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Tag: CAB News

ASCC winds up four-year demo

By Steve Suther

The commercial Angus world warmed to the concept of AngusSource®, with more cattle enrolled each year from 2008 through 2011. During those years, the AngusSource Carcass Challenge (ASCC) saw entries totaling 6,188 with 58.3% accepted for the Certified Angus Beef ® (CAB®) brand; nearly 13% of the total made USDA Prime, according to Ginette Kurtz, AngusSource manager.

Over the past 20 years, several carcass value demonstration contests have showcased high-quality commercial Angus cattle that can hit the CAB target, going back to the Value Discovery Project, Best of the Breed and National Angus Carcass Challenge.

Those programs assigned dollar value to carcass merit, but in light of varying grids and seasonality, the ASCC simply ranked pens on ability to hit the CAB target. Tiebreakers came down to cutability comparisons.

“The goal was to build relationships with feedyards that are feeding AngusSource calves, accumulate harvest data on them and facilitate the transfer of information back to cow-calf producers,” Kurtz says. Along the way, we demonstrated that pens of Angus cattle really can hit 100% CAB.”

Twelve CAB partner feedlots participated, with a relatively few 22 distinct owners of entries across the four years. There were 40 ranches of origin from West Virginia to Oregon and Louisiana to Montana, 13 states in all.

The first year’s results showed excellent quality with the Beller Feedlot, Lindsay, Neb., winning pen of 62 Montana steers making 80.7% CAB and Prime. They also fed the third-place pen that made 68.2%. Competing cousins at the nearby Beller Corporation came in second with Nebraska steers that went 69.1% CAB; and fourth went to Cattleman’s Choice Feedyard, Gage, Okla., which partnered with Jimmy Taylor of Cheyenne, Okla., on the 67.7% CAB steers.

Before the contest would end, Beller Feedlot would account for more than half of all entries, with 3,202 head.

Two veterans of the Angus carcass contests sparred in year two. Mike Kasten, Millersville, Mo., who would end up enrolling 273 head at Irsik & Doll Feed Yard, Garden City, Kan., over three years, started 2009 with steers making 90.5% CAB. That edged out Mason Fleenor of Ida Grove, Iowa, at 90.2% CAB, but Fleenor would hit 92.7% CAB the next year.

However, a little-known farmer feeder at Savannah, Mo., would quietly miss those upper levels with only 80% CAB to start 2008. But John Osborn would be back, again and again. His 474 calves from a pool of known Angus genetics set records of 92.3% and 92.5% CAB in 2009 to win the ASCC, one of those groups achieving 36% CAB Prime.

By the time 2010 drew to a close, everybody knew all of Osborn’s 521 enrollments were exceptional. There was other news, as the University of Missouri’s Thompson Farm, Spickard, Mo., showed what the steer mates of Show-Me Heifers could do, pushing toward 87% CAB.

But dozens of other producers with cattle hitting 70%, 80% and 90% CAB could only watch in wonder as two of the Osborn Farms entries made 100% CAB; they shook their heads as one steer in the third-place entry did not make CAB, but 61.5% of them achieved CAB Prime.

For 2011, the notables were again Mike Kasten at 81.6% CAB, the University of Missouri with 89.5% CAB, and Beller Feedlot’s 84.2% CAB cattle from veteran contender Jimmy Thomas of Adrian, Ore. Of course, the last annual $500 prize and winner’s jacket went to John Osborn, even though his numbers were down with just 154 head in four pens, and the championship pen mustered “only” 92.1% CAB and Prime.

“It was a good run,” Kurtz says. “Grid premiums out there today mean producers can earn their own rewards in the real-world market, and AngusSource enrollment is still a great way to start.”

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Sights set on better beef

Sights set on better beef

by | Jul 14, 2020

A successful business doesn’t happen overnight. It takes patience, strategic management and a desire to make the best better. After years of dedication, the Georg brothers have increased the carcass quality and maternal function of their Angus herd.

Calculated changes

Calculated changes

by | Jul 6, 2020

Missouri commercial rancher Jeremy Zoglmann turns risk into reward, earning 80% CAB out of 150 calves sold each year. His success is a result from his dedication to quality Angus genetics and goal to increase premiums on his calves.

Best of both worlds

Best of both worlds

by | Jul 1, 2020

Brian Bertelsen, U.S. Premium Beef (USPB) vice president, spoke at the Beef Improvement Federation’s recent online symposium, covering everything from hot carcass weight to quality grade targets. This article shares the data that shows what’s really possible.

