Ricker
Well-known member
As I mentioned in my opening post the other day, I am a land developer and investor by trade. I am in the process of putting some cattle on some of my land holdings.
For the last few weeks I have been talking on the phone with a man about some land he has for sale in N. Georgia. A very nice, polite gentleman it seemed.
Today when he called me to continue our discussions on some of his land I am thinking of buying, I mentioned to him that I was meeting my cow hand soon to finalize some preparations to deliver some black cows I am purchasing by private treaty. He said "Rick, as I told you the other day, I know a thing or two about Angus Cattle." "When you come up to GA next week, I will show you around the operations here."
I did a search on Google tonight with these key words: Virgil Lovell - Georgia - Angus. I guess Mr Lovell is right. He might know a thing or two about Angus Cattle!!!
Below is the link to a website but here is an excerpt from it:
In December 1990, the world lost one of its most influential leaders and dedicated Angus breeders with the death of Dr. Armand Hammer. The Ankony herd was to remain intact as Virgil Lovell, a Georgia cattleman-businessman, stepped forward and fulfilled a boyhood dream of "some day owning Ankony." He not only purchased the Ankony herd but also the name, trademarks and the Minatare Ranch facilities. It would be hard to have picked a buyer to carry on the great Ankony name with more enthusiasm and respect than Virgil Lovell.
Mr. Lovell achieved his desire to own Ankony, and even more. . .he re-acquired his much admired and his favorite sire, Lovana.
From boyhood, Virgil Lovell has been a student of pedigrees. He has always followed the Ankony program closely, and had a plan in mind when the purchase was made. He knew the strength of the Ankony cow herd loaded with half and three-quarter sisters. . . most of them in the Ankony herd for three maternal generations or more. He also knew the herd was positioned right for major change.
During the 70s and through the 80s Mr. Lovell was involved in breeding some of the most valuable and winningest cattle in the country involving Angus, Chianina, Brangus, Salers and Charolais. He was responsible for breeding two National Grand and Reserve Salers females, the Grand Champion Bull at the 10th Anniversary World Show and the Brangus Sire of the Year in 1986 and 1987. Also, three National Grand and three Reserve Charolais females, twice Premier Breeder and Exhibitor, two National Grand Champion Bulls and National Reserve Grand, and the highest averaging sale in the modern history of the Charolais breed. His Angus operation was responsible for sales that were always in the top five gross and average from 1979 through 1984 and was in the top three or four nationally competitive firms.
One of the many winning Ankony car loads at Denver.
For 30 years Ankony had been managed under a large corporate structure. It was now in the hands of a man who had been through the ups and downs of kind and pedigree, of shape and size. An individualistic approach to the focus of Ankony was in Mr. Lovell's hands.
Lovana and Bold Ruler, both outcross sires, had made major contributions to the Ankony program. Their daughters were the bread and butter of Ankony. It had been eight years since any major genetic boost had been give this cow herd from "outside" genetics.
Intense study of the current industry demands and direction, available genetics and applicable technology combined with a vision of the future prompted a re-direction. . .and a New Era began. It was open-minded, science-based and an aggressive approach to documentable genetic improvement in volume. It was time for a new influx of genetics and personnel.
This led to the hiring of Dr. Dave Duello, with a Ph.D. in Beef Cattle Breeding from Iowa State University, and whose major area of study was in the genetic evaluation of carcass traits using ultrasound technology. Dr. Duello was trained by some of the foremost beef cattle geneticists in the country. He combined this technical training with a life history of real world beef cattle experience and has become a widely recognized judge of beef cattle in the U.S.
Mr. Lovell then selected balanced performance sires with high accuracy EPDs. He had another qualification they must meet. . .they must have ready breeder recognition and broad popularity within the breed and industry. New genetic sires of the 21st Century were selected and used artificially in this unique cow herd. More new sires followed. . .each with an Ankonian name. . .Alliance, Elixir and One.
The decision to select sires with an outstanding balance of EPDs didn't stop with the traditional measures of performance. Carcass traits of ribeye, backfat and marbling also received worthy attention. Use of both carcass EPDs and ultrasound technology seemed the most logical approach. Research in this area with Iowa State University and Texas Tech University has proven ultrasonic measurements of carcass traits in animals to be a reliable and valuable tool to enhance carcass trait improvement. It has also provided a database for sire evaluation that is faster and more economical than traditional approaches.
From the first crop of calves from the "new" program, Ankony extended a long tradition of successes in the bull carload and pen shows at the National Western Stock Show by taking Reserve Grand Champion honors in both the Carload and Pen divisions in 1994 and 1995. Although the new policy reduced Ankony's participation in traditional shows, many noteworthy champions carried the Ankony trademark in the hands of other breeders and juniors.
