Media Releases
Champions Selected at 2022 AGJA Crossroads Classic Balancer® Show
Champions Selected at 2022 AGJA Crossroads Classic Gelbvieh Show
The 2022 AGJA Crossroads Classic Gelbvieh shows were held July 8, 2022 in Salina, Kansas. Exhibitors had the pleasure of welcoming judge Chris Mullinix of Manhattan, Kansas, to evaluate and sort through 24 Steers, 113 Gelbvieh females, and 12 Gelbvieh bulls.
Grand Champion Gelbvieh Female was BCFG Butlers MS Jaelynn J534 ET owned by Aidan Raab of Markle, Ind. This heifer was born September 23, 2021 and sired by JRI General Patton 213B97 ET originally earning the title of Champion Senior Heifer Calf. This female was also crowned Grand Champion Gelbvieh Heifer.
Reserve Grand Champion Gelbvieh Female was AMT Jasmine 165J owned by Alexandria Raab, of Markle, Ind., born May 3, 2021. Sired by GHGF Top Shelf 25G2 this female first earned the title of Champion Intermediate Yearling. She was also named Reserve Grand Champion Gelbvieh Heifer.
Grand Champion Bred & Owned Gelbvieh Female was DMC Lady Lucy 83J5 owned by Madalyn Johnson of Judsonia, Arkansas. Sired by DMC Martin’s Full Power 42C and born April 26, 2021 this female first earned the title of Champion Bred & Owned Spring Yearling Heifer.
Reserve Grand Champion Bred & Owned Gelbvieh Female was CDCG 164J owned by Cooper Beying of Leavenworth ,Kansas. Born December 6, 2021 and sired by JRI General Patton 213B97 ET, this female originally earned the title of Champion Bred & Owned Senior Heifer Calf.
Grand Champion Gelbvieh Cow/Calf Pair was GAMB Dottie D63 owned by Braxton Murray of Kingfisher, Oklahoma. Born March 2, 2016 and sired by BAG Mr Quick Sand 135A this female originally earned the title of Champion Aged Cow/Calf pair with a calf at side born December 10, 2021 sired by GAMB E175.
Reserve Grand Champion Gelbvieh Cow/Calf Pair was MGA Trey 034H owned by Ellie Bowman of Lewis, Kansas. Sired by OGSG Overtime 175D and born April 6, 2020 this female was initially selected as champion Young Cow/Calf pair with a calf at side born May 11, 2022 sired by MGA Like A Boss 001H.
Grand Champion Bred & Owned Gelbvieh Cow/Calf Pair was WWM Ruby In The Rough 26E owned by William Welsh of Franklin, Nebraska. Sired by GGGE 3G Zip Line 266Z and born September 25, 2017 this female originally earned the title of Champion Bred & Owned Aged Cow/Calf Pair with a calf at side born May 23, 2022 sired by MAGW Geronimo G02 ET.
Grand Champion Gelbvieh Bull was LLLI 3L Power Down 33J18 owned by Isabel Lowe of Adrian, Missouri. Sired by JLEA Tops Down 914G and born November 29, 2021 this bull originally earned the titled of Champion Senior Bull Calf.
Reserve Grand Champion Bull was JRI Pikes Peak 68J380 ET owned by Lily Grace Judd of Pomona, Kansas. Sired by JRI Gneral Patton 213B97 ET and born September 1, 2021 this bull was originally crowned Reserve Champion Senior Bull Calf.
Grand Champion Gelbvieh Steer was REA Mr Diego 115J owned by Rachelle Anderson of Jamestown, Kan., sired by REA Mr Red Maple 823F and weighing 1345.
Reserve Grand Champion Gelbvieh Steer was owned by Brenlee Alber of Guide Rock, Neb., sired by CCD Grand River 55T and weighing 1285.
2022 AGJA Crossroads Classic
Gelbvieh Show
July 8, 2022
Salina, Kansas
Division Champions and Reserves:
Gelbvieh Females
Champion Junior Heifer Calf
LLLJ 3L Lizzo 14K1
Jessie Lowe, Adrian, Mo.
