In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am back talking with the Executive Vice President of the American Hereford Association, Jack Ward, about technology in the beef industry.

While genomic technology has been used frequently at the seedstock level, Ward said he sees potential for growth in the commercial industry and the feedlot sector to identify what kind of cattle and genetics will work best to reach the desired end-product that meets consumer demand.

The American Hereford Association put on a Junior Feed-Out program last year, Ward said, as it has given youth the chance to gain industry knowledge from all parts of the beef production chain. This program was opened up to commercial cattlemen as well, Ward said, and 1500 head of cattle on feed were genotyped, sire-identified and used for genetic evaluation.

“We track these cattle all the way through and were able to provide information not only about the cattle, but also about where the cattle came from, the husbandry practices of those people…,” Ward said.

Some of the main goals of tracking this information, Ward said, are to provide the industry with identified genetics that are useful to the industry and to share a story with the consumer.

This is part two of our conversation with Ward- click here for Part One. AND- the entire interview with Jack is now available via Podcast- Ron and Jack Ward via the Cattlemen's Congress Conversation series- available here.



Oklahoma Farm Bureau works to improve the lives of all Oklahomans by supporting our state’s agriculture community. As Oklahoma’s largest general farm organization led by Oklahoma farmers and ranchers, OKFB takes grassroots values and advocates for agriculture at the state Capitol and in Washington, D.C., to ensure our way of life continues for generations to come. Farm Bureau hosts leadership events, supports our state’s agricultural youth and connects consumers with agriculture in order to build a brighter future for our state. Become an OKFB member today online at okfarmbureau.org/join. Together, we are rural Oklahoma.

Developing a Center for Rural Veterinary Medicine with Dr. Rosslyn Biggs

On today’s Cow-Calf Corner, Rosslyn Biggs, DVM, Oklahoma State University State Extension Beef Cattle Specialist, talks about solving the shortage of veterinarians serving rural communities.

Veterinarians are critical to the success of rural communities and rural economies. Veterinarians support food and fiber animal industries, maintain the health of companion animals, identify zoonotic diseases, and play a critical role in disease surveillance to protect US agriculture. As cattlemen know, there is a growing challenge to food supply veterinary medicine. In particular, the number of veterinarians serving rural communities has declined during the last thirty years.  

Oklahoma State University is committed to addressing challenges in rural communities including impacts to veterinary medicine and animal agriculture. The percentage of OSU graduates entering food animal or mixed animal practice is routinely higher than the national average. From the Class of 2023 respondents, 25% percent of OSU grads entered large or mixed animal practice while the national average historically fluctuates between 10-15%.  

To fully address this multifaceted challenge, OSU CVM intends to create a Center for Rural Veterinary Medicine (CRVM).  The CRVM represents a team-based approach to the study of rural veterinary medicine and associated challenges and shortages, and the development and implementation of strategies to address these challenges.  

Bases Loaded Sale a Record- Coming Friday- Commercial Cattle Day by the Angus Folks and Meet Dr. Jayson Lusk of OSU at Cattlemens Congress

According to livestock insurance specialist James Bessler- the 25th Annual Bases Loaded Elite Angus Sale Heritage Place was one for the record books- he writes on his Facebook page- "The strong offering was well received as 53 lots grossed $1,836,000 to average $34,642. The top selling lot was an opportunity to become a partner in the elite young sire FF RITO AMBITIOUS, offered as Lot # 2. The interest in this unique bull with an exceptional combination of powerful phenotype and breed leading genomics sold for $510,000. The high selling female lot was Lot # 15, choice of three December 2023 daughters of NOBILITY out of the elite donor DBA RITA 1034; pick of those heifers sold for $190,000."

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Coming up Friday is the Angus Commercial Cattlemen’s Day in Oklahoma City at Cattlemen’s Congress. This event, hosted by the American Angus Association®, features education, competition and fellowship.  

We are moderating a panel that day for the Angus Association- “Balancing the Consumer and the Cow” It will feature Paul Dykstra of Certified Angus Beef, OSU's Mark Johnson and Jesse Luckie of Snake Creek Cattle Company- that starts at 10 AM and will be followed by a free lunch in the Performance Arena.

Later that afternoon- the National Angus Bull Sale is happening at 2 PM.

All the Angus events at Congress are detailed here.

AND Cattlemen's Congress and the OSU Foundation are hosting a meet and greet on Friday from 1 to 2 pm with Dr. Jayson Lusk, Dean and Vice President of OKlahoma State's Division of Ag and Natural Resources. That will be happening at Barn 3 in the Cattlemen's Bar.



