Implants

[Anonymous]

> Also, if anyone decides against
> implanting I respect their choice.
> If implants were banned it
> wouldn't bother me one bit. If
> they are healthy and the guy down
> the road is making another $25/hd
> by implanting, why wouldn't I do
> it? I just get tired of hearing
> how "natural" or
> "organic" foods are so
> much healthier, and to my
> knowledge there is no scientific
> proof to back it up.

YOU MAY BE TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT NATURAL AND ORGANIC, BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF CONSUMERS WANT THEIR FOOD PURE AND AS CLOSE TO "NATURAL" AS THEY CAN GET IT. WORRYING ABOUT HOW MUCH THE GUY DOWN THE ROAD IS MAKING, YOU CUT YOUR OWN THROAT!

 

[Anonymous]

i think "vast majority" is a major overstatement. the average consumer doesn't know or care where or how the steak got to the grocery store. their only concern is that they receive what they perceive to be a good eating experience. yes, there are consumers who want "natural" or "organic" foods, but when asked, most of these people couldn't tell you what an implant is or does. & i would venture to guess (& only a guess, no personal research) that many of these same people walk around talking on cell phones several hours a day when there is conflicting research showing they may/may not cause brain tumors. it's so easy to pick & choose the "cause of the day" or "cause of the week". our job should be to educate these consumers, not throw additional scare tactics their way.

 

[Anonymous]

> YOU MAY BE TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT
> NATURAL AND ORGANIC, BUT THE VAST
> MAJORITY OF CONSUMERS WANT THEIR
> FOOD PURE AND AS CLOSE TO
> "NATURAL" AS THEY CAN
> GET IT. WORRYING ABOUT HOW MUCH
> THE GUY DOWN THE ROAD IS MAKING,
> YOU CUT YOUR OWN THROAT!

Wow! One little question. I always try to do research befor I change anything in my opperation. I found pros and cons going both ways. More for the implanting. For the remark of "cut your own throat" I say grow your own food if it bothers you. I live on a farm and do it myself. But I am still not afraid to go to the store and buy food there either. Your an adult and so am I. DO NOT TRY AND PUSH YOUR WAYS ON ME! And I would like to know who gave you the authority to speak for anyone other than yourself.

[email protected]

 

[Anonymous]

You may be right, that when asked people will say they want natural. But when they are at the meat counter, they seem to pay more attention to price. If I was direct marketing all my beef, I would not implant, as I think it may be easier to market. But in my opinion that seems to work better for people that only have a few head to sell.

Please explain how I am "slitting my own throat" by making more money? Don't get me wrong, I understand your point. I always hear how we need to give the consumer what they want, but I figure the consumer will get what they want when they are willing to pay for it.

Maybe this is a bad example, but we all get angry when we hear how our Nike's or Reebok's are made at "sweat shop's" in foreign countries right? When the public is interviewed by the press, the majority of people say they will be less likely to buy those products. But we keep buying them because the quality is very good and they are in style. Let's say Nike decides to make their product here in the USA. Labor goes up considerably, so now the board members and owners have to cut their salaries by 50% right? Sure. Instead they have to raise the price for their shoes. Now we are at footlocker looking for a pair of shoes. There is a pair of Reeboks on the shelf for $50, and next to them is a similar pair of Nike's for $100. Both are still a good product, but who is going to sell more shoes and who will be out of business shortly? I realize this is not a good comparison to the beef market, and I really don't know where my shoes are made. But the point I'm trying to make is that what people say they want and what people actually do is not the same.

 

[Anonymous]

> You may be right, that when asked
> people will say they want natural.
> But when they are at the meat
> counter, they seem to pay more
> attention to price. If I was
> direct marketing all my beef, I
> would not implant, as I think it
> may be easier to market. But in my
> opinion that seems to work better
> for people that only have a few
> head to sell.

> Please explain how I am
> "slitting my own throat"
> by making more money? Don't get me
> wrong, I understand your point. I
> always hear how we need to give
> the consumer what they want, but I
> figure the consumer will get what
> they want when they are willing to
> pay for it.

