To have it all, pay attention to all
All of “those things” were marbling, maternal function and performance.
But re-reading that post I realized I may have unintentionally fueled another myth, so let me a clarify a bit.
Myth: You can achieve profitable, high-quality cattle by selecting for marbling alone.
Fact: You need to keep pressure on marbling, while focusing on all economically important traits.
Yes, even a branded beef company with a big emphasis on marbling (it is the No. 1 one reason cattle fail to meet CAB) won’t ever suggest you select for it without regard for other economically important traits.
I’ve brought this up before, but I thought it’s worth stating again and our Best Practices Manual says it best:
“Selecting for any one trait while ignoring others does not lead to commercially successful livestock production. The key is balance in selecting for all traits that affect profit, both short- and long-term. However, balance need not mean “equal.” Strong selection pressure can be put on a few traits that greatly improve CAB acceptance rates without compromising other areas.”
We have an entire chapter devoted to our genetic recommendations, which includes stacking generations selected for marbling and choosing Angus bulls that are AT MINIMUM in the top 40% of the breed for marbling.
There are recommendations for backfat and ribeye area, too, but that’s only one part of the puzzle. You need easy-keepers, good mothers and good gainers, too.
Now you can’t say I didn’t warn you. You can have it all, but that means paying attention to it all, too.
May your bottom line be filled with black ink,
Miranda
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Nebraska Ranch Receives Certified Angus Beef Commercial Award
Troy Anderson, managing a Nebraska ranch, focuses on breeding thriving maternal cows that will grade premium Choice and Prime, while respecting livestock, people and land. Anderson Cattle receives the 2023 CAB Commitment to Excellence Award. Their journey includes improving genetics, feeding home-raised and purchased calves and using data for better breeding decisions, all with a bottom-line approach.
Everything They Have
Progress is a necessity on the Guide Rock, Nebraska, ranch where Troy Anderson manages a commercial Angus herd, small grower yard, his 10-year-old son, and a testing environment. Troy’s approach includes respect for his livestock, people and land. For that, Anderson Cattle was honored with the CAB 2023 Commercial Commitment to Excellence Award.
Progress, Not Perfection
It’s a labor of love, obvious in the way she lights up explaining their family’s 33-year effort to proactively adapt Angus cows to their land. A lifetime of telling stories from the pasture or kitchen has resonated with nonfarm consumers as much as fellow ranchers. “Everything we do is about cattle, but it’s also about family and connecting our kids to the land and to the cattle,” Debbie Lyons-Blythe says.