American Angus Hall of Fame

RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR BREED

April 16, 2009

Dear Angus Friends:

The new technology in DNA analysis of genetic defects has brought us to one of the most critical crossroads our breed has seen in its 136 year history on this continent. It is important that all Angus breeders and the commercial cattlemen who are the lifeblood of our business, recognize this factual new information for what it is, discard the rumors and hysteria that currently surround it, and challenge ourselves to utilize it in the most efficient way possible to help fulfill our responsibility to improve our breed for the betterment of the entire industry.

Genetics are timeless codes that are passed down from one generation to the next. Through the art and science of breeding, we are afforded the thrilling task of enhancing the genes of future generations to produce better animals. Part of this involves assessing and dealing with the undesirable traits and genetic defects that we encounter. In doing this, it is crucial that we use the tools available to turn obstacles into opportunities. In order to continue to thrive, we believe that we must all do the following:

* Accept seedstock with carrier pedigrees that have a negative DNA test as viable building blocks for the future of our breed.

* Break the chain of spreading unsubstantiated rumors that fuel panic and leads to the erosion of the public perception and value of our breed.

* Reconsider rules to allow future carrier females of some or all recessives to be registered in an effort to help salvage superior genetics, financial investments and breeder livelihoods.

* Embrace the validated findings made available to us through the research community and stand in support of the decisions made by our Board of Directors of the American Angus Association.

It is important that we keep things in perspective and realize that recessive defects rarely produce significant economic losses, especially now that we are gaining the improved technology to deal with them. In stark contrast, there are a multitude of phenotypic traits that cattlemen routinely cull for to maintain and improve the functionality and profitability of their herds. Science tells us that virtually every living being on the planet have some forms of genetic defects, most of which never surface. With the mapped bovine genome, we know that research will continue to find more. It is our choice as to how we react to them. In the dwarfism era of the 1950s, little could be done other than to virtually eradicate a bloodline. Fortunately, today, the outlook is far brighter. As responsible breeders, we can and must limit the repercussions we face through a positive and balanced approach based on proven fact and rational thinking.

Sincerely,

Tom Burke
(816) 853-2697

Kurt Schaff
(816) 520-6447

Jeremy Haag
(816) 516-1309

Rance Long
(918) 510-3464

Hugh Ross
(403) 318-2196