Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, June 28, 2012

Hoover Angus Farm of Tingley hosted a group of ranchers from South America for the first time in its 84-year history Saturday, June 23.A group of 24 cattle breeders from Brazil visited to view the progeny of HOOVER'S Genex sires as part of a nation wide tour put on by the artificial insemination beef genetics company Genex. The goal of the ranchers' visit was to view samples of what the Genex bulls had produced so that they could breed desired traits from these cattle into their own herds.

The Brazilian ranchers took photos of almost every group of cattle on HOOVER Farm, but they seemed most interested in Hoover Emperor, Emperor's dam and grandam.

There were a number of traits that the visitors were looking for and with the help of an interpreter and a smattering of English ability of their own, the ranchers asked many questions about HOOVER Farm's breeding cattle philosophies, genetics, artificial insemination, management practices, climate and feed stuff. Although the ranchers all came from the same country, some came from the northern regions of Brazil and some from the south.

The breeding goals and practices were a bit different depending on what region the visitors hailed from.

The northerners have a more commercial industry without many purebreds, so they were most interested in growth traits.

The southern Brazilian beef industry is closer to that of the U.S. with many purebred breeders, so the southern ranchers asked about growth traits as well as maternal quality, udder quality and carcass values.

The Brazilians toured the farm and then were hosted for a dinner by the McFARLANDS, who own the farms.

On Sunday, three Australian ranchers visited to view HOOVER Farm's cattle as well, one of whom was the president of the breed association Angus Australia.

Unlike the Brazilians, the Australians were not being hosted by a beef genetics company, but rather had scheduled an independent tour. Though they were also interested in HOOVER Farm's cattle, they were concerned with different traits than the Brazilian visitors.

Australian beef breeders are more concerned with correct structure and phenotype, growth, carcass, birth weights and visual appeal of the cattle.

Though the weather was not favorable during the ranchers' visit, Landi McFARLAND of HOOVER Angus Farm thought the tour of their facilities went well and that the visitors seemed interested in the cattle and what they had to offer.

HOOVER Angus Farm is the second largest registrar of purebred Angus in the state.

NOTE: HOOVER Angus Farms was homesteaded in 1856 by F. W. HOOVER and in 1928 purchased his first Angus cow, now one of the oldest Angus herds in the United States. HOOVER became partners with his son-in-law John KIBURZ. The farm is currently owned and operated by John and Barb (HOOVER) KIBURZ and David, Joy (KIBURZ) and Landi McFARLAND.



Transcription & note by Sharon R. Becker, June of 2012