The GDAR Program
Dedication • Persistence • Consistency
Focusing on real-world, relevant traits to consistently improve upon Angus genetics for a more profitable beef industry.
6 Decades Making Better Cows
Russ Denowh and Joe Gartner started Gartner-Denowh Angus Ranch in 1957 with the goal of developing ever better females that possessed the genetics to add value to all segments of the beef industry. Russ was fond of stating that if you select for the female, the rest will fall into place.
45 Sires in AI Studs
45 GDAR bred or owned bulls have stood at major AI studs. What a testament to the program that is GDAR.
Pictures of many of these sires can be seen on our history page.
Performance Testing since 1957
GDAR started performance testing in 1957. Russ was a firm beleiver in utilizing any means to measure the productivity and efficiency of the GDAR herd, and that tradtion is still strong today.
When building something great, you must have a solid foundation. A great cowherd is no different - it is built upon great bulls and more importantly, solid cows.
Cows that Work for a Living
GDAR cows are expected to forage and travel on the rolling plains of Eastern Montana. They are expected to be efficient. With each new generation of GDAR females we expect to get more with less inputs.
Functional & Efficient Females
A GDAR female must be easy fleshing even on a low quality diet. Moderate mature size is emphasized. Cow wieghts have been recorded for over 15 years.
Healthy & Vigorous Calves
Mothering ability and calf vigor are a big deal. We get caught up looking at all the numbers and sometimes forget that bred cows and live calves are where the money is made.
Maternal excellence, for us, is about raising cows that will go out and get the job done.
Phenotype & Structure
Phenotype and structure come before numbers at GDAR. Structural soundness is paramount to the long term sustainability of any ranching operation.
270,000+ Records Recorded
Over 270,000 individual records have been recorded here at GDAR. If we find it economically important we try to measure it. We are firm beleivers in large data sets and large contemporary groups to make EPD's and ratios more meaningful and accurate.
Productivity & Stayability
Nothing is more profitable for a cow-calf operation than females that stay in the herd while producing pounds at weaning. That is why we cull so hard for feet, bad bags, fertility, and weaning performance in our cowherd - so our comercial customers don't have to.
Continually improving upon function and efficiency through balanced trait selection of economically important traits.
Predictability & Uniformity
Years and years of dedicated and disciplined mating of cows and bulls with like genetic strenghts breeds predictability and uniformity in our numbers, and more importantly by stamping our bulls and cows with the trademark GDAR look.
Work in the Pasture and on Paper
We strive for good looking, structurally sound cattle that will get the job done in the pasture, in the feedlot, and on the rail. That is why we want consistency in our cattle, whether it be in type or in their epds.
Industry Leading Sires
Elite herdsires are used extensively through artificial insemination and embryo transfer to advance our genetics. Check out the full roster on the sires page.
Balanced Trait Selection
The GDAR breeding program is designed to maximize efficiency, not necessarily to maximize any single trait. Balanced trait selection is utilized to optimize economically important traits to maximize profits.
Top 20% $M
The average of this year's bull offering ranks in the top 20% of the breed for $M, which is a result of selecting relevant traits and breeding for balance.
Large Sire Groups
GDAR offers large sire groups to improve consistency, predictability, and performance. Each year we offer the top 60% of our bulls for sale.
Common Sense Bull Development
GDAR bulls are developed with the customer in mind. Bulls are fed for a moderate gain, which helps ensure structural and breeding soundness.
Raising the kind that work since 1957 has resulted in generations of satisfied customers!
The GDAR Guarantee
We stand behind our bulls, if you have a problem, we want to know.
GDAR bulls are FULLY, 100% guaranteed for the first breeding season. See our catalog for details.
Generations of Satisfied Customers
Your success is our success, which is why we strive to do anything and everything possible to make purchasing a bull from GDAR a pleasant and fruitful experience. Let us know if we can help in any way!
