The heifer replacement program is important to the future of ranchers like David Reville and his children (l-r) , Bobby, Evelyn, Nicholas, and Jesse. It’s a great time to be in the cattle business.

Reproduction, production and to have the kind of herd that will keep us operating in the black are our top goals. To accomplish this, we need a strong health and nutrition program, and the ability to replace our aging and otherwise unhealthy females. Then, we need a marketing program that spreads the word about our animals.

In our Second Annual Wilkes County Front Pasture Replacement Heifer Sale, which will be held February 3, we offer a great selection of screened open, bred, and first-calf heifers.

All heifers are on a vaccination program recommended by the Wilkes County Cattlemen’s Association Board of Directors and Dr. Les Sales of the Wilkes County Veterinary Service. The heifers offered are 12 to 18 months in age and range 650-750 pounds in weight. According to Dr. Sales, all heifers are vaccinated for black leg, IBR, BVD, Lepto, Vibrio, Pasteurella and are treated for worms and parasites. The heifers have been palpated and confirmed to be open or safe with calf and have no obvious reproductive abnormalities. The producer of the heifers certifies that this program has been strictly followed.

This Second Annual Replacement sale not only benefits the producer and the purchasers, it is also our main fund-raiser for our support of local 4-H, and FFA livestock activities and our Scholarship Fund. Your support is greatly needed not only for the fund raiser but also for solutions for national disasters such as “mad cow disease” and natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, etc. The Wilkes County Cattlemen’s Association dues go on to the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association who lobby and help get legislation passed in our best interest as producers. Without our support in the organization, there will be new rules, regulations and legislation passed that may adversely affect our business. However, with our support and information input, our ideas and best interest can be heard.

Our information network has been good and sometimes not so good. With our first outbreak of BSE (mad cow disease) in the United States, the importance of information finally hit home. The cattle industry changes daily due to our information from programs such as Beef Quality Assurance, Master Cattlemen’s Courses, and Wilkes County Young Farmer Programs on to our own Wilkes County Cattlemen’s Association. Because of this, we are able to prepare for problems that may arise. The information we have and have access to today holds the future of our next generation of cattle producers.

Because of this information, we realize our need to replace old non-productive cattle and use better health, nutrition, and marketing programs. The second Annual Wilkes County Replacement Heifer Sale is the perfect opportunity to purchase fine replacement heifers that meet these requirements and at the same time contribute to the support of the youth in our community.

Please come join us for the Second Annual Front Pasture Commercial Replacement Heifer Sale to be held in the evening, Friday, February 3, at the Wilkes County Stockyard. Mike Jones is the auctioneer for the event. Over 100 bred heifers, open heifers, and firsttime heifers with calves at side will be presented for preview at the monthly meeting of the Wilkes Cattlemen’s Association on Thursday night, February 2, at 7:30 p.m. Terry Harris of the Georgia Department of Agriculture will be doing some hands-on grading of the heifers for the program.

The public is invited to join us for complementary hamburgers and hot dogs at the meeting on Thursday night at the Wilkes County Stockyard. If you plan to attend please call the Wilkes County Extension Office at 706-678-2332 before Wednesday, February 1, to sign up – this will help us plan. There will be a concession stand before and during the sale on Friday. Your support will be passed down from generation to generation to our most valuable resource – our children.