When it’s just not possible to bring 600 people from across the globe to the feedyard, the next best thing is to bring a little of that Herington, Kan., family operation to them. Cattle feeders Shane and Shawn Tiffany took the stage during educational sessions at last month’s Certified Angus Beef ® (CAB®) brand annual conference in Tucson, Ariz. The brothers gave foodservice and retail professionals a glimpse of life in a feedyard, often one of the most misunderstood parts of the beef community.
Imagine living when there was no supermarket or grocery store where you could buy food, having to grow just about everything your family needs. That could be any rural area in the country a couple hundred years ago.
Cattle have changed. If your management hasn’t, animal scientist Robbi Pritchard suggests you take a look to be sure it’s still relevant. The South Dakota State University emeritus professor addressed cattle feeders and allied industry at the Feeding Quality Forum in August.
It’s hard to pinpoint when the transformation began, but on the Christensen family’s western ranch, it’s evident that it happened: a commitment to excellence. The views of the Rocky Mountains look much the same as they did when Grandpa Karl homesteaded near Hot Springs, Mont., a century ago, but third-generation rancher Shawn Christensen and wife Jen now raise their two daughters there.
Politics aside, every sense of “progressive” describes Chuck Backus. From his 36 years in education and research to the overlapping 39 years in ranching, this former provost of Arizona State University embodies the aspects of applied innovation, growth by accumulating knowledge, experimenting and expanding boundaries.
One of the largest cattle feeders in the country aims for high-quality results and hits that target every day. Poky Feeders, Scott City, Kan., turns 3,700 head per week, and nearly 37% of 120,000 Poky-fed Angus cattle earned the Certified Angus Beef ® brand at National Beef Packing last year.
“Five Star Land & Livestock” the barn reads. The curious eyes that travel 30 miles south of Sacramento to the Wilton, Calif., ranch meet the name that started it all. “Do you think it’s too bright?” Abbie Nelson asks of the chosen shade of new red paint that surrounds the white block letters of text. It’s just right, but even so it will surely fade under the California sun.
When cattle prices erratically head lower, it’s easy to take issue with reports of higher packer margins or retail beef prices that still seem relatively high. But in a volatile market, the segments along beef’s supply chain often see much above- or below-average returns.
We are used to slow change in the cattle business. After decades at that pace, however, the North American cattle and beef industries are undergoing a rapid transition. “Farming and food production in total are no longer local industries,” said Pete Anderson, Midwest PMS research director.
“Who is going to flinch first?” Dan Basse, president of AgResource Co., said that’s the main question he and his team ponder when looking at this “plateau” phase in the ag markets.
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