Register now: Backgrounding for Quality seminar

 

by Laura Nelson

Everybody is paying more for cattle now than ever before.

That should be reason enough to attend the “Backgrounding for Quality” field day, says Gary Fike, of Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB).

Set for Thursday, March 8 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., the event aims to help stocker operators reach profitability by focusing on their output. White Brothers Cattle Co. will host attendees at their ranch south of Chickasha, Okla.

“With tight feeder calf supplies, rising feed costs and all the other market dynamics, backgrounders may have to manage cattle a little differently than they have in the past,” says Fike.

The speakers will provide data and ideas.

Darrell Peel, Oklahoma State University (OSU) economist, kicks off the program with a market outlook.

Then, three rotating breakout sessions will cover management and marketing practices:

  • “Backgrounding best practices,” by Mike Nichols, Pfizer Animal Health, and Chickasha veterinarian Bruss Horn
  • “Managing stockers for a quality endpoint,” by Gerald Horn, OSU
  • “What a feeder wants,” by Dale Moore, Cattleman’s Choice Feedyard

Pfizer’s Greg Quakenbush will cap off the program shedding light on industry myths with his presentation, “The truth about…”

“We have some of the foremost experts on stocker research and education lined up,” Fike says. “They’re good at stating the hard facts, comparing numbers and giving practical advice.”

The field day, sponsored by OSU, CAB and Pfizer, is free, but interested stockers must RSVP by Friday, Feb. 24 to Marilyn Conley. Call 800-225-2333, ext. 298, or e-mail her at mconley@certifiedangusbeef.com.

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Balanced approach to vaccine safety, efficacy

Balanced approach to vaccine safety, efficacy

by | Oct 29, 2018

You want a cattle vaccine that’s both safe and effective, but sometimes you have to choose which of those ideals gets the upper hand. That’s according to Paul Walz, the Auburn University veterinarian who spoke at the Feeding Quality Forum late this summer in Sioux City, Iowa. Vaccination programs must be true to the label protocols, yet individualized for each farm or ranch and the level of risk they can accept.

Lower heifer costs, not fertility

Lower heifer costs, not fertility

by | Oct 28, 2018

It’s a great time to own cows, but only if you have a competitive cost structure with the right genetics and management to compete in today’s marketplace, Rick Funston said. While input costs should be minimized in times like these, “breakeven at best” for many, he said, it won’t pay to compromise fertility in the process.

Hard work, luck and smarts

Hard work, luck and smarts

by | Oct 28, 2018

Sometimes it’s easy to see where a person is and forget where they’ve been. It’s easy to stare down the success in the here-and-now, without even a glance at their past. When I learned Gerald Timmerman won our Feeding Quality Forum Industry Achievement Award, I knew the family in generalities…for their feeding businesses spread across Nebraska and surrounding states. I knew they had some ranching and other beef industry interests.

Gene-Max™: DNA test for commercial Angus

 

by Steve Suther

The most productive, high-quality commercial cowherds are often managed like purebreds, with individual animal records and calf performance and carcass data brought to bear on each cow. Progeny are increasingly predictable and accurate in hitting gain and grade targets.

“If that sounds like you, get ready for GeneMax™,a new DNA tool, Angus-specific and designed for commercial herds using registered Angus sires,” says Mark McCully, Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) assistant vice president for production.

In the decade since the bovine genome was mapped, the search for practical applications has been one of the boom industries in bioscience. The most recent result can help profitably increase the supply of cattle qualifying for the Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) brand. It comes from a CAB andAngus Genetics Inc. (AGI) effort to work with Pfizer Animal Genetics to develop a test to evaluate marbling and post-weaning gain on high-percentage Angus cattle sired by registered Angus bulls.

“GeneMax opens another tray in the genetic toolbox that commercial Angus cattlemen have never known,” McCully says. “But rather than replacing other options, it makes them more effective.”

The new DNA test for marbling and gain would be hard to use without such tools as individual cow-calf weight records. It would be hard to apply without using expected progeny differences (EPDs) and the dollar value ($V) index in bull selection. And it would be pointless without a focus on fertility and maternal traits.

“No DNA test for economically important traits in cattle costs less, at $17, but multiplied across a herd or calf crop, it still represents a significant investment,” McCully notes. The knowledge from GMX™ Scores, marbling and gain can pay for the test in short order if you make use of a few strategies.

How to get samples

Some may be more concerned about how to draw samples. A blood spot on individual cards is the preferred method at this time, though other samples such as hair follicles are workable. Test kits may be ordered through CAB’s website, www.cabcattle.com/GeneMax, and there’s also an instructional video.

