He continued to Colorado State University to work with past judging coach Tatum and begin work on a doctorate. Not long into that program, Oklahoma State University (OSU) called, in need of a faculty member to teach meat science and coach the judging team. An agreement was forged and, after completing his doctorate, Dolezal was Stillwater-bound for a 16-year career.

He considers the boxed-beef calculator his chief accomplishment at OSU. From cutting tests on a great many cuts with known percent yield and yield grade, his team back-calculated a price. The result? A calculated carcass value different than values seen in the cash market or any other form of trade. At Cargill Meat Solutions, Dolezal’s team still relies on the formula daily, proving the enduring value of that research and the scientist’s foresight in creating a much-needed tool.

Dolezal collaborated with Nebraska Angus rancher Bill Rishel on additional real-world use for the boxed-beef calculator. Rishel wanted to evaluate his own sire evaluation program, but he needed Dolezal’s help. Using the rancher’s progeny information, which included carcass merit, Dolezal ran ribeye area, yield grade, back-fat thickness, marbling and quality through the boxed-beef calculator. The results were favorable, pointing to sires with the potential to sire calves that would yield more dollars in a value-based marketing system.

With the drive to study what matters on the ranch — and the skill set to explain results, Dolezal has become a fixture at producer events. Often speaking on trends and current research, he keeps putting those educator skills to good use.

Quality has always been at the top of Dolezal’s career interests. Research on tenderness and palatability led to a “snip and shock” process to improve the eating experience. As a result, Cargill became the first major processor to earn USDA tenderness certification, on the heels of its offer of “guaranteed tender” beef for retailers. Cargill launched brands with Kroger and Harris-Teeter in 2002, followed by a guaranteed and certified tender program with 13 divisions at Safeway.

Alongside Cargill, Dolezal patented new processes and worked with USDA to change quality grades, upgrading a high-quality “hard bone” carcass to the greater value it deserved.

In the late 1980s to early 1990s, he pioneered instrument grading at OSU, testing it in labs and figuring out how to make it work at line speeds. Once at Cargill, he pressed for instrument grading because of variation in calls between graders. He led Cargill’s move as one of the first companies to make the switch.

“I think it’s created better brands, a more consistent product within those brands, and I think Doc’s done an excellent job of pushing the industry to move toward these cameras,” says Bill Thoni, beef industry consultant and Cargill’s former vice president of cattle procurement.

Camera grading has become an industry standard, he adds, largely thanks to Dolezal’s foresight and efforts to create a more consistent system.

It doesn’t stop there. Dolezal leads as a voice for animal welfare and sustainability, advocating for Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) and BQA Transportation. It all adds up to quality beef production.

“We’re more focused on carcass quality than ever before, and it’s a good thing,” Dolezal says.

According to Brad Morgan, vice president of research and development at iQ Foods, quality means something a bit different to Dolezal. Morgan nods to weight and efficiency as anyone in packing would, but says Dolezal expects more. It’s not just pounds, but “quality pounds.”

“He wants something that, from a carcass-weight standpoint, can be merchandised at retail or foodservice,” Morgan says.

That’s his leadership style: setting the example, doing more than just punching the clock, ultimately influencing change.

For a more in-depth look at Dolezal’s contributions to the beef industry, see the article published by our sister publication, the Angus Journal.

Angus releases new teat and udder research EPDs

The American Angus Association and Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) released two new research expected progeny differences (rEPDs) Aug. 22 to characterize teat size and udder suspension traits. Teat size (TEAT) and udder suspension (UDDR) rEPDs expand the suite of selection tools available to Angus breeders to improve maternal function and the productivity of their herds.

“We know these are two traits of interest to the membership and are excited to be releasing the research EPDs after a multiyear research project that would not be possible without member data,” says Esther Tarpoff, director of performance programs for the Association. “Members have quickly embraced collecting these phenotypes, as evidenced by the number of records for each trait used to build the research EPDs.” 

More than 148,000 phenotypic records for each trait were collected from 87,000 cows to contribute to the data set for the rEPDs. The records are collected by members within 24 hours of a calving event. Females are given an individual score for both teat size and udder suspension using scales from 1 to 9. 

Submitted scores range from 1 to 9, representing the entire scoring scale. Analysis of the nearly 300,000 records showed overall good udder structure among reported Angus cows. The average score was 6.6 for both traits, indicating intermediate to small teats and intermediate to tight udders.

The release of TEAT and UDDR follows that of the Functional Longevity (FL) rEPD, which measures the ability of a cow to produce a calf year after year. 

The three rEPDs are currently available to members who have been a part of the early data collection for the respective traits. Others can ask their seedstock supplier(s) if they are part of the research and thereby have rEPDs on their herd. A list of artificial insemination (AI) sires for each of the rEPDs is available online. For TEAT and UDDR data, click here. For FL data, click here.

The three rEPDS are anticipated to be released as weekly production EPDs during the annual evaluation updates in late spring of 2025. Research on how these three new traits should be incorporated into Maternal Weaned Calf Value Index ($M) is currently ongoing with potential updates to the index likely to be made during the spring update.

