In today’s Beef Buzz, senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays speaks with Mark McCulley, Chief Executive Officer of the American Angus Association, about strong momentum for the Angus breed as the association rolls into a new fiscal year with solid growth. McCulley says registration numbers continue to be a key indicator of breed health, especially at a time when overall U.S. cow numbers remain tight.
McCulley notes the American Angus Association is seeing impressive gains despite industry headwinds. “This quarter, October, November, December… we’re actually up 10% in registrations,” he said, adding that growth is coming from both bull and female registrations. According to McCulley, that trend signals confidence from breeders nationwide. “We’re seeing breeders from across the country grow their herds… and we’re pretty excited about those numbers and what it tells us about the popularity and success of the breed.”
Diversity within the Angus breed continues to drive that demand. McCulley explains that Angus cattle are fitting a wide range of environments and management goals. “We see cattle that fit in a lot of different environments… obviously calving ease and good maternal traits have always been a trademark, but also the growth characteristics and carcass merit,” he said. With calf values high, McCulley adds that producers clearly understand the payoff of investing in genetics. “Guys understand the value of another few pounds, a few more live calves… it’s a good time to be able to do that.”
That balance of maternal strength and end-product value is also why Angus genetics are widely used in crossbreeding programs. McCulley says other breeds often incorporate Angus to capture consistency and quality. “Angus breeders for years have really focused on continuing to bend that curve… easy-calving calves that grow fast,” he said, noting that carcass premiums tied to Certified Angus Beef and grid marketing continue to reward quality-focused cattle. “The premiums associated with high-grading cattle… just continue to grow.”
Consumer demand remains a major driver behind today’s strong cattle prices, and McCulley says quality has been central to that story. “That demand is not accidental,” he emphasized. “Cattlemen have focused on improving the quality… now we’ve got more cattle grading Prime than Select.” He says programs like AngusLink are helping connect cow-calf producers to carcass value, even at weaning. “The quality of our product has driven demand,” McCulley said, crediting Angus breeders and commercial producers alike for delivering the eating experience consumers are willing to pay for.
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.
