Determining their Destiny

by B. Lynn Gordon

Showing and raising profitable cattle at Destiny Angus Farm.

EARLY ANGUS DAYS

With the motto, “The sky is the limit as long as you keep your feet on the ground,” Brian and Lora Hutchins formed their Angus herd in Columbia, Tenn. Their goal in the early 2000s was to produce enough quality cattle to be able to hold an annual production sale. They achieved their goal, selling around 60 lots annually from $1,000 - $40,000 with the first three sales averaging $5,000, a significant accomplishment for a small family farm.

The herd selection criteria was based on EPDs and heavily influenced by Gardiner Angus Ranch (GAR) genetics. Some of the popular bloodlines included full sisters to GAR Precision 2536, GAR Integrity 6002 along with full brothers and sisters to Hyline Right Time 338 and BR Midland.

However, over time the selection parameters have shifted at Destiny Angus. “We had purely production-based cattle, disciplined in our approach to EPDs, which accounted for 50% of our selection criteria, 25% was focused on pedigree and the final 25% was phenotype and health of the animal. While this proved to be profitable and somewhat successful at the time, we were disappointed by the overall consistency in growth, udders, and feet (soundness) issues we experienced,” he says.

The family knew it was time to make a change. They dispersed much of their herd in 2006, only keeping back cattle the family liked phenotypically that would allow them to develop the future foundation of Morgan’s show string. The operation was also relocated to Charleston, Ill.

The Hutchins of Destiny Angus Farm, Charleston, Ill., also own and operate, Destiny’s Horse Boarding, offering full-service stable and pasture boarding for 15 horses.

Today at Destiny Farms, the selection and breeding parameters are determined by 75% phenotype, 15% pedigree/cow families and 10% EPDs across for their 25 head cow herd. They also flush 4-5 donor females annually and offer their genetics via spring and fall online sales, private treaty, or consignments to the NWSS Angus sale.

INDUSTRY VIEWPOINT

“We valued the concept and philosophy of EPDs and knew the numbers as well as anyone, constantly studying them, collecting data, and helping to drive some of the best genetically-based EPD cattle in the early 2000s,” says Brian. However, based on the current EPD process, Brian believes DNA used to generate EPDs cannot be impacted with a reasonable amount of performance data collected by small-to mid-size breeders that are turned into the American Angus Association (AAA) to create a more accurate EPD. “It takes 23 head of progeny out of a single animal to impact the EPD, the same as one DNA sample. I am not convinced the data will significantly impact the EPD.” His reasoning: the odds of having that much progeny turned into the association for calculation is rare-, leaving Hutchins concerned about seeing accurate EPDs again.

NJAS 2019 – Division 1 Heifer Calf Champion Owned shown by Morgan Hutchins.

As a result, Destiny Angus Farms looks to shows, sales, and cattle they view during farm visits or talking with fellow producers to define how cattle are integrated into their program. “Our eyes and the knowledge of fellow breeders is what is most valuable to us,” says Lora.

“We know that our view is unpopular amongst some circles. However, we choose to be up front to our current and prospective customers. We cannot, in good faith, sell stock based on information we feel is not helpful (at least for now).”

The mother-daughter team of Lora and Morgan Hutchins.

MOVING FORWARD

With a focus on raising and showing cattle indicative of their new breeding program goals, selection parameters include medium birth weights, heavy but fresh calves at weaning that are growthy enough at 12-16 months old for the females to be bred shortly thereafter and bulls able to go out and breed and remain an easy keeper.

“At Destiny Angus we push our stock but never at the expense of them not being fertile or fresh,” says Brian. This Angus operation doesn’t want to see ‘white meat.’ “We won’t intentionally lead a fat one into the ring, win-or-lose. You know you have a great one when an easy keeping cow milks great and breeds back every time with little feed input.”

The cow herd at Destiny Angus is made up of larger framed cows as Brian doesn’t subscribe to the thought that only small cows can be feed-efficient. “It is perplexing when we hear judges repeatedly say moderate framed females are easier keepers than larger framed animals.” He challenges this concept and believes smaller cows can eat as much as their larger framed cows, and they don’t raise a bigger calf. Understanding there is not a one-size-fits-all approach and that environment and the goals of each breeder come into play when deciding on selection criteria of frame size, he notes, the vast majority of his customers sell cattle by the pound at some point. His customers’ success is his main concern.

MORGAN’S MOTIVATION

Brian owned his first Angus cow at 8 year of age, growing up as one of six kids on a farm in Ohio. His family had a 100-head Angus cow herd, farmed about 2,000 acres, and raised about 1,000 hogs/year, farrow-to-finish. They, too, had success in the show ring, exhibiting the many time national champion bull, Millcreek Bachelor. Work ethic and dedication to livestock was engrained early in Brian’s life, and he sees that same desire and work ethic now in his daughter, Morgan.

Morgan also watched her cousins Krystin, Justin, and Jordan Bachman show at the Fairfield County Fair in Ohio and this sparked Morgan’s motivation to convince her mom and dad it was time for her to try showing Angus cattle. “One day on a walk from the barn to the house, Morgan told me she wanted to show cattle,” says Brian. “10 years later here we are.”

Brian and Lora are extremely proud of Morgan and her success. Morgan earned enough points to get her NJAA Bronze and Silver show award at 11-years old after only showing two years. “Her goal is to win the NJAS, so while she is happy so far, fingers crossed, maybe she will reach that goal yet,” says Lora. Morgan was named Top 10 American Angus Association Breeder of the Year in the 2017-2018 ROV season. Quite an accomplishment, her dad says, with only having about 20 calves that year, when compared to other ranches that may have hundreds or thousands of calves a year. Morgan is currently attending Lakeland College majoring in Pre-Veterinary Medicine with plans to go on to Ohio State University for a degree in Veterinary Science, focusing on a career in embryo reproduction.

The involvement in the Angus breed is a true family affair. At the 2016 All-American Futurity Show, Louisville, Ky., Morgan was named Premier Exhibitor and Lora was selected Herdsman of the Year. Lora is now amongst some of the most heralded names in the Angus business and works very hard behind the scenes at Destiny Angus, doing the record-keeping, registrations, transfers, breeding reports., etc. When Brian’s full-time work limited his ability to travel to the shows, Lora stepped in and would often manage taking 12-15 head to a show to make sure the family was represented and reaching their goals.

learn more destinyfarms.org

Destiny Angus will offer selection of their genetics, October 15, 2020 with an online sale hosted by anguslive.com.