COMMERCIAL ACCEPTANCE -
The Maine-Anjou Breed is Off and Running!

by Kyla Nesheim,
editor/director of communications

Is the Maine-Anjou breed readily accepted in today’s commercial cattle industry? Maine-Anjou genetics can be found in a vast majority of the commercial sector. From the cows in the pasture to the steers in the feedlots, Maine-Anjou influenced cattle are everywhere. The breed has traveled a long way commercially throughout the years. Some of the best producing females, bulls and steers in the commercial cattle industry have Maine-Anjou influence running through their blood.
The American Maine-Anjou Association’s (AMAA) Commercial Marketing Director, Dave Steen, has taken the Maine-Anjou breed to new heights within the commercial industry. He has put forth time and effort to start two prestigious tests within the breed -the National Maine-Anjou Influenced Steer Feeding Trial and the National Sire Test. Both these tests can show the true power behind Maine-Anjou genetics.
Steer Feeding Trial
The 2nd Annual AMAA Maine-Anjou Influenced Steer Feeding Trial was recently held with outstanding results -the Maine-Anjou breed is thriving. This feeding trial allows the Maine-Anjou breed to gain publicity within the commercial industry. When a cattleman sees, good numbers that a breed is capable of producing in writing, their instinct is to use that breed in their programs. Through this feeding trial, the Maine-Anjou breed can showcase their overall performance. Numbers are compiled on Maine-Anjou influenced steers and publicized to the commercial industry. In this way, the Maine-Anjou breed can be compared to other breeds when dealing with performance and numbers in the feedlot.
Commercial cattlemen want  to see the actual numbers a breed is capable of producing. They want scientific data to be shown as to why they should choose the Maine-Anjou breed; the steer feeding trial has done just that. It gets numbers out to the public on how Maine-Anjou influenced steers can and do perform. With these results, the Maine-Anjou breed can offer high profit potential - a goal every commercial cattleman is trying to meet.
The 3rd Annual AMAA National Maine-Anjou Influenced Feeding Trial will soon be underway. In this year’s trial, heifers will be allowed in the test. Contact Dave at (515) 201-3281 if you are interested in entering.
National Sire Test
The National Sire Test is in its second year of collecting data. The National Sire Test gives producers the  opportunity to develop carcass EPDs within the Maine-Anjou breed. The sire test is the beginning to carcass EPDs within the Maine-Anjou breed. I recently visited Truline Maines, Richards, Mo., where commercial acceptability is a way of life. All Maine-Anjou cattle at Truline Maines are focused toward the commercial cattle industry. After visiting with Everett Forkner, owner/operator of Truline Maines, I realized the Maine-Anjou breed has came a long way. If the breed continues to have supporters like Forkner believing in the commercial acceptability of Maine-Anjou cattle, the breed is in great shape. The Maine-Anjou breed has brought commercial success to Truline Maines. Forkner has promoted his bulls to the commercial cattle industry and used them on his own herd of commercial Maine-cross cows to reach accomplishments he has worked hard to achieve.
I believe experiences with Maine-Anjou genetics in commercial programs have been satisfactory. Maine-Anjou cattle bring wonderful performance to all aspects of the commercial cattle industry. For those of you who haven’t experienced Maine-Anjou genetics in your commercial programs, I suggest you do. See first hand what the Maine-Anjou breed has to offer - you’ll be satisfied. Maine-Anjou genetics are off and running and have the ability to excel in the commercial cattle industry.