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Profit Priorities Revealed in Recently Released Study

Profit Priorities Revealed in Recently Released Study

Cattle Today

A comprehensive study to prioritize management and economic issues for commercial beef cow-calf producers made its debut in Nashville, Tenn. In fulfilling the mission to provide programs and services that will aid commercial cattle producers to achieve profitability, the American Angus Association^SM commissioned an independent, in-depth study to provide a blueprint for prioritizing profit drivers in today's cattle operations.

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CHB LLC President Brings Passion to the Plate

CHB LLC President Brings Passion to the Plate

Hereford World

Fellow board members elected Bill Cox, Pomeroy, Wash., as the 2007 Certified Hereford Beef (CHB) LLC president. Cox has served on the CHB LLC and American Hereford Association (AHA) boards since 2004, and will now focus primarily on issues related to marketing the CHB brand.

As a passionate Hereford breeder, Cox is especially excited to help advance a brand that creates demand for Hereford genetics. More than 37.9 million lb. of CHB were sold in fiscal year 2006, creating pull demand for 465,261 head of commercial Hereford cattle.

Cox says that selling even more product in upcoming years will require growing the CHB LLC marketing team. This process has already begun with the hiring of an additional account manager in November 2006 and a food service director in January 2007. Currently, Cox is working with other board and staff members to identify the best individual to lead CHB LLC in the absence of Rob Ames, 10-year executive vice president, who resigned this winter.

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Reducing the risk of bloat when cattle are self-fed soybean hulls pellets

Reducing the risk of bloat when cattle are self-fed soybean hulls pellets

Dr. Glen Selk, Oklahoma State University

OSU researchers have used self-fed soybean hull pellets for a growing program for replacement heifers. Acidosis, bloat, and founder have all been identified as potential risks associated with feeding soybean hull pellets free choice to growing cattle. In previous research, they found that the incidence of bloat was significantly reduced and weight gain increased when cattle receiving free choice soybean hulls were fed 1.5 pounds per day of long stem prairie hay. However, this still did not completely alleviate the bloat risk. Therefore the OSU nutritionists conducted a trial to determine the effects of providing a monensin-containing mineral supplement to cattle self-fed soybean hulls and prairie hay.

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House bills prohibit mandatory ID program

House bills prohibit mandatory ID program

By: TRACY DANG, Sealy News (TX)

Farmers and ranchers may be able to take it easy when it comes to worrying about whether or not they will be required to register their premises and livestock. State Rep. Lois Kolkhorst recently announced she has co-authored two bills, prohibiting the state from implementing a mandatory animal identification system.

The proposed National Animal Identification System (NAIS) was a three-step process created to identify all agricultural animals and track them as they come in contact with other animals not in their herd in hopes of providing the ability to identify animals exposed to disease within 48 hours of its detection.

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USTR demands Japan lift beef import restrictions linked to cow age

USTR demands Japan lift beef import restrictions linked to cow age

TMC.net

The office of the United States Trade Representative reiterated its demand that Japan end its ban on the import of American cattle older than 20 months in its annual report released Thursday.

The elimination of such import restrictions by Tokyo, which Washington claims would be in accordance with the rules of the World Organization for Animal Health, will continue to be a priority issue for the United States, according to the USTR report.

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Cattle Preconditioning Forum: Stop E. Coli Scours With Prevention

Cattle Preconditioning Forum: Stop E. Coli Scours With Prevention

Cattlenetwork.com

Escherichia coli calf scours can be costly to a producer’s calf crop and bottom line. Though many studies have been conducted regarding all of the aspects of infectious diarrhea, it remains the major cause of death and sickness in newborn calves.(8) It also is still a significant cause of economic loss to beef and dairy producers.(8) The good news is that this disease can be effectively prevented, which means healthier and higher-performing calves.

