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INCREASING The Midwest Cattleman · September 15, 2022 · P34
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high. Numbers like that just accountable, especially the breed’s credit, Martin has $1,575, so you look at that,
fuel Martin’s fire. seedstock industry. a 7-year-old bull still on his that’s a $775 delta. You’re
“That shows you,” says “I’ve got these higher end place. giving away all and more of
Martin, “I don’t have the marbling bulls, and they bet- Female Factor your grading profit.”
marbling that I needed back ter produce that higher end Martin isn’t naive. He The problem is Martin
then to get those good-graded marbling calf or I’m going to knows his cows play a role knows nothing about his new
carcasses. But on the other go back and say, ‘Hey Charo- in his marbling conundrum. heifers from a genetic stand-
hand, I have a lot of pounds. I lais folks, I don’t believe your However, his credence in point.
have a big steer. I’m trying to EPD data. It doesn’t pan out knowing his numbers has Martin says he prefers an
balance that with more mar- in a commercial environ- shown he must be careful in F1 cross black baldie heifer,
bling.” ment.’” his heifer selection. Martin but he operates on economics
By using EPDs, parent- However, Martin admits openly admits his replace- not preference.
age testing and carcass data, he has proven the gain EPDs ment heifer selection pro- “I found plenty of heif-
Martin is running a private- from the Charolais seed- gram is failing. As nice as ers for $1,800-$1,850 that
ly-funded scientific study on stock industry and this year quality beef premiums are, are black baldies that I like,
the usefulness of EPDs in weaned calves weighing 690 it’s a delicate economic bal- but I like an Angus heifer at
a commercial environment pounds. ance to buy replacement heif- $1,575 better than an F1 at
with real money on the line. Martin says he will not ers with known EPDs. $1,850.”
“Mainly what I’ve done is I compromise a sturdy, strong When recently shopping For now, he will rely on his
have proven that EPDs work bull for high quality beef. He for heifers, Martin tells, “I Charolais bulls to accelerate
in a commercial environ- wants both. found three sets of heifers. the marbling potential in his
ment,” he states. “I can tell He describes his range as I loved them. I loved their terminal calves and you can
you that 70-80 percent of my “rough territory.” He graz- EPDs. They were good look- bet he will continue to keep a
calves follow the EPD of that es cattle on 13,000 acres of ing heifers, and I bid on record of all progress.
bull.” steep hills, rocks and can- them. I couldn’t buy them.
Because Martin has the yons, and hot weather. They went for $2,350. I came
data behind, in front and “I need a really durable back to Texas, and I bought
around him, he holds every- bull,” he says. two truckloads of heifers
one in the production chain But to the Charolais delivered to the ranch for

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