fbpx

Quality game

Angus Convention gave cattlemen competition and perspective about the beef carcass

 

by Morgan Marley

November 18, 2019

Deep in the heart of cattle country, ranchers make a lot of decisions. Which bulls will best complement my cows’ genetics? When should we ship calves? Should I retain ownership?

In environments where cattle thrive, people don’t typically crowd the landscape. Like the old saying, “out of sight, out of mind,” the beef marketer and consumer are not always top of mind with producers.

For the second year, Angus Convention had meat on display for all to see, along with a meat judging contest. The temptation of friendly competition goes deeper than pure entertainment.

“Not very often do producers have exposure to the actual end product outside of what they consume themselves,” said Clint Walenciak, director of packing for the Certified Angus Beef ® (CAB®) brand. “Having it on display is a conversation starter; they see what is going on with the brand and ways they can tie to it with what they do.”

Opening up dialogue about CAB gets cattlemen thinking about the decisions they make on the ranch and how those affect consumers. Ultimately, every CAB steak starts at the registered purebred level.

“Seedstock breeders are the ones responsible for putting those key carcass genetics out into the marketplace to be propagated,” Walenciak said. “It all starts with them—and getting them to understand that quality continues to be so important moving forward, given the demand for higher quality beef that we see today.”

Genetics are only half of the equation for getting an animal to meet the 10 CAB carcass specifications. Genetics must be balanced and managed carefully to be maintained all the way to the packer.

“Think about the Prime grade for example,” Walenciak said, “just because we’ve now achieved essentially an 8% Prime grade compared to 2% Prime 20 years ago. There’s still pent up demand for that kind of high-quality product.”

On the trade show floor ranchers could find the Colorado State University meat trailer. It wasn’t about learning how to cut meat, but more emphasizing how the added marbling in a CAB carcass adds value to items like the chuck or the round, even compared to USDA Choice.

“Exposure to different cuts, like whole ribs, whole short loins or whole beef rounds gives the attendees an opportunity to see beef products in a form they typically don’t,” Walenciak said. “Something much larger than a steak or a roast that they would be more accustomed to.”

It was a time to share with producers what the brand teaches those who sell and prepare premium beef. Chefs, retailers and consumers provided perspective about the people behind the brand and how they use and enjoy it. Think “cooking techniques, understanding cuts and messaging.”

Anyone at the convention could participate in the meat judging contest, which let contestants directly compare varying grades of beef on four different cuts. Equally important was their opportunity to engage with and learn from those conducting the contest about what’s important. The kind of cattle they want on the ranch need not be different than what meat judgers rank at the top: high marbling with moderate to heavy muscle and not too much external fat.

Judging contest winners from the adult division were: first, Karen Mitteness; second, Patrick Doyle; and third, Andrew Stewart. In the senior division, first was Kallie Knott; second, Cutter Pohlman, and third, Sherrie Stokman. First place in the junior division was Colter Pohlman; second, Nico Donati; and third, Gemma Donati. This year, first place from the three categories won a hat of their choice from Greeley Hatworks. Second- and third-place winners received gift certificates to the CAB Black Hide Collection™.

“Don’t you think we’ve spent enough time focused on marbling?” That’s a question Walenciak gets a lot, and not always from people who have spent much time on it. Those who have focused on marbling know it doesn’t mean ignoring other areas.

To get past individual cases, Walenciak clarifies it: “For the industry as a whole?”

“No,” he’ll say with a nod to the market. There’s still a need to meet rising demand and keep advancing high-quality carcass traits.

you may also like

$100,000 Up for Grabs with 2024 Colvin Scholarships

$100,000 Up for Grabs with 2024 Colvin Scholarships

Certified Angus Beef is offering $100,000 in scholarships for agricultural college students through the 2024 Colvin Scholarship Fund. Aspiring students passionate about agriculture and innovation, who live in the U.S. or Canada, are encouraged to apply before the April 30 deadline. With the Colvin Scholarship Fund honoring Louis M. “Mick” Colvin’s legacy, Certified Angus Beef continues its commitment to cultivating future leaders in the beef industry.

Raised with Respect™ Cattle Care Campaign Launched This Fall

Raised with Respect™ Cattle Care Campaign Launched This Fall

Raised with Respect™ was developed as part of a strategic cattle care partnership between Sysco and CAB. The collaboration focuses on supporting farmers and ranchers, equipping them with continuing education to stay current on best management practices and helping to increase consumer confidence in beef production.

Quality Wins, Again

Quality Wins, Again

Sara Scott, Vice President of Foodservice for Certified Angus Beef, emphasizes the importance of taste over price in the beef market during the Feeding Quality Forum. As consumer demand for high-quality beef grows, Scott highlights the need for increased supply and encourages communication with packer partners to meet the demand for Prime beef.