The Link
Enrolling in AngusLink is about as simple as asking Siri, but are you ready to give it a try?
Our smartphones seem to be able to do everything. Let’s give this a try: “Hey, Siri, enroll my calves in AngusLinkSM?”
Siri says, “There is increased value for your feeder calves when you enroll in AngusLink. Producers have seen increases from $4.49 to $22.36 per hundredweight (cwt.) when they compare their sale prices to Age-and-Source-enrolled calves on sale day.”
Is AngusLink an option for my operation? You are more than likely already keeping the records you need to enroll.
The real question is, do you want to take the time to enroll your calves? Enrolling in value-added programs is a commitment that does require some effort.
The time it takes depends upon the claims in which you choose to enroll. If you plan to enroll in Age and Source along with the Calf Management claim, it takes around 30 minutes on the phone with some additional time needed to send in records for the required Calf Management vaccines. The Angus-sired Genetic component can require an additional 30 minutes. The registered Angus bulls used to sire the calf crop must be transferred into your name.
During the summer video sales, producers who enrolled their calves in AngusLink, Calf Management and the Angus-sired Genetic claim realized on average $5.73 per cwt. more than calves only enrolled in Age and Source. A load lot of 650-pound (lb.) calves on average saw $37 more per calf.
Non-Hormone Treated Cattle (NHTC) and NeverEver3 (NE3) require more time, not only for the enrollment process, but for managing the calves after enrollment, too. However, the average reward for the calves enrolled in these programs is greater because of the extra time and management.
Looking at the summer video sales reveals calves enrolled in NHTC saw $4.49 per cwt. more over nonenrolled calves. But the real story is the calves that have the Angus-sired Genetic claim along with NHTC. They push the value up to $8.28 per cwt. more. That means using registered Angus bulls on your cow herd returns $3.79 per cwt. more on your feeder calves!
Buyers this summer literally blew up their phones bidding on NHTC/NE3 calves. They averaged $5.35 per cwt. more, while Angus-sired calves that had NHTC/NE3 and the Angus-sired Genetic claim saw a premium of $13.21 per cwt. on average. Again, those registered Angus bulls increased the value of the feeder calves by $7.86 per cwt.!
Spring bull sale season is right around the corner. Look at your bull battery. Do you have any bulls that are not registered Angus bulls?
Feeder calves documented as sired by a registered Angus bull brought more dollars on the video sales this summer when coupled with other verification programs. Isn’t it time you visit your favorite registered Angus breeder and pick out a few bull prospects for your herd?
“Hey Siri, call AngusLink at 816-383-5100, so I can enroll my feeder calves.”
Editor’s note: The American Angus Association offers a host of programs to assist commercial cattlemen in profiting from their Angus genetics. Authored by members of the Commercial Programs Department, “The Link” provides insight into those programs and services. Ginette Gottswiller is the Association’s director of verification services.
