As I look back on the past year, I’m filled with gratitude for the year we’ve had as a beef industry — but, in particular, as a part of the Angus community. The numbers tell a powerful story about the popularity of the breed and the vision our members have for the future of the industry.

Behind every statistic is the hard work, dedication and vision of our members who are striving to meet your needs. They have your profitability top of mind, leading to optimism for the year ahead.

For the 11th consecutive year, we surpassed 300,000 registrations, with nearly 310,000 head entered into the Herd Book in fiscal year 2025 — an increase of more than 7,000 compared to last year. Most were females, signaling breeders are building inventory. Notably, 75% were genomically profiled, and more than half were sire- and dam-verified.

Historic market

This year’s cattle market was historic, and registered Angus genetics led the way. Even with more head sold, registered Angus bulls averaged $8,395, and females averaged $8,436 — up $1,200 and $1,600, respectively, from last year and nearly double 2020 prices. Yet, as Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) Geneticist Pedro Ramirez points out in “Sorting Gate” in this issue, it takes fewer feeder calves to pay for a bull with today’s feeder-calf market. Incredible progress!

AngusLink^® had a strong year with 287,000 head enrolled. Premiums through summer video sales averaged more than $20 per hundredweight (cwt.) as feedlots relied on the Genetic Merit Scorecard^® for confidence in genetic risk management.

It all starts with the consumer. With beef demand at a 40-year high, the Certified Angus Beef^® (CAB^®) brand posted its third-best year ever — 1.235 billion pounds (lb.) sold and the 10th straight year greater than 1 billion lb.

Responsibility

We’re fortunate to not just participate in a strong market, but to lead it. That leadership comes with responsibility to keep improving and delivering programs and services that matter to breeders and commercial producers.

Our membership is nearly 22,000 strong, representing diverse operations across the country with different environments, markets and philosophies. That diversity is an incredible strength, but also a challenge to an association trying to balance and serve contrasting opinions.

In 2025, 75.5% of active members registered fewer than 20 head, accounting for 16% of registrations. Meanwhile, 5.3% registered more than 100 head and accounted for 52% of registrations. In 1990, herds with more than 100 head represented only 25% of registrations. This shift illustrates the complexity of serving both ends of the spectrum, as these producers tend to place value on different programs and services.

Our membership survey revealed many members are relatively new. In fact, 31% of regular and life members have been with the Association less than five years. Half have been members less than 10 years and represent 22% of last year’s registrations. What an incredible indication of breed strength, when that many new breeders are entering the business.