News Update

News Update
April 19, 2007

AngusSource Passes Milestone of 100,000 Head of Qualified Cattle

AngusSource®, the American Angus Association’s United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Process Verified Program (PVP), recently surpassed 100,000 head of cattle qualified for the program. For more than a year, AngusSource has been the industry leader in qualifying Angus genetic-, age- and source-verified cattle and continues to drive the beef industry toward quantifying true Angus genetics.

The program has shown steady growth since becoming a USDA PVP in October 2005. March 2007 was the top enrollment month, qualifying 13,651 head for AngusSource. This reflects a 10% increase over enrollments in March 2006. In June 2006, cattle genetically verified through AngusSource became eligible for the Certified Angus Beef® (CAB) brand.

National Beef Packing Co. LLC recently became eligible through the USDA to allow AngusSource cattle to qualify for their own Angus branded programs. Art Wagner, National Beef’s vice president of procurement, recently said, “Those cattle, based on whatever information accompanies them via AngusSource, might be eligible for a variety of value-added premiums.”

Mark McCully, director of supply development for CAB, said, “This will obviously affect the producers who are using registered Angus bulls on a set of cows that might not produce black calves,” citing a Charolais-Angus-cross example. “Now that we know the genetics, those cattle that were previously not eligible will be evaluated for CAB and its premiums.”

The AngusSource program began as a way to drive demand for registered Angus bulls by increasing the value of Angus-sired calves. Recent Premium Value Challenge (PVC) winners averaged more than $8 per hundredweight (cwt.) in premiums through live auctions, video and private treaty transactions.

Calves sired by an Angus bull do not automatically qualify for AngusSource. The bull must be registered with the American Angus Association and properly transferred to the producer enrolling the calves. The Association registration certificate is key to the entire program and serves as the documentation/verification that the calves sired by the bull are a minimum of 50% Angus. Calves must also meet the program requirements for the source-and age-verification claims.

AngusSource Announces Second Round of Premium Value Challenge Winners

Producers using registered Angus bulls and enrolling in the AngusSource program continue to realize the value in information. AngusSource has announced its second quarterly winners in the Premium Value Challenge (PVC). Producers enrolled in AngusSource can enter the PVC by submitting sale information on their calves.

“The AngusSource program is gaining momentum. Industry awareness is at an all-time high,” says Sara Moyer, director of the AngusSource program. “We are proud to recognize those producers through the PVC that took full advantage of the marketing assistance that AngusSource offers and in doing so received a premium for their Angus-sired calves.”

Once producers marketed their calves they were asked to submit their sale information to AngusSource. Those cattle that received more than a $5-per-cwt. premium over the Cattle-Fax mid-range weekly price for their region qualify for PVC. This quarter of the PVC was conducted for cattle marketed from November 2006 through January 2007. The quarterly state winners and their sale information follow.

Linda Green, Flippin, Ark., received a $12-per-cwt. premium for heifers and an $11-per-cwt. premium for steers. Rocky P Ranch, Hanston, Kan., received a $7.70-per-cwt. premium for steers. Brian Lease, Clark, Mo., sold steers for a $5.10-per-cwt. premium. Kenneth Pelster, Bartlett, Neb., sold a lot of steers for an $8.25-per-cwt. premium. In Nevada, Alan Cain, Winnemucca, sold heifers for a $9.75-per-cwt. premium, and Anthony Lesperance, Paradise Valley, sold steers for an $11-per-cwt. premium. Cletus Blubaugh, Tonkawa, Okla., received a $5.89-per-cwt. premium for heifers. Thaine and Anita Schickendanz, Fargo, Okla., received a $6.38-per-cwt. premium for their steers.

The steers and heifers sold at premium through various marketing outlets including private treaty, at a local auction market and via video auctions. Producers who are currently marketing their calves can still participate in the PVC, as it is conducted quarterly. Data is now being collected on those calves sold February through April 2007. All producers who submit information with more than a $5-per-cwt. premium receive an AngusSource cap, and state winners received an AngusSource wind shirt.

For more information about AngusSource or the Premium Value Challenge, go to www.angussource.com.

Angus Programs Featured on ‘The American Rancher’

Two growing Angus programs will be featured on RFD-TV later this month. “The American Rancher” will feature a 30-minute segment on the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) and the Angus Foundation, beginning Monday, April 23, airing at 8 p.m., Central time. The program will re-air on Tuesday, April 24 at 4 a.m. and 12 p.m.; Saturday, April 28 at 3:30 p.m.; and Sunday, April 29 at 9 p.m. All times are Central.

The 30-minute show hosted by Pam Minick includes an overview of the NJAA and features interviews with past and current members reflecting on the leadership and educational experiences offered through junior Angus programs. Parents also offer their admiration for the NJAA and the skills taught to its members.

The Vision for Value: Campaign for Angus, the Angus Foundation’s multi-year, capital campaign is also featured during the program, and highlights the opportunities the Foundation offers through its educational, youth and research effort.

Angus enthusiasts will want to tune to RFD-TV, Direct TV Channel 379 the week of April 23 to learn more about the NJAA and the Angus Foundation on “The American Rancher.”

— Releases provided by the American Angus Association.

— compiled by Crystal Albers, associate editor, Angus Productions Inc.