News Update
May 10, 2016
Angus Sets Pace for Quality
The American Angus Association’s more than 25,000 members continue to set the pace for the beef cattle industry, bolstered by a growing demand for registered-Angus genetics nationwide.
According to reports released by the Association, breeders have registered 7% more Angus animals during the first half of the fiscal year compared to the same time period a year ago. Association reports for March alone showed an 18% boost in registrations compared to the same month in 2015.
“The Angus business is performing really well halfway through the year,” says Allen Moczygemba, Association CEO. “We’re on pace again for an outstanding year in registrations following one of the breed’s best years on record. If we continue this growth, we could see our fifteenth-largest registration level in the history of our 133-year-old organization. That’s significant from a historical perspective since Angus comprises a larger portion of market share today in the total U.S. cattle inventory.”
Breeders saw a collective increase in the number of head sold in sales reported to the Association, October 2015 through March 2016. Despite an expanding marketplace, however, Angus sale averages remain steady, and packer premiums paid for quality genetics have never been greater.
For more information, please view the Angus news release online.
Capturing Pounds and Profits
In a high or low cattle market environment, capturing the most pounds per calf affects a producer’s bottom line, said a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economist.
Mac Young, AgriLife Extension economist in Corpus Christi, told attendees at the recent Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) convention in Fort Worth that beef producers have obviously enjoyed the record-high prices they’ve received the past couple of years.
However, purchasing replacement females has been an expensive proposition, he said.
“Prices for 2016 are obviously higher than 2012. That’s great if you are selling, but not so great if you are buying replacement heifers or cows,” he said. “We’ve seen those record-high prices come down a bit since late last year and you need to do everything you can to put as many pounds on your calves as possible.”
To continue reading, access the Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA article online.
Adding Value, Booting Quality
Cattlemen seeking to add value on their next set of calves should first consider the consumer. Industry trends point toward strengthening demand for high-quality beef, and growth of the Certified Angus Beef® (CAB) brand shows that consumers are willing to pay more for an exceptional eating experience. CAB consultant Larry Corah says focusing on the end-product and how cattle perform on the rail can bring real dollars back to the ranch.
“You focus on health. You focus on getting cattle that can grow, but you tend to forget about the fact that these cattle need to grade. They need to hit that Prime and premium Choice like the Certified Angus Beef program to qualify for the added dollars,” Corah says.
He also explained that making sure cattle grade high can be a simple as paying attention to the marbling expected progeny difference (EPD) of the bull the rancher is looking to buy.
For more of Corah’s interview, watch this week’s episode of The Angus Report online. You can also catch the show at 1:30 p.m. CST Saturday and 7:30 a.m. CST each Monday morning on RFD-TV.
Protecting the Future of Animal Agriculture
The theme for the second and final day of the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2016 Stakeholders Summit, which concluded May 6, was how attendees can help protect the future of animal agriculture. The first panel featured three theology experts discussing how animal rights groups use religion to negatively influence consumers about eating meat, milk and eggs.
Panelists included: Wes Jamison, associate professor of public relations, Palm Beach Atlantic University; Walter Kaiser,, president emeritus and distinguished professor of Old Testament and ethics, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary; and Paul Copan, professor and pledger family chair of philosophy and ethics, Palm Beach Atlantic University.
“Your primary opponents have no fear in using religion for persuasive purposes,” said Jamison. But if they’re “going to use a source they need to use it correctly.”
For more information, view the Alliance news release online.
O.D. Butler Field Day May 20
Field stops demonstrating various herbicide control plots, plus a net-wire fence building demonstration will be just a few of the program highlights at the O.D. Butler Field Day set for May 20 at Camp Cooley Ranch, 4297 Camp Cooley Ranch Road in Franklin, Texas.
“This year’s field day should have something to offer for everyone,” said Ed Schneider, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agent for Robertson County. “The morning program will feature tour stops at a herbicide/fertilized demonstration trial. They include a multiple species brush control demonstration trial, a net-wire fence building demonstration and a historic overview of herbicide demonstrations and how they have changed the past 25 years.”
For more information, view the complete news release online.
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