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Mounting corn prices pinch cattle profits

Mounting corn prices pinch cattle profits

Western N.C. farmers watch price of feeder calves plummet

The Sun News (NC)

Strong supply and increased production costs have slowed a recent boom in beef cattle prices, hitting hundreds of smaller cattle farmers in western North Carolina especially hard.

"We've seen a real crunch over the last 100 days in western North Carolina - they're taking off somewhere between $100 to $125 a head for every 500-pound feeder calf," said John Queen, a Haywood County cattleman who was recently elected as the president of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.

An increase in corn prices and other production costs has prompted feed lots that buy calves from mountain operations to cut their costs by offering less per head.

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Smithfield profits slide

Smithfield profits slide

Morrell's owner hit by higher costs for feed, lower earnings

By Kevin Dobbs

Argus Leader (SD)

Smithfield Foods, parent corporation of John Morrell & Co. in Sioux Falls, reported Thursday a 15 percent plunge in its third-quarter profit, dragged down by rising feed costs and lower pork production earnings.

The Virginia-based company, the nation's largest pork producer, earned $60.4 million, or 54 cents per share, for the quarter that ended Jan. 28. That's well below the $71 million, or 63 cents per share, it reported during the same quarter a year earlier.

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Stocker Cattle Forum: Managing Spring Grazing

Cattlenetwork.com

Tight supplies for hay and by-product feeds and high-priced corn will have many ranchers eager to put cows out on grass as soon as possible this spring.

But SDSU Extension Range Livestock Production Specialist Eric Mousel cautioned that early spring grazing typically has negative effects on season-long forage yields unless managed carefully.

Mousel said research from North Dakota suggests that grazing native range before the third leaf stage can reduce carrying capacity by up to 50 percent in some situations.

“The effects of early grazing on improved pastures are likely not as pronounced due to differences in management, climate, and level of agronomic inputs, but a reduction of 10 percent to 30 percent in carrying capacity is not out of the question,” Mousel said.

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Livestock just as prepared as owners

Livestock just as prepared as owners

Aberdeen American News

Ag producers know how to handle severe winter weather. For that matter, so do their animals, said an area livestock expert.

Tyler Melroe, a South Dakota State University Extension educator based in Marshall County, said that animals such as cattle and sheep adjust pretty well to the snow and cold.

'To be honest, the livestock are probably dealing with it better than (producers) are. They'll adapt to this,' Melroe said.

Still, there are steps farmers and ranchers can take to protect their animals, he said. Keeping sheep and cattle out of the elements as much as possible is wise, he said. That might mean using shelter belts, man-made structures or bails to block the wind from animals in the field.

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Cottonseed meal comes full circle

Cottonseed meal comes full circle

Delta Farm Press

Save a link to this article and return to it at www.savethis.comSave a link to this article and return to it at www.savethis.com Email a link to this articleEmail a link to this article Printer-friendly version of this articlePrinter-friendly version of this article View a list of the most popular articles on our siteView a list of the most popular articles on our site

As a burgeoning biodiesel industry continues its binge on U.S. vegetable oil production, including oil pressed from cottonseed, one processor has demonstrated a special appetite for a bygone byproduct of the business — mechanically expelled cottonseed meal, or “old-process” cake.

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New Consumer Website Shares Realities of Beef

New Consumer Website Shares Realities of Beef

Cattle Today

Centennial, Colo., Feb. 5, 2007 – A new beef checkoff-funded Web site tells the beef production story — often in the words of beef producers themselves. The site, www.Beef FromPastureToPlate.org, covers the entire production chain, from gestation to dinner presentation, and features producer profiles, a live “Ask a Producer” page, fact sheets, recipes, safety tips and even beef trivia.

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Cow Calf: What Are The Symptoms & Effects Of Mycoplasma Bovis?

Cow Calf: What Are The Symptoms & Effects Of Mycoplasma Bovis?

