Page 20 - 2024-SJ-Beef-Week

Stock Journal Beef Week | 2024

US cattle ranchers Shane and Lacey Bedwell and children Cealy and Chisum. Picture supplied
Crossbreeding resurgence tipped

as US ranchers look to rebuild

By SHAN GOODWIN North America within On just when the US third was effectively
months now has global rebuild would ramp up, he lopped off, he said.
XPERIENCED analysts predicting said with historically high “I see this trend
seedstock cattle ranchers will start to prices for beef, feedlots happening after this
Epeople in the United increase numbers again still had big numbers of drought but I think the US
States are predicting in a fairly significant way females in pens, which cattleman is going to be
a resurgence in this year. in turn was continuing more focused on the cow
crossbreeding when the American Hereford to slow the growth of this time,” he said.
herd rebuild kicks into Association executive vice the cowherd. Mr Bedwell said costs to
top gear. president Jack Ward said “In addition, there operate continued to be a
Ranchers will chase there was good optimism are still a number of challenge in the US.
hybrid vigour to ramp up in the seedstock game in areas in the US that are “The reality is if more
production quickly and experiencing drought,” pressure is not put in
they will also be looking the US at the moment. Mr Ward said. these areas, consolidation
for carcase traits as much “I do believe quality American Hereford is inevitable,” he said.
as production efficiency as genetics will be rewarded Association chief operating
they invest in new genetics in the commercial industry officer and director BREED STILL GROWING
in a bid to set themselves in the US as the cowherd is of breed improvement Having traveled across
up longer-term to supply rebuilt,” he said. Shane Bedwell said the US and into seven
markets that pay the most. “There seems to after the last drought in foreign countries to
With the US breeder be a resurgence of 2012-2014, the US cowherd judge at livestock shows
cattle inventory at a six- crossbreeding and made huge improvements and present lectures
decade low following a identifying the value of in end-product merit. on beef cattle genetic
long drought, their rebuild breed complimentary That had been improvement, Mr Ward
will be a mammoth task. for both the cowherd reflected in the increased said the Hereford breed
Forecasts for substantial and feedlot and percentage graded Choice was still growing across
wet conditions across packer sectors.” and Prime - the bottom the globe with each
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