TLBAA Members Learn the Tools of the Breed at Longhorn Breeder Seminar
On November 17, 2007, at the Decatur Livestock Market, Decatur, TX, attendees to the Second Longhorn Breeders Seminar were given an arsenal of tools and information to increase the productivity and the overall quality of their Longhorn herds.
TLBAA Board Member and host Paul Braswell, Forestburg, TX, greeted the attendees to the second seminar, a continuation of the first, held in July of 2007. Braswell introduced the speaker for the seminar, TLBAA Breed Advisory Chairman and Board Member Dr. Bob Kropp, Perry, OK, and thanked him and all in attendance for yet another successful Longhorn Breeder Seminar.
 |
TLBAA Board Member Dr. Bob Kropp, Perry, OK, speaking during the Longhorn Breeders Seminar at the Decatur Livestock Market. |
Dr. Kropp began the seminar by emphasizing the importance of breeding functional and productive Texas Longhorns. He took time to point out that a high quality Longhorn will have multiple traits, such as horn, productivity, pedigree, conformation, and color, not just one or two. More importantly, Dr. Kropp stated that breeding potential is the most important trait of any Longhorn.
"What we feed an animal is really not important as long as the animal is able to consume it, ingest it, absorb it and use it for nutrients.” Dr. Kropp said.
“You’ve got to have a functional animal that will breed and calve first, and then you can pick up horn, pedigree, color and conformation,” Dr. Kropp said.
Dr. Kropp stated that merely liking a particular type of Longhorn isn’t enough to create a Longhorn herd, a breeder must also target the desires of their market.
“What you personally prefer in a Longhorn doesn’t matter,” Dr. Kropp said. “What matters is what potential customers prefer. You’ve got to breed animals into someone else’s dream.”
Dr. Kropp said that the most improvement that a breeder can make to their herd is using a bull better than the heifers being bred. “One hundred percent of the genetic improvement of a herd is based on the bull,” Dr. Kropp said.
 |
Dr. Kropp Perry, OK, talking with seminar attendees, Bill Riley, Colmeneil, TX; Paul Proctor, Woodville, TX; and Seminar Sponsor Bernard Lankford, Weatherford, TX. |
Putting bull power into a breeding program requires investment on the part of the breeder, according to Dr. Kropp. He didn’t recommend a breeder pay an astronomical price for a bull, but said purchasing a bull for approximately $10,000 is suggested because, “the most important animal in your herd is your bull. His sole job in your program is to produce better daughters than the cows he breeds.”
“You’ve got to have a functional animal that will breed and calve first, and then you can pick up horn, pedigree, color and conformation,” Dr. Kropp said.
But breeding a Longhorn is only one step; nutrition then becomes primary after the next great Longhorn is born. Dr. Kropp provided essential information about the nutritional needs of the Texas Longhorn.
“What we feed an animal is really not important as long as the animal is able to consume it, ingest it, absorb it and use it for nutrients.” Dr. Kropp said.
“You’re going to have boss cows and timid cows,” Dr. Kropp said. “So you’re going to have to sort them to get proper nutrition.”
Dr. Kropp discussed the process of selecting the right supplements and feed cubes based on the nutritional requirements of a herd. Those requirements are based on what nutrients the animals are getting from the native grasses and then the proper supply of protein, fats and other nutrients from feed cubes.
 |
(Foreground left to right) Eileen Schuette, Sandia, TX; Rhonda and Danny Griswold, Bowie, TX. (Background left to right) Courtney and Cara Henderson, Whitesboro, TX.
|
Lots of numbers were discussed, such as the percentages of protein and quality of cubes, but Dr. Kropp said, “The number most important for you to cover is energy.”
“You’re going to have boss cows and timid cows,” Dr. Kropp said. “So you’re going to have to sort them to get proper nutrition.”
Dr. Kropp went on to say that a cow cannot maintain a desirable Body Condition Score (BCS) if they aren’t being given enough energy. He recommends keeping animals as close to a BCS of six. At a six the animal has just enough fat deposits to nurture a calf and keep itself healthy. If a cow has a higher BCS, then it might not breed according to Dr. Kropp because of too much fat on the body.
After a lunch of sandwiches, potato chips, fresh fruit and cubed cheese, the seminar attendees gathered in the sale arena for the second half of the seminar.
