News Update
Dec. 23, 2010

Merry Christmas from Angus Productions Inc.!

The American Angus Association will be closed Friday, Dec. 24. Angus Productions Inc. (API) will be closed Thursday, Dec. 23, in the afternoon and Friday, Dec. 24, in observance of Christmas.

I Am Angus Series Continues Jan. 3

The American Angus Association® invites you to begin the New Year by tuning in Monday, Jan. 3, 2011, as it airs a new I Am Angus television program.

The hour-long show is the third program in the Association’s four-part television series that began earlier this fall. The January episode — titled “Western Horizons” — celebrates the history of the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) and the heritage of the Angus breed throughout the U.S.

“This latest edition of I Am Angus shares unique stories that reflect our Angus ranching heritage as well as the positive story of American agriculture,” says Bryce Schumann, Association CEO. “The new program continues in the tradition of previous shows by featuring impactful segments not only about the colorful history of our industry, but also relevant topics for today.”

I Am Angus will air at 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST), Monday, Jan. 3, 2011, on RFD-TV. RFD-TV is distributed by more than 625 cable operators, and can be found on DirecTV channel 345 and Dish Network channel 231. Check local listings for more information.

Click here to watch a preview of this month’s program, or visit www.angus.org to watch segments from the November show.  Read more.

Record Commercial Red Meat Production in November

Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.33 billion pounds (lb.) in November, up 9% from the 3.96 billion lb. produced in November 2009, reports the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Beef production, at 2.24 billion lb., was 11% above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.88 million head, up 11% from November 2009. The average live weight was up 1 lb. from the previous year, at 1,299 lb.

Veal production totaled 11.3 million lb., 4% below November a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 72,900 head, down 10% from November 2009. The average live weight was up 23 lb. from last year, at 269 lb.

Pork production totaled 2.07 billion lb., up 8% from the previous year. Hog kill totaled 9.97 million head, up 5% from November 2009. The average live weight was up 6 lb. from the previous year, at 278 lb.

Lamb and mutton production, at 14.3 million lb., was down slightly from November 2009. Sheep slaughter totaled 218,000 head, 1% below last year. The average live weight was 131 lb., unchanged from November a year ago.

January to November 2010 commercial red meat production was 44.7 billion lb., down 1% from 2009. Accumulated beef production was up 1% from last year, veal was down 2%, pork was down 3% from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down 4%.

November 2009 contained 21 weekdays (including two holidays) and four Saturdays. November 2010 contained 22 weekdays (including two holidays) and four Saturdays.

NASS released its November “Livestock Slaughter” report this morning (Dec. 23). All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS website: www.nass.usda.gov.

— Release by NASS.

Smithfield/HSUS Video Investigative Report Released

The final investigative report on the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) video of the Smithfield/Murphy-Brown farms in Waverly, Va., was completed Wednesday, Dec. 22, and can be found at www.smithfieldfoodstoday.com.

Beef Cattle Short Course in San Antonio to address meaty topics

Texas AgriLife Extension Service and Bexar Beef Cattle Committee will present the free 2011 South Texas Beef Cattle Short Course at Palo Alto Community College, 1400 W. Villaret St., in San Antonio during three consecutive Thursday evenings in January.

All program sessions will take place in Room 109 of the college’s Performing Arts Building.

Course sessions will be from 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. on Jan. 13, 20 and 27, said Bryan Davis, AgriLife Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources in Bexar County.

Registration will be at 6 p.m. each evening, and sessions will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. The sessions will consist of either two or three presentations.

“People are welcome to attend any or all of these sessions,” Davis said. “This short course is designed to present cattle producers and others in the beef cattle industry a comprehensive overview on issues affecting the production and management of beef cattle.”

Presenters will include experts from AgriLife Extension and the USDA-Agricultural Research Service (ARS), a certified public accountant, a meteorologist and others.

The first session presentation on Jan. 13 will address the research or control of fever ticks and their effect in Texas, and the second will address beef cattle nutrition.

There will be three presentations during the Jan. 20 session. The first will be a one-hour presentation on livestock tax advantages, including the importance of new tax codes to cattle producers. The second presentation, “Marketing Grass-Fed Beef,” as well as the third, “Saving for a Rainy Day,” will be half-hour presentations.

The Jan. 27 session will include a weather outlook for Central and South Texas and presentation on common brush management mistakes.

Two continuing education units for Texas Department of Agriculture private applicator license holders will be offered for attending all of each evening’s sessions, and the unit category will vary depending on the topic covered.

An RSVP is required for each of these sessions. For more information and to RSVP for any or all sessions, contact Angel Torres at 210-467-6575 or matorres@ag.tamu.edu.

— Release by Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

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