MU Extension Hosts Fall Heifer Sale in Southwest Missouri

By Blake Jackson

The Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program will hold its southwestern Missouri fall sale at 7 p.m. on Friday, November 21, at the Joplin Regional Stockyards near Carthage.

“If you are thinking of rebuilding or adding to your cow herd, this sale will offer 275 high-quality spring-calving (late January to April) replacements to do so,” said Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist.

The Show-Me-Select program, led by MU Extension, educates cattle producers on improving herd quality through better management, reproductive strategies, and genetics.

“This sale offers purebreed and crossbreed commercial heifers,” Davis said. The offering includes Angus, Akaushi, Beefmaster, Gelbvieh, Hereford, Red Angus, Simmental, Ultrablack, and composite breeds. Buyers can expect a variety of color patterns, including black, black/whiteface, red, and red/whiteface.

“Close attention has been paid in mating these heifers,” Davis added. All heifers are bred to bulls that meet strict calving-ease standards.

Some have been bred using artificial insemination (AI) with high-accuracy sires to enhance confidence in offspring performance, while others were mated to genomically tested natural service (NS) sires, improving progeny predictability.

“Based on the matings, all these females should have calves with ease, and based on sire, progeny may excel in performance and carcass traits,” Davis explained.

“Health is very important to the program and heifer consignors,” Davis said. Each consignor has collaborated closely with veterinarians to ensure top health standards. All heifers have tested negative for BVD-PI to prevent the spread of disease in buyers’ herds.

“We try to be as accurate as possible on pregnancy detection and estimating heifer calving date,” Davis continued. Heifers are examined by veterinarians within 90 days of the breeding season and again within 30 days of the sale to confirm pregnancy and calving timelines.

For more details, contact MU Extension specialists Patrick Davis (417-276-3313) davismp@missouri.edu, Andy McCorkill (417-345-7551) mccorkilla@missouri.edu, or Ian McGregor (417-466-3102) ian.mcgregor@missouri.edu. Online bidding is available via DVAuction, with support from Joplin Regional Stockyards at 417-548-2333.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-erdinhasdemir