Marketing Update - by Nolan Woodruff

Use All Things to Your Advantage, Including Red Angus’ Allied Access Program

If you attended your biology class during your freshman year of high school, you probably remember learning about heterosis, or hybrid vigor.

Heterosis uses the strengths of another breed to complement the many great traits of Red Angus to gain performance. Because the association has seen great value in heterosis, Red Angus has long promoted the use of crossbreeding to get the best of both worlds. Every day, ranchers take advantage of having a heavier calf at

sale time by using crossbreeding, but why take advantage of one thing but not another?

The Red Angus Allied Access program has allowed many producers to effectively use crossbreeding while still being able to enroll those calves into an RAAA age- and source-verification program. Since its inception in 2012, the Allied Access program has allowed producers to take advantage of Red Angus programs while reaping the benefits of crossbreeding.

If calving dates are being recorded and the calves are managed separately from other herds, every calf born qualifies the day it is born.

Use of the Allied Access program allows producers to enroll in other verification programs at a discounted rate all while on the phone with our Red Angus Value-Added Department.

Use all things to your advantage to benefit your operation, including Red Angus Marketing programs. •

Top-Performing Cattle Earn Prestigious Grid Master Award

By Megan Underwood, Red Angus Association of America media intern

The Grid Master Award, an honor bestowed by the Red Angus Association of America, is earned by operations who have successfully combined high-performing Red Angus genetics, skillful feeding and precise marketing to achieve success with the slaughter of superior beef carcasses.

Nolan Woodruff, RAAA commercial marketing specialist, announced the

recipients of the 2021 Grid Master Awards at the 68th annual National Red Angus Convention held Sept. 15- 17, in Boise, Idaho.

“Red Angus producers continue to raise the bar by marketing high-quality cattle on the rail. This year, 16 operations representing almost 1,300 head received the title of Grid Master. Taking these great cattle to market

has proven that Red Angus cattle have the ability to convert feed efficiently and produce a valuable end product. Congrats to this year’s recipients of this award,” said Woodruff.

To be named a Grid Master, entries must be Red Angus or Red Angus-in-

fluenced cattle enrolled in RAAA’s Feeder Calf Certification Program or Allied Access tag program and must achieve a specified level of carcass excellence. The program is open to both conventionally and naturally fed cattle.

Conventionally fed Red Angus cattle must be marketed in lots of at least 30 head, reach a minimum of 90%

Choice and Prime and have a maximum of 5% Yield Grade 4’s.

Naturally fed Red Angus cattle must also be marketed in lots of at least 30 head, achieve 90% Choice and Prime, with a maximum of 10% Yield Grade 4’s.

For those who would like additional

information on the Grid Master Award program, or to learn more about the Red Angus-specific marketing grids and the FCCP program, please contact Nolan Woodruff at nolan@redangus.org or 805-861-0996.

Visit RedAngus.org to learn more about marketing options for your Red Angus-influenced cattle. •