Who We Are:
The Double A Angus Ranch is owned and operated by Albert and Jennifer Meyers and family; with our children representing the 5th generation of raising Angus cattle. Double A Angus originated as a partnership venture in 1995 by Al and Linda Meyers and Albert and Jennifer Meyers which continued until the retirement of Al & Linda in the spring of 2011. Our operation is based on 1000+ owned and rented acres in Shelby County, Missouri.
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History:
After extensive research about different breeds and bloodlines, we began our Angus cattle operation in 1995 with the purchase of 3 bred heifers. We expanded our herd with the purchase of additional females in 1996, 1997, and 1998. Extensive use of artificial insemination (A.I.) has been our primary source for outcross genetics with only a select few animals purchased from outside sources since 1998. In 2015, we added a few commercial angus heifers from a long time bull customer to expand our spring herd. In 2016, a small herd of Katahdin sheep joined our operation. Continuing our expansion in 2017, we added bred registered Red Angus cows to our fall program. Our sales (breeding stock, semen, and beef) have included customers in Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Iowa, Arkansas, Florida, Texas, Nebraska, California, Virginia, New Jersey, Alabama, Utah, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Maryland, Alaska, Minnesota, and Michigan. In 2020, we purchased four feeder piglets to raise. This proved a successful venture, so we purchased six in 2021 - then, 2 ended up with names...and then an idea of raising our own feeder pigs...a Utube video, a UM extension class, a couple of experienced friends (apparently 'everyone' used to have a pig at one time), semen from a local boar stud collector and we had baby piglets  . We won't be trading out the cows and sheep for more pigs, but they have been a nice side adventure - stay tuned.
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Engineered Breeding:
From the beginning, we have utilized A.I. and have many of the top sires represented in our herd from direct daughters - to sons who have served as clean up sires and have gone on to produce daughters that we have also kept in our herd. Each cow breeding is selected on an individual basis (using our customized spreadsheet program) to achieve the best overall outcome. We have been consistently breeding for growth and performance coupled with solid carcass and light to moderate birth weights.
In 2009 (as soon as the tests were available), we also submitted five blood samples to test for the genetic defects of Arthrogryposis Multiplex (AM), Neuropathic Hydrocephalus (NH) and Contractural Arachnodactyly (CA); although we had never had any calves born displaying such defects. We are very fortunate to be minimally impacted from these genetic disorders; returning only 2 carrier results from all defects in our entire herd - these females have already been culled. In 2011 two additional genetic defects surfaced in the Angus breed - the PRKG2 gene mutation for Dwarfism (D2) and nt821 mutation for Double Muscling (Myostatin M1). These defects had no impact on our cattle, yielding zero potential carriers. Osteopetrosis (OS) or marble bone disease, a lethal genetic defect, has recently been discovered in some Angus cattle. Fortunately, we had only one potential (OSP) cow and she has tested free; all other breeding stock had no known carrier ancestors. Developmental Duplication (DD) was also recently detected as another recessive genetic defect. While we have never had an affected calf, a couple of our solid producing cows have tested as DDC, and we are keeping them (will test their progeny for carrier status) as they will never produce an affected calf as long as they are bred to a DD free bull. We still have a few more potential carriers to check, we hope to find their status soon. In 2015, Oculocutaneous Hypopigmentation (OH), a non lethal defect involving eye color, was discovered. Currently, we have a few cattle that are listed as potential carriers of this recessive trait. We are in the process of testing and, so far, our test results have all come back free (OHF). (Please visit www.angus.org for more information about these defects). We will continue to utilize genetic testing in the future to eliminate the carriers of such genetic disorders from our seed stock should additional tests become available.
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Focus on Carcass:
Since 2000 (the earliest it was readily available in our area), we have utilized ultrasound scanning on our bulls and females. Also in 2000, we expanded our sales and began selling custom fed beef (all natural, implant free) to contacts in the St. Louis, Kansas City, and Chicago areas. We also have had most of these beef carcasses evaluated by our University of MO Extension Livestock Specialist. This helps us keep an eye on quality and gives us additional feedback and information on the seed stock which produced these animals.
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Weights & Data:
All calves are tagged and weighed at birth. Weaning weights and heights and yearling weights and heights are submitted to the Angus Association's AHIR (Angus Herd Improvement Records) program to help generate more accurate Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs). Cow weights, heights, condition, and disposition scores are taken after first calf weaning and also typically every fall thereafter and reported as well as yearling bull scrotal data. In addition, we also submit cow and heifer breeding and pregnancy data to the Angus Association for their fertility database.
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Membership:
We are members of the American Angus Association, Red Angus Association of America, Missouri Angus Association, Northeast MO Beef Cattle Improvement Association (NEMO BCIA), Mississippi Valley Angus Association (MVAA), an active participant of AHIR (Angus Herd Improvement Records) since our first calf crop in 1996, and an alumni of the Beef Leaders Institute and Masters of Beef Advocacy program. We also collect and submit ultrasound, breeding, and performance records to the American Angus and Red Angus Association databases.
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Sale Offerings:
We will typically have 4-6 spring yearling bulls for sale and an occasional older herd sire. In 2011 we began a fall herd which increases our selection to meet our growing demand. Bulls from this fall herd will be available as yearlings and also the following spring. The remaining bulls/steers are put into our feedlot to supply our custom fed beef demand. We also have semen available on three of our past (deceased) herd sires. Only recently have we begun to offer a few select females for sale as breeding stock. We sell by private treaty and also take a limited number of consignments to area sales.
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