JBS launches Shorthorn branded beef

[Okotoks]

Obviously the genetics are available in Australia to satisfy possibly the world's leading meat packing company (thumbsup)
Whether others show or breed whatever makes no difference to those that see an opportunity and run with it.
I guess it is that glass half full versus half empty attitude but how negative do you have to be not to celebrate a huge success? Just saying  ???

 

[aj]

There is no doubt in my mind that if you turned the USA cow herd out in Eastern Coolorado......no pampering...a little salt...mineral.....winter supplemention......in two years 40% of the nations cowherd would wash out. Unless you this.........and find the cattle that fit these perameters.......you CAN NEVER MAKE PROGRESS. It doesn't matter what your bulls weight per day of age is.......if your cattle cannot survive under eniromental pressure........why even go through the motions? The world and the beef industry will do just fine without you and no one will no you were here and eventually gone. No one will shed a tear.

 

[trevorgreycattleco]

Those western cows don't like the flies and fescue the eastern US has. They can get by but each environment is different, as long as the breeder is using the pastures nature gives him and not much more I think that's about all you could ask for. But there is a fascination for fat cows and bulls. People will do just about anything to get bragging rights at the local choke and puke.

 

[JTM]

There is no doubt in my mind that if you turned the USA cow herd out in Eastern Coolorado......no pampering...a little salt...mineral.....winter supplemention......in two years 40% of the nations cowherd would wash out. Unless you this.........and find the cattle that fit these perameters.......you CAN NEVER MAKE PROGRESS. It doesn't matter what your bulls weight per day of age is.......if your cattle cannot survive under eniromental pressure........why even go through the motions? The world and the beef industry will do just fine without you and no one will no you were here and eventually gone. No one will shed a tear.

I have to agree with aj here. We have experienced bringing western cows to the east, Nebraska to Ohio. In our circumstances bringing the A&T Cattle Co. cows to Ohio they have not only survived but they have thrived since they have been here. There was an adjustment that first season but they all bred back just fine and have been showing off their ability to survive under any environmental pressure.

Unless you are a insider, its not that easy to track down the breeders who are slowly steadily working on predictable genetics for carcass in Shorthorn.
How could that information be organized and made more accessible to commercial producers?
It's possible that some of the best genetics out there are not registering anymore.
How do we get performance data in a format that is credible and consistent outside of ASA?
If ASA is willing to be held hostage to big show bucks ( just the impression I get- maybe not true), then what is an alternative? I'm sure there's a simple computerized way to provide the information necessary for those searching for a high marbling Shorthorn terminal cross.
I'm not convinced that the bulls aren't out there yet...I think they are just getting bought up and buried in the herds of savvy commercial breeders.
I'm not really talking about an EPD sort, I'm talking about a Breeders Directory with sortable performance data from multibreed tests.

The information is available. I've got the information on an excel sheet that shows all of the data for those who were involved in the steer carcass futurity. I don't believe we need to be looking for "terminal" type Shorthorn bulls. I don't think Shorthorns are suppose to be terminal in the context that we often use that term. I think we can breed the "cowman's type" and still have adequate growth and excellent carcass quality and yield grade. What we are doing is grabbing some other breeds and crossbreds to compliment the carcass quality and yield grades while gaining growth performance. This way we end up with great maternal crossbred cows alongside our seedstock of Shorthorn influence. The key to all of it is attaining the data and making choices based off the data instead of the show ring or visual appearance.

 

[Okotoks]

Another great sale in the Australian spring bull sale run (thumbsup)
Futurity Shorthorns have smashed the Shorthorn breeds Australian Record average, selling bulls to an average of $9,487 with a 100% clearance of 36 bulls.
Top price was $24,000 for lot 7 Futurity Judas J112. The curve bending Roan sire weighed in at 960 kgs with a 129 sq. cm EMA.
Other star lots included Lot 2 Futurity Juggernaut J94 selling for $19,000 to the partnership of Marschay and Eloora Shorthorns, Lot 3 Futurity Jet Fighter J96 selling for $15,000 to Dunbeacon Shorthorns and Lot 1 Futurity Judgement Day J119 selling for $12,000 to Ronelle Park and Trojon Shorthorns.

