January 2018

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A message from our beef specialistA message from our beef specialistFellow beef producers:

When two good things combine, synergy is formed to make the combined effect greater than the sum of when they were separate. That’s been the defi nition of this past year with the joining of forces between Accelerated Genetics and Select Sires. The combination of bulls, products, and employees has created an even greater outstanding cooperative for our members.

East Central/Select Sires beef-unit sales doubled from last year to 37,761 units in 2017, and East Central/Select Sires is the second highest unit percent increase out of the nine member cooperatives. Thank you for your support throughout the transition and continued trust in the quality services East Central/Select Sires has to offer.

Our popular semen, synch, and service program continues to gain participants; it offers assistance in getting cattle synchronized for timed breeding. Many beef producers fi nd the worry-free breeding program valuable. We provide details in advance, which includes dates and times the cattle need to be handled based on what works for the producer, and our farms consider breeding day one of the most enjoyable cattle events of the year. Riley Bros. Angus (page 5) is an example of a breeding program provided by East Central/Select Sires that has achieved strong reproductive and genetic success.

The earlier a calf is born in your calving season, the more it will weigh when you wean all the calves off together. Synchronizing your cattle will allow each animal the chance to be bred on the fi rst day of the calving window. Most herds that work with

East Central/Select Sires obtain 60-70 percent conception rates. Since you have a known breeding date, you know when they’re going to calve. Not only will the calves be older and your schedule be planned, but you will see the genetic advantage of artifi cial insemination. Beef producers fi nd high value in A.I. just by being able to select replacement heifers, bulls, or even steers out of those early calves. In an A.I. program, you will have the option to pick multiple bulls to be used in your herd. A herd can fi nd value in using A.I. sires with maternal traits to keep replacement heifers back, while using high-growth natural-service sires for clean-up bulls. Calves out of the clean-up bull can then be more marketable as a feeder calf, or if you feed out your calves to earn more profi t, since you’ll already have the replacement-heifer traits selected through your A.I. breeding.

As we head into calving season, I just wanted to bring attention to a few key products we have featured in the newsletter. Colostrum replacers (page 7) are always good to keep on hand for an emergency. In the Accelerated Genetics product line, we also offer colostrum replacers and supplement doses. Some farms fi nd this valuable to use on offspring from fi rst-calf heifers, in addition to the mother’s milk, since a heifer’s colostrum quality will not be as high as a mature cow.

The other calf-health products you can incorporate are Convert, Tri-Purify, and/or Tri-Start Jr. (page 6). The thing I like about these products is the combination to prevent and treat scours. Convert™ Day One Gel™ is an awesome product to give at birth to help prevent scours. If, for some reason, a calf gets scours, Tri-Purify and Tri-Start Jr. work great

to assist with recovery. Many farms start with a Tri-Purify and then follow up with a Tri-Start Jr. 12 hours later. Contact your local East Central/Select Sires representative for more information.

East Central/Select Sires is hosting beef meetings for customers to attend Jan. 29-Feb. 1. You can fi nd our invite on the back cover of the newsletter. We’ll have a detailed discussion about bulls and making your herd more profi table.

It was nice seeing some of you at the National Western Stock Show. Thank you for stopping by the Select Sires tent to visit.

Please stay safe while working in the cold weather; I’m looking forward to an awesome year with all of you.

-- Trevor Yager

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BEEF A.I. MANAGEMENT

Pre-breeding season planning (6 months before A.I.)

Nutrition (consult a veterinarian or nutritionist)Provide adequate nutrition for:• Cows and fi rst-calf heifers to calve at BCS 6• Heifers at 65% of mature weight by breeding• Adequate mineral supplementation• Upward plane of nutrition through breeding season

Herd health (consult a veterinarian)• Pre-breeding vaccination minimum of 30 days prior to breeding• Ensure knowledge of BQA guidelines for injections (IM) and proper needle

size• Reproductive tract scoring of heifers if desired• Begin synchronization protocol at a minimum of 40 days postpartum

Estrus synchronization and A.I.• Have adequate facilities and labor for gathering cattle, administering

synchronization treatments, and A.I.• Choose the best synchronization protocol for your herd from the ARSBC-ap-

proved protocols. If you choose to deviate from this list, consult a reproduc-tive specialist at Select Sires before doing so.

