Blog Archive November 2012
Jeff This is actually quite a bit more important than most of the stuff I put up here...
Q: What age/class of cattle must have acceptable permanent identification?A: Sexually intact adult beef cattle 18 months and older and Mexican origin event cattle of any age. Nursing calves, steers, spayed heifers, bulls and heifers under 18 months are exempt (unless heifer has calved). Dairy cattle have been under more stringent identification requirements since 2008.Q: Do I need to tag all of my cattle?A: No. Only the classes of cattle mentioned above changing ownership will need to be tagged.Q: Where can I find the complete listing of all Commission approved permanent identification devices?A: Producers may access the complete list at www.tahc.state.tx.us or by contacting any TAHC office or personnel.Q: Do I have to use the free eartags offered, or can I use other acceptable methods of identification?A: No. The free metal tags are not required to be used, but they are one low cost option.
Full list of Q&A can be found in THIS PDF at the TAHC.
If you are going to get rid of old cows without an calfhood vaccination tag, it's probably worth calling your local sale barn and finding out what their policy is going to be come January 1st.
Remember the olden days when people thought I was mean? When one of you big name boys used to say I don’t like the entire industry because of the way I mock it.
Ummm, yeah, about that, this isn’t me…
Customer: will you clip that calf you sold me? Trader: for $150 I will, and you have to bring him here. #somewheredowninweatherfordTX
— Steer Trader Probs (@SteerTradrProbs) November 28, 2012
Family: that calf you sold us sucks. Me: is he insured? Family: yes. Me: do you have any trash bags?
— Steer Trader Probs (@SteerTradrProbs) November 9, 2012
Family: that's not the calf we bought on the Internet. Me: sure it is. Family: he was black this ones red. Me: minor details. #theyboughtit
— Steer Trader Probs (@SteerTradrProbs) November 8, 2012
Oh no, that steers not a leftover, I've been saving him just for you. #naiveclubcalfbuyers #easytarget #nolube
— Steer Trader Probs (@SteerTradrProbs) November 1, 2012
This, along with the nearly half dozen parody show cattle Twitter accounts, also flies in the face of one of my long held rules. The rule that in general show cattle people aren’t that funny.
The rule should be that show cattle people ARE funny; they’re just not brave enough to put their name on what they say.
....when you want go off on all those Facebook 'communiqué' posts so bad but so many of your friends have copied and pasted it that you are afraid of how many people you'll offend if you do?
Not something that impacts us here but also something that has sort of slid under the radar...
When an outbreak of Foot & Mouth disease (FMD) was identified in Zawiya at the end of 2010, the authorities responded accordingly, clearing a ring around the infected area, vaccinating livestock on the perimeter and placing strict controls on animal movements.When a subsequent outbreak was reported in Zliten at the start of 2011, animal health teams were unable to carry out this procedure before the revolution against the Qaddafi regime began.For the better part of the next year, as war in Libya raged, FMD quietly but rapidly spread. When the post-revolutionary authorities finally restarted their work in November 2011 they discovered that FMD, once controlled in Libya, was now everywhere.
There was a time when showing up to herd bull alley in hopes of seeing the club calf bulls on display Sunday meant you’d get to watch two bull dozers stacking up dirt. The biggest myth about Denver is that is still the case.
Along with a lot of other things, that changed in 2011. That was the first year that the owners were told to have their bulls on display Sunday morning. Some did. Some didn’t….and are now displaying their bulls in a different spot.
What was made very clear that year is that the new leadership at the NWSS is serious about making Sunday a day worth showing up. I asked Marshall Ernst (oh hey look, a named source, get used to that on here from now on), and that will be the case again this year.
If you do show up on Sunday hoping to see the bulls you won’t have to fight with anything resembling the mad house that elbows each other for a glimpse of each bull on Saturday. The bulls will be fit but won’t be fit up to their absolute best. In fact, we try as hard as we can to avoid doing bulls on Sunday unless we just missed one for some reason.
Long story short, if you’re making plans for Denver and can’t make Friday/Saturday, Sunday (this year, January 20th) is actually a nice day to be there.
Top individual sale lots of the past week...
- $42,000 - Heifer sired by Monopoly
- $35,500 - Heifer sired by REMINGTON LOCK N LOAD 54U
- $23,000 - Heifer sired by Monopoly
- $20,000 - Bred Cow sired by CNS Dream On L186
- $18,000 - Steer sired by Walks Alone
- $16,100 - Heifer sired by Believe in Me
- $15,000 - Heifer sired by Monopoly
- $15,000 - Bred Cow sired by SVF/NJC Built Right N48
- $13,500 - Heifer sired by Predator
- $13,000 - Heifer sired by Irish Whiskey
Greg Kroupa called.
