Beef Briefs: August 2012

In case you missed it…

… Get the latest updates by “friending” MyBeefCheckoff on Facebook or following @MyBeefCheckoff on Twitter.

… Be sure to read all the updates from last week’s Cattle Industry Summer Conference on the MyBeefCheckoffMeeting blog.

… The "white-hot better-burger movement" is still a top trend in food. Read more here.

Making Headway with Consumer Perceptions

The latest checkoff-funded semiannual Consumer Beef Index survey shows increasingly positive perceptions about beef when it comes to nutrition, safety, taste and quality. The one factor pulling down overall satisfaction with beef is value perceptions. Read more about these consumer trends in “The consumer conundrum - Sink your teeth in to a great steak or grit your teeth about beef prices.”

Likewise, a recent survey about consumer perceptions indicates that consumers are rating beef higher in terms of safety. “Beef safety confidence remains strong” analyzes consumer ratings of beef versus other foods and the differing perceptions of food safety at supermarkets versus foodservice outlets.

And, for more recent marketing studies that have found a growing number of socially conscious consumers are placing more emphasis on “ethical” food and demanding transparency from producers to demonstrate ethical production, read more at Socially Conscious Consumers.

Zinc and Iron Intake for Older Infants

The first checkoff]funded study to provide a detailed examination of zinc absorption from different complementary feeding regimens in older breastfed infants was recently published. The researchers evaluated zinc absorption and status in 45 exclusively breastfed 9] to 10]month olds who were randomly assigned to different complementary feeding regimens: 1) IFC ] traditional iron fortified cereal plus dairy (cereal with iron only), 2) IZFC ] zinc and iron fortified traditional complementary foods plus dairy (cereal with zinc and iron), or 3) CF ] high zinc complementary foods (meat, mostly beef). The study’s data demonstrates that without the consumption of complementary foods that are naturally high in zinc or have been fortified with zinc, infants are very unlikely to reach the estimated physiologic requirement of 0.84 mg/d for this age.

Producer Support of Beef Checkoff Remains High

Support for the beef checkoff remains high, despite weather and economic pressures facing the industry, according to a recent survey of U.S. beef and dairy producers. Checkoff support, at 74 percent – about even with January 2012 findings – remains at historic highs.
 
The nationwide survey of 900 beef and dairy producers conducted by the independent firm Aspen Media & Market Research in late June and early July 2012 found that an overwhelming majority of beef and dairy producers continue to believe that their beef checkoff has value for them in many ways.

1. Post-tornado composting a solution for disposal of dead livestock
2. Cornell genetic testing process cuts cost by up to 75 percent
3. Angus Foundation receives $28,500 from “The Card Challenge”
4. Commentary: In praise of animal foods
5. 100K Pathogen Genome Project maps first genomes
6. Beef exports depend on quality reputation

1. Michigan hay buyers should plan purchases early
2. New animal identification rules aid disease traceability
3. Seven jobs more dangerous than farming
4. Survey reveals most Americans in favor of COOL
5. Corn planting pace turns from record slow to record fast
6. U.S. cattle placements rise in April as feed costs subside

1. Meat and climate change: How significant is the impact?
2. BeefTalk: How do we get the next generation to raise beef?
3. Commentary: GMOs: How do I hate thee?
4. Survey reveals most Americans in favor of COOL
5. Farm bill and immigration reform action needed
6. Boxed beef hits record highs, cattle weak to lower