News Update

June 17, 2016

Angus to Update
Selection Indexes July 1

Angus breeders and their customers will see some slight changes in dollar value indexes ($Values) beginning July 1 as Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) updates the economic assumptions used to calculate the selection tools included in the American Angus Association weekly genetic evaluation.

“Every July, we update the economic assumptions that go into Angus $Values, like $B and $W,” says Dan Moser, AGI president who oversees the Association’s performance programs. “This allows for the most up-to-date market prices and costs to predict profit differences among animals.”

These economic assumptions are assigned to expected progeny difference (EPD) components included in the $Values, which are expressed in dollars per head and allow for multi-directional change. While the update is a regular occurrence for the breed, Moser reminds members that any declines in $Value numbers are largely a reflection of market conditions.

Read more in the Angus news release online.

— Adapted from a release by Crystal Albers, Angus Media.

30-Day Protein Challenge

The checkoff's “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.” brand launched its second 30-Day Protein Challenge campaign this month. Americans currently consume two-thirds of their total daily protein intake at dinner, which doesn’t leave much room for protein at other meals or snacks. The 30-Day Protein Challenge provides a step-by-step plan to get an optimal amount of protein throughout the day.

The first launch of the Protein Challenge in 2015 was extremely successful, exceeding benchmark metrics set for the campaign, including more than 14,000 email campaign subscriptions, 81,000+ email opens and click-thrus, and more than 164,000 visits to the Protein Challenge landing page on beefitswhatsfordinner.com during the campaign period.

For more information, view the Angus Media news article online.

— Adapted from an article by Melissa Jackson, Cattlemen’s Beef Board.

Beef Talk

Producers welcomed spring snow and rains this April in preparation for maintaining or even increasing cattle inventory for the coming year. The extra heifers may find some good pasture this summer and, we hope, turn up pregnant this fall.

The moisture impacts land use, which is a serious topic and central to the future for beef production management options. Input for land-use management options often is followed by discussion, decision and implementation because land is used for direct grazing or the production of feed.

At the North Dakota State University Dickinson Research Extension Center (DREC), the issue of how to integrate crop, forage and grass production to meet the needs of the cow herd is the focus of current discussions. How much grass is available? How many cows can the ranch support? Can traditional cropping systems feed cows?

To continue reading, access the Angus Beef Bulletin Extra article online.

— Adapted from an article by Kris Ringwall, NDSU Extension Service.

Heed This Advice on Anaplasmosis

It is difficult to quantify the risk of anaplasmosis in any given herd at any given time of year, but when an outbreak occurs, it can result in devastating consequences for a cow-calf herd.

Anaplasmosis is most commonly caused by Anaplasma marginale, a microorganism that invades red blood cells and causes severe anemia. Transmitted through the blood, the main culprits in spreading the disease include biting flies or ticks or infected blood transferred on contaminated needles or other equipment. The disease can result in death, aborted calves, bull infertility, weight loss and diminished milk production, as well as additional treatment expenses.

The risk for disease increases when mixing noninfected cattle with those that carry the disease or when environmental conditions favor increased activity of biting flies or ticks.

— Adapted from an article by Zoetis.

What’s in a Number?

Numbers are everywhere. They matter to a rancher, so they matter to the Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) brand. A natural progression, CAB’s Black Ink team set out to uncover stories behind both common and irregular numbers that affect a cattleman’s future. From 120 million to -2.26, each one tells a story of how even the seemingly random and only slightly related are intertwined to impact profitability.

Every number has a story — take 30.1%, for example. Fifteen years ago, the American Angus Association’s Board of Directors set a goal. By the year 2020, they wanted to see CAB brand acceptance rates at the 30% mark. Along the way, there were times that number felt completely unattainable — like in 2006, for example, when rates hit an all-time low of 14%.

Then something happened.

More and more Angus producers started focusing on grid marketing and the profit-boosting premiums they could earn. They became more quality-focused and more critical of their genetic selection and culling decisions.

It paid off. Last summer, the brand experienced two months in a row with 30.1% CAB acceptance rates.

— Adapted from an article by Laura Conaway, Certified Angus Beef LLC.

— Compiled by Paige Nelson, field editor, Angus Media.