Prime Time Summer 2018

This will make it much easier for you to capture the proper data and submit it in a timely fashion, and help others up the chain (stocker operators, feedlots and packers) retrieve information that will be pertinent to them and provide supplemen- tal information for your business (feedlot gains, feed conversions, carcass info, etc.). This can help you make better culling decisions, based on data you’ve never had before. And if this information is positive, which you won’t know until it’s collected, you’ll have more leverage when marketing your Akaushi cattle both domestically and internationally. Be proactive and get started now. Get involved in your local and regional animal ID/traceability dialogue. Don’t let someone else make this decision for you. Breed smarter and market smarter. Until next time, vaya con Dios Editor’s note: Many of the comments in this column are based around the conclu- sions/findings generated in the compre- hensive feasibility study U.S. Beef Cattle Identification and Traceability System. PT Wayman HERD REDUCTION SELLING: 140 Angus-based cows, bred to registered Akaushi bulls. Will start calving Sept. 1! $1,500 COWS Age: 7-8 years  Avg.Wt: 1,400 lb.

AROUND THE CAMPFIRE Continued from page 6

return on investment remains a critical concern. One other major issue related to the management and oversight is the mat- ter of data privacy. Data privacy must be maintained! In order for all industry segments to participate, traceability programs must be equitable across all industry sectors with respect to compliance burden and benefit sharing. An animal ID/traceability system must be:  Industry driven;  Managed and overseen by an entity that includes both private and government interests;  Designed for data privacy;  Equitable to all industry sectors;  Compatible with common industry practices;  Able to operate at the speed of commerce; and  Credible in domestic and international markets. We are presented with an opportunity to proactively develop a national program, potentially resulting in an industry-driven, hybrid approach that could become a glob- al standard. This industry-driven approach allows the cattle and beef value chain to de- velop a structure that best suits the entire industry with the opportunity to minimize unnecessary costs and maximize shared benefits. Market demand for traceability hasn’t, and in my opinion, won’t go away. Consum- ers continue to demand more assurances about how and where their food is raised. Producers willing to participate in an ani- mal ID system are likely to have the com- petitive edge over nonparticipants. It’s time to quit straddling the fence. Start being a price maker, not a price taker. Set yourself apart. Make use of all markets and all the technology to maximize the profit in your Akaushi cattle. Most of you reading this article are already involved in our animal ID/trace- ability program – Certified Akaushi Beef/ HeartBrand Beef. Expand on that experi- ence and begin using electronic IDs (EID).

WAYMAN FARMS Kent & Patti Wayman FOR INFORMATION:

17212 N. Sheridan Rd.  (580) 554-5057 (K) 

Nash, Okla. 73761 (580) 554-5058 (P)

kentwayman@pldi.net

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www.akaushi.com • Summer 2018