April
9, 2013
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For
more information contact:
Jena Thompson, assistant director of public
relations, at 816-383-5100 or jthompson@angus.org;
or Ginette Kurtz, AngusSource quality manager, at 816-383-5100 or gkurtz@angus.org.
PHOTO: AngusSource
Genetic ear tag
ARTICLE: CAB’s
“Here’s the Premium” study
Profitability Starts with Genetics
The American Angus Association describes
updates to its age-and-source verification program.
At one point or another, many cattlemen
wonder: Do all black-hided calves bring
the same price on sale day? How much emphasis do
buyers put on the genetic value of those calves?
For about 14 years, Certified Angus
Beef LLC (CAB) Supply Development has been conducting research to answer those
questions. The study, titled “Here’s
the Premium,” analyzed data from 10 markets that sold more than 300,000
calves in 13,794 lots. What they discovered is positive news for those who rely
on Angus genetics.
Data from nine cooperating auction
markets last fall showed an all-time high Angus premium. It was $5.30 per
hundredweight (cwt.) for the combination of 504-pound (lb.) heifers and 511-lb.
steers sold in 660 lots, compared to non-Angus contemporaries.
In addition, data from 13 years of marketing 4.9
million cattle in 40,799 lots on the leading U.S. video auction shows a clear
dominance of Angus genetics. Most of the calves sold on the video include data
on breed type, which consistently affects sale price.
The study has also found that the premiums for Angus
calves have grown in a near linear trend for the past 13 years. So the answer
is yes, known Angus steers and heifers bring more on sale day. But to tap into
that added value, producers need to provide potential buyers with an idea of how
the cattle will perform — and to verify that those black hides are, in fact,
Angus-sired.
Verifying Angus genetics
The American Angus Association® recognized
the upward trend early and anticipated the need for an identification program
that could differentiate simply black-hided calves from known Angus-sired
calves. The solution – AngusSource®. In
2003, the program began as a way to help commercial producers market their feeder
calves and replacement heifers.
In 2005, AngusSource transitioned to a USDA process
verified program (PVP) documenting source, group age and a minimum 50% Angus
genetics. When calves enter the sale arena, program ear tags let buyers
recognize the added value associated with each animal.
“This program has grown significantly over the past
10 years,” says Ginette Kurtz, AngusSource quality manager. “Our goal, every
day, is to help producers better market their cattle and increase the
profitability of their operation. We believe AngusSource does that extremely
well.”
However, today’s beef industry is
much different than it was a decade ago. Historically low cow herd numbers,
coupled with widespread drought, have many cattlemen looking toward management
strategies that increase the value of the calves they do retain. On top of that,
consumers are demanding more information — like documented source — on the beef
products they purchase.
A new plan for AngusSource will
assist with both.
Introducing AngusSource®
Genetic
The American Angus
Association is developing plans to better serve its members and their customers
through an updated age-and-source verification program called AngusSource
Genetic. It will continue to document Angus genetics, source and age, while
also incorporating valuable information from the Association database. It will
also improve user experience and reduce implementation hurdles on the ranch.
“Today’s cattle
producers have a number of options when it comes to managing their herds,”
Kurtz says. “By launching AngusSource Genetic we hope to streamline the process
and make our program the easiest – and most reliable – genetic verification
resource in the beef industry.”
The Angus breed boasts
the nation’s largest beef cattle registry, and the new AngusSource Genetic
program is designed to more closely align with those records, which are updated
weekly. Commercial cattlemen using the program will be encouraged to take
advantage of the Association’s suite of performance tools and records.
“Simplicity is key to all of our updates,” Kurtz says. “Enrolling in
AngusSource Genetic will be a straightforward process, with the option to
enroll even before calves are born.”
Once enrolled,
AngusSource Genetic cattle are designated in two ways.
The first is an
official marketing document that authenticates the genetic integrity and
potential worth of the enrolled group of calves. The document will be available
online and emailed to a targeted group of buyers who have expressed interest in
verified Angus cattle.
The second way is a
bright, neon-green ear tag. After supplying bull turnout dates, AngusSource
Genetic can process enrollment and send program-compliant ear tags so they are
ready when calving season begins. The Destron Fearing tamper-evident tag is
available in three options: visual, e.Tag and ChoiceSet. These fade-resistant,
laser-engraved tags have superior readability and retention.
“We feel confident that
as the market changes, the value of record keeping is only going to increase,”
Kurtz says. “When you see an AngusSource Genetic ear tag, it means that calf
has been raised on an operation focused on quality, rooted in data evaluation
and determined to move the industry forward.”
Interested producers
are encouraged to contact the Association’s AngusSource department to learn
more about the program or stay tuned to the
website for more information as it becomes available.
ANGUS MEANS BUSINESS. The American Angus Association is
the nation’s largest beef breed organization, serving more than 25,000 members
across the United States, Canada and several other countries. It’s home to an extensive breed registry that grows by
nearly 300,000 animals each year. The Association also provides programs and
services to farmers, ranchers and others who rely on Angus to produce quality
genetics for the beef industry and quality beef for consumers.
For
more information about Angus cattle and the American Angus Association, visit
www.ANGUS.org.
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