25th K-State Beef Stocker Field Day scheduled for Sept. 26

Beef cattle outlook, a silent thief robbing profits in your stocker operation and future trends in the Kansas cattle feeding industry are among topics planned for 2024 Kansas State University Beef Stocker Field Day Sept. 26. The conference will be hosted at the KSU Beef Stocker Unit, Manhattan.

“This year’s program reflects the challenging landscape our industry is experiencing,” says Dale Blasi, K-State Animal Sciences and Industry professor and beef cattle extension specialist. “The experiences and thoughts of our assembled speakers and panelists will provide insights as we progress into an unknown future.”

The day will start with a welcome at 9:30 a.m. and will conclude around 4:30 p.m. Sponsoring this year’s event is Huvepharma.

Topics for this year’s agenda include:

• Beef Cattle Outlook
• Coccidiosis: The Silent Thief Robbing Profits in your Stocker Operation
• Recommendations for managing calves the first 30 days on feed
• Future Trends in the Kansas Cattle Feeding Industry
• Rethinking your pasture burning plans: Save time, Save Money, and Improve Range Conditions

Registration is $25 and due Sept. 13. Walk-in registration is available for $35. To register go to asi.ksu.edu/stockerfieldday. For more information, contact Katie Smith at 785-532-1267 or katiesmith@ksu.edu.

Five-State Beef Conference dates and locations set for 2024

The beef extension teams of Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas have announced the dates and locations for the upcoming Five-state Beef Conference. The annual conferences cover topics important to beef cattle producers with locations rotating among the states each year.

This year the meeting series will kick off at the Cimarron County Fair Building in Boise City, Okla., Monday Sept. 30. For more information about registering for the Boise City meeting contact Kierra Ortega, Cimarron County ag educator, at 580-544-3399 or Britt Hicks, OSU Panhandle Area livestock specialist, at 580-338-7300.

The meeting will also be hosted at the Coldwater Veteran’s Building/City Building (239 East Main) in Coldwater, Kan., Tuesday, Oct. 1. For more information about registering for the Coldwater, Kan., meeting contact Levi Miller, Comanche County, Kan., ag educator, at 620-582-2411 or Hicks.

Experts from across the region will present on a range of topics, including a market update, understanding performance and carcass characteristics of beef-on-dairy cattle, optimizing forage efficiency, how trace minerals can improve profitability and research updates.

Registration will begin at 1:30 p.m. and the program will end at 7 p.m. with a beef dinner at each location. There will be a registration fee of $20 with a preregistration deadline by Sept. 23.

Ohio, Missouri farms recognized as a Historic Angus Herds

The American Angus Association recently bestowed the Historic Angus Herd Award on two herds — Nobleland Angus Farm and Terry Little’s Angus herd — in recognition of their continuous production of registered-Angus cattle for 50 years or more.

James Secrest established his herd in 1958 with the purchase of an Angus heifer, Elbamere Lady G B 9, from Gallogly Bros. for $175. That same year he joined the American Angus Association.

“My family had been raising Hereford cattle until 1956, when we decided to show an Angus steer at the county fair. That steer was named grand champion steer, and we decided to switch to raising Angus,” Secrest says. “It was the best decision we could have ever made.”

After graduating high school, he bought seven Angus heifers from the MI-JO Angus Farms dispersal sale in 1968.

In 1970 Secrest decided to name his family farm Nobleland Angus Farm and became an early adopter of artificial insemination (AI). This decision made him a standout in the cattle industry.

In 2017 Nobleland Angus Farm celebrated 50 years of selling Angus cattle at the Eastern Ohio Angus Sale, where Secrest has only missed three sales in 55 years. They have also been involved with the Ohio Beef Expo since its first breed show and sale in 1988.

Being members of the Ohio and Noble County Cattlemen’s Associations, the Ohio Angus Association and the Eastern Ohio Angus Association has allowed the Secrest family to participate in various shows and sales around the country. Secrest’s children and grandchildren have shown Angus cattle on the state and national level.

Nobleland Angus Farm has received many awards over the years, including the Ohio Angus Association Distinguished Service Award, the Farm Credit Mid-American Heritage Farm Award, the Noble County Cattlemen’s Association Distinguished Service Award and the Noble County Soil and Water Conservation District Award. The farm has been designated an Ohio Century Farm by the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

Today, Secrest still manages his herd of 30 head of cattle, alongside his daughters, Nancy and Sharon; son Brian; and grandchildren.

Terry Little established his Angus herd in Monticello, Mo., in 1965 with the purchase of Princess Kinlochian B from Dorothy Bartholomew of Lewistown, Mo. That same year, he registered his first bull, Bordolier T L 59.    Little chose the Angus breed for its popularity and trouble-free reputation.    Over the years, Little has had numerous production sales and is credited with convincing several farmers to invest in the Angus breed.

“Little’s herd is a solid base of the best of Montana genetics,” says Tom Burke, American Angus Hall of Fame. “He is truly a pioneer Angus breeder in the state of Missouri.”

Today, Little still manages his herd of 150 head of cattle.

Visit the “Awards & Recognition” page within the Member Center on www.angus.org to learn more about the Historic Angus Herd Award and to view a list of honorees since the program began in 1988.

Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA, Vol. 16, No. 9-A