Prime Time | Winter 2019

T H E N E W S O F T H E A M E R I C A N A K AU S H I A S S O C I AT I O N

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AKAUSHI

2018 Annual Convention Coverage

WINTER 2019

ime www.akaushi.com

Carrales to Lead AAA

Genetic Selection Principles

Akaushi Prime Time • Winter 2019

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www.akaushi.com • Winter 2019

P rime T ime AKAUSHI

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WINTER 2019 | VOL. 2 NO. 1

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Features

28 Securing the Legacy Award, Rancho Espuela Cattle Co.

16 Carrales Joins American Akaushi Association

Texas ranch recognized for its commitment to Akaushi genetics and dedication to beef industry.

Welcome the association's new executive director.

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18 Genetic Selection Principles

Use available tools to help with bull selection decisions.

22 The Beef with the Best Team

Members, leaders play key role in the breed's continued growth.

24 Momentous Occasion

American Akaushi Association announces inaugural Hall of Fame inductees.

26 Convention Coverage

Highlights from the 2018 American Akaushi Association Annual Convention.

ON THE COVER

In January, HeartBrand Ranch displayed King David, a heterozygous polled 15/16 purebred Akaushi bull, at the 2019 National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colo.

Photo courtesy of Alexis O'Boyle, Rockin' A Photography.

In Every Issue 6 Cattle Tales 8 DNA Matters 10 Untangling the Helix

12 Irons in the Fire 14 Beef Matters 27 New Members

American Akaushi Association

Prime Time Publisher

P.O. Box 487 | Flatonia, Texas 78941 (361) 238-7218 office | www.akaushi.com Executive Director Kaci Carrales (361) 238-7218 | kcarrales@akaushi.com

27 Ad Index 29 Calendar of Events

BluePrint Media

Creative Director | Kathie Bedolli

P.O. Box 427 | Timnath, CO 80547 info@blueprintma.com

(540) 752-6143 | kbedolli@blueprintma.com

Editor | Lisa Bard

(970) 556-9296 | lmckibben@blueprintma.com

Managing Editor | Jessie Topp-Becker

Copy Editor | Larisa Willrett Ad Design | Holly Holland & Kim Tappan Materials Coordinator | Megan Sajbel

(970) 498-9306 | lbard@blueprintma.com (701) 307-0772 | jbecker@blueprintma.com

Advertising Sales | Jessica Ebert

Administration | Leslie McKibben

(785) 477-1941 | jebert@blueprintma.com

Akaushi Prime Time

The News of the American Akaushi Association is published quarterly and distributed digitally to all interested parties. To receive Prime Time, call or email the AAA office.

Akaushi Prime Time • Winter 2019

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We are the sustainable Power of

PRIME

MORE PRIME. MORE PROFIT.

ANNUAL CONVENTION 10/10-13, 2019 Hyatt Regency Lost Pines and Spa Cedar Creek, Texas

Once you’ve had a taste, it’s hard to go back. Fortunately, you don’t have to. Just keep adding Akaushi for proven, consistent, higher-grading, sustainable quality with every new generation.

Our path to Prime is distinct and different than other beef breeds. It’s the proven right way for many breeders, feeders, packers, retailers and consumers. Now that’s real sustainability.

With its naturally occurring health benefits, Certified Akaushi Beef offers more integrity through DNA source verification from the American Akaushi Association. Breeders build herds confidently and profitably; consumers achieve healthier lifestyles.

We’re here and ready to help you achieve the sustainable Power of Prime with American Akaushi, Nature’s Healthy Beef®.

Member Since 2009 National Association of Animal Breeders (NAAB) National Pedigreed Livestock Council (NPLC)

COME SEE US IN 2019 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show: Booth #2506 Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Convention: Booth #1421

CALL TODAY Kaci Carrales | Executive Director (361) 238-7218 | www.akaushi.com

E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R ’ S M E S S AG E

Cattle Tales

Kaci Carrales | Executive Director | kcarrales@akaushi.com

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appy New Year! I hope 2019 is off to a great start!

Allow me to introduce myself – I’m Kaci Carrales, the American Akaushi Association’s (AAA) new executive director. It is such a wonderful opportunity to lead such a strong and progressive beef breed association and develop lifelong friends in the process.

I would like to personally thank our outgoing executive director Bubba Bain and office manager Janie Bain for the tremendous amount of time and effort they dedicated to establish Akaushi as a breed and promote Akaushi to the cattle industry.

Over the last nine years, they have done an excellent job getting our breed association started and headed in the right direction. I would like to acknowledge them for believing in this breed and running a successful breed association.

Before joining AAA, I worked for HeartBrand® Beef where I oversaw the company’s fullblood herd and was committed to learning about the Akaushi breed, genetics and how the cattle performed in different environments. Additionally, I learned how the cattle excel in carcass quality traits while maintaining functional production traits. I was responsible for logging all our cattle in DigitalBeef, so I am well-versed in how the program works and the value it provides to individual breeders and the association. It is my hope that you also recognize DigitalBeef’s value and continue to utilize all of its features.

I am so excited for the opportunity to continue moving this breed to its greatest potential. It will take all of us working together to make this happen. I want the association to be the best service provider to its members by providing timely and accurate DNA results and registry transAkaushi Prime Time • Winter 2019

fers, which makes everyone’s production system more efficient. We want to grow breed awareness through factual data and then use that data to create information for members to make breeding decisions. By doing this, Akaushi breeders worldwide will continue to grow; however, we must remain committed to the fundamentals that brought us integrity – DNA verification of every animal that gives our customers the ability to buy with confidence.

Seeing Akaushi on the menus of the greatest steakhouses in America, as well as other restaurants that demand better product, shows us that Akaushi is not just a niche or a fad but is a proven product that our beef consumers demand.

Since the very beginning, growing the breed has been a true team effort, and it will take each and every one of us working together to continue that momentum. The membership is who the association serves, but the association is only as strong and progressive as its members.

