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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
Marbling, Feet and Fertility: Are they related?
The Angus breed has enough genetic diversity to allow breeders, and their commercial bull customers, to make progress across multiple traits simultaneously. One bloodline may be high in marbling but does not check the boxes you need for other traits. That does not mean marbling is the cause—it simply means your search for the ideal genetic pairing is not done.
Mark Ahearn Completes Term as CAB Board Chairman
Mark Ahearn admits his role as the chairman has meant a lot to him and his family. He expresses gratitude to those who believed in him throughout the past year and looks forward to seeing the future successes of the premium beef brand.
The Second-Best Sales Year for CAB
While the total fed cattle supply declined by 1.6%, this year a record 5.96 million carcasses, up 2.4%, were certified for the brand, with 37.4% of all Angus cattle meeting the brand’s strict quality standards. A record 730,000 carcasses qualified for Certified Angus Beef ® Prime.
Noble Research Institute and Certified Angus Beef Launch Partnership Centered on Promoting Land Management for Livestock Producers
Land Stewardship, launching November 2024, is an extension of Noble’s educational curriculum and offers an introduction to soil health principles and its effects on ecosystem processes. This free, online program is available for producers of all sizes and locations to gain insights into healthy soil, better grazing animal performance and a more resilient and profitable operation.
Customer First Mentality
When potential buyers fill the Connealy Angus sale barn, they’re not just there for the genetics but the customer service guarantee. For getting that and a lot more right, Connealy Angus was recognized with the 2024 Certified Angus Beef Seedstock Commitment to Excellence award.
From Modest Beginnings to Excellence
Gilchrist Farm recently received the 2024 Certified Angus Beef Canadian Commitment to Excellence award. This prestigious honor recognizes their exceptional achievements in high-quality Angus genetics and management. Over the years, they have transformed their operation by embracing superior Angus genetics. Their commitment to high standards and innovative practices has distinguished them as a model of excellence in the industry.
CAB Insider
Cow Harvest Unseasonally Low
Gross cow/calf returns have exceeded expectations as the shrinking calf supply and strong beef demand collude to drive higher receipts. Even so, turnaround from the depth of the latest drought that brought beef cow harvest to a cyclical peak in 2022 has been slow to develop.
Seasonality Takes Over
The fourth quarter tends to be the period most prone to follow historical seasonal patterns for carcass cutout prices. Although annual price levels have certainly advanced to record levels, the pattern in spot market values from October through December tends to track a pattern.
Success Stories
From Modest Beginnings to Excellence
Gilchrist Farm recently received the 2024 Certified Angus Beef Canadian Commitment to Excellence award. This prestigious honor recognizes their exceptional achievements in high-quality Angus genetics and management. Over the years, they have transformed their operation by embracing superior Angus genetics. Their commitment to high standards and innovative practices has distinguished them as a model of excellence in the industry.
From White House to Farmhouse
At Pleasant Valley Farm in Brookville, MD, four generations of the Stabler family have blended tradition and innovation to create a thriving, diversified Angus operation. Honored with the Ambassador Award at the 2024 Certified Angus Beef (CAB) Annual Conference, the Stablers exemplify a commitment to sustainable farming, community engagement and educational outreach. Their significant contributions to the hosting on behalf of the CAB brand highlight their commitment and play a key role in receiving this award.
What’s Good for the Cattle, Is Good for the Wetlands
JY Ferry & Son, Inc., named the 2024 Certified Angus Beef Sustainability Award winner, exemplifies how sustainability in agriculture can bridge quality beef production, land stewardship, and wildlife management. At JY Ferry & Son, what’s good for the cattle is good for the wetlands—and good for the next generation of this multi-generational family business.
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.