Page 27 - MWC 4-23-20s

The Midwest Cattleman · April 23, 2020 · P27
for traits of growth and calv- done that. We are more effi-
ing ease. And the same thing cient with growth and selec-
with ultrasounding the rib- tion for feed efficiency. That
eye for fat thickness, ribeye will be interesting to watch
size and marbling for carcass develop because that's our
traits.” biggest expense – grass, hay,
Having been on the Mizzou corn or commodity feeds. But
Meats Judging and Livestock that's what it takes to have
Judging teams, Harriman ap- the muscle and marbling for
preciated a step forward in the quality to meet the de-
product quality during his mand for beef – 'the king of
long tenure in the business of the meats.' It sells so much
selling beef. The USDA quali- higher because of the quality,
ty grade selection parameters flavor, taste, aroma, and pal-
incorporated degrees within atability. We need to make all
grades for determining Low that happen more efficiently.”
and High Select, as well as Cooperation to be Continued
High, Mid and Low Choice So much of what Harriman
and Prime. utilized on a daily basis at
“In the last 10 or 20 years,
Select has increased into Harriman Santa Fe is rooted
in relationships built years
Choice by around 20%,” Har- ago. Harriman joined forces
riman said. “There are fewer with like-minded John Rotert,
in the Select grade, so our se- another renowned cattleman
lection for marbling (as an in- from Henry County Missouri
dustry) has really increased. in the late '90s. Both were ex-
That goes back to those EPDs cited about the progressive vi-
and ultrasound tools. And the sion of the beef industry and
marbling has kept, and in- involved with a group called
creased, demand for beef, so the Professional Beef Genet-
marbling is a trait that we ics, organized by Jerry Lipsey,
need to put a lot of pressure then of the University of Mis-
on. Personally, I really enjoy souri. The enterprising group
Top Choice ribeye steaks.” developed a program that
With higher quality in de-
there for. Those EPDs are more time with their grand- mand by consumers, Harri- would create marketing ar-
based on their performance. children and opportunities to man added, “Marbling holds rangements in such a way as
If you got it, you had to breed be involved with their local the value, with each degree of to prevent small herds from
them right to get it.” Methodist Church. marbling valued at about $60 having marketing problems.
Harriman, who's calved out “My part time cattle help- per hundred weight more.” By 1997, Harriman and
tens of thousands, said the ers will miss Marguerite's Achieving that premium Rotert had become cattle
average cattleman today has brisket sandwiches with her flavor and tenderness has to partners, and the two worked
an additional round of tools to homemade pickles,” Harri- happen efficiently, according together until Rotert's pass-
make the breeding decisions man said. to Harriman. ing in 2011.
even easier. As for Harriman, he'll still “The cows have to calve, “John and Bettie (John's
“Some breed associations get her good home cooking, milk and produce a heavy wife) were probably the first
have come up with indexes,” but he'll thankfully be spared weaner,” Harriman said, “but in the country to outsource
he said. “One for the scenario the mountains of paperwork to feed this hungry world, we feeder cattle off the farm,”
for keeping your own replace- that demand so much energy. have to try to improve the ef- Harriman said. “In fact, when
ment heifers back, with the Stepping back from those of- ficiency of our cow herds as they started, they were told it
rest marketed on the carcass fice duties comes as a relief. much as we can. And we have continued on page 32
grid. The other index focuses Still, Harriman said he would
on terminal traits. Gelbvieh regret not getting the oppor-
Feeder Profit Index bases its tunity to use even more evolv-
numbers on feedlot perfor- ing selection tools.
mance and carcass merit. You “One thing I could have
can use those indexes instead gotten more into was DNA,”
of all the traits individually to Harriman said. “I did some
simplify your selection. But, if for all the traits, but only did
you want more emphasis on, it on some bulls that I was
say ribeye and marbling, you interested in keeping as nat-
can go back to each of those ural service bulls. The DNA
traits and put more pressure is something that they now
on any one.” have enough proof on differ-
As Harriman aims toward ent traits that it will certainly
a graceful exit from years of aid in selection of genetics.”
analyzing the data and long Let Them Eat Steak...More
days of herd management, he
and his loving partner Mar- Efficiently
“EPDs was a big improve-
guerite are looking forward to
ment in our ability to select