Sire: JLEA Tops Down 914G
Reserve Champion Junior Heifer Calf
LLLJ 3L Barbie Girl 14K2
Jessie Lowe, Adrian, Mo.
Sire: JLEA Tops Down 914G
Champion Bred & Owned Junior Heifer Calf
LLLJ 3L Lizzo 14K1
Jessie Lowe, Adrian, Mo.
Sire: JLEA Tops Down 914G
Reserve Champion Bred & Owned Junior Heifer Calf
LLLJ 3L Barbie Girl 14K2
Jessie Lowe, Adrian, Mo.
Sire: JLEA Tops Down 914G
Champion Senior Heifer Calf
BCFG Butlers Ms Jaelynn J534 ET
Aidan Raab, Markle, Ind.
Sire: JRI General Patton 213B97 ET
Reserve Champion Senior Heifer Calf
JNCC Cowtown Julia 150J
Cameron Nowack, Bland, Mo.
Sire: GHGF Cow Town D536
Champion Bred & Owned Senior Heifer Calf
CDCG 164J
Cooper Beying, Leavenworth, Kan.
Sire: JRI General Patton 213B97 ET
Reserve Champion Bred & Owned Senior Heifer Calf
GHSC Ms Mollie J371 ET
Gage Hutson Swindler, Braymer, Mo.
Sire: JDPD Astro 407S
Champion Intermediate Yearling
AMT Jasmine 165J
Alexandria Raab, Markle, Ind.
Sire: GHGF Top Shelf 25G2 ET
Reserve Champion Intermediate Yearling
DBSG J372
Dylan Swindler, Braymer, Mo.
Sire: JRI In Pursuit 017B50
Champion Bred & Owned Intermediate Yearling
DBSG J372
Dylan Swindler, Braymer, Mo.
Sire: JRI In Pursuit 017B50
Reserve Champion Bred & Owned Intermediate Yearling
CRLL Saterrah 1757J ET
Jacie Diane Carroll, Raymore, Mo.
Sire: JDPD Astro 407S
Champion Spring Yearling
MGA Pocahontas 142J
Ellie Bowman, Lewis, Kan.
Sire: OGSG Overtime 175D
Reserve Champion Spring Yearling
DMC Lady Lucy 83J5
Madalyn Johnson, Judsonia, Ark.
Sire: DMC Martin’s Full Force 42C
Champion Bred & Owned Spring Yearling
DMC Lady Lucy 83J5
Madalyn Johnson, Judsonia, Ark.
Sire: DMC Martin’s Full Force 42C
Champion Winter Yearling
HTFG Hilltops Jolene J100
Evelyn Gilbreath, Oronogo, Mo.
Sire: HTFM Mr Equalizer E711
Reserve Champion Winter Yearling
TTTT Ms Annie 105J ET
Hayden Tabor, Agra, Okla.
Sire: DLW TPG Frontrunner 2510F
Champion Bred & Owned Winter Yearling
LARA Hollywood JN007 ET
Lara Leota Rittenhouse, New Carlisle, Ohio
Sire: TJB Dominic 844F
Reserve Champion Bred & Owned Winter Yearling
BEWA Ms Frontrunner 155J
Berkley Warner, Arapahoe, Neb.
Sire: DLW TPG Frontrunner 2510F
Champion Young Cow/Calf Pair
MGA Trey 034H
Ellie Bowman, Lewis, Kan.
Sire: OGSG Overtime 175D
Champion Senior Female
TJB Diamond 052H ET
Hannah Maddox, Chickamauga, Ga.
Sire: TJB 914U Sandhills 4120C ET
Reserve Champion Female
GHGF Ashley 98H
Cody Clary, Saluda, S.C.,
Sire: FMGF Blue’s Impact 001X
Champion Bred & Owned Senior Female
LBVF Strawberry H014
Logan Buffo, Lansing, Kan.
