CALF_News_December_2019_January_2020

14 CALF News • December 2019 | January 2020 • www.calfnews.net T here has nearly always been prejudice against Bos indicus cattle.“They won’t grade. The quality isn’t there. They can’t handle the cold.” But with impressive feed-out results that would impress about any Bos taurus breed operator, Santa Gertrudis breeders can brag about EPDs that are “data- driven, and profit-proven.” That’s what many of them did in October during the Santa Gertrudis World Congress 2019. The Santa Ger- trudis Breeders International (SBGI) hosted Santa Gertrudis breeders rep- resenting 10 countries during a 17-day congress and tour. The tour included visits to Santa Gertrudis ranches in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Loui- siana and Texas. ( CALF News was honored to serve as one of several World Congress sponsors.) Its main business-related program was held in New Orleans, where dialogue on extensive development of high-quality genetics highlighted the event. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Jennifer Houston was among those who addressed the inter- national group of producers. She congratulated SGBI for its growth in recent years and outlined how the U.S. Beef Checkoff is helping domestic producers and feeders through beef promotion and marketing. She reminded U.S. producers that “no Checkoff funds” are used in financing NCBA policy activities. John Ford, SGBI executive director in Kingsville, Texas, also praised Santa Ger- trudis breeders for their support of the SGBI program to identify traits in pure- bred Santa Gertrudis sires and dams. “In 2013 we became the first breed association in the world to adopt single- step methodology to incorporate DNA into the breed’s genetic makeup,” he said. “Due to SGBI members utilizing the association’s selection-making genetic tools, SGBI caught the attention of the nation’s larger breeds, like the Red Angus Association of America (RAAA). “RAAA initiated discussion with us on joint programming. RAAA has a very successful tagged feeder calf program in place. Collaborating with them will now allow us to develop a feeder calf market- ing program.” SGBI has worked steadily with what is now Neogen, a major genetic testing company, to develop DNA-based data on purebred Santa Gertrudis, F1 and Santa Gertrudis crosses.“You are rapidly moving your genetics process,” said Ashby Green of Neogen (formerly Live- stock Genetic Services).“Data is what is delivering your proven process.” Alfonzo Sanchez, whose family oper- ates the Red Doc Ranch in Belen, N.M., had encouraging words for U.S. and international breeders. He pointed out the super feed-out numbers for cattle finished at Hereford Feedyard, part of AzTx Cattle Co., headquartered in Hereford, Texas. In the research feed-out, purebred Santa Gertrudis steers representing 25 different sire groups were fed during the winter and spring of 2018 and harvested at Tyson in Amarillo, on June 29, 2018. Data was collected by the Beef Carcass Research Center at West Texas A&M University in Canyon. At the bunk, the cattle had an ADG of 3.51 pounds per day. At the packer, they graded 96 percent Choice, with 51 per- cent hitting the Premium Choice mark. “The data reveals that the Santa Gertrudis genetic package reaches desired Quality Grade targets and does so in an effective, efficient and profitable manner,” Sanchez said. He added that the steers’ average USDA Yield Grade By Larry Stalcup Contributing Editor Santa Gertrudis World Congress 2019 Features the Data Driven, Profit Proven Breed NCBA President Jennifer Houston and SGBI’s John Ford enjoy a visit during the Santa Gertrudis World Congress 2019 in New Orleans. COVER STORY Communication