News

Power of Yield calculator demonstrates the changing economic value of red meat yield

The American-International Charolais Association has launched a new tool that puts real-time value on red meat yield.  

Executive Vice President Brett Spader says the Power of Yield Calculator is a tool for the entire beef supply chain. “It takes that modeling approach, but every week it pulls down current USDA data and then allows you to customize what your carcass weight endpoint would be,” he says.  “And then it allows you to see from a cutout standpoint exactly what the box beef value of red meat yield should be.” 

He tells Brownfield the calculator was built on the association’s Power of Yield analysis. “There was a lot of undiscovered value when it came to red meat yield that we wanted to start to draw attention to and draw more of a market signal to so that producers could get paid for doing more with less,” he says. 

He says the launch comes as producers continue to raise cattle with heavier carcass weights, a move that is reshaping beef production economics.  And while heavier weights can create more beef per animal, Spader says the composition of the meat and the additional pounds also matter.  

“It’s creating the opportunity to reward the right kind of cattle that can optimize and balance yield grade and quality grade,” he says.  “As we work with different cattle feeders and different folks in the industry, we’re finding like-minded folks that are willing to pay a premium.” 

He says the Power of Yield Calculator is part of a broader association effort to quantify the value genetics create throughout the beef production system.  

A link to the calculator can be found HERE. 

AUDIO: Brett Spader, American-International Charolais Association