Seedstock

High Bull Prices? Why AI is the Cost-Effective Genetic Alternative

Thu, 14 May 2026 14:01:35 GMT

Short on bull power? Artificial insemination (AI) might be the better option for a variety of reasons.

“Bull prices are pretty high, especially high-quality bulls, versus semen prices have remained pretty steady,” explains Jaclyn Ketchum. “So you have access to genetics that you maybe wouldn’t have had access to if you don’t use AI, but then also at a more reasonable price.”

Ketchum ranches with her family in southeast Montana and has taken over the family’s custom AI business. However, prior to this endeavor, she studied reproductive physiology, obtaining a master’s degree at the University of Missouri and her doctorate at Texas A&M.

She reminds producers that the list of benefits from AI differs depending on the type of AI protocol used.

“There’s a list of benefits for AI in general and then there’s a whole list of other benefits for fixed-time artificial insemination with synchronization,” Ketchum says.

Three general benefits of AI include:

Access to bulls with more genetic potential at a lower cost than natural service sires.
Greater bull-to-cow ratio for cleanup.
Access to sexed semen. Sexed semen allows producers to be more consistent in producing high-quality replacement females and high-quality steers.

AI also reduces risks such as bull injuries or failed breeding soundness exams, which can cost producers thousands of additional dollars each year.

AI with synchronization, also known as fixed-time AI, takes the benefits of AI in general to a whole new level because calves have both genetic and age uniformity.

“They’re going to be more similar in age when it comes to weaning time,” Ketchum says. “And then you have a greater set of immunity because they’re getting vaccinated at similar ages.”

Overall uniformity is attractive to feedlots and bred-heifer buyers as well.

She says, “If you’re selling bred heifers, you can breed those heifers to a really popular sire, which will then increase demand for those when you go to sell them. So there’s a whole gamut of benefits from fixed-time AI.”

To fully reap the benefits of AI, producers must set themselves up for success.

“A lot of people would love to just show up on AI day and say, ‘It’s going to be a wonderful day. We’re going to get all these cows bred.’ But in reality, it’s everything leading up to that day and everything following that day that really dictates how successful that event is,” explains Ketchum.

Communication between the producer and AI technician, supply provider, semen provider and employees or day workers is all-important.

“The synchronization protocol typically is three days minimum, if not more,” explains Ketchum. “You might need a crew for all of those days, so communicate which days and times they are needed.”

Once all the supplies and extra supplies are taken care of, facilities also need to be in working order.

Ketchum explains, “If you don’t go through your facility and make sure that your chute’s working and that everything’s set up to work where everything flows really well and then something happens and your timing gets off, then that impacts your AI date as well.”

Managing expectations also matters when determining how successful an AI event was or wasn’t. Keep in mind experience levels of technicians, if timing was off for the protocol or if weather events occurred.

“Hot is really bad for conception rates,” says Ketchum.

However, there’s only so much producers can do if the weather shifts or a storm rolls in.

AI is a valuable tool for cattle producers across the world. Producers are sure to reap the benefits if effort is taken to prepare the cattle and crew prior to breeding day.
Listen to the full conversation on the Casual Cattle Conversations podcas t.

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Beyond the Hide: How Data and Heat Tolerance are Powering the Red Angus Surge

Tue, 12 May 2026 19:24:14 GMT

Commercial cattle producers looking ahead to the next cow cycle are rethinking cow size, hide color and heat tolerance — and many are landing on Red Angus.

“We have record-low numbers of cows, supplies are tight and they’re tight at a time when consumer demand for quality beef is at a record level,” says Greg Ruehle, Red Angus Association of America CEO. “It’s like a perfect storm. It’s one of those opportunities that you don’t see maybe once in your career.”

Ruehle was the featured guest in Episode 21 of “ The Future of Beef Show. ” During the discussion, Ruehle lays out why the breed’s maternal efficiency, carcass quality and verification tools are helping red-hided cattle earn their place in pastures from the High Plains to the humid South.

For Red Angus breeders, he says, the timing is ideal as demand for their genetics and bull sale averages have surged, with many sales averaging $12,500 to $15,000 per head. He notes that Red Angus-influenced replacement females are extremely hard to find because so many are diverted into feeding channels to meet demand.

When asked what makes Red Angus distinct from black Angus, Ruehle underscores the genetics are the same, but the U.S. uniquely manages the breeds in separate herd books.

Seven key takeaways from the podcast discussion include:

1. Perfect Timing for Red Angus in a Tight Market

Record-low cow numbers and record-high demand for high-quality beef create a rare window where Red Angus genetics are in strong demand — for both bulls and replacement females.

2. Same Angus Genetics, But with a Red, Often More Heat-Tolerant Package

Ruehle explains Red and black Angus come from the same genetic pool, but Red Angus offers that Angus-quality eating experience in a hide that often fits heat- and humidity-challenged environments better, especially across the South.

3. Strong Maternal Cows Plus Carcass Performance on the Rail

Functionally, he frames Red Angus as a dual-purpose tool: a moderate, efficient, rugged maternal cow and a quality-driven sire for carcass performance. On the cow side, he highlights moderate size, docility, fertility and longevity, plus the ability to travel and forage efficiently. On the sire side, Red Angus brings quality grade, yield grade and feedlot performance.

4. Built for Crossbreeding and Heterosis — Char, Bos indicus and Beyond

He says the breed fits naturally into crossbreeding systems: Charolais × Red Angus buckskins, American Reds (Red Angus × Bos indicus), Premium Red Baldy (Red Angus × Hereford) and other combinations that target both heterosis and market recognition.

5. Focused on Killing the “Red Discount” with Verification and Data

Ruehle stresses a top priority for the association and its board is eliminating unnecessary price discounts on red-hided calves versus black.

“We do that a lot of ways,” he explains. “We do it by tracking those animals, making sure that we can differentiate them from another red-hided animal in the marketplace. EPDs and the ability to use other DNA tools to track and measure performance on those cattle are absolutely vital.”

6. A Data-Driven, Commercially Oriented Association

Red Angus stands out for mandatory total-herd reporting and required birth and weaning data on every registered calf, supporting trustworthy EPDs and a culture that stays anchored to commercial performance, not just the show ring.

“Red Angus is the only breed that has a mandatory total-herd reporting requirement,” Ruehle says. “We’re the only one that requires you to register and pay on every cow in your herd every year. Every animal to be registered has to have a birth weight and a weaning weight.”

7. Individual-Animal ID and Feedback Loops Are the Future Edge

By tying EID-based, individual-animal data from the plant back to the feedyard and then to specific cows and sires, Red Angus aims to speed genetic progress and help producers make more informed breeding and marketing decisions.

“If we can bring data back from that animal performance in the feedyard, back to the ranch, and tie that back to a cow and a bull, I think then things really get exciting, and we can see improvements happen quickly,” he summarizes.

Looking into the crystal ball, Ruehle sees opportunity and risk intertwined. The opportunity is to rebuild the cow herd with a more thoughtful genetic base and to cement Red Angus as a key contributor — especially in heat-stressed, forage-based systems. The risk lies in mismanaging consumer trust by failing to consistently deliver the high-quality beef experience that has driven demand. He believes Red Angus’ combination of PVP infrastructure, individual animal ID and a data-first culture puts the breed in a strong position that others will struggle to replicate.

New World Record: G A R Market Maker Valued at $2.1 Million After Historic Sale

Thu, 07 May 2026 19:07:23 GMT

G A R Market Maker set a new world record on May 4, selling to Riverbend Ranch, Idaho Falls, Idaho. The son of B&B Preeminent out of GAR Kansas N762, sold in the Gardiner Angus Ranch Meating Demand Sale.

According to the American Angus Association, with a value of $2.1 million, G A R Market Maker outvalues the past record holder — SAV America — that sold in 2019 for $1.51 million for 80% semen interest, or total value of $1.887 million.

“We want to extend both gratitude and congratulations to Frank VanderSloot and the entire Riverbend Ranch team for making one of the boldest moves in the Angus seedstock business by investing $1.05 million in 49% of GAR Market Maker,” Mark Gardiner says. “Market Maker is a young sire destined to change populations of beef cattle. This, to date, is the culmination of what we can achieve with a commitment to multi-trait discipline over decades.”

Gardiner adds Riverbend Ranch has a powerful footprint in Angus seedstock production, but its Riverbend Meats has created a supply chain of home-raised, high-quality Angus beef as well as sourcing cattle from the family ranching operations in the Western U.S. using Riverbend genetics.

“Riverbend owns the supply through processing and marketing to consumers and understands the consumer signals sent every day that quality and taste are the No. 1 criteria for selecting our product for their families,” he says.

Semen will be available from Market Makers Beef Genetics.

Visit Angus.org for the full sale report.

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What Makes A Bull Worth $ Millions?

Earlier Calves, Bigger Paychecks: Utilizing Estrus Synchronization to Increase Ranch Profit

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:44:46 GMT

In a cow-calf operation, timing is the primary driver of profitability. By using estrus synchronization, producers can ensure more than 50% of their herd conceives on the first day of the breeding season, leading to earlier calving dates and heavier weaning weights. According to Mario Binelli of the University of Florida, shifting the calving window to the “front” of the season ensures calves are older and more uniform when they hit the scale on sale day.

Binelli was a featured speaker during the Beef Reproduction Task Force’s 2025 Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle Symposium . He says the purpose of estrus synchronization is to get cows to come into heat and ovulate together in a short window of time. Estrus synchronization works with a series of hormone treatments to control the cow’s natural cycle; as a result they all come into heat at the same time.

The 3-Step Synchronization Process

By synchronizing cows, more of them are bred at the start of the breeding season rather than spread out over several weeks. Binelli shares these three steps to get a cow herd on the same schedule:

Reset the Cycle: A GnRH injection and a progesterone device (CIDR) are used to reset the follicular wave.
Producers typically start by giving a shot to reset the cows’ cycle and inserting a progesterone device to keep cows from coming into heat.
“We want to remove a dominant follicle — then a new follicular wave will emerge,” Binelli explains.
Induce Estrus: After approximately seven days, remove the CIDR and a Prostaglandin shot is given to bring the cows into heat simultaneously. Producers should watch their herd to identify when the cows are ready to breed.
“The goal is to have cows expressing estrus within a short, predictable window so producers can make breeding decisions more effectively,” Binelli says.
Insemination and Cleanup: Cows are artificially inseminated (AI) upon heat detection, followed by bull turnout approximately 15 days later to cover any remaining cows.

Because of the improved cost to reward ratio, more producers are utilizing synchronization protocols with natural service breeding programs . The Beef Reproduction Task Force’s website has a list of protocol options for producers to consider when planning their estrus synchronization program.

Read More About Synchronization Strategies:

Maximizing Reproductive Success: How to Use Estrus Synchronization to its Full Potential

Technology Takes the Guessing Out

Adapting to new technology makes heat detection easier. Accelerometers, commonly used in dairy cattle, are wearable devices on ear tags or collars; they are used to track rumination, activity and welfare. During the estrus cycle, a cow’s behavior changes, with activity peaking while rumination declines. The cow data is sent to the producers’ devices; from the patterns they can identify when she is ready to be bred.

“New technologies are helping decrease labor while increasing the accuracy of estrus detection,” Binelli says.

Read More About Technologies Available:

24/7 Employee: How One Rancher Is Using An App-Based Monitoring System

Bridging Genetics, Management and Technology in Beef Production

Another heat detection tool is heat detection patches placed on the cow’s back. Patches take the guesswork out to determine if the cow is in heat. As another animal mounts the cow, the paint on the patch is scratched, indicating she is in standing heat.

Why Timing Makes Money

Every day a calf is born earlier in the season adds age and weight. By consolidating the calving window through synchronization, producers reduce labor during calving and increase the total pounds of beef sold at weaning.

Your Next Reads:

Why Should Commercial Cattle Producers Track Birth and Weaning Weights?

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 17:28:15 GMT

Data is knowledge and knowledge is power, but are ranchers truly operating with the right pieces of data to make confident decisions in all areas of their operation?

“Most ranchers are making decisions without one of the most valuable pieces of data on their operation, which is actual weights,” says Dawn Anderson, CattleScales.com team member and Idaho rancher.

It’s easy to think actual weights are something only seedstock suppliers take throughout the year to report to breed associations; however knowing birth weights, weaning weights, yearling weights and mature cow weights is highly beneficial for commercial cattle producers as well.

She says, “Being able to track weights from birth through weaning and yearling gives you a much clearer picture of your herd.”

Dawn’s family tracks birth weight records to breed for ideal-sized calves for their environment.

“We look at birth weights closely — because too big or too small, both can cause problems,” she explains. “A small calf can lack the energy, and a big calf can struggle too — they’ve got to get up and get moving.”

As calves mature, knowing weaning weights or even pre-weaning weights eliminates marketing surprises on sale day and opens the door to more informed culling decisions.

“At weaning, we’re weighing both cows and calves so we can see if those cows are really pulling their weight,” says Anderson. “We use those weaning weights to help make culling decisions and evaluate cow performance.”

Cows that consistently produce low weaning-weight calves or calves with low average daily gain in backgrounding settings can easily be culled from the herd.

Average daily gains that are lower than in past years could indicate more than a genetic problem.

“If something’s off, it prompts you to ask questions — do we need to test feed, adjust the ration or change something?” Anderson says. “We’ll run cattle across the scale every 30 to 45 days just to see where we’re at.”

Another benefit of knowing weights on all classes of animals is reducing treatment costs and improving animal husbandry.

“Pharmaceuticals are costly — they’re really costly if they’re not effective,” Anderson expresses. “If you’re guessing at weight, you may be overdosing or underdosing, and neither one is good.”

In summer pasture settings, it’s not practical to bring cattle home to weigh them before treating them. However, even the knowledge of a previous weight is helpful in improving accuracy for treatment dosage.

There are a variety of scale systems producers can invest in either themselves or share with a neighbor.

