March 8, 2021 | Vol. 14 : No. 2
Traditionally, cow-calf producers have found themselves without a way to differentiate their product. Today, that’s not the case. A revolutionary shift from commodity-based marketing to value-based marketing is happening, and it is good news for cattlemen.
I’m sure you have heard the story about the airplane lost over the ocean in the middle of a hurricane. The captain gets on the intercom and says, “I have good news and bad news. The bad news is I have no idea where we are or where we are headed. The good news is we are making great time.”
The world seems to be in an awful big hurry, but with no clear destination in mind. I think that sometimes describes a lot of breeding programs. We have the tools, and we are changing the cattle at an incredible rate of speed, but the question is are we advancing toward our goals?
Despite pandemic disruptions, consumer demand for beef at home and around the globe remained strong in 2020, a trend that will continue in 2021 and beyond, especially as foodservice operations begin to fully reopen. The strong demand, combined with expected higher cattle prices, signal an optimistic future for the beef industry, according to CattleFax, which presented an outlook session during the virtual 2021 Cattle Industry Convention Winter Reboot Feb. 24.
You get paid by the pound for your cattle, but the total figures in much more than weight. Join the Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) brand on March 11 to find out why a premium carcass is worth more, and how those signals get back to you.
What was exceptional yesterday is average today. That’s true in the cattle business and especially apparent in high-quality beef production.
“Without paying attention to shifts in the market, it can be easy to assume what worked when you started still works now,” says Paul Dykstra, of the Certified Angus Beef® brand. “It’s hard to argue there’s ever been true demand for Select, rather than simply a price point for those indifferent to quality.”
Move beyond traditional thinking of what drives the value of today’s beef carcass. Examine current cutout values and how a Certified Angus Beef® brand carcass adds value. Discuss how market dynamics affect profitability for producers and cattle feeders achieving various levels of quality.
It was dark, cold and windy. After an inch of rain the night before, the banks of the ditch were slick.
Bang … thud.
Bang … thud.
Bang … thud, thud.
Three raccoons hit the ground, followed by one of my hunting partners, who slid down the ditch to retrieve a carcass. The annual FFA critter hunt had started a few hours before.
Competition is a great motivator. The $100 prize money sure won’t come close to the cost of the gas and shells that are used up. Still, can you really put a price on bragging rights? They’re like the Mastercard® commercial experiences — priceless.
As vaccination efforts expand and the economy begins to show signs of recovery, Texas A&M AgriLife personnel are tabulating the effects of COVID-19 on the U.S. animal agriculture product market.
Two recent contributions to that effort specifically examine the effects on livestock, meat, poultry and dairy product markets, and what that means for producers and consumers, says Greg Pompelli, director of Texas A&M University’s Cross-Border Threat Screening and Supply Chain Defense.
Note: The original photo used to create this month’s theme icon was an entry by Harlow Gorman in the 2020 NJAA/Angus Journal Photo Contest.