Prime-Time-Winter-2018

THE NEWS OF THE AMERICAN AKAUSHI ASSOCIAT ION

WINTER 2018

AKAUSHI

www.akaushi.com

Akaushi Wagyu Versus the Term

COMMANDMENTS SUCCESSFUL SEEDSTOCK PRODUCER 10 THE OF A

American Akaushi Association 2017 Annual Meeting Coverage

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www.akaushi.com • Winter 2018

• Your source for the original foundation Akaushi herd in the U.S.

• We have the largest Akaushi herd outside of Japan

• Premier global source for Akaushi genetics

• Voted Top 25 seedstock producers in the U.S. by Beef Magazine and NCBA

Akaushi Prime Time • Winter 2018

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www.akaushi.com • Winter 2018

WINTER 2018 | VOL. 1 NO. 1

AKAUSHI

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Features

24 Akaushi Versus the Term Wagyu For many years, people have been confused about the difference between the terms Akaushi and Wagyu. Understanding the difference is critical to the success of the Akaushi breed. 26 The 10 Commandments of a Successful Seedstock Producer Achieving success as a seedstock producer requires hard work and dedication. Following Donnell Brown’s 10 commandments can help producers of all sizes become successful. 31 Annual Convention Coverage Highlights from the 2017 Annual American Akaushi Association Annual Convention.

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ON THE COVER As the seasons change from fall to winter, a group of Akaushi cattle are moved home. Akaushi are known to perform well in a variety of climates and geographical locations.

In Every Issue

6 Around the Campfire 8 Akaushi Matters 12 Calendar of Events 14 DNA Matters American Akaushi Association 128 East South Main | Flatonia, Texas 78941 (361) 238-7218 office • www.akaushi.com Executive Director Bubba Bain (361) 238-7218 bbain@akaushi.com Executive Assistant/Office Manager Janie Bain (361)238-7218 jbain@akaushi.com

16 Beef Matters 20 Untangling the Helix 22 Irons in the Fire 32 New Members

32 Member News 33 Ad Index

Prime Time Publisher

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Akaushi Prime Time The News of the American Akaushi Association is published quarterly and distributed digitally to all interested parties. To recieve Prime Time, call or email the AAA offic.

Akaushi Prime Time • Winter 2018

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Around the Campfire Bubba Bain | Executive Director | bbain@akaushi.com EXECUT I VE DIRECTOR’ S MESSAGE I hope everyone had the greatest Christ- mas ever and now the be a place to locate Akaushi cattle that are for sale as well as for your own marketing needs, domestically and internationally. Speaking of marketing needs, we contin- ue to improve and enhance the pri-

beginning of what will be a very happy and prosper- ous New Year! Well, here we are. We’ve reached another milestone – our own breed publica- tion. Wow! We introduced the Akaushi Prime Time

Prime Time will also offer articles written about a variety of topics from some of the best writers in the beef and cattle industries.

vate treaty market- ing programs (old and new) for our membership. On the terminal side, be sure to continue using the Certified

online magazine during this past annual convention. This publication is designed to benefit the Akaushi breed and its mem- bers. The fall issue of Prime Time will be a printed version that will double as our An- nual Membership Directory. This issue will also be distributed each year at the Ameri- can Akaushi Association (AAA) Annual Convention. While I’m on the subject, we would like to thank everyone who participated in our first membership directory. It’s been a great success. If any of you would like more directories to distribute (feed stores, vet clinics, banks, real estate offices, ac- countant offices, doctor’s offices, etc.), please let us know and we will gladly send you more. Don’t be left out of next year’s directory. Start thinking about what you’d like your ad to say. Prime Time will allow the association to communicate more efficiently than ever be- fore about whole-herd reporting deadlines, DNA updates (SNP testing and its benefits), upgrades to existing programs (A4 Advan- tage™ Program), information on new pro- grams (GridMax™ hybrid composite), as- sociation tutorial videos, expected progeny difference updates and more. Prime Time will also offer articles written about a variety of topics from some of the best writers in the beef and cattle industries. We would like our members to utilize this publication to promote your Akaushi cattle and ranching operations. Prime Time will

Akaushi Beef (HeartBrand ® Beef) program. This program should always be your initial buyer bid. It will be up to you to pursue ad- ditional bids. We are continuing to encourage our membership to become involved in their regional Akaushi marketing co-ops. These co-ops are useful for selling terminal cattle and marketing replacement animals, both fullblood and percentage Akaushi. Agri- Clear, the online marketing platform, is still available for those who would like to con- tinue with that format. We are also setting up a fee-based program on DigitalBeef that will allow our members to list their cattle for sale, both terminal and replacements. This tool will be known as the Akaushi Sale CattleLog. In addition to the calendar of events on our website, we will have a calendar of events in the magazine so you can keep up with where the association will be promot- ing Akaushi. This will allow members to come to events and participate in the pro- motion of the Akaushi breed, as well as their own ranching operations. In October, we completed our sixth an- nual, very successful American Akaushi Association Annual Convention. The at- tendees were greeted with a great slate of speakers and programs. The 2017 Securing the Legacy Award went to Broken Winds Continued page 10

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AMERICAN AKAUSHI ASSOCIAT ION UPDATE