“There’s not a one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to scale systems,” Anderson says. “We start by talking through what the producer’s goals are and what’s going to work best for them.”

Producers should know which animals they want the ability to weigh, when they want to do this and how they want to use the information to determine which system is the best fit for their operation.

She says, “A lot of operations are set up where that chute is where all the decisions are being made — that’s where the scale should be.”

However, there are alleyway or even portable options for producers weighing in multiple locations.

“There are options — that’s the biggest thing people don’t always realize,” Anderson says.

Regardless of the type of scale you invest in or how you decide to utilize weight data, remember it’s about more than just recording a weight to say you have it — it’s about confidence in your decision-making.

“Having accurate weights gives you confidence in your decisions,” Anderson summarizes.

Listen to the full conversation on the “Casual Cattle Conversations” podcast .

Registration Open for 2026 BIF Symposium

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:29:59 GMT

Registration is now open for the 2026 Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Research Symposium and Convention that will be hosted June 1 to 4 in Boise, Idaho. Full registration participants can save $75 if they take advantage of the early bird rate by May 1.

Full registration before May 1 is $325. This includes two-and-one-half days of educational programming focused on beef industry profitability. It also includes the Welcome Reception on Monday evening, lunch on Tuesday and Wednesday, and an off-site social with dinner on Tuesday evening. The student early bird rate is $250.

The hotel housing portal is open as well. Visit BIFSymposium.com and click on the “ Hotel & Location ” information link. The hotel block closes May 1.

Monday, June 1, kicks off with the Young Producer Symposium at 1 p.m., followed by the Welcome and Scholarship Reception. Both events will be in the Pioneer Room of the beautiful and inspiring JUMP conference space in downtown Boise.

This year’s Young Producer Symposium is open to all attendees but aimed at the young, or young at heart. This year’s session is themed “Rebuilding the Herd” to tackle two important questions:

How do you select the best replacement females for a growing beef herd?
What business skills are needed to equip the next generation of beef producers?

“The Young Producer Symposium is designed for the next generation of beef industry leaders,” says Bob Weaber, BIF executive director. “The symposium provides practical insights and networking to help young producers strengthen their operations through improved genetics, management and strategic planning.”

Tuesday’s general session will focus on “Beef in 2050: Investment in Beef, Cows and Research for Success.” Presentations and speakers will include:

New Heights in Beef Demand: Consumer Investment in the Beef Value Chain – Dave Weaber, Terrain
Beef Sector Economics: Supply-Side Inventories and Growth Opportunities – Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University
Beef Cow Adaptability: The Western Range Cow (as an example)
- Adaptation Impacts on Biological and Reproductive Efficiency of the Cow – Tim DelCurto, Montana State University
- Economic Impacts on the Ranch System/Efficiency – David Secrist, Utah State University
Public Investment in Beef Production Research: A Call to Action – Ronnie Green, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Speaker Panel Discussion: Beef 2050 – Moderated by Nevil Speer, Turkey Track Consulting

Wednesday’s general session theme will be “Capturing the Value of Genetic Investments.” Presentations and speakers will include:

Leveraging Genetic Decisions Across the Value Chain: The Simplot Story – Randall Raymond, Simplot Livestock
Capturing the Value of Genetics and Management: The Country Natural Beef Cooperative Story – Tylor Braden, Country Natural Beef
Beef x Dairy: Terminal Genetics that Drive Demand and Capture Value – Kee Jim, GK Jim Group of Companies
Advancing Red Meat Yield: Innovation in Carcass Evaluation – Dale Woerner, Texas Tech University

Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon technical breakout sessions will focus on a range of beef production and genetic improvement topics.

Thursday will include two tour options, where participants can learn more about Idaho’s beef industry. One is a “conception to harvest” option, with stops such as CS Beef Packers, Simplot Animal Sciences IVF Lab, Reynolds Creek Calf Ranch, Colyer Hereford and Angus Ranch, Simplot Land and Livestock Feedlot and TLK Dairy.

The other tour option is a more diversified Idaho agriculture experience with beef-related stops, including Amalgamated Sugar Plant, PerforMix Nutrition Systems Plant (Nampa), Agri Beef/Snake River Farms Wagyu Bull Center, PerforMix Nutrition Dry Mineral and Block Plant (Fruitland), Boise Valley Feeders and Shaw Cattle Company.

For registration and more symposium details, visit BIFSymposium.com . Prior to and during this year’s symposium, be sure to follow the event on social media channels using the hashtag #BIF2026.

Each year the BIF symposium draws a large group of leading seedstock and commercial beef producers, academics and allied industry partners. The attendance list is a “who’s who” of the beef value chain, which offers great networking opportunities and conversations about the issues of the day. Program topics focus on how the beef industry can enhance value through genetic improvement across a range of attributes that affect the value chain.

9 Tips to Ensure Calving Season Success

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 16:40:40 GMT

Early preparation prevents last-minute stress during calving season. From equipment checklists to mastering observation, veterinary collaboration and proactive intervention, calving season success starts before the first calf hits the ground.

AJ Tarpoff, Kansas State extension veterinarian, encourages producers to prepare for potential calving challenges through inventory assessment, tool and supply readiness, facility checks and mindful observation.

From years of hands-on experience, cattle producer and extension educator Shad Marston from Canton, Kan., says the key to a successful calving season is: “Just being prepared so you don’t have those unexpected problems.”

Marston highlights the importance of preparing earlier than expected.

“We have to prepare, not just the time that the breeding book predicts they’re going to calve, but maybe a week or two ahead of that,” he says.

Review breeding notes and pregnancy forms in advance to identify which cows are due first. He says shorter gestations (especially with calving-ease bulls) can result in females calving a week or two early. To prepare, he separates heifers into a dedicated pen for better monitoring and exercise as calving approaches.

Marston adds another step in preparation is having contact information handy for your veterinarian and neighbors to call during emergencies.

To help mitigate the potential of calving problems, Tarpoff suggests producers make educated genetic matings.

“Use proper selection tools such as calving-ease sires on heifers,” he stresses. “We have better tools than ever — use them.”

Tarpoff and Marston share these nine tips to ensure calving season is a success:

1. Build a Reliable Calving Kit for Every Scenario.

Ensure all tools, equipment and supplies like chains, straps, gloves, lubricant and colostrum replacer are cleaned, organized and ready before calving begins. Store crucial items in a portable, easy-to-access tote.

Check out Tarpoff’s Calving Checklist:

Your Calving Prep Starts Here: The Essential Checklist

2. Prioritize Facility and Equipment Maintenance.

Inspect calving facilities and restraint tools ahead of time to make sure everything is in good repair — fix or replace anything left undone from last season before calving starts.

Tarpoff reminds producers to determine how they will restrain animals in the pasture setting.

“Whether it’s a rope, whether it’s a portable corral or whatever that might look like, is everything in good working order?”

Marston encourages producers to walk their facilities: “Are your lights working? Do your gates latch? Bedding down?”

He says cameras are also excellent if your barn connectivity allows.

“Whatever the cost, saving just one calf … would pay for a camera system,” he says.

Learn more about calving camera systems:

Is a Calving Camera System Your Next Essential Ranch Investment?

3. Cleanliness and Biosecurity Matter.

Maintain clean, segregated feeding equipment like esophageal feeders to prevent disease transmission among calves.

Tarpoff encourages producers to have two esophageal feeders — one for colostrum and one for sick calves.

4. Collaborate with Your Vet.

Have proactive conversations with your local veterinarian about regional risks, health products and intervention protocols well before calving season begins.

5. Observe Females Closely.

Watch for subtle physical and behavioral cues such as herd separation, changes in appetite, vulva swelling or locomotion changes that signal impending calving. Tarpoff suggests producers train their eyes to watch for subtle changes.

(Illustrations: Oklahoma State University)

6. Understand Intervention Timing and Have a Plan for Emergencies.

Knowing the stages of parturition is crucial for timely intervention. It is also important to have a plan so you can safely restrain and assist cows. Don’t hesitate to seek veterinary help when needed for complicated or high-risk situations.

Offering assistance is a matter of judgment and good judgment is the result of experience.

Know the “rule of an hour”: Intervene if a mature cow hasn’t made progress within one hour of the water bag breaking. For heifers, the process can take a bit longer.

“It can normally take a heifer two hours to go through the normal birthing process,” Tarpoff adds.

If you don’t know when Stage 2 began and process seems to be slow, it might warrant a vaginal exam.

He says it is important to understand when to call for extra help or veterinary support. Visual red flags to intervene immediately include: head-only presentation, head with only one leg, backward calf with hocks visible but not progressing.

When intervention becomes necessary, safety and assessment come first.

“Proper restraint is very, very important,” he says. “When it’s time to intervene, take your time and get a diagnosis of what’s missing.”

Tarpoff instructs producers to diagnose quickly and protect mom.

Marstons adds, if possible, have the cow up on her feet, restrained in a well-lit area that is safe for both you and the cow. It is much easier when both you and the cow are standing.

Start by cleaning the cow’s vulva, rectum and surrounding area, as well as your hands and arms with soap and water. Cleanliness is important.

Wear protective sleeves. Gentleness and lubrication are important.

“Hair causes an enormous amount of friction,” Tarpoff explains. “I regularly use large amounts of lubricant to reduce inflammation and swelling.”

Feel for the cervix. If not dilated it will feel as if your hand passes through or along a firm, tubular or circular structure. Once fully dilated, you should no longer feel the cervical ridge.

Can you feel the calf? A normal anterior presentation will permit you to feel the calf’s feet and nose with the spine of the calf resting just under the cow’s spine. If the presentation is normal and the water bag is still intact around the calf, you can allow up to an hour to permit the cow to calve unassisted. If the water bag has broken and the cervix is fully dilated, the calf needs to be delivered sooner.

If you detect an abnormal presentation, encounter something that doesn’t feel right or a situation you can’t manage, you will need to contact a veterinarian for assistance.

Tarpoff tells producers if they are not making progress correcting the scenario in a half hour, it is time to call for help.

“The earlier, the better outcome for the cow, the better outcome for the calf,” he says.

Tarpoff reminds producers if a calf is not breathing not to hang it by the legs; instead, place it upright, clear mucus from nose/mouth and stimulate.

“It’s the physical stimulation that tells the brain it’s time to start breathing,” he says.

Tarpoff also suggests using the Madigan squeeze for non-thrifty or “dummy” calves. He says the procedure is an option within 48 hours of birth that can “pop” some calves into normal vigor.

7. Minimize Environmental Stress.

Be proactive about shelter, windbreaks and bedding to protect calves from wind, moisture and cold. Remember that wet, windy conditions can be just as dangerous as extreme cold.

“During the winter, our No. 1 thing that robs heat is wind and moisture,” Tarpoff says, “so if we have a nice wind protection or a windbreak, calves can stay comfortable.”

Body temperature matters more than outdoor temperatures.

“Once you get below 100°F internal body temperature, that begins the stages of hypothermia,” he explains. “Once we get into the mid 90s, we see blood shunting from the extremities, leading to frost bit ears or tails.”

He says outside temperature can be a poor indicator.

“Forty to 50°F and rain can cause hypothermia quicker than 17°F and dry,” he says.

Warming options range from calf warmers/hot boxes to safe heat-lamp setups (non-sparking units) to improvised pickup-floor “heat box” arrangements. Warm-water immersion can work but must be done carefully.

Tarpoff instructs to start with lukewarm water then gradually increase toward 101°F to 102°F. It is important to disinfect bathrooms thoroughly after use to protect families from pathogens.

8. Prioritize Nutrition.

Ensure cows are in proper body condition, not too thin or obese, to promote easier calving and healthy, vigorous calves.

Marston says feeding strategy can help shift calving to daylight. Feeding late at night can concentrate births in early morning.

“I feed in the evenings … open the gate later … they want to eat,” he says. “Then, once they get full, they lay down and have a calf … a lot of the time, it’s six, seven o’clock in the morning.”

Read more about the importance of nutrition prior to and post calving:

3 Nutritional Questions to Consider Prior to Calving

Does Supplementing Bred Heifers Increase Calving Difficulty?

Feeding at Dusk: How Does This Affect Calving Times?

From Calving to Conception: Nutrition Strategies to Keep Cows on Track

9. Don’t Forget the Colostrum.

Following calving is key to get colostrum in the calf within the first two to four hours. By nine hours after birth the calf will have less than 50% of absorption.

Tarpoff encourages producers to keep quality commercial replacer on hand. If a producer freezes on-farm colostrum, this should be used the same season and thawed under warm running water, not microwaved.

If a calf is cold and has not nursed, Tarpoff says it is important to “warm first, then colostrum.”

Gut absorption improves after warming.

Read more about colostrum:
How Important is Colostrum?

Tarpoff suggests producers assess calf vigor especially after a pull or C-section: “Use the suckle reflex — good suction and jaw tone suggests the calf will get up and nurse.”

Marston adds: “If I have that cow down or standing in the chute, I’ll milk her out right then and tube the calf. Then I know it’s got colostrum in its belly.”

He stresses this is especially important if you must leave and can’t monitor nursing.

Marston shares this simple mantra as calving season approaches: Get mentally prepared, be ready and be observant.

“Be prepared because it’s not going to happen when you’re home all day, it’s going to happen when you’re busy,” he says.

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Accurately Comparing Bulls: 2026 Adjustment Factors Released

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 11:08:46 GMT

A tool that has been in beef producer’s toolboxes since the 1970s has been expected progeny differences (EPDs). EPDs are a tool producers can utilize when comparing bulls within each breed for example birth weight, weaning weight or yearling weight. EPDs across different breeds and database cannot be directly compared because of differences in the genetic base.

Since 1993, the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC), a part of the USDA Agricultural Research Service, has produced a table of factors to adjust the EPDs of cattle so that the merit of individuals can be compared across breeds. The table allows producers to compare EPDs from multiple breeds can be compared by adding/subtracting the appropriate adjustment factors to the EPDs resulting from the most recent genetic evaluations for each of 18 breeds.

