Casey Jentz
Association Perspective
Now is the time to update your genetics.
With the current state of the markets, now is the time to update the genetics of your herd. The cow-calf producer is in a very good position to capitalize on the value of feeder calves. With the current trends of feeder-cattle buyers being willing to pay a premium for calves that are out of a registered-Angus bull, being able to send your old bull to town and replace him with fresh genetics with more growth and carcass quality is economically in your best interest.
This is also the case when you are looking to keep back some replacement females. Many producers are expanding their cow herd with feed prices declining and the cattle markets looking to be good for an extended time. Being able to keep the best replacement females will greatly affect your herd for the next 10 years. Making the best decision requires gathering as much relevant information as possible to help make the best management decisions.
Utilizing the GeneMax™ Advantage test on your commercial replacement heifers will allow you to make better decisions on which heifers to retain in your herd. The GeneMax test offers three economic indexes to help with your management decisions.
- The Cow Advantage score is focused on maternal traits and includes cow size, milk and the growth of her calf through weaning.
- The Feeder Advantage score focuses on growth, feed efficiency and carcass merit.
- The Total Advantage score combines the Cow Advantage and Feeder Advantage indexes to give a score that encompasses the complete supply chain from heifer development to the carcass quality of their progeny.
Whether you have 50 cows or 5,000 cows, utilizing the GeneMax test will put you in a position to capitalize on the best cattle markets we have ever seen. You can find more information about GeneMax Advantage at www.angus.org/AGI/.
Editor’s Note: Casey Jentz is the regional manager for region 4, including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. Click here to find the regional manager for your state.
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