The Link
Asking for a friend.
Corn planting is off and running in Northwest Missouri. It has been a bit wet, but some warm days and wind have helped dry out fields. Farmers who pulled anhydrous last fall have their planters out. Producers in our area are staying true to their original planting decisions at the current time. Many of those same fall-calving producers are reluctant to sell their feeder calves in the current market. Looking for additional grass in our area is like a scavenger hunt. The local stockyards have not had an abundance of calves to sell either.
Producers across the country are being cautious, as well, when it comes to their feeder-calf marketing plans. However, producers who utilize value-added programs have not been slowing down much. They are still getting their calves enrolled in AngusLinkSM. It is branding time and the best time of year to put in those AngusLink program-compliant radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. Age-and-source verification is your first step in the chain.
Many are enrolling their calves in AngusLink’s age-and-source program since branding time is here, and it’s the best time to put in the program-compliant RFID tags. Many market their calves later in the year and don’t want to miss out on having marketing options.
Every producer who chooses to enroll in AngusLink will begin the process by obtaining their age-and-source verification. This is the base enrollment claim. Age-and-source verification includes the cost of the program-compliant tags. To start your age-and-source enrollment, complete and send the AngusLink enrollment form, along with a copy of your calving records for the group of calves you plan to enroll to anguslink@angus.org. Upon receipt, an AngusLink administrator will give you a call to go through your training and get your RFID tag order processed.
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If you plan to enroll in additional valued-added programs such as Non-Hormone Treated Cattle (NHTC), NHTC/NeverEver3 (NE3), Calf Management, Cattle Care and Handling or Angus-Sired Genetics (ASG), the AngusLink administrator will discuss additional documentation you will need to send to us. Enrolling in any of these programs is not difficult, but it does take a little time and effort! I would suggest whoever works with the cattle on a daily basis and the person who does the records/pays the bills be on the call with the administrator.
Last year producers who enrolled in NHTC on average received around $5.76 per hundredweight (cwt.) more for their calves. Those who enrolled in NHTC/NE3 saw on average $7.87 per cwt. more, while NHTC/NE3/Global Animal Partnership (GAP)-enrolled calves brought $13.39 per cwt. more on average. The cost to enroll in AngusLink is quite reasonable. AngusLink has a graduated scale for age and source verification and tag costs. Find out more about pricing at https://bit.ly/AngusLinkPricing.
AngusLink offers NHTC verification and for an additional fee you can add the NeverEver 3 claim. Or if you wish to add GAP, we offer a bundled price with Earth Claims LLC for $2,300. Note that audit travel costs are additional, and age and source verification is required.
AngusLink offers one more option that is not part of the PVP program, but is sure to entice buyers to look at your quality Angus calves.
Genetic Merit Scores® are available to producers who enroll in the Angus-Sired Genetic claim for free. If you don’t use all registered Angus bulls and want the Genetic Merit Scores, they are available for an additional $50.
Value-added programs such as AngusLink open up your calves to more potential buyers on sale day. That also means there are more bidders in the seats — or online — competing for your calves. Now is the time with the current markets to explore new possibilities and opportunities for marketing your calves.
To learn more about AngusLink or the Genetic Merit Scores, visit www.anguslink.com. You can contact AngusLink administrators with their direct lines: Sarah Woods, 816-383-5160; Emily Vinton, 816-383-5183; Molly Wood, 816-383-5121; and Ginette Gottswiller, 816-390-7915.
Editor’s note: Ginette Gottswiller is the director of commercial programs at the American Angus Association.
