Ginette GottswillerThe Source
We are off like a herd of turtles…
Have you ever been to a turtle race? It can sure test your patience. It is always fun and a great way to get to know people who are standing beside you. It reminds me of a recent wedding. The wife was gluing on her fingernails, talking on the phone and trying to decide which piece of jewelry would look best with her outfit. Her son was getting married, and time was ticking. Her husband said it was time to go and out the door he went. One friend grabbed the wife’s phone, the other grabbed a bag for the jewelry and nails. She was herded to the truck.
Moving quickly has never been part of her plan. She was the mother of the groom and wanted to enjoy every moment of this special day. This was her last child to be married. Everyone had a great time. The wedding was beautiful, the food was outstanding, and it went off without a hitch. It didn’t matter if they were a little late. Her husband made the comment she was like trying to herd a turtle. She will get it done, but watching her move so slowly drives him crazy.
There are some cattlemen who move as fast as a turtle when they try to decide how and when to market their calf crops. Sometimes their reps, wives or bankers may think they are herding a turtle, too. A producer may not know his breakeven. This makes it difficult to know the price he has to meet. He may bump around and change directions with his marketing every year.
While a turtle can cover lots of ground, it helps if you travel the shortest path. Buying registered Angus bulls and using the tools (like AngusSource®) the American Angus Association has for commercial producers can be a quick, low-cost way to tell your Angus-sired calves from the other black-hided calves selling on the sale block.
What is AngusSource? It is a USDA Process Verified Program (PVP) that verifies your calves are at minimum 50% Angus, source- and age-verified. This program also is the first step to qualifying your calves to meet the export requirements for the People’s Republic of China. If all of your calves are not sired by registered Angus bulls, you have the option to enroll those calves in our second-tier Gateway program. It, too, is USDA Process Verified.
Why should you enroll?
Data from January to August 2017 show that calves enrolled in AngusSouce can help your bottom line. More than 22,000 AngusSource calves have sold on the video sales this year. Those calves have received $2.05 per hundredweight (cwt.) more than calves not enrolled in any additional value-added programs. Buyers are excited to purchase feeder calves from quality genetics that will grade and gain in the feedyard. AngusSource uses a Marketing Document to convey information about genetics, date of sale, vaccinations, and other management practices to more than 800 potential buyers weekly. AngusSource is one of the most cost-effective marketing programs on the market today. The $50 enrollment fee and low tag costs show our commitment to commercial cattlemen who purchase Angus genetics.
Isn’t it time you herd your calves down the straightest path to added profitability? Be a winner, use registered Angus bulls on your commercial cow herd and add AngusSource to your marketing plan. You will be off like a herd of turtles to a better, low-cost marketing opportunity. Visit our website to listen to producer videos about AngusSource at www.angus.org.
Editor's Note: Ginette Gottswiller is the director of commercial programs for the American Angus Association.