Akaushi Matters Janie Bain | Executive Assistant/Office Manager | jbain@akaushi.com C hristmas is eas- ily my favorite season, but a

we do as an association and we get a lot of questions regarding DNA testing. The following are some questions we are fre- quently asked. What is the best type of sample? The best sample is the one that works best for you, in your environment, with your facilities. We accept blood, hair, tissue or semen samples. If you can get the ani- mal secured in a squeeze chute, you should be able to collect any type of sample. If you are ropin’ and draggin’, you might want to consider more of a streamlined collection method that tissue collection kits provide. The tissue samples must be collected with either the Typifix kits from Temple Tag/ Datamars or the Tissue Sampling Units (TSUs) from Allflex. Why do samples fail? Hair Cards  Too few or no follicles (should have around 30). DNA is only present in the root of the hair.  Small follicles from young calves. Sam- ples should be collected from calves at least six months of age.  Fecal matter and dirt in sample. Any for- eign material may interfere with geno- typing.  Do not store or ship hair samples in plastic bags. They could become contami- nated with mold.  Make sure you place hair samples in the appropriate hair sample card. Blood Cards  Not enough blood on the card. The sam- ple circle should be filled and blood vis- ible on both sides of the paper.  When spotting cards from stored blood, make sure to invert the tubes four to five times first.  Spread the samples out and allow the blood to dry in a well-ventilated room.

close second is the New Year and a fresh start. What will 2018 bring? Well, for one thing, our new publication, Prime Time . In my column, I will cover what is going on in the office and keep

you informed about any changes or upcom- ing deadlines. I would also like some input from you, our readers, regarding what you would like to see in the magazine. Ask questions or make suggestions and send them to me at jbain@akaushi.com. Whole-Herd Reporting – Spring 2018 American Akaushi Association members’ Spring 2018 Preliminary Inventory Re- port was mailed Jan. 15. It contains your fullblood and purebred males and females born between Jan. 1 and June 30 that are at least 24 months of age by June 30, 2018. Please review this inventory and make any necessary changes. If the list contains animal(s) that are no longer in your herd, please place the appropriate disposal code next to the animal(s) and return the inven- tory report to us. Animals in your fall sea- son will not be included in this inventory. Corrections can also be made online by going to www.akaushi.digitalbeef.com. Ad- justments made online should be completed by Feb. 28. If you are mailing your chang- es, they should be in the association office by Feb. 15 so our staff will have adequate time to update the records. The Prelimi- nary Inventory Report is not an invoice.

Please do not pay at this time. DNA Submissions

We processed close to 20,000 DNA sam- ples in 2017. This is a big part of what

Continued page 10

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BREEDING FOR PERFORMANCE USING THE BEST AKAUSHI GENETICS AVAILABLE!!!

McNeil Ranch Akaushi cattle and genetics

WE ARE 100% FULLBLOOD AKAUSHI BREEDERS WITH SEEDSTOCK AVAILABLE FOR SALE. n HEIFERS n BULLS n SEMEN n EMBRYOS

WE ARE LOCATED OUTSIDE OF WACO AND YOU ARE WELCOME AT OUR RANCH ANYTIME! WE WOULD LOVE TO SHOW YOU OUR AKAUSHI!!

www.akaushi.com • Winter 2018 CONTACT JIM MOORE 254-723-2977, KATHY MOORE 254-379-5064 OR EMAIL INFO@JMKCATTLE.COM 9

 String the Typifix samples in order on a zip tie or rubber band.  Place the TSU tubes in envelopes of 10 or 20. Write beginning and ending IDs on the envelope. Sending the correct paperwork with the samples is a must. Orders missing any required information will be set aside until the member provides the information. Also, please include payment with your samples. The DNA submission form and fee sched- ule can be found at www.akaushi.com under the Resources tab. Fill them out and include them with your samples. Record your calves on DigitalBeef prior to sending the samples. Calves must be re- corded in the database prior to submitting samples to the lab. This is where sample barcodes are scanned and the files are cre- ated and uploaded into the lab’s database. It takes a fraction of the time to process your information and get it to the lab if your calves are already in the system when we receive your samples. There are tutorials on the association’s website that will walk you through the recording process, or you can call the office and we will be glad to assist you. Please read Tim Kozelsky’s article, “DNA Matters,” on page 14. And, if you have not started the conversion to DNA SNP testing for your herd, please get in touch with us and let’s get that process started. Here’s to a great 2018! PT rightful place among the other recognized beef breeds in the industry. It’s up to us to tell our story. We’ve come a long way but still have so much more to do. With your continued support we will reach all the goals we set. Akaushi is making a difference. Make your move! Until next time, vaya con Dios. PT the Embassy Suites. Again, we are plan- ning a great set of speakers and programs. There will be something for everyone. Akaushi genetics and programs have never been better than they are right now. Make your move! Akaushi deserves its

