Association Perspective
Why leave your genetics to chance?
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 who have been breeding Angus for years already know this. The Angus breed offers lower birth weights during calving, and, more importantly, 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. Angus is backed by the world’s largest and most reliable genetic evaluation program. Who needs other breeds for added performance when high-performance Angus bulls exist that can sire calves that bring an average $7-per-hundredweight (cwt.) more than other breeds?
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 and by private treaty, along with every other type of Angus bull that will fit your operation or management style. Sales in the Midwest will be plentiful this winter and spring, with a sale nearly every day from January to early May in Region 6.
The best bull to meet the goals of your operation can be found much more easily if you do your homework ahead of time. Having a plan to sort through the information can speed the process to find what you are looking for. For me, I’m a “look at the bull first” kind of a guy. If a bull meets my visual appraisal, I look at his numbers to see if he matches my needs. If you are looking for an elite herd sire, see if you can view his dam.
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, but their customer service. This includes guarantees or insurance, feeder-calf buyback programs, customer-appreciation sale events and follow-up on purchases, to name a few. Sometimes their success may be simpler than that. People like to do business with people they like and trust.
As your mailbox is overloaded with bull sale books this season, what’s the best way to sort through all of the information? First, look at each lot and cross out every bull in the sale book that you know you have no intentions 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 met your criteria for your operation.
Thank you for your business. Happy Thanksgiving, and we will 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.
