PrimeTime spring 2018

The A4 Advantage Adding Value to the Beef Cattle Industry in One Generation BY KELSEY POPE, FREELANCE WRITER

“We created this program as a value-added pathway for both small and large commercial herds to pro- duce purebred, A4 Akaushi replacement females while gaining higher quality car- casses,” Bain says. “Today, this program has been one of the main catalysts for our association’s success. We plan all of our programs, both current and future, to spring 2010, approximately 3,000 Akaushi-sired females from A1 to A4 breeding have already been certified in the A4 Advantage Program.  Building up from the Base Herd When starting out, par- ticipants must be a member of the American Akaushi Association and enroll in the program. A herd inspec- tion by an approved breed inspector is recommended, but not mandatory, until the A4 cross. Base females must be en- rolled so the association has a record for the A4 Advan- tage Program. This base cow herd can come from any breed of cattle and can be registered, purebred or non-registered. There is no charge for enrollment of base females in the pro- gram. These base cows must then be crossed with certi- fied fullblood Akaushi bulls or semen to produce the first generation in the pro- gram, called A1. Multiple sire matings are acceptable, but all bulls must be listed on applications for progeny certification.  benefit our breeders.” Since its inception in

I n today’s beef cattle indus- try, branded programs are a headlining topic of dis- cussion. American Akaushi cattle are known in the industry for producing high- grading, quality carcasses for increased profitability. Known as “Nature’s Healthy Beef ® ,” American Akaushi have a higher concentra- tion of oleic acid as well as a higher ratio of monounsatu- rated to saturated fats. Con- sumers want the great taste of Certified Akaushi Beef and the health benefits for their active lifestyles. “The advantages of the Akaushi breed is that we put producers in positions they’ve never been in before by providing marketing options and allowing them to use crossbreeding with Akaushi to build up the ul- timate traits in their herds,” says Bubba Bain, American Akaushi Association execu- tive director. Because of the advantages of Certified Akaushi Beef, the association created and im- plemented the A4 Advantage Program. It’s like a branded program for Akaushi re- placement females to benefit breeders and encourage producers to use American Akaushi genetics. This unique program of- fers producers in the entire beef industry – with any

breed of cattle – the oppor- tunity to add Akaushi to their replacement heifers, assuring buyers that these cattle are at least 50 per- cent, or halfblood, Akaushi. Fullblood Akaushi cattle are direct descendants from Japan. However, through the A4 Advantage Program, producers can breed up to purebred Akaushi in just four generations, increas- ing market value with each new generation. How Does the A4 Advantage Program Work? First, breeders should know the different classifi- cations of Akaushi cattle:  Certified fullblood: a fullblood Akaushi animal for which an American Akaushi Association Cer- tificate of Registration has been issued.  A1 is a halfblood, which is an Akaushi bull bred to a base female that is a pure or crossbred female of any breed.  A2 is a 3/4-blood, which is an Akaushi bull bred to an A1 female.  A3 is a 7/8-blood, which is an Akaushi bull bred to an A2 female.  A4 is a 15/16-blood, or

93.75 percent, which is an Akaushi bull bred to an A3 female. An A4 is considered a purebred Akaushi.

Akaushi Prime Time • Spring 2018

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