1601newsletter_opengate_finallores

Open Gate Ranch WINTER NEWS 2016RELIABLE || ATTRACTIVE || PROFITABLE

OPEN GATE RANCH The Mike and Kim Richert Family • Rocky Mountain Front, Montana • 406-467-2082 • www.OpenGateRanch.com

Who still wants to keep playing ball?

As we roll into a new year, many of us are shaking our heads from the huge shifts we’ve seen in the beef business. There can be no doubt we are going to witness a significant correction back to more level values for our cattle. Rather than panic, or cry in our beer, it will serve us well to be ready. What can commercial cattleman do now, to position ourselves for tighter profit margins? Plenty . . .

CALVING SEASON: Every live calf matters now more than ever. First strategy is building good colostrum, healthy immune systems and vigorous calves. Third trimester nutrition is critical for these objectives, so are we providing adequate protein and a good mineral program? If vaccinations are part of our proto-col they should be carefully administered and timed correctly. How is the straw inventory? Aside from being part of most of our feed rations, deep dry bedding can give a new calf as much as 30 degrees in insulation from chill and stress...pretty cheap insurance. How are facilities? Are there weak places we should address? Repairs? Design flaws? Have we mapped out a plan for the night calving?

REPLACEMENT HEIFERS: Retaining heifers the last few years has been a significant investment. Rather than sticking them out of the way on the back forty, we should keep an eye on body condition, available forage and steady access to mineral. Heavy, shiny hair coats and cycling are good indicators of micronutrient levels. Getting our heifers to breed early the first time gives them a dramatic advantage going forward and makes them much more likely to stay in the herd longer than aver-age. One or two extra calves on the end of a cow’s production history makes her a highly profitable enterprise.

BULL BATTERY: The Bulls we choose to purchase or retain is truly the last place to try to save money in a declining mar-ket. High value genetics unquestionably pay for themselves both in productive, marketable feeder calves and in profitable, long-lasting females. Finding bulls that have been carefully developed for soundness, good dispositions and fertility means they can stay working for us longer and spread out their cost over more calves. And never forget the inherent value and profit in a sensible cross breeding program. Heterosis works for our bottom line 24/7.

MARKETING STRATEGY: Sooner rather than later! Do we have a good relationship with our cattle buyer? Keep him on speed dial. Utilize his knowledge and experience by having conversations about marketing strategies, new opportunities, or different approaches to capturing the value we have generated in our crossbred calves. Give him the information he needs to be able to represent them to their best advantage.

The last 3 years have presented us with great opportunities to capitalize on our cattle and invest in improving our ranches and businesses. We are probably going to see some people making very reactionary decisions and jerking the steering wheel in response to the markets. But our customers have always been folks who stick to the long view: and they are the progressive kind we want to stay in business with. So let’s remember what strategy and decisions got us to the solid posi-tion we are in today, let’s remember there will always be demand for a high quality end product like excellent beef, and let’s remain confident that we are ready to weather the changes ahead.

We are so pleased to introduce you to this year’s line-up of Bulls! This is a set we are especially proud of, as they fully represent the values we are trying to bring to the table. With a priority on maternal excellence, the all-purpose value of this group is our best ever, and they are exactly the kind we want to see covering our own cows. More photos are posted on the web site and we will be putting up video in late January. Please stay in touch regarding your needs and objectives this year. We’ve all got to stick together riding this roller-coaster that the Beef Industry has become. Best and warmest wishes, and may your hay yards stay full.

Well that was fun...

