STOCKTON, Mo. — Cattle producers shopping for spring-calving replacements will have 200 bred heifers to choose from Nov. 20 at Joplin Regional Stockyards in Carthage.
The southwest Missouri Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer sale begins at 7 p.m. at the stockyards, 10131 Cimarron Road. Twelve consignors are offering females expected to calve from late January through April 30.
Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist, says the offering gives producers an opportunity to add replacements developed under the program’s management, breeding and health guidelines.
Both purebred and crossbred commercial heifers are included. Breeds represented are Angus, Beefmaster, Gelbvieh, Hereford, Red Angus and Simmental, along with composites. Buyers will find black, black whiteface, red and red whiteface females.
For operations considering crossbred replacements, Davis says hybrid vigor can contribute to longer productive lives. He notes crossbred females produce an additional calf on average compared with purebred females.
Breeding decisions are another part of the program. Heifers have been mated to bulls meeting its calving ease requirements, with expected progeny differences used to evaluate genetics.
Known as EPDs, those figures help compare the expected performance of one animal’s offspring with another’s. They draw on performance records, pedigree relationships and, where available, genomic information.
Some sale heifers were bred through artificial insemination to sires with high-accuracy EPDs. Others were exposed to natural-service bulls evaluated through genomic testing. Davis says the matings emphasize calving ease, with some sires also offering growth and carcass potential.
Health preparation includes veterinary involvement throughout development. Every heifer has tested negative for persistent infection with bovine viral diarrhea virus, commonly called BVD-PI.
Pregnancy examinations are required within 90 days after breeding begins and again within 30 days before the sale. Those checks help confirm pregnancy status and estimate calving dates.
Buyers should still allow flexibility in their calving plans. Davis says females may deliver two weeks or more before or after a projected date, even when bred on the same day.
Online bidding will be available through DVAuction. Buyers needing help with online bidding or registration as a new in-person bidder can call Joplin Regional Stockyards at 417-548-2333.
For program and sale information, contact 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. The sale catalog provides details on consignors and individual heifers.
MU Extension cattle file photo. The photograph does not depict the specific sale offering.
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