Association Perspective
The opportunity has never been better.
A little over a year ago, David Gazda (then director of field services) called to offer me the regional manager position for Region 12. When I answered the phone, I had to throttle down the feed wagon to make sure I heard him right. I thought, “Of course! What an opportunity!” I don’t think I was able to contain my excitement very well. I’ve never really had a poker face.
Over the past year, I have been grateful to travel all around the Northwest, meeting with members, industry leaders and cattlemen, many of whom are one and the same. I truly enjoy learning, getting to see how different people manage their Angus operations and hearing the philosophies behind why they do it. I have spent countless hours looking at cattle, touring ranches, and listening to the joys and concerns of people fully invested in agriculture.
As I reflect on how excited I was to work for the American Angus Association, I have a similar feeling when I look at the foreseeable future and envision the opportunity each of us has to do better for our customers. With the cow population at historic lows and the demand for beef at record highs, the opportunity has never been better. As cattlemen begin to rebuild their herds and grow back their numbers, keep one thing in mind: You can have it all!
Visiting with producers, I almost always hear something like: “We really focus on maternal,” or, “We really pay attention to terminal.” I always wonder, “Why not do both?”
As we work to rebuild our herds in the upcoming years, it is crucial to keep the consumer (i.e., the one who will eventually be enjoying the beef you work so hard to produce) in your sights. In fiscal year (FY) 2022, licensees sold more than 1.234 billion pounds (lb.) of Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) beef, (3.380 million lb. a day!). For FY 2023, through August CAB Prime sales are up 13.5%, or 3.7 million lb. The consumer clearly wants a higher-quality product. In a time when people are doing all they can to save money and cut total spending costs, they are still willing to pay for high-quality beef.
We all know “pounds pay,” but is it better to have a pound of gold or a pound of lead? For decades, cattlemen have excelled at choosing bulls that excel in calving ease, low birth weight and rapid growth. In addition to selecting bulls for those traits, we need to keep in mind that marbling is what differentiates beef by the pound and increases the carcass quality of the cattle you are already working so hard to produce. In addition to marbling (MARB), it is important to study the ribeye area (RE) and carcass weight (CW) expected progeny differences (EPDs), as this will allow those cattle to hit the carcass specifications while limiting the amount of Yield Grade (YG) 4s and 5s that are going to be discounted on the rail.
When you purchase your next herd bull or refill your semen tanks, strive to use proven sires or progeny of those sires that possess high-accuracy carcass EPDs ranking in the upper percentiles of the breed. If you are thumbing through a sale book, look for the CAB Targeting the BrandTM logo. Selecting cattle that possess superior carcass traits in addition to what you are already selecting for will provide you the opportunity to meet consumer demands.
Two of the most important traits our cattle need to possess fall into the maternal category — the ability to reproduce and the ability to thrive in our environment. If we select for females that can produce a calf and raise it time and time again, and if her daughters can do the same — all within the environment in which you operate — then naturally, you are going to create a very maternal herd. It is important to keep in mind that form follows function. If our cattle can perform well in our environment, we need to continue to use those cattle. Let them decide how they want to look when they are working to increase your bottom line.
The Association has created several maternal-focused EPDs that you can use as tools to help select cattle. Some of these EPDs are still in their infancy. However, as time goes on and we continue to submit phenotypic data, they will become more accurate in describing the cattle they are attached to. Still, do not be afraid to use your eyes to determine what works and what doesn’t. If we have females that have poor structure or unacceptable feet, or that do not function well in our environment, we need to cull them from the herd. After doing this exercise repeatedly, you will be left with a very functional group of cattle that excel in your environment.
As we begin to rebuild our herds, select cattle for all the traits of merit that will thrive and reproduce in your environment while providing a better product for the consumer. As we enter the fall bull sale season, get excited. Truly, this is one of the most exciting times in the beef business, and we have only just begun. We have no better opportunity than the one in front of us today. As my grandfather used to say, “We can do this, so let’s get to doing!”
Editor’s note: Quanah Gardiner serves as regional manager for Region 12, covering the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Hawaii. Click here to find the regional manager for your state.
