Posted October 23, 2024
By Rachael Oliver, RAAA Assistant Director of Commercial Marketing
As the fall feeder runs pick up, I often ask producers: Where did your cattle go? Surprisingly, many don’t have an answer.
Why is it important to know where cattle go? Personally, my time at Red Angus working with feedyards and producers has given me a unique perspective. I see calves alongside their dams but I also see them work in a completely different environment, being developed into finished animals. These experiences allow me to better assist producers when they seek marketing advice.
Building relationships with the feedyards or individuals handling your cattle can offer valuable insights. Understanding where your cattle go and how they perform at each stage can influence decisions about bull selection, herd management and marketing strategies. This knowledge brings things full circle for producers, giving them a clearer picture of how their operation functions from start to finish.
When you add electronic identification (EID) tags into the equation, the benefits grow. EIDs make tracking cattle easier but more importantly, some feedyards share carcass data. Access to this information can elevate your understanding of your herd’s performance and give you the tools to continually improve.
Success in cattle marketing often comes down to relationships. Being in contact with those handling your calves at each segment of the production chain and asking for data, can take your operation to the next level. If we don’t learn more about our cattle, we can’t unlock their full potential and command a higher premium.
So, I challenge myself and the producers reading this, to connect the dots. Let’s work together to strengthen the Red Angus breed and improve our operations.
