Don Dowdle, Founding Publisher, Mid-South Livestock Review Passes

Don Dowdle, Founding Publisher, Mid-South Livestock Review Passes

Editor’s Note: Don was a visionary, leader in the livestock community and a good friend. He served on a voluntary basis, many state organizations including the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association. Don never shied from controversy, he always meant what he said, and said what he meant. He will truly be missed. The following obituary is from the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

DONALD LEIGH DOWDLE, 58, resident of the Somerville Community since 1982, founder of the Fayette County Review newspaper and current Owner and Publisher of the Mid-South Horse Review, died October 24, 2008. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland with Interment in the Somerville City Cemetery. A visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Sunday at Peebles West Chapel.

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Online Tool Brings Better Beef Business

Online Tool Brings Better Beef Business

Thebeefsite.com

As costs continue to increase, producers need to manage their animals for efficient growth and a higher-quality beef, a Purdue University specialist said.

The Indiana Quality Plus Beef certification program, an online tool developed by Purdue beef specialists, brings professionalism to raising cattle, said Matt Claeys, Purdue Extension beef specialist.

The program is designed to do three things, Claeys explained. First, it helps to educate producers about topics such as quality assurance, the environment and genetics, as well as how to handle pharmaceuticals. Second, it helps to ensure the health of the cattle. Third, it let’s neighbors know the job is being done professionally.

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In Vaccination, Timing Is Everything

In Vaccination, Timing Is Everything

Beef Magazine

Why do we vaccinate cattle? Of course, the reason is to attempt to prevent disease. However, if our timing is wrong, we can actually make the conditions worse.

When I was growing up, I remember reading magazines such as BEEF and seeing ads in those magazines in which a photograph was taken from inside a semi-trailer, looking out through the open tailgate. The idea was to give a calf’s-eye view of what was about to happen to him as he unloaded at the feedyard.

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Analyst foresees strong ag economy in spite of market setbacks

Analyst foresees strong ag economy in spite of market setbacks

SUE ROESLER

Farm & Ranch Guide

Structural changes in world agriculture have led to a volatile but mostly bull market for grains, says Greg Wagner, a senior commodity analyst for AgResource Company, based in Chicago, Ill.

Wagner spoke on domestic and global ag price trends that can affect the beef industry at the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association convention in Minot recently.

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Beef researchers look at windrow swath grazing for extending season

Beef researchers look at windrow swath grazing for extending season

Ryon Walker, University of Minnesota Extension

The Prairie Star

The livestock industry has been faced with many challenges over the last several years.

Production costs increased 25 percent for the cow/calf producer and 56 percent for the cow/calf through the feedlot phase since 2005.

These higher production costs are directly due to high feed, fuel and fertilizer prices. With this rise in production cost, forages have become a more valuable commodity.

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Greg Sellnow: Strange tactics help shine light on animal issues

Greg Sellnow: Strange tactics help shine light on animal issues

Post Bulletin

I’ve always thought that PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) was one of the most radically warped organizations our country has given birth to.

This, you might recall, is the group that proposed in 2002 that Minnesota ban angling in state parks because fish can feel pain. Later that year, PETA proposed that Austin High School abandon its sport team nickname, the Packers, and change it to — Are you ready for this? — the Pickers.

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Experts present beef research at open house

Experts present beef research at open house

Rusty Evans

The Leaf Chronicle

The University of Tennessee Central Bull Test Station is hosting its annual Bull Test Open House on Tuesday at the Middle Tennessee Research and Education Center in Spring Hill.

The event offers cattlemen and others in the cattle industry an opportunity to learn about a number of hot topics in beef cattle production.

