News Update

August 9, 2016

Commercial and Seedstock
Partnerships

Continuing to build quality into the nation’s beef supply requires collaboration and partnerships at all levels of the production chain. Commercial cattleman Bill Tucker of Virginia says he relies on seedstock providers to help navigate genetic decisions and ensure he improves with each calf crop.

That commercial-seedstock partnership, he says, goes far beyond an investment in herd genetics.

“I benefit from an extremely close relationship with our seedstock providers. We consider ourselves vested in each other’s operations,” Tucker said.

He explains that when problems arise, he and his seedstock supplier work together to find solutions. They also consult with each other about mating decisions before they ever happen.

“We found the Angus breed to be the anchor breed that we have to work with in order to maintain a customer base,” he adds.

Tune into this week’s The Angus Report online for more news headlines from the Angus breed. Catch the show at 1:30 p.m. CST Saturday or 7 a.m. CST each Monday morning on RFD-TV.

— Adapted from The Angus Report.

Three Reasons to Select Preconditioned Calves

Getting the most bang for your buck at the sale barn is a common goal when buying feeder calves, but how do you know if you are getting the most value for your money? Are you buying calves at a low cost, but paying for that investment in performance later on? Preconditioned calves come at a premium, but the value-added performance they provide is worth the cost.

“A successful preconditioning program results in calves that have undergone a sound vaccination program; are healthy, bunk and water-tank broke; and are ready to perform at the next stage of production,” says Chris Forcherio, beef research manager at the Purina Animal Nutrition Center. “These programs provide value-added calves that are ready to perform in the feedlot.”

For the three reasons why feeders select preconditioned calves, view the Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA article online.

— Adapted from a release by Kayla Jentz, Filament Marketing.

Beef Talk

Summer is here, and soon this year’s calves will leave home.

Astute cow-calf sellers know now is the time to maximize the number of marketing programs for their calves. This is not too early to be checking marketing outlets to see how the calves should be identified so every sales opportunity can be realized, which pays out value that, in the end, increases net profit.

Historically, if an operation has not changed or modified the basic fundamental beef production, management and marketing plan, ask, “Why not?” Beef enterprises always must seek to expand calf marketing, and now is the time to be aggressive.

Producers often think competitive marketing means searching various sales organizations and selecting a site or method for their calf crop. That is only part of the question, because each site or method has competing sale opportunities and associated programs that need calves. The key to marketing is to know the programs within your marketing outlet.

Continue reading the Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA article online.

— Adapted from a release by Kris Ringwall, NDSU Extension Service.

Select Sires Hires Lara Staples

Lara Staples joins Select Sires as a communications specialist and member liaison. She will be responsible for designing and producing materials to support Select Sires’ brand image, dairy genetic product lines, sire summaries and other sales and marketing activities. Staples will also work closely with member cooperative communications and marketing staff to provide assistance. She will be based in the Plain City, Ohio, office.

“Lara’s industry experience, excellent communication skills and diverse skill set will add to an already dynamic communications team,” says Shirley Kaltenbach, Select Sires Inc. director of communications. “Her leadership skills and desire to serve are a good fit for our cooperative and will assist our team in building our industry-leading brand image.”

Staples is a 2014 graduate of the Ohio State University with a degree in animal science and a minor in agricultural communication.

For more information, view the Select Sires news release online.

— Adapted from a release by Danielle Brown, Select Sires Inc.

Northwest Oklahoma Beef Conference

The Northwest Oklahoma Beef Conference on Aug. 11 will showcase how further processing, innovation, policy and marketing play significant roles in determining the ultimate value of beef and its effects on producers and the industry as a whole.

“While a producer has control over the quality of product that leaves his or her operation, many factors come into play that can affect the value, demand and consumer acceptability of beef once the cattle are marketed,” said Dana Zook, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension area livestock specialist for the state’s Northwest District.

The conference will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Chisholm Trail Expo Center, located at 111 W. Purdue St. on the Garfield County Fairgrounds, situated on the north side of Enid.

For more information, view the OSU news release online.

— Adapted from a release by Donald Stotts, Oklahoma State University.

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