The Genetics Behind Every SmartBull — And Why the Data Sets Them Apart
Jorgensen Land & Cattle ·
A mature, proven bull is only half the SmartBull story. The other half is what's behind him on paper. On a recent Field Notes episode, Andy Tegethoff walked through exactly where SmartBull genetics come from — and why every one of them comes backed by real data, not guesswork.
A Mix of Homeraised and Cooperator Genetics
Some SmartBulls do come out of JLC's own registered parent-stock cow herd. But Andy was direct about where the majority actually originate: JLC's genetic cooperators. These are producers who buy JLC's top bulls at its annual sale, take them home to their own cow herds, and then sell the resulting weaned bull calves back to JLC. Most of the bulls that go into the leasing program — and by extension, most SmartBulls — are these cooperator-raised bulls. As Andy put it, "as mathematics would have it," that's simply how the numbers shake out.
Not Your Typical "Commercial" Bull
That cooperator pipeline is actually one of the biggest advantages of the program. Andy was careful to point out that he doesn't like calling these bulls "commercial" in the traditional sense, because that term usually implies an unknown pedigree — no clarity on sire or dam. That's not the case here. JLC has full information on every one of these bulls in its profile, registered or not.
Backed by the Ideal Beef Evaluation
Every SmartBull — whether registered or a non-papered cooperator bull — is backed by a full set of genomic-enhanced EPDs through JLC's Ideal Beef Evaluation (IBE). That means real data on growth, maternal traits, and carcass merit, not just a good look and a guess.
For a commercial cattleman, that's the difference between hoping a bull works out and making an informed decision. As Andy said, it's about having everything in the profile needed to help a producer make a sound, educated choice on which bull actually fits his operation.