Montana Branded Beef Association (MBBA)

Members & Ranchers

Welcome to the Members and Ranchers section of MBBA’s website. Members may access the secure section by clicking on the secure section link and entering their member ID and password. Non-members are encouraged to download an application for membership to participate in a selection of enterprises designed to improved profitability and success on the ranch through revenue enhancements and cost or time savings.

MBBA’s strength comes from its membership and the strong relationships developed with its business partners and has achieved the critical mass needed to participate in one of the most competitive fed-cattle formula pricing relationships in the industry.

MBBA is proud to work jointly with GeneNet, LLC and Swift & Company to market fed-cattle in Grand Island, NE and Greeley, CO. In simple terms, MBBA places cattle on feed with certified feeders. As cattle approach harvest, MBBA certified feeders work with GeneNet, LLC and Swift & Co. to establish starting prices, schedule delivery, and coordinate data collection needs. Cattle are purchased by Swift & Co. under a premier pricing formula, and data is collected and summarized by GeneNet, LLC.
 
 
Member Services
MBBA offers a number of valuable products and services designed to increase the sales value of the animals marketed through MBBA’s programs, or reduce a member’s costs and time spent on beef production and marketing activities. In both instances, MBBA’s products and services are in place to ensure member access to the opportunity to enjoy greater levels of success and profit while continuing to participate in the lifestyle they desire. MBBA members may take advantage of MBBA’s:

Cattle Marketing Services:
MBBA provides its members with marketing assistance in selling their feeder calves, yearlings, fed-cattle, replacement heifers, bred cows, bulls, and pairs. These services are provided through:
• Placements of member owned feeder calves and yearlings with affiliated feedyards
• Direct marketings of member owned calves and yearlings to affiliated feedyards
• Consigning calves and cattle on Frontier Stockyards internet-based auction
• Providing access to MBBA/GeneNet Carcass Merit Pricing Formula for fed-cattle owned or managed by affiliated feedyards

 Fees to Market Cattle on the Montana/GeneNet Program:
Fee Rates - effective January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006:
Cattle Marketing/Feedlot Placement Fees: 1% of the Value of the Transaction
(Placement Fee Pro-Rated Between Buyer & Seller Based on Percentage of Retained
Ownership)

Enrollment Fees:             $3/hd
(Enrollment Fees Include Source & Age Verification Expense)

Carcass Data Fees:
Group Data Fee               $3/head
Normal Data Fee              $5/head
Complete Data Fee          $7/head

Risk Management:
 The MBBA/GeneNet Carcass Merit Pricing Formula provides members with risk management opportunities when marketing fed-cattle. The pricing grid provides members the option of selecting one of three different starting price options offered by Swift & Co.:
• A starting price based on the USDA Nebraska Weighted Average Dressed Beef Price for the Week Prior to Sale,
• A starting price based on a bid received from Swift & Co, or
• A starting price that has been locked in place in advance of delivery using the futures market.

Additional risk management tools are being developed.

Management & Genetic Analysis and Support:
MBBA provides its members with management and genetic analysis and support. These services are or will be provided through:
• Review and analysis of carcass data collected by GeneNet, LLC to identify potential areas of managerial and/or genetic improvement that will enable a member to better understand how to target MBBA program specifications.
• Coordination with seedstock development programs to more closely match the needs of MBBA members.
• Volume purchases of bulls, replacement heifers, and semen that fit an individual member’s genetic improvement needs, while saving members the time and expense of attending seedstock sales in person.
• Information sharing and compliance assistance with regulatory, food and product quality assurance issues such as National Animal Identification, Country of Origin Labeling, BQA and QSA protocols, and new regulations established as a result of BSE incidences.