AROUND THE CAMPFIRE Continued from page 6

 Do NOT dry the card using a hair dryer as heat can damage the DNA.  Do NOT store or ship blood cards in plastic bags. They could become contami- nated with mold. Allflex and Typifix Kits  No sample in tube.  Sample is trapped in cap/does not enter the tube. The sample will not be pre- served.  Tubes should be kept at room tempera- ture or in a freezer if stored long term.  Samples punched through a tattoo can introduce inhibitors that will result in a failed sample. Semen Samples  Store semen samples at room tempera- ture or in a refrigerator.  Semen straws can easily be damaged. Shipping in an empty ballpoint pen tube is recommended. All of the DNA supplies mentioned above can be purchased through our office, ex- cept for the ballpoint pen tube. You are on your own on that one. How can I get my results faster? We have no control over how fast the samples are processed at the lab. However, you can help our office speed up sample processing by doing the following:  Organize your samples by placing them in numerical order by ID.  Bundle your blood and hair cards together in small groups. Cattle Company, Canyon, Texas. Congratu- lations! This year, we also recognized the first purebred (15/16) Akaushi certified with the AAA. That award also went to Broken Winds Cattle Company. The first polled (heterozygous) purebred bull cer- tificate went to Espuela Ranch (Jim Dyer Family), Ft. Davis, Texas. Congratulations to Jim and his family. If you missed the 2017 convention, mark your calendars for the 2018 meeting, which will be Oct. 26-28 in San Marcos, Texas, at AKAUSHI MATTERS Continued from page 8

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Dove Creek Wagyu Cattle Company is located in the beautiful Ozarks in Southern Missouri, where our cattle can enjoy the lush, green grass alongside the creeks and streams that are spring fed and crystal clear. Our Objective at Dove Creek Wagyu Cattle Co is to deliver Genetic Excellence ~ Maximum Performance in every one of our Akaushi offspring.

CAT TLE COMPANY Dove Creek Wagyu

Our Focus is to raise cattle that carry the most elite genetics as well as the ultimate in marbling and carcass quality. We have painstakingly selected our Akaushi sires and females based on these qualities and their ability to maintain size, structure and productivity. Our Goal is to help you build genetics in your cattle to positively affect performance, whether you concentrate your efforts on producing full-blood breeding stock, F1 production or a show program.

Embryos We have embryos for sale by Alford and Moose, as well as Big Al, Tamamaru, Shigemaru, Brady, Samsung, and Heart Brand Red Emperor, and out of original import daughters - Available Now!

Semen For Sale Both SOR 1083 (Alford) and SOR 1080 (Moose) are outstanding sons of Big Al and out of Kaedemaru 2. These bulls are genetically exceptional in marbling - being ranked #2 in the Legendary’s Proprietary Marbling Index, and scored .35 units higher than Big Al himself. These bulls also have excellent dispositions. • We currently have conventional semen available on Alford and Moose. • We have high concentration female sexed semen available on Moose.

DoveCreekWagyu.com | Call us at: 402-741-1631 | Michelle@DoveCreekWagyu.com

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www.akaushi.com • Winter 2018

JAN. 31-FEB. 2 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show, Phoenix, Ariz., Booth #1764 FEB. 15 Spring Whole Herd Reporting “Mail-In” Inventory Adjustments due. FEB. 27-MARCH 3 Houston Livestock Show, Houston, Texas, Booth #AG5 FEB. 28 Spring Whole Herd Reporting “Online” Inventory Adjustments finalized MARCH 1 Spring Whole Herd Reporting Invoices mailed to breeders MARCH 23-25 Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Convention, Fort Worth, Texas, Booth #932 APRIL 30-MAY 2 National Pedigreed Livestock Council Annual Meeting, Kansas City, Mo. JUNE 16 Broken Winds Cattle Co. Akaushi Field Day, Canyon, Texas JUNE 20-23 Beef Improvement Federation Annual Meeting and Research Symposium, Loveland, Colo. JULY 20-21 Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association Annual Convention Norman, Okla. AUG. 6-7 Texas A&M Beef Short Course, College Station, Texas OCT. 26-28 7th Annual American Akaushi Association Convention, San Marcos, Texas CALENDAR OF EVENTS

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DNA Matters Tim Kozelsky | DNA & Data Service Analyst | tkozelsky@akaushi.com AKAUSHI BREED GENET ICS 2 017 has been a banner DNA year for the American equipment. The new test is called single-nucleotide polymorphism

Akaushi Association (AAA)! To date, we have processed more than 19,800 samples. Our previous best year was 2014, when we processed 17,933 samples. There has 1/4 Vertical, 4 color Prime Time Comanche Cattle Company Winter 2018 been a 66 percent increase in the number of members who sent in DNA samples in 2014 compared to the number of members who submitted samples in 2017. So, as you can see, we are very busy with DNA. In 2016, AAA began to convert to a new DNA parentage profile test. This change is being dictated by the DNA industry because vendors are no longer support- ing the original short tandem repeats Comanche Cattle Company Proven Akaushi Genetics Selling registered, full-blood Akaushi cattle through private treaty.