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What To Expect From A Breeding Soundness Exam On Your Bulls

What To Expect From A Breeding Soundness Exam On Your Bulls

cattlenetwork.com

The fall breeding season is about a month away.  Bulls that will be used during the upcoming fall breeding season should be able to pass a breeding soundness exam before they are put with the cows or replacement heifers.  Visit with your local large animal veterinarian and schedule a time to bring the bulls in for a breeding soundness exam.  Data gathered on over 10000 bulls in Colorado indicated that about one of every six bulls would not be classified as “Satisfactory”.  It is important to locate “problem” bulls with enough time to replace them before the breeding season begins.  A low fertility, or sterile bull could substantially reduce or delay next year’s calf crop and be financially painful.

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Ranchers try to resolve Ore. feedlot-union dispute

Ranchers try to resolve Ore. feedlot-union dispute

KGW-TV

Ranchers trying to resolve a dispute between a Boardman feedlot and the United Farm Workers Union say they’ll hold an election next month on union representation.

The Beef Northwest Feedlot and the union have been disputing for more than a year whether the company should bargain with the union based on cards that feedlot workers have signed or whether a secret ballot election should be held.

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Global economic woe stifles export markets

Global economic woe stifles export markets

PHILIP BRASHER

Des Moines Register

It was shaping up to be a banner year for American farm exports, but now there are fears that those sales will be part of the global economic slowdown.

“We’re hoping that these other economies continue to grow so they can purchase our products,” said Helen Wiese, a cow-calf producer near Manning. “That’s really a concern.”

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Country-of-origin meat labeling is watered down

Country-of-origin meat labeling is watered down

Sheryl Harris

The Cleveland Plain Dealer

An effort to tell consumers whether their groceries are homegrown or imported has erupted into a giant food fight that stretches from Washington to the heartland.

Call it the battle of the beef.

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Mini cows part of Prescott ranch’s natural farming

Mini cows part of Prescott ranch’s natural farming

The Arizona Republic

It’s a small world at Rocking Robin Ranch in Prescott.

The heart of the family farm is the dairy-cow herd, which are Mini Jerseys, about 3 feet high and unbearably cute.

Miniature cattle, a third the size of a regular cow, are sweet-tempered and affectionate, and they are growing in popularity around the country. Robyn Hutchison, who owns Rocking Robin Ranch with her husband, John, bought her first mini about 10 years ago while the family lived in Queen Creek.

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Q&A: I am starting to creep feed some calves that weigh 200 to 300 lb that is still on the cow would it be OK to feed them corn gluten in the pellet form what would you recommend? Are there any precautions that I need to take starting them on feed?

Q&A:   I am starting to creep feed some calves that weigh 200 to 300 lb that is still on the cow would it be OK to feed them corn gluten in the pellet form what would you recommend? Are there any precautions that I need to take starting them on feed?

Dr. Rick Rasby, Professor of Animal Science, Animal Science, University of Nebraska

A:   We have not done creep trials using gluten. North Dakota State has done some. Following are my thoughts. To make a pellet that includes gluten that doesn’t result in a lot of fines, the pellet would be 65% to maybe 70% gluten.

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Cattle Feeding Basics: Manage Feedbunks To Optimize Feed Intake

Cattle Feeding Basics: Manage Feedbunks To Optimize Feed Intake

cattlenetwork.com

Effective bunk management in the feedlot can influence feed consumption, improve feed efficiency, reduce health problems and improve profitability of feedlot cattle. Judson Vasconcelos, a feedlot nutrition and management specialist at the University of Nebraska’s Panhandle Research and Extension Center at Scottsbluff, reminds cattle feeders that proper bunk management should allow each animal in the pen to receive the amount of feed needed to maximize performance while minimizing waste and spoilage. Cattle are creatures of habit, he notes, and they expect to be fed in the same general area of the bunk at the same time every day.

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Parker ranch tries to not just be about cattle

Parker ranch tries to not just be about cattle

Pacific Business News

A crisp breeze mellows the sun’s intensity as it blows down the foothills of Mauna Kea onto endless stretches of green pastures. Miles of driftwood-and-barbed-wire fencing hug the rolling landscape and small groups of plump cows munch and nod at the occasional passing car.

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