Thought Leaders Headline Convention
Game changers met at Angus Convention.
“When the time to perform arrives, the time to prepare has passed.”
The 2016 Angus Convention wrapped up a month ago, yet that quote from keynote speaker Howard Putnam, former Southwest Airlines CEO, stays with those who heard it.
They may think back to opening remarks by American Angus Association CEO Allen Moczygemba, who invoked George Grant’s bringing the first three Angus bulls to Kansas in 1873. A century later, he noted, a visionary few started the Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) brand from an Ohio garage office. Read more.
Rod Geppert
Association Perspective
Make a list, and check it twice. Listing your priorities will help you find the best genetics for your herd.
Lower prices in the cattle market aren’t all bad. They also mean opportunities for you to purchase high-quality genetics at a lower cost to the operation. Price is not indicative of quality or an indicator of the best bull or bulls at an offering. The best bull to meet your goals for your operation could be later in the sale, and you can find him if you do your homework.
With the bulk of the bull sales to begin here in Region 6, it’s time to make your shopping list. Maybe a “priority list” would be a better term here to use as a guide before sorting through pages of sale books, hours of videos and live evaluations to make better and quicker decisions at a bull sale.
So, what is on your “priority list?” Read more.
Decisions of Lasting Impact
Opening session of 2016 Angus Convention celebrates the past, as CEO Allen Moczygemba challenges members to take their turn in advancing the breed.
CEO Allen Moczygemba took to the stage in Indianapolis, Ind., Nov. 5 to welcome Angus members, commercial cattlemen and allied industry to the 2016 Angus Convention. Celebrating the heritage of the breed, he emphasized the impact of George Grant’s decision to bring Aberdeen-Angus bulls to Kansas in 1873.
“One decision, made by one man, ultimately changed the course of the cattle business,” said Moczygemba. “Because of that decision, today Angus touches every corner, every farm and ranch in this country, and people in restaurants around the world dine on the beef we produce.” Read more.
Should You Invest in Land or Buildings?
Purdue animal scientist shares considerations for producers considering semi-confinement production.
It really isn’t a new concept. Many cow-calf producers have confined cows to sacrifice pastures or drylots, or under a roof, during a portion of the production year. However, there is new interest in managing breeding herds under total or semi-confinement. Largely due to the high costs associated with purchasing or renting grazing land, some aspiring cattlemen and producers contemplating expansion of their existing operations are considering whether keeping cows in confinement could work for them.
At an Angus University Workshop hosted during the 2016 Angus Convention in Indianapolis, Ind., Purdue University animal scientist Ron Lemenager talked about management considerations for managing cows and calves under confinement. He said confinement offers advantages and disadvantages with regard to management of nutrition, environmental conditions and health. Read more.
What’s Inside …
In this December edition of the Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA, you'll find valuable articles devoted to the management, marketing, and health and nutrition of your beef enterprise. Select from the tabs at the top of the page to access this month’s entire offering by category. A few select features include:
- Tips for Bull Selection
- Bedding During Winter Months
- Nine Strategies for Profit
- Importance of Water in Winter
- Factors that Affect How an Animal Handles the Cold
- Feed Cost Outlook
- Why Beef Quality Grades are Improving
News Briefs …
The American Angus Association and its subsidiaries generate a wealth of information to keep members and affiliates informed of what's happening within the industry, as well as with the programs and services they offer. Click here for easy access to the newsrooms of the American Angus Association and Certified Angus Beef LLC and the Angus Journal Daily archive available in the API Virtual Library.
Teen Substance Use Shows Promising Decline
NIH Monitoring the Future survey shows use of most illicit substances down, but past year marijuana use relatively stable.
The 2016 Monitoring the Future (MTF) annual survey results released Dec. 13 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reflect changing teen behaviors and choices in a social media-infused world. The results show a continued long-term decline in the use of many illicit substances, including marijuana, as well as alcohol, tobacco and misuse of some prescription medications, among the nation’s teens. The MTF survey measures drug use and attitudes among eighth, 10th and 12th graders, and is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the NIH. Read more.
U.S. Decline in Meat Protein
Consumption Raises Concern
Restricted meat consumption leads to an unhealthy lifestyle, animal science professor says.
A 14% decline in U.S. consumer meat consumption during the past decade has caused alarm with one Texas A&M AgriLife scientist who warns the effects could be dire for overall human health and child development.
Guoyao Wu, distinguished professor in the department of animal science at Texas A&M University, said U.S. consumers have been overwhelmed with misinformation about protein and fats in meats, which in turn has led to many consuming less meat or no meat at all. Read more.