Bottom Line

Selecting bulls can be a daunting task.Open up any sale catalog, and you are imme-diately overwhelmed with a ton of informa-tion, including expected progeny differences(EPDs), economic indexes, ratios, adjustedweights, ultrasound-scan data and possiblyDNA-test results. Consequently, it is criticalto have an idea of what you need before yougo to sales. Going to a sale without specificneeds in mind is similar to going to the gro-cery store without a grocery list; you arelikely to buy things you do not really needand spend too much in the process.The bull-buying process starts with defin-

ing your production environment and yourmarketing goals. Your production environ-

ment might include some constraints (forexample, limited feed, harsh climates thataffect nutrient needs and limited labor).Having a clear realization of the limitationsthe environment places on your productiongoals will allow you to select bulls withinacceptable ranges for such traits as milk,growth and calving ease. Once you haveidentified those limitations, you can identifymarketing goals that are reasonable withinyour production environment.For commercial cow-calf producers, it is

critical to take advantage of some type ofcrossbreeding system. It is important toidentify a breed of sire that complements

Spring 2010 Volume 12, Issue 2

Bottom Line is published threetimes per year by the NorthAmerican Limousin Foundation,7383 S. Alton Way, Suite 100,Centennial, Colorado 80112;(303) 220-1693;fax: (303) 220-1884;www.nalf.org

Executive Vice PresidentBob Hough, Ph.D., Ext. 120

Dir. of Performance ProgramsLauren Hyde, Ph.D., Ext. 140

Dir. of CommunicationsBrad Parker, Ext. 117

INSIDE...

LimousinCommentaryLimousin genetics

suit progressive

crossbreeding systems.

Testing forFeed EfficiencyIdentifying feed-efficient

genetics requires

sophisticated equipment

and detailed records.

NALF RecognizesTop MarketersDetailed, practical and

positive describe this year’s

Limousin commercial

marketing award winners.

Percentiles, TrendsHelpful for ProducersSelections based on percentile

rankings help drive breed

improvement.

Limousin LocatorFind the Limousin sales and

private-treaty offerings near you.

continued on page 8

SelectingProfitable BullsBy Matt Spangler

Spring 2010 BOTTOM LINE

As we move into the middle of bull-buying season, it istime to take stock of what Limousin genetics can do for yourherd in a well-planned crossbreeding program. Limousin cat-tle calve easily and long have been known as the carcassbreed with exceptional red-meat yield. To back up that asser-tion, the North American Limousin Foundation (NALF) pro-duces one of the most progressive genetic evaluations withexpected progeny differences (EPDs) for a number of eco-nomically important traits for producers to select upon.That includes reproductive traits like direct calving ease

(CED), the probability that a sire’s calves will be born unas-sisted; maternal calving ease (CEM), the probability that asire’s daughters will give birth unassisted; and stayability, theprobability that a sire’s daughters will remain in the herd past6 years of age. Reproduction is the No. 1 trait, and you canuse those EPDs reliably.The International Limousin Genetic Evaluation also has all of

the standard growth traits – birth weight, weaning weight and

yearling weight. Of course, birth weight is an indicator of calvingease, but weaning and yearling weights both correlate to payweights, and you should scrutinize them closely. Herds in NALF’sLimousin Inventory Management System (LIMS) use whole-herdinventories, and the data are free of any selection bias.Disposition is an economically important trait that Limousin

took head-on with the industry’s first docility EPD. Cattle arechute-scored, and we have found docility to be highly heritable.With that, breeders now objectively can find cattle that will bedocile and easy to handle. Be sure to familiarize yourself withthe percentile tables so you know how the cattle rank.Carcass traits always have been a strong suit of the breed,

and breeders have carcass weight, marbling, ribeye area andbackfat EPDs upon which to evaluate cattle. Limousin genet-ics will add ribeye area to almost any cross, while you mustgive attention to marbling, depending on how you are goingto market your cattle.

R.L. “Bob” Hough

Limousin GeneticsSuit ProgressiveCrossbreeding SystemsBy R.L. “Bob” Hough, Ph.D.Executive Vice PresidentNorth American Limousin Foundation

LIMOUSIN COMMENTARY

continued on page 3

LIMOUSIN’S COMMERCIAL CONNECTION Spring 2010

Limousin breeders sell two products – Limousin itself (eitherpurebred or fullblood) and Lim-Flex® (Limousin and Angus or RedAngus hybrid). Both have their places and functions.Limousin cattle, generally, have more muscle and will yield car-

casses with higher dressing percentages. Historical data haveshown the breed excels in feed efficiency and makes excellenthalfblood cattle for the feedyard. If you keep them natural, Laura’sLean Beef Co. (LLB) prefers higher percentage Limousin cattle.Lim-Flex animals tend to be higher marbling and easier fleshing.

They can make quarterblood calves, which many people want inorder to achieve higher quality grades. They still carry many of theLimousin breed’s good traits, just with some Angus mixed in.Either way, Limousin or Lim-Flex, our breeders have you covered.The bottom line is our industry has given up a tremendous tool

in hybrid vigor (heterosis) and breed complementarity by straight-breeding a single British breed. A producer can add 20 percent to25 percent total production through maternal and direct heterosisin a planned crossbreeding system. By adding a Continental com-ponent like Limousin or Lim-Flex to your crossbreeding system,you also get breed complementarity. Things like fewer Yield Grade(YG) 4s fit into that category. Use all of the tools!Limousin seedstock offer a great opportunity for commercial

cow-calf producers to add genetics to their programs this spring.The breed and its breeders have the most up-to-date, objectivegenetic tools available, and Limousin genetics offer unique attrib-utes like excellent feed efficiency and carcass characteristics thatmake them a natural fit with any progressive crossbreeding system.Plus, the breed has the added flexibility of offering Lim-Flex genet-ics, as well as purebreds and fullbloods. Whatever your situation, Iam sure you will find a Limousin breeder who has designed a prod-uct that is the right fit for your enterprise.

Seal The Deal.

