Florida Bull Test Catalog

Dear Cattlemen:
Welcome to the 12th Annual Florida Bull Test Sale. The objective of this test is to evaluate the performance potential and breeding soundness of bulls consigned. This year was the second year in which individual feed efficiency was established on all bulls.

The Florida Bull Test consists of a 112-day performance test plus a breeding soundness evaluation on every bull that qualifies for the auction. Bulls arrive at the NFREC Feed Efficiency Facility, are sorted into contemporary groups, and moved into pens where bulls adapted to soy hull and corn gluten-based diet with free choice access to Bermuda grass hay and water for a three week adaptation period before initiating the test. The bulls remained in the Feed Efficiency Facility for the first 56 days of test after which they were moved out of the facility to 3.25 acre pastures for the remaining 56 days of test. They received the same diet throughout the test. Animal performance, specifically average daily gain (ADG), was calculated using only the official starting and finishing test weights. Throughout the test bulls were observed and screened for structural soundness and disposition. Bulls deemed to be structurally unsound or poor disposition did not qualify for the sale.

The target was to achieve an ADG of 3.5 lb/day. As you may note the bulls averaged an ADG of 3.32 lb/day. The average weight per day of age was 2.96 lb/day. Average daily feed intake during the first 56 days of test was 23.3 lb/day (on a dry matter basis) and average feed:gain ratio of 7.5 pounds of feed for every pound of gain.

A significant portion of the test is the inclusion of feed efficiency of individual bulls. To rank the bulls on feed efficiency we use residual feed intake (RFI), which is the difference between actual feed intake and expected feed intake. The more negative the number is, the more efficient the bull is. During this bull test the RFI of bulls ranged from -6.67 to 5.19 lb/d. Therefore, the most efficient bull consumed 6.67 lb per day less feed than expected for his gain. This equates to more than 2,400 lb per year less feed than that bull is expected to consume!

Our staff has worked hard to provide the best care possible for these bulls. We believe each bull has been given the chance to express his own genetic potential for performance and fertility. Thank you for making our sale stronger year after year. We look forward to visiting with you about the bulls either before or on sale day.

Catalog

Sincerely,

Florida Bull Test Committee
 
So if your looking for a new herd bull we invite you to join us in Marianna Florida on Saturday January 14, 2011.  If you have any questions concerning our consignments please feel free to give us a call. 
 
Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!
 
The Gilmore's
Ronnie & Debbie

Florida Bull Test Sale January 14th 2012

The Florida Test NFREC-Marianna

The North Florida Research and Education Center in Marianna, Florida annually hosts the Florida Bull Test.  Final weights were taken on December 6 & 7 2011.  Bulls that qualify for the sale will be cataloged soon, all bulls are evaluated by ultrasound for carcass traits 30 days before the end of the test.  Bulls below frame score of 4.5 will not be accepted (BIF frame score chart). All bulls will undergo a Breeding Soundness Evaluation according to the Society of Theriognology guidelines prior to the sale by the Bull Test designated Veterniarian.  Any bulls that do not pass the BSE will not be permitted to sell in the sale.

Gizmo Angus Farm nominated three bull calves to this years test we were notified this week that all three have met the sale criteria and will be offered for sale on January 14, 2012. 



Gizmo EXT 1002 0556 6149 Registration #16938941

 

1002 was being camera shy



Gizmo Image Maker 1013 525 Registration #16938946

 

Gizmo EXT 1023 409 6149 Registration #16938951

For more information on all the bulls that will be selling on January 14, 2012 go to the Florida Bull Test page.

Alabama Angus Association Fall Sale Update

We have a couple of changes to announce concerning our consignments to the Alabama Angus Association Fall Sale on November 12th:

Gizmo EXT 1060 617 6149 is OUT OF SALE

Gizmo Blackcap 312 239C 205 has a BC Matrix 4132 heifer calf on her side.  The calf was born on 10/06/2011 and weighed 70 pounds. 

We hope to see you in Cullman Alabama on Sale day!

Fall Sales

It is hard to beleive that Fall is just around the corner, and with Fall comes fall cattle sales.  We have consigned six bulls to the Alabama BCIA Fall Round Up Sale on November 11, 2011 in Union Town Alabama.  Then on November 12, 2011 we have consigned three lots to the Alabama Angus Association sale in Cullman Alabama.  So we will have a busy weekend for sure.  Let me tell you a little about our consignments:

Alabama Fall Round Up Sale and BCIA Genetic Verified Heifer Sale

Friday, November 11, 2011 - 11:00 am
Alabama Livestock Auction
Union Town, Alabama

Gizmo New Image 904 213 0415
Registration # 16682173 
Virgin Bull Out of H A Image Maker 0415

H A Image Maker 0415 Sire of 904

This young bull traces back to our foundation Stephanie cow, he should work well on heifers.