He spoke with the NAILE administration and said that there has not been a protest officially filed with them.
That's why I have removed the original protest that was sent to us.
Are you looking for a judge?
Are you a judge?
Then check out the new site Livestockjudges.org. It’s a national directory of judges of all types and experience levels broken down by species and state. It’s perfect if you have a county show or jackpot and need some leads on a nearby judge...
Top individual sale lots of the past week...
- $28,500 - Heifer sired by EXAR Lutton
- $24,000 - Heifer sired by BBBN X
- $21,000 - Heifer sired by EXAR Lutton
- $17,000 - Bull sired by Connealy Consensus 7229
- $15,000 - Bull sired by Connealy Consensus 7229
- $14,000 - Heifer sired by Shocking Dream
- $13,500 - Bred Cow sired by GCC Hard as Steel
- $12,000 - Heifer sired by Power
- $11,500 - Bull sired by Connealy Consensus 7229
We got permission from the folks at the National Western a few months ago but like a lot of things, I kept forgetting to get approval from Show Champions. I finally spoke with Allan the other night and he’s okay with us doing what we’ve done in the past.
For what it’s worth, they did mention that they’re going to be cracking down more on unapproved stuff this year. They weren’t talking about my self-proclaimed mail order bride guru buddy, they didn’t know about him.
Not sure about the logistics of it all or whether we’re doing interviews this year, we’re going to figure that out today/tomorrow.
After Oklahoma State University finished off a very strong fall with a win at the NAILE...
| Rank | Team | Rating |
| 1 | Oklahoma State University | 1.237 |
| Top Finish: 1st @ 2012 NAILE | ||
| 2 | Texas A&M University | 1.220 |
| Top Finish: 1st @ 2012 National Western | ||
| 3 | Iowa State University | 1.197 |
| Top Finish: 1st @ 2012 Iowa Beef Expo | ||
| 4 | Western Illinois University | 1.196 |
| Top Finish: 1st @ 2012 National Barrow show | ||
| 5 | Colorado State University | 1.195 |
| Top Finish: 1st @ 2012 State Fair of Texas | ||
| 6 | Texas Tech University | 1.189 |
| Top Finish: 2nd @ 2012 San Antonio | ||
| 7 | Kansas Sate University | 1.183 |
| Top Finish: 1st @ 2012 Mid-America Classic Judging Contest | ||
| 8 | Ohio State University | 1.176 |
| Top Finish: 1st @ 2012 Keystone International | ||
| 9 | University of Georgia | 1.169 |
| Top Finish: 1st @ 2011 Arizona National | ||
| 10 | West Texas A&M University | 1.137 |
| Top Finish: 4th @ 2012 State Fair of Texas | ||
Credit Crystal Blin for pointing it out on her FB page...
DENVER – National Western Stock Show leaders, joined by Mayor Michael B. Hancock and other city officials, announced today they are committed to keeping the iconic and century-old Stock Show in Denver.
“Denver has been the Stock Show’s beloved home for 106 years, and our complex is a time-honored destination for visitors worldwide,” said Paul Andrews, the National Western’s President and CEO. “We want to enrich and educate the lives of millions for another century, and we believe our future exists right here where we began. By working with our dedicated city partners, we will find the best option to create a sustainable future for the world’s greatest stock show.”
The National Western’s intention is to remain at its current location in Denver’s Elyria-Swansea neighborhood and explore forging stronger partnerships and greater coordination with Art & Venues Denver and VISIT DENVER.
“We thank the National Western for its dedication to our city and those who have supported the show throughout the years,” Mayor Hancock said. “The National Western is a cherished cultural and economic asset that enriches our Western heritage. We stand at the ready to help them find a sustainable model that will deliver long-term success to the complex and the surrounding neighborhood.”
Last winter, Mayor Hancock requested detailed information from the National Western, including business, financial and facilities plans, to better understand the National Western’s current and future needs. Following receipt of those documents, the Mayor asked the Denver Urban Renewal Authority to provide an independent review of the data.
On Tuesday, DURA submitted to the Mayor an analysis of the National Western’s plans as well as additional comparative research of similar facilities and programs throughout the country. The analysis found that with greater coordination and stronger connections to partners such as the City, VISIT DENVER and Downtown Denver Partnership, the National Western will be better positioned to overcome existing facility and programming challenges, tap new markets and thrive for generations to come.
“Thank you Mayor Hancock for giving DURA the opportunity to provide independent analysis, and thank you to the National Western for working with us to produce a thoughtful and useful evaluation,” said Tracy Huggins, executive director of DURA. “It is our hope this report will help inform the next steps in the decision-making process.”
