Stay Connected
Let the CAB Cattle Crew keep you up to date on what’s happening in the beef community. We’ll share industry insights to help you maximize your profit potential.
Latest headlines
VanStavern remembered with meat science “mentorship”
Bobby “Dr. Bob” VanStavern is famous within our walls as the author of the Certified Angus Beef ® brand specifications, but perhaps his greatest contribution to the beef business was his influence on young meat scientists. To honor his role as mentor and support future students, the brand is funding an American Meat Science Association scholarship in his name.
Register for webinar: Getting to know the brand
Join us for a general overview of the brand and its importance to consumers, and offer insight into how cattle qualify and what typically prevents CAB certification in the first place in our free webinar.
CAB communications internship open now
CAB brand interns draw on their writing skills and creativity to share the stories with stakeholders. The opportunity provides practice in photography, videography, website management and more across the brand’s multi-media channels allowing students to learn more in their areas of interest.
Another billion in the books
Global sales of 1.175 billion pounds. In a year like we’ve all had, we welcome a fiscal year that ends on that note. For the first time in 16 years, CAB reports lower annual pounds sold. Still, 2020 was one of strong performance and the fifth consecutive year with sales of more than a billion pounds across 51 countries.
Flavor’s secret ingredient
As a moderately to highly heritable trait, marbling is something that cattlemen have a lot of ability to manage. It also happens to be one of the major contributors to beef flavor. Texas Tech University meat scientist Jerrad Legako spoke about the topic at the 2020 American Society of Animal Science meetings.
Eager to learn, ready to teach
It’s a call to serve, the same that led John Grimes to run for the American Angus Association board of directors. The sun now setting on his second three-year term, he reflects on his leadership as Certified Angus Beef® board chairman. The head of Maplecrest Farms in Hillsboro, Ohio, says there’s no instant gratification in the cattle business, with constant change cattlemen have to be nimble.
Black Ink
Keeping up
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering if you’re falling behind, this column is encouragement for you. It’s a reminder to keep forward momentum. To see change and technology and figure out how to balance it all.
Anticipation
In the positive sense, anticipation is pent-up excitement. Oftentimes the intensity of that is directly proportional to the length of the wait and the magnitude of what’s at stake. The emotion is often felt in cattle country, though talked about with less frequency.
Videos: Industry Updates
Making forward progress
November 24, 2020
Dustin Aherin says understanding beef supply-chain dynamics will help cattlemen predict what the future holds…
Leadership amid change
CAB momentum
Cattle sense
Cattle Crew Views
Beefed up findings
Frank Mitloehner presents his findings on the animal ag sector’s impact on global warming. He explains how cattle counterbalance other fossil fuel sectors, proving that cattle are a solution and not a threat.
This too shall pass
There are no words that will take away the devastating slap of a market drop, the pain of a postponed bull sale or the exhausting frustration that things feel out of control. The page will eventually turn and the world will still need great beef and those who raise it.
Speaking of meat
CAB chefs and meat scientists are so good at sharing their know-how that a whole range of listeners will sign on from city streets to ranch sand hills and beyond. Now find their expertise in their new podcast “Meat Speak”.
The stories that barn could tell
Every barn means something to the people who spend so much of their lives in it, but it takes sharing those moments with the rest of the world. Sheltering Generations does that and gives back to rural communities.
CAB Insider
Carcass quality spreads widen on seasonal demand
From a feedyard’s perspective, the fourth-quarter quality spreads are an important seasonal factor. Many feeders with high-quality Angus genetics in their inventory procure cattle with the expectation that carcass quality premiums will be near their annual highs during this period.
Select carcass value pressure
Producers merchandizing their spring calf crop the second week of October were likely relatively pleased with the outcome, while those marketing in the subsequent week were handed a difficult dose of reality. Volatility is alive and well. The fact that premiums exist and opportunities to charge more for higher quality are the drivers of the system.
Closing the books on a rollercoaster year
Supplies of market-ready cattle are simply not as burdensome as they were just weeks ago. As a matter of fact, feedyard showlists from north to south across the major feeding states are smaller this week than a year ago.
Prime roars back
Market Update Last week’s trade featured what cattle feeders hope is a trend reversal, with a $1 to $2/cwt. increase across major feeding regions. The Cattle on Feed Report published last Friday revealed a second consecutive record-high beginning inventory for August...
Read More Stories for Success
We do the information gathering so you don’t miss a beat at home. Stories of those who aim for quality and have hit their target, but keep aiming to get even better.
