BULLS
We heavily utilize top sires in the Angus breed. We select these bulls by studying their EPD's (expected progeny difference). These rankings are used to compare animals within the breed. When selecting a bull to use in our artificial insemination (A.I.) program, we are looking for top 10% of the breed or better for weaning weight, yearling weight as well as the carcass traits of Marbling, ribeye, carcass weight and minimal backfat.
We select for a moderate birthweight, believing that too small a calf erodes survival in adverse weather and too big is obviously problematic with heifers giving birth. Calving ease is balanced against the actual birthweight as being the trait of paramount importance.
Docility is high on the list. Top 10% or better in the breed is what we look for.
We like to keep mature size and milk under control. Our environment can be challenging. A high maintenance cow that demands pampering to keep her weight on, does not fit the program, so we watch the index trait of $EN as well as the mature height EPD
Index traits that are combinations of important traits, compiled by the association, are very important.
We like to see 10% or better for $W, which is a value comparison for the growth of the calf to weaning. We do not ignore this trait as most of our bull customers sell their calves directly after weaning. $F and $G are feedlot traits that we like to see very high as well because we sell our own finished steers. $B is the premier EPD index, being a combination of growth after weaning and carcass value.
We select for a moderate birthweight, believing that too small a calf erodes survival in adverse weather and too big is obviously problematic with heifers giving birth. Calving ease is balanced against the actual birthweight as being the trait of paramount importance.
Docility is high on the list. Top 10% or better in the breed is what we look for.
We like to keep mature size and milk under control. Our environment can be challenging. A high maintenance cow that demands pampering to keep her weight on, does not fit the program, so we watch the index trait of $EN as well as the mature height EPD
Index traits that are combinations of important traits, compiled by the association, are very important.
We like to see 10% or better for $W, which is a value comparison for the growth of the calf to weaning. We do not ignore this trait as most of our bull customers sell their calves directly after weaning. $F and $G are feedlot traits that we like to see very high as well because we sell our own finished steers. $B is the premier EPD index, being a combination of growth after weaning and carcass value.
We also watch the fertility traits. Without a good mother cow, there is nothing. We are making future cows with sire selection choices. The bull also has to look good. Small head, not too leggy, good capacity, good hock angle, excellent hindquarters and a long back.
Our herd bull is sired by Deer Valley All In AAA# 17307074. He has been i50k genetically tested for valuable traits. He stands at top 10% of the breed for tenderness and carcass weight. He boasts excellent growth at all levels. He will be working primarily as a terminal sire and we are excited about using him as a sire for our locker beef program.
COWS
We have females for sale each year. The emphasis in the cow herd is basically the same as the bulls. We put a lot of selection pressure on the cows. They must produce a calf each year. We have never pulled a calf. We use veterinary services when needed but we expect the cows to conceive and calve without intervention. With these real-world criteria (the same standards as the ranch with hundreds of cattle) the cows must do all this on grass. This is a grass operation and if the cow cannot keep her weight on solely with forage, then she is not suited to this environment. We tap into real-world, big ranch genetics with our A.I. program and we expect the cows to perform in a big-world manner. Even a cow who is well-bred and valuable must raise a calf each year or she is culled. She must also have good udder conformation and feet and legs that ensures she will stay sound and pain free for her productive life. Cows must walk for a living and she has to be strong and sound for the long term.
