Angus versus "other" beef

[Arnold Ziffle]

Here's a post that I stole from ranchers.net that some of you may find interesting:



I'm in Texas now. I came here a week ago from Utah. I just happened to see the following article in today's Austin American-Statesman newspaper. As you read this please realize that technology is going to play an ever-expanding role in the beef industry, and ask yourself, "Do I embrace new technology, or do I resist it?" Also, "If they do this, what do I need to do next?"

"AUSTIN COMPANIES TEAM UP TO VERIFY THAT BEEF IS ANGUS"

"Livestock technology company ViaGen Inc. has signed a five-year, $5 million deal to genetically test cattle for Premium Gold Angus Beef, a 12-year-old Austin company that has become one of the largest U.S. providers of high-end beef.

ViaGen, also based in Austin, is controlled by John Sperling, the billionaire founder of publicly traded Apollo Group, parent company of the for-profit University of Phoenix.

ViaGen has developed a test to ensure the purity of Angus beef, based on DNA from 152 top registered Angus bulls. Under the deal announced Friday, Premium Gold Angus will use the test to ensure the purity of its beef and use ViaGen's 'Angus Sure' logo in its marketing.

The five-year agreement for testing and branding is exclusive between the two companies.

Premium Gold Angus was founded by local rancher Dwight Hartley, whose son, Justin Hartley, recently took over as President.

The elder Hartley said Friday that ensuring the quality of Angus beef will boost sales and clear up customers' concerns about the brand.

'There are at least seven different breeds that produce "black hide" beef,' he said. 'Some are pretty good imposters.'

Hartley, who has bred cattle for 25 years, said his company is sure of the quality of its beef, but the deal with ViaGen 'gives us the ability to safeguard our own cattle supply.'

Premium Gold Angus is sold in 1,300 retail stores in the United States, including the Central Market stores run by the H.E. Butt Grocery Co. Hartley said the company did $130 million in sales last year."

 

[Campground Cattle]

Well AZ it looks like those that have been trying to cover poor quality and management with Black hide are in trouble. Now I hope this comes to pass and people get on Angus and quit screwing up the gene pool of the other breeds with all these counterfiets. Black Herefords, Simms, Lims etc. is a bunch of horsefeathers. It's always been about management and quality, looks like the big dogs are going huntin and the little dogs had better get under the porch.

 

[ollie]

Well AZ it looks like those that have been trying to cover poor quality and management with Black hide are in trouble. Now I hope this comes to pass and people get on Angus and quit screwing up the gene pool of the other breeds with all these counterfiets. Black Herefords, Simms, Lims etc. is a bunch of horsefeathers. It's always been about management and quality, looks like the big dogs are going huntin and the little dogs had better get under the porch.

I'm not saying it is going to but it could come back to bite them. I read where the Limi association is coming out with a cutability epd. (you guys know I love epd's.)Seriously the question beggs , how much Angus do these animals have to have in their pedigree to be classified as angus ? 50% ?

 

[TheBullLady]

how much Angus do these animals have to have in their pedigree to be classified as angus

THAT'S the $64,000 question...

 

[houstoncutter]

Hmmm. those guys better not look to close or they will find that dairy blood that made those Angus so tall so quick ;-) ;-) ;-)

 

[Frankie]

Well AZ it looks like those that have been trying to cover poor quality and management with Black hide are in trouble. Now I hope this comes to pass and people get on Angus and quit screwing up the gene pool of the other breeds with all these counterfiets. Black Herefords, Simms, Lims etc. is a bunch of horsefeathers. It's always been about management and quality, looks like the big dogs are going huntin and the little dogs had better get under the porch.

I'm not saying it is going to but it could come back to bite them. I read where the Limi association is coming out with a cutability epd. (you guys know I love epd's.)Seriously the question beggs , how much Angus do these animals have to have in their pedigree to be classified as angus ? 50% ?

Classified by who (whom??)?

 

[Frankie]

Here's a post that I stole from ranchers.net that some of you may find interesting:

I'm in Texas now. I came here a week ago from Utah. I just happened to see the following article in today's Austin American-Statesman newspaper. As you read this please realize that technology is going to play an ever-expanding role in the beef industry, and ask yourself, "Do I embrace new technology, or do I resist it?" Also, "If they do this, what do I need to do next?"
"AUSTIN COMPANIES TEAM UP TO VERIFY THAT BEEF IS ANGUS"
"Livestock technology company ViaGen Inc. has signed a five-year, $5 million deal to genetically test cattle for Premium Gold Angus Beef, a 12-year-old Austin company that has become one of the largest U.S. providers of high-end beef.
ViaGen, also based in Austin, is controlled by John Sperling, the billionaire founder of publicly traded Apollo Group, parent company of the for-profit University of Phoenix.
ViaGen has developed a test to ensure the purity of Angus beef, based on DNA from 152 top registered Angus bulls. Under the deal announced Friday, Premium Gold Angus will use the test to ensure the purity of its beef and use ViaGen's 'Angus Sure' logo in its marketing.
The five-year agreement for testing and branding is exclusive between the two companies.
Premium Gold Angus was founded by local rancher Dwight Hartley, whose son, Justin Hartley, recently took over as President.
The elder Hartley said Friday that ensuring the quality of Angus beef will boost sales and clear up customers' concerns about the brand.
'There are at least seven different breeds that produce "black hide" beef,' he said. 'Some are pretty good imposters.'
Hartley, who has bred cattle for 25 years, said his company is sure of the quality of its beef, but the deal with ViaGen 'gives us the ability to safeguard our own cattle supply.'
Premium Gold Angus is sold in 1,300 retail stores in the United States, including the Central Market stores run by the H.E. Butt Grocery Co. Hartley said the company did $130 million in sales last year."

Thanks for this post, Arnold. I read the thread at Ranchers; seems like someone thinks this is going to knock CAB out. I seriously doubt that, but I do think we're headed toward source verified CAB and eventually only Angus cattle will be allowed in the program.

From what I read here, not all Angus will be allowed in this program? Only calves related to those 152 bulls that have been DNA tested? And what about halfblood Angus? I wonder if you breed one of the tested bulls to a Simmental cow if the calf would be acceptable? If anyone comes up with more detail, I'd be interested in reading about it.

BTW, several years ago we went to Hartley's production sale where he announced USDA approval of the PGA brand. What a mess!! No one had brought a mike and amp! The auctioneer did a good job without one (small crowd) until someone went to town and got some equipment. It wasn't long after that he dispersed his herd. But I've seen him buying some high dollar cows the last year or two. I guess he turned the marketing over to his son and is back in the cow business. IMO, that would be a lot more fun.

 

[Dana Kopp]

I have always wondered what would happen when we get to the point where we must DNA our cattle - will we find out that our registered Angus is really a black Limo or black Charlais and the black Limo and black Simmental is as much Angus as the registered Angus?