News Update
Jan. 6, 2008

Association Approves Another Testing Lab

The American Angus Association® has authorized an additional lab to conduct tests for Arthrogryposis Multiplex (AM). Pfizer Animal Genetics, AgriGenomics and MMI Genomics are now all authorized to receive samples and conduct testing. Additional labs will be added to the page as they are approved.Visit www.angus.org for further information or consult respective laboratory web sites for information on preferred sample types, sample submission forms, pricing information and complete instructions on how and where to submit samples for testing.

Economic Outlook and Effects on Livestock Market

The livestock and poultry markets in 2009 will continue to be driven by the broader economic conditions in the U.S. as well as the global effects of the U.S. financial crisis, according to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Daily Livestock Report released today.

The report cited analysis conducted by two academic economists who studied the past 100 years of financial crises. Their analysis suggests that “asset market collapses are deep and prolonged,” with real housing price declines averaging 35% over six years and equity price collapses averaging 55% during a downturn of about three and a half years. Unemployment rates rise an average 7 percentage points during the down phase of a cycle, according to the economists. This means, at the trough of the current cycle, this could equate to an unemployment rate of 11%, the report notes. This “will likely cause further pain not just for the restaurant industry but the broader meat market, especially the beef industry,” the report states.

The volatility of the currency market also has unknown potential effects on U.S. meat trade, according to the report.

Ohio State Offers Workshop on Managing Beef Cattle Industry

Ohio State University (OSU) Extension will offer a program series in February to aid beef cattle producers in carefully managing their businesses while staying on the cutting edge of the industry.

“Managing Dynamic Change in the Beef Cattle Industry” will take place on consecutive Wednesdays and Thursdays during the month of February. The program will be hosted at two locations: Highland County Training and Employment Center in Hillsboro and Alexander High School in Albany. Each program will begin at 6 p.m.

OSU Extension, along with the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association and the Southern Ohio Agricultural and Community Development Foundation, will host the program. Registration will be $50 for the first person from a cattle operation and $25 for each additional person from that same operation.

The program will guide participants through the process of gaining an understanding of today's beef cattle business; reviewing strategies which will optimize whole herd profitability; and looking at the alternatives for buying, selling and merchandising cattle. The series will conclude with a look into planning for the future.

For more information, visit http://fairfield.osu.edu/ag/beef/beefNovr12.html, or contact OSU Extension educator John Grimes at 937-393-1918, OSU Extension educator Rory Lewandowski at 740-593-8555, or the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association at 614-873-6736.

— Release provided by Ohio State Extension.

Ohio State Launches Online Forum

OSU’s Center for Diagnostics Assays (CDA) has launched an Internet forum aimed at bringing together animal and plant disease diagnostics professionals in a single, convenient place to share the latest information on diagnostic issues and technologies.

DiagnosticSpeak — a free, web-based interactive tool available at www.diagnosticspeak.com — is a resource for any professional who works with diagnostics, including university researchers studying infectious diseases and food safety; large- and small-animal veterinarians and technicians; industry personnel monitoring herd or plant health; professionals in trade and industry associations; federal and state government scientists, including veterinarians and diagnostic laboratory personnel; private diagnostic laboratory professionals; and manufacturers of assays and reagents.

The site features forums addressing a wide variety of areas, including bacteriology, parasitology, entomology and vectors, food safety, assay technology, and many others. The forum also provides technical information on various diagnostic tools and specific diseases.

For more information about DiagnosticSpeak.com, and to inquire about corporate sponsorships, contact Daral Jackwood at 330-263-3964 or jackwood.2@osu.edu.

— Adapted from a release provided by Ohio State University.

Ranching for Profitability Meetings Set for Jan. 12-15 at Nebraska Locations

Ranchers can learn more about current issues and topics important to ranch management and beef production when the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) Extension hosts the popular Ranching for Profitability meeting series across western and central Nebraska Jan. 12-15.

Meeting dates, locations and times:

• Jan. 12: O’Neill, Blarney Stone Restaurant, 10:30 a.m. CT
  
• Jan. 12: Ainsworth, Elks Lodge, 5 p.m. CT
  
• Jan. 13: Broken Bow, Broken Bow Country Club, 10:30 a.m. CT
  
• Jan. 13: Elm Creek, Community Center, 5 p.m. CT
  
• Jan. 14: Stapleton, Logan County Fair Building, 10:30 a.m. CT
  
• Jan. 14: Valentine, Cedar Canyon Steakhouse, 4:30 p.m. CT
  
• Jan. 15: Kimball, Event Center, noon MT

Preregistration is requested no later than a week prior to each meeting at the Extension county office hosting the meeting in order to get a meal count. Registration fee is $15. Contacts include: O’Neill 402-336-2760, Ainsworth 402-387-2213, Broken Bow 308-872-6831, Elm Creek 308-324-5501, Stapleton 800-657-2113, Valentine 402-376-1850, and Kimball 308-235-3122.

— Release provided by UNL Extension.

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