General Montana Agricultural Statistics 1993 



MONTANA CATTLE: TOP PERFORMANCE FROM RANGE TO MARKET 



The Montana Department of Agriculture continues to expand it's promotion of seedstock 

 and commercial cattle from the Big Sky Country. 



by Carol Hannah 

 Senior Marketing Officer 



It has been said that when you think of Montana, you think of the country, the 

 land itself. Nearly 40 million acres of land in Montana lie in rangeland and pasture. 

 This land produces cattle that are recognized worldwide for their quality and generate 

 sales averaging approximately 500 million dollars per year. Working closely with the 

 livestock industry, the Montana Department of Agriculture is committed to assisting 

 producers in reaching new markets and expanding existing ones. 



Montana livestock producers can support their claim of breeding superior cattle 

 for a number of reasons. Performance testing originated in Montana 30 years ago at 

 Midland Bull Test, and is used by seedstock producers throughout the state to improve 

 their breeding programs. Treasure Test Center, Mussard Bull Development Center and 

 ABC Bull Test offer performance testing programs in Montana as well. It's estimated 

 that Montana seedstock producers sell 30,000 bulls annually, with live animals, semen 

 and frozen embryos having been exported to at least 28 foreign countries. 



On the commercial side, Montana feeder cattle are highly sought by out-of-state 

 feedlots and slaughter houses with over a million head being destined for those markets 

 in 1992. Coming from an all-weather environment and progressive breeding programs, 

 Montana feeder cattle are known for their ability to gain while at the same time 

 maintaining desirable carcass characteristics. 



To assist Montana cattle producers in providing a high-quality product and 

 maintaining their reputation as leaders in beef production, the Montana Department of 

 Agriculture assisted the Montana Stockgrowers Association with it's Beef Quality 

 Assurance Program. Through the department's Montana Growth Through Agriculture 

 program, funds were awarded to aid in the development, printing and distribution of a 

 Beef Quality Assurance handbook in 1992. 



Promoting Montana's quality cattle outside of the state both domestically and 

 internationally has been given priority by The Montana Department of Agriculture's 

 Marketing Program. The Marketing Program is currently participating in a Foreign 

 Agricultural Service Market Promotion Program vdth other western states to promote 

 Western U.S. cattle in Mexico. Mexican livestock producers have traveled to Montana 

 for an extensive seedstock ranch tour and plans are being made for subsequent trips to 

 Mexico by Montana producers. 



Another developing market for U.S. cattle genetics is the People's Republic of 

 China. The Montana Department of Agriculture recently hosted a trade delegation from 

 the Tibet Autonomous Region. Having heard of Montana's reputation for quality cattle, 

 the 10 member delegation was in Montana to learn about the state's livestock 

 production and range management practices. The tour included sessions at Red Bluff 



