Vigorous Red Angus Demand Mirrored in Association's Growth - by Harold Bertz

The 2020-2021 fiscal year for the Red Angus Association of America was completed June 30 and saw the United States and the beef industry regain its footing as it recovered from a truly unique period of time. As businesses reopened, beef demand surged and prices slowly rebounded to exceed the previous year.

The RAAA posted another solid year with growth and enthusiasm, experiencing vigorous demand. The Red Angus female continues to be the industry’s most favored, providing superior maternal ability to the American cowherd.

Membership in the RAAA grew 6% for the second year in a row, reaching 2,931 regular members while the Junior Red Angus Association saw a 7% increase with 1,181 members. The number of cows on THR inventory again topped 100,000 – the second highest in history. The popularity of Red Angus cattle with their diverse set of positive characteristics and industry-leading convenience traits have fueled this rapid growth. The junior program continues to prepare Red Angus youth to become valuable assets for the beef industry.

Commercial Marketing team members witnessed the most spirited bull sale season in many years. We were privileged to see 7,516 bulls sell this spring averaging $4,977. This thriving demand led to bull transfers increasing by 8%. These transferred bulls allow commercial cattlemen to enroll in Red Angus value-added programs.

The Feeder Calf Certi�cation and Allied Access programs have enrolled over 2.9 million head of cattle since their inception. These programs are an effective method for cattlemen and women to differentiate their calves and receive added value at a very low cost.

A new �ve-year Strategic Plan was �nished, providing clear direction for the RAAA. This plan outlines critical objectives, strategies and tactics for implementation of programs and processes that will keep Red Angus moving forward and accomplish its long-term vision: “Dominate the beef industry with Red Angus genetics.” The plan is available on the Red Angus website under the “About Red Angus” tab. We encourage you to view the plan and embrace the opportunities ahead, knowing that RAAA has a clear vision for the future.

The RAAA is in a great position for the future. The board, breeders, stakeholders and staff are committed to a prosperous beef industry powered by Red Angus genetics. We must continue to be the innovators, relentlessly pursuing industry leading techniques, tools and services and continue doing this with integrity. •