 

[Okotoks]

Here is the Dunbeacon bull sale catalogue. The sale is on Monday. Like the previous bull sales in this Australian spring run it is interesting to read because the focus is all about functional cattle that produce pounds of quality meat on low inputs. Some of these bloodlines are already being used in North America! (clapping)
http://www.dunbeacon.com.au/uploads/1/6/5/0/16507234/dunbeacon_catalogue_for_web_2015.pdf

Here are the results of the Royalla Bull Sale on Sept 2. I'm sure the negative posters will be all over this like fat kids on a chocolate as to why this will never happen in North America - because we have cattle shows -but the fact they don't take the opportunity when it presents itself is baffling (argue)
Royalla Shorthorns have raised their average at their 2015 Top of the Grid Shorthorn Bull sale by an amazing $1,923 on last years result.
In the final wash-up, 42 bulls sold for 100% clearance to a top of $17,500 to average $6,207.
Top priced bull at the sale was $17,500 for Lot 16, Royalla Rory, selling to the Ridley families Nero Shorthorns, Condobolin. Lot 14, Royalla Raymond was the next best selling for $14,000 to the partnership of Trojon and Southern Cross Shorthorns. Other buyers included Murtunga Pastoral Co who bought 2 lots to average, $12,000. Competition was strong throughout the sale with buyers coming from as far away as Central Queensland and King Island to attend the sale.

 

[librarian]

JTM, Sorry, did not mean to imply that Shorthorn should have terminal goals.
However, based on data, some producers who have achieved their growth goals with Continental crosses are ready to grab at Shorthorn for carcass quality.
Optimus Prime comes to mind...An RS son out of a Dover cow. Do I have that right?
So we agree, the breeders are out there blending strains and raising the bar on carcass quality.
Seems its more a matter of cooperation between producers to utilize those genetic combinations.
I know it doesn't help the primary breeder for producers to swap bulls, but a bull swap feature on something like E3's selling page could be pretty useful for tightening gene pools between producers pooling calves to a finisher to supply a Durham label.

 

[JTM]

JTM, Sorry, did not mean to imply that Shorthorn should have terminal goals.
However, based on data, some producers who have achieved their growth goals with Continental crosses are ready to grab at Shorthorn for carcass quality.
Optimus Prime comes to mind...An RS son out of a Dover cow. Do I have that right?
So we agree, the breeders are out there blending strains and raising the bar on carcass quality.
Seems its more a matter of cooperation between producers to utilize those genetic combinations.
I know it doesn't help the primary breeder for producers to swap bulls, but a bull swap feature on something like E3's selling page could be pretty useful for tightening gene pools between producers pooling calves to a finisher to supply a Durham label.

(thumbsup) It's funny you mention bull swapping because I just mentioned this idea to another breeder the other day! One of the issues we have is that it is hard to find cattle that emulate the type that we want. At this time we plan on retaining our own bulls that come from proven cows and sires that we have gauged. We can find cattle we believe have the low bw, calving ease, and awesome convenience traits but maybe they don't have the imf or the ribeye per 100lb. Then we can find Shorthorn cattle with awesome imf and acceptable ribeye, but have too high of bw's or the convenience traits aren't on the same level. Right now we are focused on getting the data to identify those shorthorns in our herd that "have it all" and keep those bulls for herd sires and potentially turn those cows into donor cows after they prove themselves with their convenience traits. All I know is that I love this stuff and striving to get better and better.

 

[beebe]

Congratulations JTM, that is as much common sense cattle logic as I have heard in a long time.  That philosophy will move you closer to your goals.  There is no perfect bull and never will be, that is why this is so much fun.  If the perfect bull did exist you would not need to be the breeder that you are trying to be.  Keep your eye on the prize, be real careful when you add something new, make your mistakes small. 

 

[Duncraggan]

Haters will keep on hating : but but the genetics are there, the demand is growing and the opportunity is boundless (thumbsup)

Yamburgan Shorthorns have posted the current highest bull sale average for 2015 clearing 100% of the 85 sires catalogued to achieve what is believed to be a record Shorthorn bull sale average at $8,882. Top price received was $28,000 for lot 26, Yamburgan Emperor J396 who sold to Malcolm Smith, Picton, NSW.
Other high selling lots included Lot 3 $26,000 to Doolibah P'Ship, Lot 87 $26,000 to Baroome Pty Ltd, Lot 80 $20,0000 to Nagol Park Shorthorns, Lot 46 $18,000, Lot 6 $17,000 and Lot 81 $16,000.
Volume buyers were repeat client Stuart Brownlie, "Deepwater", Meandarra, who purchased eight bulls for an average of $12,125.
17 heifers also achieved a 100% clearance selling to a top of $8,000 three times to average $6,529.