Last week’s holiday-disrupted cattle harvest schedule proved to yield a very small total for the week with an estimated 508,000 head, down 5.6% on the same week a year ago. That suggests packers will need to fill their inventory due to this week’s shortened slaughter from Monday’s holiday.

Further evidence of spotmarket, fed cattle demand came through in a sharp uptick in fed cattle values. Last week’s fed steer price average of $172.24/cwt. was $2.98/cwt. higher than the week prior. The last week of the year often culminates in a brief, bullish fed cattle market and last week’s action adds confirmation to the trend.

Live cattle futures this Tuesday were also much higher as February becomes the front month on the CME board. The February contract was higher by more than $3.25/cwt. by mid-afternoon with April more than $2.00/cwt. higher. Given the recent depression in spot market fed cattle prices it appears to many market observers that a short-term bottom has been marked after a seven-week spiral dropping spot market values $16/cwt.

Carcass cutout values were mixed in last week’s report in what could be summarized as a sideways market. CAB tenderloin prices are rapidly retreating from their lofty record-highs with last week’s $17.40/lb. wholesale price down 7% from the high in late November. Ribeye prices were also a bit lower last week but have only adjusted 2% from their December highs.

CME Group’s Makenzie Billings Talks Cattle Markets and More

Recently, Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Intern, Maci Carter, visited with Makenzie Billings of the CME Group about the cattle markets and more.

“I am the manager of the livestock products at CME Group, but what we do at the exchange is we offer products for folks to come and manage their price risk,” Billings said.

The cattle cycle is a little different this year, Billings said, as there has been some uncertainty.

“We are seeing folks come to our marketplace to lay off that risk,” Billings said. “We have had record volumes- trading volumes- and open interest.”

Billings also talked a bit about the Farm Bill.

“Unfortunately, there is not a lot we can do as far as the Farm Bill other than wait and see,” Billings said. “The Farm Bill is always something that is great. It encourages folks to participate in our markets, so that is always something we are looking forward to.”

Oklahoma Grassroots Rural & Ag Business Accelerators 2024 Program Application Now Open through March First

Applications for Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s 2024 Oklahoma Grassroots Rural & Ag Business Accelerators program year are now open until March 1 for rural Oklahoma and agricultural innovators looking to develop their enterprises and deepen their business understanding.

The Activate Oklahoma rural innovation pipeline provides resources and assistance for innovative rural Oklahoma businesses that have an innovation or product that will bring economic opportunities to rural Oklahoma.

The newly revamped AgCelerate Oklahoma agricultural innovation pipeline is for innovators who have innovations and technologies with an on-farm or production agriculture application that will help diversify opportunities for farmers. The AgCelerate pipeline prepares innovators to apply for the national AgLaunch365 agricultural business accelerator or participate in Activate Oklahoma.

Each innovation pipeline provides innovators with multiple training sessions that begin in April and May and run through September. The trainings include pipeline-specific boot camps that connect entrepreneurs with Oklahoma-focused business resources and curriculum to grow and expand their businesses. Additional training will follow the initial boot camps to provide a well-rounded experience for innovators.

Champions Selected at the 2024 Cattlemen’s Congress Junior Limousin & Lim-Flex Show

Members of the North American Limousin Junior Association flaunted their Limousin and Lim-Flex entries in the 2024 Cattlemen’s Congress junior show. The show was held Tuesday, January 2 in Oklahoma City, Okla. Judge Shane Bedwell, Holt, Mo. evaluated the junior Limousin and Lim-Flex animals.

In the Junior Limousin show, Grand Champion Limousin Female was TASF CLAC Karma 639K ET exhibited by Ben Spencer, Gibbon, Neb. She is a 89 percent Limousin female born 4/3/2023 and sired by AUTO Lucky Guy 140D ET.

The Reserve Champion Limousin Female was exhibited by Memphis Peterson, Pukwana S.D. BOSS Lake Klarissa 239K ET is a Purebred Limousin female born on 3/12/2022 and sired by Cottage Lake Border Agent.

In the Junior Lim-Flex show, Grand Champion Lim-Flex Female was SSUL 2412K ET, exhibited by Sara Sullivan, Dunlap, Iowa. She is a 56 percent Lim-Flex female born 3/26/2022 and sired by RLBH Air Force One.

The Reserve Champion Lim-Flex Female was exhibited by Ben Spencer, Gibbon, Neb. J6 Caitlyn 685K ET is a 31 percent Lim-Flex heifer born 3/25/2022 and sired by SCC SCH 24 Karat 838.