Are you Ready for Houston?

Brahman breeders, in less than a month we'll be moving into Reliant for a week of fun! Are you ready to make a great impression to the International Brahman community?

Here are what we feel are the necessary items to help make a great impression and help market your product.

1. Business cards for your ranch (We can do a set for $100 turnkey)
2. A large display banner or visual element to hang in your booth that showcases your ranch name.
3. End panel signs to help easily identify your cattle.
4. Individual signs for each animal in your showstring stating name, sire, dam, and birthdate. (Average $20-$25/sign)
5. An ad in the Brahman Review. The Houston issue of The Brahman Review is the keepsake item that International Brahman breeders look for at Houston. Even if you only advertise once a year, THIS is the issue to be in. Rates start at $150 up to $500 for a full page color ad.

We need to have all Houston projects like business cards and signs booked by Friday or Monday at the very latest. Please let us know if we can help you with any of these items! You can call us at 979-532-9141 or email tricia@ranchhousedesigns.com.

Reminder for Houston Signs

Due today!

Farewell Tribute to Mr. Cliff Sowell

This evening we remember Mr. Cliff Sowell who was called to heaven yesterday, January 19th. He was a Brahman breeder from Castroville, Texas, and is remembered as a kind and gentle man who was a friend to everyone he met.  He loved Brahman cattle and more importantly, Brahman people.

His funeral arrangements are:
At the Hurley Funeral home in Devine, Texas.
303 College Ave
Devine, Texas 78016

Visitation will be from 2-8 pm Sunday. And the funeral will be at 10am on Monday.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Sowell family. May you forever remain in our hearts.

Did you see him in the Brahman Review?

Did you spot this infamous character in the Winter 2012 Brahman Review???

HA HA HA HA HA

Will he be at Houston?

HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE!

Group air travel for WBC

ABBA will organize a U.S. delegation to attend the World Brahman Congress in Panama City. We have reserved seats with Continental Airlines and are available to ABBA members on a first come first serve basis. This is will be a direct 4 hour flight departing Houston with the following flight itinerary:



Sunday, July 1, 2012

Depart 8:45 a.m. George Bush Intercontinental Airport,

Houston, TX

Arrive 12:55 p.m. Tocumen Intl. Airport, Panama City



Sunday, July 8, 2012

Depart 9:55 p.m. Tocumen Intl. Airport, Panama City

Arrive 2:15 p.m. George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston, TX



Base Fare: $ 636.36
Taxes/Surcharges 255.60
Total Per Person $ 891.60

In order to secure seats you must submit names of all travelers (as they read on Passport) along with the Date of Birth of each traveler. Tickets will be ticketed in May 2012, however, if you are planning to attend, please submit this information as soon as possible so that we may secure your seats.

If you are planning to purchase your ticket with a credit card, please provide this information at the time you confirm attendance. Note: If you have a OnePass frequent flier number with Continental please
provide this information along with any seat preferences.

ABBA will provide assistance with WBC Registration and hotel accommodations.

Hotel options are becoming more available, therefore, we will look at all options and take into consideration the rates, location and transportation availability before determining our headquarter hotel. This information will be forwarded at a later date.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me via email armelinda@brahman.org or 713-349-0854.

Thank You,
Armelinda Ibarra

New Rio Grande Valley Affiliate Formed

L - R - Mike England, Carlos X. Guerra Jr., Danny Acevedo, Sam Sparks III, Javier Moreno, Israel Davila Jr. & Sr. and Chris Shivers


RIO GRANDE VALLEY BRAHMAN & F-1 ASSOCIATION FORMED


“Several Rio Grande Valley Brahman breeders met on January 10th at La Muneca Ranch with Chris Shivers from the ABBA and formed The RGV Brahman and F-1 Association. Following our the new officers and board members : Mike England – President, Carlos X. Guerra Jr. – Vice President, Jana Acevedo – Secretary, Sam Sparks III – Treasurer with Pedee Abrigo, Israel Davila and Javier Moreno serving as Directors.” states Jana Acevedo.

