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A
comprehensive
livestock
information
system that
provides a
confidential,
private data
sharing network
for data
collection,
management and
communication
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Increasing
Your Bottom
Line in 2009
As harvest
is winding
down for
some, it’s
time to
start
considering
marketing
options for
those cattle
that are out
to grass
now. It is a
great time
to look at
some
opportunities
for added
income in
our herd.
Hopefully
those calves
out to
grass are
gaining well
for us now
but soon it
will be time
to think
about just
how
to market
them to get
the best
available
value. With
the cattle
market ever
fluctuating,
it’s
important to
look at
adding as
much value
to those
calves as
possible.
Some good
management
practices
can not only
improve your
herd but
potentially
help your
profit
margin as
well.
It’s all
about
marketing
your cattle
and seeking
available
opportunities
to increase
your income.
Some good
examples of
practices
that can
easily add
value are
weaning your
calves,
participating
in a
vaccination
program, and
enrolling in
an
age and
source
verification
program.
Providing
buyers with
load-size
lots can
often
increase
value as
well. It’s
important to
remember
that no
matter what
program your
cattle are
in, they
need to be
healthy,
quality
animals that
are ready
to gain. In
such a
consumer
driven
market, we
must provide
top quality
calves.
As producers
look at
creating the
most
potential
value, here
is a buyer’s
prospective.
Bill Shaw,
owner of
Shaw
Feedyard,
Inc in
Ashland, KS
looks for a
lot of these
characteristics
when
purchasing
his cattle.
He states
that
“With high
feed costs,
performance
is worth
more than
ever. With
$70 and over
rations in
feedyards,
the
difference
really
starts to
show between
average
cattle and
top
quality
cattle. I am
willing to
pay more for
cattle that
are weaned,
vaccinated
and
in an age
and source
program.”
As a matter
of fact,
Bill offers
great
premiums for
cattle in an
age and
source
program, up
to $10 a
head
currently.
The
Marketing
Options link
on our
website, has
some helpful
marketing
information.
There is a
feedyard
directory
that lists
feeders
willing to
work with
producers on
age and
source
verified
animals.
They have
different
finance
options, lot
sizes and
most will
get gain
data back to
the
producer.
There is
also
some
information
about some
cooperative
efforts
being made.
Even if the
location or
program
isn’t
convenient,
perhaps
producers in
your area
could use
the outline
for a
similar
program
effort.
Today, there
is a
tremendous
amount of
information
available at
all levels
of the
feeding
process.
Gain data
and carcass
data can be
used to
bring back
better
producing
calves each
year. This
is a win-win
situation
for both the
cow/calf
sector and
the feedlot
portion of
the
industry.
Programs
such as the
Beef
Verification
Solution are
designed to
aid both in
the
collection
and
management
of data.
When used
correctly,
this data
can help you
in making
better herd
management
decisions.
Age and
source
verified
animals
continue to
be a source
of
incredible
value.
Some packers
are paying
anywhere
from $25-$50
per head
premiums on
cattle
qualifying
for export
to Japan.
This means
these
animals need
to be in a
USDA
approved
Quality
System
Assessment
program (QSA)
or Process
Verified
Program (PVP)
and be under
21 months of
age at the
time of
slaughter.
The
Beef
Verification
Solution is
a
Verification
Partner with
AgInfoLink
and can
provide the
services of
their PVP.
Information
taken from
the Montana
Beef Network
states that
on a 600
pound
calf sold
through
Superior
Livestock,
age and
source
verification
added over
$12.00. That
is a
tremendous
value and a
great return
on
investment!
Calculated
Added $$ -
600 lb Calf
Age/source
verification
$12.83
Weaned
$17.64
Semi-load
lots
$12.65
VAC 34/45
$14.81
Source:
Montana Beef
Network and
Montana
State
Calves sold through Superior Lvstk Auctions – Summer
2007
The goal of
the BVS
Program is
to not only
provide
members with
National
Animal
Identification
System (NAIS)
compliance
but to offer
a range of
animal
identification
solutions
including
source and
age
verification,
Country of
Origin
Labeling
(COOL)
compliance,
and more
importantly,
the ability
to manage
and
analyze
animal data
for better
decisions
and
increased
income
opportunities.
Lastly, as a
member
driven
program, BVS
strives to
provide
affordable
solutions
to animal
identification;
always
working to
offer the
most
competitively
priced
program in
the
industry.
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