Montana and the Midwestern States have a burgeoning Angus herd, and there are more ranches using Angus genetics.
If you are considering buying a heifer in Montana, you may want to choose a sire with a high progeny count. If you are in Montana and would like to know more about Angus genetics, read on.
Angus registrations are increasing in Montana
Angus cattle have a long and distinguished history in the U.S. The first herd of Angus cattle was imported directly from Scotland in 1878. Since then, the breed has grown to more than 20 million registered animals. It is important to note that Angus cattle are not only known for their high marbling and ease of calving, but they also have an overall high-quality carcass.
The Angus breed is gaining ground in the Midwest. The American Angus Association is the largest beef registry in the U.S. With over 300,000 registered cattle, the breed has become a popular choice among dairy producers in the area. Its popularity is also growing among cattle producers in the region. Though Wisconsin is not a major beef-producing state, there are over 150 registered operations of Angus in the state.
This increased popularity is due to a variety of factors. One of the reasons for the increase in Angus registrations is a more favorable climate for calving. The southern United States tends to experience fewer calving difficulties than their northern counterparts. For example, researchers at the MARC in Nebraska compared the calving ease of their four-month-old cows to calves born in Louisiana in the same year. The calves born in Nebraska were 92 pounds, while the calves in Louisiana averaged only 69 pounds.
Angus genetics are being used on more ranches in Montana
Angus genetics are a staple on ranches throughout the country, including the state of Montana. The cattle produced by these bulls have high milk production, growth, and carcass traits. They also have a maternal pedigree that reads like royalty. This is why more ranches are turning to Angus genetics.
One of the first ranches to use Angus genetics was the Sietz Angus Ranch in Montana, USA. This ranch was founded by Bob Sitz Sr., who was a member of the American Angus Association board of directors. This ranch was also one of the first to use artificial insemination. The Sitz family also pioneered the use of embryo transfer and other reproductive techniques, and they were also the first ranches to sell their cattle through the Certified Angus Beef program.
In addition to promoting Angus genetics on ranches in Montana, many beef producers are also exporting their genetics overseas. Many Montana beef producers are sending their genetics to Central America, including Nicaragua. This is important because Nicaragua is Central America’s top beef producer.
Since Russ Dawson started his Angus operation in the 1960s, Angus genetics are now used on more ranches across Montana. The cattle are bigger, making them better for commercial purposes. Some of the most notable Angus genetics used on ranches in Montana include Highland Evaxus Lad A50, a bull that was over a ton as an adult. Another important herd sire was Bardolier 786, which weighed one ton as a mature bull. Bardolier 51, 717, and 011 are also foundation herd sires.
Angus sires with a high progeny count are better options for heifers
The All-Purpose Index (API) is a good indicator of a sire’s profitability for cows and heifers. This index includes traits such as stayability, calving ease, moderate mature weight, carcass value, and feedlot efficiency. High scores indicate a sire will be more productive than average at raising cows for beef and dairy production.
When selecting a sire for a herd, producers should consider a sire’s progeny count. Angus sires with a low progeny count may not have the ability to improve the performance of replacement heifers in the area. A high progeny count, on the other hand, may be more successful for heifers in Montana and the Midwestern States.
EPDs can also be used to help identify the best sire for a particular situation. For instance, an EPD of 5.2 is better than 6.2 for Angus. If a sire’s EPD is higher than the average for the region, that means he or she should be more adaptable to the climate.
EPDs are also important determinants of carcass weight. The EPD is expressed in pounds and inches. A lower EPD indicates that the carcass is less fat and less trimmed, while a higher EPD indicates that the animal will have more flesh.
Angus heifers sold in Montana
The Gaffney family is a leading breeder of Angus heifers in Montana and the Midwestern States. Their Angus heifers have national recognition. In January, a pair of Gaffney heifers brought $8,000 and $4,300, respectively, at the National Western Angus Foundation Female Sale in Denver. In addition, their RB Lady Party 192-305 sold for $152,000 at the Wilkes Ranch in Cisco, Texas. Recently, the Gaffneys hosted a Chinese delegation to view their ranch and their cattle.
Ludvigson Stock Farms and Neo-Sho Farms in Southwest City, Missouri, started marketing bulls in 2003. In 2004, they topped a bull sale at the event and sold the Canyon Classic 3037N bull to Wood Red Angus in Oklahoma. Afterwards, the LN Cattle Company and Ludvigson Stock Farms started holding bull sales, and they’ve continued to do so for the past two years.
In the Miles City study, researchers correlated traits related to calving difficulty with calving difficulty. Ideally, a correlation between two traits would be 1.0. However, the researchers found that anything greater than.40 was highly significant. The calving difficulty was most correlated with birth weight, followed by sex. Other traits, such as gestation length, cow weight, and calf’s sire, were less influential.
The Ludvigson Stock Farm and the Leachman Cattle Company share a close partnership. The Leachman family worked with Ryan Ludvigson from 1997 to 2000, and the two families continue to exchange ideas and discuss breeding strategies. They have both been successful in breeding Angus cattle for over a decade.
Angus heifers born in Montana
In the early 2000s, two Angus breeding herds in the Midwestern States partnered to market genetics. The result was a large and successful Angus marketing operation. Wayne Stevenson, patriarch of the Stevenson family, passed away in 1994 and his son Doug Stevenson stepped up to lead the business. Under Doug’s guidance, the marketing program was maintained and continues to grow today.
Today, Angus cattle are widely distributed throughout the U.S., and they are regarded as one of the most valuable breeds for breeding purposes. Their easy calving ability and fast growth make them ideal for cold-weather conditions. They produce Prime and Choice grade beef and are known for having healthy, strong calves.
The researchers found that cows born in the Midwestern States are less likely to have calving problems than those born in the southern United States. This was shown in a recent study that involved four-month-old cows from MARC in Nebraska. The females were bred to five Chianina sires. The calves born in Nebraska averaged 92 pounds, while the calves born in Louisiana were only 68 pounds at birth.
The Stevenson family in Montana was among the first to introduce Angus cattle to the state. Their cattle were evaluated by the LSF for milking abilities, calf vigor, and body condition scores. Adding genetics from other ranches such as Redland, Panhandle, and Buffalo Creek Red Angus Ranch resulted in the Angus breed’s approval.