> Maybe this is a bad example, but
> we all get angry when we hear how
> our Nike's or Reebok's are made at
> "sweat shop's" in
> foreign countries right? When the
> public is interviewed by the
> press, the majority of people say
> they will be less likely to buy
> those products. But we keep buying
> them because the quality is very
> good and they are in style. Let's
> say Nike decides to make their
> product here in the USA. Labor
> goes up considerably, so now the
> board members and owners have to
> cut their salaries by 50% right?
> Sure. Instead they have to raise
> the price for their shoes. Now we
> are at footlocker looking for a
> pair of shoes. There is a pair of
> Reeboks on the shelf for $50, and
> next to them is a similar pair of
> Nike's for $100. Both are still a
> good product, but who is going to
> sell more shoes and who will be
> out of business shortly? I realize
> this is not a good comparison to
> the beef market, and I really
> don't know where my shoes are
> made. But the point I'm trying to
> make is that what people say they
> want and what people actually do
> is not the same.

Im not for implants not because of what it might do to me, but to my kids and there kids. All the facts are not in yet concerning long term efects.ok that said there was a news report some years ago that to this day I can,t forget. It concerned a consumer about to purtchase beef and the problems with sanitation in slaughter houses... You remember e-coli etc..Well I wouldn't purchase my beef from one of those places..Why not? There filthy.. Well where dose beef come from Brand X Store.You know there is really a part of the population that really dosn't know what a cow is or where it comes from..Think they care what they really eat..They only get concerned when the news points out something is wrong. I find it intresting!!! Cindy Again my thoughts..

[email protected]

 

[Anonymous]

Many years ago we would have grade school kids stop by the dairy so "they could see where milk came from". Some of those kids wanted to swear off of milk when the cows would take a dump while being milked. Alwasy makes me laugh at the naivete of the consumer. Adults are just as bad as kids on that regard.

dun

> Im not for implants not because of
> what it might do to me, but to my
> kids and there kids. All the facts
> are not in yet concerning long
> term efects.ok that said there was
> a news report some years ago that
> to this day I can,t forget. It
> concerned a consumer about to
> purtchase beef and the problems
> with sanitation in slaughter
> houses... You remember e-coli
> etc..Well I wouldn't purchase my
> beef from one of those places..Why
> not? There filthy.. Well where
> dose beef come from Brand X
> Store.You know there is really a
> part of the population that really
> dosn't know what a cow is or where
> it comes from..Think they care
> what they really eat..They only
> get concerned when the news points
> out something is wrong. I find it
> intresting!!! Cindy Again my
> thoughts..

 

[Anonymous]

ChrisB, I enjouyed your post. You seem to be a pretty level headed guy even though I took a little bit of a cheep shot at you. I should have taken more time to phrase my words better. My apologies! I think your perception of the public is pretty good. Given a choice people are going to buy what they think is best for them. No one takes a moldy piece of meat over a fresh cut and so on. I don't believe in using scare tactics, but the facts are that the consumers are afraid of STEROIDS. Just the word STEROIDS invokes a negative response. It doesn't make any difference if it is a trace amount worth mentioning or not. We spend millions of dollars on advertising our beef to the public each year with good slogans like, ALL NATURAL RANCHERS RESERVE. We want to instill confidence in the consumer that our product is wholesome and good for you! You can't do that by telling them what they are eating has been enhanced with STEROIDS. Personally I feel that the publics perception of STEROIDS hurts the beef industry and the people that use them hurt our industry. So coined the phrase (CUT YOUR OWN THROAT). Their is more to the beef market than just growing them big! That's easy if you use good genetics, are selective, and have a good management program. Best of luck to you!

Rod

> You may be right, that when asked
> people will say they want natural.
> But when they are at the meat
> counter, they seem to pay more
> attention to price. If I was
> direct marketing all my beef, I
> would not implant, as I think it
> may be easier to market. But in my
> opinion that seems to work better
> for people that only have a few
> head to sell.

