Date: Apr 27 2011
News ReleaseIt’s a pretty well recognized fact: if you want grid premiums, your cattle have to be better than average. Most people don’t sell on a value-based system unless they have reasons to believe their herd genetics and management will result in high-quality beef. But even among ranchers who sell on a grid, the plant average factor—part of the formula used to derive grid pricing—is not as well understood.
Date: Apr 25 2011
News ReleaseAs cash cattle prices shot up to record highs in March and the futures markets showed incredible strength, consumers were asked to pay record prices for beef. Shaking off worries about the economy, they responded positively. Ground beef and cuts from the chuck and round led the increase, but middle-meat steaks moved higher, too. Faced with record high prices for the most expensive cuts, more consumers opted to ensure the eating experience by turning to the Certified Angus Beef ® (CAB®) brand.
Date: Apr 20 2011
News ReleaseGood stocker operators think about how to make their cattle better for the next segment in the beef business. Many of them gathered at the Backgrounding for Quality field day near Hamilton, Kan., last month to learn more about what feeders want and how to get there.
Date: Apr 19 2011
News ReleaseCattle health matters at every segment, but it could be the single biggest profit determinant for the stocker phase. Mitch Blanding, senior veterinarian with Pfizer Animal Health, and rancher Mike Collinge shared tips for managing health at last month’s “Backgrounding for Quality” field day on the ranch near Hamilton, Kan.
Date: Apr 18 2011
News ReleaseSky-high corn prices don’t typically outline “exciting opportunities” in the cattle business, but one economist says those in the stocker business can benefit from high feed costs by focusing on available forage.
Date: Apr 15 2011
News ReleaseCertified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) President John Stika sent a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack in late March to explain the branded beef company’s stand against current wording in rule changes proposed by the Grain Inspection Packers & Stockyards Administration (GIPSA).
Date: Apr 14 2011
News ReleaseThere’s no rigid job description for Chairman, Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) Board of Directors. But the elected, voluntary position entails a lot of responsibility, and those who excel at the job tend to redefine it with passion and energy.
Date: Apr 13 2011
News ReleaseConsumer demand for high-quality beef has been on the rise, and so have cattle prices. A more secure future for ranching points toward quality, but what does it take to get there? This month Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) teamed up with Purina Land O’Lakes, Pfizer, Oklahoma State University and the Oklahoma Angus Association to bring Sooner beef producers a series on “Managing for Success.”
Date: Apr 12 2011
News ReleaseAnimal scientist Ty Lawrence knows that it’s what’s under the hide that counts. The West Texas A&M researcher was in a beef packing plant one night when he had a revelation: “I’m looking down the stun line and the cattle that were coming toward me were a Heinz 57 mix of hide colors,” he says. “Then immediately behind me I could see the carcasses going to the hotbox. My thought was, ‘There’s a tremendous perception of value differences of the live animals, but when they cross the grading rail, where the true carcass value is determined, those value differences are minimized.’”
Date: Apr 11 2011
News ReleaseCattlemen know overseas markets are important to their bottom line. Maggie O’Quinn, of Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB), recently reminded producers how significant they are to exporters. Speaking at the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association annual convention March 31, the CAB executive account manager for Latin America and the Caribbean explained the value of trade relationships, the logistics of exporting, and why producers should care.
