KANSAS-To answer your question regarding ". . what would it take to get back to this same body type? If it is even possible at this time."
To help put a cork in the harangue that seems - once again - to be sneaking it's way into these posts, which, according to what I thought they were for, was to have a reasonable and sensible dialogue about Beef Cattle Production and Management! Maybe I am wrong - it has happened before!
Anyway, back to the question
du jour! To placate the obvious misunderstanding that some of the members experienced from reading your question, I think that your meaning could probably have been more easily understood by your saying something like "What would it take to prevent this same body type from almost destroying the breed - AGAIN!" - or - try this - -"? What kind of insufferable TORTURE can be inflicted on stupid, uninformed and wealthy Tax Dodgers who haven't got a clue or the integrity on how to sustain and improve a valuable commodity such as a Beef Cattle Breed?"
And, YES, Virginia - -it certainly IS possible - at THIS TIME - to be so ignorant, irresponsible, hubristic, selfish, and self-centered that with a lack of concern and determination to educate one's self in the necessities and mandates of Beef Production and Management, an entire BREED can be so violated, corrupted and damaged Phenotypically and Genotypically that it would take ANOTHER 30 - 40 years to correct the mistakes made by just a few careless and senseless people!
:help: If we try TOO hard to play GOD, we are asking for trouble!
You touched a raw nerve with your question - because I have lived through just such a disasterous period of time from the 40's through the mid 60's with the Angus Breed - and I see the same type of ugly signs rearing their selfish heads - AGAIN, WITH THE SAME BREED! The situation incensed me at the time, and it is getting to be
de'ja' vu ALL over AGAIN - except THIS time it is a tug-of-war between TWO factions - those who are trying to make the breed as BIG (notice I did NOT say 'as profitable') as possible, and those who are attempting to make the breed "Easy Calving High Milkers"'! They are BOTH wrong- In My Opinion! The term "Moderation" is in neither of their vocabularies! But - we are a Vain and Stiff-necked people, and we work HARD to REFUSE to learn by our previous mistakes AND the mistakes of others! Therefore, I feel that we are beginning to travel down the same road as we did 50 some years, ago - with this exception: there are many bright and intelligent breeders who can see through the mercenary ploys of SOME breeder's, and will repudiate the siren's call, and have responsibility and determination and cajones enough to see the handwriting-on-the-wall in time to avoid a disatrous train wreck, necessitating a complete "Phoenix' recurrance to get the Angus Breed BACK to what made it the most versatile and utilitarian Beef Breed in history! It is still that Anchor of the Beef Business, but there are other breed's that are becoming very valuable as well!
KANSAS- I hope you can perceive the intensity I have for the need of EDUCATION AND LEARNING in regard to the future of a breeders' business and income, and the continuance of breeding EXCELLENT beef cattle.
It's What's For Dinner! And that is not just a catch phrase.
DON'T GET ME STARTED!
DOC HARRIS