It’s Not, “Where’s The Beef?” It Is, “How’s Your Beef?”

It’s Not, “Where’s The Beef?” It Is, “How’s Your Beef?”

And, Consumers Say, It Must Be Tender

Cattlenetwork.com

DES MOINES, Iowa, Sept. 18, 2007 – Consumers tell us that tenderness and taste are two of the most important attributes when they are evaluating their beef eating experience. They want tender beef and are willing to pay for it.

That was the message Dr. Keith Belk, professor at Colorado State University’s Center for Red Meat Quality and Safety, delivered to agricultural editors and other participants at a Sensory Evaluation Briefing and Wet Lab held at Iowa State University. The training session was hosted by Elanco Animal Health as part of its continuing effort to educate beef producers on the importance of tenderness of the beef they produce.

Tenderness is an important aspect of beef palatability that ultimately drives consumer satisfaction. The Beef Checkoff’s 2005 National Beef Tenderness Survey shows the industry has made improvements since the 1999 study, but there still are inconsistencies and a need for improvement.

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Cattle business is natural fit for pair

Cattle business is natural fit for pair

The McKibbens excel in green beef-raising practices

BY GEOFF PARKS

Statesman Journal

David and Betty McKibben’s agricultural practices were living proof of the saying, “everything old is new again” as they took home the Polk Soil and Water Conservation District’s 2007 Cooperators of the Year award at the recent 41st Annual Volunteer Recognition Awards Night at the Polk County Fairgrounds.

They were praised by the SWCD “for outstanding accomplishments in soil, water and related resource conservation” for turning away from the relatively recent practice of raising feedlot-fed beef to the more health-friendly grass-fed variety at their McK Ranch.

Former owners of an operation called Two-McK Logging Co., the McKibbens — now both 53 — sold out in 1993 after 23 years in the business.

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Planting Winter Pasture Best Way to Winter Cattle

Planting Winter Pasture Best Way to Winter Cattle

by: Ed Twidwell

Cattle Today

Why plant winter annual forages? One major reason is that species such as ryegrass, wheat and oats grow and provide grazing during the period when bermudagrass and bahiagrass are dormant and unproductive. Nutritive quality is high and this reduces the need for feeding of protein and energy supplements. If legumes are included, they provide a bonus of free nitrogen. Even though fertilizer and fuel prices are high, planting a winter pasture may be the most economical way of wintering your cattle.

Productive winter pastures actually begin prior to planting. Field selection, soil testing, site preparation and selection of the crops and varieties best suited for your soils and your needs, well in advance of planting time, can help avoid many of the errors of last minute decision making.

Some producers may desire to have their winter pasture available for grazing prior to Jan. 1. For these producers, planting into a prepared seedbed in late September or early October provides the best opportunity for early grazing. With this type of pasture, small grains (wheat, rye or oats) plus ryegrass is a popular mixture. This type of pasture is expensive due to the seedbed preparation in addition to seed, fertilizer, etc.

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County steps in to help farmers

County steps in to help farmers

By KATRINA CORNWELL/Staff

The Tennessean

Sumner County is coming to the rescue of area farmers by agreeing to spend up to $100,000 to bring an emergency, out-of-state hay supply here.

The forage is desperately needed by cattle farmers hit hard by a late spring freeze and a summer drought that dried up ponds and burnt up pastureland so severely that officials say what was left isn’t any good.

“This is a lifesaver as far as keeping the cattle and trying to ration it out until the grass starts growing in the spring,” said James Gregory, a Bethpage beef cattle farmer. “If I couldn’t get this hay, I’d have to start selling cattle.

“I sold some calves in the early spring. I could see the weather signs it was going to be a bad year. I held on. I started feeding hay Aug. 15, and the way things are looking we’ll be feeding hay on up into March or April.

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Swift CEO: Company has ‘global reach’

Swift CEO: Company has ‘global reach’

By Steve Porter

Northern Colorado Business Report

GREELEY – The new president of JBS Swift & Co. said a planned expansion of production at the Greeley meatpacking plant is in high gear and will be complete by December.

“We expect to hire the first 500-plus employees within 30 days and be at full staffing by early December 2007,” said President Wesley Mendonca Batista, who took over in July, after Brazilian beef processor JBS S.A. purchased Swift in a $1.4 billion deal. Batista’s comments were contained in an e-mail reply to an extensive list of questions from the Business Report about his plans for the company.

Within weeks of Bastista’s arrival in Colorado, JBS announced that it would add a second shift at the Greeley plant and hire an additional 1,300 workers, bringing total employment at the facility to more than 3,000. Batista also confirmed that JBS Swift would maintain its corporate headquarters in west Greeley, where more than 400 additional management workers are employed.

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Support humane farming and slaughter of animals

Support humane farming and slaughter of animals

Daily Advertiser

The Walk for Farm Animals will be at the end of September in New Orleans. This is to bring awareness to the public about factory farm animal cruelty. The contact person is Miranda Robbins at NewOrleans@WalkForFarm Animals.org.

