SG_USA_October_2022

“Everyone needs to have a seat at this table or at least be able to express their opinions, views and ideas so the best strategies can be developed,” Koester says. “In our opinion, no one entity has the resources and the time to change an entire industry. The industry needs to change itself. That’s why it’s an industry-wide task force.” SGBI’s Seat at the Table What does this task force mean for Santa Gertrudis Breeders International (SGBI) members? Why should Santa Gertrudis breeders be excited about the survey results and task force mobiliza tion? Because generations of Santa Gertrudis breeders have experienced first-hand how their red-hided cattle often sell below where they would if they were black hided. But Santa Ger trudis breeders are well aware of their cattle’s true value as determined by real value attributes – like cattle perfor mance, efficiency and carcass quality – rather than superficial characteristics such as hide color. In early September following a vote by its board of directors, SGBI accepted its invitation to join the task force. With the association’s financial support, SGBI is the first Bos indicus breed asso ciation to become a task force member. “Approving this funding and joining the task force is monumental for our association and our members,” says Gene Kubecka, SGBI president. “The board’s vote to participate in this initia tive gives us a seat at the table where we can share our perspectives as a red hided breed and will ultimately make a significant difference for Santa Gertru dis breeders and the price they get for their feeder calves in the future.” “We’re excited for SGBI to be a partner with us on the task force,” Brink says. “Santa Gertrudis breeders do a great job of looking at their cattle objectively and really focusing on breed improvement, and we’re grateful they have decided to join us.” “Santa Gertrudis have proved to be one of the world’s leading and most effi cient producers of quality beef for many years, and it’s time the market cel ebrates that, rather than penalizes the cattle simply due to their hide color,” Kubecka says. “Our board members are excited for what our involvement in the Genetic Merit Pricing Task Force will mean for our members, our breed, our association and the cattle industry.” Editor’s Note: For a copy of the survey results, visit https://redangus.org.

Q1. Hide color significantly affects prices paid for different groups of U.S. feeder cattle. Agree/Strongly Agree – 95% Unsure – 2% Disagree/Strongly Disagree – 3% Q2. Black-hided feeder cattle and calves frequently bring a higher price than non-black-hided cattle of equal weight, quality, sex and health history. Agree/Strongly Agree – 94% Unsure – 3% Disagree/Strongly Disagree – 3% Q3. Black-hided feeder cattle are superior to non-black cattle of equal weight, sex and health history. Agree/Strongly Agree – 13% Unsure – 12% Disagree/Strongly Disagree…75% Q4. During the past 25 years, emphasis on black-hided animals has helped the beef industry advance in a positive direction relative to overall feeder cattle quality and value. Agree/Strongly Agree – 73% Unsure – 17% Disagree/Strongly Disagree – 10% Q5. For the beef industry to continue improving its overall cattle quality and value, hide color must remain an important price-determining factor in the U.S. feeder cattle market. Agree/Strongly Agree – 11% Unsure – 18% Disagree/Strongly Disagree – 71% Q6. For the beef industry to continue improving its overall cattle quality and value, hide color should be replaced with more objective genetic criteria as a key price determining factor(s) in the U.S. feeder cattle market. Agree/Strongly Agree – 92% Unsure – 6% Disagree/Strongly Disagree – 2% Q7. The use of specific genetic or genomic information on groups of feeder cattle would be preferable to hide color as an important price determinant in the feeder cattle market. Agree/Strongly Agree – 88% Unsure – 9% Disagree/Strongly Disagree – 3% Q8. Specific genetic or genomic information on groups of feeder cattle more strongly correlates to actual feeding and carcass results than does hide color. Agree/Strongly Agree – 93% Unsure – 6.6% Disagree/Strongly Disagree – 4% The RAAA survey was conducted from October 2021 to February 2022. Respondents included cattle feeders, feedlots, cattle buyers, auction managers and industry experts employed in various facets of cattle related agribusiness or education/Extension. Cattle feeders and non cattle feeders’ answers aligned closely on all eight survey questions. SURVEY RESULTS

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OCTOBER 2022 • WWW.SANTAGERTRUDIS.COM