> Please explain how I am
> "slitting my own throat"
> by making more money? Don't get me
> wrong, I understand your point. I
> always hear how we need to give
> the consumer what they want, but I
> figure the consumer will get what
> they want when they are willing to
> pay for it.

> Maybe this is a bad example, but
> we all get angry when we hear how
> our Nike's or Reebok's are made at
> "sweat shop's" in
> foreign countries right? When the
> public is interviewed by the
> press, the majority of people say
> they will be less likely to buy
> those products. But we keep buying
> them because the quality is very
> good and they are in style. Let's
> say Nike decides to make their
> product here in the USA. Labor
> goes up considerably, so now the
> board members and owners have to
> cut their salaries by 50% right?
> Sure. Instead they have to raise
> the price for their shoes. Now we
> are at footlocker looking for a
> pair of shoes. There is a pair of
> Reeboks on the shelf for $50, and
> next to them is a similar pair of
> Nike's for $100. Both are still a
> good product, but who is going to
> sell more shoes and who will be
> out of business shortly? I realize
> this is not a good comparison to
> the beef market, and I really
> don't know where my shoes are
> made. But the point I'm trying to
> make is that what people say they
> want and what people actually do
> is not the same.

 

[Anonymous]

I HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOICE MY OPINION THE SAME AS YOU! > I PRODUCE BEEF FOR THE CONSUMER AND TRY TO GIVE THEM THE BEST PRODUCT POSSIBLE. I HAVE ALLOT OF LONG TIME CUSTOMERS THAT TRUST IN ME TO GIVE THEM THE BEST, AND I WOULD NEVER JEOPARDIZE THAT TRUST BY THE USE OF STEROIDS. SINCE YOU HAVE DONE ALL THE RESEARCH, HOW ABOUT SHARING WITH US ALL THE BENEFITS FOR THE CONSUMER, TO JUSTIFY THE USE OF STEROIDS!

> Wow! One little question. I always
> try to do research befor I change
> anything in my opperation. I found
> pros and cons going both ways.
> More for the implanting. For the
> remark of "cut your own
> throat" I say grow your own
> food if it bothers you. I live on
> a farm and do it myself. But I am
> still not afraid to go to the
> store and buy food there either.
> Your an adult and so am I. DO NOT
> TRY AND PUSH YOUR WAYS ON ME! And
> I would like to know who gave you
> the authority to speak for anyone
> other than yourself.

 

[Anonymous]

> Many years ago we would have grade
> school kids stop by the dairy so
> "they could see where milk
> came from". Some of those
> kids wanted to swear off of milk
> when the cows would take a dump
> while being milked. Alwasy makes
> me laugh at the naivete of the
> consumer. Adults are just as bad
> as kids on that regard.

> dun so True!!!

[email protected]

 

[Anonymous]

My fault! The words cut your own throat was intended as a metaphor. Not a scare tactic.

> i think "vast majority"
> is a major overstatement. the
> average consumer doesn't know or
> care where or how the steak got to
> the grocery store. their only
> concern is that they receive what
> they perceive to be a good eating
> experience. yes, there are
> consumers who want
> "natural" or
> "organic" foods, but
> when asked, most of these people
> couldn't tell you what an implant
> is or does. & i would venture
> to guess (& only a guess, no
> personal research) that many of
> these same people walk around
> talking on cell phones several
> hours a day when there is
> conflicting research showing they
> may/may not cause brain tumors.
> it's so easy to pick & choose
> the "cause of the day"
> or "cause of the week".
> our job should be to educate these
> consumers, not throw additional
> scare tactics their way.

