News Update
Feb. 22, 2010

Southeastern Calves Still Improving

For decades, cattle from the southeastern U.S. have sold at a discount compared to cattle from the Midwest. Data says they deserve better, according to a beef cattle specialist with Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB). Earlier this month, Gary Fike presented on feedlot performance and carcass traits at the Southern Section meetings of the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) in Orlando, Fla.

An eight-year study shows that a higher percentage of Angus-type calves from the Southeast qualified for the Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) brand. That could be due to an age difference, but the study shows a distinct and widening health advantage over Midwestern calves, too.

Calves involved in the study were from 19 states, fed a common diet at 18 Iowa feedlots through the Tri-County Steer Carcass Futurity (TCSCF). They were sorted to harvest after visually evaluated to have one centimeter of fat cover, Fike reported. Read more.

Angus Cattle Gift Boosts University of Illinois

The University of Illinois (U of I) Department of Animal Sciences received a major gift of purebred Angus cattle from John and Margaret Downs of Southern Cattle Co. in Marianna, Fla.

The donation included elite Angus cows, a top young bull, select embryos and semen from top Angus sires. John Downs and Southern Cattle Co. manager Lamont Ennis have developed this operation into one of the leading beef cattle programs in the nation.

“Their Angus cattle program provides superior genetics for the beef industry,” said Doug Parrett, U of I Extension beef cattle specialist. “Through extensive embryo transfer and artificial insemination, they have multiplied a large volume of top-notch genetics representing the entire Angus breed.”

The Downs family has an active history of supporting agricultural education institutions. The U of I’s beef cattle research, teaching and Extension programs have a long history of excellence, Parrett said.

U of I has beef cattle farms on the South Farms in Urbana and at the Orr and Dixon Springs Research Centers. Research programs include basic discovery science and improved applied beef cattle management methodologies.

Current areas of research in the U of I beef cattle program include corn coproduct feed utilization, feed efficiency characteristics in beef cattle, genomic estimations of cattle performance and carcass traits, fetal programming, and management strategies for high-quality beef production.

Students at all facilities learn applied beef production techniques, serve internships and help with research projects.

“Southern Cattle Company’s gift enhances research opportunities by providing new genetics to U of I’s cattle programs,” Parrett said. “The gift cattle and embryos represent some of the most elite genetics in the Angus breed, especially for carcass characteristics.”

The gift cattle will broaden and expand research capabilities at U of I. “The gift is especially valuable during these tough fiscal times as it allows beef programs to continue to operate at a high level,” Parrett said.

— Release by U of I Extension.

What Does Health Care Reform Mean For Texas Ranchers?

As Republicans and Democrats prepare to begin negotiating health care reform in Congress, ranchers in Texas are wondering what to expect from new reforms and how their families and small businesses will be affected. Cattle producers can get this information during the “Health Care Reform at the Ranch” breakout session in conjunction with the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) 133rd Annual Convention March 19-21 in Fort Worth, Texas.

Phyllis Brasher, assistant general counsel with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, will lead a discussion on health care reform and what it means for the ranching community on Saturday, March 20, at 2 p.m. at the Fort Worth Convention Center.

“The cattle industry is volatile, so TSCRA makes it a priority to provide educational sessions that will help our members plan for the future. With so many questions surrounding health care, it is important to have an expert on hand to decipher the facts and let us know what to expect if a national health care bill is passed,” said Dave Scott, rancher and TSCRA president.

“There is no doubt that our health care system needs reform, but TSCRA members hope that reform will not take away from their fundamental freedom of choice,” Scott continued. “Whatever it is that may come our way concerning health care, we want to prepare our members the best we can.”

TSCRA began to offer insurance services to its members in 1977 to meet the growing need for affordable health care for independent cattlemen and women. TSCRA currently insures more than 5,000 people through their insurance services.

“TSCRA is unlike most associations because we offer our members health care insurance similar to what would be offered to employees at a large company. Our members are able to get full health care benefits, including dental and vision, for their families and their employees at a lower price,” said Jerri McDonald, TSCRA executive director of insurance services.

“Health Care Reform at the Ranch” is just one of 11 breakout sessions scheduled to take place during the convention. For a complete list of topics visit www.texascattleraisers.org/convention and click on breakout sessions.

— Release by TSCRA.

Hearings Set on Water Protection Permits for Livestock Farms

Two proposed general permits covering livestock operations of different sizes will be the topic of public hearings statewide in March and April, and a public comment period through April 23. According to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, the state is proposing to issue standardized water protection permits known as ‘general permits’ instead of writing the permits individually as a way to free up time for compliance and inspections of large-scale livestock operations.

“Wisconsin has among the most rigorous permitting standards in the nation right now, and our proposed general permits have the same requirements,” says Gordon Stevenson, who leads the Department of Natural Resources runoff management section. “But we are the last state to use individual permits for large-scale livestock operations.”

Stevenson says since the requirements for many of these large operations are the same, there is limited need for DNR staff to draft each permit individually. Switching to standardized general permits would allow DNR staff to spend more time in the field inspecting those livestock operations to make sure they are following requirements for manure storage, handling, spreading, and other activities.

“Such activities, when done improperly, can lead to manure spills or manure runoff and potential pollution of lakes, streams and drinking water supplies and fish kills,” he notes. “The plan is to inspect each permitted facility twice during their five year period, up from a single inspection of a subset of facilities.”

The DNR says switching to the general permits also would allow DNR staff to issue the permits on a more timely basis. Under state and federal law, large-scale livestock operations are allowed to expand and operate in accordance with a water protection permit, and it’s DNR’s responsibility to issue those permits and ensure that operations comply with permit conditions.

Under state and federal law, large farms must get water protection permits when they reach 1,000 animal units, or about 700 milking cows, because of the volume of their manure and the increased potential risk it poses to Wisconsin waters if a spill or runoff occurs.

An operation with a complete and credible permit application receives a permit. There are now 188 permits, which must be renewed every five years. They are operating permits that apply only to water protection and do not give the DNR authority to address where such an operation is sited, nor air, odor, traffic, lighting or other concerns that may be present.

For more information about the proposed changes, call 608-267-2759.

— Release by Wisconsin Ag Connection.

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