Vintage Video: Two Steaks, part 2
This film describes the difference in meats. It focuses on the importance of good feeding of cattle and the effect it has on the meat. The film also discusses meat cuts, marbling, and bone structure.
Produced by Iowa State University with Iowa Beef Producers’ Association in 1960.
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Survey shows few beef producers changing practices
Monett Times
Every four years since 1994, Eldon Cole a livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension, has sent readers of his monthly Beef Newsletter a voluntary survey designed to gauge their interests and farm management techniques.
Since the 1994 survey, the percentage of respondents who own a computer used for the farm has nearly doubled, going from 29 percent to 55 percent. However, the rate of increase has slowed dramatically during the last four years.
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In effort to control greenhouse gases, government gasbags should leave family farms alone
Lehighvalleylive.com
Leave family farms alone
It may not be as socially acceptable, but it’s as natural as breathing in and breathing out. In polite circles, it’s commonly referred to as “passing gas.”
But now the federal government could unleash a colossal stinker of its own by forcing America’s farmers to pay permit fees because their livestock have an innate tendency to “toot.”
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Souderton processing plant hit with complaint
Philly.com
The office of acting U.S. Attorney Laurie Magid said yesterday that it had filed a civil complaint against JBS Souderton Inc., a beef processing plant, for Clean Water Act violations that resulted in several fish kills over five years.
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Feeding The World One Technology At A Time
BURT RUTHERFORD
BEEF Magazine
It’s likely most cattlemen haven’t trodden the streets of New York City very much. For good reason, what with its reputation as a seething, crowded mass of humanity.
However, according to Alex Avery, with the Hudson Institute Center for Global Food Issues, if you really want seething, crowded masses of humanity, take a side trip to Beijing, Bangalore or Calcutta. There, he says, you will get a glimpse of the world’s future … and yours.
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FDA plans ban on cattle tissue in feed
DVM NEWSMAGAZINE
The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) is accepting comments through Jan. 26 on a planned regulation that would ban use of cattle tissues in animal feeds.
The rule, which would take effect April 27, is meant to reduce the risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) by prohibiting use of brains and spinal cords from cattle 30 months and older in all animal feed.
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Challenges For Non-ambulatory Livestock Law
cattlenetwork.com
On Christmas Eve, the American Meat Institute filed a motion to broaden a National Meat Association lawsuit regarding non-ambulatory livestock slaughter in California. The lawsuit is an attempt to halt the enforcement of state law that would ban the slaughter of any non-ambulatory livestock (and dairy) species at federally inspected packing plants.
NMA brought the lawsuit earlier in the week to focus on the state law’s application to hogs. In its motion to intervene, AMI is seeking broader injunctive and declaratory relief, arguing that the state law is preempted by the Federal Meat Inspection Act when applied to other livestock processed in a federally inspected meat plant.
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JBS finishing year on mostly confident note
BEEF Magazine
JBS S.A. made major strides in the U.S. beef industry in 2008, acquiring Green Bay, Wis.-based Smithfield Beef Group and Loveland-based Five Rivers Ranch Cattle Feeding and making a bid for Kansas City, Mo.-based National Beef Packing Co.
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Organizations Say Merger Settlement Not Enough
KTIC
R-CALF USA and the Organization for Competitive Markets have sent a formal letter to the Justice Department and each of the 17 states attorneys general involved in settlement negotiations between Brazilian-owned JBS and National Beef Packing Company. JBS wants to purchase National Beef, but many believe the deal would significantly limit competition in the beef packing industry.
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Bumpy Crop: Farming’s Sudden Feasts and Famines
Wall Street Journal
SCOTT KILMAN and ROGER THUROW
Benjamin Riensche has just come off two of his best years in farming. But like growers all over the globe, he is in the midst of a more turbulent era of sharply rising and then suddenly falling prices.
Now the 47-year-old, who grows corn and soybeans across 10,000 acres in Iowa, fears he will incur losses in 2009 that would be his first red ink in 16 years. His revenue is falling, but the costs of seed, fertilizer and machinery have remained high.
