National Red Angus Show Results

Sterling Silver® and Red Angus are Premium Partners
“Farm & Ranch Connection” Supports Red Angus Juniors
Marketing…Starts at Conception

2005 Red Angus EPDs Available
Red Angus Champions Announced at NWSS
Bull Selection...Buy the Numbers
Brain Trust Concentrates on Crossbreeding

A Golden Opportunity
National Red Angus Show Champions Announced at NAILE
Founders’ Vision
Red Angus Brain Trust Focuses on Seedstock Industry Future

Producers Harvest Carcass Awards on Angus America Grid
Andras Re-Elected to Red Angus Board of Directors
Boyles Re-Elected to Red Angus Board of Directors
Brown Re-Elected to Red Angus Board of Directors
Feldkamp Elected to Red Angus Board of Directors
Mushrush Elected to Red Angus Board of Directors
Von Forell Elected to Red Angus Board of Directors
Wedel Elected Red Angus President

Red Angus Executive Secretary Receives BIF Continuing Service Award
Red Angus Association Posts Year-End Numbers
Red Angus Breeder Elected as BIF Vice President
Red Angus Association Hires Communications Director
Red Angus Celebrates 50 Years of Performance
Red Angus Leaders Receive NPLC Distinguished Service Awards
Red Angus Association Requests Body Condition Score Information

Red Angus Association of America announces changes to Angus Plus program

2004 Red Angus EPDs available
Red Angus Brain Trust Meeting helps producers "Achieve balanced selection"
Red Angus Juniors meet in California for 2004 round-up
Neo-Sho Red Angus, Trans Ova Genetics and ABS Global support Red Angus Juniors.

Industry’s Premiere "Angus" Grid Unveiled
Red Angus offers marketing options for $0.99
The Red Angus Association of America announces another EPD breakthrough!

National Red Angus Show Results

Des Moines, Iowa—The National Red Angus Junior and Open Shows were held at the Iowa State Fair from August 18-22. This year over 270 entries competed with the results as follows:

National Grand Champion Junior Red Angus Female:
MFIN PRECISION P25
MFIN PRECISION P25
Exhibitor: CASSIE JOHNSON, CUSHING, IOWA
Sire: LCC CHEYENNE B221L Dam: LSF RACHEL G1365 LA403
BW: 2.5 WW: 50 YW: 88 Milk: 22 TM: 46 STAY: 11
Breeder: MARK D FINCH

National Reserve Grand Champion Junior Red Angus Female:
FREYS MISSIE 512P
Exhibitor: DUSTIN FREY, GRANVILLE, N.D.
Sire: UBAR GRAND PRIX 102 Dam: FREYS MISSIE 502G
BW: 0.9 WW: 32 YW: 61 Milk: 18 TM: 34 STAY: 8
Breeder: FREY ANGUS RANCH

National Grand Champion Junior Red Angus Bred & Owned Female:
TC AMAZING GRACE 32P
Exhibitor: TY BAYER, RINGLE, WISC.
Sire: BADLANDS TARGET 836 Dam: MEADO-WEST GRACIE
BW: 3.8 WW: 37 YW: 61 Milk: 17 TM: 35 STAY: 7
Breeder: TY BAYER

Champion Senior Showman:
CASSIE JOHNSON, CUSHING, IOWA

Champion Junior Showman:
CALLI BAYER, RINGLE, WISC.

Junior Herdsman Award:
JARED SCHRAMM, MOVILLE, IOWA

National Grand Champion Red Angus Female:
MFIN PRECISION P25
Exhibitor: SOLUTION GENETICS/CASSIE JOHNSON, CUSHING, IOWA
Sire: LCC CHEYENNE B221L Dam: LSF RACHEL G1365 LA403
BW: 2.5 WW: 50 YW: 88 Milk: 22 TM: 46 STAY: 11
Breeder: MARK D FINCH

National Reserve Grand Champion Red Angus Female:
JRA MS. M.J.
Exhibitor: JAMES RED ANGUS FARM, SEARSBORO, IOWA
Sire: JRA MR. M.J. Dam: JRA JAMES 2811
BW: 0.9 WW: 39 YW: 65 Milk: 21 TM: 40 STAY: 12
Breeder: JAMES RED ANGUS FARM

National Grand Champion Red Angus Bull:
WEBR DR. PHIL
Exhibitor: WEBER FARMS CATTLE CO, LAKE BENTON, MINN.
Sire: MLK CRK CUB 722 Dam: WEBR MS DOLLY 1L
BW: 0.2 WW: 37 YW: 70 Milk: 18 TM: 37 STAY: 11 Breeder: WEBER FARMS CATTLE CO

National Reserve Grand Champion Red Angus Bull:
WCC NEW DESIGN 44
Exhibitor: WALLACE CATTLE CO, STOTTS CITY, MO & HAYCOW, LINCOLN CAL.
Sire: LCHMN GRANDCANYON 1244G Dam: JRA JAMES 3101
BW: 1.0 WW: 34 YW: 65 Milk: 23 TM: 41 STAY: 12
Breeder: WALLACE CATTLE CO

Senior Get of Sire:
JSN RED DON
Exhibitor: NOLIN RED ANGUS, MONROE, IOWA

Produce of Dam:
WEBER MS DOLLY 1L
Exhibitor: WEBER FARMS CATTLE CO, LAKE BENTON, MINN.

Premier Exhibitor:
N-BAR CATTLE CO, RUSSEL SPRINGS, KAN.

Premier Breeder:
N-BAR CATTLE CO, RUSSEL SPRINGS, KAN.

Director’s Herdsmanship Award:
JAMES RED ANGUS FARM, SEARSBORO, IOWA

Iowa State Fair Herdsman Award:
GRIFFIN RED ANGUS, NEW HAMPTON, IOWA

Erskine Cash of Centre Hall, Penn., judged the National Red Angus Junior Show. Troy Thomas of Harold, S.D., judged the National Red Angus Open Show and Seth Leachman of Billings, Mont., was the Open Show associate judge.

The Red Angus Association of America’s mission is to provide the members and their customers with innovative programs and services, to continue advancing the quality, reliability and value of Red Angus and Red Angus influenced seedstock used in the commercial beef industry. This mission is pursued to protect the economic well-being and satisfaction of the members and their customers and to equip them to be progressive cattle breeders. For more information about RAAA, call (940) 387-3502.

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Marketing…Starts at Conception
By Greg Comstock, Marketing Programs Coordinator

That’s right - the breeding decisions and bull selections you make this spring will result in the product you bring to market in the Fall/Winter of 2006 and for the subsequent few years.

It is true that a cow contributes 50 percent of the genetics of an individual calf, but it is far easier and more cost efficient to affect genetic change by upgrading four herd bulls versus the 100 +/- cows they’ll service. Also, by the time producers cull open and/or unsound cows, the need to maintain critical mass limits their opportunity to cull the cowherd solely for genetic improvement. This leaves the task of genetic fine tuning up to your herd bulls, and with spring bull sale season only a few short weeks away, now is the time to look at the goals of your marketing plan and determine what genetic tweaking can aid in those goals’ fulfillment.

The bull may be merely the delivery system for the genetics he passes on, but how effectively he delivers those genetics is pretty important to your bottom line. Many producers have taken advantage of recent higher cull bull prices by “trading-up” for the genetic improvement represented in younger, more athletic bulls. In addition to bulls’ contributions to genetic improvement, they are responsible for maintaining the beneficial reproductive status of your cowherd. Open cows don’t raise very valuable calves. Spring calving is right around the corner, and once it starts, there are only 90 days to get cows bred back or next year’s calf crop will come late. Later calves are lighter calves, and lighter calves may gross fewer dollars. Also, spreading out calving dates decreases uniformity - making the calf crop less attractive to buyers. So while you’re evaluating your herd bull battery’s potential to expediently get cows pregnant, it is also a great time to evaluate their genetic potential to move your cow herd closer towards your marketing goals. Performing the task of selecting bulls well can be summarized in these three steps.
1. Know the markets you wish to hit: feeder calves, yearlings, value based grids, or replacement females.
2. Have a true appraisal of how close your cow herd is in the traits required to hit those target markets; understanding that your cows have to continue to live and reproduce within your environment.
3. Identify bulls whose EPDs predict the ability to move your cow herd in the right direction for the traits required to hit your market endpoint.

