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Phone - 816.858.9954 :: Fax - 816.858.9953 ::  E-mail: voiceeditor@kc.rr.com  

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August / September 2007 - Commercial Connection
 
Source & Age Verified Adds Value
by Dave Steen, commercial marketing director

The American Maine-Anjou Association (AMAA) and Integrated Management Information, Inc., (IMI Global, Inc.) have entered into an agreement for IMI Global, Inc., to be the administrator of the AMAA’s Source and Age Verified programs. These programs allow producers and feedyards to be able to secure your Source and Age marketing strategy. Producers who want to know something about their cattle have to participate in some form of individual ID program. Many producers have struggled to get these programs implemented because they don’t know where to begin. To help simplify these management problems for Source and Age Verification, the AMAA will offer the following available programs to help “add potential value” to each producer’s situation.
US Verified and Supply Verified will provide:
  1) Supplier Evaluation System that is “USDA Approved”
  2) Gives assurance that claims are verified and truthful
  3) Provides access to progressive markets
     a. Export markets
     b. Domestic markets
Currently, many feedyards are receiving an additional $25 per head due to the Japanese and various export markets if the cattle are Source and Age Verified. To producers who have implemented the Source and Age Verified programs, the additional premium they receive for their calves usually more than pays for their cost of implementing the program. The fact is, without these programs, potential profits are being squandered and improvements are certainly being minimized. IMI Global, Inc., is presently the only USDA process verified company!

As a cow/calf producer, if you want to participate in the Source and Age market, you must be approved by a USDA Process Verified Program (PVP) and/or Quality System Assessment Program (QSA).
The AMAA will offer the following programs for Source and Age Verified:
  1) Source and Age program for cow/calf producer
     a. Requirements:
        i. You must have documented calving records (individual animal and/or group calving records)
        ii. Cattle must be identified (preferably with a tag — at a minimum a brand or unique ear notching system)
        iii. You must fill out our Source and Age kit which contains a profile page and a quiz based on information shared 
            with you
        iv. You must be willing to send to us your calving records, records to support head counts (same form of inventory
            records) and the Source and Age kit
        v. An IMI global evaluator will call you and ask questions about the information you submitted
        vi. If everything meets the requirements, you will receive a certificate of approval and be listed on IMI Global’s
            approved supplier list
     b. Benefits:
        i. Some packers are offering up to $25 per head premium
        ii. Last year Superior Livestock  said their IMI Global verified cattle equated to a $1.77/cwt premium on feeder
           cattle
     c. Cost of AMAA Source & Age Verified cow/calf program to producer
        i. $250 per year
     d. Two tags for Source and Age Verification will be offered to producers:
        i. Visual Tag — cost $1.50-$1.75 per tag
           1. Contains a nine digit number that indicates the producer’s ID number for verification
           2. “US Verified” printed on neck of tag
           3. “Maine-Anjou” printed on the bottom of the tag
        ii. Nested Pair Tag (2 tags) — cost $3.25-$3.50 per pair
           1. Includes Visual Tag
           2. Plus the round ID tag for individual carcass collection data
           3. The nested pair tag includes the visual tag that has “US Verified” imprinted on the neck of the tag
           4. Plus a 15 digit ID number
           5. Plus “Maine-Anjou” printed on the bottom of the tag
                e. I personally feel the cow/calf program will be the largest segment.
     2) US Verified — Source and Age and Non-Hormone Treated Cattle (NHTC) Combo — program for mid to large  
         feedlots
          a. To participate in the Source and Age market, you have two choices:
             i. Build a USDA Process Verified Program (PVP) and/or Quality System Assessment (QSA) Program
             ii. Implement IMI Global’s Feedlot Program and become approved under IMI Global’s Process Verified Program
             for Feedlots
             iii. Call John at the AMAA office or myself for further particulars and cost
      3) US Verified Plus
          a. For farmers / feeders, stockers and backgrounders
          b. Call John at the AMAA office or myself for particulars
      4) US Verified
          a. Source and Age Verification for mid to large sized feedlots
          b. Please call John at the AMAA office or myself for further particulars
      5) US Verified — Source and Age and Non-Hormone Treated Cattle (NHTC) Program for cow/calf producers
          a. Please call John at the AMAA office or myself for further details
I know this seems somewhat confusing to many with all of the different programs, but the door is wide open to producers who are seeking information to facilitate in their management decisions. If you are interested in any of these programs, please feel free to give us a call, John at the AMAA office (816) 431-9950 or myself at (515) 201-3281. For additional information, feel free to call IMI Global, Inc., at (303) 895-3002. To our seedstock breeders selling bulls and females, please tell your customers about the option for Age and Source Verification through the AMAA. These programs should also help to “stay connected” to your existing customers and increase your potential customer base. Please let your customers know this program will soon be available!
Other News
The AMAA is looking into conducting a commercial bull sale either in the spring of 2008 or 2009.
Preliminary talks include:
• Bulls tested PHA and TH Free
• October/November delivery (site undecided)
• Sale to be held in central Kansas Please give me a call by Aug. 15, 2007, if this type of sale would fit your marketing plan.
    The 5th Annual National Maine-Anjou Influenced Feeding Trial has ended and the data should soon be received. Please watch for the complete results in the October issue of the Voice.
     Thank you to everyone for your participation and support of this national feeding trial! Thank you and please call if I can be of help in any way — Continue to breed with Commitment and Direction!

Maines on the Move,
Dave Steen
        

    

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