Farms.com Home   News

Opinion: Beef breeding must aim for profitability

I was reading a blog post by Doug Ferguson of Beef Magazine recently when I stumbled upon a statement that will likely offend some friends of mine.

Ferguson wrote, “seed stock are cattle the industry needs; registered cattle chase the fads and show banners.”

This brings me to my question: are you investing in a seed stock operation and adding value to the cattle industry? Or are you investing in a registered cattle operation? We often get wrapped up in the fads created and desired in the show ring, but we are hurting the overall well-being of the industry by continuing to breed traits that either have no added benefit to our businesses’ annual profit or severely hinder that profit — not to mention if profit is even present in the business.

Click here to see more...

Trending Video

Iowa Swine Day 2025: Reducing Disease Burden: Practical Approaches to Bacterial Control

Video: Iowa Swine Day 2025: Reducing Disease Burden: Practical Approaches to Bacterial Control

Dr. Maria Jose Clavijo, Associate Professor, Iowa State University This talk will explore practical strategies for the control and elimination of key bacterial pathogens in swine, focusing on prevention, diagnostics, and targeted interventions. Emphasis will be placed on field-proven approaches, emerging tools like next-generation sequencing (NGS), and the role of tailored health programs in improving productivity and animal welfare.