Gloucester cattleman Jerry Gustin has been named the Virginia Angus Association’s 2013 Cattleman/Seedstock Producer of the Year.

The owner of Gustin Land and Cattle in Cappahosic, Gustin was cited for making a significant contribution to genetic improvement in the areas of weaning and yearling weights, reproduction efficiency, and carcass merit in his herd of 25 Angus cattle.

Gustin uses artificial insemination and embryo transfer to breed his cattle, purchasing semen from bulls that he has determined have DNA characteristics that, when combined with one of his cows, will produce the kind of calves he’s looking for. He said that way he can breed his cows to bulls he could never afford to own himself—or even lease for stud.

For Gustin, breeding is both an intimate, hands-on process and a science that’s practiced in front of a computer screen and in a workshop adjacent to his garage.

Gustin has DNA tests done on each member of his herd, so he knows what traits...