News Update
October 23, 2014
Get Answers from the Breeding Experts at ‘Angus Means Business’
Estrotect™ Heat Detectors are pleased to host two of the leading experts in beef cattle reproduction at the 2014 Angus Means Business National Convention & Trade Show in Kansas City, Mo.
George Perry of South Dakota State University and David Patterson of the University of Missouri will be visiting with trade show attendees at the Estrotect Heat Detectors Booth 310. Producers will have a unique opportunity to discuss breeding strategies face-to-face with two leading researchers of cattle breeding processes. Perry and Patterson will also be sharing new research on ways to improve breeding programs — such as estrus-synchronization protocols.
Perry will be visiting Tuesday, Nov. 4, and Patterson on Wednesday, Nov. 5.
Perry’s research focus has been on management factors that impact reproductive success in beef cows and heifers. He has also studied the role of preovulatory estradiol (or estrus expression) on fertility, including fertilization, embryo development and embryo survival.
Patterson’s extension-related responsibilities include the development of a progressive Missouri-wide educational program in cow-calf production with emphasis on reproduction management of beef cattle. He also serves as the principal investigator (PI), statewide coordinator and reproductive specialist for the Missouri Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program.
“We are very grateful to have Dr. Perry and Dr. Patterson available to share their valuable expertise with producers at our booth,” says Boyd Dingus, general manager for Estrotect Heat Detectors. “There’s nothing quite like getting expert advice straight from the source. We invite producers to take this opportunity to learn how they can improve their overall breeding program.”
Please contact Andy Dambeck at 262-303-4174 ext. 202 or by email at adambeck@gradeastrategies.com to schedule a one-on-one meeting time with Perry or Patterson. For more information on Estrotect Heat Detectors, visit www.Estrotect.com.
Young Stockmen’s Academy Tours all Industry Segments
The third installment of the Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) Young Stockmen’s Academy (YSA) was hosted Oct. 6-8. The group of 20 young producers spent three days touring various segments of the beef and dairy industries in southern and western Kansas. Merck Animal Health is the exclusive sponsor of the YSA program.
The first stop on the tour was at Bechtel Ranch near Eureka. Veterinarian and ranch owner Roger Bechtel discussed his cow-calf and stocker operation and conducted a Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) injection-site demonstration for the class. Stops also were made at McCurry Angus Ranch near Burrton and CB Farms of Preston. John McCurry told the group the focus of the Angus seedstock operation is to raise high-quality bulls that meet the needs of their commercial cow-calf customers. All McCurry bulls are DNA-tested, which can provide as much information on a young bull as if he had recorded more than 20 progeny records. Berry and Carla Bortz, owners of CB Farms, gave an inside look into their operation, which consists of a commercial cow-calf herd, registered-Angus seedstock operation, feedyard and farming business. The Bortzes finish all their own calves, along with some purchased from bull customers and market each through U.S. Premium Beef. One of their primary goals is to increase the number of Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) brand and Prime carcasses produced each year.
During a tour of the milking parlor at Royal Farms Dairy near Garden City, manager Kyle Averhoff told the YSA class the dairy milks about 6,500 cows twice daily and markets more than 13 million pounds of milk per month. Jeff George, manager of Finney County Feeders of Garden City, highlighted various aspects of the feedyard, including a newly built mill, which is used to customize feed rations for each pen of cattle. The group also toured the Cargill packing plant in Dodge City.
The fourth YSA session will take place during the KLA Convention, Dec. 3-5. YSA members will have the opportunity to attend educational sessions and help form policy during council and committee meetings that will guide the association in 2015.
For more information, please view the program website here.
Coffey Named Chair of UK Department of Animal and Food Sciences
The University of Kentucky (UK) College of Agriculture, Food and Environment has named Richard Coffey chair of the Department of Animal and Food Sciences.
Coffey is the current director of the UK Research and Education Center in Princeton, a longtime swine extension specialist and leader of the youth livestock programs for the college. He will begin his new administrative role by April 1.
“The department is on a forward-moving and successful trajectory and is positioned for a bright future,” said Nancy Cox, dean of the college. “It must sustain faculty excellence, enhance the already great undergraduate teaching program, support the diverse animal agriculture economy and successfully transition to the university’s values-based budget model. The overall consensus was Dr. Coffey is well equipped to lead the department to face these challenges.”
Because the department’s work is critical to Kentucky’s animal agricultural economy, representatives from the animal agriculture community participated in the interview process and provided valuable input, along with college administration, faculty, staff and students, during the selection process.
“I’m excited to work with our department’s outstanding faculty, staff and students to maintain our excellence in research, teaching and extension,” Coffey said.
Coffey received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Oklahoma State University and his doctorate from UK. After completing his doctorate in 1994, he became the UK swine extension specialist in Lexington and eventually moved to the UK Research and Education Center. He will return to Lexington as chair.
Coffey replaces Bob Harmon, who has chaired the department since 2000. Harmon will remain in the department as a professor.
For more information, please view the full release here.
KLA Convention to Feature Discussion on Nutritional Science
Livestock producers attending the Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) Convention in Wichita will hear an investigative journalist present the case that nutritional science has it wrong with respect to the healthfulness of meat and dairy products. A tribute to KLA’s chief executive, who is stepping down, and comments from one of the nation’s largest cattle feeders are other highlights of the convention, set for Dec. 3-5.
Nina Teicholz will share findings from the research for her book, titled “The Big Fat Surprise: Why Butter, Meat and Cheese Belong in a Healthy Diet,” during the Wednesday evening banquet. She will focus on the possible unintended consequences of Americans being told to cut back on saturated fat for more than 40 years. In the book, she presents convincing evidence that nutritional advice to eat less meat and dairy has led to increased obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Teicholz suggests people may inadvertently be replacing nutrient-dense animal proteins with foods that are calorie-rich and lack nutritional value. Her presentation will be sponsored by Micro and Bayer, while the steaks for dinner will come courtesy of Intrust Bank and Tyson Fresh Meats.
Thursday’s Beef Industry University (BIU), sponsored by the Farm Credit Associations of Kansas, will be about a milestone for the Kansas Stockman magazine, opportunities facing the beef industry and how long record profitability might last for ranchers and feeders.
The program will start with a presentation marking 100 years in print for the Stockman. Past Stockman editors, writers and fieldmen will be recognized at that time.
That will be followed by comments from Friona Industries President and CEO James Herring. He will assess prospects for the beef industry. Herring’s perspective comes from running the third-largest cattle-feeding operation in the United States. Commercial feedyards owned by Friona have a one-time capacity of 300,000 head. Herring’s success in the beef business earned him the National Cattlemen’s Foundation Vision Award in 2008.
The closing BIU presentation will be a cattle market outlook from CattleFax Executive Vice President Randy Blach. He will provide comprehensive analysis of the factors behind all-time high cattle prices and predict how long record profitability might last. Blach will talk about the rate at which ranchers are expanding their cow herds and what that means for beef supplies.
Friday’s breakfast, sponsored by the Farm Credit Associations of Kansas and Zoetis, will serve as the lead-in for a tribute to KLA CEO Dee Likes, who will step down at the end of 2014 after 30 years in the position. Colleagues and friends of Likes will be at the lectern to discuss highlights of his successful career at KLA, which started when he was named executive secretary of the Cow-Calf/Stocker Division in 1976.
For more information please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
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