As a staff, we are committed to processing DNA in a timely fashion. We are also available to answer questions, support field days, attend industry events to Continued page 14

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A K AU S H I B R E E D G E N E T I C S

DNA Matters

Tim Kozelsky | DNA & Data Service Analyst | tkozelsky@akaushi.com

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twins are fraternal – not identical – with distinct DNA. The twins share blood when they share the same placenta. Microchimerism is the primary cause of freemartin heifers. Blood and hormones are shared between the bull and heifer calf, which affects the heifer calf’s reproductive system development. Microchimerism also has an impact on DNA testing if blood samples are submitted on twins. Normally, the samples

appy New Year!

2018 ended with a bang concerning DNA submissions. Since the convention, you have kept the association very busy. We have processed more than 3,400 samples during these past two months. New calf submissions in 2018 will end very comparable to 2017. We should finish with around 18,000 samples.

For those of you who are interested in how you stand with the number of samples you sent in, the average submission contained about 45 samples; 151 members sent DNA samples this year. Forty members were first-time submitters this year. The average time it takes to get results from the lab has been 25 days.

This month, I thought I would address some possible causes of verification failures. First, it is absolutely imperative that accurate records are included with DNA submissions. Yes, DNA can determine parentage, but we need to have a list of sires to work with. While we are in the transition period of switching from STRs to SNPs DNA testing, there are animals with only one type of DNA profile. If a bull does not have the same DNA testing as its offspring, there will be failures.

It is very easy to check the DNA status of your herd. You can simply log into your DigitalBeef account. Each tab under the “Herd” tab has a column that indicates what type of DNA testing each animal has.

If you need help logging in or navigating around your DigitalBeef account, please call the office at (361) 238-7218.

The next area to look at is microchimerism – a common term we have all heard I am sure! Actually, it is the scientific term for the blood sharing that takes place in a cow’s uterus between twins. Most bovine Akaushi Prime Time • Winter 2019

will fail, but there can be instances where the DNA results could be a combination.

Oddly enough, microchimerism is only an issue when blood samples are used. Tissue and hair samples are not impacted. Usually, the blood sample will fail the DNA profiling process. If you think you have twins, or if you have submitted a blood sample of a calf that is having verification troubles, sometimes a change in sample type will solve the issue.

Finally, I would like to explain the process of DNA verification. DNA is referred to as an exclusionary process. All sires and dams are potential parents until they can be excluded by DNA. To understand exclusions, we need to understand how the DNA Continued page 30 8

Going for Quality?

Go For Akaushi!

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Reg. # AF 33641

15-year-old cow on eastern Colorado range

Mellott Ranch is excited to have purchased all of the Matador Ranch cows and are offering the following genetics for sale: 6 2-year-old bulls 1 18-month-old bull 20 bull calves 75 half-blood steers Percentage females

Full-blood 5-, 6- and 7-year-old red cows that are out of the following sires: Big Al Tamamaru Joe KC Shigemaru Hikari HO518E Others

MELLOTT RANCH FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

Mike and Phyllis Mellott • Hugo, Colorado 80821 • 719-740-0403 • phmellott@esrta.com 9

www.akaushi.com • Winter 2019

I N D U S T R Y T E C H N O LO GY

Untangling the Helix Elisa Marques, Ph.D., MBA | Founder, AgFRONT | emarques@agfront.com

How to Develop Agrigenomics Products and Get the Best Prices

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or more than 10 years, we have heard of countless agrigenomics products hitting the market, including Angus 384 (retired), Clarifide®, GeneMax® and Igenity® Silver or Gold. We have also heard of the i50k, GGP-LD, GGPHD, 150k and others. All of those products were created by genomics companies using knowledge gained from the very first chip – the Illumina Bov50k.

Over the years, those companies poured their own research and development money into acquiring samples from the top industry bulls, as well as on genotyping and analyzing the data to create a specific product that filled a gap somewhere in the seedstock or commercial sectors.

But we are now seeing a shift. We are now entering an era where breed associations are creating their own products. For years, breed associations have encouraged their members to collect phenotypic data and now, with their increased genotypes database as well as from their members’ routine genomics, the database keeps growing.

Naturally, the question becomes, what do we do with all of this data? The answer: let’s create our own genomics product, and we will give it our own name. This is a trend that will continue as long as those investing in genotypes also continue to invest in data collection.

Product development will never go away because the need for products will never go away. For as long as we have problems, the products that promise solutions will continue to be in demand. In the beginning, we had little knowledge of what was important, so we threw everything on a Akaushi Prime Time • Winter 2019

chip. Over time, technology has improved (and become more cost-effective), so we’ve selected more animals to genotype. We made some more predictions and those predictions made better products.

We are now weeding out the old markers and making room for new real estate.

That’s the process of creating new genomics products. As more animals are genotyped and selection decisions are made using those products, there is a need to aggressively replace the markers that become fixed (no variation) in a population.

We use that product until it comes time to add new markers for existing and additional traits. Those are the same traits that took years of data collection efforts – feed efficiency, fertility, basically any trait that affects the producer’s bottom line. That’s how you create genomics products.

This new shift is also the result of the new methodologies used for incorporating DNA information into genetic evaluation.

The new methodology renders breed associations more independent and no longer bound by having to receive molecular breeding values (MBVs) from genomics companies.

The consequence? You run your own evaluation with your own product and your own markers. There is another lesson here. When you create your own product, you also have leverage on a very important item – price.

Purchasing power works. You look at your database, make estimates for what you need to genotype in the future and bring that number into the discussion. Here is a little exercise for anyone in the industry buying genomics tests. Look at your numbers for the past five years and make Continued page 17 10

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www.akaushi.com • Winter 2019

REFLECTIONS AND RECOLLECTIONS

Irons in the Fire Paul Marchant | Rancher/Columnist | idahomarchant@gmail.com

Horse Poor and Spare Parts

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ay back, two or three decades ago, I spent the summer between semesters at college working on a ranch for a couple with five kids. I remember the parents lamenting to me one day about their lack of good horses and how tough it was to keep all five kids adequately mounted. I secretly scoffed at the notion and told my new wife that I found it ridiculous that they found it necessary to keep and service a remuda big enough to service a Custer-era platoon, just so their 5-year-old could spend an hour or two atop a horse every once in a while when they moved cows.