Transferring registration papers communicates...� authenticated pedigree, performance, and

EPD information

� official ownership history from breederto buyer

� breeder commitment to superior seedstockand service after the sale

� selection, management and breedpromotion information to buyers

� a promise of lifelong customer satisfaction

Transferring the paper pays!Seal The Deal.

www.na l f .o r g


Higher feed costs, the increased price of fuel and elevatedland prices all have contributed to a renewed focus on feedefficiency in the beef cattle industry. Researchers and produc-ers are looking to identify individual animals that eat lessthan expected and still perform as desired. Less input costsfor the same amount of output make sense in any economicenvironment.The challenge is in measuring. The pork and poultry indus-

tries have focused on feed efficiency for the last 20 years andhave experienced much improvement. Feedyards use a feed-to-gain ratio (F:G) in evaluating pens of cattle. That calcula-tion identifies the amount of feed it takes to produce a poundof gain. Feedyards are able to identify pens that convertedwell (required less feed for their gains).Cattle that eat less in the feedyard but still perform well

can boost the bottom line. But what if we were able to identi-

fy breeding stock that individually expressed feed efficiency?Would that add value to a herd sire or replacement heifer?Absolutely.Progressive seedstock producers who measure the individ-

ual feed intakes on their yearling sale bulls and replacementheifers can calculate the efficiency of individual animals. Thatinformation will start the flow of information to improve feedefficiency for the commercial cattle producer, too.Collecting individual feed-intake measurements is much

more involved than collecting other performance traits, suchas weaning and yearling weights. The test requires sophisti-cated equipment and detailed records.The big picture of testing for feed efficiency is similar to

testing for any other performance trait. A contemporarygroup of cattle (same calving season, same sex and all man-

As an animal enters the bunk to eat at the Hays Beef Development Center, an electronic identification reader records its identity while the scaleunder the bunk collects the weight of the feed. When the animal leaves the bunk, that ends the meal, and we can calculate the size of the meal.

Testing for Feed EfficiencyBy Becky Hays

continued on page 6


aged the same) is individually measured and ranked based onperformance. In that case, rate of gain and daily dry matterintake (DMI) are the evaluated measurements.Most of the cattle tested for feed efficiency are registered

with a breed association, and resulting data are submitted tothe appropriate association for genetic evaluation. More datahave been collected on bulls than heifers at this time, butinterest in testing heifers is growing.Many of the facilities used to collect individual feed-intake

data are at universities. Over the last few years, however,more are emerging in the private sector. My husband, Craig,and I own one such facility near Diagonal, Iowa.Our Hays Beef Development Center tests bulls, heifers and

steers for seedstock producers in the Midwest. In the firstyear of operation, we have tested Limousin, Hereford, Angus,Simmental, Gelbvieh, Red Angus, Charolais and Peidmontesecattle from eight states.Our bunk system is patterned off the system at Iowa State

University, and the bunks are manufactured by ID-ology, aWisconsin company. We designed our tests to comply withBeef Improvement Federation (BIF) guidelines or those setforth by the appropriate breed association.We test each group of cattle for at least 90 days, including

a 21-day warm-up period that allows the cattle to becomeaccustomed to eating one at a time per bunk. One bunkserves six to eight head, and cattle can eat from any of the

bunks in the pen. We weigh the cattle several times through-out the test to establish a more precise rate of gain. We alsorecord the amount of feed each animal consumes.At the beginning of the test, we tag the animals with elec-

tronic identification (EID) tags. EID allows the computer pro-gram to assign feed consumption to individual animals on thetest. As an animal enters the bunk to eat, the EID readerrecords its ID while the scale under the bunk collects theweight of the feed. When the animal leaves the bunk, thatends the meal, and we can calculate the size of the meal.Each bunk sends data to a central computer for data storageand calculations.Individual feed-intake data are available for every animal in

the test. We use the data for calculations, and they also helpmonitor for sickness and changes in behavior. We then use theindividual feed intake, coupled with the rate-of-gain measure-ment, to calculate feed conversion and feed efficiency.Residual feed intake (RFI) is gaining a lot of attention in the

beef industry. The RFI calculation compares what an animal ofits weight and gain is expected to have consumed with what itactually consumed. RFI is expressed in pounds of intake moreor less than expected. A bull with a low (possibly negative) RFI

Testing for Feed Efficiencycontinued from page 4

Table. Herdmates with Similar Performance

Weight ADG RFI Avg. DMI

Bull A 1055 3.81 -2.74 18.05

Bull B 1038 3.51 +2.46 22.62

continued on page 7

ate less than expected based on hisperformance. A negative RFI isadvantageous.In the table on page 6, Bull A

and Bull B were from the sameherd, were managed the same andperformed similarly. The differencein their RFI is 5.2 pounds, however.In other words, Bull A consumed5.2 pounds less feed per day thanBull B to perform similarly.The two bulls’ average daily

DMI shows a difference of 4.57pounds. That calculation does notequal the RFI difference becausethe bulls have slightly differentweights and gains. What is theresult of the 4.57 pounds differ-ence in feed intake? At the end of the 90-day test, it cost thebreeder $38 more to feed Bull B than Bull A.Consider a hypothetical feedyard situation. If two pens of

finished cattle gained and weighed the same, but one pen ate4 pounds per head per day more than the other, what doesthat mean in cost? The load (40 head) that cost $33.60 (4pounds/day × 120-day feeding period × $0.07/pound of feed)per head more to feed cost the owner $1,344.Feed efficiency is a highly heritable trait. In other words, a

producer can make improvements in feed efficiency by genet-ically selecting herd sires or replacement heifers that have

excelled in their contemporarygroups. Breed associations are inthe process of gathering feed-intake data to use in genetic eval-uation. In the future, data fromfeed-intake tests likely will con-tribute to expected progeny dif-ferences (EPDs) and indexes forcattle producers to use whenselecting herd sires.The future of feed-intake testing

is exciting and gaining momentum.Hays Beef Development Centeroffers seedstock producers theservice of testing entire contempo-rary groups of cattle, ready toreturn to the ranch for marketing.As progressive seedstock produc-

ers across the country test more breeding stock, commercialcattle producers will have an opportunity to select superiorgenetics for this valuable economic trait.

About the author: Becky Hays and her husband, Craig,operate Hays Beef Development Center in Diagonal, Iowa.Becky also owns UltraInsights Processing Lab, a centralizedultrasound-processing laboratory, and processes ultrasoundimages for more than 25 technicians. Craig also is a certi-fied ultrasound technician who scans cattle across the Unit-ed States.


Becky and Craig Hays and their three children operate HaysBeef Development Center near Diagonal, Iowa.


your cow herd and helps meet your marketing goals.That might include selecting a composite (hybrid orcrossbred) bull. The use of composite bulls can simplifycrossbreeding programs and has become an acceptedmethod of injecting hybrid vigor (heterosis) into commer-cial cow herds.