Sire: JRI Pistol Pete 214A44
Reserve Champion Young Cow/Calf Pair
PMG Cindy Lou 07H
Teagan Butterfield, Atkinson, Neb.
Sire: IGF Ivers Cinch C7 ET
Champion Aged Cow/Calf Pair
GAMB Dottie D63
Braxton Murray, Kingfisher, Okla.
Sire: BAG Mr. Quick Sand 135A
Reserve Aged Cow/Calf Pair
EMMA Ada F8
Jacob Arthur McDonald, Rolla, Mo.
Sire: Emma Zander D4
Champion Bred & Owned Aged Cow/Calf Pair
WWM Ruby In The Rough 26E
William Welsh, Franklin, Neb.
Sire: GGGE 3G Zip Line 266Z
Grand Champion Gelbvieh Heifer
BCFG Butlers Ms Jaelynn J534 ET
Aidan Raab, Markle, Ind.
Sire: JRI General Patton 213B97 ET
Reserve Grand Champion Gelbvieh Heifer
AMT Jasmine 165J
Alexandria Raab, Markle, Ind.
Sire: GHGF Top Shelf 25G2 ET
Grand Champion Bred & Owned Gelbvieh Heifer
DMC Lady Lucy 83J5
Madalyn Johnson, Judsonia, Ark.
Sire: DMC Martin’s Full Force 42C
Reserve Grand Champion Bred & Owned Gelbvieh Heifer
CDCG 164J
Cooper Beying, Leavenworth, Kan.
Sire: JRI General Patton 213B97 ET
Grand Champion Gelbvieh Female
BCFG Butlers Ms Jaelynn J534 ET
Aidan Raab, Markle, Ind.
Sire: JRI General Patton 213B97 ET
Reserve Grand Champion Gelbvieh Female
AMT Jasmine 165J
Alexandria Raab, Markle, Ind.
Sire: GHGF Top Shelf 25G2 ET
Third Overall Gelbvieh Female
MGA Pocahontas 142J
Ellie Bowman, Lewis, Kan.
Sire: OGSG Overtime 175D
Fourth Overall Gelbvieh Female
JNCC Cowtown Julia 150J
Cameron Nowack, Bland, Mo.
Sire: GHGF Cow Town D536
Fifth Overall Gelbvieh Female
GAMB Dottie D63
Braxton Murray, Kingfisher, Okla.
Sire: BAG Mr. Quick Sand 135A
Grand Champion Bred & Owned Gelbvieh Female
DMC Lady Lucy 83J5
Madalyn Johnson, Judsonia, Ark.
Sire: DMC Martin’s Full Force 42C
Reserve Grand Champion Bred & Owned Gelbvieh Female
CDCG 164J
Cooper Beying, Leavenworth, Kan.
Sire: JRI General Patton 213B97 ET
Gelbvieh Bulls
Champion Junior Bull Calf
ELCB Special Sauce 03K
Brooke Cooper, Burdett, Kan.
Sire: ELC Main Event 011D
Reserve Champion Junior Bull Calf
BUTR Teamar 322K
Teagan Butterfield, Atkinson, Neb.
Sire: PGS Prohart Ol’ Glory 935G
Champion Senior Bull Calf
LLLI 3L Power Down 33J18
Isabel Lowe, Adrian, Mo.
Sire: JLEA Tops Down 914G
Reserve Champion Senior Bull Calf
JRI Pikes Peak 68J380 ET
Lily Grace Judd, Pomona, Kan.
Sire: JRI General Patton 213B97 ET
Champion Junior Yearling Bull
JNCC Interceptor 138J
Brooke Nowack, Bland, Mo.
Sire: JNCC Direct Hit 869F
Champion Senior Yearling Bull
CMSP Concealed Communications J39
Chloe Sprague, Altoona, Iowa
Sire: WWG Concealed Weapon D8
Grand Champion Gelbvieh Bull
LLLI 3L Power Down 33J18
Isabel Lowe, Adrian, Mo.
