An all-new level of breed cooperation is ushering in programs to better serve the commercial industry.
With their Premium Red Baldy program, the Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) is working with the American Hereford Association (AHA) to identify and market top quality commercial red baldy heifers. In addition, RAAA and the Santa Gertrudis Breeders International (SGBI) will be unveiling the American Red program at the 2020 NCBA meeting. The program will help identify top heat-tolerant commercial replacement heifers and steers.
Both programs offer the industry valuable heterosis produced from seedstock that are in the top end of their breed for each association’s all-purpose index—Herdbuilder for Red Angus, Baldy Maternal Index for Hereford, and Santa Gertrudis’ index that is still in development.
When visiting with each breed association’s executive, it was clear that one of the positive outcomes is breeds with similar goals and philosophies working for the betterment of the industry.
AHA executive Jack Ward summed up this attitude: “It is fun to have two breeds [Hereford and Red Angus] working together for the benefit of the commercial industry—two breeds that believe in the value of crossbreeding, cutting edge genetic evaluation, whole herd reporting, and a commercial focus. For me, it is really rewarding to have the staffs from the two associations working together.”
John Ford of the SGBI echoed these thoughts: “It’s exciting to collaborate with a breed [Red Angus], which is science based like Santa Gertrudis. Our motto is ‘data driven, profit proven,’ and Red Angus has the same philosophy. Santa Gertrudis was the first breed to implement single-step calculated genomically-enhanced EPDs (expected progeny differences) in 2012-2013, and the membership has completely bought into the value of the genetic predictions.” Similarly, Hereford and Red Angus have implemented single-step genetic predictions in recent years.
The common denominator between the Premium Red Baldy and American Red programs is RAAA, and the Red Angus breed. RAAA’s Tom Brink was quick to add: “These programs fit Red Angus’ philosophy of supporting crossbreeding, recognition of the value of heterosis, and the need for documented genetics. Red Angus is a commercially focused association that also focuses on producing functional females. With our belief in crossbreeding, breed partnerships are a natural outgrowth. The bottom line is if we do what is right for commercial cattlemen, the Red Angus breed will grow.”
Brink also pointed out that Hereford represents a substantial breed with which to partner, and the baldy is a time-tested commercial female. With regards to working with Santa Gertrudis, the data from the King Ranch—which crossbreeds Red Angus and Santa Gertrudis in their commercial herd—has proven the value of the cross in an area that needs heat tolerance.
When asked whether Red Angus will be coming out with a program with a Continental breed, Brink pointed out, “Many [Continental] breeds are a great fit with Red Angus, and we feel like we have good relationships with these breeds. However, they already have strong hybrid programs, so we feel like they are taken care of.”
Red Angus is also a partner in International Genetic Solutions, which produces across-breed EPDs on the same base and scale for Red Angus, Simmental, Gelbvieh, Limousin, Maine-Anjou, Chianina, Salers, South Devon and Shorthorn. This common genetic vocabulary between these breeds makes it easy for producers to design crossbreeding systems among them.
Premium Red Baldy
The Premium Red Baldy program was announced at the 2018 NCBA Annual Convention. To be eligible for this commercial replacement program, heifers must be between 25 to 75 percent of each breed, and there is an allowance for a small amount of other breeds to be represented. The sires of the heifers must be in the top 50 percent for the Herdbuilder and Baldy Maternal Index for Red Angus and Hereford bulls, respectively. The bulls must be registered, and commercial producers must supply the registration numbers. For dams to qualify, producers must fill out an affidavit as to their eligibility. Regardless of lineage, no black-hided cattle are eligible. Enrolled heifers are tagged in this identification and marketing program.
The stated goal of the program is to “Help producers access genetically-verified females that have the best combination of longevity, fertility, and adaptability to incorporate into producers’ herds. The Premium Red Baldy program has the ideal balance of maternal and carcass traits, which will yield cattle poised to increase the profitability of commercial producers.”
Brink was also quick to point out how flexible these Premium Red Baldy females are in terms of what they can be bred to.
American Red Program
The American Red program is both a heifer and steer tagging system, and qualified cattle must be 25-75 percent Red Angus and 25-75 percent Santa Gertrudis. There is an allowance for up to 25 percent of another breed, which Ford thinks will primarily occur when Santa Gertrudis-Hereford cows are bred to Red Angus. Sires must be in the top half of each breed’s all-purpose index, which for Santa Gertrudis has yet to be determined. It is presumed that the vast majority of the cattle will be red, but black-hided cattle will still be eligible.
Data from the King Ranch has been critical in evaluating the desirability of the cross, especially with their extensive carcass database. With this knowledge, the RAAA and SGBI feel the American Red will “provide the beef industry with a unique blend of maternal traits, adaptability, growth and marbling—all packaged with a heat-tolerant red hide.”
Ford elaborated, “Qualified cattle will fill commercial cattlemen’s need for longevity, fertility, adaptability, and efficiency. American Red cattle will work in environments where a shot of Bos Indicus is needed.”
Overall, RAAA and SGBI expect, “The offspring of this crossbreeding program will be well suited for commercial producers who are seeking quality replacement females and steers that fit in the value-added segment of the beef industry.”
With programs like the Premium Red Baldy or American Red, it is an exciting time in our industry. These programs take advantage of heterosis and breed complementarity in an effort to enhance the profitability of the participating breeds’ commercial customers. They also break down barriers between breed associations, so they are working together for the betterment of the commercial industry. — Dr. Bob Hough
(Dr. Bob Hough is the retired executive vice president of the Red Angus Association of America and freelance writer.)
