Bred replacement heifers brought more than most consignors expected in Show-Me-Select sales in 2015.

Average price hit $2,604 for seven sales. The fall sales brought the biggest surprise, as fed-cattle and feeder calf prices were dropping. "It was a good year," said David Patterson, MU Extension specialist.

The sales showed SMS heifer management and genetics added value. Heifers with data are worth more according to the SMS database.

For example, heifers bred by artificial insemination, or AI, bring more than bull-bred heifers. Overall, AI-bred heifers brought a $180 premium. That's up from a premium that had run near $100 until recently.

Buyers seek genetics

02161920: SHOW-ME THE MONEY: A group of Show-Me Select heifers from Circle S Chicks sells during a recent auction. SMS heifers are producing higher prices for cattle producers. Photo credit: MU Extension

Value grows as genetics stack up. Tier Two AI heifers are out of AI sires and are bred AI. In all 2015 sales, Tier Two AI heifers averaged a $298 premium over bull-bred heifers. In fall sales, the bonus jumped to an average of $417 over bull-bred heifers.

The 2015 prices ranged from $2,003 to $3,429.

The five fall sales averaged $2,388, down from $2,604 average for all sales.

The individual sale averages stayed tight. The averages overall and AI-bred were:

Joplin Regional Stockyards- $2,477; $2,604 for AI.

Kingsville Livestock Auction- $2,311: $2,385, AI.

Fruitland Livestock Sales- $2,374; $2,431, AI.

Kirksville Livestock LLC- $2,385; $2,467, AI.

Palmyra F&T Livestock Market- $2,394; $2,481 AI.

SMS eartag adds value

Only heifers wearing trademarked black-and-gold ear tags can be called Show-Me-Select. "If they are not enrolled in the MU database they are not Show-Me-Select," says Judy Burton, SMS executive secretary.

Patterson says all SMS producers are in a year-round University of Missouri educational program that includes health, pre-breeding exams and early pregnancy diagnosis. The producers receive chute-side teaching from MU Extension regional specialists.

Increasingly participants use Timed Artificial Insemination protocols. Patterson developed at MU Thompson Farm, Spickard. That is part of the MU College of Agriculture.