News Update
Oct. 7, 2010

CA test commercially available

On Oct. 4 the American Angus Association announced the availability of a commercial test for the presence of the simple recessive genetic defect contractural arachnodactyly (CA, formerly referred to as fawn calf syndrome) through four authorized labs. According to the notice posted to www.angus.org, producers have two options for testing:

1. Submit samples through the Association/Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI). Use AAA Login to order defect tests for arthrogryposis multiplex (AM), neuropathic hydrocephalus (NH) or CA. Submit samples to the American Angus Association, 3201 Frederick Ave., Saint Joseph, MO 64506. Samples will be archived at the Association for future testing requests. To start the process, log in at www.angusonline.org and use menu option “Order Defect Testing for AM/NH/CA.”

2. Submit samples to authorized labs for CA testing. At press time, four labs were authorized for CA testing by the American Angus Association. Consult the respective lab websites for information on preferred DNA sample types, sample submission forms, pricing information and complete instructions on how and where to submit samples for testing.

In choosing a lab, members of the Association are urged to read and carefully consider any language on a given lab’s submission form (for the CA test) or on its accompanying “Terms and Conditions” that relate to alternative use of the DNA samples being submitted.

Labs authorized for CA testing include:

• AgriGenomics, 2399 N. 1000 E. Rd., Mansfield, IL 61854; 217-762-9808; www.agrigenomicsinc.com
  
• Igenity, 4701 Innovation Dr., CB 101, Lincoln, NE 68521; 1-877-443-6489; www.igenity.com
  
• GeneSeek; 4665 Innovation Dr. Suite 120, Lincoln NE 68521; 402-435-0665; www.geneseek.com; (The following groups collaborate with GeneSeek Inc. to collect and provide samples for testing: Stockman’s Resource Center LLC, Eddyville, Iowa; SEK Genetics, Galesburg, Kan.; Genex Cooperative Inc., Shawano, Wis.)
  
• Pfizer Animal Genetics, 333 Portage Rd., Kalamazoo, MI 49007-4931; 1-877-233-3362; www.pfizeranimalgenetics.com
  

For more information and updates, visit www.angus.org.

Docility: From Research to Reality

Anyone ever chased out of a pasture gate knows the value of good temperament in cattle, but there’s an economic incentive in addition to plain-old convenience.

Iowa’s Tri-County Steer Carcass Futurity feedlot performance data reported by Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) shows calves reported as docile generated an average profit of $46.63 per head while their nervous-to-very-aggressive counterparts netted only $7.62.a

Better performance, reduced morbidity and treatment costs, and improved carcass merit from more docile cattle also resulted in better marbling scores and Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) acceptance rates. An earlier study reported a difference of $62.19 per head in the net dollars returned between the most docile animals vs. the most aggressive.

While Angus cattle are known for their generally docile nature, Angus breeders have been submitting yearling cattle temperament scores for the past several years. Breeders evaluate animals on a 1-to-6 scale, with 1 being docile and 6 very aggressive. (Visit http://www.angus.org for more information on how to submit scores.)

With heritability estimates indicating effective selection for improved temperament, the American Angus Association began releasing research Angus docility EPDs on sires in spring 2008.

Since then, an increase in breeder-submitted records has contributed to the development of the docility research report into a full release of National Cattle Evaluation (NCE) expected progeny differences (EPDs).

“Like docility, ultrasound evaluation underwent a similar process in that it also began as a research report,” says Bill Bowman, AGI president and Association chief operating officer (COO). “After accumulating records for several years, we can now use the data to more fully characterize highly used sires in terms of potential for docility of their progeny.”

Docility (DOC) is expressed as a percentage-point difference in yearling cattle temperament, with a higher value indicating more favorable docility. The EPD can be used as part of a complete selection program in the event that a breeder needs to make improvements in the herd’s cattle temperament.

“This was the next step in meeting the needs of our commercial producers,” Bowman says. “Feedback from producers buying registered Angus bulls shows docility continues to rank among the top traits used to select animals.”

Now ranchers have more than word-of-mouth testimony to select for docility.

The docility EPD is released on a weekly basis — every Friday — along with residual average daily gain (RADG) feed efficiency measures and carcass traits. The latest evaluation for docility incorporated 93,439 records to generate 268,805 EPDs.

Visit http://www.angus.org, contact your Angus regional manager or call 816-383-5100 to access the latest NCE or for more information about docility EPDs and the newly released feed efficiency selection tool, RADG.

— American Angus Association release.

Prevent Head Scab: Avoid Planting Wheat After Corn

Ohio growers following wheat planting after corn harvest should be mindful of the potential for head scab development in their crop.

Pierce Paul, an Ohio State University Extension plant pathologist, said that recurring disease problems — ear rot and stalk rot in corn in 2009 and head scab in wheat in 2010 — may pave the way for continuing issues if weather conditions favor head scab development during the 2011 growing season.

