COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension’s Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program offers a DNA option for participants called Show-Me-Plus.

Jamie Courter, MU Extension state beef genetics specialist, said the program is educating producers and buyers of Show-Me Select heifers about the value of having that DNA information.

“For Show-Me-Plus, if the heifer is registered, she would likely have genomically enhanced EPDs (expected progeny differences) through a breed association, or if she’s a commercial heifer, then she’s had some sort of commercial genomic test run on her,” said Courter.

“The benefit of that is you know more about the genetics of that female over and above just what she looks like and what her body condition score is at the time of the sale,” she added. “If producers participate in Show-Me-Plus and the buyer has that genomic information available, you’re removing the risk of that purchase so the buyer knows more about how that heifer is going to perform for the rest of her life.”

Thiago Martins, MU Extension’s new state beef reproductive specialist, is working with Courter to help MU Extension livestock specialists as they engage with producers.

“I will be talking to producers about how the use of reproductive biotechnologies can improve reproductive performance of heifers, making them conceive earlier, which is good,” Martins said. “If they conceive earlier, they will wean a heavier calf. The use of AI (artificial insemination) allows producers to put better genetics in the herd and have a better calf crop.”

Courter said the goal of SMS is to develop quality replacement heifers for purchase that will be successful in the buyers breeding program. She said that they are eager to help educate Missouri producers on the proper and most efficient way to develop those heifers so the animals can be successful.

Courter and Martins say they will visit farms and work with livestock specialists to get more producers to participate.

“The Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer program is wonderful,” Courter said. “Missouri has seen quite a lot of growth since its inception.”

Regional spring sales dates have been set:

• 7 p.m. Friday, May 3. SEMO Livestock Sales, LLC, Fruitland. Contact: Darrell Aufdenberg, 573-270-6755, DFAufdenberg@missouri.edu.
• 7 p.m. Friday, May 10. Farmington Regional Stockyards, LLC, Farmington. Contact: Kendra Graham, 573-756-4539, GrahamKK@missouri.edu.
• 7 p.m. Friday, May 17. Joplin Regional Stockyards, Inc., Carthage. Contact: Patrick Davis, 417-276-3313, DavisMP@missouri.edu.
• 11 a.m. Saturday, May 18. Kingsville Livestock Auction, Kingsville. Contact: David Hoffman, 816-380-8460, HoffmanD@missouri.edu.
• 4 p.m. Saturday, May 18. South Central Regional Stockyards, Vienna. Contact: Chrisee Brandl,573-642-0755, ChriseeBrandl@missouri.edu.
• 6 p.m. Saturday, June 1. F&T Livestock Market, Palmyra. Contact: Daniel Mallory, 573-985-3911, MalloryD@missouri.edu.

Learn more about the Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program at https://mizzou.us/SMS. To enroll heifers in the program, contact the regional extension livestock coordinator who serves your area.

The deadline to register for the fall breeding season is Sept. 1.