We hear a lot about the importance for cattle to fit all phases of the industry.  Cow/calf, Stocker, Feeder, Packer.  ( Oops, The stocker phase supposedly has no place in the industry any longer. The black sheep of the industry. ) The problem will always be the attempt to put it all in a single animal.  A foray into futility where the occasional deviant who appears to defy antagonisms is advertised by the purebred producer and the AI Stud as proof it can be done.  The dirty little secret is the other end of the sort.  The throwaways.  The nonconformists.  The sort is devastating to the commercial

cattleman.  He does not have the top end opportunity which seems to more than compensate in the minds of purebred producers.  It is a practice that is not only costing the commercial man, it is crippling the genetic integrity of purebreds to the point calling them purebreds is a stretch.

Commercial value is found in uniformity, repeatability, and consistent results.   This is achieved through genetic control.  Genetic control is achieved through the creation of strains and lines which have the ability to reproduce themselves consistently.  The end product can be controlled through complementary crossing, if necessary.

EPD’s are a measure of averages. What they do not measure the range of deviation from top to bottom.  The tightness or wideness of the pattern  in the calf crop remains a mystery without experience or access  to that information.  What is happening today is that the accelerated attempt to reach ever higher highs has made what a commercial cattlemen would consider a poor, inconsistent bull the most popular and sought after in purebred herds and bull studs because of their ability to sire more deviation not less. Outliers who produce outliers.  They are after the higher highs and overlook the lower lows and the wide spread in between.
The more consistent sires with the abilities more valuable to commercial production are not as popular with purebred people and Studs because they have more limited genetic reach.  Limited genetic reach sounds like a problem, but it is just a negative way to describe a more consistent commercially valuable sire.  When a consistent, reliable sire is identified and gains popularity, the first thing  the studs want is the most different sons they can find.
The next step beyond the commercially valuable consistent sire is the development of a commercially valuable consistent line or strain. This takes away the limitations and mortality of the individual.    An effort that takes time most are unwilling to take.  A Commitment most are unwilling to make.  Dedication most do not possess.
Lines and Strains focus on making the population more alike through consistency in both genetics and selection over an extended period of time.  Reliability, consistency and the ability to reproduce themselves becomes standard.  A letting go of focus on the individual and a focus on the whole population.   The inverse of the identify current popularity, try, test, identify, cull, and repeat system that has always been a part of the purebred world.  The tools available make it possible to both improve and screw up cattle faster than ever.  The time to fix the traits they seek to improve to  the point that they are consistent, reliable and commercially valuable is a step few care to take the time to pursue.