Page 24 - MWC 2-2-2023s

TRACKING The Midwest Cattleman · February 2, 2023 · P24
continued from page 20
ment of the spread between ening. As we predicted 23 for their traceability efforts in via animal health and iden-
high-quality, preconditioned years ago, those operations raising high-quality beef. tification initiatives, during
calves and bawling calves. that don’t wean, pre-condition “We are working with which time he has seen many
John’s opinion is that the and pay attention to genetics BlockTrust, a blockchain solu- successes. But, as with any
spread will continue to widen aren’t going to benefit from tion for the cattle industry, to leader, he also has frustra-
and producers that are slower average-based procurement be able to provide value data tions.
to adapt will see increasingly anymore,” he said. to each owner as the cattle “My biggest frustration has
lower prices for their calves. The future is rarely predict- move throughout the supply been that in order to meet
“As the years go on, we able; however, John’s crystal chain,” explained John. supply needs, the feedlot sec-
are gradually moving to a ball indicates the utilization “I believe that downstream tor has unfortunately been
discount scenario instead of of digital data will become performance and carcass data forced to pay too much for
a premium one and conse- more critical in a market are as valuable to the cow-calf unknown, inferior calves –
quently that spread is wid- where consumers are desir- producer as preconditioning therefore paying too little for
ing to know more and more data is to cattle feeders. The the best calves that warrant a
about the origin and journey missing link has always been higher premium,” John start-
of their food. finding a way to touch the ed.
“We have had digital data 70% of the cows that exist on “By identifying superior
for most of my tenure at MFA small farms and ranches in from inferior via programs
but have found very few op- less-than-critical-mass quan- like MFA Health Track, I hope
portunities to utilize it when tities. The BlockTrust system to see genetics utilized that
the calves are in the sale ring. can provide that connection can improve efficiency and
I believe that will change as seamlessly, effortlessly, and product quality to add more
with the emergence of more anonymously,” he further ex- profitability to the segment
supply chains that intend to plained. that has the most invested in
inform consumers of where What Does the Future that process.”
their food comes from,” he ex- Hold? To learn more about MFA
plained. A lifelong champion for Health Track, visit mfa-inc.
One way to utilize that data cow-calf producers, John is com/healthtrack.
is with blockchain technology, also a former NCBA presi-
which adds traceability for dent. He has spent his career
consumers and allows pro- advocating for cow-calf pro-
ducers to receive premiums ducers and their profitability