Angus Underground

Rantings of a Mad Man

Episode Notes

In this episode of Angus Underground, hosts David Brown and Seana discuss their recent trip to Australia, sharing experiences of jet lag, the beauty of the country, and the kindness of its people. They transition into updates from Montana Ranch, including cattle management and the excitement of visitor season, and the upcoming calving season. The conversation shifts to the recent release of new maternal EPDs by the American Angus Association, sparking discussions on their implications and the importance of maternal traits in cattle breeding. David expresses skepticism about the new maternal EPDs. In the 2nd segment, the conversation reflects on the recent Australia Angus Expo 2025, highlighting its success, logistical challenges, and the camaraderie among participants. Jake Phillips, with Angus Australia, shares insights into the planning and execution of the event, emphasizing the importance of community and international collaboration in the Angus cattle industry. The discussion also touches on the competitive events held during the expo, including the pen show and elite female sale, and the engagement of youth and international participants. Looking ahead, the conversation considers the future of Angus cattle and the potential for continued growth and collaboration across borders.

Sound Bites

• "What a fun time. Amazing. Such beautiful country."
• "The cows are fat. They're happy. I'm happy."
• "We just blew right past our hundredth episode."
• "These three new maternal EPDs, they have people talking."
• "Functional longevity is expressed in number of calves."
• "I simply cannot put any serious thought or emphasis on this EPD."
• "Maternal is a quality, not a quantity."
• "If a cow's feet are bad, she's definitely not maternal."
• "We need to continue to find and select the outliers."
• "You simply cannot make this crap up."
• "Our cup has never been more full."
• "Two days was not near enough."
• "If you get the cattle, you'll get the people."
• "We had zero injuries to cattle or people."
• "We wrote a page in history, I suppose."
• "We had 48,000 online viewers of the camp draft."
• "That was the best fellowship they have experienced."
• "The Angus family now is tighter than ever before."
• "What could be possible as opposed to what couldn't be?"
• "I believe the U.S. is hosting the Angus Forum here in four years."

Chapters

00:00 Welcome Back and Jet Lag Tales

02:40 Reflections on Australia: Beauty and Culture

06:04 Cattle Management and Ranch Updates

09:53 New EPDs and Industry Changes

22:05 Deep Dive into $Maternal EPDs

49:17 Upcoming Segments and Future Discussions

51:16 Reflecting on Angus Australia’s Angus Expo Success

01:01:18 Angus Expo Logistical Challenges and Innovations

01:12:11 Competitive Spirit: The Pen Show and Elite Female Sale

01:18:42 Youth Engagement and International Participation

01:30:06 Looking Ahead: The Future of Angus Cattle