36TH ANNUAL OPEN GATE RANCH BULL SALE • TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016


2016 BULL SALE OFFERINGASA # TATTOO SIRE %SM BW Adj. WW CE EPD BW EPD WW EPD YW EPD MILK EPD MARB EPD REA EPD API TI

3012849 CY934 BALDRIDGE WAYLON W34 5/16 90 803 8.8 1.5 72 122.6 18.6 0.99 0.73 145.5 89.63012904 CT699 BALDRIDGE WAYLON W34 1/2 92 817 9.1 0.3 68.1 107.9 16 0.83 0.8 150.3 85.13012839 CP600 BALDRIDGE WAYLON W34 1/2 91 739 9.4 0.6 53.7 92.3 27.1 0.75 0.97 147.2 763012852 CY007 BALDRIDGE WAYLON W34 1/2 84 803 11.9 0.3 68.3 108.9 17.1 0.84 0.78 158.7 86.13012863 CX298 BALDRIDGE WAYLON W34 3/4 108 761 9.5 1.3 62.8 108.9 23.7 0.88 0.69 142.1 82.13012861 CX603 BALDRIDGE WAYLON W34 1/2 92 829 10.6 1.4 66.1 113.7 20.5 0.86 0.89 156.6 84.53012847 CY107 BECKTON EPIC R397 K 3/8 87 690 5.1 1.5 74.6 120.3 22.9 0.23 0.34 89.2 70.33012854 CY922 DDR-RAB DESTINED X8516 1/2 84 797 10 0.1 62.4 103.8 24.8 0.74 0.6 143.6 80.23012825 CY620 DDR-RAB DESTINED X8516 9/16 81 791 9 0.5 71.6 114 20.2 0.6 0.77 137.1 81.23012890 CZ436 DDR-RAB DESTINED X8516 5/8 85 814 8.5 1.3 65.5 100.4 23.4 0.75 0.66 141.2 80.23012853 CW679 DDR-RAB DESTINED X8516 5/8 90 822 8.8 1.9 70.6 108.2 23.8 0.65 0.72 137 80.23012896 CS182 ELLINGSON KLONDIKE Y123 7/8 97 831 5.7 4.6 80.3 122 19.9 0.16 0.85 105.8 70.53012885 CY891 EXAR SLAP SHOT 2504B 1/4 82 721 15.3 -1.8 49 85 29.2 0.84 0.52 156.7 76.83012911 CS115 G A R PREDESTINED 3/16 100 828 5 3 59.6 101.2 24.6 0.89 0.39 122.9 76.43012909 CZ356 GIBBS 0601X RAISINCAIN 13/16 81 724 13.2 -0.7 56.4 87.8 22.3 0.36 0.98 142 70.43012838 CT702 GIBBS 0601X RAISINCAIN 3/4 85 732 12 0.3 57 90.5 20.1 0.32 0.94 130 68.23012826 CW829 GIBBS 0601X RAISINCAIN 7/8 83 799 11.3 1.1 61.8 90.8 18.7 -0.02 0.91 102.5 653012876 CT711 GIBBS 0601X RAISINCAIN 3/4 87 745 10.4 1.1 60.3 90.9 22 0.27 0.87 122.2 67.43012892 CW595 GIBBS 0601X RAISINCAIN PB 89 714 12.9 0.3 46.6 73.2 21.2 0.24 1.03 138.7 64.53012868 CA594 GW PREMIUM BEEF 021TS 3/4 76 660 13.8 -0.1 62.2 99.3 19.1 0.29 0.64 135.6 70.73012882 CZ524 GW PREMIUM BEEF 021TS 1/2 70 701 14.8 -0.65 56.3 90 0.49 0.63 138 703012878 CA418 GW PREMIUM BEEF 021TS 1/2 86 745 13.5 0 62.7 106.7 21.5 0.75 0.72 158.9 81.43012813 CA568 GW PREMIUM BEEF 021TS 9/16 82 658 15.4 -0.95 61 97.8 0.47 0.79 144 75.53012908 CY896 GW PREMIUM BEEF 021TS 1/2 87 739 13.6 0 53.6 90.8 25.6 0.32 0.6 127.7 65.63012842 CA485 GW PREMIUM BEEF 021TS 9/16 94 777 12.7 1 70.2 113.4 17.1 0.45 0.66 137.3 76.43012827 CA367 GW PREMIUM BEEF 021TS 5/8 81 744 14.2 0.4 63.6 104.8 18.8 0.46 0.63 143.1 743012822 CW851 GW PREMIUM BEEF 021TS 5/8 93 692 14.7 0.2 46.2 76.2 19.9 0.45 0.66 137.8 63.73012889 CA506 GW PREMIUM BEEF 021TS 11/16 87 802 12.4 0.9 71.1 114.6 19.7 0.46 0.82 141 77.83012874 CA675 GW PREMIUM BEEF 021TS 11/16 89 736 13.8 0.7 66.7 106.2 16.3 0.36 0.76 136 72.53012899 CZ484 GW PREMIUM BEEF 021TS 1/2 82 609 15.8 -1.6 41.3 74.6 23.9 0.69 0.68 157.5 69.63012903 CA342 HOOK`S YELLOWSTONE 97Y 7/8 81 774 12.8 0.6 67.4 102 21.7 0.23 0.63 132.9 713012855 CA379 HOOK`S YELLOWSTONE 97Y 11/16 82 700 12.6 0.3 67 105.8 26.5 0.6 0.68 147.1 79.93012855 CA495 HOOK`S YELLOWSTONE 97Y 13/16 93 835 10.6 2.6 80.4 121.5 23.4 0.36 0.79 136.7 79.43012901 CZ958 HOOK`S YELLOWSTONE 97Y 3/4 80 854 12.4 -0.2 66.5 106.4 23.1 0.41 0.69 140.9 76.63012819 CZ963 HOOK`S YELLOWSTONE 97Y 3/4 91 653 11.7 0.5 52.9 85 26.9 0.38 0.7 133.3 67.23012880 CZ953 MR ISHEE CATALYST 15/16 85 799 13.5 0.55 65.3 95.7 0.43 0.93 143 743012913 CY887 MR ISHEE CATALYST 3/4 90 803 10.9 1 65.2 101.1 24.4 0.41 0.89 134.6 74.33012858 CX697 OGRYP522 7/8 93 883 8.3 2.45 67.5 105.7 0.09 0.68 94.1 63.43012836 CT267 OGRYT016 1/2 87 695 9.3 0.95 59.1 87 0.31 0.58 107.5 64.13012884 CX210 OGRZL651 11/16 87 809 8 1.8 66.9 101.2 22.7 0.18 0.94 112.3 66.43012895 CW868 OGRZT016 9/16 85 735 9 0.2 58.5 93 0.39 0.73 121.9 68.73012834 CT603 OGRZT016 13/16 81 800 10.1 0 60 87.5 0.29 0.77 134.9 70.73012902 CM450 OGRZT016 13/16 97 744 6.8 2.9 57.8 84.3 0.07 0.67 105 59.53012824 CT204 OGRZT016 9/16 86 664 8.25 1.2 65.1 101.2 0.39 0.85 119.8 713012886 CW592 OGRZT016 13/16 90 758 9.4 1.3 68.6 99 0.33 0.9 135.1 74.93012879 CX239 OGRZT016 7/16 90 819 8.9 1.1 61.8 99.65 0.49 0.62 115.2 713012893 CW696 OGRZT016 13/16 90 707 10.4 1.3 59.4 86.3 0.37 0.92 136 70.43012832 CT722 OGRZT016 9/16 91 882 9.5 1 62.6 102 0.27 0.57 111.1 673012915 CU142 OGRZT016 1/2 90 814 9.3 1.3 68.9 101.3 0.41 0.71 123.6 73.83012856 CW282 OLF OTIS Y43 3/4 77 764 14.2 0.9 69.4 109 21 0.16 0.7 141.3 70.3


