Va Tech appoints Purdue’s Grant new dean for College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Virginia Tech has named Alan Grant, professor and head of the Department of Animal Sciences at Purdue University, the new dean for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Grant will start his position on Oct. 1, when he succeeds L.T. Kok, who has been interim dean since March after Sharron Quisenberry left to become vice president of research and economic development at Iowa State University.

“Alan Grant has an impressive record of teaching, research, outreach, and administrative accomplishments. I am excited about his vision for future growth and development of the college, which will ensure the college’s continued excellent standing among its peers. He will build on the organization’s strong foundation to further grow our programs for agriculture and the environment, food and health, life sciences, and learning. I look forward to his joining our leadership team,” stated Senior Vice President and Provost Mark McNamee.

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Neuropathic Hydrocephaly – Information for Cow-Calf Producers

Neuropathic Hydrocephaly – Information for Cow-Calf Producers

Dr. Scott Greiner, Extension Animal Scientist, VA Tech

Neuropathic Hydrocephaly (NH) is a genetic defect recently recognized in Angus cattle. NH-affected calves are dead at birth and have severe hydrocephalus (water on brain), skull malformation, absence of central nervous system tissue (brain and spinal cord), and joint fixation. Research has confirmed that NH is a lethal genetic defect which is inherited as a simple recessive and controlled by a single gene.

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Veterinary compounding

Veterinary compounding

Heather Smith Thomas

Tri State Livestock News

Illegal compounding received media attention in April 2009 when 19 polo horses in Florida died suddenly – after receiving injections of a compounded vitamin-mineral product that contained excessively high levels of selenium. In 2006, six Louisiana horses died (and approximately 10 more were severely affected) after receiving an illegally compounded clenbuterol product.

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Flying Turnips or Rye Into Corn

Flying Turnips or Rye Into Corn

Dr. Bruce Anderson, Professor of Agronomy, Agronomy & Horticulture, University of Nebraska

Corn stalks are one of the better and least expensive winter feeds we have. But once cattle finish eating the grain and husks, what remains isn’t all that good. Some growers have improved both the amount and quality of corn stalk grazing by flying turnip or rye seed onto standing corn in early August. When successful, turnip or rye plants provide more grazing days and extra protein when corn stalks become poor quality.

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Late Summer Supplementation with Protein

Late Summer Supplementation with Protein

Dr. Glenn Selk, Extension Cattle Specialist, Oklahoma State University

Because condition at calving and breeding are so important, it may at first seem silly to begin worrying about condition in the middle of summer.  However, it must be remembered that there are few economical ways to increase body condition once winter has arrived.

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Tax Case Considers Profit Motive of Cattle Producers

Tax Case Considers Profit Motive of Cattle Producers

John Alan Cohan, Attorney at Law

Cattle Today

A tax case, Mullins v. United States, decided in the United States District Court in Knoxville, Tennessee, considered an individual who owned and operated a cattle-raising operation who claimed he was entitled to deduct losses over a period of years. The court issued an opinion which focused on the fact that the taxpayer had consulted industry and legal experts in the industry, and that the land used for the cattle operation had appreciated in value. The court held that these factors indicated the individual’s profit motive.

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Low-stress Stockmanship

Low-stress Stockmanship

Noble Foundation

Ryan Reuter and Kent Shankles

At a workshop in April 2009, we discussed low-stress cattle handling techniques with beginning cattle producers. The review was also helpful to remind experienced cattlemen of the techniques we need to employ when handling cattle.

A common misconception is that "low-stress" must mean "no pressure." That is absolutely false. Cattle, like all other animals, respond to appropriate application and release of pressure. There are times when significant pressure must be applied to get the animals to move how and when you need. Pressure, used appropriately, does not cause long-term, harmful stress.

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Drover Hill Farm in Madison County produces natural beef

Drover Hill Farm in Madison County produces natural beef

Syracuse.com

Farmers William and Stephanie Lipsey raise 100 head of beef cattle at the 240-acre Drover Hill Farm, in the town of Hamilton a few miles north of Earlville. They know their customers are looking for beef that is natural, not industrial and not mass-produced.

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First and Second Steps in Taking Charge of Your Cow-Calf Operation

First and Second Steps in Taking Charge of Your Cow-Calf Operation

Dr. Mark A. McCann, Extension Animal Scientist, VA Tech

Tougher economic conditions usually stimulate a greater interest in belt tightening and becoming more efficient whether it is household or farm expenses. Low input/management cattle operations which run a bull year round many times are puzzled about where and how to start getting better control of their herd management. It really is quite simple and is based on removing the bull first and following up with pregnancy determination.

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Beef imports from U.S. plant suspended over BSE concern

Beef imports from U.S. plant suspended over BSE concern

Japan Times

The government said Wednesday it has suspended beef imports from a U.S. plant after two packages of chilled beef were found to contain spinal columns, a risk material for mad cow disease.

The two packages were among 16 tons of U.S. beef flanks and other parts in 810 packages that arrived at a port in Tokyo from Creekstone Farms Premium Beef LLC’s plant in Kansas, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

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JBS wants to go public in order to expand operations

JBS wants to go public in order to expand operations

Sharon Dunn

The Greeley Tribune

The Brazilian owners of the former Swift & Co. meatpacking operations based in Greeley have planned a $2 billion public offering to raise money for continued expansions that could essentially cut out the grocery store butcher

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More Producers See Value in Joining Iowa Cattlemen’s Association

More Producers See Value in Joining Iowa Cattlemen’s Association

Wallace’s Farmer

Mounting issues like cap-and-trade, carbon footprints and combating the animal activists groups continue to be challenges for the beef cattle industry, not only in Iowa but nationally. With an increase in membership, the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association has been re-energized and is now more equipped to handle these issues, says Trent Wellman, ICA communications manager.

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Wal-Mart Continues Ban On Northern Brazilian Beef Purchases

Wal-Mart Continues Ban On Northern Brazilian Beef Purchases

CNN Money

U.S. retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) is continuing its ban on beef purchases from the northern Brazilian state of Para, a press officer confirmed Tuesday.

"The company is against any move to restart beef purchases [from meatpackers in Para] before an independent audit process is established to guarantee the origin of beef from the region," Wal-Mart said in a statement.

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BRD – Mass Medication vs. Individual Animal Treatment

BRD – Mass Medication vs. Individual Animal Treatment

cattlenetwork.com

Should individual animals be medicated or the whole herd? Without treatment, each sick animal has a very high risk of death. If illness is complicated by bacteria, appropriate antibiotic selection can be made through consultation with a veterinarian and using culture and sensitivity tests performed on samples collected at necropsy.

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Tour takes cattle feeders to Montana ranches

Tour takes cattle feeders to Montana ranches

Drovers

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) is coordinating a bus tour of Montana’s beef industry for those who are involved in Nebraska’s cattle feeding industry. The "Big Sky Cattle Drive" tour will be held August 18-21.

Montana ranks seventh in the nation for number of beef cattle and is the third largest exporter of feeder cattle to Nebraska. The tour will spotlight cow-calf operations in eastern and central Montana, along with leading beef industry businesses that utilize the latest technology and developments in genetics, feed efficiency, research and marketing.

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