News Update
July 31, 2009

Angus Youth Focus on Feedlot to Plate Aspect of Beef Industry at NJAS

The National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) brings together the best breeders from across the nation to compete in the showring. However, while the showring is their passion, Angus producers know where their product really shines — the supermarket.

To acknowledge the importance of high quality Angus beef, the NJAS annually holds a carcass contest to provide youth real-world insight on the commercial aspect of the beef industry. Eighteen steers were brought from seven different states to the 2009 NJAS July 19-25, Perry, Ga., to see how they would perform from a carcass perspective.

Hannah Wright, Spring City, Tenn., participates in the contest because she recognizes the importance of Angus cattle in the consumer sector. “The carcass is the bottom line. It is why we are Angus producers. We have the best breed, we have the best data, and our consumers expect it,” she explains. “We must continue to excel by giving the consumers what they desire.”

This year the NJAS chose to use ultrasound technology provided by The National Centralized Ultrasound Processing (CUP) Lab and Technology Center to process the results. The National CUP Lab is known for providing unmatched accuracy and reliability with faster turn-around time.

The rising demand for carcass information has resulted in a need for cost-effective and accurate results. Ultrasound scans allow for dependable results while still retaining the genetic traits.

Before processing the steers, contestants were able to learn more about the ultrasound method at a clinic conducted by Andy Meadows. Meadows taught NJAS exhibitors the finer points of ultrasound technology and helped them understand why this tool is so important to Angus breeders.

“Ultrasound technology is the foundation of carcass EPDs. It is so beneficial to the youth of the Angus breed to understand the tools we have to collect carcass data and EPDs. Efficiently utilizing ultrasound technology allows these young breeders to improve their programs and carcass data,” Meadows explains.

Meadows walked the curious group of both adults and participants through an ultrasound scan, pointing out how they use the information to collect the most accurate results. He explained what the results meant and how he would scan and process their entries.   

Wright, also the owner of the reserve champion entry, walked away from the clinic with a better understanding of how ultrasound technology plays a role in herd improvement.

“Carcass value traits are essential to the producer and are of extreme economic importance to our customers. As producers we must make decisions based on lean yield grades, ribeye area and marbling scores. Collecting ultrasound data allows us to make genetic improvements at a lower cost without harvesting the animal, making it useful on steers, bulls, and females,” she says.

“As breeders of this great breed, we need to continue to educate ourselves on the tools available. The clinic was extremely useful for me not only as a participant, but as an Angus breeder,” continues Wright, who plans to do more ultrasounding in her own personal herd in the future.

When the results from the ultrasound scans returned only a day later, Hannah McCabe, Elk City, Kan., owned the grand champion carcass steer entry, sired by CA Future Direction 5321. The steer weighed in at 1,085 pounds (lb.) with a ribeye area of 11.3 square inches (sq. in.). He showed modest marbling and measured back fat of .21 in. He had an estimated yield grade of 2.0 and graded average Choice. McCabe’s steer also met specifications that qualify for Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®).

Wright entered the reserve champion carcass steer. Sired by Boyd Prime Plus 4122, the steer weighed in at 1,325 lb. and had a ribeye area of 12.7 sq. in. and an estimated yield grade of 2.7 and graded low Choice.

Kansas swept the state group carcass contest, as they won both grand champion and reserve champion state carcass groups. Hannah, Ethan and Esther McCabe, all of Elk City, owned the champion group. Hannah and Ethan McCabe, Elk City; and Mycah McColm, Baxter Springs, owned the entries in the reserve champion group.

The carcass steer contest was established in 1985 in an effort to increase awareness among Angus juniors of the important role that Angus cattle play in the beef industry and this year the NJAS took the educational aspect of the contest one step further.

Cash prizes for the top 10 entries are supported by Curtis and Ann Long of Butler, Mo., through their permanent endowment fund established through the Angus Foundation.

— Release  by Jamie May provided by the American Angus Association.

Project Will Study Beef Flavor Enhancement

A research project funded by the beef checkoff will try to ascertain how fat is deposited both inside and outside muscle tissue. Scientists at Texas A&M University, the University of Idaho and Texas Tech University submitted the proposal, titled “Regulation of Marbling Development in Beef Cattle by Specific Fatty Acids.”

Joint Product Enhancement Committee Chairman Glen Dolezal said the committee funded the project because it will illustrate how to put more taste fat, or marbling, inside the muscle, while depositing less waste fat around the outside of beef cuts.

The study will determine if concentrations of proven healthful fatty acids can be increased. Texas A&M’s Stephen Smith, the project leader, said applying the findings could increase consumer perceptions and acceptance of beef as a natural source of protein, vitamins and healthful fatty acids.

— Release provided by The Beef Checkoff Program.

Suspension of Rules Leads to Passage of Food Safety Bill

After failing to reach the two-thirds margin needed to pass the “Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009,” the U.S. House, under suspension of the rules, approved the bill yesterday by a simple majority. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), the National Pork Producers Council and the American Sheep Industry Association sent a letter to leadership of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Agriculture Committee expressing thanks for inserting compromise language that addresses concerns about the original bill.

The bill approved by the full House clarifies livestock are exempt from Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation, including previously proposed on-farm inspections and additional authority currently handled by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Members of the two House committees also made improvements to the traceability and recordkeeping provisions of the bill.

NCBA will continue to work with Congress as the food safety debate continues. The goal is to increase food safety without burdening producers or duplicating processes already in place.

Original language in the bill would have given FDA authority to create farm safety standards for manure use and animal control, among other items. FDA also would have been required to create a complete traceback system for all food, including meat. NCBA testified in early June that granting additional oversight to FDA would create an economic burden for livestock producers, while failing to improve food safety.

— Release provided by Kansas Livestock Association.

Examine Pond Dams to Avoid Structural Failure

Keys to a good pond include keeping aquatic growth controlled, a healthy population of fish and a high quality of water. But landowners need to remember that there is another vital element: pond dams.

“We tend to focus on the water and the fishing but pond dams need our attention too,” said Marley Beem, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension aquaculture specialist. “Dams fail because people either don’t understand how they work or they just forget about them.”

A dam failure is at best expensive and at worst disastrous when roads, homes and other structures are in the path of the flood. To avoid these costly events, Beem offered a reminder of the three main enemies of pond dams that require attention. The first is burrowing animals, such as muskrats, beaver or pocket gophers.

“A gopher burrow may look minor but you need to take steps to eliminate the pest and properly fill the burrow as soon as it is noticed,” said Beem. “Even a small burrow is enough to get water flowing through the dam and it is all downhill from there.”

Furthermore, burrows can interconnect or be dug too close to each other, greatly weakening the structure.

The second threat to a dam is one about which many people have a misconception. Often, trees are believed to strengthen a dam, but the roots can become a serious threat.

“Tree roots loosen the compacted soil of the dam and provide pathways along which water can begin to move through the dam,” said Beem. “When a large tree dies or blows over, the roots decay, leaving a network of small tunnels that often lead to dam failure.”

The final of the three dam killers is erosion of the slopes, top or auxiliary spillway. These areas should be refilled with compacted soil and re-vegetated. Caution should always be used in dam reconstruction.

“Seek engineering help whenever in doubt about the safety of a dam,” Beem said. “An earthen dam can look massive and solid but there are millions of pounds of water pushing against it looking for any weakness.”

Beem recommends walking the faces of a dam at least once a year to be able to catch problems before they manifest.

“If all of these steps are followed, you will be doing yourself a great favor by protecting the useful life of your dam and pond,” he said.

— Release provided by Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension.

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