Define your success
Profit is a universal goal for cow/calf producers, however the way they merchandise their cattle in an effort to achieve that profit is quite varied. The environment these producers operate in is even more varied. This wide range of marketing strategies and production environments ensures that no one set of genetic inputs will work for all situations. To define your success, first look at how you typically market your calves. Do you sell spring born calves in the fall? Do you background them and sell them in the spring? Do you retain at least some percentage ownership in them to market through a value-based grid? Do you keep your replacements, or raise replacements to market to others? Is your entire calf crop terminal? Remember, the longer you own the results of your sire selection the longer you live with your decisions and the greater those decisions impact your operation’s bottom line. Specifically, the extent and duration of a sires’ impact is significantly increased for producers who retain ownership and market on a value based grid, and even more so for those who raise their own replacement females. In these cases, your operations’ marketing tactics will determine what set of traits you should consider to achieve success.

Finding the bull under the data
One of the challenges presented to bull buyers is that of sorting through an abundance of data, and eliminating information that does not assist in leading them to bulls capable of meeting their breeding goals. Many bull sales will provide individual animal weights; others combine the weights with contemporary group ratios to establish rankings within calf crops or management groups. Most provide Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs), which may be used to compare sires’ genetic potential across herds and environments. EPDs are the most accurate selection tool because they include not only the individual bull’s performance relative to his contemporaries, but also comparative performance of his close relatives such as siblings, parents, grandparents, etc. Even if you evaluate only EPDs, that still leaves up to 13 numbers to be compared. Understand that yearling bulls may not have EPDs for some traits - especially those measured by daughters’ performance like Maintenance Energy and Heifer Pregnancy.

Select for traits that define profit
Today, EPDs guide breeding and bull selection decisions more than ever, and the five largest breed associations publish between 25 and 30 separate EPDs. Genetic progress in 25 traits - many of which are antagonistic, and/or overlapping in influence - is not feasible. Red Angus’s core policy on genetic predictions is simple: to completely describe Reproduction, Growth, Carcass and Maintenance, using as few EPDs as possible. Red Angus publishes EPDs for Economically Relevant Traits (ERTs) where the trait predicted is the actual observation a rancher encounters. For example, producers don’t really need to know age of puberty - they need to know what percentages of their heifers are getting pregnant on time. Thus, Red Angus offers the industry’s only Heifer Pregnancy EPD; other breeds seek to predict this event using scrotal circumference EPDs, which indicates age of puberty.

The Heifer Pregnancy EPD is just one in Red Angus’ unique set of ERTs, which are made possible from its equally unique registry system, Total Herd Reporting (THR). As the only major beef breed with mandatory THR, Red Angus requires the production of every seedstock cow, and the performance of every calf to be reported annually. This might work Red Angus seedstock producers harder, but the reliability of EPDs derived from complete contemporary group data - not just data from the calves good enough to register - is worth it. Only ERTs built from THR offer commercial customers their best genetic option to meet their marketing goals and retain the appropriate biological type for their environment.

It’s hard to get where you’re going, if you don’t know where you are
Take a good, long, “no rose colored glasses” look at your cow herd to understand what traits need improvement to get closer to marketing goals while still fitting your environment. This is where it may be helpful to talk to the buyers who’ve purchased your calves in the past. How satisfied are they with the calves’ feedlot and/or carcass performance? What traits could stand improvement? The local sale barn operator, video auction reps, and feed yards where your previous calf crops have been fed are great places to get valuable feedback. Now may be the time to establish relationships with feedlots to ensure you have a shot at future carcass data collected from the calves you’ve produced. Feedback from those users further down the beef supply chain than yourself can provide a better understanding of what’s already working, and what needs improvement with your program. If they say your cattle are perfect - great, “Don’t fix it if it ain’t broke”. However, you are just as likely to find that some genetic fine tuning might help one or more aspects of your profit picture. Following are some scenarios that may appear familiar to your own operation.

Sell ‘em by the pound?
A 50 head cow/calf operator with baldy cows who sells feeders in October at the local barn’s weekly sale wants to sell lots of pounds of valuable Angus cross calves. Weaning weight EPD is a trait of major importance when selecting their next herd bull(s).

Sleep all night?
Suppose the above producer is breeding virgin heifers; then he must balance the extra performance against calving ease. Calves won’t be able to express that extra growth unless they are born alive. All breeds publish a birth weight EPD; however, Red Angus sires come with EPDs for Calving Ease Direct (CED). Birth weight plays a major role in the unassisted birth, and therefore constitutes a significant portion of the calculation of the CED EPD; but, other factors, such as gestation length, calf shape, etc. also come into play. Through the inclusion of calving ease scores, ranchers can increase the odds of sleeping through the night by selecting for the predisposition to produce unassisted births - not just light birth weights.

Too much growth?
Another cow/calf producer harvests additional feed resources through backgrounding red baldy calves and selling them as yearlings. Here, less emphasis may be put on weaning weight EPD. This producer has the advantage of more time and extra feed, and extra growth may actually be to his detriment. If the calves are too heavy when they sell, they won’t be as attractive to a feeder because they will finish too late and suffer carcass weight discounts. For this producer, it may prove beneficial to put an upper limit on the growth - especially if the base cows have some continental breed influence.

Targeting carcass premiums?
Suppose our backgrounder retains ownership and markets on a value based grid, such as the Red Angus/Angus America Marketing Agreement. They become more interested in breeding away from carcass discounts and selecting sires whose progeny will be more likely to hit carcass premiums. To target that market the producer must understand the carcass strengths and weaknesses of his cowherd. If they are Gelbvieh/Limousin type continental base cows, the producer might need to focus on higher marbling Red Angus bulls. If the cowherd includes lighter muscled breeds, then higher ribeye, lower backfat Red Angus bulls can help avoid YG 4 discounts. The 2005 Red Angus Sire Summary includes bulls capable of making significant improvements in marbling and ribeye - as well as sires proficient in both. Sons of superior Red Angus carcass sires will be available in quantity across the country during the spring of 2005.

Raising replacements to keep or sell?
Red Angus is a maternal breed, so it is only logical that producers build replacement heifers from retaining daughters of Red Angus sires. However, it takes more than milk flow to make a profitable beef cow. Fertility, mothering ability, and longevity should exist mutually in a productive, efficient beef factory. Red Angus aids in this selection process as the only breed to completely describe cow herd reproduction through EPDs. Genetic predictions for Heifer Pregnancy rate, daughter’s Calving Ease and Stayability measure economically relevant reproductive traits from unassisted birth to profitable lifespan.

Hard working cows? Or is their work too hard for them?
Areas of the country with scarce or poor quality forage may be concerned with feed requirements of higher growth and/or heavier milking cattle. Replacement females should be productive for many years to come, and it is important that the heifers retained grow into cows suited for their working conditions. Red Angus published the first Mature Cow Maintenance Energy Requirement EPD (ME). Producers concerned that their environment is too harsh to support heavy milking, high performance cattle, should buy sons of low ME EPD sires, to help ensure their daughters’ environmental fit.

Genetic Variation is the key to change
Bull purchases should reflect desired levels of selection differential to achieve the necessary directional genetic change. It is only through selecting sires that are genetically varied from the target cowherd that changes in desired traits will be realized in the herd’s subsequent calf crops. Also, producers should remember that genetic variation within a breed for given traits is often as great as the variation between breeds. The previous examples show situations where producers’ sire selections exhibit the additive effect of the variation within Red Angus sires selected, plus the breed difference (or variation between sire breed and cowherd breed).