“The AB-EPDs are most useful to commercial producers purchasing bulls of more than one breed to use in crossbreeding programs,” says Larry Kuehn, USMARC. “For example, in terminal crossbreeding systems, AB-EPDs can identify bulls in different breeds with high growth potential or favorable carcass characteristics.”

Each year USMARC releases updated tables . The factors are derived by estimating breed differences from the USMARC germplasm evaluation program and adjusting these differences for the EPDs of the sires that were sampled in the system. Traits for which factors are estimated are birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weight, maternal weaning weight (milk), marbling score, ribeye area, backfat depth (fat), and carcass weight.

Kuehn says the yearling weight EPD adjustment factors are derived using a BIF-adjusted postweaning gain and weaning weight as separate traits which is consistent with most national cattle evaluations. Thus, these factors directly relate to EPDs from national cattle evaluations.

The adjustment factors in Table 1 were updated using EPDs from the most recent national cattle evaluations conducted by each of the 18 breed associations (current as of January 2026).

As an example, suppose a Red Angus bull has a carcass weight EPD of + 20.0 lb., and a Hereford bull has a carcass weight EPD of + 72.0 lb. The across-breed adjustment factors for carcass weight EPD (see Table 1) are -3.8 lb. for Red Angus and -68.2 lb. for Hereford. The AB-EPD is 20.0 lb. – 3.8 lb. = 16.2 lb. for the Red Angus bull and 72.0 lb. – 68.2 = 3.8 lb. for the Hereford bull. The expected carcass weight difference of offspring when both are mated to cows of another breed would be 16.2 lb. – 3.8 lb. = 12.4 lb.

Kuehn reminds producers it is important to note that the table factors (Table 1) do not represent a direct comparison among the different breeds because of base differences between the breeds.

“They should only be used to compare the EPDs (AB-EPDs) of animals in different breeds,” he says.

To reduce confusion, means on a EPD scale are presented in Table 2. The EPD scale, which is one half of the genetic effect, is used because they are the expected differences from using these animals as a sire. These means are also called ‘breed of sire means” meaning the effects expected from using average animals from each breed as a sire.

Study Reveals How Bull Buyers Use Key Genetic Information

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:28:26 GMT

A first-of-its-kind study using eye-tracking technology has revealed when commercial producers shop for bulls, they overwhelmingly focus on an animal’s physical appearance and basic production traits and often overlook economic selection indexes designed to improve their buying accuracy.

The multistate research project, led by University of Tennessee agricultural economist Charley Martinez examined how the layout of expected progeny difference (EPD) profiles affects buyers’ ability to accurately predict bull prices and assess quality.

“Our results show that how you present genetic information matters,” Martinez says. “Producers who used more detailed tools, like EPD rankings and genomically enhanced EPDs, were more likely to make accurate pricing decisions. But many buyers aren’t even looking at those indexes in the first place.”

Testing Layouts, Tracking Eyes

The study involved 208 producers from Tennessee, Alabama, West Virginia and Iowa. Participants were asked to view videos of 18 actual sale bulls — six each of Angus, Simmental and Hereford — along with corresponding EPD profiles. They then predicted each bull’s selling price.

To measure attention, an infrared eye-tracking bar was calibrated for each participant. Heat maps later revealed exactly where on the screen participants focused.

Researchers tested four different EPD profile layouts: a traditional format with percentile ranks, the same layout without percentile ranks, an inverted format placing economic indexes first and an inverted format without percentile ranks.

Across all treatments, average pricing accuracy ranged from 21% to 26%, with the inverted layout including percentile ranks producing the most accurate results.

Iowa Stands Out, While Risk-Takers Miss the Mark

The data revealed several notable patterns:

Iowa producers consistently outperformed participants from the other three states, being 23.8% more likely to predict prices accurately.
Users of genomically enhanced EPDs and EPD rankings were significantly more accurate, with a combined likelihood of being correct nearly 35% higher than those who did not use these tools.
Risk-tolerant participants tended to be wrong more often, while those willing to delay gratification — suggesting a long-term investment mindset — scored higher on accuracy.
Trust mattered, as producers who placed greater importance on trusting a breeder were more accurate in their price predictions.

Phenotype Dominates Decision-Making

Despite the push from geneticists to use economic indexes as efficient decision-making tools, the study found they are rarely consulted. Eye-tracking from this research showed that:

97% of participants fixated on the bull’s phenotype.
Production EPDs like calving ease, birth weight and weaning weight were the most viewed genetic measures.
Economic indexes ranked lowest, with index percentile ranks viewed by just 11% of participants on average.

“When producers do look at indexes, it’s more often the raw number than the percentile ranking,” Martinez says. “That suggests we need more education on what those rankings mean and why they matter.”

Quality Differentiation and Pricing Patterns

The research also examined whether producers could correctly differentiate between high-, average- and low-quality bulls, and adjust their willingness to pay accordingly. While some buyers consistently overestimated or underestimated prices, many could still distinguish relative quality levels. Producers using more advanced genetic tools were better at making those distinctions.

“Our goal is that buyers allocate the most dollars toward the highest-quality animals and less toward average or low-quality bulls,” Martinez explained. “If they can identify quality but can’t nail the price, that’s still a valuable skill. It shows they understand relative worth.”

Implications for Breeders and Sales

The findings have clear takeaways for seedstock breeders, sale managers and breed associations.

Profile layout matters. Moving economic indexes to more prominent positions could improve buyer accuracy.
Education is crucial. Breeders and extension programs may need to emphasize the value and interpretation of indexes and percentile ranks.
Buyers should use all available tools. Phenotype alone provides an incomplete picture of an animal’s value.

“A repeat customer is the best kind of customer,” Martinez says. “The more confident they feel in their buying decision, the more likely they are to come back. Presenting genetic information in a way they’ll actually use is key to making that happen.”

Next Steps in Research

Martinez and his collaborators plan to further explore catalog design, potentially testing which layouts maximize the use of economic selection indexes.

“This is the first time anyone has proven that layout impacts accuracy in livestock buying decisions,” he says. “Now that we know it matters, the question is how to use that knowledge to help producers make better choices.”

The study also raises broader questions about decision-making in agriculture and how behavioral economics can inform extension programs, breed association policies and marketing strategies.

“In the end, the more informed the decision, the better the outcome for the producer,” Martinez says. “That benefits everyone in the supply chain.”

Passing Down a Digital Map for the Next Generation

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 18:49:16 GMT

Transparency about ranch performance is a key factor in successfully transitioning a ranch from one generation to the next not only in the form of finances but also herd records.

“When records are passed down, you’re giving the next generation established trends they can learn from instead of starting from scratch,” says Jacqueline Lewis, CattleMax team member.

Lewis ranches with her husband and two daughters near Cheyenne, Wyo. Between her family’s operation and helping other ranchers maintain herd records, she knows firsthand how valuable an easy yet thorough record-keeping system is to family ranches across the country.

“You can’t manage what you don’t measure,” Lewis says. “The more solid your ranch records are, the more informed your decision-making is going to be, which undoubtedly will lead to production success and longevity of your ranch.”

Passing along herd records to upcoming generations is like providing them with the information to follow the right path even when you aren’t there.

Lewis explains, “Any time records can be passed along, you have that foundational sense of tracking trends that have been established for the operation … Records can serve as a map in terms of directional ideas for the next generation.”

Establishing an easy and effective system starts by defining goals.

She explains, “Once you figure out the direction you want to go, you’re going to figure out what you need to record. That’s what leads to informed decision-making down the road.”

After this, be cognizant of common mistakes when tracking records and put systems in place to avoid them.

Lewis says, “Time is probably the first challenge. Ranchers are wearing many hats, and record keeping feels like one more thing on the plate.”

Invest in a system that prioritizes the information you need and makes sense to you.

“Consistency is the key. Whatever works for you is what you’re going to use on a consistent basis,” shares Lewis.

Additionally, take the time to learn a new software or ask for help to ensure you are entering data as efficiently as possible.

Fragmented systems are also a common mistake that can impact time management.

“A fragmented system is overwhelming — records tucked in the barn, in a drawer, lost in a phone. The biggest question becomes, where do I even start?” Lewis says.

Fragmented systems can be avoided by giving multiple people access to one record-keeping location and making that location accessible from the pasture, corral and office. Spreading out the record-keeping responsibility also makes the process less overwhelming.

She says, “When record keeping falls on just one person, that’s a lot of pressure that doesn’t need to be applied to a single individual.”

Animal ID systems also can’t be ignored. Reducing duplicates and ensuring ownership and age can easily be noted from the visual ID simplify the entire process. Learn more about ID systems .

Creating or switching systems can seem overwhelming at first, but it doesn’t have to be.

“All you really need to focus on as you’re getting started is your active inventory — the animals walking around your pastures right now,” Lewis says. “Don’t worry about that historical stuff right away. There will always be rainy days to backfill it.”

The biggest piece of record-keeping advice — focus on the bigger picture.

Lewis says, “Record keeping shouldn’t be seen as a chore. It’s a means to confidence — confidence in your decisions and confidence in the direction of your ranch.”

Listen to the full conversation on the Casual Cattle Conversations podcast .

The challenge of maintaining herd records is a familiar struggle for many cow-calf producers who grapple with balancing detailed documentation and practical, cost-efficient management. However, there are multiple solutions available to help transition from traditional paper to platforms that make data input and analysis more productive. During Smart Farming week, we shared information about about five record-keeping options available on the market today.
Voice-to-Record App Reinvents Cattle Management
Simplicity In Record-Keeping With an All-in-One Hub
Bridging Genetics, Management and Technology in Beef Production
Chute-Side and Simple: Breedr Delivers Cattle Management Integrated System
GEM: Precision in the Pasture

Simplicity In Record-Keeping With an All-in-One Hub

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:47:37 GMT

The challenge of maintaining herd records is a familiar struggle for many cow-calf producers who grapple with balancing detailed documentation and practical, cost-efficient management. However, there are multiple solutions available to help transition from traditional paper to platforms that make data input and analysis more productive. During Smart Farming week, we will learn more about five record-keeping options available on the market today.

CattleMax is an online record-keeping service used by ranches to store cattle inventory, herd health records, breeding and pregnancy records, calving data, weaning data and sync data from breed associations.

Terrell Miller, founder and CEO of CattleMax, says the program is designed for commercial and registered cow-calf producers of all herd sizes.

“It’s currently used by ranchers worldwide in herds from 10 head to 10,000 plus,” Miller says. “CattleMax has been around for over 25 years and is designed in the U.S. by cattle ranchers. It’s supported by ranchers who use the software in their own herds.”

CattleMax was built to be a complete record-keeping system with features like pasture activity, hay production, equipment maintenance and tasks.

“The most used features across users include breeding, pregnancy and calving records; weights, health treatments and pasture movements,” Miller adds.

Commercial plans start at $12 for the first 50 head of cattle and increase with herd size. Registered plans start at $16 for the first 50 head and increase with herd size. Both commercial and registered operations with more than 1,000 head have additional plans with features better suited for large operations.

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(Shutterstock and CattleMax)

Customer Feedback

Manager of Stalwart Ranches in Texas, Bill Cawley uses most of the features CattleMax offers to keep data and records on their registered and commercial cow herd.

“We run about 300 registered cows and about 3,700 commercial cows,” Cawley explains. “My favorite thing is that you can get reports to go to the [ranch] owner at just a touch of a button. You can get reports so that they actually know what’s going on like inventories. It’s not, ‘Let me find it, let me count it up.’ It’s just right there. We have EIDs (electronic identification ear tags) in all these cattle now. We can scan those and run off a list of calves in just a matter of minutes. It’s what everybody else in the world has in business, where you can run a report and don’t have to go through all your paper files to try to find something.”

Cawley adds having all their records on CattleMax makes taxes much easier for both the rancher and their accountant.

“We can run that report off and it’s in black and white, It’s easy for those guys to understand,” Cawley says. “There’s just so much that’s at your fingertips.”

(CattleMax)

Cawley has been using CattleMax for more than 20 years, so the program functions are simple for him to understand with many years of experience. However, he recommends CattleMax to ranchers and cattlemen because it is so user-friendly.

“It has what the everyday person needs on it, and you can get a little more technical if you want it to,” Cawley says. “Sometimes people don’t know what they’re looking at, and this is pretty self-explanatory for the most part. It’s been a really good company for us.”

The only limitation to CattleMax, like many record keeping programs, is that the animals need to be individually identified. Find more about CattleMax at cattlemax.com

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Paul Hill to be Honored with 2026 Saddle & Sirloin Portrait Award

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:20:25 GMT

Paul H. Hill has been named the 2026 inductee of the prestigious Saddle & Sirloin Portrait Gallery . Hill will become the 381st member of this historic gallery and his portrait will be unveiled at an induction banquet to be hosted Nov. 15 during the North American International Livestock Exposition and the National Angus Convention in Louisville, Ky.

Hill’s record-breaking success with leading Angus seedstock operations throughout the past half century is well documented. He was managing partner of Champion Hill, Bidwell, Ohio, from 1990 to 2017, and previously led Northcote Farm, Cobble Pond Farm, Hayes Star Ranch, South Fork Angus Ranch and Briarhill Angus Farm. In his youth he was herdsman for Malloy Polled Herefords and was involved in 4-H and FFA livestock judging and land evaluation. He has not only bred and developed many leading Angus cattle but also positively influenced the cattle business through interactions with partners, customers, employees, competitors, industry professionals and, of course, his favorite — Angus youth.

Hill’s work ethic, wisdom and personality have always distinguished him as a unique leader throughout his life. This Florida native served in the U .S. Army from 1968 to 1970, and received the Army Commendation Medal for Exceptionally Meritorious Service in 1970 and was twice Battalion Soldier of the Month in 1968 to 1969. He was both student and instructor at the American Herdsman Institute from 1966 to 1968.

