It is obvious that the "black" qualification was put in back in 1978 because this program was originally funded by the American Angus Association. I see nothing wrong with that. The fact that it has caused many other breeds to go black, means it was successful beyond anyone's expectations. I don't know why people complain about CAB. CAB doesn't make anyone pay more for a black calf. That is the choice of the buyer. I assume buyers must find those calves more profitable, perhaps because of the marketing provided by CAB. Or perhaps they find those calves are more likely to grow and grade better. CAB is a business, and an obviously profitable one. Your choice is to find a way to successfully market what you have or to join an already successful program.
Perhaps some day there will be a program with all of the requirements except color, that could be equally successful. I'm afraid most meat from the cattle of the people complaining about CAB, would not qualify for that program either. I have a straight Angus herd, but I don't know that my cattle would qualify on the rail. I have found it too difficult to find many of the traits I desire in Angus cattle when I look at bulls with a high marbling EPD. That is one of the things I like about the Angus breed. There is a great amount of diversity within the breed just because of the number of different breeders. There is something for almost everyone. (as long as you are okay with solid black
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I can only speak for what I saw, I was a small child in 1978. Back then and into the early 80's, here most cattle were Angus and Herefords on a rare occasion a remnant of a shorthorn cross. Herefords were falling out of favor already at that point. By the mid 80's red and white spotted Simmentals and Charolais were getting popular. Charolais soon passed up the Simmentals then Limousins came along. Angus took a backseat and Herefords were already all but out of the picture through the late 89's - early 90's. Then in the mid to late 90's as a result of the crash and burn of the frame race the new word of the day was moderate framed and as you stated there were enough Angus that hadn't gotten so extremely tall that they almost overnight took over. There I was a young man and had invested a lot money and time in a herd of registered Charolais.
I was having cows AI bred to the top Charolais bulls in the country mostly from one of the top Charolais programs in the US at the time, Lindskov/Theil Ranch. I had been selling bulls and heifers for $1000, and all of a sudden my market as well as my friends in the breed markets had dried up. The last group of bulls I had many from $50,000-$75,000 AI bulls were sold at commercial steer prices. I sold the heifers at the stockyards all for under $300 per head as yearlings.
The next bull I bought was a registered Angus and I can assure you I have never made enough of a premium to compensate for the loss.
So that's why I complain about CAB, as it all came about in a perfect storm.
Even so I became a believer in Angus.
Angus can be good cattle, they do a lot of things right, I have said that often.
I agree with you in that I do not like the current look of a lot of Angus and other breeds too for that matter.
I know that there are a lot of variation throughout the Angus world because there are so many, but I have found at least locally that pretty much every Angus breeder is essentially just a multiplier for the big breeders and AI companies and all have a similar combination of genetics.
As far as cattle grading for CAB, it's choice or higher the exact same as any other choice grade. Obviously a select grade would not be CAB or any other USDA choice grade.
For the record, I have bought quite a bit of CAB, before we started having our own beef processed. We've finished out Angus, Herefords,BWF and RWF crosses , and they must not be too poor of quality cause it sure is good, and we have had repeat customers for several years.
My thinking is that Angus are known for marbling, therefor a very high percentage of them will no doubt grade at least choice. I think the new emphasis on carcass breeding is geared toward grading prime.
It is my belief that about any beef breed or cross and especially British breeds will grade choice at a decent percentage.
Continentals like Simmentals and Charolais will also grade choice a good percentage of the time as well.