In 1974, Dr. Stewart Fowler developed a system of evaluating weaning weights in Devon cattle, more commonly known as the Adj. 205 day weight. Along with an age adjustment factor for the dam, this system was the beginning of performance testing Devon cattle. At this time, the Devon Cattle Association Inc. was at the fore front of performance testing data collection. Since this time, almost every other breed association has surpassed the American Devon Cattle Association in performance testing. The major breeds have EPD/EBV’s for birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weight, milk, growth, etc., etc. Some of these associations are also recording DNA data, ultrasound data, and various other performance data to evaluate the cattle that make up their breed. In the last 5 years, the members of the Devon Association have had the opportunity to participate in breed plan, a performance testing program that generates EBVs for the Devon breed; I believe Lakota Ranch is the only breeder to participate. We have also collected carcass data on steers for slaughter for the last 14 years. The resulting data is used to cull males and females from the herd which do not produce desirable carcasses. The result of this culling process is more dollars per carcass.

In 2006, at Grass Genetics LLC. Kearney, Nebraska, Devon cattle were shown and graded based on visual appeal and ultrasound evaluation. The results were excellent. Taken into account the age of the animals, the cattle excelled in every area, as all good Devon cattle tend to do. It is clear that as the industry moves forward, carcass evaluation, performance testing, and source verification will not only be common place, but maybe mandatory. As breeders of Devon cattle and members of the American Devon Cattle Association, we are linked to grass farming which is a niche in the cattle industry. This niche is defined by quality. To assure quality and predictability, we must evaluate our cattle. How do we do this? Should you join breed plan, ultrasound your cow herd, linear measure, DNA test? Only you can answer this question for your particular operation not everything is doable. Obviously, many factors will influence this decision. What type of handling facilities do you have? What are the economic limitations? What are your goals for your operation? All of these questions and more will play a role in your decision, and I realize that not everyone will participate. One thing is for certain, all breeders of Devon cattle are in the seed stock business, and in the seed stock business, a producer is forced to evaluate cattle and based on these evaluations his herd will improve or diminish. So as a seed stock producer, wouldn’t you want as many tools for evaluating your animals as possible? Now, don’t get me wrong, if a cow has a great ultrasound, DNA test, and linear measurement, I still don’t want her if she milks off of two teats and is blind in one eye. What I’m trying to say is do not give up on visual appraisal, but rather enhance your overall evaluation by using the tools which modern science has given us as cattlemen.

Let’s talk about ultrasound data… Dr. Allen R. Williams, PAS, Tallgrass Beef Company, COO has written an article titled Ultrasonic Sorting of Beef Cattle for Carcass Value Potential and Identification Tenderness Indicators and there are several other articles and books discussing ultrasound technology. You could spend years trying to understand the process and procedures for the formulas used and the range requirements for the different areas of measurement. However, what is important is not, “What is a good ribeye shape measurement?”, but rather “Do my cattle produce good ribeyes?” Using “beef image analysis software (BIA)” the measurements are taken on a variety of Images multiple times and then averaged through the software to give you the animals score. This score must then be interpreted. For example, a bull which just bred 50 cows in the last 60 days would have much less intramuscular fat than a bull which has been inactive for the last 6 months. Another example might be the difference in back fat on a cow which is getting ready to calf versus a cow which has been raising a calf for the last 6 months. The best way to start to understand the process is to become involved in the process. When EPDs were introduced to the industry, no one understood what they meant, how they were determined, or how accurate they were. But now, 80% of the cattlemen in this country reference EPDs when buying seed stock. So, when you consider performance testing or more specifically, ultrasounding your cattle, do not feel as if you have to understand the process. Companies like Tallgrass Beef Company will not only ultrasound the animals, but will also explain to you the strengths and weaknesses of your herd and of the individual cattle within your herd. Fourteen years ago, when Lakota Ranch began performance testing cattle, we found ourselves swimming in a sea of numbers. But rather quickly, we were able to identify areas of strength within different bloodlines, and determine which bloodlines should be paired to improve upon the weaknesses of the individual cows. We were also able to cull animals which produced inferior carcasses and lowered the overall marketability of our product. I know that I have not explained what ultrasound technology is, how it works, or how to understand it, but I hope I have stated its usefulness and the process by which one would come to understand it. I myself, after 14 years, still do not totally understand how it all works but I learn more every day and I feel like have have improved the quality of the cattle within my herd by using performance data. I hope you will consider my words and if I can assist someone in the process at whatever stage they may be I would be more than happy to.