Local Angus breeder recognized nationally in Pathfinder Report

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Dr. and Mrs. Norman Garton, Nevada, Mo., have been recognized nationally by the American Angus Association for having four registered Angus cows included in the Association's 2009 Pathfinder Report.

Only 2,284 of the nearly 33,000 American Angus Association members are represented in this year's report, according to Bill Bowman, chief operating officer and director of performance programs of the Association with headquarters in St. Joseph.

The Pathfinder Program identifies superior Angus cows based upon recorded performance traits that are economically important to efficient beef production. These traits include early and regular calving and heavy weaning weights, Bowman says. Nearly 1.8 million eligible dams and more than 5.7 million weaning records were examined to determine Pathfinder status. All registered Angus cows that meet the strict Pathfinder standards are listed, along with their owners, in the Pathfinder Report that is published annually by the Association.

The 2009 Pathfinder Report lists 10.017 individual cows and 263 Pathfinder sires. It is published online at www.angus.org, and printed copies are available from the Association. The largest number of Pathfinder cows from a single herd this year is 76. Started in 1978, the Pathfinder Program continues to recognize outstanding breeders participating in the Angus Herd Improvement Records Program.