To make genetic progress towards profit, start with the goals of your marketing strategy and work backwards through your existing cowherd - considering your environment - to select the best bulls for your operation. Don’t be afraid to get greedy, it’s ok to want bulls that “do it all”. Be as aggressive as your budget allows. Land Grant universities have often shown that being a “low-cost” producer is key to survival in the cow/calf business. Ironically, the same research has shown that genetics (bulls) is the only area where low cost producers spend more money than high cost producers.

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Sterling Silver® and Red Angus are Premium Partners

The Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) and EXCEL Corporation’s Sterling Silver® Premium Meat brand recently teamed up to give away six sets of Sterling Silver® Ribeye steaks and steak knives. Drawings were held during the annul NCBA Convention in San Antonio, TX February 2-5, 2005.

Drawing winners included: Alton Lerwick, Lyman, NE; Linda Swanz, Judith Gap, MT; Patti Buck, Ignacio, CO; Jeanette Sutton, Dade City, FL; Bill Nice, Morrison, IL; and Sherry Hobbs, Eagleville, TN.

EXCEL’s Sterling Silver® product line is supplied by Certified Red Angus cattle through Angus America, the industry’s premier “Angus” grid. This grid allows Certified Red Angus and Black Angus cattle to be fed in the same lot, harvested on the same day at the same plant, on the same grid, and get paid the same premiums, with no sorting for hide color.

Sterling Silver® Certified Premium Beef offers to “make life taste better” by utilizing beef grading in the upper two-thirds of choice. Only the top 12 percent of all beef meets these stringent standards for superior marbling. Sterling Silver® products are aged a minimum of 21 days prior to being close-trimmed and vacuum sealed to lock in flavor and freshness. Sterling Silver® meat products are available online at www.sterlingsilvermeats.com.

For more information on the Angus America Grid or other Red Angus marketing programs, please contact the RAAA office at (940) 387-3502 or via email at info@redangus.org.

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“Farm & Ranch Connection” Supports Red Angus Juniors

The “Farm & Ranch Connection” has offered a generous $500 scholarship to members of the National Junior Red Angus Association. The annual stipend will be awarded to a high school senior or college student furthering their education.

Junior Red Angus members send their heartfelt thanks to the “Farm & Ranch Connection” for their thoughtful donation!

For additional information on available scholarships or to request an application, please contact Betty Grimshaw at (940) 387-3502 or via email at betty@redangus.org. Applications must be received or postmarked by March 31, 2005.

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Brain Trust Concentrates on Crossbreeding

The Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) hosted their annual Brain Trust meeting on January 16, 2005 in Denver, CO during the 2005 National Western Stock Show. A mix of Red Angus members, commercial customers and industry professionals attended the outstanding forum at the Doubletree Hotel.

This year’s focus was “Are We Headed Towards a Straight Bred Beef Industry?” Attendees discussed pertinent issues facing the cattle industry and the Red Angus breed.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Dr. Jim Gosey led participants through an exciting interactive exercise to better understand the profitable utilization of breed complementarity and heterosis. He stated that no single breed excels in all traits essential to beef production and that breed differences (complementarity) are an important genetic resource.

Dr. Gosey declared that, “Over the course of their lifetime, crossbred females are 25 percent more productive than purebred cows.” He also noted that crossbreeding increases fertility, calf survival and adaptability within herds.

Blake Angell, RAAA Commercial Marketing Director, followed up with insight on how the Tailgate Ranch in Tonganoxie, KS utilizes crossbreeding in their program with hybrid bulls. Quoting Tailgate manager Kirk Sours, Angell said, “If a producer is going to build a cowherd with all the attributes to be successful, it can’t be done with straight breeds.”

RAAA Executive Secretary Dr. Bob Hough and RAAA President Frank Wedel explored different opportunities available to work with viable crossbreeding partners. By working together, breeds can improve efficiency while gaining market share. Dr. Hough referenced the work of the Consortium for Genetic Evaluation, stressing the importance of building multi-breed EPDs through the use of Total Herd Reporting (THR). Red Angus is the only major breed to require mandatory THR, where the production of every female and the performance of every calf are measured through weaning.

Dr. Tom Field, Colorado State University, wrapped up the discussion by gathering feedback from participants on new possibilities regarding breed associations’ role in the seedstock industry’s future. He finished by saying that breeds need to understand that they have an obligation to serve the commercial industry.

For more information please contact the RAAA office at (940) 387-3502 or via email at info@redangus.org.

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Red Angus Champions Announced at NWSS

Red Angus Champions were recently crowned at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, CO. The Red Angus Pen Show took place on January 17, 2005 and the Red Angus Hill Show was January 18, 2005. Both shows were judged by Mark Duffell of Whitestone Farms in Aldie, VA.

Champion Pen of Three Red Angus Females:
Dustin and Linsey Frey, Granville, ND

Reserve Champion Pen of Three Red Angus Females:
N-Bar Cattle Co., Russell Springs, KS

Champion Pen of Three Red Angus Bulls:
Pieper Red Angus, Hay Springs, NE

Reserve Champion Pen of Three Red Angus Bulls:
Frey Angus Ranch, Granville, ND

Champion Red Angus Female (Hill Show):
5/22/2003 LCC BLOXY NA590
Sire: LCC TASSEL EXECUTIVE61J Dam: LCHMN BLOXY C1176
BW: 0.0 WW: 23 YW: 45 Milk: 22 TM: 33 STAY: 11 FS: 7.7
Breeder: Leachman Cattle Co.
Exhibitor: Dallas Woltemath, Kenesaw, NE

Reserve Champion Red Angus Female (Hill Show):
4/3/2004 MEADO-WEST PEEK-A-BOO
Sire: MEADO-WEST JAZZ Dam: MEADO-WEST LAVONNE 110L
BW: 1.8 WW: 40 YW: 66 Milk: 11 TM: 31 STAY: 8 FS: 6.3
Breeder: Meado-West Farms
Exhibitor: Cassie Johnson, Cushing, IA

Champion Red Angus Bull (Hill Show):
3/20/2004 4L ADVANCE VISION R15P
Sire: 4L SUPER VISION R2292 Dam: 4L MS ADVANCER R16L
BW: 2.8 WW: 52 YW: 91 Milk: 26 TM: 51 STAY: 11 FS: 6.7 SC: 33
Breeder: von Forell Ranch
Exhibitor: von Forell Ranch, Wheatland, WY

Reserve Champion Red Angus Bull (Hill Show):
4/19/2003 4L 323 CONTINUANCE R59N
Sire: VDAR RAMBO 323 Dam: 4L MS MAKE MY DAY R875
BW: 2.4 WW: 44 YW: 77 Milk: 24 TM: 46 STAY: 10 FS: 6.6 SC: 44.5
Breeder: von Forell Ranch
Exhibitor: von Forell Ranch, Wheatland, WY

Produce of Dam: Fraser Ranch, Corning, CA

Premier Exhibitor: von Forell Ranch, Wheatland, WY

Premier Breeder: von Forell Ranch, Wheatland, WY

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Bull Selection...Buy the Numbers
By Blake Angell, Commercial Marketing Director and Greg Comstock, Marketing Programs Coordinator

For ranchers in much of the country, January and February means hauling feed to cattle during all manner of inclement weather. Many producers have or will soon begin calving, while others will wait on warmer weather and green grass. Whatever your calving season, two things are certain:
1. Once it starts you’ve got 90 days to get your cows bred back or your calving season will arrive later next year.
2. The sooner you finish calving, the more uniform the age and weight of calves you will market.
Both of these objectives may be achieved through utilizing a fresh, athletic, and virile bull battery.

In addition to maintaining the beneficial reproductive status of your cowherd, the bull battery is responsible for the bulk of the herd’s genetic improvement. While a cow contributes 50 percent of the genetics of an individual calf, it is far easier and more cost efficient to affect genetic change by upgrading four herd bulls versus the 100 +/- cows they service. Also, by the time producers cull open and/or unsound cows, the need to maintain critical mass limits their opportunity to cull solely for genetic improvement.

