There are many reasons to consider involvement in your preferred breed’s breed association. And, if active in your breed association, there is even further reasoning to be an active participant in record keeping and EPD recording programs.
“The ability to combine multiple producer’s resources to promote the breed,” is one reason Clayton Whittmore, President of the Arkansas Simmental/Simbrah Association, encourages producers to become involved in their breed’s association.
“Breed associations, regardless of size or species, have a universal purpose of providing its membership with services that will assist them in the growth and marketing of their individual breeding programs. Breed associations are the source for the breeds ancestry records, performance and carcass data, both current adult and junior membership lists, junior association activities, along with breed promotion both on the registered and commercial fronts,” John Boddicker, Executive Vice President of the American Maine Anjou Association, said.
Will Cubbage, Northeast District Director with the Oklahoma Angus Association, said he sees involvement in your breed association as an information sharing opportunity as well as a marketing opportunity.
“We have a sale every year in which you have to be a member of the association to consign cattle to, so it gives you a marketing outlet, but the information sharing you get between breeders is invaluable. You have an opportunity to find out more about what other breeders are doing on their ranch and farm, whether it’s production-related or specific to breeding,” Cubbage said.
So, information sharing and services provided, check. But what about added value? Well, many breed associations keep records of EPDs and performance records, and spend money developing the best ways to utilize these numbers personally, as well as utilize them to gain more commercial customers.
Whittmore said, “the majority of American Simmental Association members are utilizing Total Herd Enrollment which requires the entire calf crop’s performance data be reported. This results in more accurate data because of the larger number of calves being compared to each other. I could talk for days about the benefits of EPDs. Buyers can select cattle with superior EPDs, insuring that they are buying the breed’s best genetics which will put more money in their pockets.”
With knowledge being power, the more records, the better commercial and purebred producers can utilize the numbers to improve their specific animals in specific ways. Then there are some breeders who just want a registered animal, because they want the backing of that association.
“For some, it’s part of the marketing strategy. For example, I favor purchasing cattle from people that are members of the Association,” Cubbage noted.
Breed associations are there, and are gathering information for the commercial producers as well as the purebred breeder.
Cubbage said the opportunity to be involved in your association is a worthwhile component as well.
“For me it’s been more of a service deal. I’m the person on the board who oversees the two (Oklahoma) steer shows, one at Tulsa and the Spring livestock show at Oklahoma City. It’s something I like doing,” Cubbage said.
Whittmore, a producer out of Lamar, Ark., noted the personal advantages he’s seen through his involvement in the association. “I have made friends with fellow Simmental breeders from all over Arkansas and the nation and expanded my customer base.”
Boddicker backed this sentiment up, by saying, “Breed associations are ultimately partners of individual members and their breeding programs. How much of a partner depends on the breeder and how they choose to use the programs provided.”
For more information on your preferred breed association, call Ozarks Farm & Neighbor at 866-532-1960 or visit us online at www.ozarksfn.com.