Gizmo New Day 918 501 8005
Registration #16682174
Virgin Bull out of Boyd New Day 8005

Boyd New Day 8005 Sire of 918

This bull should make a really nice heifer bull. His dam is an ET daughter out of our foundation Fink Pride 6211 cow. His sire Boyd New Day 8005 consistently produces good footed, sound females with perfect udder structure and sons that perform in the top 5% of the breed.

Gizmo IM 933 606 0702
Registration #16682180

H A Image Maker 0415 Paternal Grand Sire of 933

SAV Traveler 8180 004 Maternal Grand Sire of 933

A virgin bull out of a son of the our donor cow RB Bridget 658 and the ABS sire H A Image Maker 0415. His dam is a daughter of SAV 8180 Traveler 004. This young bull should make a heifer bull.

Gizmo New Day 931 658 8005
Registration # 16682179

Virgin Bull out of Boyd New Day 8005 and our donor cow RB Bridget 658 C11 111. 

RB Bridget 658 C11 111

Boyd New Day Sire of 931

We currently have three flush sisters to this bull in production. In addition we used a flush brother to this bull on our heifers last year and we have been pleased with the calves. This young bull should make a good heifer bull.

Gizmo New Design 922 K506 878
Registration # 1668217716682177

Virgin Bull out of Bon View New Design 878

Bon View New Design 878 Sire of 922

This young bull is out of the natural daughter of our foundation donor Fink Pride 6211 his maternal grand sire ranks in the top 7% for progeny feed efficiency with above average gain and a -.35 lbs./day Intake EPD We don't recommend this bull for use on heifers.

Gizmo New Day 945 0168 8005
Registration # #16767597

Sweetwater Elluna 0168 Donor Dam of 945



Boyd New Day Sire of 945

 This virgin bull is an ET calf out of our now deceased donor Sweetwater Elluna 0168 and Boyd New Day 8005. We have two flush sisters to this bull working in our herd.

Then on November 12, 2011, 12:00 noon at the Cullman Stockyards in Cullman Alabama.  Gizmo has consigned three lots to the Alabama Angus Association Fall Sale, we invite you to check them out!

Gizmo Blackcap 312 239C 205
Registration # 14751295
This cow is out of our foundation Blackcap Cow Twin Valley Blackcap 239C
She has BR 5 @ 96 WR 5 @ 101 and YR 2@ 95 This cow was AI'd to
BC Matrix 4132 on 12/30/2010 Then Pasture exposed to Sinclair Rito 9R9 examined safe.

Sinclair Rito 9R9 Registration #16352504

Gizmo Blackcap 603 112 004
Registration #15722717
BR 3 @ 96 WR 3 @ 102 Yr 2 @ 98
Safe in calf to Sinclair Rito 9R9
Registration #16352504
and her heifer calf
Gizmo Blackcap 1059 112 659
Registration #16961240
This heifer calf is out of our senior herd sire
Coleman EXT 6149
Registration # 15730734

Three flush sisters to 6149 are working in the Coleman Angus herd in Montana. Another flush sister sold in 09 to Anderson Circle Ranch for $15,000

Coleman Donna 6148 Flush Sister to Coleman EXT 6149 the sire of 1059

Gizmo Elluna 617 0168 307
Registration #15722727
This young cow is out of our foundation
Sweetwater Elluna 0168 BR 3 @ 107 WR 3 @ 100 and YR 1 @ 111
Safe in calf to Sinclair Rito 9R9 Registration #16352504

Your welcome to come by and see our consignments at the farm any time prior to the sales, or give us a call at 850-587-2182.  Hope to see you on sale day!

2011 Florida Bull Test

We delivered three young bulls to the University of Florida Beef Unit in Marianna Florida on July 26th  for the 2011 Bull test.  It has been a number of years since we have put any of our bulls on test so it will be interesting to see what  kind of changes have been implemented.

