MAINE-ANJOU Headquarters

M. BLAKE NELSON EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

Greetings!

Spring weather has quickly reached us here in Missouri, the weather has warmed up and the grass is growing. I, like many, hope that rains will soon grace many parts of the country who are in serious need. I believe that as agriculturists we have a deeper appreciation for moisture and the weather. Despite some areas suffering from drought, witnessing of new growth with new crops, both animals and plants, gives us hope and something to look forward to. Fortunately, the general cattle market has been extremely good and the demand for quality MAINE-ANJOU cattle is very high.

2023 has been a record setting year for marketing Maine-Anjou genetics. Heifers have highlighted many of the fall sales, some topping six figure prices, and bulls at Oklahoma City and Denver. We are seeing semen dealers picking up more and more Maine-Anjou genetics and that is a huge opportunity to maximize the visibility for Maine-Anjou and the demand for our cattle. I believe there are a few things that have set the table for this increase in industry acceptability and customer demand.

First, you as breeders have done a tremendous job in focusing on improving functionality, fleshing ability and acceptable calving traits without foregoing the quality and power that have always been inherent in the breed. The industry is seeing what we have always known; Maine-Anjou cattle can enhance their offspring more in one generation than any other breed! Our cattle are good, and they are potent.

Secondly, I believe that the American Maine-Anjou Association (AMAA) Board of Director’s and John Boddicker did a great job maneuvering through the genetic defects, both with immediate steps and protocols for sustainability of the breed. The fact that the majority of today’s cattle are clean is due to those decisions that were made and it also forced the breeders to make good cattle that were clean to help out not only our breeders, but also the users of our breed. We are in a much better place today because of these steps that were taken. Afford-ability and availability of testing technology to identify the status of individuals has enabled us to adjust some of those rules to not limit our gene pool. Identifying the status is a must when breeding and marketing the cattle for peace of mind.

Lastly, I whole heartedly believe that both the seedstock and commercial industry are looking for something a little bit different to improve the current produce. I didn’t say change, I said improve, and that is right in Maine-Anjou’s wheelhouse. I say often that Maine can make every calf better, and those that utilize our genetics see first hand how well we compliment other beef breeds. Short and simple “Maine-Anjou works!”

I am excited about what the future holds for our breed and I hope that as this increase in demand continues that our breeders keep a close eye on quality control and listen to what our customers need. Planning for the future is key if you want to have long term sustainable success. The goals of your operation are primarily unique for your program, but the one thing that is not unique is how the mating decisions that you make today will impact your herd, our breed, and the beef industry for many years to come. It is crucial that we analyze where we are at and methodically think about what it will take to reach our destination.

Please join us for the National Junior Heifer Show show in Grand Island, Neb., June 19-24th. Lindsey, Rylee and the junior board have put together an excellent event and it will be a great time for fun, fellowship and healthy competition. This is one event that I look forward to every year and I hope to see you there. Please let us know if we can assist you in any way!

Best Regards,

Blake, MAINE-ANJOU- POWER without sacrifice!