Weatherbys genomics helps Iowa Hereford ranch improve bull selection

By AI, Created 12:01 AM UTC, June 02, 2026, /AGP/ – Weatherbys Scientific says genomic testing is helping U.S. Hereford producers make faster breeding decisions and improve herd consistency. At the Beef Improvement Federation conference in Boise, Iowa ranchers Wiese and Sons highlighted gains in performance, confidence and profit since adopting the service through the American Hereford Association partnership.

Why it matters: - Genomic testing is giving cattle breeders more precise data for mating and selection decisions. - Wiese and Sons says the added information has reduced breeding risk and helped create more uniform calves for sale. - Weatherbys Scientific says the approach is helping U.S. beef producers improve herd performance and profitability.

What happened: - Weatherbys Scientific marked the first year of its U.S. DNA testing partnership with the American Hereford Association at the 58th annual Beef Improvement Federation Research Symposium and Convention in Boise, Idaho. - The Ireland-based livestock performance recording company has been providing DNA testing services for U.S. beef producers through that partnership for the past year. - Wiese and Sons of Manning, Iowa, said it now genomically profiles its entire herd using Weatherbys packages and pricing.

The details: - Chance Wiese said genomic testing has taken risk out of joining decisions and given customers confidence that animals are backed by science. - Wiese and Sons sells about 90 Hereford and Poll Hereford bulls each year by private treaty to ranchers across the Midwest. - The bulls must handle widely different conditions, including extreme heat and cold, while still delivering productivity gains for different breeding programs and end markets. - The addition of genomic testing has produced more even progeny and steadier performance across traits. - Shayne Wiese said the ranch is focused on breeding bulls that produce good steer calves and quality replacement heifers. - Shayne Wiese said the ranch is not selecting for extreme performance in any single trait. - Wiese and Sons said it now sees fewer outlier animals and can offer a more consistent line of bulls for buyers. - The ranch said more uniform genetics are producing a more even set of calves for the sale ring. - The Wiese family has bred Herefords since 1894, when Ed Wiese bought the first Hereford bull in Guthrie Center, Iowa. - The family moved to Manning in 1904 and has bred registered Hereford cattle there since 1912. - The family says its business is built around three goals: breeding cattle that work for customers, stewarding the land and operating as a family business. - Wiese and Sons tests its entire herd so it can identify its top 90 stud bulls and replacement heifers each year. - The ranch then uses Angus bulls on the bottom 25% of females to produce F1 Baldy steers. - Weatherbys Scientific said it has more than 250 years of continuous operation in livestock industries and 40 years of experience in animal genotyping. - Romy Morrin-O’Donnell, Weatherbys Scientific International Sales Director, said the company aims to deliver reliable, cost-effective DNA testing and faster breeding decisions through breed-society partnerships. - Morrin-O’Donnell said the partnership with the AHA is built to integrate laboratory data with breed-society systems and speed turnaround times. - Morrin-O’Donnell said Weatherbys is proud of the first-year anniversary of the AHA partnership. - Chance Wiese said the producer-friendly packages let the ranch test twice as many animals as before. - The ranch said herd numbers and rainfall are below average because of drought in the Midwest. - Wiese and Sons said its ranch typically receives up to 40 inches of annual rainfall and supports about 390 breeding females in normal years. - The source text includes a full story link: More information

Between the lines: - The story shows how genomics is moving from a specialty tool to a practical management layer for commercial seedstock operations. - Weatherbys is positioning its U.S. growth around breed-association integration, which can make testing easier for ranchers and more useful for day-to-day decisions. - The Wiese operation’s emphasis on balanced cattle suggests buyers are valuing consistency and reliability as much as standout individual traits.

What’s next: - Wiese and Sons said it will keep genomically testing the herd as part of its bull and replacement-heifer selection process. - Weatherbys is likely to continue promoting its U.S. partnership with the American Hereford Association as the program passes its first year.