Solutions have included extenders on the headgate, removing a notch from the ear and getting a spot of blood from where the notch was removed, or working from the other end near the tailhead. A series of one-time-use 16-guage needles have done the job, but plans call for simpler, pin-prick devices to be included in kits.

A frequent change of surgical gloves helps eliminate cross contamination, and individual samples should dry before being placed in plastic sleeves or pockets such as those for photos or slides. Depending on labor and facilities, it could take little more than an hour to most of the day to sample 100 cows. It is important to record individual animal identification for each card used.

Testing strategies

“The more Angus genetics in your cattle, the more accurate the GMX results, so only test those with 75% or more Angus from registered bulls,” McCully advises.

Of course, this is not a test for breeding bulls, but there are reasons to test all other types of commercial Angus cattle.

“You could test most of your mature cows to characterize their contribution to progeny genetics,” he suggests. Sure, the bull supplies half of the genetics of each calf, but now you can index your cows for the quality of their contribution. Those with the lowest GMX Scores can go into the “on deck” virtual pen for culling, with that ding against them carried on to any pending replacement heifers.

Some of those with below-average GMX Scores, but above-average gain or marbling component results could be strategically bred to bulls stronger in marbling or growth, to complement the gaps for a more balanced calf crop.

The same strategies would apply to replacement heifers, after culling all that fail to meet other criteria such as structure, disposition and size.

“Except for the few obvious culls that show up even in well-managed herds for various reasons, a producer might consider testing all calves,’ McCully says. Results can be marketed as showing the feedlot and carcass potential of steers or market heifers; it just takes another 3 cents per pound on 600-weight calves to be at the cost of the test.

You may be able to partner with a custom feedlot on testing, or retain ownership on the top half for GMX Score. In either case, the DNA test can form the basis for realistic expectations. Even if you don’t feed or track phenotypic data after weaning, those scores can be entered into your herd records and begin to characterize the cowherd, already helping to select needed traits in breeding bulls.

Some strategies are mainly feedlot oriented. “A representative sample of one-quarter to half of the calves could be tested, with average results used to infer feeding and carcass value for the group or help guide your decisions on retained ownership options,” McCully says. “A feedlot could implement any of these testing strategies at the yard, too.”

Interpreting results

Samples are analyzed for the presence of DNA markers known to be associated with marbling and post-weaning gain. Results will come back in the form of a GMX Score, and that will take less than four weeks. The economically weighted score is based on historical averages and trends for the value contributions of gain and marbling. As an example, if that genomic prediction puts an animal in the top 12% of the GMX database, its GMX Score will show as 88.

“The genomic prediction for each animal’s gain and marbling is also ranked against the GMX database so that animals in the top 20% earn a ’5’ and the lowest 20% earn a ‘1.’ These are not economically weighted and the overall GMX Score could be relatively high even though one of the component rankings seems low,” McCully says. (See animal ID 1102 in the example table).

Keep in mind the test is not a comparison of all genetics in the U.S. cowherds, only high-percentage Angus cattle. Looking at animal ID 1131, you can see that its 88 Score breaks down to a fairly balanced 5 for gain—in the top 20%—and a 4 for marbling, in the second 20% group.

The broader commercial cattle industry will soon become familiar with GMX Scores, and you may choose to list results by individual or by group in marketing replacement heifers. Seedstock Angus producers may organize or feature sales with groups of GMX-evaluated cattle for their customers.

“For all tested cattle that remain in your herd, strategic breeding is perhaps the best option to make the test pay,” McCully says. “Those who have retained ownership may have seen a significant spread from top gainers to the bottom, and the same in terms of marbling. By mating to complement known gaps in their DNA profiles, you can even out subsequent progeny groups.”

No bidders

by | Mar 9, 2015

At his Cattlemen’s College session last month, I heard Mark present a pretty convincing case for preconditioning (a 11-year analysis of Indiana producers showed a profit of more than $80 per head, on average for 60+ day programs, for example).

But it wasn’t just about the economics of it all. It was about the principle.

Don’t Get Bit

Don’t Get Bit

by | Jun 6, 2014

Routine vaccines and treatments are one of those little tasks that can have a big impact on meat quality.

Banishing bad attitudes

Banishing bad attitudes

by | Dec 18, 2013

One of our Black Ink Basics Tech Sheets spells out a $57.69/head grid advantage for docile cattle compared to nervous counterparts.