EPDs, IndexesWhen choosing individual bulls, it is critical to empha-

size the genetic component that will be passed to the nextgeneration. A bull’s phenotype (his actual weight, actualribeye area, etc.) includes both environmental and geneticcomponents. The environmental components include –but are not limited to – feeding regime, seasonal effectsand the regional climate where the bull was developed.If genetic improvement is the goal, as it should be, the

tools for selecting bulls should be the ones that focus sole-ly on the genetic component. The tools that do that areEPDs. They allow for the fair comparison of bulls withinthe same breed across differing environments. EPDs havebeen shown to be seven to nine times more effective atproducing change than selection on actual phenotypes.To meet breeding objectives, it is important to consider

several traits at once. The use of economic indexes can helpdo that. An economic index simply is a collection of EPDsrelated to a particular breeding objective whereby each EPD

Selecting Profitable Bullscontinued from page 1

continued on page 9

UltraMate:Strategic SelectionBy Lauren Hyde

With superior genetics, a simple crossbreeding plan, state-of-the-art selection tools and a full range of seedstock to serveprofit-minded producers, the Limousin breed is on your side.

Savvy producers understand that consistently hittingcarcass targets depends on matching cows to the right sires.Both Limousin and Lim-Flex® sires can help you manage breedcomposition, gain the benefits of hybrid vigor (heterosis),quickly incorporate the genetics of more than one breed andefficiently hit carcass targets.

� Mainstream market: Select sires with the best combinationof expected progeny differences (EPDs) for growth, ribeyearea and marbling and ultrasound scans for ribeye andpercent intramuscular fat (IMF).

� Muscle market: Select sires based on EPDs for growth andribeye area, with less emphasis on marbling, and ultrasoundscans for ribeye area.

� Marbling market: Select sires based on EPDs for growthand marbling, with less emphasis on ribeye area, andultrasound scans for percent IMF.

is weighted according to its relative economic importance.While an animal that excels in its index value might not

excel for each EPD included in the index, it has the potential toadvance the next calf crop the most toward the breeding objec-tive the index is designed to improve. If you decide to use Lim-ousin bulls to enhance postweaning growth and carcass merit,the North American Limousin Foundation’s (NALF’s) Main-stream Terminal Index ($MTI) would be appro-priate to use.Realize that EPDs come with accuracy values.

Pay attention to accuracy values, and understandpossible change. EPDs are estimates so they canchange. If you need a calving-ease bull, makesure his EPD is safe for your definition of “calv-ing ease,” taking into account his published EPDand the associated possible change.Economic indexes do not have associated

accuracy values, but they are not static. Ayoung, unproven bull’s economic index value isnot very accurate. An economic index willchange as the component EPDs change.

DNANewer tools have come onto the scene recently, namely

DNA-marker panels. For simply inherited traits (for example,color, polled status and genetic defects), that technology canbe effective at eliminating undesirable characteristics. Forexample, if you want to select against horns or red hides,selecting bulls that have been DNA-tested as noncarriers forthose traits can help achieve that.

More important is the consideration of genetic defects,particularly in composite bulls that might have carrier ani-mals in their pedigrees. You still can use bulls that are carri-ers for genetic defects, but it requires knowledge of the risksassociated with mating them to your cows.For example, if you know your cows are not carriers for a

specific genetic defect, you can use a carrier bull with confi-dence. There is no sense in throwing away a goodbull that is superior for several traits just becausehe has one flaw that we can detect and manage.If your breeding objectives include keeping backheifers and you mate to a carrier bull, you shouldnot use a carrier bull on the heifers you keepback. Mating a carrier to a carrier is the only situ-ation that can create afflicted calves, with a 25percent probability.Another emerging and evolving use of DNA

technology is for complex traits (for example,reproduction, growth and carcass). It is importantto realize such information holds tremendous ben-

efits when it is included in EPD calculations. When it is dis-joined (presented separately from EPDs), it can be challengingto use it effectively, especially in the context of having EPDsfor those traits.It is important to understand that current DNA tests for

complex traits only describe a portion of the additive genet-ic variation for a given trait; furthermore, it is likely they willnot work the same across breeds. EPDs are not directlycomparable to the results of marker panels, and neither are


EPDs have

been shown to

be seven to nine

times more

effective at

producing change

than selection

on actual

phenotypes.

continued on page 10


the accuracy values of the two. Education in that arena is key toavoiding incorrect decisions.

FinallyAlso evaluate bulls for their abilities to pass on their genetics to the

next generation. Such factors as structural correctness and passing abreeding-soundness exam (BSE) are critical. Remember, BSEs do notmeasure libido, and you should conduct them every year before you turnout bulls.

About the author: Matt Spangler, Ph.D., is an assistant professorand Extension beef genetics specialist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

In Review� Clearly identify any environmental constraints on your enterprise.� Clearly identify your marketing goals.� For commercial producers, utilize crossbreeding.� Use expected progeny differences (EPDs) and economic indexes.� Keep good production records, which will help you decide what traits

to improve so you can focus on them when you purchase bulls.

Selecting Profitable Bullscontinued from page 9

Get More Information� University of Nebraska Beef Production – http://beef.unl.edu� National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium (NBCEC) – www.nbcec.org

There’s a lot more that comes with our famoustopline than meets the eye. With the latestadvances in Limousin genetics, you can makesure it all adds up for you.

+ Easy calving and handling+ Naturally efficient growth and carcass yield+ Enhanced quality and yield grades+ Increased bull and female longevity+ More market options through natural brandsand mainstream grids

Do the math for your operation — then beef upyour bottom line with Limousin.

Our topline does more...

...for your bottom line.

Today’s Limousin. Your best cross for profit.

PUREBRED · FULLBLOOD


The North American Limousin Foundation’s (NALF’s)tables of percentile breakdowns show how animals rankwithin the breed for several traits of economic importance.They indicate the proportion of animals whose expectedprogeny difference (EPD) ranks better or worse than thegiven value.For most traits, the highest-ranking EPDs are the largest

numerically. For birth weight and yield grade, however, smallervalues are more favorable. Hence, animals with the highest-ranking EPDs for those two traits will have negative EPDs.The tables of percentile rankings can be helpful in setting

minimum or maximum standards for each trait of interest.You also can use the tables to avoid extremes for traits, suchas milking ability and carcass weight, for which intermediatevalues are optimal.NALF’s “Guide to Commercial Bull Selection,” located in

the “Genetic Evaluation” section of the NALF Web site(www.nalf.org), provides target EPD profiles for bulls in dif-ferent production scenarios.The genetic trends displayed in the figures on page 13

show how the average genetic merit of registered Limousinand Lim-Flex® cattle is improving. The genetic trend for atrait is the average EPD by birth year for that trait. Whenstandardized, as these are, genetic trends become unitlessand are directly comparable with one another.In general, Limousin breeders are making excellent

progress toward maintaining the breed’s strengths, correcting

the breed’s weaknesses and thereby meeting the needs ofcommercial cow-calf producers. The trends in weaningweight, yearling weight and milking ability have increasedyearly, while breeders are managing genetic antagonisms forgrowth by simultaneously decreasing birth weight andimproving calving ease.On the carcass front, breeders have stepped up to meet the

mainstream market’s demands for more marbling. Averagemarbling score EPDs have increased 1.25 standard units since2002. Although yield grades have increased (the higher thegrade, the less yield) and ribeye areas have remained con-stant, the breed continues to be unmatched in muscling andcarcass yield.Trends in docility, stayability and scrotal circumference

