Connecting data to pedigree results is a major tool for serious progress. This is how, at DCC, the "multi-virtue genetics" have been solidified.
In 1967 when our family started raising registered Texas Longhorns we wanted data. Every calf was haltered and IQ evaluated--I won't say halter trained because by today's standards their IQ was so low all would have been culled. We hauled the calves in a borrowed trailer to the Pikes Peak Coop, backed the trailer to where the tail-end hung over the truck scales, then haltered and drug every calf out (one at a time) to free stand on the scales and get a weight. Weight data helped make decisions for keepers and sellers. It was our data start up.
When a prominent auctioneer alleges one lot is the greatest ever, the next auctioneer alleges another is the greatest, and so on--who is the great one? To the opposite, the real great animals may not be for sale and may never be seen in public. They may be very profitable and the owners will not let them get away. This can be really confusing to entry level people. Every producer needs data and must know what is profitable within their own herd.
The www.arrowheadcattlecompany.com site is a wealth of data with every "factoid" and list one could dream of. Arrowhead isn't perfect--many great cattle were never measured, cattle died, cattle were not entered in the measuring events, and even today some people don't send their data to Arrowhead fearing the brutal competitive comparisons.
Keep in mind Arrowhead is about horns. There is no data on weights, special value-colors, soundness, correct conformation or fertility. Of the "multi-factor virtue" considerations of this breed, Arrowhead focuses only on horn, but really does well calculate horn absolutely dead-on.
The Arrowhead data below is an accumulation of percentages of the leading sires who have sired progeny measuring over 70", 80", 90" and 100." The accumulation is very telling for those serious about identifying horn development and what pedigrees these genetics originated from. These are leading sires for consistent progeny looking at a lifetime accumulation. These calculations show from the Gallery Of Horn data the percentage of progeny of horn achievement from the different GOH categories. For the full list you will have to go to Arrowhead.
Clear Point
Clear Point was an honor to breed and raise. To have this DCC origin sire at the top of the consistency list has been the goal for near 57 years. He is #1.
Exciting to us at DCC, Clear Point has the highest percentage of over 70," 80," and 90," progeny of the great sires. Leading the 90" pack with 12.73% may not sound big, but consider thousands of bulls did not sire any 90's, he is the best. Clear Point lead the 80" division with 32.73%. He led the 70" division with 45.45%. Learn more on Clear Point at: https://www.texaslonghorn.com/link/?Clear_Point
Although the DCC sire Drop Box could not beat out Clear Point, he took a strong 33.33% on over 70" progeny and 13.64% on 80" defeating a lot of great bulls.
There is a lot of chat about consistency, which is of great market value. However, no matter the chat or who is chatting, this chart puts to rest the facts on today's most consistent sires with thousands of pieces of data behind the final percentages.
A lot of things can be learned from this chart. The exciting thing is that many of the leading sires of consistency were raised here at Dickinson Cattle Co in the Appalachian Foothills of Ohio. Semen is available on Drop Box at $100 and Clear Point at $500. There is a reason Clear Point has the highest priced semen of the great sires.
Soon to come--more amazing stuff on the great Texas Longhorn breed.
