In dairy herds across the globe, feet and leg problems that typically lead to lameness consistently rank as one of the top culling reasons.

Using new fitness traits like heat tolerance and grazing behavior, Milt Thomas, a department of animal science professor in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is determined to help improve beef cattle systems in South Texas.

Breeding Simmental and SimAngus cattle is the passion for Stephens Beef Cattle, a family-owned operation located in Ewing, Kentucky. The business was started in 1997 by Jeff and Angie Stephens, and their two children and son-in-law now partake in daily operations.

The foundations for beef cattle genomic testing began over a century ago, when forward-thinking breed associations started collecting pedigree and phenotypic data on registered animals. Breeders studied pedigrees, aspiring to create matings that would yield more valuable animals with desirable physical traits. 

Parlez à n’importe quel producteur laitier dans le monde de ses objectifs et il est à peu près certain qu’il mentionnera l’amélioration de la production.

Expanding working facilities. Switching to a feeding software. Building another sorting pen. Adding calving pens. We all have something we wish we did sooner. Once we finally got around to it, we wonder, “Why the heck did I wait so long?”

If you talk to any dairy farmer around the world about their goals, most of them (if not all) will mention improving production.

Kathi Creamer remembers it like it was yesterday – the moment she knew she’d found her life’s calling. She was 9 years old, following her 4-H club as they made their rounds of the National Western Stock Show in Denver.