Genetic Factors: TH (Tibial Hemimelia) and the Shorthorn Breed

Genetic Factors: TH (Tibial Hemimelia) and the Shorthorn Breed

American Shorthorn Association

While Shorthorn cattle offer a host of competitive advantages, the breed is currently struggling with a genetic defect known as Tibial Hemimelia (TH). As breeding selections are made for desirable characteristics, undesirable traits also appear. This situation is not unique to the Shorthorn breed as genetic defects occur in all breeds of cattle.

Given recent advancements in our understanding of the bovine genome, Bowman now sees enormous opportunity in coupling traditional genetic evaluation practices with DNA technology – and making these things available to the industry.

Full Story

Bill Bowman Talks About Genomic Enhanced EPDs

Bill Bowman Talks About Genomic Enhanced EPDs

Chuck Jolley

Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) are selection tools that have been around long enough to be old school. Over the years, they’ve been tested and proven reliable by cattle producers across the country as a primary way of making genetic improvement in beef cattle.

Bill Bowman, president of Angus Genetics Inc.®, is on the leading edge of genetic improvement for the beef industry. For over a decade, he’s been involved with the genetic evaluation programs for the American Angus Association®.

Full Story

WDGS May Be High-Quality, Low-Cost Livestock Feed

WDGS May Be High-Quality, Low-Cost Livestock Feed

Sharon Durham

USDA ARS

Agricultural Research Service (ARS) studies have shown that "wet distiller’s grain with solubles," or WDGS, may offer an inexpensive alternative to traditional feed ingredients when fed to livestock. WDGS is a common ethanol byproduct that could replace more costly traditional feed ingredients such as corn, soybean meal, urea, and mineral supplements. WDGS typically costs about 10 percent less than corn when used as livestock feed.

Full Story

Ag Groups and Experts Urge Congress to Move Forward Now with Research Lab to Protect American Food Supply and Agriculture Economy

Ag Groups and Experts Urge Congress to Move Forward Now with Research Lab to Protect American Food Supply and Agriculture Economy

Reuters

Key agriculture groups and veterinary experts have sent a clear message to Congress in recent days: America must move forward without delay on a planned state-of-the-art research facility to protect the food supply and agriculture economy.

In supporting full FY2010 funding for the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in line with President Obama’s budget request, the groups are emphasizing the urgency of the research mission.

Full Story

FSIS Seek Comment on Use of `Natural’ in Labeling Products

FSIS Seek Comment on Use of `Natural’ in Labeling Products

Thebeefsite.com

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced through the publication of an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) that it is soliciting additional public comment to define the conditions under which is would permit the voluntary claim "natural" to be used in the labeling of meat and poultry products.

Full Story

Cattleman rues program’s end

Cattleman rues program’s end

The News Star

It saddens me to see a program as huge as ULM’s Ag Department go away so easily.

We cattlemen invested much time and effort into trying to make ULM more attractive to the community and prospective students.

Dr. James Casey built three great herds of cattle from years of genetic breeding of producers within Louisiana. He could have easily bought cattle outside Louisiana, but bought in Louisiana. When he was hired the farm was no show place. He put much time and effort in trying to make something of the cattle farm.

Full Story

USDA Announces Implementation of Livestock Disaster Assistance Programs

USDA Announces Implementation of Livestock Disaster Assistance Programs

Kansas City Infozine

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that producers may begin applying for benefits under the provisions of the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) and the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP). These permanent disaster programs, authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill, replace previous ad-hoc disaster assistance programs and are funded through the Agricultural Disaster Relief Trust Fund.

Full Story

First Annual Legislative Beef Show a “Great Success”

First Annual Legislative Beef Show a “Great Success”

 South Dakota News Web

When more than a dozen youth 4-H beef exhibitors passed their halters and show sticks to a group of state legislators for the first annual Legislative Beef Show at the 2009 South Dakota State Fair, the result was a fun and educational event for everyone involved.

 The Legislative Beef Show, sponsored by the South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA) and the SDSU Cooperative Extension Service, featured 15 state legislators paired with a youth 4-H beef exhibitor from their home district. Participants competed in a friendly cattle showmanship competition against fellow state legislators. Their youth coaches “fit” the animals, prepared them for the competition and offered the legislators a “crash course” in beef cattle showmanship.

Full Story

Lester Crawford Named to Nutrition Physiology Company Board

Lester Crawford Named to Nutrition Physiology Company Board

Businesswire

Lester Crawford, former commissioner of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and former administrator of the Food Safety & Inspection Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), has been appointed to the board of directors of Nutrition Physiology Company (NPC), a Guymon, Okla.-based maker of all-natural, pathogen-fighting products for the beef, dairy and food processing industries.

Crawford, a veterinarian and pharmacologist, is senior counsel at Policy Directions, a Washington-based public affairs firm, where he provides strategic and regulatory guidance to food, drug and medical device company executives.

Full Story

Ranching “Takes the Pain Away,” Government Takes the Ranch Away

Ranching “Takes the Pain Away,” Government Takes the Ranch Away

Neal Dow

AgWeb.com

Ranching is my family’s passion – and our curse.

 Our story begins with my late wife, Anna, and her first husband. They were dairy ranchers, working full time feeding the ranch’s milking crew, waking before dawn and working until late at night.

Full Story

In the future, cattle industry may make a move to the Midwest

In the future, cattle industry may make a move to the Midwest

AG Answers

Cattle producers in the Eastern Cornbelt should grab their boots. Challenges in the West mean opportunities for increased production and niche markets here, said a Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service beef management specialist.

Full Story

Montgomey Farmer Practices Conservation Methods

Montgomey Farmer Practices Conservation Methods

Barbara Barrett

The Luminary

Michael Sherman from Montgomery was the host for an agricultural program recently on animal mortality composting at his farm given by Erin Ackerman from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

Full Story

Feeding Out Calves Gives True Carcass Value

Feeding Out Calves Gives True Carcass Value

Thebeefsite.com

By feeding calves out, producers can sell calves to packers based on carcase value, says Eldon Cole, University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist.

Through evaluating calves, producers are able to see how they perform for the next guy down the value chain and may be able to discover why buyers didn’t bid overly high prices. In the Missouri Steer Feedout, producers select a sample of at least five calves to retain ownership through the feedlot phase. The return at the end reflects what they are worth to meat processors.

Full Story

Iowa Beef Center Starts New Online Community with Blog

Iowa Beef Center Starts New Online Community with Blog

Stop by and say “hi” – online. The Iowa Beef Center is launching its new blog to keep beef producers and others up-to-date on the latest Iowa Beef Center happenings. The blog will also help Center staff have more conversations with the growing online livestock industry community.

Full Story

Nebraska officials ask for help watching for TB

Nebraska officials ask for help watching for TB

Capital AG Press

As deer hunting season gets under way, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is asking hunters for their help in monitoring the deer population for tuberculosis.

Bovine TB was found earlier this year at a northern Knox County facility with a herd of captive elk and deer. The disease also was reported in a beef herd in Rock County.

Full Story