 

[Anonymous]

i understood what you meant. the point i guess i was trying to make is that we're all in the beef business together. we may choose different breeds and methods but basically our goal is to get a quality product out to the consumer, to try to satisfy that consumer, and to have them buy more. the meat industry as a whole gets enough bad publicity from groups like peta & the media that we don't need to increase it by bad-mouthing different segments from within. if you choose the "organic" or "natural" route, good for you, but don't try to turn consumers off from the rest of the industry when there has been no evidence that this is the best way to go. there are probably much worse things we consume (additives? preservatives? artificial sweeteners?), use (cell phones) & are exposed to (gas fumes while fueling our vehicles, asbestos-buildings) every day (of course the list can go on each category). you're right in saying that the average consumer would choose natural if given the choice, but the average consumer doesn't know what "natural" is. i was at a seminar where they showed a video asking people on the street questions about fertilizer. they asked if the people would rather eat plants that had been given fertilizer or plant nutrients. of course the people said plant nutrients. but what is fertilizer?......plant nutrients!! someone even thought potash was what was left after smoking a joint....there's your average consumer!

 

[Anonymous]

Doesn't have to benefit the consumer as long as it doeasn't harm them or go against their persoannl likes/dislikes/opinions. If it makes a couple of extra bucks for the producer, within the constraints of humane treatment, health and no harm to to consumer or the animals, those that want to should. Those that don't (us for instance) shouldn't.

dun

> I HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOICE MY
> OPINION THE SAME AS YOU! > I
> PRODUCE BEEF FOR THE CONSUMER AND
> TRY TO GIVE THEM THE BEST PRODUCT
> POSSIBLE. I HAVE ALLOT OF LONG
> TIME CUSTOMERS THAT TRUST IN ME TO
> GIVE THEM THE BEST, AND I WOULD
> NEVER JEOPARDIZE THAT TRUST BY THE
> USE OF STEROIDS. SINCE YOU HAVE
> DONE ALL THE RESEARCH, HOW ABOUT
> SHARING WITH US ALL THE BENEFITS
> FOR THE CONSUMER, TO JUSTIFY THE
> USE OF STEROIDS!

 

[Anonymous]

The last thing I want is to turn the consumer off from our industry. You made a good point about the perception of the public, my point exactly! their perception of steroids isn't good, so why do we feel the need to push it on them and risk hurting our industry?

> i understood what you meant. the
> point i guess i was trying to make
> is that we're all in the beef
> business together. we may choose
> different breeds and methods but
> basically our goal is to get a
> quality product out to the
> consumer, to try to satisfy that
> consumer, and to have them buy
> more. the meat industry as a whole
> gets enough bad publicity from
> groups like peta & the media
> that we don't need to increase it
> by bad-mouthing different segments
> from within. if you choose the
> "organic" or
> "natural" route, good
> for you, but don't try to turn
> consumers off from the rest of the
> industry when there has been no
> evidence that this is the best way
> to go. there are probably much
> worse things we consume
> (additives? preservatives?
> artificial sweeteners?), use (cell
> phones) & are exposed to (gas
> fumes while fueling our vehicles,
> asbestos-buildings) every day (of
> course the list can go on each
> category). you're right in saying
> that the average consumer would
> choose natural if given the
> choice, but the average consumer
> doesn't know what
> "natural" is. i was at a
> seminar where they showed a video
> asking people on the street
> questions about fertilizer. they
> asked if the people would rather
> eat plants that had been given
> fertilizer or plant nutrients. of
> course the people said plant
> nutrients. but what is
> fertilizer?......plant nutrients!!
> someone even thought potash was
> what was left after smoking a
> joint....there's your average
> consumer!

 

[Anonymous]

> Many years ago we would have grade
> school kids stop by the dairy so
> "they could see where milk
> came from". Some of those
> kids wanted to swear off of milk
> when the cows would take a dump
> while being milked. Alwasy makes
> me laugh at the naivete of the
> consumer. Adults are just as bad
> as kids on that regard.

> dun

That reminded me of summers on grandpa's farm. Three of us cousins stayed there all summer and one of our chores was to hand milk two Jerseys and one Guernsey. Then one year one of our "city boy" cousins also came to the farm. After a day or two of observation he absolutely refused to drink "cows milk" (even with massive amounts of Herhey's chocolate mixed in). Said he would only drink the type of milk found in stores. We ostracized him quite a bit and he was gone by the end of the week.

