News Update
October 30, 2015
Feeding vs. Forage
Feed input prices have changed significantly during the past few months. Those market changes are reason for beef producers to re-evaluate their gain versus forage feeding strategies, according to Galen Erickson, feedlot specialist with the University of Nebraska.
“Forages are critically important to the beef industry, and that’s me as a feedlot specialist saying that. So, I’m very concerned on what our pasture prices are, and what our costs — let’s say we’re going to graze those with stocker cattle, our cost of gain, or cost per unit of pound gain isn’t competitive on that type of pasture cost, or that system, as it would be if we fed them a high grain diet,” Erickson said.
Erickson believes in the next few years the beef industry will have to sort out the optimum way to add weight: “And it may favor more grain feeding, at least here in the near term,” he adds.
Watch this week’s The Angus Report to see Erickson’s full interview. You can also catch the show at 1:30 p.m. CDT Saturday, 7:30 a.m. CST Monday and 5 p.m. CST each Wednesday on RFD-TV.
Public Hearing Scheduled for Missouri Beef Checkoff
The state Director of Agriculture has received a petition from the Missouri Beef Industry Council Board of Directors to conduct a referendum of Missouri cattle producers, pursuant to section 275.352 RSMo as amended, to establish a $1 per head state beef checkoff assessment.
A public hearing on the referendum will take place at 10 a.m, Dec. 9 at the Missouri Electric Cooperatives building on the Missouri State Fairgrounds, 2503 W. 16th Street, Sedalia, Mo. At this hearing, all interested persons will have the opportunity to voice their opinions regarding the referendum to establish a $1 per head state beef checkoff assessment. After the hearing, the Director of Agriculture may approve the petition to conduct a referendum.
If the Director determines that a referendum should be conducted, cattle producers will be required to register in order to vote. If the referendum is approved, registration of producers is scheduled to begin Jan. 4, 2016, and close on March 4, 2016. Registration will be available online at or at county Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices.
For more information, contact the Missouri Department of Agriculture, 1616 Missouri Boulevard, Jefferson City, MO 65109 or 573-751-4211.
BioZyme Breaks Ground on $1.2 Million Warehouse/Dock Expansion
BioZyme, manufacturer of Amaferm®, Sure Champ®, VitaFerm® and other proprietary, natural feed supplements for cattle, commercial poultry and swine, and show livestock, broke ground last month on a $1.2 million warehouse and dock addition to its main supplement production facility in Saint Joseph, Mo.
The 14,000-square-foot addition, under construction at 6010 Stockyards Expressway, is expected to be completed in Spring 2016 and will provide much needed space for the increasing number of trucks needed to pick up orders. BioZyme relies entirely on outside carriers to transport its products to customers.
Increased demand for BioZyme’s natural feed supplements domestically and internationally prompted the facility expansion. BioZyme’s products are formulated to promote animal health, digestion, production and reproduction.
For more information, please view the Biozyme release online.
Purina Animal Nutrition Tech Services Team
Purina Animal Nutrition is pleased to announce the addition of Christina Hayes, as the product manager for the beef technical sales and marketing services team.
Hayes grew up in Hibbing, Minn., and received her bachelor’s degree in biological sciences, as well as her master’s and doctorate in animal science from North Dakota State University. Her master’s program focused on fetal programming and the influence of maternal protein supplementation on fetal muscle growth and development in livestock. Her doctoral work focused on growth promotant programs during the finishing period, use of genetic technologies and breeding programs to maximize profit potential and processing procedures to improve beef palatability.
In her role as product manager for the beef technical sales and marketing services team, Hayes will act as a technical liaison to the marketing team.
For more information, please view the full Purina release online.
South Central Texas Cow-Calf Clinic
A herd bull is the foundation of a cattle operation and determines profitability in a cow herd, according to experts at the recent 44th annual South Central Texas Cow-Calf Clinic in Brenham.
Jason Cleere, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service beef cattle specialist, College Station, said, “For me, when looking at purchasing bulls, it starts with the data. Good calves bring good money and data on the bulls we are looking to purchase can assist with selecting the right sire for the operation. But you can’t just rely on data. There’s also visual selection.”
Half of the genetics produced from a calf crop comes from the herd bull. Things to consider when selecting a bull include visual appraisal, individual records, ultrasound data and genetic markers. Expected progeny differences, also known as EPDs, are the most effective genetic selection tool and combine performance and genetic marker data, he said.
For more information, please view the AgriLife release online.
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