(an indicator of heifer age at puberty) are favorable, particu-larly since the early 1990s, when breeders responded to rec-ommendations laid out during the Limousin Directionssymposium. For an in-depth discussion of the remarkablegains Limousin breeders have made toward improving docili-ty, see “Limousin Breeders Tackle Temperament” in the “WhyChoose Limousin?” section of NALF’s Web site.Limousin breeders have a long history of recognizing areas

for improvement and making the necessary adjustments tomove the breed forward. Over the years, they have usedselection and management effectively to produce qualityseedstock. Commercial users of Limousin genetics are thebeneficiaries of those breed-improvement efforts.

Percentiles, Trends Helpful forCommercial Cattle ProducersBy Lauren Hyde

PERCENTILE BREAKDOWN – 2008–2010 BORN CALVESUpper% CED BW WW YW MILK CEM SC STAY DOC CW REA YG MARB $MTI

1% 19 -3.3 63 113 34 11 1.1 26 33 52 0.89 -0.25 0.50 613% 16 -2.3 59 107 32 9 0.9 24 30 45 0.81 -0.22 0.39 575% 15 -1.8 57 103 30 9 0.9 23 28 42 0.77 -0.20 0.32 54

10% 13 -1.0 54 98 28 7 0.8 22 26 37 0.71 -0.18 0.22 5130% 9 0.6 47 87 24 5 0.5 20 19 27 0.55 -0.11 0.04 4650% 7 1.6 42 80 21 3 0.4 17 15 20 0.42 -0.06 -0.02 4470% 6 2.5 38 73 19 2 0.2 15 11 13 0.27 0.02 -0.07 4290% 3 3.8 32 64 15 0 0.0 13 6 3 -0.06 0.22 -0.12 39

PERCENTILE BREAKDOWN – 2008–2010 BORN LIM-FLEX CALVESUpper% CED BW WW YW MILK CEM SC STAY DOC CW REA YG MARB $MTI

1% 15 -3.9 66 119 37 8 0.9 24 28 56 0.59 -0.13 0.60 643% 14 -3.0 62 112 35 6 0.8 23 25 50 0.48 -0.07 0.53 625% 13 -2.6 59 110 33 6 0.8 22 24 46 0.42 -0.04 0.47 60

10% 12 -2.0 56 105 31 5 0.7 22 21 39 0.34 0.00 0.40 5830% 9 -0.7 50 94 28 3 0.5 18 15 27 0.13 0.11 0.26 5250% 8 0.2 45 87 25 2 0.3 16 11 20 0.00 0.18 0.18 4970% 6 1.0 41 80 22 1 0.2 14 8 14 -0.12 0.26 0.10 4690% 4 2.2 35 71 19 -1 0.0 10 4 5 -0.29 0.39 -0.02 42


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1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

YEARLING WEIGHT

BIRTH WEIGHT

WEANING WEIGHT

MILKING ABILITY

CALVING EASE DIRECT

STAYABILITY

CALVING EASE MATERNAL

DOCILITY

SCROTAL CIRCUMFERENCE

MARBLING SCORE

YIELD GRADE

RIBEYE AREA

CARCASS WEIGHT

MAINSTREAM TERMINAL INDEX

Standard Units = Mean EPD for each trait by year divided by the overall standard deviation of the EPDs for the trait.

Limousin Genetic Trends1990-2009

Growth Traits


Reproductive Traitsand Docility


Carcass Traits and $MTI


BREEDERSPOTLIGHT

Want to advertise in theBREEDER SPOTLIGHT section?It’s easy! Call Brad Parker at303-220-1693 for all the details.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION BREEDERS

Jimmy Ridings ~ Owner1912 CR 4120 ~ Meridian, TX 76665

Phone: (254) 597-0044www.colonialoaksranch.com

e-mail: [email protected]

Ca t t l e You Can Tru s t . . . P e op l e You Can Tru s t

Hiram and Darenda � 806/375-2346Bret, Hayley, McKinley & Boone � 806/375-2345Box 110, Allison, Texas [email protected] � www.begertranch.com

Your Homozygous Headquarters

� A large number of breeding-age bulls available. �

� Trophy hunts available (deer, quail & turkey). �

21314 OSRMadisonville, TX 77864Mobile (281) 808-3473Home (903) 344-2331

www.counsilfamilylimousins.com

BQA II Certified HerdCertified Brucellosis and TB FreeYour call or visit is welcome

DeMar Farms“Unparalleled

black Limousin genetics”AI and ET bulls for the commercial market

Joe & Margaret Hoot630 VZ CR 4124

Canton, Texas 75103(903) 829-8082

[email protected]

Craig LaroueRanch Manager(903) 292-9080

Fuhrmann Black Limousin

Roy Lee Fuhrmann2335 FM 1200 • Gainesville,TX 76240

[email protected] – (940) 665-6985 Mobile – (940) 727-2452

BULLS AVAILABLE FOR SALE PRIVATELY AT THE RANCH

L imo u s i n & L im - F l e x S e e d s t o c kP.O. Box 1531

Camdenton, MO 65020Owners: Daryl & Wally Cunningham

Committed to Excellence

KEETON LIMOUSIN10510 CR 1100 • Wolfforth, TX 79382

Leonard & Betty Keeton Lyle & Shana Keeton806-866-9440 fax: 806-866-9441 [email protected] BULLS • CLUB CALVES • HEIFERS

Gene & Virginia Raymond Arne & Stacy Hanson(785) 448-3708 (785) 448-6142

“THE BRAND OF BREEDER RESPECT AND COMMERCIAL APPEAL”

For Quality Limousin Genetics You Can Count On

9700 Slaughterville Rd.Lexington, Oklahoma 73051

405/[email protected]

