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May 5, 2008
For More Information Contact:
Sara Moyer at
816-383-5100 or smoyer@angus.org
AngusSource Process Verified Program Status Renewed
by USDA
AngusSource®, the American Angus Association®’s Process Verified
Program (PVP), was renewed May 1, 2008, by USDA for one year. AngusSource
has been the industry leader in qualifying Angus genetic-, age- and
source-verified cattle since 2005 and continues to drive the beef industry
toward quantifying true Angus genetics.
The program continues
to show steady growth. March 2008
was the top enrollment month, qualifying 14,107 head for AngusSource,
and charting a 21.7% year-to-date increase in cattle enrolled.
“AngusSource goes beyond verification,” says Sara Moyer, director AngusSource. “The program provides services
to both ranches and feedyards, and assists with
marketing by offering support and additional outlets. Information is powerful. The more information a producer can
document about his calves, the more opportunity he has to receive
premiums.” Producers who
enroll in AngusSource have the opportunity to
customize their verification certificates and add additional health and
management information. Producers
indicate their marketing date and method which can include video, traditional
auction markets and direct from the ranch. Cattle are then advertised via the
online cattle listing site and weekly e-mails that are received by more than
600 buyers interested in AngusSource calves. To date there has been a 17.4%
increase in the number of cattle advertised at www.angussource.com/listings.html. Through the Association’s
commercial programs department, staff are working to
organize special feeder calf sales and offer additional marketing opportunities
and recognition of AngusSource cattle in
traditional auction markets and video sales.
The scope of the
AngusSource PVP expanded in 2007 to include a feedyard umbrella.
Working mainly with farmer feeders, AngusSource
has been able to assist producers in receiving premiums of up to $40 per
head.
“The
American Angus Association is pleased to work with USDA to offer this program
to our customers,” says Jim Shirley,
vice president, industry relations.
“The USDA PVP status of AngusSource
adds integrity to our program and opens the door to marketing avenues such as
export markets and branded beef programs previously not available to all AngusSource cattle.
We look forward to continuing this partnership with USDA to assist our
customers and members with meeting requirements for Country of Origin
Labeling and other labeling programs.”
The
American Angus Association is the world’s largest beef breed
organization, providing programs and services to thousands of commercial
producers and more than 36,000 members nationwide. Its headquarters are located in Saint Joseph, Mo.
For more information about AngusSource visit www.angussource.com, call 816-383-5100 or
e-mail angussource@angus.org.
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