I. HUMOR
"First Impression"
I was standing in the window of the station looking out across the lake. It was the middle of summer, and the temperature had been in the hundreds for days. I was making a comment to the crew about how nice it would be if we could go swimming on duty, when it hit me...we could! I set about organizing a training day where we could practice water rescue techniques and familiarize ourselves with the city's lake patrol boat and their capabilities, then eat a good dinner. The plan was set, with all participants agreeing, and within a few work days we were on the lake in our swimming trunks. The first hour of training was professional. We practiced, rope throwing, and various other water rescue techniques both in and out of the water. We also took the time to familiarize ourselves with the lake patrol's capabilities and their equipment. Once we had just about wrapped it up, I chose a moment to just...let it loose...:)
Before I continue with the story, I should give you a little background information here. About two weeks before this water rescue training evolution began, our department had welcomed it's new fire chief to the ranks. He was the result of a nationwide search, and he was touted to be a very educated and well read individual. He had been the chief of one of the largest cities in the state, and that city coincidently, was the states capital. Now it just so happens that I was gone away on a military deployment when the chief made his debut, so I never had really got to meet him. I had seen a picture of him in the newspaper, but we all know that pictures don't always do an individual justice. So, back to the story...:)
Having justified the dip into the cool refreshing lake with training, I felt it my duty to celebrate the successful execution (of what I thought a brilliant idea), with a little fun. I walked back about twenty five feet on the dock (one that was probably ten feet wide and 300' long), and in one quick burst of speed I ran straight off the end leaping into a beautiful one and a half dive. I then swam back amidst the admiration of those present, pulled myself up on the dock and shook the water out of my hair. As I was standing there dripping wet I noticed an individual walking up the long dock. He was tall and thin, and he was wearing a possum eating grin on his face. I thought perhaps he knew us or that I might know him, then I saw he was wearing a department hat. I then surmised he was probably a member of the citizens fire academy to which we had accumulated a big following. As the man got within speaking distance I gave the head nod and asked: Hey, where did you get the hat?" to which he promptly replied: "Some fireman gave it to me". I then said,...and I quote "huh", and I went on about my business.
As I stood there bragging about my dive, and my clever training tactics with the others, I saw that individual out of the corner of my eye shaking hands with some of the crew who were still checking out the lake patrol boat. It caught my curiosity, so I turned to see if I might get a hint at just who this individual was. That's when I heard...and I quote "Hey chief!"...it was the chief...the new chief...uh oh! All of a sudden a bell went off in my head, and the fifty foot distance to the patrol boat instantly became five hundred feet as my pupils began to close in the horror of the situation. My brilliant idea had just backfired! Not only that, but the first impression I just gave my new chief (other then performing a great one and a half), was that I had no clue who he was! Top that off with the arrogance of me to ask "an individual" as to where he got one of our hats?.....I was drowning...literally. Needless to say I rushed over to the boat, introduced myself with "a big" handshake, then immediately went into a monologue about the "supposed" training evolution. Two weeks later our department's bi-monthly newsletter was publish. On the front page was a picture of the chief receiving a hat from our association president. It was sub titled: "Lt. Harvey,..this is where I got my hat! ".
The moral of the story:
You can capture allot of customers with a good first impression, but keeping your customers on board usually requires a good lasting impression!
From a cattle raisers point of view:
When times are hard, keep your operation afloat with initiative, improvising, and adaptation. Recognizing and maintaining the economically important aspects of your herd will keep your program from drowning in the end.
II. INFORMATIVE
"Making the Sale" Part II
This is the second half of the two part article I started last month. It deals with a few insights in regards to cattle sales and some things to consider if you happen to find yourself sitting at an auction barn, a production sale, or even a dispersal sale, bidding on an animal. This month I will mention some of the actual tactics breeders use to sell their cattle, and some things to look for when you are shopping a sale for a purchase. I will also use some examples which I have personally experienced while in the business.
As I indicated in last months article, there are not a whole lot of people out there that are going to sell you there absolute best, without you paying the price. There are however, allot of people out there that will try to sell their culls and their less desirables for a price well above their worth. So, how is moving these culls, that should instead be headed for the local sale barn, accomplished? Well, the easiest way to is to provide the buyer with a clean, well fitted, physically attractive animal. An uneducated cattle buyer will assume any animal that looks that good can't be all that bad..right?...wrong! That same animal could have a terrible disposition, a horrible udder at calving, not milk worth a hoot, have prolapsed before, calved stillborns, have fertility issues, or had to have her last calf or two pulled by the seller. Purchasing animals from a registered sale who, for appearance sake or top ranking by a sale judge, would appear to be the sales best, is a common trap many buyers fall into. Asking all the right questions of the breeders, the sale staff, and owners of the animal is a good way to buy smart...and buy informed. Review the sale catalog prior to the sale, and use the resources of technology (computer, phone) to eliminate lots prior to the sale date. Then, get to the sell early (even the night before) when the animals are in the pens, and take the time to physically evaluate them and talk to the owners first hand. Waiting until they walk in the arena is no time to make your decision.
