Ohio Beef Newsletter available

The September 13, issue # 504, of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter is now posted to the web at: http://fairfield.osu.edu/ag/beef/beefSept13.html

Despite recent rainfall and the resulting late season pasture growth, we are not “home free” for the balance of the year with pasture management. This week, Rory Lewandowski discusses the importance of fall pasture management.

Articles this week include:
* Preparing for Weaning
* Now Is the Time to Plan Ahead For Thin Cows
* Forage Focus: Pastures Require Fall Management
* Weekly Roberts Agricultural Commodity Market Report

And, don’t forget that Ohio’s premier farm show – Farm Science Review – is coming up next week. Your local Ohio State University Extension office can still sell you “pre-sale” tickets for only $5.

Stan
———-
Stan Smith
Program Assistant, Agriculture
OSU Extension, Fairfield County
831 College Ave., Suite D
Lancaster, OH 43130

e-mail: smith.263@cfaes.osu.edu
voice: 740.653.5419 ext. 24
fax: 740.687.7010
Visit:
Fairfield Co. OSU Extension – http://fairfield.osu.edu
OSU Beef Team – http://beef.osu.edu

Statewide TB Testing: Coming Soon!

Statewide TB Testing: Coming Soon!

The Murray County News (MN)

The fact that Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) was found in five beef cattle herds in Northwest Minnesota is probably still fresh in many of our minds. As a result of that 2005 finding, Minnesota’s TB status was downgraded from “TB Free” to “Modified Accredited Advanced.”

For the past nearly one year, Minnesota livestock officials and cattle producers have been working hard to bring Minnesota back to its original TB Free status. Currently, Minnesota is one of only four states that are not TB Free and therefore, cannot import and export animals freely with other states.

FULL STORY

Japanese Consumers Pick U.S. Beef Above The Rest

Japanese Consumers Pick U.S. Beef Above The Rest

Drovers.com

When given the choice of American, Japanese and Australian beef, consumers at a Tokyo beef event Sunday chose the U.S. variety.

The event was held at Shinjuku station, the busiest train station in the world, to spread the message “Beef Itself Is Safe” to consumers. The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) was there to emphasize its “We Care” campaign, designed to regain consumer trust and build a positive image of U.S. beef.

The Metropolitan Meat Trade Association, which represents about 1,500 Tokyo butcher shops, sponsored the event, which featured 500 free samples of beef each from the United States, Japan and Australia.

U.S. beef was the first to “sell out” and its booth attracted the most consumer attention. “U.S. beef is very delicious and I am happy U.S. beef is back,” one consumer said.

FULL STORY

Questions, Answers Offered About Cattle ID Program

Questions, Answers Offered About Cattle ID Program

By Kim Souza

The Morning News (AR)

It’s been a quarter century since the Brucellosis controversy hit the nation’s cattle industry and today history is repeating itself with the National Animal Identification System or NAIS being imposed by the federal government.

Supporters and critics have chosen sides and the fight is on. In one corner, weighing in at the size of the federal government, is the U.S. Department of Agriculture along with some state and federal agencies supporting a three-step program that will assign a number to each of the nation’s farms and their farm animal in hopes of tracing diseased animals back to their source within a 48 hour period of an outbreak.

In the other corner is a growing number of civil libertarians, farmers, auction barns, trade organizations and concerned citizens who have joined forces to oppose the federal initiative.

FULL STORY

Tax break extended for ranchers in drought

Tax break extended for ranchers in drought

Bizmarck Tribune (SD)

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) – Cattle producers nationwide forced to sell animals because of drought won’t have to pay capital gains on their profits for a year after parched conditions end, the Internal Revenue Service has announced.

If ranchers replace their animals, their tax liability for sales no longer exists, officials said.

Previous legislation gave cattlemen four years – beginning in 2002 – to replace the livestock sold because of drought without recognizing a capital gain.

Last week, U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson extended the provision for an additional year if in the 12 months ending Aug. 31 there was severe, extreme or exceptional drought conditions in a particular area.

FULL STORY

Feed efficiency seen as inheritable trait in cattle

Feed efficiency seen as inheritable trait in cattle

The Monett Times (MO)

By MELONIE ROBERTS

Genetics play an important role in cattle breeding, with genetic selection in cattle used to determine anything from desired breeding traits to coat color. But, a new research study at University of Missouri Extension may have determined ways for cattle operators to acquire yet a new genetic trait ­ feed efficiency.

That was one of the topics at the 44th annual Field Day, recently hosted by the University of Missouri Southwest Center near Mt. Vernon.

According to Monty Kerley, professor of ruminant nutrition at the University of Missouri ­ Columbia, researchers are trying to determine the genetic trait that causes some calves to have better feed­to­gain ratio than others. By breeding cattle exhibiting this trait, researchers hope to improve overall herd efficiency.