Two of these calves are out of our senior herd sire:

Coleman EXT 6149 Registration # 15730734  

Coleman EXT 6149 Registration #15730734

This bull is out of the Colman Angus donor  KMK Donna J311 Registration #13642847

6149's Dam along with two of his flush sisters are currently working in the donor program

at Coleman Angus in Charlo Montana

Coleman Donna 6148 Registration # 15704363
Flush Sister to Coleman EXT 6149

Coleman Donna 6139 Registration # 15704358
Flush Sister to Coleman EXT 6149

Needless to say the calves out of the 6149 stem from a very solid cow family. 

For updates on the bull test go to Florida Bull Test 2011

The end of an era

Ronnie and I spent part of our 2011 Memorial Day weekend at the Good Neighbor Farm Angus dispersal sale in Moultrie Georgia. This sale was the end of an era for the Chitty family. We met Horace and Brent Chitty many years ago while attending various Angus sales and events. In 2001 Ronnie became the chairman of the Florida Angus Association female sale, and Brent was one of the first breeders Ronnie called on to put cattle into the sale. Ronnie could always count on the Chitty family to bring high quality, functional cattle that would work in our environment. So attending this sale was bittersweet, it was great to see the Chitty’s but sad to see them leaving the industry. The Chitty’s will be missed, we wish them the very best.  They deserve it.

Graham Duchess 55
Registration #11359226

We knew the Chitty’s had built an excellent cow herd around their foundation cow Graham Duchess 55. Brent Chitty has said that this cow was the best he had ever purchased.
She is the kind of cow that we like deep, clean fronted, structurally correct with a beautiful udder. The mark of a great cow is no matter what bull you breed her to the mating works, Graham Duchess 55 is that kind of cow. Based on this we attended the sale in hopes of purchasing a daughter from this great cow. We were fortunate to purchase not one but two daughters GNF Duchess 856 700 NDay Registration # 16384055 and GNF Duchess 859 700 ND878 Registration # 16392475 we feel both these cows will be nice additions to our herd. Both of these purchases were AI'D to
S A V Final Answer.

S A V Final Answer 0035
Registration #13592905

It was a wonderful Memorial Day for us. I just have to say thank you to all the service men and women who make the ultimate sacrifice for this country, so that we can enjoy the freedoms, such as speaking our mind, picking our own religion and feeling safe every day.

As Tom Burke would say “Happy Days!”

Small Supplies and Record Prices

I was reading an article by Tod Kalous "Small Supplies and Record Prices" in my spring 2011 National Cattlemen. I was not surprised to read that the total U.S. cattle inventory decreased 1.3 million head in 2010 and totaled 92.6 million head on Jan. 1, 2011, which puts the total inventory back to levels not seen since the early 1950’s. I can’t say I am surprised by these numbers, I have been watching the national cattle inventory decrease for the last few years, and have been telling anyone that would listen that eventually it would mean more dollars for our product. The article goes on to say that numbers are estimated to decline another 1 to 1.5 percent during 2011. What does this mean to us as producers? The smaller beef supplies and stronger beef demand are expected to lead to record high prices for all classes of cattle in 2011 with continued increases in 2012…..can I get a big hallelujah and might I add it’s about time! Does this good news mean our struggle is over? Sadly the answer is no, we as producers are still going to have to deal with high feed prices, and for many of us drought is becoming a major issue. If drought conditions continue it could force many of us to sell cattle that we would prefer to retain. There are things we can do as producers to make our cow herds more profitable, however issues like drought our not something we can control, we just need to send up prayers for rain and hope the good Lord sees fit to send it.  I pray that he will send the rain soon, we would normally have already rolled up over 200 bales of hay, at this point we have only rolled 20, needless to say we are praying hard.

Freeze Branding Final Analyst

Well we have now completed working both groups of bred heifers. The first group we utilized the dry ice and 99% alcohol. There were three of us working I was the alcohol sprayer and time keeper, while Lance and Ronnie worked the irons. This work was done at the house using our old Priefert working chute; this chute doesn’t restrict the movement as well as the Fore-Most chute used during the demonstration at the farm, so we also utilize a halter on the heifers for additional control. The brands are turning out really well and we are extremely pleased with the results of this procedure.

The second group was done one week later; utilizing the nitrogen method. I had to go to the office so Ronnie and Lance had to handle the work without me. Ronnie did say I was missed! He had sixteen heifers to work, and one tank of nitrogen. I would say this is a mid size tank it holds about 200 straws of semen, they ran out of nitrogen after about ten head. He had to make a run and get some dry ice to finish the last six head. As I said he didn’t have his (and might I add exceptional time keeper) and he said with one working the head, one the irons the time keeping got to be an issue. It looks like some of the irons were left on a bit to long, or maybe the nitrogen is just more unforgiving. These brands just aren’t looking as good as the first group.

