News Update

News Update
March 28, 2008

Mexico to Allow Importation of U.S. Breeding Cattle 

Mexico has agreed to allow importation of breeding cattle from the United States and Canada effective today, Agriculture Secretary Edward Schafer said.

Mexico denied access to U.S. breeding stock beginning Dec. 23, 2003, when the United States announced its first-ever case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Since that time, Mexico has only allowed importation of registered U.S. dairy heifers under the age of 24 months, despite in-depth international negotiations to include breeding stock.

When the United States implemented the second Minimal Risk Regions Rule on Nov. 19, 2007, it was widely believed that Mexico would lift the restriction on breeding stock. But the situation between the United States and Mexico on breeding stock remained unresolved until yesterday. Mexico continues to ban the import of beef and beef products from animals over 30 months of age.

Traditionally, the United States has shipped approximately $125 million annually in live cattle breeding stock to Mexico.

— Release provided by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

Feed Prices May Encourage Creep-Feeding

Today’s high feed prices could make this the perfect year to try creep-feeding.

“As we look at the times of high feed prices, people would say, ‘Maybe that’s a reason not to creep feed,’” says Dan Faulkner, University of Illinois animal scientist. “But it may be even more of a reason to creep feed, because feedlots are wanting more weight on the calves.”

In the past, “fleshy” cattle brought discounts at the auction barn, but that’s shifting.

“We’ve always had lighter calves bring more than heavier calves because we had cheap feed. We could put gain on cheaper than we could buy that gain,” he says. “If it cost more to put it on than it does to buy it, feeders are going to want to buy more of that weight.”

Mike Krakoviak, director of Land O’ Lakes Purina Feed’s cattle business group, says creep-fed calves can be worth more for other reasons, too.

“Evidence has shown that these calves wean easier, because they already know how to eat,” he says. “They stay healthier, too, which carries more performance into and out of the feedyard.”

That has bonuses no matter how the calves are marketed.

“There’s a lot of data proving calves that know how to eat and are vaccinated and weaned are worth more, no matter how they’re sold, whether they are retained, sold at a sale barn or on private treaty,” Krakoviak says.

The Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) Best Practices Manual nutritional management chapter notes, “Supplemental feed while still nursing can have a significant effect on marbling.” It suggests small- to medium-frame calves gain 2 to 2.5 pounds (lb.) per day and large-frame calves up to 3 lb. per day.

Faulkner agrees, “If you want to have calves deposit marbling, you need to have them gaining more than their maximum protein or muscle gain. They’ve got to be able to put down a little bit of extra energy.”

Research shows starch-based diets work best when aiming for quality, and calves must continue their rate of gain or the advantage is lost. An Illinois trial had cattle gaining well prior to placement on poor-quality fescue pasture where they gained barely half a pound a day.

“It really decreased the rate of marbling,” Faulkner says. “What’s more, once those cattle did go into the feedlot, they never did marble well. We turned that switch off, if you will.”

Today’s genetics may provide extra incentive to creep feed.

“If you have a high-performance herd, creep-feeding really makes a lot of sense,” Krakoviak says.

“We clearly have bigger, better, faster-growing cattle than we did in the past,” Faulkner says. “When you push calves hard, you’re going to have a little less carcass weight than if you were feeding yearling cattle.

“That’s critical if you have small-frame cattle, but with today’s larger-frame, faster-growing genetics, we are going to have very desirable end points without putting them through a prolonged stocker phase,” he says.

Benefits of creep-feeding extend beyond the calves.

“Providing creep feeds should help to reduce the pressure not only on the cows, but on the pasture, too,” Krakoviak says. “It might allow you to run a few more cows on a given acreage.”

It also could improve conception rates and milking ability of younger females.

“They’re still growing themselves, and then you’re trying to rebreed them, and then they’re supposed to be taking care of this calf,” Krakoviak says. “That’s a lot of pressure on a cow or especially a first-calf heifer. The creep feed can help her get the job done.”

A savings in feed cost applies here, too.

“Feed costs for our cows are higher now. We should be strategic in our supplementation,” he says. Calving later to match pasture resources with needs is one option. Early weaning is another.

“Calves are extremely efficient,” Faulkner says. “They’re converting at less than 3-to-1 (pounds of feed to gain) up until about 700 lb. That’s a whole lot cheaper way to grow them than trying to feed the cow to milk and take care of the calf.”

The CAB manual suggests early weaning between 80 and 150 days of age to maximize carcass quality.

For copies of the Best Practices Manual, contact Marilyn Conley at 1-800-225-2333 or mconley@certifiedangusbeef.com.

— Release provided by CAB.

Fuel Companies Announce Plans for Biogasoline

Shell and Virent Energy Systems Inc. have announced a joint research and development effort to convert plant sugars directly into gasoline and gasoline-blend components rather than ethanol.

According to a statement released March 26, the collaboration could develop new biofuels that can be used at high blend rates in standard gasoline engines. The technology converts plant sugars to hydrocarbon molecules similar to those produced at petroleum refineries. According to the release, the sources for sugar could include corn stover, switch grass, wheat straw and sugarcane pulp in addition to conventional biofuel feedstock like wheat, corn and sugarcane.

Three Associations Receive Scholarship Grants from AgriLabs

AgriLabs is awarding a total of $1,500 for scholarship grants to three state associations as an outcome of its booth promotion at the recent 2008 Cattle Industry Annual Convention and NCBA Trade Show in Reno, Nev. The Nebraska Cattlemen Research & Education Foundation, Lincoln, Neb.; the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association, Bismarck, N.D.; and the Washington CattleWomen, Goldendale, Wash., each will receive $500 to be used for an educational scholarship for a deserving youth during 2008.

When registering at the AgriLabs booth, convention participants designated which state association would receive a grant if their forms were drawn. Teddy May Charlton, Ellensburg, Wash., identified the Washington CattleWomen as a grant recipient and was the first to have a registration card drawn. Sherry Schulz, Bismarck, N.D., submitted a form designating the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association, which was picked after the trade show’s second day. On day three, the winning entry from Loretta Hamilton, Thedford, Neb., sent $500 to the Nebraska Cattlemen’s foundation.

In addition to the scholarship grants, AgriLabs offered a grand-prize drawing of a framed print by rural-American artist Bonnie Mohr. Jan Kennedy, Faddis Kennedy Cattle Co., Sheridan, Wyo., submitted the winning registration card and will receive the signed, numbered lithoprint titled “Summer Pastures.”

Westchester Foundation Ag Scholarship Applications Due April 30

College students as well as high school seniors looking for help in funding college expenses need to complete an application for the Westchester Foundation scholarship by April 30. Scholarships are awarded to high school seniors accepted for enrollment or students already enrolled at an accredited college, university or community college in a course of study related to agriculture or agribusiness.

The Westchester Foundation was established by Murray Wise, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Westchester Group Inc., with a mission to enhance the future of American agriculture by helping to ensure a steady supply of bright, dedicated, well-educated leaders. Students are selected by the Foundations Board of Directors based on academic qualifications, community and school involvement, leadership potential and financial need.

Provided the students maintain acceptable grade point averages, the scholarship can be renewed annually for up to four years. While the amount awarded for each scholarship varies by individual and economic need, successful applicants may anticipate a minimum of $1,000 per year to fund any expenses related to attendance at the college of their choice.

Applications can be downloaded at www.westchester-group.com and must be completed and submitted no later than April 30 in order to be considered for scholarship funds for the fall semester of the 2008-2009 school year.

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