News Update
March 19, 2013
‘Building an Angus legacy!’ Granite Planter Auction Extended
Angus enthusiasts have the opportunity to have their brand or logo permanently engraved into a polished black granite planter at the American Angus Association headquarters’ front entrance by making their bids for this recognition at www.angustradingpost.com. To allow Angus members and friends more time to be notified about the auction, the deadline to bid has been extended from March 20 to March 31.
This planter is the first of four planters available, and recognition on the three remaining planters will be offered at a later date. The winning bidder for recognition on the first planter will have the opportunity to engrave a logo or brand on one face of the planter and text that includes a name, farm or ranch name, etc., on the face directly across from the brand or logo. The winning bidder will also be able to choose the location, from one of four location opportunities, for this first planter.
The granite planter recognition auction is part of the Angus Foundation’s Building an Angus legacy! brick naming drive, available only for a limited time, March 1-July 1, 2013. Net proceeds from this project will benefit Angus youth, education and research programs.
The American Angus Association front entrance walkway will be completely remodeled with black granite and red brick to match the historic building. Until July 1, 2013, for a tax-deductible unrestricted donation of $250, $500 or $2,500 to Building an Angus legacy! you will be recognized on a beautiful personalized engraved granite paver.
Only text will be allowed on the granite pavers, and each paver size has line and character limits to follow. Purchasing recognition on a granite planter is the only opportunity to have a brand or logo displayed.
Feel free to visit www.angusfoundation.org for more information and to order your pavers online, or call the Foundation at 816-383-5100.
Zoetis Accepting Research Proposals for
2013 Cattle Call Program
Zoetis, formerly Pfizer Animal Health, announces the return of the Cattle Call grant program and is accepting research proposals for improving cattle reproduction or developing models for managing cattle pain.
The Cattle Call supports the development of new products and services that improve the health and productivity of beef and dairy cattle. In 2013, Zoetis will fund one or more researchers with a grant of up to $150,000, with minimum funding of $25,000.
“The inaugural Cattle Call grant program in 2012 successfully brought forth many new ideas and technologies that are helping to address important needs in the veterinary and cattle industries,” says Michelle Haven, senior vice president of Zoetis corporate development, alliances and solutions. “We are very excited about the research we helped fund for improving productivity and immune function in cattle, and we look forward to building on our partnerships to expand research into reproduction and pain management in 2013.”
Innovations in research would not be possible without partnerships with industry experts, Haven says
.
“At Zoetis, we’re dedicated to research collaborations that benefit all livestock,” she says. “The 2013 Cattle Call program will bring together research perspectives from across the cattle industry to advance our mission to continuously improve the health and care of animals worldwide and to advance veterinary science and education.”
For more information about the 2013 Cattle Call program or to obtain an application, contact cattlecall@zoetis.com. The application deadline is April 30, 2013. All applicants must be in good standing in their professional organizations (e.g., American Association of Bovine Practitioners, American Dairy Science Association, etc.). Research must be conducted in the United States. Candidates will be notified of the research committee’s decision by May 31, 2013.
American Agri-Women Launch Membership Campaign on National Ag Day
American Agri-Women (AAW) will kick off a membership campaign March 19, National Agriculture Day. The theme is Join us as We Stand up for Agriculture.
American Agri-Women is the professional sorority to help women better manage their operations, network with others in agriculture and keep current on ever-changing regulations. This is more important than ever as women are assuming more management responsibilities. In fact, recent statistics show that nearly 30% of farm operators are women.
The AAW membership campaign runs until May 31, 2013. All new members will be entered into a drawing for an iPad mini.
“Our organization is unique because we include all segments of agriculture and raise one voice together,” says President Karen Yost of Billings, Mont. “AAW membership expands past U.S. borders. We continue to receive inquiries from women in other countries, who are experiencing many of the same challenges as American farmers and ranchers.”
“There’s so much work to be done to connect agriculture with the consumer and to ensure policymakers have all the facts,” says Yost. “We encourage all women to learn more about what we do — and join us!”
To expand on the broadening geographical focus, AAW will celebrate an international conference at Niagara Falls, Nov. 6-10, 2013. This event will be co-hosted by AAW past presidents and AAW members from Canada, with tours exploring agriculture in Canada.
AAW also regularly hosts a Fly-In to Washington, D.C.; provides leadership opportunities to members; coordinates agricultural education in the classroom; and develops policy for commodities and natural-resource committees on agriculture-related issues, among other numerous activities.
Members of all segments of agriculture, agri-business and consumers interested in food production are encouraged to take this opportunity to join.
Interstate Cattle Movement Affected by New USDA Rule
A new USDA animal disease traceability rule requires that livestock animals be officially identified before they are moved across state lines.
University of Missouri Extension veterinarian Craig Payne says everyone in the cattle industry should be aware of the rule, which went into effect nationwide March 11.
Payne said that three classes of cattle are affected by the rule. Cattle falling into any of these classes will need to be officially identified and have a certificate of veterinary inspection before going out of state:
- Sexually intact beef cattle 18 months of age or older.
- Any cattle, regardless of age, that are going out of state to a rodeo, recreational event, show or exhibition.,
- All female dairy cattle, regardless of age, and all male dairy cattle, including dairy steers born after March 11, 2013.
There are some exemptions to the identification requirement, such as cattle moving directly to a recognized slaughtering establishment or a tagging site such as livestock markets that have been authorized by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) or state or tribal animal health officials.
“The big thing to keep in mind is that in terms of beef cattle, anything less than 18 months of age is not going to require identification,” Payne said. “Also, there are quite a few exceptions and details in this rule, so if you have any doubts about what is required, contact your veterinarian or state animal health official.”
Payne says the primary forms of identification that will be used include the silver or “brite” metal ear tags. “If heifers have been brucellosis-vaccinated, their orange brucellosis vaccination tag will qualify. There is also a tag called an AIN tag, which has a 15-digit number beginning with 840. These include a variety of types. One is the electronic identification tag, and there is also a visual tag.”
Payne notes that the federal rule is not a substitute for individual state import regulations, which may be more stringent than the USDA regulations. Because of this, Payne recommends that you call the destination state prior to shipment to make sure you are in full compliance with the state’s import regulations.
For more information about the animal disease traceability rule, click here.
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