Based on the two groups that we have worked since the demonstration, we will be utilizing the dry ice with 99% alcohol method in the future. We feel that the dry ice method is more forgiving, as well as more cost effective.

I hope the series of blogs on freeze branding has been helpful. One thing about the cattle business is you are always learning.

Check the January 2011 Blogs for step by step drections

Fly Control

You know it is going to be a bad year for fly’s when you have the fly swatter out in February. Our cattle are covered in fly’s already and we are only in early spring. Our herd health work is scheduled in April, fly treatment is part of the program. Our normal program is to pour the cattle with a prozap insectrin 1% Pour-On Xtra then we administer a Vigilante Insecticide Bolus VIGILANTE ® insecticide controlled--release bolus for beef and dairy cattle controls the breeding of horn flies and face flies in the manure of treated beef and dairy cattle for up to five months. The bolus also aids in the control of houseflies and stable flies. We have used this method at the farm for the past three years with great success, at the house due to adjacent farms that don’t utilize any type of fly control we have always used the pour on along with Insecticide Cattle Ear Tags. Due to the very large number of fly’s so early in the season, we are going to change the program at the home place this year to include our normal program of pour on and insecticide ear tags but we are also going to add the Vigilante insecticide controlled – release bolus.

You might ask Why would you do so much to prevent flys in our program?

• Horn flies can cause 15 lbs. to 50 lbs. of weight

loss per head during the summer season.

• At $0.90 per pound, a 30 lb.weight loss results

in a $27.00 average loss per head.

• An Altosid IGR Feed-Thru investment of

$4.50 to $5.50 per cow/calf pair for a summer

feeding season will provide returns from

6:1 up to 10:1.

Research shows that if you can eliminate flys (well at least minimize) the flys on your cow herd it will equates to long term cost savings. Of course I also enjoy the added benefit of less flys in my house, so I don’t have to spend so much time with a fly swatter in my hand.

If you don’t have a fly prevention program in place in your cow herd, now would be a good time to reconsider. The less time a cow spends trying to keep flys off of themselves the more time they have to graze and gain. No matter if you are in the purebred or commercial sector of the industry pounds count, and less flys mean more pounds on your cows.

Face it we all want happy cows!

Spring Has Sprung!

Good Gravy, I am getting really old, because I just can’t seem to keep up anymore. Spring has arrived early here in Northwest Florida and with it a really long list of projects. Last week we finally finished freeze branding the final group of the 2009 heifers; wow at least one item to check off the list. The last of the freezer steers was delivered to the processor on Friday ha check number two! Called ahead to make sure the fertilizer supply had the weed spray we needed after being assured they did, Ronnie made the trip to pick it up and was informed “ we had some yesterday”…….I guess you could say wasted trip. One of our favorite embryo calves out of VDAR Lucy’s Boy and VDAR Elluna 97 somehow managed to break his shoulder, I hope this isn’t the beginning of a trend. Ronnie is trying his best to clear a fifty acre field that will make a great summer pasture. He has had this on his to do list for about five years and is bound and determined to get it done this year. We have pulled all but one of the bulls and hope to get the last one out this week. I have been busy ordering all the necessary medications for herd health treatment that we have scheduled to start on April 13th, if all of the medications get here that is. We have already had to mow grass several times, and it is only April 5th! By the time we get the fifty acres cleared and all the cows worked it will be time to start cutting hay. I have to say I am really excited about the calves we have on the ground this year. The embryo calves out of the old Elluna 97 cow are really looking good. I have to admit that the Coleman EXT 6149 calves are everything we had hoped they would be. We also utilize several of our young bulls on heifers each year, and the calves out of these heifers and young bulls are looking really good as well. So spring is a busy time but it is always a very rewarding time. Hopefully we will find a little time to slow down and just appreciate the beauty of spring that is all around us, or as an old friend once told us stop and smell the roses.



Little Gizmo's

It is official; Ronnie and I are going to be grandparents! I have to admit we are a bit excited, more than I really expected and I was expecting EXCITED. Jacob and Carla came over for a short visit on Valentine’s Day with a card that was addressed to Grandma and Grandpa Gilmore. I managed to remain calm, with emotions running from ecstatic to terrified and that was just within the first few minutes of being told about the pregnancy. It brought back all of the memories of our first child. We didn’t have the benefit of the cool little sticks that say YES or NO we had to wait and hear the news from the doctor then run out to find a pay phone (do they even have those anymore) to call and tell everyone. So times and technology have changed but the emotions are still very much the same even when you’re just the grandparent. Yep and there is no shame in crying !

