Local Angus breeder recognized nationally

Ritzville Angus Ranch has been recognized nationally by the American Angus Association for having two registered Angus cows included in the Association’s 2013 Pathfinder Report.

Only 1,992 of the more than 25,000 American Angus Association members are represented in this year’s report, according to Bill Bowman, chief operating officer and director of performance programs of the Association with headquarters in Saint Joseph, Mo.

The Pathfinder program identifies superior Angus cows based upon recorded performance traits economically important to efficient beef production. These traits include early and regular calving and heavy weaning weights, Bowman says.

Over two million eligible dams with more than 6.8 million weaning records were examined to determine Pathfinder status. All registered Angus cows that meet the strict Pathfinder standards are listed, along with their owners, in the Pathfinder Report that is published annually by the Association.

The 2013 Pathfinder Report lists 8,680 individual cows and 234 Pathfinder sires. It is published online at http://www.angus.org, and printed copies are available from the Association. The largest number of Pathfinder cows from a single herd this year is 96.

Started in 1978, the Pathfinder Program continues to recognize outstanding breeders participating in the Angus Herd Improvement Records (AHIR) Program.