News Update
September 24, 2014
Angus University Presents
‘A Story of a Steak’
Angus seedstock breeders, commercial cattlemen, feedlot managers and packers all serve a critical role in the future of the cattle business. During Angus University, sponsored by Merck Animal Health, an industry-leading lineup of speakers and panelists will explore “A Story of a Steak” and how each segment works in tandem to supply high-quality beef for consumers.
Cattlemen from across the industry are invited to attend the day-long session on Wednesday, Nov. 5, which promises to be a thought-provoking venue featuring discussions on key opportunities, technologies and management practices to improve quality and profitability for the entire beef industry.
Angus University is hosted as part of the American Angus Association’s first-ever Angus Means Business National Convention & Trade Show, Nov. 4-6 at the KCI Expo Center in north Kansas City, Mo.
The theme, “A Story of a Steak,” is an extension of the award-winning series of articles in the High Plains Journal and segments on The Angus Report. It emphasizes the importance of all industry sectors working collaboratively to improve the quality of beef and the profitability of producers, feeders and packers.
“We’re proud to offer this valuable series that highlights ‘A Story of a Steak’ and expands upon some of the most pertinent topics for cattlemen today,” says Bryce Schumann, American Angus Association CEO. “Our generous sponsors at Merck Animal Health are helping our organization bring together people from every sector of the business for an event meant to inspire creativity and collaboration to meet the challenges of supplying the quality beef chain.”
Headlining the event will be keynote futurist Lowell Catlett who will share his perspective on emerging technologies and their potential impacts on the cattle industry.
To read more about each speaker, view the official guide for the event online.
A complete schedule for the Angus Means Business Convention & Trade Show can be found below. The $25 early-bird registration fee, applicable until Oct. 1, grants access to Angus University and nationally known entertainers, including cowboy comedian Baxter Black, country legend John Michael Montgomery and an Eagles tribute band.
For more detailed information, visit www.angusconvention.com.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Alltech Purchases Lienert Australia, Pty. Ltd.
to Strengthen On-Farm Support Services in Australia
As part of its strategy to strengthen its support of agriculture at the local level, global animal nutrition leader Alltech is proud to welcome Lienert Australia Pty. Ltd., a leading Australian premix manufacturer and feed ingredient supplier, to its corporate family. The acquisition of Lienert Australia Pty. Ltd., finalized on Sept. 24, has the full support of both companies and is built upon two decades of friendship and business partnership.
Alltech has purchased 100% of the shares in Lienert Australia from the Lienert family. This move solidifies their long-term partnership in providing greater local on-farm support to Australian farmers to make their operations more efficient, profitable and sustainable. Both companies’ foremost commitment is to customers throughout the food chain, providing farmers with tailored solutions and local support as they shoulder the responsibility of feeding the population.
Both Lienert Australia and Alltech are family-owned businesses dedicated to bringing nutritional solutions to the farm and food industry. For more than 40 years, Lienert Australia has manufactured, distributed and supplied ingredients, supplements and nutritional advice to the livestock and feedstock industries within Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines. Their clients range from small family farms to integrated operations and commercial feed mills.
Lienert Australia and Alltech have much in common from a fervent commitment to quality, to utilizing and researching the latest technologies. These core practices are driven by another shared pledge: supporting the work of farmers as they endeavor to produce food more efficiently to supply an ever-increasing demand for safety, quality and quantity, affordably.
“Australia’s influence on the food chain extends far beyond its geographical borders, and the acquisition of Lienert Australia underscores Alltech’s long-term commitment to strong, sustainable agriculture, as well as food quality and safety within the entire Asia-Pacific region,” said Pearse Lyons, president and founder of Alltech.
The Alltech acquisition of Lienert Australia will enable the companies to collaborate on research, production and distribution, strengthening their ability to provide farmers and members of the food chain with the latest in natural, nutritional technology.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Mike Smith Earns Curators Award for Excellence in Education
Mike Smith, professor of reproductive physiology in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources’ Division of Animal Sciences, was named a University of Missouri (MU) System’s Curators Teaching Professor.
A Curators Professorship is the highest and most prestigious academic rank awarded by the Board of Curators. It is awarded to a select few outstanding scholars. Each Curators Professor is asked to be a resource to the entire university through activities such as lectures and research across divisional lines.
Smith came to MU in 1980 as an assistant professor with responsibilities in research and teaching. He was promoted to professor in 1990. He served as interim director of the Division of Animal Sciences from 2001 to 2006.
In addition to teaching, Smith and Animal Sciences Professor David Patterson developed a reproductive management internship program. More than 100 students have participated in this program since its conception 18 years ago. The program helps interns refine their skills before an internship starts.
Smith was the recipient of the 2013 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Education. The Governor's Award is presented annually to an outstanding faculty member from each of Missouri's four-year higher education institutions. The award recognizes outstanding faculty members for excellence in challenging and motivating Missouri students to reach their maximum potential.
In 2013, Smith was named a fellow by the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS). The award is one of the highest recognitions given out by the professional association that serves more than 5,000 animal scientists and producers around the world.
Smith and his wife, Stephanie, have two grown children. They own and operate a beef cattle farm named Windrush Farm near Columbia.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Texas AgriLife Extension Sets Wheat/Stocker Cattle
Program for Oct. 14 in Cross Plains
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will conduct a multi-county stocker cattle and wheat program beginning at 6 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Cross Plains Community Center, 108 North Beech St. in Cross Plains, Texas.
The program will target West Central Texas producers seeking the latest information on grazing stocker cattle on wheat, said Jerry Warren, AgriLife Extension agent in Callahan County. Warren and Scott Anderson, AgriLife Extension agent in Brown County, will conduct the program.
“Grazing wheat during the fall and winter months with stocker cattle has long been an integral part of our area’s agriculture,” Warren said. “Our aim with this program is to bring our producers the latest information available, so that they may maximize their profit potential while using the least amount of inputs to achieve their goals.”
Individual registration is $10, payable at the door.
Anderson said the program’s scheduled speakers are Ted McCollum, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist at Amarillo, and Jason Johnson, AgriLife Extension economist at Stephenville.
“These speakers are two of the best in the business in my opinion,” Anderson said. “With stocker cattle prices as high as they are now, producers will really need to pay attention to details as profit margins tighten.”
Warren said McCollum has been tasked with speaking on the importance of wheat forage availability and the value of weight gain in stocker cattle. Johnson will discuss expected returns from the cattle, as well as decision-making options of dual grazing/grain production of wheat.
For more information, contact the AgriLife Extension offices in Callahan or Brown counties at 325-854-5835 and 325-646-0386, respectively.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
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