Edna Manning Judy Bugher J.W. Snyder405/306-1316 cell 405/306-1315 405/306-5202

EXPRESS RANCHES2202 N 11TH STREETYUKON, OKLAHOMABOB FUNK, OWNER

800-664-3977 405-350-0058 [email protected]

www.expressranches.com

Davis Limousin RanchBrad, Norma & Blair Davis12500 Hwy. 279 • Brownwood, TX 76801325/784-5071 • 325/784-7674 fax325/647-7681 cell • [email protected]

www.davislimousin.com


RIVERDALE RANCHRed & Black Limousin

Registered & Commercial

3830 Huckleberry Road • West, MS 39192Jim Jolley, Manager [email protected] fax: 601-605-4724

RANCH RAISED BULLS & HEIFERS FOR SALE

JIM DYERHCR 74, Box 146 “Se Hablo Spanglish”Fort Davis, TX 79734-5005 [email protected](915) 426-3435 • fax (915) 426-3126 www.bigbendtrailers.com

WW I E SI E S LL I M O U S I NI M O U S I NRR A N C HA N C H

BOB & EUVONNE WIES636-441-2439

RED AND BLACK LIMOUSIN CATTLE

WELLSVILLE, MO 63384 573-684-2773

LAWRENCE FAMILY LIMOUSIN—————––––———————————————

Bruce, Paula & Lee Roy LawrenceJohnny, Amber & Tucker ParkinsonPO Box 299 � Anton, TX 79313

e-mail: [email protected]

(806) 997-5381Your call or visit is always welcome.

WESTERN REGION BREEDERS

Raising Bulls ForThe CommercialCattleman

Gordon & Earline Schuppe25653 C.R. 63 Annual Bull Sale (970) 522-8195Iliff, CO 80736-9625 1st Saturday in March (970) 580-8195

Email: [email protected]

D J L i m o u s i nA.I. sired bulls and females

available privately

Dave Berry6845 SE King Road (360) 769-0639 · (360) 871-3642 eveningsPort Orchard, WA 98367 Email: [email protected]

Limousin & Lim-Flex Bulls and Females for Sale Privately!“Ranch Tested, Customer Approved”

30849 CR 56 • Iliff, CO 80736 • [email protected] & Elaine Lewis • 970-362-4321 • Les Cell 970-630-1283

Mat & Wendy Lewis • 970-521-0545 • Mat Cell 970-580-8209

Limousin • Red & Black AngusRed & Black Angus CompositesSelect Seed Stock Producer

TERRY OʼNEILLP.O. Box 30435

Billings, MT 59107

406/373-6016 (ranch)406/373-6048 (fax)[email protected]

www.tomahawklimousin.com

BBrraadd && JJaanneett WWaaddddllee440 Road 161Pine Bluffs, WY 82082

[email protected]

V i s i t o r s a l w a y s w e l c o m e

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Successful calving and breeding seasons are essential toany cow-calf enterprise’s profitability. Some factors determin-ing the seasons’ success are beyond our control. Herd nutri-tion, however, is in the producer’s control and has atremendous effect on calving and breeding success.

Within a herd-nutrition program, keep in mind the impor-tance of a proper mineral-supplementation program. Mineralsplay a role in nearly every metabolic function within the body,including reproductive efficiency, growth, colostrum qualityand herd health. A mineral-supplementation program doesnot need to be complicated or complex, but there are somebasic things to consider.

Required minerals are classified as macro- and micro-(trace) minerals, both of equal importance but required in dif-fering quantities. Macrominerals like calcium, phosphorous,magnesium, potassium, sulfur and salt all play vital roles inmetabolic function. Not only are levels of inclusion impor-tant, but it also is vital to keep ratios in check.

For example, the calcium-to-phosphorous ratio should befrom 1-to-1 to 4-to-1, with 1.5-to-1 being ideal. Calcium and

phosphorous supplementation for diets containing high levelsof corn-based products will be different from that of an all-hay diet. Cattle primarily consuming hay or grazing dormantwinter forage likely will need phosphorous supplementationto meet nutritional requirements.

Diets containing higher levels of grain forages and ethanolco-products, however, might contain adequate phosphorouslevels and require additional calcium supplementation toassure balanced calcium-to-phosphorous ratios. Keep in mindthat phosphorous generally represents the single largest costcomponent of a mineral program and significantly can altermineral cost when provided at optimal levels.

Trace MineralsMicro- (trace) minerals are important for a number of

functions within the cow – reproduction and immunity, toname a couple. The requirements for those minerals are gen-erally expressed as parts per million. Zinc, copper, man-ganese and selenium generally are the microminerals of

Mineral Considerationsfor Spring CowsBy Chad Zehnder

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concern in terms of potential deficiencies.Like macrominerals, it is important to keep ratios of

microminerals in balance. Elevating one without consideringthe levels of other minerals can create deficiencies, imbal-ances and suppressed trace-mineral status in the animal.

Trace-mineral form also is essential in evaluating a supple-mentation program. The bioavailability of a mineral (the abili-ty of an animal to absorb and use it) is dependant upon itsform. For example, copper chloride and copper sulfate haverelatively good bioavailability; however, copper oxide basical-ly is unavailable to the animal. Therefore, a copper guaranteeon a mineral tag supplied by copper oxide is essentially use-less to the animal.

Trace minerals supplied in an organic form, such as anamino-acid complex, have greater bioavailability to the ani-mal and have the potential to elevate trace-mineral status at aquicker rate than standard “metal”-based trace-mineralsources, such as oxides and sulfates.

Minerals containing organic trace-mineral sources oftenare termed as “breeder minerals” and are fed during thebreeding season with the expectation of increasing concep-tion rate. While benefits of feeding the organic sources duringthe breeding season might be realized, initiating an organic-mineral program 60 days before calving through the initiationof the breeding season might yield additional benefits. Datasuggest cows provided an organic trace-mineral sourcebefore calving have improved colostrum quality, improvedcalf health and vaccination response – all leading to a moresuccessful calving season.

Continuing the program until artificial insemination (AI) orbull turnout has shown to improve return to estrus and con-ception rates. Simply starting a “breeder mineral” program atthe beginning of the breeding season likely will not providethe improved performance that can be expected when initiat-ed before calving or before breeding.

Antagonisms, VariationsOne also must be aware of antagonistic effects that can

occur. Many areas in the United States have naturally occur-ring antagonists, such as sulfur, iron and molybdenum. Thoseantagonists have the ability to tie up other trace minerals,rendering them unavailable to the animal. A test is recom-mended to evaluate the potential for sulfates and iron in

water sources for livestock enterprises. The presence of sul-fates in drinking water might necessitate changes in trace-mineral supplementation and levels of ethanol co-productsthat can be used in cattle rations. Ethanol co-products mightcontain high levels of sulfur, which can tie up trace minerals,particularly copper.

