News Update
Nov. 1, 2010

Angus to Release Weekly Genetic Evaluation

The American Angus Association’s biannual National Cattle Evaluation (NCE) switches to weekly releases for all traits beginning mid-November.

Angus farmers and ranchers will soon have access to another industry breakthrough offered by the American Angus Association and Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI).

The Association currently offers weekly updates on its selection of genomic-enhanced expected progeny differences (EPDs) for carcass, docility and the newly released feed efficiency selection tool, residual average daily gain (RADG). Now, the beef breed organization announces plans to expand that capability across the board.

That’s considerably more frequent than NCE updates traditionally released just twice a year.

“Angus members and their investment in technology have made this weekly capability possible,” said Bill Bowman, the Association’s chief operating officer (COO) and AGI president. “This was the next logical step in providing the most current set of EPDs for more reliable genetic decision tools.” Read more.

Farmers and Social Media?

Social media is emerging rapidly as the primary way consumers share their opinion with the world around them. While consumers are interacting with their real-world friends they’re also soliciting opinions from companies and brands. Social media users aren’t held to any ethical standards, which is why it’s crucial for America’s farmers and ranchers to have a strong, truthful and trusted online voice.

Food is a favorite topic online, which is one of the reasons why the beef checkoff has been creating an integrated online web of tools to engage consumers and work to build demand for beef. The checkoff-funded www.BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com offers many ways for consumers to engage with each other and learn about beef. Users are invited to rate and review recipes as well as discuss changes they made to the recipe.

The “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.” Facebook page, @BeefForDinner Twitter account, “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.” Flickr group and YouTube channel provide a more relaxed interaction with consumers, where they are encouraged to share favorite beef dishes, cooking methods, ask questions and celebrate their passion for beef.

Farmers and ranchers have a role to play online, by getting involved in the online conversations that take place every day by leaving comments when appropriate, and adding opinions and experiences to the conversation. Sharing details about raising cattle and the commitment to raising a wholesome, delicious product allows consumers to get to know the people behind the meal on their table.

— Release by the Beef Checkoff Program.

USU Awarded Nearly $750,000 to Train Beginning Farmers and Ranchers

Utah State University (USU) College of Agriculture and Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences was recently awarded $748,109 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA) to train Utah beginning beef farmers and ranchers to run profitable, sustainable farms and ranches.

According to Kerry Rood, USU Cooperative Extension veterinarian and project leader, there is a disconnect between beginning ranchers and profitability. When their operations are not profitable, sustainability suffers.

“I am very excited about this opportunity as it impacts the future of Utah agriculture,” said Rood. “If we are unable to figure out how to transition profitable farms and ranches to younger generations, the sustainability of Utah agriculture is jeopardized.”

Rood said the program will use the nationally recognized Beehive Master Beef Manager program as a model to educate and demonstrate best management practices to beginning livestock producers. In addition, beginning ranchers will be exposed to new technologies in genetics to demonstrate the impact from proper animal selection on sustainability.

Because the vast majority of grazing land in Utah is public, Rood said the final component of the project partners with the Utah Department of Agriculture’s Grazing Improvement program to educate and demonstrate how land stewardship and proper use of land resources can improve the bottom line for beginning ranchers.

“We are extremely pleased to contribute to the success of farmers and ranchers in Utah. This grant allows our faculty to distribute targeted information that will make a difference in livestock operations,” said Noelle Cockett, vice president and dean for USU Cooperative Extension and the College of Agriculture.

USDA’s NIFA awarded the grant through its Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development program, an education, training, technical assistance and outreach program designed to help U.S. farmers and ranchers, specifically those who have been farming or ranching for 10 years or less. The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development program will provide up to $18 million in funding this year. This is the second year of the program, and $18 million will be made available in fiscal years 2011 and 2012.

“Beginning farmers and ranchers are an important part of American agriculture, as they play a big role in feeding people in their local communities and throughout the world,” said Roger Beachy, director of USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. “However, they face unique challenges, and this grant will provide the training needed to ensure that these producers become profitable and sustainable.”

For further information on the project, contact Rood at 435-797-1882 or kerry.rood@usu.edu

— Release by USU Cooperative Extension.

Fall Cow Care Vital

Fall can be a busy and challenging time for cattlemen in the northern Great Plains.

“Time is limited, labor generally is short and the weather is unpredictable as summer tasks are being completed and preparations are made for winter,” says John Dhuyvetter, area Extension livestock specialist at North Dakota State University (NDSU) North Central Research Extension Center near Minot.

“It’s easy to let the cow herd take care of itself, especially after getting the cattle moved back to fall pasture and shipping calves,” he adds. “However, there are several cow care management items associated with the season.”

One of them is weaning. Producers often do weaning by the calendar to meet a shipping date or traditional operations schedule. In other situations, it is left until time becomes available or conditions dictate.

When weaning late in the season, producers need to be particularly sure they are meeting cattle’s nutritional needs through grazing and supplementation, Dhuyvetter says. Typically, pasture after mid-October lacks adequate protein for the lactating cow. Forage availability and digestibility also may be low, resulting in cow weight and condition loss.

Even the dry cows’ energy and protein needs may not be met in late-fall grazing. This also is true for young cows that need to gain 50 to 100 pounds of body weight at this time to improve their body condition score. Producers need to assess the availability and quality of forage to determine whether they need to provide supplemental hay feeding or a self-fed protein supplement.

Sorting the herd for higher-need and special-needs cows also may be warranted in the fall. Grouping and giving thin and lame or injured cows some extra care and feed can maximize their cull value.

Mineral deficiencies are another issue in the fall. While cows grazed green and actively growing pasture in the summer months, their consumption of mineral supplements may have been low. As their diet changes to mature and weathered forage, mineral concentrations, particularly phosphorous levels, decrease. To prevent deficiencies and cravings, producers must provide supplemental minerals at this time. These minerals might be included with other supplements or offered free-choice as a salt and mineral mix.

Fall also is a traditional time for booster vaccinations, deworming and pregnancy testing. Going through the herd one cow at a time allows for identifying problems, recording the inventory and making management-marketing decisions for late-bred and open cows.

“Late fall often is considered a low-input, low-need period for cow herds,” Dhuyvetter notes. “It is, however, the opportunity to set the stage going into winter, prepare for marketing to add value to culls, and an opportune time to evaluate and position for the coming wintering period and new production year.”

— Release by NDSU.

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