Angus Beef
Doug Rueber was 12 years old when his father first bought a few Angus cows in 1962. Back then, the Ruebers were impressed with the docile Angus breed and its ability to deliver growth, carcass and maternal results — so much so, Doug and his wife, Marcia, continue to raise Angus cattle nearly 48 years later.
With part-time help from their nephew Bob James, the family sells about 50 bulls a year from their Arlington, Iowa, operation. Doug says the key to their success — besides Angus genetics — is the family’s long-term vision and focus on the end product.
“If you’re going to raise cattle, you’ve got to be in it for the long haul,” Doug says.
That philosophy drove him toward the American Angus Association®’s genomic-enhanced expected progeny differences (EPDs) for carcass traits. The high-accuracy EPDs incorporate Association pedigree, carcass and ultrasound performance data with genomic profile results to produce EPDs for carcass merit.
The Association’s Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) — through its partnership with Merial’s IGENITY® — provides the genomic-enhanced carcass trait EPDs along with Angus-specific profile scores for seven additional traits beyond carcass.
Doug says the technology has provided a convenient way to make genetic progress in a shorter time frame than traditionally possible.
“We’ve always been interested in trying to focus on carcass traits,” he says. “When you put marbling and tenderness together you have a really good eating experience, and that’s what we shoot for.”
But aiming for that goal can be a somewhat slow process, Doug admits.
Genomic-enhanced technology implemented into a weekly carcass National Cattle Evaluation (NCE) speeds the process considerably, says Dr. Sally Northcutt, Association genetic research director.
“Incorporating the high-accuracy IGENITY profile for Angus provides a low-cost way to significantly increase accuracy beyond an animal’s own records and several progeny — at any time in the calf’s life,” she says. “In the case of a female, using the profile may be the equivalent of nearly a lifetime of production in terms of data on her progeny.”
Better selection tools allow cattlemen to select for a more consistent product — they just have to be willing to jump in and use them, Doug says.
“It’s kind of like buying a new computer. If you keep waiting until the next latest, greatest model comes out, you’ll never jump in and buy one,” he says. “The DNA technology is expanding about that fast, but if you didn’t ever start, you’d miss out. And anything we can do to get a more consistent product is important.”
On the farm
Submitting samples is relatively hassle-free, Doug says. “It’s just a few more minutes while you’re running a trip through,” he says. “It just takes one person.”
Blood samples on FTA cards are the preferred method of collection. After collecting samples, Doug submits a profile order and mails the samples to AGI. In a matter of weeks, he receives carcass EPDs and profile scores for other traits where EPDs are not yet available — like tenderness.
Bill Bowman, AGI president, says the information benefits all Angus producers, regardless of herd size or location. “Producers can be confident this technology will help to improve their selection decisions, to indicate the genetic merit of their animals, and to increase the accuracy of EPDs.”
If producers do that, they’ll have a more consistent, more dependable product for consumers, Doug says. “The more we work at trying to incorporate this, in the long run it should increase the value of our bulls and females that we sell.”
Bottomline benefits
The Angus-specific profile costs $65 — but Doug suggests producers consider the cost from a longer-term perspective.
“You invest in something today knowing it will increase the value for your product down the road,” he says. “It’s helped us with our bull sales this year, but it’s more than a sales gimmick. It’s trying to breed in a solid, consistent genetic package for the customer.”
That’s how it will pay for itself in the long-run, Doug says.
“It’s not going to be a magic wand that’s going to pay big dollars tomorrow, but if you’re in it for the long haul, the average bull goes out and sires 100-125 calves in his lifetime in commercial operations. So you’re talking somewhere between 50 cents and 75 cents a calf for knowing the DNA of your herd bull out there. That’s less than the cost of a plastic tag to put in their ear.
“When you start looking at it that way, it’s not a big cost per animal,” he continues. “There’s places you can cut corners in tough times, but knowing what your genetics are isn’t a place to be cutting corners.”
Source: www.cattlenetwork.com