Dear RAAA members,
We need your help and involvement! Texas A&M University, located in College Station, Texas, is embarking on a new direction for their beef cattle herd. They have made the decision to upgrade with two new breeds. One of these breeds is Red Angus, which they shared with us at a recent meeting at their Beef Research Center on August 9th. This is exciting news for Red Angus! As the fastest growing U.S. beef breed, Red Angus cattle are being recognized for great maternal traits, growth efficiency and carcass merit. We are proud that Texas A&M has chosen to use our breed!
They have asked for our assistance in obtaining embryos to be placed in University-owned recipient females in December 2018 (so time is of the essence!). Their goal is to source 120 Red Angus embryos of high genetic merit to build a fall calving herd. Their second new breed (Beefmaster) will be set up as a spring calving herd. In wanting to expedite the move forward with these two breeds, they would like to have Red Angus embryos delivered to the TAMU Beef Center no later than December 1st, 2018. Donations of the embryos will be tax deductible through the Red Angus Foundation, Inc.
TAMU Animal Science department head is Dr. Cliff Lamb, and he is determined to make their Beef Center the “front door” of the department. He would like to create the best possible cow herd for teaching research, and demonstrations, as well as be a show place for visitors to the Center. This is a tremendous opportunity to become a part of a leading agricultural university’s quest to become involved with Red Angus. Member-nominated embryos offered for donation should contain breed-leading genetics, with a balance of calving ease, growth, maternal and carcass traits. TAMU is also conscientious about mature size and hair-shedding ability. Embryo selections from within the pool of those nominated will be made by TAMU personnel.
The embryo nomination period is September 1st through October 20, 2018. Screening will take place by November 1st, with delivery of the embryos, as stated above, no later than December 1st.
If you have questions or are interested in nominating embryos, please contact either Gary Fike, RAAA Director of Commercial Marketing or me. Thanks for your interest in this exciting, breed-building project!
Sincerely,
Tom Brink
CEO, Red Angus Association of America
For more information on nominating Red Angus embryos, fill out the nomination form, or contact Gary Fike at gary@redangus.org.
