Pilakowski Angus Bull Development Program Calves are weighed at birth and recorded. Calves are branded and given their first round of vaccines in early April. Pairs are sent to summer range in mid-May. Calves are given NO CREEP FEED. Calves are weaned in early August. Weights are taken to calculate 205 Day Weights. Two more rounds of vaccines are given. In November bulls are freeze-branded with their permanent I.D. DNA samples are pulled and submitted to AngusGS, and verification of parentage. All bulls whose parentage suggests that he may be a potential carrier of any known defect are tested. Bulls who are carriers of lethal defects (NH, CA, AM) are eliminated from the sale. DD carriers are designated as such on their pedigrees. In mid-Jan the bulls were given two rounds of foot rot vaccine, scrotal measured and examined, however we do recommend a full semen evaluation prior to spring turn out. Yearling weights are taken in late January. Bulls are ultrasounded to measure fat, IMF, and ribeye.
Sale Weekend Schedule Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Bulls will be available for viewing 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Chili and cinnamon rolls served Monday, Feb. 9, 2026 11 a.m. Country style brunch 1 p.m. MST Pilakowski Angus Bull Sale
Genomic Testing and Genomic Enhanced EPDs All of the bulls in the sale display a symbol for AngusGS on the pedigree. Those animals’ EPDs are GE-EPDs, meaning they have had a genomic test performed on a DNA sample from that animal which provides additional information used in calculation of their EPDs.
*It is important to note that genomics do not completely describe the variation in the traits of interest. Phenotypic measures collected by Angus breeders, such as birth, weaning, and yearling weights, ultrasound scan data, carcass data, etc., continue to be an important part in further development of improved genomic panels, not to mention an important component in EPD calculation. How are Genomic Test Results Reported? The results of genomic testing are provided in percentile rankings, based on a reference population of more than 15,000 tested Angus animals. Ranks range from 1 to 100 with lower numbers generally favored for most traits. Some traits for which percent ranks are available, are not yet included in GE-EPDs powered by AngusGS. These include ranks for heifer pregnancy, measures of feed efficiency and end-product tenderness, which are relevant to Angus breeders as well as their bull customers, cattle feeders, and consumers. When making selection decisions for traits that have EPDs provided by the AAA, the EPDs should be the selection tool of choice. The EPDs account for all sources of information available on the animal – pedigree, own record, weights/ measures, and genomic results.
American Angus Association Genomic Enhanced EPDs Genomic results are a way to enhance predictability of current selection tools, to achieve more accuracy on EPDs for younger animals, and to characterize genetics for traits where it’s difficult to measure the animal’s own performance for the trait, such as carcass traits in breeding stock or maternal traits in bulls. With the investment in genomic technology, this means that in addition to the pedigree, performance and progeny information that are used in the calculation and reporting of Angus EPDs, genomic test results have also been incorporated into the EPD. Genomic-enhanced EPDs (GE-EPDs) are important because they make use of the results from the DNA test in addition to all other sources of information to provide added accuracy and reliability to the animal’s EPD. In fact, depending on the trait, GE-EPDs on unproven animals have the same amount of accuracy as if they had already sired 8-20 calves.
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2026 Bull Sale
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