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Color Patterns In Beef Cattle
cattlenetwork.com
Color of feeder cattle and especially color patterns affect the price of feeder cattle. Generally feeder cattle that are uniform in color will sell for a higher price than those that are less uniform in color. Breeding decisions made by cow-calf producers impact the color of the calf crop. Cow-calf producers should have some knowledge of what those breeding decisions will have on their calf crop.
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Texana Feeders Texas raised beef
Pat Kopecki
Driving along F.M. 539, off S.H. 97 east of Floresville, you may have seen a large number of cattle. With cow-calf operators, a dairy, and a feedlot, this area may be known as “cattle country.” One of the reasons for the large number of cattle is the Texana Feeders feedlot, owned by Jason Peeler.
Peeler grew up on a ranch in Atascosa County and proudly said his family still owns and operates the ranch that has been in existence for 103 years. His father continues to operate the Jourdanton ranch today.
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UW-Extension Beef Cattle Specialist Candidates Named
Wisconsin Ag Connection
Three individuals have been selected to interview for the vacant University of Wisconsin-Extention Beef Cattle Specialist position. The candidates will also give public presentations in three locations around the state.
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Provide Good Feeding Management, Even During Tough Times
cattlenetwork.com
Even though cattle prices have plummeted, producers need to continue best feeding management practices to assure acceptable performance of their investment.
Eldon Cole, a livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension, says 550-pound steer calves were selling for about $115 per hundredweight in the early fall and are now selling around $90 per cwt.
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Genetics help Argentine police beat cattle rustlers
Maximiliano Rizzi
Reuters
Cattle-rustling is an age-old problem on Argentina’s legendary Pampas plains, but genetic testing is helping police crack down on thieves.
Argentina, one of the world’s top beef exporters, is famous for its free-range beef from grass-fed cattle. Experts say lax controls and the sheer scale of some landholdings make it easy for rustlers.
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Vintage Video: Two Steaks, part 1
This film describes the difference in meats. It focuses on the importance of good feeding of cattle and the effect it has on the meat. The film also discusses meat cuts, marbling, and bone structure.
Produced by Iowa State University with Iowa Beef Producers’ Association in 1960.
Categories: Uncategorized
Immunity and Livestock Herds
E.J. Richey, DVM
University of Florida
Immunity is the ability of an animal to resist disease. Fortunately, immunity is a basic fact of nature; unfortunately, we take it for granted. In reality, immunity culminates from the activity of a very complex and intricate system of the body – the immune system; a system that we can to some extent enhance and manipulate to provide various degrees of protection against most disease-causing bacteria and viruses.
Present-day livestock management systems and practices may allow the immune system to be overwhelmed by either a significantly high disease challenge or by weakening the existing immune system.
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Beef Cow Rations and Winter Feeding Guidelines
Foragebeef.ca
Introduction
Feeding beef cattle during Saskatchewan winters can be a challenging experience. Frame size, body condition, feed quality, types of feed and fluctuations in air temperatures all impact on feed consumption and rates of gain.
Over-feeding is costly and wastes feed while underfeeding affects body condition and may cause poor performance in the breeding herd.
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Factors Affecting Calving Difficulty
Timothy W. Wilson, Extension Animal Scientist – Beef
Johnny Rossi, Extension Animal Scientist – Beef
Calving difficulty, otherwise known as dystocia, may result in reduced calf performance, delayed estrus and, in some cases, loss of the calf and/or dam. This publication discusses several factors affecting calving difficulty and provides management suggestions that may be useful to prevent its occurrence.
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Tight Feeder Supplies the Issue in ‘09
Cattle Today
Cattle feeders’ number one concern was feed inputs. Not any more, says Mike Sands, Informa Economics.
The market analyst predicts corn will not stay as low as $3 per bushel (bu.) for long, but the new trading levels for corn may be of little consequence compared to the declining feeder calf supply.
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