Improving the herd average

Stovall agrees. He assumed day-to-day management of the family operation two years ago, and is working to improve the data on his cattle. “In order to improve my overall quality-based genetics, I'm utilizing every tool possible, and I believe that ultrasounding is a very important one,” he says.

Agri-Ventures Corp. runs Angus/Brangus cross cows on five different places, all bred to registered Angus bulls, and Stovall selects replacement heifers from all five herds. He also uses Worrell for ultrasounding his potential replacements. “Ultrasounding provides feedback on an average base of what each herd is producing. It is a small snapshot, but it provides data for informed decisions.”

Stovall uses a combination of conformation, disposition appraisal, hip height and pelvic measurement, along with ultrasound data, to select his replacements. “I'll measure hip height at 10 months and appraise conformation and disposition as a first-round selection,” he says. At 12 months, he measures the pelvis and if the heifer passes the minimum, she is ultrasounded.

For pelvic size, his goal is to reach a 170-square centimeters (sq. cm) average. This past year, the minimum was set at 156 sq. cm, and this current set of heifers averaged 164 sq. cm.

He uses ultrasound data in much the same way, aiming to improve each herd's quality average. In 2001, the first year ultrasound was used, the IMF score ranged from 2.0 to 3.5 with an average of 2.54 on 20 heifers. “Now, the range for 2007 yearling heifers is 2.9 as a minimum cutoff to the top heifer at 6.72, with an average of 3.95 on 140 head,” he says. “I would like to produce an average of 5-6 IMF score as a minimum baseline on future heifers. We are working toward eliminating less than low Choice.”

Considering all those traits and data gives him better options for culling decisions. Last year, he kept a heifer that had a 2.9 IMF score along with a minimum-sized ribeye area of 9.8 sq. in. (1.18 sq. in./cwt.). “She is a nice heifer that fits the hip height requirements, and should reach a frame score of 6 at maturity. That size cow works well in our part of the country.”

Since Stovall artificially inseminates all his replacements, he is able to select sires based on EPDs that match well with each individual heifer. For example, the heifer that had the 2.9 IMF and 9.8 ribeye area (REA) score was bred to a registered Angus sire with an IMF score of 8.95 and a 13.8 REA, thus improving two critical carcass traits in this heifer's first calf, he says.

However, both Smith and Stovall caution that it's important to make comparisons within contemporary groups, due to year-to-year differences in forage and environmental conditions. “The fly in the ointment is, if you stress these heifers on a nutritional or health basis as they are developing (4 to 8 months is the critical age), marbling during that stage can be greatly impacted,” Stovall says.

This year, Stovall kept and bred 140 heifers from last year's calf crop. “I would like to increase that number to 200, accelerating the quality of cattle I'm raising and accomplishing my goal of having ultrasound data on each cow standing.”

Until that goal is realized, Stovall has been able to make better-informed herd sire decisions by utilizing herd average ultrasound data, thus improving the overall quality and consistency of his calves.

Stovall hasn't fed any steers recently, but still sees a premium for the quality genetics he produces. This past spring, he sold steer and heifer lots over Superior Livestock Video Auction and buyers responded very positively to the quality genetics, backed by hard data.

“Ultrasounding is not new technology, and I am surprised that more commercial producers aren't utilizing it,” he says. “When there is an $8-$10/cwt. premium available for quality cattle, it makes sense to incorporate an ultrasound program into the management plan in order to know what you're producing.”