Denver great place for cattle and conversations

If you follow our social media efforts, you know Mark, Gary, Paul and Kara spent most of last week in the Mile High City at the National Western Stock Show.

Warmed with a good heater and stocked with plenty of coffee and CAB summer sausage, the Angus tent has evolved into a listening post.

So what did Mark and the rest of the Black Ink team hear? Here are a few common themes:

• EPD recalibration. Just one week prior, the American Angus Association had recalibrated the genomically enhanced EPDs and, at the same time, updated the economic values that go into the dollar indexes.  Many seedstock producers stopped by the tent to ask questions and make sure they understood the new numbers. (Have questions about these changes? Visit angus.org.)
• The weather. Of course, anytime people in agriculture gather, the weather will come up. How cold is it? How dry is it? Though most producers were optimistic, they also reported extremely dry conditions across most of cattle country.
• The future of their cow herds. Would expansion be possible soon? How soon? Do they still need to cull in an attempt to combat dry conditions and limited feed supplies?

It was a great few days visiting with cattlemen and taking in some shows and some very good Angus sales. If you make it to the Yards next year, be sure to look for the Angus flags and stop in for some conversation and hot coffee.

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