News Update

News Update
August 29, 2007

Marand’s Angus Donates Heifer

When the Kansas Angus Association (KAA) decided to start a scholarship endowment fund with a goal of $10,000, it was no surprise that McCurry Angus Ranch, home of Marand’s Angus, was pleased to support them. Sunday, Sept. 2, will be an exciting day for Andy, Mary, John and Emily McCurry as their Inaugural Female Production Sale will take place at the ranch in Burrton, Kan., at 1 p.m. It will also be an exciting day for the KAA, as their $10,000 goal will be met by the sale day proceeds of Lot 26, McCurry Bell 7007, sired by Hero 6267 of RR 2418, a son of RR Hero 6267 and RR Everelda Entense 0413.

This February female combines the prestigious pedigrees of Rollin’ Rock Angus on the paternal side with the high-selling Champion Hill Bell family of females. The pedigree and performance data of this heifer make her an elite attraction for the junior Angus exhibitor or the Angus breeder wanting to add a new dimension to their cow herd. The McCurry family encourages fellow Angus breeders to support this worthy cause, which has played a vital role in this family’s involvement in the Kansas Junior Angus Association (KJAA) and will ensure its legacy for generations to come.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for Angus breeders to add outstanding genetics to their herds, while simultaneously supporting Angus youth in Kansas,” Angus Foundation President Milford Jenkins says. “We are extremely grateful to the McCurry family for their generous donation and commend their dedication to supporting the next generation of Angus breeders through this scholarship endowment fund.”

Funds raised by the auction of this female will count toward achievement of the Angus Foundation’s first capital campaign, Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus, which aims to raise $11 million by Dec. 31, 2011, to further support the Foundation’s education, youth and research efforts. To date, more than $3.6 million has been committed to the campaign through outright cash gifts, pledges and planned giving commitments.

To learn more about this female, please contact John McCurry at 620-727-5197. For more information about the Angus Foundation or making a donation to the Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus, contact Jenkins at 816-383-5100 or mjenkins@angusfoundation.org.

— Release provided by the Angus Foundation.

Dow AgroSciences, University of Guelph Sign Licensing Agreement

Dow AgroSciences LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Co., has announced the signing of a license agreement with the University of Guelph, Canada, that provides Dow AgroSciences with exclusive rights to the leukotoxin antigen LKT-50. Researchers at the university have isolated and modified the gene for the native antigen, which produces an immune response against Mannheimia haemolytica, or “shipping fever,” a common respiratory infection in cattle. The University of Guelph will soon receive a U.S. patent on LKT-50.

Shipping fever pneumonia is the leading cause of death and economic loss for the cattle industry. The bacterium M. haemolytica (or Pasteurella haemolytica) infects the lower respiratory tract and causes pneumonia during times of stress, adverse conditions and respiratory viral infection.

Dow AgroSciences Animal Health has licensed the gene from the university to use in its Concert™ plant-cell-produced system to develop a vaccine. The Concert system is a new technology that utilizes plant cells instead of whole plants to produce vaccines in a secure, bio-contained environment. This plant-cell-produced process results in subunit vaccines that use only the necessary parts of the bacteria to stimulate immunity to prevent disease without stressing the animal.

“Respiratory disease is a major source of illness in cattle, and in this partnership with Dow AgroSciences we are moving into the next generation of effective vaccines — going from conventional vaccine technology into plant-cell-produced and, potentially, to edible plant-made formats,” notes Patricia Shewen, professor of immunology in the Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph.

Researchers at the University of Guelph are continuing their research and testing of genetically modified alfalfa to produce the antigens and are testing edible vaccine technology to speed up the vaccination of large herds of cattle to protect against shipping fever.

Appeals Court Rules Against R-CALF's Challenge to Canadian Beef Imports

A U.S. appeals court Tuesday, Aug. 28, rejected the legal challenge by Ranchers Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF USA) that seeks to overturn the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) rule allowing the import of Canadian cattle and beef because of the alleged risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), according to Meatingplace.com.

“Having reviewed the merits of this case, we conclude that the agency considered the relevant factors and articulated a rational connection between the facts found and its decision to designate Canada a minimal-risk country,” Judge Cynthia Holcomb Hall wrote for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Many industry groups praised the ruling. “This decision will help clear the way for fully restoring cattle trade with Canada, which is good for both of our countries,” said American Meat Institute President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) J. Patrick Boyle in a news release.

“While we’re gratified that the court reached the correct decision, there are still steps ahead to normalize trade with Canada after the debacle that this suit created,” concurred National Meat Association CEO and Executive Director Barry Carpenter, also in a news release.

R-CALF spokeswoman Shae Dodson told Meatingplace.com that the group planned to meet Tuesday night to discuss the court ruling, but the meeting would be strictly informational. No formal decision could be made unless the meeting was called with at least 14 days notice, Dodson said. According to Dodson, R-CALF’s next step could be to request a hearing by all the judges on the Ninth Circuit, rather than the three-judge panel that handed down Tuesday’s ruling.

— compiled by Linda Robbins, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.