REDFIELD, Iowa (DTN) -- At Copeland & Sons they have been keeping performance records on the herd since before the American Hereford Association started its records program.

Copeland & Sons Herefords in Nara Visa, New Mexico, is participating in DTN's View From the Range series, where DTN will follow a year at the ranch to give readers an inside look at how the ranch operates and cares for its animals.

This segment in the series looks at how they have used performance records throughout the years to monitor progress in the cattle.

DATA COLLECTION STARTED DECADES AGO

"My dad started collecting basic performance weights in the late 1950s," said Cliff Copeland. "We started participating in total performance records when they became available with the American Hereford Association in the 1960s."

The Copelands use performance data as a tool to measure progress in their herd and to continue to move forward with their genetics. According to the American Hereford Association (AHA), the Total Performance Records program started in 1964 following the guidelines set by the American Polled Hereford Association the previous year to determine herd improvement.

"We took birth weight, weaning weight and yearling weight on cattle from when people thought it was important and prior to that we kept notes on cattle," said Cliff.

The notes continue to this day, keeping track of udder scores, disposition and feet problems. "These cows have to be able to take care of their calves without problems, especially when they are out on the range," said Alyssa Copeland, Cliff's daughter-in-law.

This information is also used when it comes to making culling decisions in the cow herd. Not just the problem animals have a notation; those doing a good job do as well. Cows that have calves and survive for 10 or more years have genetic and phenotypic traits the Copelands want to continue to replicate in both their registered herd and commercial herd.

Within the past 20 years, they have collected ultrasound data on all bulls and heifers, including rib-eye area, fat thickness and marbling scores. This, plus all the weight data, is calculated by the AHA into expected progeny differences (EPDs) for use in making breeding decisions.

"We use all this data as a tool. It's not the only way we select animals, but is certainly a contributor and we also provide this information to our customers," Alyssa said.

The Copelands provide actual data, adjusted weights and EPDs on the animals in their sales. Genomic testing is also used in their herd. Alyssa said previously they would keep hair samples on the cattle since it would last for many years, but they plan to use tissue samples this year for testing the calves. "It's definitely easier to get a hair sample from a cow's tail even out in the pasture. Tissue samples have to be taken one of the two times they go through the chute in a year," she added.

In the past, they have waited to collect DNA on a cow until after she had her first calf to ensure her longevity in the herd, but Alyssa said it may be more cost effective in the long run for them to get those samples at weaning time.

DATA CAN DETERMINE LONGEVITY

One of the main reasons the Copelands record data on a cow is to determine if she is keeping up with her peers. Alyssa said there is sometimes an outside chance a cow is doing a good job raising a calf, but her EPDs are sub-par, which would be a reason she could be pushed from the registered herd to the commercial herd. Commercial calves are expected to perform, and some data is collected on those animals, but an outlier in one category can still maintain production on the commercial side.

Bulls from the registered herd are used on the commercial herd, which can lead to some difficult decisions according to Cliff. He, along with his son Matt -- Alyssa's husband -- will discuss which bulls need to be turned out with which group of cows to make the best calves. The commercial herd is somewhat of a test herd for performance prediction.

"We want our commercial calves to be able to perform and it gives us an advantage when selling bulls because we know what bloodlines work well in a commercial setting," Cliff explained. "We can discuss the success of these cattle with our customers who have commercial operations."

The main reason the Copelands say performance data is a tool in their herd selection is because none of the data considers weather or drought conditions. In their area of New Mexico, moisture is rarely at excess and range conditions can affect weights.

"Our weather isn't consistent. This year we may have an average weaning weight of 700 pounds on our calves, but next year it might be 600 pounds because of fewer feed resources," he explained. "We know why we have differences, and we are sure to mention that to all of our potential buyers."

DIFFICULT DECISIONS WITH BULLS

The difficult decisions also come when deciding which bulls will be on the bull sale and which will be retained for in-herd use. Cliff said this is also a group decision and the family discusses the pros and cons of keeping a bull versus selling. "We do want to be able to continue to provide top genetics for our customers, so we have to decide what ones stay and what ones are offered for sale and then we have to not second guess our decisions," he said.

They also feel it is important for customers to know what their health protocol is for the animals being sold and will provide that information as well.

"We know that having all this data for so many years has helped us find the right cows to keep in our herd," said Cliff. He's thankful for his dad's foresight to take notes and collect weights nearly 75 years ago, so to this day they know what to expect from the cattle, as do their customers.

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Editor's Note: To see previous stories in this series, go to:

-- "New Mexico Ranch Shares View From Range,"

https://www.dtnpf.com/…

-- "Copeland & Sons Herefords Raise Cattle to Provide for Family, Customers, Environment," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

-- "New Mexico Ranch Relies on Cows with Good Mothering Ability," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

Jennifer Carrico can be reached at jennifer.carrico@dtn.com

Follow her on social platform X @JennCattleGal

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