(SNP). The previ- ous DNA method was called short tandem repeats (STR). In a nut- shell, STRs look at the number of times a marker is present in a DNA chain. SNPs look at the actual value

of the marker. Unfortunately, STR and SNP profiles are not compatible. This is why we are asking all members to update the pro- files of animals in their breeding program. There are a number of benefits to con- verting to SNP profiles. SNP testing is the key that truly unlocks the information contained within DNA. First, a typical SNP parentage profile captures the values of more than 85 pairs of markers. STR only measures a maximum of 12 markers. With the additional markers, AAA has a stron- ger DNA tool to determine parentage. How much information is hidden in DNA? Believe it or not, there are more than 3 billion base pairs of alleles in the bo- vine genome. As genomes are mapped and traits associated with specific genes are determined, desirable breeding animals can be selected through SNP DNA instead of purely by expected progeny differences (EPDs) and/or physical expression of the desirable trait. We currently use this technique to deter- mine whether breeding animals are carri- ers or affected concerning the F11 disorder. AAA has partnered with our DNA lab, Neogen/GeneSeek, to create an Akaushi DNA profile, which encompasses more than 150,000 pairs of alleles. Our hope is

Join us for Ranch Day June 16 at Bar 73 Ranch southeast of Canyon,Texas

Continued page 18

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AKAUSHI BEEF Beef Matters

Lauren Lowry | Marketing and Customer Relations, HeartBrand ® Beef Inc. | llowry@akaushi.com

A s we enter 2018, we reflect on a great year and by far the largest year for HeartBrand ® Beef. We have seen more than 20 percent growth in total sales, and we are steadi- ly expanding our export market. South Korea is currently our largest 1/4 Vertical, 4 c lor Prime Time Crosswinds Ranch Winter 2018 export market, receiving weekly shipments of our Certified Akaushi Beef. We are very excited about the additions of Japan, Thai- land and the Dominican Republic as well as the export opportunities that come with these new relations. The past three months have been a very active time for buying back calves from Akaushi producers to utilize in our beef C R O S S W I N D S R A N C H

program. Since 2013, close to 30,000 head have been processed

through the HeartBrand Beef program, and in 2018, we are on pace to process about 12,000 head. This is roughly 150,000 pounds of Certified Akaushi Beef being sold throughout the United States and in- ternationally each week. With a premium branded beef program comes integrity and consistency. We with Akaushi producers around the nation to provide the highest quality beef for our pro- gram. Working as a team, we’re able to share beef margins with feedlots as well as cow- calf operators to highlight the changes that can be made to advance their carcass quality and bottom lines. With a growing branded- beef sector, we want to allow our partners to know how their cattle are performing and have a real investment in the beef industry. HeartBrand stands firmly behind the integrity of our beef. Therefore, to be eli- gible for the HeartBrand Beef Buyback Program, cattle must be DNA verified to a fullblood Akaushi parent. The parentage is not required to be sourced from the Heart- Brand herd, but the animal must be regis- tered with the American Akaushi Associa- tion. Cattle are eligible for the program at all ages as HeartBrand purchases weaned, yearlings and fat cattle. We target to pay a $100 premium for weaned calves. For fin- ished cattle, HeartBrand is currently offer- ing a premium of $0.20 per pound over the five-day CattleFax average. We offer a know the Akaushi breed brings just that to the table. Therefore, we choose to partner

Breeder/Producer of fullblood cows, heifers and young bulls for sale private treaty.

1/2 and 3/4-blood Akaushi/Angus cross also available.

DarylWest | 806-382-0704

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DNA MATTERS Continued from page 14

reimbursement of $20 per head for DNA verification and also pay reason- able freight costs to ship cattle to our feeding facility. The average U.S. Department of Ag- riculture quality BEEF MATTERS Continued from page 16

Since 2013, close to 30,000 head have been processed through the HeartBrand Beef program, and in 2018, we are on pace to process about 12,000 head.

eventually to use this profile to determine the percentage of Akaushi in an animal without knowing its parentage. Using DNA to determine parentage is just scratching the surface of the potential power DNA contains. Popular tests that are available to members include horn/ polled and coat color. As we build up our DNA database, we will one day be able to offer DNA-enhanced EPDs, which more accurately predict the traits a particular sire adds to his offspring. We will also have tools to help members select breeding animals based on genetic markers instead of phenotype so they don’t have to wait for them to produce a calf to evaluate sire/dam performance. There is even research be- ing done to DNA test embryos, which will greatly speed up breeding programs. The next few years will be an exciting time for us as we unleash the power of DNA for the American Akaushi Association and its members. PT

grade in our program is 39 percent Prime and fewer than 2 percent Select, making HeartBrand Beef one of the highest grad- ing programs on the market. With your Akaushi herd, you hold the potential to sell your cattle on a grid to a premium-based program, or utilize our buyback program and earn some of the highest paid premi- ums in the industry. We strongly believe that Akaushi is one of the most promising breeds for the beef industry’s future, and we look forward to watching the breed continue to grow! PT

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3,000 sq ft Visitor Center Projected Complete 12/15/17

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www.akaushi.com • Winter 2018

INDUSTRY TECHNOLOGY Untangling the Helix

Elisa Marques, Ph.D., MBA | Founder, AgFRONT | emarques@agfront.com

Back to the Basics With a New Twist

C ongratulations on the inaugural is- sue of the Akaushi Prime Time magazine! I am very humbled, hon- ored and happy to con- tribute to the magazine and its future growth.

stand today. Recordkeeping is as old as dirt and it will never, and should never, go away. It’s basic. What has changed today is how you record, manage and make deci- sions using data. That’s the twist. We have added technology, whether it’s the new technology that allows us to man- age our data in the cloud, DNA technology or e-commerce technology that changes how we sell to our customers. Technology helps us make informed decisions about our business. It also helps us do less of the things that we are not good at so that we have more time to do the things that we are good at. Technology allows us to stay in our zone of genius. DNA Technology: Science over Sales During my presentation to the 2013 American Akaushi Association (AAA) Annual Convention, I said, “the Akaushi breed is a force to be reckoned with.” I meant what I said then, and I mean it now. Contrary to what you may think, I am not an advocate for one breed versus another. I believe in diversity, science and technology. There are several things that the AAA has done correctly, right out of the gate.

