Video Feature: Producer perspective – Mark Frazier

Mark Frazier of Woodrow, CO, explains his take on managing costs and product quality – which begins with grassland management and marketing flexibility.Recorded a the 2008 Beef Quality Summit, November 2008, Colorado Springs, CO. This Recording is a production of the Animal Sciences Department, Purdue University.

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Baxter Black, DVM: ONE MAN JOB

Baxter Black, DVM:  ONE MAN JOB

There’s a tenet in the cowboy mentality that takes pride in doin’ what needs to be done, even if you have to do it yourself.

The common cowboy answer to “How did you…1) get that lump? 2) lose your eyebrow? 3) get that scar? or, 4) tear off your pantleg?” , usually begins with “I was by myself when…”

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Dehorning Is Economically Important

Dehorning Is Economically Important

cattlenetwork.com

Cattle buyers often discount calves for the presence of horns. Results from the 2000 Arkansas Livestock Market Survey indicated that polled or dehorned feeder calves sold for an average of $1.49/cwt. more than horned cattle. Horn-related injuries may occur during shipping as well as in the feedlot and are thus undesirable to cattle feeders.

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AVMA urges Congress to adopt mandatory NAIS

AVMA urges Congress to adopt mandatory NAIS

DVM NEWSMAGAZINE

A mandatory animal identification tracking system is the most effective way to minimize an animal disease outbreak.

That was the message Dr. W. Ron DeHaven, CEO and executive vice-president of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), delivered to Congress on Wednesday.

The National Animal Identification System (NAIS), a program run by the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), is an information system under which food animals are tagged so that their movements can be tracked in the event of a disease outbreak.

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‘Quality always pays,’ says bull sale organizer

‘Quality always pays,’ says bull sale organizer

 Adriana Christianson

The Leader-Post

Quality not quantity is the key to survival for hard-pressed livestock operations, says the sales manager of the Regina Bull Sale.

The annual bull auction took place on Monday at Evraz Place in conjunction with the Canadian Western Agribition’s Spring Ag Show.

In an interview before the sale, Helge By, an organizer for the event, said all aspects of the beef industry have struggled in recent years. Cow-calf producers, feedlots and even packing plants have all been affected by exporting restrictions to the United States stemming from the BSE crisis of 2003.

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New regulations make disposal difficult for cattle ranchers

New regulations make disposal difficult for cattle ranchers

CHRIS BLANK

The Missourian

The trucks blocking the driveway to the Halfway Packing Co. describe the firm’s operations with the slogan: “Our business is dead.”

Never has that been more true.

The company that collected cattle and horse corpses for disposal now is dead itself, the victim of a new federal regulation on cattle renderers that is designed to prevent mad cow disease.

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US Delays Duties Over EU Beef Hormone Dispute

US Delays Duties Over EU Beef Hormone Dispute

Thebeefsite.com

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced today that it is delaying by one month the imposition of additional duties on a modified list of EU products in connection with World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement rulings in the EU – Beef Hormones dispute.

Under a determination announced on January 15, 2009, the additional duties were to go into effect on March 23, 2009. Under the delay announced today, the additional duties are scheduled to go into effect on April 23, 2009.

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Montana Livestock Forum Is April 21-22

Montana Livestock Forum Is April 21-22

Beef Magazine

“They’re black and they’ve had their shots… any more questions?” is the theme of the 2009 Montana Livestock Forum and Nutrition Conference, April 21-22 in Bozeman. Set for the GranTree Inn, the meeting is sponsored by Montana State University Extension and the Montana Feed Association.

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U.S., EU Eye Possible Fix To Long-Standing Beef War

U.S., EU Eye Possible Fix To Long-Standing Beef War

Roberta Rampton

The Post Chronicle

The United States will hold off on applying new retaliatory duties to European products during discussions about a possible fix to a long-standing dispute over beef trade, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office said on Thursday.

The duties, set to take effect on March 23, will be held back for a month while discussions on a “possible interim solution” take place, USTR spokeswoman Nefeterius McPherson said in a statement.

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A new chip identifies important bovine genomic traits

A new chip identifies important bovine genomic traits

AG Professional

With help from a new genetic device recently unveiled by a team of animal science researchers, animal breeders may soon be building betters cows that produce more and better beef and tastier profits.

The new genetic tool is called the SNP Chip (pronounced snip chip).

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Myhre named to Minnesota Livestock Breeders Hall of Fame

Myhre named to Minnesota Livestock Breeders Hall of Fame  

Greg Schieber

The Caledonia Argus

The Minnesota Livestock Breeders’ Association (MLBA) Hall of Fame was created in 1934 to honor people who have significantly contributed to the livestock industry in Minnesota. This week Caledonia area farmer Dean Myhre is set to receive the highest honored bestowed by the organization as he takes his place in the hall of fame amongst the 150 livestock breeders from around the state previously inducted. Spring Grove, Harmony, and Rochester have yielded a few inductees over the years but Myhre is the first from Caledonia.

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R-CALF: USTR Should Defend COOL

R-CALF: USTR Should Defend COOL

cattlenetwork.com

R-CALF USA joined a dozen other organizations to file formal comments that request the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to urgently defend the mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) law that is to be fully implemented today.

In December 2008, both Mexico and Canada filed complaints against the U.S. COOL law, claiming it violates World Trade Organization (WTO) obligations.

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Agriculture Antibiotics and Human Resistance

Agriculture Antibiotics and Human Resistance

Thebeefsite.com

While experts agree that antibiotic overuse is one of the key contributors to the recent rise in drug-resistant infections, research is raising the prospect that agricultural use is also having a detrimental effect on human health.

Speaking 24 February at a Capitol Hill briefing co-organized by AAAS, three top experts warned that the increased use of antibiotics in agricultural feed contributes to drug-resistant infections in humans. But just how extensive that relationship is has yet to be determined.

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USMEF Hosts Pathogen Reduction Team

USMEF Hosts Pathogen Reduction Team

Cattle Today

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) hosted key officials from the European Union’s meat industry for a four-day tour focused on pathogen reduction technologies (PRTs). For many years, the U.S. meat industry has embraced advances in PRTs to enhance the safety of its products and address many food safety concerns, but a lack of global understanding of certain technologies has created trade barriers in some markets, including the EU.

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Colvin Portrait to “Hang” in Saddle & Sirloin Gallery

Colvin Portrait to “Hang” in Saddle & Sirloin Gallery

Angus e-List

Only one honored stockman each year can win a spot in the hallowed hall of fame in Louisville, Ky. Officials of the Kentucky State Fair Board have announced that Louis M. “Mick” Colvin will receive the 2009 Saddle & Sirloin Portrait Award. Colvin’s portrait will be hung in November in the historic gallery at the Kentucky State Fair and Exposition Center. The Saddle & Sirloin gallery honors pioneers in animal agriculture, with the earliest portraits of European stockmen from the 1700s.

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