First Line Angus: Finding their niche in the seedstock industry with AgSights’ performance testing

Brian Whitwell along with daughter Kasey operate First Line Angus, where together they raise registered Black Angus cattle in Hagersville, Ontario.

A herd built on strong performance data, carcass information and EPD’s, First Line Angus has found their niche in the seedstock industry that keeps their buyers coming back for bulls and replacements year after year.

How it Began

Raised on a mixed dairy farm just south of Hamilton, it was during the summer of 1972 when Brian was first introduced to AgSights’ (formerly BIO) Bull and Heifer Evaluation program. “My dad sold the farm in 1972 and I began working after school and during summers down the road at Burton Griffith and his son Brian’s Angus and 500-head feedlot. It was there that I was first introduced to the Performance Testing Program that was at that time hosted at the University of Guelph’s Arkell Research Station”, Brian remembers.

“The Griffiths impressed upon me the importance of capturing as much data from the cattle to try to be efficient and profitable as the results would be seen in the feedlot.” With this concept in mind, Brian eagerly put the Griffith’s successful feedlot data collection program to motion in his own herd and hasn’t looked back!

 

Looks May Deceive

Brian is a long-time believer in the benefits one can gain from bull and heifer evaluation and using all the tools at hand when it comes to retaining genetics in a herd. “A few years back I ignored my instincts and used a tremendous phenotypically correct bull with great carcass numbers but a small scrotal number and when it came to end of test weighing every one of his sons had the smallest testicles – lesson learned!”

 

Performance testing and carcass ultrasound data only strengthens a breeder’s understanding of the growth capabilities of an animal, provides under-the-hide carcass information and strengthens breed EPD’s. The information received goes beyond that for Brian – “About five years ago we had two sire groups on test and when they stood side by side at the bunk, bull A’s group were all wider topped and slightly more muscled than bull B’s. When we scanned them at the end of the test every one of bull B’s progeny had a bigger ribeye and a higher IMF score than bull A’s offspring and there were bull buyers that spring that were amazed when evaluating them for their herds.”

The information received has been instrumental in helping him confidently offer the right bull to meet his buyers needs time and time again.

 

A True Testament to Their Efforts

Receiving performance report data every 28 days is a useful bargaining tool with bull buyers for Brian. With results posted online through the AgSights website they gain more exposure making them strive to have the best numbers when comparing to other animal groups on test.

“Testing our cattle gives us a better understanding of our herd, that we are moving in the right direction and the confidence that the bulls we sell achieve that. It is so rewarding when we get feedback from the customer that they are reaping benefits in more dollars of beef because of years of being part of the AgSights program” says Brian.