Angus Tour Highlights Montana’s Global Genetic Impact

October 10, 2024

Last month, the 50th annual Montana Angus Tour drew over 400 attendees to central Montana, including a notable delegation of 37 participants from Austria, Finland, Estonia, Hungary, and Bulgaria. Among them was Daniela Wintereder, an Austrian farmer who manages 200 registered Angus cows and exports breeding stock across Europe. Daniela’s farm also offers a farm-to-table experience, finishing fat cattle for processors.

Reflecting on her experience, Daniela shared, "We are impressed. We’re still processing everything we’ve seen. For us, Montana is a big source of Angus genetics." She added that one of the tour highlights was visiting Vermilion Ranch. "When I started in the Angus business, I had this image of a bull, Vermilion Dateline, with dark clouds behind it. Seeing it in person was really special."

Montana has become a vital source of Angus genetics for European producers like Daniela. The Montana Department of Agriculture, with funding from U.S. Livestock Genetic Export, Inc., organized this international trade mission to foster marketing opportunities for Montana seedstock producers.

Daniela emphasized her focus on maternal traits when selecting genetics: "I’m a big fan of productive, maternal Angus cows with good udders and feet." However, she pointed out a challenge in importing U.S. genetics to Europe: "All the semen and embryos must come from cattle not vaccinated against IBR, which makes it difficult, but I’m always on the search."

In recent years, Montana has exported over $1 million annually in cattle, semen, and embryos to international markets, cementing its role as a key player in global livestock genetics.

Western Ag Network