News Update

News Update
Feb. 27, 2008

Canada Confirms its 12th BSE Case

A six-year-old dairy cow from Alberta has become Canada’s latest case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), the country’s animal health officials report.

According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the cow’s carcass is under government control, and no part of it entered the human food or animal feed systems. The age and location of the infected animal are consistent with previous BSE cases, CFIA officials said, and the finding isn’t expected to affect Canada’s controlled risk status recognized through the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

Canadian investigators are conducting an epidemiological investigation to identify the animal’s herdmates at the time of birth and potential pathways by which it might have become infected. A report will be released once the investigation is completed, according to CFIA.

Beef Leaders Institute Applications Due March 1

The American Angus Association is now accepting applications for its first-ever Beef Leaders Institute (BLI), June 1-4. The BLI is limited to 20 participants annually, ages 25-45, to facilitate discussion among the group and allow for tours of packing facilities and retail outlets. Participation in the BLI is based on applications, which are due March 1.

The event will begin in Saint Joseph, Mo., the evening of June 1. On June 2, the participants will have the opportunity to tour the offices and meet the Association employees with whom they work on a regular basis via phone or e-mail. They will board a bus to Southwest Kansas where they will have the opportunity to tour feedlots and a major packing facility. They will also interact with industry experts along the way. That evening, attendees will travel to the Kansas City area, where on June 4, they will visit U.S. Premium Beef (USPB), Sysco and Whole Foods. The event will wrap up that evening.

The Association will provide bus transportation, lodging and meals. Participants must provide their transportation to the Kansas City/Saint Joseph area and any incidentals.

Applications are available online at www.angus.org or can be obtained by contacting Shelia Stannard at sstannard@angus.org. They are due to the Communications Department March 1.

For more information about BLI, please contact Stannard at 816-390-7093 or via e-mail at sstannard@angus.org, or contact Ty Groshans at tgroshans@angus.org.

2008 BIF Meeting Set

The 2008 Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Annual Research Symposium and Annual Meeting will take place June 30-July 3, at the Hyatt Regency in Calgary, Alta., Canada.

The event is expected to attract more than 500 seedstock and commercial producers, feedlot operators, academia, industry experts and beef industry service providers. Symposium topics will include the most current genetic improvement research and innovation dedicated toward advancements in beef production.

Angus Productions Inc. (API) will once again host online coverage of this popular industry event at www.bifconference.com. Symposium and tour schedules, accommodations and travel information and archived coverage will be available in the weeks preceding the event. During and following the symposium, proceedings, audio, photos, synopses of presentations, and committee coverage will also be available.

A tentative schedule and registration information is now available by clicking on the BIF meeting link at www.canadianbeefbreeds.com.

National Stocker Award Applications Due May 1

Applications are now being accepted for the 2008 National Stocker Award, which recognizes stocker operators and backgrounders for their contributions to the industry. The application form, which is available at www.nationalstockeraward.com, can be used for all three categories of recognition, including fall-winter stocker program, backgrounding/drylot program and summer stocker program.

Completed forms are due Thursday, May 1. Each year, an independent judging panel selects the National Stocker Award grand-prize winner, who receives $10,000, as well as special recognition at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) convention. The other category winners are both given $2,500 cash awards.

Elanco Animal Health sponsors the National Stocker Award.

Background about previous award winners, additional information, a sample application, and an application form template are available at www.nationalstockeraward.com.

ERS Releases Data

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Economic Research Service (ERS) has released its latest round of data pertaining to feedgrains, meat price spreads and other relevant agricultural information.

Available at the feedgrains interactive database contains statistics on four feedgrains (corn, grain sorghum, barley and oats), foreign coarse grains (feedgrains plus rye, millet and mixed grains), hay and related items. Tables previously published annually in the Feed Yearbook are available and updated continuously as data are added to the database. Custom queries also allow users to retrieve historical data.

The latest data set on meat price spreads provides monthly average price values, and the differences among those values, at the farm, wholesale and retail stages of the production and marketing chain for selected cuts of beef, pork and broilers. In addition, retail prices are provided for beef and pork cuts, turkey, whole chickens, eggs and dairy products. Visit www.ers.usda.gov/Data/MeatPriceSpreads for further information.

— compiled by Crystal Albers, associate editor, Angus Productions Inc.