Braunvieh_World_Winter_2022

President’s Message with Robert Williams

While writing a “President’s Letter” has never been on my bucket list , I couldn’t be hap- pier than to be writing this one. Our last Braunvieh World was the Winter 2020 is- sue. When we couldn’t get enough support for our Spring/Summer 2021 issue, I was afraid that our Braunvieh World was gone for good. As I reflect on what has transpired over the past two years, I think the word change stands out. I think it is appropriate that the theme of this Braunvieh World is about the changes within the Braunvieh Association of America (BAA).

7607 NW Prairie View Rd. Kansas City, MO 64151 info@braunvieh.org (816) 599-7780 www. braunvieh.org BOARD OFFICERS PRESIDENT • ROBERT WILLIAMS Section, Ala. (256) 599-5432 wwcattle@centurytel.net VICE PRESIDENT • COLBY KING Webber Falls, Okla. (918) 773-2153 Colbyking19@yahoo.com SECRETARY •NESHA SMITH Rose Bud, Ark. (501) 454-3775 Nesha.smith@ymail.com TREASURER • BOB GUNNETT Billings, Mo. (417) 343-3635 rgunnett@greatsouthernbank.com Chatfield, Texas (903) 641-1594 Bpbluebonnet42@gmail.com CALEB RUSSELL Jasper, Mo. (417) 793-6357 calebrussel52@yahoo.com DANIEL ROBERTS Franklin, Ky. (270) 598-9848 randdfarmsbraunvieh@msn.com BOARD OF DIRECTORS BENNY PHILLIPS

One of the biggest changes was to have the American Shorthorn Association manage our BAA office. They are doing an outstanding job of making sure our office is being managed with the BAA’s success as the ultimate goal. Another major change was becoming part of International Genetic Solutions (IGS), a multi-breed genetic evaluation. Thanks to IGS, we now have a true measuring stick of where Braunvieh cattle rank against other major breeds in terms of production traits. A strong database is the impetus behind another major change – Total Herd Reporting (THR). We know this rule change will be met with some resistance, confusion and frustration. However, we believe if you are a breeder and genet- ic improvement is important, then you should be contributing to that cause by becoming a THR breeder. If performance data and having expected progeny differences (EPDs) on your cattle is not important, then you can choose to be a Traditional Concept (TC) breeder, and nothing changes for you except your cattle will no longer have their EPDs displayed. We plan to have training videos, webinars, personal training – whatever it takes to explain the proper way to utilize THR. For those already using the Performance Option Program (POP), THR replaces it with very few changes. For those new to it, it is already built into DigitalBeef. It’s a simple management tool. Another rule is the registration classification rule. Please understand that this decision was made for two reasons. One was to eliminate the Breed-Up chart and use the Actual Genetic Makeup (AGM) to determine classification. The second was to eliminate cattle with an AGM below 82 percent Braunvieh being classified as purebred.

EVAN BARTLEY Springdale, Ark. (417) 813-7212 Ebartle1@gmail.com JASON PFEIFER Russell, Kan. (785) 483-1805 pfeiferjason@yahoo.com JOHN HALL Hedley, Texas 806-930-2560 jbarbraunvieh98@gmail.com MARK WOLKEN Mendenhall, Miss. (402) 793-5395 mwolken78@yahoo.com TODD HILL

A breed magazine is an integral part of any breed association. We are fortunate to be get- ting a second chance at this. The plan right now is to do a summer issue that will include the membership direc-

tory. The fate of this magazine rests in all our hands – the office, your officers and board and you, the member- ship. If we all do our part, next year someone new will get the honor of writing a “President’s Letter.” BW

Childress, Texas (806) 681-9333 ranchdh@gmail.com

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Braunvieh World  Winter 2022