Rancher's Choice - The Right Choice

Rancher's Choice started using ultrasound to measure carcass qualities within their herd in 1988. Since then, we have acquired large amounts of substantial data. We feel our program is a leader in carcass evaluation. (Click here to learn why.)

In 1999 we were able to measure marbling on our cattle and this was exciting! We also picked a large number of herd bulls that corresponded with the best ultrasound carcass measurements and marbling scores to use within our programs.

Rod Wendorff - Ultrasound Technician "I cannot believe the carcasses within the Rancher's Choice herds. At first, we did not believe the numbers , but when comparing them to previous years, the measurements corresponded."

We at Rancher's Choice believe these results have to do with our cow herd. Rod stated we do not need terminal crosses to better our carcasses. Rod's comments were in comparison to other herds he had measured.

Ultrasound is still a relatively new technology. However, the scientific study at University of Guelph proved what Rancher's Choice had been saying.

Genetic Correlation
Please take a minute to read these results:

Genetic Correlation estimates between Ultrasound measurements on Yearling bulls and Carcass measurements on finished steers, by: C. J. B. Devitt and J. W. Wilton Center for Genetic Improvement of Livestock Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph.

Genetic Correlation between finished Steer and Yearling Bull Sires were:

Bull Trait	Steer Trait	Genetic Correlation
Average daily gain	Average daily gain	.72
Ultrasound ribeye area	Carcass ribeye area	.66
Ultrasound backfat thickness	Carcass backfat thickness	.88
Ultrasound intramuscular fat	Carcass marbling score	.80

Now we will be able to plug the numbers in from this study along with our Ultrasound numbers, giving us an accurate evaluation of carcasses that our bulls will sire.

Here is the complete Genetic Correlation Study.

***Click here to see the latest ultrasound data for each of the 2006 sale animals!***