 

[Anonymous]

> I HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOICE MY
> OPINION THE SAME AS YOU! > I
> PRODUCE BEEF FOR THE CONSUMER AND
> TRY TO GIVE THEM THE BEST PRODUCT
> POSSIBLE. I HAVE ALLOT OF LONG
> TIME CUSTOMERS THAT TRUST IN ME TO
> GIVE THEM THE BEST, AND I WOULD
> NEVER JEOPARDIZE THAT TRUST BY THE
> USE OF STEROIDS. SINCE YOU HAVE
> DONE ALL THE RESEARCH, HOW ABOUT
> SHARING WITH US ALL THE BENEFITS
> FOR THE CONSUMER, TO JUSTIFY THE
> USE OF STEROIDS!

We have federal inspectors to check on this. You do have the right and for that I am sorry. From now on I am not going to dicuss this anymore.



[email protected]

 

[Anonymous]

> We have federal inspectors to
> check on this. You do have the
> right and for that I am sorry.
> From now on I am not going to
> dicuss this anymore.

Well one more thing. No benefits to the consumer all to the producer. I am a producer and the end for me is the bottom dollar. If that is selfish so what. I did not get into the cattle industry to have fun or for a hobby. I got in it to make money. I do have fun and I do want to produce a great product. The last thing I would want to do is hurt the industry.



[email protected]

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Dun, I would agree with your logic if what you say is such. I have been blessed with good fortune and have nothing against others making an extra buck. Although I feel if we aren't careful making that extra buck, it will work against us. My 1/4 cents worth with change back.

Rod

> Doesn't have to benefit the
> consumer as long as it doeasn't
> harm them or go against their
> persoannl likes/dislikes/opinions.
> If it makes a couple of extra
> bucks for the producer, within the
> constraints of humane treatment,
> health and no harm to to consumer
> or the animals, those that want to
> should. Those that don't (us for
> instance) shouldn't.

> dun

 

[Anonymous]

> made. But the point I'm trying to
> make is that what people say they
> want and what people actually do
> is not the same.

I'm not convinced that they are not the same. I think that if the beef was labeled in such a manor that indicated the use or lack of steroids you would see a difference in the amount purchased. And I believe that the Milk industry has proven that in their attemps to avoid the labeling of such on Milk which was a hot topic not too long ago.

Are Implants good? Bad? I don't know. But I do not use implants on my cattle becasue I don't know. Would I buy meat or any other product labeled as Steroid free? YES, in a heart beat, even if it costs more.

And with that said, thank you all for a great discussion. These are the ones that keep the lurkers like myself coming back.

Roy

 

[Anonymous]

> Well one more thing. No benefits
> to the consumer all to the
> producer. I am a producer and the
> end for me is the bottom dollar.
> If that is selfish so what. I did
> not get into the cattle industry
> to have fun or for a hobby. I got
> in it to make money. I do have fun
> and I do want to produce a great
> product. The last thing I would
> want to do is hurt the industry.

You and I are in the same boat, just having a hard time rowing in the same direction. I was born on the ranch I now own, it wasn't handed down I paid for it with hard work. I do alright with what I have. I love what I do and because of that I feel like a rich person. No hard feelings on this end! Best of luck with your program!

Rod

 

[Anonymous]

"I HAVE ALLOT OF LONG TIME CUSTOMERS THAT TRUST IN ME TO GIVE THEM THE BEST, AND I WOULD NEVER JEOPARDIZE THAT TRUST BY THE USE OF STEROIDS."

That makes total sense for you not to use them. My long time customer is IBP. And after my cattle are sold, they are put on the processing line right next to others from across the midwest. If the others are implanted and mine aren't it wouldn't make a bit of difference other than I would have more feed and time into my cattle. I don't believe there is anything harmful or morally wrong from implanting, so why wouldn't I do it?