Jared Murnin Joins American Angus Association Staff
Jared Murnin joined the staff of the American Angus Association as regional manager in the states of Texas and New Mexico, effective April 15. Murnin will travel the two-state area, previously represented by Casey Worrell. He will be the Association’s liaison to breeders in those states and will attend events such as sales, shows and educational seminars.
Murnin, a native of Montana, graduated with bachelor’s degrees in animal science and ag business from Colorado State University. He most recently served as the western field representative for the American Gelbvieh Association. He is in the process of relocating to Texas, but is available by cell phone at (816) 390-7092 and by e-mail at jmurnin@angus.org.
Inbreeding, relationship coeffients
available through AAA Login
A new tool available to AAA Login users allows the calculation of inbreeding coefficients on any registered animal or projected inbreeding coefficients on a planned mating. Relationship coefficients on animals in the Angus breed are also available. Access these tools and reference material by signing on to AAA Login at www.angusonline.org. From the AAA Login menu, click on the link labeled “Inbreeding and Relationship Coefficients” in the “Interactive” section of the main menu.
Positive Trends in Angus Reproduction
Positive trends in reproductive performance are apparent in the Angus breed, based on calving records collected by the American Angus Association. First-calf Angus females are calving earlier than in years past and are also breeding back quicker to maintain a shorter interval between their first and second calves.
Purebred Angus cows born in 1995 and 1996 produced their first calves at an average age of 24 months, 5 days. Among females born from 1999 through 2001, the age at first calving averaged 24 months, 1 day — a decrease of four days. This latest birth group of females (born 1999-2001) showed a 3% advantage in the percentage of females producing a calf by 25 months of age.
During the same five-year time frame, the average first-to-second-calf interval declined by 2.5 days. A reduction in the average breed-back time accounted for this positive change.
When combined, these two improvements shaved almost a week off the average Angus female’s age at the time she produced her second calf. “These are meaningful improvements that speak well for what U.S. Angus breeders are accomplishing. Positive shifts have taken place in the entire breed population,” says Jim Shirley, vice president of industry relations.
“Commercial cow-calf producers understand the importance of getting young cows to calve early and rebreed on time,” Shirley says. “The economic benefit associated with getting a higher percent of the cow herd calved out early in the calving season is very real, especially when calves are bringing well over $1 a pound.”
— compiled by Crystal Albers, Angus Productions Inc. assistant editor