The use of an organic mineral source can alleviate effectsof antagonists and increase mineral status of cattle whenantagonists are present. Producers should work with theirnutritionists to evaluate potential antagonists in their regions.When evaluating the mineral-supplementation needs of a par-ticular enterprise, however, a regional approach should betaken.

While forage-mineral analysis can provide some insight ofmineral content of a particular forage source, it says nothingof availability of the minerals to the animal. In addition, for-age-mineral levels change throughout the growing season andcan vary drastically from pasture to pasture. Costs associatedwith correctly analyzing a complete mineral profile for anenterprise that takes into consideration seasonal and pasturevariations are greater than any potential cost savings fromcustomizing and reducing a supplement’s particular tracemineral.

Mineral-intake management can provide significant eco-nomic benefits in the cow herd. From an animal-performancestandpoint, minerals that are unpalatable and undercon-sumed will not deliver the nutritional benefits they aredesigned to provide. Salt is the major driver of mineral intakeso underconsumption most often is attributed to salt levels,feeder placement or mineral palatability – not the lack ofneed by the animal for a particular mineral. At the same time,controlling overconsumption of a mineral can provide signifi-cant savings in a mineral program.

Implementing a balanced mineral program that accountsfor cow requirements year-round can help optimize cow per-formance and herd profit potential.

About the author: Chad Zehnder, Ph.D., of Stanchfield,Minn., is a cattle consultant with Land O’Lakes PurinaFeed, which has a full line of weather-resistant, baggedminerals and mineral tubs. Visit www.PurinaMills.comor www.LandOLakesFeed.com on the Web for more infor-mation.



Sittin’ DownWith Mark Anderson

Before he left the North American Limousin Foundation(NALF) staff in January, former Director of Member andCommercial Relations Frank Padilla sat down with MarkAnderson, manager of the Producers Livestock MarketingAssociation (PLMA) feedyard near Greeley, Colo., to visitabout cattle feeding.

FP: Tell us about your background and the PLMA feedyard.MA: I was raised on a 300-head commercial cow and

feedlot operation. I graduated from Colorado StateUniversity with an animal science degreeand spent seven years with CattleFax inDenver as a finished-cattle market analystfor the Colorado–Texas region. I havespent the last 20 years in the feedlotbusiness, handling all aspects of riskmanagement, financing and cattlefeeding. I have been the manager of thePLMA feedyard the last eight years. Weare a 50,000-head yard that is mainlyfilled by ranchers who retain ownership oftheir cattle and who are trying to addvalue through third-party source-and-ageverification, with many cattle beingmarketed into various naturalprograms across the centralregion of the country. Our yard hasa central facility outside Greeley, Colo., which is a30,000-head yard, and we grow an additional 20,000cattle in backgrounding yards north of Greeley – allunder our management. Ours is a full-service yardthat offers financing and risk-management services. Ialso have a commodity-broker’s license.

FP: Into what programs do you market cattle?MA: We market cattle to most of the major packers –

Tyson, National, Excel and JBS. We also market cattleto Laura’s Lean Beef Co. (LLB) and Meyer NaturalAngus (MNA). We market cattle as natural orconventional that are third-party source-and-ageverified. Most programs are geared toward Choice andPrime product – with the exception of LLB, whichmainly targets Select product.

FP: It has been tough, to say the least, in the feedingsector over the past two and a half years. Is there anyparticular market in which feeders have fared betterthan others?

MA: The market environment has been tough foreverybody the last three years, but we have faredbetter with our cattle going into natural programs thatare receiving a premium for added value undervarious marketing programs. We still have to maintainan aggressive risk-management program for cattleregardless of what program they are sold into. The

value-added programs definitely have provided us witha better margin, provided the cattle are of superiorgenetics as it relates to feedyard performance andcarcass traits.

FP: What percentage of the cattle you feed annually goesinto a natural program of some kind?

MA: Nearly 75 percent of our cattle are destined for anatural program.

FP: Do you think it is beneficial for cow-calf producers tokeep their calf crops “natural”?

MA: Yes, I do. And not only from a monetary standpoint.Most cattle are marketed back into programs thatreceive carcass information so an individual can makegenetic improvements based on actual harvest data.

In addition, closeout data are provided for allcattle to gauge the feed performance duringtheir stays in the feedyard. A good reputation forcattle adds value at sale time whether they aremarketed as feeder cattle or into a finished-cattle program.

FP: What do you think are the key elements increating value in a feeder calf from the feederperspective?MA: As I mentioned earlier, feed performancein terms of average daily gain and conversionrates is important. Harvest data are more

critical now, with cattle being marketedinto programs that are more specific.Adding value through third-party source-and-age verification is becoming moreimportant because it captures real

dollars for cattle that can qualify for export markets.Cattle that have a track record for those items are keywhen feedyards are running breakevens to determinevalue coming into their yards.

FP: What balance of breed type fits the various marketsyou target?

MA: Most breeds have cattle within their populations thatfit the requirements for high-quality harvest results.The key is to identify those cattle that have thatability. At present, most natural programs into whichwe market for Choice cattle want predominantly blackor red cattle with the ability to grade Choice or higher.We also feed quite a few high-percentage Limousincattle into the LLB program.

FP: What advice do you have for cow-calf producersconcerning what they can do to create more value fortheir calf crops?

MA: It is definitely worth the time to get cattle third-partysource-and-age verified. It also is critical to obtaincarcass data and feedyard performance to havehistory for your cattle to make genetic change thatactually counts. Adequate vaccination and mineral-supplement programs are vital to adding value to yourcattle whether you retain ownership or plan to marketthem to someone else.

Mark Anderson


Accurate recordkeeping, strict culling and strong industryties helped earn the North American Limousin Foundation(NALF) Commercial Producer of the Year award for Mike andBetsy Cravens of Lee’s Summit, Mo.

Bob Hough, Ph.D., NALF executive vice president, presentedthe award Jan. 13 during the Limousin pen and carload showsat the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) in Denver, Colo.

“Mike and Betsy Cravens are producers with the big pic-ture in mind,” said Frank Padilla, former direc-tor of member and commercial relations forNALF. “They have proven that Limousin genet-ics are an important component of successfulcommercial cow-calf production.”

Nominated by the Missouri Limousin Breed-ers Association (MLBA) and the Heartland Lim-ousin Association (HLA), the husband-and-wifeteam has owned and managed M&B Limousinfor more than 20 years. The enterprise compris-es 650 owned acres, 400 rented acres and 280cows, including 170 commercial females. Theyoriginally incorporated Limousin genetics forthe breed’s calving ease, performance and female longevity.

