The Angus Journal is a monthly magazine known for in-depth coverage of American Angus Association programs and services; the Angus business; herd management techniques; and advertising reflecting genetics herd philosophies.
Issue link: http://angusjournal.epubxp.com/i/435083
130 n ANGUSJournal n January 2015 calve in the spring and try not to drag out the calving season, so we have to keep a tight leash. We spend a lot of time looking at pedigrees, and we get the performance pedigrees from the American Angus Association. By analyzing the pedigrees, we know who is back there, and we can check EPDs online. We check on red flags from our experience, and recordkeeping is absolutely important. On that, the Association has given us so many tools that are so helpful in trying to decide what you can predict these cows are going to do. Using EPDs for different trait selection has been very helpful, and so have the performance pedigrees. You can order them and get them in about an hour, sometimes less. Those are really nice because you get a lot about that animal before you purchase it, and it creates a lot more credibility. The weaning value index ($W) makes the most sense for our customers because a lot of them sell their steers in the fall to be fed. This index gives them one simple number to look at. We've been trying to educate our customers on weaning weights, yearling weights, birth weight and calving ease EPDs. We try to balance growth and calving ease. We don't want a yearling weight that's too high because we need a moderate frame to maintain cows out here. I also don't want birth weight of more than 100. With our genetic pool, I've seen just as much growth in a 90-pound birth weight as 100. The one thing that trumps everything, whether in bull selection or female selection, is they have to look the part. We do like EPDs to assist in selection, but if a bull doesn't look the way we want him to look for what we need, then you can have all the numbers in the world and he's just not going to work. Disposition is our No. 1 criteria. We absolutely will not use a wild bull. Structure is also right up there. What are your customers looking for and how do you meet those needs? Our customers need cattle that will work for them without worrying about structure or disposition. These cattle have to fit the environment. For a lot of our customers out here in Montana, their cattle have to travel a long way in wide-open pastures. Those cattle need to have good feet and be able to travel. They have to be good, efficient producers and be able to raise calves and be able to hike to water. They're worked hard out here, there's no doubt about that. We need to select for our environment, more than anything, really. A lot of our customers trust that a bull of ours will move their herd in the right direction genetically. Very few of our buyers will bid just going off of the numbers. More buyers go off of straight phenotype because they know our program. We take a lot of care in selecting our cattle so they perform and look the part. Mercedes Danekas-Lohse Operation: Pheasant Trek Location: Wilton, Calif. Year attended BLI: 2012 Tell me about your operation. The Pheasant Trek program began as a junior show program and blossomed into raising and selling show heifers and range bulls. By hand-selecting a few show- heifer prospects every year from around the country, over the years our herd began to grow. We are very fortunate to have purchased females who have had very successful show careers and, more importantly, became even better producers. What are your criteria for choosing breeding stock? Our concentration has never been on EPDs, but rather on good structure and current pedigrees all put together in a beautiful larger-framed package. When we choose a mating, I always first look at how a cow's structure can be improved; if she's tighter made, I will choose a soggier-made bull, and so on. Next I look at frame score. Our animals need to perform and reach maximum weights at weaning. Our bull costumers appreciate this since that's the ideal trait they come to us for. We only use AI (artificial insemination), so when choosing a sire, I try to research any prior progeny and the bloodlines represented in the pedigree. Our focus has always been to stay small in quantity, but large on quality, and with this mentality our herd has never grown larger than 45 head at one time. This has allowed us to concentrate on each individual. Genetic Selection Q&A; CONTINUED FROM PAGE 128 @ Pheasant Trek customers appreciate the operation's success in the showring. @ Mercedes Danekas-Lohse, Pheasant Trek, Wilton, Calif., grew her operation from a junior show program. CONTINUED ON PAGE 132 PHOTOS COURTESY OF MERCEDES DANEKAS-LOHSE