Angus Bull Introduction
Fink Angus Program ~ Since 1977 We have seen all the extremes in the beef industry. Every extreme, every time, has led commercial producers down the wrong road. The trouble is generation turnover in the cattle industry is slow. When several problems appear due to extremes, plugging all the holes takes 4 more generations of “Flex Tape” to TRY to fix - problems will still be there ready to pop out. We have tried to stay in the middle of the road genetically for over 40 years. Balanced genetics that we feel are the most profit-making long term, for everyone. Right or wrong, that’s the program. Average EPDs for a “maternal” breed such as Angus may be about right. Take note the $EN, Mature Weight, Scrotal, and Heifer Pregnancy (HP) are as important as “marbling” and yearling weight etc. Producers can go backwards (reg- istered and commercial) chasing single traits, thinking they are going forward. It is very conceivable to gain 100# on mature cow weight in one sire use!! NOT GOOD! Making total improvement and keeping expenses (cow costs) down is the goal for profit. Marbling can be increased quickly with age and days on feed. Is it concerning that feeding time is approximately 60 days longer than it was a few years ago? Weights are increasing and if it’s the form of much more fat on a carcass (which it is) how does that compete with pork, chicken and catfish? Plus it is inefficient! The key is to watch “Fat” EPD also! Yes, it is a fine line, but when all traits are not considered then results may end up going in the wrong direction. If it takes extra fat to produce choice and prime, maybe we better use a Wagyu if that is the only goal and to keep the cowherd sound. Don’t forget the cow! Packers really don’t care about your cowherd. They just want the end product. Remember just a very few years back a lot of promotion was $B! We always called it terminal, now the Angus Association does also. How many commercial producers have “Terminal Genetics” in their herds now? Keep in mind crippled and dead fat cattle close to harvest time don’t add up very well. Always remember ~ * Fertility in the cowherd. * Control of inputs in cowherd. * Structure and longevity. * 1st and foremost for Profit. Fink bulls MUST pass a semen BSE by 14 months - No matter when they are sold or they are CANNED. (Highly related to female fertility). Progressive Cattle Podcast “I don’t know who said it, but it says ‘the problems we see today can’t be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.’ And I think we’re at a place now with ranching where we’ve used technology, and we made a lot of progress, or I should say we made a lot of change. We’re certainly productive and sometimes that additional productivity hasn’t been always coupled with greater profitability. And in my opinion, and some people disagree, for many cow-calf operations, I think we’ve maximized productivity. And there’s some data I think from a number of re- sources that would support that.”
Aaron Berger, University of Nebraska - Lincoln Beef Extension Specialist
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