Executive Vice President Newsletter - December 2024
Dear Members of the American Brahman Breeders Association,
It is with great honor and excitement that I reach out to you after my first few months as Executive Vice President of the American Brahman Breeders Association. For those who may not know me, my name is Paul Maulsby. Throughout my career, I have been deeply immersed in the cattle industry, working in purebred and commercial sectors, academia, and youth organizations. I aim to bring my well-rounded experience to the ABBA, working diligently for the success of this association. Representing the ABBA is both a privilege and a responsibility that I deeply value.
Connecting with the Brahman Community
As part of my vision for this role, I am committed to enhancing communication and fostering relationships across our community. To this end, I will be providing monthly newsletters to the membership, as well as updates to the Board of Directors, the International Community, and the AJBBA. These updates will share news, research, and insights into the cattle industry, with the goal of fostering stronger collaboration on all fronts. I welcome your feedback and engagement as we work together to advance our shared passion for Brahman cattle.
A Global Experience at the 2024 World Brahman Congress
One of my first major experiences in this role was being part of the team that hosted the 2024 World Brahman Congress in Bryan, Texas. This event underscored the global impact of the Brahman breed and the importance of thinking on a larger scale. I had the privilege of meeting passionate breeders and advocates from around the world. Listening to their stories highlighted the shared challenges we all face and the vast opportunities we can embrace as a global cattle community.
This experience reinforced the vital role that Brahman cattle play in shaping the future of beef production—a symbol of resilience, adaptability, and a foundation for innovation and growth.
A Vision for Brahman Cattle: Domestically and Internationally
Domestically: I aim to expand networks and collaborations with various sectors of the cattle industry to ensure Brahman genetics are part of the conversation and the first choice in creating crossbred cattle. The unparalleled value of Brahman genetics in crossbreeding programs is well-documented and widely experienced. Brahman cattle produce the ultimate crossbred female for the Southern United States, but I believe there is significant growth potential across all regions. Commercial females with any percentage of Brahman influence are valuable and thrive in diverse environments, not just tropical ones.
Representing all segments equally is imperative for success and growth. It takes contributions from purebred, commercial, research, and youth sectors to make an association thrive. Diversity is essential for success in the cattle industry, and I want to ensure that the ABBA provides the tools for all to succeed, regardless of the sector their operations represent.
Internationally: My commitment includes:
- Supporting advanced research initiatives.
- Enhancing genetic quality to meet global demands.
- Solidifying Brahmans as a cornerstone breed in global cattle production.
Recognizing the increasing importance of DNA for parentage verification and genetic markers, ABBA is devoted to assisting communities in navigating this process. We encourage international breeders to utilize reciprocal registration services with ABBA to validate their cattle in the ABBA Herd Book, strengthening global pedigrees and ensuring accurate records for future generations.
In the Office
Job and Position Openings: We are actively working to fill several key roles to strengthen ABBA operations:
- Director of Communications and Digital Content: This position will be filled by January 1, 2025.
- Director of DNA and Technical Support: This position will be filled by January 1, 2025.
- Director of Youth Activities and Shows: This position will be filled by January 1, 2025.
- Director of Commercial Programs and Breed Improvement: Posting scheduled for January 1, 2025.
Office Communication Enhancements: To improve efficiency and professionalism, we are implementing a digital answering system to route calls directly to the appropriate personnel or department when someone cannot be reached. We experience high call volumes each day, and I encourage you to leave a message so we can get back to you in order of the queue. This system is expected to be in place by January 1, 2025.
Website Revamp: We are in the initial stages of the ABBA website revamp. The new website is slated to launch by March 1, 2025, and will serve as a hub for information and resources. Up-to-date information will be shared regularly as part of our commitment to provide news and tools for our membership.
DNA Information and Updates: The increasing demand for DNA testing across all breeds has presented challenges with turnaround times due to larger sample volumes for all testing labs. We encourage you to plan accordingly if deadlines are imperative.
In response:
- Zoetis and Neogen are implementing internal improvements, and we are collaborating to streamline operations for our members.
- Trainings and conference calls with Zoetis and Neogen are scheduled to aid in the sharing of information and implementation.
- Training resources and detailed information will be added to the new website as a tool for members to reference.
Year 3 (2025) of the 5-Year DNA Plan:
- All A.I. sires, walking sires (sires used to cover cows in pastures), and donor dams producing calves in 2025 must have a genotype on file prior to calf registration.
- All A.I./ET calves participating in ABBA-sponsored events must have a DNA profile on file.
Upcoming Events: 2025 Houston Stock Show
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a global highlight for the ABBA and the Brahman community. This year’s event will take place March 3-8, 2025, in Houston, Texas. This show offers a unique opportunity to showcase the excellence of Brahman cattle while celebrating the breed’s international impact. It is more than just a show; it’s a platform for annual meetings, elections, and collaborations with breeders and the international community.
