A good eating experience for the consumer is the result of efforts across the entire beef industry. "We need to control things from the pasture to the plate if we expect to maintain beef quality," says Fred Owens, Oklahoma State University professor emeritus and research scientist. Owens, with experience at each link in the chain, spoke at a Feeding Quality Forum co-sponsored by Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) during a fall meeting.

Starting with cow-calf producers, he outlines the needed focus. "Certainly the first step is sire selection and using EPDs (expected progeny differences)," Owens says. Emphasis should be placed on the Angus breed, calm disposition, polled cattle and smaller mature size for maintenance.

"Electronic identification (EID) of calves can help trace feedlot performance and carcass quality back to the cow, and such data should guide cow culling decisions," he says. Weaning and creep-feeding will add value to the calves, along with castration at birth and vaccinations. 

"Benefits from information transfer can be obtained most readily, and fed back to the cow-calf enterprise, when the producer retains ownership," Owens says. The stocker operator can affect quality by buying only preconditioned, tame calves that have had appropriate vaccines and parasite controls.

"Then you need to maintain rate of gain with supplemental feed during drought or snow cover," he says. For maximum beef quality, skip growth implants when backgrounding, he recommends.

Feedlots should select cattle the same way as stocker operators: "Then they should feed balanced, high-concentrate diets, adding ionophores and other compounds as appropriate,” Owens says, "and again, no implants for maximum beef quality.

Sorting fed cattle to avoid excess fat cover and heavy carcasses is a must. "Feed yards should obtain and relate carcass data back to health and performance records. They also should relay both carcass and feedlot performance data back to the originating ranch or stocker operator, Owens says. Once the animal enters the packing plant, the road to quality beef does not stop. Owens says of quality beef, they must share individual carcass data with cattle feeders and calf producers.

"Though information transfer is essential, that is the weakest component in the quality supply chain, he says. Retailers are the last part of the process. Owens says they need to provide the proper cooking instructions, guarantee their products and provide good customer service to help maintain consumer demand.

While these production steps drive high-quality beef production and consumption, Owens notes, "certain practices that maximize production and efficiency conflict directly with practices that enhance meat quality.

"Currently, quality beef is skimmed from the top, he adds, because most producers still see beef as a commodity, for lack of incentive.

"All along the beef production chain, economic rewards dictate what specific management practices are used. The greater the premium for quality at each level, the greater the chance that producers will employ selection and production practices that will enhance beef quality — if they know about those practices. 

For further information on this topic, or to see comments from others related to quality beef production, see the Feeding Quality Forum proceedings at
www.cabpartners.com/events/past_events/index.php

Request for Volunteers

From time to time I am left with a blank spot in the newsletter and I’ve been told to use it for something that would benefit A*L*O*T. With that in mind, I would like to ask for more volunteers to help at our sales.

We really need someone to work greeting our consignors, customers and other guests on sale day, answering questions, making sure they get a sale order sheet and any update sheets.

We need people who will act as “runners” during the sale between the auction block and the office or between the office and the ring men, etc.

We need men to work the ring and help the guys in the back get the cattle through to the ring and back to their pens. We need volunteers to stay and help load out after a sale.

The Roberts family is great at making sure we are served a meal at each sale, but they could use help and even have someone they could count on to step in when they can’t be there.

I need volunteers to help with the newsletter, especially when I can’t get it out due to illness. I also need help working the block when I can’t be at a sale for the same reason.

We have some terrific help now as in the past and we would like to count on you to help again.

Thank you! Let us know what you would like to do.

Feb 23, Winter Bull Sale Results

A*L*O*T Angus Association Winter Bull Sale
February 23, 2008
Titus County Livestock Pavilion
Mt. Pleasant, TX

Auctioneer: Jerry Lehmann, Lake Ozark, Missouri

Gross Sale: $122,025		66 Lots Averaged: $1,849
Spring Pairs Averaged:		$2,420
Fall Pairs Averaged:		$2,533
Bred Cows Averaged		$1,763
Bred Heifers Averaged		$1,478
Open Heifers Averaged		$1,210

Top Selling Females:

Fall Pair - Lot 17, P23 Martha Frontier 323 (Reg # 14663304) sired by B/R New Frontier 095 and Lot 17A , heifer calf sired by Mytty In Focus born 11/20/07, consigned by Circle G Ranch & Cattle Co., LLC, Okema, OK and purchased by Lightfoot Land & Cattle, Sulphur Springs, TX for $4400.

