The Red Angus Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) recently held its annual meeting and has several ongoing and planned programs. First incorporated in 1995 primarily as a means to support the junior members, the mission was expanded in 2010 to include research and education.
At the annual meeting, Kay Klompien was reappointed to another term representing the Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) Board of Directors, and Daniel Mushrush was elected as a new board member replacing long serving board member Kelli Brown. The RAFI Board extends their thanks for Kelli’s dedicated service.
Cam Forbes of Beckton Red Angus—the founding herd of the breed—was elected president, along with Blake Angel as vice president, Frank Wedel as treasurer and Kay Klompien as secretary.
Filling out the board are Daniel Mushrush, Scott Ford and Bob Hough. RAFI’s current assets are $1.9 million split into three funds: general fund, junior fund and Sal Forbes Research Fund. RAFI’s financial position was greatly enhanced over two years ago when a commercial customer of Beckton Stock Farm, Charley Jackson of Vermont, bequeathed over $1 million to the Sal Forbes Research Fund.
As president, Cam Forbes is looking forward to expanding communication with all users of Red Angus genetics, whether they be seedstock producers or those using Red Angus in a crossbreeding system. He wants to look for new ways to serve the Red Angus community and learn more about producers’ top priorities to enhance the profitability of people using Red Angus genetics.
From the beginning, Red Angus was a breed based on performance, science and being an early adopter of technology, and he looks forward to RAFI being a constructive part of continuing this tradition. Forbes also looks forward to working with RAAA as closely as possible but emphasized that the two corporations are separate legal entities, which is necessary for RAFI to maintain its 501c3 non-profit status that allows people to deduct their donations to the foundation from their taxes.
RAFI continues to help fund the Junior Red Angus Association and a number of scholarships. Last August, RAFI funded the RAAA for the second year to collect foot scores, and RAFI looks forward to RAAA getting the program off the ground shortly to start collecting this needed data. Also, last August, RAFI funded RAAA to subsidize genomic testing on cattle that producers submit individual dry matter intake data on, and likewise looks forward to RAAA getting this program off the ground.
After studying the strategic plan, RAFI put out a call for research proposals last year based on identified RAAA priorities and has currently funded two Ph.D. students to work on projects that will result in a male fertility EPD, and the use of pooled DNA to increase the accuracy of dry matter intake on pen fed cattle.
Another call for grants will be going out shortly calling for proposals to collect cattle health data using temperature tags that trip when an animal reaches a temperature of 103.5 F. This has been demonstrated to be successful when calculating a bovine respiratory disease EPD using a threshold model. Standardized phenotypic data is also desired to look for correlated traits. Other proposals will be sought to reevaluate the current Stayability model and research methodologies to improve it, as well as study genetic causes of early embryonic death loss.
Last year, RAFI also instituted a strenuous methodology for evaluating grant proposals. This includes having a clear hypothesis, experimental design, adequate resources and experience; a well-thought-out and defendable budget; and realistic timeline and potential outcome. These are both reviewed by the board, but also peer reviewed by fellow scientists with expertise in the subject area. This greatly enhances that donations are being spent wisely when it comes to research.
RAFI is staffed by all volunteers to maintain minimum overhead and make maximum use of donations for the benefit of the breed. For more information on RAFI or to inquire about donating funds, contact Cam Forbes at becktonwyo@gmail.com. Qualified researchers and institutions that are interested in applying for a grant for one of RAFI’s preidentified priorities should contact Dr. Bob Hough at bobhough1@aol.com. — Dr. Bob Hough, WLJ correspondent
