News Update
September 16, 2016
Angus.org Sports New Look
The American Angus Association is proud to debut enhancements to its website, www.angus.org, including a modern and mobile-friendly design, improved navigation menu and prominent news features on the website’s homepage. The changes, which went live Sept. 13, allow users to quickly locate the information and tools they need for herd management and marketing.
As the digital landing page for the American Angus Association, www.angus.org has generated more than 27 million page views throughout fiscal year 2016.
A major draw is the Association’s online recordkeeping service, AAA Login, which is now accessible through the red Login button on the top right hand side of the navigation menu. All functionality within AAA Login remains the same.
The Association’s site features news and announcements direct from Angus Media. Featured websites and sale information will also be included on the site. Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) launched a more extensive online presence allowing producers to explore genomic testing options.
Read more about the changes online.
Free BQA Certification
Until Nov. 13, cattle producers and those involved in the cattle industry can obtain their Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Certification for free courtesy of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica (BIVI).
BQA helps those handling cattle learn better techniques and practices to make transporting, vaccinating and other on-farm practices go more smoothly. These practices help producers provide a higher quality product while minimizing stressful situations. BQA also helps increase consumer confidence in the beef industry.
“BQA certification gives producers an opportunity to talk about their commitment to raising a better-quality product,” said Scott King, director of marketing for the U.S. Cattle Business Segment at BIVI. “We are consistently hearing that consumers want more facts on how their food gets to the grocery store, so now is a critical time to share our BQA story.”
Go online for more information on becoming BQA certified.
Bacon Lovers, Meet Schmacon
Cattle producers should pay attention to a beef product gaining attention in the international market: Schmacon, or beef bacon.
As the United States continues to produce additional protein each year, researchers are looking for ways to add value to lower-priced cuts of meat. This makes the overall animal more valuable, which means more money in producers’ pockets.
“The way this will affect producers is it will increase demand for a lower-priced cut,” says Mark Gwin, Certified Angus Beef LLC product integration manager. “We are utilizing the plate for this, which is the underbelly of the animal. It’s a product [that] a lot of times is ground and receives drop value for ground beef.
“It’s doubly important because right now you’ve got an extremely high dollar value and the export market is not where it needs to be right now. This is a product that is a cut that is exported heavily,” he says.
Watch more of Gwin’s interview on The Angus Report. You can catch the show at 1:30 p.m. CST Saturday or 7:30 a.m. CST each Monday on RFD-TV.
Small Equipment Sales Spike
While large tractor and combine sales still encounter double-digit declines, tractors under 100 hp are now seeing a spike in sales. U.S. retail sales for 2WD tractors under 40 hp gained 21.2% in August compared to a 6.3% decline in July, with year-to-date sales up 11%.
In the United States, 4WD tractors are experiencing a 33% decline in sales and combine sales have declined more than 22%.
“The numbers for mid-size equipment, specifically that related to livestock, are not unexpected,” says Charlie O’Brien, Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AME) senior vice president, “In our quarterly North American agricultural equipment industry conditions survey for Q2 2016, falling livestock prices were associated with falling equipment demand.”
For more information, visit www.ame.org.
2016 NAILE Angus Show
In a few short months, Angus cattle enthusiasts will travel to Louisville, Ky., for showring competition during the 2016 North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE). Both the Angus Junior Heifer Show and the Super-Point Roll of Victory (ROV) Show take place Nov. 13-15.
All shows will begin at 8 a.m. in the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center (KFEC) Freedom Hall. The junior heifer show takes place Sunday, Nov. 13; the ROV bulls, cow-calf pairs and females (in that order) will show Tuesday, Nov. 15. Chris Sankey, Council Grove, Kan., and Cody Sankey, Economy, Ind., will judge the Super-Point ROV Show. The junior heifer show judge is to be announced.
Ownership deadline for the junior show is Sept. 15, and all cattle must be entered to show with the NAILE by Oct. 8. Entries can be submitted on the website at www.livestockexpo.org.M/ Visa® and MasterCard® are accepted.
Read more online in this Angus news release.
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