Former NCBA President Lynn Cornwell Passes-updated 6-8

GLASGOW – Longtime Glasgow-area rancher Lynn Cornwell, 56, of Glasgow, died from an aortic aneurysm Thursday at a Glasgow hospital.
A vigil service is 7 p.m. Monday at First Lutheran Church in Glasgow. His funeral is 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Cornwell Ranch west of Glasgow, with burial in Highland Cemetery in Glasgow. Bell Mortuary of Glasgow is handling arrangements.
Ward “Lynn” Cornwell was born with his twin brother, Lee, in Glasgow, on Aug. 15, 1951, the son of Bill and Ann Cornwell. Being born into a life that he loved and would have chosen for himself was a blessing for Lynn. His devotion to ranching and the livestock industry was truly unique and a passion that came from within. Lynn’s impact on his family, the community and the entire livestock industry has been immense.
Lynn attended grade school at the Tampico School and graduated from Glasgow High School in 1969. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Ag Business from Montana State University. In 1971, he married Debby Thompson and they raised their family on the ranch on Buggy Creek. He endowed his family with a respect and love for the lifestyle of the land. Lynn and Debby have four children, sons Cody (Juli) Cornwell and Kirk (Britney) Cornwell of the family ranch in Glasgow, and daughters Michelle (Chad) Hoover of Whitehall, and Jamie (Eric) Hafenfeld of Weldon, Calif. Lynn was so proud of his eight grandsons, Dallen and Dane Hoover, Jake Newton, Jack and Charlie Cornwell, Agustus Hafenfeld and Kolt and Klay Cornwell. He also is survived by his two brothers, Clay Cornwell, and Lee Cornwell and his wife, Madylon, and their children, Stuart and Audra of Glasgow.
He was a member of the First Lutheran Church, the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture and the Elks Lodge. He served as a Valley Electric Cooperative Board member for more than 30 years and was a director of the Valley Livestock Association. Lynn was honored with the Jaycee’s Outstanding Young Farmer, Friend of the FFA, and the Glasgow Area Chamber of Commerce Del Strommen awards.
He was a member of the Montana Public Lands Council, serving as chairman and delegate to the National Public Lands Council. He was the NCBA Federal Lands chairman, the Association of State Grazing Districts chairman, and a member of the Montana Woolgrowers Association, the National Woolgrowers Association and the Montana Stockgrowers Association. He served on the board of directors of the Montana Stockgrowers Association from 1988 to 1992 and then as MSGA president from 1996-1998. He was on the National Cattlemen’s Association Board of Directors, then moved through the chairs and served as NCBA’s president in 2001.
There were no strangers in Lynn’s life; if he didn’t know you, he soon would. Lynn never forgot a name, and always had time for a visit or to tell a story. He was a leader in the livestock industry, and will leave a legacy of so much to so many.
Condolences may be posted online athttp://www.legacy.com/greatfallstribune/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=111179654.

Great Falls Tribune

Grass-Fed Beef, Quest for a Healthier Burger

Grass-Fed Beef, Quest for a Healthier Burger

SARA SCHAEFER MUÑOZ

Wall Street Journal

Just in time for barbecue season, some meat purveyors are rolling out beef raised on grass or other organic feed — and are promising that their products are tastier and healthier. While most of the cuts do nicely on a grill, a few have sweet flavors that could turn off even die-hard carnivores.

Producers of the organic meats are catering to consumers who increasingly want to know more about where their foods come from. The organic beef is from cattle that roam pastures and eat things like organic grains and grass instead of the corn-based feed widely used on conventional farms. Producers say the cattle are treated humanely and the beef is healthier for the consumers, as well, since grass-fed beef usually has more nutrients like Omega 3 fatty acids.

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BeefTalk: Life Goes On

BeefTalk: Life Goes On

Kris Ringwall, Beef Specialist, NDSU Extension Service

Good Day or Bad Day, Life Goes On! Good Day or Bad Day, Life Goes On!

We were blessed with rain, but somehow one of the pickups got confused on the change in surface and ran into a cow panel.

Time out has been called, which is not a bad move when the week is flying by. Things should be normal, but what is normal?

Several events can put normal into perspective. The morning was quiet because the power went out, which unexpectedly shut everything down.

The computer servers were messed up and the workplace quickly came to a standstill because the computer screen was blank. New definitions of patience by all those wanting to get some work done resulted.