It also happens to be the beginning of a new year. With every new year, we make new resolutions. We often do this because we think that what we did before is not working or because we have the illusion that new is better. So sometimes we tend to abandon the old. However, when it comes to cattle breed- ing, not much has changed over the years. You still select your bulls for your next breeding season. You still wean your calves. You decide which females to keep as replacements. Maybe you retain ownership. Maybe you don’t. You sell your calves. While cattle breeding has maintained much of its essence, we can’t help but no- tice that changes are happening faster than before. Decision making is happening faster and more precisely. You may wonder why. It is largely because of how we pro- cess all the data we collect and because we are adding more information early on in the animals’ lives via DNA testing. There is no miracle pill, though. You still need to col- lect data. That’s not going away. In the context of this article, back to the basics means the following: 1. You keep records of your cattle and their performance; 2. You keep records of your expenses; 3. You keep records of your breeding groups; and 4. You keep vaccination records. And so on. You must keep records. There can be no improvement if you don’t know where you

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REFLECT IONS AND RECOLLECT IONS

Paul Marchant | Rancher/Columnist | paul@progressivepublish.com Irons in the Fire

Fashionable Practicality

Y ou’ll probably knows me that I am far from a fashion expert. That’s not to say, how- ever, that I don’t at least pay passing attention to the occasional fashion get no argument from anyone who

1981. He was a big, white-faced, yellow Sim- my-cross steer that, I thought, was the pic- ture of perfection. He probably stood nearly 5 feet tall at the hip and finished at around 1,200 pounds. He was, in my mind, the embodiment of the perfect show steer. In the picture, standing at the halter, I appear in all of my ridiculous teenager glory. My pointy-toed boots are barely visible from beneath my too-long wranglers, which are worn out in the back – a result of dragging in the dirt under my boot heels. You can almost discern my eyes from be- neath my long, shaggy bangs, which hang out from under a big, old, wide-brimmed, high, round-topped hat. If you could see my eyes, you’d probably notice a touch of indignant fury; a result of my bitter disap- pointment at my steer not being named grand champion at that year’s version of the Summit County Fair. In the champion- ship drive, the judge opted for a couple of more moderately framed steers to be his grand and reserve champions. With the benefit of time-aided wisdom and a little common sense, the whole sce- nario seems almost nonsensical now. First of all, how did I dare show up in public dressed like that? Second, what in the world were the powers that be in the beef industry thinking, particularly those in the show world, when they perpetuated the notion that such inefficient animals were good for the industry? It made no more sense than the short, tiny-framed cattle of the ’50s and early ’60s. The livestock show scene has always been a moral dilemma of sorts for me. I really love the whole scene. It has a unique feel all its own. The smell of fresh shav- ings, the sounds of blowers and the sight of a magnificent, pristine, perfectly fit and coifed champion juxtaposed in front of the

trend. I don’t think I’ll ever be too keen, or even aware of, any of the ridiculousness that spews out of New York City or Paris. But, when it comes to critters and what’s hot and trending at, say, the National West- ern Stock Show, the American Royal or the National Finals Rodeo … well then, now you’ve got my attention. I was slow to warm up to square-toed boots – I was always partial to the round- toed look – but now I’m all in with the square toe. The look has definitely grown on me, and for crying out loud, they’re much more comfortable than anything the Wicked Witch of the West would be sport- ing. I wonder what took the trend so long to get a toehold, as it were. At the other end, you have the hat world. If you see a high-crowned, short-brimmed hat bobbing its way through a crowd, you can pretty well bet that the guy under it is in his seventh or eighth decade. Regional differences abound, as well. A flat-topped lid will surely brand you as a Great Basin buck- aroo, while the big, turned-up, flying-nun brim is a Texas look through and through. As far as what sits atop your pony, you can see the same kind of trends. Sixty-foot ropes hanging on mule-hide-wrapped slick forks are all over eastern Oregon, southern Idaho and Nevada, while a 35-footer tied hard and fast to a Modified Association tree pretty much places you in the Great Plains. Somewhere I have a 5x7 picture of one of my last FFA project steers, taken around

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IRONS IN THE FIRE Continued from page 22

latest year’s National Western Stock Show sign is unparalleled in its magnificence. All of the pageantry and expense on a logi- cal and practical level seem quite ridicu- lous. It’s more of a fantasy than real life. After all, form should follow function – not the other way around. I’ve kind of reconciled the conundrum in my mind. I think the show ring actually does serve a useful purpose. For one thing, it exposes much of the general public to at least some form of modern animal ag- riculture. And, for the most part, the par- ticipants are on their best behavior. Partici- pants in livestock shows are agriculture’s ambassadors to the world. There’s no ques- tion that showing livestock can offer a pile of life lessons to kids. It also helps us find our boundaries, both in terms of what is practical and what is popular. Perhaps one of the most useful lessons we can learn from it is that popularity doesn’t always equate to practicality and, inversely, practicality and common sense quite often will never lead to popularity. And, there’s nothing wrong with that. PT when many others had to retrofit theirs. Next, you applied science first and be- cause you first applied science, you can verify that what you are selling is what your customers are getting. Not only that, but you have set the correct path for genet- ic improvement. Genetics are the founda- tion for any efficient system. Your Product is a Premium – You Sell Value, Not Price Premium products tend to follow a pat- tern that enables them to become premium. They do things differently and they do them early on, before anyone else. Your product is a premium and because it’s a premium, it’s not for everyone. You need to recognize the strengths and advan- tages of your product and service so that UNTANGLING THE HELIX Continued from page 20 One is requesting that every animal be par- entage verified via DNA testing. That’s a big deal. You started a database from scratch

