News Update
February 7, 2012
Beef Innovations Group Introduces Updated Website
A beef checkoff website aimed at beef processors and marketers has been updated and reintroduced. Created by the checkoff's Beef Innovations Group (BIG), the update includes new beef cutting information, imagery, guides and product concepts that will assist in efficient and profitable utilization of the beef carcass.
"Beef can be used in numerous ways, but the methods of using cuts effectively and efficiently aren't always readily apparent," says Steve Wald, executive director of beef innovations for the Beef Checkoff Program. "In addition, manufacturers don't always know who to turn to for information when they're looking to improve their products and operations. This new site not only has an updated look, but also new information that beef manufacturers and marketers need to get the most from the beef carcass."
The updated animated cutting program on www.beefinnovationsgroup.com demonstrates easy ways to make beef cuts that work for processors and manufacturers. In addition, it contains the latest news about beef innovations, photography and videos of cutting and manufacturing techniques, as well as interviews with industry partners and BIG team members, and updated information about beef products available in the industry. A contacts section directs visitors to experts in different fields.
For more information about your beef checkoff, visit MyBeefCheckoff.com.
A New Tool for Mapping Water Use and Drought
Farmers and water managers may soon have an online tool to help them assess drought and irrigation impacts on water use and crop development, thanks to the work of two USDA scientists.
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists Martha Anderson and Bill Kustas have developed an evapotranspiration (ET) and drought modeling system at the ARS Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory in Beltsville, Md. The modeling system also will help forecasters monitor ET and drought conditions across the United States and overseas.
The model, known as ALEXI (Atmosphere-Land Exchange Inverse), uses thermal infrared imagery from satellites and calculates soil and plant temperatures that can be used to create maps of ET rates of plants growing in cultivated areas, forests and natural habitats around the world.
ET consists of the water evaporated from soil and plant surfaces, and the water vapor that escapes, or transpires, through plant leaf pores (stomata) as the plants absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. Generally, evaporation cools surfaces, so a cooler land surface is an indicator of higher ET rates and wetter soils.
Water stress elevates soil and leaf temperatures, which can be detected by satellites. Anderson and Kustas can use satellite temperature data to create ET maps. The maps are capable of detecting rivers, lakes, wetlands, riparian buffers, irrigated cropland and areas under water stress.
The work is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). NOAA plans to use the system to generate ET estimates over the continental United States. The system is expected to become particularly relevant as climate change presents challenges for growers and water managers in areas such as the Texas Panhandle, the Florida Everglades and the southwestern United States.
Getting routine ET estimates for individual fields is laborious, but the researchers are streamlining the process. With help from new satellite imagery, they hope to be able to move toward routine mapping at the "field scale" level.
ALEXI has been estimating ET rates since 2000, but the researchers continue to refine the system and plan to make the maps available online soon on the U.S. Drought Portal at www.drought.gov.
Anderson and Kustas, with colleagues, are currently mapping parts of Africa, including the Horn of Africa, where drought has caused famine in Somalia. Local ET data would be particularly helpful in places such as Africa, where networks of weather stations don't exist.
Successful Bull Selection Key to Achieving Breeding Goals
Many commercial livestock producers purchase bulls for the upcoming breeding season during the spring. However, the bull selection process can be challenging without the correct information and experience.
To help producers find the appropriate bull for their operation, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation will host a Spring Cattle Workshop from 1 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012, at the Noble Foundation's Pavilion. Noble Foundation livestock consultants will discuss proven selection techniques, including how to use expected progeny differences (EPDs).
EPDs are the most accurate tools agricultural producers have to estimate the genetic potential of bulls. Livestock consultants will show agricultural producers how to use EPDs to improve their knowledge of bull selection to reach their breeding goals.
Participants will work through a selection scenario for two common production enterprises: one in which replacement females are retained and one in which all progeny are sold. A live animal evaluation will also be provided.
"Choosing the right bull to meet your goals is easier when you know how to use all of the information available," said Deke Alkire, livestock consultant. "Participants will learn the value of known genetics and how to use EPDs to make better decisions that can impact their bottom line."
The seminar is offered at no charge, but preregistration is requested. For additional information or to register, please visit www.noble.org/AgEvents or call Tracy Cumbie at 580-224-6292.
Selection Based on Disposition Helps the Entire Beef Industry
In 2012, many decisions about cattle selection will be taking place in beef herds everywhere. Some herds may begin to rebuild from the heavy culling caused by the drought in the Southwest. Other herds may be continuing to downsize because of lack of forage and high input costs. Part of the selection decision criteria should be disposition of the cattle.
Problems with excitable cattle are becoming a more important issue in the beef industry, both from the standpoint of handler and animal safety and economic returns. Colorado State University (CSU) conducted an experiment examining the effects of temperament on weight gains and the incidence of "dark cutting." Cattle were ranked on temperament-ranked using a 5-point system while animals were held on a single-animal scale.
Their results show that there is a highly significant effect of temperament ranking on average daily gain. Animals exhibiting the highest temperament ranking also have the lowest average daily gains. Conversely, animals that were the calmest had the highest average daily gains. Their results also show that those cattle that have the highest temperament ranking, those that were berserk, also have the highest incidence of dark cutters.
Dark-cutter carcasses have a very undesirable dark-colored lean that is difficult to market through normal grocery store meat counters. Dark-cutter carcasses will often be discounted approximately $35 per hundredweight (cwt.) compared to the brightly colored carcasses.
In the CSU study, 25% of the cattle that had a temperament score of 5 exhibited dark cutting, while less than 5% of the cattle that had temperament scores of 1, 2, 3 and 4 exhibited dark cutting. These findings show that animals that have very high temperament scores have reduced feedlot performance and increased incidence of dark cutting. (Source: Voisinet, et al. 1996. Colorado Beef Program Report.)
Louisiana State University researchers reported data about the impact of temperament on growth and reproductive performance of beef replacement heifers. They used crossbred heifers that were evaluated for "chute score" (similar to that discussed above) and exit velocity. Exit velocity is a measurement of the speed at which the heifer would travel as she exited a working chute.
"Slow" heifers (presumably more docile) were heavier at breeding time and tended to have a higher body condition score. Pregnancy rate did not significantly differ between "slow," "medium," and "fast" heifers when all crossbreds were considered. However, it was interesting to note that pregnant Brahman-Hereford F1-cross heifers tended to have lower exit velocities (at both weaning and at the end of the breeding season) than their counterparts that failed to become pregnant. These researchers concluded that some important relationships between growth, reproduction and temperament may exist in beef replacement heifers. (Source: DeRouen and Reger, 2007 Journal of Animal Science Abstracts)
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