It was only about 15 years later that my wife reminded me of that conversation as we scrambled to keep enough half-decent horses around the place so each one of my own five kids could be well-enough mounted to help push the cows on the mountain or pose for the annual Christmas card picture. We’ve been horse poor for as long as we’ve been parents. We either have too many poor horses or too few good ones.

A couple weeks ago, I ran into a friend of mine. I’d bought a nice little gelding from him three years ago. A year ago, the horse somehow ripped the hide off his right hind leg, just below the hock. After months of attentive doctoring and TLC, all I have to show for it is a past due account with the vet and a three-legged horse. I knew quite a while ago it was a lost cause. The leg is never going to heal.

My horse trader friend asked me if I’d “taken care” of the crippled pony, yet. I of course answered in the negative. I told him I hadn’t mustered up the heart or stomach to do what needed to be done. He then gave me some sage advice, or simply a Akaushi Prime Time • Winter 2019

funny little cowboy witticism, depending on my ultimate reaction to the statement.

“You know, you can’t keep him for spare parts,” he deadpanned.

As much as I know he’s right, it doesn’t make life’s hard choices any easier. There isn’t much joy that accompanies the task of getting rid of an old or crippled horse, or putting down your old dog. I’m not particularly fond of sorting off the open cows into the cull pen or sending my kids off to college or kindergarten.

There’s often something blatantly incongruous with doing the right thing. That’s the bitter truth and a bitter pill to swallow.

Why is the right choice so often the hard choice? Why is it that so often the payoff and reward for making the right decision is so far down the road? Wouldn’t an immediate payout be nice once in a while?

Wouldn’t it have been cool to get an adrenaline rush and a pile of cash when you had to ground your son from the dance after the Friday night football game because you caught him skipping class and neglecting his chores?

Instead of the sound of coins clanging from the slot machine, the only change you got was a hateful glare and a slamming door. In the moment, it’s pretty tough to come to terms with the hope, more than the fact, that this is a long-term investment.

When, and if, payment on life’s momentarily crappy investment decisions comes, you may not even realize it.

But doing the right thing and making the hard choice will pay for itself, even if you aren’t necessarily the one who cashes the check. I’m guessing, though, that when the daughter who argued with everything you ever said during her entire high school career gets a perfect score on her master’s thesis, and that former, compost-for-brains Continued page 17 12

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JMKCATTLE.COM INFO@JMKCATTLE.COM www.akaushi.com • Winter 2019

A K AU S H I B E E F

Beef Matters

Brooke Young | Marketing and Customer Relations, HeartBrand® Beef Inc. | brooke@akaushi.com

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s we say goodbye to 2018, we can’t help but be ecstatic for the New Year to come and all of the great things the beef industry will accomplish. By far, this past year has been the largest for HeartBrand® (HB) Beef.

During the holiday season, we see a dramatic increase in demand for Certified Akaushi Beef products. We are honored to work with Caviness Beef Packers as they do a phenomenal job of harvesting our cattle each week. Teaming up with Caviness has allowed us to deliver Akaushi beef all across the United States. The demand for Akaushi beef has risen greatly over the past year, and we anticipate 2019 will draw even more customers.

We couldn’t have asked for a better time to find One World Beef and add them as another HeartBrand Beef harvesting facility. This facility’s advanced technology allows us to really analyze Certified Akaushi Beef. The data that the camera grading system collects enables us to redefine consistency, which ensures we produce the highest quality beef.

This past summer, we shipped our first container of beef to China. The customer purchased the product as full set, which includes HeartBrand and HB Reserve products. They were very impressed with the HeartBrand Reserve-graded items and believe this category is the answer to expanding Certified Akaushi Beef to China. We look forward to crossing new borders in 2019.

Our main focus this year is more cattle and more beef. Consumers are requesting more of this mouth-watering beef each and every day. HeartBrand’s plan of attack consists of spreading the word about the Akaushi breed and educating consumers about the added health benefits of Akaushi beef. Since producers have the option to utilize our cattle buyback program, we believe HeartBrand will be on track to supply hungry beef eaters.

We could not have gone through this prosperous year without the continuous support of our customers and harvesting facilities. HeartBrand Beef is excited to see what the New Year has to offer our team.

With new doors opening for the cattle and beef industry, we strongly believe that Akaushi is about to take off to a new level.

Do you have your seat? PT

CATTLE TALES Continued from page 6

They want to know why you started raising Akaushi and the benefits you’ve experienced as a result. Whether you raise five head or 200 head, your story matters.

Who can you talk to about adding Akaushi genetics to their herds? Do you know someone who enjoys a good steak but hasn’t tasted the Akaushi difference?

Family, friends, neighbors, co-workers – the list is endless.

This year let’s work together to tell the Akaushi story because, together, we are Akaushi! PT

promote the breed, and the list goes on.

This year we also have exciting plans to enhance our promotion efforts, including launching a new ad campaign and boosting our social media presence. We’re excited to continue telling the Akaushi story!

I enjoy visiting with breeders about the advantages of adding Akaushi to their herd, but at the end of the day, they want to hear from you, an Akaushi breeder.

Akaushi Prime Time • Winter 2019

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1/4 Vertical, 4 color 1/4 Vertical, 4 color Prime Time Prime Time Comanche Cattle Company Brown Land & Cattle, LLC Fall 2018 Winter 2019

BROWN LAND & CATTLE, LLC

Comanche

Cattle Company

j

S ince

1924

J

J

Yearling Akaushi F1 Heifers for Sale

Proven Akaushi Genetics

at the ranch in Beeville, Texas

Beautiful heifers out of good Red Angus and Hereford cows.

The top end of these heifers have been hand-picked for you as replacements. Call us and come by the ranch.

Take a look at the pictures on our website: www.brownranchgroup.com

Selling registered,

fullblood Akaushi cattle through private treaty.

FULLBLOOD BULLS FOR SALE

For more information contact:

Joe Beltz

Brown Land & Cattle, LLC

Canyon, Texas 806-683-7329 cowhand@me.com www.comanchecattleco.com

2050 Brown Ranch Lane ∙ Beeville, TX 78102

Austin Brown III 361-597-0373 aebrown70@gmail.com

www.brownranchgroup.com 15

www.akaushi.com • Winter 2019

Carrales Joins American Akaushi Association

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he American Akaushi Association recently announced Kaci Carrales as the organization’s new executive director. Carrales brings a wealth of knowledge about the Akaushi breed and almost a decade of experience working at HeartBrand® Beef, where she oversaw the company's fullblood herd.

