The first group of calves from the Southern Carcass Improvement Project (SCIP) was weaned in early November. Fifty-nine head of embryo transfer calves, April- and May-born calves are now being backgrounded and grazed on wheat pasture. Calves will be placed on feed as yearlings early in the spring at Triangle H Cattle Feeders, Garden City, KS. Initial analysis:

"We are making good progress on the SCIP research," says Mark Gardiner. "This project is primarily designed to be a carcass merit comparison, but we did expect to see growth-curve differences as well. The Southern-sired calves were quite a bit heavier at birth, but they did not out-weigh the Angus-sired calves at weaning."

Randy Browning can do a lot more than simply assume he is making genetic progress using Gardiner Angus Genetics.  This Appleton City, Missouri producer has extensive records which document sizable herd improvements during the past decade plus.  From a herd that started out with significant Continental-breed influence 15 years ago, Browning has consistently incorporated GAR genetics (regularly purchasing bulls and commercial females), transforming his cow herd into a productive bovine factory capable of both excellent feedlot performance and consistent carcass premiums.  His calf crops today feed better and grade better, leading to value-added improvements $111.50 per head greater than when he started keeping records in the second half of the 1990s.