The topic of structural soundness is frequently raised among beef producers and bull breeders. In the three years I have been writing this genetics column, structure is the subject ofContinue reading “Weekly genetics review: Where are we heading with structural soundness?”
Category Archives: Bull Buying
AngusPRO Education Module – 25 September
We are well into the yearling bull sales now and we’re seeing results across the board that are reflective of the season and the trying times we find ourselves in as farmers.
Despite this, last week we watched Twin Oaks T019 smash the New Zealand record for a yearling sold at an on farm auction. The Millah Murrah Paratroooper son transferred to MVP Ag for a staggering $41,000. Congratulations to all involved and it’s worth noting the purchase was made online via BIDR.
AngusPRO Education Module – 7 September
AngusPRO bulls are bred by the breeder, progeny are finished for the processor and Angus beef is purchased by the consumer. As farmers, we must never lose sight of what the end consumer demands… When the end product is of a consistent high quality — meaning it’s tender, tasty and has good marbling — this creates more demand for the end product, which enables the processor to offer higher prices back to the farmer. This is a basic demand driven price model.
Weekly genetics review: Gross margins & genetics
Reviewing sale prices and averages can often lead to a range of conversations among commercial beef producers. Recent dialogue around the top sale process by some producers focused on the same commercial returns for steers, regardless of the actual value of the sires used.
As one producer stated during a recent discussion I was involved in:
“Even if you purchase a $200,000 bull, the processors will still pay you the same for your steers that perform and grade the same as those from a $1500 bull.”
Managing Heifers Prior to and During Mating
A beef herd can be 15% more profitable if heifers are successfully mated as yearlings. This fact sheet sets out some guidelines for deciding whether to put yearling heifers toContinue reading “Managing Heifers Prior to and During Mating”
Weekly genetics review: Where do you get your bulls from?
Purchasing bulls is an undertaking for almost all beef producers, with the exception of those who focus entirely on trading cattle.
For virtually everybody else, purchasing bulls, along with the associated decisions of where, how, when and at what cost, is generally an annual task.
The choice of where to purchase a new herd bull can be the source of some confusion among beef producers. It is true there are many customers who have a preferred seedstock breeder.
AngusPRO Education Module – 24 August
24 August 2023 The yearling bull sales are mere weeks away and within this email we’ve provided educational resources to help you make educated bull buying decisions. Don’t leave itContinue reading “AngusPRO Education Module – 24 August”
Weekly genetics review: Temperament plays out across the production spectrum
The importance of temperament in beef cattle is unquestionably the most highly rated trait across the Australian beef industry.
From anecdotal conversations at bull sales and field days, through to published survey statistics – such as Angus Australia’s comprehensive Beef Breeding Insights – temperament is consistently rated the most important of all considerations by beef producers.
The balancing act of Genetic Gain
Improving the performance of a beef breeding program is not a one-size-fits-all solution. In fact improvement, particularly using genetics, can be a balancing act for many producers. While genetics offersContinue reading “The balancing act of Genetic Gain”
Weekly genetics review: A deeper dive into the issue of fatness and bulls
Fatness, or the ability to finish, is often a focal point for many producers in their selection decisions.
The role of fatness in a beef herd is often very complex. Fatness has a significant role to play in the management of the breeding herd and in the ability of sale animals to meet market specifications.