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Show-Me-Select heifer sales set for MissouriMissouri Eldon Cole remains optimistic about the remaining fall sales of Show-Me-Select replacement heifers, as the first one took place Nov. 21 at Joplin Regional Stockyards, Carthage. "I'm still hoping we can top $1,250 for average price, maybe hit $1,300," said Cole, a University of Missouri Extension regional livestock specialist in southwest Missouri. "We were spoiled with the spring heifer sale, which averaged over $1,500," he said. The slowdown in the economy may prevent the fall sale from reaching that peak. "Feeder calves have taken a hit on price in recent weeks, but we have exceptional heifers for sale," he said. "These are not just replacement heifers. They've got good calving-ease genetics." The bred heifers, guaranteed pregnant when sold, are from a yearlong heifer management program overseen by MU Extension specialists. The heifers are bred to sires with high accuracy on calving ease in the top one-third of their breed. Copies of the sale catalog are available from Cole at 417-466-3102. The number of heifers consigned this fall is up, with 320 head from 20 producers in the catalog. "About three-fourths of the heifers are Angus or Angus-cross, with a fair number of red heifers this year," Cole said. "More of the heifers than usual are bred by artificial insemination." Other sale dates, locations and regional coordinators are: Nov. 29, 11 a.m.: Kingsville (Mo.) Livestock Auction; David Hoffman, 816-380-8460 Dec. 6, 1 p.m.: Fruitland (Mo.) Livestock Sales, Inc.; Roger Eakins, 573-243-3581 Dec. 6, 1 p.m.: Green City (Mo.) Livestock Market; Jim Humphrey, 816-324-3147; Chris Zumbrunnen, 660-265-4541 Dec. 13, 12:30 p.m.: F&T Livestock Market, Palmyra, Mo.; Al Kennett, 573-985-3911 The heifers are pregnancy-checked twice, with the last check within 30 days of the sale. Livestock graders from the Missouri Department of Agriculture inspect the heifers as they arrive at the sale barn. Heifers that do not meet the standards of the sale are sent home. The program, which has operated in the state for 12 years, is now overseen by a private group of producers as a nonprofit organization. Most heifers enrolled in the Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program remain on their home farm, said David Patterson, MU Extension beef specialist in Columbia. "Over time, the board of directors continues to raise the standards on sire EPDs (expected progeny differences)," Patterson said. "Particular attention is given to producing heifers with calving ease, to assure live birth of calves in the herd." For more information about the program, see http://agebb.missouri.edu/select/. 12/1/08 Date: 11/26/08
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