As a skillful breeder and exhibitor of Angus cattle, his lifelong record of awards is unsurpassed with hundreds of national champions yet his key to success is perhaps in his slogan “Where winning is only the beginning.” He exhibited at the All-American every year since 1966 except during military service of 1968-1969, and every year at the Atlantic National since its founding in 1987. He attended the North American International every year since it was founded in 1974 and the National Western nearly every year for approximately 50 years, most years of which he was a competitive exhibitor. His experience, enthusiasm and mentorship has helped build generations of future Angus leaders.

His leadership roles with the American Angus Association include serving as president from 2007 to 2008 and on its board of directors from 2000 to 2008. During that time, he was instrumental on the cabinet for the Vision of Value Campaign for Angus Leadership from 2006 to 2011, and served as chairman of the Angus Foundation board from 2004-2007 and as chairman of the Angus Productions Inc. board from 2006 to 2007. He co-founded the Atlantic National Angus Show in 1987 and has served as the chairman of the board since 2002, as well as being member of the board of directors of the All-American Angus Breeders Futurity since 1977.

Widely renowned as an astute judge of livestock, he accepted livestock evaluation assignments at the All-American, North American International, Atlantic National, National Western, American Royal, Canadian Royal, Argentina National Angus Show & Sale and the Brazil National Angus & Livestock Shows along with numerous state and regional livestock shows and conferences.

Paul and his wife, Lynn, reside in Martinsville, Ind., and have two adult daughters, both of whom were active as Angus juniors, Dr. Sarah Hill Schaffer, private practice pediatrician, and Neenah Hill Jain, partner and CFO of Armory Square Ventures. They also have three grandchildren.

Bridging Genetics, Management and Technology in Beef Production

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 16:37:44 GMT

701x is a North Dakota-based agricultural technology company specializing in smart, connected, solar-powered GPS ear tags and management software for the cattle industry. It enables ranchers to monitor livestock health, location, breeding activity and behavior.

“There’s a lot of pressures on the ranching industry today, and there’s not a lot of technology or tools that can help them,” summarizes Sam Fisher, 701x vice president of sales and marketing.

701x was created by Kevin Biffert, a ranch-raised engineer, who saw the lack of effective technological tools available for ranchers.

“We have to develop a feature set that offers a lot more to the rancher,” Fisher adds.

(Photo: 701X)

Three Pillars: Registry Services, Herd Management, Devices

Fisher explains 701x’s offerings fall into three primary buckets.

1. Registry Services

701x acquired Digital Beef, a software solution for breed associations. This registry allows users to register animals, manage pedigrees and integrate performance data. He explains 701x is currently working on a rebuild of the registry product to make it a sustainable platform.

2. Herd Management Tools

“Think of this as your on-ranch record-keeping system ,” Fisher explains. “Digital calving book, chute‑side mode, breeding record system, even a financial section in there, all available for kind of on‑ranch records.”

701x is working to provide a unified, modern platform that streamlines data from herd management straight into registry services, minimizing manual entry and ensuring consistent, usable records.

Fisher says the 701x system eliminates double/triple entry of data; it makes data searchable and usable and replaces paper records with quick digital access.

Montana Angus producer Sara Stevenson says, “How I best describe 701x is the solution to a long-time problem I was looking for.”

701x helps her manage and communicate herd data. She explains the biggest historical challenge wasn’t collecting data but organizing it over many years and sending accurate information to the American Angus Association and other breed associations.

She says 701x has replaced scattered notebooks and multiple Excel files with one central, long-term system. It allows the Stevenson family to track every animal from birth to sale in one place, including:

Birth, weaning, yearling data and ratios.
Health events such as treatments, navel issues, deaths and injuries.
Fertility records.
Exact reason an animal leaves the herd — feet, fertility, open or death.

Stevenson emphasizes that bad or incomplete data is worse than no data, and 701x makes it realistic to maintain high-quality, multiyear records.

She shares these additional 701x advantages:

Time, stress and marriage-saving benefits. Before 701x, Stevenson says Maternal Plus reporting meant referring to years of calving books and tedious backtracking, causing weeks of work, frustration and “marriage” conflict. “701x eliminated the annual stress and fights,” she summarizes.
Data entry is now done chute-side or same day versus months later, which reduces errors and guesswork. The 701x system ties together EID (electronic identification) tags, wand, scale head and software reducing transposed numbers, missing digits as well as duplicate or outdated spreadsheets.
Digital workflow keeps accurate cow and calf pasture counts, as well as provides the ability to figure correct vaccine dose and mineral needs and get an immediate check of what animals were missed after working cattle. Stevenson admits they keep paper copies as backup, but the digital data saves their ranch money and time, improves accuracy and reduces stress.
Strong customer service and partnership. Stevenson compliments the 701x team for being accessible and willing to help when needed. She says 701x is not just a tool; it is a partner in their operation.

“What they’re really going for is that one-stop shop — the Apple of cattle data — and we are very happy with it,” Stevenson summarizes.

3. Smart Livestock Devices

701x offers two types of smart ear tag devices: the xTpro tag for bulls and cows and the xTlite tag for calves.

Fisher says the tags are a management tool providing tangible, practical benefits like GPS tracking, health and behavior alerts and reproductive data. The tags help producers improve breeding rates, reduce losses and gain actionable data, making the investment cost-effective over time.

The Stevensons use xTpro tags in donor cows and herd bulls to help:

Detect estrus in older donor cows that don’t show strong physical heat signs.
Track bull activity (steps, mounts) and correlate that with actual calves sired via DNA, revealing which bulls are working harder versus just being lazier. She says this leads to data-backed decisions about which bulls and cows are performing.

Dakota Gerloff of Gerloff Farms , Bland, Mo., manages about 400 seedstock cows and 120 commercial cows. The Gerloffs put xTpro tags in all their herd bulls. He says the biggest benefit of the tags is the peace of mind the system provides his family during breeding season.

While he typically checks his fall cows in person every other day during breeding season, 701x allows him to open the app and see how individual bulls are behaving throughout the day: how active they’ve been, whether they’ve been mounting cows and, generally whether they appear to be doing their job.

He says the tags are a valuable tool in an era when good labor is hard to find. Gerloff adds that he plans to tag his cow herd for heat detection and calving alerts, which could reduce manpower needs by providing timely notifications instead of relying solely on constant physical checking.

(Photos: 701X)

User-Friendly Purchasing and Setup

The company aims to make technologically advanced cattle management solutions simple, accessible and valuable to both seedstock and commercial beef producers. Producers can order products directly online through a marketplace. Ongoing support, educational videos and in-person field staff are available to streamline onboarding and maximize value.

Fisher says transparent pricing and simple online purchasing eliminate barriers for adoption.

“We focused on easy, easy, easy, easy,” he says. “You go to 701x.com, there’s a tab for the marketplace ... add to cart ... check out and it’s shipped directly to you.”

Fisher explains the tags come pre-integrated into the software ecosystem, which makes the setup seamless. Producers are supported by educational materials, responsive field staff and personal phone/video help as needed.

When inserting xTpro tags, place the buttons between the two main ribs of the ear. Apply the tag so the solar panel sits forward and up for best sunlight exposure.

(701x)

The tags are designed to be robust, solar-powered and connected by both cellular and satellite networks for maximum utility and minimal hassle. The system’s value is demonstrable through examples of loss prevention, breeding improvement and labor savings.

Fisher says customer feedback shapes product development and issue resolution, and all customers have open access to knowledgeable staff. 701x continually refines its algorithms and is developing new features like feedyard systems and more advanced monitoring to adapt to industry needs and drive future genetic improvements.

(701x)

A Seedstock Supplier Service for Bull Buyers

The Gerloff family hosts an annual bull sale each October selling 80 bulls. As a customer service, the Gerloffs tagged all 2025 sale bulls with 701x’s xTpro. If a bull sold for more than $6,500, the buyer was offered a one-year 701x app subscription.

Gerloff says the tag process went smoothly and praises retention and durability. He says they tagged the sale bulls 10 days before the sale. He was originally concerned about the bulls fighting and losing tags before sale day. He reports they didn’t lose any tags despite the tendencies of 20-month-old bulls.

Gerloff says more than half of the buyers who qualified to use the system have made a 701x account thus far. He also notes he has not received one negative call or frustration about the tag.

701x’s core aim is to help both commercial and seedstock producers be more profitable and sustainable by providing customers cutting-edge, practical tools that deliver real-world results.

“I really believe we’re building tools that actually matter,” Fisher summarizes. “Tools that will actually keep people in the beef business, keep families on the same piece of dirt that they’ve always ranched.”

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The Cattleman's Call That Never Fades: Scott Wolverton’s Journey From Farm to Fame

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 13:53:43 GMT

For Scott Wolverton , the path to Nashville didn’t begin under bright stage lights or inside a recording studio. It started on a cattle farm in southeast Nebraska — where early mornings, livestock chores and county fairs were simply part of everyday life.

Raised on a cow-calf operation in Seward, Neb., Wolverton grew up immersed in agriculture. He started taking guitar lessons when he was 10. He says music was always there, but it wasn’t always the priority.

“I grew up on a small cattle farm,” Wolverton says. “We have a cow-calf operation back home. I grew up playing music here and there, but it really took the back burner to football, baseball, wrestling, 4-H events, showing cattle and doing all that stuff.”

Agriculture wasn’t just something Wolverton participated in. It was embedded in his family.

“My dad’s a veterinarian back home in Seward. He has a small cow-calf operation, K.A.W. Red Angus, and that’s what we would show cattle through and do all that stuff, 4-H projects,” Wolverton says. “My mom works for 4-H Extension out of Seward County. She helps with after-school programs for kids. She helps the county fair set up, running this county fair, hiring judges, all the livestock shows. She does a lot of that.”

Wolverton, his older brother and twin sister were raised around livestock, showing both Red Angus cattle and horses. It was those experiences on the farm and showing livestock that prepared him for the challenges of building a career in Nashville.

“I feel like I learned a lot about responsibility and work ethic just through working with animals, working with my dad and my siblings on the farm and doing just everyday things out there,” Wolverton says.

(Provided by Scott Wolverton)

A Chance Introduction That Changed Everything

Growing up, Wolverton’s interests were split between 4-H and athletics. Baseball, in particular, became a major focus. In college, he majored in agronomy — a natural extension of his agricultural upbringing — while also pursuing baseball seriously enough that it eventually became his career. Wolverton coached at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, and during that time, he quietly began recording music on his own.

What he didn’t expect was that a casual connection would open a door he never saw coming. The coaches he worked with introduced him to a man who would eventually become his manager.

That manager, Zach, happened to be in Hutchinson one night when an opportunity surfaced almost out of nowhere — a chance for Wolverton to open for country artist Riley Green in Salt Lake City the very next day.

“I was like, ‘OK, that’s awesome. I don’t know if I’m going to get there. That’s about 21 hours away,’” Wolverton says. “And he said, ‘We’ll just fly you out, and then fly you back on Friday.’ And so I flew out Thursday morning, played the show Thursday night, and flew back on a Friday morning. And I’m back in time for practice that afternoon.”

The experience was fast, surreal and life-altering for a farm kid from Nebraska.

“It was kind of surreal in the moment. The Riley Green thing kind of came out of the blue,” Wolverton says. “And it was one of those things where you’re kind of like, it happened so quickly. In the moment I was kind of like, ‘Is this really where I’m at right now?’ Because it happened in less than 24 hours. I was on a plane and back in Kansas.”

That moment set Wolverton on a new path — one that eventually led him to Nashville and a full-time pursuit of country music. But even as his career shifted, his connection to agriculture never faded.

(Provided by Scott Wolverton)

His Inspiration

Wolverton says his main inspiration as a songwriter comes from home and how he was raised — the work, love and lifestyle he learned growing up around cattle.

“A lot of my inspiration comes from home,” Wolverton says. “It comes from where I grew up, what I grew up doing, that west country life, I guess. It’s very simple, but a lot of it has to do with work ethic, my faith, that kind of lifestyle.”

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A post shared by Scott Wolverton (@scottywolverton)

His Most Personal Song Yet

One of his most personal songs, “ Cattleman’s Call ,” draws directly from his upbringing and a sound that defined his childhood.

“My dad has always done that cow, the ‘come-boss,’ cattle call, and it’s always been such a fascinating thing to me because growing up as a little kid, you hear your dad scream and you’re like, ‘What was that?’” Wolverton explains. “And then you kind of learn about it, but it’s so amazing the cows always come right when he calls. They’ll perk their heads up and you can see them just start walking because they know they’re going to get taken care of.”

That cattle call became more than a memory. It became a metaphor and a message.

“My parents have been my rock throughout college baseball and just life in general,” he says. “My dad’s always called me and he’s always been very reassuring of, ‘Hey man, if anything ever happens, you fall flat on your face, you can always come home.’ And so, I tried really hard to relate that cattle call to that feeling, and that’s kind of where that inspiration really came from.”

Released last summer, “Cattleman’s Call” serves as both a tribute to his father and a reflection of the values Wolverton learned growing up in agriculture — values that continue to guide him in an industry that demands persistence and grit.

“Working in any branch of agriculture, a lot of it is hard work. It takes a lot of discipline, it takes a lot of hard work, it take a lot know-how or ‘figure it out,’” Wolverton says. “And the music industry is not a whole lot different from that. It’s really difficult. There’s a lot people doing it. You kind of got to find a way to stand out. And I feel very prepared in that way through the hard work and the dedication that I learned through working with animals, through working on the farm.”

From cattle country to country music, Scott Wolverton’s journey is rooted in the land and shaped by the lessons learned on a Nebraska farm. No matter how far the road takes him, the call of home is never far away.

A Role Model and Leader: Lyons-Blythe Advocates For Stewardship and the Next Generation

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 12:05:14 GMT

As the world recognizes 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF), U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB) is turning the spotlight on the women shaping agriculture every day here in the U.S. From innovative land management strategies to raising livestock with care and precision, women are vital contributors to our food systems and communities.

