Camp Cooley Ranch to Host Kick-off Party for $1/2 Million Fundraiser, The Texas Challenge

Camp Cooley Ranch to Host Kick-off Party for $1/2 Million Fundraiser, The Texas Challenge

American Angus Association

With a $250,000 pledge to the Angus Foundation, Klaus and Bonnie Birkel, owners of Camp Cooley Ranch, Franklin, Texas, have challenged Texas Angus breeders and the Texas Angus Association to raise $50,000 annually in matching funds to support Angus education, youth and research efforts through the Angus Foundation.

To launch the five-year Texas Challenge, Camp Cooley Ranch will host a kick-off celebration at the ranch on Saturday evening, April 21, featuring a Certified Angus Beef® dinner and live entertainment. All Texas Angus breeders and supporters are invited to attend. Stay tuned for more details.

With the ultimate fundraising goal of $500,000 by 2011, The Texas Challenge allows donors the freedom to designate how their gift will be used by the Angus Foundation, with choices including educational programs, youth activities and/or bovine related research. As a part of this new fundraising initiative, a Texas Angus Association Endowment Fund will be created to allow donors to support the next generation of Texas Angus breeders with educational scholarships awarded through the Angus Foundation.

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Canada has ninth confirmed case of mad cow disease

Canada has ninth confirmed case of mad cow disease

Gina Teel

Calgary Herald

CALGARY — Another case of mad cow disease — the country’s ninth — was confirmed Wednesday by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

That animal is a mature bull from Alberta.

The agency said preliminary information indicates the age of the animal falls within the age range of previous cases detected in Canada under the national BSE surveillance program.

As such, it’s likely the animal was exposed to a small amount of infective material, probably during its first year of life, the agency said in a release.

The exact age of the animal was was not released, but so far five of Canada’s diagnosed cases of BSE have been born between 1996 and 1998.

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Three keys to planning the spring breeding season

Three keys to planning the spring breeding season

Dr. Glen Selk, Oklahoma State University

Three key management concepts can help commercial cow calf operations improve the productivity of their cow herds. However, planning and preparation must take place well in advance of the spring breeding season. The key areas to consider include: 1) assess the bull power; 2) immunize the replacement heifers properly; and 3) breed the replacement heifers ahead of the cows.

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Ohio Beef Newsletter available

The February 7, issue # 524, of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter is now posted to the web at: http://fairfield.osu.edu/ag/beef/beefFeby7.html

After the experience of the past week, we focus on managing around brutal cold and windchills in this week’s BEEF Cattle letter.

Articles this week include:

* Winter Cold Stress on Cattle

* During this cold weather, is at least your bull out of the wind?

* Feeder Prices Drop – Will They Drop Further?

* Forage Focus: Benefits of Frost Seeding Legumes

Stan

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Stan Smith

Program Assistant, Agriculture

OSU Extension, Fairfield County

831 College Ave., Suite D

Lancaster, OH 43130

Forage Focus: Benefits of Frost Seeding Legumes

Forage Focus: Benefits of Frost Seeding Legumes

Cattlenetwork.com

Adding legumes to hay and pasture fields brings at least four benefits and frost seeding is a simple, but effective method. Broadcasting legume seed on the soil surface as it ‘honeycombs’ in late winter (February 15 to March 15) allows the seeds to become covered as the soil freezes and thaws.

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February Beef Management Calendar

February Beef Management Calendar

John B. Hall, Extension Animal Scientist, Beef, Virginia Tech..

Spring Calving Herds (Fall calving herds listed later in article)

* Have all calving supplies on hand and review calving assistance procedures

* Move pregnant heifers and early calving cows to calving area about 2 weeks before due date

* Begin calving late in month (some herds)

* Check cows 3 to 4 times per day, heifers more often – assist early if needed

* Keep calving area clean and well drained, move healthy pairs out to large pastures 3 days after calving

* Ear tag and dehorn all calves at birth; castrate male calves in commercial herds

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Cattle Preconditioning Forum: Where Are Liver Flukes?

Cattle Preconditioning Forum: Where Are Liver Flukes?

