| Ralph E. Sydenstricker, Eddie's father, established
                                                Sydenstricker Angus Farms (SAF) in 1952 at Paris, Missouri. They have
                                                been producers of registered Angus seedstock since that time. The herd
                                                was enrolled in Angus Herd Improvement Records in 1977. The name of the
                                                operation changed to Sydenstricker Genetics (SydGen) in 2001 to more
                                                accurately reflect the mission. 
                                             Click here for highlights of Sydenstricker
                                                        Angus History 
                                             SydGen has utilized the same headquarters
                                                location south of Mexico, Missouri, in north central Missouri, since
                                                1966. They currently calve about 800 head, of which 20-25% are embryo
                                                transplant calves. SydGen has a 65-day spring breeding season and a
                                                50-day fall breeding season. The herd is maintained on 2500 owned and
                                                750 leased acres. The farm is a combination farm with 25% in a crop
                                                rotation of corn, soybeans, and wheat, and 75% in pasture and hay. 
                                                Most of the production is marketed through an annual production sale
                                                held each year in November. All fall yearling bulls and the January born
                                                spring bull calf crop are sold at that time, as well as a cross-section
                                                of females and embryos. Additionally, beginning in 1998, SydGen hosts a
                                                SydGen Influence Commercial Female Sale for their customers, the evening
                                                of their Production Sale. These heifers must be sired by and or bred to
                                                SydGen Sires and meet Show-Me Select-type guidelines. Since 2006, SydGen
                                                has also hosted a Spring Influence Sale in April, which includes the
                                                SydGen February born spring bulls as well as consignments from SydGen
                                                Customers. Those animals must be sired by a SydGen sire and or from a
                                                SydGen female and adhere to set health and performance reporting
                                                guidelines. 
                                                SydGen is a leader in the independent marketing of semen and AI
                                                certificates on herd sires. Beginning in 1992 they printed their own
                                                semen directory. In 2002, SydGen, along with five other progressive
                                                breeders formed ORIgen and built a state-of-the-art bull housing,
                                                collection and distribution facility. The ORIgen network allows breeders
                                                to take advantage of the marketing opportunities while giving the bull
                                                owners control of their own bulls. Presently, SydGen sires are
                                                responsible for over 80,000 progeny with weights recorded in the AHIR
                                                database, and 3700 progeny on Australia's Breedplan. Although many are
                                                young sires, 24,000 daughters in production on AHIR. 
                                                SydGen began carcass evaluation of herd sires in 1988, and today, own or
                                                co-own over 50 sires with actual carcass EPDs, based on over 3000 of
                                                their progeny evaluated.  
                                                Mike Kasten, Millersville, MO, has used predominantly Sydenstricker
                                                Genetics since 1988. His cattle have shattered records in the Farmland
                                                Supreme Beef Alliance, and more recently, have consistently ranked near
                                                the top of AngusSource Challenges. His calves consistently grade 60+%
                                                CAB and Prime, and convert between 4.9 and 5.2 pounds of dry matter per
                                                pound of gain. His bred heifers are some of the most sought-after
                                                females in the Show Me Select heifer sales. 
                                                Sire Summary sorts for well-proven sires with mult-trait excellence will
                                                consistently point to SydGen sires as real world performance bulls who
                                                can move your herd forward in a multitude of economically important
                                                traits. 
                                            For more information about our program download a
                                                        copy of our BIF Seedstock Producer of the Year award
                                                        application. Click here. 
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