With a passion for the industry, Debbie Lyons-Blythe advocates for environmental stewardship, succession planning, family operations and keeping grazing lands viable for future generations. As co-owner of Blythe Family Farms in White City, Kan., Lyons-Blythe combines hands-on ranching with visionary leadership.

A Life Rooted in Ranching

Lyons-Blythe’s story begins on Lyons Angus Ranch south of Manhattan, Kan. Growing up, she and her sister learned cattle care knows no gender. They worked alongside their mother, Jan Lyons, and showed Angus heifers across the U.S. in the National Junior Angus Association — building lifelong connections and sharpening their skills in livestock management.

After marrying Duane Blythe in 1989, she brought her cows to her husband’s family farm, starting a new chapter that blended two legacies. Today, her five grown children remain involved in the operation. Three sons work full time on the ranch, two daughters remain co-owners and the third generation is sure to continue the family tradition.

Leadership, Learning and Legacy

Lyons-Blythe’s leadership extends far beyond feeding and caring for cattle. A proud example of her leadership is her long-standing commitment to advocacy. She has been active at the local, state and national levels, working alongside organizations and fellow producers to help shape policies and conversations that impact the industry.

Her noteworthy achievements are in abundance, which is a reflection of her strong character and dedication.

While the list extends well beyond this, these are just a few accolades and leadership highlights:

Past chair of the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB) from 2022 to 2023
Founding member of USRSB and helping shape the organization from its earliest days
USRSB panelist at NYC Climate Week
2022 Certified Angus Beef Progressive Partner Award (Blythe Family Farms)
2012 America’s Farmers Mom of the Year, awarded by Monsanto
Board leader on the Kansas Livestock Association and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

Women in Agriculture: Then and Now

Reflecting on her career, Lyons-Blythe has seen significant change in the role of women in farming and ranching.

“When I was a kid, women couldn’t even get their own bank loan without a husband’s signature,” she recalls.

Today, she notes, women are recognized as vital partners and leaders, making decisions alongside men and taking on leadership roles across operations and organizations.

Her advice to young women considering agriculture?

“Do the work. Don’t worry about being a woman. The cows need fed, the hay needs cut, the job needs done. It does not matter whether you are a guy or a gal,” she shares.

(Provided by USRSB)

Lessons from the Land

Farming and ranching come with constant challenges, from unpredictable weather to market shifts, but Debbie finds motivation in family, teamwork and the land itself. She stresses the importance of passing down values as well as skills.

“Every day on a ranch is busy, but there are ways to include the entire family – grandkids, too – in the daily work,” she says.

Her hope for the future? A new generation of ranchers who blend respect for tradition with openness to technology, efficiency and sustainability.

“The future of the Blythe Family Farms is in excellent hands,” she notes. “I believe the entire farming and ranching industries are as well.”

A Legacy in Action

Lyons-Blythe’s story is a reminder that women in agriculture are not only caretakers of the land and animals, but they are leaders, innovators and role models. Her legacy at Blythe Family Farms is demonstrated through collaboration, resilience and mentorship, showing young women and families across the U.S. that all have a place at every table in agriculture.

You can learn more about Lyons-Blythe’s advocacy efforts on her personal blog Kids, Cows and Grass.

2026 is the year to celebrate all the women shaping our food systems. Stories like Lyons-Blythe’s remind us farming is more than a job. It’s a legacy, a community and a calling.

How Should You Manage Bulls in Winter to Ensure Summer Breeding Performance?

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 13:31:26 GMT

It can be easy to forget bulls and focus on cows when weather hits, but management strategies during the winter months can impact a bull’s performance in the upcoming breeding season. Managing herd bulls properly to prevent frostbite of the testes and properly manage body condition score before the next breeding season is imperative.

“Owning bulls during the idle months is not all sunshine and rainbows,” says Beth Reynolds, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach program specialist. “Broken fence, beat up hay rings, injuries from fighting …. And all that comes with bored boys — I mean bulls — in the winter.”

She says in a recent Iowa Beef Center Growing Beef Newsletter article that bull management must be kept to high standards in order to get a good return on investment, because quality bulls are not cheap.

“Winter management puts a large emphasis on periods of cold stress and temperature fluctuation,” Reynolds explains. “The negative impacts of poor winter management are broad, but two general categories are nutritional and breeding soundness.”

She stresses these three keys to managing bulls during the winter.

1. Provide windbreaks.

Reynolds says managing the breeding soundness impacts of cold weather on herd sires requires being proactive and using tools to mitigate frigid temperatures.

“Windbreaks are very impactful in mitigating cold stress effects,” she explains.

Temporary windbreaks using portable windbreak panels, hay bales or even stock trailers can be effective if placed with prevailing winds in mind.

According to South Dakota State University , there are several considerations for designing windbreaks, and the requirements for sizing will largely depend on the number of animals that will be usng the structure for shelter.

“A common rule of thumb is to allocate 25 sq. ft. of protection per cow, or 1' of fence length per cow,” explains SDSU guidelines. “The protected zone of a windbreak will extend out to the leeward side by 8 to 15 heights of the structure with a reduction of wind speed of approximately 50%. Previous research has identified an ideal ratio of length to height of 10:1, so for example a 10’ windbreak should be a minimum of 100’ long for maximal protection. Structures should be placed at least 75' upwind of any roads, alleys or buildings to reduce the impact of high winds and drifting snow.”

2. Provide bedding.

Dry areas to lay are important to consider when wintering bulls. These areas can be achieved by providing bedding or areas within a pasture that provide adequate cover from wind and snow.

“Bedding is especially important to create a barrier, keep the scrotum off the frozen ground to prevent frostbite and help alleviate the increased nutritional needs,” Reynolds says.

A feedlot trial from SDSU found providing 4 lb. of bedding per head per day reduced energy maintenance requirements by 20% to 40% compared to unbedded counterparts on cement. While less research has been done on breeding stock to quantify changes, Reynolds says one would expect providing bedding would also reduce maintenance requirements for bulls and cows during cold-stress periods.

Wet and cold conditions increase the risk of frostbite. Frostbite presents as a scab, discoloration and/or sloughing of the bull’s scrotum. These tissue damages limit or prevent the ability for a bull to regulate testis temperature. This is caused by the inhibition of the raising and lowering of the testes that occurs naturally. Come breeding season, this can result in a decrease in fertility.

“Arguably, the most discussed negative impact of not managing cold stress in bulls is frostbite on the scrotum,” Reynolds explains. “Mild frostbite will set back normal sperm production for 45 to 60 days, and severe frostbite may cause permanent damage.”

Additionally, in periods of cold stress, a cortisol spike can be expected. Cortisol can transfer from the bloodstream to semen, and in vitro trials have observed negative effects on sperm quality.

3. Provide adequate and strategic nutrition.

Reynolds explains managing the nutritional impacts of cold weather on herd sires will look very similar to nutritional adjustments needed for the gestating cow herd. The genera rule of thumb for cold stress still applies: for every degree the temperature is below the lower critical temperature, energy needs increase by 1%. The lower critical temperature for a dry winter hair coat on cattle in good (5-6) body condition is around 20°F.

Cold stress for brief or extended periods increases energy requirements while protein, mineral and vitamin needs remain consistent. If adequate forage is available, bulls will increase their dry matter intake during periods of cold stress. Depending on hay quality, this could perpetuate the problem of needing more energy in the diet. In cold stress scenarios, supplemental grains high in energy can be extremely effective for bulls on high-forage diets.

Use the offseason to bring bulls back into good condition after the breeding season and allow plenty of time and space for them to recover from any immune system strains or physical injuries.

Underfed bulls are more prone to disease, poor libido and lower quantity and quality sperm.

“Micronutrients and the mineral program in particular should not be overlooked if you expect a healthy, active bull to pass a BSE and perform well in the following breeding season,” Reynolds says. “For example, zinc and selenium are essential for testicular function in addition to their importance for an effective immune response.”

Other Stress Reduction Strategies

Reynolds encourages trying to reduce bull stress in general by ensuring commingled bulls have adequate room to reduce fighting . This goes beyond providing space for bulls to “get away” and roam. It includes providing enough space at the feed bunk or hay ring, as well as a larger area for bedding down to reduce fighting when active, eating and resting.

Cold weather and frozen ground can also strain bulls’ hooves, making them prone to toe abscesses, foot rot and other infections.

“To promote hoof health, be diligent in maintaining pens in the warm spells when uneven ground and manure can be addressed,” she says.

Even if all available cold stress prevention strategies are used, follow up with your veterinarian to schedule breeding soundness exams . A close-up examination is needed to catch some physical injuries and sperm abnormalities, even after the best off-season management.

“When scheduling, remember that sperm production takes about 60 days. Although some bulls may go from a failed to a passing BSE if rechecked, a plan B likely requires purchasing another bull, and bull sale season is underway,” Reynolds says.

Producers in the Midwest should also be cautious if the primary fall and early winter feed source is pasture containing a significant portion of mature, unimproved fescue.

“Endotoxins found in Kentucky 31 fescue cause vasoconstriction, or reduced blood flow to the extremities,” she says. “This will ultimately perpetuate any negative effects of cold stress at warmer temperatures than would be expected on other feed sources.”

Lastly, don’t forget water. Be sure bulls always have sufficient access to clean, fresh water.

“The moral of the story,” Reynolds stresses, “don’t forget about herd sires in the winter months or in the spring when calving season is in full swing.”

Your Next Reads:
Wanted: Bulls Ready to Work
Why Bull Rest Matters: Time to Prepare for the Next Breeding Season

Can Beef Producers Balance Carcass and Maternal Traits?

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 10:46:46 GMT

When you look at quality grid premiums, Angus cattle continue to defy the fundamentals of supply and demand. As Angus cattle continue to improve, today there is a higher percentage of high-quality carcasses hanging on the rail, yet producers continue to get paid for it. That’s strong demand — and a clear signal back to ranchers.

These gains are driven by consumers who continue to purchase beef for its superior taste and tenderness. As this pull-through demand signal from the consumer has become evident, Angus breeders have met end-users’ increased appetite for quality beef. At the same time, Angus cows continue to offer strong maternal traits while raising calves that may later enter the supply chain.

As carcass quality improves and the average marbling (Marb) expected progeny difference (EPD) for the Angus breed increases, many Angus breeders ask the supply development team at Certified Angus Beef (CAB), “Do we still need to focus on marbling?”

Data says yes.

Money On The Table

The Angus breed has a strong market share, with 72% of fed cattle being Angus-influenced. Still, only four in 10 head that meet the live animal specifications go on to meet all 10 CAB carcass specifications. In 2024, 82% of Angus-influenced cattle didn’t have enough marbling (CAB Consist Study).

(Certified Angus Beef)

While cattle may not qualify for CAB for missing multiple carcass specifications, the greatest opportunity to increase the amount of Angus-influenced cattle that qualify for CAB are those that barely miss the marbling requirement.

Evaluating the marbling distribution of Angus-influenced cattle provides a clearer picture of the portion of the population that falls short of CAB’s marbling threshold. Just over 10% of our missed supply is within only 30 points of marbling. Moderate improvements in marbling can still leave room for improved selection across multiple traits while making meaningful strides in product quality.

(Certified Angus Beef)

The data proves that marbling should still be a priority. But additional data shows that it doesn’t have to be your only priority.

Are Marbling, Feet and Fertility Related?

Another common question from cattle country: Has the Angus breed been so focused on marbling that it’s lost sight of other valuable traits? Specifically, feet and fertility are recent areas of concern.

In search of answers, CAB worked alongside the American Angus Association (Association) team to identify genetic trends between fertility and feet issues and the culled animals’ Marb EPDs. The Association provided all disposal code records from the Angus Herd Improvement Records (AHIR) database for both fertility and feet from 2010 through 2023. AHIR offers valuable insights into the primary reasons cattle were removed from a herd.

In both cases, there was a normal distribution of animals culled—indicated by the bell-shaped curve. The real lessons become visible when we draw lines at the marbling threshold for Targeting the Brand.

From 2010 to 2023, more than 7,600 cows, bull, and calves were culled for foot issues. Many culls fall below the black line representing the Targeting the Brand minimum requirement for Marb EPD (+0.65.)

(Certified Angus Beef)

From 2010 to 2023, more than 72,000 females were culled from the herd due to being open or having other fertility issues. Many culls fall below the black line representing the Targeting the Brand minimum requirement for Marb EPD (+0.65.)

(Certified Angus Beef)

For several years, CAB has published Targeting the Brand requirements for Marb EPD and Grid Value ($G) Index to help commercial customers easily identify registered Angus animals with added genetic carcass value. The minimum genetic requirement thresholds are +0.65 Marb EPD and +55 $G.

The most cattle culled for feet and fertility fall below +0.65 for marbling. Incidentally, the 2025 breed average for current sires was +0.64. While there are cattle with very high marbling values culled from herds due to feet or fertility problems, the whole picture shows that many of those culled cattle are not considered elite for carcass quality. Moreover, this data shows that recent improvements in Marb EPDs aren’t to blame. In both disposal codes, the bulk of the curve peaks at around a +0.40 Marb EPD, which was the average for Angus cattle born in 2005.

Perhaps improvement in quality doesn’t rely on extremes.

Simultaneous Improvement

Cattlemen and women have a responsibility to look critically at their own herd, determine the areas that warrant improvement, and cull animals accordingly. Stockmen bring immense value by objectively evaluating phenotypes, regardless of what the numbers say, and setting individual breeding objectives.

When evaluating EPDs and considering what you’re breeding for, you must first recognize your environmental needs. Second would consider resources (labor, land availability, etc.) at your disposal. Third are your marketing goals and, just as important, your customers’ marketing goals.