“Kaci is well versed in the merit of the breed, as well as the cattle industry and the details that are important to the maintenance and promotion of a breed association,” says Jordan Beeman, HeartBrand president. “Being involved with HeartBrand, she grew many relationships with American Akaushi Association members and was the obvious candidate for this position.”

“I am so excited for this opportunity,” Carrales says. “The association has a duty to provide great service and leadership to its members. We strive to expand our mar-

"Kaci is well versed in the merit of the breed, as well as the cattle industry and the details that are important to the maintenance and promotion of a breed association."

-Jordan Beeman ket by providing consistency, and the best tasting, most healthful beef in the world."

"Publicizing Akaushi's advantage through facts and research will broaden our genetic influence around the world.

Breeders that participate in Akaushi programs receive the highest market premiums in the industry," she adds.

Originally from Tilden, Texas, Carrales did not grow up in agriculture.

She helped her family run a successful hunting business. Her grandparents had a small herd of cattle, and that’s where Carrales’ passion for cattle started. She showed cattle and hogs as a youth.

Carrales attended Blinn College, where she was a member of the livestock judging team. She then pursued a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and was a member of the undefeated 2006 National Champion Livestock Judging team. Carrales graduated in 2007 with an animal science degree.

She is married to JoJo Carrales, HeartBrand Beef vice president of cattle. They have two children: Adalyn, 6, and Joseph, 3. PT

Representing the breed at industry events is something Carrales (far right) looks forward to. In January, she attended the National Western Stock Show. Pictured here in the AAA booth, left to right, are: Kristy Wilson, Chickadee Cattle Co., Joe Beltz, Broken Winds Cattle Co., and Bubba and Janie Bain.

Akaushi Prime Time • Winter 2019

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Akaushi cattle than those collecting the data on them.

The message is clear. If you want to be at the forefront of the industry: 1. Continue to develop ways to encourage and incentivize the collection of phenotypic data.

2. Invest in internal processes that allow for the uptake of new technologies and offerings.

3. Look ahead to create your own product (for your membership and their customers) and promote your own brand.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on Ag FRONT’s blog, www.agfront.com. PT

UNTANGLING THE HELIX Continued from page 10

predictions on what you will genotype in the next 18-24 months. When you go to a meeting with large numbers and the will to go somewhere else, you can negotiate.

If you are a seedstock producer, you can look at your numbers and let your breed association know what you are planning to genotype. Have you genotyped all of your bulls? Have you genotyped all of your cows? Are you planning to genotype your entire calf crop?

If you are in that position, make sure to leverage it. No one knows more about

1/2 page horizontal, 4C Prime Time Brown Land & Cattle, LLC Winter 2019

IRONS IN THE FIRE Continued from page 12

son calls you in the middle of the night to tell you you’re a grandparent, or when his equally knot-headed brother walks off the plane returning from basic training and

gives his mother a hug, you’ll realize your account just may take you a little farther down the road than you ever thought it would.

I think you actually can keep some spare parts. And, I think they just may be worth more than the original horse. PT

BROWN LAND & CATTLE, LLC j

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1924

J

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Producers of Red Angus and Hereford x Akaushi F1’s We have a great herd of Red Angus and Hereford cows that we breed to Akaushi bulls to produce superb quality F1 Akaushi heifers. The Red Angus F1’s are solid red and mostly polled. The Hereford F1’s are red white-faced cattle and all have been de-horned.

These cattle are a cowman’s kind and will be productive for many years. They're moderately framed with great maternal characteristics and mothering/milking ability! They will produce tremendous “A4-eligible” ¾-blood females and feeder steers with yield and quality grades to compete with the top F1 Akaushi genetics in the breed.

Call us and stop by the ranch anytime!

Brown Land & Cattle, LLC 2050 Brown Ranch Lane ∙ Beeville, TX 78102

www.brownranchgroup.com

Austin Brown III 361-597-0373 aebrown70@gmail.com

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Austin Brown II 361-597-0377 firebrand1924@gmail.com

www.akaushi.com • Winter 2019

Genetic Selection Principles

BY MATT SPANGLER, PH.D., PROFESSOR AND BEEF GENETICS EXTENSION SPECIALIST, UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN

S

ire selection does not need to be overwhelming or complex. The key is to understand the various sources of data (information) available to make sire selection decisions and to clearly identify breeding goals.

sirable alleles from both parents, result2018 CONVENTION ing in a favorably large Mendelian sampling effect or the exact opposite, which could result in an unfavorably large sampling effect. Perhaps the best example is a set of flush mates. Although all of them have the same pedigree estimate EPD, they differ considerably in terms of performance. Consequently, their EPDs, once they have a record, differ due to Mendelian sampling. Relatively recent advances in the use of genomic tools allow more accurate estimates of the relationships between animals, thus capturing part of the Mendelian sampling variation. This is why the inclusion of genomic information into EPDs increases EPD accuracy, particularly for young animals.

Basics of Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs)

Too often seedstock producers and bull buyers get caught up in the actual weights, ultrasound data, etc., when selecting sires.

EPDs provide a measure by which animals within a breed can be compared to one another for their genetic potential as parents for specific traits. EPDs incorporate multiple sources of information, including full pedigree, an animal’s own record and progeny information. As additional sources of information become available, the accuracy of the EPD value increases.

Why do “good” sires sometimes have “bad” calves? Why do full siblings sometimes look and perform very differently?

One potential reason is the phenomena of Mendelian sampling. Mendelian sampling arises because each parent passes a sample with half of its alleles to its offspring, and every allele has an equal likelihood of being passed on. This effect can be quantified using contemporary group deviations and is a measure of how much better or worse an animal is compared to the average of his parents.

One could envision a scenario in which an animal could receive only the most de-

EPDs Compared to Raw Data and Ratios

Many producers mistakenly place more emphasis on raw measurements than EPDs. Raw measurements include the confounded effects of genetics and environment, making it difficult to know an animal’s true genetic ability. Below is a very simplistic equation describing an animal’s phenotype.