Sire: JLEA Tops Down 914G
Reserve Grand Champion Gelbvieh Bull
JRI Pikes Peak 68J380 ET
Lily Grace Judd, Pomona, Kan.
Sire: JRI General Patton 213B97 ET
The American Gelbvieh Association is a progressive beef cattle breed association representing 1,100 members and approximately 40,000 cows assessed annually in a performance-oriented total herd reporting system.
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Note to Editors: High-resolution press quality photos are available by contacting Malerie Strahm, American Gelbvieh Association multimedia coordinator, at malerie@gelbvieh.org or 303-465-2333.
Top Honors Named at 2022 AGJA Crossroads Classic
2022 AGJA Breeder of the Year
Alexx Starr receives a belt buckle and custom leather director chair for being named the 2022 AGJA Junior Breeder of the Year. Both awards are sponsored by 3L Gelbvieh of Adrian, Missouri. Pictured with Alexx (left) are Jessie Lowe (middle) and Isabel Lowe (right) of 3L Gelbvieh, both active AGJA members.
Congratulations to Alexx Starr, Stapleton, Nebraska, daughter of Scott and Raberta Starr on being named the 2022 American Gelbvieh Junior Assocition (AGJA) Junior Breeder of the Year.
Alexx’s family owns and operates Cedar Top Ranch near Stapleton, Nebraska. Alexx is active with the daily operation of the ranch by helping care for cows, check pastures along with the variety of jobs that come with managing an operation of that size. Alexx is also actively involved and takes a serious role in making mating decisions each year. She is entrusted with traveling to other operations to promote Cedar Top Ranch and buy and sell seed stock cattle. Additionally, Alexx works in the Bull Barn Genetics office and sells semen.
Alexx recently completed her fourth year on the AGJA board of directors, serving previously as treasurer, vice president and most recently as president. Over the years she has played a vital role in the association’s progression toward an inclusive and progressive environment. Her constructive mindset provided guidance not only for her fellow directors but the membership of the AGJA. Many would describe her position in the beef industry as “forward thinking, world ready”. Alexx is optimistic about the future of the Gelbvieh breed and what they can offer not only our domestic commercial customers but international partners as well through semen sales both on the beef and dairy side. She is a visionary and truly encompasses what this award was designed to promote.
The 2021-2022 AGJA board of directors gave serious thought to serve the tradition of awarding its members who work tirelessly on their herd’s genetics, educating others about the breed, and taking ownership of their skills and knowledge as it pertains to the relevance to the industry. In doing so, the board of directors introduced for the first time ever, the AGJA Junior Breeder of the Year Award. The idea behind such award is to retain the opportunity to recognize a junior member who goes above and beyond the call of duty regarding the Gelbvieh breed, their family’s operation, the education of the breed, as well as exemplifying good character and leadership skills amongst their peers. Looking toward the future, the AGJA hopes to continue providing an atmosphere of inclusion, leadership, professional development, and opportunity to all youth.
2022 AGJA Ambassador
Madalyn Johnson (left) accepts her buckle sponsored by RLB Genetics of Fordland, Missouri, from retiring 2021-2022 AGJA Ambassador Kate Strackeljahn (left) of Saint James, Missouri.
Congratulations to Madalyn Johnson of Judsonia, Arkansas, daughter of Jason of Rebecca Johnson, for being chosen to represent the American Gelbvieh Junior Association (AGJA) Ambassador for the 2022-2023 year.
A seven-year member of the AGJA, Johnson is a freshman at White County Central in Judsonia, Arkansas. In addition to her new role as AGJA Ambassador, she is actively involved in 4-H, FFA, Arkansas Junior Cattlemen’s Association, Natural State Show Goat Association and Mt. Pleasant MBC Youth Group. A well-spoken young cattlewoman, Johnson has soared to the top earning multiple public speaking, sales talk and essay contest over the years.
“Since joining the AGJA I have learned how hard work and dedication can help you in and out of the show ring. In doing the leadership contests, I have learned skills that will help me throughout life. I feel it is my job to go and spread the word about the Gelbvieh and Balancer breed and I plan to continue my life promoting such an incredible breed who has given me so much.” Johnson said.