Moving forward, the City and County of Denver and VISIT Denver will work with the National Western to explore options to overcome challenges and strengthen the National Western Stock Show and Complex’s program and facilities. This will include identifying short-term solutions for necessary facilities maintenance as well as long-term plans for a sustainable future for the entire 95-acre complex.
The first step will be to include the Denver Coliseum and the National Western Stock Show Complex in an upcoming feasibility study by VISIT DENVER and Arts & Venues Denver. This study will evaluate market demand and assess the facility and amenity characteristics needed to accommodate those markets.
In August, the National Western also created a Business Plan Committee composed of local business and community leaders. The committee’s mission is to assist the Stock Show in defining its brand and provide input into plans for the future.
There’s obviously two sides to every story and I hope I’ve always been clear that the other side of stuff like yesterday is welcome to tell it here if they so desire.
I post this because I've deleted seven different comments that were submitted regarding yesterday’s post.
While posting the actual protest is one thing, rampant speculation or judgment of the parties involved will have be found somewhere else.
Top individual sale lots of the past week...
- $30,000 - Steer sired by Walks Alone
- $23,000 - Heifer sired by Irish Whiskey
- $16,500 - Heifer sired by Monopoly
- $16,500 - Heifer sired by Gran Torino
- $16,000 - Bull sired by Yellow Jacket
- $14,500 - Steer sired by Monopoly
- $14,000 - Heifer sired by GCC Total Recall
- $13,500 - Steer sired by Monopoly
- $13,000 - Heifer sired by Eagle Eye
- $11,500 - Heifer sired by Gran Torino
Without further ado, the final Livestockjudging.com Collegiate Power Rankings of 2012 before the NAILE.
OSU has pulled into a virtual tie with Texas A&M after winning in Kansas City…
- Texas A&M – 1.468
- OSU – 1.462
- Iowa State – 1.438
- Kansas State – 1.427
- Texas Tech – 1.416
- Colorado State – 1.409
- Western Illinois – 1.408
- West Texas A&M – 1.361
- Ohio State – 1.353
- Illinois – 1.348
How it’s calculated…
Each team in any collegiate livestock judging contest we can obtain results for is given a rating between 2.0 and 1.0. The 1st place overall team is given 2.0 points. The second place team is given 1.95 points, the 3rd place team 1.9 points, and so on through the top 20 teams.
The power ranking is an average of up to the top ten finishes for a team in the past year. All power ratings are normalized to 1.0 thus creating an average power rating of 1.0.
Only teams with at least five contests on record are included in the ranking and only the top ten finishes for each team are taken into consideration for their average. Because of this, the average power rating for all teams shown on this list will not average 1.0.
Only contests held since last year's NAILE are included in the rating.
Contests are weighted more or less heavily based on the ranking of the top five teams in the contest.
The NAILE is given twice the weight of other contests.
Good calf, actually won his class. However, on weigh back they found something wrong his ear tattoo and he was kicked out of the show.
Percentage of the breed classed out at Houston 2012…
- Angus – 47.2%
- Red Angus – 31.4%
- Brangus – 27.4%
- Simbrah – 21.5%
- Hereford – 20.9%
- Polled Hereford – 19.0%
- Simmental – 15.1%
- Santa Gertrudis – 13.9%
- Shorthorn – 13.0%
- Brahman – 10.3%
- Limousin – 9.2%
- Chianina – 6.5%
- Maine Anjou – 5.6%
- Charolais – 0.9%
Source: Houston Livestock Show Handbook
Click Here for last year’s numbers
Angus is up even more from the insanely high 41% of the previous year.
Red Angus doubled from 15% to over 31%.
Both of the Herefords have stayed right around that 20% mark in 2011 and 2012.
39 lots of genetics selling in a few hours.
Tonight's sale will be only shot to be sure you can get a few of the bulls like Gold Rush, Monopoly 2, and Mercedes Benz in the next week or two for fall breeding...
So you have a life and you haven’t been paying attention to college football.
Here’s a brief run down put into metaphors you people can understand…
Alabama – The $40,000 (reported price) calf that went through every big name trader known to man before ending up in the hands of the son of yet another. He'll be in advertisements for the breeder, the owner of the sire, three of the traders, and four feed supplement companies next spring. He’s got a pro working every inch of his hair and it shows. Unbeatable calf if shown properly.
K-State – That really sound calf that doesn’t blow you over with anything about him. He’s not overly powerful but he’s got enough. He’s not extremely eye appealing but he’s not ugly. He’s as balanced as you can make a calf. There’s nothing at all wrong with him and he simply cannot be overlooked because of how complete and sound he is. You just don’t know if there’s anything that’s great enough for him to make it to the champion drive.
