Export Update
“The Japanese market is pretty stable after the earthquake,” says Peter Michalski, vice president, International Division of National Beef. “In fact, the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) predicts there will be a spike in demand for U.S. beef in Japan as a result of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters.” USMEF’s reasoning is based on the fact that the region hit by the natural disasters represents only 2 percent of Japan’s population, but also some 16 percent of pork production, 12 percent of beef production and 15 percent of poultry production.

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NatureSource® Base Price
Premium Increases to $12/cwt.
U.S. Premium Beef, LLC has moved the base price premium on the NatureSource® grid from $10 to $12/cwt. In addition, the NatureSource® grid now accepts both Black and Red Angus cattle. They can be qualified by either phenotype, visually 51% black-hided (by individual animal) or solid red and polled or solid red with white face (not Hereford) and polled, or genotype, proof of Angus parentage by enrollment in programs such as Angus Source or the Red Angus Feeder Calf Certification Program. As previously announced, the $3 per head steer premium has been discontinued on USPB’s Base, NatureSource® and Naturewell® grids.♦

The Cost of
Hot Iron Branding
In this age of new technology in which beef producers can identify cattle with a small electronic identification tag that also ties to an animal’s life history, branding remains the mainstay for many ranches to permanently mark their cattle. But that tried and true practice, which is required in some states, carries with it a cost that may not be apparent to the cowboy applying the hot iron. It is to Robert Hein, senior vice president and general manager of National Beef Leathers, LLC. And, he believes that it’s possible to change a little and reduce the value lost by branding.