News Update
Nov. 21, 2008

Board Sets Policy for Arthrogryposis Multiplex

On Saturday, Nov. 15, the Board of Directors of the American Angus Association® adopted a new policy and related set of rules governing the handling of genetic defects, including Arthrogryposis Multiplex (AM), within the breed. Click here for a complete posting of new policies and related rules. For a complete listing of Arthrogryposis Multiplex (AM) information released by the American Angus Association click here.

Boot Camp Approaches

The American Angus Association, Angus Foundation and Kansas State University (K-State) have partnered to bring you another Cattlemen’s Boot Camp — an interactive educational program meant to provide producers with information about the many facets of the beef industry.

Cattlemen’s Boot Camp will be Tuesday, Dec. 16, to Wednesday, Dec. 17, at Weber Hall on the K-State campus in Manhattan, Kan.

The registration deadline is Dec. 5. Cost of registration is $75, which includes the Boot Camp program and meals. Space is limited, so register today.

To register contact Monica Jordan at 816-383-5100 or e-mail her at mjordan@angus.org to request registration materials be mailed or click here for a registration form.

The Hampton Inn is the headquarters for this Cattlemen’s Boot Camp. A block of rooms has been reserved for $96, plus tax, per room. All attendees must make their own room reservations by calling the hotel directly at 785-539-5000. Make sure you ask for the American Angus Association block.

Visit http://www.angus.org/cattlemenbootcampKSU08.html for more information and a schedule.

— Release provided by the American Angus Association.

Match Milk Production to Cow Size, Resources

Cow weight is probably easier to wrap your mind around than milk production, but research has shown that cows with the genetic propensity to milk heavily require more nutrients year-round, not just when they are milking.

National Research Council (NRC) data show that a cow who produces 25 pounds (lb.) of milk at peak lactation requires 10% more feed energy than a cow producing 15 lb. of milk at peak lactation. To see a 10% difference in feed energy with regards to mature weight, it would require moving from a 1,000-lb. cow to a 1,200-lb. cow, or a change of 200 lb. of body weight. There are breed differences in lactation yields, so breed selection is critical in matching genetics to your environment. These breed differences can be found in literature from research at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (US-MARC).

We know that selection for increased yearling weights has led to larger mature cows that are more expensive to maintain. Moderating mature cow size and selecting for an optimal window of milk production is beneficial when it comes to cutting costs regardless of your production environment. However, in limited feed environments females with high maintenance energy requirements may also have difficulty maintaining an acceptable body condition score and rebreeding. Click here to read more.

— by Matt Spangler, beef specialist, breeding and genetics, University of Nebraska

Poll: Consumers Want More Food Safety Controls

A Consumer Reports poll released last week indicates consumers want more food-safety controls, according to Food Systems Insider.

A majority of Americans regard the overall food supply as safe, but nearly half say their confidence in the safety of the nation’s food supply has decreased, and many are concerned with the safety of imported food, according to poll results.

According to Food Systems Insider, loopholes in country-of-origin labeling (COOL) are among the safety concerns.

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