For cattle producers who have goals of increasing their CAB acceptance rates, Targeting the Brand is a data-driven selection tool that helps bull and female customers more easily identify registered Angus animals that will help them achieve a 60% CAB acceptance rate, whereas the 2025 CAB acceptance rate (not exclusive to those utilizing Targeting the Brand) averages 37%.

Some Angus breeders or their customers’ breeding objectives are higher than CAB acceptance and focus on increasing the number of cattle that grade USDA Prime. In 2025, the industry average Prime acceptance rate was around 11%. If you manage an average commercial cow herd under average management and environmental conditions, then data suggests registered Angus bulls with a +1.10 Marb EPD and +72 $G have more potential to achieve a 20% Prime acceptance rate.

As you’re making mating decisions for your next breeding season or headed to purchase new herd bulls, there’s space to put emphasis on marbling without excluding other valuable traits for your operation.

Sale Day Tip

The Angus Sire Evaluation Report and Angus Media’s Pasture to Publish sale catalogs both offer an EPD Search tool, allowing you to set your EPD parameters and search for animals in a sale book that meet your criteria. When sale day arrives, you already know which bulls carry the genetics that will help meet your breeding objectives.

Cow-Calf Checklist: Are You Ready For Calving?

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 11:47:01 GMT

Each month, cow-calf producers are faced with management tasks related to seasonal and production goals. Kansas State University Extension cow-calf specialist Jason Warner summarizes the top 10 management practices producers should check off their to-do lists in February.

1. Condition score cows to guide your nutrition program:

Targeted body condition score (BCS) at calving: 5 for mature cows, 6 for young cows.
Adjust feed amounts as needed before calving for spring-calvers .

2. Continue grazing crop residues as they are available:

Quality and quantity of residue decline with time.
Be prepared to move cattle or supplement as needed.

3. Be ready to react to severe winter weather effects:

Cow energy needs increase during periods of cold stress .
Thin (BCS of 4 or less) cows and cows without wind protection are at greatest risk.

4. Don’t forget about herd bulls:

If bulls have a BCS of 5 or less, consider supplementing to regain BCS going into winter.
Testicular frostbite can happen; provide plenty of bedding.

5. For those getting ready to start calving:

Have calving equipment cleaned and available to use as needed.
Consider teat and udder scoring females at calving, even if they’re commercial.

6. Review your genetic selection goals for your herd:

When picking bulls , do your homework well prior to the sale.
Focus on the traits that are economically relevant for you.

7. Replacement heifers are worth a lot this year:

Know your target weight at breeding , and adjust accordingly.
Schedule reproductive tract exams prior to breeding.

8. As you think about this female market this year:

Consider the time needed to pay off replacement females at a given calf price.
Consider all the ways in which you can add females back into the herd.

9. For those with fall-calving cow herds:

Make plans for weaning and marketing fall-born calves.
Manage females to avoid significant BCS losses as calves nurse through winter.

10. It’s always a good time to think about herd data and record keeping:

Review what information you’ve been recording and consider what you should be recording this year.
Do you need to make changes in how you record your data ?

AngusLink Offers GeneMax Enhancement for Genetic Merit Scorecard

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 11:53:59 GMT

Commercial producers with Angus-based cow herds can access a new value-added marketing option with the GeneMax®-enhanced Genetic Merit Scorecard ^® (GMS) from AngusLink ^®.

This connection serves as another way for producers to set themselves apart in the marketplace, says Troy Marshall, director of commercial industry relations for the American Angus Association ^®.

GeneMax Advantage is a genetic test for high-percentage commercial Angus females, and the GMS is a valued-added marketing tool that objectively describes the performance potential of a group of feeder calves. Each is powered by the Association’s database, the industry’s largest genetic database, with product research and intelligence managed by Angus Genetics, Inc. (AGI^®).

“The GMS has already proven to be exceptionally accurate, but building values to represent the cow herd side [of the scorecard’s calculations] naturally took time,” Marshall says. “GeneMax speeds up the process, so the latest update to the GMS is about improving it further. The more precise the GMS becomes, the more value it creates for the entire industry.”

He says GeneMax Advantage has also built itself a reputation as a reliable tool. Recent improvements have included adding five dollar value indexes ($Values) to test results on individuals as well as scores for five additional traits: Functional Longevity (FL), Teat Size (Teat), Udder Suspension (UDDR), Hair Shed (HS), and Pulmonary Arterial Pressure (PAP). The $Values on the test are directly comparable to the $Values of registered Angus bulls, making it the practical choice to test commercial heifers out of registered Angus bulls. It also includes Sire Match™ services, which provides sire parentage for tested daughters of registered and HD 50K or Angus GS-tested bulls.

(American Angus Association)

What’s Required

To qualify for the GeneMax-enhanced scorecard, 10% or more of a producer’s cow herd must be tested. The standard requirements for enrolling a calf crop in the GMS program also still apply. Those include Age and Source verification through IMI Global, a division of Where Food Comes From; the cow herd breed composition for the calves being enrolled; and a list of sire registration numbers. Sires must be predominantly (50% or more) registered Angus.

“Having an additional source of information brings more precision to the calculation, but the logic behind the scorecard is still the same,” says Rafael Medeiros, geneticist with AGI. “The scores of GeneMax-tested cows will be considered in the cow side of the equation — on a scale that matches the percentage of your cow herd that’s been tested — to calculate that calf crop’s GMS. This added transparency and credibility makes your marketing even stronger, helping buyers recognize the depth of your genetic investment.”

During the American Angus Association’s fiscal year 2025, AngusLink premiums averaged $20.92 per hundredweight (cwt.). Medeiros and Marshall agree this new scorecard option is an extension of efforts by the Association and AGI to help commercial producers both make genetic progress in their herds and help them get paid for it on sale day.

There is no additional cost for the connection. The only cost for receiving a GeneMax-enhanced GMS is the regular cost of GeneMax testing at $28 per female and typical AngusLink enrollment costs, which include the expense of Age and Source verification.

To signal interest in the enhanced scorecard, producers check a box indicating they have tested with GeneMax Advantage when completing the AngusLink enrollment form. To begin an enrollment, producers can contact the AngusLink team at anguslink.com or 816-383-5100. To begin GeneMax testing, visit www.GeneMaxAngus.com and place an order, or complete the “Talk to a Rep about GeneMax” form on the webpage.

Improving GMS scores

A frequently asked question about the GMS from users is, “How can I improve my scores?” Medeiros says this connection provides an efficient path for doing that.

“Producers of all sizes have found success with GeneMax Advantage,” he says. “Because GeneMax delivers results on individual animals, you can make selection and breeding decisions with greater precision and have a greater effect on genetic merit within a shorter period. The sooner you begin, the sooner you’ll see the advantages of integrating GeneMax data into your marketing strategy.”

The scorecard values range from 0 to 200, with the industry average being 100. The higher the score, the greater the genetic merit of the calves. Medeiros says the effect of adding GeneMax scores depends on the genetic quality of a herd.

The more cows you test, the greater the impact GeneMax data will have on your Genetic Merit Scorecard scores, Marshall adds.

“Testing a higher percentage of females adds more detail and insight, giving buyers a clearer view of your herd’s genetic potential,” he says. “By incorporating GeneMax Advantage insights into selection and mating decisions, you can really accelerate the rate of genetic improvement within your herd.”

Marshall says this enhancement brings full circle the suite of tools designed in partnership with AGI for the the American Angus Association to benefit commercial cattlemen.

“We can always get better,” he says. “Once you’ve selected the right bulls, GeneMax Advantage offers the most accurate heifer selection tool available, allowing you to build and describe a cow herd that aligns with your goals. After establishing the right genetics, the focus shifts to capturing their value — marketing your feeder cattle in a way that reflects their true worth. AngusLink has transformed that process. It is the most recognized and trusted method for conveying the genetic merit of commercial feeder cattle.”

Tradition Reimagined: The National Western Stock Show Enters a New Era

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 20:08:17 GMT

Legacy, tradition, the place to be in January — the National Western Stock Show (NWSS).

When I reflect on my younger years and the early days of my career, there’s no doubt I valued my annual trip to Denver for the NWSS. I looked forward to the chance to see some of the best beef genetics from across the U.S. and Canada. There was nothing like standing on the catwalk in the Yards and taking in the impressive view of pen after pen of bulls on display. And on the Hill, it was the Super Bowl of cattle shows.

NWSS was a chance to network with some of the leading seedstock and commercial producers, as well as chance to see some of the hot new sires.
While I understand and respect the showring does not reflect the commercial industry today, at one time NWSS was an elite event where commercial producers came in droves to purchase bulls from the Yards.

Today, the NWSS is a 16-day livestock show with more than 25 different cattle breeds and many other species of livestock. With more than 12,000 head of livestock moving in and out of the gates each year, visitors can watch traditional competitions including breeding, market and showmanship, or those primarily aimed for recreation or companionship — llamas, alpacas, poultry and stock dogs.

Last week, I had a chance to attend NWSS with my dad. It was an annual trip for us when I worked for the Angus and Hereford associations. Each year, he would hitch a ride with me and take in the activities on the Hill and in the Yards.

I’ll be honest, I’ve not been to Denver since COVID. My work and family schedules did not allow for my annual trip to the Mile High City.

(Angie Stump Denton)

New Facilities, New Perspective

Arriving at the facilities on Thursday, I was stunned and speechless. Where once was the history and tradition of the Denver yards is an impressive, state-of-the-art, beautiful new facility.

According to the NWSS website , the facilities beyond NWSS activities will host concerts and festivals, farmers markets, sporting events, trade shows and conventions, as well as office space, business incubators, classes, public art, cultural events, family activities and shops. Just two miles north of downtown Denver, the site is a unique opportunity to connect the rural and urban economies and become the new epicenter of innovative agribusiness.

Throughout the weekend while catching up with beef industry friends, including exhibitors and spectators, the common theme was: “Wow.”

This was the fourth year for the Stockyards Event Center and the updated Yards . While I admit I miss the famous catwalk and the chance to gaze over the pens, the updated pen space and showring are a welcome upgrade for exhibitors and spectators.

Opening for the 2026 event was the Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Livestock Center with a 17,760 sq. ft. arena. The new arena was spacious with amazing lighting, screens and sound. The cattle were exhibited on green turf. The stall area was also updated with many exhibitors commenting on the air quality in the barns, adequate electricity and good wash racks — the important things to cattle exhibitors.

Also new this year was the Legacy building. This building serve as the home to all members of the National Western family. It was built to be a gathering place, gallery and a watering hole for friends, cowboys and art lovers alike. This building was breathtaking .

Historical photos from the Yards and the Hill.

1 of 4:

National Western Stock Show

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National Western Stock Show

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National Western Stock Show

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National Western Stock Show

Times Change, Yet Tradition Continues

While NWSS exhibitors and spectators were excited about the updated facilities and the newness of the showring, you could still feel the tradition and legacy of the NWSS as you watched the show and walked through the Yards.

Since the first Stock Show in 1906, it has been a place where generations of beef producers have spent time reuniting with friends, learning about new genetics and techniques and doing business, year after year.

I can’t wait to watch my sons and future grandkids exhibit in the new facilities as it hosts future NWSS and junior nationals.

How Clear Objectives Lead to Smarter Bull Selection

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 14:47:29 GMT

Various factors play a role in decision-making as producers flip through a sale catalog looking for a new bull. It is important to find a strategy that works for your program and create selection criteria that will help you find a bull to progress your operation toward your goals.

Each producer has their own set of priorities in which they rank their options, various budgets for buying bulls, and different genetic preferences.

“Define your objective of what you’re trying to accomplish,” says Jeff Mafi, American Angus Association regional manager. “How are you going to use the bulls? Are they going on heifers or cows? How are you going to sell those calves by those bulls? Are you retaining ownership or keeping replacement females? What selection tools do you need to use to help accomplish what you are trying to do?”

Mafi says defining these things will make it a lot easier to go through a sale book and find the individuals that will help move you forward. For a first-time buyer, he recommends having a good understanding of that breed’s expected progeny differences (EPDs) and indexes and how to use them.

“Don’t hesitate to reach out to a breeder and ask questions,” he adds. “They know their cattle and their genetics the best.”

With plenty of information available from data and genomics to photos and videos, Mafi says many producers still walk through the cattle in person to get a feel for the disposition even if they may bid online later. While crowds at live sales have not diminished, online bidding presence has increased, allowing customers to buy bulls from all over the country.

Travis Meteer, beef Extension specialist at the University of Illinois, says bull selection should start with the bull’s functional ability to breed cows.

“This includes feet, legs, structural soundness, a good libido, a passed breeding soundness exam and body condition appropriate for a breeding bull. Not too fat and not too thin. I would also include a good disposition in this,” Meteer says.

From there, Meteer agrees that selection criteria need to be catered to the herd goals and emphasizes the use of data and multi-trait selection.

“A bull needs to inject genetics that fit the goals of the herd from a management and marketing perspective,” Meteer explains. “DNA-enhanced EPDs and multi-trait selection indexes can aid in helping make decisions that are based on reliable data and not one single trait. While past criteria were heavily weighted on output traits, inputs and cost of production are being better weighted today than in the past.”

When buying bulls for a commercial operation, Meteer says leaving hybrid vigor on the table is a big loss.

“Lowly heritable traits like reproduction, health and cow longevity are best improved by crossbreeding,” he adds. “Crossbred cows and maternal heterosis are a key to profitability on commercial cow-calf operations. Studies have shown that net profit per cow is increased by $75/cow per year as a result of maternal heterosis.”

Producer Perspective

Will Andras of Andras Stock Farm, a Red Angus seedstock operation in west-central Illinois, says he looks at three main things when selecting a bull: soundness, phenotype and genetic potency. When flipping through a sale catalog, Andras says photos are important. Overly photoshopped pictures with clear structural alterations are a deal-breaker.

Beyond photos, Andras combs through EPDs, ratios within a contemporary group and pedigrees.