I look forward to meeting many of you there and strengthening the relationships that unite our global Brahman community.
Holiday Office Hours:
As we near the Holiday season, we would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to each of you for helping to make this past year such a success.
On behalf of the American Brahman Breeders Association Staff, we want you to know that we are thankful for our wonderful members, breeders, and friends and wish each of you a safe and enjoyable Holiday season.
The ABBA Office will close at 12 PM on Friday, December 20, 2024, and remain closed through Wednesday, January 1, 2025, in observance of the Christmas and New Year holidays. The ABBA will resume regular business hours at 8 AM CST on Thursday, January 2, 2025.
Looking Ahead
As I settle into this role, I am inspired by the passion, dedication, and innovation I have witnessed across our global community. Together, we can navigate industry challenges, maximize the strengths of Brahman genetics, and ensure that this breed remains essential to sustainable cattle production worldwide.
Thank you for the warm welcome I have received thus far. I am excited to build connections, share knowledge, and work alongside you to promote and advance the Brahman breed.
Happy Holidays to you and your family!
Featured News
-
Now Hiring: Executive Vice President
April 23rd, 2024 by Montgomery AlexanderMontgomery Alexanderread more -
2022 Summer Board of Director Meetings
June 24th, 2022 by Caydi BlahaCaydi Blaharead moreJoin us in Mercedes, TX for the 2022 Summer Board of Director Meetings held in conjunction with the 2022 AJBA All American National Junior Brahman Show! This is a great […]
-
ABBA E.A.R Program and Bull Development and Marketing Program Postponed until January 2023
April 22nd, 2022 by Caydi BlahaCaydi Blaharead moreThe American Brahman Breeders Association Research and Breed Improvement Committee takes great pride in offering programs to our membership that help improve the Brahman breed and allow for the collection […]
-
Summer Internship Opportunity
March 31st, 2022 by Caydi BlahaCaydi Blaharead moreThe American Junior Brahman Association is currently accepting applications for our summer internship. The purpose of this internship is to provide a well-rounded, versatile internship and learning experience for a […]
-
2022 International Brahman Show
November 30th, 2021 by Super UserSuper Userread moreBrahmans are headed back to Houston! We are excited to announce that the 2022 International Brahman Show will be held once again in conjunction with the Houston Livestock Show and […]
-
2022 Winter Board of Director & Committee Meetings
November 18th, 2021 by Caydi BlahaCaydi Blaharead moreThe 2022 Winter Board of Director and Committee Meetings will be held in Fort Worth, TX January 16-17, 2022 held in Conjunction with the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. […]
-
Fall 2021 ABBA Board of Director & Committee Meetings
October 21st, 2021 by Caydi BlahaCaydi Blaharead moreThe Fall 2021 ABBA Board of Directors and Committee Meetings will take place November 1-2, 2021 at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds in Rosenberg, TX prior to the 2021 National […]
-
HC Neel Joins ABBA as Director of Association Services
August 17th, 2021 by Caydi BlahaCaydi Blaharead moreThe ABBA is excited to announce a new addition to our team, HC Neel, IV came on board as the Director of Association Services the beginning of August and truly […]
-
Summer Board of Director and Committee Meetings
August 9th, 2021 by Super UserSuper Userread moreThe 2021 Summer Board of Director and Committee Meetings will be held in College Station, TX August 12-13, 2021. A complete schedule of meetings and locations can be found below. […]
-
ABBA/ AJBA Scholarship Applications
April 12th, 2021 by Caydi BlahaCaydi Blaharead moreWe are just 75 Days away from the 2021 All American National Junior Brahman Show in Hattiesburg, MS. We could not be more excited to be back together with are […]
-
2021 ABBA Spring Board of Director & Committee Meetings
April 9th, 2021 by Caydi BlahaCaydi Blaharead moreThe ABBA Spring Board of Director & Committee Meetings will be held in College Station, TX May 6-7, 2021. All meetings will be held at the Texas A&M Hotel and […]
-
ABBA Introduces New DNA and Technological Support Coordinator
January 13th, 2025 by Chloe GrimmChloe Grimmread moreThe American Brahman Breeders Association is pleased to announce the appointment of Allison Hajny as the DNA and Technological Support Coordinator. Allison brings a strong background in cattle reproduction research, […]
-
2025 Winter Board of Directors & Committee Meetings
January 10th, 2025 by Chloe GrimmChloe Grimmread moreWe are looking forward to our 2025 Winter Board of Directors and Committee Meetings! Please refer to the schedule below: Sunday, January 19th, 2025: 4:00 PM – Finance Committee Meeting […]