Jake":2ajqsh6u said:
UG":2ajqsh6u said:
I'll stir the pot a little about black Angus.
First of all, over the past 20 years the American Angus Assn. has done a wonderful job of increasing demand for their product. I believe that much of their success comes from the success of Certified Angus Beef, and the resulting demand for black hided feeders by the feedlots. This resulted in commercial producers demanding black bulls; primarily black Angus bulls so that they could produce the much demanded black hided feeders.
However, I have a real problem with the American Angus Association continuing to promote the production of straightbred Angus to commercial producers. There have been dozens and dozens of research trials done which show a huge economic benefit to crossbreeding (not crossing any ole cow and bull, but breeding good representatives of complimentary breeds). It seems like most, if not all, of the other major breed associations have recognized the fact that they are doing a major disservice to their customers by promoting straight breeding of their particular breed. In most cases these associations are promoting the use of their breed in sound crossbreeding programs.
What is everyone else's thoughts on the Angus association's stand on straight breeding in commercial herds. :roll:
They are promoting what they believe is best for their partners and producers. Why promote buying another breed instead of your own? We have a fairly well straightbred angus herd and those animals out produce the neihbors' crosses every day of the week. We have fewer calving problems that anybody else around these parts and have better calves in the end running angus bulls on HIGH percentage angus cows. When in the lot our STRAIGHTBRED angus calves out perform anything that we buy. Haven't seen any come through yet that I'd rather have there than our own.... so
I have no problem with the AAA promoting angus on angus because it works for us and several others that I know of.....
I have no doubt that straight Angus work fine but are you maximizing your income? Research continues to prove that producers are leaving over $100/cow/year on the table by running straightbred cows vs. good crossbred cows with complimentary traits (increased weights of calves at weaning and as yearling, greater cow longevity, increased cow efficiency, and overall greater lifetime productivity per cow).
You mention that your cows out produce your neighbors. We all have have feelings on how our cattle match up to our neighbors, but how do we really know for sure. After all, the cows graze different pastures with different nutrition; some calves are creep fed and others aren't; some stay out all winter with minimal protection from the wind, rain, snow, etc. while our neighbors have access to a barn; some are under a stringent vaccination program and others are not, and on and on and on...
In addition, straightbred Angus are less efficient at converting feedstuffs into edible meat, in general have lower carcass weights, and generally hang fatter carcasses with lower yield grades. The American Angus Assn. is the best breed association at promoting their product and consequently promote that Angus fat calves will give the feeder greater premiums for higher quality grading cattle. What they fail to tell is that their cattle are less feed efficient and that oftentimes the premiums they gain for higher marbling cattle is offset by lower carcass weight and discounts for poor yield grades.
Now, I need to point out that though I think the AAA does a dis-service to the industry by promoting straightbreeding (many other breeds are promoting crossbreeding), I think that Angus cattle offer the industry many positives. However, I just think they are best utilized in a good crossbreeding program.
A friend of mine who feeds out quite a few cattle just sent a couple pot loads of fats to the packing plant. He mentioned that he had just received the settlement sheets and that all but one steer were Choice or Prime; however he was penalized hard for poor yield grades. He said the penalities he received were greater than the premiums he received for the wonderful quality grades. He won't be buying calves from that commercial producer again.