Producers of Red Angus and Hereford x Akaushi F1’s

We have a great herd of Red Angus and Hereford cows that we breed to Akaushi bulls to produce superb quality F1 Akaushi heifers. The Red Angus F1’s are solid red and mostly polled. The Hereford F1’s are red white-faced cattle and all have been de-horned.

These cattle are a cowman’s kind and will be produc- tive for many years.They're moderately framed with great maternal characteristics andmothering/milking ability!They will produce tremendous“A4-eligible” ¾-blood females and feeder steers with yield and quality grades to compete with the top F1Akaushi genetics in the breed.

Call us and stop by the ranch anytime! Brown Ranches 2050 Brown Ranch Lane ∙ Beeville, TX 78102

Austin Brown III 361-597-0373 aebrown70@gmail.com

Austin Brown II 361-597-0377 firebrand1924@gmail.com

www.brownranchgroup.com

you can promote them to the correct audi- ence. You must find your audience. Believe and continue to practice the art of differentiation. Your product is a premium, and as a result, it’s not cheap, nor should it be. You add value through the use of tech- nology. Therefore, you sell value, not price. I am very excited about 2018 because this will mark another year of change for me, for our business and for our customers. It will be the year where we implement ad- ditional tools that simplify and speed up decision making for our customers so that they stay in their zone of genius. PT Editor’s note: Elisa Marques, Ph.D., is an award-winning geneticist and business devel- opment specialist, whose career has spanned research and development, marketing and busi- ness development. She is the founder of AgFRONT, www. agfront.com , a digital marketing and man- agement consulting company that focuses on technology transfer within the agribusiness industry with the ultimate goal of helping pro- ducers become more efficient and productive.

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www.akaushi.com • Winter 2018

Akaushi

BY BUBBA BAIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR I would like to offer some ideas and opinions on the definitions of Akaushi and Wagyu. Hopefully this will help clarify these two terms. By defining this subject properly, I hope it will have a positive and lasting effect on all of the Japanese beef breeds and their future success. Versus the Term Wagyu

M any people have been suc- cessful in defining Wagyu as a breed. I see it differently. I believe the true definition of Wagyu refers to an origin, not a single breed. Akaushi is a

Mitsuru Minezawa, a prominent Japa- nese animal science researcher and aca- demic, offers his own definition of the term Wagyu . “The word Wagyu is an angliciza- tion of the Japanese language ‘wa-gyu,’ which simply

means our [Jap- anese-produced] beef cattle. It does not describe any single breed.” Minezawa de- fines contempo- rary Japanese Wagyu as being comprised of four distinct breeds, in

separate and dis- tinct breed from the other Japanese cattle. There are no similarities, ge- netically or pheno- typically, between Akaushi and the other Japanese

cattle breeds. Based on my research, the Akaushi breed started with the South Korean breed known as Hanwoo. Around 1870, the Devon breed was infused into the Hanwoo cattle, and in roughly 1910, the Simmental breed was incorporated into the breed as well. Around 1910, the breed was closed to any other outside genetics and the Akaushi breed was formed. To this day, Akaushi remains the same – a closed herd for more than 100 years. First, let’s define the word breed , which means a stock of animals or plants within a species having distinctive genetics and appearance, typically having been devel- oped by deliberate selection. Now, let’s define Wagyu , which is any of several breeds of cattle, the most desired of which is genetically predisposed to intense marbling and to producing a high percent- age of oleaginous unsaturated fat.

addition to two indigenous Japanese cattle breeds (Mishima and Kuchinoshima), both of which survive only in non-commercial, trace populations. The four distinct breeds are Kryoshi (Kuroushi, Kuroge Washu), Akaushi (Akage Washu), Japanese Polled (Mukaku Washu) and Japanese Shorthorn (Nihon Tankaku Washu). With this definition, there is even more clarity that the term Wagyu is an origin, not a breed. It is my hope that the follow- ing quotes, statements and definitions will help provide additional clarity.  The American Wagyu Association de- fines Wagyu as “a Japanese beef cattle breed derived from native Asian cattle. Wagyu refers to all Japanese beef cattle, where ‘wa’ means Japanese and ‘gyu’ means cow.”  Six Buck Ranch raises both Red and Black Wagyu cattle in Roberts, Mont.

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We must continue to differentiate the Akaushi breed from other Japanese cattle breeds.

