2015 Keeney Angus Bull Sale

I should retract that comment about papers being useless after reading some recent bull sale catalog pedigrees/roadmaps...actually Cal and some breeders have a lot in common...here`s the chorus to their methods..

I've been everywhere, man.
I've been everywhere, man.
Crossed the desert's bare, man.
I've breathed the mountain air, man.
Of travel I've had my share, man.
I've been everywhere.

MKeeney wrote:

I should retract that comment about papers being useless after reading some recent bull sale catalog pedigrees/roadmaps...actually Cal and some breeders have a lot in common...here`s the chorus to their methods..

I've been everywhere, man.
I've been everywhere, man.
Crossed the desert's bare, man.
I've breathed the mountain air, man.
Of travel I've had my share, man.
I've been everywhere.

small correction

I've been everywhere, man.
Crossed the desert's bare, man.
I've breathed the mountain air, man.
Of TROUBLE I've had my share, man.
I've been everywhere

some where Briann put up a two for one Sale...after seeing the below video and that Wye averaged 4600

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=455&v=LxE8yE9FO5g

I feel a lot better about using and selling my own bulls...you get two for 4600; but of course no papers; 46 hundredths less fat; and no nostalgia value; we do have a free book...every thing else looks about equal; so it`s a matter of what you value...

A little performance report from JRN this morning; in real dollars in the wallet from Belle Fourche; not theoretical $ indexes on paper...all`s well, and even, when compared to the Red Angus; the AI`ers, and even the Muggli bros if you want to expand the market report area...income being even; now count your savings...

another "performance report" from long time bull buyers and top managers...they sold a few open Feb heifers Saturday through a "jump thru the hoops sale"...weighed 941; yes, way too fat, and likely too big; bought $2200/hd...guess what brought more? bigger 1/4 Simmys top the sale at $2300...this is where performance measured contests have taken us intellectually and economically...away from common sense optimums...no, the pointy heads are not most to blame ; the performance breeders are...

the performance breeders are...

Theme song, to plagiarize a country hit: "You've got to select for something or you'll fall for anything!"

MKeeney wrote:

some where Briann put up a two for one Sale...after seeing the below video and that Wye averaged 4600

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=455&v=LxE8yE9FO5g

I feel a lot better about using and selling my own bulls...you get two for 4600; but of course no papers; 46 hundredths less fat; and no nostalgia value; we do have a free book...every thing else looks about equal; so it`s a matter of what you value...

I was drawn to watch the video above by Robert`s sale report that lot 39 was a favorite of his; to see if we had similar taste...you can skip to that particular bull at the 32.10 min/sec location in the video...
I like him plenty; reminds me of the best of the Fenley`s...and then the idea that Larry proposed to Craig and I pops into mind; never far from top of mind awareness ...
so it took 40 bulls and x amount of steers to produce this perfect looking bull...how many calves in his calf crop will be the ideal like him ? how many until you get another like him from the assortment of cows that produced him? when buying a bull, is it more important to inspect individuals or the whole of the herd produce?
of course, if a herd is using every one else`s bulls, this idea of evaluating the whole is impossible; and I have no time anymore for crafty crossers creating temporary illusions of near perfection...
 to Wye for staying closed; and limiting the variation to what only exists there...

thx to Travis for letting me have this little fellow back; heifer calving has gone so well I want to repeat the process and renew the genes..



is that an AI sired calf in the background, Travis?

the 2015 Keeney Angus Spring Bull sale is winding down; in fact, if all the sale pendings hold; it`s over...I hope and actually think the bulls will be more profitable for the users than they were for me, the seller...that`s not complaining; it`s a statement of objective...
thx to everyone; trying my best to get the trucking lined up; bear with me...
Travis, what kind of desserts will be in season in Shirley`s kitchen about June 1?...I want to time our bull swap accordingly...

the problem with optimums, longevity and self-renewal...  

Mike,

It was good to renew acquaintances after almost 15 years.  I am more interested in your cattle than anyone else’s, unless they are related to your cattle.  I am interested in 20-40 angus, preferable young bred cows, bred heifers or heifers  old enough to breed; I do trust your judgment, so if you run across something of interest, let me know.   If you cannot find something now, when will you have heifers to sell again?



Look forward to coming to Nancy to see you again.

MKeeney wrote:

thx to Travis for letting me have this little fellow back; heifer calving has gone so well I want to repeat the process and renew the genes..



is that an AI sired calf in the background, Travis?

Ha Ha, not an AI although he does look like some I have had in the past.

MKeeney wrote:

the 2015 Keeney Angus Spring Bull sale is winding down; in fact, if all the sale pendings hold; it`s over...I hope and actually think the bulls will be more profitable for the users than they were for me, the seller...that`s not complaining; it`s a statement of objective...
thx to everyone; trying my best to get the trucking lined up; bear with me...
Travis, what kind of desserts will be in season in Shirley`s kitchen about June 1?...I want to time our bull swap accordingly...  

We were just talking about that Mike, I think she has something mind. Will give you a time to arrive for sure. ha ha....

Everyone wants to know where I got this bull, lots of compliments on him. I will have some sons and daughters next fall from him.

this is a trip Linda makes sure she comes as well... have a highly close bred son of the underworld renown 6141 for you to test Travis...one of two bulls in this years crop I know the sire of...ignorance of pedigree is devastating to the registered tradition; absolute bliss for me to not have another distraction in the way of population propulsion

MKeeney wrote:

this is a trip Linda makes sure she comes as well... have a highly close bred son of the underworld renown 6141 for you to test Travis...one of two bulls in this years crop I know the sire of...ignorance of pedigree is devastating to the registered tradition; absolute bliss for me to not have another distraction in the way of population propulsion

Absolutely Linda has to make the trip Mike, We are Looking forward to it.Sound good on the bull as well..thanks!

as you get older, the grass nearer home gets greener ...



