News Update

News Update
Dec. 7, 2007

Angus Genetics Featured at 2008 National Western Angus Bull Sale

Some of the Angus breed’s top genetics will be offered at auction during the 2008 National Western Angus Bull Sale, Thursday, Jan. 17 at the Beef Palace Auction Arena at the National Western Stock Show Complex in Denver, Colo. The sale begins at 2 p.m. and features 31 Angus bulls from 17 states. It is the only sale managed by the American Angus Association®.

“This year’s sale features an excellent offering of purebred and commercial herd sire prospects that represent the Angus breed and its breeders well,” says David Gazda, sale manager and Association regional manager. “In past years some of the breeds most influential and leading AI sires have been consigned by Angus breeders and sold through this sale.” The bulls in the sale include coming yearlings and 2-year-olds.

A sale catalog with a complete listing of the bull’s pedigrees and performance information was included in the December Angus Journal and is also posted online at www.angusjournal.com. Sale books can be requested by contacting Linda Campbell at the Association, 816-383-5100.

Potential buyers will have the opportunity to preview the bulls at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 17 in the Stadium Arena. A panel of five judges will evaluate the bulls to help establish sale order. Judges include Mike Jones, Folsom, La.; Mike McGuire, Waverly, Ala.; Rick Blanchard, Firebaugh, Calif.; Scott Bush, Britton, S.D.; and Cheramie Viator, Franklin, Texas. Eddie Sims, Elgin, Okla., is the auctioneer.

For those who can’t attend the sale in Denver, it will be broadcast online at www.LiveAuctions.tv. Online bidders must register with LiveAuctions.tv two days prior to the sale.

For more information about this sale and its offerings, contact David Gazda at 706-296-7846 or any Association regional manager.

— Adapted from a release provided by American Angus Association.

Keep Warm This Winter

According to Kentucky Energy Watch, natural gas prices are expected to increase by about 10% this winter to $9.46 per 1,000 cubic feet. This is an 81¢ increase from last year. Robert Fehr, University of Kentucky (UK) Extension professor in biosystems and agricultural engineering, estimates 45% of Kentucky households use natural gas as their primary heat source.

An easy way to reduce energy bills is to set thermostats lower when homeowners or occupants are gone or asleep. For every degree thermostats are lowered, people can save up to 4% off their heating bills. Heat pumps require special thermostats if a homeowner wants to lower them while they are gone or at night.

Another way to reduce energy bills is to block air leaks. Small gaps around doors, windows and other areas in people’s home may be costing them money and creating cold drafts. Plugging these leaks could save homeowners up to 10% on energy bills, and the materials will probably pay for themselves within a year.

To find leaks, wait until a windy day. Then hold a lit incense stick up to areas around window and door frames. If the flame flickers, an air current is flowing, Adler says. These places should be caulked and sealed. Also, check areas where plumbing, electrical wiring or ductwork enters through exterior walls, floors and ceilings. These openings may be under sinks or in other places that are hidden from sight, but they still allow cold air to enter your home. If you have pull-down attic stairs, be sure to check for drafts and air exchange here too, she said.

Plastic film can also be installed on inside frames of older windows to help control drafts. Shrink-wrap plastic kits are inexpensive and available from most hardware and home improvement stores. Plastic film can be a beneficial option for renters looking to save on energy costs because it is easily removed.

Adler says homeowners should inspect and change furnace air filters on a regular basis. Changing filters once a month is recommended, but they should be changed at least once every season. People should write the date on the filter so they will remember when it was last changed. Clogged air filters will reduce the efficiency of furnaces and cause them to work harder.

When trying to save on energy, people need to consider the airflow within their homes; heating vents need to be kept clear. Vents blocked by rugs and furniture prevent heated air from circulating efficiently. Fans should be used wisely. Kitchen and bathroom ventilation fans serve a purpose. These fans should be used and turned off when they have completed their task. If left on for just one hour, a hard-working ventilation exhaust can force out a houseful of warm air and bring in cold air that must be heated.

Ceiling fans can be useful all year long since most fans have a reverse option. The reverse option should be used during cold weather months. Since warm air rises, rooms with especially high ceilings will benefit from a ceiling fan set on reverse and run at the lowest speed. This moves the warm air back down toward the floor and creates a more even temperature throughout the room.

— Adapted from a University of Kentucky (UK) College of Agriculture release.

— compiled by Mathew Elliott, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc. (API)