We all need a little bit of this

by Miranda Reiman

July 2011

Last night I called my family to tell them that I was boarding my connecting flight and, due to a cancellation and a reroute, I would be home late. My 3-year-old son said, “Nooooo….I want you to  be home right now!”

It seems he gets his patience from me because not only did I want to be home at that very moment, but I also often feel that way with work projects. I don’t want the long lag time between a cattle research project and final results. I get frustrated with how long it takes to answer a complicated question.

I think that’s something many cattlemen and women have in common with me. The amount of time it takes to make genetic changes and then see results and act on that information is agonizing. You can be heading down a rabbit trail for several years before it shows up in the quality of replacement heifers or in feedlot data.

That’s why any time you have new tools or better information to select on, it makes that wait a little less painful. Just think about that couple-year waiting period before the days of EPDs.To use a Minnesota term all I can say is, “Uff da!”

After the last couple of days of meetings with the Supply Development team, I know that I’m going to have to muster up some patience before I can tell you about the exciting projects we have on the horizon. But just like the making of a good, solid cowherd, it’ll be worth it. So stay tuned!

May your bottom line be filled with black ink,

Miranda

You may also like