From an Angus breed perspective, Angus has become synonymous with quality. CAB continues to experience solid growth, and the percentage of Angus genetics in the nation’s cow herd continues to grow.

There is a lot of debate whether the growth of the breed has been fueled by the consumer, or by the producer who has selected Angus genetics based on their advantage for calving ease, maternal, growth or carcass traits. A strong case can be made simply for the quality of Angus breeders, for the size of our genomic and phenotypic database (the largest in the world), and for the strength of the tools that we have to make better cattle.

Irrespective of the reasons, the Angus breed has distinct advantages that have significant economic ramifications. The future of Angus is bright.

Not all roses
Of course, not all things are coming up roses. The overall economy is teetering, and there are legitimate concerns about the ramifications of declining disposable income, higher interest rates, etc., on beef demand. We know that eventually with higher prices comes expansion, and that the cattle cycle is alive and well. As we move forward in the cattle cycle, discounts will grow, as will overall risk with higher inputs, etc.

A rapidly evolving, highly competitive industry is not a good environment for the complacent. That means that a heavy dose of critical thinking will remain vital for success, but it also means that it provides ample ground for the critics. Critics play a vital role, but motives and agendas should be considered.

Beware the critic
There is always room for improvement, and critical thinking is a key attribute to success. With that said, it is a lot more fun being around those who are looking for opportunities, rather than reasons to complain. Negative press tends to reach far more people than positive press, and it is significantly easier to tear down an idea than it is to promote a new one, but this simple fact has led to a cottage industry of sorts for those who wish to become professional critics.

The challenge is separating the critics from those who have constructive criticism and are fighting for the preservation of values in which they truly believe. Perhaps the easiest way to make the distinction between those offering constructive criticism and critics is that critics rarely have any ideas of their own. Rather, they are focused on critiquing others and feed off the power they receive. People offering constructive criticism do so in an impersonal way.

Sadly, today the critique has become almost an art form. Politicians are far better at telling you what they are against than what they are for. If people are hesitant to engage with someone in a healthy conversation, odds are that is because they are simply critics. Critics tend to move quickly from one complaint to another. If you satisfy them in one area, they will quickly find something to complain about in another.

Beware of the critic whose goal is solely to create a following. Critics tend to come in several forms. The overt critic relishes tearing down others, institutions, or simply new ideas and plans. We know the type — they appear strong by attacking others, but they always do it under the guise of protecting those who are already struggling. This type of critic is easy to spot and, while they are quite effective in slowing down positive change, they rarely succeed in stopping good ideas from happening. The overt critics of this world are easy to identify, and they tend to be the equivalent of 15 minutes of fame; they have their moments, and then they fade away.

It is the covert critic of which one must be wary. They champion values we all believe in, and they attack people as much as they do ideas. They remind us of our failures, but they tend to do so behind the scenes. If they can’t stop an idea from moving forward, they will work to sabotage it. To oppose them is to go to war against them, at least in their mind. Few people have the time or inclination to do that, so it makes sense to simply avoid them and to try and limit their negative influence.

The industry is facing far too many opportunities to be wasting time listening to the critics tell us why the future is to be feared.

Editor’s note: Troy Marshall is director of commercial industry relations for the American Angus Association. [Lead photo from Getty Images.]