Join Us Friday Evening, April 1 for the Educational Forum, "Practical Application of DNA Technology-Gene Markers"

 

 

The Angus breed is leading the seedstock industry by incorporating the newest technology into the next generation of genetic evaluation tools. We believe it is important to understand "where we came from" to understand "where we're going" at Gardiner Angus Ranch. The evening program will begin with a short video presentation, "The history of genetic evaluation at Gardiner Angus Ranch". Dr. Larry Corah, Vice-President, Certified Angus Beef, will moderate the panel. Panelists will include Dr. Sally Northcutt, Genetic Research Director, American Angus Association; Dr. William Herring, Senior Director of Global Technical Services, Pfizer Animal Genetics and Mark Gardiner. More information about the educational forum can be found on pages 1 and 3 of the sale catalog.

The Friday evening event will be broadcast on www.liveauctions.tv. 

If you can't make it to the ranch for the first weekend in April, you can log on to www.liveauctions.tv to bid. The Friday evening educational forum and panel discussion will also be broadcast for your convenience.

For those logging on to www.liveauctions.tv to bid, please remember GAR auctions are a fast-paced event. Our reluctance over the years, to utilize internet bidding, has been based on a concern that the speed of the internet could not keep pace with the auctioneers. Due to requests, we made a decision to offer internet bidding as an option this year. However, the auction will continue to move at the same pace as in previous years.

If you are unable to join us at the ranch the first weekend in April but are interested in purchasing cattle, you are encouraged to contact Mark, Greg or Garth Gardiner or Matt Caldwell, Regional Manager, American Angus Association. Also, any member of the livestock press will handle your bid in a confidential manner (see page 1 of the catalog). Or, we hope you will log on to www.liveauctions.tv to bid.

The Pratt Family at Echo Ridge Farm in Atkins, VA was the proud buyer of Lot #330, GAR 5050 New Design 5619 for $8000 in the Fall 2010 Bull Sale. One-half of the proceeds were donated by GAR to the Ray Sims Saddle & Sirloin Nomination Fund. On November 14th, 2010, Col. Ray Sims was inducted into the prestigious Saddle & Sirloin Gallery, the largest gallery devoted to a single industry, with portraits dating back to European stockmen from the 1700s. Ray Sims auctioneered every sale at GAR from 1980 through 1989 and Gardiner Angus Ranch wishes to congratulate Col. Sims and thank the Pratts for their support.

Closing out 2010 with another pen of steers earning far above industry average was definitely a great end to the year. Thirty-seven head of GAR steers fed at Triangle H Feeders, Garden City, KS, sold through U.S. Premium Beef and harvested at National Beef in late December continue to document profitability through earned superior carcass premiums.

The final pen harvested in 2010 netted $130.49 per head in total premiums above the cash market. The net live price for the pen was $109.01 per live cwt. during a week where the USDA Kansas Weekly Average was $99.75 (a $9.26 per cwt advantage). Read the complete report at www.gardinerangus.com.

Reproductive efficiency is the most important factor determining profitability of a commercial cow/calf operation. Therefore, reproduction is at the forefront of the GAR genetic selection program. The best "tool" for improving the genetics controlling reproduction in Angus cattle is the use of expected progeny differences (EPDs) for heifer pregnancy rate (HP).

HP EPDs are calculated from breeding records indicating whether the daughters of a bull become pregnant during their first breeding season. The length of the breeding season, the number of matings and the use of natural service or AI are not factors used in determining the HP EPD.  Instead, HP EPD is simply an indicator of the likelihood of a bull's daughters becoming pregnant at some time in their first breeding season. Read the complete report at www.gardinerangus.com.

Gardiner Angus Ranch "Customer Connection" videos can now be found on YouTube. Check back often for video updates.