Please support your local organic farms such as Gotreaux Farms, 873-0383 (GoFamilyFarms.com), and BrookshireFarm.com. These farms are producing humanely raised and slaughtered meat. Brookshire also has a description of veal production cruelty on their site. A national brand, LaurasLean Beef.com, is at Albertsons.

Information about factory farm cruelties can be found at the public library and almost every animal welfare Web site such as hsus.org, hfa.org and farmsanctuary.org.

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State Fair Fiasco Story Just Keeps Giving & Giving

State Fair Fiasco Story Just Keeps Giving & Giving

Troy Marshall

Beef Cow/Calf Weekly

I’m amazed at how vehement the vocal minority can be on some issues. It seems the debate over the Colorado State Fair (CSF) disqualifications has taken yet another shift (“Colorado State Fair Fiasco Tops This Week’s Bloopers,” Aug. 31 BEEF Cow-Calf Weekly).

Now, apparently the argument is that the small number who did not comply with the CSF rules regarding premises ID were actually confused. They didn’t understand what a valid premises ID was, and they were somehow unaware that a premises ID had anything to do with the National Animal Identification System (NAIS).

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Beef Stocker Conference To Feature Practical Information For Day-To-Day Management

Beef Stocker Conference To Feature Practical Information For Day-To-Day Management

Cattlenetwork.com

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State University’s 2007 Beef Stocker Conference will feature practical tips for anyone involved in beef production, said K-State Research and Extension beef specialist Dale Blasi. This year’s event is sponsored by the MERIAL® SUREHEALTH® Calf Preconditioning Program.

 “Each year we strive to bring producers the latest science-based information that will help them make informed decisions in their businesses, said Blasi of the Sept. 27 event. The conference, to be held at the Clarion Hotel (formerly Holiday Inn) on Ft. Riley Blvd. in Manhattan, Kan., begins at 9:30 a.m. Participants will receive a copy of Cattle — Symbol of the Great American West, a photography book by David Stoecklein, courtesy of Merial.

In addition to presentations by K-State veterinarians and animal scientists, the conference will feature presentations regarding the use of by-products in feed rations as well as an explanation of the SUREHEALTH protocols.

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Berry joins Red Angus

Berry joins Red Angus.

Clint Berry from Urbana, Missouri has been hired by the Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) as the new Communications/Member Services Director. Clint is a husband, dad and third generation commercial cow/calf operator. He graduated from Missouri State University with a degree in Animal Science, and has worked as a consultant for various breeders in marketing and production. Clint managed the Niangua River Ranch Red Angus Program for six years and was an officer for the Missouri Red Angus Association.

In his new position with RAAA, Clint will oversee the distribution of press releases and Red Angus news to the beef industry as well as the Red Angus community. He will interact with state and regional associations, direct new member services and assist in marketing and breed promotion. Clint can be contacted at clint@redangus.org  or (940) 387-3502 beginning September 17, 2007.

Hereford Tour Goes from Pasture to Plate

Hereford Tour Goes from Pasture to Plate

A bus load of seedstock and commercial producers, and farmer feeders spent four days traveling through South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas visiting Hereford seedstock and commercial ranches, feedlots, and packing plants, plus spent hours discussing beef industry topics and sharing knowledge. The group included producers from 16 states with a total of 14,000 cows ranging from a handful to 1,000 head individually.

“An eye-opening experience” summarized most tour participants’ comments about the High Plains Hereford tour, which covered 1,600 miles. The tour started in Rapid City, S.D., Sept. 10 and traveled through Nebraska and Kansas returning to Rapid City

 “The purpose of the tour was to give producers the opportunity to see different segments of the beef industry,” said Jay Elfeldt, American Hereford Association (AHA) fieldman and tour co-chairman. “It was truly a great learning opportunity and exceeded all of our expectations.”

Darrell Ailshie, Tennessee Livestock Producers general manager, Columbia, Tenn., described the tour as “leadership in action.” He said participants were excited about the Hereford breed and were being proactive attending the tour.

The event was more than a cattle tour; participant John Woolfolk, Columbia, Tenn., calls it a rolling seminar. Between tour stops, producers had the chance to discuss different topics ranging from $Profit Indexes to Hereford Verified to DNA testing. Participants also introduced themselves, shared why they attended the tour and, while returning to Rapid City, discussed what they had learned on the tour.

Greg Shaw, Caldwell, Idaho, said what he enjoyed most about the tour was how all facets of the industry were represented. “It was a captive audience and there was great dialog,” he said.

Greg’s wife, Cleo, added, “It was neat how participants shared their ideas and then just agreed to disagree.”

A highlight was the opportunity to tour a packing plant. One group toured National Beef Packing Co. LLC while the other toured Cargill Meat Solutions “Excel.” More than two thirds of the group had not been in a large packing plant in the last 20 years.

