Curly Calf Syndrome or Arthrogryposis Multiplex comprehensive site opened by CSU
By: Mike Jarosz, Ph.D., Colorado State University Beef Team
Livestock Agent-Weld County
What are the symptoms?
* Newborn calves typically are born dead or may live for a short time.
* Calves will have a curved spine, extended limbs (especially the rear legs), thin appearance, and lack of muscle development.
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Talk Is Cheap, But Change Is Not
Gary Truitt
Hoosier AG Daily
President-elect Barack Obama rode to victory on a campaign of change. While both Obama and McCain promised change, exit polls show that most voters felt Obama was more likely to bring about change. So now that the Democratic Party has control of the White House and the Congress, what kind of change will we see on the one of the most pressing issues facing agriculture: energy? This issue in particular has been one, that for the past 8 years, Democrats have resisted change. So now it is time to put away the rhetoric and start producing some action. As the late Senator Eugene McCarthy once joked, “Never say anything in a national campaign that anyone might remember.”
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Q&A: How much distillers grains can be put in 32% cattle cake? I have heard too much is not good.
Dr. Rick Rasby, Professor of Animal Science, Animal Science, University of Nebraska
A: Distillers is tough to cube by itself because of the fat content.
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End-of-year tax reminders
Consider these strategies to help curb your tax bill
Kindra Gordon
Cattle Business Weekly
Money is on everyone’s mind today – particularly how to keep more of your hard-earned cash and payout less in taxes. While taxes can’t be eliminated, they can be minimized with a measure of planning. You might consider going into 2009 with prepaid feed, or buying new equipment before Dec. 31, 2008 to up your expenses. When are these good ideas to help your tax situation and when are they not? Here’s a round-up of advice that may help your ag operation lessen tax consequences.
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No Need for Panic Over Curly Calf Syndrome
Thebeefsite.com
The recent discovery of Curly Calf Syndrome in the Angus cattle breed has some producers feeling uncertain about the future of the breed, but University of Kentucky Extension Beef Specialist Darrh Bullock says there’s no reason for Kentucky’s beef producers to panic. He believes the best course of action is to stay informed.
Curly Calf Syndrome is a genetic defect, writes Aimee Nielson, which researchers believe is caused by a simple recessive gene. It can cause calves to be stillborn with twisted spines. Early research information traces the syndrome back to a popular Angus bull.
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Fifth annual Southwest Beef Symposium set for Jan. 13-14 in Midland
Steve Byrns,
Texas A&M
For the fifth time in as many years, Texas and New Mexico Extension agencies will hold their annual “Southwest Beef Symposium.” This year’s meeting is set for Jan.13-14 at the Horseshoe complex in Midland at 2002 Cotton Flat Road.
Dr. Bruce Carpenter, Texas AgriLife Extension Service livestock specialist at Fort Stockton, said the symposium is tailored for southwestern beef producers. The event centers on three educational sessions and a trade show. It alternates between locations in West Texas and eastern New Mexico.
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What’s Really In Your Fast Food?
Rebecca Ruiz
Forbes
Editor’s note: Stories of this ilk are included in the blog to inform those in our industry how agriculture is being presented to and perceived by the public.
You may want to reconsider getting that double cheeseburger with fries.
A study released today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences contains controversial claims about menu items served at McDonald’s (nyse: MCD – news – people ), Wendy’s (nyse: WEN – news – people ) and Burger King.
Using a technique that identifies carbon and nitrogen isotopes in meat, co-authors A. Hope Jahren and Rebecca Kraft tried to determine the animals’ diets and in what conditions they were raised. Based on the high levels of carbon and nitrogen isotopes found in the meat products, the authors claim that the cattle and poultry were predominantly fed corn, which makes them as fat as possible in as short a time as possible, and were raised in extreme confinement.
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Youth Programs To Add Spark To 2009 Cattle Industry Convention
Beef Magazine
New events designed especially for young people will give an extra kick to the 2009 Cattle Industry Convention and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Trade Show in Phoenix, Ariz. Jan. 28-31, 2009. The programs, for young people ages 9 to young adult, are focused on education, leadership and teamwork. They are being exclusively sponsored by a grant from the Farm Credit System Foundation.
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Forage Feeding Losses Can Add Up
KRVN
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Beef Specialists have put together a series of “Profit Tips” for beef producers says Troy M. Walz, UNL Extension Educator. This “Profit Tip” is from Dr. Rick Rasby. Many long hours and expenses are invested into harvesting quality forages and storing them for use at a later time. As a producer, you wouldn’t dream of throwing away one-third of the forages that were intended to be fed to the cow herd. Many times, that’s what happens when livestock are allowed unlimited access to hay in a feeding situation.
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Meat Marketing Advice
Cattle Business Weekly
Karl Dallefeld of Prairie Creek Cattle Co. in Worthington, Iowa operates a grass-fed beef operation that direct sells beef. He offers this marketing advice:
• At the beginning avoid marketing by the cut. You need to be able to market all the cuts and utilize the whole animal. If you do have to sell by the cut, offer some type of package that you can include those undersold cuts in later.
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Cow clinic scheduled
KNEB
The University of Nebraska Extension and Nebraska Cattlemen Seedstock Council are joining to sponsor four Sire Selection and Cow Herd Management Clinics located throughout the State of Nebraska. Blue Hill will be the site of one of the clinics on Monday, December 1.
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More officials join against JBS purchase of National Beef
Greeley Tribune
Four more state attorneys general have joined the Department of Justice lawsuit seeking to block the purchase of National Beef Packing Co. by JBS S.A.
Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America — R-CALF USA — said Arizona, Connecticut, New Mexico and Mississippi attorneys general have joined in the lawsuit filed in Chicago by the Justice Department last month. There were 13 attorneys general in the original suit, including Colorado.
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Agricultural Air Quality Task Force Assembled
Thebeefsite.com
Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer today announced the renewal of the Agricultural Air Quality Task Force and the selection of the individuals to serve as members for the two-year, 2008 – 2010 term.
The task force is chaired by the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and is comprised of USDA employees, industry representatives, and other experts in the fields of agriculture and air quality.
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Healthy soil is foundation of beef business
Codi Vallery
Cattle Business Weekly
A driving desire to educate others about sustainable agriculture is one of the reasons that Karl Dallefeld freely talks about direct marketing his beef, which is raised on what he refers to as a salad bar mix of grasses, legumes and forbs.
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Tall Tex snubs PETA
Owner says no to proposal to hang sign
Dan Packard
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals proposes to slap its brand on Canyon’s tallest cowboy.
The animal-rights group Monday proposed leasing Tex Randall, all 47 feet and 7 tons of him, to promote its claim of inhumane treatment of cattle by the beef industry.
PETA wants to hang a sign on Tex that reads: “For Cows’ Sake, Give Leather the Boot.”
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