Page 9 - MWC 3-9-2023s

Selecting your Replacement Heifers The Midwest Cattleman · March 9, 2023 · P9

to Meet Long-term Herd Goals

By Carolyn Ihde, University of Wisconsin-Madison
As the seasons come and attainment prior to the start in subsequent breeding
go, the production cycle of of their first breeding season. seasons. Thus, helping to
the beef herd also changes. As a result, early born heifers maintain a tight calving
Cows calve, calves grow, and conceive earlier in the breed- window to produce a more
replacement heifers are se- ing season and therefore consistently sized calf crop
lected. Selecting replacement calve earlier in the calving in the following years.
heifers using production re- season. This in turn results Take time during the
cords, herd goals, and avail- in early born heifers having winter months to deter-
able resources can ensure older and heavier calves at mine your herd’s produc-
the correct females are stay- weaning as well as improved
ing in the production system. reproductive performance continued on page 16
Just as purchasing a new
herd bull can directly impact 1 188tthh AAnnnnuuaall
genetic improvement, select-
ing replacement heifers that S SyyddGGeenn SSpprriinngg IInnfflluueennccee SSaallee
match your production goals
and available resources can
impact the bottom line. Pro- T Tuueessddaayy,, AApprriill 1111,, 22002233——66 pp..mm..
duction records are one tool in N Neeww CCaammbbrriiaa LLiivveessttoocckk,, NNeeww CCaammbbrriiaa,, MMOO
the selection process. Main-
taining herd records on cow S Seelllliinngg:: 7777 RReeggiisstteerreedd AAnngguuss BBuullllss,, iinncclluuddiinngg 2299 ffaallll yyeeaarrlliinnggss aanndd oollddeerr
productivity could include; 5 599 22--YYeeaarr--OOlldd CCoommmmeerrcciiaall SSpprriinngg PPaaiirrss
calving date, birth weights, 5 5 RReeggiisstteerreedd 22--YYeeaarr--oolldd PPaaiirrss
weaning weights, calving as-
sistance, calf survivability, Our goals from the beginning were to offer more Sydenstricker Gene�cs
cow BCS, cow characteristics, influenced bulls to commercial ca�lemen, with a good, solid “country bull
calving intervals, and tem- sale,” and the results have been very sa�sfying. This eighteenth anniversary
perament. Heifers born from sale will showcase our best quality offering yet, with several bulls ranking high
dams needing assistance in the Angus breed for many performance traits.
with calving and nursing be- Also featuring the progeny and influence of :
cause of teat or udder defects BCA Jack Black 4112 SydGen FATE 0165
or poor temperaments should BCA Jeremiah 5103 SydGen II Lombardi 9045
not be retained. Knowing SydGen Enhance 18170041 Connealy Cool 39L SydGen Resolve 7132
50% of a replacement heifer’s 11 sons, 14 grandsons, 2 paternal brothers DE-SU Volunteer B122 SydGen Rock Star 8977
& 2 granddaughters sell
genetics come from the dam, The most widely used bull in recent �mes! H P C A Early Bird 65 SydGen Stealth 8556
SydGen Titan 8035
analyzing the dam’s collec- SydGen Advance GA 7301 BHF 1454 Elevate 852
SydGen Archer 9718
tive data before you head out SydGen Bang GA 0346 Connealy Stronghold
to sort heifers into the “keep” SydGen BAR Landslide 5246 Deer Valley Growth Fund
or “feedlot” pen can make de- SydGen C C & 7 ESF Trust J802
cisions easier at the sorting SydGen Early Bird 9355 G A R Quantum
gate. SydGen Eternity 0046 Poss Rawhide
Knowing which heifers SydGen Exceed 3223 Square B True North 8052
look good on paper can help SydGen Expansion 5917 Tehama Patriarch F028
keep you from selecting only Contribu�ng Breeders:
one trait, like body size. For SydGen KCF Gavel 8361 19195196 Blair Carney Angus, Adair, IA ▪ Bellis Family Farms, Orrick, MO ▪ Boot Hill
instance, using records to 10 sons & 2 grandsons sell Farms LLC, Hamilton, MO ▪ Brandt Farms, Corning, IA ▪ Collier Ca�le,
calculate a 205-day wt. when The $280,000 highest-valua�on sire ever sold at
selecting heifers at weaning SydGen, and top 5% or higher for WW, YW, Dongola, IL ▪ Eggers Stock Farm, Jackson, MO ▪ GP Angus, Hamilton, MO ▪
RADG, YH, Claw, Angle, CW, $F, $B and $C.
can determine which heifers Graupman Angus, Palmyra, MO ▪ H & H Land & Ca�le, Midway, AR ▪ Lenz
meet your growth rate goals. Farms, Prairie Home, MO ▪ Mershon Ca�le LLC, Buckner, MO ▪ Kenny &
Keeping the biggest heifers Landon Petree, Bunceton, MO ▪ Wallis Angus Farms, Millersville, MO ▪
each year could have a detri- Walnut Creek Angus, Winchester, IL
mental effect. Yes, you could
be keeping the most efficient Call Farm Office for Catalog (573) 581-1225
growing heifers, but in the Sale Broadcast on line on DVAuc�on.com
long run, this could move the
size of the mature cow herd SydGen Big Branch 6653 18665346 Bulls and females will be at the sale site by noon on Tuesday, April 12.
Because of varied loca�ons, only some of the bulls will have videos
to a larger-than-desired ma- 5 sons & 1 grandson sell available. Check www.SydGen.com
ture-cow size. Knowing the Top 1% for CED, 4% for BW, 5% for Claw & $F,
“big” heifers are bigger than and 10% for Heifer Pregnancy, Milk and RE—he’s Semen Always Available
got performance with phenotype!
their counterparts due to age
and not genotype is helpful Registered Angus Ca�le Since 1952 Visitors Welcome
in selection. Select the old- Eddie Sydenstricker Farm Office (573) 581-1225
est heifers that meet your Sydenstricker Nobbe Partners John Deere Ben Eggers (573) 473-9202
criteria. Early born heifers (573) 581-5900 3997 S Clark Mexico, MO 65265 Bub Raithel (573) 253-1664
have higher rates of puberty eddiel@snpartners.com www.sydgen.com ben@sydgen.com Blake McDonald (573) 205-7914