Our Program

Production Angus Associates (PAA) was established in 1986 and since then due to age some turnover in members has occurred. Current active associates are Dan Cook, Howard Hill, Eric Hill, Tom Hilts, Daryl Strohbehn, and Joe Mather. Members retiring out of PAA in 2005 were Neil and Jay Hadley and more recently Bill Switzer.

The PAA cow herd is managed as a single herd distributed into a number of units and contemporary groups in central Iowa. Starting from a nucleus of 80 cows back in the 1980s, PAA has grown to over 300 breeding age females in 2010. PAA is not a partnership, but rather an alliance of Angus enthusiasts that have a common goal of producing the best production oriented Angus genetics possible, adapted to the upper Midwest. Each associate owns their individual cows, but all are managed in an identical manner allowing for excellent performance evaluation procedures. Herds are managed by Dan Cook, Tom Hilts, Eric Hill and Joe Mather in separate locations and contemporary groups, but all bulls are combined together for feeding and evaluation procedures. All records are maintained with the American Angus Association utilizing AHIR.

Performance sires having a major influence in the herd's past include the outstanding contributions of DHD Traveler 6807, Tehama Bando 155, GT Expo, B/R New Design 036, B/R New Design 323, Alberda Traveler 416, Finks 5522 6148, Krugerrand of Donamere 490, EXT, Bon View New Design 878, 4 Point 8 o Ironwood, Bon View New Design 1407 and Basin Max 602C. All cows are computer mated using sires selected from the Angus Genetic Evaluation prior to actually breeding them AI.

PAA is approaching their 25th year of breeding, testing and merchandising bulls for their customer base. Up through 2009 an annual sale was held, but now an open house and private treaty sale are held throughout the spring of the year.

Bulls go through a nine step process prior to sale:

Step 1-A small number of AI herd sires are carefully selected by computer sort from the American Angus Association Genetic Evaluation Report and other sources. They must meet our tough standards for birth weight/calving ease, growth, maternal, and carcass traits. Added into our decision making process are disposition, soundness, and udder quality.

Step 2-All PAA cows are trial mated on our computer to find the best possible match for each cow.

Step 3-At birth, calves are identified, weighed and scored for calving ease. Dams are given udder scores.

Step 4-All calves are preconditioned prior to weaning.

Step 5-At weaning all calves are weighed and bulls are palpated for testicle soundness. About 30-40% of the bulls are castrated and fed out for carcass data collection.

Step 6-Bull calves are moved to the HiPoint Feelot for growth and development and a measure of post-weaning gain.

Step 7-PAA's gain test lasts 120-140 days. Bulls are fed a medium energy ration that achieves average gains of 3.25 to 3.40 lbs. daily. This allows for expression of genetic differences without over conditioning bulls. Additionally, it provides sufficient ration energy to find out which bulls have desirable carcass traits.

Step 8-At the end of the gain test all bulls are weighed, measured for frame score and carcass traits are evaluated using ultrasound.

Step 9-Bulls are measured for scrotal circumference, given breeding soundness exams, and tested for infectious diseases.