According to them, “In Japan, cattle breeds are divided into two kinds. The first is dairy cattle, which are Holsteins and Jerseys, and the second is referred to as Wagyu . There are four breeds of Wagyu cattle – Akaushi, Kryoshi, Japa- nese Polled and Japanese Shorthorn. All of our Red Wagyu are 99.2 percent pure- bred, and since they are a ‘different type’ of Wagyu, they will produce a certain amount of heterosis when bred back to Black Wagyu.”  Located in Golden, N.M., Lone Mountain Cattle Company explains that “Wagyu is a breed of Japanese cattle.”  Chisholm Cattle Company, Wimberley, Texas, offers its own take on the term. “ Wagyu – the breed that made Kobe fa- mous – is the generic name for Japanese cattle.”  In an ad for its cattle, Chisholm Cattle Company said, “Wagyu calves for sale – 100 percent Fullblood. They were sired by JC Rueshaw 65, who is the first black, fullblood son of foundation bull and Japanese National Champion Rueshaw (Akaushi). With this infusion of Kuma- moto Red genetics, these black calves have it all. Red bulls can be used to breed for red or black progeny. JC Rueshaw 65 FB14154 Fullblood Black bull (Red influ- enced). Number 65’s pedigree combines the exceptional production and maternal traits of the Kumamoto Red strain with the Tamija strain. He will add welcome hybrid vigor to Red and Black Wagyu herds.”  V-V Wagyu raises Red Wagyu cattle in Paradise, Texas. “We say ‘Red Wagyu/ Akaushi’ because they are the same cattle. The only difference is the name.”  Chris Brant of Reserve Cattle Company Wagyu in Garden City, Mo., says, “ Wa- gyu means Japanese cattle. Believe it or not, some breeders and former board members are unaware Wagyu is not a breed, and believe Reds and Blacks are related. Red is a breed; Black is a breed. That’s a fact and it will not change. A

Red crossed with a Black is an F1. The longer we try to appease people, the worse this problem gets. No matter how much crossbreeders want a Red/Black cross to be a fullblood, it is not a full- blood.” Are you confused yet? The term Wagyu has confused and is still confusing a lot of people. Lumping all Japanese cattle into one group doesn’t help matters. There are no genetic or phenotypic similarities what- soever between the four Japanese beef breeds. Hypothetically you can call them what you want, but are you being hon- est and truthful with potential buyers? It’s like putting Hereford and Angus into one breed/association because they are both English breeds. To me that doesn’t make sense. We must continue to differentiate the Akaushi breed from other Japanese cattle breeds. Akaushi must be properly defined as to its origin and genetic make- up and how it sets itself apart from other Japanese cattle breeds. Akaushi deserves its rightful place among the other recognized beef breeds in the industry. Using language like “Red Wagyu,” “Red-hided Wagyu,” “Kumamoto Reds,” “Japanese Brown” and “Red-Black Wagyu crosses” does not further our cause; it just confuses people more. If these words con- tinue to be used to identify the Akaushi breed, the beef industry will never totally accept or respect Akaushi as a breed. Akaushi deserves its rightful place among the other recognized beef breeds in the industry. To accomplish this we need to continue telling our story correctly – we are Akaushi, fullblood descendants originating from the Emperor’s herd in Japan. We respect and wish all breeds and breed associations well, but the American Akaushi Association is here to protect the integrity of Akaushi genetics, the Akaushi breed registry and your investment as an Akaushi breeder! PT

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www.akaushi.com • Winter 2018

The COMMANDMENTS of a 10 SUCCESSFUL SEEDSTOCK PRODUCER

BY JESSIE TOPP-BECKER, MANAGING EDITOR

W hen it comes to successful seed- stock production, it is no secret that becoming successful doesn’t happen overnight. It’s an arduous process that requires hard work, dedica- tion, a willingness to change and adapt, as well as a commitment to excellence. Since 1895, the R.A. Brown Ranch has strived to build its own successful seed- stock business. Over the years, the Brown family built its herd to consist of more than 1,800 Angus, Red Angus, SimAngus and Hotlander (a four-breed composite devel- oped on their ranch) cattle. The family ranching business hosted its first annual production sale in 1974 and now hosts two production sales each year. Today, the fifth- generation of the Brown family has taken the reigns, and the ranch is now owned and operated by Donnell and Kelli Brown. Growing up on the ranch, and now run-

ning the business, Donnell Brown has had a front-row seat to witness and experience the ups and downs of cattle production, and he understands what it takes to be a suc- cessful seedstock producer. During the re- cent American Akaushi Association Annual Convention, Brown shared his 10 command- ments of a successful seedstock producer. Before a producer can seek success, Brown said there is one important ques- tion that must be answered – “What are your goals relative to your cattle business?” Once that question is answered, produc- ers can work toward building a successful business. Regardless of a ranch’s specific goals, Brown’s 10 commandments can help producers achieve the level of success they seek. For the R.A. Brown Ranch, the primary goal has always been to produce cattle that meet the needs of commercial cattle pro-

ducers, which is why Brown’s first commandment is thou shall always put the com- mercial customer first. While this likely comes as a surprise to many seedstock producers, it shouldn’t. The whole purpose of seedstock production, according to Brown, is “to produce bulls for commercial cattlemen that will help them raise better calves that make them more money.” The primary focus for every seedstock business should be

