The Angus breed is the most popular breed of cattle in America and indeed the world. That’s according to cattle registrations and other measurements. One of the reasons for the popularity of the breed is their branded beef program, Certified Angus Beef (CAB). CattleFax Market Analyst Lance Zimmerman said it’s amazing to see what higher quality programs like CAB have done for the industry. For example, last week the percent choice grading percentage on U.S. slaughter facilities was 68 percent. Zimmerman said these quality levels have not been seen since 1991. In looking at the nation’s growing consumer base, he said millennials are eating the highest quality beef in their lifetime.
“As we go forward, the opportunities we’re going to continue to see in this industry through the branded segments through the higher quality beef production are going to yield that much more of a return for us going forward,” Zimmerman.
Radio Oklahoma Network Farm Director Ron Hays caught up with Zimmerman at the Angus Means Business Convention in Overland Park, Kansas. Click or tap on the LISTEN BAR below to listen to today's Beef Buzz.
In talking about branded beef or the commodity product, hamburger is a very versatile product that compete with chicken. Hamburger demand is very strong right now. With herd expansion, less cull cows are being utilized for hamburger, so there is a huge demand for fed sourced chuck and round cuts for ground beef. Going forward, Zimmerman said the industry will have to figure out how to leverage ground beef product.
“They are doing prime grinds, ground brisket and some crazy things with ground beef at these white table cloth restaurants that prove even it in its own right can be high quality demand driver,” Zimmerman said.
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