Sire selection decisions shouldn’t be made lightly. At the very least, they determine half of the genetic makeup of all calves sold next year. The extent and duration of a sires’ impact is significantly increased for producers who retain ownership and market on a value based grid, and even more so for those who raise their own replacement females. In these cases, the traits considered in selection must be expanded to account for the changing market endpoint. The bottom line is the longer you own the results of your sire selection the longer you live with your decisions and the greater those decisions impact your operation’s bottom line.

Target your market and work backwards to find the right bulls…

First, consider the methods employed to market your cattle; then factor in the environmental and management limitations your herd must live within. Consider the genetic base of your existing cowherd as one of the fixed constraints you work with. Understanding the traits needing improvement to be successful in both your market and environment will help lead you to consistently beneficial sire selection choices. Here are some examples:

A cow/calf operator with baldy cows who sells feeders in October wants to sell lots of pounds of valuable Angus cross calves. Thus, weaning weight is a trait of major importance. Suppose his baldies were all heifers; then he must balance the extra performance against calving ease. Calves won’t be able to express that extra growth unless they are born alive. Fortunately, Red Angus sires come complete with genetic predictions (EPDs) for birth weight and direct calving ease that can be used in conjunction with weaning weight EPDs. These cow/calf producers can make sure they keep on track for both traits.

Another cow/calf producer backgrounds calves and sells them as yearlings. He may put less emphasis on weaning growth, knowing that if the calves are too heavy they won’t be as attractive to a feeder because they will finish too late and suffer carcass weight discounts. It may be beneficial to put an upper limit on the growth, especially if the base cows have some continental breed influence.

If the same producer retains ownership and markets on a value based grid, such as the Red Angus/Angus America Marketing Agreement, then he becomes more interested in breeding away from carcass discounts, and instead selects sires whose progeny will be more likely to hit carcass premiums. To target that market he must understand the carcass strengths and weaknesses of his cowherd. If they are Gelbvieh/Limousin type continental base cows, the producer might need to focus on higher marbling Red Angus bulls. If the cowherd includes lighter muscled breeds, then higher ribeye, lower backfat Red Angus bulls can help avoid Yield Grade 4 discounts. The 2005 Red Angus Sire Summary includes bulls capable of making significant improvements in marbling or ribeye, as well as sires proficient in both. Sons of these superior Red Angus carcass sires will be available in large quantities across the country this spring.

Red Angus is a maternally efficient breed, so it is only logical that producers develop replacement heifers from Red Angus sires. However, they need to pay particular attention to their environment. The replacements they keep should be productive for many years to come, and it is important that the heifers retained grow into cows suited for their working conditions. It takes more than milking ability to make a profitable beef cow. Fertility, feed efficiency, mothering ability, and longevity should exist mutually in a productive, efficient beef factory. Red Angus aids in this selection process as the only breed to completely describe reproduction through EPDs. Genetic predictions for Direct Calving Ease, Heifer Pregnancy Rate, Daughter’s Calving Ease and Stayability measure economically relevant reproductive traits from unassisted birth to productive lifespan.

Areas of the country with minimal rainfall and scarce feed may be concerned with feed requirements of higher growth and/or heavier milking cattle. Red Angus launched the industry’s first Mature Cow Maintenance EPD last year marking the first effort to look at the expense side of a rancher’s profit equation. Red Angus gives producers an opportunity to see how much energy is required for extra growth and milk. Purchasing sons of bulls with lower maintenance energy requirement EPDs can help develop cowherds suited for harsher environments.

Genetic variation is the key to change…

The choices made in sire selection reflect desired levels of selection differential to achieve desired directional genetic change. It is only through selecting sires that are genetically varied from the target cowherd that changes in desired traits will be realized in the herd’s subsequent calf crops. Also, producers should remember that genetic variation within a breed for given traits is often as great as the variation between breeds. The previous examples show situations where producers’ sire selections exhibit the additive effect of the variation within Red Angus sires selected, plus the breed difference (or variation between sire breed and cowherd breed).

Finding a bull under a mountain of data…

One of the challenges presented to bull buyers is that of sorting through an abundance of data, and eliminating information that does not assist in leading them to bulls capable of meeting their breeding goals. Many bull sales will provide individual animal weights, others combine the weights with contemporary group ratios to establish rankings within calf crops or management groups. Most provide EPDs, which may be used to compare potential sires’ genetic potential across herds and environments. EPDs are the most accurate selection tool, because they include not only the individual bull’s performance and how he compared to his contemporaries, but also comparative performance of his close relatives such as siblings, parents, grandparents, etc.

Even if you evaluate only EPDs, that still leaves up to 13 numbers to be compared. Understand that yearling bulls may not have EPDs for some traits - especially those measured by daughter’s performance like Maintenance Energy and Heifer Pregnancy.

How do you decide which EPDs to use in selection decisions? That depends on where your marketing program is headed and your starting point as determined by your environment, management and existing cowherd genetics.

It’s like buying a pickup truck…

We know that few traits act independently of others. Most traits exert selection pressure on other traits through being either positively correlated (selecting for yearling weight will tend to increase mature weight) or negatively correlated (as birth weight goes up, calving ease tends to go down). While this is generally true, animals that combine antagonistic traits do exist. Red Angus breeders focused on balanced trait selection have been able to produce bulls that have rapid growth without increasing birth weight or mature size. Or, increase marbling and ribeye area (affecting both quality grade and yield grade) simultaneously. Like buying a new pickup with a five-speed, a CD player, a towing package, and a bigger engine - you can select a high growth bull, that has a negative birth weight, and positive EPDs for marbling and ribeye, while limiting milk at breed average.

Bull buying season is upon us…

Performing that task well can be summarized in these three steps.
1. Know the markets you wish to hit: feeder calves, yearlings, value based grids, replacement females.
2. Have a true appraisal of how close your cow herd is in the traits required to hit those market targets, understanding that your cows have to continue to live and reproduce within your environment.
3. Identify bulls whose EPDs predict the ability to move your cow herd in the right direction for the traits required to hit your market endpoint.

Don’t be afraid to get greedy, it’s ok to want bulls that “do it all”. Be as aggressive as your budget allows. Land Grant universities have often shown that being a “low-cost” producer is key to survival in the cow/calf business. Ironically the same research has shown that genetics (bulls) is the only area where low cost producers spend more money than high cost producers.

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2005 Red Angus EPDs Available

The Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) 2005 Spring EPDs and Sire Summary results are now available online at www.redangus.org. The RAAA annually publishes EPDs for growth, maintenance, female fertility, and carcass traits from the National Cattle Evaluation conducted at Colorado State University.

Red Angus EPDs are the industry’s only genetic predictions generated through Total Herd Reporting (THR). THR measures the annual production of every cow and the performance of every calf raised through weaning.

The RAAA comprehensively describes growth, maintenance, reproduction and carcass traits with the fewest EPDs possible through the concept of Economically Relevant Traits (ERTs). These genetic tools include values for Maintenance Energy (ME), Heifer Pregnancy (HPG), Calving Ease Direct (CED), Calving Ease Total Maternal (CETM) and Stayability.

Red Angus’ ME EPD is the industry’s first genetic prediction for the expense side of the rancher’s profit equation. It predicts differences in maintenance energy requirements between animals, and can be used to select parents that will produce lower maintenance replacement females. 

To complete the description of beef cattle reproduction, HPG predicts the probability of a sire’s daughters conceiving to calve as two year-olds. CED predicts the potential of calves being born unassisted out of two year-old heifers while CETM predicts the probability of a sire’s daughters to calve unassisted at two years of age. Finally, the Stayability EPD measures productive lifespan by predicting the likelihood that a bull’s daughters will remain in the herd until at least six years of age.

For assistance in making genetic selections and understanding EPDs, the RAAA has developed “The Rancher’s Guide to EPDs”. To receive a free copy of the EPD Guide and/or Sire Summary and Membership Directory, please contact the RAAA at 940-387-3502 or info@redangus.org.