“We aspire to produce superior, outcross seedstock on the bleeding edge of the Red Angus breed,” he adds. “We focus on the necessary and practical convenience traits while also attempting to stack those premium pieces that fit tomorrow’s demand. Genetics are paramount, and outcross genetics are a plus. Genomically-enhanced EPDs are a must. Soundness, phenotype and disposition have never gone out of style and never will.”

Andras Stock Farm has its own registered Red Angus bull sale in the spring, and while it depends on weather, most customers walk through the cattle on sale day and bid in person. However, Andras says they also see a large presence in online bidding.

Haddie Simmentals of Walkerton, Ontario, raises full-blood and purebred Simmentals and was recently honored as the Ontario Simmental Commercial Producer of the Year. They start their herd bull search with structural soundness because of their location and terrain.

“Having good feet and overall correct structure is crucial for performance and walking our pastures,” says Ashley Fairminer of Haddie Simmentals. “Easy calving, too. While birth weight doesn’t play a huge roll in our selection, we look for a bull with lots of length to him for easier births on our cows and reducing loss of calves.”

When evaluating genetics, Fairminer says they look for data to prove they produce good maternal cows with good milk and consistent fertility. Whether they have a bull or heifer, both could stay in the herd for a long time, so consistent quality in genetics is important to their operation. When they receive a sale catalog, they look for those traits as they flip through the lots.

“We always pick a handful and call the farmer and ask about the bull, temperament, feet, dam, etc.,” Fairminer says. “We find a conversation with the farmer is the best way we can learn if a bull would be a good fit for our family and program.”

With a primary focus on replacement heifers, Haddie Simmentals focuses on selecting a bull with good maternal traits and dispositions.

“We strive to raise heifers our customers can be proud to have in their fields and ones their families can work without hesitation, and we know quality bulls play a crucial role in achieving that goal,” Fairminer adds.

Ultimately, starting the search for a new bull begins with defining program objectives and selection criteria that are important to your programs success. Many cattlemen start with the end product in mind, using a plethora of tools to find their next bull.

Your Next Read:

Organized Herd Records: A New Year’s Resolutions Ranchers Should Consider

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 13:26:24 GMT

New Year’s resolutions might feel cliché, but that doesn’t mean ranchers should overlook them.

“The new year is a really fun time. It’s a good time to reflect on what happened in the previous year, celebrate wins, look at what didn’t go as intended and ask, ‘Knowing what I know today, how would I have done that differently?’” says Terrell Miller, founder and CEO of CattleMax.

Why take the time to reflect and reset? Ultimately, it comes down to profitability and establishing direction because ranching is a complex business.

Miller says: “Profitability is critical — because managing ranch profitably is what ensures future generations can continue the operation. Ranching isn’t a hobby or just a job; it’s a way of life that transcends generations.”

Establishing these resolutions is unique to the individual, however, ranchers should remember to be specific about their desires and what will truly impact profitability.

“People often set goals without specifics — ‘I want to do X’ — but they don’t know what it looks like or the milestones along the way. Visualization helps create that clarity,” Miller explains.

Outside of the bigger picture, it’s important to set smaller goals or milestones along the way, too.

He says: “If your big goal is a certain income level or herd size, ask: ‘Where do I need to be by mid-summer? What’s my next 30-day plan?’ Otherwise you get to December 31^st and realize you’re short.”

While this basic goal-setting ideal is useful, it can’t truly be carried out unless producers have a benchmark for where they stand today. This benchmark can’t be recognized without organized herd and financial records.

“Organization is such a key. If you’re not organized and don’t have all your information together, it’s really hard to set goals or measure progress,” Miller says. “Successfully managing a ranch or any business starts with good organization and good information. Otherwise, you’re really in the dark.”

For ranchers who feel disorganized or even overwhelmed by the thought of organizing their herd records, the starting point is simpler than they may realize.

Miller explains: “Start with your active inventory: what animals are on your place today. Then add historical data as you have time. A common mistake is trying to enter complete histories cow by cow and never getting usable records started.”

Additionally, he encourages producers to know what their unique operation needs are for record keeping.

“Record keeping is not one size fits all. A thousand-head commercial operation out west has different needs than a 20-head registered herd along the Gulf Coast. Producers have to find the ‘just right’ amount of information to track,” Miller says. “Keeping too little information means you can’t make informed decisions. Keeping too much means you bog yourself down. Record keeping has a Goldilocks zone.”

Keeping records is only half the story. Turning records into reports that make data useful is the other half.

He shares: “One of my favorite sayings is: without reporting and analysis, you’re simply creating an electronic file cabinet. It’s not just about getting data in — it’s about getting useful information out.”

CattleMax has several features that help with this, but the end-of-year organizer is a customer favorite.

“The end-of-year organizer gathers all your information — purchased animals, sold animals, death loss, raised versus purchased — and puts it into a packet that’s easy to share with your accountant and ranch team,” Miller explains.

Whether ranchers have a goal of improving specific performance metrics or organizing records so they have the benchmark they need, remember the time it takes to establish goals is worth it for present and future generations.

“Ranching is labor-intensive, financially intensive and there are no days off — but it’s an incredible way of life. Managing the business side well ensures long-term sustainability and our domestic food supply.”

You can listen to the full conversation on the Casual Cattle Conversations podcast.

How Do You Score an Udder?

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 17:04:11 GMT

Anyone who has ever attempted to milk out a sore balloon-teated cow can certainly relate to the need for quality udders. A key to good udders is documenting udder quality at calving and using that data in culling, selection and mating decisions.

While collecting and reporting udder scores to breed associations is important for the calculation of expected progeny differences (EPDs), the practice and analysis of data also benefits herd improvement and profitability.

For seedstock producers, collecting teat size and udder suspension scores can improve the accuracy of the EPDs in their herd. Likewise, commercial producers can see herd improvement with decreased labor, increased cow longevity as well as improved calf health and performance.

Commercial cattleman Rick Busch, Busch Brothers Farms, Washington, Mo., records individual udder scores at calving. When tagging a calf, he also scores the cow’s udder using the universal BIF (Beef Improvement Federation) scoring system , which scores both udder suspension and teat size.

BIF recommends scoring udder suspension and teat size annually within 24 hours of calving. These numerical scores can easily be assigned in the pasture.

“A two-score system allows independent evaluation of teat size and suspension characteristics,” explains Bob Weaber, Kansas State University professor and head of the Eastern Kansas Research and Extension Centers. “While there is a general trend for cows with large teat size to also have poorer suspension, this is not always the case. The independent scoring of the two important udder quality traits allows more precise measurement of each trait. Even though these scores are subjective, they’ll do a better job documenting variation in udder quality than a single-score system. When the two scores are used, the heritability estimates for each trait should be higher due to increased precision of measurement.”

Weaber suggests producers make udder score collection a routine part of performance data collection at calving.

“Until you get comfortable with the scoring system, tape a scoring guide to your clipboard or reduce on a copy machine and tape in your ‘red book’ for use in the field; try to get as close as you can to the guide and be as consistent as possible,” he suggests. “Once you do it for a while, you’ll start picking out the really good ones and really bad ones easily. Be honest with yourself and use as much of the scale as needed. If she’s a 1 on suspension and 1 on teat size, give the scores.”

Weber explains there is no perfect score, but it is the ranking and the differences within the herd that are important.

Scores should be assigned according to the worst quarter of the cow’s udder. To ensure consistency and facilitate comparison of records, preferably one person should evaluate all cows each year and across years. Written notes about abnormal shapes or characteristics other than udder suspension and teat size can be useful.

Rick Rasby, University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor and cow-calf Extension specialist, says udder conformation will decline as the female ages, but do not take age into account when assigning an udder score.

The BIF scoring system doesn’t account for teat and udder pigmentation.

“Pigmentation is desirable as it is a guard against sunburn of the teat and udder that can be caused by direct sunshine or reflection of the sun off snow,” Rasby adds.

BIF and multiple breed associations have tools available to help with the scoring process. Here are a few resources:
BIF Guidelines
Angus Udder Scoring
Hereford Udder Scoring
Red Angus Udder Scoring

How Do You Score Udder Suspension?

Udder suspension cores range from 9 (very tight) to 1 (very pendulous) and represent assessments of udder support. Weak udder suspension results in pendulous udders that make it difficult for a calf to nurse.

Weak suspension in the udder indicates a lack of support in the ligament that ties the udder to the cow’s body wall. Over time, weakness in this ligament will allow the udder to hang down too far from the body and could subject the udder to serious problems and increased potential for injury

“The tighter to the body cavity that the udder is placed, the more desirable,” Rasby summarizes. “This allows for the calf to more easily to locate the teats, and it is less likely for the teats to drag in the mud.”

How Do You Score Teat Size?

Teat scores range from 9 (very small) to 1 (very large, balloon shaped) and are subjective assessments of teat length and circumference.

Oversized teats are difficult for newborn calves to nurse and the calf might not receive adequate colostrum, which could lead to a higher incidence of scours or decreased immunity levels in the newborn calf. In Canadian studies, cows with more desirable teat scores had calves that nursed sooner after birth.

4 Tips for Effective Udder Scoring

Collect within 24 hours of calving
Use weakest quarter to score both teat size and udder suspension
Score both teat size and udder suspension on 1–9 scale, independently
Best if one person scores all females in each management group

Examples of Udder Suspension and Teat Scores

Udder suspension score 9, teat score 9

(American Hereford Assn./Hereford World)

Udder suspension score 8, teat score 7

(UNL Beef Watch)

Udder suspension score 7, teat score 7

(UNL Beef Watch)

Udder suspension score 5, teat score 5

(UNL Beef Watch)

Udder suspension score 3, teat score 3

(UNL Beef Watch)

Udder suspension score 1, teat score 1

(American Hereford Assn./Hereford World)

What's The Cost to Lease a Bull in 2026?

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 14:16:40 GMT

According to Oklahoma State University’s Mark Johnson, in the current market, a good bull is worth somewhere between $12,000 to $17,175 to a commercial cow-calf operation in 2026.

In a recent article , Johnson, OSU extension beef cattle breeding specialist, explains where exactly in that range depends on a producer’s marketing plan and the market conditions at that time.

“There’s not an exact number because there are many variables in play,” he says.

He explains one potential way for a commercial cow-calf operation to reduce expenses is to lease, rather than own, a bull.

“Producers should compare the costs and benefits of leasing versus owning,” Johnson says in his recent Cow-Calf Corner article.

Leasing eliminates the capital expenditure of purchasing a bull.

Johnson explains, given the current circumstances, the realistic cost of leasing a 15-month-old bull that is valued at $10,000 and assumed to lose 100 lb. during the lease at $25/day for a 60-day breeding season:

Breeding Fee: $25 x 60 days = $1,500
Weight Loss: 100 lb. x $1 per lb. cost of gain = $100
Insurance: $10,000 x 3.5% = $350
Trichomoniasis Test = $75
Total = $2,025*
*In the current market, based on the quality and genetic value of the bull, prices will vary.

So, assuming the 15-month-old bull will cover 15 cows/heifers during the breeding season, the cost per female bred is $135.

How does this compare to owning bulls?

The following chart assumes a bull provides service until the age of 6. It serves as another way to evaluate the cost per female bred, based on various purchase prices of ownership.

Bull Purchase Price:

$5,600	$8,400	$11,200	$14,000
$40	$60	$80	$100

Cost per female bred - assuming 140 calves sired over duration of time as a herd bull.

For more information on bull value, see Johnson’s recent article:

What is a Good Bull Worth in 2026?

“Whether leasing or purchasing bulls, the expense will be highly dependent on the cattle market and quality of the bull,” Johnson says. “A leased bull is usually kept only during the breeding season so maintenance costs associated with bull ownership are reduced.”

For example, the cost of feeding a bull is realistically at least $1 per day. Additional costs are associated with veterinary care and medicine, labor, potential death loss and the facilities needed to keep bulls safe and secure during the off-season, as well as depreciation and interest.

“All these things considered, bull ownership has a price tag of several hundred dollars annually when bulls aren’t breeding cows,” Johnson summarizes.

Is Leasing an Option For You?

Johnson says leasing bulls may not be an option for all producers.

He encourages commercial cow-calf producer to make a plan in advance of breeding season by checking with seedstock vendors to see if they offer bull leasing options and confirm they will have bulls available for lease when needed. If seedstock producers are receptive to bull leasing, both the lessor and lessee need to consider how leasing a bull could affect the health of the herd.

“Leasing virgin bulls is ideal to ensure that a venereal disease such as vibriosis or trichomoniasis is not introduced into the lessee’s herd,” Johnson says. “A negative test for trichomoniasis (at very least) is a standard part of the lease agreement before the leased bull can be returned to the lessor’s herd. In addition, leasing bulls does not come with the benefit of the salvage value when older bulls are sold.”

Johnson explains four considerations of a typical bull lease agreement for the benefit of both parties:

A daily, monthly or breeding season fee. These fees typically start at $25/day depending on the quality and genetic value of the bull(s). The lessor would guarantee a bull has passed a breeding soundness exam.
A value per pound of bull weight loss during the lease. This typically is based on the cost of regaining the weight after bull is returned. In the current market, $1/pound is reasonable. Both parties should agree on a reasonable weight loss and cost of regaining the weight and include this in the lease agreement.
Cattle mortality insurance to protect the lessor from death loss. Both parties should agree on the value of the bull. Typically the lessee would purchase a policy covering the value of the bull, pay the premium and the policy would be paid to the lessor in the event of the bull’s death. Currently, a 60-day policy could be purchased for 3.5%, and a 90-day policy could be purchased for 4% of the established value of the bull.
Health. Typically, a negative test for trichomoniasis at completion of the lease and prior to the bull’s return, is a standard part of the lease agreement. This cost (usually $50 to $100), is covered by the lessor.

Breeding for Better Efficiency: Genetic Research Targets Methane in Grazing Cattle

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 16:59:29 GMT

Beef producers know methane isn’t just a talking point in the headlines. It’s a natural byproduct of cattle turning grass into high-quality beef. Through the process of enteric fermentation, rumen microbes break down forage and, in the process, produce methane.

