Rod GeppertAssociation Perspective
Adding value to Angus-sired calves.
Increasing the value of your Angus-sired feeder cattle and replacement heifers is probably of more importance this year than in years past, especially with the lower feeder-cattle prices compared to last year. A year ago, most feeder cattle were selling for record prices, and the price difference between high- and low-quality feeder cattle was not significant in most parts of the region. This year is a different story.
Premiums are being paid for Angus-sired feeder cattle that have been properly managed, with a history of performing in the feedlot and meeting Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) brand standards. As you look forward to marketing your calves this year or any year, it’s time to consider enrolling your calves in the AngusSource® or AngusSource Genetic program through the American Angus Association to increase their value.
Enrolling in AngusSource is an easy process. To enroll, please contact Ginette Gottswiller, director of commercial programs, at the American Angus Association. Calves must be sired by registered-Angus bulls, but you do not need to match individual calves to their respective sire. Instead, you are enrolling a group of calves that have been born on your operation within a known calving window, sired by one or more registered-Angus bulls.
AngusSource will provide you with your choice of a variety of tag options at a low cost to identify your calves. You need to be competitive in a down market, and AngusSource will set you apart from the other black cattle sold on sale day. This program will definitely do that for you.
Gaining popularity is the GeneMax® Advantage™ genetic test intended for use in prospective commercial-Angus replacement heifers and cows. This tool has been used with much success in selecting elite replacement females within the herd on the basis of multitrait economic indexes.
Results of the test include three multitrait economic indexes expressed as simple-to-use Advantage scores:
Cow Advantage scores focus on maternal traits and rank females for net return from heifer development and breeding to the progeny’s weaning phase of production. Both revenue from the sale of weaned calves and costs associated with milk and cow size are included in Cow Advantage scores.
Feeder Advantage scores zero in on genetics transmitted from tested females to offspring for net returns from feedlot (growth and feed efficiency) and carcass merit, assuming animals are marketed on a CAB brand grid.
Total Advantage scores rank females for net returns across the complete supply chain, essentially from heifer development prior to first conception to CAB carcasses from progeny.
I invite you to go to the American Angus Association website, www.angus.org, for more detailed information to better explain these programs. The breeders who have incorporated these tools into their programs are realizing the results.
Editor’s Note: Regional Manager Rod Geppert covers Region 6, including the states of Minnesota, North Dakota & South Dakota. Click here to find the regional manager for your state.
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