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Red Angus Brain Trust Focuses on Seedstock Industry Future

The Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) will hold their annual Brain Trust meeting at the Doubletree Hotel in Denver, CO during the 2005 National Western Stock Show. Brain Trust is scheduled to start at 1:00 pm on Sunday, January 16, 2005.

Brain Trust is annually attended by Red Angus members, commercial customers and industry professionals to discuss pertinent issues facing the cattle industry and the Red Angus breed. This year’s focus will be “Are We Headed Towards a Straight Bred Beef Industry?”

Presenters on tap for the afternoon include Dr. Jim Gosey, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Dr. Tom Field, Colorado State University, in addition to RAAA Executive Secretary Dr. Bob Hough and RAAA President Frank Wedel. Utilization of breed complementarity and heterosis, opportunities to work with viable crossbreeding partners, and new possibilities for breed associations’ role in the seedstock industry’s future will be topics of discussion during the afternoon session.

Mark your calendars to attend this free, stimulating event. For more information please contact the RAAA office at (940) 387-3502 or via email at info@redangus.org.

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Founders Vision

Just in time for Christmas, the Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) is offering a stunning 50th anniversary commemorative print featuring registered and commercial Red Angus cattle in a pasture setting. Only 250 of the limited edition prints titled “Founders’ Vision” are available. Each print has been signed and numbered by artist Kaye Burian of North Dakota.

A copy of “Founders’ Vision” will make a perfect Christmas gift for your Red Angus admirer. Prints are available for $95 each, plus $7.95 for shipping and handling. To reserve your copy today, please contact the RAAA office at (940) 387-3502 or via email at info@redangus.org.

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A Golden Opportunity

A “golden” opportunity is now available for Red Angus enthusiasts. The Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) has assembled an intriguing historical overview of the first 50 years of the true performance breed. “The History of Red Angus” provides readers with an in-depth look at the formation of Red Angus, as well as the struggles and accomplishments throughout the years.

According to Harlan Ritchie, Distinguished Professor of Animal Science at Michigan State University, “I believe this book is a ‘must read’ for anyone engaged in the business of breeding beef cattle. This book is about people and their vision, determination, perseverance and willingness to swim upstream against the conventional wisdom that prevailed in the seedstock industry during the early 1950’s.”

Founding RAAA member Sal Forbes noted, “It is a graphic outline, not merely of the history of Red Angus, but of the complex development of the transition of the beef industry, from a hidebound show background to the most forward of scientific performance selection programs.”

“The History of Red Angus” will make a perfect Christmas gift for your Red Angus admirer. Leather bound copies are available for $100 or kyvar bound versions for $50. To reserve your copy today, please contact the RAAA office at (940) 387-3502 or via email at info@redangus.org.

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National Red Angus Show Champions Announced at NAILE

The Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) held their annual National Red Angus Junior and Open Shows on November 16, 2004 at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, KY. The 2004 National Show featured approximately 150 head of cattle and more than 60 exhibitors.

The National Red Angus Junior Show was judged by Dr. Dee Woody, Carbondale, IL. The National Red Angus Open Show judge was Dr. Tom Field, Fort Collins, CO. Brett Kaysen of Fort Collins, CO served as the Junior Showmanship and Open Show Associate judge.

National Champion Junior Red Angus Female:
MFIN PRECISION P25
Sire: LCC CHEYENNE B221L Dam: LSF RACHEL G1365 LA403
BW: 2.3 WW: 50 YW: 88 Milk: 19 TM: 44 STAY: 10
Breeder: Mark D. Finch
Exhibitor: Cassie Johnson, Cushing, IA

Reserve National Champion Junior Red Angus Female:
MS ADVANCER OF 4L RM5
Sire: PERKS ADVANCER 9088 Dam: PJMC MS GOLDEN BOY 327
BW: 3.0 WW: 48 YW: 82 Milk: 17 TM: 41 STAY: 10
Breeder: von Forell Ranch
Exhibitor: Amanda von Forell, Wheatland, WY

National Champion Junior Red Angus Bred & Owned Female:
RRA SANDY 401
Sire: UBAR GRAND PRIX 102 Dam: JRA 2966
BW: -0.9 WW: 37 YW: 67 Milk: 19 TM: 38 STAY: 10
Breeder: Ryan Rich
Exhibitor: Ryan Rich, Vinton, IA

Champion Senior Showman: Cassie Johnson, Cushing, IA

Champion Junior Showman: Amanda von Forell, Wheatland, WY

Junior Herdsman Award: Cassie Johnson, Cushing, IA

National Champion Red Angus Female:
WHITESTONE ROBIN T095
Sire: LCHMN GRANDCANYON 1244G Dam: GSZ MS ROBIN 138
BW: 1.3 WW: 33 YW: 68 Milk: 24 TM: 41 STAY: 13
Breeder: Whitestone Farm
Exhibitor: Whitestone Farm, Aldie, VA

Reserve National Champion Red Angus Female:
MS 122 CHATEAU OF 4L 302N
Sire: 4L MR CHATEAU R122 Dam: 4L MS CENTERSTAGE R775
BW: 2.3 WW: 41 YW: 70 Milk: 16 TM: 36 STAY: 9
Breeder: von Forell Ranch
Exhibitor: Benjamin von Forell, Wheatland, WY

National Champion Red Angus Bull:
4L 323 CONTINUANCE R59N
Sire: VDAR RAMBO 323 Dam: 4L MS MAKE MY DAY R875
BW: 2.1 WW: 41 YW: 74 Milk: 24 TM: 44 STAY: 10
Breeder: von Forell Ranch
Exhibitor: von Forell Ranch, Wheatland, WY

Reserve National Champion Red Angus Bull:
PERKS CHATEAU 309R
Sire: GLACIER CHATEAU 744 Dam: PERKS MISS RAMBO 8105
BW: 1.6 WW: 38 YW: 77 Milk: 18 TM: 37 STAY: 12
Breeder: Perks Ranch
Exhibitor: Perks Ranch, Rockford, IL & Walnut Springs Farms, Hopkins, MI

Senior Get of Sire: von Forell Ranch, Wheatland, WY

Junior Get of Sire: Perks Ranch, Rockford, IL

Produce of Dam: Morgan Branch Red Angus, Leicester, NC

Premier Exhibitor: von Forell Ranch, Wheatland, WY

Premier Breeder: Perks Ranch, Rockford, IL

Director’s Herdsmanship Award: Rocky Hill Farm, Petersburg, TN

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Red Angus Recognizes Industry Contributions from First 50 Years

The Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) recently recognized a plethora of individuals for their contributions and dedication during the breed’s first 50 years. Awards were presented during the 50th Anniversary Convention October 6-9, 2004 in Denton, Texas.

Each year, awards are given to Red Angus producers and supporters to recognize their contributions to the breed. The 2004 Red Angus award recipients included: Outstanding Junior Member – Daniel Mushrush, Strong City, KS; Industry Service — Mark Nelson, Angus America, Hastings, NE; International Service – Doug Fee, Canadian Angus Association; John V. Robbins Distinguished Service — Judy Edwards, Highland Village, TX and Ken Bower, Forestburg, TX; Personality of the Year — Sal Forbes, Sheridan, WY and George Chiga, Tulsa, OK; Commercial Producer of the Year — John and Jessica Warren, Paxton Ranch, Stapleton, NE; and Breeder of the Year — Glen and Karen Raisland, St. Ignatius, MT.

