The Missouri Show-Me-Select™ (SMS) Replacement Heifer Program provides education to cattle producers on heifer development strategies, specifically in management, reproduction, and genetics,” says Patrick Davis, MU Extension Livestock Field Specialist. The goal is to ensure a dependable supply of high-quality bred replacement heifers. The Southwest Missouri spring sale is scheduled for May 15 at 7:00 p.m. at Joplin Regional Stockyards, located at 10131 Cimarron Rd, Carthage, Missouri 64836. Approximately 170 SMS-certified, fall-calving bred heifers from 12 consignors will be available for purchase.
“These commercial bred heifers are either purebred or crossbred,” says Davis. Heifer breeds include Angus, Akaushi, Beefmaster, Gelbvieh, Hereford, Red Angus, Simmental, and their composites. Heifer colors are black, black/white face, red, and red/white face. Many are crossbreds, which benefit from hybrid vigor and tend to have greater longevity, producing one more calf on average than purebreds.
“These commercial bred heifers are either purebred or crossbred,” says Davis. Heifer breeds include Angus, Akaushi, Beefmaster, Gelbvieh, Hereford, Red Angus, Simmental, and their composites. Heifer colors are black, black/white face, red, and red/white face. Many are crossbreds, which benefit from hybrid vigor and tend to have greater longevity, producing one more calf on average than purebreds.
“Many sale heifers have been artificially inseminated (AI) and carrying offspring from a high-accuracy AI sire,” says Davis. Davis recommends the purchase of heifers with an AI pregnancy from these sires, as it provides greater insight into their progeny performance. This approach also aids in selecting replacement heifers that can produce valuable offspring to strengthen the cattle operation’s profitability. Additionally, knowing the exact service date can improve the accuracy of calving dates, making preparation for the calving season easier.
For information about the SMS Program, please visit https://tinyurl.com/smsprogram. For additional details regarding the program or the Southwest Missouri sale, contact MU Extension Livestock Field Specialists: Patrick Davis at (417) 276-3313 or davismp@missouri.edu; Andy McCorkill at (417) 345-7551 or mccorkilla@missouri.edu; or Ian McGregor at (417) 466-3102 or ian.mcgregor@missouri.edu. For inquiries concerning online bidding via DVAuction or new in-person bidding options, please reach out to the Joplin Regional Stockyards at (417) 548-2333.
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