The American Angus AssociationSM experienced significant growth in all levels of business in fiscal 2006, which ended September 30. The Association recorded 347,572 registrations, posting a continual increase over the past two decades.
�Angus breeders have enjoyed phenomenal success in recent years and especially the past two years,� says John Crouch, executive vice president of the American Angus Association. �The versatility of the Angus breed and its ability to excel in maternal traits and end-product quality has made Angus the breed of choice for commercial cattlemen throughout the United States.�
Registrations rose more than seven percent from the previous year, with 347,572 registrations processed. Transfers, which represent the sales of cattle to new owners, also increased with a total of 206,121, also up seven percent from a year ago. Of the registrations processed, more than 10 percent were embryo transfer calves and nearly 49 percent of all animals registered were A.I. sired.
The number of regular members grew more than four percent, with 3,558 adults joining. New junior memberships remained steady at 1,342.
Reports of Angus cattle sales showed growth as well. Fourteen percent more bulls were reported selling through auction sales attended by Association regional managers, and they averaged more than $135 per head over a year ago. Female sales increased as well, and averaged $243 more per lot than fiscal 2005.
Angus breeders continue to use Beef Improvement Records (BIR) to keep performance records in order to focus on genetic improvement. A six percent increase in participation was posted with nearly 9,700 herds submitting more than 882,000 birth, weaning and yearling weights. Additionally more than 150,000 ultrasound measurements were submitted, marking an 18.5 percent increase in that technology.
AngusSource�, which earned status as a USDA Process Verified Program (PVP) during the past year, also experienced growth this year posting a four percent increase in enrollments. Producers are also realizing the value of information when selling their calves as the use of marketing profiles has jumped nearly 36 percent compared to a year ago.
A record high 13.1 million cattle were identified for the Certified Angus Beef (CAB) Program, which sold more than 543 million pounds of CAB brand products this year, the highest figure since 2003.
The American Angus Association is the world's largest beef breed organization, with headquarters in Saint Joseph, Mo. The not-for-profit company and its subsidiaries, Certified Angus Beef LLC, and Angus Productions Inc., and its affiliate, the Angus Foundation, provide programs and services for its members and their customers, while promoting the Angus breed and supporting education, youth and research. For more information about the Association, go to www.angus.org.
