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Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA

Angus Advantages

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Topics of Interest

Country-of-Origin Labeling

Information about country-of-origin labeling, and what it means for cattlemen.


Angus International

A platform for global information sharing spanning the worldwide Angus industry.


Cattle Industry Annual Convention and NCBA Trade Show


Angus Bull listing service

Click here to access
a list of Angus bulls
for sale.

 


U.S. Beef Demand Drivers and Enhancement Opportunities

This publication uses national, quarterly data to examine U.S. meat demand. The analysis provides insights into beef demand and topics affecting demand.

Results showed beef demand is sensitive to the strength of the U.S. economy, and that consumers respond to information about beef and nutrition. Results also suggest beef demand suffered as consumers’ demand for more convenient meat products increased. Consumers are also sensitive to food safety.
Read more.




AngusSource
AngusSource®/
Gateway cattle listings:

AngusSource/
Gateway
feeder cattle


AngusSource/
Gateway replacement/
breeding females


Angus Productions Inc.

December 20, 2009


MARKETING...

Cattle in stockyards

Dillon Feuz
Dillon Feuz

In the Cattle Markets

Evaluating retained ownership alternatives.

There are two key factors that determine the profitability of all retained ownership alternatives. The first is the direction of the market during the retained ownership program. If the overall market level moves higher, producers are almost sure to make money. Conversely, if the market level moves lower, producers are almost sure to lose money.

The other key factor is the overall cost per pound of gain in the program compared to the overall feedlot cost per pound of gain. If you can add weight cheaper outside of the feedlot, you can frequently see a positive return to do so. Read more.


Cattle-On-Feed Report

U.S. cattle on feed down 1%.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its December cattle-on-feed report Dec. 18. Cattle and calves on feed for harvest in the United States for feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.3 million head Dec. 1, 2009. The inventory was 1% below Dec. 1, 2008, figures. Placements in feedlots during November totaled 1.85 million, 8% below 2008 figures. For the month of November, placements were the second-lowest since the series began in 1996. Net placements were 1.78 million head. During November, placements of cattle and calves weighing

• < 600 pounds (lb.) were 510,000;

• 600-699 lb. were 565,000;

• 700-799 lb. were 395,000; and

• 800 lb. and greater were 375,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during November totaled 1.63 million, 4% above 2008 figures. For the month of November, fed-cattle marketings were the third-lowest since the series began in 1996.

Other disappearance totaled 66,000 during November, 1% below 2008.

To view the report and additional commentary, visit www.nass.usda.gov.

 


Cattle on Feed: Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance, 1000+ Capacity Feedlots, United States, Dec. 1, 2008-2009


Number
% of
Previous Year
2008
2009
 
----1000 Head----
On Feed Nov. 1
10,972
11,134
101
Placed on Feed During Nov.
2,016
1,845
92
Fed Cattle marketed during Nov.
1,575
1,631
104
Other Disappearance during Nov.
67
66
99
On Feed Dec. 1
11,346
11,282
99



QualityCast

Dollars and sense from the Brand that Pays®

Each month, hear from the folks at Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) about the latest news from across the spectrum of the company's divisions. This month, David O'Diam, brand extension manager, gives us a closer look at the Certified Angus Beef® Prime extension. Who buys it, and why does it matter to you? Listen in to find out.


Paul Dykstra
Paul Dykstra

CAB Corner

Patience, like balance, is a virtue

Spring bull sale season is almost here, forcing us to make some reasoned guesses. It's aggravating that last year's breeding decisions have not even begun to play out as the calendar dictates that we think about another set of genetic inputs for the coming months. Even worse, the jury is still out on today's first-calf heifers, conceived almost three years ago. Feedlot and carcass payouts for their first progeny won't come home to the bottom line for another 14 months or so. Breeding cattle is clearly no task for the impatient.


Many related factors move much faster than genetic progress in a cow herd. Volatile prices of feed and other inputs keep us on the edge of our seats, tuned in to market reports. Ample rainfall and a mild growing season make for later weaning and more stocker cattle, while cheaper corn and lower calf prices push more of us to consider retained ownership. Read more.


Sara Snider
Sara Snider

The Source

Happy New Year

It is hard to believe that the holidays are upon us and 2010 is almost here. As we begin a new year, it is a good time to take a look back at past accomplishments and to look forward and set goals for the coming year.

We have come a long way. In fiscal year 2005, the first year that AngusSource® was a Process Verified Program (PVP), we enrolled a little more than 65,000 head. In fiscal year (FY) 2009 we enrolled close to 123,000. Enrollments nearly doubled in four short years. Read more.


RBCS XXI coverage:

International Trade Considerations

Livestock Marketing Information Center (LMIC) Director Jim Robb offered a "big picture" view of the status of the U.S. beef export market during the opening session of the 21st Range Beef Cow Symposium hosted in Casper, Wyo. To offer some perspective, Robb began by pointing out that by 2050 the world's population is expected to increase by 33%, with India and China being the two most populous countries, respectively. Particularly with the anticipated growth in China, Robb stated, "As people's incomes go higher, demand for animal protein also increases. So beef consumption has the potential to double by 2050." Read more.


RBCS XXI coverage:

Cattle Outlook

Cattle-Fax economist Brett Stuart painted a global picture that will be increasingly important to the U.S. beef industry as he addressed participants of the 21st Range Beef Cow Symposium during its closing session.

"We've got a lot of things going on around the world that affect our beef industry," Stuart said. During the last two years, American beef producers have been affected by the financial disruptions on Wall Street and internationally. But, he reported, the global stock market is correcting, which is an indication that the economy is recovering and the recession is over.

Here in the U.S., the recovery is still lagging. Stuart explained that the Dow Jones is up 52% over the last six to eight months, but it is still down 20% from January 2008, and unemployment has remained high, retail sales are weak and consumers are still concerned. Read more.


RBCS XXI coverage:

Factors Affecting Consumer Demand

Economists and market analysts spend a lot of time talking about factors affecting the supply of beef. They often talk about how prices cattle producers receive, and consumers pay, change as a result of shifts in supply, James Mintert says. The underlying assumption of this type of analysis is that, in the short run, beef demand is relatively stable. However, from a longer-term perspective, beef demand has not been stable. In fact, it has declined precipitously over the last three decades.

The Purdue University agricultural economist focused his presentation at the 2009 Range Beef Cow Symposium in Casper, Wyo., on the factors responsible for shifts in demand and provided some insight as to how the beef industry can go about improving domestic demand for beef in the years ahead. Read more.


Resources for Niche Markets

Click here to learn more about producing natural and organic beef
and/or grass-fed beef.


Angus Almanac

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