The AGJA Ambassador Program encourages youth involvement in the breed’s activities. The young men and women who serve as the Ambassador represent the AGJA at Gelbvieh functions throughout the year. This program is offered to any active AGJA member between the ages of 8 and 21 as of January 1. AGJA members may hold the title of ambassador once per age division, with a maximum of three years of eligibility. Requirements of the AGJA Ambassador are determined by the age of the candidate.
2022 AGJA Rookie of the Year
Owen Spencer, Pierre, South Dakota, accepts his belt buckle sponsored by Welsh Land & Livestock of Franklin, Nebraska, as the 2022 AGJA Rookie of the Year.
Congratulations to Owen Spencer, Pierre, South Dakota, son of Wes and Brittney Spencer, on being named the 2022 AGJA Crossroads Classic Rookie of the Year!
Rookie of the Year is open to junior and intermediate AGJA members only participating in their first AGJA Classic. A full list of how exhibitors are scored throughout the week, including potential points up for grabs before the event can be found under the “Contest Info” tab on the Junior Classic page at Gelbvieh.org.
2022 AGJA Top Ten Exhibitors
2022 AGJA Crossroads Classic Top 10 Exhibitors pictured (Left to Right) from first to tenth place: Shawna Cibula, Clutier, Iowa; Gabrielle Hammer, Wallace, Kan.; Owen Spencer, Pierre, S.D.; Justine Pope, Ravenna, Neb.; Jewel Stewart, Judsonia, Ark.; Braxton Murray, Kingfisher, Okla.; Ayven Moon, ,Ellensburg, Wash.; Taydem Mitzner, Kan.; Lara Rittenhouse, New Carlisle, Ohio; Grayson Maxwell, Larned, Kan.
Congratulations to the top ten exhibitors for a fantastic job during the 2022 AGJA Crossroads Classic held in Salina, Kansas. Shawna Cibula, Clutier, Iowa, daughter of Matt and Tina Cibula, was named the 2022 AGJA All-Around Exhibitor. Shawna received a belt buckle sponsored by S&S Gelbvieh and heifer donated by Rumfelt B Gelbvieh, Phillipsburg, Missouri.
The top ten and all-around exhibitor contest is open to all participants, including rookies, in the 2022 AGJA Crossroads Classic. A full list of how exhibitors are scored throughout the week, including potential points up for grabs before the event can be found under the “Contest Info” tab on the Junior Classic page at Gelbvieh.org.
The American Gelbvieh Junior Association is the junior division of the American Gelbvieh Association. The AGJA provides members up to 21 years of age the opportunity to participate in youth activities.
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Note to Editors: High-resolution press quality photo is available by contacting Malerie Strahm, American Gelbvieh Association multimedia coordinator, at malerie@gelbvieh.org or 303-465-2333.
American Gelbvieh Association Launches Educational Webinar Featuring Agoro Carbon
Lincoln, Nebraska – On Wednesday, April 13 at 7:00 p.m. central daylight time, the American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) will offer an educational webinar for any producer interested in learning more about carbon grazing programs.
“This was an educational opportunity that became evident after Agoro Carbon placed a native content advertisement in our February commercially-focused Profit Picture magazine,” says Laura Handke, AGA Editorial Contractor. “Members of the Agoro team shared that they were getting numerous calls each day from producers wanting to know more about the program. With Agoro being one of the first opportunities for producers to capitalize on carbon capture, we felt the opportunity to share more was needed.”
The premiere webinar will not require membership to the AGA to participate and will offer a free presentation followed by live Q&A for all attendees to participate in to have their questions answered. Presentation highlights will focus on acreage qualifications, program entry, soil sampling and baseline establishment and contracts.