Cattlenetwork.com

In beef cattle, a Mycoplasma bovis infection may begin as part of a general respiratory problem that doesn’t respond to the usual courses of antibiotics. The symptoms of these pneumonic cattle may differ from those of other types of pneumonia. The animals may stay bright and alert much longer. The muzzle instead of becoming dry and cracked, drips with a clear, or nearly clear, thin mucous. Eyes remain bright. A harsh, hacking cough is common and breathing may not be labored at first, but is more rapid than normal.

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Can AI method improve beef cow efficiency?

Farm Week

Marco Hidalgo, a veterinarian from Mexico and director of Technology Genetics, believes he can help U.S. cattlemen improve the efficiency of their herds.

Hidalgo is promoting a new method of artificial insemination (AI) that reportedly allows a producer to accomplish AI efficiently without hiring a technician.

The “Torito” method, demonstrated for members of the Illinois Farm Bureau Market Study Tour of Mexico, uses a tube-like device with a balloon on the end that allows a farmer to perform AI without inserting his or her hand into the cow.

The balloon at the end of the device guarantees that semen is introduced beyond the body of the uterus to the “horns” (bypassing the cervix) where higher pregnancy rates can be achieved, according to Hidalgo. He demonstrated the “Torito” method of AI at the La Piedad Ranch in the Mexican state of Michoacan.

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Buchanan Named NDSU Animal Science Head

Buchanan Named NDSU Animal Science Head

Cattlenetwork.com

A North Dakota State University graduate will be following in his father's footsteps when he returns home to serve as animal science head at NDSU.

David Buchanan will begin in July. He is a 1975 NDSU animal science graduate with honors. His father, M.L. "Buck" Buchanan, served on the department's faculty 1945-1976. The younger Buchanan took animal genetics classes from his dad.

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Black Ink—A Mind of Its Own

Black Ink—A Mind of Its Own

by: Steve Suther

Cattle Today

The market gets what it wants. That is demand in action. As it wants more and better, it pays more, efficiently sorting and sending premium and discount messages.

But it's not quite that simple. Sometimes an amazingly perfect item, or animal, sells for less than average price, a diamond in the rough. A delighted buyer comes back, willing to pay much more, but cannot find another at any price.

Many more, barely acceptable products—including cattle—enter the market every day. There are enough buyers to pay the clearing price up front, though they pay another price in later dissatisfaction. Those buyers won't be back, but there will be other buyers, at least for a while.

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Minnesota producer overwinters S.D. cows by feeding byproducts

Minnesota producer overwinters S.D. cows by feeding byproducts

By Wendy Sweeter, Editor

Tri State Neighbor

When the drought hit South Dakota pretty hard the summer of 2002, a Minnesota producer thought he could help some of his fellow South Dakota producers.

Jim Billmeier, a Morgan, Minn., sweet corn, peas and cow/calf producer, had the idea in 2002 to feed some cows for South Dakota cattle producers.

“I had a lot of feed left over,” he said. “We put an ad in the paper. Well, it hit the paper and the phone started ringing at 6 a.m., and the phone rang steady for almost a week.”

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The cow whisperer

The cow whisperer

By Silvia Sanides

The Scientist

Peter-Christian Schön is an engineer with a heart - and an ear - for animals. While a postdoc at the Research Institute for the Biology of Farm Animals in Dummerstorf, Germany, his job was to automate animal care by making it possible to clean stables and feed their occupants with the push of a button.

After spending lots of time in the stable, however, Schön was distracted by the sounds animals make, and soon shifted his focus towards the conversations they have with one another. "They communicate much more than I expected with their grunts, oinks, moos, and bellows," he says. He translated his interest in the grunts and oinks of pigs into research about reducing the stress of porkers, and found that they are quite sensitive to overcrowding at the feeding trough. Now, his receptive ear is tuned to cow moos and bellows, the basis of a novel research project about the estrous cycle of dairy cattle.