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to produce what the commercial cattleman wants. This is vitally important as more than 90 percent of all seedstock bulls are used by commercial cattlemen. Keeping commercial customers No. 1 has been the key to success at the R.A. Brown Ranch. “For 123 years, our family has been committed to raising better bulls for the commercial business, and that’s been the success to our business,” Brown said. During their two annual production sales, the Brown Ranch sells more than 800 breeding bulls. Producing bulls that align with their customers’ needs has helped propel their seedstock business to- ward success. Thou shall not select cattle on looks alone is the second commandment of a successful seedstock producer. Producers should strive to raise eye-appealing cattle, but breeding decisions should be based on much more than just phenotype. “Why not use all available technology to make the most important decisions that we have for the future of our business?” Brown asked. Depending on the breed, producers may have to sort through 9-23 different ex- pected progeny differences (EPDs) and indexes for each animal. That’s a tremen- dous amount of information to sift through when trying to select cattle to purchase or offer for sale. Brown’s advice – “I believe in selecting for all economically relevant traits, simultaneously.” In Brown’s opinion, the five most eco- nomically relevant traits are calving ease, growth, fertility/maternal, carcass and ef- ficiency. The use of selection indexes aids producers in selecting for multiple traits at one time. Brown encouraged Akaushi breeders to utilize them. Along with using EPDs to select cattle, Brown encouraged convention attendees to select breeding stock as they would (or should have) select their spouse. Select- ing a spouse and breeding stock are two very important decisions that have long- term impacts. “If you want to be successful in seedstock production, you need to get serious about selecting your seedstock, the ones you’re going to multiply,” he said. “Not much happens fast in the cattle busi- ness. It’s a long process,” Brown said, while

explaining his third commandment: thou shall remember that beef production is a long-term venture. Building a suc- cessful seedstock business, or any business for that matter, takes years. For starters, it requires developing a customer base and offering high-quality cattle on a consistent basis. Being involved in this business is not for the faint of heart. “About the only thing short-term that you can achieve in the cattle business, is failure,” he said. “People want to take shortcuts, but those tend to produce more failures than successes.” Genetics are everlasting, which is anoth- er reason Brown stressed the importance of EPDs – “focus on facts, not fiction.” In breeding shows, extra emphasis is placed on making sure every hair is in place, hooves are trimmed and cattle have just the right amount of fat, but “those are tem- porary things we do to make one look bet- ter,” Brown said. “Genetics are long term.” When it comes to seedstock production, it’s important that producers don’t play the role of bystanders who simply sit on the

Continued page 28

WELCOME TO THE TRUE SPIRIT OF THE WEST Set on 30,000 private acres in Wyoming’s Platte River Valley, the award-winning luxury resorts of Brush Creek Ranch present guests with the grandeur of the American West. “We proudly present an excellent set of full blood seed stock and F2 females. The Akaushi brand sets the standard for our vision of sustainable ranching and is unveiled in pasture-to-plate offerings to our esteemed guests.” —Ron Hawkins, Ranch Manager of Brush Creek Ranches

SARATOGA, WY | BRUSHCREEKRANCH.COM

For more info about our Akaushi Cattle Program Contact: Ronald.hawkins@brushcreekranch.com | 307.327.5284

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TEN COMMANDMENTS Continued from page 27

fence and watch as things happen. Many valuable lessons can be learned by sitting on the fence, but producers make the great- est difference when they get off the fence and get to work. The fifth commandment encourages producers to work hard to help their customers – thou shall work hard (six days a week) to provide genetics and customer service to improve the profitability and sustainability of your commercial customers. Following this commandment will aid producers in build- ing a strong foundation of loyal customers who return, year after year. Brown reminds producers that not all short-term profitability is sustainable, which is why producers should strive to improve both aspects of their customers’ businesses – profitability and sustainability. Brown provided some words of caution in the pursuit of reaching their own goals – “Don’t let what you want cause you to use bad judgement.” 1/4 Vertical, 4 color Prime Time 3 Ranch/Broken Winds Cattle Co. Winter 2018

Thou shall use DNA to know thy father and mother is Brown’s fifth com- mandment. Sound science and technology should be utilized in a seedstock business “to best identify and multiply the superior genetics,” he said. Referring to his first commandment – keeping the commercial customer first – Brown explained that he considers su- perior genetics to be those that best fit the needs of the commercial customer. DNA testing is one example of an af- fordable technology producers can use to identify and multiply superior cattle. Every calf born on the Brown ranch undergoes a DNA test. “We do a DNA test because we believe it is vitally important to know the facts,” Brown said. Even with a low-density DNA test, producers have access to a plethora of valuable information. Artificial insemination (AI) and embryo transfer are additional examples of afford- able technology producers can use to “mul- tiply the most superior cattle,” while also focusing on facts. AI has been used on the R.A. Brown Ranch since 1969. Today, ev- ery cow on the R.A. Brown Ranch is bred using either AI or embryo transfer at least one time, “because we believe they are a great tool to mass multiply the most supe- rior genetics,” Brown explained. Donnell Brown (right) and Austin Brown III (left) participate in a panel discussion after Donnell’s presentation at the AAA Annual Convention.

Registered Akaushi Cattle Percentage Blood and Purebred BROKEN WINDS CATTLE COMPANY

Joe Beltz Canyon, Texas (806) 683-7329 cowhand@me.com

Join us for Ranch Day June 16 at Bar 73 Ranch southeast of Canyon, Texas

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