MAINE-ANJOU Commercial Connection
JOSHUA CRIBBS AMAA Commercial Development Director
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020
6
I hope this finds you well and the beginning of the New Year brings a fresh start to all of us in the agriculture sector. We have faced a tough year in 2019. For us, the Spring means the next calf crop at home and a chance to see if the breeding decisions we made will create progress or not. It brings to light the question of how to balance breeding cattle to generate look and performance that we want, and yet answers the request of our customer base. This past Fall at the American MaineAnjou Association (AMAA) Annual Board Meeting, I made light to the fact that I feel as if the cattle industry has gone through a stent in the last decade – that is that seedstock breeders, with guidance of breed associations, push agendas that have segmented the beef industry into a specific trend. That trend is quite obviously based around marbling, achieving the lowest birth weights possible, and increasing EPD driven livestock. Without question, it has made significant impacts and improvements to the beef industry. It has led to us making a more uniform product regardless of breed influence. But, let’s touch base on where that has left us with regards to what the next step is and how we reach whatever that goal may be. We have spent the last few years telling commercial breeders what they should want in their bulls instead of asking them what they need in the breeding stock they purchase. It’s safe to say that we have made changes that have been very impactful to the beef industry, but at times
it feels that we have forgotten what truly secures our profits. That the profits on the commercial breeder – that’s in the trenches that sells cattle at weaning or after being processed through a Vac-45 program. They are the guys that make the world turn. Moving forward as seedstock producers and cattlemen/women, be sure to take stock of your marketing plan and decisions. We are in a customer service business that relies heavily on us making sure we answer the request of the buyers that frequent our sales and places of our industry discussions and conferences. It has never been more important, as cow inventory goes up and supply of available genetics to buyers increase, that we must become more proactive in culturing relationships. Be sure to ask your customer what they need or how you can make a better product. The beef business, like every other commodity driven venture, is based on consistency and customer satisfaction. Be sure to stay tuned into the Voice and social media in the months to come for updates on the fed cattle trial at South Dakota State University and know that they are off to a great start! First report is that they reached a nearly 4:1 Feed to Gain Ratio and around 3.7 a day. I hope that Christmas and the New Year’s found your family well. I look forward to the Spring and what’s new in advancing the Maine-Anjou breed another step in a positive direction!