Intern returns to branded beef company

By CAB Cattle Crew

It seemed like fate that Emily Krueger would join the Certified Angus Beef ® brand team. She grew up in the brand’s hometown of Wooster, Ohio, and worked on a beef operation there. She’ll graduate from The Ohio State University this June with a BS in agricultural journalism and minors in animal science and psychology.

CAB recruits interns nationwide, and few come from its backyard. But Krueger stood out, winning a spot last summer as a promotions and communications marketing intern, having already secured the spring 2012 position as industry information intern. What’s more, the Ohioan has accepted a full-time post as CAB marketing specialist beginning this summer.

Meanwhile, Krueger is a Collegiate Young Farmers (CYF) president in charge of planning an annual Ohio ag industry tour, and member of Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT). That adds to a resume list of studying natural resource management in Australia, teaching horse riding in Maine and winning last year’s American Farm Bureau Collegiate Discussion Meet.

Working from Columbus, Ohio, this spring semester, she works with the a CAB team of editors in producing technical articles, features and news releases to help producers improve their ability to raise high-quality cattle.

The Certified Angus Beef® brand, founded in 1978, is owned by 30,000 farmer-rancher members of the American Angus Association. It draws on a supply of 15 million Angus-type cattle produced by cattlemen each year across North America. Government graders identify less than one in four of those that meet the brand’s 10 quality specifications. Last year, 15,000 partners worldwide sold more than 800 million pounds of beef.

The not-for-profit company’s mission is to add value to Angus cattle by marketing the original premium brand of fresh beef through its licensed partners.To learn more, visit the consumer website at www.CertifiedAngusBeef.com or the producer site at www.cabcattle.com.

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Driving Demand: Foodservice

Driving Demand: Foodservice

by | Mar 4, 2021

“What costs most for a restaurant isn’t the meat, but an empty seat.” That statement resonates even more after rounding a year of a pandemic. But before COVID-19 shutdowns and meat shortages, serving CAB was about competitive advantages and so much more. Loyalty breeds loyalty, creating a demand not only for the product, but the company.

CAB launches #RestaurantChallenge

CAB launches #RestaurantChallenge

by | Feb 10, 2021

Data from the National Restaurant Association shows 1 in 6 restaurants have already closed and the next few months are critical for those continuing to operate. To inspire and build support for this key pillar of the high-quality beef market, the brand launched #RestaurantChallenge.

Driving Demand: Retail

Driving Demand: Retail

by | Feb 3, 2021

As the heavyweight champ in brand volume, retail accounts for 55% of total pounds sold, especially in fiscal 2020. But how is it done and how does it create more demand? CAB Director of Retail answers these questions and more.

New CAB website designed for producers

 

by Miranda Reiman

November 1, 2011

Sure, you’ve heard about theCertified Angus Beef ® (CAB®) brand, maybe even looked it up online. Thousands of regular visitors will notice new pictures and a more attractive layout at CABpartners.com.

That’s catchy, but the real benefit of the recent redesign is improved navigation. “It’s much easier to get around,” says Laura Nelson, industry information specialist for the company.

“We tracked usage for years, then worked for months to make it better, a place where you can learn more about how to raise higher-quality beef and reap the financial rewards for doing so,” she says.

The previous site was organized by industry segments, but the new, topical approach leads visitors through selections that include management, health, genetics, nutrition and marketing.

If you’re looking to find a CAB-licensed feedlot or want to know how to get top dollar for your Angus-influenced calves at auction, for example, click “Marketing.” If you want to learn more about the expected progeny differences (EPDs) that make the most difference in CAB acceptance, click “Genetics.”

“There is plenty of new information, but all of the tools from our old site are still there,” Nelson explains. The Calf Price and Fed Cattle Breakeven calculators are accessible in the marketing section, along with seedstock marketing tools and tips on how to build a resume for your calves.

“We can feature our latest news more prominently now,” she adds. “There’s even a video library filled with informational clips from ranchers, feeders, researchers and allied industry folks.”

Other new items include a social media bar at the bottom of the page that points users to the Black Ink blog, Twitter feed and Facebook page. Rotating features along the left-hand side of the home page point to “spots of interest” on the website, Nelson notes.

“Our team interacts with producers every day, and we took a lot of advice on how to make this a one-stop resource for everyone trying to hit the CAB target,” she says. “It’s streamlined, user-friendly and less static.”

She encourages producers to visit often, as information is typically updated daily.

What if you can’t find what you’re looking for?

“It might take a while for frequent visitors to the old site to get used to our new navigation,” Nelson says. “But our team members’ individual contact information is listed under the ‘About Us’ tab, and we’re happy to direct you to a link.”