• Acquire pharmaceuticals from your veterinarian• Create a calendar to follow with synchronization treatments and A.I. dates.• If heat detection is desired: -- Have trained labor available to observe cattle early A.M., mid day, and late P.M. -- and breed using A.M./P.M. rule -- Use heat detection aids for assistance such as tail pain or chalk, Extrotect® Heat Detectors, or KaMar® Heatmount® detectors. -- Ensure the correct product is given on the correct day at the correct dosage

Sires• Use proven sires that will help accomplish the goals you have for your

breeding and marketing program(s).• Acquire semen well in advance of the day of insemination.

Days of insemination• Practice proper cattle-handling to reduce stress and overheating -- as stress

reduces fertility.• Have adequate shelter for semen thawing and A.I.-gun preparation. Review

semen thawing and handling procedures. Avoid exposure to wind and sunlight.

• Warm the A.I. syringe prior to loading smen straw to prevent cold shock to the semen.

• Water thaw temperature for thawing should be 95 degrees F. Verify temperature using thermometer. Thaw units may exceed a safe temperature when left in vehicles.

• Keep semen warm after thawing and ensure proper A.I.-gun hygiene.• Inseminate at the correct time, in accordance with heat detection or sychro-

nization protocol.• Place semen in the uterine body.

Post insemination management• Reduce sudden changes in nutrition during and after breeding• Avoid cattle movement 4-20 days after breeding to prevent embryonic loss

Tips• Plan, plan, plan ...• Understand every part of what you’re doing• Have realistic expectations for A.I. pregnancy rate• Contact East Central/Select Sires beef specialist, Trevor Yager, for

advice or assistance with the above steps: 608-574-6142 (mobile) or trevoryager@ecselectsires.com

Beef specialist, Trevor Yager, loads breeding guns for A.I. techncians breeding at a customer’s farm so the team can move cattle through the chute faster.

3

You have limited time to get your cows rebredBy Katie Pfeiffer, Reproductive Specialist

Profi tability of your operation is dependent on the effi ciency of calf production. In order to maintain a yearly calving interval, there is about an 82-day period to get your cows rebred. The most signifi cant decrease in potential calf production occurs when a cow fails to become pregnant during the breeding season. Prolonged postpartum anestrus is the primary cause of failure to rebreed or breeding late in the season (Short et al., 1994), and consequently reduces reproductive effi ciency. After calving, the cow goes through a period of uterine repair and resumption of cyclicity. This process takes around 20-40 days (Williams, G.L., 2005), leaving about two estrous cycles (21-day cycles) to get your cows rebred.

Cows calving later in your calving season, due to delayed breeding during the previous season, will have challenges getting bred during this time period. In addition, calving issues will increase the time until she resumes cycling and can be rebred. Utilizing calving-ease bulls, especially on virgin heifers, can reduce dystocia. Your fi rst-calf heifers will have the most challenges with getting rebred, because they are still diverting energy to growth in addition to lactation. One common recommendation is to breed your virgin heifers two weeks prior to your cow herd allowing you the opportunity of increased management of these animals at calving and more time to recover before breeding. The length of postpartum anestrus averages 20 days longer for fi rst-calf heifers than mature cows (Johnson and Stevenson, 2003).

Overcoming an extended postpartum interval allows for the achievement of optimum pregnancy rates through the use of estrus synchronization and the incorporation of artifi cial insemination (A.I.). The use of estrus synchronization to manage your breeding season will allow you to utilize genetics to produce a uniform calf crop for marketing and create productive replacement females.

There are many options for synchronization available. Protocols utilize estrus detection, timed A.I., or a combination of both methods to produce pregnancies. Advantages of these protocols are dependent on the management of your operation, but protocol success varies with body condition being one of the most signifi cant factors affecting estrus expression.

