Extension Education: Consigners Wanted for Second Annual UW Bred Heifer Production Sale
In an effort to increase the exposure to production agriculture, the University of Wyoming’s Animal Science department has developing new curriculum to increase student exposure to production agriculture and add more class options that focus on beef cattle.
Recently, the UW beef unit has undergone an overhaul on its breeding program. At the prompting of Doug Hixon, former Animal Science Department Head, the direction and focus of the breeding program has been to create moderate-framed cattle that will perform in the harsh environments of Wyoming while still weaning a good-sized calf and performing well in the feedlot. Selecting for bulls that will provide heterosis, produce good quality females, add growth to calves and that are highly efficient is the key to the program.
The UW herd is traditionally an Angus-based herd. With our new breeding program we are breeding via artificial insemination to Hereford bulls and cleaning up with continental influenced bulls (SimmAngus) as a terminal cross. We have finished up the fourth year of breeding, and the third calf crop was born this last spring.
Last fall, we hosted our First Annual Bred Heifer Sale and Cattlemen’s Day. By all accounts, the sale was a success. Average price of the heifers sold last year was about $150 above local markets within the same timeframe. The heifer market is projected to be strong this fall and should be a great opportunity to market quality bred heifers.
This sale is a student-run sale, where students are involved with every aspect of producing a commercial heifer sale, including selection, breeding, advertising and all aspects of organizing the production sale.
This year, we have added a new aspect to the class. The live sale will still be held at the UW Hansen Arena but will also be available online as a video sale. Adding the video component of the sale allows the students to be involved with the technology used for most major production sales. Additionally, it will allow the sale to have more heifers and dramatically broaden the customer base.
The University of Wyoming will be offering 20 to 30 quality, F1 Angus-Hereford bred heifers that have been AI-bred.
In addition to the UW cattle, we are also seeking consigners that are looking for an avenue to market bred heifers.
This years sale and Cattleman’s Day is set for Nov 23. A lunch will be served and educational information from UW and other sponsors will be available at the Cattleman’s Day.
We appreciate your support of our programs and hope that you can consign some heifers for the sale, purchase some replacement heifers or just enjoy the day with us!
Please contact Scott Lake at 307-460-8129 or Travis Smith at 307-399-7674 with any questions about the sale.
