If meat scientist Daryl Tatum goes out for a “knock-your-socks-off” beef dinner, it’s going to include high levels of marbling. Given the Colorado State University professor’s expertise, he’d probably have done that anyway, but new research by his team points out the links between key sensory attributes and quality grades.
Agriculture stays ahead of the curve in caring for land and livestock, but that’s too much of a secret, according to a Nebraska Cattlemen environmental specialist. One of Kristen Koch’s first slides at the Feeding Quality Forum in Omaha this August set the tone for her talk with, “Eat our dust, EPA.” She talked about public misconceptions and strategies to rebuild the beef industry image.
Boxed beef climbed 15% in value to start the year, but with the passing of summer into fall value trends began a dramatic differentiation. “At these prices, buyers wanted better quality,” said Larry Corah, vice president of Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB).
David Medeiros and David Dal Porto – “the Davids”– have more than a few similarities. The native Californians share cattle philosophies and even a bull sale venue.
Hereford, Texas, is known as the “Beef Capital of the World.” It is also home to Keeling Cattle Feeders, CAB 2011 Feedlot Partner of the Year for all yards with more than 15,000-head capacity.
Matt and Anne Burkholder earned their degrees at Dartmouth—an Ivy League college in Hanover, N.H.—and considered jobs in Midwestern cities, but the Burkholder family’s central Nebraska diversified agriculture operation was calling.
It’s luck of the draw. Your calves get sick in the feedyard. That sets them back, costs you all kinds of money and ruins your hopes for what could’ve been. The guy next to you catches a break. His cattle gained and graded like crazy. The kicker is, it’s not all luck. David Trowbridge, manager of Gregory Feedlots at Tabor, Iowa, uses a hypothetical scenario like that to educate feedyard visitors on how everything from genetics and ranch care to implants and markets can impact beef quality later on.
A 38,000-head feedlot near Pratt, Kan., shows what can be done with a systematic approach to higher quality beef. Pratt Feeders committed to quality in 2003 by licensing with Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB), and won a national CAB award the next year because of manager Jerry Bohn’s plans.
It’s fun to hit the target. Osborn Farms, Savannah, Mo., repeated its 2010 achievement with even better numbers as the Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) 2011 Quality Focus Award winner for partner yards with less than 15,000-head capacity.
Corn is high. Logically, that means feeders will sell cattle lighter with fewer days on feed, right? Not exactly. That’s what Shawn Walter, Professional Cattle Consultants (PCC), told attendees at the recent Feeding Quality Forum.
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