Utilizing split-time A.I. has optimized pregnancy rates in females not expressing estrus (Thomas et al., 2014a; Thomas et al., 2014b; Bishop et al., 2016c). Split-time A.I. differs from previous protocols by inseminating females that have not shown heat 20-24 hours after the scheduled time for fi xed-time A.I. Protocols utilizing this approach include the 14-day CIDR protocol for heifers and the 7-day CO-Synch PG protocol for cows. Based on research utilizing these protocols, 20-40 percent of heifers and 30-50 percent of cows do not express estrus by the time they would be bred through timed A.I. at 66 hours (Thomas et al., 2014a; Bishop et al., 2016c). Delaying breeding on these females by 20-24 hours after the timed A.I. increased

pregnancy rates by 16 percent (Thomas et al., 2014a; Bishop et al., 2016c). This information is from one study, and further research is needed to determine its validity, but physiologically delaying breeding has allowed to the increased expression of estrus after the period of time they would have been bred through timed A.I.

You can read through our Beef A.I. Management Checklist (page 2) for important steps to plan ahead and create a successful A.I. program. Additional resources are available from the Beef Reproduction Task Force including synchronization protocols and a synchronization planner. Visit www.appliedreprostrategies.com; they also have a Facebook page.

East Central/Select Sires utilizes a Select Synch + CIDR protocol, which is part of our semen, Synch, and service package. This protocol has been very successful for producers in southern Wisconsin looking to further the genetic advancement in their herds, tighten calving windows, and keep cattle bred on time.

• Bishop, B.E., J.M. Thomas, J.M. Abel, S.E. Poock, M.R. Ellersieck, M.F. Smith, and D.J. Patterson. 2016a. Split-time artifi cial insemination in beef cattle: I. Using estrous response to determine the optimal time(s) at which to administer GnRH in beef heifers and postpartum cows. Theriogenology 86:1102–1110.

• Bishop, B.E., J.M. Thomas, J.M. Abel, M.R. Ellersieck, S.E. Poock, M.F. Smith, and D.J. Patterson. 2016b. Comparing split-time AI pregnancy rates among non-estrous heifers based on administration of GnRH at AI. Journal of Animal Science 94, E-Suppl. no. 5: 523.

• Bishop, B.E., J.M. Thomas, J.M. Abel, M.R. Ellersieck, S.E. Poock, M.F. Smith, and D.J. Patterson. 2016c. Comparing fi xed-time artifi cial insemination to split-time artifi cial insemination with delayed administration of GnRH in postpartum beef cows. Journal of Animal Science 94, E-Suppl. no. 5: 524.

• Johnson, S., Stevenson, J., 2003. Tips for a Successful Synchronization Program. Kansas State University.

• Williams, G.L., 2005 Physiology and Management of the Postpartum Suckled Cow for Controlled Breeding Programs. Proceedings, Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle.

• Short, R.E., Bellows, R.A., Staigmiller, R.B., Adams, D.C., Berardinelli, J.G., 1994. Effects of suckling on postpartum reproduction, in: Fields, M.J., Sand, R.S. (Eds.), Factors Affecting Calf Crop. CRC Press, Boca Roton, FL. P. 179.

1-800-288-7473“Like” us on Facebook

Benefi ts:• Three trips through the chute during 1-1/2 weeks; breed

on last trip• Controlled genetics: individually breed each of your

animals for their own needs• Uniformed calving• Use only bulls that meet your market needs• Constant outcrossing• Reduce your current herd-bull needs• Worry-free service: You pick the calving date; we’ll plan

and breed accordingly

www.eastcentralselectsires.com AND www.selectsiresbeef.com

Simple, worry-free, uniformed

BEEF SYNCHRONIZATION

Contact our beef specialist, Trevor Yager, for more information.Trevor assists East Central/Select Sires in expanding our beef division. He works with technicians and sales representatives synching projects, meeting with producers, assisting at sales and expos, helping to provide technician service, etc.