They keep detailed notes about their cows’ birthing datesand times, difficulties, peculiarities, and locations from yearto year. Adding carcass data has rounded out their overviewof each calf from birth to harvest and each cow for her entirelife on the farm.

Their two most important performance guidelines are a

12-month calving interval and a 95 percent weaning rate. Theyattribute good breeding, a good health program, good man-agement and good nutrition to attaining those goals.

Managing nutrition and health costs is their primary strate-gy for increasing returns and controlling costs. They use thesame bulls for their spring- and fall-calving herds, and theycheck all of their bulls for fertility and soundness beforeturnout.

Their sire selection begins with a thoroughvisual assessment and includes genetic poten-tial for birth weight, weaning weight and ribeyearea. As their heifer-replacement programmatures, they also are putting more emphasison appropriate milking ability for their environ-ment. They cull sires based on the results of fer-tility tests, unsoundness, temperament and age.

In selecting replacement females, they againstart with a visual evaluation, including udderquality. Weaning weight and milking ability alsoare among their selection criteria. Qualitatively,they prefer docile, polled genetics that match

their limited labor resources. They cull females based on fail-ure to breed, lost calves, unsoundness and temperament.

They market the majority of their calves to Laura’s LeanBeef Co. (LLB) and Strauss Brands, with the remainder goingto the local auction market. They collect carcass data fromthose branded programs and combine them with their calvingrecords to determine their most productive animals.

Missouri Is Home to LimousinCommercial Producer of the Year

Mike Cravens of Lee’sSummit, Mo., accepts theNorth American LimousinFoundation Commercial

Producer of the Year awardfrom Executive Vice President

Bob Hough, Ph.D.

The OtherNominees

� Roger Wick, NewRockford, N.D.

� Wayne J. NelsonCattle Co.,Langford, S.D.

� Fredrickson Farms,Independence, Wis.


Spring CreeksNamed CommercialMarketing Booster

The North American Limousin Foundation (NALF) pre-sented its Commercial Marketing Booster of the Year awardduring the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) Limousinpen and carload shows, Jan. 13 in Denver, Colo.

In recognition of its demonstrated commitment to com-mercial cattle producers, Spring Creeks Cattle Co. of Wauze-ka, Wis., received the award from Bob Hough, Ph.D., NALFexecutive vice president.

The Bob and Rhonda Mitchell family owns and managesthe enterprise, which also includes Matt, Shelby, Blake andClint; Bart, Amy, Lily, Brooke and Violet; and Scott, Joleneand Macy.

With about 600 head of registered and commercial Limou-sin, Lim-Flex® and Angus cattle, the Mitchells sell 60 to 80bulls annually and market mature cows, bred females andopen heifers. They focus on producing sound, practical cattlethat can be productive in any environment by using provenherd bulls and elite artificial-insemination (AI) sires.

Committed to raising calves without using antibiotics oradded growth hormones, they aggressively market their cat-tle’s naturally lean, meaty carcasses through local, state-inspected lockers, as well as Laura’s Lean Beef Co. (LLB) andStrauss Brands.

“Spring Creeks embodies progressive seedstock produc-tion,” said Frank Padilla, former director of member and com-mercial relations for NALF. “Their aggressive geneticimprovement goals, combined with their flexible marketingprogram, have allowed their enterprise to grow while openingup new avenues for Limousin genetics.”

The family was instrumental in introducing Strauss Brandsto the Limousin breed and NALF and in forging the sourcingagreement that has provided a new marketing opportunity forLimousin-influenced calves. They have become spokespeoplefor both the breed and Strauss Brands, including Bart andAmy’s appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show in 2008 toexplain how they raise and manage free-raised veal calves.

Coakley Is LimousinPromoter of the Year

The North American Limousin Foundation (NALF) pre-sented its Limousin Promoter of the Year award to ScottCoakley, vice president of cattle procurement for Laura’sLean Beef Co. (LLB), during the National Western StockShow (NWSS) Limousin pen and carload shows Jan. 13 inDenver, Colo. The award goes to someone in allied industrywho has advanced the Limousin breed through marketing,education or research.

Coakley has been involved in ranching and cattle finish-ing since his youth and continues to study market trends,harvest technologies, carcass quality and meat processing.He has 20 years of experience qualifying cattle for specificnatural programs. He has traveled North America to developspecialty markets and educational programs to help beefproducers use pharmaceuticals, feed supplements, genomicinformation and animal-welfare guidelines.

LLB is North America’s largest supplier of naturally lean,branded beef. It long has been a major buyer for muscular,lean, Limousin-influenced calves and recently has devel-oped a plan for promoting hybrid vigor (heterosis) in thenatural beef sector – primarily by incorporating Limousingenetics for superior gain and yield in predominatelyBritish-based cow herds. By supporting crossbreeding, car-cass traits and DNA profiling to suit specific target markets,the company aims to increase the availability and afford-

ability of lean, natural beef.Coakley has been instrumental in developing that pro-

gram for LLB while fostering a positive working relationshipwith NALF to create “pull-through” demand for Limousin-influenced cattle.

“Scott has strengthened an already-solid relationshipbetween users of Limousin genetics and one of the nation’sleading all-natural beef companies,” said Frank Padilla, for-mer director of member and commercial relations for NALF.“His dedication and foresight have created win-win situationsfor the organization, its members and their customers.”

Scott Coakley, vice president of cattle procurement for Laura’s Lean BeefCo., accepts the Limousin Promoter of the Year award from North AmericanLimousin Foundation Executive Vice President Bob Hough, Ph.D.

Bob Mitchell of Spring Creeks Cattle Co., Wauzeka, Wis., accepts theNorth American Limousin Foundation Commercial Marketing Booster ofthe Year award from Executive Vice President Bob Hough, Ph.D.

Laura’s Lean Beef Co. (LLB), North Ameri-ca’s largest supplier of naturally lean brandedbeef, is promoting one version of the Lim-Flex® movement to create a significant newsource of F1 red Limousin–Red Angus cattleto share with its corporate partner, MeyerNatural Angus (MNA). Under a dynamic tagline, “The Power of Red,” LLB and MNA planfor the program to promote hybrid vigor (hetero-sis) in the natural beef industry by combining theLimousin breed’s superior gain with the Angusbreed’s widespread presence.

The new red Lim-Flex program is a coopera-tive arrangement in which producers raise cattlefrom red Limousin and Red Angus bulls andcows then harvest them with LLB or MNA basedon tenderness, marbling and ribeye size as pre-dicted by DNA testing. The companies believeusing science to predict quality grade will greatlyimprove packer and producer profitability.

