By Jennifer Dorsett
Field Editor

A collaborative identification and cattle tagging program between the Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) and Santa Gertrudis Breeders International (SGBI), American Red, is gaining popularity in the southern U.S.

American Red benefits ranchers by producing an animal with maternal traits, adaptability, heat tolerance, growth and marbling from the two complementary breeds. The new program was tested and proven at the King Ranch, where the Santa Gertrudis breed was developed 100 years ago.

The popularity of the program was evident at the recent Superior Livestock Gulf Coast Classic in Fort Worth. More than 1,000 head of American Red-qualified heifers consigned by the King Ranch sold well despite current market conditions and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The high-quality King Ranch consignment was a giant leap forward for the American Red program. Active bidding and strong demand indicate the industry acceptance of these good cattle and the program,” Harold Bertz, RAAA Commercial Marketing director, said. “We look forward to continued efforts with SGBI, producers and Superior Livestock as we expand the verification and marketing efforts for American Red cattle.”

To qualify for the American Red commercial cattle program and accompanying tag, steers and heifers in the same calf crop must be sired by registered Red Angus bulls averaging in the top 50 percent of the breed for the HerdBuilder index or registered Santa Gertrudis bulls averaging in the top 50 percentile for the SGBI Balanced Index.

Breed percentages on qualified cattle range from 25-75 percent Red Angus and 25-75 percent Santa Gertrudis, with a small allowance for other breeds. Most qualified cattle will be red, but color is not an exclusionary requirement. Groups of cattle do not need to be fully red-hided to qualify.

Dams of qualifiable calves must contain at least 50 percent of the reciprocal breed, meaning 50 percent or more Santa Gertrudis when the calves are sired by Red Angus sires, or 50 percent or more Red Angus when calves are sired by Santa Gertrudis bulls.

A $50 annual enrollment fee is required, along with a $1.25 fee for each tag. There is a five head minimum for enrollment.

For more information on American Red, contact Chessie Mitchell, RAAA tag program coordinator, at tags@redangus.org or visit www.AmericanRed.org.