News Update
May 14, 2010

Beef Improvement Federation Reminder

To catch early registration discounts, those wanting to attend the 2010 Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Symposium, Gateway to Profit, June 28-July 1 should register by June 4. Registration is $185 before June 4 and $225 thereafter. Program details and conference registration are available at www.BIF2010.com.

To reserve a room at the headquarters hotel, contact the Holiday Inn Select directly at www.hiselect.com/cou-execctr, 1-800-HOLIDAY or 573-445-8531. The reservation deadline is May 29. Mention BIF for the conference rate. For online hotel reservations use group code ‘BIF’ to ensure you receive the conference rate.

Angus Productions Inc. will be providing online coverage of the event at www.BIFconference.com. Visit the site now for a schedule, links to hotel and registration information, pre-event news and an archive to coverage of past symposiums. During the event, API will provide coverage of the meeting, BIF committee sessions and tours. This coverage is available via the sponsorship of Biozyme Inc. and a working agreement with BIF.

Malone Supreme Angus Field Day

Malone Supreme Angus will be host a field day from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. May 29 at the ranch near Arkadelphia, Ark. The program will feature:

• a low-stress cattle handling facility designed by Temple Grandin;
  

• Gary Fike from Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) speaking about the CAB® brand and AngusSource®; and
  

• Jeff Miller from Southern Arkansas University, who will illustrate the importance of bull selection.
  

Other topics of discussion will be state and national issues facing the cattle industry, and the use of good genetics.

“Everyone is welcome,” Donna Malone says. “We hope to get a lot of information out there. There is no cost or registration; just show up ready to learn.”

The ranch is located at exit 78 of Interstate 30. For more information contact Malone at 870-246-7202.

AgriLife Extension Sets May 18 Animal Health Program in Nolan County

The Texas AgriLife Extension Service office in Nolan County will conduct a free animal health program from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. May 18 in the AgriLife Extension meeting room located on the third floor of the Nolan County Court House in Sweetwater.

Zachary Wilcox, AgriLife Extension agent in Nolan County, said topics would include the new trichomoniasis testing requirements for breeding bulls and piroplasmosis in horses.

“Many producers are familiar with trichomoniasis, a reproductive disease of cattle, but there is some confusion surrounding new legislation that went into effect at the first of the year. That law requires untested bulls to be sold for slaughter only,” Wilcox said.

“Piroplasmosis is a blood disease of equines that’s transmitted by ticks,” he said. “It was found last fall in South Texas and there has been some concern in our area about the disease. Our aim with this program is to arm producers with the facts on both diseases, so they can make informed decisions if or when they need to.”

Speakers are to be Bud Alldredge, a Sweetwater veterinarian, and Arnoldo Gutierrez, a veterinary medical officer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Aspermont.

For more information, contact Wilcox at 325-236-9018.

— Release by Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

Editor’s Note: Trichomoniasis is one of the subjects featured in the June issue of the Angus Journal, which features a herd health theme. If you are not a subscriber, click here to subscribe.

Senate to Take Action on Murkowski-Lincoln Resolution

The Senate is expected to vote next week on a motion to proceed on S.J. Res. 26, a “Resolution of Disapproval” of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) greenhouse gas “endangerment finding.” The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is urging the Senate to stand up for American agriculture by supporting this bipartisan resolution.

S.J. Res. 26, by Senators Murkowski and Lincoln, would prevent the EPA from trumping Congress and unilaterally regulating greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) under the Clean Air Act (CAA) — a move that would be devastating to the U.S. economy in general, and agriculture in particular, NCBA says.

Despite a lack of verifiable science showing that GHGs are somehow the result of manmade activities, rather than a naturally occurring phenomenon, the EPA has decided to move forward on its recent finding that GHGs are an “endangerment to public health and welfare.” This finding provides the foundation for EPA to regulate GHGs from small and large sources throughout the economy — including farms, hospitals, office buildings and schools — under the CAA. The CAA is ill-equipped to address climate change, and it was never the intent of Congress that it be used for this purpose.

It would be irresponsible to allow the EPA to move forward on this type of regulation when there’s so much uncertainty surrounding humans’ contribution to climate change. S.J. Res. 26 would, in effect, reverse EPA’s finding, and instead allow the complex issue of climate change to be handled through thoughtful Congressional debate. In these challenging economic times, we cannot afford to take actions that further jeopardize the ability of the U.S. to remain competitive in the global marketplace.