“We plan to meet quarterly at different ranches in our four county area to get to know each other’s breeding programs better. We are planning to host a Showmanship Clinic and Show for all Junior Brahman exhibitors at the RGV Junior Show this March. We are also planning to create the first ever Registered Brahman Steer Show at the 2013 RGV Steer Show with steers bred and sold by RGV Brahman & F-1 Association members. We are also going to start a Junior Association and a scholarship program” states Mike England.

“We are also planning on having joint bull and steer tests, educational field days, a co-op advertising program and create ways to offer QUALITY Brahman and F-1 cattle in QUANTITY to encourage more buyers to visit the RGV. Our main goal is to promote the Brahman breed and assist our members in creating events and markets for our cattle.” states Carlos X. Guerra Jr.. For more information – please contact Mike England at 956 330 0916 or englandfarms@aol.com, Carlos X. Guerra Jr. at 956 330 1963 or cxg2000@aol.com or Jana Acevedo at JgfACE@aol.com.

The Most Influential Bulls of the Breed

I've got a new project up my sleeve, and I want your input and opinions! In this project, I'm compiling a list of the most influential bulls of the Brahman breed, past and present. Ultimately, all of the bulls will be compiled into one list...and I'm not sure the # yet, maybe Top 25, maybe Top 100 depending on the results.

So here's a topic that should get lots of opinions.....

Name the 10 red bulls that have had the biggest impact on the Brahman breed.
Name the 10 grey bulls that have had the biggest impact on the Brahman breed.

The criteria is that they have must be 7 years old or older. So they would to have been born prior to 2004 or 2005. This way, we have had time to see their progeny and even in some cases have their progeny's progeny to evaluate.

Of course everyone's going to say "MANSO" and "MILLIONAIRE". Those are already on my list. So don't use one of your 10 spots for either of those 2.

This is a work in progress, and I plan on hitting up lots of people in Fort Worth and Houston to pick their brains about this. But....if you would, email me your list. rachelv8@yahoo.com

Pick Up The Winter 2012 Issue In Ft. Worth

If you haven't gotten your Winter 2012 issue yet, be sure to pick one up at Fort Worth. This is our special F1 feature issue, where we fill pages and pages with the attributes of using Brahman genetics in crossbreeding systems and F1 programs. Lots and lots of Queens of Cow Country here!

Isn't it kind of differnet to see an F1 steer on the cover of the Brahman breed's publication? Not what you would expect from a so-called "SHOW BREED" right?? We need more of this! More pictures of the Brahman breeds REAL role in the beef industry--- that being Crossbreeding's Common Denominator and the #1 beef breed for efficiency, hybrid vigor, and environmental adaptability.

This cover steer is one that was fed out earlier this summer at Graham Feedyard. The ABBA is compiling more and more carcass data from both ultrasound and actual kill data to showcase the great improvements made by the Brahman breed in terms of feedlot efficiency and carcass merit. These F1 steers are grading, staying healthy, and making money for their owners. They withstand the hot conditions and thrive. Check out this issue for lots of info on the ABBA F1 program and watch for more in our Houston issue about the latest developments in the carcass quest. 

A good article on buying bulls

Here's a nice easy reading article that I read this morning about buying bulls that I really liked and thought I would share:

http://www.cattlenetwork.com/cattle-resources/cow-calf/BeefTalk-Like-begets-like-137210033.html

Lots of Brahman activities going on this weekend and early this next week. Hope to see everyone soon!

Houston "Meet & Greet"

Have you noticed a new item on the Houston schedule this year, called the ABBA Meet & Greet? I was looking through the schedule, aka part of my Houston Fever, and I noticed this. Then yesterday another fellow Brahman friend called and asked me just what this new event was. I really had no idea, so I called up Chris Shivers and asked about the new event. It sounds REALLY cool!

The ABBA International Committee came up with this idea as a great new way to provide a social opportunity for U.S. breeders and our international guests to meet. The Meet and Greet is going to be held in the makeup arena at the show and will be a social gathering for breeders, show guests, and everyone to get together.

So now everyone knows. Sounds like a lot of fun!