The Angus Journal® is a monthly magazine known for in-depth coverage of American Angus Association® programs and services; the Angus business; herd management; and advertising reflecting genetics and herd philosophies.
Issue link: http://angusjournal.epubxp.com/i/529629
July 2015 n ANGUSJournal n 89 the best things we ever did. It's amazing. By doing that, our premiums just keep getting better." The decision to retain ownership came from disappointment in other market channels. Trying to do everything in line with quality goals but unable to fnd a buyer to pay what they thought the cattle were worth, the men decided to "prove the quality" by feeding and selling cattle on grids. Prove it they did. At frst, they thought a $50-per-head premium was good proof. Now, if they don't get double that they're disappointed. "We get some Prime qualifed in every group," Jim says. "You can never have too many, but we've always got some, and at least 50% CAB. We send everything on a grid, and they make the upper 90s (percent) on Choice, so those cattle are making it." Don't forget mama The Richerts didn't build a superior herd on carcass data alone though, knowing that each live calf adds to the bottom line. Bulls are turned out for a 60-day breeding window, and when calving season starts in March they expect 80% born in the frst 30 days. Besides having excellent feet and legs and good udders, the cows are expected to raise a healthy calf that can earn premiums on the rail each year. Open cows, those experiencing calving diffculty or short on any other standards don't stay around. Jim credits Angus seedstock breeders' commitment to calving ease and genetic improvement for much of his family herd's progress, but they recently took another step forward. Selection decisions now incorporate the GeneMax® (GMX) Focus™ genomic test from Zoetis. "We did what everyone else was doing before GMX," he says. "When it came time to pick replacements, we'd gather them all together, and we'd eyeball them and select." Upon Jay's suggestion to start using GMX, the Richerts now have a more accurate selection tool. "In 2013 we kept the top 30 heifers," Jay says. "If we would have gone by sight alone, we probably wouldn't have picked half the same." The proof The reliability of genomics is already showing progress. Jay says those frst GMX scores were in the 70th percentile, but their calves averaged in the 85th percentile last year. GMX results will soon be in on a third calf crop. "This is the frst group we've really gotten to feed with a test on their dams," Jay says. "Now we can cull off of the scores even better. When we frst started, while the quality grades were there, we were still seeing too many Yield Grade (YG) 4 discounts. Now we can fne- tune carcass traits, limit fat and still get the quality we're targeting." The men plan to keep improving until all replacements achieve GMX scores of at least 90, ideally 95. They know using the test in concert with focused sire selection and culling on carcass data will help them reach goals faster. "We're looking at the numbers," Jay says. "When it comes to selection and improvement, GeneMax is a way we can get there faster. It's telling us we're going in the right direction." Their plans don't include sharing the land with inferior animals. "If you eliminate the stragglers, you can probably get the same result with 25% less and make the same amount of money with less cattle," Jim says. "Don't just get bigger, get better." That has been the plan every day since converting valuable cropland back to pasture: Cows must add value to stay. Lots of neighbors questioned the Richerts' decision from the start, but Jim says today's premiums for quality justify their program. "In this part of Oklahoma, you're not going to fnd many cowmen," he says, "but after the last few years, why would you do anything but raise cattle? You know, you've got to stay with what works for you, but the people that diversifed in this area are the best off." For the Richerts, it's not only the premiums in the cattle market that make it worthwhile. It's their joy and satisfaction of working with cattle every day. "It's a lot of fun," Jim says. Editor's Note: Katy Kemp is an industry information intern for Certifed Angus Beef LLC (CAB). "We're looking at the numbers. When it comes to selection and improvement, GeneMax is a way we can get there faster. It's telling us we're going in the right direction." — Jay Richert