In addition to supporting the Murkowski-Lincoln resolution and similar legislation introduced in the House, NCBA and the Coalition for Responsible Regulation Inc. (“the Coalition”) have taken legal action to prevent EPA from moving forward on devastating greenhouse gas regulation. In December 2009, the Coalition filed petitions with the Washington, D.C., Circuit Court of Appeals and EPA challenging the science behind the initial “endangerment finding,” and in April 2010, the Coalition filed an appeal against the so-called “Johnson Memo” interpreting when GHGs become subject to the federal Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit program. The Coalition’s most recent appeal, filed late last week, challenges the EPA’s tailpipe standards for greenhouse gas emissions.

— Release by NCBA.

Storm Debris in Pastures Potential Health Risk to Cattle

The aftermath of Oklahoma’s recent tornadoes has many cattle producers walking their pastures looking for insulation, building materials and other debris that may negatively affect animal health and time management costs.

Cattle will eat just about anything that looks interesting in the pasture, cautions Doug Maxey, Okmulgee County Extension director and agricultural educator.

“Producers are going to have to pick up as much debris from their pastures as possible,” Maxey said. “This can be a painstaking, labor-intensive process given the potential amount of small debris.”

Insulation can cause bloat, impaction and gastrointestinal problems when consumed, including possible hemorrhaging of the rumen. Nails and other small pieces of metal can cause “hardware” disease, health problems associated with the consumption of metal.

Gene Parker, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service veterinarian and area food animal quality and health specialist, said a single piece of wire consumed by a bull, cow, heifer or calf can drop down into the reticulum, the first stomach, where it potentially can pierce the heart.

Other problems sometimes associated with “hardware” disease are the shutting down of the rumen, depression, acute pain and decreased milk production.

“Cattle producers may want to use rumen magnets if there appears to be a significant amount of metal debris in pastures,” Parker said. “A rumen magnet may be a health-care investment well worth the money.”

Local large-animal veterinarians have information on rumen magnets, including associated costs and availability.

“Insulation debris is more problematic, because of the small size,” Parker said. “Producers are unlikely to rid their pastures of every bit of insulation. If animals exhibit symptoms of insulation-related problems, producers should contact their local veterinarians immediately.”

Treatment of cattle suffering from insulation problems is symptomatic.

“Your local veterinarian will treat on a case-by-case basis,” Parker said. “This might mean employing a treatment with laxatives, mineral oil, fluid therapy or, in appropriate cases, surgery.”

Nails and other sharp metal objects of various sizes also create a significant hazard to the feet and legs of animals. It is not uncommon for these objects to cause puncture wounds and cuts in the feet and legs of livestock.

“Often these metal objects have been carried by wind or washed into water holes, ponds or other areas accessible to livestock and a potential source of injury,” Maxey said. “It’s prudent for livestock owners to keep this in mind when they have animals showing lameness.”

If an animal is lame for more than one or two days and the lameness continues to worsen, Maxey and Parker recommend the animal be examined by a veterinarian.

— Release by Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service.

North Dakota Junior Beef Expo Set, Entry Deadline Approaches

The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association is calling for entries to participate in the 16th anniversary North Dakota Junior Beef Expo (NDJBE), June 26-27, at the Upper Missouri Valley Fairgrounds in Williston.

The multi-breed, two-day junior field day combines educational seminars, fun activities, great food and competition for the region’s top animals and best showmen, ages 21 years and younger. And, in honor of the show’s 16th year, expo officials are sweetening the deal by awarding an additional $1,000 in show premiums, as well as supreme heifer honors to the top five placers.

The NDJBE includes several breed association junior field days, and follows the Western Star Regional Junior Heifer Classic (WSRJHC) on June 25-26. Both the NDJBE and the WSRJHC are sanctioned events of the North Dakota Junior Point Show Association.

For more information, contact the NDJBE show coordinator Tracey Koester at 701-223-2522 or tkoester@ndstockmen.org. NDJBE entry forms are available at www.ndstockmen.org, and are due June 1.

— Release by North Dakota Stockman’s Association.

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