Show-Me-Select fall heifer sales attract record numbers, MU specialists report

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Early on, Eldon Cole guessed he had 400 Show-Me-Select bred heifers to sell on Nov. 21. With consignments tallied, he has 540.

“It’ll be our biggest sale ever,” said Cole, regional livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension, Mount Vernon. “We aim to sell truckloads of replacement heifers.”

Cole’s sale is one of five SMS heifer sales this fall.

The Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program drew record sign-ups across the state, said Judy Burton of the SMS group. “At present we have 4,933 head enrolled out of 5,381 statewide. When final preg checks are done, producers select heifers to consign.”

“The Show-Me-Select heifer program offers far more than bred heifers for sale. Each heifer comes with records of genetic potential that adds value,” said David Patterson, MU Extension beef specialist.

“Management of heifers before and after breeding as well as genetics adds value,” he added. “All are sold guaranteed pregnant.”

Most heifers in the SMS program go back into home herds. The replacements boost quality of cow herds.

Herd owners selling heifers must enroll in a yearlong program through local MU Extension offices. Regional MU specialists teach breeding and management protocols.

Cole’s sale will be 7 p.m. Nov. 21 at Joplin Regional Stockyards, Carthage. Reach Cole at 417-466-3102.

Other sales are:

Nov. 29, 11 a.m., Kingsville Livestock Auction, David Hoffman, Harrisonville, 816-380-8460. He expects 300 head, mostly AI bred.

Dec. 6, 1 p.m., Fruitland Livestock Sales, Roger Eakins and Erin Larimore, Jackson, 573-243-3581. They estimate 170 heifers. Of those, 55 percent were AI bred. About 70 percent will be fetal sexed by ultrasound.

“They are deep in quality and have top AI sires represented,” Eakins said. “They are 98 percent black and black-whiteface.”

Dec. 13, 12:30 p.m., F&T Livestock Market, Palmyra, Daniel Mallory, New London, 573-985-3911. He expects 250 to 300 head.

Dec. 20, 1 p.m., Green City Livestock Marketing, Gentrie Shafer, Milan, 660-265-4541. She expects 175 heifers. “They are mostly Angus and Angus-Sim cross,” she added. “We have a set of super quality Angus heifers bred to a calving-ease Hereford.”

All heifers are pregnancy checked twice before the sale and examined by USDA and Missouri Department of Agriculture graders. Those not meeting standards are sent home.

Sale catalogs are available the morning of each sale with genetic data and expected calving dates. More information is at http://agebb.missouri.edu/select.