Although the entire site is rearranged and the look is different, the address is the same as it’s always been: www.cabcattle.com.

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Certified Angus Beef Recognizes Beef Quality Research

Certified Angus Beef Recognizes Beef Quality Research

by | Aug 15, 2023

First-place honors go to Andres Mendizabal, an international student pursuing a Ph.D. in animal science at Texas Tech University. His research is titled, “The Accuracy of USDA Yield Grade and Beef Carcass Components as Predictors of Red Meat Yield.”

$20,000 in beef scholarships

CAB’s Colvin Fund helps education dreams come true

 

by Miranda Reiman

October 21, 2011

Pursuing a passion for agriculture through further education—that’s the top requirement for the Louis M. “Mick” Colvin Scholarship offered by the Certified Angus Beef ® (CAB®) brand.

This year, $15,000 will be split among five undergraduate scholarships, in the amounts of $5,000, $4,000, $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000.

College juniors and seniors who have shown commitment to the beef industry, either through coursework or activities, are encouraged to apply by the Dec. 2 deadline. Applications are evaluated on involvement and scholastic achievement, communication skills and reference letters.

A new opportunity, an additional $5,000 graduate level scholarship will also be given to a full-time masters or doctorate student conducting research related to high-quality beef production. Applications for that award are due Jan. 13, 2012.

“The graduate level scholarship will build on what the Colvin Scholarship has always done,” says Mick Colvin, who co-founded Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) in 1978 and served as president for 22 years. “We will be able to groom the next great scientist supporting premium beef.”

The funds given have more than doubled since 2009.

“It’s very, very gratifying to see the amount we’ve offered grow over the years,” Colvin says. “Our partners have really pitched in and they’ve made this scholarship what it is today.”

grid marketing webinar

Those supporters raised a record $92,000 in scholarship monies at a golf outing and auction held during the brand’s annual conference this year in Sunriver, Ore. The dollars go into an account that generates the interest proceeds used to fund these scholarships each year. That ensures the longevity of the program and its impact on the industry.

The 2012 golf outing sponsorship was purchased by Palmer Food Services/G&C Food Distributors, Rochester, N.Y.  The following companies also supported the live auction: Holten Meat Inc., East St. Louis, Ill; Cargill Meat Solutions, Wichita, Kan.; Tyson Fresh Meats Inc., Dakota Dunes, S.D.; Sysco Columbia LLC, Columbia, S.C.; Cattleman’s Choice Feedyard Inc., Gage, Okla.; Niman Ranch, Denver, Colo.; and from Canada, Retail Ready Food Products Inc., Mississauga, Ontario; GFS Montreal & Quebec; and Boucherville Quebec.

The top two recipients also win an all-expense-paid trip to the 2012 CAB Annual Conference, September 19-21 in White Sulphur Springs, W. Va.  This is an opportunity to interact with leaders throughout the production, packing, retail and foodservice industries.

“I can’t say enough good about the past winners,” Colvin says. “They’re great, great students and I’m proud to be associated with them.”

The Colvin Scholarship Fund began in 1999 when Colvin retired as CAB executive director. The scholarships recognize his role in making dreams a reality and inspiring others to be their best. Colvin co-founded the CAB program in 1978, leading to establishing the world’s leading brand of fresh beef.

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Certified Angus Beef Recognizes Beef Quality Research

Certified Angus Beef Recognizes Beef Quality Research

by | Aug 15, 2023

First-place honors go to Andres Mendizabal, an international student pursuing a Ph.D. in animal science at Texas Tech University. His research is titled, “The Accuracy of USDA Yield Grade and Beef Carcass Components as Predictors of Red Meat Yield.”

Crucible for quality

The Taylors win CAB honors

by Steve Suther

September 22, 2011

In this decade, Jimmy and Tracy Taylor’s data-driven herd south of Cheyenne, Okla., expanded to its practical capacity of 600 Angus cows on 12,000 acres in 38 pastures. Last year, 315 steers and heifers hit the mark with 58.4% Certified Angus Beef ® brand (CAB®) and CAB Prime.

But months went by without rain while the sun baked the withered roots on the plateau bordering Black Kettle National Grasslands west of Elk City, where the Taylors live.

Heavily supplemented and strategically culled, the top 95% of their spring cows weaned creep-fed calves a month early as the smaller fall herd began making the best of a bad situation.

For all the challenges, the Taylors love it. Having to feed cows on summer grass each day? Great opportunity to check on water, health and head counts while calves get used to a grain ration.

