News Update

July 29, 2016

Nation’s Cattle Inventory on the Rise

The nation’s cattle inventory could be on track to grow by nearly 700,000 head by the end of 2016, according to CattleFax Senior Analyst Kevin Good.

Following upward trends set in 2015, herd expansion signals include lower-than-average heifer slaughter numbers and more favorable weather conditions in many parts of the country. Good anticipates strong cow-calf margins to support expansion for the coming year, however, 2017 and 2018 may bring shifts in the market.

“From an expansion standpoint as a base in 2015, we expanded by one million head of beef cows, and the dairy herd is basically flat,” Good said. “Heifer slaughter is down, cow slaughter is basically flat, which is at an expansion rate. So if you continue that, you look at the good moisture conditions we’ve got around the country, it would suggest the beef cow herd could be up another 600,000 to 700,000 head this year.”

Watch this week’s episode of The Angus Report online for more of Good’s interview. You can also catch the show at 1:30 p.m. CST Saturday and 7 a.m. CST each Monday on RFD-TV.

— Adapted from The Angus Report.

Regaining Cattle Market Dollars

Old college friends who shared many miles on judging teams, Sam and Thomas decided to get together to reminisce at a recent cattlemen’s convention.

After graduation, they had gone separate ways, Thomas back to grow the family ranch in South Dakota to include 400 commercial black cows, while Sam started a custom feedyard in Kansas with a great reputation for feeding high-quality cattle for grid targets.

Family notes exchanged, their conversation soon shifted to industry trends and what Thomas was trying to accomplish with his herd. Sam, always keeping an eye out for a future customer, asked if he had ever followed calves through the feedlot and to the rail. Thomas said that’d never made sense to him so he weaned and sold the same day at the local sale barn.

Continue reading in the Angus Media article online.

— Adapted from an article by Larry Corah for Certified Angus Beef.

Canadian Junior Angus Association Scholarships

The Canadian Junior Angus Association (CJAA) presented three young women with scholarships July 28. Michaela Chalmers of Ontario received the first-place scholarship of $2,000; Melanie Wood of Prince Edward Island received the second-place scholarship of $1,500; and Rebecca Redner of Ontario received the third-place scholarship of $1,000.

Chalmers is enrolled in the University of Guelph Animal Biology program working toward an Honors bachelor’s degree. Wood is studying plant science at Dalhousie University in the faculty of agriculture. Redner will begin her post-secondary studies in food and agricultural business at the University of Guelph this fall.

For more information, visit the CJAA website.

— Adapted from a release by Tina Zakowsky, Canadian Angus Association.

Belmont Meats Names New Vice President

Belmont Meats, a leader in the manufacturing and processing of foodservice and retail protein products, has appointed an additional vice president to help chart the company’s continued growth across Canada and the United States.

Doug Oakey has been promoted to the position of vice president, retail sales North America, from his previous position as a senior sales director. He has more than 25 years experience as a senior executive management professional in the protein business. He joined Belmont in 2012 as the senior director of business development and currently leads its North America retail division.

For more information, view the Belmont Meats release online.

— Adapted from a release by Belmont Meats.

Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course

The 62nd Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course is scheduled Aug. 1-3 on the campus of Texas A&M University. Multiple sessions throughout the three-day event will focus on beef cattle production, management, market outlooks and the future of the industry.

During the general session scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Aug. 1 at Rudder Auditorium, speakers will be:

– Ted McCollum, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service beef cattle specialist, Amarillo, discussing hot issues affecting the beef industry.
– Brian Bledsoe, chief meteorologist at KKTV-Colorado Springs, will provide a weather outlook.
– Brad Morgan, Performance Food Group, will discuss who beef consumers are and what will they want 20 years from now.
– Duane Lenz, CattleFax economist, will provide a beef cattle market outlook for the remainder of 2016 and into next year.

For more information, visit the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events.

— Adapted from a release by Texas AgriLife Communications.

Seeking Member Input

The American Angus Association seeks member input in order to establish the long-range plan and strategic vision of the nation’s largest beef breed organization. Members were emailed questionnaires, which are also available within AAA Login (www.angusonline.org).

Survey responses submitted online will be accepted through July 31, and respondents may enter to win a cash drawing. The Association’s long-range initiative encompasses insight from all areas of the beef cattle business, and member input is vital and appreciated.

Contact the Association at angus@angus.org if you have questions regarding the survey.

— Announcement from the American Angus Association.

— Compiled by Paige Nelson, field editor, Angus Media.

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