Trevor Yager • Cell: 608-574-6142 trevoryager@ecselectsires.com

Semen, Synch, Service ... all included in one, low cost

5

Riley Bros. succeeds with top-notch A.I. program and team workyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyBy Trevor Yager, Beef Specialist

Riley Bros. Angus, Darlington, Wis., has become a well-known registered Angus herd throughout the country. The owners, Jeff Riley and Cheryl Riley, currently manage 400 spring pairs and 200 fall pairs, along with a busy 4,000-acre grain farm. Their program has now produced bulls for every major artifi cial insemination stud, starting with RB Barometer 9721, that went to Select Sires in 2010. But how did they get to this point? We caught up with Chad Morrissey, herd manager at Riley Bros. Angus, to discuss the team work it takes to keep the genetics at a high pace.

In order to keep genetics one step ahead, artifi cial insemination success needs to happen. The Riley Bros. program has had a long relationship with East Central/Select Sires. “The team we get from East Central/Select Sires provides us with service we need to have success. Bryan Witt (A.I. technician) breeds all our cattle, including the donors. It’s nice he comes with a beef background and always shows up when we need him,” noted Morrissey. “ Dave Sime (area sales manager) also services our semen tanks.”

Every animal is bred off a 7-day CIDR synchronization protocol. Almost all the cattle are heat detected with the protocol, however, this last year, the heifers were timed bred. “Our conception rates have improved 15 percent since we started working with Select Sires. Last year, we recorded a 92 percent A.I. conception rate on all our cows,” commented Chad.

The next part of the program at Riley Bros. Angus is choosing which genetics to incorporate. Chad looks at each animal’s pedigree and EPDs (expected progeny differences) set for an individual mating on each cow or heifer. He fi nds a lot of value in the genetics Select Sires has to offer. “Our two most successful fl ushes both came from Select Sires genetics,” recalled Chad. “Breeding WAR PARTY (7AN306) to our very own 305 doner and CONFIDENCE (7AN350) to our 890 matriarch created our record-high fl ushes.” These fl ushes have created male and female offspring impacting Riley Bros.’ success, as well as the future of beef herds accross the country.

Chad really appreciates attending the Select Sires bull open house each year to view the A.I. beef-sire

line up in person. This allows him to see most of the bulls they will use and even some bulls they did not plan on using until that day. “The bull tour really helps us know what we’re using instead of just a picture. I feel we are also ahead on which bulls to use by consulting with Trevor (East Central/Select Sires beef specialist), and we’re currently using more Select Sires bulls then we ever have in the past.”

The entire program at Riley Bros. Angus takes a team to make happen. Everything from the crew providing daily chores on the farm to working with the team at East Central/Select Sires. We are proud to work with producers committed to the future of genetics, but yet understands the basic needs of how to get there. Riley Bros. Angus has a bull sale the third weekend in February and a female sale the second week in September. They are always welcoming visitors and feel free to stop by their Website www.rileybrothersangus.com to learn more about their program.

Photo: Riley Bros. Angus is known throughout the country for their high-quality registered Angus cattle. Select Sires has been instrumental in helping to develop their heard through artifi cial

insemination and top-notch service.

6

PROTECT YOUR GENETIC INVESTMENT

Gel: Buy 5 tubes, get 1 FREEBolus: Buy 15 packs, get 3 FREE

Through Feb. 281.800.288.7473

www.eastcentralselectsires.com

CONVERTTM Day-One Gel

at birth to insure a healthy start

ANDCONVERTTM

Calving Season Bolus

during times of higher challenge

Board members:PresidentSteve Abel, Eden

DirectorsRoger Weiland, ColumbusDorothy Harms, ReedsburgRick Adams, ElkhornJeff Hendrickson, BellevilleRandy Nigh, ViroquaLarry Voigts, PlattevilleScott Dahlk, VeronaKrista Dolan, DodgevilleKenneth Levzow, Rio

1-800-288-7473eastcentralselectsires.comselectsiresbeef.com

Visit East Central/Select Sires on Facebook

Visit Select Sires Beefon Facebook

www.eastcentralselectsires.com • 1-800-288-7473

7

If you don’t know the answers, feed colostrum replaceryyyyyyyyyBy Jim Galstad, Program Manager

Ask yourself these questions. Are your beef calves getting successful passive transfer from colostrum within hours of birth? Do you know the exact quality of the colostrum your beef calves are getting? Is your colostrum clean and free from pathogens and other diseases that could be transmitted to newborns?

