Performance Line
The Value of Reputation in the Beef Industry
Joe Epperly , NALF assistant executive director
Reputation is a big word in the beef industry . Whether you produce seedstock , feeder cattle , or the beef product itself , your success is largely affected by your reputation . It also encompasses everything from your product to your reliability . Reputations can take years to build and only one mistake to ruin .
In the seedstock business , it seems simple in theory but can become more complicated in practice . It takes breeding cattle with progressive genetics that are developed right and sound . Reputation comes from standing behind the cattle , and in todays competitive bull market your guarantee has become more important . Guarantees can range from first breeding season to 100 percent guarantee . The choice of guarantee is up to you and should fit with the finances of your operation . If you offer a guarantee , standing strong behind it is the key to reputation and in the long run , will increase your profits .
If a seedstock producer does everything they should to maintain quality of their sale animals , a guarantee becomes a rarely used commodity , but can also show some flaws in your development of bulls and females . Proper nutrition is important to ensure quality sale animals , especially on bulls . Most producers prefer heavier conditioned bulls however , over conditioned bulls can have feet and durability issues . Under conditioned bulls can have similar durability issues if not developed enough prior to breeding season . Ideally Limousin and Lim-Flex bulls will have 0.25 to 0.40 inches of back fat while weighing 1,200-1,300 pounds as yearlings for maximum durability
22 | AUGUST 2017 and expression of genetic potential . Please note that these are rule of thumb numbers . Bulls that are heavier muscled might be heavier at a year old and smaller framed bulls could be lighter .
Breeding soundness exams ( BSE ) have also become standard for yearling bulls and if you are guaranteeing bulls it is a must-have in order to protect yourself . While this won ’ t find every problem , it will save you and your customers from potential wrecks when it comes time to pregnancy check .
While development and testing of bulls is the foundation of making a good product , there can still be issues . For example , a couple years ago in my family ’ s bull sale a customer bought a bull for $ 3,500 . He was pleased with the bull and everything was fine until he pulled the bull from cows . At this point he noticed that the bulls hocks had developed some swelling . According to the customer , it didn ’ t affect his soundness and pregnancy check went fine but he was worried that he might get worse . So we took the bull back and gave him full credit toward the following year ’ s sale . The following spring , that customer bought two bulls at $ 4,000 each and has been to every sale since .
Standing behind the cattle is important but also don ’ t forget to stay in contact with your customers . Visits at bull delivery time can make lifelong customers and knowing how their calves sold or killed and even just the type of cows and program that they have can help you make your breeding decisions to make a better product for that customer .
As commercial producers , even if you are only taking cattle to the sale barn , your cattle are being sourced and their performance after they leave your place is being tracked . Cattle buyers are made aware of how groups of cattle perform at the next level and are sure to discount or stay away from cattle that perform poorly and are more apt to pay more for cattle that do well . Staying in contact with the buyers of your cattle throughout the process and finding out how the cattle performed can help you make decisions at home and build your reputation .
Health and performance are paramount to making a good reputation and receiving the highest dollar . Cow nutrition , vaccination programs , and mineral supplementation are highly important at the stocker and feedlot sector of the industry .
Even if we do everything right on nutrition , vaccination and supplementation , weaning is typically where commercial producers are losing the better part of their check at sale time . It comes down to the fact that someone has to take care of the nutrition and health problems that can come with weaning . I understand that weaning takes an investment in facilities and time for the producer . One strategy that is gaining popularity for feeders and producers to minimize calf stress at weaning on the farm is instead removing the calves at weaning time and moving them to a new place , remove the cows . Calves that are fence line weaned , or just remain in the same familiar environment , experience less