Page 26 - MWC 2-2-2023s

The Midwest Cattleman · February 2, 2023 · P26
CHOOSING
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attests that the benefits far Nolan Woodruff, RAAA
outweigh the minimal cost of commercial marketing spe-
enrollment. cialist, attests that profit-
“I find a lot of value in the ability is at the forefront of
Red Choice program for my- nearly all producers’ minds.
self, and I want other people “We all know that money
to know the value of these plays a huge factor in all cow
management principles and herds and if we can make a
having a good relationship female more productive, re-
with their vet. I also am very sulting in more calves on
happy with the FCCP as it’s the ground, we can be more
a marketing program that profitable as ranchers,” said
has helped me quite a bit.” RAAA commercial market-
Dana Mathes, a produc- ing specialist Nolan Wood-
er from Unionville, Missou- ruff.
ri, who has been involved in Mathes agrees and encour-
Red Choice since 2020 says ages other producers to en-
the biggest benefit thus far roll in Red Choice, especial-
has been the consistency in ly in an industry with such
calves from his Red Choice tight margins.
heifers. “You’re either in it for a liv-
“We don’t have to sell our ing or a hobby,” Mathes said.
calves in cuts – we can sell a “The difference between op-
potload at a time, which will erations who are early adopt-
bring $3 to $5 more per hun- ers and those who are resis-
dred than a group of 10-15 tant to change is profitability.
and buyers like that. We aim This business is too tight not
to give them what they want. to take advantage of market-
“We’ve also been tagging ing programs that are com-
our Red Angus calves with plementary to your breed of
the FCCP yellow tag for cattle,” he added.
three years now and that’s Thomas is excited about
just another valuable step the long-term vision for the
in profitability. A consistent Red Choice program and its
cut of calves that are verified goals for serving beef indus-
is appealing to our buyers,” try stakeholders and pro-
said Mathes. ducers. He hopes that the
An intangible side effect to industry’s perception of heif-
the program is the strength- ers and their profit potential
ened relationship between will change from “luck of the
producers and their vet- draw” to “planned profit.”
erinarians. Multiple visits “It’s great to see sys-
are built into the program’s tems-based problem solving
guidelines for prebreeding designed to help commercial
and pregnancy exams, which producers capture value in
can lead to many producers the genetics of the breed,” he
recognizing the economic in- said.
centive for upgrading and And although the in-
improving their working fa- creased management does
cilities. have a few challenges, Mill-
“Producers need to believe er attests that the benefits of
it will make the process bet- such have far outweighed the
ter – there should be a de- drawbacks for producers who
mand for better facilities are willing to adopt the pro-
because it pays to do so. The tocols and he truly believes
Missouri program has done it’s a worthwhile endeavor.
that, and those producers “I’m always going to try
are routinely getting a cou- to improve my herd and the
ple hundred dollars more program is helping me mea-
per head for heifers in the sure where I’m at so I can
program than comparable move forward with better,
heifers who aren’t enrolled,” more efficient genetics. I’m
said Dr. Jordan Thomas, As- selling quality cattle that are
sistant Professor and State predictable for the next per-
Cow-Calf Specialist in the son who owns them and that
Division of Animal Sciences is very valuable.”
at the University of Missouri.