Goin' natural: The reports on the hefty premiums available to niche-market producers are enticing, but a move shouldn't be made without a lot of homework

摘要

If you're puzzling over your future role in a changing beef industry, your answer may be a niche market, one that allows you to differentiate your product and garner more attention, and hopefully more dollars. One such avenue might be the "natural" route, which was the subject of a recent South Dakota State University (SDSU) workshop entitled "Matching Cattle to Markets: A Natural Approach." Such a program, if it fits for your cattle and management style, can bring some hefty premiums over conventionally raised beef. But it entails weighing the added production and management costs resulting from the inability to use certain growth-enhancing products.