Iowa Grazing Survey Indicates Pasture Rental Rates

Iowa Grazing Survey Indicates Pasture Rental Rates        

Wallaces Farmer

An Iowa cattle grazing survey conducted among farmers and landowners indicates several trends that are taking place for grazing rental rates and for pasture management practices in the state.

The 2006 survey, conducted by the Iowa Beef Center, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Iowa Forage and Grassland Council, surveyed 448 agricultural producers in Iowa. Results were released in late August 2007.

Some of the key findings include:

* Kossuth, Pocahontas, Humboldt, Wright, Webster, Hamilton and Calhoun counties had the lowest annual average rent per acre at $24.50. Delaware, Dubuque, Jones, Jackson, Clinton, Cedar, Scott and Muscatine counties had the highest annual average rent per acre at about $45. The average rent per acre statewide was nearly $38.

* The rent per acre was highest on lands that had the greatest productivity, which were lands with alfalfa and tall cool season grasses. Rates for lands with alfalfa were as much as $64 per acre and lands with tall cool season grasses were as much as $59 per acre.

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Analyze hay to reduce feeding costs

Analyze hay to reduce feeding costs

Baxter Bulletin

Feed costs are the major expense in beef cattle production. Overfeeding or underfeeding results in inefficient beef production and ultimately reduced profit.

According to University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service, the goal of all beef production systems should be to meet nutrient needs of all classes of animals at a level which optimizes performance at the lowest cost.

Properly identifying energy and protein needs of a particular class of livestock is the first step. For example, requirements of a dry cow are considerably less than those of a nursing cow. Likewise, those of growing replacement heifers are different from those of a bull in the “off season.”

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Boyles elected President National Red Angus Board

Boyles elected President National Red Angus Board

Amber Boyles from Kernersville, NC, was recently elected as President of the Junior Red Angus Association of America (JRA). Elections were conducted during the 2007 JRA Round-Up, held in Colorado and Wyoming, June 26-July 1.  Boyles is an Ag Education major with both Animal Science and Ag Extension minors at North Carolina State University at Raleigh.  Boyles will serve the second year of a two-year term on the JRA Board of Directors in 2007-2008, representing the South Region. During her first year on the JRA Board, Boyles served as the Public Relations Director. Boyles’ peers on the JRA Board elected her as president following the general elections. Boyles has taken an active role in the JRA for the many years. “Amber brings experience and commitment to the JRA Board” comments Dawn Bernhard, Junior Programs Coordinator, Red Angus Association of America (RAAA).  “Her enthusiasm, years of active participation in the JRA and experience in planning and completing youth events will lead the JRA Board and will benefit all JRA members.”

In her first official capacity as president for the JRA Board, Boyles will attend the National Red Angus Convention, September 26 – 29 in Dodge City, KS. Boyles will coordinate a powerpoint presentation on the year in review of the JRA and lead the JRA Board in various activities during the convention such as completing fund raising activities, conducting the Junior Activities meeting, attending workshops and seminars, and assisting with the election of the RAAA board of directors.

The JRA Board will also devote time planning and scheduling the 2008 Round-Up to be held in Tennessee. This is an educational and leadership development event for JRA members that highlight the cattle industry and Red Angus. The JRA Board will also confirm plans for the 2008 National Red Angus Junior Show to be held on January 27, in Ft. Worth, TX.

The next official event for the JRA Board will be the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver, Colorado, January 2008.  JRA Board members will be involved with the Junior Stockgrower’s Contest by conducting ice breakers, hosting meals and organizing and completing a workshop for Stockgrower contestants.  The JRA Board will also be involved with the RAAA Brain Trust meetings and Mile High Red Angus Sale.  In March 2008, the JRA will attend the bi-annual Youth Beef Industry Congress (YBIC), held in Kansas City.

Fertilizing Established Alfalfa Stands This Fall

Fertilizing Established Alfalfa Stands This Fall

Cattlenetwork.com

As final harvests of alfalfa are collected, fertilization of potassium should be considered if it is not a part of your program. Alfalfa that has adequate levels of potassium accumulates more carbohydrates in their root system which improves their over-wintering ability and vigor early the next spring. Fall fertilization should be done as soon as possible so that the plant can take advantage of the added nutrients before the onset of winter.

Application of potassium should be considered if soil test levels are less than 300 lb/acre. Potassium application rates can be determined by computing how much potassium next year’s crop will remove (base it on this year’s yield or a known “average”). Generally, for every ton of alfalfa forage removed approximately 50 lb of K2O is removed. Thus a 6 ton/acre crop will remove 300 lb K2O/acre. If you wish to maintain current potassium levels, add 300 lb K2O/acre.

Application can be split between this fall and after the first harvest in the spring (applying half in the fall and half in the spring will minimize luxurious uptake of potassium by the crop early next year). The earlier potassium is applied this fall the greater the opportunity for the crop to take it up and prepare for the winter. Soil test values well above 300 lb/acre probably do not warrant any application at all. Check soil test levels next fall to monitor potassium needs for the next year.

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