News Update
January 23, 2015
New Horizons for the Angus Breed
The nearly 25,000 members who comprise the American Angus Association came off of an outstanding 2014 fiscal year (FY) this fall. Fiscal performance exceeded all expectations on nearly every front, from an increase in registrations to record-breaking sales of Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) brand product, to the most sales revenue ever reported for Angus seedstock: $326 million.
The organization is now reporting that these trends have accelerated in the first quarter of FY 2015, which began Oct. 1, 2014, and the breed is on an early pace to potentially exceed last year’s performance.
“It was an excellent year for our breed as demand outpaced supply and consumers continued to ask for quality Angus beef,” says Bryce Schumann, Association CEO. “And now we look forward to even more opportunities on the horizon to advance high-quality Angus genetics.”
Registrations submitted to the American Angus Association in December totaled 44,194, the eighth best month in history and the best December on record. Year to date, total registrations for registered-Angus seedstock grew 10%; that’s an increase of 10,000 more animals in the registry. These numbers were achieved with more people raising registered-Angus genetics.
Since October, memberships have grown 31%, and junior memberships have increased by more than 9%.
Last year, Angus breeders saw more revenue for their registered-Angus seedstock than at any other time in history — except, that is, for FY 2015.
In FY 2014, breeders earned $61.5 million more in revenue than the year prior, doubling revenue per sale since 2010.
Encouragingly, breeders show no signs of slowing down. Sales gross topped $114,712,900 from October through December, up 40% from the same time period last year. Registered-Angus bulls averaged $6,445, up more than $1,700 per head on nearly 8,000 bulls sold in that time period, representing an increase in volume of more than 1,100 head.
Female sales also reflected increased demand. Females averaged $5,385 per head, up more than $1,600 per head in value — a whopping 46% increase.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Cultivating the Future
Cattle farming and ranching is a risky business. Whether the operation is inherited or pieced together over time, there is a lot at stake for cattlemen to produce more pounds of quality beef for consumers. Today’s beef producer will require a different skill set than those of previous generations.
To meet the needs of future cattle producers, the American Angus Association has launched a new program called Future Angus Stockmen — an effort to impact the next generation through learning opportunities, while building a bond with the Angus breed and its member-driven organization.
“Our goal with the Future Angus Stockmen initiative is to give young producers who want to play a role in beef production the jumpstart they need to be successful in the business,” says Ginette Kurtz, Association director of commercial programs. “Strong skills in communications, marketing, data analysis and business planning are critical in our industry’s challenge to produce quality beef.”
Future Angus Stockmen is aimed toward college-age or recent graduates who want to raise high-quality Angus-based commercial cattle. The program will offer educational opportunities that teach participants how to thrive in the cattle industry, social networking to connect them with fellow producers, and leadership development to instill an entrepreneurial spirit and drive to improve their businesses.
Participants will learn how to use proven information such as expected progeny differences (EPDs) and dollar-value indexes ($Values), while incorporating DNA technology to make data-driven decisions. In partnership with Zoetis, the American Angus Association will offer those enrolled in the program a special, reduced rate for GeneMax® Advantage™ and GeneMax Focus™ tests.
Additional program benefits include complimentary enrollment in either AngusSource® or AngusSource Genetic — the Association’s marketing program for Angus-sired feeder calves and replacement females. Future Angus Stockmen participants will also learn the importance of recordkeeping as a precursor to any successful operation by using either the Beef Record Service (BRS) or MaternalPlus® at a reduced cost for submitting data.
Thanks to generous funds provided by Allflex and Destron Fearing, young people who enroll in the program will also have the chance to apply for scholarships if they are or will be enrolled in a two- or four-year college while majoring in agriculture. Scholarship winners will be announced at the 2015 National Angus Convention & Trade Show, Nov. 3-5, 2015, in Overland Park, Kan.
The Future Angus Stockmen program officially launches March 1, and more information will be posted online at www.angus.org as it develops.
For more information, please view the full release here.
