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Six Show-Me-Select heifer auctions offer calving-ease herd replMissouri Beef producers across the state are consigning to the six Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer sales this fall, said David Patterson, University of Missouri Extension beef specialist. The bred heifers are from herds enrolled in an MU Extension program to produce calving-ease heifers. Several producers from the Northwest Region will be represented for the first time, as their heifers are sold with those from North Central Region at a sale in Green City, Mo. Sale date, region, auction location, starting time, and MU Extension coordinators are: --Nov. 16, Southwest, Carthage, 7 p.m., Eldon Cole, 417-466-3102; --Nov. 24, West Central, Kingsville, 11 a.m., David Hoffman, 816-380-8460; --Dec. 1, Southeast, Fruitland, 1 p.m., Roger Eakins, 573-243-3581; --Dec. 1, North Central, Green City, 1 p.m., Jim Humphrey, 816-324-3147, and Chris Zumbrunnen, 660-265-4541; --Dec. 8, South Central, Mountain Grove, 1 p.m., Randy Saner, 417-256-2391; --Dec. 14, Northeast, Palmyra, 6 p.m. Al Kennett, 573-985-3911. "The sales offer heifers with superior genetics and superior management," Patterson said "As the sales grow, Missouri gains position as supplier of quality replacement heifers to neighboring states." All heifers meet statewide standards set by the Show-Me-Select Board of Directors; however, some regions set stricter standards. Producers in the Palmyra sale require heifers to be screened for bovine viral diarrhea to eliminate heifers persistently infected with the disease. The Northeast Region joins the Southwest Region in adding that standard. Prior to breeding, heifers are measured for pelvic size to assure they can deliver a calf. At that time, reproductive tracts are checked by veterinarians. After breeding, all heifers are checked for pregnancy within 90 days and again 30 days before the sale. Sellers guarantee heifers to be bred for 30 days. On arrival at the auction barn, all consignments are checked by graders from the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Heifers not meeting requirements on size and condition or that have blemishes are sent home. "We have some show quality heifers coming," said Humphrey, MU Extension livestock specialist in Savannah. "There should be something for everybody from commercial crossbred to purebred. "Talking to breeders, we'd have had more heifers except for the drought," he added. Kennett, coordinator for the Palmyra sale, said a late consignment includes a Charolais group that he wasn't expecting. There are 75 purebred and registered Angus and 15 Simmental heifers. Most of the 300 expected are crossbred Angus. Saner, extension livestock specialist in West Plains, said he sees increased use of synchronized artificial insemination to shorten the calving season. At Fruitland, Eakins, extension livestock specialist in Jackson, said 55 percent of the heifers will be AI bred. His sale traditionally receives the highest premiums for heifers bred to proven AI sires. The fall sales offer heifers bred to calve next spring. Similar sales will be held next spring for fall-calving heifers. Show-Me-Select program details are available on the Web at: http://agebb.missouri.edu/select/. The calving-ease program started in 1996 with pilot programs at Palmyra and Carthage. Date: 11/15/07
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