AngusSource Cattle Programme Excels
US - A summary of AngusSource fed cattle proves the programme does more than just source-and-age verify.
16 June 2009
2 minute read
The genetic component helps point out higher-quality cattle, says Sara Snider, AngusSource® Director.
Nearly 50 lots of AngusSource-tagged calves were tracked through Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB)-licensed feedyards, says Certified Angus Beef. The analysis showed the programme calves graded and gained better.
“We know that the Angus breed has a higher propensity to marble, and by comparing these cattle to the regional average we were able to quantify the benefits beyond just source-and-age premiums,” she says.
Fourteen participating yards in Kansas and Nebraska shared performance and carcass information on the groups comprised of 71 per cent steers, 19 per cent heifers and 10 per cent mixed lots. When set against the twostate average in the Professional Cattle Consultants (PCC, see box) database, the AngusSource cattle had the quality advantage by more than 23 percentage points.
They graded 79.7 per cent USDA Choice and Prime (See Table 1, “Carcass Merit”), compared to 56.1 per cent for the rest of the region. Additionally, they had nearly twice the Certified Angus Beef ® (CAB®) acceptance at 30.9 per cent, over the 16.2 per cent average.
“These numbers tell us AngusSource is identifying cattle with a greater potential to meet the brand’s specifications,” says Paul Dykstra, beef cattle specialist for CAB. “Hopefully feeders will recognize that and manage the cattle accordingly.
The data also shattered the myth that quality must be achieved independent of performance, he says.
Although the Angus-influence cattle came in 17 pounds (lb.) lighter, they ended up with 36-lb. heavier outweights, at 1258 lb. versus 1222 lb.
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