News Update
June 1, 2009

Frank Champion Murphy Makes Donation

His steady hand and eye for detail have depicted the transformation of the Angus breed for more than 60 years, and his love for the breed has led him to donate nine pieces of Angus art to the Angus Foundation. Frank Champion Murphy believes in the future of the Angus breed and in the mission of the Angus Foundation.

If you’ve ever taken a tour of the American Angus Association in Saint Joseph, Mo., you’ve undoubtedly become familiar with Murphy’s work, proudly displayed throughout the building. From his 1960s depiction of the “ideal” Angus bull to his most recent cover of the Angus Journal in December 2007, Murphy’s art has been the definitive image of Angus since the early 1950s. The Association has effectively used his talents to help promote their product, from advertising and education, to Angus coloring books. 

During a recent trip to the American Angus Association’s offices for a celebratory reception, Murphy announced his donation of nine pieces of Angus art from his private collection. Awarded to the Angus Foundation, these pieces will join their counterparts along the walls of the Association, or possibly grace the home of an Angus art collector one day.

“We are sincerely grateful and humbled by Frank’s generous donation of his work to the Angus Foundation,” said Milford Jenkins, Angus Foundation president. “Frank’s blessing of our plans to use these pieces of Angus history to benefit the mission of the Angus Foundation either through permanent display or fundraising purposes by offering them at auction is appreciated.  Frank is a true steward of the Angus breed, and we will be sure that these pieces continue to honor his legacy.” 

The Angus Foundation is the not-for-profit affiliate of the American Angus Association that was established in 1980 to fund and support programs involving education, youth and research in the Angus breed. For more information about the Angus Foundation, contact Milford Jenkins at 816-383-5100 or log on to www.angusfoundation.org.

— Release provided by Angus Foundation.

Processors Issue Beef Recalls

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced that Holten Meat Inc., based in Sauget, Ill., is recalling about 241,000 pounds (lb.) of ground beef product that may contain foreign materials.

According to the site, the product was produced on various dates from January 2009 through May 2009 and was distributed to institutions in Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, North Carolina, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

The problem was discovered after the company received complaints from institutional customers about finding metal clips, which were used to seal the casing chubs, Meatingplace.com reports. At press time, there had been no reports of injury.

Meanwhile, XL Four Star Beef Inc. in Nampa, Idaho, has recalled approximately 14,560 lb. of beef primal and subprimal products imported from Canada. According to Meatingplace.com, the beef was not presented for reinspection upon entry into the United States.

For a complete list of the products and identification numbers, visit www.fsis.usda.gov.

The beef products were produced on May 22, and were distributed to various wholesalers in Arizona, California, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York and Oregon. None of the beef products was believed to have reached consumers.

K-State Beef Conference Set for Aug. 13 in Manhattan

“Making Money in Hard Times” is the theme for this year’s K-State Beef Conference, planned for Thursday, Aug. 13, at the Frick Auditorium in Kansas State University’s (K-State’s) College of Veterinary Medicine.

“The conference is especially geared for cow-calf producers and designed to provide take-home knowledge that will enhance their ability to improve profitability,” said K-State Research and Extension veterinarian Larry Hollis.

Beef producer and BEEF magazine contributing editor Troy Marshall will be the featured speaker. His presentations, “Issues Facing the Beef Industry” and “Opportunities Facing the Cow-Calf Producer,” will open and close the conference. Marshall has been a market analyst for Cattle-Fax, director of commercial marketing for two breed associations, editor of The Seedstock Digest and recipient of the 2003 Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Ambassador Award. 

The conference will begin with registration at 8 a.m., and the program will start at 9 a.m.

The registration cost is $60, due by July 31. The fee includes morning and afternoon refreshments, a noon meal, and conference materials. More information and registration forms are available on the web at www.asi.ksu.edu/beefconference or by contacting Linda Siebold at 785-532-1281 or lsiebold@ksu.edu.

Other conference presentation topics and presenters will include:

• Replacements: Raise them or buy them? — Sandy Johnson, K-State animal scientist.
  
• Animal welfare: It’s your business! — Dan Thomson, K-State Beef Cattle Institute.
  
• Management strategies affecting calf marketability — Karl Harborth, K-State animal scientist; Lee Schulz, K-State agricultural economist; and Kevin Dhuyvetter, K-State agricultural economist.
• Options to extend the grazing season: Cool season annuals — Stacy Gunther, University of Arkansas animal scientist.
  
• Options to extend the grazing season: Crop residues — Rick Funston, University of Nebraska animal scientist.
  
• Mineral needs to complement ethanol byproduct feeding — Justin Waggoner, K-State animal scientist.
  
• Managing price risk in cow-calf operations — Kevin Dhuyvetter, K-State agricultural economist.
  

— Release provided by K-State Research and Extension.

Greenpeace Says Global Beef Trade ‘Destroying Amazon’

Environmental group Greenpeace has released a report titled “Slaughtering the Amazon,” in which it claims consumers fuel destruction of the Amazon forest by buying Brazilian beef products linked to illegal deforestation.

According to Reuters, Greenpeace also accused the Brazilian government of being complicit in the destruction due to its hefty funding of the beef industry.

The report presented satellite analysis it said showed that meat exported by Brazil’s big meatpackers often comes from ranches with recent illegal deforestation.

Major Brazilian meatpackers then ship the beef or hides thousands of miles south for further processing before export, according to the organization’s report.

The report also identified a string of major companies it said used “Amazon-contaminated” supplies.
Roberto Gianetti da Fonseca, the head of a Brazilian meat exporters association, said hardly any beef was exported from the Amazon region because it was too far from ports.

According to Reuters, Brazil is the world’s largest beef exporter and has the largest commercial cattle herd of 200 million.

Beef industry officials acknowledge illegal deforestation by small cattle farms but say the problem will soon be resolved through microchips implanted in millions of cows that can then be traced by satellite, according to Reuters.

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