Discussion of Bylaw revisions

Preface:

Several recent IBBA Boards of Directors have identified items in the IBBA bylaws that they felt were not as clear as they could be or simply needed to be updated. In 2022, the Board worked through each line in the bylaws and has developed a new draft that is hereby recommended to the membership for approval. The current bylaws are dated 3/13/2015. The proposed bylaws are dated 9/19/2022. A full and complete copy of each are available here on the website.

You are encouraged to review the two versions, but the primary changes relate to Article V. This is the Article that describes the rules for cattle registrations, enrollments and the meaning of various prefixes. In the section below, please find an explanation of the changes to Article V and the reasoning behind them.

Again, there are other minor “housekeeping” changes to the bylaws that are hereby proposed. But the substance of the changes pertain to Article V.

Note: The word “Brangus”, as used in this discussion document, refers to Black Brangus and Red Brangus without discrimination. The word “Angus” refers to both Black Angus and Red Angus. The word “Ultra” refers to both Ultrablack and Ultrared animals.

Article V Discussion:

Section I. A. Defines Initial Generation Brangus as 3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Angus breeding.

• Part A.1 in the current bylaws describes matings between two Brangus parents, which is now covered by Part D in the revised version.
• Parts A.2 and A.3 in the current bylaws clearly describe the traditional matings that produce 3/8 5/8 animals by breeding (i.e. by pedigree). These parts are unchanged in the revised version under A.1 and A.2.
• Part A.3 in the revised version accommodates matings that result in 3/8 5/8 breed composition but are not exactly the same as the traditional first generation matings. For instance, a mating of a 5/16 Brahman 11/16 Angus with another animal that is 7/16 Brahman and 9/16 Angus produces an animal that is 6/16 Brahman and 10/16 Angus, which is equal to 3/8 5/8. This would accommodate the mating of two parents that have Brangus Optimizer (BO) prefixes. They can now give rise to an R or RR prefix progeny. From a pure genetics standpoint, there is nothing unique about the traditional crosses that result in 3/8 5/8 composition. Hence, any cross that results in 3/8 5/8 should have the same privileges as any other and would qualify as an “initial generation Brangus”.
• Part A.4 in the current bylaws created a lot of discussion during the bylaws review. It is subject to multiple interpretations. Therefore, it is replaced with a new Part A.4 which is precise and is thought to capture the intent of Part A.4 in the current bylaws and is not ambiguous.

Section I.B. Ultrablack and Ultrared.

• Parts B.1 and B.2 in the current bylaws are rewritten to recognize the “step number” that breeders are accustomed to using and which show up on registration certificates. Breeders recognize Ultra 1 animals and Ultra 2 animals. The current bylaws do not reference the “step number” even though it is somewhat implied in the current bylaws in Part C.1.a if one reads it very carefully. The revision simplifies the subject and makes it clear.
• Parts B.3 and B.4 in the current bylaws have the same confusing language as Part A.4. The intent is preserved and is rewritten and presented in Part B.4 in the revised bylaws.
• Part B.3 in the revised bylaws covers the Ultra-Pending prefixes which were added to the mating matrix to recognize animals that have less than 50% Brangus breeding (with the balance being Angus) and are eligible to be a parent of an Ultra 1 animal if mated to a Brangus. In other words, an Ultra-Pending animal has the same opportunity to become a parent of an Ultra as an Enrolled Angus.

Section I.C Brangus produced from Ultrablack or Ultrared Cattle.

• This section in the revised bylaws simply states in plain language the requirement for breeding up to Brangus utilizing one Ultra parent, stating explicitly that the Ultra parent must be an Ultra 2.

Section I.D Subsequent Generation Brangus.

• This section in the revised by laws simply states what is stated in Section I.A.1 of the current bylaws. There is no change in rules or meaning.

Section I.E Brangus Optimizer

• Brangus Optimizers are not mentioned at all in the current bylaws. Originally, Brangus Optimizers were a cross between two registered animals, one of which was required to be a Brangus. This could include virtually anything, including some crosses that Brangus breeders would probably not want the Brangus word connected to. The Breed Improvement Committee developed a new Mating Matrix, which was subsequently approved by the Board of Directors, which redefines Brangus Optimizer as animals of Brangus, Brahman and Angus genetics only. Lacking this category, there could be some entirely legitimate animals that would otherwise have no recognized category and would therefore be classified as commercial. An example would be a Certified Half Blood bred to a Brangus. Such an animal would be 7/16 Brahman and 9/16 Angus and, without the Brangus Optimizer category, would become a commercial animal with no future in the IBBA herd book even though it was produced from animals recognized as legitimate parents. Brangus Optimizers are subject to genetic evaluation and receive EPDs.

Section II. Animals Eligible for Certification

• Parts A, B and C in the revised bylaws are identical to Parts A, B and C in the current bylaws.
• Part D in the current bylaws (Appendix animals) are now defined in the revised bylaws in Article V, Section IV.

Section III. Animals Eligible for Enrollment

• Parts A and B in the revised bylaws are revised slightly to specifically allow enrollment of Angus or Brahman from foreign registries assuming all requirements are met.
• Part C in the revised bylaws allows enrollment of Brangus or Ultra animals from other registries, particularly foreign registries, assuming all requirements are met. This is considered essential as IBBA’s work toward formation of a global genetic evaluation database are taking shape.

Section IV. Appendix Registry.

• This section in the revised bylaws is designed to capture the definition for the Appendix registry animals and to make it clear that Appendix animals are those that meet all requirement for breed composition and pedigree depth, but have disqualifying color markings.

Section V. Fees

• This section in the revised bylaws gives the Board of Directors discretion in determining fees depending on membership type (or non-membership). As the global genetic evaluation database is developed, this level of discretion is essential to deal-making.

Section VII. Herd Books

• Section VII in the revised bylaws acknowledges the fact that all records are maintained in one database. Within the database, based upon breed composition and prefix, each sub-population can be isolated but they reside in the same database nevertheless.