Consumers Willing to Spend More on Premium Meats

Consumers Willing to Spend More on Premium Meats

BEEF Magazine

Though consumers are spending less on dining out, foodservice consultants at Technomic say that many are willing to spend more on “higher quality” menu items if they include premium ingredients.

Full Story

Baxter Black: FOOD ANIMAL VETERINARIAN SOLUTION

Baxter Black: FOOD ANIMAL VETERINARIAN SOLUTION

The livestock industry and rural veterinarians are becoming resigned to the lack of newly graduated vet students interested in practicing food animal medicine. FACT: only 5% of DVMs graduating from U.S. vet schools in 2007 entered predominantly large animal practices.

Full Story

“Think Tank” Looks At Beef Consumer Priorities

“Think Tank” Looks At Beef Consumer Priorities

cattlenetwork.com

A beef industry group met in Denver, Colo., last month to find ways to better link producers to consumers. Consumer First Beef Partners brought leaders together Sept. 18-19 for a round-table discussion on beef quality issues.

By identifying obstacles to consumer satisfaction, the leaders from each segment of the beef supply chain aim to help producers focus.

Full Story

BQA educates producers about premises registration

BQA educates producers about premises registration

Brad Schneider, Manager, Beef Quality Assurance – NCBA

Summary

The goal of premises registration is to protect the health of U.S. livestock and the economic wellbeing of the livestock industry. In an effort to promote premises registration, the National Cattlemen’s Foundation entered into a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Nov. 20, 2007. The agreement calls for a multi-segmented approach to increase premises registration utilizing Producer Education, Producer Outreach and Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) initiatives. By providing U.S. cattle farmers and ranchers with factual information related to premises registration, and by furthering their education about the importance of having a premises identification number as part of a herd biosecurity plan, BQA provides U.S. beef producers with practical ideas for responding to challenges.

Full Story

Q&A: How much nutrition would be lost from hay stored for year?

Q&A:   How much nutrition would be lost from hay stored for year?

Dr. Jerry Volesky, Associate Professor of Agronomy, West Central Research & Extension Center – North Platte, North Platte, NE

A:   There are losses in both dry matter and quality as hay is stored over the course of a year. These losses come from weathering, plant respiration and microbial activity. Packaging and protection can go a long way in reducing these losses.

Full Story

Laying out curved cattle handling facilities

Laying out curved cattle handling facilities

Summary

Some cattle handling systems work like well-oiled machines. Others bog down with cattle that constantly balk and turn around. This excerpt from the July 2008 National Cattlemen magazine explains the best way to fix common problems.

Full Story

Using Sire EPDs In Cow-Calf Production

Using Sire EPDs In Cow-Calf Production

cattlenetwork.com

A large segment of the beef cattle industry is adopting expected progeny differences (EPDs) as a valuable selection tool in improving calf productivity. EPD is the difference in performance (measured in pounds, percent, inches, etc.) expected in progeny, or offspring, of individual sires. Calf weaning weight is greatly influenced by genetic potential for growth; therefore, verification of how reliable weaning weight EPDs are on commercial cow herds needs to be studied.

Full Story

13 States Exceed 50 Percent in NAIS Premises

13 States Exceed 50 Percent in NAIS Premises

thebeefsite.com

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today announced that 487,670 premises are registered nationwide as part of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS).

Producers registered more than 50,000 premises so far in 2008 and 13 states now have at least 50 percent of their total estimated production premises registered through NAIS. The latest state to go over 50 percent premises registration is Iowa.

Full Story

Nominations Open for NCBA Environmental Award

Nominations Open for NCBA Environmental Award

Cattle Today

Denver, October 9, 2008 – The 19th Annual Environmental Stewardship Award officially has opened its nomination season for 2009. The award has recognized the outstanding stewardship practices and conservation achievements of U.S. cattle producers for almost two decades. Regional and national award winners are honored for their commitment to protecting the environment and improving fish and wildlife habitats while operating profitable cattle operations.

Full Story

JBS vows to fight DOJ lawsuit

JBS vows to fight DOJ lawsuit

Northern Colorado Business Report

JBS Swift USA president and CEO Wesley Batista said the Brazilian company will vigorously defend its proposed merger with National Beef Co. after the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit on Oct. 20 to block the deal.

“We disagree with the Department of Justice’s decision to try and block this transaction,” Batista said in a press statement. “This transaction is highly pro-competitive and will generate significant efficiencies and synergies that will benefit our cattle suppliers and our beef customers. We believe the government’s case is misplaced and we look forward to defending this matter in court.”

Full Story

Cattlemen discuss issues in annual fall meeting

Cattlemen discuss issues in annual fall meeting

LARRY MEYER

ARGUS OBSERVER

Niche marketing of beef to specific consumer groups was one of the themes at the Malheur County Cattlemen’s Association fall meeting held Thursday at the Sizzler in Ontario, as well as reports on the status of various lawsuits by environment groups challenging range-management plans issued by the United States Bureau of Land Management.

Full Story

Maintaining Post-Weaning Animal Health

Maintaining Post-Weaning Animal Health

BEEF Magazine

This week showed the first hint of winter for many across the Northern Plains as the first snowfall hit the ground. With winter’s icy grip just around the corner, ranchers are busy preparing for the harsh, adverse weather that the season is notorious for. A primary concern for cattlemen is maintaining animal health during the cold winter months. For the majority of ranchers, the calves have been weaned and have filled the feedyard, creating a load of chores and worries.

Full Story

Tips given for beef cattle producers

Tips given for beef cattle producers

GARY TILGHMAN

Glasgow Daily Times

Dr. Roy Burris, University of Kentucky Beef Specialist, has provided a good listing of timely management information that our beef cattle producers should review and include in the upcoming days. This “Tip List” can serve as a good reminder as we enter the fall production season.

Full Story

Audit shows beef safety progress, challenges still exist

Audit shows beef safety progress, challenges still exist

by Mandy Carr, Executive Director, Beef Safety Research, and Ryan Ruppert, Director, Quality Assurance Programs – NCBA

Summary

The beef industry conducted the 2007 National Market Cow and Bull Beef Quality Audit to assess the industry’s progress in addressing quality issues and to identify remaining challenges that need to be corrected. Producing quality beef products is a constant point of focus for all sectors of the beef chain, and the information gathered is being be used to further improve beef production systems and ensure high quality and wholesome products are served to customers around the world.

Full Story

Wash. feedlot owner fights beef labeling

Wash. feedlot owner fights beef labeling

Cody Easterday estimates that some 25 percent of the cattle at his 30,000-head feedlot come from Canada, with maybe a few cattle from Mexico in the pens.

SHANNON DININNY

Seattle Times

Cody Easterday estimates that some 25 percent of the cattle at his 30,000-head feedlot come from Canada, with maybe a few cattle from Mexico in the pens.

But weeks after the government began requiring producers to label beef with the country the animals came from, Easterday says he’s already getting lower prices for that beef – as much as $30 per head. It’s just one reason he’s suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to rewrite the beef labeling provision in what could be one of several attempts to overturn a law long sought by consumer and farm groups.

Full Story