P=G+E Where P is the phenotype, G is the genetic effect and E is the environmental effect.

The phenotype is what is seen or measured, such as actual weights or carcass measurement. Both genetics and the environment influence these values, and because we are interested in identifying animals based on their potential as parents, the environment should not be included in the tool used to select animals. Furthermore, actual phenotypes (e.g., weights, 

This effect can be quantified using contemporary group deviations and is a measure of how much better or worse an animal is compared to the average of his parents.

Akaushi Prime Time • Winter 2019

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ultrasound data, etc.) are not comparable from animal to animal since they have not been adjusted nor do they provide any clue as to how much better or worse an animal is compared to others.

A contemporary group ratio does allow for comparison of animals and provides an idea of how much better or worse a particular animal’s adjusted record is compared to others within the same contemporary group. The problem is that a ratio is not useful in comparing animals across herds or outside of the defined contemporary group.

The genetic and environmental components of phenotype can be further divided into additive (A), dominance (D) and epistatic (I) genetic effects and both permanent (P) and temporary (T) environmental effects.

P = GA + GD + GI + EP + ET

spring (e.g., a young dam develops mastitis and loses function in one quarter, resulting in reduced weaning weights of subsequent offspring). Contemporary groups account for some of the temporary environmental effects. In genetic evaluations we are able to predict the additive genetic component – the part related to EPDs. The heritability (h2), which is simply the fraction of the variance in phenotype (02P) that is explained or caused by variation in additive genetic values (02A). h2 = 02A/02P

Economically Relevant Traits

Fundamentally, these are traits that are directly associated with a source of revenue or expense. Not all traits are economically relevant traits (ERT), but may be an indicator trait that is genetically correlated to an ERT, but is not an ERT itself.

Classic examples of indicator traits include ultrasonic carcass measurements,

Generally speaking, we only become concerned with permanent environmental effects when we think about the environmental influence a dam has on her off-

B

Continued page 20

BOLZ RANCH B AKAUSHI CATTLE

We will be selling full-blood embryos, full-blood bulls, non-registered bred cows, half-blood bred heifers and cows to calve in March.

RAISED ON GRASS AND FINISHED ON OUR GRAIN RETAIL MEAT FOR SALE

SEMEN FOR SELL $20 PER STRAW EXTREMELY DOCILE CALVING EASE SHIGEMARU’S SON

TIMOTHY BOLZ | BOLZ RANCH 4990 SW

21ST,

TOPEKA, KS 66604 | 785-231-7339 | DOCBOLZ@GMAIL.COM | AKAUSHIKANSAS.COM

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www.akaushi.com • Winter 2019

GENETIC SELECTION PRINCIPLES Continued from page 19

birth weight and scrotal circumference. Ultrasonic carcass measurements are a non-destructive measure of traits, such as intramuscular fat percentage (IMF).

Producers do not receive premiums for IMF levels; rather premiums (and dis-

counts) are applied to Quality Grades.

Birth weight is another great example of an indicator trait. Many commercial bull buyers select to decrease birth weight in an attempt to reduce the prevalence of dystocia.

However, birth weight does not have a direct revenue

Junior Page Prime Time San Jancito Winter 2019

SAN JACINTO RANCH LLC Huntsville, Texas

We have eight ¾ blood Akaushi heifers that were crossed with Red Angus dams. They are 8-10 months old and would be perfect for someone looking to start an Akaushi program.

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source or cost associated with it. The trait that does have a cost associated with it is calving ease (or difficulty). Although the two are related, the genetic correlation between calving ease and birth weight is only between -0.6 and -0.8, suggesting that birth weight only explains 36-64 percent of the genetic differences between animals for calving difficulty.

Bio-economic Index Values

An economic index is a collection of EPDs weighted by their economic value such that traits with greater impacts on profitability have a larger economic weight associated with them. The basic equation of an economic index is: I = EPD1 x a1 + EPD2 x a2 + EPD3 x a3 +… + EPDn x an Where I is the index value; EPDn is the EPD for trait n; and an is the economic weight associated with trait n. This basic form was first published in the early 1940s. Note that other species (e.g., swine, poultry) use indexes exclusively to select parent animals. These tools have been available to the U.S. beef industry for close to a decade but have yet to reach the level of adoption that they should.

How are the economic weights derived? Using historical averages of input costs and the value of sale weight and carcass premiums (and discounts), we use a simulated cow herd to ask the question “if all else is held constant, and 

we change one of the traits by one unit, how does this change our profitability?”

These values become the foundation for the weightings of the EPDs in the index. The weightings are then modified based on the genetic relationship between the ERT and the indicator trait for which we have an EPD. The majority of economic index values are rigid (i.e., not catered to individual enterprises) but have been shown to be very reliable tools and robust across production and market environments. A more desirable method would use individualized index values where the bull with the highest index value may differ from one herd to the next, depending on how the animal fits the specific needs of each enterprise. This requires commercial bull buyers to have the requisite information needed to inform such an index.

Although decision support software to enable user-defined indices has been attempted in the past (e.g., DECI) the amount of information needed to parameterize the model was too cumbersome for most commercial producers. A more comprehensive approach that contemplates across-breed sire selection, heterosis, and user-defined costs and returns, is the objective of a current U.S. Department of Agriculturefunded project, including team members from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the U.S. Meat Animal

Research Center, Kansas State University and Theta Solutions, LLC.

Summary

When making selection decisions based on economic indices, it’s important to consider your particular breeding objective and the traits that will achieve desired production goals.

Commercial producers have a lot on their plates simply running their ranches. Do not let bull selection become too time-consuming. Use the tools that science has proven, rely on experts in the field of genetics, and focus your time and energy on the tasks that you excel at. PT

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www.akaushi.com • Winter 2019

The Beef with the Best Team

BY HANNAH JOHLMAN, FREELANCE WRITER

T

he American Akaushi Association “It gives the buyer confidence that when (AAA) has come a long way since its [they] buy an animal, it has been verified inception in 2010. through the American Akaushi Associa“Twelve years ago, nobody knew what tion,” Beeman says. “It’s really important, Akaushi was,” says Ronald Beeman, Heart- buying with confidence.”

