News Update
November 30, 2016
Angus Cowboy Competes in the National Finals Rodeo
The American Angus Association is proud to sponsor one of its own this week at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in Las Vegas, Nev. Matt Reeves of Cross Plains, Texas, is among the steer wrestling contestants competing in the crowning event of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). He also raises Angus-sired calves and partners with his family to sell on the grid and receive premiums for qualifying for Certified Angus Beef®.
“Angus is proud to sponsor Mr. Reeves, an Angus cattleman who, like so many of our members, represents hard work and a determined spirit to become the best they can be,” says Allen Moczygemba, Association CEO.
The Wrangler NFR begins Thursday, Dec. 1, and marks the sixth time Reeves has appeared in the competition. His last appearance was in 2013 when he placed second, but this year’s return is especially sweet after a three-year hiatus caused by a string of challenges that included undergoing extensive hip and core muscle surgery two years ago and losing his horse, Nacho, to a tragic accident this fall.
Read more in the Angus news release online. For more news from the NFR, stay tuned to the Association’s social media accounts.
Growth in Genomic Demand
Innovations in genomic technology continue to chart the course for the future of beef production, and helping lead the charge is Angus Genetics Incorporated (AGI).
AGI reports record growth in genomic profile testing in fiscal year 2016, and for the first time ever, the uptake in genomic testing exceeded 100,000 tests — an increase of about 45%, year over year. AGI President Dan Moser says that’s attributed to a growing interest in genomically enhanced expected progeny differences (EPDs) by commercial cattle producers.
“We’ve had a tremendous year, the best ever for AGI, in terms of volume and genomic testing. We’ve sold over 110,000 genomic profiles with both companies, with both Neogen and Zoetis to go into Angus genomically enhanced EPDs,” Moser said.
He adds that while it may have taken several years to get to the first 100,000, Angus is now looking to reach 300,000 genomically tested animals.
Learn more by watching this week’s The Angus Report online. You can also catch the show at 1:30 p.m. CST Saturday and 7:30 a.m CST every Monday on RFD-TV.
Communicating With Your Customers
Producing seedstock for the Angus industry is quite a responsibility, Brett Spader, director of operations for DV Auctions, told a group of producers and marketers at the 2016 Angus Convention in Indianapolis, Ind. Spader spoke as part of the convention’s Angus University on Sunday, Nov. 6.
“Certainly, the responsibility doesn’t just stop with producing the cattle,” Spader continued. “It also comes down to customer service and communicating with your customers.” He said he likes to refer to marketing more as communications.
“It’s such an important part of what we do, but a lot of times, it falls to the bottom of the list,” he acknowledged.
You’re not always in the mood to be sold to, Spader explained, but communicating with others is human nature. The relationship between breeder and client is strong, and it’s important.
Continue reading the Angus Media news article online.
Document Age, Source and Genetics
Plenty of factors can and do influence the price received for calves or feeder cattle. Weight and breed or breeds represented matter to bidders, as do lot size and body condition. How a given set of calves were managed, with regard to weaning and health, can influence buyer interest and the choice of sale day may affect the price.
Some market influences are beyond the control of cattle sellers, but there are tools that help producers merchandise their cattle by differentiating them from the commodity mix. During the 2016 Angus Convention, Director of Commercial Programs Ginette Gottswiller explained one such tool offered by the Association. That is AngusSource®, a USDA process-verified program (PVP) designed to help commercial cattlemen add value and assist with marketing Angus-sired feeder calves and replacement heifers.
According to Gottswiller, AngusSource documents supply source and group age for calves sired by registered-Angus bulls. The American Angus Association provides marketing support for participating producers by providing weekly listings of enrolled calves to potential buyers.
For more information, view the Angus Media news article online.
Using Genomics to Make Better Breeding Decisions
The last 10 years have been an exciting time to explore genomics, said Ben Hayes, leader of the “1,000 Bull Genomes Project” in Australia. With more than 3.5 million cattle genotyped using genomic-estimated breeding values (EBVs) around the world, cattlemen have access to the greatest degree of precision breeding the industry has seen.
Hayes spoke to Angus producers and members of the American Angus Association Nov. 5 at the 2016 Angus Convention in Indianapolis, Ind. With such a large number of both beef and dairy cattle genotyped using genomic-EBVs, it’s time to look at the impact the technology has had on the world’s cattle herd, Hayes said.
“Genomics technology is so powerful because you can get these genomic-estimated breeding values almost at the birth of the animal,” he said. “As soon as you can pull a tail hair or get a sample of DNA from the animal, you can get back these genomic breeding values and start to make selective decisions about those animals.”
For more information, view the Angus Media news article online.
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