62 of these parent stock heifers available  to test 3 yearling bulls this spring breeding; then Travis`s proven ce bull for clean up status...maybe a few of these; plus about 15 production stock heifers to sell about Nov 1...

my video computer game playing grandsons may make farmers yet...

http://www.windstream.net/news/read/category/Technology/article/the_associated_press-us_gives_farmers_approval_to_spray_crops_from_dron-ap

thx to Mike Wilson, Bainville, MT for the pic of a 5 yr old..

moving this over here

Mike, what's the "Buy It Now" price on these yearling heifers?  You appear to be overstocked.




gate cut into three groups yesterday to breed to three  selected yearling bulls ; what kind of breeding can this be without pedigree and epd analysis before mating? almost a page out of Robert`s Rules of Order   select for visible characteristics with a minimum performance standard; and let the  inbreeding level  be self-determining...

Individual pedigrees provide a nostalgic, irrecoverable history of the past.   The past history of the Shoshone foundation is documented on the following pages.    On this foundation the structure is being built from the nucleus of this germ plasm. Maintaining individual by individual pedigrees for all the representatives selected from that germ plasm pool to propagate the preferred characteristics is not only a hindrance to our overall long term direction, it is superfluous.   Since no one knows all the characteristics of his stock better than the owner, the brand name "Shoshone" and a number will suffice as a pedigree, and ultimately it will become synonymous with the characteristics the population portrays.   Larry Leonhardt



long gone are the yakety yake discussions of old pure pedigrees of old pure Aberdeen Angus...pure for what characteristics is the only question worth discussing...

what a Saturday golfed with two beautiful women, and borrowing from K Clark "" joy rises in me like a summer morn {Coleridge} when I am in the company of other cattlemen and when I am in the company of my own cattle."
and it isn`t diminished being in the company of Joe Dunkum`s cattle either; Pete and Re-Pete will see heavier use this spring; let the ibc find it`s tru-x level...
too bad we have to get up early to meet the Wulf Express; final destination, Montana...thanks to everyone; on we go, same old road...

Mark Day brought down his usual offering of fine, fall born heifers today by his bulls...



weighing 530, we`ll mix them with our fall groups   that weighed from 455 to 555 to now total 75 head; the genetics the same; the difference now primarily environment...we`ll dry lot for a while{have lots of feed}; even up the differences; and offer for sale around Nov 1; ready for breeding Dec 1..
I don`t know the price yet; it will be based on commercial prices; but I can guarantee you won`t be paying for a sale manager or auctioneer; we`ll just do business person to person,  or as Mark and I have done for years; sight unseen, because we know our own genetics, and we know each other...



Mark had a fine assistant along this trip; sorry her pup I gave her didn`t work out; when I asked his problem, Allison pretty well summed it up with
"he`s just crazy" ,,, but it was no problem seeing she loved him anyway ; a story oft repeated  



there`s something of a waiting list; when the heifers are ready, I`ll be calling you...

Are those regular Angus or Aberdeen Angus? Seems like Tom B was looking for some Aberdeens a few years ago.

EddieM wrote:

Are those regular Angus or Aberdeen Angus?  Seems like Tom B was looking for some Aberdeens a few years ago.

these are Mark Day Angus; long removed from Aberdeen and the tb wannabes who find it easier to create salable rarity by changing names rather than concentrating useful genetics...

MKeeney wrote:

EddieM wrote:

Are those regular Angus or Aberdeen Angus?  Seems like Tom B was looking for some Aberdeens a few years ago.

these are Mark Day Angus; long removed from Aberdeen and the tb wannabes who find it easier to create salable rarity by changing names rather than concentrating useful genetics...

Dayberdeen Angus. Or just drop the Angus and start a new breed! "Why, yes, all my cattle are Dayberdeens! They are quite rare and valuable, you know."

But I still would need to ask about the fly resistance score. And then I think: if a whole herd of cows was composed of cows where each one had high fly resistance would there be any flies, would the neighbor sue you for forcing all of your flies onto his cattle, would there be a lot of flies on unemployment or would there still be a few confused flies but with equal distribution? If you don't know, that's OK. I'll just watch the articles in the beef magazines to find out the latest. Maybe I missed the most important part: would I have cows that anybody, including me, would want for market price?

Eddie, too long on the lawnmower and a cloud of dust

last year selling went well; this year wrought with frustration...pricing my fault; couple of sold local bulls still on my feed bill; and the usual trucking hassle; a check in the mail thing...steps being taken to fix all four ...just a ping; not even a bump; in the road less traveled... without a roadmap

Truth gains more, even by errors of one who, with due study and preparation, thinks for himself than by the true opinions of those who only hold them, because they do not suffer themselves to think.
-- John Stuart Mill

Mike,
I think the biggest change in my cattle since I started making the 3+ hour trip to your place is the consistency. They all look more alike in type all though the calves by heifers tend to be a bit smaller. That might be because often their sire and dams are half brother/half sister. Cattle seem to do better on grass alone and they handle my fescue much better than in the past. My feed bill is not what it use to be. The difference between my favorite heifer and the bottom end is getting less. All heifers are kept for breeding purposes for either me or you. Generally speaking few don't breed. On the male side I have a 2 year waiting list for freezer beef. There are 2 simple explanations for that. People say it is the best they have ever had and for the past 4 years my calf crop has been 65% heifers and 35% bulls. Between using a couple of my own Bulls which I never did much of before there just are not enough born to meet the demand. Just my 2 cents worth. I am about to leave on another 2+ hour bus trip for a track meet. Cows are all out taking care of themselves.