In today’s Beef Buzz, senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays continues his conversation with Kelli Retallick Riley, president of Angus Genetics, about how genomics and emerging measurements could shape the future of beef production. Riley reflects on ongoing industry discussions around modernizing the USDA grading system and how red meat yield may eventually be better measured and incorporated into genetic decision-making.
Riley says efforts to better understand and measure red meat yield are still in the early stages, but they represent an important opportunity for the beef industry. “The industry is really trying to come together,” she says, noting that multiple breeds are working collaboratively to address the challenge. From the Angus perspective, the focus is on identifying practical, measurable traits. “What measurements can we capture on the live animal that then can be applied downstream?” Riley asks, explaining that improving live-animal data collection would allow seedstock producers—who “control the genetic nucleus”—to drive meaningful genetic improvement throughout the supply chain.
Riley is confident Angus cattle will remain competitive as new yield measurements emerge. “Angus has always been a quality driver, right? And we’ve always been there. We’re going to continue to be there, because we know that’s what the consumer wants,” she says. Riley adds that Angus producers tend to view change as opportunity: “If we can provide them the information, they’ll make the necessary adjustments… to make it more sustainable or more profitable throughout the entire chain.”
Producer priorities remain centered on maternal efficiency and cattle health, according to Riley. “It’s fertility, it’s how that cow gets bred back, what’s her breed-back rate,” she says. In the feedlot sector, she notes growing concern around bovine congestive heart failure. “We’re just trying to figure out, is there an underlying genetic propensity, and if there is, can we build a tool to help people find some answers,” Riley explains, emphasizing Angus Genetics’ commitment to reducing risk and losses in feedyards.
Riley also highlights the growing role of AngusLink and its genetic merit scorecard. “We predict out a feedlot score, a grid score and a beef score, and it really helps people just differentiate the value,” she says. With packers like National Beef now paying premiums for cattle with scorecards, Riley notes, “It’s no longer just a seedstock tool or a commercial cow-calf tool, but really, how do we leverage it throughout the whole supply chain?”
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