National Western Angus Bull Sale Draws Crowd
Angus enthusiasts consigned 42 bulls to the 2015 National Western Angus Bull Sale Jan. 14 in Denver, Colo. The annual sale, which is the only sale managed by the American Angus Association, grossed $505,600 and averaged $12,038. A panel of three judges including Chris Styles, Brentford, S.D.; Bruce Stertzbach, Louisville, Ohio; and Joe Myers, Harrodsburg, Ky., evaluated the bulls and selected division and overall champions.
Silveira Bros., Firebaugh, Calif., consigned the grand champion bull, Silveira’s First Reaction2510. The October 2012 son of Dameron First Class became the high-selling lot. A syndicate of breeders purchased the winning bull for $120,000. The syndicate included Malson Angus, Parma, Idaho; Rockin’ S Ranch Inc., Riverdale, Calif.; Lott Angus Farm, Carmen, Okla.; Drew Hall, Ethel, La.; Dave and Valerie Last, Valley Center, Calif.; Stahley Farms, Valley Center, Calif.; North Camp Angus, Saint Ignatius, Mont.; Denny Family, Lubbock, Texas; Echols Angus Ranch, Caddo, Texas; Flying G, Brenham, Texas; Cattle Visions LLC, Clark, Mo.; Chapman Angus Ranch, Elmore City, Okla.; and Langford Herefords, Okmulgee, Okla.
Jason Schroeder, Durant, Iowa, consigned the reserve grand champion bull. JS First Class B851 is a February 2014 son of McCoy First Class 109-6119 and first won late winter calf champion. Brady Angus Farm, La Salle, Ill., purchased the bull for $13,000.
Other high-selling bulls included Car Don X File 844 consigned by Donald Bloom, Westville, Ind., and Bryce Hofing, Coatesville, Ind. The March 2014 son of AAR Ten X 7008 SA was purchased by Double R Bar Ranch, Plymouth, Ind., for $20,000.
PF Counsel 643T 3514 won senior calf champion-division 2 and was consigned by Pollard Farms LLC, Waukomis, Okla. Winter Brook Cattle Co., Canby, Ore., bought the September 2013 son of EXAR Counsel 1016B for $20,000.
Talon Crest Farms LLC, Winterset, Iowa, consigned TalonCrest Bonelli 310. Henderson Farms, Drakesville, Iowa, purchased the September 2013 son of SAV Brilliance 8077 for $16,000.
For more information, please view the full release here.
The Angus Report Features the NWSS
The National Western Stock Show (NWSS) is famously known as one of the year’s premier livestock competitions, and the Angus breed has much to celebrate after a successful 2015 event. The American Angus Association brings you coverage from the NWSS during its weekly television program The Angus Report, which airs at 7:30 a.m. CST Monday, Jan. 26, on RFD-TV.
The Angus Report visits with Angus breeders about what it’s like exhibiting cattle in Denver, Colo., shares some stock show history and brings you a report on the week’s show champions. Featured in the NWSS episode are:
- Chris and Sharee Sankey, Council Grove, Kan., who were recipients of the 2015 Herdsman of the Year award and explain why the Denver stock show is an annual highlight for their family.
- Milford Jenkins, Angus Foundation president, reports on successful fundraising events for the organization during the NWSS, including the $175,000 purchase of the 2015 Angus Foundation Heifer Package by three-peat buyer Charles W. Herbster.
- Dan Green, historian and publisher, shows us around the Yards in Denver — a place famous for showcasing top beef cattle genetics from across the country.
- We recap the championship drives during the Roll of Victory (ROV) Angus Bull Show, Junior Angus Heifer Show and the ROV Angus Female Show.
- Chestnut Angus Farm in Pipestone, Minn., shares how they prepared to exhibit cattle in the one-of-a-kind carload and pen show at the NWSS.
In addition to the 7:30 a.m. CST Monday airing, The Angus Report can been seen each week on RFD-TV during the following time slots: 5 p.m. CST, Wednesday; 3:30 a.m., Thursday; 1:30 p.m. CST, Saturday.
RFD-TV is distributed by more than 625 cable operators, and can be found on DirecTV channel 345 and Dish Network channel 231. Check local listings for more information.
To watch segments from past shows, visit the Association’s website or YouTube channel.
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