Studies show liver flukes are no longer restricted to the Gulf Coast and Pacific Northwest. With more movement of cattle and hay, fluke incidence is on the rise everywhere, including ranches of the northern plains. Liver flukes affect cattle across the country – even in Kansas, where a university study showed flukes had been found in native cattle in 16 counties.*

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Nebraska Cattlemen sees uptick in cattle theft for food

Nebraska Cattlemen sees uptick in cattle theft for food

by Peter Shinn

Brownfield Network

Nebraska Cattlemen is putting the word out that the organization offers a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of anyone involved in cattle theft. And while such rewards aren’t new, a Nebraska Cattlemen official told Brownfield the group is seeing an alarming uptick in cattle shootings, as opposed to cattle being stolen.

Melody Benjamin is Director of Member Services for Nebraska Cattlemen. She said Nebraska Cattlemen has offered a reward for information leading to the arrest cattle thieves for well over a century.

“Since the beginning of Nebraska Stockgrower days, which is our predecessor organization back in 1888, the association has offered a reward,” Benjamin said. “We’re just kind of reintroducing it, keeping it in front of people and reminding them we do offer that reward.”

So why the reminder? Benjamin said it’s in response to an alarming trend. “We’re seeing a higher incidence of cattle being shot in the pastures, not necessarily just the typical theft or rustling that you think of,” said Benjamin. “And there’s been an upturn in the times people have been calling in and saying they’ve had an animal shot or butchered in their pasture.”

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New director named for Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Iowa State University

New director named for Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Iowa State University

Iowa State University

AMES Iowa – Dr. Sally Brown Prickett has been named director of the Dr. W. Eugene and Linda Lloyd Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Prickett assumed her duties on Feb. 1.

Prickett, formerly of Glenwood, Iowa, was business manager and practitioner at the Prickett Veterinary Clinic and manager of Prickett Quarter Horses and Thurston Farms.

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Ask Doug: Legend behind Four Sixes Ranch pure myth

Ask Doug: Legend behind Four Sixes Ranch pure myth

By Doug Williamson

Abilene Reporter

Have you ever done any research on the 6666 Ranch in Guthrie? My question is, was the ranch won in a poker game? This will settle an argument between my wife and me.

A. Any time I can settle an argument between husband and wife, I will. I hadn’t done any research on the famous ranch, but now I have.

The story behind the 6666 Ranch, most commonly called ”The Four Sixes,” is that it started out with a poker game where the winning hand was four sixes.

Unfortunately, that great story is also untrue.

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Thune Works To Move COOL Forward In ’07

Thune Works To Move COOL Forward In ’07

By: Lisa Hare

Yankton Press & Dakotan

Though President Bush’s proposal for the 2007 Farm Bill made no mention of country-of-origin labeling (COOL), Sen. Thune is backing legislation that would move implementation of the mandatory labeling up to September of this year.

Senate Bill 404, legislation that would move the date for implementing COOL to September 2007, is being proposed by Sen. Thune and Sens. Craig Thomas (R-Wyo), Max Baucus (D-MT), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Michael Enzi (R-Wyo), and Conrad Burns (D-ND).

“I think this is an important issue for South Dakota meat producers and consumers,” Thune said in a recent press conference.

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Seoul Offers US Beef Concessions

Seoul Offers US Beef Concessions

By Kim Yon-se

Korean Times

South Korea on Thursday offered a package of concessions to the United States in their second day of talks aimed at resolving differences over U.S. beef imports.

According to sources, Korea told U.S. that it could soften quarantine rules on U.S. beef imports, though it maintained its stance to distribute only “boneless’’ beef on the market.

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Reducing Effects of Weather Stress In Cows & Calves

Reducing Effects of Weather Stress In Cows & Calves

Cattlenetwork.com

This winter in Virginia has been warm but wet. Wet cows slogging through mud to get to the hay use up a tremendous amount of energy. Producers failing to adjust their management and nutrition program to the weather may have cows that calve in poor body condition, produce weak calves, and fail to breed back. Calves born into cold or wet weather conditions have reduced chances of survival.

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Costs Higher For ‘Natural’ Cattle

Costs Higher For ‘Natural’ Cattle

Marshall County Journal

Cattle feeders should weigh costs as well as possible premiums when deciding whether to raise “natural” cattle that could command a higher price.

South Dakota State University Extension Beef Feedlot Specialist Erik Loe says cattle raised the conventional way put on beef faster.

“When cattle feeders are going to consider managing their cattle for natural programs, they have to consider what they’re going to get for cattle performance,” Loe said. “There will be a lowered rate of gain and a decrease in feed conversions.”

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