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WHITE GOLD The Midwest Cattleman · September 14, 2023 · P20
continued from page 19
into. The reality is the packer Angus, they were out help- would share that fondness
is not going to find your cus- ing packers sell meat, spend- for beef from the white breed
tomer for you, that will be ing money as an association if they got a chance to taste it
the breed’s job.” talking to retailers while we, and know where it came from.
One of the breeders on the as a breed, were focusing on Mark Nelson is also advis-
task force is Brett DeBruyck- breed improvement and add- ing the Charolais task force,
er of Montana, who says the ing value to our customers and he too has seen the other
Charolais association is up and the industry through side of the business having
for the challenge. increased performance, effi- ran the Angus America pro-
“We’re being very aggres- ciency and carcass quality,” gram for Cargill for seven
sive in fleshing out the differ- DeBruycker adds. “Hind- years. He says part of what to do something like this be-
cause the cattle merit it.”
ent opportunities,” he says. “I sight being 2020, we should the breed needs to keep its
So, from a commercial per-
think the association is refo- have been helping packers eyes on is being ready for the spective what does this mean
cusing on what is most im- sell Charolais beef. One of future, when the cattle cycle
portant to our business, and the things I have learned on turns again and cattle num- for their Charolais-influ-
enced calves being born now?
that is the commercial cattle this task force is how vitally bers are on the rise.
producer. I’ll admit we fell important it is for our breed “I think in the next five It means those white bulls in
the pasture will bring home
behind in promoting what to talk to consumers.” years, ranchers will benefit
our breed can do. A few years ago, he took a from high prices due to short gold for you now by putting
extra pounds on the scale
“For instance, I have doc- phone call from a gentleman supplies,” he says. “But we all
umentation that pink-nosed, from France who recently know those high prices won’t when every pound is likely
to be worth much more than
straightbred Charolais cat- moved to Washington state. last. So, the breed needs to
tle qualified for the following The man was very excited to have something up and run- it has been when cattle num-
bers were high. And, if the
premiums in the summer of have found DeBruycker Cha- ning on all cylinders by then
2022. Steers received $80/ rolais online because he had so folks with Charolais-cross Charolais task force does the
job it hopes to accomplish,
head and heifers received been looking for Charolais calves will be able to use them
$85/head on the U.S. Premi- beef since moving to the U.S. when they really need them. you’ll have not just more
pounds to sell in the future
um Beef grid. These cattle The man told him in France, There is so much potential
added value to the industry Charolais is considered a del- with this breed. Charolais is but also more premiums and
demand for those high-per-
by grading and yielding well icacy and everybody there the kingpin of what they do.
on the rail,” he adds. wants to eat it. DeBruycker The cattle have really been forming calves. Stay tuned.
“You’ve got to hand it to says more U.S. consumers begging for their breeders