A Deeper Dive
Here are three Angus at Work episodes focused on females and data management.
August 25, 2026
The core of a cow-calf operation centers around the females who bring calves — whether commercial or purebred — into the world and nurture them to weaning. While getting calves on the ground is critical to a profitable operation, intensive management and making the most of data collected could mean the difference between profit and loss.
Our theme for this edition of the Angus Beef Bulletin focuses on replacement females and data management. Here are a handful of Angus at Work episodes targeting topics worth considering back at home.
Did you know that developing replacement females to be long-lasting contributors to your herd begins well before weaning?
On this episode, Angus Beef Bulletin Editor Shauna Hermel visits with Lee Jones of Boehringer Ingelheim to discuss successful heifer development strategies and why considering protocols well in advance of weaning is advantageous for cattlemen, whether purchasing or developing their own replacements. They discuss the building blocks of heifer development, the definition of fetal programming and how careful development of heifers can have far-reaching results.
“So it’s really important to understand what kind of herd health program that they’ve already been on. Hopefully that information is available from the seller. If it’s not, then you’re going to have to try to do transition work … because ultimately you want these cattle as part of your herd.” — Lee Jones
Freedom, being outdoors, a love of animals, family legacy and a million other things could be the reasons cattle producers love the cattle business. One thing that probably didn’t tempt them into the livestock industry? Recordkeeping.
While keeping records isn’t the most fun task on your operation, the insights gleaned from data collection and herd management could mean the difference between making it or calling it quits on your dreams of ranching.
On this episode of Angus at Work, our team visits with Gabe Wight, founder of herd management platform Herd Advisor, regarding the importance of recordkeeping, where to start and why easy-to-use management software is a solid investment for commercial cattlemen.
“On one side, if you’re not going to use the records, don’t worry about it. I know a lot of people that keep records, [but] they’ll never look back at them, and those records are just wasted effort. However, in my experience, the records make such a difference in profitability and to be able to make decisions.” — Gabe Wight
It would be nice to know you’re making the right decisions, but there’s always risk. Usually, only hindsight tells us whether it was the right decision or not. However, in making genetic selection decisions, there are tools from the American Angus Association that are designed to help.
The Association’s Performance Programs Department helps take large datasets and turn them into usable information to help move your operation forward.
On this episode, the Angus Beef Bulletin team chats with Esther Tarpoff, director of Performance Programs, about how the Performance Programs department is relevant to commercial cattlemen, how phenotypic data adds accuracy to genetic selection tools, how recordkeeping helps save you money, how to find high-performing maternal genetics and questions you should ask your seedstock supplier.
“Thinking about these genetic selection tools, the whole purpose of them is to be able to select for the next generation. We want to do that with as much accuracy as what we can, and also really with as little risk as what we can. And those two kind of go hand in hand, right?” — Esther Tarpoff
Listen in for answers straight from the experts
The Angus at Work podcast carries news and information on health, nutrition, genetics, marketing and management. Get your information straight from the source as we talk to technical experts, American Angus Association staff and fellow cattlemen about topics pertinent to your bottom line.
Recent episodes include:
Topics: Business , Feedstuffs , Female Foundations , Management , Pasture and Forage , Record Keeping
Publication: Angus Beef Bulletin
Issue: September 2026
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Current Angus Beef Bulletin
Our September issue focuses on the females of the herd and the records that validate them.