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S.D. Stockgrowers renew affiliation with R-CALF USA

S.D. Stockgrowers renew affiliation with R-CALF USA

Tri State Neighbor

RAPID CITY, S.D. - The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association (SDSGA) board of directors unanimously agreed Feb. 14 to renew their affiliation with R-CALF USA, the only national organization dedicated to representing strictly the United States live cattle industry.

According to SDSGA president Rick Fox, there was enthusiastic support among the directors, for the move to renew their affiliation.

“We’ve experienced great successes in the cattle industry since R-CALF was first created. We look forward to continued success as we work together to achieve fair trade policies and to prevent the United States from becoming a ‘dumping ground’ for the world’s poorest beef,” he said.

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Cattle Identification: A Brief History

Cattlenetwork.com

Livestock identification in the United States has been documented in large animal production industries dating back to the late 1800's and early 1900's. Cattle ranchers, to indicate ownership and deter theft, first used hot iron branding. Swine producers for registration and record keeping purposes used ear notches for individual animal identification. These two methods are rapidly losing popularity due to concerns about humane treatment of animals and a decrease in product value.

APHIS and its predecessor agencies began using ear tags, back tags, tattoos and face brands in the early 1960's. These identification methods were required by statutory regulations and successfully used to trace the movements of diseased animals during disease outbreaks and eradication programs. With this long history of contact with the field, APHIS has led the way in the development of national identification systems. The agency continues to place a high priority on livestock identification and database development.

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Like other farming, beef cattle future is waning in mountains

Like other farming, beef cattle future is waning in mountains

by John Boyle

CITIZEN-TIMES.COM (NC)

The boom in beef cattle prices is over.

The market has cooled like frozen hamburger meat over the past few months, leaving hundreds of small-time Western North Carolina cattle producers tightening their belts.

“We’ve seen a real crunch over the last 100 days in Western North Carolina — they’re taking off somewhere between $100 to $125 a head for every 500-pound feeder calf,” said John Queen, a Haywood County cattleman who was recently elected as the president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

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Farmers haul water, gas up generators to keep livestock alive

Farmers haul water, gas up generators to keep livestock alive

By Deirdre Cox Baker

QCtimes.com (Quad Cities)

BLUE GRASS, Iowa — Cattle owned by Brian Ehlers normally drink water from heated troughs on the farm in western Scott County. But for the last four days, Ehlers has hauled 1,000 gallons of water three miles to the farm and poured it in big buckets for the cross-bred Angus stock.

The earth-bermed house on the property, owned by Robert Geurink, is a little frosty inside but Geurink copes by staying in a room with a fireplace. While his wife moved into town to wait out the chill, he keeps an eye on his nephew’s cattle, which are normally held in bounds by an electrified fence.

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Cattle Preconditioning Forum: Coccidiosis - A Common & Costly Disease

Cattle Preconditioning Forum: Coccidiosis - A Common & Costly Disease

Cattlenetwork.com

Nearly all beef and dairy cattle are exposed to coccidia — but many do not show signs of a clinical coccidiosis outbreak. This is partly why bovine coccidiosis is one of the most economically important intestinal diseases in cattle.

“It is estimated that coccidiosis costs U.S. beef and dairy producers more than $100 million annually,”(6) says Dr. Joe Dedrickson, Director of Merial Veterinary Professional Services.

“Even this estimate is conservative, because it doesn’t factor in all the losses caused by 95% of coccidiosis infections that are subclinical and never diagnosed as coccidiosis.”

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Nebraska gaining in cattle-feeding comparison

Nebraska gaining in cattle-feeding comparison

By ART HOVEY / Lincoln Journal Star

Nebraska, already a $6.5 billion force in annual cattle sales, is asserting itself in early 2007 in its battle for market share with Texas and Kansas.

As high corn prices take their toll, Texas and Kansas producers cut their January feedlot placements by more than 35 percent from a year ago. Nebraska, the other member of the big three of beef production, held virtually steady.