The “50 Most Influential People in Red Angus” were acknowledged as playing key roles in the founding and success of the true performance breed. The following people received this prestigious award: Linda Andersen, NE; Forrest Bassford, CA; Roy Beeby Family, OK; Ron Bieber Family, SD; Howard and Charlotte Bobbitt, TN; Dr. Jon Bonsma, South Africa; Dr. Rick Bourdon, CO; Jim Brinks, CO; R. C. Buckner, TX; Dave Cawlfield Family, MT; Jack and Gini Chase, WY; George and Vernice Chiga, OK;
Morris Dixon, WY; Gilchrist Family, IA; Joe Givhan, AL; Dr. Bruce Golden, CO; Betty Grimshaw, TX; Cliff and Audrey Haugen, MT; Harold Henry, MO; Dr. Bob Hough, TX;
Harold and Pat Hughes, MT; Gayle Ingram, TX; Rex and Joann James, IA; Owen and Jim Kolle, TX; and John Lambrecht Family, MT. Additional recipients included: Jim Leachman Family, MT; Melvin and Luella Leland, MT; Leonard Lorenzen Family, OR; Mackenzie Family, Canada; Mrs. S. Taylor McDaniel, TX; Roy McPhee Family, CA; Tony and Karen Messmer, ND; Ray Meyer, SD; C. T. and Sybil Parker, TX; Garold Parks, IA; Joe Perry, TX; Kenda Ponder, TX; Charles Pope, South Africa; W. E. Powell Family, AL; Bob Revelli, ID; John Robbins Family, MT; Jack and Martha Roberts, NM; Darrell Schuler Family, NE; Jim Shirm, TX; H. H. Stonaker, CO; Ken Thatcher, IA; Julius Todd, TX; and Henry and Jane Whitley, AL.

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Red Angus Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Members of the Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) gather annually to discuss business of the Association; but it is also a time of educational activities, updates from beef industry leaders, and sharing good times with other Red Angus enthusiasts. As 2004 serves as the 50th anniversary of Red Angus, this year’s national convention lived up to the tradition by celebrating “50 Years of Performance”. Over 330 Red Angus advocates, representing 120 memberships from 30 states, Canada and South Africa gathered October 6-9, 2004 in Denton, Texas to commemorate the breed’s first 50 years.

During their business session, members elected the 2004-2005 Board of Directors consisting of President, Frank Wedel, Leoti, KS; First Vice President, Steve Andras, Manchester, IL; Second Vice President Kelli Brown, Throckmorton, TX; and Directors: Rita McPhee, Lodi, CA; Larry Croissant, Briggsdale, CO; Joe Mushrush, Strong City, KS; Ron Feldkamp, Sylvan Grove, KS; Gary Sonstegard, Montevideo, MN; Seth Leachman, Billings, MT; Terry Boyles, Denton, NC; Raymond Prescott, Gray Court, SC; John Montgomery, Knoxville, TN; and Mary von Forell, Wheatland, WY. The Board of Directors is responsible for setting the policy and direction of the RAAA throughout the year.

An educational forum featuring a diverse group of speakers from academia and production agriculture was held on October 9. During the morning session, Jim Leachman, Leachman Cattle Barons, spoke on “What’s Right with Red Angus,” and Dr. John Pollack, Cornell University, discussed “The Future of Genetic Predictions.” An industry panel focusing on “The Shape of Things to Come – Breed Associations of the Future” was moderated by Donald “Donnell” Brown, R.A. Brown Ranch. The panel included Darrell Anderson, CEO of the National Swine Registry, John Meyer, CEO and Executive Secretary of the Holstein Association USA, and Dr. Bob Hough, Executive Secretary of the Red Angus Association of America. The afternoon session rounded out the symposium and highlighted Dr. Tom Field, Colorado State University, who addressed “Survivor Island, How will your Customers Vote?” and Kevin Oschner, Agri-Business Group, who offered a stimulating finale to the day with “20/20 Vision – Will You Be an Architect of the Future, or a Fixture of the Past?”

This year’s convention also featured numerous award winners, recognition of the “50 Most Influential People in Red Angus”, and the dedication of the National Headquarters.

The next National Red Angus Convention is scheduled to take place in Greenville, SC on September 28-30, 2005.

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Producers Harvest Carcass Awards on Angus America Grid

The 2004 Grid Master winners were recently announced during the 50^th Anniversary Convention of the Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) in Denton, Texas. The Grid Master program is rooted in the Red Angus’ Feeder Calf Certification Program; the beef industry’s only supplier of “Angus” product lines recognized by USDA as genetically verified. It was established to identify cow/calf producers and cattle feeders whose management of superior Red Angus carcass genetics yields outstanding results on the Red Angus-Angus America value based grid. First unveiled in September 2003, the Grid Master award requires cattle to meet the following criteria:

• Minimum 80% Choice
  Minimum 40% Premium Products (Prime, Sterling Silver, or Angus Pride)
  Minimum 40% Yield Grades 1 and 2
  Maximum 3.5% Yield Grade 4 or higher
  Minimum 30 head lot size
  

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Boyles Re-Elected to Red Angus Board of Directors

Terry Boyles was recently re-elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Red Angus Association of America (RAAA), at the 50^th Anniversary Convention held in Denton, Texas. Boyles will serve his second term representing the Northeast and District 7.

Terry and his wife, Michelle, own a small Red Angus herd and operate Twin B Farm in Denton, North Carolina. Terry has been on the purebred breeder’s council for the North Carolina Cattlemen’s Association, on the livestock committee at the Dixie Classic Fair and on the North Carolina Junior Beef Round Up committee. He has also served as a director for the Davidson County Association and is past president of the Forsyth County Cattlemen’s Association.

Terry served as the president of the Mason-Dixon Red Angus Association for four years, where he assisted the sale committee and promoted Red Angus through shows. He is actively involved in the North Carolina Junior Association and is working to create a market for certified Red Angus feeder calves in the North Carolina area.

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Brown Re-Elected to Red Angus Board of Directors

Kelli Brown was recently re-elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Red Angus Association of America (RAAA), at the 50^th Anniversary Convention held in Denton, Texas. Brown will serve her second term representing the Southwest and District 4. She will also serve as the RAAA’s Second Vice President.

Kelli and her husband, Donnell, manage and co-own the R.A. Brown Ranch at Throckmorton, Texas. They are the fourth generation to live and work on the 109 year old ranch that raises seven different breeds of cattle. Red Angus cattle have been a part of the ranch since 1988. They were initially added to help build and develop the four breed composite, Hotlander, which have become popular in the southern U.S., Australia, and South America where heat tolerance is needed. When Kelli and Donnell returned to the ranch after college, they selected the Red Angus Association, over all the other breeds they work with, to become most involved in. They also began to focus on improving their purebred Red Angus herd and have continued to see a growing demand for these cattle at their annual bull and female sale held each fall. Their family was involved in the conception of Rancher’s Renaissance which now features a branded product called “Cattleman’s Collection”. Many of the Brown’s cattle in this branded product contain Red Angus.

Kelli is originally from Nebraska, graduated from Oklahoma State University, and has been involved in the agriculture community since a young age. She served as the National FFA President in 1988, and continues to travel and give keynote addresses to groups of all ages. She has served as a director of the Texas Red Angus Association, and is currently chairperson of the RAAA Breed Improvement Committee.

Kelli, Donnell and their two boys, Tucker and Lanham, enjoy spending time with good cattle and good people.

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Feldkamp Elected to Red Angus Board of Directors

Ron Feldkamp was recently elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Red Angus Association of America (RAAA), at the 50^th Anniversary Convention held in Denton, Texas. Feldkamp will serve a three-year term representing Region B.

Ron Feldkamp is the fifth generation of his family to graze cattle in Lincoln County, Kansas, where his great, great grandfather started in 1887. The original tract of land remains a piece of the ranch today. Ron and his wife, Cindy, own and operate Lone Rock Ranch at Sylvan Grove, Kansas. They have three sons, Seth, T.J., and Will, and daughter-in-law, Jenn.

Ron graduated from Kansas State University in 1972 with a B.S. in Agriculture and completed his DVM in 1974. He practiced veterinary medicine for 26 years along with running his ranch. He has retired from his practice and now devotes full time to ranching.

He is a founding member of the Kansas Red Angus Association, serving as its president for four years. He has been an associate judge for the National Red Angus Show, and served on the RAAA Registration and Alliance Committees.

The philosophy Lone Rock Ranch adheres to is based on the sound economic principles commercial ranchers must embrace to survive in the competitive realm of suppliers of protein. In order to ensure the Red Angus breeds relevance to the beef industry, Ron believes the RAAA must firmly adhere to the values the breed was founded on while simultaneously pursuing innovative programs and relationships with the commercial producer.

