Video Auction Research Quantifies
Value of Red Angus Cattle
Information shared at the American
Society of Animal Science (ASAS)
meetings held mid-July in Orlando,
Florida, indicates that Red Angus
calves are more highly valued by cat-
tle buyers than other breed types.
The abstract, entitled “Effect of breed
on the sale price of beef calves sold
through video auctions from 2010
through 2014” (King, et al., J. Anim.
Sci. Vol. 93, Suppl. S3-pages 640-641.),
contained data on 33,811 lots of calves,
totaling 3.3 million head, sold in 116
video auctions.
Breed description of the calves were
categorized into five groups: English,
English crosses, English-Continen-
tal crosses, Black Angus sired out of
dams with no Brahman influence,
Red Angus sired out of dams with
no Brahman influence, and Brahman
influenced.
Breed of the lot significantly affected
the sale price of beef calves in these
video auctions. Red Angus-sired
calves sold for a higher price than all
other breed groups. The average price
of the Red Angus calves was $166.16
per hundredweight (cwt) – $7.38 per
cwt more than Brahman-influenced
calves; $3.61 per cwt more than En-
glish-Continental crosses; $3.30 per
cwt more than other English and En-
glish–cross calves; and $1.92 per cwt
more than Black Angus-sired calves.
Gary Fike, director of commercial mar-
keting for the Red Angus Association
of America (RAAA), said that this data
is validation for Red Angus breeders.
“It is no secret that Red Angus calves
have proven their value in the arena of
feedlot performance and carcass mer-
it,” said Fike. “Red Angus-sired heifer
calves used as replacements in the
cowherd are also recognized for their
docility, maternal characteristics and
longevity. Now data exists that quanti-
fies that value in the marketplace.”
“Demand for Red Angus genetics is at
an all-time high. The industry has re-
sponded, paying record prices for Red
Angus bulls and replacement females
this past winter and spring. The fact
that Red Angus-sired calves have out-
sold other breed types over a five-year
period is a testament to the long-term
value of the breed and its position in
the market place. Cattlemen and wom-
en who use Red Angus genetics can
be assured that their selection choices
are being rewarded from a financial
standpoint,” concluded Fike.
Buyers of Red Angus bulls that have
the bulls’ registration papers trans-
ferred to them are also eligible to
enroll in the Feeder Calf Certification
Program (FCCP) and tag their calves
with the yellow Red Angus tag.
The FCCP is a genetic-, source- and
age-verification program. Buyers of
calves with the distinctive FCCP tags
in place can be assured the calves are
at least 50 percent Red Angus. This
tag also qualifies finished cattle for
grid programs offered by Tyson Fresh
Meats and Greater Omaha Packing.
For more information about the ab-
stract, contact Fike at 785-410-2608.
To learn more about the FCCP tags to
enhance the value of your Red An-
gus-sired calves, contact the RAAA at
940-387-3502.
