angus Bulls
Why Angus? Why now? Why Angus? I have thought through the idea of adding a complementary breed for some time. We have had several friends and neighbors reach out over the course of years sort of joking (but not joking) for me to provide a black hided option. As I grappled with this decision I landed on a couple observations. A Charolais sired feeder calf out of an Angus-based cow is one of the most value dense agricultural commodities a person can create. In order to maximize heterosis commercial producers needs to utilize two or better yet three purebred populations. If I were to offer crossbred bulls, that bull is stealing your calf crops thunder. Decreasing the heterosis of your calf crop and subsequently every single trait from fertility, to growth and animal health. A wise man once told me there’s really only four purebred beef populations. Charolais, Hereford, Brahman and then everything else is really just some fraction of Angus. Purebred Black Angus offers the most synergy to what I am already doing. Broadly speaking I want to create Angus bulls that sire problem free cattle to sell as feeders or retain to make long lasting brood cows. Brood cows that get bred to a high TSI terminal Charolais bull. Why now? This side of the equation was thrust into gear following the pandemic. Supply chain issues emerged at the exact time the Charolais association was going through a real leadership crisis. Plain and simple, I was very concerned about the future of the Charolais breed with no fault of the genetics! Raising bulls is all I have ever dreamed of doing. At 40 years of age, I had spent decades creating an infrastructure and ecosystem to raise and sell bulls. The thought of jumping the Charolais Ship never once crossed my mind. However, it seemed like a logical business decision to at least explore some degree of diversification. For me breeding cattle is like a puzzle you never totally solve. I would be remis if I didn’t admit a personal challenge in this project. I have no plans to stop expanding my Charolais venture. In fact, the last 18 months I have become as bullish on the Charolais breed as I have ever been. There are some really exciting things coming in regards to USDA yield grade and pricing, as well as market access to Charolais genetics through changes in the live animal spec for branded programs. The board of directors at the American International Charolais Association is loaded with the youngest, most relevant pool of talent in decades. The newest Executive Vice President is forward thinking and big picture driven. I’d be lying if I knew where exactly this endeavor will be in 5 or 10 years. What I do know is I will listen to you, and work to deliver Bulls that will hopefully push commercial producers forward.
38 Cannon Charolais
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