Agricultural News
Consistent Performance Keeps Customers All Along the Chain Happy With Angus Breed
Tue, 01 May 2012 10:52:41 CDT
It's no secret that consistently efficient, high-quality cattle earn top dollar in volatile market situations. Oklahoma feeder Tom Fanning says while hedging and futures contracts can be useful tools, top results still come down to having the right cattle.
"One of the ways to address risk is to have and operate high-quality cattle that you can predict performance on."
This is one area in which the Angus breed has excelled.
"Over the years as you see the Angus genetics improve and the cattle get better, the cattle are now performing at a level that people just 20 years ago could not imagine that was possible," Fanning says.
Cattle feeder and cow-calf producer Sam Hands says certified Angus beef has moved the industry away from a "pounds only" mentality.
"It's got the industry focused towards quality. Granted, here in the feedlot sector, our challenge always is conversion-converting feed to pounds and being very efficient. That is very important. But, at the same time, pounds is what pays the bills. So, as we wrestle with those types of issues from a producer's standpoint, again, the database that comes from the Angus Association helps us through our selection of breeding stock to accomplish those objectives very much."
Hands says it's important to use those tools is important because keeping all customers happy is the goal.
"If the cattle are sold at weaning time, they still need to be cattle that are going to work for the next owner as well as for the packer as well as for the wholesaler or retailer and satisfy that consumer."
Click on the play button in the video below to hear more about the performance gains made by Angus producers.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI
Top Agricultural News
More Headlines...