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

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. 

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 the true art of breeding cattle lies 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.

Difficult to define

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 time, 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.

In the end, all these examples underscore “better” is not easily defined. But 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.” 

That charge is ultimately what Angus breeders and leaders have been doing for decades— keep the consumer loving our product, and keep the cattle producer in business.  

During the past few years, one focus of the Association has been on tools to improve feet, longevity and udder quality. Simultaneously, Angus has led industry collaboration to research bovine congestive heart failure and better understand the genetic influence of heart remodeling and heart failure. While maintaining a focus on marbling and consumer eating satisfaction, Angus is also involved in the leadership of new ways to measure and improve red meat yield and carcass cutability. All of these things can be done at the same time, particularly in a breed as diverse as Angus.

While defining “better” may sound different depending on who you talk to, in the end, the Angus breed will stay focused on what is best for the bigger beef industry. That’s been the idea throughout our heritage and will stay the focus into our future.