News Update
March 15, 2010

Angus Juniors Raise the Bar in Ames

Angus youth from across the Midwest met March 5-7 in Ames, Iowa, for the National Junior Angus Association’s (NJAA’s) premier leadership training conference, Raising the Bar.

Twenty-one officers and advisors from five state junior Angus associations participated in the course, geared toward building stronger leaders while forming important regional relationships.

The NJAA Board of Directors conducted several team-building activities as well as workshops on résumés and interviews; scholarships; animal welfare vs. animal rights; conflict resolution; and American Angus Association and NJAA trivia. Read more.

Public Lands Council Announces New Executive Director

Dustin Van Liew has been named the new executive director of the Public Lands Council (PLC), and director of Federal Lands for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). Van Liew has been with PLC as a lobbyist since January 2008, most recently serving in the role of interim director.

“Dustin brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, and — most importantly — a passion for this great industry and the people who work in it,” said Skye Krebs, PLC president. “He has been an invaluable asset to the association over the past two years, and I’m excited to have him on board in this new leadership role.”

In his new position, Van Liew will seek to grow the presence of PLC both in the West and in Washington, D.C., to ensure a profitable business environment for America’s ranchers.

Van Liew comes from Woodland, Calif., where he is the seventh generation to work in livestock and production agriculture. He attended Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo where he received a bachelor’s degree in ag business with a policy concentration. While at Cal Poly he was a member of the livestock judging team, competing in contests across the nation. After finishing at Cal Poly, Van Liew moved to College Station, Texas, to attend Texas A&M University where he received a master’s degree in ag economics. His thesis focused on the economics of range management.

“PLC and NCBA have been strong allies over the years, and I’m looking forward to having Dustin at the helm as we continue to build upon this important partnership,” said Colin Woodall, NCBA vice president of government affairs.

— Release by NCBA.

MU Beef Meeting Will Tell of Timed Cow Breeding At Mound City

The latest protocols for timed insemination of a beef herd in one day will be explained at a meeting March 25 at Mound City, Mo., said Amie Schleicher, University of Missouri (MU) Extension livestock specialist.

“Synchronized breeding eliminates the need for heat detection for artificial insemination (AI),” said David Patterson, MU Extension beef reproduction specialist. “AI allows use of superior bulls with proven desired traits, such as calving ease and carcass quality.”

One of the biggest reasons producers have not adopted AI is the amount of work involved in heat detection, Patterson said. Breeding by appointment eliminates at least three weeks of checking the cow herd three times a day during the breeding season.

Research at the MU Thompson Farm, Spickard, Mo., has led to development of new techniques now approved for use nationwide. “We have proven protocols that work both for cows and heifers,” Patterson said.

The most recent protocol for heifers, known in Missouri as “Show-Me Synch,” was adopted nationally last fall. The MU protocols are now included in sire catalogs of all the U.S. AI companies.

The new heifer protocol reduces the number of trips through the working chute and allows veterinarians to provide needed vaccinations on the first trip.

For producers, synchronized breeding brings a uniform calf crop, as most calves are born within a 14-day calving season. This reduces time spent during the calving season and usually results in higher calf survival rates.

“Our first questions is always, ‘But what if all the calves arrive on one day?’ ” Patterson said. “Nature doesn’t work that way. The calves spread out at calving time. At most 20% might come in one day, and that’s unusual. With most of Missouri’s small cow herds, that won’t be too many calves on one day.”

Patterson brought the concept of the heifer development program to Missouri when he came from the University of

Kentucky in 1996. That idea has since become the statewide Show-Me-Select Heifer Development Program and associated sales.

The concept of timed breeding was developed out of the work on heifer development.

The use of proven sires, available through AI service, greatly improves the herd quality in a short time.

Schleicher said that a portable breeding box is available for use by producers in the region. It is kept at the MU Extension Center in Albany, Mo. Rental details will be discussed at the meeting.

Handouts with the most recent protocols in use will be provided at the meeting. The program, free and open to the public, starts at 7 p.m. at the headquarters of the Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, south of Mound City, Mo. For more information and to register, contact Schleicher at the Atchison County Extension Center at 660-744-6231 or schleichera@missouri.edu.

— Release by MU Extension.

Learn How To Prevent Livestock Theft At Gathering In Breckenridge

Come join the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) for a ranch gathering on Thursday, April 8, at the Stephens County Ag Barn and Community Center in Breckenridge. The gathering will begin at 5:30 p.m. with registration followed by a free steak dinner.

“These ranch gatherings are a great way for folks in the community to get together, and it’s not just for TSCRA members. Anyone who would like to come out and enjoy the evening is invited,” TSCRA President Dave Scott said. “Additionally, TSCRA Special Rangers Larry Gray and Scott Williamson will be on hand to discuss how to protect your valuable assets from agriculture theft. TSCRA Government Affairs Director Jason Skaggs will discuss what is going on in Washington

and Austin and how that will affect cattle raisers.”
Please RSVP by April 2 to Brooke Boddy at 1-800-242-7820, ext. 192, or rsvp@texascattleraisers.org.

The Stephens County Ag Barn and Community Center is located at 146 County Road 245 in Breckenridge.

All members of the press are invited to attend. Please see schedule below.

5:30 p.m. — Registration opens

6:30 p.m. — Free Steak Dinner Served

7:00 p.m. — Larry Gray, TSCRA Exec. Director of Law Enforcement
Scott Williamson, TSCRA Special Ranger Supervisor, Theft Prevention Presentation

7:15 p.m. — Jason Skaggs, TSCRA Exec. Director of Gov. and Public Affairs, Legislative Update and Discussion

The ranch gathering is sponsored by Agricultural Workers Mutual Auto Insurance Co., Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Bayer Animal Health, Helena Chemical Co., and Texas Range Minerals Inc.

The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is a 133-year-old trade organization. As the largest livestock association in Texas, TSCRA represents more than 15,000 beef cattle producers, ranching families and businesses who manage approximately 4 million head of cattle on 51.5 million acres of range and pasture land, primarily in Texas and Oklahoma. TSCRA provides law enforcement and livestock inspection services, legislative and regulatory advocacy, industry news and information, insurance services and educational opportunities for its members and the industry.

— Release by TSCRA.

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