The Donors that Sell

As I think about my career of breeding Angus cattle, I often realize we only get so many matings in our lifetime. In the 1980s, the infancy of databased selection scheme was when we, as cattlemen, were first introduced to Expected Progeny Differences. There was debate over the legitimacy of these genetic predictions. Henry Gardiner knew the predictions were accurate because of his detailed records of the sires used from his total A.I. herd (since 1964) and their evaluation in the Sire Summary. John Crouch used to give a presentation called “Like begets Like”. This talk stressed the importance of using the best Angus bulls possible for the traits of merit and breeding them to the daughters of the best bulls of the Angus breed for these economically important attributes. Henry’s playbook has stressed this strategy since the very first American Angus Association Sire Evaluation Report in the fall of 1980. Today, we have more EPDs, more Indices, and more genomic predictions. These tools are more accurate than ever before. Yet, has anything changed? Absolutely not! “Like begets Like.”

I believe that discipline is the key to implementing this breeding program successfully from generation to generation. No compromising of these specs for the important traits for each sire selected. Pretty simple, yet often this is unique due to the temptation of single traits that are exceptional, but do not fit into the needed multi-trait excellence we demand for each mating. Remember, we all only get so many matings in our lifetime!

We always are on a “journey” to create the most profitable cattle possible. Our connection to the commercial beef industry guides us with a knowledge of “what makes money” for us and our customers. As I state in many a footnote: “Yes, Dorothy, you may have it all!” These systems work. This method has been branded as “boring” by some. We prefer to call Henry’s method as predictable, practical, and profitable.

When we look at the genetic predictions of the females we are selling on April 2, 2022, they are simply stated the result of 58 years of a diligent total A.I. program using the best bulls of the Angus breed. We are confident that not only do these females rank as trait leaders in the Angus population, but their multi-trait excellence is our best effort to date to breed Angus cattle of magnitude. We are very thankful and mindful of our many customers that have purchased cattle from us. We take your success in the beef business very seriously. We are committed to the business of Beef, but we are even more committed to feeding the world with genetics that will work all over the world.

I am often reminded of a quote I learned from a student: “Every animal is connected to a Human.” To some the word “sustainability” is controversial. To us, sustainability means that our businesses (yours and ours) can be profitable and feed the world. If our animals do not do this, we humans will not be successful. We are even more excited about the next 58 years than the previous six decades! With technology, husbandry, and genetics we all will succeed. This is our commitment to the past, the present, and the future. We thankfully and confidently go forward with you.