Beef: information-based programs prove valuable to beef producers' future

摘要

Producers serious about their cattle business routinely try to find ways to make more money and ensure a better future for themselves and their families. For a long time, the beef industry has been steeped in the tradition that cattle are all prettymuch alike and should sell on averages. That mentality has made it hard to find adequate compensation for cattle with superior growth and carcass characteristics. But, the beef industry is changing. Between 35 percent to 45 percent of all fed cattle arenow sold on some kind of value-based system, which affects the price paid for calves. To adjust to these changing market trends, producers, buyers and feedlot operators point to the merit of providing critical information on calves at the time of sale.This information includes: Health Information. For years, members of the cow-calf industry have known the health-related benefits of properly preconditioned calves. Producers found no buyers willing to share the expense, however. Today that is changing as significant premiums are being paid for properly vaccinated and weaned (preconditioned) calves.