Analysts Darrell Mark, John Harrington and Jeff Stolle agree that Nebraska’s relative stability connects to its booming ethanol sector and to the ready availability of ethanol byproducts as a cheaper feed source.

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Cow Calf: Early Lactation Considerations

Cow Calf: Early Lactation Considerations

Cattlenetwork.com

The early lactation period is the time of highest nutrient requirements for the beef cow. Providing the nutrients needed is crucial to enable the cow to nurse the calf as well as stay in the body condition needed to be able to rebreed within 80 to 85 days after calving. According to the National Research Council (NRC) 1996 edition recommendations, a 1200 lb cow producing about 15 pounds of milk per day at peak lactation will require a diet containing about 9.5% crude protein (CP) and about 58% total digestible nutrients (TDN). First calf heifers have an even higher nutritional plane, they need a diet with about 10.5% CP and 62% TDN.

Remember that there is a biological priority for nutrients, or a hierarchy of nutrient use. Body maintenance requirements will always be met first. If there are sufficient nutrients beyond that then growth is the next priority. This explains the higher nutrient requirements for those first calf heifers because they are still growing. After growth needs have been met, nutrients in the diet are allocated for milk production. Last, after all other nutrient needs have been met, is the requirement for reproduction. Since rebreeding is a management consideration within the early lactation period, the cow-calf producer can't afford to be short on nutrients during this period.

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Marbling and Muscling in Beef Cattle

Marbling and Muscling in Beef Cattle

Southwest Nebraska News

Marbling and muscling in beef cattle are important to producers’ bottom lines. Marbling, or intramuscular fat, determines USDA quality grades, while muscling determines yield grades. Having an acceptable balance between both traits can increase the value of the beef carcass.

Creating a balance between marbling and muscling can be challenging. Ultrasound technology has become a popular way to measure intramuscular fat and muscling in live animals. This is important in helping producers identify ways to improve the traits. Prior to the technology, this information was only available after harvesting cattle. USDA quality graders measured carcass marbling with a visual score, while yield graders used a grid to measure ribeye size, an indication of muscling.

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Stocker Cattle Forum: Dale Blasi - What Effect Will Ethanol Have On The Cattle Industry?

Stocker Cattle Forum: Dale Blasi - What Effect Will Ethanol Have On The Cattle Industry?

Cattlenetwork.com

Many respected thought leaders in our industry have already weighed in on the short and long term economic implications of distillers grains to the cattle feeding complex. I believe that the Stocker segment can contribute to lower cost systems under these new marketing conditions by capitalizing on the availability of distillers grains, a byproduct of the ethanol fuel industry for use as a supplemental protein and/or energy source on grass.

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Veterinarian Helps Ranchers With Livestock Tracking Program

Veterinarian Helps Ranchers With Livestock Tracking Program

University of California at Davis

A UC Davis veterinarian is helping California cattle producers learn the ropes of a new nationwide livestock tracking system that would help them avoid catastrophic losses in the event of a major animal disease outbreak.

John Maas, a Cooperative Extension veterinarian specializing in beef health and food safety at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, has been part of three groups that have presented more than 100 meetings on the new tracking system in California and throughout the United States.

The system was developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, state agricultural agencies and livestock producers after the 2001 foot-and-mouth epidemic in the United Kingdom. It is designed to help producers and animal-health officials respond quickly to an animal disease outbreak.

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Manage Your Semen Tank to Insure Semen Quality

Manage Your Semen Tank to Insure Semen Quality

by: Mel DeJarnette, Select Sires Reproductive Specialist

Cattle Today

When was the last time you stopped to think about the dollar value of the semen inventory in your liquid nitrogen refrigerator? You might be surprised at the final tally.

Although semen costs are only a small percentage of overall expenses in a dairy or beef cattle operation, the absolute value of your semen inventory at any given time may represent a significant sum of money. Proper tank management is essential to keep your investment secure.

