Daily Archives: September 26, 2008

Stokes resigns as CEO of NCBA

Stokes resigns as CEO of NCBA

KNEB

Terry Stokes, chief executive officer of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), announced today he will resign from his position following the 2009 Cattle Industry Convention, January 31, 2009.

Stokes said representing cattlemen and championing their cause has been the greatest honor and the most fulfilling job of his career, but he explained it also is all-consuming. He said he is looking forward to spending time with his family and exploring new opportunities.

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Angus breed tackling Curly Calf Syndrome

Angus breed tackling Curly Calf Syndrome

Gardiner Angus suspected, helping with research

Codi Vallery

The Cattle Business Weekly

The Curly Calf Syndrome being talked about recently in Angus cattle has been tentatively traced to the GAR Precision 1680 bloodlines, according to Dr. Jonathan E. Beever and Dr. David Steffen who are working in cooperation with the American Angus Association.

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BeefTalk: Tips for Marketing Cows and Bulls

BeefTalk: Tips for Marketing Cows and Bulls

Kris Ringwall, Beef Specialist, NDSU Extension Service

Key Points: Executive Summary of the 2007 National Market Cow and Bull Beef Quality Audit Key Points: Executive Summary of the 2007 National Market Cow and Bull Beef Quality Audit

When producers band together, industry weak points can be identified and eliminated.

Every year, beef operators need to make decisions on how many cows and bulls will remain on the production inventory sheet and how many will shift to the market column. In preparation for that shift, as well as management during the marketing process, beef producers need to recap the year’s production and review their marketing strategies.

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America Faces Critical Shortage Of Veterinarians

America Faces Critical Shortage Of Veterinarians

cattlenetwork.com

America has a growing shortage of veterinarians. It’s become a career with almost no unemployment, because there aren’t enough veterinarians to fill available jobs.

This shortage is starting to reach crisis levels in some areas, reports the American Veterinary Medical Association. For example, dozens of rural counties across the country lack large-animal veterinarians to treat livestock and poultry-putting the country’s food supply in jeopardy.

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COOL Recordkeeping Now Necessary Part of Livestock Marketing

COOL Recordkeeping Now Necessary Part of Livestock Marketing

Tim Petry, Livestock Marketing Economist, NDSU Extension Service

The USDA has issued an Interim Final Rule for the implementation of Country of Origin Labeling and is taking comments until Sept. 30.

Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) for retail packages of beef, chicken, goat, lamb and pork will become mandatory in the U.S. on Sept. 30. Beef, lamb and pork were included in the 2002 farm bill. Chicken and goat meat were added in the 2008 farm bill.

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Support and attend ninth annual Minnesota Beef Expo

Support and attend ninth annual Minnesota Beef Expo

ANDREA JOHNSON

Minnesota Farm Guide

The Minnesota Beef Expo just keeps getting bigger and better!

This year’s premier beef event in the upper Midwest will take place at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, Thursday, Oct. 16 through Sunday, Oct. 19.

The four-day event includes a junior show featuring approximately 550 head of cattle competing for over $10,000 in prize money.

Junior events also include cattle judging, showmanship competition, and presentation of seven Minnesota Youth Beef Experience Program heifers.

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Stage, Moisture Vital To Making Silage

Stage, Moisture Vital To Making Silage

cattlenetwork.com

If your field corn maturity is behind schedule, the silage corn certainly will be late.

“We are now at the time of the year that frost often determines when to begin chopping,” says J.W. Schroeder, North Dakota State University Extension Service dairy specialist. “But without a frost forcing the decision, producers may be looking to begin chopping now.”

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Beefmobile, Beef Ambassador among programs cut

Beefmobile, Beef Ambassador among programs cut

The Cattle Business Weekly

The Beef Promotion Operating Committee this week approved spending the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) Fiscal Year 2009 program budget of $42 million on a total of 35 national checkoff programs. But cuts were needed and were spread out by the committee across various categories.

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Mad Cow Disease by Mutation Places American Beef Supply at Deadly Risk

Mad Cow Disease by Mutation Places American Beef Supply at Deadly Risk

Will Your Next Burger Come with a Disclaimer and Release of Liability Form?

Sylvia Cochran

Associated Content

Mad Cow Disease, known in scientific circles as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), is a deadly disease transmitted from infected cattle to human consumers of offal (particularly brain and spinal cord tissues). Infected humans develop Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). Great Britain is known as the hotbed of Mad Cow Disease, but truth be told, cases are cropping up everywhere.

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Alliance helps build cattle quality/quantity in east central Minnesota

Alliance helps build cattle quality/quantity in east central Minnesota

ANDREA JOHNSON

Central Minnesota Premium Beef Association members hope you will soon recognize their name.

The association is made up of cow/calf producers from Duluth, Aitkin, Carlton and the surrounding area working together to offer primarily Angus/Gelbvieh feeder cattle in semi-load lots.

The 2008 group includes 16 producers with 454 spring calves for sale.

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Many Producers Making Restocking Plans

Many Producers Making Restocking Plans

J. Kevan Tucker, Clarke County, Extension Coordinator

Cattle Today

The dry weather of 2007, and to some extent 2006, reduced the size of Alabama cow herds and in some cases, the entire herd was disbursed. Weather conditions have improved as of late and many cattlemen are planning rebuilding efforts. Several factors should be considered as you begin rebuilding.

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Diseases present major challenge to beef industry

Diseases present major challenge to beef industry

Terry Anderson

Minnesota Farm Guide

Three big words – brucellosis, tuberculosis, trichomoniasis – continue to present major challenges among Nebraska’s cattle industry and occupy much of the time for State Veterinarian Dr. Dennis Hughes. Then throw in an increasing number of starving and neglected cattle and horses.

“We’ve got a lot going,” Hughes said. “My field people are swamped.”

Brucellosis became a problem in the spring, tuberculosis could become a problem, and trichomoniasis has been a problem, though some don’t know it or aren’t willing to admit it.

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USCA urges producers to file comments on COOL final policy rule by Sept. 30

USCA urges producers to file comments on COOL final policy rule by Sept. 30

The Prairie Star

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published its Interim Final Rule for Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) in the Aug. 1 Federal Register. The agency is accepting public comment until Sept. 30.

The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) COOL Committee Chair, Danni Beer, South Dakota is urging livestock producers and producer groups across the country to file comments.

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Beef Prices At All-Time High

Beef Prices At All-Time High

KOMU

After 50 years in the cattle industry, consumers are noticing a sharp increase in beef prices.

Some beef producers blame the increase on corn – an ingredient in cattle feed.

“The amount of corn now driven to the bio fuels sector has driven corn prices higher. Strong export demand for corn prices has driven corn prices higher. That’s translated into higher feed prices for cattle producers in this country,” Food Economist Scott Brown said

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Hearing on antibiotic resistance held

Hearing on antibiotic resistance held

KRVN

The Livestock Subcommittee of House Agricultural Committee held a hearing on the animal use of antibiotics that failed to address the mounting body of scientific evidence concluding that the overuse of antibiotics is contributing to the number one public health problem facing the U.S., the crisis of antibiotic resistance.

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