USDA Dropping Checkoff Plan
Chris Clayton
DTN
In a phone interview Thursday, Vilsack said USDA won’t pursue efforts to create another checkoff under the 1996 commodity promotion law. A policy rider in the federal appropriations bill passed over the weekend prevents USDA from continuing to write a rule for the plan during this fiscal year.
Posted in Uncategorized
Actually, Raising Beef Is Good for the Planet
Wall Street Journal
Nicolette Hahn Niman
People who advocate eating less beef often argue that producing it hurts the environment. Cattle, we are told, have an outsize ecological footprint: They guzzle water, trample plants and soils, and consume precious grains that should be nourishing hungry humans. Lately, critics have blamed bovine burps, flatulence and even breath for climate change.
Posted in Uncategorized
Denver Aims To Transform National Western Complex Into Year-Round Facility
CBS Denver
Mostly synonymous with the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo, the venue isn’t used much beyond two weeks during that annual event. The stock show attracts hundreds of thousands every winter, but the site sits dormant for much of the year.
Posted in Uncategorized
Genex is first to launch sire fertility rankings on beef sires, the company says
Beef Producer
Genex Cooperative, Inc. this week announced it will launch sire fertility rankings on beef sires. "We are excited to launch a beef sire fertility ranking model," states Keith Heikes, Genex Chief Operating Officer. "This fertility ranking, called PregCheck, evaluates an individual sire’s frozen semen conception rate."
Posted in Uncategorized
Hereford association releases EPDs for udder quality
BEEF
Now it’s the ladies’ turn. With many EPDs focusing on the bull side of the equation, the American Hereford Association (AHA), with the release of its spring 2015 Pan-American Cattle Evaluation (PACE), has released two new expected progeny differences (EPDs) for udder quality.
Posted in Uncategorized
Confinement feeding for beef cows
John Maday
Drovers
According to the group’s economic analysis of the three systems, net return per cow was $364 for year-round grazed, $237 for low-energy drylot, and $298 for high-energy drylot. Net return per system was $182,000 for year-round grazed, $165,000 for low-energy drylot, and $208,000 for high-energy drylot.
Posted in Uncategorized
Harvest analysis determines mycotoxins stealing ruminant returns
Bovine Veterinarian
The results are in and this year’s North America corn silage crop contains a mixture of molds and mycotoxins, putting beef and dairy cattle at high risk for mycotoxin exposure and performance problems including a 3.5 pound average loss in milk yield, according to a recent survey by Alltech.
Posted in Uncategorized
Plan now for colostrum needs this spring
Glenn Selk
Drovers
It is not too soon to begin to prepare for the spring calving season. Locating, obtaining, and storing several doses of colostrum or colostrum replacer will come in handy before the first heifers start to go into labor.
Posted in Uncategorized
Cows For Christmas For A Last-Minute Gift Idea
The Pinke Post
Through a group of friends, Rockin’ Rural Women on Facebook, we are raising funds to help Heifer International. Donate here. Cows have nine times the impact on poverty-stricken communities as their offspring keep giving. Heifer International works with communities to give cows that families can milk and provide much needed nutrients and extra income.
Posted in Uncategorized
North American beef cow and heifer analysis
Stillwater News Press
U.S. imports of Canadian cattle for the first 10 months of 2014 were up nearly 20 percent, including a 7.3 percent increase in cattle for immediate slaughter and a 42 percent increase in feeder cattle. Total cattle for immediate slaughter includes a 2 percent increase in slaughter cows and a 15 percent increase in slaughter heifers for the year to date.
Posted in Uncategorized
The Beef Blog 