History has shown the conclusion of a down cattle cycle often signals significant shifts in the marketplace. Sometimes this entails a reshuffling of breed hierarchy. Invariably, we witness a process of rebuilding that leaves the beef industry stronger and more resilient.

As we navigate the current cattle cycle, it is increasingly evident the genetic composition of our cow herds will undergo a transformation. Producers will enter this cattle cycle with a different cow herd than what was available in 2015.

Tools spur change

For the last decade, producers have used an arsenal of tools that made the difference between success and stagnation. Since the bottom of the previous cycle, the industry has witnessed a seismic shift in genetic management practices. Genomic testing has become ubiquitous, performance data is meticulously recorded on a massive scale, and the pace of genetic advancement is unprecedented.

Access to these resources has empowered producers to customize breeding objectives that ensure profitability. Yet, amidst this whirlwind of innovation, the diversity of the Angus breed stands as robust as ever. A suite of tools has been developed to assist breeders in achieving a myriad of objectives, ranging from optimizing progeny for Certified Angus Beef^® (CAB^®) brand and Prime labels to breeding cattle suited for environments with limited forage.

Recognition of the role of genetics has reached beyond the seedstock and cow-calf industries. Nearly 76% of feedlots that took part in the 2023 Industry Insights Powered by Angus Media & CattleFax survey said the role of genetics will grow in importance in their purchasing decisions during the next five years. Of the other 24%, many were already using genetics in a big way. Tools like the AngusLink^SM Genetic Merit Scorecard^SM (GMS) have enabled feeders to manage and market cattle differently based on their genetic potential.

Angus dominance

Angus continues to be one of the most dynamic breeds in the marketplace, maintaining its dominance in the commercial cow herd, with 82% of cow-calf respondents in the Industry Insights survey indicating Angus is part of their herd’s primary genetic makeup.

Feeders were also clear in their preference for black Angus genetics over other breed choices, and the value of known genetics entering their yard. Angus can meet the changing needs of both sectors of this changing industry. That’s evident when you examine the genetic diversity of the Angus breed.

To compare amongst breeds, we lean on the USDA Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC). Its long-term germplasm evaluation project has made it possible to compare breeds on an even playing field.

The most recent trends published by USMARC clearly show Angus can be a solution for commercial cow-calf operations that tend to stay focused on traits like calving ease and growth, while providing feedlots and packers with the product consumers want.

Figures from USMARC, adapted from the Spring 2021 Genetics Trends from Breed Associations and 2021 Across-breed Expected Progeny Difference (AB-EPD) Adjustment Factors show that animals continue to maintain favorable calf size (see Fig. 1) as an indicator of desired calving ease and a clear continued dominance in marbling score (see Fig. 2) and carcass size (see Fig. 3).

While we tend to talk about the averages between breeds or even within a single breed, the strength of genetic selection goes far beyond that. It’s the outliers that tend to change the industry for the better, to accelerate breed-wide change in one direction or another. Take carcass trait comparisons between different beef breeds in the U.S. beef industry, but instead of just focusing on the average, let’s dig into the best of each breed.

Breed diversity

Angus producers have designed genetics to fit multiple individual goals across the industry, making Angus genetics a viable option for numerous scenarios.

In total, 3,889 artificial insemination (AI) sires were used throughout Angus seedstock programs in 2023. Of those, some ranked high for maternal traits, some targeted high terminal traits, while others worked to create a balanced-trait portfolio for smaller-scale, less-intensive commercial cow-calf operations.

The top 25 registered Angus sires, which represented 52,086 head, or 17.3%, of the total registrations for Angus in fiscal year 2023, had ample variation. Table 1 shows the low, high and average EPDs for this group of Angus sires.