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Let the CAB Cattle Crew keep you up to date on what’s happening in the beef community. We’ll share industry insights to help you maximize your profit potential.
Latest Headlines
Get BQA’d, Meet Coach Tang at Hy-Plains Feedyard
Get BQA’d, or renew an expired certification, on Wednesday afternoon, August 21, 2024, at Hy-Plains Feedyard in Montezuma, Kan. Hear from Jerome Tang, K-State’s men’s basketball coach, about how it takes every player on a team to win. The workshop is free to attend and will offer simultaneous Spanish interpretation.
Raised with Respect™ Continues into Second Year
The campaign and partnership between Sysco and CAB originated to support producers, equipping them with continuing education to stay current on best management practices and helping to increase consumer confidence in beef production. During the first year, successfully saw 11 BQA workshops and certified more than 1,500 cattlemen and women.
Feeding Quality Forum Registration Now Open for 2024
As we approach a herd rebuild, you need confidence to navigate today’s cattle market dynamics. This year’s Feeding Quality Forum theme is just that, so attendees can leave ready to make more informed decisions at the ranch and feedyard to get more value for their cattle.
$100,000 Up for Grabs with 2024 Colvin Scholarships
Certified Angus Beef is offering $100,000 in scholarships for agricultural college students through the 2024 Colvin Scholarship Fund. Aspiring students passionate about agriculture and innovation, who live in the U.S. or Canada, are encouraged to apply before the April 30 deadline. With the Colvin Scholarship Fund honoring Louis M. “Mick” Colvin’s legacy, Certified Angus Beef continues its commitment to cultivating future leaders in the beef industry.
Raised with Respect™ Cattle Care Campaign Launched This Fall
Raised with Respect™ was developed as part of a strategic cattle care partnership between Sysco and CAB. The collaboration focuses on supporting farmers and ranchers, equipping them with continuing education to stay current on best management practices and helping to increase consumer confidence in beef production.
Drought Impact and Cattle Industry Dynamics
As drought conditions persist across much of cattle country, farmers and ranchers are at a pivotal juncture in the cattle industry’s landscape. What impact does this prolonged dry spell have on the nation’s herd numbers? When will heifer retention begin? How will industry dynamics influence the spring bull sale season?
CAB Insider
CAB Acceptance Rate Hits Seasonal Record-highs
Meeting the demand for the Certified Angus Beef ® brand during the 1980s was relatively easy—we would just add another packing plan to certify carcasses and increase brand supply. Today opportunities for supply growth are more challenging, given that 85% of the U.S. packing volume is licensed under the brand. Thus, supply dynamics come down to one fickle component: the quality of the cattle.
Quality Grades Continue to Run High
The fed cattle market was defensive last week, pressured by slippage in boxed beef values and an underperforming futures market. Taking a broader view, the USDA Prime grade has been the beneficiary of longer feeding periods with the national average Prime share at 10.5%.
Success Stories
More Than A Meat Scientist
On the surface, he’s a meat scientist. Others know him as a meats judging coach. Some call him “the father of instrument grading.” To those who’ve worked most closely with him, Dr. Glen Dolezal is much more.
You, Your Cows and Their Feed
Expert guidance from Dusty Abney at Cargill Animal Nutrition shares essential strategies for optimizing cattle nutrition during droughts, leading to healthier herds and increased profitability in challenging conditions.
Marketing Feeder Cattle: Begin with the End in Mind
Understanding what constitutes value takes an understanding of beef quality and yield thresholds that result in premiums and/or discounts. Generally, packers look for cattle that will garner a high quality grade and have excellent red meat yield, but realistically very few do both exceptionally well.
Consumer Connection
More Than Steak and Potatoes
Yesterday’s steak and baked potato is today’s beef brisket from the restaurant downtown. The food scene is changing, driven by a new age of consumers who want more. They seek new flavors and attributes on the packaging, but still expect beef to taste great.
2022 Was as Predicted
If there was a lesson in 2022, it was that the beef market is very sensitive to declines in quality grade, as evidenced through price signals. It’s the first time in recent history where we’ve gone backwards — albeit ever so slightly — and customers are telling us they have unfulfilled demand. That’s reflected in the premiums paid, and that’s saying something after two years of extremely high premiums.
Growing Marketability
Advertised as the “Best Angus Beef” and “If it’s not Certified, it’s not the Best,” Certified Angus Beef’s reputation claims elite category status. To remain in that position, the brand must continue to deliver on that promise as customer expectations of quality evolve.