Pastures cut up by old gas-well access roads? Great infrastructure for ranch access. Drought of the century? Brings individual cow evaluation to the forefront as the profit makers get even better.

Silver linings abound, even without a cloud in the sky.

Recipients of the 2011 Commercial Commitment to Excellence Award at the CAB Annual Conference in Sunriver, Ore., Sept. 20-22, they make the best of just about anything. Tracy puts her husband in the starring role, but Jimmy says he couldn’t do it without her support.

Dale Moore, Cattleman’s Choice Feedyard, Gage, Okla., nominated his customers for three consecutive years. “They base their program on the CAB and Prime goal, and have made some of the most dramatic and positive changes among all of our customers,” he says.

The ranch was started in 1914 by Jimmy’s great-grandfather, but his father, Jim, was the first to actually manage the place, beginning in 1953. He pioneered intensive rotational grazing with long resting periods for the land.

Hereford cattle were the mainstay, later crossed with Simmentals when Jimmy formed a father-son partnership in 1980. Newlyweds then, the young Taylors learned every rock, ridge and creek before buying sole interest in 1993.

“Our goal was simply to sell the most pounds of beef at weaning,” Jimmy says. “Over time, we began to see there is more security for our ranch and for the whole industry if we reoriented to give the consumer a better eating experience. We changed with the incorporation of registered Angus bulls to a goal of producing the best steak we can possibly make.”

Those first Angus-cross calves arrived in 2006.

As low-stress handling, a rising plane of nutrition through weaning, selection indexes and artificial insemination (AI) became the rule, the www.cabcattle.com website became a favorite.

That’s how they found Moore and began retaining ownership. “I found out real quick that our goals were very similar,” Jimmy says. “We’ve been with him ever since.”

They’ve used the AngusSource® program for genetic and source verification since 2007 and won the regional AngusSource Carcass Challenge with those calves the next year.

Because of the data they have on each animal, purchased females no longer enter the herd.

Information from Cattleman’s Choice and CAB, combined with Jimmy’s observations and ultrasound scans for intramuscular fat (% IMF) are all organized in Tracy’s spreadsheet.

Her report on the 18 herd bulls starts with year purchased, tag number, registered name, maternal and carcass EPDs (expected progeny differences), ultrasound data and $ Values. The cow report/field-data sheet lists cows in ranch-tag order with source, calf tag, Bangs number, sire, progeny carcass history, % IMF since ’08, due date, calved date, location, calf tag, sex, sire, pasture bull and turn-in date, plus a few comments columns.

“Over the years we sit down together and keep adapting the program, tweak it until it gives us exactly what he wants to see,” Tracy says.

Small pastures let Jimmy match certain cows with the bulls that best complete their genetics.

“We look at them one at a time,” Jimmy says. “We’re just now getting to the point where data factors in enough to eliminate those weaker in carcass value.” They can sort by sire groups, too, and consider sire effect on progeny from each cow.

“Jimmy calls off a number and I read out to him what she has done,” Tracy says. “It’s kind of tedious, but he’s building up a good herd this way. Good genetics that we know we want to keep. That’s why he’s supplementing instead of selling.” Winter pasture was secured in Nebraska as well.

Creep feeding was an innovation last year, a necessity in 2011. For weaning, the herds come into corrals adjacent to the trap rotation for what seems like just another supplement session, but the calves get shots to booster the May round of vaccines and cows go back out to the rotation.

“We watch the calves for four or five days and then they are turned out on the traps, too,” Jimmy says. “It has worked well for us.”

Part-time help fills in for big jobs like working calves, weaning and AI, but otherwise, the Taylors run a “ma and pa” ranch, where they’re in it together. Just another way they show that commitment.

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Certified Angus Beef Recognizes Beef Quality Research

Certified Angus Beef Recognizes Beef Quality Research

by | Aug 15, 2023

First-place honors go to Andres Mendizabal, an international student pursuing a Ph.D. in animal science at Texas Tech University. His research is titled, “The Accuracy of USDA Yield Grade and Beef Carcass Components as Predictors of Red Meat Yield.”

Kansan interns from OSU

By Steve Suther

Jenny Gillespie, a Master’s student at Oklahoma State University (OSU), has joined the team working for the Certified Angus Beef ® (CAB®) brand as the fall 2011 Industry Information intern.

