News Update
September 22, 2008

Beef Producer Seminar Set for Nov. 6

This year’s edition of the Beef Producers Seminar is slated for Thursday, Nov. 6 at the Nodaway County/Community Fair building in Maryville, Mo. The program begins at 4:30 p.m., and will include a variety of beef industry speakers who will focus on increasing efficiencies in the beef business. Registration is only $10 and is due to the Andrew County Extension Office in Savannah, Mo., by Nov. 3.

Speakers will include Rob Kallenbach, associate professor of agronomy and University of Missouri state forage Extension specialist, who will address, “Maximizing Forage and Beef Production.” Iowa State University Extension livestock economist and professor, Department of Economics, John Lawrence will present, “Beef in the Bioeconomy: Situation and Outlook in a New Era.”

A panel representing a feedlot, backgrounder and an auction market will conclude the program. Representatives on the panel will include Derek Martin, Lane County Feeders, Dighton, Kan.; Terrill Lane, Saint Catharine, Mo.; and Mark Harmon, marketing manager for Joplin Regional Stockyards. Jeff Windett, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association executive vice president, will moderate the panel.

Pfizer is sponsoring this year’s meal. Additional sponsors include VitaFerm,® the American Angus Association and University of Missouri Extension.

—   Release provided by the American Angus Association.

 Analyses in the IGENITY Profile Validated by NBCEC

With the addition of genetic markers, the Igenity® profile has become an even more powerful tool for beef producers. DNA markers have been added to the analyses for marbling, quality grade, yield grade, hot carcass weight, fat thickness and ribeye area — making them more valuable for the evaluation of these economically important traits. In addition, marbling, quality grade and fat thickness — three of the most economically important carcass traits — are now validated by the National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium (NBCEC). “We are constantly working to add markers that have a significant impact on the traits analyzed in the comprehensive Igenity profile. By adding new markers, we have increased the amount of genetic variation accounted for in each analysis,” says Stewart Bauck, executive director of strategic marketing for the company. “In addition, the third-party validation of these analyses from the NBCEC confirms that they are an accurate tool for producers to use to evaluate these economically important traits.” These markers were licensed from several universities and third-party research organizations, Bauck says.

Through an extensive, multistep internal and third-party validation process — conducted in multiple populations, representing a diverse group of breeds and more than 5,600 head of cattle — each marker was found to be significant in predicting the traits expressed. The Igenity profile has the most comprehensive list of traits that have passed the rigorous validation process conducted by the NBCEC. With the addition of these markers, Bauck says the spread between a score of 1 from Igenity and a score of 10 is now larger. “The difference between scores for these carcass traits from Igenity now represent a greater spread, which means producers can more accurately pinpoint an animal’s potential — early in each stage of production,” Bauck says. “For example, the difference in a score of 1 and a score of 10 for ribeye area is 2.56 inches. And the analysis for marbling represents a difference of 161.4 marbling points, which equals almost two USDA Quality Grades when comparing an animal with a score of 1 with an animal with a score of 10.” In addition to these carcass traits, the comprehensive Igenity profile includes multiple marker analyses for traits such as feed efficiency, tenderness, heifer pregnancy rate, stayability (longevity), calving ease, docility, coat color, breed-specific horned/polled, multisire parentage and an optional diagnostic test for persistent infections (PI) of the bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus. And Igenity offers a combination radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and tissue collection device, making DNA collection and electronic identification possible in one simple step.

Bauck adds that the range of traits analyzed, as well as the internal and external validation of those analyses, is unparalleled by any other DNA provider in the beef industry. For more information, contact your Igenity sales representative, call 1-877-igenity or visit www.igenity.com.

— Adapted from an Igenity release.

Reclassification Affects Testing of Cattle and Bison Leaving California

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is reclassifying California’s status to modified accredited advanced for bovine tuberculosis (TB). Bovine TB does not threaten the quality and safety of milk and meat products produced in California. Because of the APHIS action, breeding cattle or bison leaving California will require a negative tuberculin test before they move. Spayed heifers and steers, cattle from TB-accredited free herds, cattle moving to packing plants, cattle or bison less than 6 months of age, and intact heifers moving directly to a feedlot can move to most states without testing. Bovine TB is caused by Mycobacterium bovis, an organism very similar to the bacteria causing human tuberculosis. It can affect cattle, bison, deer, elk and other warm-blooded species, and can be fatal. The disease can be transmitted to humans through direct contact with infected animals or consumption of raw milk or raw milk products.

All cattle processed for meat are inspected for tuberculosis and rejected for consumption if they show signs of the disease. APHIS had listed California as an accredited-free state for bovine tuberculosis. An epidemiological investigation of a tuberculosis-positive cow found through slaughter surveillance in December 2007 resulted in the confirmation of an affected dairy herd. As the investigation continued, two additional affected dairy herds were identified, both containing a single infected animal. These findings mean that California no longer meets the requirements for accredited-free status.

California will be eligible to reapply for free status two years after the quarantine is released on the last affected herd. The best way for cattle producers to prevent bovine tuberculosis is to maintain a closed herd or isolate and test purchased additions and cattle re-entering the herd, prevent contact with cattle of Mexican origin, arrange professional diagnostic workup of sick animals, maintain accurate records of animal identification and movements, and establish a tuberculosis testing policy for employees.

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