We’re often told we should turn back the clock and produce cattle for beef the way we used to. What would be the impact if we did away with steroid growth implants, ionophores in feed, hormones in feed, and beta agonists ? This question was investigated in a recent study.

Daryl Tatum, a meat scientist with Colorado State University, talks about the role marbling plays in the beef-eating experience.

When the year 2012 goes into the history books for beef producers, it will be remembered for presidential elections, drought, BSE, corn shortages, fuel prices, beef exports, food bloggers and “pink slime” – and that’s just digging through the news file. More relevant for readers of Progressive Cattleman were the topics related to their industry and way of life. The number of readers going online to gather information about their business continued to climb in 2012.

“You couldn’t see. You couldn’t breathe. You couldn’t go outside for days,” remembers Eugene Littlefield. “It was awful.” Littlefield is referring to the giant black clouds of soil that would blot out the sun and swallow the countryside. Born in Wayside, Texas in 1934, Littlefield was welcomed into the world by the Dust Bowl

As stakeholders throughout the cattle industry ponder the broader situation of historically tight supplies, heightened production costs, and higher retail beef prices it is increasingly important to assess, recognize, and appreciate the role that various policies have on the economic situation of the industry.

When the Oct. 19 Cattle on Feed Report was released, it showed placements at a 16-year low. Many analysts assume and predict cattle and feeder cattle prices will rally because of the low expected placements. It must be a surprise to those wanting to keep the bull market moving higher that since the report and as of Nov. 5, the December Live Cattle are down over $3.00 per hundredweight (cwt), June 2013 Cattle are down $3.00 per cwt and January feeders are around $5.00 per cwt lower. If the report was bullish, why are markets down?

The American Angus Association announced new members and officers for its board of directors during the 129th Annual Meeting of Delegates in Louisville, Kentucky. Phil Trowbridge of Ghent, New York, was elected president and chairman of the board, succeeding Jarold Callahan of Edmond, Oklahoma. Gordon Stucky of Kingman, Kansas, was chosen by delegates to serve as vice president and vice chairman. Cathy Watkins of Middletown, Indiana, will serve as the 2013 treasurer.

National Feeder Cattle Summary for Nov. 16