Brand® Beef chairman. “We’re reAccording to Beeman, the ally fortunate that as we grow our Caviness family of Caviness Beef 2018 CONVENTION business, the demand for Akaushi Packers has been instrumental beef grows. Once people get it, in HeartBrand’s growth over the they love it and want more of it.” past nine years of their partnerThanks to such a close partnership. ship with AAA, Beeman explains, Looking ahead, Beeman says HeartBrand Beef has grown the Certified the international market for Akaushi beef Akaushi Beef program more than 25 peris continuing to grow as HeartBrand excent each year for the last 10 years. ports beef to Taiwan, China and other The purpose of Certified Akaushi Beef countries. was to identify and market Akaushi genetics “Our goal is to continue to grow our busithrough DNA verification, rather than using ness around 20 percent every year,” he says. phenotype to assess animals for harvest.

At only one-third of the way through the “We want to take it a step further – and current fiscal year, Beeman says Heartnot just by hide color. We want to genetiBrand is already in excess of that growth. cally verify 50-percent-or-greater Akaushi The association grows as HeartBrand calves going into our program,” he says. grows, with more than 10,000 registered “We are the new [Certified Angus Beef®].” fullblood animals to date. Beeman recalls DNA verification is important to let custhat back in 2010, the AAA had one memtomers know exactly what they are getting ber – HeartBrand Beef – and today there when they purchase Akaushi beef, whether are more than 600 members. it is half-blood or fullblood Akaushi, which “We have a very active membership,” is DNA-certified back to the original cattle he says. “We have people who join both from Japan. ways; people who hear about the cattle 

Ronald Beeman addresses the 2018 Annual Meeting of the American Akaushi Association.

Janie and Bubba Bain have served the Akaushi Association since its inception in 2010.

Akaushi Prime Time • Winter 2019

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and join for the cattle and the cattle performance, and we have had a lot of people who have eaten the meat at restaurants or bought it at a grocery store and taken it home. It’s the best beef they’ve ever had so they look it up and then they wind up buying cattle.”

If trends continue, Beeman expects AAA membership will likely double within the next five years as the breed becomes more popular and more people discover the beef’s quality and consistency, as well as the cattle’s superior performance.

“We see a very bright future for the breed and the association,” Beeman says.

During the AAA Annual Convention in October, Beeman introduced the association’s new executive director, Kaci Carrales. She has taken over for Bubba and Janie Bain, who recently retired.

Carrales has worked for HeartBrand since 2010, and Beeman says she knows the genetics and breed as well as anybody. That, combined with her passion for the beef industry and background in ranching, makes her a big asset for the breed, although she does have some big shoes to fill in the office.

Beeman met Bubba and Janie Bain shortly after acquiring HeartBrand Beef.

At the time, Beeman knew that in order to create a successful marketing program, they would have to create a breed association to become the official registry of Akaushi cattle.

“As Bubba would say, ‘they drank the water,’” Beeman says. “Once they saw the Akaushi and everything they could do to change the cattle industry, Bubba and Janie signed on to head up the association.”

For the past eight years, Bubba has served as the executive director and Janie

has worked in the office with him to help record animals, and build and promote the Akaushi breed.

“It took someone of their caliber and strength and [with] knowledge of cattle to be able to build and create this association from Continued page 30

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www.akaushi.com • Winter 2019

Momentous Occasion 2018 CONVENTION

American Akaushi Association Announces Inaugural Hall of Fame Inductees

BY JESSIE TOPP-BECKER, MANAGING EDITOR

I

n 2018, the American Akaushi Association (AAA) established the Hall of Fame to recognize and honor visionary men and women who have made outstanding contributions to the AAA and Akaushi breed. During the 2018 Annual Convention, the organization recognized five outstanding individuals for their positive impact on the association and breed. The first-ever inductees to the American Akaushi Association Hall of Fame are Ronald Beeman, Bill Fielding, Lanny Binger, Elgin Breeding Service and Ernie Gill.

Ronald Beeman

Ronald Beeman, HeartBrand® Beef chairman, has actively built branded meat programs across the United States for nearly 40 years. In 1998, he acquired Eddy Packing, which was primarily a carcass kill facility, where he served as president until 2011. Ronald evolved the company into a leading branded meat business and successfully grew the company’s sales and profit margins.

In 2006, he purchased HeartBrand Ranch along with the Akaushi cattle, and the rest is history. Under Ronald’s watchful eye, the cattle continue to perform, the association continues to grow and the Certified Akaushi Beef program continues to expand to larger markets.

Ronald’s leadership and tenacity have had a profound impact on the association and breed.

Bill Fielding

With more than 30 years of experience in the meat industry, Bill Fielding, HeartBrand Beef CEO, brings his extensive expertise to the association. A 2012 Meat Industry Hall of Fame inductee, Bill has worked with nearly every leading red meat company. His past positions include president of Cargill’s meat division, president of ConAgra’s beef and pork division, Farmland Foods president, Meyer Natural Beef president, Creekstone Farms president and American Meat Institute president. 

Inductees into the American Akaushi Association Hall of Fame are honored at the AAA Annual Meeting. Pictured, left to right, are: Ernie Gill; Brenda Cardwell, Dillon Kvamme and son Caleb Kvamme and Brad Cardwell from Elgin Breeding Service; AAA Executive Assistant Janie Bain; Ronald Beeman; Larry Binger and Bill Fielding.

Akaushi Prime Time • Winter 2019

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Bill’s industry knowledge and numerous connections have helped him expand HeartBrand’s presence and sales.

Lanny Binger

Lanny Binger, Bovina Feeders co-owner, is a 60-year veteran of the beef business. He started his career at Armour and Co., where he worked for 10 years before spending 30 years with Excel. It was during his time at Excel that he met Bill Fielding, HeartBrand Beef CEO. In 2003, Lanny became co-owner of Bovina Feeders, Bovina, Texas.

Lanny is well known in the beef industry, and has been a long-time proponent of selling cattle on the grid and getting results to producers. He has dedicated his career to producing a more consistent, high-quality product.

