In this episode of Behind the Beef, Madison and Becky discuss why consistency is just as vital as accuracy when it comes to cattle data. Becky shares insights from a recent ultrasound training session, explaining how even minor variations in technique can lead to significant reranking of an entire contemporary group.

Key Takeaways:

• The Difference Between Accuracy and Consistency: While being accurate ensures a measurement is correct, being consistent ensures that every animal in a group is measured using the exact same standard.

• The Impact of Variable Measuring: Becky uses ribeye area as an example. If a technician isn't perfectly parallel with the ribs for every animal, a high-performing bull could mistakenly rank lower than its peers.

• Standardizing Human Input: Subjective scores (like udder, foot, and body condition scores) are prone to personal bias. To minimize this, the same person should score the entire group on the same day.

• Equipment Maintenance: Factors like dirty weigh bars under scales or failing to "zero out" digital scales can create "environmental noise" that masks true genetic differences.

• Best Practices for Producers:

  • Use typed forms with IDs already listed in order to avoid handwriting errors.

  • Maintain a clean, consistent environment (good lighting, solid surfaces) for scoring.

  • Focus on the outcome rather than just falling into a rhythmic process, which can lead to oversight.

By prioritizing consistency, producers provide the most reliable information possible to their breed associations, resulting in more stable and trustworthy EPDs.

Connect with Us:

• Website: ultrainsights.com

• Socials: Follow @UltraInsights on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

• Questions? Email us at ui@ultrainsights.com

In the second installment of the two-part series reviewing their trip to the United Kingdom, Madison joins Becky and Cody as they reflect on their time in the UK. The discussion centers on the innovative agricultural facilities, grazing management, and global environmental pressures facing the cattle industry today.

Key Highlights:

• The Kilkenny Mart Experience: Cody describes the Kilkenny Mart as "revolutionary". He highlights its cleanliness, the use of galvanized steel pens and grooved concrete floors, and its role as a "one-stop shop" for farmers—complete with accountants, lawyers, farm stores, and even a white-tablecloth restaurant.

• Technological Integration: The Kilkenny Mart features an app allowing for real-time bidding, creating a seamless experience for both in-person and "discreet" online buyers.

• Intensive Grazing Management: During a visit to Clonagh Pedigree Herds, the team observed a highly intensive rotational grazing program where cattle are given roughly 30 yards of fresh, nutrient-rich forage daily.

• Global Environmental Pressures: Cody discusses how UK producers are nearly 20 years ahead of the US in dealing with government and public pressure regarding methane emissions and environmental sustainability.

• • A New Yield Equation: The team reflects on the superior muscling and "yield grade" focus of UK cattle, suggesting that US producers might eventually look to European genetics to improve domestic yield efficiency.

  
  

  Links to References:

• • Kilkenny Mart: Official Website

  • Clonagh Pedigree Herds: Official Website

• Connect with Us:

• • Website: ultrainsights.com

  • Socials: Follow @UltraInsights on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

  • Questions? Email us at ui@ultrainsights.com

In this episode of Behind the Beef, Madison sits down with Becky and Cody Hayes to review their recent educational trip to the United Kingdom. The conversation explores the cultural and agricultural differences between the UK and the US, providing a fresh perspective on global livestock production.

Key Highlights:

• A Different Approach to Breeding: Cody discusses the massive frame and muscling of UK cattle, noting that three-year-old cows often weigh over a ton.

• Efficiency and Climate: Learn how the wet, high-forage environment allows UK producers to run as many as one cow per acre annually.

• The Art of the Show: A look at the unique traditions of UK livestock shows, including exhibitors wearing white "meat lab" coats and the specific "rounded" grooming styles used for animals.

• Bridging the Gap: The team visits HW Nethercon Angus in Scotland, which utilizes genetics from the US and Australia to produce cattle more similar to the "easier-fleshing" American style.

• Livestock Judging UK Style: Cody shares the fast-paced challenges of judging overseas, where students are given only five minutes per class and permitted to read notes during reasons.

• Scenic Landscapes: From the historic cobblestone streets of Edinburgh to the "Highland Purple" flowers that inspired the Lindsay Family Plaid, the group reflects on the deep history and beauty of the region.

This episode is the first of a two-part series. Join us next week for Part 2 as we continue our review of the UK agricultural landscape!

Links to References:

• HW Nethercon Angus: https://www.facebook.com/hwangusUK/

• St. Andrews Golf Course: https://thestandrewsgolfclub.co.uk/

• Edinburgh Castle: https://www.edinburghcastle.scot/

• Highland Show: https://www.royalhighlandshow.org/

  Charleville Show: https://www.charlevilleshow.com/

Connect with Us:

• Website: ultrainsights.com

• Socials: Follow @UltraInsights on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

• Questions? Email us at ui@ultrainsights.com

In this episode of Behind the Beef, hosts Madison and Becky dive into the essential world of cattle data and the importance of data management for cattle operations. They provide a clear breakdown of industry terminology, explaining complex concepts like EPDs (Expected Progeny Differences), indexes, and contemporary groups in a way that is accessible to everyone from seasoned ranchers to those just curious about the beef industry.

What's in this Episode:

• The Mission of Data Management: Learn how professional data services can alleviate the stress of record-keeping for busy ranchers, covering everything from birth weights to weaning and yearling data.