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Mushrush Elected to Red Angus Board of Directors

Joe Mushrush was recently elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Red Angus Association of America (RAAA), at the 50^th Anniversary Convention held in Denton, Texas. Mushrush will serve a three-year term representing the Great Plains and District 6.

Joe graduated from Kansas State University with a B.S. in Animal Science in 1980. He immediately returned home to join his parents on their commercial cow operation near Strong City, Kansas. In 1985, the first Red Angus cattle were purchased to supply bulls for their own use. In 1988, a small feedlot was added to finish Red Angus sired calves purchased from Mushrush Red Angus customers. Today, Mushrush Red Angus has grown to include an annual production sale held each March.

Joe is a founding Kansas Red Angus board member and finished his term as president in August. He has served on the RAAA Alliance Committee since its inception. Joe’s list of community service activities is extensive as he’s served on the U.S.D. 284 school board eight years and was president for six. He has served on the Exchange National Bank board of directors for the past fifteen years. Joe is also a co-leader of the Bazaar 4-H club and a member of the Chase County fair board. He is a past Kansas Livestock Association director, and served on the Natural Resource committee.

Joe and his wife, Connie, have six children: Daniel, Casey, Cole, Laura, Chris, and Madelyn.

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Von Forell Elected to Red Angus Board of Directors

Mary von Forell was recently elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Red Angus Association of America (RAAA), at the 50^th Anniversary Convention held in Denton, Texas. Von Forell will serve a three-year term representing Region A.

The von Forell Ranch at Wheatland, Wyoming has run Red Angus cows since 1993. Since that time, the Red Angus cowherd has grown to encompass the largest single breed on the ranch. Mary manages 600 registered and commercial cows and husband Hardy operates the farming practices.

Mary’s livestock education began on a registered Red Angus, Angus and Horned Hereford ranch in Montana. She was active on the home ranch and with advertising, book keeping, and daily care of bulls at the family owned Midland Bull Test. She was educated at Montana State University and Oklahoma State University. Mary’s list of community activities is extensive as she’s served as 4-H leader, Sunday school teacher, past president of Laramie Peak Cattle Women, past committee vice chair of the Wyoming Stockgrowers Association and membership chair in Wyoming for R-CALF.

Mary and Hardy have three children, Kristine, Amanda, and Ben, who have all been active with Red Angus programs.

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Andras Re-Elected to Red Angus Board of Directors

Steve Andras was recently re-elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Red Angus Association of America (RAAA), at the 50^th Anniversary Convention held in Denton, Texas. Andras will complete his second three-year term representing the Midwest and District 9. He will also serve as the RAAA's First Vice President.

Steve and Theresa Andras have three children, and run a grain and livestock farm in Manchester, Illinois with 450 head of registered Red Angus and commercial cows.  Andras Stock Farm is a family operation, in partnership with son, Will and wife Kim, plus help from daughter Christi.  The Andras operation uses extensive artificial insemination, embryo transfer, and ultrasound technology.

Steve is a graduate of Southern Illinois University with a degree in Animal Science. He is a Deacon and Sunday school teacher at the Manchester Baptist Church. Over the years, Steve has been actively involved with 4-H, is a past Farm Bureau board member, a past ASCS and Soil, Water and Conservation committee member. Additionally, he is a past member and president on the local school board, and has served on several RAAA committees.

Steve's priorities which guide his life are God, family, country and Red Angus.

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Wedel Elected Red Angus President

Frank Wedel was recently elected to serve as President of the Red Angus Association of America (RAAA), at the 50^th Anniversary Convention held in Denton, Texas. Wedel has served on the RAAA Board of Directors for five years and completed a term as First Vice President.

Frank and his wife Susan own and operate Wedel Red Angus near Leoti, Kansas. They are the proud parents of four children ranging in age from 13 to 23 and have recently added a daughter-in-law.  In addition to their herd of registered Red Angus cows, they have a small feedlot and farm wheat and corn. They host their annual production sale in March.

Frank has served on various Red Angus committees, including the Strategic Planning Committee. He is also an elder in the local Presbyterian Church. 

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Cattle Feeders Find Value in Yellow
By Blake Angell, Commercial Marketing Director

In a business of high input costs and low margins, everything needs to work just right to ensure a profit. This is currently true in the cattle feeding business. This sector has experienced record high prices and profitability during the past year, but the cattle feeder is still dealing in a game of inches, or by his terminology, a game of tenths of a pound. All it takes is sub-par performance at the yard or one outbreak of sickness, and any potential profit has vanished.

Cattle feeders always try to purchase the cattle that will bring the most to the table. Although there is a lot of talk about the carcass merit of cattle and value-based marketing, many cattle feeders will tell you they place as much, if not more, value on how the cattle will perform in the feed yard. This takes into account the overall health of the cattle, their disposition and the resulting feeding performance. Cattle that combine both feeding performance and carcass quality are the kind that cattle feeders will try to buy year after year.

Today, many cattle feeders like Dale Kenny, general manager of Century Feeders, are turning to the yellow Certified Red Angus ear tag as a means of identifying the right cattle for them. “We feed lots of different kinds of cattle here, and we have just had less problems with Red Angus cattle from the day we get them until the day they go out,” says Dale. “That means a lot to us here at the feed yard.”

Century Feeders is a 10,000 head yard located in Goodland, Kansas, which feeds predominately northern cattle. Since the mid-to-late 90’s, Red Angus has become an increasingly larger percentage of the cattle they feed. Dale contributes the success they have seen with Red Angus to a number of different things, but the health of the cattle is one thing in particular.

During the fall of 2003, the huge temperature changes from day to night, coupled with the extremely dry and dusty conditions represented one of Century Feeder’s toughest years to get cattle started. Dale noted that even cattle that had been vaccinated or came with a proven track record of “clean health”, experienced dramatically higher health problems than in past years. However, he noticed something with the Red Angus cattle. “We just didn’t have the health problems with the Red Angus cattle that we had with other cattle,” Dale says. “I think they (Red Angus cattle) are just a pretty hardy animal.”

Performance in the Yard
Cattle feeders know the importance that the health of the cattle plays on the overall feeding performance. Strong, healthy cattle means better consumption of feed, which translates into more pounds to sell and typically lower costs of gains. Therefore, cattle that can post dependable daily gains and convert at profitable levels, equate to dollars in the cattle feeders pocket. For Richard Uhlenhake, this is everything.

With 100 percent of his cattle sold on the live market, Richard does not count on grid premiums to make cattle pencil out. Instead, he requires the cattle to excel in the feeding phase. Whether the cattle are fed at his home facilities in Ossian, Iowa or at one of the feed yards he works with in eastern Nebraska, the cattle must “make the grade” at the feed bunk.

“Cattle have to perform in the yard, or I don’t want to feed them,” states Richard. “And I see more consistency in the Red Angus cattle than others when it comes to gains.”

He attributes at least part of that to the gentle temperament of the cattle. He believes the quiet nature of the cattle allows them to convert at better rates, and the predictability that he sees in the cattle is worth a lot to him.

Kevin Johnson of Johnson-Taylor Feed Yard, Ainsworth, Nebraska, shares some of the same observations about the Red Angus cattle. “We have come to expect them (the Red Angus cattle) to come into the yard and be better on feed efficiency,” says Kevin. “We’ll see as much as a half a pound advantage in conversions on the Red Angus cattle. That may not sound like much, but that is a huge difference for us.”

Kevin credits this consistency in performance to the Red Angus genetics behind the cattle. He points out that they have worked hard to establish the proper feed rations, health protocol and implant strategy at their lot, but fully believes that the cattle feeder can only do so much. “There’s nothing we can do as a feeder to make up for the lack of genetics in a set of cattle,” states Kevin. “Because everything else (at the feed yard) is the same, for me genetics play the major role in explaining the differences in performance from pen to pen.” With this mindset, Johnson-Taylor Feed Yard places lots of value in the yellow Certified Red Angus ear tag documenting the genetics of the cattle.