This webinar is not a paid advertisement by Agoro. The webinar is meant to launch further opportunities to provide industry-leading information and education to the AGA members, customers, and others within the cattle industry. These educational platforms not only provide valuable information; they also provide the Gelbvieh and Balancer® breed an opportunity to connect with additional producers. Find more information about the upcoming webinar at the link below:
Sustainability by the Numbers
Highlighting sustainability in the beef industry and how it can be demonstrated and proven through existing current practices and a focus on record keeping. Article by Laura Handke.
Lincoln, Nebraska – During the Cattlemen’s Profit Roundup at the American Gelbvieh Association national convention, Dustin Aherin, AGA board member, shared his insights on market direction and the Gelbvieh and Balancer® position within that direction.
“I want to plant a seed for where incentives are coming from,” Aherin told attendees. “When we think about where the pressures have traditionally come from, we often point to consumers first. That isn’t anything new. When we think back to the push for quality, those dollars ultimately came from consumers and were passed down through the supply chain: through the packers, through marketing grids, to cattle producers who increased quality.”
Aherin says that a focus on sustainability is bringing new pressures. Today, the pressure is coming from the government and exists all along the supply chain, with funding allocated by the current administration to ensure that those pressures catalyze beef industry production. Within this structure are other vested groups, many breed associations and non- governmental organizations. There are also shareholders looking at the sustainability space as an investment opportunity; and those investors, Aherin says, are interested in directing their dollars toward environment, social and governance (ESG) opportunities.
“There’s a lot of institutional funds— think pensions, for instance—that have set guidelines that stipulate that they will only invest in companies that check the boxes around ESG,” he says.
Aherin also talked about the role lenders are playing in financing sustainability efforts, which he notes is an interest rate opportunity rather than a cutoff of funding, at this time.
“One way that the finance industry has started to offer some incentives on the food company side is called ‘sustainability linked financing.’ That’s where certain key performance indicators are linked to better interest rates,” Aherin shares. “At the producer level, we are just starting to see this begin to develop with a push for operations to set a baseline and begin documenting changes and improvements.”
Will it Pay?
“If we think about the consumer first, are they going to pay a premium for a product that’s stamped ‘sustainable?’ More importantly, is that premium going to be enough to pay for some of the costs and supply chain needed to get it to them? I don’t think we have a clear answer to those questions yet,” he told attendees.
A first of its kind USDA Process Verified Program (PVP), Low Carbon Beef, says that the answer is “yes.” Recent research by the group indicates that 71 percent of consumers expressed they are willing to pay a premium for beef certified as being produced with sustainable methods. The newly approved PVP will allow producers to differentiate and market beef that is raised with reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
The sheer fact that the USDA has approved a program of this type confirms that interest exists from all market stakeholders.
“From January to August 2021, we saw sustainable linked financing reach more than $300 billion, globally,” Aherin says. “These dollars are growing fast; around 18 percent of cash inflows into investment funds were targeted towards funds that had some kind of sustainability metric built into them.”
Aherin predicts that many of the incentives for progress within the supply chain are going to come from the targets and goals set by major food companies—a trade-off of sorts, where the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and improved sustainability doesn’t necessarily come from the food company itself, but rather from the practices of supply chain partners those companies source ingredients from.
That’s an opportunity for beef producers.
“We’re already good at a lot of these things,” he says. “Have you measured pounds weaned versus pounds exposed? Do you have a breeding plan that is based on marketing goals? Are you BQA certified? So much of this is about just documenting things you are already doing, putting it in writing so there’s a record.”
The majority of the resources used in the beef industry are consumed at the cow-calf level, with around 75% of the entire beef industry feed inputs consumed within that sector.
Aherin says that AGA and other breed associations are playing an important role in facilitating the documentation and quantification of many of these important metrics at the cow-calf level.
To really know and understand the total resource use per pound of calf weaned or per pound of beef produced, producers use many metrics, essentially building a funnel of information for each cow in the herd. Those metrics are, more often than not, a story of sustainability.
“We are so good (as a sector) at collecting data—measuring and quantifying—and then using that data to improve cattle through EPDs. Right now, we have an incredible opportunity, and to take advantage of it, we need to step up our game and really focus on some of the traits that have sustainability impacts so we can prove through numbers what we already know,” he says.
