“We just need tools to help us make the cattle better.”

This came from an Angus breeder I visited with this summer. Simple enough, right? But that statement has been bouncing around in my head ever since.

The charge seemed simple enough on the surface. After all, the first Long Range Objective of the American Angus Association is to “Drive breed improvement.” But, in the world of Angus cattle, the definition of “better” can be as diverse as the individuals who breed them.

Diverse perspectives

One of the joys of my role is talking to Angus breeders and learning about their breeding philosophy. For some, it’s first about the numbers, leaning heavily on expected progeny differences (EPDs) and dollar value Indexes ($Values), and leveraging data-driven decisions to the maximum.

For others, it’s a balancing act between numbers and phenotype, where the visual appeal and structural soundness of the animal take on equal weight to what’s on paper. Then there are those who largely prioritize phenotype above all, believing that the true art of breeding cattle lies more in the eye of the beholder.

I talk to breeders who are focused on propagating cow families and others who strive to develop total outcross genetic lines. There are so many different breeding philosophies across our membership, and I believe all have their rightful place.

Diverse environments

Angus cattle are raised in diverse environments, and that can also make defining “better” difficult. Differences in rainfall, soil productivity, temperature, growing season, available feed resources and altitude all play a significant role in defining the type of Angus cattle that best thrive in each operation.

Certainly not all Angus breeders or their customers manage and market the same way. Some focus on selling at weaning. Others retain ownership and sell finished cattle on a grid. Some raise their own replacements, and others purchase what they need.

Some operate in a more confined area and can be more hands-on at calving, while others see their cows on a far less frequent basis. Then some focus on the show heifer market and selling heifer calves to juniors excited about the Angus breed. Each of these variations establishes different priorities and breeding objectives.

For the good of the industry

In the end, all these examples underscore that “better” is not easily defined. I am reminded of another conversation I had with an industry leader early in my tenure as CEO. His advice to me was also straightforward, “Always do what’s best for the beef industry.”