High Altitude Genetic Testing of Heifers and Bulls
Thorbardin Ranch and all its employees are pleased to announce a very successful testing and auction of Stevenson Genetic's High Altitude Bulls. The auction was held at our indoor sale facility in Laramie Wyoming on April 14, 2010. The success of the auction was the result of some of the fanciest high altitude bulls available in the country being sold on a gorgeous day in Laramie via a live and internet auction.
Thorbardin Ranch is pleased to have such a fine turn out for these bulls and with our dedicated employees and excellent facilities, it facilitiated in Stevenson Genetic's maximizing their value on this outstanding group of PAP tested bulls.
It is becoming obvious that the skilled cattle rancher in the Rocky Mountain Region will pay for PAP tested cattle. It is also no wonder that the USA Olymipic Team also trains at high elevation to improve performance. It is without a doubt that high altitude tested cattle are the future of the feedstock industy with outstanding heart and lung capacity to maximize growth and feed efficiencies.
High Altitude Sickness a Genetic Disease
There is an estimated 1.5 million head of cattle that are operated at elevations above 5,000 feet throughout the Rocky Mountain Region. According to one of the leading experts, Dr. Tim Holt, on an annualized basis between 3-4% of the cattle succumb to High Altitude Sickness and die costing the industry between $60-80 million per year in lost equity and revenue.
These losses don't even include the lost opportunity of the many head of cattle that while surviving will suffer sub par performance as a result of having High Altitude Sickness. These costs are increased antibiotic treatment that all cattlemen use when first discovering an animal with brisket disease; head hung low, breathing heavy with runny nose, lethargic, similar symptoms to normal pneumonia except that the animal does not respond to standard treatment of antibiotics. Other costs are minimum gains both on pasture and later in the feed lot.
Approximately 1/3 of all Angus cattle will not pass a PAP Test showing suitability to be owned and managed at high elevations. It is therefore extremely critical for any rancher managing cattle above 5,000 feet in elevation to demand PAP tested bulls and females for their herd to improve on performance and hence economics for their operations.
Bulls
Breeding bulls make up such a signficant impact on a rancher's herd genetics, one cannot afford to make a mistake of buying a bull that carries High Altitude Sickness disease. A bull with such a poor trait will not only effect calves, but also the performance of future females that may be retained in the herd.
Thorbardin Ranch takes bulls in from late August through the winter for backgrounding and testing. Bulls should be on the property for a minimum of 40-days prior to testing.
Replacement Heifers
Thorbardin Ranch strongly recommends testing replacements in the fall shortly after weaning each year. The development of replacement heifers represent one of the biggest costs to a rancher. It is therefore wise to identify the heifers early on to avoid a significant investment in a female that carries the genetic component of High Altitude Sickness.
Heifers should be in Laramie for a minimum of 40-days prior to being PAP testing.
We can start taking in heifers as early as September for PAP testing and through the winter.
Facility and Sales
Thorbardin Ranch is located just a hop skip from I-80 a few miles west of Laramie. We offer great pens and working facilities with feeding rations designed by some of the top animal nutritionists in the region.
With our great facilities we also offer a small indoor sale ring ideal for the smaller cattle breeder at reasonable rates. Thorbardin Ranch is your one stop bull management and sales place.
