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| Brad Allen family |
The A+ operation began in the spring of 1995 with about 140 heifers and 50 cows from a premier herd in Oklahoma. The cattle were rich in Drake and Spur Ranch breeding. Goals were set by Brad, Nancy and Parker and the A+ Program of Excellence was underway. From that start, we continued to add high-quality females from programs in Texas and Oklahoma, as well as, the Thomas Angus Ranch, Baker City, Oregon, and Gardiners and Dickinsons of Kansas. The focus was on balanced EPDs, strong pedigrees and carcass genetics.
Early on the A+ program was able to identify and acquire some powerful donor cows. Our foundation cow became the great 867, who went on to rewrite history in the Angus breed. She is the cornerstone for carcass genetics in the breed and has produced more than $750,000 in progeny sales.
In the Fall 2003 Angus EPD Summary, Blackcap 867 was responsible for more than one-third of the progeny in the top 100 IMF and Ribeye female list. No other cow in the breed can compare. Born in 1987, she is alive and flushing, averaging more than 10 eggs a flush every 30 days for the past three years.
An embryo transfer (ET) program was started in the spring of 1997. With the inception of ET, we added another goal – to have as many as 200 embryo calves annually. In March of 1998, we made the commitment to build a 100% artificial insemination (AI) program. The A+ breeding goals, achievable through AI, are to produce a six-frame animal that is easy-fleshing, highly maternal, with balanced EPDs emphasizing the most desirable carcass traits. We select strong AI sires with these traits and carefully mate them to each cow based on individual EPDs, pedigree and phenotype.
In order for our program to adhere to this ambitious breeding program while achieving a 100% success rate with AI, two things are important – the cattle must be on a high plane of nutrition and the technician handling the AI program must be without fail. Parker Friedrich, the herd manager was raised on a north Texas dairy and learned early on that AI success and increased performance work hand-in-hand with good nutrition. His commitment to the overall plan as well as his energetic, enthusiastic attitude and his exceptional cattle skills have a positive impact on the A+ herd.
Parker Friedrich
Since it’s not practical to manage beef cattle on high concentrate rations, Parker has done the next best thing, utilizing silage and wheat pasture for winter forage and grazing. Irrigated coastal provides high-quality feeds for spring breeding and also helps soften the effects that drought conditions have on this cow herd.
Brad’s degree in field biology from Tarleton State University has strengthened the program in that he and Parker have implemented various rotational grazing programs that utilize both native and improved grasses, pivot irrigation, and winter grain crops.
Rueben Prado, cattle operations
The Allens began their first cow-calf operation on a family farm west of Stephenville in 1978. Both Brad and Nancy come from agricultural and ranching backgrounds as Brad’s family had operated farms since the 1960s and Nancy’s family had ranched in Archer County for the past four generations. In 1986 they purchased the ranch where they currently reside and have chosen to raise their family and be a part of the progressive registered Angus industry. The A+ mission is to provide quality registered Angus cattle that will lead the industry while building long-lasting relationships with the people who are involved in producing these outstanding cattle.
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