If you are sitting in the stands in an auction or production/dispersal sale, play close attention to who is bidding on the animals. It may be the same person over and over again, bidding up a base price then backing off once it has gotten there. That persons job might just be to help the sale average and make it appear the lots have plenty of interested bidders. Ringman have been known to assist other breeders for the sake of the sale by using an alias for the phantom bidder. I saw one poor seller think they had done good with several bulls, only to find out that the ringman was just "helping" the sale. The owner was unaware he never even sold them until after the sale. I'm sure he would much rather have sold them for the $100 difference in each lot, then have to haul them home. Many breeders will help each other by bidding on each others animals to obtain a certain goal, then they gracefully back off when the price is met by an unsuspecting buyer. A top seller at one sale told me, to my face, that they have no problems using this tactic...key word..."top seller", go figure. I have seen owners of animals bid on their own lots as if they already came with bidders in their pocket (which they will blatantly profess prior to the sale, to hint at what it will take to buy the lot). If they bid once to often and get stuck with the bid you will see them hauling the animal home for the "supposed" winner of the bid. I can't tell you how many times I never saw that animal ever change possession down the road. At least the owner makes it appear the animal sold for a very good price at the sale. This high price helps with the breeders reputation and the quality of the sale...right? Some breeders will sacrifice paying the fees to the sale just to have it appear their cattle were in high demand, then they go home with the cattle only to sell them at a considerably lower price.
Here is another way some breeders will work a bid prior to a sale. They will ask friends and/or fellow breeders for a floor price "assuming" the animal is at least worth that, plus they will tell you that the average of the sale or the sell of the animal will definitely exceed your floor bid. Meanwhile several other people will be asked to give a slightly higher floor price until the breeder gets their asking price. If the animal sells for more, then everyone is off the hook and the breeder comes out on top...but, somebody might just be stuck with their "floor bid". I have personally been subject to this tactic. Not only did I buy a cow I did not want, but I bought the cow for "over" sale average. Then to add salt to the wound, I found out that other people were asked to provide a "floor" bid too... I just happen to be the "top floor" bid. The animal ended up having one of the worst udders of any animal in my herd. As a result I will not give anyone a floor price unless my intent is, to in fact, buy that lot. If I have someone who is willing to give me a price on an animal prior to it selling, then I will pass this on to someone in the sale staff to bid for that person. I will not do it myself. I can not tell you how many times I have sold cattle without a floor bid. Many times it has hurt my sale, and made buyers wonder about my reputation, but I will tell you this: If I take an animal to the sale with the intent to sell it and I don't put a minimum on the animal up front to be announced, then that animal sells for what it sells for. I won't say no after the fact, and take it back home like some other breeders will. I have sold some nice animals cheap by doing this, but it is honest, and if the bidders aren't there.... then they just aren't there!
Another common pitfall new buyers of registered cattle fall into is thinking EPD's (expected progeny differences....the numbers on the papers of some registered animals) are a guarantee of performance and quality. EPD's are just what they say they are..."expected", and that means "estimated". EPD's are only as good as the actual data backing them up, and that is only as good as the integrity of the breeder reporting it. There are great animals out there that don't have the perfect EPD profile, but will knock the socks off any other animal in the sale when it came to performance in the pasture. Don't solely use EPD's as a determining factor in your selections. Look at the actual performance of the animal because EPD's will adjust over time, but the actual performance of an animal is hard data. Don't just chase the latest and greatest Champion animal out there either. Sales will always feature the breeding that is "hot" based on how well the animals sire and/or dam did in the show ring. Understand that this has nothing to do with long term performance and productivity, and show animals are not always breed with performance in the pasture in mind. New offspring out of recent champions comes a dime a dozen, so don't get caught chasing the dream and get stuck down the road with an inferior product. By the time you get that animal with champions as parents in production that breeding will be no longer popular, and the quick buck will have already been made....on you.
Internet sales are fairly new, but they are starting to gain more popularity in both commercial and seedstock sales. These type sales can be private treaty or auction based. Some advise I could give you on Internet sales is to first consider the breeder(s) or company/association which makes up the sale. This should tell you if the sale is reputable. If you are not familiar with the operation, the breeder, or the sale, then research and questioning should help you determine if it is a sale you wish to participate in. You should question how the sale is to be run, and look at the bidding process. Most breeders in these type sales should have no problem providing a question and answer forum, a guarantee, a veterinarian inspection, appropriate vaccinations, and multiple photo's along with hard data on the animals in the sale. Also look at how the lot is to be paid for, and whether or not they provide delivery or whether you must provide it. The Internet sales I have been involved in have been both private treaty and an auction based type. Although the auction based type does not seem to draw allot of bidding, I have always experienced sells following the auction. This is due to buyers not completely trusting a bidding process online unless it has Ebay attached to it...:) The one thing that an Internet auction can eliminate is the manipulation of the sale order. Sale order can be biased, and can directly influence the price a breeder may get for their lot. Most sales tend to slump in the middle and at least in the end, so lots are placed in order based on these variables. It is even the same way with commercial sales barns; if you go late, you may find that the price had tapered off after the order buyers fill their ticket. With an Internet sale, the order may be insignificant because the auction or sale may have all lots being bid on simultaneously, so you won't feel pressured to buy immediately or pay a higher price to get the early lots.
