With cattle prices at record highs, the Canadian beef industry needs to continue to work hard to maintain the good times, says Rob Smith, the CEO of the Canadian Angus Association (CAA).
Smith was one of 30 participants at the Carcass 101 conference at Olds College June 17, 18 and 19. The conference was hosted by the CAA in conduction with Certified Angus Beef and Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency.
Thirty-two participants learned about beef carcasses, how beef is graded and what can be done to achieve top quality grading of carcasses.
Keeping the industry strong requires ongoing efforts, including knowledge sharing through conferences, said Smith.
“Recognizing that with the price of cattle and the price of beef being what it is now, being the highest price perhaps ever, where are the opportunities for people to go even further and realize some extra value in terms of what they are going to generate for revenue?” said Smith, an economist.
“And how can they ensure that going down the value chain they are actually being able to assist and add some value for those folks who are purchasing those genetics down the line, from the time it's a bull that a seed stock producer is selling or a calf that a commercial guy is producing right on down until it is a finished product on the plate?”
Asked what the industry can do to increase value, he said, “The thing we are really focused on is the use of genetics and it's a pretty simple decision that cow-calf operators make when they are going to buy a bull to breed their cows to. That can lead to increased value down the road.
“It's cowboy science. It's taking the work of researchers and putting it into a practical application for our producers.”
Speakers at the conference included Brody Gardner of the Diamond T Cattle Company, meat scientist Dr. Phil Bass, Canada Beef Inc director of market development James Bradbury, Olds College meat lab instructor Brad McLeod, producer Larry Sears, Lacombe Meat Research Centre meat science spokesperson Oscar Lopez Campos, and AMG Feeders representative Ryan Kasko.
Producers have a great asset in the National Meat Training Centre at Olds College, which participants toured during the conference, said Smith.
“That is truly a state-of-the-art facility, the best in Western Canada,” he said.
Brian Good, Canadian Angus Association director of field services, echoed Smith's comments, saying the conference was certainly worthwhile.
“The speakers were really good,” said Good.
Conference participants came from B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
There will be followup conferences in 2015 and 2016, said Smith.
