Feedlot:::

   As the beef industry rapidly changes and we see value-based marketing systems continue to develop, those of us in the Limousin business are more excited than ever before. Lean, high yielding Limousin beef carcasses are hitting the targets and our customers are realizing the true value of proven, source verified genetics.

   Wulf Limousin is pleased to have excellent working relationships with several value-added procurement systems. Although varied in come respects, all have similarities that directly affect our customers. As we expand our marketing networks, we will strive to provide our customers with the information and management assistance necessary to insure consistent access and increased profitability.

   By addressing genetic and management requirements from both cow herd and feedlot, some of our procurement partners have developed a hierarchical system with potential economic rewards along the way.

The following is a brief listing of our marketing partners.

   LAURA’S LEAN BEEF: One of the oldest, most successful branded programs favoring red, lean and high yielding cattle and source verified, natural beef. Wulf Limousin has been a major supplier for LLB since its beginning. LLB prefers cattle are 75% Limousin or higher.

   PM BEEF: Was one of the first to implement a source and age verified branded beef program called Ranch to Retail. They are in the process of changing that into an all-natural program, non-breed specific, that still favors higher yielding cattle. They will buy cattle using the weekly choice-select spreads. Halfblood Limousin-cross cattle work well in this program.

   COLEMAN NATURAL BEEF: A well established, very successful branded program favoring cattle grading Choice with extra muscle and yield. Wulf limousine has been a major supplier for several years. According to Coleman’s , Wulf bred cattle are among the highest dressing cattle and have the fewest Yield Grade 4s and are about plant average for quality grade. Coleman prefers all natural, source verified cattle that are ½ Limousin X ½ Angus.

   MONTANA RANCH BRAND: This is a new start up branded beef company that we have sold cattle to since June of 2005. They understand the value of cutability and pay nice premiums for better yield grades. They prefer a natural choice cattle, but can use some select in the mix, so they buy cattle with the weekly Choice-Select spread. Half to three quarterblood Limousin cross natural cattle work very well on their grid.

   SWIFT: We have been selling cattle on two different values added programs they offer. One is a source and age verified program (QSA) for both the domestic and foreign markets. The other is their natural program that prefers a high percentage of Choice cattle in the mix. The half Limousin, half Angus works well in both of them.

   TYSON: Since the inception of Tyson’s Real Time Grid, we discovered that Limousin and Limousin- cross cattle can achieve nice premiums on this grid. In the commodity market for non-natural cattle, their premiums for Yield Grade 1s and 2s are among the best in the industry. We continue to market many cattle each year on this grid. Combine the higher yield grade premiums with Limousin’s higher dressing percentage, and our cattle dollar up very well on alive weight basis. Halfblood to purebred cattle all work well on the Real Time Grid.

   WHAT’S IN IT FOR WULF LIMOUSIN? We have confidence in our genetics. Because of the extensive database we have on our own cattle-maternal, growth, feedlot and carcass performance, we are convinced that our relationships with a variety of value-based programs can also be rewarding to those using Wulf Limousin genetics.

   We have always been convinced in the value of Limousin beef. Today we have a real, economically driven opportunity to provide our customers and their rewards for value added Limousin beef.

Animal ID—The next step in full service genetic supplier responsibilities

Animal identification. We have all heard so much about it in every publication we pick up! The National Animal ID System (NAIS) is supposed to be in place by 2009.

WHAT THE NAIS DOES:
The NAIS is designed to encompass the tracking of all animal species that could directly or indirectly impact the animal health status of our nation’s food animal system. Eventually, the NAIS will allow animal health officials to identify all animal and premises that have had contact with a foreign or domestic animal disease of concern within 48 hours after discovery. (For more information go to www.usda.gov/nais)

WHAT THE WULFS ARE DOING:
We decided to face the challenge head on, and take it one step further. This Fall 2005 we have tagged nearly every calf we purchased with a radio frequency EID tag and had each rancher fill out the necessary paperwork for several source verified programs which also gives us the information we need to source verify calves:

Cow-calf Ranch of Origin
Address/ Premise ID of Ranch of Origin
Birthdates*
Sex
Individual Ranch tags (if available)

*if individual birthdates are not available, we use the birthdate of the first calf. Ranchers will need to provide a copy of their birth records, even if they just document the first calf on a calendar. For example, a copy of the March calendar with “the first cow calved” penciled in on March 22, along with documenting the last calf. A group birthdate is easier, but puts every calf at the age of the first calf. With Japan taking cattle verified younger than 20 months of age, a wide calving window could disqualify some of the younger cattle in a group.

   We are currently using BoviTrak, a web-based computer system to track all the feeder cattle. With this all in place it makes it convenient for us to get carcass data back to the cow-calf producer.

   With all the changes coming with NAIS, we are excited to use this opportunity to track animal all the way through the chain and provide our bull customers with as much data about their calves as we possibly can, as well as take advantage of the source verified programs such as Laura’s Lean, Meyer Natural Angus, PM Beef, Montana Ranch Brand and Swift.

   For more information concerning animal ID contact Rhonda Wulf. Contact Mark Schoenfeld, BoviTrak, 1-800-504-4562 or Cell: 612-325-4001 for more information concerning the BoviTrak system.

    Wulf Limousin will assist our customers, and in many cases, partner with our customers in retained ownership and securing feedlot relationships for their Wulf influenced Limousin feeders. We will provide our customers with information and management assistance to ensure enhanced marketing opportunities for their Wulf genetics.