More here:
http://www.pineridgeangus.com/history.html
For the last few weeks I have been talking on the phone with a man about some land he has for sale in N. Georgia. A very nice, polite gentleman it seemed.
Today when he called me to continue our discussions on some of his land I am thinking of buying, I mentioned to him that I was meeting my cow hand soon to finalize some preparations to deliver some black cows I am purchasing by private treaty. He said "Rick, as I told you the other day, I know a thing or two about Angus Cattle." "When you come up to GA next week, I will show you around the operations here."
I did a search on Google tonight with these key words: Virgil Lovell - Georgia - Angus. I guess Mr Lovell is right. He might know a thing or two about Angus Cattle!!!
Below is the link to a website but here is an excerpt from it:
In December 1990, the world lost one of its most influential leaders and dedicated Angus breeders with the death of Dr. Armand Hammer. The Ankony herd was to remain intact as Virgil Lovell, a Georgia cattleman-businessman, stepped forward and fulfilled a boyhood dream of "some day owning Ankony." He not only purchased the Ankony herd but also the name, trademarks and the Minatare Ranch facilities. It would be hard to have picked a buyer to carry on the great Ankony name with more enthusiasm and respect than Virgil Lovell.
Mr. Lovell achieved his desire to own Ankony, and even more. . .he re-acquired his much admired and his favorite sire, Lovana.
From boyhood, Virgil Lovell has been a student of pedigrees. He has always followed the Ankony program closely, and had a plan in mind when the purchase was made. He knew the strength of the Ankony cow herd loaded with half and three-quarter sisters. . . most of them in the Ankony herd for three maternal generations or more. He also knew the herd was positioned right for major change.
During the 70s and through the 80s Mr. Lovell was involved in breeding some of the most valuable and winningest cattle in the country involving Angus, Chianina, Brangus, Salers and Charolais. He was responsible for breeding two National Grand and Reserve Salers females, the Grand Champion Bull at the 10th Anniversary World Show and the Brangus Sire of the Year in 1986 and 1987. Also, three National Grand and three Reserve Charolais females, twice Premier Breeder and Exhibitor, two National Grand Champion Bulls and National Reserve Grand, and the highest averaging sale in the modern history of the Charolais breed. His Angus operation was responsible for sales that were always in the top five gross and average from 1979 through 1984 and was in the top three or four nationally competitive firms.
One of the many winning Ankony car loads at Denver.
For 30 years Ankony had been managed under a large corporate structure. It was now in the hands of a man who had been through the ups and downs of kind and pedigree, of shape and size. An individualistic approach to the focus of Ankony was in Mr. Lovell's hands.
Lovana and Bold Ruler, both outcross sires, had made major contributions to the Ankony program. Their daughters were the bread and butter of Ankony. It had been eight years since any major genetic boost had been give this cow herd from "outside" genetics.
Intense study of the current industry demands and direction, available genetics and applicable technology combined with a vision of the future prompted a re-direction. . .and a New Era began. It was open-minded, science-based and an aggressive approach to documentable genetic improvement in volume. It was time for a new influx of genetics and personnel.
This led to the hiring of Dr. Dave Duello, with a Ph.D. in Beef Cattle Breeding from Iowa State University, and whose major area of study was in the genetic evaluation of carcass traits using ultrasound technology. Dr. Duello was trained by some of the foremost beef cattle geneticists in the country. He combined this technical training with a life history of real world beef cattle experience and has become a widely recognized judge of beef cattle in the U.S.
Mr. Lovell then selected balanced performance sires with high accuracy EPDs. He had another qualification they must meet. . .they must have ready breeder recognition and broad popularity within the breed and industry. New genetic sires of the 21st Century were selected and used artificially in this unique cow herd. More new sires followed. . .each with an Ankonian name. . .Alliance, Elixir and One.
The decision to select sires with an outstanding balance of EPDs didn't stop with the traditional measures of performance. Carcass traits of ribeye, backfat and marbling also received worthy attention. Use of both carcass EPDs and ultrasound technology seemed the most logical approach. Research in this area with Iowa State University and Texas Tech University has proven ultrasonic measurements of carcass traits in animals to be a reliable and valuable tool to enhance carcass trait improvement. It has also provided a database for sire evaluation that is faster and more economical than traditional approaches.
From the first crop of calves from the "new" program, Ankony extended a long tradition of successes in the bull carload and pen shows at the National Western Stock Show by taking Reserve Grand Champion honors in both the Carload and Pen divisions in 1994 and 1995. Although the new policy reduced Ankony's participation in traditional shows, many noteworthy champions carried the Ankony trademark in the hands of other breeders and juniors.
More here:
http://www.pineridgeangus.com/history.html