At this time Dr. Kropp identified the nutritional concerns for Longhorn breeders as the following: Energy, Protein, Phosphorous, Salt, Vitamin A and Water.
 |
Seminar Speaker and TLBAA Board Member Dr. Bob Kropp, Perry, OK; Mari-Kathryn and TLBAA Board Member Paul Braswell, Forestburg, TX. |
Using real world scenarios of target weights of heifers, Dr. Kropp was able, with the use of the seminar information packet, to show the breeders how to identify the supplementation needs of their cattle. Breeders were welcome to ask questions, as many did, about the particulars of nutrition supplementation. Dr. Kropp then answered each question by referring to the seminar handouts and discussing the questions with the breeders.
He then warned breeders in Oklahoma and Texas about a deficiency of copper and phosphorous in the soil of those states.
He recommended that breeders in those states use mineral supplementation year round in order to give their herds the best productive stance as possible. He also stated that the supplementation of those minerals wasn’t too expensive and easy to feed to Longhorns.
 |
Attendees of the November 2007 Longhorn Breeders Seminar held at the Decatur Livestock Market, Decatur, TX.
|
The next seminar has been slated for the spring of 2008 and is tentatively set to coincide with a Best at West Sale in West, TX. Look for an extended version of this story to be published in the January Trails with more information about this seminar and the upcoming one.
See More photos from the Longhorn Breeders Seminar in the E-Trails Web Gallery.
140 Consigned to the Select Heifer Sale
The 2008 TLBAA Select Heifer Sale has been loaded with 140 lots and is packed with some very select heifers and two special donation lots picked from some of the best TLBAA members’ breeding programs. Look for the 2008 TLBAA Select Heifer Sale catalog in the December Trails and make plans now to attend all the TLBAA Longhorn events in Fort Worth, TX, in January 2008.
TLBAA Best At West Sale This Weekend!
Come one, come all, to the December TLBAA Best at West at the West Auction in West, TX. This Friday night there will be a get-together, including food and beverages for everyone to enjoy. Don’t be shy, come on down to West and enjoy the Best!
TLBAA Members’ Brother Dies
TLBAA member Wes Chancey, Lampassas, TX, lost his brother Russell to cancer on November 23, 2007. Anyone wishing to express their sympathies can do so by contributing to the cancer center at MD Anderson in Houston, Texas.
TLBT President Collecting Care Package Items for US Troops in Iraq
At the upcoming 2008 Fort Worth Livestock Show and Rodeo, TLBT President Ashton Dunsworth, Shawnee, OK, will be collecting the following items for care packages to be sent to US Troops serving in Iraq. All are welcome to donate either these items or money. Please make checks payable to the American Legion Auxiliary.
Requested Items:
Hard candy (candy coated so it doesn't melt such as M&Ms)
Travel size - toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, bars of soap
Lotion
Shave gel
White cotton crew socks
Nylon hose/tights to protect rifles from blowing sand
Puzzle books/ word searches
Magazines (must be appropriate)
Phone cards
Sun block
Lip balm
Nail clippers
Washcloths (preferably tan)
Combs
Paper, pencils and envelopes
Beanie Babies – to give children on the streets
2008 Fort Worth Livestock Show and Rodeo Entry Forms Available - DEADLINE December 1, 2007
Entry forms for the 2008 Fort Worth Livestock Show and Rodeo are available at the following links.
Note: All forms must accompany each entry with photocopies accepted. Entry forms must be mailed directly to the TLBAA Office no later than Midnight December 1, 2007.
TLBAA EVENTS UPDATE
Start collecting your Hall of Fame points for the World Show, which will include a Haltered, Non-Haltered and the TLBT National Youth Show. The World Show, in June 2008, will be here before you know it and plans for a great event are already underway! For any questions, please contact the following
- For upcoming show and sale information contact – Allision Chipman
- For questions about registrations and transfers contact – Deandra Berger or Melanie Thompson
- For accounting and financial assistance contact – John Jones
- For E-Trails submissions and information contact – Cole Dowden
- For advertising in the Trails contact – Rick Fritsche and Laura Standley at (817) 625-6241 or Carolyn Hunter at (817) 808-6895
- For Editorial submissions and Trails information or any other concerns regarding the TLBAA contact – Trails Editor Brenda Cantrell
Drought Conditions Update
Click here for information about the seasonal drought conditions and updated national drought information directly from The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Here is an additional weekly drought monitor from NOAA.