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Care of the Newborn Immediately After Calving

Care of the Newborn Immediately After Calving

Dr. Glen Selk, Oklahoma State University

Delayed passage through the birth canal in the face of a faltering placenta compromises oxygenation of the calf. Although the calf is able to breathe as soon as its nose passes the lips of the vulva, expansion of the chest is restricted by the narrow birth canal. This situation is seriously aggravated when continuous forced traction is applied. As soon as the calf's head has passed the lips of the vulva, traction should be interrupted, the nostrils cleared of mucus and cold water applied to the head.

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Ethanol production is linked to cattle in Nebraska

Ethanol production is linked to cattle in Nebraska

By: Michelle Haney

Daily Nebraskan

The growing ethanol industry in Nebraska is creating benefits, opportunities and challenges for researchers and beef producers in the state.

Nebraska's ethanol industry is at an advantage because its plants are close to where the corn is produced. Also, there is a large cattle industry to take advantage of the wet and dry byproducts of ethanol production, which can be used for feed.

"If ethanol production is increased, then byproduct production is increased as well," said Galen Erickson, an associate professor of animal science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Nebraskans need to find ways to take advantage of those byproducts, he said.

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Muddy feedlots a negative for cattle

Muddy feedlots a negative for cattle

By Adrian Sanchez

Columbus Telegram (NE)

COLUMBUS - The recent snow and rainfall isn't helping groundwater levels much but is having a negative effect on livestock.

Allan Vyhnalek, agricultural extension educator for the Platte County Extension Office, said the recent moisture will not contribute much to the coming growing season, but is causing great difficulty for livestock producers.

“The weekend precipitation is not going to help the crops a whole lot (because) it will have little effect on ground moisture because the ground is frozen,” Vyhnalek said, but the “cattle and feedlots are thawing. (The animals) are pushing that water in,” creating mud.

Because of the cold, wet and muddy conditions, he said, the local cattle industry is negatively affected from a loss of net profit.

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Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Begins

Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Begins

Clickhouston.com

The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo has officially started, KPRC Local 2 reported Tuesday.

An international crowd flocked through the gates when they opened at 9 a.m.

A family of cattle breeders from Honduras makes the rodeo an annual trip.

"We come here every year to see what's new," Jose Ramirez said. "If there's cattle we like and we can buy, we'll take it."

There are things for everyone of every age spread over 300 acres at Reliant Park.

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USDA supply and demand report supports long term

USDA supply and demand report supports long term

By Brian Hoops, Midwest Market Solutions, Inc.

The Prairie Star

Corn - The November USDA supply/demand report was a very supportive long term report as the USDA once again lowered the 2006 production forecast as well as tightened the ending stocks forecast.

The USDA estimated the 2006 corn crop at 10.745 billion bushels, down 160 million bushels from last month's report. Carryover was also lowered from 996 mb from the October report to 935 mb in this report. Total usage remains record strong at 11.790 billion bushels, meaning the U.S. will use over 1 billion bushel more than what it produced in 2006. This is amazing considering the crop in 2006 was the third largest in history.

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Profit priorities revealed in new cattle producer study

Profit priorities revealed in new cattle producer study

American Cowman

A comprehensive study to prioritize management and economic issues for commercial beef cow-calf producers has been unveiled. In fulfilling the mission to provide programs and services that will aid commercial cattle producers to achieve profitability, the American Angus Association ^SM commissioned an independent, in-depth study to provide a blueprint for prioritizing profit drivers in today’s cattle operations.

FULL STORY

Cattle Preconditioning Forum: Manage Lice To Maximize Production

Cattle Preconditioning Forum: Manage Lice To Maximize Production

Cattlenetwork.com

Each winter, producers battle parasites, such as lice and mange, that can rob their herds of production and profits. These bothersome parasites can make cattle uncomfortable and suppress their appetites.

“Mange and lice are present all year-round and build during the cold weather months,” says Dr. Roger Moon, professor, University of Minnesota, livestock entomology.

