Here’s What’s Going On!
by Dave Steen

Summer is upon us and this is a great time to sit back and reflect on the previous year’s business and create new plans or ideas for the coming fall and winter. Having the opportunity to visit with many producers about the Maine-Anjou breed is exciting - the interest in our cattle is extremely high. Here’s what’s going on:
AMAA National Maine-Anjou Influenced Steer Feeding Trial
This year’s trial has just ended with outstanding results. There were 203 steers entered from 25 consignors in nine states. The steers had an average live weight of 1,252 lbs., graded 65 percent Prime and Choice, had an average ribeye area of 13.01 inches, average backfat of .35 inches and an average yield grade of 2.76. The steers earned an average premium of $7.35/cwt for an additional premium of $57.99 per head.
That is a total added value of $11,598.30 on 200 steers. All steers were harvested in three groups at PM Beef Group, Windom, Minn., using their Ranch to Retail Grid. This was an impressive set of steers from a quality and cutability standpoint and their health was excellent with only a 0.985 percent death loss. Two head were lost from respiratory problems and one steer harvested early due to a hip injury. Dr. Duane Wulf, Associate Professor of Animal and Range Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, S.D., will rank the final placings and contest winners. As of press time, I have not yet received a closeout on the steers. I will give a complete report, including contest winners, in the October issue of the Maine-Anjou Voice.
Thank you to the producers, breeders and everyone that helped to make this trial a special event. This was a high quality group of steers that were representative of the Maine-Anjou breed. The results of this trial will aid producers in placing the needed selection pressure on the traits needing improvement.
The Third Annual AMAA National Maine-Anjou Influenced Feeding Trial will be held again this year at Peterson Farms Inc., Ord, Neb. Delivery date will be Oct. 27 and 28, 2004, and will include, for the first time, heifers with steers. All calves will be entered in groups of five head. Everyone is invited to enter and I encourage breeders and producers interested in obtaining this individual carcass data to give consideration to entering your groups by sires. If interested, please call Dave at (515) 201-3281. Please help the Maine-Anjou association make the Maine-Anjou breed the talk of the beef industry!

Something New!!!
www.breedingcattlepage.com
Recently we have developed three new links to this Web site for the benefit of Maine-Anjou producers to sell your cattle. Thanks to Ed Tlach of EDJE Technologies, Indianola, Iowa, for developing and designing these Web sites. These sites enable producers with Maine-Anjou cattle to advertise their livestock for sale for FREE.

o Maine-Anjou Feeder Cattle (www.maineanjoufeeders.com) - Advertise your feeder
cattle if you are selling privately, in a sale barn or video auction.

o Registered Maine-Anjou Bulls (www.maineanjoufeeders.com) - Advertise your
Registered Maine-Anjou bulls for sale.

o Maine-Anjou Females (www.maineanjoufeeders.com) - List females you have for sale,
from commercial cows bred to Maine-Anjou bulls to high percentage females.
These sites are also linked to www.maine-anjou.org and the AMAA Voice at www.amavoice.com. To list your cattle, write up your ad and call Dave at (515) 201-3281 or email to steen@metc.net  or EDJE Technologies at office@edje.com. We request that once you have sold your livestock, please contact Dave so your listing can be removed from the Web site.

National Sire Evaluation
The National Maine-Anjou Sire Evaluation is entering its third year. This program is designed to provide carcass data with the highest degree of integrity and accuracy. Data from this evaluation will provide breeders with the first carcass EPDs in the Maine-Anjou breed. Bulls nominated to date that should receive carcass EPDs by January 2005 (pending progeny count) include:

To date, we have collected individual carcass data on approximately 250 head, which will be developed into carcass EPDs for the nominated sires. As the beef industry gathers more information about our end products, seedstock and commercial producers can learn more about their cattle by participating in programs such as the National Sire Evaluation. I encourage bull owners interested in testing their sires to please contact Dave at (515) 201-3281. Thank you to the producers that have tested or are testing your herd sires. The National Sire Evaluation will be a huge benefit to everyone involved as we collect the genetic data to further improve the Maine-Anjou breed.

Bovigen Solutions, L.L.C. (formerly Genetic Solutions “GeneSTAR”)
Bovigen Solutions, L.L.C. has purchased Genetic Solutions and is still based in Lafayette, Colo. Bovigen has lowered their prices and will continue to provide the same services as before:

If you would like a test kit, please contact Rhonda at the AMAA office (816) 431-9950, or contact
Bovigen L.L.C. at (877) BEEF-DNA or (720) 890-2832.
“GeneSTAR” Maine-Anjou Results
To date 91 Maine-Anjou bulls have been tested for tenderness and 82.4 percent of the bulls were 2 Star or higher! In feedlot trials, there was a 2.4 lb. reduction in shear force from 4 Star or 0 Star animals. This test identifies both “Calpastatin” and “Calpain” DNA markers.
Seventy-three bulls have been tested for GeneSTAR Marbling. Four head or 5.5 percent were 2 Star, 26 head or 35.6 percent were 1 Star, and 43 head or 59.0 percent were 0 Star. To date there is only one DNA marker for marbling (Thyroglobulin). This marker provides beef producers the opportunity to determine an animal’s potential for improved marbling more accurately and at an earlier age.
In independent trials on over 1,500 head, 2 Star animals produced 16 – 19 percent more Choice than 0 Star animals. Equally important was the effect that the proportion of carcasses qualifying for premium Quality Grades (21 percent vs. 10 percent) in 2 Star carcasses versus 0 Star (trial conducted by the National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium). To test we can use tail hair, thawed semen, blood or tissue. If interested, please call Rhonda at the AMAA office or Dave at (515) 201-3281.
These tenderness results further indicate the total value and genetic power of the Maine-Anjou breed. As breeders of Maine-Anjou cattle, it should be our responsibility to continue to identify sires having the genetic capability to produce cattle that marble well and deliver a tender product.
This is an updated overview of some of the programs available in the Maine-Anjou breed. This
information is both informative and exciting when evaluating our breed. With the challenges that lie ahead in the beef industry, we must continue to test and collect data. The success and growth in the Maine-Anjou breed rests on the collection of data and information to further identify the genetic lines with superior traits. Continue to build on your existing programs. The future is in your hands.

Breed with Direction!
Maines on the Move,
Dave Steen
AMAA Commercial Marketing Director