News Update
January 7, 2014
Horsley Joins the Angus Foundation
The Angus Foundation, a not-for-profit affiliate of the American Angus Association, welcomes a new director for its marketing and public relations initiatives. An Illinois native and recent Oklahoma State University (OSU) graduate, Carrie Horsley began her role with the Angus Foundation Jan. 1.
“I am confident Carrie will help the Foundation continue to reach its mission of raising funds to support education, youth and research activities for the future of the Angus breed,” says Milford Jenkins, Angus Foundation president. “We look forward to working with Carrie and welcome her to the Angus team.”
As the Angus Foundation’s marketing and public relations director, Horsley will develop and execute a variety of promotional materials and events, including the organization’s annual report, newsletter and website. She will also identify and create new outlets in print and electronic media for the Angus Foundation to recognize donors, and plan and market events.
“I hope to contribute to the advancement of the Angus breed through my new role in the Angus Foundation,” Horsley says. “I look forward to the new experiences this position offers me.”
In December 2013, Horsley earned an agricultural communications degree from OSU. She also holds a minor in agricultural economics and agribusiness. While at OSU, Horsley was recognized on the Dean’s Honor Roll and was a member of the Gamma Sigma Delta Agricultural Honor Society. She received her associate’s degree from Black Hawk College in Illinois, prior to attending OSU.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Take Precautions to Help Newborn Calves Survive Bitter Cold
With temperatures and resulting wind chills falling lower than the Bluegrass State has seen in nearly two decades, cattle producers need to pay special attention to newborn calves.
University of Kentucky (UK) College of Agriculture, Food and Environment ruminant veterinarian Michelle Arnold said extra precautions would go a long way in helping calves survive.
“A calf’s body temperature often falls below normal due to a slow birth, followed by a delay in standing and nursing,” she said. “That is the immediate concern, and then the next step is maintaining the calf’s core temperature.”
If possible, producers should bring cows into the barn to calve in a heavily bedded, clean pen. If cows must calve outdoors, make sure there is dry, clean ground available without a large amount of manure. If cows do calve outdoors and calves show signs of hypothermia, or there are no natural windbreaks, producers should bring calves in until they are warm and dry.
Signs of hypothermia include shivering and blood shunting. In the early stages of hypothermia, a calf will show vigorous shivering usually accompanied by increased pulse and breathing rate. Cold nostrils and pale, cold hooves are early signs that blood is being shunted away from the body’s extremities. Watch for erratic behavior, confusion and a clumsy gait. As hypothermia progresses, shivering stops and muscles become rigid, and pulse and respiration slow down. Brain cell metabolism slows and impairs brain function. The calf’s level of consciousness deteriorates and signs of life become difficult to detect.
“The two most important factors in calf survival are warmth and colostrum,” Arnold said. “Colostrum is a concentrated source of protein, vitamins, minerals and energy, and it also contains antibodies to diseases or vaccines that the mother cow has been exposed to. Before you give colostrum, you need to make sure to warm the calf because the weak ones may not have enough strength to suckle. Sometimes you may need to deliver colostrum through an esophageal feeder.”
For other ways to warm calves and more information, please view the full release here.
Cash Prizes to be Awarded for Winners of Cattle Raisers Youth Contests
Young cattle raisers can showcase their creative talents by entering up to four youth contests during the Cattle Raisers Convention, April 4-6 in San Antonio, Texas. Deadline for all entries is March 3.
Youth ages five to 17 can enter the photography, art and essay contests. Youth ages 13 to 17 are eligible to enter the beef promotion video contest, the newest contest added to the lineup. Each contest is specifically designed to allow young cattle raisers to showcase how ranching life has positively affected their family.
The contests are sponsored by Farm Credit. A total of $5,000 in cash prizes will be awarded to winners. Entries will be judged and winners selected at the Cattle Raisers Convention.
All contestants must be a member of TSCRA, either a student member, child or grandchild of a member, or a child of parents who are employed by a TSCRA member. Non-members can become members prior to the contest by contacting TSCRA at 817-332-7064. There is a membership fee of $25 for young members.
Entry information is available online at www.tscra.org/convention/youth.html.
The 137th annual Cattle Raisers Convention is April 4-6 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio. Highlights include the popular School for Successful Ranching, the Cattle Raisers Expo, and general sessions and committee breakout session covering a wide range of economic, ranching and wildlife topics.
A complete schedule can be found on the TSCRA convention website, www.tscra.org/convention/. TSCRA will continue to update the schedule with additional events.
Kansas State Researcher Examines E. coli in Beef
Less than two years into a sweeping five-year study focused on prevention of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli in beef, researchers at Kansas State University (K-State), Manhattan, Kan., and elsewhere are making progress on several fronts, according to Randy Phebus, K-State professor of animal sciences and industry.
Phebus notes that the scientists are working closely with industry production and processing partners because it’s important to study the problem in real-life settings.
The $25 million effort, announced two years ago, includes more than 50 collaborators at 14 universities and government agencies across the country. Seventeen K-State scientists are working with the lead institution, the University of Nebraska, and others on a multi-pronged approach aimed at reducing the occurrence and public health risks from Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC).
This group of bacteria is a serious threat to the safety of the food supply, causing more than 265,000 infections in the United States each year. Eating contaminated food or direct contact with fecal matter from infected cattle and other ruminants causes most of these illnesses.
“I think this is really groundbreaking work that we’re doing,” Phebus says. “It’s work that hasn’t really been done elsewhere just because of the scope of it.”
The part of the study K-State is focused on has several objectives, says Phebus, who is the lead K-State researcher on the effort.
For more information, please view the full release here.
AgrLife Extension Sets Futures Market Educational Event in Dimmit
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will conduct a commodities marketing workshop from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 23 at First United Bank, 201 N. Broadway in Dimmit, Texas.
“This program will offer a unique opportunity for producers from across our region with an interest in the futures market,” said Nancy Andersen, AgriLife Extension agent in Castro County. “We are excited to welcome Richard Brock from the Brock Report to Castro County as our keynote program speaker.
“Brock is a well-respected market professional who heads a team of experts who monitor the markets daily, thus enabling them to advise producers on emerging trends. Their information, strategies and advice provide producers and agribusiness professionals another perspective in their decision-making process.”
Andersen said Brock is president of Brock Associates, a commodity marketing consulting firm headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., that provides price forecasting and strategies for sales and purchasing programs to farmers, agribusiness firms and the food industry.
Individual registration, which includes lunch, is $10 due upon arrival. For more information and to RSVP, contact the AgriLife Extension office in Castro County at 806-647-4115.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal’s Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
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