chairman of the UGA Bull Test Committee.

Tifton Bull Test Evaluation Sale, Overall High Indexing Bull and High Indexing SimAngus Bull, James W Fordham with his granddaughter, and Gary Hill, Chairman of UGA Bull Test Committee.

Tifton Bull Test Evaluation Sale, High Indexing Simmental Bull. Gary Hill presents plaque to Danny Foshee representing  Danfowin Farm. Absent from picture is Edwin Foshee.

Getting Ready For The Fall Breeding Season 
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Pennington Winter Forage Newsletter
(PDF) - click here!

Farm Ear Tag Design

1- Ear Tags along with tattoes are the most used forms of ID in beef cattle. The tags shown are one example of designing tags that give you quite a bit of information but are no means the only way.

 2- The first data listed is the year, followed by the Sire's name ( abbreviated ), followed by the Dam's number, followed by the calf's official number. Example Y1 means the calf was born in 2011 and was the first calf born on the farm. The letter Y is the alphabet letter used for calves born in 2011.

 3 - The Y3 calf was born in 2011, sired by Sure Bet, his dam was S4 and his number is Y3. If this was a heifer and retained as a replacement this information would stay with her for life. On the back of these tags is the actual birthdate and the calf's official registration name.

Limit Creep Feeding 

1 -- Milk production in lactating cows begins to decline when calves reach 3 - 4 months of age . Calves then depend on forage or feed to meet their nutritional needs .

 2-- Limit creep-feeding is a way to get extra protein and energy in calves when they are 3 - 4 months old . Limit feeding them keeps feed-costs under control .

3. If you are a seedstock producer weight per day of age is an important factor in marketing yearling bulls so a little extra feed can push calves along .

4. A creep gate can be built from materials on the farm . Usually 2 inch galvanized pipe is used . Vertical bars need to be 22 inches apart . An adjustable , vertical bar is also handy as it can be adjusted to keep yearling heifers or older cattle  out of the creep area . Old farm gates or panels can be used to make the feeding area .

5. Rations for calves can vary but Bull Test feeds are good and some use soyhull/corn glutten pellets . Feed about 1% of the calves body weight and adjust as the calves get older and/or the desired condition and gains desired . If you full-feed you are defeating the purpose of having a Limited Creep Feeding system .

Montana Stockgrowers Association
Bill on Beef: Episode 23 • Weighing Cattle

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Montana Stockgrowers Association

Montana Stockgrowers Association
Bill on Beef: Episode 21 • Idenification of Cattle

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Montana Stockgrowers Association

Montana Stockgrowers Association
Bill on Beef: Episode 20 • Pregnancy Checking Cattle

See more from Bill on Beef at 
Montana Stockgrowers Association

Water Requirements and Quality Issues for Cattle (Click here to view PDF)

Yon Family Farms Weaning/Preconditioning Method (Click here to view PDF)

ASA/SimTalk Directory (Click here to view PDF)
• Quick Reference to ASA EPDs and $ Indexes
• TraitTrac
• Carcass Merit Program

2011 BIF Annual Research Symposium and Annual Meeting • Bozeman, Montana
• BIF Proceedings June 1-4, 2011
• ASA Carcass Merit Program Results