The Angus breed has enough genetic diversity to allow breeders, and their commercial bull customers, to make progress across multiple traits simultaneously. One bloodline may be high in marbling but does not check the boxes you need for other traits. That does not mean marbling is the cause—it simply means your search for the ideal genetic pairing is not done.
A passion and an entrepreneurial spirit started CK Cattle in Alabama. The Madaris’s were chasing a fantasy but now support three households through their Angus seedstock business.
The subject of herd improvement is more nuanced than, “Buy better bulls.” Yet, that’s a pretty foundational place start. This Black Ink column explores the idea of buying better.
It’s a call to serve, the same that led John Grimes to run for the American Angus Association board of directors. The sun now setting on his second three-year term, he reflects on his leadership as Certified Angus Beef® board chairman. The head of Maplecrest Farms in Hillsboro, Ohio, says there’s no instant gratification in the cattle business, with constant change cattlemen have to be nimble.
Raising cattle had been a dream for the Idaho couple from the start of their marriage, even though neither had prior ranching experience. After years of dedication and faith in each other, the Brown family now operates a large cow-calf operation focusing on quality Angus genetics.
The Miller family has invested time, technology and the study of expected progeny differences into their cattle. The result? Quality Angus genetics that consistently come on top and premiums that end up in the hands of the farmers.
Innovation presents the option to accept or turn down, said Bill Rishel, longtime Nebraska Angus producer, at the online 52nd Annual Beef Improvement Federation Symposium. He challenged listeners to see change as an opportunity for progress.
Their success with quality Angus cattle disguises the fact that the Boyer brothers are first-generation farmers. Originally from Detriot, the brothers moved to a farm in Missouri 46 years ago with no prior knowledge of raising cattle. Today, their best pen of finished steers marked 100% Certified Angus Beef with all but one Prime.
Breeders and bull studs use the Targeting the Brand™ logo to denote bulls that excel in the marbling EPD and the Grid Dollar Value Index. The genetic requirements were recently updated: so that commercial cow-calf producers better find sires that help them hit CAB brand specifications.
More research shows marbling is not correlated to other traits, supporting its possible to have maternal function and carcass quality in one animal. Late December is showing more typical Choice grading trends.
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