News Update
December 28, 2011
New Embryo Transfer Rule Begins Jan. 1
A new embryo transfer (ET) rule, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2012, will require Angus producers who want to register ET calves to request an ET authorization when the first owner of a calf is different than the owner of the donor dam.
The new Rule 104(d)(12), adopted at the American Angus Association’s September Board meeting, states: If the first owner of the calf is different than the owner of record of the donor female, and the embryo removal date is on or after Jan. 1, 2012, the owner of the donor female must obtain and transfer an ET Authorization to the account of the first owner before the calf is eligible for registration.
“Embryos may pass through several hands before a calf is born and registered,” says Don Laughlin, Association director of member services. “ET Authorizations allow the person who is responsible for flushing the donor cow to confirm dates, sires and type of flush (such as in vitro or split embryo) on a calf through the Association’s AAA Login service.”
The authorization will confirm ET registrations when the breeder and first owner are not the same, creating a record between the buyer and seller of the embryos.
“Before the new rule, the sire, donor dam, embryo removal date, sex of the calf and the birth date from the first owner (the person registering the ET calf) was known. Now, thanks to information from the person who owned the donor dam at the time of the flush, we will know the parentage, range of age and possibly the sex on any pregnant recipients. This increases accuracy of the Association’s records and decreases errors,” Laughlin says.
He adds, “This rule will also provide an avenue for a seller to monitor registration of embryos or confirmed pregnancies from the donor of which they no longer have control.”
ET Authorization is free and processed through AAA Login, similar to artificial insemination (AI) certificates. Contact the member service department at 816-383-5100 for more information.
Nebraska Corn Expo Offers Ideas,
Strategies to Remain Competitive
From farming with precision technologies to 2012 weather predictions, the Fremont (Neb.) Corn Expo Jan. 5 will help farmers and agribusiness professionals remain competitive in the corn industry.
Registration for the free event begins at 8 a.m. with a complimentary breakfast and a chance to view exhibits. The expo, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the main arena at Christensen Field in Fremont, is designed for growers, crop consultants, agronomists, seed corn representatives and others looking to improve corn production, marketing and utilization.
The expo highlights topics identified by corn growers as important to their farming operations. Featured speaker Brian Hefty, farmer and co-host of Ag-PhD on RFD-TV, is convinced there is potential for more grain and more profit. Hefty, who with his brother farms 2,500 acres, will share some of his own on-farm research work and strategies that have enhanced his operation. Other program topics include:
- “Farming after the Flood,” by John Wilson, UNL Extension;
- “Variable Rate Fertility and Seeding Strategies,” by John Shanahan, Pioneer Hi-Bred Int’l;
- “What’s Happening in Washington, D.C. — A Look at the Farm Bill,” by Sam Willet, National Corn Growers Association;
- “Business and Industry Update”;
- “Our Top 10 Farming Practices Learned from On-Farm Research, by Hefty; and
- “Will the Current La Niña Pattern Cause Production Problems in 2012?,” by Al Dutcher, UNL climatologist.
A special nitrogen applicator and irrigation management certification training will be conducted for Lower Platte North Natural Resources District producer at 3 p.m.
For more information contact Dave Varner, at 402-727-2775 or dvarner1@unl.edu. The program flier is available at Fremont Corn Expo. Exhibitor space is available.
The Fremont Corn Expo is sponsored by UNL Extension, Colfax-Dodge County Corn Growers and Area Agribusiness, Nebraska Corn Growers Association, Nebraska Corn Board, Fremont Area Chamber Agricultural Business Council, Dodge County Farm Bureau and Iowa Corn Growers.
Applications for Next KLA Young
Stockmen’s Academy Due This Week
KLA is accepting applications for the 2012 Young Stockmen’s Academy (YSA) class. Targeted at young men and women in their 20s, the program is designed to develop KLA members through exposure to all segments of the meat and milk businesses, familiarity with the services KLA has to offer and networking with industry leaders.
YSA members participate in a series of seminars where they visit and learn more about the seedstock, cow-calf, backgrounding, dairy, feeding, processing, retail, foodservice, animal health, marketing and finance sectors. Detailed explanations of industry issues and business/financial management training are part of the curriculum, as well.
Participants are selected through a competitive application process. The deadline for completed applications is Dec. 31, 2011. Those accepted into the program will be notified in January. Information highlighting the YSA program and an application are available here, by contacting KLA at 785-273-5115 or e-mailing letty@kla.org.
For more information visit www.kla.org.
Grazing Conferences Help Producers Improve Forages
Indiana livestock producers looking to improve their pastures and forages will have opportunities to learn from experts in the field at the Northern and Southern Indiana Grazing Conferences in February.
The Southern Indiana Grazing Conference is Feb. 1 at the Simon J. Graber Building, 9164 E. 875 N., Odon. The Northern Indiana Grazing Conference, sponsored in part by Purdue Extension, takes place Feb. 3-4 at the Michiana Event Center, 7605 N. Indiana 9, Howe.
“There continues to be interest in utilizing improved grazing management systems in Indiana,” said Keith Johnson, Purdue Extension forage specialist and speaker at the Northern Indiana Grazing Conference. “The forage conferences will provide ample opportunity for attendees to interact with one another and agribusiness vendors who have resources to help implement improved grazing systems.”
The conferences will include presentations by agronomists, farmers and Extension experts. Both also will offer exhibits from agribusinesses.
Registration for the southern Indiana conference is $25 per person until Jan. 18, or $35 per person after Jan. 18. Walk-in registration is $40. For more information, visit: http://daviesscoswcd.org/main/page_sigc.html.
Registration for the northern Indiana conference is $35 for one day for the first person from a farm. Additional attendees from the farm can register for $25 each. Two-day registration is $55 for the first person from each farm and $40 for each additional. More information is available at http://www.lagrangeswcd.org/_mgxroot/page_10776.html.
“Livestock producers who carefully select forage species best for the soil resource they have on their farms, do not overgraze, supply needed nutrients for forage growth and pay as much attention to the well-being of their forage resources as they do their livestock can improve livestock productivity and reduce the amount of hay and silage fed to their livestock,” Johnson said.
On Jan. 31, just before the grazing conferences, the Indiana Forage Council also will host its annual meeting and seminar at Gasthof Amish Village, 6747 E. Gasthof Village Road, Montgomery.
The annual meeting, for members and other interested participants, begins at 4:30 p.m. At 6 p.m., dinner will be served at no cost to Forage Council members or $5 for nonmembers. At 7 p.m., guest speakers Gary Zimmer of Midwestern Bio-Ag and Andrew Brown, 2011 Indiana Forage Council spokesperson, will talk about quality forage and personal observations of forage farming.
Attendance at the annual meeting is not a requirement for participation in the remainder of the evening. Participants should register by Jan. 27 with Lisa Green at 765-494-4783 or by email at lgreen06@purdue.edu.
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