Hot Summer Days
So what about the theory that black cattle don’t do as well in the heat as colored cattle? According to these individuals, there may be more to it than some people think.

In north central Nebraska, the hot days of summer can have a drastic impact on cattle’s performance at the feed yard. July 2004 was no exception. With extreme temperatures and high levels of humidity pushing heat indexes over 100 degrees for several days in a row, Kevin really took notice of how the cattle reacted. The overall results of the weather caused dramatic changes in the eating behavior and feed consumption of the cattle in his yard, which led him to the following observations

While driving up and down the alleys at the feed yard, Kevin noticed that the Red Angus cattle remained at the bunk eating, while the vast majority of the black cattle stayed huddled up in the back of the pen. Between what he was seeing and through his bunk management practices, he could tell that there were definitely some differences in consumption between the various sets of cattle. However, when he took a closer look at the data, he realized what a dramatic difference there was.

With the pens of Red Angus cattle being fed around 5,000 pounds of feed per day, the feed sheets indicated that the cattle backed off to about 4,400 pounds of feed per day. This represented a 12 percent reduction in consumption. But when he looked at the feed sheets from pens of black cattle, he found some startling figures.

“We saw the consumption on some of the blacks fall off by as much as 50 percent,” Kevin remarked. The most severe case he noted was a pen of blacks that went from consuming nearly 5,000 pounds of feed per day down to just over 1,600 pounds, which represented a 68 percent reduction. Although this only lasted for one day, Kevin noted that it took nearly a week for these cattle to get back on full feed once the extreme heat had subsided.

“Without consumption, there is no gain,” Kevin said after analyzing the data. “And when pounds of gain and efficiency are how we measure things, then consumption is everything. Here at the feed yard, the Red Angus cattle are doing it.”

Dale Kenny also noticed some difference in performance during the hot dry summer days in western Kansas. Along with this, Dale also points out that he has seen some differences during the extreme cold weather as well. “It just seems that the weather does not affect the Red Angus cattle the way it does other cattle,” Dale says.

So what does all this mean? To Richard Uhlenhake it means, “The Red Angus cattle typically feed about two cents a pound cheaper than the blacks.” “With feed conversion and cost of gains the bottom line, these are the cattle I want to feed.”

True Value
Performance is only part of the picture; the cattle must also be marketable coming out of the feed yard. For these cattle feeders, this has not been a concern.

“The cattle are easy to sell with the tags,” states Richard. Whether it is the Excel cattle buyer, or a buyer from another packer, he indicates that they are very aggressive when it comes to buying the Certified Red Angus cattle. Richard reiterated that all the Red Angus cattle he feeds will wear the yellow tag.

Dale has seen similar results. Even though many of their cattle are sold on various grids, including the Red Angus grid at Excel, some sets of Red Angus tagged cattle are sold on the live market. In those cases, Dale has not only seen interest from the buyers, he has also had some buyers give fifty cents to a dollar per hundred weight over the market to get the cattle bought. This is a practice that had been reserved predominately for black cattle in the past, but that is definitely changing. The reason cattle feeders can market Certified Red Angus cattle for a premium, whether on a grid or in the live market, is because the yellow ear tag documents Red Angus genetics...and that documentation means predictability.

For all three of these gentlemen, the predictability of the Red Angus cattle is very important. So much so that they are willing to give a little more to buy cattle that are enrolled in the program and wearing the yellow ear tag.

“The ear tag gives us a little more feeling of security when we buy them,” states Dale. “Therefore, we’ve always been willing to give a little premium at the sale barn or video market for Certified Red Angus calves.”

The market for Red Angus cattle has advanced substantially over the life of the Feeder Calf Certification Program. As more and more cattle feeders experience similar results from the Red Angus cattle they feed, the market will continue to become stronger. So for the commercial cow/calf producer, the message should be pretty clear. Cattle feeders continue to gain awareness of the Red Angus cattle and their consistent and predictable performance both at the feed yard and in the packing plant. Producers should take the opportunity to not only enroll their calves in the Certified Red Angus program, but also take advantage of the stronger market that continues to develop for genetically sourced Red Angus cattle.

For Century Feeders, their position is very solid. “From health wise to the finished product, Red Angus cattle have performed very well for us at the feed yard,” says Dale. “That’s why we like them and why we will continue to feed them.

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August 14 , 2004 Red Angus Association of America

Red Angus Association Requests Body Condition Score Information
Guest Editorial by Larry Keenan, Red Angus Association of America

Since its formation in 1954, the Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) has consistently strived to provide producers with the most accurate genetic evaluations possible. This feat can only be accomplished through the collection of required data by producers. Once again, the RAAA is calling on you, the producer, to help us, help you. In an effort to improve the genetic evaluation of Maintenance Energy (ME), the RAAA is requesting producers to submit Body Condition Score (BCS) information along with their Mature Weight data. The accuracy and utility of the ME EPD is dependent on the collection and reporting of BCS data. This is due to the fact that Mature Weight is adjusted to a constant BCS. Red Angus breeders have the ability to improve the accuracy and usefulness of the ME EPD by simply collecting BCS in tandem with Mature Weight at weaning, and submitting it to the RAAA.

The ME EPD estimates the difference in amount of energy needed to maintain the body tissues of animals with no change in weight. Maintenance energy requirements are derived from information released in Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle. It has been estimated that 40 to 60 percent of the annual cow cost is represented by feed inputs. Of that feed, 70 percent goes to cow maintenance energy requirements. Therefore, breeders can now implement the ME EPD into their breeding program to produce animals that require less feed inputs at the same level of production; thus, reducing the cost of production.

Initially, one would think a byproduct of selecting for lower ME EPDs would be smaller framed cattle; however, with the collection of all necessary data, this is not necessarily the case. The three pieces of data needed for accurate calculation of ME EPD are: Mature Weight, Milk and Body Condition Score. Mature Weight is a valuable piece of information as it is an indicator trait of maintenance energy requirements; cows should be weighed when their calves are weaned. Red Angus breeders already collect Milk data, which is attained through the genetic evaluation of the weaning weight of the animal’s progeny. The piece of information needed to complete the information package is BCS.

Body Condition Scores are typically evaluated to determine the nutritional state of animals. The genetic evaluation of ME uses BCS in a similar way. The calculation uses BCS in conjunction with Mature Weight and Milk to evaluate how an animal is performing nutritionally compared to the other members of the contemporary group. The theory behind the ME EPD calculation is this: if two animals from the same contemporary group weigh the same and have the same milk production level, but have differing BCS, the animal with the higher BCS requires less maintenance energy and is consequently more efficient.

Without BCS data, we only know how large or small the animal is and its milk production level. Granted, size of the animal and milk are large contributors to nutritional requirements of the animal; however, without BCS we don’t know the nutritional state of the animal. Therefore, if BCS data is not provided the genetic evaluation of ME is biased.

The consistency of BCS measurements taken within management groups is essential. In order to maintain accurate measurements, only one person should be delegated to measure BCS. The most important step in collecting BCS data is the identification of differing management groups. This is achieved through the proper identification of ‘Calf’s Weaning Management Group’ found on the RAAA Registration Application Report when reporting animal’s progeny data. Therefore, animals in the same BCS management group should have been provided the identical forage, water, minerals, health program, supplement, etc. Extremely accurate management grouping is important due to the subjective measurement of BCS. Body Condition Score is measured with the eye and often external palpation of the fat deposits on the animal. Therefore, one producer may call an animal a BCS 4.5, while another producer may call the same animal a BCS 5.5. These differences in measurement perspective are taken care of through the technology and intellect behind the calculation of EPDs if, and only if, accurate management groups are identified.

The minimal time and thought required to complement Mature Weight information with BCS data is greatly outweighed by the increase in the precision of the ME EPD. The RAAA is committed to producing accurate genetic predictions for economically relevant traits, such as the ME EPD. This request for BCS data is another effort by RAAA to provide producers with the most accurate genetic evaluations in the industry.

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