News Update
August 12, 2013
Angus Foundation Announces
Lifetime Giving Program
The Angus Foundation has been fortunate to have the support of many financial contributors since its inception in 1980. These donors and their selfless contributions have made growth possible in the Angus breed by advancing youth, education and research programs. Donor support was further magnified during the Angus Foundation’s first capital campaign, Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus, which concluded in 2011.
The Angus Foundation and its Board of Directors realizes many Angus breeders and friends have dedicated their lives to support the Angus breed past their farm or ranch, and it is only appropriate to honor those individuals as “lifetime giving” supporters. This is why, at its September 2012 meeting, the Angus Foundation Board of Directors approved the implementation of an Angus Foundation Lifetime Giving Program.
To be recognized as a lifetime giving supporter, donors must give at least $25,000 collectively to the Angus Foundation since it was established in 1980. Angus Foundation and American Angus Association staff members have tracked all financial contributions since 1980 to make this program come to life.
“Recognizing Angus breeders, allied industry interests and friends for their generous accumulative support to the Angus Foundation through this new lifetime giving program affords us one more way to convey our genuine heartfelt appreciation for all they’ve done for our organization over the years,” says Milford Jenkins, Angus Foundation president. “Their dedication and devotion to furthering the Angus Foundation’s mission, as illustrated by them achieving these significant lifetime giving milestones, is an inspiration to all of us involved in the Angus breed.”
National Western Stock Show Launches Heifer Mart
Angus cattle producers can now participate in a new marketing opportunity for purebred cattle during the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) in Denver, Colo., Jan. 11-26, 2014. Cattlemen can enter groups of three to five head of either heifer calves or bred yearlings into the NWSS Heifer Mart.
Entries are due by Dec. 1, 2013. Fees are $100 per head and are due at the time of entry. Pedigree, breeding and other pertinent information will also be due at the time of entry.
These females are on display with the intention of selling them by private treaty or for breeders to have an opportunity to display their breeding program as part of their overall marketing program. The Heifer Mart provides the forum for displaying a breeder’s program, as well as the opportunity for buyers to view and purchase groups of cattle from breeders they may not have had the chance to personally visit in the past. There will not be a show associated with these cattle.
Similar to the NWSS Herd Sire displays, reservations for a spot in the Heifer Mart will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. The Heifer Mart will accommodate cattle by breed during the same time periods that each respective breed arrives and is released from the Yards. These schedules can either be found in the Premium Book or online at www.nationalwestern.com in the Livestock section of the webpage.
Exhibitors will be responsible for their own bedding and it must be purchased through the NWSS Feed and Bedding Supply office in the Yards.
NCBA Statement in Response to Action by Tyson in Discontinuing Purchase of Cattle Fed Zilmax
National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) CEO Forrest Roberts made the following statement in response to action by Tyson in discontinuing the purchase of cattle fed Zilmax: “Cattlemen and women believe in the right of farmers and ranchers to responsibly use FDA-approved technologies. We also believe in Tyson’s right to make individual company decisions that they feel are in the best interest of their business. We do not have all the details regarding the animal welfare concerns cited by Tyson in the letter to their cattle suppliers. However, we take every report of animal-welfare issues very seriously.
“We have expended significant resources to address questions about the use of beta-agonists relative to animal-welfare concerns. We convened experts across the beef supply chain who have conducted extensive research on beta-agonists and engaged cattle-feeding and animal-health experts who have many years of experience using these products. We will continue these efforts until we have solid answers to these questions. In the meantime, we believe these products can be used responsibly when managed properly.”
AgriLife Extension Sets Multi-County
Beef/Range Program in Snyder, Texas
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will conduct a multi-county Beef Cattle and Range Challenges workshop from 8:30 a.m.-to 1 p.m. Aug. 28 in the Scurry Coliseum, 900 E. Coliseum Drive in Snyder, Texas.
The program involves the AgriLife Extension offices in Scurry, Borden, Garza, Kent, Lynn and Mitchell counties.
“This will be a well-rounded program for producers and landowners throughout our region,” said Greg Jones, AgriLife Extension agent in Garza County. “It’s hot now, but as we head into fall, it’s a good idea to know what our forage availability is and what we may need to get our cattle through the winter. To that end, we’ll be discussing stocking rates, restocking and small-grain forages. I think this will be a morning well-spent for cattle producers for a variety of reasons.”
Individual registration is $10 due upon arrival. A meal sponsored by PM Feed and Grain will be served at noon.
Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units will be offered. Calvin Trostle, AgriLife Extension agronomist from Lubbock, and Ted McCollum, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist from Amarillo, will be the primary speakers.
Trostle will speak on small grains for forage and McCollum will discuss climatology, pasture management and restocking options.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
Ohio Beef Quality Assurance Program
Certification Now Available Online
Ohio cattle producers looking to earn Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certifications or those looking to become re-certified can take advantage of a new online course and exam offered by experts from the Ohio State University (OSU) College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.
The certification is part of a national program that offers sound management practices and guidelines for beef cattle production, said Steve Boyles, an OSU Extension beef cattle specialist.
While the certification isn’t a requirement for beef producers, it’s valuable for them to have because it lets consumers know that the producer’s beef is a safe, quality product, Boyles said.
“The real value in having this certification is that it’s the right thing to do,” he said. “The beef industry wants to provide consumers with a safe, quality product that consumers can be assured is not only good food, but also is a safe product.
“That’s because the certification process teaches producers information including how to properly administer vaccines and how to handle animals in terms of animal welfare. The financial benefit for producers comes from learning how to reduce blemishes in the meat and reducing outliers of animals that don’t fit what consumers are looking for.”
The training and certification also helps producers be more efficient and produce a higher-quality product while at the same time avoiding discounts, Boyles said.
For more information, please view the full release here.
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