Angus Genetics Tops Beef Today Survey

When thinking about and seeing different herds across the Midwest most of the time I see or talk to producers who use Angus Genetics in their herd. Some producers like to use some sort of crossbred strategy to breed their cattle but most of the time their is some sort of Angus bloodline in their herd and if their isn't they are beginning to switch over to it. According to Steve Suther, a recent Beef Today survey tells us that 34% of herds are considered straight-bred Angus but 89% of crossbred herds use Angus genetics within their herd. Other statistics from this study told us 46% of the respondents owned fewer than 50 cows and 79% of the producers who responded were between the ages of 46 to 75 with only 3% being less than 30 years old.

Angus Bull 

Hereford Bull 

A couple things from this survey is not surprising to me at all with the first being the 89% of crossbred operations use Angus genetics somewhere in their herd. When I think of crossbred operations,  most of the time I think of producers using an Angus/Simmental cross, maybe having an Angus/Limousin cross or even using a Hereford/Angus cross to keep the calves black or black white face and give them a thought out performance advantage. Personally, I believe the only advantage they are gaining from this would be the marketing or sales advantage of selling black or black white face calves because other breeds often take a large cut on sale day.  Every once in awhile there is a small niche market for breeds such as Charolais or Red Angus Heifers and most of the time if you find the right buyer they will give more for those breeds than Angus Breeds but most of this is from low supply on the market.

Age Chart of Farmers

Another part of this survey that isn't shocking to me at all is 79% of the people who responded were between the ages of 46 to 75 with 3% being less than 30 years old. A growing concern in agriculture and the cattle industry is the need for young farmers becoming interested in farming. The median age for farmers is going higher every year due to lack of interest in young farmers and older farmers not being able to retire because they have no one to take over their operation. Higher land prices is also preventing young farmers from getting involved in agriculture because it costs too much for them to get started. The USDA  is trying to create opportunities for beginning farmers through grant programs but they often place many restrictions on the loan program and limit what the producer can do with the land once it is bought.