36TH ANNUAL OPEN GATE RANCH BULL SALE • TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016

2016 BULL SALE OFFERINGASA # TATTOO SIRE %SM BW Adj. WW CE EPD BW EPD WW EPD YW EPD MILK EPD MARB EPD REA EPD API TI

3012897 CX339 OLF OTIS Y43 15/16 87 763 14.1 1.2 73 112.7 20.3 0.06 0.69 125.3 73.53012869 CA425 OLF OTIS Y43 PB 87 821 12.5 2.9 91.5 138.8 19 0.04 0.75 132.8 81.43012857 CZ34 OLF OTIS Y43 11/16 78 727 17.2 -1.3 57.7 90.7 24.4 0.4 0.82 155.8 71.73012840 CA931 OLF OTIS Y43 3/4 84 877 11.4 1.2 90.6 140.7 22.1 0.35 0.97 145.8 91.33012862 CY30 OLF OTIS Y43 3/4 83 773 13.6 -0.1 83.8 129.7 20.9 0.28 0.91 141.9 873012867 CX597 OLF OTIS Y43 PB 88 798 14.9 0.4 71.1 117.6 25.1 0.08 0.9 144.7 75.13012835 CY823 OLF OTIS Y43 3/4 88 824 15.9 0 80.9 129 22 0.3 0.89 157.6 82.63012894 CZ422 PVF PREFERRED EDGE 717G PB 82 686 12.35 0.65 64.1 91.75 -0.03 0.74 114 613012865 CZ403 PVF PREFERRED EDGE 717G 15/16 82 776 13.3 0.8 62.2 87 11.7 0.1 0.65 116.9 673012848 CZ481 PVF PREFERRED EDGE 717G PB 92 928 12.8 1.8 81.6 115.4 7 0.2 0.74 136.4 79.23012815 CA795 PVF PREFERRED EDGE 717G 3/4 80 723 14 -0.1 70.9 97 12.3 0.3 0.68 130.7 78.43012898 CZ538 PVF PREFERRED EDGE 717G 3/4 90 718 13.6 1 65.2 89.25 0.15 0.58 130 653012843 CA588 PVF PREFERRED EDGE 717G 3/4 100 681 10.95 1 67.15 102.45 0.22 0.49 121.2 67.43012831 CY32 SITZ MADISON 10477 1/4 87 645 14.1 0.5 65.5 110.3 23.3 0.76 0.43 152.7 81.53012891 CU787 SVR W732 5/8 95 751 7.7 2.4 60 93.9 18.5 0.41 0.42 113.1 66.13012850 CY618 SVRZU119 5/8 84 774 9.95 -0.9 59.84 91.3 0.7 0.72 137.6 773012823 CZ387 TAYLORAW595 AXEL 7/8 83 737 8.9 1.7 61.5 89.2 22.8 0.51 0.89 134.6 72.33012864 CZ392 TAYLORAW595 AXEL PB 89 785 7.9 2.4 75.3 108 20 0.51 0.95 137.6 79.23012846 CW312 TAYLORZN599 ZINC 15/16 82 765 11.8 1.6 61.7 90.8 21.3 0.05 0.64 113.5 65.53012837 CS635 TNT TANKER U263 3/4 80 678 5.5 0.4 56.2 87 23 0.23 0.91 111.5 63.83012829 CX296 TNT TANKER U263 3/4 89 659 4.2 3.2 79 128.3 21.6 0.41 1.04 123.5 78.33012912 CU098 TNT TANKER U263 3/4 86 727 6.2 0.3 53.1 82.9 26.4 0.01 0.95 104.5 57.43012871 CX747 TNT TANKER U263 3/4 102 901 3.8 3.5 84.2 134.2 21.8 0.15 1.01 108.3 74.33012883 CR583 TNT TANKER U263 PB 92 871 5.1 2.8 73.1 113.2 22.3 -0.13 0.86 91.5 62.43012873 CX598 TNT TANKER U263 PB 96 694 6.1 2.2 53.2 87.6 29.3 0.15 1.15 124.8 63.23012914 CX741 TNT TANKER U263 PB 82 782 7.7 0.9 61.6 93.4 22.9 0.04 0.9 104.4 66.23012875 CW685 TNT