Video Feature: Making COOL work for you

 

Video Feature:  Making COOL work for you

Craig Morris and Tom Field team up to provide an update of mandatory country of origin labeling. Recorded a the 2008 Beef Quality Summit, Novemebr 2008, Colorado Springs, CO. This Recording is a production of the Animal Sciences Department, Purdue University.

Video Feature: Grass Tetany Primer

 

Video Feature:  Grass Tetany Primer

Dr. Ron Lemenager discusses the prevention, symptoms and causes of the metabolic disease grass tetany.

Is organic food safer?

Is organic food safer?

Drovers

Consumers are starting to question whether organic foods are safer than conventional foods. And in today’s economy, they’re questioning whether organic foods are worth the extra cost — sometimes as much as 50 percent more than conventional foods.

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FDA feed ban brings challenges, opportunities to Minnesota renderer

FDA feed ban brings challenges, opportunities to Minnesota renderer

Rita Brhel

Cattle Business Weekly

The Food and Drug Administration’s final expanded feed ban rule is no doubt causing a lot of headaches in the beef and dairy industries, from producers to packing plants to rendering companies. But, for at least one renderer, the ruling has created opportunity to develop new value-added products.

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5 Risk management tools to consider in 2009

5 Risk management tools to consider in 2009

Job Springer, Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation

American Cowman

The stock market is not the only investment that fell in value during 2008 – the agricultural commodities markets have, too. Many agricultural producers across the United States are feeling the pinch from falling commodity prices. Because of the current downturn in these markets, it has become more important than ever for agricultural producers to manage their price risks.

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Carbon credits not fast money

Carbon credits not fast money

Carbon credit market pays for practices landowners may already be using

Tri State livestock News

For a landowner looking to turn a quick profit, the carbon credit market is not the best option, but it can offer supplementary income for conservation practices that are part of a long-term management strategy.

“This isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme,” said Gary Wyatt, an extension educator with the University of Minnesota. But it can be a nice payment for practices that meet a producer’s short-term and long-term goals.

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AHA Announces 2008 Dams of Distinction

AHA Announces 2008 Dams of Distinction

Rausch Herefords tops the list for 28th year

For 2008, 1,938 Hereford cows from 641 Hereford performance herds in 45 states earned the honor of being named a Dam of Distinction by the American Hereford Association (AHA).

            For the 28th consecutive year, South Dakota Hereford operation Rausch Herefords owns the most Dams of Distinction honored at 56 head, and again leads its state to the top of the list with 319 cows recognized.

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BeefTalk: There is No Profit from Calves that Cost $2.80 Per Pound

BeefTalk: There is No Profit from Calves that Cost $2.80 Per Pound

Kris Ringwall, Beef Specialist, NDSU Extension Service

There is no profit in a calf that costs $2.80 per pound to deliver by caesarean section and has no heartbeat. There is no profit in a calf that costs $2.80 per pound to deliver by caesarean section and has no heartbeat.

Is the return for the added performance of the calves worthwhile?

“The pass is open” is an expression that is used by residents and travelers in mountainous areas. This year, the saying, “the interstate is open” would ring a bell, especially given all the changes in travel agendas in the past three to four months.

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Performance & Carcass Traits Of Finishing Heifers Fed Crude Glycerin

Performance & Carcass Traits Of Finishing Heifers Fed Crude Glycerin

cattlenetwork.com

Crossbred heifers (930 lb) were fed finishing diets containing 0, 2, 4, 8, 12 or 16% crude glycerin (DM basis). Diets consisted of steam-flaked corn with 6% alfalfa hay and 1.2% urea and provided 300 mg of monensin, 90 mg of tylosin and 0.5 mg of melengestrol acetate per animal daily. Cattle were transitioned from the control diet to diets containing increasing proportions of glycerin over a period of 10 days. Cattle had ad libitum access to feed, and diets were delivered once daily throughout the 85-day trial period.

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Processing plant would create 750 jobs; make beef jerky

Processing plant would create 750 jobs; make beef jerky

BILL MARDIS

Commonwealth Journal

The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board has approved $130,000 in state funds to develop an in-depth plan for a beef processing plant in southeastern Kentucky, possibly in eastern Pulaski County.

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AG Department Dragnet Recovers Stolen Livestock Equipment

AG Department Dragnet Recovers Stolen Livestock Equipment

Debra Davis

Alabama Farm Bureau

More than a half million dollars in equipment and livestock have been recovered through an investigation led by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, Commissioner Ron Sparks announced at a March 3 press conference.

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U.S. beef ranchers out-produce other nations

U.S. beef ranchers out-produce other nations

California Farm Bureau

Modern technology allows beef ranchers in California and the nation to out-produce ranchers in other nations that have higher numbers of beef animals.

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Eye White Percentage As A Predictor Of Temperament In Beef Cattle

Eye White Percentage As A Predictor Of Temperament In Beef Cattle

cattlenetwork.com

Accurately evaluating and selecting for calm temperament in beef cattle is important for economic and animal welfare reasons. Previous studies have shown that eye white can be a predictor of a multitude of emotions across different situations, but there is little research on the relationship between eye white and temperament. The objective of this experiment was to assess the accuracy and reliability of using the percentage of exposed eye white as a predictor of temperament in beef cattle.

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Advice from a banker

Advice from a banker

John Blanchfield, American Banker’s Association

Cattle Business Weekly

Tough financial times require better financial management. Here are ten tips for farmers and ranchers to consider:

1.      In tough times, cash is king. Carefully examine every capital purchase that will require additional debt. Ask yourself if the expenditure will generate the cash flow needed to pay for itself. If the new item can’t create enough new cash to pay for itself over a reasonable period of time, delay the purchase.

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Farmer has home-grown solution to falling prices

Farmer has home-grown solution to falling prices

Napaneeguide.com

Driving around the countryside, you may have noticed, like Brian Windover did, the number of abandoned barns.

 “There’s empty barns everywhere, but I’m too stubborn to give up,” he said.

Not wanting to join the ranks of those who used to be farmers, a couple years ago, Windover, who grows beef cattle on the south shore of Hay Bay, started trying a different tack.

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