LLB will take the cattle that grade Select orStandard, and MNA will take those that gradeChoice or Prime. Cattle headed for either company will bepaid $10 per hundredweight more than the weekly five-areamarket, but each company offers its own bonus grid to com-pliment each breed’s characteristics. Both programs includereimbursement for DNA testing and freight to harvest at one

of several locations in the Midwest. Addi-tionally, MNA will pay a bonus of $15 perhead for cattle with Red Angus Feeder CalfCertification Program (FCCP) tags. To qual-ify for the MNA program, cattle must be atleast 50 percent Red Angus.

The red Lim-Flex program culminatesthe career of LLB’s former co-owner and

COO, John Tobe. After 19 years of helping tobuild LLB from a family farm to an internationalnatural beef provider, he will turn over dailyoperations to a team of leaders from LLB andMNA headed by the latter’s Bill Rupp. Tobe willcontinue to influence both companies’ progressas a member of the MNA board of directors.

LLB always has depended on the naturallysuperior genetics of lean, muscular breeds likeLimousin, and it is proud to offer red Limousinand Red Angus producers a dynamic new pro-gram that has the potential to increase the avail-ability and affordability of lean, naturallyhealthy beef.

About the author: Scott Coakley is vice president of cat-tle procurement for LLB. For more information about thered Lim-Flex program, call 1-800-ITS-LEAN to speak with acattle buyer for your region.


The Power of Red:Partners Launch Programto Benefit Natural BeefBy Scott Coakley

Bull selection starts with choosing a reputable breeder. Themember directory on the North American Limousin Founda-tion (NALF) Web site (www.nalf.org) is a good place to start.NALF also can provide you with a list of Limousin breeders inyour area. As you contact breeders, find out what services theyoffer – such as breeding guarantees; calf buybacks; delivery;and selection, management and marketing advice.

SoundnessAfter you find a breeder and have some bull prospects in

mind, assess whether the bulls are reproductively and struc-turally sound.

The best way to evaluate reproductive soundness isthrough a breeding-soundness exam (BSE). Veterinarians per-form BSEs, which include physical exams, scrotal-circumfer-

ence (SC) measurements and semen evaluations. NALF rec-ommends bulls pass BSEs before they change owners. Sellersshould make BSE results available and specify guarantees ofreproductive soundness and fertility.

Structural soundness ensures herd sires can breed femaleseffectively. Breeding bulls need sound feet, legs and eyes toservice females in heat. Bulls should have appropriate angles atall weight-bearing joints and move without pain or discomfort.

You also should consider bulls’ conformations, bodycapacities, frame sizes, muscling or thickness, libidos, dispo-sitions, color, and polled statuses. You might want to limityour selections to virgin bulls to reduce the risk of sexuallytransmitted diseases.

Visual Appraisal, PerformanceInformation Combine to Reduce Surprises



EnvironmentBull selection should target an acceptable combination of

traits that complements your cow herd’s strengths and weak-nesses. You should balance various traits and avoid extremes.Bulls should match your cows, markets, management andenvironment.

To get a clearer picture of the type of bull that is appropri-ate for your needs, develop goals for your enterprise and eval-uate your herd critically. Be prepared to ask yourself somequestions. For example, if your cows have been having calv-ing problems, limit your search to calving-ease bulls. If yourcalves’ weaning weights have been lighter than you wouldlike, choose bulls with superior growth traits.

Ultimately, based on your cows’ strengths and weaknessesand the goals for your next calf crop, you can determine a tar-get-EPD (expected progeny difference) profile for prospec-tive purchases. NALF’s tables of EPD percentile breakdowns(see page 12), published with every sire summary, show howanimals rank within the breed. They can be helpful in settingstandards for each trait of interest.

TogetherSelecting the right bulls depends on your breeding objec-

tives, and the best bulls for one producer might not be the best

Visual Appraisal, PerformanceInformation Combine toReduce Surprises continued from page 29

for another. The more information you use in bull selection,the fewer surprises. It is important to use both performanceinformation and visual appraisal in choosing breeding bulls.

If you select solely on performance numbers, you inadver-tently might choose structurally unsound or infertile bullsthat will do little for your calf-crop percentage and herdimprovement. If you select bulls based only on visual apprais-al, you almost certainly will overlook bulls with geneticsmore appropriate to your situation.

Editor’s note: This information is from the “Guide toCommercial Bull Selection” that you can find in the “Genet-ic Evaluation” section of the NALF Web site.


ColoradoPrivate treaty – Magness Land andCattle, (970) 785-6170(pages 14–15)

Private treaty – Running Creek Ranch,Elizabeth, (303) 841-7901 (page 22)

IndianaPrivate treaty – Sennett Cattle Co.,Waynetown, (765) 234-2621 (page 7)

IowaPrivate treaty – Linhart Limousin, Leon,(641) 340-1306 (page 3)

KansasPrivate treaty – Liberty Ranch, Plainville,(785) 885-4882 (page 28)

MinnesotaMarch 26 – Wulf Limousin FarmsOpportunity Sale of 2010, Morris,(320) 392-5802 (pages 20–21)

MontanaApril 5 – Coleman Limousin Ranch32nd Annual Sale, Missoula,(406) 644-2300 (page 11)

Private treaty – Gates Limousin,Absarokee, (406) 328-4393 (page 26)

North DakotaMarch 20 – Vaughn Farms–DakotaConnection Annual Sale, Bismarck,(701) 265-4097 (page 30)

March 22 – Hager Cattle Co. AnnualBull Sale, Bismarck,(701) 525-6363 (page 10)

OklahomaMarch 28 – Magness Land and CattleSouthern Division Bull Sale, Miami,(918) 541-5482 (pages 14–15)

April 10 – Magness Land and Cattle Fall-Calving Cow Herd Dispersal, Miami,(918) 541-5482 (pages 14–15)

South DakotaMarch 19 – Schott Limousin Ranch27th Annual Sale, Mobridge,(605) 823-4974 (page 31)

UtahPrivate treaty – Millerberg Limousin,Draper, (801) 566-4665 (page 6)

WisconsinPrivate treaty – Spring Creeks CattleCo., Wauzeka, (608) 875-5049(page 8)

Limousin Locator

Thanks to OurCorporate SponsorsFive Star Cattle Systems,(970) 231-6278 (page 32)

Land O’Lakes Purina Feed,1-800-227-8941 (page 5)

Laura’s Lean Beef Co.,1-800-ITS-LEAN (page 2)

Limi-Gene,1-800-722-2079 (page 24)

Strauss Brands,1-800-562-7775 (page 9)

7383 S. Alton Way, Suite 100Centennial, Colorado 80112-2339

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