• Terminology Deep Dive: Madison and Becky explain why EPDs are more meaningful than visual appraisal or scale weight alone when making selection and culling decisions.

• Optimizing Data Use: Discover why bigger is not always better and why optimizing traits for your specific environment is more crucial than maximizing them.

• The Role of Ultrasound: Understand how ultrasound data fits into the larger picture of genetic evaluation and how it helps provide a more complete look at an animal’s potential.

• Long-Term Benefits: Madison and Becky discuss how consistent data collection over time helps identify trends and improve the overall efficiency and profitability of a herd.

Whether you are managing a small family farm or a large-scale operation, this episode offers valuable insights into moving from simple data collection to making informed, data-driven decisions for your cattle business.

Connect with Behind the Beef:

• Website: ultrainsights.com

• Social Media: Follow @UltraInsights on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

• Questions? Contact the team at ui@ultrainsights.com or data@ultrainsights.com

This fourth episode of Behind the Beef, titled "Growing up with UltraInsights," moves beyond technical data to explore the heart of a multigenerational family business. Madison sits down with Becky and her daughter, Lindsay Allen, to share stories of raising children in the cattle industry and the unique dynamics of working alongside family

• Life on the Chute Side: Lindsay shares her earliest memories of the ranch, including being buckled into a car seat at two weeks old while her parents synchronized cows for AI.

• • The "Business Call" Rule: A humorous look at the boundaries set in a home-office environment, where even the youngest children knew to go silent the moment a professional call began.

• • The Evolution of Responsibility: How chores evolved from bottle-feeding calves to taking over major operational roles like running the hydraulic chute by age eight.

  • Lessons in Work Ethic: Becky reflects on her attempt at formal "family business meetings" (complete with pizza and agendas) and why, even when they "failed," they taught the importance of communication and persistence.

  • Integration of Play and Work: Stories of "Old West" adventures in the pasture and playing "Little House on the Prairie" while moving cattle, showing how ranch life blends imagination with reality.

  • Choosing the Lifestyle: Lindsay discusses why she chose to stay in the family business after college, citing the value of close-knit relationships and the "work-life blur" that makes ranching more of a passion than a 9-to-5 job.

  This episode is a tribute to the next generation of producers and a guide for families looking to balance the demands of a business with the joys of raising a family in agriculture.

  Connect with us:

  • Website: ultrainsights.com

  • Socials: Follow @UltraInsights on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

  • Questions? Email us at ui@ultrainsights.com

In this third episode of Behind the Beef, Madison and Becky tackle a common question from producers: "Is a 13-inch ribeye good or bad?". They use this as a starting point to explain why actual raw numbers matter less than how an animal compares to its "contemporary group".

• The "It Depends" Rule: Why a 13-inch ribeye might be poor for a group of heavy bulls but excellent for a group of young heifers.

• Contemporary Grouping: An in-depth look at the "backbone of EPDs". Learn how animals are grouped by the same calving season, sex, and management history to ensure fair genetic comparisons.

• Understanding Ratios: A breakdown of how data progresses from an actual measurement to an adjusted value (standardizing for age), and finally to a ratio.

  • The 100 Baseline: Learn why a ratio of 100 represents the group average, while numbers above or below 100 show how much better or worse an animal performed relative to its peers.

• Actuals vs. Genetics: Why you should never compare your raw data to a neighbor's. Becky explains how environmental factors like creep feeding or specialized show diets can inflate actual numbers without changing the underlying genetics.

• The Accuracy Mission: A reminder that while seedstock producers should strive for the "best" data, commercial cattlemen should focus on accurate data that improves the long-term genetic potential of their herd.

Whether you are looking at weaning weights or ultrasound carcass traits, this episode emphasizes that the most valuable data is that which removes environmental "noise" to reveal true genetic value.

Connect with us:

• Website: ultrainsights.com

• Socials: Follow @UltraInsights on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

• Questions? Email us at ui@ultrainsights.com

In this second episode of Behind the Beef, Madison and Becky break down the fundamentals of Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs). Aimed at both newcomers and experienced producers, this conversation treats EPDs as the "dribbling and passing" of cattle data - essential skills to master before diving into complex management plays.

• What is an EPD?: A look at the high-level data used to predict an animal's genetic potential.

• The Three Building Blocks: Discover how EPDs are generated using pedigree connectivity, performance data (weights and measures), and modern DNA technology.

• The Power of Accuracy: Understand the decimal-based accuracy scale (0 to 1.0) and why higher accuracy provides more confidence for critical breeding decisions, such as selecting bulls for heifers.

• Balancing Multiple Traits: Learn how to use Economic Indexes (like $B or API) to weigh multiple EPDs simultaneously, helping you meet long-term herd goals without getting lost in the numbers.

• Common Pitfalls: Why you shouldn't compare EPDs across different breed databases and how to use percentile rankings to see how an animal stacks up against the industry average.

Whether you're a seedstock producer or a commercial cattleman, this episode provides a clear starting point for using genetic data to improve your bottom line.

Connect with us:

• Website: ultrainsights.com

• Socials: Follow @UltraInsights on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

• Questions? Email us at ui@ultrainsights.com