The Copeland, Kan., native earned a bachelor’s in international agribusiness from Kansas State University (K-State) in December 2009. A couple of years earlier, a trip to the Philippines had sparked her interest in those areas and led to studies in agricultural economics, international trade, and Spanish. She enjoyed a three-week ag study tour across Central America, too.

angus cows

Gillespie worked as a USDA intern in Washington, D.C., for six months before starting the M.S. in agricultural communications at OSU. Gathering even more experience, she has been serving as a graduate teaching assistant, student editor for the Journal of Applied Communications and an intern with the university’s SUNUP television program.

Interested in agricultural advocacy and communication technologies, Gillespie spent the past summer working on her Master’s research into how much credence ranchers give to social media.

“Our team is fortunate to have Jenny’s experience and dedication as a resource this fall,” said Steve Suther, CAB divisional director. “Her research broke new ground in an emerging area of journalism and we’ll make use of those findings as will the broader industry.”

Gillespie is working with the CAB team from her Stillwater, Okla., base to produce feature stories, news releases, video scripts and Web content that help cattlemen profitably hit the CAB brand target.

The Certified Angus Beef ® brand, started in 1978, relies on strict quality standards to ensure consumers “taste the difference.” The only branded beef company owned by the 33,000 rancher-members of the American Angus Association, CAB is headquartered in Wooster, Ohio, where Gillespie attended an information seminar in March.

For more information on the brand, visit www.certifiedangusbeef.com. For ideas on producing cattle to hit that target, and to view CAB industry information articles, visit www.cabcattle.com.

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Driving Demand: Foodservice

Driving Demand: Foodservice

by | Mar 4, 2021

“What costs most for a restaurant isn’t the meat, but an empty seat.” That statement resonates even more after rounding a year of a pandemic. But before COVID-19 shutdowns and meat shortages, serving CAB was about competitive advantages and so much more. Loyalty breeds loyalty, creating a demand not only for the product, but the company.

CAB launches #RestaurantChallenge

CAB launches #RestaurantChallenge

by | Feb 10, 2021

Data from the National Restaurant Association shows 1 in 6 restaurants have already closed and the next few months are critical for those continuing to operate. To inspire and build support for this key pillar of the high-quality beef market, the brand launched #RestaurantChallenge.

Driving Demand: Retail

Driving Demand: Retail

by | Feb 3, 2021

As the heavyweight champ in brand volume, retail accounts for 55% of total pounds sold, especially in fiscal 2020. But how is it done and how does it create more demand? CAB Director of Retail answers these questions and more.

Update keeps beef success going

March 10, 2011

You could read your way to more profitable, high-quality beef production. A new 40-page edition from the Certified Angus Beef ® (CAB®) brand shows how and why to increase the supply of cattle that qualify.

In February, CAB began distributing a second edition of its full-color, in-depth special report called “Supplying the Brand,” first released four years ago. Distributed to registered and commercial Angus producers, feedlots, allied industry partners and educators, it explains the finer points on the production side of the brand, says Mark McCully, CAB assistant vice president.

Demand was brisk for the 2006 first edition printing, when 50,000 copies filled requests in single envelopes and boxes of hundreds. In the following six months there were more than 200,000 downloads of pages from the web. The award-winning report simply explains how the CAB Program works with market forces to put more dollars in producer pockets

It still starts with high quality. “Marbling remains the most significant performance and carcass trait, even as prices shift,” McCully says. “That’s why we must learn how to keep managing cattle to make the most of their marbling potential.”          

The updated magazine explains how the long-term focus on marbling is paying off at every link from ranch to plate. The CAB brand has become a destination product for consumers: they seek out restaurants and retail stores where they can buy that brand. In a similar way, some ranches and feedlots have become repeat destinations for cattle buyers looking to find the kind that perform and grade.

Consumer preference lays out the challenge to keep producing high-quality beef, because that’s what they want. As noted in “Supplying the Brand,” when asked to visually identify the desirable amount of marbling in a steak, nearly 70% favored premium Choice or higher – the same levels required for CAB brand acceptance.

Producers have responded to keep a good thing going. Rather than reverting to the late quarter-century downward spiral in demand when it came to pleasing consumers, they improved quality. It had to do with feeding conditions, cowherd culling and better tools to apply better Angus genetics, but production of high-quality beef started trending upward in 2007, McCully says.

And when it comes to profitable quality, CAB is holding the bullseye as “the brand that pays,” just using market forces. The report explains nobody enrolls or pays dues or feeds a certain ration to qualify for the program, but everyone raising Angus-influence cattle can shoot for the target as market signals warrant. CAB does not get involved in buying, selling or owning cattle or beef – it simply builds demand. Since 1996, packers have paid producers more than $300 million in premiums for cattle that have met brand requirements.

