PALMYRA, Mo. – The sixth and final fall sale of Show-Me-Select heifers, Saturday, Dec. 14, in Palmyra, set a local record for total cost of heifers sold.

The 53 buyers set a northeastern Missouri record $1,162,600 worth of bred heifers exchanging hands in one-and-a-half hours. Thirty-five repeat buyers purchased 192 head, or 59% of the total consignment, said Daniel Mallory, University of Missouri Extension regional livestock specialist.

The Northeast Missouri Show-Me-Select Replacement heifer sale averaged $3,599 per animal and was held at F&T Livestock Market.

The 19 producers of the 323 heifers are enrolled in the MU Extension educational heifer management program. The heifers were bred to sires with both calving-ease and growth genetics. The top lot sold, which belonged to Nation Polled Herefords of Vandalia, brought $4,650.

The highest average price from a consignor was $4,000 on two head from longtime consignor McCutchan Angus of Monticello. Other top consignors were E&A Belgian and Cattle Co., Curryville, averaging $3,993 on 31 head, and Connor Eckman, Paris, averaging $3,825 on four head.

“Calving surveys returned by these buyers provide important information that is given back to consignors to improve for future years,” Mallory said.

The Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program takes nearly a year to complete. The heifers undergo an examination usually four to eight weeks before breeding. This exam includes a pelvic measurement, reproductive tract score and weight. Heifers may be bred artificially or exposed to natural service; however, the service sires must meet specific calving-ease expected progeny difference (EPD) requirements based on breed. This year, 151 head, or 47% of the heifers in the sale, were synchronized and bred by artificial insemination (AI). In this sale, the choice to use AI showed a $127 price advantage over those bred naturally.

All heifers must be pregnancy-tested within 90 days of breeding by a veterinarian to determine expected calving date. The use of ultrasound has helped many of the veterinarians improve their accuracies on calving dates, Mallory said. During the development period, all heifers undergo an extensive health program and are vaccinated at weaning, pre-breeding and pregnancy examination. They are also treated several times for internal and external parasites. In addition, heifers are screened for blemishes, condition, muscling and structural soundness by MU Extension livestock specialists and USDA graders.

Averages of other Show-Me-Select sales from fall 2024: Joplin, $3,205 on 112 head; Kirksville, $3,202 on 120 head; Kingsville, $3,791 on 124 head; SEMO, $3,487 on 55 head; and Farmington, $3,214 on 116 head.

This was the 28th year for the Show-Me-Select heifer sale in Palmyra; more than 48,740 heifers have been through the program, and 8,940 head have been sold.

If you are interested in participating in the Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program, contact your local MU Extension livestock specialist. For more information, visit http://muext.us/sms.

Photo

https://extension.missouri.edu/sites/default/files/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/2024/20241220-palmyra-1.jpg

The crowd at F&T Livestock in Palmyra for the Dec. 14, 2024, Show-Me-Select heifer sale. Photo by Brenda Schreck.