Heat Takes Its Toll on Cattle
Newspapers reported the toll of last week’s heat wave on cattle. As the World-Herald News Press reported Saturday, “A lethal combination of heat, humidity and dead calm killed hundreds of cattle in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa ... (For complete article, click here).”

For tips on how to offset heat stress, see:

• Recognize the Danger Heat Poses to your Herd
• Beat the Heat 1
• Beat the Heat 2
• NebGuide: Managing Feedlot Heat Stress

Eagle Hills Ranch Seeks Marketability
The American Angus Association® web feature of the week includes a commercial herd profile of Nebraska’s Eagle Hills Ranch.

During the early 1990s, brothers Todd, Shane and Wade joined with their father, Norm, in several businesses, including the ranch. Todd and Shane take primary responsibility for a cow herd numbering close to 1,600 head. The brothers prefer to avoid extremes, favoring genetics that balance growth and carcass traits with maternal characteristics.

The data suggests the percentage of calves that meet specifications for Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) brand has increased from 25% to 65%. And knowing the lineage of each female aids in avoiding genetic defects.

Click here to read the Association’s web feature of the week.

Alpharma’s Reach Teach Learn Initiative Targets Youth and Consumer Awareness
Ask most parents of high school and college-age students and they’ll tell you that their kids think they have all the answers to life’s tough questions. Truth is, at that age they are forming opinions and viewpoints that will guide them through the rest of their lives. A new initiative, Reach Teach Learn, is designed to provide youth with the information they need to ensure that honest, educated decisions are made.

Alpharma Inc. Animal Health announced the launch of Reach Teach Learn, a grassroots educational program, at the 2009 Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Saint Louis, Mo. The program supports local school districts and colleges through initiatives that encourage students to learn more about agriculture and how their food is produced, and to share their insights and knowledge about what they learned.

“There has never been a better time to familiarize students with current agricultural trends and how their decisions affect society,” says Jeff Mellinger, global leader, sales & marketing for Alpharma Inc. Animal Health. “These initiatives are small steps toward better, more informed and educated students.”

Everyone needs to eat. However, not everyone realizes that their decisions regarding how they feed their families can determine the fate of America’s domestic food supply. Students play an important role in the future of agriculture and Alpharma is reaching out to help them glean a thorough understanding of how the American food supply operates.

Reach Teach Learn consists of two main initiatives, a student video contest and an essay contest. The video contest gives college students enrolled in agriculture coursework the opportunity to display their passion for agriculture by creating a video depicting current, ethical agriculture practices. The essay contest, which will be launched for the first time this fall, was created in collaboration with “Ag in the Classroom,” a grassroots program coordinated by the USDA. In this initiative high school students are asked to provide their perspective writing of an essay on agriculture based on a lesson plan based on a selected book.

“This is a great opportunity for those who are involved with or interested in agriculture to show their passion for the industry,” Mellinger said. “We are very excited to see what type of involvement we will get and what the students will come up with.”

The contests will begin in September and will run through the middle of December. To learn more about Reach Teach Learn, specific initiatives and official contest rules, please visit the program web site at www.ReachTeachLearn.com

— Release provided by Alpharma Animal Health.

High School Students Complete First K-State Animal Sciences Leadership Academy
Twenty-five students from 22 Kansas counties gathered on the Kansas State University (K-State) campus to take part in the first K-State Animal Sciences Leadership Academy (KASLA) June 10-13, 2009.

The academy gave high school students the chance to evaluate real life livestock situations, gain familiarity with college life, and tour many facilities within the animal sciences industry.

During their time at the K-State Animal Sciences Leadership Academy, students were given tours of the K-State farms, went on a College of Agriculture Scavenger Hunt, and engaged in three interactive leadership development sessions led by faculty members from across campus. Participants also lived in the dormitories and ate in the K-State dining halls, adding to their college experience.

The Academy also included two days of livestock industry tours across Kansas with stops including: Gnadt’s Sheep Farm, Alma; Mill Brae Ranch, Maple Hill; Kansas Livestock Association, Topeka; Sundstrom Dairy, Ottawa; Peeper Ranch, Lenexa; Cargill Meat Solutions, Wichita; and Tiffany Feedlot, Herington.

Additionally, the students were divided into groups during the week to focus on current issues affecting the livestock industry. Students received classroom instruction on leadership, communication and animal science issues. Faculty mentors from the K-State Department of Animal Sciences and Industry assisted each group.

Using the information they learned, each group was asked to present their subject as part of the reception on the last day. During those presentations, the graduates explored topics such as “Animal Rights vs. Animal Welfare” and “Negative Media Surrounding Animal Agriculture.” More than 100 family, friends, and members of the K-State community attended the closing reception to honor the graduates and hear their thoughts on these important issues.

Academy participants and their home towns included: Dustin Aherin, Phillipsburg; Jancy Alberding, Winfield; Brice Bailey, Winfield; Alissa Berger, Wichita; Billie Chesney, Woodston; Rachelle Coe, Soldier; Calvin Dix, Woodston; Lauren Gassman, Grainfield; Taylor Green, Sedan; John Holmquist, Smolan; William Holthaus, Baileyville; Cody Jensen, Courtland; Annette Jones, Cottonwood Falls; Garrett Kays, Weir; MaKayla LaRue, Chanute; Olivia Moore, Kansas City; Tanner Paxson, Medicine Lodge; Calli Ridder, Leoti; Austin Schmitz, Axtell; Jared Stieben, Bazine; Tyler Tebow, Courtland; Kaitlin Vaughn, Wellington; Ely Walker, Altoona; Destiny Wendland, Saint John; and Kirk Woodruff, Ashland.

The event was sponsored by the Livestock and Meat Industry Council (LMIC) and coordinated by the K-State Youth Livestock Program located in the Department of Animal Sciences and Industry. Information about future programs is available online at www.YouthLivestock.ksu.edu or by contacting Sharon Breiner, K-State Youth Livestock Program Coordinator at sbreiner@ksu.edu or 785-532-1264.

— Story by Sharon Breiner for K-State Research and Extension.

— Compiled by Shauna Rose Hermel, editor, Angus Productions Inc.