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Mid-Atlantic Live Market Cattle Evaluation Contest

Mid-Atlantic Live Market Cattle Evaluation Contest

Kiera Finucane, Coordinator, Beef/Dairy Extension Activities, MD

The Mid-Atlantic Live Market Cattle Evaluation Contest will be held on October 11, 2008 at the Farmers Livestock Exchange in Winchester, Virginia. The contest will begin at 2:00 pm. Entry Forms are available at the website shown below. Entries are to be returned by September 25, 2008.

ELIGIBILITY:

An invitation is extended to all 4-H, FFA, Junior Breed Association members, adults and livestock judges to participate in a contest to evaluate live finished cattle and receive the actual carcass data. The divisions will be broken into three divisions: Junior, Senior and Adults. Juniors will be under 14 as of October 11, 2008. Seniors are 14 to 21 as of October 11, 2008. Adults are older than 21 as of October 11, 2008.
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Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) in Beef Cattle

Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) in Beef Cattle

Gary R. Hansen and David G. Riley

University of Florida

Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) were developed to provide cattle producers with an effective tool to evaluate prospective breeding stock. As the name implies, EPDs predict the performance of future offspring from an individual animal. More specifically, EPDs predict the genetic transmitting ability of an individual as a parent. Using EPDs can increase the rate of genetic progress in a selection program. National Cattle Evaluation (NCE) models include:

* Performance records of the individual, parents, progeny, and relatives

* Contemporary group adjustment for environmental and management group effects

* Calculations incorporating genetic relationships (correlations) between traits.

* Adjustment for differences in relative merit of a contemporary group

* Adjustment for genetic merit of females/males mated to individual breeding animals (elimination of bias due to an animal being bred to individuals that are superior or inferior in terms of genetic merit).

* Adjustments for genetic trend.

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Stretching Forage Supplies

Stretching Forage Supplies

cattlenetwork.com

In many parts of the country, hay may be in tight supply this winter – either from too little or too much moisture during the growing season. Years like this can cause us to focus on getting the most out of the forage that is available, especially if it has to be purchased. But actually, good hay and grazing management can have such an impact on feed costs, we ought to be paying attention every feeding season.

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Champions Parade at 2008 Atlantic National Super Point ROV Angus Show

Champions Parade at 2008 Atlantic National Super Point ROV Angus Show

Cattle Today

Angus enthusiasts led 213 entries at the 2008 Atlantic National Super Point Roll of Victory (ROV) Angus Show, May 25 in Timonium, Md. Doug Parrett, Urbana, Ill., evaluated the 174 females, 35 bulls and four cow-calf pairs before naming champions.

P T Wustof 906 claimed grand champion bull honors. Pheasant Trek, Wilton, Calif.; Weaver Angus Farm, Peoria, Ill.; and Stafani Ranch, Ryde, Calif., own the April 2006 son of PT Roth Famous Addiction 101 that first topped the junior division.

Holly Gamble, Clinton, Tenn., showed the reserve grand champion bull. Gambles Jaguar is the February 2006 son of Gambles Hot Rod and first won reserve junior champion.

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Types of Internal Parasites

Types of Internal Parasites

cattlenetwork.com

Internal parasites which affect cattle include: roundworms, flukes, and tapeworms. Tapeworms are not considered to be of economic importance in cattle. Flukes are a problem in the Gulf Coast states and Pacific Northwest, but do not pose a major concern for Virginia cattle producers.

There are several different species of roundworms that can affect cattle in Virginia. Of these species, the one thought to be of most importance is Ostertagia, also known as the brown stomach worm. There are several aspects of this worm’s life cycle that are important in designing a complete deworming program. Cattle are most susceptible to this worm at less than 2 years of age. Most cows greater than 2-3 years of age have developed immunity to this worm and do not show an economical benefit to deworming: However, deworming of cows can decrease the exposure of younger animals pastured in the same field.

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Where’s the beef? Endangering an endearing Oregon brand is no way to herd workers into a union

Where’s the beef? Endangering an endearing Oregon brand is no way to herd workers into a union

The Oregonian

I–t takes a very long time to build a beloved brand. It takes a very short time to destroy one. That’s why we’re so concerned this week that one of Oregon’s most endearing finds itself so endangered.

The men and women who raise cattle on Oregon’s high desert lead lives of utter romance. They ride and rope and wrangle. They have whiskey every day for breakfast. And steak every night for dinner . . . frequently knowing the name of the beast on which they feast.