Oregon – Powerful calf that absolutely blows you away with his top and how far he carries his power into his lower quarter. Unfortunately he’s also really tight gutted and you just don’t know how well he’ll feed out on the way to his final show or how he'll compete with the body depth of that Alabama steer.
Notre Dame – You don’t even have to look at the calf to know what he looks like. You’ve already been told everything about him by his owners who paid a crap ton of money for him and think they’re just going to walk in and win it all because they are who they are. Everyone in the barn is gossiping about how the calf stole two prospect shows earlier in the year.
Louisville – That steer that’s been killing it over there where, well, let’s be honest, they don’t really have any quality steers over there. This is the first time they've made it out to a show in this area and their jaws are dropping at the quality of the other calves in the barn.
Florida - Very solid steer but the dad of the kid showing this calf is mean and he's crazy. He yells at his kid in such a harsh tone that it makes the rest of the parents in the barn feel extremely uncomfortable.
Texas A&M – A calf that was two months younger than the rest of the set last spring and sold for $1,000. People laughed at the owners when they bought him, openly asked them what they were thinking, and told them they’d be in for a long hard year. The calf bloomed and everybody tries to figure out what they missed.
OSU – His owners had a bad ass last year but he went off feed right before the majors. This one is a good calf that’s done fairly well this year but they’re not happy because he hasn’t lived up to the standard of last year’s steer.
Texas Tech – He’s a decent enough calf but his owners are extremely confused as to whether they should be happy with him or not. They aren’t sure if they’re happy with him or if they’re just waiting until they can hire A&M’s fitter in a year or two.
I like the saying “it is what it is” a bit too much. I like it to the point that pretty nasty things are looked over by simply accepting them as they are what they are.
Unlike what a certain ‘big name’ said this spring, I don’t hate show steers. Quite the opposite actually. I just also like to make fun of some of the idiotic stuff that goes on. You have to learn to look past some of it if you want to enjoy yourself at any sort of steer show. If you can’t get past these things you just aint gonna have a good time.
Here’s a small list of things you have to just get over if you are going to be around show steers and not get pissy all the time. You know, because it is what it is…
They’re show steers, not market cattle.
Don’t understand why covering his tracks matters in a terminal market steer? Not sure how spring of rib produces a better carcass? Grow up. It’s 2012, a show steer needs to be able to go out in the pasture and breed a bunch of cows even when he’s castrated, overdosed on his implants, fed Zilmax, and fattened beyond the point that any reasonable rancher would ever feed his cows.
They’re not ‘real’ Angus
It’s a visual classification system. It’s not evil. It’s the same thing they use at virtually every single auction barn in the country.
People will spend more than you
People are going to spend preposterous amounts of money on show steers and it doesn’t matter how much you roll your eyes at it.
Hair is okay
No, you don’t eat it. Yes, those guys you see working on the calf are paid to do it. Hopefully the kid is the one that has to bathe him at home.
Slick is okay
No, it’s not a cop out and they’re not leveling any playing fields by taking away your precious hair. Until you let your 10 year old actually hold a set of clippers, haired shows aren’t rewarding anything resembling hard work. Stop whining that you don’t get to play with your kid’s cattle.
You’re not going to win them all
At best your hope is going to be that your calf is in that small group of steers that are in contention every time out. The judges aren’t going to agree with each other because they’re different people and that doesn’t mean one of them is wrong. Winning the last time out doesn’t give you an excuse to throw a tantrum because you didn’t win this time.
You will lose
And it doesn’t mean the judge doesn’t like you or that he doesn’t know what a good calf is. It means you are just like everyone else.
Top individual sale lots of the past week...
- $58,000 - Heifer sired by S A V Potential 0205
- $32,000 - Heifer sired by S A V Brand Name 9115
- $25,000 - Cow sired by S A V Net Worth 4200
- $25,000 - Heifer sired by Monopoly
- $25,000 - Steer sired by Monopoly
- $23,000 - Heifer sired by Grizzly
- $23,000 - Heifer sired by TR Mr Fire Water
- $20,500 - Steer sired by Monopoly
- $17,000 - Heifer sired by Monopoly
- $14,750 - Heifer sired by S A V Brillance 8077
Summary of every medical bill I get….
Charge: $Too darn much money for what we did.
Insurance Portion: -40% not approved by insurance.
Insurance Portion: -50% Insurance discount even though Humana isn’t actually paying a dime on this claim because you have a $7,000 deductible HSA you pay $800/month for.
Your Responsibility: 10% of original amount. What we actually expect to get. A completely reasonable amount of money that would eliminate the need for insanely high insurance premiums if we actually charged people without insurance this much.
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