Lice are most common on mature cattle in December through March, with peak populations found in March. They are most often found on the neck, back, hips and around the tailhead regions of cattle.(1) There are four species of lice that may affect cattle. They are the chewing lice and three species of sucking lice. Chewing lice cause damage by biting hair and skin, while sucking lice penetrate the skin and suck blood.

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All-Natural Beef at Every Black Angus Steakhouse Is a Cut Above the Rest

All-Natural Beef at Every Black Angus Steakhouse Is a Cut Above the Rest

National Provisioner

As consumers grow hungrier than ever for steak, Black Angus Steakhouse announced today that 100 percent of the beef served at all 84 locations is now exclusively all-natural beef from corn- fed Black Angus cattle. Black Angus Steakhouse is the first major steakhouse chain to make a system-wide commitment to serving all-natural beef that is free from all additives, artificial flavors or colors and preservatives, and that is rigorously tested for hormones and antibiotics.

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Electronic ID required for cattle movement under new rules

Electronic ID required for cattle movement under new rules

WOOD-TV (MI)

LANSING, Mich. The Michigan Department of Agriculture is imposing new requirements for moving cattle to prevent the spread of bovine tuberculosis.

Department Director Mitch Irwin said today the changes are necessary to bring the state into compliance with federal rules.

Last November, the state required that cattle leaving farms be tagged with electronic identification so their movements could be traced.

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Stocker Cattle Forum: Developing A Rational Treatment Program

Stocker Cattle Forum: Developing A Rational Treatment Program

Cattlenetwork.com

Any time that you are dealing with calves that are co-mingled in sale barns and hauled long distances, you are going to be faced with developing a treatment program. While pull rates are highly variable in these calves, we normally plan on treating at least 25-30% even if we give an antibiotic at arrival (metaphylaxis). Of the animals that we pull, over 85% of these calves will be diagnosed with respiratory disease of some form or fashion. So when you look at the sheer number of calves we are forced to treat for respiratory disease, it is imperative that we use a rational approach to make sure it is done effectively and economically.

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Top-quality cattle coming to Kentucky Beef Expo

Top-quality cattle coming to Kentucky Beef Expo

Newsdemocratleader.com

Beef cattle breeders will bring some of their best animals to show and sell at the 21st annual Kentucky Beef Expo March 2-4 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville.

“The Kentucky Beef Expo is one of the top shows of its kind,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “Exhibitors show and sell some of the best cattle Kentucky has to offer. Buyers improve their herd genetics. And our youth can purchase a show calf for the 2007 show season or sharpen their skills in the shows and judging competitions.”

The 2006 Expo generated $895,300 in gross sales, 10.7 percent higher than the 2005 Expo, and an average of $1,848 per head, 7.9 percent higher than the previous year. For the first time, four breeds grossed more than $100,000 each.

“Last year's sale results were significantly higher than those of the year before,” Farmer said. “I expect that trend to continue because of the quality of the cattle offered for sale at this event.”

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Growth strategy for Indiana’s beef cattle industry being considered

Growth strategy for Indiana’s beef cattle industry being considered

by Dave Russell

Brownfield Network

At the Indiana Beef Cattle Association convention this past weekend, Andy Miller, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture talked about the decline in the beef cattle industry in the state. Something that Miller would like to see turn around. “Really the key first step is why did we see such a precipitous decline? Do we know all those reasons? If we do, are all of those obstacles overcomeable, if that’s a word, and then what are the opportunities,” said Miller.

