OUR GOAL IS A PROFITABLE AND SATISFIED CUSTOMER!
We strive to provide our customers with the most profitable genetics possible.  We strive to do this in a functional, visually pleasing package.  We strive to build relationships and friends while delivering Camp 1A CENTER Genetics.

We truly enjoy the cattle business and the people we meet on the farm, in the feed yard, at the sale barn and in the show ring.  To help these people meet their goals is our goal.

A quote we came across and believe is “BE A WINNER BY MAKING OTHERS WINNERS”.  We use this in life and the cattle business.

The Camp 1A CENTER Breeding Program best describes our Breeding Philosophy.  Please refer to the CENTER link to learn more.  We believe it and live it in our commercial herds and propagate it for your herd.  In addition to all the CENTER Breeding Program economically relevant traits, our goal includes providing good disposition cattle, high quality udders and show quality looks in the package.

At Camp 1A we believe in AI and embryo transfer to multiply the most of the best traits. 

CURVE BENDERS, OUTLIERS, AND ANTAGONISTIC TRAITS
A discussion about Camp 1A Philosophy would not be complete without talking about antagonistic traits.  It is widely known that some traits correlate highly together like weaning weight and yearling weight.  It’s also known that some traits have a negative correlation, for example low birth weights and high weaning weights.  There is a negative phenotypic and genetic correlation between birth weight and weaning weight.  Does this mean we can’t select cattle with relatively low birth weights and high weaning weights?  No, it just means it isn’t easy.

Camp 1A strives for cattle that maximize economically relevant traits.  And to do this there has to be emphasis on antagonistic traits.  There are limits to this; however, the selection for these Curve Bender cattle is what makes them great.  “Curve Benders” or “Genetic Outliers” or whatever you call them are those individuals that seem to defy the odds by possessing positive traits not regularly seen together.  CAMP 1A CONTINUALLY STRIVES TO PROVIDE THESE TYPES OF CATTLE TO THEIR CUSTOMERS. 

Some antagonistic traits we continually strive to provide include but are not limited to the following:  Relative low birth with high weaning weight; Fast growth to yearling with conservative mature weight; marbling and muscle; adequate milk and low maintenance energy; and more. 

Ideally, cattle start out with a relatively light birth weight, grow extremely fast to an optimum market endpoint, and then mature at a conservative “center” size to minimize maintenance requirements.  These cattle will do this in a correct, eye-appealing package, with maximum longevity, good udders, excellent disposition, and top quality carcass traits.  Is it easy? No.  Is it worthwhile, YES!  Camp 1A aims to do this with every individual we provide to you.

A mention of Composite Breeding and Heterosis is necessary when talking about the Camp 1A Philosophy.  Our individual commercial herds consist of some purebred cattle, but also crossbred cattle.  Camp 1A also breeds composite cattle with the same standards as its purebred Red Angus and Angus cattle. 

The Camp 1A Ranch team has traveled thousands of miles and sorted through volumes of data and research to put together an elite set of cows. We are using intense A.I. and embryo transfer programs to quickly propagate those genetics for use by you the commercial producer, who is the real cattleman in this global beef production system. We have hand-picked matings for these cows that we believe meet all needs of a balanced beef production system. It starts with cow efficiency, calving ease, fertility, cattle that are a pleasure to handle, and bred to perform in cow country. It ends with high-yielding, well-marbled beef. We did not believe in or strive for extreme in any trait, as this leads to a multitude of problems. The Red Angus Breed was very appealing to us from the get go because it has such a tight gene pool of moderate-framed, highly-maternal genetics that have great thickness and world-famous Angus marbling. (Your program will see immediate results in consistency.) Camp 1A has taken this one step further by going into the breed's leading herds and choosing cattle with EPDs and individual performance that hit the target for a balance of all traits, including udder quality, a trait often left behind in our number conscious industry. They also had to look good too.

Visual appraisal of cattle is a fast-disappearing art, however it is the only way to keep the EPDs honest. When you look at as many individual animals in the registered business as we do, you quickly find that breeding on EPDs alone can lead to problems. If you're purchasing a bull with Rib Eye Area EPDs that rank in the top 25% of the breed, he better have some serious muscle. If he has a twisted scrotum, is poorly structured and has no rib shape or capacity to consume feed, who cares if he has a high REA EPD anyway? Many A.I. stud bulls would disappoint you and confuse you to see them in person and then look at the EPDs. Camp 1A cattle are always intensely visually appraised. We have never purchased sight-unseen. Seeing them in person is something that a lot of the people breeding cattle will never do. Unfortunately today, some seedstock suppliers can evaluate them on paper, but are completely lost in the bull pen.

In short, when you purchase cattle from Camp 1A, you're getting the best of both worlds, they way it should be. We have a vision for the future that we hope is bright. Breeding cattle is never easy - if it was, people would not take such pride in it. When you purchase our cattle, you'll get consistent performance and something that should never go out of style in the cow business...pride.

Give us a call - we LOVE to talk cows!