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Tom Zone 2151 Cotten Road Sanford, NC 27330 Home: (919) 775-7507 Cell: (919) 770-5544 Email: skyking@windstream.net |
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To provide powerful performance females that will become foundation families for purebred and commercial producers. We do this through the exclusive use of proven AI sires on Top Quality cows that rank in the top third of the Angus breed for growth traits. We are totally focused on females. |
To some they are a mystery, to others they are an invaluable tool for measuring the worth of an animal compared to another. To the beef producer who is managing the business for maximum profit, the use of EPDS in the selection and marketing of cattle is indispensable. If you are the least bit uncomfortable in working with EPDS or need assistance in learning more, please let us help you to be able to make informed decisions. A wise man once said that if you don't measure it you can't manage it. EPDs are the cattle measurement tool.
In my business career, which includes over 50 years of raising Registered Angus cattle, I formulated a four step continuous improvement procedure to guide my decision making processes. The steps work for any business decision but applied to the raising of beef cattle, it works like this.
1 COLLECT THE DATA (Birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weight, Milk and $ Beef EPDs). Without data you can't analyze anything or make informed decisions! The more data you collect and the higher the accuracy of the data, the higher the probability of making the right decision. Fortunately there is an abundance of highly accurate data readily available to the buyer of Registered Angus cattle.
2 ANALYZE THE DATA What traits need improving in my herd? Where does the prospective animal rank in the breed for the traits selected? How does the prospective animal compare to another? If I am selling my calves at weaning time and wanting to maximize weaning weights, I would look very strongly at the Weaning Weight EPDS of the animals I was considering. When selecting a bull, I would also look at birth weight EPDs at the same time to insure that the animal will fit with the age and type of animals intended to be bred.
3 TAKE ACTION Make a change big enough to make a difference! Select an animal with the highest EPDs for the traits that you want to improve. Because of the lengthy time before you will see results, (you won't be able to get weaning weights on calves for 17 months from conception), taking small steps in pursuit of your goal will take too long. Buy the very best genetics you can afford and breed up from there rather than trying to catch up. Due to the use of EPDs, artificial breeding to proven sires, and embryo transplant the rate of improvement in Angus genetics is extremely rapid. Small steps will prevent your herd from keeping pace with the advancement of the breed.
RETURN TO STEP 1 Now the fun begins! Measure the change. Collect the data on the calves. (Birth weight, weaning weight etc.) Analyze the data. Did I see the expected improvement in my weaning weights? How much? Where do I need to go from here?
| Cow Herd | BW | WW | Milk | YW | $B |
| Breed Average | 2.2 | 42 | 20 | 76 | 48.58 |
| Sky King Ranch Avg | 1.86 | 51.3 | 26.8 | 95.2 | 64.5 |
| Percentile | 40 | 12 | 17 | 10 | 12 |
| Non Parent Cows | BW | WW | Milk | YW | $B |
| Breed Average | 1.8 | 47 | 22 | 86 | 58 |
| Sky King Ranch Avg | 1.68 | 57.40 | 29.90 | 104.00 | 70.60 |
| Percentile | 45 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 10 |
IF YOU WANT THE BEST IN GROWTH GENETICS, LOOK NO FURTHER!
 LPH Blackcap 808 is truly one of the elite cows in the breed. Her yearling weight EPD places her in the top 1% of the angus breed. Her weaning weight EPD and $B rank her in the top 2%. She demonstrates exceptional capacity and udder quality. She is the complete angus female. Come take a look at this gem and her heifer calf.
As of 04/19/2012
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 Here is an extremely powerful, beautifully proportioned, straight bred GAR female. 9310 is a docile, young, productive daughter of GAR New Design 5050 out of a Retail Product dam. Her dam traces back to the incomparable GAR Precision 2536. She ranks in the top 1% of the breed for Milk and docility. She ranks in the top 2% of the breed for each of the economically important traits of Weaning weight, Yearling weight and $B. She does all this with a below average Birth Weight EPD. Her nickname is "Full House"( pair of aces and 3 deuces). Outstanding pedigree and outstanding performance! A perfect combination! Come see her and her heifer calf sired by Objective.
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 This young Objective daughter out of a GAR Predestined dam is a true chart topper and breed leader. She ranks ABOVE the top 1% of the breed for both Weaning weight and Yearling weight epds. She is in the top 4 % for $B. With her performance and carcass numbers, impressive structure and phenotype the news is all good. Come take a look for yourself.
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 This docile young GAR New Design 5050 daughter offers endless breeding opportunities. G 290 is well deserving of the accolade of "curve bender". With a negative BW epd and a YW epd of over 100, her spread epitomizes the term. In addition she is in the top 4 % of the breed for $B. You have to admire her thickness and capacity as well. Growth, carcass, docility and eye appeal, she puts it all together in an impressive package. Stop in and take a good long look at this outstanding foundation female.
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 This very impressive Objective daughter out of a GAR Predestined dam is in the top 4 % of the breed for Weaning weight, Yearling weight and $B. She combines these breed leading growth and carcass traits with feminity and eye appeal that make her a truly superior female. She exemplifies the type of cow that deserves the label – Foundation Female. Drop in to see her.
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WITH THESE FANTASTIC FEMALES
The Sky King Ranch Office