After they told us the wonderful news they scheduled their first ultrasound. Jacob told us that he was praying for twins, Carla told him he was crazy but for some reason he was just sure that he would love to have twins. On March 7th they had their first ultrasound and OH MY GOODNESS Jacob’s prayers were answered they are having twins!

 Carla has been so sick, I just feel so bad that she is sick and so happy that she is pregnant then I feel guilty for being happy when she feels so bad it is a revolving door of emotions. Please keep all four of them in your prayers, and throw one up for the grandparents as well.

People keep asking me if I want boys or girls or one of each, I just tell them it doesn’t matter as long as everyone is healthy and happy. Besides it doesn’t matter, boys or girls can hold a show stick! They will be going back to the doctor the first of April for another ultrasound, and then we will know if they are having boys, girls, or one of each again for me it doesn’t matter I am just feeling doubly blessed!

What is the shortest show stick you can get?  Should I be picking out thier first heifer?  Nope I am not excited NOT MUCH!

Let There Be Quiet

Is there a quiet place in your day?  Maybe it's before sunrise--the windows still dark, the air still a bit chilly except for teh warmth of a crocheted blanket thrown over your lap.  The day is fresh and ahead of you, unspoiled, untouched.  Your Bible lies open, your prayers are thoughts and whispers.  Just you.  And God.
Maybe it's sometime in the early afternoon.  The kids are napping.  The traffic still sails by outside where you could hear it if you wanted to.  But you don't.  You're alone for a few stolen moments...enjoying a snack, enjoying a book, enjoying a minute to yourself.
Maybe it's late at night.  The clock that ticked unnoticeably all evening is now regular and audible, your PJs on, your TV off.  You sink into the couch pillows, almost dozing but not ready for bed yet, almost able to put your worries out of your mind, almost too comfortable for words.
Maybe your quiet time is some other time. 
Or maybe it's never.
But it's never too late to make time for it.  Over and over in Jesus' life, you see this one who was so busy, who was caught up in so many stressful situations, who was tugged on and clawed at from so many different people...getting away, stealing off, seeking quiet.
Sometimes it was night--even all night.  Sometimes it was early in the morning, long before his friends and disciples had stirred from sleep.  At the end of a long day or before the start of a new one, he yearned for quiet, for time spent alone with his heavenly Father, for the secret hours his human side needed in order to sort out what was going on in his life.
Angud Jesus himself needed quiet, certainly we all need quiet.
But quiet won't come looking for you.  You'll have to wrestle it away from a world grown noisy and demanding, from a culture that rushes to fill every second with sound and movement and high-speed information.  You'll have to plan for it, draw boundary lines around it, protect it from phone calls and talk shows and even your own impatience.  You'll be tempted to think you can live without it, but you'll only end up joining the rest of us who have had to learn the hard way---through four-day flu bugs and weekend fatigue--that if we don't take responsibility for slowing ourselves down, our bodies will do it for us.
The simple truth is that quiet time spent with the Lord, with his Word and our own hearts laid open before him, will never take more away from us than it gives back to us.  It will always replenish, always add to the life of our days, and most likely even add to the days of our lives.
Enjoy the blessings of being quiet.

Freeze Branding @ Twenty One Days

Well I did manage to get some photo's yesterday I just didn't get them posted.  Quick recap is that the 932 heifer was branded utilizing the liquid nitrogen, and the 937 heifer branded with dry ice and 99% aolchol.

932 heifer

937 heifer, I think the GIZ is really starting to stand out.

They said you could tell how the brands look at 21 days, and I think they are showing up I am thinking that 75 seconds might work better on the dry ice method instead of 60 seconds. 

Until next week.



Freeze Branding @ Fourteen Days

Ok it has been fourteen days since the freeze branding clinic.  I went out this afternoon and took a few photo's of the two heifers that we used to demonstrate the two different methods of freeze branding. 








932 Liquid Nitrogen Method

932

I do see some changes but overall this reminds me a bit of watching water boil.



937 Dry Ice and 99% Alochol Method

937 The GIZ is really starting to show

I will get more photo's next week, maybe by then the water will actually be boiling!  While I was out I went ahead and got a few photo's of some of the other heifers in the pen. 

I really like this group of heifers, the past few days have been really cold and wet so we have plenty of mud to go around.