“Wheat and corn are both members of the grass family, and as such, are affected by some of the same pests and diseases, one of which being head scab,” said Paul, who also holds an Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) appointment.

Head scab, a major disease of wheat that affects the crop during the flowering stage, is caused by the same fungus (Fusarium graminearum) that causes ear and stalk rot in corn.

“So even if the cornfield into which wheat is planted did not have a major ear rot or stalk rot problem this year, the fungus still is present in the corn stubble left in the field after harvest. In addition we had high levels of scab and vomitoxin in some parts of the state this year largely because most of our wheat varieties are susceptible, spores hung around from the ear rot problem we had in corn in 2009, and favorable weather conditions promoted disease development,” said Paul.“So wheat planted into this stubble is more likely to have a head scab and vomitoxin problem next year, especially if conditions are favorable.”

The key message: Plant wheat after soybeans, not after corn.

“The production practice is one of the best ways of minimizing losses due to head scab and vomitoxin in wheat,” said Paul.

If it’s essential to plant wheat following corn, Paul urges growers to plant a scab-resistant variety.

“In addition, plow under the corn stubble before planting wheat and be prepared to apply a fungicide next year at flowering if the weather becomes favorable,” said Paul. “These approaches will minimize, but will not eliminate the risk of head scab in wheat planted after corn.”

Growers are encouraged to follow the OSU Extension Crop Observation and Recommendation Network (C.O.R.N.) newsletter for updates at http://corn.osu.edu or refer to the Wheat Fusarium Head Blight risk map tool at http://www.wheatscab.psu.edu.

According to the Ohio Agricultural Research and Statistics Service, 36% of the corn in Ohio and 43% of the soybeans have been harvested, far ahead of this time last year, as well as the five-year average. Wheat planting is also ahead of schedule with 30% of the crop planted to date.

Timely wheat planting results in good stand establishment and ample tiller development, and it reduces the risk of winter kill.

— Ohio State University release.

Drought causing low yields in early harvested soybeans

Soybean harvest is in full swing in the Purchase Area of Western Kentucky, several days ahead of the normal schedule. Early reports are showing the dry weather the area has had throughout the summer has taken its toll on yields, said agriculture and natural resource agents with the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service.

According to the Kentucky Weekly Crop and Weather Report, Mayfield is 6.27 inches (in.) below normal rainfall totals since April 1. Paducah is 5.88 in. below average during the same time frame.

At this point, between 30% and 40% of the harvest is complete in the area. Most of the soybeans that have been harvested are early- to mid-maturing varieties.

Graves County Extension Agent Kenny Perry said to date, yields are averaging between 20 bushels (bu.) and 25 bu. per acre in his county. While this is a significant drop from the 46 bu. per acre average posted by county soybean producers last year, it’s not uniform across the county. Perry said yields are sporadic with averages between 8 bu. and 60 bu. per acre being reported at different locations in the county. The wide variance is due to the amount of rainfall some areas received and the moisture holding capacity of individual soil types.

“The soybeans in the southern part of the county look a lot better than the soybeans in the northern part,” Perry said.“The southern part got several rain showers that other areas didn’t get.”

Ballard County Extension Agent Tom Miller also reported sporadic yield averages from growers in his county.

“You can easily pick out the fields that got an extra rain shower,” he said. “Many of those fields are averaging up to 40 bushels per acre, but the county average is probably around 25 to 30 bushels per acre.”

Ballard County average yields for 2009 were 46.5 bu. per acre.

Lincoln Martin, Marshall County Extension agent, said yields are averaging around 15 bu. to 18 bu. per acre in his area.In 2009, county producers averaged 43.5 bu. per acre. Marshall County producers have also reported a significant amount of weeds, especially teaweed and copperleaf, in their fields.

“The weed problems may have been exacerbated by the drought,” Martin said. “Due to the lack of rain, the soybeans didn’t canopy as quickly, which allowed weeds to gain the advantage in some fields.”

When there’s a significant amount of weed pressure in fields, weeds and weed seeds can be picked up by the combine during harvest. If enough of this gets mixed in with the crop, it can cause dockages at the grain elevators, said Chad Lee, UK grain crops extension specialist.

Some of the harvested soybeans are small. Lee said producers will need to adjust their combines to handle these seeds. Shriveled seeds and those with low test weights will likely result in a dockage at the grain elevator.

The agents hope yield averages will increase in later-maturing varieties and double-crop beans. The area had some significant rainfall a few weeks ago which may have helped. Some of these varieties may also benefit from being planted in river or creek bottoms, which tend to hold more moisture than upland areas.

— University of Kentucky release.

— Compiled by Shauna Rose Hermel, editor, Angus productions Inc.