TANKER U263 PB 86 841 5.8 1.9 72.5 109.4 18.6 0.04 1.04 125.5 70.73012844 CW195 TRIPLE C BRAVEHART S165 PB 92 760 5.6 1.9 68.3 102.5 24.2 0.06 0.91 105 653012859 CA415 TSN PROTEGE Z896 3/4 75 799 11.7 0.6 82.9 128.1 21.2 0.58 1.02 153.3 89.13012905 CS641 TSN PROTEGE Z896 1/2 93 804 10.4 1.2 65.3 108.9 23.6 0.51 0.68 131 75.13012833 CU020 TSN PROTEGE Z896 3/8 93 663 10.9 0.5 63.4 107.9 29.1 0.69 0.75 135.2 78.93012830 CU019 TSN PROTEGE Z896 1/2 82 860 11.6 -0.7 70.8 113.7 23.2 0.51 0.73 131.9 79.73012872 CM661 W H S LIMELIGHT 64V 1/2 87 802 11.5 0 70.9 114.6 28 0.85 0.6 162.4 88.63012910 CY401 W H S LIMELIGHT 64V 1/2 87 732 13.8 0 61.9 102.3 25.8 0.82 0.69 158.1 823012828 CY309 W/C UNITED 956Y 1/2 81 715 11.8 -0.4 70.7 119.9 22.6 0.56 0.89 146.5 81.93012907 CY602 W/C UNITED 956Y 3/4 80 830 13 -0.4 78.1 123.6 17.9 0.34 0.79 145.2 80.83012860 CY302 W/C UNITED 956Y 1/2 85 741 15 -0.6 67.6 117.2 23.6 0.64 0.61 156.5 82.13012888 CX279 W/C UNITED 956Y 3/4 79 777 12.8 -1 68.9 115.8 19 0.38 0.74 140.6 77.23012906 CX283 W/C UNITED 956Y 1/2 83 723 10.4 0.1 72.7 121.1 20.7 0.7 0.65 145 84.73012877 CW208 W/C UNITED 956Y 5/8 86 825 11.2 0.2 72.3 117.4 19.6 0.37 0.74 128.1 76.33012845 CX656 W/C UNITED 956Y 3/4 85 848 9.8 1 84.3 135.1 16.9 0.2 0.55 117 78.93012881 CU165 W/C UNITED 956Y 9/16 96 833 10.4 1.6 84.6 131.7 15 0.43 0.68 130.2 82.23012900 CY108 WOODHILL FORESIGHT 1/2 86 791 8.75 1.6 62.45 101.9 0.33 0.4 74.3 57.23012841 CY305 WOODHILL FORESIGHT 1/2 94 795 7.4 1.8 77.1 125.1 21.9 0.39 0.55 116.3 77.43012870 CY348 WS BEEF MAKER R13 PB 89 852 7.9 2.9 81.2 117.9 25.2 0.27 0.95 120.4 80.83012916 CA415T WS BEEF MAKER R13 3/4 89 814 10.2 3 84.6 122.4 23.2 0.73 0.68 143.8 88.72983194 BR608 OGR WYATT PB 87 577 10.2 2.5 59.2 85.2 0.1 0.55 101.7 59.12983196 BX270 OGR WYATT 7/8 85 653 11.1 1.5 65.1 93.8 0.32 0.65 128.4 69.22983217 BU780 OGR WYATT PB 89 694 9.3 3.3 74.8 110 0.15 0.72 110.6 68.22983233 BS020 OGR WYATT 3/4 87 688 9.2 1.9 64.2 94.6 115 66


MAGIE TRADESHOW January 21-23, 2016 • Great Falls, MT

Stop by the booth and visit - seeing you all is the best part of the weekend!

OPEN GATE RANCH 36th ANNUAL BULL SALEMarch 15, 2016 • Simms, MT

WATCH FOR VIDEOS OF THE BULLS ON OUR WEBSITE WWW.OPENGATERANCH.COM

OPEN GATE RANCH 121 8th Lane SWFairfield, MT 59436

NEW

S & EV

ENTS

PresortedFirst ClassUS Postage

PAIDSlateGroup

1601newsletter_opengate_finallores

Documents