Gizmo Beauty 902 0707 0702

Gizmo Pride 916 314 K205

This is a heifer that I really like she just wouldn't cooperate with me for a good photo, I will try again next week.  She is really deep and soggy.









Freeze Branding One Week and One Day Later

I said in my freeze branding wrap up post that I would take pictures of the two heifers to show the progression of the brands.  Keep in mind that the 932 heifer was branded utilizing the liquid nitrogen method, while the 937 heifer was branded utilizing the dry ice with 99% alcohol.  My intentions were to get pictures at seven days but since I am a world class procrastinator the pictures were taken at eight days.

932 Branded with Liquid Nitrogen

932

937 Branded with Dry Ice and 99% Alcohol

937

I don't yet have an opinion on which one looks the best, I don't really know at this point.  I will post again next week, maybe by then we can tell more.

Freeze Branding Wrap Up

Dr. Cliff Lamb UF IFAS

Well the freeze branding clinic is over and it turned out really well. This event was a joint endeavor of the Northwest Florida Cattleman's, Escambia County Extension and UF IFAS.  Dr. Cliff Lamb with the UF IFAS Beef Unit in Marianna put on great hands on program.  When I say hands on I mean it he had volunteers doing the prep work as well as the actual branding.  Dr. Lamb even used volunteers to pore the liquid nitrogen into the cooler, and when the time came to demonstrate the dry ice method he also utilized volunteers.  I am a believer in hands on telling someone how to do something and actually holding the brand in your hand is just not the same.  So I loved the way this demonstration was presented, as well as the way Dr. Lamb provided instruction during each phase of the process.


Necessary Equipment

1. A freeze brand set of number brands or single brand as needed.
2. Good head gate and squeeze chute is essential to ensure that the animal is restrained while applying the brand
3. Animal hair clippers with sheep head and flathead blades.
4. A stiff rice root brush and towel for cleaning the brand area.
5. Alcohol (99%) in a mister bottle.
6. Dry ice and alcohol (99% not 70%) for cooling the irons OR liquid nitrogen.
7. Container large enough to set all the brands on the bottom at one time for cooling.
8. A large clock with second hand to be used for timing of brand application. 

Freeze Brand Set

Freeze Branding Procedure

1. If using dry ice - break up enough dry ice to cover the bottom of the container(s) with at least two inches of ice.  Pour enough alcohol over the ice to cover the ice and the brands placed down in the ice.  Add more ice and alcohol as needed during the day.  As soon as one is done using a brand place it back in the ice and do not use the brand again until bubbling stops. 
2. Restrain the animal in the chute by the neck and tighten the squeeze chute on the body to prevent excessive movement.
3. Clip hair as short as possible in the area to be branded.  Clean the area with a brush and alcohol.
4. Just before placing the brand on the animal saturate the brand site with alcohol from the mister to provide liquid contact between the iron and the hide.  This step is critical to obtaining a good brand because alcohol will evaporate quickly.
5. Apply the brand to the hide for 60 seconds if using dry ice and for 30 seconds if using liquid nitrogen.  Every 10 seconds spray the brand with alcohol from the mister.

   

   Clip the hair
   
   
   

   

   First brand was utilizing liquid nitrogen and applying for 30 seconds
   
   

   

   first brand of the day thanks volunteers!
   
   
   

   

   Good Head and Squeeze Chute is essential!
   
   

   

   The second heifer of the day we used the dry ice method
   
   
   

   

   The tattoo number utilizing the dry ice method
   
   Things to Watch for
   

   1. Animals will react less to the super cooled iron as opposed to a hot one, but they will still try to jump, usually about ten seconds into branding.  If the brand is knocked off its location during branding, just reapply and add an extra 5 seconds plus the time lost.
   2. To determine whether the brand is done properly if the hide area is frozen stiff you can tap the hide with your fingernail.  It should feel like taping on an ice cube.  It will take three to four weeks for the brand to show up nicely.
   3. Alcohol will migrate Thur a Styrofoam cooler, but not a plastic one, so plastic works best, however Styrofoam coolers do work, just do not leave alcohol in them over night.

   
   

   I plan to take pictures of the two heifers and post them as a follow up to show the difference if any of the two techniques.  Thanks again to Dr. Lamb, the Escambia County Extension and the Northwest Florida Cattleman's Association for allowing us the opportunity to host this event.  

   
   

   One Week & One Day

   Well my intentions were to take photo's of the two heifers to see how the brands are looking, well I am one day late but I really did have good intentions.