What that will mean for the cattle producer is that calves will eat less but gain well, reducing the cost of feeding and increasing profit at the sale barn.

FULL STORY

Red Angus – Making their Mark

Red Angus – Making their Mark

PR Web

(PRWEB) September 12, 2006 — The cattle business has always had its ups and downs, with so many variables making every year different. This year, a strong cattle market has helped producers, while ongoing drought conditions have made it a tough business for many southwestern producers. In the September 06 issue of New Mexico Stockman, an interesting feature story appeared which showed how southwestern cattle producers have benefitted by using Red Angus bulls in their breeding program.

FULL STORY

New technology tried at cattle sale

New technology tried at cattle sale

Heather Ogilvie

Fort Frances Times (ONT)

STRATTON—To conform to updated government regulations surrounding the identification of Canadian cattle, new computer software was on trial at the Rainy River Cattlemen’s Association’s yearling sale held Saturday in Stratton.

But more changes will be introduced within the next year, such as new computer hardware and a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader.

“We have to get up to speed with the government regulations,” noted RRCA secretary April Szpara. “Our old system wasn’t capable of handling all the data and the new one will enable us to meet the regulations.”

Although currently in effect, RRCA president Ken McKinnon said the updated regulations won’t be enforced until December, 2007.

“That gives us a little over a year to get everything in place,” he remarked.

FULL STORY

No plans to end rule on older Canadian cattle: USDA

No plans to end rule on older Canadian cattle: USDA

Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States has no plans to permanently scrap a rule that would allow the import of older cattle from Canada after an Alberta cow was found to have contracted mad cow disease from contaminated feed, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said on Wednesday.

“I don’t see anything that indicates to me that this would stop that rule dead in its tracks, prohibit it from going forward,” Johanns told reporters after meeting with Canadian Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl in Washington.

USDA halted work on a proposal in July that would have allowed for imports of cattle over 30 months of age after a 50-year old Canadian cow was found with the fatal disease.

Johanns said USDA was taking a look at the rule but that the department had not set a date for when it would move forward with the measure.

“I don’t see this as a long, long delay,” said Johanns.

FULL STORY

Upgrading Cull Cows Significantly Impacts Bottom Line

Upgrading Cull Cows Significantly Impacts Bottom Line

Cattletoday.com

by: Clifford Mitchell

A cattleman was once overheard saying, “If you don’t make excuses for your cows, they won’t make any excuses and do their job.” Every operation faces difficult decisions. One of the most trying times for some ranchers is when it comes time to cull animals. Often, one of the main questions is whether the answer to the problem lies within the genetics or the management side of the equation. Fact is whether management is good or bad it is the same for every animal. If a cow does not get the job done, it’s her fault.

Like many other things dealing with the beef industry, Mother Nature is the only real decision maker. Forcing cattlemen to sell into untimely or bad markets due to drought or other weather related issues. In a normal year, many cattlemen, who think they are savvy, leave a large portion of cull cow income on the table by simply taking cows to town whenever it is convenient, rather than timing market decisions.

“Too many people have gotten used to loading the culls on the end of the trailer when they take the calves to town in the fall. Cattlemen have to change their approach. Put cull cows in the proper condition and find the best market,” says Dr. David Sanson, Rosepine Research Station, Rosepine, Louisiana.

FULL STORY

Drought Forces Producers to Consider Early Weaning

Drought Forces Producers to Consider Early Weaning

by: R. Curt Lacey and John C. McKissick

Extension Livestock Economists, Univ. of Tenn.

Cattletoday.com

Introduction

There are several ways that beef producers can deal with a severe drought including culling cows and early weaning calves. This addresses the economics and some marketing issues associated with early weaning calves.

Cattlemen considering early weaning calves have three basic questions.

1. Should I early wean my calves?

2. If I do early wean, do I sell now or precondition them?

3. What will be the market response if “a bunch of cattle hit the market at one time?”

FULL STORY

CAB to enhance uniformity

CAB to enhance uniformity

Drovers.com

Responding to beef industry changes and consumer demand, the Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) board of directors on Sept. 7 voted to adjust Certified Angus Beef ^® (CAB^®) brand specifications.

In place of a longstanding Yield Grade (YG) 3.9 limit, the brand will use a more specific consistency requirement in the future. Finished cattle weights have increased steadily and beef fabrication styles have evolved in the 28 years since CAB was founded. The changes will address uniformity issues that technology has been unable to control.

The board voted to adopt a ribeye size bracket of 10 to 16 square inches and a carcass weight cap at less than 1,000 pounds (

CAB staff will discuss the plans with its licensed packers, review existing research and conduct cutting tests before reporting to the Board with a final fat thickness recommendation.

FULL STORY