News Update
Nov. 25, 2009

Auxiliary Elects Officers, Conducts Annual Meeting

Members of the American Angus Auxiliary elected officers and conducted the organization’s annual meeting Saturday, Nov. 14, during Angus events in conjunction with the 2009 North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) in Louisville, Ky.

Auxiliary members chose the 2009-2010 officer team, including: Kathi Creamer, Montrose, Colo., president; Barbara Ettredge, Pilot Point, Texas, president-elect; Anne Lampe, Scott City, Kan., secretary-treasurer; and Michelle Rieff, Bentonville, Ark., advisor. Read more.

KAA Partners with CAB® for Annual Carcass Data Project

The 2010 Carcass Data Project (CDP) is designed for Kansas Angus Association (KAA) members who may not have enough steers to make a whole pen at a commercial feedyard but who want to retain ownership and collect individual carcass data on their steers or for members who may want to feed a few head and compete for recognition as the 2010 CDP winner. To participate in the project producers must enter a minimum of five spring-born steers weaned at least 45 days prior to delivery. Steers must be out of a registered Angus bull and have a known sire or sire group. An approved vaccination program as well as having individual identification tags is also required.

The KAA is proud to announce a new partnership with Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) that will enhance your CDP experience. CAB is sponsoring a $250 cash award and CAB merchandise, including a jacket, to the owner of the top CDP entry (based on participant’s top 3 steers). In addition, CAB will present each CDP participant with a travel coffee mug. Royal Beef-Irsik and Doll, Scott City, Kan., is hosting the CDP for the third year.

The annual CDP gets under way in December. Entries are due Dec. 18. There is a  $5 per head entry fee payable to the Kansas Angus Association. Royal Beef will bill participants twice a month for feed and yardage. Participants are responsible for delivery/transportation to Royal Beef, Dec. 28-30, 2009.

For a list of requirements, more information or entry forms, contact the KAA at kansasangus@wbsnet.org, fax 620-872-3915, or Kansas Angus Association, 5201 E Rd 110, Scott City, KS 67871. Mark Lampe, assistant manager at Royal Beef is the CDP chairman. Call him at 620-874-0258.

— Release by KAA.

Opportunities Exist for Beef, Dairy Producers to Utilize Damaged Corn

The moldy corn that is coming out of some Indiana fields presents challenges to growers and livestock producers, but cattlemen may be able to take advantage of this unfortunate opportunity, said Purdue University beef and dairy specialists.

The rumen is an organ that allows beef and dairy cattle to detoxify anything they might eat, said Ron Lemenager, Purdue Extension beef management specialist. However, he said growers should be cautious because the rumen does have its limitations.

“The concern that I have, as a nutritionist, in feeding moldy corn is for the replacement heifer,” Lemenager said. “It’s in those diets that we feed a little more corn to help them reach the target 65% of mature weight by the time they enter the breeding season next year.

“We know the toxin zearalenone has the potential to cause negative effects on conception rates and fertility in these breeding females.”

Tamilee Nennich, Purdue Extension dairy cattle nutrition specialist, said lactating cattle are more sensitive to zearalenone than beef cattle because of their increased feed intake and milk production.

Nennich said growers should keep in mind how much corn the animals get as a percentage of their diet vs. the single ingredient.

“In a typical diet, corn probably makes up about 20%, but it depends on the feeds available in the area and costs,” she said. “This does cause a dilution effect.”

Ideally, as a part of the total diet, deoxynivalenol (DON) levels should be 300-500 parts per billion (ppb) or less and zearalenone should be 200-300 ppb or less, Nennich said. However, short-term research studies have found no side effects from feeding higher levels, up to 6 parts per million, she said.

Nennich and Lemenager both recommend that growers work with their nutritionist to identify a diet with the resources available that meets the nutritional needs of their livestock.

One thing growers can do is to add a binding agent to the diet, which has been shown to have a positive effect on milk production, Nennich said.

Cattle going off feed, reduced milk production and weight loss are all signs toxin levels are too high for the rumen to detoxify.

“If you notice any of these signs, the best option is to remove the feed and replace it with a new source,” Nennich said. “If that’s not possible, consider diluting it with other feeds and adding binders.”

Moldy corn can be diluted with good corn, soybean hulls, hay and other feed sources.

Lemenager and Nennich agree that dried distillers’ grains with solubles (DDGS) are a good feed source, but there could be issues if the corn taken to the ethanol facilities has mycotoxins.

“The fermentation process might destroy the molds, but it doesn’t remove mycotoxins,” Lemenager said. “In fact, it multiplies them threefold.”

The ideal thing, he said, would be if producers can get an indication of what the levels are before purchasing or feeding, which would allow a diet to be formulated around it.

“This is a situation where you may be able to get a good deal on corn or DDGS,” Lemenager said. “But growers need to remember, cheap feed is not cheap.”

For more information about what’s going on in the beef industry, visit The Beef Center at www.beefcenter.com, contact Lemenager at 765-494-4817, or at rpl@purdue.edu. Questions about the dairy sector should be directed to Nennich at 765-494-4823, tnennich@purdue.edu.

— Release by Purdue Extension.

Offices Closed

The American Angus Association and Angus Productions Inc. will be closed Nov. 26-27, 2009, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

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