News Update
Oct. 21, 2009

Angus Remains Industry Leader

The American Angus Association® remained at the top of the beef cattle industry in 2009, with the number of registrations far outpacing those of any other breed.

“Our year-end statistics continue to demonstrate strong demand for Angus genetics and solidify our long-held position as a leader in the beef cattle industry,” Bryce Schumann, Association CEO, said. “These results underscore our members’ commitment to providing genetic solutions to the beef cattle industry, and record-breaking sales for Certified Angus Beef® further substantiate Angus demand.” Read more…

Growers Continue to Face Harvesting Challenges From Cool, Wet Summer

While the rains have stopped and harvest is progressing, Kentucky growers continue to deal with the ramifications of a cool, wet growing season.

The growing season came to a close the weekend of Oct. 17 with the season’s first frost. While that may seem early, it was only slightly ahead of the state’s average first frost date, said Michael Mathews, staff meteorologist in the University of Kentucky (UK) College of Agriculture.

Fortunately, the majority of the state’s corn was mature; however, only 75% of soybeans were mature, said Chad Lee, UK grain crops specialist.

“Most likely the remaining 25% will not grow any further, resulting in lighter seeds,” he said. These soybeans were mainly double-cropped with wheat or planted late.

Not only will the late soybeans have lower test weights, but they may have additional damage, which could reduce marketability and lead to additional price discounts at the elevator. When the frost hit, some of the soybeans had yet to turn yellow and drop their leaves. This could make the plant’s green color nearly impossible to get out of the seeds. High moisture levels may lead to shriveled seeds, which could trigger an additional discount, said Jim Herbek, UK grain crops specialist.

Corn and soybean harvesting delays are slowing wheat planting. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) weekly crop and weather report for the state, only 8% of the crop was planted as of the first of this week. This compares to 33% seeded by this time in 2008 and a 40% five-year average.

“There could be a lot of late-planted wheat, especially if there’s another crop still in the field,” Herbek said.

— By Katie Pratt, UK College of Agriculture.

Tick-Transmitted Horse Disease Detected on South Texas Ranch

A tick-borne disease known as equine piroplasmosis has been confirmed on a ranch in South Texas. Additional testing is being conducted to determine the extent of infection. Horses on the ranch are quarantined to their premises, and a thorough disease investigation is under way.

Equine piroplasmosis can affect horses, donkeys, mules or zebras and can cause clinical signs common to many diseases, including poor appetite and weight loss. Death losses can occur. Some infected equine animals may exhibit few or no signs of disease. Those animals that survive the acute phase of infection may continue to carry the parasite, which has been identified as Theileria equi (formerly known as Babesia equi), for long periods of time.

“Although equine piroplasmosis is not considered to be endemic in the U.S., cases have been detected on occasion,” said Bob Hillman, Texas’ state veterinarian and head of the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), the state’s livestock and poultry health regulatory agency. “In June, equine piroplasmosis was detected in Missouri, with a related case found in Kansas. In 2008, the infection was detected in Florida. These cases have been closed.”

“As many as 15 tick species are capable of carrying and transmitting the blood parasite responsible for causing equine piroplasmosis,” Hillman explained. “At this time, we do not know which species of tick is responsible for transmitting infection on the South Texas ranch. Additional blood and tick samples are being collected and will be submitted for analysis to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa.”

Hillman said there is no vaccine for equine piroplasmosis, and treatment generally is not effective against this tick-borne infection. To avoid spread of the disease, it is important to eliminate contact with ticks and to prevent the transfer of blood from one equine animal to another.

“Equine owners may want to consult with their veterinarians for recommendations on preventing tick infestation,” said Hillman. “If equine animals exhibit signs of illness, a veterinarian should be contacted, so appropriate samples may be collected for laboratory testing. Currently, we have no indication that this tick transmitted disease has occurred at other sites in Texas, but maintaining vigilance for this blood parasite is necessary in determining the extent of this disease situation.”

— Release by Texas Animal Health Commission.

It’s Raining Feral Hogs in Some Areas

Though delayed in some areas by the rain, cotton, corn and hay harvests continued in Texas. However, the rain was a mixed blessing for those wanting to establish winter pastures.

The extra moisture improved the chances for success, but delayed planting, according to AgriLife Extension county agents. But even silver linings may have a cloud, and the rain was associated with problems in many areas.

“In the last couple of weeks we’ve had some wet, cool, drizzly weather that kind of hurt the cotton crop,” said Ryan Martin, AgriLife Extension agent in Motley County, northeast of Lubbock. Where cotton had opened bolls, the wet weather might lower quality, and excessive rain was tied to armyworm outbreaks throughout the state.

The real downside to the cool wet weather is that feral hogs seem to “flourish” in it, becoming more active and doing increased damage to crops, he said.

“In one cotton field, we looked at a producer’s 200-acre cotton field, and there was anywhere from 150 to 200 hogs on it,” Martin said. “And they had just completely wrecked that field. If that farmer has any intention of harvesting the crop, then he’s going to have to go in there and plow it out to get it somewhat smooth where he won’t tear up harvest equipment.”

Martin said the hogs root around the cotton plant, possibly after grubs, and sometimes root the plants up. Though there is a USDA feral hog abatement program, it isn’t really designed for his area.

“You have to pay per acre to enroll your land in that program,” he said. “If your neighbor is trying to get hogs in to sell for hunts, and here you are, enrolled in the program trying to keep the hogs off, it’s just a constant back-and-forth fight.”

Also, Martin said, the market for hog meat has fallen off. Fewer people are hunting and trapping, and the hog population continues to grow.

For more information on controlling feral hogs, check out the latest Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA. To sign up for the Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA, visit www.angusbeefbulletin.com/.

— Release by Texas AgriLife Extension.

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