If a concrete answer to these questions eludes you, then you need to feed colostrum replacer. A colostrum replacer fed within hours of birth can guarantee your newborn calf will achieve successful passive transfer, which occurs when the antibodies are absorbed into the calf’s bloodstream. This enhances the calf’s opportunity for a healthy start, can improve growth rates, feed effi ciency, weaning weights, and decreases age at fi rst calving.

Maternal colostrum replacer provides research-proven quality by feeding the same amount of IgG to each calf every time. In addition, each calf is guaranteed the appropriate amount of colostrum. Replacer is very convenient: open the package, mix, and feed. Finally, good colostrum replacer is tested free of pathogens for transmittable diseases like Johne’s, BLV, mycoplasma, salmonella, and cryptosporidium.

East Central/Select Sires has three maternal colostrum replacers available to meet your newborn calves’ needs.

First Day Formula CR (colostrum replacer)• This colostrum replacer contains 150 grams of

bovine globulin protein per 500-gram package.• It’s made from high quality whey protein

concentrate from fi rst and second milkings at select Grade A dairies.

• Instantized ingredients make First Day one of the easiest-mixing colostrum replacers on the market.

• It’s also available as First Day Formula CR Deluxe, which contains First Defense Technology™, antibodies for E.coli and coronavirus.

• Both products are available in a 500-gram single-dose packet or a 20-pound pail equivalent to around 18 feedings.

First Day Formula CS (colostrum supplement)• This is a 200-gram package designed for those

times you may need to only supplement the colostrum your beef calves are receiving.

• The supplement contains bovine globulin protein and made from high-quality whey-protein concentrate from fi rst and second milkings at

select Grade A farms.• It’s commonly used as a supplement to maternal

colostrum on calves born from fi rst-calf heifers.

Convert™ ImmPower® TBC (true bovine colostrum)• It contains 100 grams of bovine globulin protein

per 500-gram package.• ImmPower is made from true bovine colostrum

from fi rst milkings, only, at Grade A farms located in the United States.

• It contains vitamins and minerals and provides additional nutrition for the newborn calf including Convert, which contains L-Form bacteria, a direct-fed microbial to aid in digestion, and specialized proteins derived from egg antibodies for E-coli, salmonella, rotavirus, and coronavirus.

• ImmPower is available in 500-gram single-dose packets or 24-dose pails.

Your investment in genetics does not end when the calf is born. By feeding a high-quality colostrum replacer at birth, you can be assured you’re providing the best possible start for your feeders and herd replacements. Talk to your East Central/Select Sires representative about which colostrum product is right for your farm.

BEEF UP your industry KNOWLEDGEDates and locations:6:15 p.m., Registration6:30 p.m., Dinner/Informational Meeting

Monday, Jan. 29, Milwaukee Grill, JanesvilleTuesday, Jan. 30, Bayside Supper Club, Beaver DamWednesday, Jan. 31, Old Towne Inn, WestbyThursday, Feb. 1, Dodger Bowl, Dodgeville

RSVP to 1-800-288-74731. Name2. Phone number3. How many will attend4. Which meeting you plan to attend

TOPICSTOPICS• Bull presentation

• Joining forces with Accelerated Genetics and what that means for our beef-producer customers

• Getting the most value from every calf

BONUS:Purchase 30 units of semen at one of these meetings and get a hooded sweatshirt FREE!

1-800-288-7473www.eastcentralselectsires.com

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Benefi t from meeting-only PRODUCT AND SEMEN

SPECIALS