Spring Pair - Lot 24, Circle S Jacobs Princess 401 (Reg # 15669584) sire by B/R New Frontier 095 and Lot 24A, heifer calf sired by EXAR New Look born 2/29/08, consigned by Circle S Farms, Tatum, TX and purchased by Karly Wicker, DeKalb, TX for $4000.

Spring Pair - Lot 66, Center 095 New Frontier 1896 (Reg # 15288518) sired by B/R New Frontier 095 and Lot 66A heifer calf sired by Mytty In Focus born 3/21/08, consigned S G Ranch, Tennessee Colony, TX and purchased by 4W Angus Ranch, Tolar, TX for $3500.

Bred Cow - Lot 44, NJR New Design 878 4031, (Reg # 14677582) sired by Bon View New Design 878, consigned by Neal Angus Ranch, Prescott, AR and purchased by 4W Angus Ranch, Tolar, TX for $3500.

Spring Pair - Lot 10, CD CC'S Best 0212 (Reg # 14375617) sired by Rito 6I6 of 4B20 6807 and Lot 10A, bull calf sired by Rito 4L6 of 2536 208 born 4/18/08, consigned by Cimarron Dunes, Stillwater, OK and purchased by Lightfoot Land & Cattle, Sulphur Springs, TX for $3400.

Spring Pair - Lot 63, Roden 004 Bess 5139 (Reg # 15238236) sired by S A V 8180 Traveler 004 and Lot 63A bull calf sired by DRMCTR Roden 1I2 Rito 5294 born 4/9/08, consigned by Roden Angus Farm, Grandview, TX and purchased by VI T Cattle Company, LLC, Talco, TX for $3100.

See you at our next sale, October 11, 2008

Junior Corner

• Junior Angus Leadership Conference Set in Big Sky Country. Developing personal leadership skills is one of the most valuable benefits of being a member of the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA). One event that allows members to develop their leadership skills while building friendships to last a lifetime is the annual NJAA Leaders Engaged in Angus Development (LEAD) Conference. This year’s LEAD is set for Aug. 1-4 in Billings, Montana

• Junior Angus Associations had their state shows in early summer and many went on to attend the American Angus Association’s and the Iowa Junior Angus Associations “Christmas in July” 2008 National Junior Angus Show, on the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa, July 14 - 19. This event started in 1969 and is now the world’s largest single beef breed cattle show. This year more than 1,300 head of cattle were shown. In addition, there were multiple life skills contests and competitions in which the junior members competed i.e. public speaking, team sales, photography contest, writing, graphic design, judging, cook-off, livestock, judging, quiz bowl and more. Approximately 4,000 people attended from nearly 40 states. There was a Trade Show with commercial exhibits.

  The Junior Activities Department of the American Angus Association was started in 1956. Its purpose then was to encourage young people to become involved with Angus steer and heifer projects and to help them do a better job with their projects. Today that purpose has been expanded to include more projects and programs that help juniors develop their skills and character.

  Each year more junior members join the American Angus Association than any other cattle organization. They are our strong foundation for expansion and improvement for the Angus breed in the future. For more information on this and other activities please see your American Angus Journal or go to the website, www.angus.org and click on NJAA in the side directory.

• The A*L*O*T Board of Directors voted to send $250.00 each to all four states' Junior Angus Associations each year to help with each state's junior activities and scholarships.

• Encourage our Junior Angus Members. They are our future.

• Dues are $40.00 this year. (Check Expiration Date on Mailing Label)

• Delivery of Females will be accepted at the sale facility beginning at noon on the Friday before the sale.

• We would like to encourage our members from each state to submit articles or events which are promoting Angus in your respective states. We would like to include this information in each edition of the ALOT Angus Association Newsletter. Please send to Meg Shelton at mshel2263@aol.com or mail to 909 Hwy 82 West, New Boston, TX 75570.

• How can A*L*O*T help? Call or e-mail the board members listed on the left of the front page. Call a producer. Let A*L*O*T, Arkansas Angus, Louisiana Angus, Oklahoma Angus or Texas Angus hear from you. Any of us will be glad to hear from you and are willing to help.

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