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As summer hits full swing with cattle
being moved from winter range to irrigated pasture and weaning
completed, spring sales are slacking. Moderate to strong demand
on heavy weights. Good cattle with uniformity, black hide and
lots of growth set the standard.
Most winter pasture conditions in
California are quite dry due to a second year drought, as our
rains ended early, late February in most areas. With the early
cutoff of rain and the heat as high as 113 degrees in some
valley areas along with the extreme fires in June, it is just
plain dry. The lack of moisture has brought us high hay prices
from $125 per ton in 2007 to $250 per ton in 2008. Fuel prices
are up with no end in sight. With all this considered, we as
seed stock producers should take a step back and evaluate our
own programs for what goals need to be met. Keeping in mind,
profits are a necessary item for our customer, the commercial
producer.
As the fall run of EPDs are
received, what is most discussed is dollar B values and who is
#1, #2 and #3 for IMF and rib eye measurements. Little
consideration is given to the commercial producer who may or may
not retain ownership through the feedlot to slaughter. His or
her pay day is often at weaning or shortly there after, where
pounds count on the bottom line income (not IMF or rib eye
measurements). With that said, more emphasis needs to be placed
on natural flushing ability, more meat and muscle. Growth
without the high cost of grain and hay (creep feeding, etc.).
Chasing high numbers, 0 for birth, 150 lbs. for yearling are not
realistic. These numbers are extreme to illustrate the use of
single trait breeding. Reflecting on the later 1980s and early
1990s when trends allowed our breed to get too big and
structurally incorrect to function efficiently in the market
place. I guess what Im trying to say again is, reevaluate your
programs and cull what doesnt fit the bill. Do not base
everything on numbers alone. Consider the needs of our
commercial customers, flushing ability, structural correctness
and temperament; all for the good of our breed. I am speaking
from my own past experience of chasing trends in the 80s and
90s, not to mention the time and cost to rectify.
Bill Traylor
WSAA Director
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