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Indiana Beef Industry Ready to Grow

Indiana Beef Industry Ready to Grow

by Gary Truitt

Hoosier Ag Today

In 2005 when the Indiana State Department of Agriculture announced its strategic plan for Indiana agricultural growth, expansion of the ethanol and pork industries topped the list. The Hoosier beef industry was not sited as a major growth sector for the state. That has changed. In remarks to the Indiana Beef Cattle Association on Saturday, ISDA Director Andy Miller said recent studies have shown Indiana’s Beef industry is ready for a major growth spurt. Miller said he is bullish about the Hoosier beef industry, “With a change in corn production and a change in ethanol production, do we have an opportunity for the beef industry that we did not see two years ago?” He told IBCA members his department will begin working with their organization to examine the possibilities to increase cattle production and processing in the state.

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Morgan County cattleman elected IBCA president

Morgan County cattleman elected IBCA president

by Dave Russell

Brownfield Network

Joe Rode, a cow-calf operator from Morgan County was elected president of the Indiana Beef Cattle Association (IBCA) at the organizations annual meeting on Saturday, February 24.

Looking at his year as President, Joe Rode expects the IBCA will continue to promote beef to consumers, emphasizing the health benefits of beef in the diet. In an interview with Brownfield, the Morgan County cattleman also said it was going to be important for IBCA to educate those outside the industry about how cattle are raised and that cattlemen are good stewards of the land. Rode also sees an opportunity for the industry to grow, brought about by the growth in the state’s ethanol industry. “We’re going to have a lot of feed for cattle here in Indiana and we hope to promote this and bring cattle back as one of the top producing commodities in Indiana,” said Rode.

Also elected to serve the IBCA in the coming year; President-elect, Todd McGraw of Lafayette; Vice President, Dave Smith of Greensburg and Treasurer Jim Lankford of Martinsville.

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Cattle Identification: State Premises Registration Stats As Of 2/20/07

Cattle Identification: State Premises Registration Stats As Of 2/20/07

Cattlenetwork.com

State Premises Registration Statistics as of 2/20/07

Many Factors Affect Rebreeding and Pregnancy Rates

Many Factors Affect Rebreeding and Pregnancy Rates

by: Heather Smith Thomas

Cattle Today

There are many things that can affect pregnancy rate in a herd, and number of open cows at the end of the breeding season, including nutrition, calving difficulty, disease, level of expertise in doing an A.I. program, and bull fertility if breeding by natural service.

Some of the problems with calving difficulty (which can lead to injury, bruising or infection in the cow--all of which can delay her recovery and inhibit her ability to rebreed) can be avoided these days with use of EPD's and selective genetics. The rancher has more information now when selecting bulls and replacement heifers, on inheritable factors that affect calving, such as birthweight.

Some of the disease problems in a herd that can affect rebreeding and pregnancy rate can be resolved or avoided with good bull management, eliminating some of the major contagious diseases such as trichomoniasis, with regular bull testing.

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The cattle price roller coaster of 2006

The cattle price roller coaster of 2006

by Tim Petry, livestock marketing economist, North Dakota State University

Angus Journal

Another interesting year for cattle prices is behind us. It seems like each year the September to December time period usually spawns an unexpected event that causes dramatic swings in prices.

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Livestock Markets Legislation Introduced

Livestock Markets Legislation Introduced

Anguselist.com

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) Feb. 15 introduced legislation aimed at correcting “deficiencies” in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) enforcement of agricultural markets. Known as the Competitive and Fair Agricultural Markets Act, the bill would reorganize and streamline USDA while establishing an Office of Special Counsel, whose sole responsibility would be to investigate and prosecute violations on competition matters. Harkin stated in a release the position, which would also serve as a liaison between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), would be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

“Producers need to have a fighting chance in an industry that is becoming far too consolidated and vertically integrated,” Harkin stated. “I will propose and seek to include this legislation as part of a competition title in the Farm Bill.”

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U.S. cattle on feed down three percent

U.S. cattle on feed down three percent

Meatnews.com

Cattle and calves on feed for the U.S. slaughter market are down about three percent from last year.

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.7 million head on February 1, 2007, according to statistics released by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

The inventory was three percent below February 1, 2006 but three percent above February 1, 2005.

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