Attending or participating in sells that require certain criteria to insure quality cattle is being offered at the sell is another good practice. Don't always assume a registered sale means the breeders best will be up for sale. Sometimes the sale manager or sale staff may not perform a physical evaluation of the lots prior to the sale, or they "overlook" animals that should not be allowed. The circle for registered breeders is tight, and breeders will look out for other breeders to insure the sale, the breed or bloodlines of certain cattle receive due recognition or maintain a respectable value. Does that mean that all registered breeders are dishonest and are out to make a quick buck on a new buyer...of course not, but it's a business, and every business has it's tactics for making money. There are more hands out receiving the benefits of a good sale then a buyer may realize. The facility gets a cut, the auctioneer gets a cut, the sale staff and sale manager get a cut, the Association gets a cut, plus there are associated sale fees and advertising cost that must be paid for, so there are going to be tactics used at each level to insure the best profit all the way around. Unfortunately some of the tactics are questionable. Look for hard data, and a veterinarian evaluation on the lots in question. If there is no hard data and you can't get a good answer from the owner or consigner, then it might be best to pass rather then take a chance on buying the lot. Discipline yourself to not just bid on "pretty", but bid on the basis of a complete evaluation of animal you are interested in. Know what you are looking for and for what purpose, then pay attention the the bidding and/or the price. Be practical in your decisions, and buy informed. Once again, I hope to have hoped to help make you a little wiser when it comes to shopping for an animal, and perhaps even avoid some of the common traps or pitfalls that many of us have fallen into when....."making the sale".
III. FARM NEWS:
Two of our DOD's are currently being flushed, with more to follow in the spring. Look for sales on some of the resulting Embryo's.
Look for a Double H Farms heifer to be shown at the Ft. Worth Jr. show.
Thank You!
J Bar B cattle Co., Jim Watson, and Dimitri Matanagas for your recent purchases our our cattle.
Notes:
Our herd bull Feltons 621 who is co-owned with Stewart Polled Herefords and Willis Polled Herefords has been placed in the AHA's new non-certificate program. So, if you were considering a Felton's bred bull with a Trait Leader bull for a sire and a DOD for a Dam and didn't want the added expense of buying certificates, then 621 may be what you are looking for. 621 is also in the Top 200 sires in the nation for economic indexes
Due to us selling back quite a few head in the last year, we do not have much to sell. Call us to find out if we currently have cattle for sale, or just check our web site periodically. No show heifers will be available for release until June/July, but they can be selected and reserved prior to that date.
IV. CURRENT EVENTS:
Our friends and neighbors, the Metch's, will be honored at this years Ft. Worth Stock Show
Ft Worth Stock show is just around the corner. Jr. Show is the 1/20/07 and the Open Show is 1/29/07
STPHA Sale is March 3rd
NETHA Sale is March 10th
V. HEREFORD HIGHLIGHTS:
DBLH Angel H805
(12/21/98)
Farms
The Harvey's
Tom & Tina
Double
Farms
Double
Farms
Double
Newsletter
Performance on the Hoof!
Performance on the Hoof!
Performance on the Hoof!
Winter 2006/2007
Thanks, and keep coming back!!
Table of Contents:
We chose our own bred and owned Dam of Distinction for the highlighted Hereford of this newsletter. Angel is a result of an AI mating to one of Metch Polled Hereford's foundation sires; a bull who was co-owned with Indian Creek Herefords and C.E. Perkins. Her dam (also a Dam of Distinction), was an early show heifer of our daughter's who proved her fertility and ability in the pasture also. Since our herd was fairly small back then, Angel was being managed, compared and reported along side grown productive cows, some of which even went on to earn the title of DOD themselves. So, Angel had a tougher road to plow compared to other females her age. As years passed, we realized this female was exceptional and her calves were excellent. She has been an easy keeper, and never failed to give us a calf a year.
As you can see in the photo, she has a level udder with good attachment and small teats, plus she can provide plenty of milk to her offspring. She is conservative in her markings with some eye pigmentation, and even a few freckles! Last year we decided to place her in our Donor program in hopes of getting some more replacement daughters in our herd. This January she is being flushed to Fast Forward D9A; a bull we think has the maternal characteristics to make excellent daughters, and has the data to back it up. This past fall we placed Angel up for sale, as part of our downsizing, in hopes that she would see good service in another herd for several more years. A fellow Hereford breeder, Jim Watson, purchased her on the agreement we would be able to flush her and keep a breeders interest in her 2006 bull calf. We are delighted that Jim was receptive to our conditions of her sale, and we are hoping that the flush is very successful! Below are picture of some of her offspring.
Well, the rains finally came. This last month we have been blessed with enough runoff to crest those ol' mud holes in the pastures. It has been since early spring in 2006 that the tanks were full and before then, it was since the spring of 2005! It seems odd to have the ground soft with moisture for any length of time, but it is welcomed.
Her 2006 calf
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doubleh@vzinet.com
