Texas ranch introduces world’s first homozygous polled Akaushi bull
HeartBrand Dos Equis XX makes history with polled Akaushi genes.
Harwood, Texas [March 9, 2021] – For the first time ever, polled Akaushi genetics will be publicly available to interested cattle breeders – marking a significant milestone in the breed’s history.
“HeartBrand Dos Equis XX 3618H is the first
homozygous polled purebred Akaushi bull ever bred,” says JoJo Carrales, vice
president of cattle operations for HeartBrand Cattle.
This is a turning point for the American Akaushi breed.
“Through the careful selection for sire quality HeartBrand Cattle is known for, we’ve removed a significant obstacle for cattle breeders,” says Carrales. “Now those who don’t want to use horned genetics can reconsider all the tremendous benefits of the American Akaushi breed.”
Cattle breeders interested in Dos Equis XX can bid for 50 percent semen interest along with 20-unit semen packages during the Elite of the Elite Akaushi Sale on March 16, 2021. The online auction will be held at wagyu365.com.
The sale also features other elite offerings from the HeartBrand Cattle herd: two heterozygous polled bulls (including a sibling to Dos Equis XX), four fullblood Akaushi bulls, three donor cows and semen from the original imported cattle.
Akaushi and Polled: Best of the Best
Dos Equis XX is the first Akaushi bull to genetically assure polled calves. Careful attention was paid to ensure the overall genetic superiority of the American Akaushi breed was not sacrificed for this advancement.
“We’re dedicated to the preservation of pure Akaushi genetics and the strategic selection for superior, modern cattle performance,” says Carrales. “Dos Equis XX is helping us elevate opportunities in our breeding program and for cattle buyers around the world.”
Akaushi is a Japanese cattle breed from the Wagyu origin – several breeds of cattle desired for their genetic predisposition to intense marbling and higher concentration of monounsaturated fat relative to saturated fat. The breed has many notable benefits:
- Akaushi cattle have extremely efficient, consistent production and low birth rates for calving ease.
- Using Akaushi bulls to sire half-blood Akaushi cattle has shown to provide significant Akaushi genetic advantage when crossed with breeds worldwide, consistently doubling prime grade and improving yield.
- U.S. demand for Akaushi beef is surging – Akaushi cattle produce distinctly marbled beef with the melt-in-your-mouth texture and buttery flavor consumers crave.
“Despite the tremendous quality and meat flavor Akaushi breeding offers to a cattle producer’s business, we know dehorning calves is a management practice many ranchers prefer to avoid,” Carrales says. “Now they can avoid it and still use Akaushi genetics.”
In addition to the Elite of the Elite Akaushi online auction, the HeartBrand Cattle spring bull sale will open March 22. Cattle producers can call the HeartBrand Cattle Ranch at (830) 540-3955 to schedule an appointment or go to https://heartbrandcattle.com/bulls-for-sale/ for more information.
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HeartBrand Cattle (https://heartbrandcattle.com/) has a mission to transform the U.S. cattle industry with world-class, highly productive Akaushi cattle that exceed producers’ expectations and strengthen their bottom lines. HeartBrand Ranch is headquartered in Harwood, Texas. Its seedstock herd is derived from a small nucleus herd of cattle imported to the U.S. in 1994 from Japan.