Elizabeth Dressler, Ph.D., current American Simmental Association Geneticist and former doctoral student at Kansas State University, has performed a genetic analysis of gas fluxes and metabolic heat production in grazing beef cattle. While methane is far less abundant than carbon dioxide, Dressler says, it’s a powerful greenhouse gas, and livestock account for about a quarter of methane emissions in the U.S.

Beyond environmental concerns, methane also represents an energy loss. Anywhere from 2% to 12% of the feed energy a cow consumes is lost to methane instead of going toward growth, lactation or reproduction.

For cow-calf producers, this matters. Grazing cows contribute the largest share of methane emissions in the beef supply chain. They spend the most time in this stage and eat forage-heavy diets. Tackling methane here could make the biggest difference industry-wide.

With Pressure Comes Opportunity

Pressure to reduce emissions is mounting, both in the U.S. and globally. The U.S. has pledged to cut methane emissions by 30% between 2020 and 2030. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association has set a goal of climate neutrality by 2040. Major retailers and processors have added their own commitments.

Producers may rightfully ask: How can we realistically meet these expectations while still keeping cattle productive and ranches profitable? Feed additives, dietary adjustments and management tweaks have shown promise — but most of those strategies are easier to implement in feedlots than on pasture.

For grazing cattle, there are fewer tools in the toolbox.
That’s where genetics comes in. Selecting cattle that naturally produce less methane offers a long-term, cumulative solution. Once those traits are bred into a herd, the benefits stick, generation after generation.

Of course, before selecting for low-methane genetics, researchers need reliable ways to measure it. That’s where the GreenFeed system comes into play. Think of it as a mobile testing trailer, equipped with feed pans that drop a small amount of pelleted feed to attract cattle. As cows eat, fans pull in the air around their muzzle, capturing methane, carbon dioxide and oxygen levels.

These measurements, repeated over multiple visits, help estimate each animal’s daily methane output and metabolic heat production. Researchers at K-State, that included Dressler, have been working with these units in pasture conditions to build up data sets large enough for genetic analysis.

What they’ve found so far is encouraging. With around 40 visits per animal, the data is consistent and reliable. In fact, even a single visit gives a decent snapshot of an animal’s methane output, though more visits provide stronger confidence.

Early Genetic Findings

Preliminary estimates suggest methane production is moderately heritable —a bout the same as many production traits breeders already know about and use for selection. That means there is genetic variation within herds and across populations, and therefore, methane production could be used in selection decisions as well.

Researchers are still cautious, Dressler says, noting potential trade-offs. Some past studies have shown links between lower methane and less production or growth, though more data is needed to confirm how strong those relationships are in grazing cattle. Current efforts are also looking at correlations with other traits like weaning weight, fertility and efficiency.

At this point, the heritability is promising enough to keep pushing forward. The project has already recorded data on more than 400 animals, with plans to expand. As more universities and seedstock operations collaborate, the power of this research will grow.

For commercial cow-calf operators, the idea of selecting cattle for methane traits may feel futuristic. But the path from research to on-ranch reality follows a familiar pattern:

Step 1: Reliable Measurement – Researchers using systems like GreenFeed are helping nail down consistent data collection protocols.
Step 2: Genetic Parameters – Early heritability estimates show methane traits can be improved through selection.
Step 3: Breed Association Integration – Once data is strong enough, methane traits could appear alongside existing EPDs or indexes, or incorporated into current selection tools.
Step 4: Practical Application – Seedstock providers will be the first to use these tools, with commercial producers benefiting as the genetics spread.

In the meantime, producers should watch for updates from breed associations and BIF guidelines . The Angus Foundation and other groups are already supporting similar work, which signals that industry adoption may not be far off.

The Road Ahead

Reducing methane from grazing cows won’t be a silver bullet, nor will it happen overnight. But genetic selection offers a permanent, cumulative approach that fits alongside other management strategies, Dressler says. With collaboration among universities, breeders and industry groups, the goal of breeding cattle that are both productive and lower-emitting is within reach.

For producers, that means one day the opportunity to select bulls not just for growth, fertility, and carcass traits, but also for how efficiently they turn forage into beef without wasting energy as methane. That’s a win for sustainability, a win for efficiency, and ultimately, a win for the bottom line.

Does Udder Quality in Beef Cattle Matter?

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 17:37:21 GMT

The conformation of a beef cow’s teats and udder are important in a profitable cow-calf enterprise.

“Females with poor udder and teat conformation are a management challenge for commercial cow-calf producers,” says Rick Rasby, University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor and cow-calf Extension specialist. “Cattle producers do not have the time or labor to manage around cows that need intervention at calving to physically ‘milk-out’ a quarter so that the calf can suckle or to save the quarter from infection.”

Bob Weaber, Kansas State University professor and head of the Eastern Kansas Research and Extension Centers, agrees adding udder quality represents one of the most important convenience traits in the beef industry.

While animal scientists refer to udder quality as a convenience trait, many producers argue it represents an economic trait, as poor udders require additional labor and thereby decrease profitability.

Rasby explains selecting and culling based on conformation of teats and udders may be considered convenience trait selection, selecting against poor teats and udders increases profit potential by:

Increasing calf performance
Reducing calf sickness
Increasing longevity of the cow
Reducing labor inputs

Cows with good udder quality not only take less labor but also may have improved longevity due to lower incidence of mastitis or injury.

Robert Wells, Robert Wells, King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management professor of practice and endowed chair in ranch management, further explains: “The udder is how the cow produces milk and colostrum for the newborn calf. Without a well-formed udder that has all four quarters functioning, calf health, performance and vigor may be compromised.”

Poor udders, especially large teat size, may delay timely colostrum intake, resulting in poorer transmission of passive immunity.

(Sara Brown)

How Does a Producer Describe a Good Udder?

Bill Tucker of Tucker Family Farms, Amherst, Va., says: “To me, udder quality so often is overlooked as not just an unattractive udder, but an underlying reason for poor calf production later in life.”

Tucker compares the functionality of cattle udders to the utility of well-designed equipment. He explains just like a producer wants a tractor or piece of machinery to be maintenance-free, long-lasting and easy to use, a cow should possess an udder that is functional and durable.

“You want that piece of equipment to be functional. You want it to be as maintenance-free as possible and you want to own it for a long time so you can amortize your upfront cost most effectively. The functionality piece means that when she freshens, she has the right size bag with the right size teats. That’s properly supported so that she can milk at her particular level of milk production, with the calf having access to the factory without any hassles. Pretty simple,” he says.

He adds the maintenance-free piece is if the cow sustains udder shape, and when the time comes to wean, she dries in an effective manner that minimizes risk of mastitis.

“If the upper udder structure is right, you should be able to achieve great longevity,” he summarizes. “Then you’ve got your amortization schedule working with you across a long period of time, and the female stays in the herd for a very long time.”

He explains overlooking udder quality can lead to subtle but serious issues, such as subclinical mastitis that diminishes calf growth even when outward signs aren’t obvious.

He says proper udder structure is both a genetic and management priority. He points out breed associations are increasingly using expected progeny differences (EPDs) and data to address it.

(File Photo)

Is Udder Quality Just a Seedstock Producer Problem?

Weaber stresses good udders are important for both seedstock and commercial producers and encourages producers to manage udder quality closely.

In a message to seedstock producers, Weaber says: “Your commercial customers expect trouble-free cattle when they make a purchase at your farm or ranch. Don’t give your customers a reason to buy genetics from another source to ‘clean up’ udders produced by your bulls.”

Commercial cattleman Rick Busch, Busch Brothers Farms, Washington, Mo., learned the hard way what happens to a cow herd when you use a bull with poor udder quality.

He explains his family purchased a bull 35 years ago that was phenotypically outstanding, but his poor udder quality traits passed onto his daughter and caused significant problems in the Busch herd.

These bad udders led to more labor — helping calves nurse, increased risk of calf health problems and poorer calf performance. This experience motivated the Busch family to adjust their breeding practices, selecting sires based on proven udder quality, using artificial insemination and ensuring strong maternal lines for udder traits to systematically improve udder quality in their herd.

What Steps Can Producers Use to Improve Herd Udders?

Wells encourages producers to evaluate the cow while in full lactation to determine if the cow is a candidate for culling before the next breeding season.

“Make sure the suspensory ligament is still holding the udder tight to the cow and that the teats are appropriately sized,” he says. “Heavy milking cows or older cows will break down, thus causing the udder to be malformed and lower than needed. Additionally, make sure that all four quarters look to be functional. A cow that has had mastitis typically will have a quarter that is non-functional.”

He also says udder evaluation can start as a heifer.

“One that already had a large udder or an udder with excessive fat is determinantal to long-term success,” Well explains.

Tucker encourages producers to keep detailed mental or written notes about individual and group calf performance to help spot and manage issues early. He particularly recommends simply classifying udders as acceptable or unacceptable at birth when tagging a new calf.

“You can get as detailed as you want into what you view as being unacceptable,” he explains. “More often than not, that’s teat size and shape. The calf can manage a pretty poorly supported udder that’s a longevity issue, but it’s definitely teat size and shape that can be a problem.”

The Busch family also records individual udder scores at calving. When tagging the calf, they observe and score the cow’s udder, using the BIF (Beef Improvement Federation) scoring system , which scores both udder suspension and teat size.

Learn more about how to score udders:

How Do You Score an Udder?

According to BIF, udder characteristics are highly heritable and therefore can be efficiently changed with selection.

Busch says they typically aim for a score of six or seven out of nine. They document these scores for each cow as part of their management process.

This data can be used at weaning to determine if you want to keep a heifer out of a poor-uddered cow. You can also use the information when making breeding decisions and mate the females to bulls with better udder EPDs to improve the next generation. This can include using bulls from the same breed or a different breed.

“We’re mixing breeds all the time,” Tucker says. “Often that’s the fastest solution, is to jump to another breed that has an excellent choice to solve that particular problem and pick up the added benefit of the hybrid vigor at the same time.”

Bottom line: Tucker says EPDs work when selecting bulls to improve udder quality.

“The EPDs work without question,” he explains. “You can use those EPDs with confidence.”

An udder with a suspension score 3 and teat score 3.

(UNL Beef Watch)

How Does Poor Udder Quality Affect Your Cow-Calf Operation?

Weaber summarizes four concerns if a cow’s udder is not sound:

Labor associated with extra costs and reduced convenience.
Longevity, which may be reduced because of injury or mastitis.
Calf performance, affected by a reduction in milk flow, or lower colostrum intake by newborn calves having difficulty nursing oversized teats.
Udder and teat characteristics are heritable. Change can be made through selection.

Your Next Read:
How Do You Score an Udder?
How Important is Colostrum?
9 Tips to Ensure Calving Season Success

What’s Your Plan for 2026?

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 18:18:42 GMT

Cattle and beef markets are poised to continue the path of the past few years in 2026, predicts Derrell Peel, Extension livestock marketing specialist from Oklahoma State University.

“Despite turbulence in the fourth quarter of 2025, cattle markets ended the year strong,” Peel says in his recent Cow-Calf Corner article.

He explains tight cattle supplies, decreased beef production and strong demand continue to support and elevate cattle and beef prices.

“Multi-decade lows in cattle inventories are the driving supply force that underpins cattle markets, and the market is focused on the cow-calf sector, which holds the key to cattle supplies going forward,” he says. “The rest of the cattle industry above the cow-calf sector will take their cues from cow-calf producers regarding cattle supplies in 2026 and beyond.”

Peel says cow-calf producers should consider these five strategies:

1. Listen to the Market

The job of markets is to provide price signals to help producers allocate and use resources to produce products to meet market demands. In the case of cattle markets, price signals indicate what to produce, how much to produce and how resources should be used for that production.

“Record high calf prices and cow-calf returns is the market’s way of strongly encouraging increased calf production,” Peel explains. “Moreover, production resources, especially forage resources, should focus on calf production over alternatives such as backgrounding/stocker production.”

Cheap corn further emphasizes this, encouraging calf production in the country with feedlot placement at relatively lighter weights and finishing as quickly as possible.

2. Maintain Herd Productivity

A top priority for cow-calf producers is to maintain the productivity of the beef cow herd. Three years of declining beef cow slaughter has pulled the beef herd culling rate down to the lowest level in a decade. The net culling rate for the beef cow herd in 2025 is projected to be less than 8.45%. The average net culling rate for the past 30 years is 10%.

“Low culling rates have allowed producers to sell more heifers in the last three years, but additional heifer retention is needed going forward just to maintain the productivity of the current low cow inventory,” Peel says.

3. Herd Growth?

Beyond keeping enough heifers to maintain the herd, some producers have further considerations about additional heifer retention to increase herd inventories.

“Conditions vary widely regarding pasture recovery from previous drought, current status of pastures, expectations/concerns about future forage conditions,” he explains. “Nevertheless, strong calf prices and the slow pace of market response thus far to high prices likely means that more producers are considering some level of restocking and herd growth.”

4. Manage Costs

Profit maximization means managing costs as well as increasing revenue.

“While current calf prices are generating record high per head revenues, complacency about cost management means that producers are not taking full advantage of the current opportunity to maximize profits and build equity,” Peel says. “Harvested and purchased feeds are the largest part of annual cow cost of production. Now is a good time to develop grazing plans for forage use and minimizing harvested and purchased feed needs in the coming year.”

5. Manage Risk

Despite a general bullish market environment, cattle markets will continue to be subject to considerable uncertainty and market volatility.

“Most of the market shocks that occur are likely to be short-lived,” he says. “Having the flexibility to adjust marketing plans by a few days or a few weeks can help to avoid brief market dips.”

Peels suggests producers consider risk management tools to provide downside risk protection for planned marketing windows. These options include LRP insurance or futures options.

“Higher average prices are expected, so leaving the upside open is important,” he says.