Weekly Hay Report from the Texas Department of Agriculture
Compared to last week: Prices are mostly steady, with firmness noted in some areas. Due to the holiday week, trade activity has slowed down. Demand is moderate. Most areas are in need of moisture, and few areas have the possibility of snow or rain this weekend.
The Texas Department of Agriculture Hay Hotline has issued a statement through this report, it follows: Recently, requests for Texas hay from other states have increased significantly because of the drought. However, hay suppliers and shippers need to be aware that the imported fire ant (IFA) quarantine impacts hay shipments. There are 162 Texas counties quarantined for IFA. The list of quarantined counties is available at www.tda.state.tx.us or can be obtained by calling (800) TELL-TDA. Hay from a non-infested county can be certified based on the hay origin. However, hay from an infested county must be stored on a concrete slab or heavy duty plastic and the premises kept free of IFA using appropriate bait treatments recommended by the Texas Cooperative Extension located at fireant.tamu.edu. Alternatively, local extension agent may be contacted for the same information. A Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) inspector will inspect the hay and issue a phytosanitary certificate if free of IFA. For all hay shipments destined to other states, shippers should call local TDA office to obtain a phytosanitary certificate. We had some producers who have had hay rejected at its destination due to the hay being from a fire ant quarantine area and no clearance papers for the non-quarantined area. Wheat has been rated as very poor to adequate with most areas fair to good. Soil moisture is rated as very short to adequate with the majority short. Pasture and rangeland conditions are very poor to good with most areas rated at fair. Supplemental feeding is becoming more prevalent.
The State of Texas Department of Agriculture has the Hay and Grazing Hotline set up for buyers and sellers. The number is 1-877-429-1998. The Web site for TDA is www.agr.state.tx.us. For a hay report from a state other than Texas please click here.
E-Trails Note: To get your Association News front and center on the E-Trails, email the information to Cole@tlbaa.org.
| TLBAA Board of Director Vacancies in Division A and C |
| As per our association by-laws, Article IV, Section 6, vacancies on the Officers and Board of Directors of the Association shall be filled by the Board of Directors and such person or persons so chosen shall serve for the unexpired term of his predecessor and until a successor is elected and qualified. |
| The following vacancies are available: |
| Division A |
Division C |
At-Large Director
Region 2 Director
Region 4 Director |
At-Large Director
At-Large Director
Region 13 – Director
Region 14 – Director |
Any person who is a Lifetime member or an Active member of the Association and who is actively interested in and/or engaged in the management and handling of Texas Longhorn cattle shall be eligible to the Directorate of the TLBAA.
Since the by-laws do not provide for any special election possibilities, the only candidates that are open for election this fall by the membership will be Division B. The Board of Directors feels strongly that the region and division TLBAA members should nominate their own representatives to fill vacancies in Division A and C rather than simply appointing people to serve the Association in a Director capacity. Therefore, the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the TLBAA passed a motion to solicit nominations from TLBAA members residing in Divisions A and C to fill the current Board vacancies. The remaining term of office for Division A vacancies is two years and one year for Division C.
If you are a TLBAA Member, residing in Divisions A and C, and have an interest in serving on the TLBAA Board of Directors, the Board of Directors is soliciting nominations for persons willing to serve their regional membership and the TLBAA. To nominate yourself or any other person to fill a Board vacancy, submit a nomination by signifying the specific vacant Director seat and the name of the candidate by mail to the attention of TLBAA Chairman Dr. Fritz Moeller, P. O. Box 491, Stillwater, OK 74076. Submissions must be mailed by November 27, 2007.
In order to be considered to become a Board of Director, a candidate must be willing to serve, attend meetings, participate and be present at the General Membership Meeting on January 11, 2008. The standing Board of Directors will hold elections for each position vacancy from the nominated candidates that are in attendance at the Board of Directors Meeting prior to the General Membership Meeting. The candidates elected by ballot will be seated on the Board prior to the election of the 2008 Officers and will be introduced as new Board of Directors at the General Membership Meeting. |
| Click here for Printable Version of this Notice |
|