EBS collected semen from the first Akaushi bull and continues to collect Akaushi bulls for domestic and international members. AAA is proud to have worked with this family business for more than 20 years.

Ernie Gill

From its inception, Ernie Gill has played 1/2 page horizontal a pivotal role in the promotion and marketing of the American Akaushi AssociaPrime Time tion. Designing ads, managing social media, taking photos, writing press releases, Cattle Stats recording testimonials, helping with Akaushi field days – he does it all.

Fall 2018 Ernie has made significant contributions

Elgin Breeding Service

W.H. “Doc” Cardwell, DVM, founded Elgin Breeding Service (EBS), Elgin, Texas, in 1954. For more than 60 years, EBS has served cattlemen around the world through its custom semen collection.

to the growth and success of the AAA and Akaushi breed through his beautiful photographs, and knowledge and expertise in promotion and advertising.

AAA and its members offer Ronald, Bill, Lanny, Elgin Breeding Service and Ernie heartfelt congratulations for this welldeserved honor. The association is grateful for their many years of service to AAA and the Akaushi breed. PT

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Convention Coverage 2018 CONVENTION

Left: The Bain family all came to the annual convention to honor Bubba and Janie. Pictured, left to right, are: Justin, Julie, Janie, Bubba, Brandon, Marley, Logan, Eldora, Bridger and Griffin.

The S’mores the Merrier event at the annual convention was a hit with guests of all ages.

The tradeshow welcome reception included a sundae bar and great eats, as well as numerous trade show booths.

Possibly the cutest kid at the convention hams It up a bit.

Paul Marchant shares stories of humor and life in the cattle business with those at the annual banquet.

The American Akaushi Association honored TacoDeli with a Prime + plaque at convention.

Pictured, left to right, are: JK Ha; Eric Wilkerson, TacoDeli representative; Jordan Beeman; and John Gallimore, TacoDeli representative.

John Genho, director of technical services for Neogen AgriGenomics, shares information relating to genetic evaluation and selection of beef cattle.

Akaushi Prime Time • Winter 2019

Colin Woodall, senior vice president of government affairs for National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, gives an update to the AAA convention attendees. His presentation included an overview of good news from the past year, as well as things to look out for in the coming two years from a national and international industry perspective.

26

Convention Coverage Upper Left: AAA Executive Assistant Janie Bain discusses the AAA DigitalBeef program with convention attendees.

Upper Right: Steve Smith, Ph.D., talks about research done at Texas A&M University in regard to meat science.

Bottom: Ernie Gill (left) and Bubba Bain (right) take bids during the live "fun" auction at annual convention while Julie and Marley Bain hold up the hand-made quilt being auctioned off.

NEW MEMBERS Fossil Creek Ranch, Todd Rothweiler, San Miguel, Calif.

Dime Box Acres, Kayron Dube, Dime Box, Texas Marley & Whitney, Mark and Taylor Marley, Roswell, N.M. Ryan and Todd Lickley, Jerome, Idaho Verlinde Farms, Ryan Verlinde, Tracy, Minn.

Barrett Ranch, Cody Barrett Madrid, Sterling City, Texas Blue Star Farm, LLC, Kevin C. Ford, White Hall, Md. Goodsell Land and Cattle, Joshua Goodsell, Maramec, Okla.

Heartland Wagyu, Ryan Schwartz and Wendy Gursey, Beatrice, Neb. Horse Canyon Ranch, Jed, DeAnn and Jordyn Doetker, Wauneta, Neb. Idaho Wagyu Genetics, Garth and Robin Monroe, Soda Springs, Idaho Jackson Farms, Michael W. Jackson, San Augustine, Texas JMB Farms, John Busch, Baytown, Texas Kickin K Ranch, Danielle and Steve Koehler, Seguin, Texas Lazy A Ranch, Margot Heard, Bellville, Texas Mudflat Ranch LLC, Mark and Andrew Miller, Odem, Texas Sherman Charolais/Akaushi, Perry and Cheryl Sherman, Vichy, Mo. Triple R Ranch, Ken Rice, Mineral Wells, Texas Wagyu World Lda., Hugo Patricio, Portugal Zavala Mustang Ranch, LTD, Elizabeth and Charles James, Crystal City, Texas Meng Ranch, John Meng, Pretty Prairie, Kan. Andrew Novak, Humansville, Mo. Hailey’s Domenica Farms, Robin R. Barry, Arcadia, Okla.

J-H Cattle, Roger Hines, Asbury, Mo. AzTx Cattle Co., John Josserand, Hereford, Texas

AD INDEX American Akaushi Association............................................ 5 Bolz Ranch LP................................................................... 19 Bovina Feeders Inc............................................................. 3 Broken Winds Cattte Company........................................ 31 Brown Land & Cattle LLC............................................ 15, 17 Cattle Stats LLC................................................................ 25 Comanche Cattle Company............................................. 15 Dove Creek Wagyu Cattle Co........................................... 32 Elgin Breeding Service Inc.................................................. 7 FPL Food LLC................................................................... 29 HeartBrand Cattle Inc........................................................ 33 JMK Cattle......................................................................... 13 Jody Starr Outfitting.......................................................... 21 Landair Inc......................................................................... 31 Legendary Akaushi Genetics LLC....................................... 2 Mellott Ranch...................................................................... 9 Mix 30................................................................................ 15 Neogen GeneSeek............................................................ 11 San Jacinto Ranch............................................................ 20 Slator Ranch...................................................................... 23 Ztags/Temple Tag.............................................................. 34 27

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Securing the Legacy Award W

Rancho Espuela Cattle Co.

T

he American Akaushi Association (AAA) established the Securing the Legacy award to recognize individuals who have demonstrated outstanding commitment and dedication to the Akaushi breed. During the 2018 Annual Convention, the organization recognized Rancho Espuela Cattle Company, Fort Davis, Texas, for its commitment to the preservation of Akaushi genetics and dedication to improving the beef industry.

Jim Dyer and his wife, Kelie, started ranching in the 1960s, but, coming from a long line of cattlemen, Jim was already well acquainted with the cattle industry.

His grandfather was a trail boss on the Chisholm Trail, and his parents ranched in Baird, Texas, where Jim was raised.