Interestingly, only the third top price was to a stud breeder that rings a bell, in Nagol Park Shorthorns, which means the commercial breeders are thick in the bidding. Good sign for the breed!

 

[Okotoks]

Here is the sale catalogue for The Grove Shorthorn Bull sale last week. Lot 24 brought $57,500 and went to Sprys and Arubial.
You don't have to read very far in any of these catalogues to see where the focus of the programs are and why the Shorthorns in Australia now have this partnership with JBS.  <beer> (clapping)

http://thegroveonline.com.au/cms-assets/documents/220108-611397.thegrovecombinedproof2015.pdf

 

[Okotoks]

If the Shorthorn breed would stop cattle shows for 10 years......the breed might get back on the right path. Most.....not all Shorthorns have little if any enviromental pressure put on them. Its mostly show feed......semen......embryos and et. No natural selection....this is problematic.

Well AJ if it's environmental pressure you are interested in have a look at this program. They have moved their herd to Queensland where even resistance to ticks is part of the selection process. I think it's safe to say that the temperatures and drought they go through might even rival that of Western Kansas :-\
Here are the results of their bull sale yesterday the first held in Queensland and considering the current drought conditions the results are even more impressive!
There are herds in the USA and Canada that do focus on environmental selection, you just can't stop focusing on genetic defects and the evils of the show ring to stop and find these genetics. That or you just enjoy being a s#8T disturber too much to become a constructive contributor to a breed.

Here is the link to the catalogue, an interesting read!

http://www.marellan.com.au/uploads/5/1/7/0/51708443/marellan_2015_catalogue_final_pdf_for_web_use.pdf

The Inaugural Marellan Shorthorns "You be the Judge" sale was a tremendous success today for stud principals Lincoln and Lisa Job.
The sale sold 39 Shorthorn & Shorthorn Plus bulls for a 100% clearance with every bull sold going to Queensland buyers.
The sale averaged $6,808 with the top priced bull, Lot 10, Marellan Queenslander J211, making $16,000 and selling to Appleton Cattle Co, Alpha Queensland.
The aptly named, Marellan Queenslander J211, was a polled ET son of Sprys Isabella Master F293 from donor dam Royalla Margie's Memory 9054M, who was the Champion Shorthorn female at Beef 2012 and has also exported embryo's to the UK on behalf of Royalla Shorthorns.
Selling agent, Gavin Colwell, Elders, Emerald said the sale was particularly strong whilst the offering represented "very good quality."
Congratulations to Lincoln, Lisa and family and all the team at Marellan. .

 

[caseih1]

It would be interesting to see if they are using a different grid to pay producer premiums or how they are doing it.  Has anyone seen the grid or kill sheet??

 

[Okotoks]

Some pretty impressive steer trial results in Australia.
From a post on The Drover's Journal

"Demonstration is the finest form of selling" they say and Shorthorns have DONE IT AGAIN!
Shorthorn breeders have again achieved some spectacular results in the 2015 RAS Sydney Royal Beef Challenge carcass competition.
Results were announced at a special wards dinner recently, with Shorthorns from 3 entries achieving some outstanding results.
* Dunbeacon Poll Shorthorns, Upper Horton, won the Export category Carcass Judging with a pen of pure Shorthorns.
The same pen also went onto to take third in the taste testing, both in the pen results and individual results.
* Manchee Ag, Yamburgan Shorthorns, Narrabri, finished 2nd in the Feedlot total results as well as 2nd in the Profitability results and 3rd in the Daily Weight Gain results.
* Winning the Champion Export pen, with a team of Shorthorn Charolais cross steers, was Weebollabolla Shorthorns, Moree. The pen of Shorthorn cross calves had previously collected points by winning the Live Assessment, Daily Weight Gain, Feedlot Total and Carcass Grid sections as well as placing 2nd in the Carcass Judging.
Individuals from the Weebollabolla pen also finished 1st and 2nd for the Live Assessment section, and 1st for Daily Weight Gain before being named Reserve Champion in the overall export category.
Congratulations to all entrants.