Fullblood Lowline Angus.
Short, stout, efficient beef suitable for small acreage ranchettes and "micro-farms."
Genetics selected for efficiency and temperment.
CAROL'S COWSFerndale, Washington |
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Fullblood Lowline Angus.Short, stout, efficient beef suitable for small acreage ranchettes and "micro-farms." Genetics selected for efficiency and temperment. |
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UTILIZING THE BEST AUSTRALIAN FOUNDATION BLOODLINES AVAILABLE |
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Research into the genetic make-up of animals is a fascinating science. We are discovering that with Genomics we can begin to predict which families have more potential to produce specific traits. Such as more tender steaks, desirable marbling, larger ribeye area ratio to total body size.  It takes 15 to 18 monthes to raise a beef calf to market size. Over the years herdsmen have observed cattle and collected data with the intention of making the best use of those months between birth and market. It is much more efficient and profitable to raise a calf who will gain weight easier and finish better than an ordinary slow growing rangy calf.
In today's market this can be tricky. Health savvy consumers have become very aware of the benefits of natural, grass-finished beef. The dangers of feedlots are no secret. And from a humane standpoint, the natural steer has a much better life than a feedlot animal. It is possible to take most any steer and stuff him with grain and limit his exercise in order to gain weight. That has been the feedlot practice. It is not that easy with pastured animals. Cattle have genetic predispositions just like humans and all other species. I know people who can eat anything all day and stay thin and lean. I know others who don't eat much at all and still gain weight. Tendency to gain and hold weight evenly is very desirable in a beef animal. Of course environment factors in, but the genetic tendency is predictable. Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) use performance information on a bull's offspring, along with his own performance records, the performance of his sire, dam, and other relatives to predict how future offspring will perform. EPDs are used to estimate how the offspring of an individual will compare to the offspring of other animals within a breed.Genomics, coined by Thomas Roderick in 1986, refers to a new scientific discipline of mapping, sequencing, and analyzing genomes. Genomics is study and analysis only and should not be confused with Biotechnology and GMO, sometimes called genetic engineering, which involves the modification of characteristics of organisms by manipulating their genes (DNA.) Everyday more genetic markers are being discovered for everything from hypertension to the tenderness of your steak. Two companies currently offering genetic mapping for beef animals are Igenity and Bovigen.
The National Beef Cattle Consortium is conducting a commercial test validation study to independently verify claims made by these and other genotyping companies. Another exciting technology is "Beef Ultrasound." The same technology used in the human medical field to look at babies in utero, internal organs, tumors and so on can be used to view "steak on the hoof." Years of research have gone into ultrasounding the live beef animal, charting the results, and then comparing the results to the actual "product" after slaughter. IA State U explains the process and the USDA meat grades. Imagine how useful it can be to see the size of a rib-eye, the fat marbling within the muscle tissue and the thickness of backfat...all while the animal is alive and well. This could save a herdsman from sending a superior animal to market that could be better used as breeding stock! Also, it can aid the herdsman in determining the most profitable time to market the animals. It cuts the profit short to send them to soon. It is waste of feed and time to keep them too long. It really is a science. Here are some more interesting links: USDA Agricultural Research |
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