News Update
Nov. 2, 2010

Pfizer Animal Genetics Announces Donation to the American Angus Foundation

Pfizer Animal Genetics will donate to the Angus Foundation $2 for every contractural arachnodactyly (CA) test run on registered Angus animals from now through the end of the year. Donations resulting from tests recorded through the American Angus Association and processed by Pfizer Animal Genetics will be made to help support the Association’s youth activities fund.

Phil Trowbridge, Angus Foundation Board chairman, says this donation will help maintain and grow Angus programs.

The Angus Foundation, Trowbridge says, “is an important investment in the future of our breed and the industry because it provides support for both youth activities and research. The Foundation has supplied more than $1 million in scholarships, and this donation will help us continue down this road. It is important for us to have partnerships like this, and we greatly appreciate the charitable support for the Vision of Value campaign from Pfizer Animal Genetics.”

Pfizer Animal Genetics released a commercial version of the CA test earlier this month. Test results will be provided to the applicable association(s) at the request of the breeder providing the DNA sample.

Producers can visit www.pfizeranimalgenetics.com for order forms and a sample collection guide, and to view ongoing updates and answers to frequently asked questions about CA testing. Additional questions may be answered by Customer Service at 877-233-3362.

— Adapted from release by Pfizer Animal Health.

NCBA Recognizes Friends of Beef Industry, Calls Out Proponents of Big Government

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) launched a campaign in rural America to support candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate working to sustain the U.S. beef cattle industry for future generations. At the same time, the organization called out those members of Congress running for reelection that it deemed had not effectively represented their constituents vying to provide safe and affordable beef for the United States and abroad. NCBA President Steve Foglesong said although the campaign is focused on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Grain Inspection, Packers & Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) proposed rule for livestock and poultry marketing, it is really a campaign against big government and for capitalism.

“For whatever reason, we are witnessing a time of unprecedented government overreach,” said Foglesong. “From banking to cars and now livestock, this Administration thinks burdensome rules are a hot trend. Ironically enough, we hear a lot of talk about repopulating and revitalizing rural America. Can someone please explain how you do that if a few folks in Washington are bent on regulating us out of business?”

Foglesong said the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed more than 1,100 new regulations in less than 17 months, many of which include little to no scientific justification. Specifically, Foglesong said, EPA is getting closer to making regulations for dust twice as stringent. He points to a bipartisan letter signed by 75 members of Congress that offered concerns regarding EPA’s overreach. He said those who signed the letter took a stand for cattle producers.

Foglesong said ethanol mandates are also a concern. The advertisements running in regional papers, sponsored by NCBA, show support for the 115 members of Congress and several U.S. senators who sent letters to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack calling for a comprehensive economic analysis of the proposed GIPSA rule and calls out those that Foglesong says believe “Washington can run our businesses better” than cattle producers.

“On behalf of all cattle producers, we have had enough of this bureaucratic over reach,” said Foglesong. “Men and women work hard every day to put food on the tables of all Americans and those outside the borders of the United States. If we are put out of business by big government, the consequences will wreak havoc on this economy. The scariest thing for farmers and ranchers this Halloween is our fear that the Obama Administration will show up at our door saying, ‘We’re from the government, and we’re here to help.’ Big government intrusion, from ethanol mandates to new EPA environmental regulations to livestock marketing restrictions, are all trick and no treat.”

— Release by NCBA.

Record Bull Sale Average at All-Breed Bull Sale

Records are made to be broken and that is exactly what happened at the Southwest Missouri Beef Cattle Improvement Association’s (BCIA’s) All-Breed bull Sale in Springfield Oct. 25.

The 25 bulls at that sale averaged $2,620, beating the previous top of $2,552 set in October of 2005.

Although the recent sale average bested the previous mark, there were 58 bulls in that sale. When numbers are compared, the 2005 sale was still comparatively better. However, the average feeder cattle price then was $136.80 compared to the more modest price of $125 this fall.

Compared to the sale in March 2010, this one beat it with a sale average of $2,260 on 35 bulls, according to Eldon Cole, livestock specialist with University of Missouri (MU) Extension.

“As you follow the sales, it is evident that serious cow-calf producers are willing to pay $3,000 and more for a bull that combines performance, expected progeny differences (EPDs), soundness and origin in a reputation breeder’s herd,” said Cole.

The Angus bulls that had a composite EPD average in the top one-third of the breed for calving ease, growth, marbling and milk averaged $3,200.

Participants in the BCIA’s all-breed sale required breeders to cooperate with both their breed association and University of Missouri Extension livestock specialists in data collection and EPD calculation.

— Release by MU Extension.

AMI and PMMI to Conduct Survey on Meat Packaging Aimed at Increasing Recovery Rates

American Meat Institute (AMI) is partnering with the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI) to conduct a survey about packaging in the meat industry in an effort to identify ways to increase the packaging recovery rate.

The survey’s results will be compiled and will form the basis for a new strategic document that will be released in 2011.Through the effort, packaging issues will be prioritized based on practicality and their potential for positive impact on the environment.

“This effort is part of AMI’s ongoing sustainability initiative,” according to AMI President J. Patrick Boyle. “We are seeking ways to optimize packaging to reduce its impact on the environment. The survey’s findings will help identify options for increasing packaging recovery rates while continuing to provide high quality meat and poultry products packaged in ways that satisfy our customers.”

— Release by AMI.

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