The Dyer family raised Hereford cattle until the late 1960s, when they transitioned their operation to Limousin cattle for their lean meat and high Yield Grade ability.

Despite the family’s long history of raising quality Limousin cattle, Jim set out to cross the high-yielding breed to improve overall marbling in his beef.

His daughter, Amanda, first suggested Akaushi after seeing the breed at a feedlot during her time in the Texas Christian Uni-

versity Ranch Manage2018 CONVENTION ment Program in 2008.

However, at the time, they couldn’t access Akaushi genetics.

In 2010, the family visited the AAA booth while attending the Cattle Industry and Convention and NCBA Trade Show, and they quickly became excited about the breed and the health benefits of Akaushi beef. Beyond that, they were interested in Akaushi for the breed’s calving ease and Quality Grade potential.

Since the Dyers had raised Limousin cattle for Laura’s Lean™ beef, Jim knew there was a strong consumer demand for more healthful beef, so he added Akaushi genetics to his herd. He began breeding up his original Limousin cattle, using halfblood heifer calves as replacements in his herd.

Jim was excited about the potential of crossing a high Yield Grade animal with a high Quality Grade animal. The results were not disappointing. Their first percentage steers harvested 21 percent Prime and 75 percent Choice, without sacrificing feed efficiency.

In addition to building his Akaushi cowherd, Jim also produced the first polled 15/16 Akaushi bull, El Padrino, in the United States, and now raises the bulls used to breed his nearly 1,000 Limousin and Akaushi-cross commercial cows.

Rancho Espuela Cattle Co. and the Dyer family – thank you for your dedication to the Akaushi breed. We are forever grateful for The American Akaushi Association honored Rancho Espuela as the recipient of the “Securing the Legacy” award at convention. Pictured, left to right, are: Ronald Beeman, Kelie, your commitment and Jim and Amanda Dyer, Amber McMullan and daughter Davan McMullan and Janie Bain. contributions. PT Akaushi Prime Time • Winter 2019

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS JAN. 30-FEB. 1

Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show, New Orleans, La., Booth #2506

FEB. 15

MAY 6-8

National Pedigreed Livestock Council Annual Meeting, San Marcos, Texas

JUNE 18-21

Beef Improvement Federation Annual Meeting and Research Symposium, Brookings, S.D.

Spring Whole Herd Reporting Mail-In Inventory Adjustments due

FEB. 26-MARCH 2

JULY 19-20

FEB. 28

AUG. 5-7

MARCH 1

OCT. 10-13

Houston Livestock Show, Houston, Texas, Booth #AG5 Spring Whole Herd Reporting Online Inventory Adjustment finalized Spring Whole Herd Reporting Invoices mailed to breeders

Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association Annual Convention, Norman, Okla.

Texas A&M Beef Short Course, College Station, Texas 8th Annual American Akaushi Association Convention, Cedar Creek, Texas, Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa

MARCH 29-31

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Convention, Fort Worth, Texas, Booth #1421

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DNA MATTERS Continued from page 8

comparison is done. Concerning SNPs, each allele (DNA marker) is a pair, which is called a genotype. One half of the genotype comes from the dam and one half comes from the sire. Each half will have one of four values: A, C, G or T. As an example, if the offspring being verified has A/T for its values at a particular genotype, it must get the “A” value from one parent and the “T” from the other.

Since the majority of our members are testing for sire verification only, the bull must have either an “A” or a “T” value. If the bull has neither, that is what is referred to as an exclusion. For SNPs, we allow one exclusion and are still able to verify the bull as being the sire of the calf. If the bull has two or more genotype exclusions, the bull is excluded as the parent.

When we process DNA results and have problems qualifying calves, it is because the bulls listed as potential sires have too many exclusions. In these situations, we expand our search to include all bulls in a member’s inventory or in their legacy inventory; semen sires (if they have purchased it and it is in their inventory); and any leased bulls that have bull agreements listed in the association’s DigitalBeef® software.

If there are calves that are still not verified after those searches, we will search the entire database to see if there is a potential sire in someone else’s inventory that might have been borrowed and not properBEEF WITH THE BEST TEAM Continued from page 23

the ground up,” Beeman says. “Bubba and Janie have been a team as long as I’ve known them. They’ve been a team here and a great part of HeartBrand and the Akaushi Association, helping build it to where it is today.”

During the convention, Beeman recognized and thanked many breeders for their help to grow the breed to where it is today, noting that it is vital to a breed’s growth that all breeders work to improve their Akaushi Prime Time • Winter 2019

ly recorded. Needless to say, the association goes to great lengths to try to get calves qualified.

Generally, if we cannot qualify a calf, we will look at exclusion rates of all the sires in a member’s inventory. If the calf is failing with 10 or more exclusions for each potential sire, it is pretty conclusive that the sires have been excluded from parentage. If there is a potential sire that is failing with just three or so exclusions, there is a potential that a new profile on that sire would be in order. At this point, it might be advantageous to submit a new sample from the sire to see if one of the genotype values will change enough to qualify the marginal calves.

Now, before I open a can of worms, the DNA process is 99.5 percent accurate. The odds of inaccurate DNA results are very slim. But there can be valid reasons to explore that may resolve DNA issues. That begins with good records. Making sure all possible parents are identified and have the correct DNA profiles up front is the best preventative against bad DNA results. The options above will cost the member additional DNA fees and time, and do not guarantee better results.

Finally, for those who submit hair DNA: Effective Jan. 1, 2019, the cost of hair samples is increasing to $22, and will then increase to $24 at the end of the year. Hair samples require a lab tech to manually punch follicles from the sample, which slows down the lab’s output. For these reasons, GeneSeek® is encouraging submitters to switch to other sample types. PT herds with every breeding season, which is something Akaushi breeders have been doing very well.

“It’s important that all breeders are out there promoting our cattle and promoting the breed,” Beeman says. “The more people who are talking about Akaushi and providing the Akaushi experience of the quality of the cattle and the quality of the beef, it helps us grow. I think that’s the reason why the product is the best product you can buy; it’s the best beef eating experience you can have. It’s the work of everybody involved, not just one person.” PT

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