By Allen Williams, Ph.D.

Over the past three months we have looked at the basics of seedstock genetic selection for producing the kind of cattle that are capable of meeting the demands of the grassfed beef market. This month we will concentrate on selecting for the stocker or feeder cattle that we are actually going to finish on forage.

And as with the seedstock, selection for cattle to finish is primarily a matter of proper phenotype and genotype. To determine the desired phenotype and genotype, we first have to identify the end-product target. Continue reading “Selecting cattle for finishing on grass”

By Dr. Allen Williams

The U.S. grassfed market has grown significantly over the past 15 years. According to data compiled by the Wallace Center of the Winrock Foundation, retail sales of domestically produced grassfed beef were less than $5 million in 1998, with only about 100 beef producers actively involved in grassfed beef production. By 2012, domestic retail sales of grassfed beef had topped $400 million, with more than $1.5 billion in combined domestic and imported product sales.

That amounts to exponential growth for grassfed beef by any measure. Certainly grassfed production and marketing have come a long way in the U.S. over the past decade or so, with continued growth projected. Continue reading “The future of grassfed: Laying out the promise and challenges”

Baldwin Charolais beef doesn’t require fat to produce quality

by Mike Hillerbrand
Yanceyville, North Carolina — Most of the buzz in grass-finished beef circles today is about the benefits of small frame sizes, English genetics and marbling ability. This, it is said, is the sort of beef genetics required to produce profits straight from pasture.

Meanwhile, Baldwin Family Farms is producing lean, large (frame score 7-8) Charolais cattle on grass and selling critically acclaimed beef to loyal retail and wholesale customers. Continue reading “Big frames, big grass-finished flavor”

Analysis shows some surprising profit results from cow-calf and finishing after two winters

By Tom Wrchota, Omro, Wisconsin — Grass-fed beef is hot. More and more people are questioning the safety and quality of conventional beef and are willing to pay premium prices for grass-fed even during this recession. While we’ve had to work a little harder to sell steaks, we can’t keep up with demand for our premium hamburger and some of the other cuts. The hype is amazing, and the future seems bright.

But are we making any money at this? When Susan and I started Cattleana Ranch 17 years ago, we set out to achieve a profitable agricultural business while maintaining a simpler life working on a small livestock farm. Continue reading “Following the money in a grass-fed business”

Tom Wrchota, Omro, Wisconsin — The increase in unemployed, underemployed, and fearful Americans has certainly affected overall spending on food. Here at Cattleana Ranch, meat sales are off slightly from our all-time record high of 2008. A decline in the dollar volume of our chicken and meat CSA sales offset slight increases in our beef, pork and lamb business. Overall, we feel like we’ve held our own through this economic storm.

The challenge these days for all grass-fed marketers is to hold on to the current customer base, keeping revenues at least even without diminishing profit margins. A direct marketer’s developed customer base is the stored “gold” of the business, and the customer’s continued loyalty during rough economic times is essential for success. It is critical to understand why these customers purchase from you, and how the economy is potentially changing their buying habits. Continue reading “Selling grass-fed meat in tough economic times”