|
Post by mehf on Feb 28, 2015 10:06:37 GMT -6
Shiloh, One thing that struck me in a very negative manner about last fall's Hereford Genetic Summit (and, I believe I am correct on this ...), is that only individuals who were in the black critter element of the beef cattle industry made presentations to the Hereford members who attended. Shameful for sure.
Well, there are many, many Hereford breeders and commercial Hereford ranchers who have innovative, profitable and quality operations throughout the country that should have been asked to present information as to their success to the membership. Sadly, they were not. And, as such, their absence begs the question; did the senior management individual at the AHA (who, by-the-way, raises black critters and has close ties with the black critter powers that be ...) "tilt the table" to the detriment of those who make their livelihood raising Herefords of one type or another?
|
|
|
Post by moon on Feb 28, 2015 11:53:53 GMT -6
No, Dr. Jim and his brothers and mother own Little Fort Herefords in British Columbia. The herd was established by his father and mother back in late 40's or early 50's. They have been producing bulls for the Canadian commercial cattle industry since and have a strong customer base in western Canada. I attended the Summit and expressed my opinions on a related thread on HT. I did not consider the vet from Simplot as being exclusively from the "black critter element, as he seemed to like Charolais.
Like many of you already agree George could not have said it any better.
I will offer three (3) other possible alternatives. First, form several groups across the U.S. and pool a set amount of money for an ad campaign in a breed publication such as Hereford America or your State Association newsletter, etc. and keep a constant message in front of the membership/readers. I am sure there are other low/no cost methods also available. Doing this in regions or by States can saturate your message. Second, last Friday, February 20, AHA released the names of the nominating committee appointed by Eric Walker. Chairman is Marty Lueck--417-838-1482, other members are Kevin Jensen--785-243-6397, Bill King --505-832-4330, Norris Fowler--864-674-5147, and Bob Morrison--419-362-4471. Call these people and express your opinions on type of director candidates needed, and either recruit someone to give name to committee or offer names of possible candidates (or volunteers as Hereford enews referred to them). This the earliest I can recall the names of the nominating committee has been released in several years. Why not consider running yourself and learn the process. Better yet contact the breeders you know and get any future President to appoint you on the nominating committee. Third, set a plan and form a contingent to attend the annual meeting every year to express your views to delegates and others in attendance. You can review the By-Laws and follow the procedure to be placed on the Agenda at the Annual meeting. In fact this happened at last annual meeting by just one person, but he was from the " black critter element " who I think said he had just acquired a few Hereford cows. You could make a power point presentation or what ever type of presentation you want to the " captive audience ". May find some converts.
Just suggestions, and like others have expressed on this thread, I will also support any organized viable plan of action.
|
|
|
Post by bookcliff on Feb 28, 2015 14:00:46 GMT -6
Shiloh I'm glad that you feel that you benefitted from attending it. I've read others who didn't. One who left early because he felt the information wasn't relevant to his operation and that of his clients. The fact is there is Hereford breeders who are doing the very same type of practices these speakers are but for some reason the AHA would rather showcase a breeder of another breed rather than their own breeders. I could list many instances of breeders I know who equal the speakers they had in their own right. But in the end most of these aren't relevant to the commercial breeder. One manager of a 50,000 hd or greater lot handles more cattle than all those you listed. Them and their buyers are who influences what we receive when we market our cattle whether that is as calves or feeders unless we retain ownership and then the packer buyer decides that. In the end the packer is the one who sets the mark for what the commercial man recceives by what he will pay top dollar for. And by the type being raised by many of the supposedly prominent breeders now they need to learn what the feeder and packer wants so they can provide it to the commercial breeder. I've seen progeny of bulls from one of the speakers sell along with progeny from bulls from a very prominent herd in KS and neither consistently sell at the top. I could list names of breeders whose bulls sire progeny that consistently sell at the top but won't. They cover several breeds. It seems to me that marketing and salemanship works for the registered breeders of all breeds. It sure doesn't for the commercial breeder. When they enter the sale ring they are judged by quality and type and priced accordingly. I would agree. I neighbored next to one of the speakers for about 12 years. I saw his genetics first hand across the barb wire.( hell, the folks I managed CCR for even bought 3 potloads of bred heifers thru his heifer program one year and boy was that the worst wreck calving heifers I've ever been thru, but thats a story for another time) and I know how much hype, beef and Drovers "press" and a good sales presentation made his program, why he has a full time sales/customer rep, and how much credit he has to give out each year (only redeamable in his sale the next year). I also know why he quit having his feeder calf sale each year the week before ours. because our primarily straight hereford feeder calf sale pretty much always outsold his angus feeder calf sale every year by $5 to $10 a cwt on about every class and weight for the dozen or so years he had one.
|
|
|
Post by mehf on Feb 28, 2015 14:04:03 GMT -6
|
|
|
Post by elkwc on Feb 28, 2015 21:27:22 GMT -6
TK I'm sure we are both talking about the same speaker. He talks about moderation. He moderated muscling when he reduced size. I won't say anything else. I just find it sad that the AHA along with many breeders believe and promote his cause. Just proves that glitter and fluff fools many.
|
|
|
Post by bookcliff on Feb 28, 2015 22:13:28 GMT -6
TK I'm sure we are both talking about the same speaker. He talks about moderation. He moderated muscling when he reduced size. I won't say anything else. I just find it sad that the AHA along with many breeders believe and promote his cause. Just proves that glitter and fluff fools many. we are and i bet i know the iron used at the other outfit you mentioned as well
|
|
|
Post by picketwire on Mar 1, 2015 10:09:58 GMT -6
Betting that iron shivers all the time too!
|
|
|
Post by bookcliff on Mar 1, 2015 12:25:06 GMT -6
Betting that iron shivers all the time too! yup quanto omni flunkus moritati
|
|
|
Post by elkwc on Mar 1, 2015 20:44:55 GMT -6
TK I'm sure we are both talking about the same speaker. He talks about moderation. He moderated muscling when he reduced size. I won't say anything else. I just find it sad that the AHA along with many breeders believe and promote his cause. Just proves that glitter and fluff fools many. we are and i bet i know the iron used at the other outfit you mentioned as well I know you do. Some operations have purged their genetics but it seems there is always a new replacement.
|
|
|
Post by bookcliff on Mar 1, 2015 22:02:10 GMT -6
we are and i bet i know the iron used at the other outfit you mentioned as well I know you do. Some operations have purged their genetics but it seems there is always a new replacement. as long as folks blindly look only at EPD's and Drovers and Beef and the rest pimp em as the end all to be all, the circle will grow ever wider to cover their loss of clientel closer to home. I went to K-state with their youngest son, drank more than a few servas with him as well. at that time they only sold about 60 or so bulls a year. he went to telling us one night about the wagonwheel they were putting in and how they were giong to go to strickly a fall calving and full out ET program roll the generations quick for rapid genetic advancement and ramp things up. I was more than sceptical and made the comment that that might work in the short term but eventually it would bite em in the ass. I guess I was wrong. them boys have made a pile of money the last 20 years and sell more bulls in 2-3 years than I'll sell in my lifetime and are the darlings of the trade magazines.
|
|