by Maureen Mai, Western Region
As the New World Screwworm makes its entrance into Texas, it becomes just another challenge to the American rancher.
As many of our friends suffer from droughts, fires, tornados, winds, and more, this new little creature is here to attack what few animals we have left. Fortunately, time and again, the agriculture community works as a TEAM to get a job done.
TEAMS are essential to accomplish a goal. At our county fair, all the beef barn kids work as a TEAM to clean stalls. Everyone cleans the entire barn. It does no good if Susie cleans her slot and then Johnie comes an hour later to clean his slot since his steer has spread his dirty shavings into Susie’s spot by this time. Everyone is frustrated — well, maybe just Susie — but still. As a team, they move animals out. There are the wheelbarrow loaders, and haulers, taking dirty shavings out and hauling clean ones in. There are pickers, the stall freshener applier, the hose operator, and the stompers. It is nice to see kids talking, helping, and joking around at 7 am, working together. Kids interact with those they may not always talk with. They build self-confidence leading other animals. They build confidence and leadership… working as a TEAM.
As Simmental breeders we have the responsibility to keep up our due diligence in reporting all the data that we record. Add it to the list of things to do! It doesn’t do anyone any good sitting in your notebook on the counter. In the ASA and IGS database, data is the backbone for our science-based breed. The information helps improve our predictions on bulls, heifers, and their offspring for years to come. Data makes our EPD even better, more reliable, more predictable. When you only turn in your “good” animals, then that makes them average in your contemporary groups. If you turn in the runts and the studs, then it shows the genetic differences. If you say, “well I only have ten cows, it doesn’t count.” It does! Remember, teamwork is what builds our database successfully.
Phenotype information backs up the DNA that is getting added to the database as well. Remember, 2026-born bull calves are going to require DNA on file to register their calves. Now is the time to jump in and add data and DNA on all your calves. If you think you have a male that isn’t joining the steer pen, make sure to get DNA collected and sent into ASA. This will make your buyers’ lives much easier in the future. Consider though, if you enter the steer’s DNA and information as well, then he becomes part of the team, which could make the bulls look better. Not only are we making our breed better, but we are also making a better product for the beef industry. We must remember that as seedstock producers we are the stewards of the commercial beef industry. We must provide the most productive, correct, useful, predictable genetics available to make the commercial producer successful. If they are successful, we all win.
As I write this viewpoint, I am tired. Farming, breeding, fencing, meetings, and all those spring-like activities can wear a person out. I try to remember how each piece of the puzzle fits into a team. Don’t let the TEAM down, turn in your data because it does matter.
