Mark Goes
President’s Message president’s message
AGA Executive Committee
Share Those Records Don’t waste time taking records. provides the best genetic predictors of an That may sound a little contrary but animal’s contribution to performance of its consider this example. I have two bulls for offspring. Data that is shared rather than sale and you need a sire that will have low kept is also used to develop new genetic birth weight calves. One of my bulls has a indicators that we can use to make more 90-pound birth weight and the other has a accurate predictions with quicker results 133-pound birth weight. I have a guess as leading to more profitability as we eliminate to which bull you would choose. the negative outliers. We all of course Take the two bulls gather birth weights, in the above example. You took the time to The 90-pound birth weaning weights and yearling weights as weight bull is out of collect that data so they are required for a a 1,000-pound cow submit those records that was fed very little registration certificate to be issued on Gelbvieh during gestation. He to the AGA and and Balancer® bulls. was born at 9 percent help the Gelbvieh But there is so much of his dam’s body more that we do. weight. The 133-pound breed advance to We collect data on birth weight bull was the forefront of scrotal circumference, out of a 1,900-pound, disposition, feed fat donor cow that the industry with efficiency, carcass had not carried a calf highly accurate, ultrasound, DNA and for two years. He was so much more. We born at 7 percent of all-encompassing keep those records in his dam’s body weight. measures. hopes of adding value A female should be and gathering a little able to deliver a calf more premium on between 6 and 8 the bull upon his sale. Our customers seek percent of her body weight. Now which bull out that information in hopes of perhaps has the potential to sire lighter birth weight purchasing the largest ribeye area bull in the calves? If the entire story is shared, we can sale or maybe the highest %IMF bull. Try to make better decisions. Of course we all know remember that instant gratification usually now that the birth weight EPDs of the bulls delivers very short-term results. would be the very best indicator of the best breeding value. The American Gelbvieh Association fosters total herd reporting on the animals When you share your records rather in the AGA Herdbook so that we can all than keeping them, you are better able to benefit from those records. Not only do advance the animal and your program. Your we keep data on bulls we have for sale, but customers will profit more and sleep better we keep data on the females in the herd having made the best decision to purchase as well. We collect udder scores, heifer your breeding stock. You took the time to pregnancy rates, days to re-breeding, mature collect that data so submit those records cow sizes, hip heights and pelvic measures, to the AGA and help the Gelbvieh breed among many other points of information. advance to the forefront of the industry But we all need to learn to submit those with highly accurate, all-encompassing records to the AGA. This helps the AGA measures. A rising tide raises all ships. Don’t establish proper contemporary grouping, keep those records. eliminate environmental effects on Mark Goes is the president of the performance, and create ratios and indexes American Gelbvieh Association and owns that can be compiled, adjusted and used M&P Gelbvieh in Odell, Neb. He can be to compare individuals throughout the reached at mpgelbvieh@hotmail.com. breed via our genetic evaluation. This 4 | April 2012
President Mark Goes 402-766-3627 (H) S E Community College, 39414 SW 75th Rd, Odell, NE 68415 mpgelbvieh@hotmail.com
Vice President Brian Dunn 620-549-6516 (H) 708 N Main • St. John, KS 67576 dunnfarm@hotmail.com Secretary Rob Arnold 701-624-2051 (H) 6700 Cty Rd 19 S • Minot, ND 58701 rlagelbvieh@aol.com Treasurer Dan Warner 308-962-6511 (H) 71628 Rd 425 • Beaver City, NE 68926 dan@warnerbeef.com Legal Counsel E. Edd Pritchett 405/375-5516 (O) 114 N. Main St. • Ste. 101 Kingfisher, OK 73750
AGA Directors Ken Flikkema 406-586-6207 (H & O) 2 Mint Trail • Bozeman, MT 59718 mcfg@imt.net Bob Hart 816-225-8530 (C) 7065 Gibbs Rd • Kansas City, KS 66106 bhart@hartfarm.net John Huston 859-595-8680 (C) 10254 Marquart Rd • New Carlisle, OH 45344 john.e.huston@gmail.com Andy LeDoux 785-732-6564 (H) 365 Agenda Ln • Agenda, KS 66930-8969 ledouxranch@hotmail.com David Martin 501-728-4950 (H) 256 Boyce Rd • Judsonia, AR 72081 martincattleco@windstream.net Bob Prosser 928-289-2619 (O) PO Box 190 • Winslow, AZ 86047 info@bartbar.com Duane Strider 910-428-4568 (H) 2123 Ctr Cross Church Rd Asheboro, NC 27205 ccrosscattle@yahoo.com Grant Thayer 303-621-2058 (H) 24063 Cty. Rd 122 • Ramah, CO 80832-9705 grant@jumpingcowgelbvieh.com Gary Tilghman 270-678-5695 (H) 690 Lick Branch Rd • Glasgow, KY 42141-9409 gtilghma@uky.edu Nancy Wilkinson 719/846-7910 (H) 23115 CR 111.3 • Model, CO 81059 bnwbulls@bmi.net All approved AGA Board minutes are available for inspection in the AGA office. Board meeting highlights are available upon request.