“From the growing success of the brand to the trickle-down economics that maintain a nice flow of consumer cash back to the ranch, this updated report is based on more than theory,” McCully explains. “It includes commentary from producers successfully and profitably targeting the high-quality end product.”

The full-color magazine details those challenges and opportunities. To request printed copies, visit www.cabcattle.com, call Marilyn Conley, 800-225-2333 ext. 298, or email mconley@certifiedangusbeef.com.

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Certified Angus Beef Recognizes Beef Quality Research

Certified Angus Beef Recognizes Beef Quality Research

by | Aug 15, 2023

First-place honors go to Andres Mendizabal, an international student pursuing a Ph.D. in animal science at Texas Tech University. His research is titled, “The Accuracy of USDA Yield Grade and Beef Carcass Components as Predictors of Red Meat Yield.”

CAB awards Colvin Scholarships

 

by Steve Suther

Five students pursuing agricultural careers have been awarded $15,000 in Colvin Scholarships by the Certified Angus Beef ® brand.

“We are honored to present these awards to tomorrow’s beef industry leaders,” said John Stika, Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) president. “These young people are the future and we’re happy to play even a small role in paving the way to success.”

2011 Colvin Scholarship Awards:

  • $5,000 – Jordan McHenry, Castle Rock, Colo. – Colorado State University
  • $4,000 – Shannon Watson, Stillwater, Okla. – Oklahoma State University
  • $3,000 – Karl Dawn Hobbs, Beloit, Kan. – Kansas State University
  • $2,000 – Amy Sents, McPherson, Kan. – Kansas State University
  • $1,000 – Erin Karney, Las Animas, Colo. – Colorado State University

The award began in 1999 when Louis M. “Mick” Colvin retired as CAB executive director. The scholarships recognize his role in making dreams a reality and inspiring others to be their best. Colvin co-founded the CAB Program in 1978, leading the company to establish the world’s premium brand of fresh beef.

Scholarship applicants wrote an essay addressing the following: As the next generation of producers, what do you see as the significant challenge(s) facing the CAB brand and the beef industry in the next 10 years? What solutions would you offer for meeting those challenges?

Top applicant Jordan McHenry wrote, “There is an ever-increasing need to educate consumers about where food comes from, specifically animal agriculture. By ensuring we provide safe, wholesome beef for families, Americans will believe in the importance of agriculture. As a result of education, consumers will be better able to make informed decisions at the grocery meat case. The Certified Angus Beef ® brand and the beef industry must meet these challenges …”

McHenry is a senior animal science and agriculture business major at Colorado State University and received the $5,000 Colvin Scholarship. Upon graduation, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in meat science to prepare for a career as an industry advocate.

Shannon Watson is an agricultural economics and agricultural communications major at Oklahoma State University. She will pursue a career in agricultural advocacy through law, legislation, economic analogy and communications. Watson plans to study abroad this spring in Sierra Leone, Africa. An active member of the Oklahoma Collegiate Cattlewomen and Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow, she enjoys barrel racing, team roping and taking an active role in Four Aces Cattle Connections, at Blairstown, Mo. She received a $4,000 Colvin Scholarship.

Karl Dawn Hobbs is a senior at Kansas State University, double majoring in agriculture education and animal science and industry production. She plans a career teaching agriculture to both high school and college students. A member of the KSU Collegiate Cattle Women and the KSU Livestock Judging Team, Hobbs received a $3,000 Colvin Scholarship.

Amy Sents is a senior at Kansas State University majoring in animal science and industry/pre-vet, and international agriculture. In 2010, Sents was an international 4-H Youth Exchange representative to Germany and Switzerland, and participated in the KSU animal science industry tour to South Africa. In 2009, she was a USDA White House liaison intern. Sents received a $2,000 Colvin Scholarship.

Erin Karney is a junior animal science and agricultural business major at Colorado State University. She plans to attend graduate school and earn a meat science degree. On the CSU intercollegiate meats judging team and participant in the Reciprocal Meat Conference, Karney received a $1,000 Colvin Scholarship.

Funds for the scholarship are raised annually at the CAB Annual Conference through a golf outing and auction. The top two scholarship recipients win an all-expense-paid trip to the 2011 CAB Annual Conference in Sun River, Ore., for an opportunity to interact with leaders throughout the production, packing, retail and foodservice industries.

The CAB brand, owned by some 30,000 members of the American Angus Association, works with thousands of ranchers across North America to provide consumers with the most consistent, highest quality beef available. For producer information, visit www.cabcattle.com; or for consumer information, www.certifiedangusbeef.com.