Sustainable Genetics, LLC, established in 2004, is a beef genetics marketing company dedicated to enhancing profitability in the production segment of the industry.  We believe, first and foremost, that a bovine animal was put on this earth to function as a grazing animal.  The further we deviate from the “grazing principal”, the more problems we create.  Unfortunately the industrial agricultural model has created a “fossil fuel” dependent machine and totally ignored Mother Nature’s original purpose for this “solar powered” creature.  There are two types of cattle today, “corn cattle” and “grass cattle”.  Our many years experience has taught us that “grass cattle” will work in a corn environment; however “corn cattle” in a forage environment is not sustainable.

It takes crisis to create change and for an industry built on the premise of “cheap corn” and “cheap” oil, change is inevitable. The “seedstock” industry continues on a collision course with reality.  The “more, bigger, better” mentality of the majority of purebred cattle owners continues creating higher maintenance animals the commercial sector cannot sustain.  The advent of Expected Progeny Difference’s has made it quite easy to breed cattle.  The only tools necessary are a sire summary and a checkbook.  What most seedstock owners fail to understand is EPD’s are only measures of outputs and the antagonisms associated with selecting for extremes create problems that usually end up in the commercial sector.

We continue to make available beef genetics that have been selected over many generations under minimal-input, sustainable, forage based systems.  Through the efforts of John O’Brien, we had the good fortune to initially introduce the Waigroup Angus program of New Zealand to North America.  The documented reproductive efficiency of these cattle is unmatched by any with which we are familiar.  They excel in the convenience traits that so many of today’s mainstream genetics so sadly lack.  After investigating these cattle, we feel you’ll agree they offer the necessary qualities to return profitability to the commercial sector.

Since introducing the Waigroup cattle, we’ve added several domestic bulls that meet our rigid selection criteria.  As they’re identified, we’ll continue adding British breed sires to our lineup.      

The response to our mission has been quite rewarding as cattlemen in 30 states and four Canadian provinces have used semen from our bulls since 2004.  We truly believe the North American beef industry is on the front end of a huge paradigm shift back to a “beef production system centered on forage and not corn”.

There are Sustainable Genetics sired cattle on ranches and farms near you.  Contact us and we’ll put you in touch with the satisfied breeders that have taken that step back to basics.