Agricultural News
The US Beef Industry's New Norm - Staying Ahead of the Curve in Value-Added Management
Tue, 11 Jul 2017 12:26:36 CDT
In today's market, if you are not using the best management practices in your cattle operation, then you are falling behind. Oklahoma State University Beef Cattle Specialist Gant Mourer told Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays that in response to the decline in cattle prices, the majority of producers have implemented some form of value-added program to their ranching business in order to capture the highest possible premiums for their cattle. He says this strategy has actually become the new norm.
"Really all it boils down to, is quality genetics and quality management - that's all value-added really is," Mourer said. "These well-managed cattle have become the norm and if you're not managing your cattle to this standard, you're actually receiving a discount."
Depending on how you look at it, this premium or discount, could cost you up to $10 or $12 a head, he says. More often than not though, Mourer insists most producers are typically managing their cattle with, if nothing else, a VAC45 program. He believes you can add as much or as little value as you want through the various programs that could potentially be implemented on your place, but suggests you start by evaluating your existing management style and decide what programs fit best with your current operation.
"With these programs, we're simply identifying those calves that have been managed well," he said. "That could be a genetics program, nutrition, vaccinations- whatever. A lot of producers are already doing that."
Listen to Mourer explain the value-added landscape of the beef business with Farm Director Ron Hays, on today's Beef Buzz.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today's show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
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