by Scott Trennepohl, Eastern Region
I hope this finds you all well.
Calving and bull sale season is in full swing, meaning we are all operating with less sleep and more stress. May I remind you to not sweat the small stuff — enjoy your family, be amazed by the good works that are all around us, and most importantly, trust in God’s plan.
The major show season has come to a close, and our SimGenetics shone in every venue across the nation — supreme champions at several Majors represented our breed. Congrats to all!
Progress in the beef industry rarely happens by chance. It is the result of intentional investment, collaboration, and a commitment to continually improving the tools that help producers make better decisions. That commitment remains a central focus for the American Simmental Association as we work to ensure SimGenetics continues to deliver real-world value for both seedstock and commercial cattle producers. Under the new leadership of Dr. Jon DeClerck, I’m confident that our adherence to our mission statement and core values will not waver!
One of the clearest examples of this progress is the continued advancement of our genetic evaluations. ASA has introduced new and impactful traits such as $Gain, Dry Matter Intake (DMI), Cow Energy Requirement (CER), and Mature Weight (MW). These additions reflect the evolving needs of today’s cattle industry, where efficiency, performance, and long-term cow herd sustainability all play critical roles in profitability. At the same time, improvements to the calving ease model have increased evaluation accuracy by approximately 12%. Enhancements like these ensure breeders have access to more reliable, more powerful data when making selection decisions. It is our responsibility as breeders to make our customers aware of these changes and how to incorporate them into their programs.
Just as important as the traits themselves is the collaborative system that powers them. Through the International Genetic Solutions partnership, ASA continues to keep SimGenetics at the center of commercial profitability. IGS now represents 25 organizations and more than 24 million cattle, creating one of the largest and most comprehensive multi-breed genetic evaluation systems in the world. This scale allows us to generate highly accurate predictions, while maintaining the flexibility and innovation needed to serve a rapidly evolving beef industry. For our members, it means access to some of the most powerful genetic tools available anywhere in the business.
Equally important to these technological advancements is the continued investment in people. The strength of any organization ultimately lies in the individuals who carry out its mission. ASA has been focused on strengthening our team, while expanding outreach and educational opportunities that better serve breeders across the country. The leadership and expertise of team members like Dr. Ben Crites and Dr. Elizabeth Dressler have played an important role in advancing these efforts. Their work helps ensure that members not only have access to cuttingedge tools but also understand how to apply them effectively in their own programs.
Looking ahead, the Association continues to build momentum for the next phase of growth. A key step in that direction is the recent hiring of Dr. Zuleica Trujano as a new member of the IGS team. Expanding the genetic evaluation team will help accelerate genetic progress, while also supporting the development of additional traits that reflect the economic realities of modern beef production.
The cattle industry continues to evolve, and the expectations placed on seedstock genetics continue to grow. By investing in research, collaboration, and people, the American Simmental Association is well positioned to meet those expectations. Our goal remains simple: to provide members with the tools, information, and support they need to make SimGenetics an engine of profitability for commercial cattle producers across the country.
As elected Trustees to represent you, please never hesitate to reach out to any one of us. STAND STRONG SIMMENTAL! .
