News Update
Dec. 3, 2009

Managing Genetic Abnormalities

What causes genetic abnormalities in cattle? And why do they seem to be occurring with greater frequency? During the 2009 Range Beef Cow Symposium in Casper, Wyo., University of Illinois molecular genetics specialist Jon Beever addressed those questions and talked about technologies available for managing genetic abnormalities such as arthrogryposis multiplex, neuropathic hydrocephalus, osteopetrosis and others.

While more defects do seem to be showing up, Beever said, they have “been there” for a long time. Caused by a recessive gene, genetic abnormalities can occur when one animal carrying the gene is mated with another carrier. A calf resulting from such a mating will be normal 25% of the time, having received the recessive gene from neither parent. Fifty percent of the time, the calf will receive the recessive gene from one parent and also be a carrier. And there is a 25% chance that the offspring will receive the gene from both parents and exhibit the abnormality.

“The widespread use of animals (sires) of high genetic merit results in more potential carriers among their progeny,” Beever explained. “And with increased intensity of selection there is more opportunity for mating between carriers. When a recessive gene piles up in the population, we can get some surprises.”

Beever said the new DNA technologies allow for management to guide breeding programs away from potential losses due to genetic abnormalities. He likened the use of new DNA tests for abnormalities to the use of vaccines to prevent loss from disease. Several tests to identify carriers of genes associated with specific abnormalities are available, and industry application has been high. Scientifically, the tests are 100% accurate, Beever stated. Functionally, they are as good as the laboratory performing the test.

“Seedstock producers bear the most responsibility for managing abnormalities,” Beever said, “but commercial producers can use the tests to manage the replacement female base.”

The producer’s decision regarding whether or not to use a carrier animal in a breeding program depends on that producer’s risk and level of management.

“We can make the management tools,” Beever told the symposium audience. “You decide how to use them.”

— Release by Troy Smith for Angus Productions Inc.

Continued Range Beef Cow Symposium Coverage

Look for continuing coverage and releases from the Range Beef Cow Symposium XXI from Casper, Wyo.,  at www.angus.org and in the newsroom at www.rangebeefcow.com.

NCBA Opposes House Proposal to Extend Current Estate Tax Law

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is extremely disappointed that Congress has ignored repeated calls for estate tax (“death tax”) reform. The House Rules Committee announced today that H.R. 4154 by Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) will be considered under a closed rule. The Pomeroy bill would permanently extend the death tax at 2009 levels, without indexing for inflation.

“The Pomeroy bill is a disservice to America’s family farmers and other small businesses,” said NCBA President Gary Voogt. “By keeping a flawed law in place, Congress will simply extend our problems with the current system into the future.”

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS), farm estates are 5-20 times more likely to incur estate taxes than other estates. In fact, according to ERS estimates, one in ten farm estates (farms with sales of $250,000 or more annually) are likely to owe estate taxes in 2009. Farmers and ranchers are often forced to sell off land, equipment, or even the entire ranch just to pay off tax liabilities. This is money that could otherwise be re-invested to grow the family business and hand it down to future generations.

“This is not a tax on the ‘wealthy elite’,” Voogt continued. “It is a huge burden — and in some cases, a death sentence — on family farms and small businesses.”

Most cattle producers have businesses that have been passed down through the generations for more than 50 years, and 15% of producers have operations that have been in the family for more than 100 years. Most of the time, these assets have already faced taxes two or three times over the course of a lifetime.

“Taxing America’s farmers and ranchers out of business will impact all Americans,” Voogt continued. “Not only do our family farmers play a critical role in feeding the world’s growing population and American families right here at home, they also help preserve our nation’s treasured open space and environmental resources.”

NCBA continues to support a dual-track approach for death tax reform, including additional relief and an overall exemption for agriculture. Both types of reform are critical.

“A simple extension of current law is unacceptable,” Voogt said. “America's farmers and ranchers deserve more than the status quo; they deserve true reform.”

A vote on H.R. 4154 is expected on the House floor this Thursday, December 3. For more information, visit: http://www.beefusa.org/uDocs/deathtaxleavebehind.pdf.

— Release provided by the NCBA.

In an investigation and legal case that dragged on for almost four years, one of the largest organic cattle producers in the United States, Promiseland Livestock LLC, was suspended from organic commerce, along with its owner and key employees, for four years. The penalty was part of an order issued by administrative law judge Peter Davenport in Washington, D.C., on November 25.

Promiseland, a multimillion dollar operation with facilities in Missouri and Nebraska, including more than 13,000 acres of cropland, and managing 22,000 head of beef and dairy cattle, had been accused of multiple improprieties in formal legal complaints, including not feeding organic grain to cattle, selling fraudulent organic feed and "laundering" conventional cattle as organic.

"We are pleased that justice has been served in the Promiseland matter," said Mark A. Kastel, Senior Farm Policy Analyst for the Wisconsin-based Cornucopia Institute. Scrutiny from Cornucopia, one of the industry's most aggressive independent watchdogs, was part of the genesis for the comprehensive USDA investigation and subsequent legal proceedings.

Promiseland became the focus of Cornucopia's investigation into giant factory farms, milking thousands of cows, that were allegedly operating illegally. Promiseland sold thousands of dairy cows to giant factory dairy farms owned by Dean Foods (Horizon Organic), Natural Prairie Dairy in Texas and Aurora Dairy based in Colorado. Aurora and Natural Prairie supply private-label, store-brand milk for Wal-Mart, Costco, Target and major supermarket chains such as HEB, Safeway and Harris Teeter.

Although Cornucopia has praise for the professionalism of law enforcement agents at the USDA, and the career staff at the National Organic Program (NOP), who carried out the Aurora and Promiseland investigations, the farm policy research group has harshly criticized past management at the USDA which allowed Promiseland, and Aurora, to operate illegally for years.

— Adapted from a release provided by The Cornucopia Institute.

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