Rod GeppertAssociation Perspective
Where can you find the high-quality bulls that meet your needs?
Many breeds claim they have the best genetics for your cow herd, but none can back that statement up like reliable, registered Angus genetics. Many of you have been breeding Angus for years and already know this, but the Angus breed not only offers lower birth weights during calving, it more importantly offers greater performance and significantly better marbling than other breeds. In addition, the Angus breed is known for creating a superior mother cow. How can we prove this?
These claims are based on real data from the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) and not hype. As you are well aware, Angus is backed by the world’s largest and most reliable genetic evaluation program. Who needs other breeds for added performance when performance Angus bulls already exist that can sire calves that bring, on the average, $7 per hundredweight (cwt.) more than other breeds add?
So where can I find these high-performance Angus bulls? You don’t need to look very far. High-performance bulls are offered at nearly every sale, along with every other type of Angus bull that will fit your operation or management style. Sales have been in full swing in the upper Midwest, and there are plenty of sales on the calendar between now and May.
The best bull for your operation to meet your goals can be found with much more ease if you do your homework ahead of time. Having a plan to sort through the information can speed up the process and help you find what you are looking for.
For me, I’m a “look at the bull first” kind of guy, preferring to look at the bulls before I look at any numbers. If it’s a bull that meets my visual appraisal, I look at his numbers to see if he matches what my needs are.
There is no doubt that in every region of the United States there is an abundance of quality Angus seedstock producers. In addition, most have high-quality bulls that will fit a variety of beef operations and management styles.
What separates some of the better seedstock producers is not necessarily the quality of the bulls sometimes, but the customer service. This includes guarantees or insurance, feeder-calf buy-back programs, customer-appreciation sale events and follow-up on purchases, to name a few. Sometimes the success may be simpler than that. People just like to do business with people they like and trust.
As your mailbox is overloaded with sale books this season, what’s the best way to sort through it? First, look at each lot and cross out every bull in the sale book that you know you have no intention of buying. From what’s left, pick out your top 10 or more. If you are not successful in purchasing any of those bulls from your list, maybe some of the remaining bulls could be purchased that meet your criteria for your operation.
Have a great calving season and see you at the next sale.
Editor’s Note:Rod Geppert is the regional manager for Region 6, which includes the states of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Click here to find the regional manager for your state.