Today, the Gelbvieh and Balancer breed boasts the smallest mature cow size of all major breeds, unsurpassed fertility and a level of docility that makes the breed family friendly. The breed holds the pieces needed for both commercial and seedstock producers to put the sustainability puzzle together. If and how operations put that puzzle together is up to them…for now.
The American Gelbvieh Association is a progressive beef cattle breed association representing 1,100 members and approximately 40,000 cows assessed annually in a performance-oriented total herd reporting system.
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Note to Editors: High-resolution press quality photos are available by contacting Malerie Strahm, American Gelbvieh Association Multimedia Coordinator at malerie@gelbvieh.org or 303-465-2333.
Gelbvieh Show Moderate Mature Cow Size in New U.S. Meat Animal Research Center Data
Lincoln, Nebraska – Recently, new research from scientists at University of Nebraska-Lincoln and U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) was published on breed and heterotic effects for mature weight in beef cattle. This research was conducted using over 5,000 crossbred cows from the USMARC’s Germplasm Evaluation Program and 108,957 weight records collected from weaning up to six years of age. The Germplasm Evaluation Program provides a comprehensive comparison for various traits of the most economically important breeds within the United States.
In the study, “Breed and heterotic effects for mature weight in beef cattle” released in the August 2021 Journal of Animal Science, Volume 99, Issue 8, the estimate of heritability for mature weight from the data was 0.56, meaning a response will be seen when selection pressure is applied to the trait. Looking at the breed differences, there were 16 different beef breeds evaluated in the study and the results were expressed as deviations from Angus. When comparing the seven major beef breeds in the United States, Gelbvieh showed the most moderate mature cow weight at -145.4 lbs when compared to Angus.
Looking at the breed differences of other highly used breeds, Angus were the heaviest cows in the population. Following Angus, Charolais weighed in at -19.6 lbs; followed by Hereford at -38.5 lbs; Simmental at -73.5; Limousin at -95.3 lbs; Red Angus at -98.6 lbs; and Shorthorn at -132.4 lbs, respectively.
When compared to all 16 breeds in the study, Gelbvieh showed the third most moderate size, only behind Braunvieh (-300.7 lbs) and Beefmaster (-151.4).
Mature weight has an impact on the costs and efficiencies of an operation. Of course, there is no “one size fits all” when it comes to mature cow weight; the ideal size of cow can be variable depending on the type of environment and production system. That being said, according to this study, the average weight of cows at slaughter increased from 1,047 pounds in 1975 to 1,369 pounds in 2005, meaning average cow weights increased by roughly 322 pounds in those 30 years. Increasing cow weights can be attributed to increased selection pressure on growth traits. Producing heavier, faster gaining feeder cattle can come with trade-offs when we look at mature cow weights. Heavier cows require more feed resources to maintain, and with feed costs typically being the largest line item on any operation’s budget, extra pounds of calf often doesn’t offset the extra feeding costs of a heavier cow.
This study is not the first time Gelbvieh has been noted for a moderate mature cow size. According to the USMARC Progress Report #22, released in 2004, Gelbvieh were shown to have the most moderate mature cow size of the seven major beef breeds listed earlier in this article.
Although these studies only focused on cow size, Gelbvieh cattle are also known for growth and heavy weaning calves. Having more moderate cows that consume less while still weaning heavier calves creates efficiency on an operation and optimizes resources. As we are at a time where input costs continue to rise and resources are decreasing, moderate females will be in even greater demand. Gelbvieh and Balancer® females meet that mark.
The American Gelbvieh Association is a progressive beef cattle breed association representing 1,100 members and approximately 40,000 cows assessed annually in a performance-oriented total herd reporting system.
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Note to Editors: High-resolution press quality photos are available by contacting Katie Harbert, American Gelbvieh Association Gelbvieh Media Productions Coordinator at katie@gelbvieh.org or 303-465-2333.