Well . . . at least they can wear cowboy hats without looking like they’re auditioning for a gig with the Village People.

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Van Vlake, Harper recognized during Cattlemen convention

Van Vlake, Harper recognized during Cattlemen convention

Georgetown Times

During the South Carolina Cattlemen’s Association Annual Convention held recently in Clemson, two Georgetown County residents received awards from the organization.

Lee Van Vlake was named 2008 Educator of the Year.

He grew up in Andrews. His mother is Sheri Feagin. Van Vlake has been a member of the Clemson University Extension Livestock and Forage State Program Team since he was hired in May2006.

His region currently includes 10 counties in the Pee Dee Region.

Van Vlake and Matt Burns planned, developed, coordinated and implemented the first Cattlemen’s Day in conjunction with the Clemson and SCCA Bull Sale.

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Cattle, Entering The Flight Zone

Cattle, Entering The Flight Zone

cattlenetwork.com

Livestock handlers need to understand the flight zone and the point of balance. The point of balance for cattle is typically at the shoulder. To make an animal move forward, the handler should stand behind the point of balance. To move the animal backward, the handler stands in front of the point of balance. The animal may try to turn if the handler enters the animal’s blind spot. Therefore, don’t walk directly behind an animal, but off to the side so you can be seen.

Careful, quiet handling of cattle will help improve productivity. Stress imposed by handling and transport can have detrimental effects on weight gain, rumen function, reproductive function, and the immune system. Quiet handling reduces stress-related meat-quality problems such as dark cutters. The amount of stress imposed on an animal is an interaction involving previous experience and genetics.

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New Website Created For Animal Waste Management

New Website Created For Animal Waste Management

AgWeb.com

Alternative methods for handling livestock manure in economical and practical ways are now shared on a new University of Illinois Extension website, according to a statement from the university. The webiste is a result of cumulative research efforts ongoing since the 1990s.

The website, called Swine Waste Economical and Environmental Treatment – or SWEETA, was prepared by the Livestock and Urban Waste Research Team, currently composed of 12 investigators. The website focuses on a systems approach for processing and application of liquid swine manure to fields.
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Farmers face high fuel, feed prices during drought recovery

Farmers face high fuel, feed prices during drought recovery

By ERICA ESTEP

WATE

High food and fuel prices are really hitting local farmers hard as they continue trying to recover from the worst drought in a century.

Last year, many cattle farmers sold off large numbers of their herds just to stay in business.

Some still haven’t recovered and those who survived last year’s dry spell are concerned about how to stay in business this year.

Dairy farmer Mac Pate showed 6 News the special blend of feed that makes up his dairy cows diet.

It’s a combination he’s had to change, with the help of a nutritionist, several times in an effort to save money while keeping his cows producing milk.

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NCTA features cattle handling expert

NCTA features cattle handling expert

High Plains Journal

The Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture recently hosted Dr. Lynn Locatelli, a nationally-known low stress cattle handling expert, as part of their annual Cow-Calf College May 15 to 17. Dr. Locatelli, who practices in Benkelman at Twin Forks Veterinary Clinic, led sessions and a hands-on demonstration aimed at showing students that “low stress handling techniques are one of the best returns on investment that a cattle producer can make.” She was assisted in her demonstration by Clint Hoss, who has spent the last 12 years working in a western Nebraska feedlot. The Cow-Calf College was the first course held that is part of the new 100-Beef Cow Ownership Outreach Program recently launched at NCTA.
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Q&A: At what age could a bull calf possibly be fertile? When should I separate the heifer calves from the bull calves in the pasture?

Q&A: At what age could a bull calf possibly be fertile? When should I separate the heifer calves from the bull calves in the pasture?

Dr. Rick Rasby, Professor of Animal Science, Animal Science, University of Nebraska

A: There are breed differences in age at which a bull could service a female. Brahman breeds tend to be later maturing than British and Continental breeds.

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Defensive Cattle Instincts: “Round-House” Punchers

Defensive Cattle Instincts: “Round-House” Punchers

cattlenetwork.com

Horses usually kick directly toward the rear. Cattle are “round-house” punchers. Cows kick forward and out to the side. Cows also have a tendency to kick toward a side with pain. So, if a cow is suffering from mastitis in one quarter, consider approaching her from the opposite side of the affliction. Calves can kick directly backwards and can have a quick “round-house” punch.

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