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
16 n ANGUSJournal n January 2015 Opportunity This issue marks the start of a new year for the Angus breed, one that promises unlimited opportunity for thousands of cattlemen across the nation. The Association and Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) are ensuring Angus breeders and their commercial customers make the most of that opportunity by recently releasing improvements to selection tools offered through the nation's largest single-breed beef cattle database. The American Angus Association last month released its regularly scheduled national cattle evaluation (NCE), along with biannual information like percentile tables, breed averages and more. Importantly, it also contained new enhancements to the suite of dollar value indexes ($Values), which were frst offered through the Association in 2004. The value of $Values When $Values were introduced about a decade ago, few people were collecting feed intake data, let alone submitting the information to Angus headquarters. Technological advancements along the way, however, made it easier to record an individual animal's feed intake. Producers today are better able to track and document this valuable information, which is now incorporated into bioeconomic selection tools like feedlot value ($F) and beef value ($B). This data, along with updated economic assumptions, allows our team of genetic researchers to improve the selection tools offered to Angus members by obtaining a better estimate of proftability through the feedyard and on the rail. The success of $Values and their effect on the big-picture beef industry is no secret, and these type of advancements will continue through our organization well into the future. The horizon As the Association enters a new year, it focuses on continuing its efforts in the development of tools to measure reproductive and lifetime productivity traits. The catalyst will be more breeding records submitted by members through the MaternalPlus® program. The MaternalPlus program is the Association's voluntary inventory-based reporting system that offers several benefts to producers, including additional information at weaning processing time — including calving ease, birth weight and weaning weight expected progeny differences (EPDs) for calves out of inventoried cows — as well as use of the offcial MaternalPlus logo in marketing materials. The program works through the Association's traditional reporting methods like AAA Login and Angus Information Management Software (AIMS), and it allows users to track disposal codes and better manage their herds. It also contributes to breed-wide advancements and allows for the further development of selection tools used to identify more effcient females and, ultimately, advance the breed for years to come. Learn more about the MaternalPlus inventory-based reporting system at www.angus.org, at 816-383-5100 or through AAA Login. Movin' Forward @ by Bryce Schumann, CEO, American Angus Association ASSOCIATION Staying ahead The American Angus Association moves into 2015 by continuing to advance genetic evaluation. 2015 OFFICERS Steve Olson, president & chairman of the Board, PO Box 590, Hereford, TX 79045; cell: 806-676-3556; sg_olson@live.com • Jim Sitz, vice president and vice chairman of the Board, 9100 MT Hwy. 91N; Dillon, MT 59725; cell: 406- 925-9888; JimSitz1@gmail.com; sitzangus@gmail.com • Charlie Boyd, treasurer, 6077 Helena Rd., May's Lick, KY 41055; cell: 606-584-5194; cboyd2@maysvilleky.net 2015 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Terms expiring in 2015 — Scott Foster, 11893 M 140, Niles, MI 49120; cell: 269- 208-6470; sfostersrf@gmail.com • Phil Howell, 729 W. Washington St., PO Box 442, Winchester, IN 47394; cell: 765-546-0838; dochowell765@aol.com • Vaughn Meyer, 15571 Sorum Rd., Reva, SD 57651; home: 605-866-4426; sdangus@sdplains.com • Don Schiefelbein, 34897 717th Ave., Kimball, MN 55353; cell: 303-324-5149; dschiefel@meltel.net Terms expiring in 2016 — Tom Burke, Box 660, Smithville, MO 64089; cell: 816-853-2697; angushall@earthlink.net • John Elbert Harrell, 1343 Lee Rd. 157, Opelika, AL 36804; cell: 334-524-9287; jhnharrell@gmail.com • Leo McDonnell Jr., 13 Bull Dr., Columbus, MT 59019; cell: 406-780-0176; leomcd@hotmail.com • John Pfeiffer Jr., 5103 W. Hwy. 51, Mulhall, OK 73063; cell: 405-880-0862; pfeiffer@agristar.net • Kevin Yon, PO Box 737, Ridge Spring, SC 29129; cell: 803-622-4140; kyon@pbtcomm.net; pkevinyon@ yahoo.com Terms expiring in 2017 — Jerry Connealy, Box 96, Whitman, NE 69366; cell: 308-650-9024; jsconnealy@gmail.com • David A. Dal Porto, 694 Bartlet Ct., Brentwood, CA 94513; cell: 925-250-5304; dplangus@aol.com • John F. Grimes, 2594 S.R. 73, Hillsboro, OH 45133; cell: 937-763-6000; mcfarms@ cinci.rr.com; grimes.1@osu.edu • James W. Henderson, PO Box 156, Childress, TX 79201; cell: 940-585-6171; jwhenderson@hughes.net • Dave Nichols, 2188 Clay Ave., Bridgewater, IA 50837; phone: 641-369-2829; dave@nicholsfarms.biz Industry appointments — CAB Board, Dwight 'Kip' Palmer, Palmer Food Services, 900 Jefferson Rd., Rochester, NY 14623; offce: 585-424-3210; kpalmer@palmerfoods.com • AGI Board liaison, Dr. Larry Kuehn, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, P.O. Box 166, Clay Center, NE 68933; offce: 402-762- 4352; larry.kuehn@ars.usda.gov • Foundation Board, Curtis Long, RR 4, Box 620, Butler, MO 64730; cell: 660-200-5945; vepperson@butlerdoctor.com ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Bryce Schumann, CEO; Diane Strahm, executive administrative assistant; Rich Wilson, CFO; Milford Jenkins, Angus Foundation president; Dan Moser, AGI president; Eric Grant, API president; Terry Cotton, vice president of sales; John Stika, CAB LLC president; Chris Stallo, vice president of operations DEPARTMENTAL STAFF Crystal Albers, director of communications; Tonya Amen, director of genetic services; Eric Grant, director of public relations; Carrie Horsley, director of marketing and public relations for the Angus Foundation; Jason Kenyon, director of information systems; Ginette Kurtz, director of commercial relations; Kenny Miller, director of fnance; Ashley Mitchell, assistant director of events and education; Jaclyn Upperman, director of events and education; Brenda Weigert, operations coordinator for member services AMERICAN ANGUS ASSOCIATION 3201 Frederick Ave., Saint Joseph, MO 64506-2997; phone: 816-383-5100; fax: 816-233-9703; Offce hours: (M-F) 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Central) email: angus@angus.org • home page: www.angus.org • facebook.com/americanangusassociation • twitter: @AngusAssoc EMAIL: bschumann@angus.org