BeefTalk: Understanding EPD Percentile Tables is Important
A simple way to deal with the table is to decide on what level of performance one wants to shop for. The discussion of how to utilize breed association expected progeny differences (EPDs) by setting...
View ArticleBeefTalk: Big or Little Socket?
Having a socket set that only has large sockets makes no more sense than only buying bulls that are trait leaders for growth. As calving season comes to the forefront, bull buying starts to wind down...
View ArticleCowboy Toolbox: Bull Purchase Price Comparison Spreadsheet
Dr. Ross Pruitt, LSU College of Agriculture has created a spreadsheet is designed to assist cow/calf producers in determining if purchasing a higher-priced bull is an economically sound investment....
View ArticleWith Beef Prices High, It’s Time To Invest In Better Genetics
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – “With record high beef prices, about anything works,” said Scott Brown, University of Missouri economist. “It’s hard to make a bad decision.” Speaking at a national meeting of animal...
View ArticleUnderstanding bulls’ gene-rich Y chromosomes may improve herd fertility
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Y chromosomes of cattle have more genes and are more active than the Y chromosomes of other mammals, according to researchers. This discovery may help biologists better...
View ArticleWatch Bulls Before, During Breeding Season
Spotting problems early can save the breeding season. More than 80 percent of producers in North Dakota likely will have bulls actively breeding cows in their pastures on Aug. 1. “The importance of...
View ArticleAngus: Mapping Herd Improvement
Steer futurity Sire Profit Analysis guides progress When Daryl Strohbehn retired as an Iowa State Extension beef specialist there was one project he wasn’t ready to give up the reins to. Since 2003, he...
View ArticleVideo Feature: Hinkson Angus Ranch Talks Selection Traits
Frank Hinkson is a seedstock producer from Cottonwood Falls, Kan., whose experience in breeding high quality Angus cattle has told him that if he wants to be successful he must give the customers what...
View ArticleVideo Feature: The Future of Cattle Genetic Evaluation
Dr. Dan Moser, newly named president of Angus Genetics Inc. and director of performance programs for the American Angus Association, shares why all eyes are on the Angus breed for progress on genetic...
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BeefTalk: Prepping for the Bull-buying Season
Genetic uniformity starts at home by selecting good bulls through knowledgeable and informed selection and implementing focused production goals for clear outcomes relevant to beef cattle production. I...
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BeefTalk: Step 1 for Bull Buying: Red Angus Example
I like to start with the basic growth traits, which are those “touchy, feely” traits that connect what I see in the cattle to what the data is trying to tell me. As cattle producers, pondering where...
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BeefTalk: Step 1 for Bull Buying: Simmental Example
The baseline traits used are simple growth traits that meet my “touchy, feely” criteria. The bull pen evaluations continue at the Dickinson Research Extension Center. This week, the Simmental bulls are...
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BeefTalk: Revising the Red Angus and Simmental Bull Pen
The process begins again each year by evaluating the genetics of the “keeper bulls” prior to going out and bidding on similar or better bulls The Dickinson Research Extension Center tries to buy bulls...
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How Much Can I Afford to Pay for a Bull?
A popular question this time of year is “How much can I afford to pay for a bull.” My go-to answer is usually… “How much revenue loss would you have from a pasture full of open cows?” After all, we...
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New Tools in Bull Selection: Understanding and Using Selection Indexes
New Tools in Bull Selection Understanding and Using Selection Indexes Feb. 19, 2015 6:00 p.m. Mountain Time The seedstock cattle business has experienced an information explosion in the past decade...
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Preparation Key for Successful Bull Purchases
As the bull-buying season gets underway, commercial cattlemen should do their home work to help ensure the bull(s) they purchase this year meet their needs. Preparedness is the key to making an...
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Calves = Very Valuable; Bulls Deemed “Satisfactory Potential Breeders” =...
Yes, you likely do recognize that same title from previous years in this publication but, we think it deserves repeating. Sounds simple enough: purchase bull; put bull with cows; calves appear in ~...
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Are the Bulls Ready for the Fall Breeding Season?
The fall breeding season is about two months away. If you have not assessed your bull battery recently, time is running out. Contact your local large animal veterinarian and make arrangements to see...
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Buying Known Bull Genetics Adds Value
One of the most important management decisions for a cattle operation is what bull to buy. When cattle producers make bull purchases, several factors should be considered: number of bulls, type,...
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BeefTalk: Buying Bulls by the Numbers
Knowing current average expected progeny difference values for bulls is critical. The new year brings a new approach to bull buying because the tools involved in bull selection improve each year. Two...
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