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A COMMON SENSE APPROACH TO GENETIC EXCELLENCE

In today’s world, cattle producers have more tools available than ever before to enhance the profitability of their operation. Theoretically, one can sort out their next herd bull while sitting in the comfort of their office in front of a computer. Genomic testing and EPDs are powerful tools that, used in the proper context, can enhance your final product. However, at Topp Herefords we feel that it is only a piece of a very simple puzzle that, at times, is made far too complex. The cow herd at Topp Herefords is built on a foundation of four core values: udder quality, soundness, fertility and pounds. The structure by which we analyze these traits may be called old-fashioned by some. However, the process is real and exceptionally ruthless. Udder quality is determined at calving time by a simple 1-2 rating system. A 1 is great and a 2 is cull. Soundness is determined during spring vaccination season. A female with a cracked foot, bad joints, poor disposition or hard-doing is sorted off and not even bred. Fertility sorts itself out quickly with a 45-day breeding season. Last but not least, pounds weaned. If they don’t bring in a heavy calf, there is a pretty good chance she won’t be calving here next spring. Finally, genomics and EPDs enter the equation. These tools become very usable at this point in the selection process—after all our culling procedures have been processed. With the added accuracy of GE-EPDs, making decisions based on these numbers is valuable because you can be assured the animal has also passed the real tests of our cow herd’s ability to produce profit. To ensure the quality and integrity of the ratios and EPDs, we put all of the year’s calves together in the data set and the calves are separated at the AHA by age and sex. Not all programs are equal in this regard. When you choose Topp Herefords, you can rest assured you are getting what you pay for.

—Ryan Topp