News Update
November 21, 2014
Livestock Slaughter: Red Meat Production Down 4% From Last Year
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.32 billion pounds (lb.) in October, down 4% from the 4.51 billion lb. produced in October 2013.
Beef production, at 2.17 billion lb., was 6% below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.64 million head, down 9% from October 2013. The average liveweight was up 28 lb. from the previous year at 1,355 lb.
Veal production totaled 7.7 million lb., 22% below October a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 43,300 head, down 38% from October 2013. The average liveweight, at 304 lb., was up 59 lb. from last year.
Pork production totaled 2.13 billion lb., down 2% from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 9.95 million head, down 4% from October 2013. At 286 lb., the average liveweight was up 8 lb. from the previous year.
Lamb and mutton production, at 13.4 million lb., was up 2% from October 2013. Sheep slaughter totaled 207,700 head, slightly below last year. The average liveweight was 129 lb., up 3 lb. from October a year ago.
January to October 2014 commercial red meat production was 39.5 billion lb., down 4% from 2013. Accumulated beef production was down 6% from last year, veal was down 14%, pork was down 1% from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down slightly.
October 2013 contained 23 weekdays (including one holiday) and four Saturdays.
October 2014 contained 23 weekdays (including one holiday) and four Saturdays.
For more information, please view the full release here.
COOL Reform Coalition Sends Letter to Congress
Asking for Immediate Action
Members of the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) Reform Coalition sent a letter to members of the U.S. Congress asking them to build a contingency plan for the U.S. COOL law regarding beef and pork muscle cuts to protect U.S. jobs and exports. The letter stated:
“Recently, 109 national trade associations and businesses wrote to you to emphasize this same message. On Nov. 14, 2014, our concerns were underscored by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack’s statement that the COOL law does not provide the USDA the discretion necessary to change COOL requirements to ensure compliance with U.S. trade obligations. Vilsack, a leading COOL supporter, made clear that USDA alone cannot fix a COOL problem with trade compliance. Congressional action is necessary.
“The COOL Reform Coalition, co-chaired by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers, does not oppose country-of-origin labeling requirements, but believes that modifications to COOL are required to ensure its consistency with U.S. international trade obligations. On Oct. 20, 2014, a World Trade Organization (WTO) compliance panel released a report declaring that the U.S. COOL revised rule was non-compliant. The governments of Mexico and Canada, which brought the case to the WTO, would be authorized to retaliate against the U.S. by imposing tariffs on U.S. manufactured goods and agricultural products in the event of a final WTO adjudication on the matter, which is expected in the second half of 2015.
“We strongly urge Congress to amend the current statute to include a contingency plan that would only take effect if, upon final adjudication, the WTO determines COOL to be non-compliant with U.S. trade obligations. A contingency plan would preserve existing COOL requirements if the WTO Appellate Body finds that the COOL statute and its implementing regulations comply with trade obligations. Importantly, the contingency plan we propose would not undercut the defense of COOL or cut short the WTO process for its consideration. It simply puts in place a path for the U.S. to ensure its compliance with the international trade obligations that it has undertaken in order to avoid roughly $2 billion in retaliatory tariffs that Canada and Mexico would be authorized to take on a wide range of U.S. agricultural and manufactured exports.”
For more information, please view the full release here.
‘Meat Your Beef’ with Le Cordon Bleu in Boston
As part of its Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative (NEBPI), the beef checkoff hosted a “Meat Your Beef” channel influencer immersion event at Gibbet Hill Cattle Co. in Groton, Mass., Nov. 6 for the chef instructors and educators at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Cambridge, Mass.
The experience started with an in-depth look at maximizing the value of beef in foodservice by exploring new ways to menu mainstay steaks. Kari Underly, Founder and Principal of Range Inc., and author of the James Beard nominated “Art of Beef Cutting,” started the event with a beef-cutting demonstration of the beef ribeye roll and top sirloin to highlight the added value of menuing mainstay steaks to enhance profit. A cutting of the beef chuck roll was also demonstrated to highlight the value-added Sierra Cut, Denver Cut and Country-Style Boneless Ribs. In tandem with the beef cutting demonstration, Le Cordon Bleu attendees also had the opportunity to taste the Ribeye Cap, Petite Ribeye Roast, Top Sirloin Cap/Coulotte Roast, Sierra Cut and Denver Cut. For many, it was their first tasting of these new value-added beef cuts.
Mike Baker, beef cattle extension specialist at Cornell University, led the afternoon beef tour with a discussion about beef from pasture to plate and the differences of beef choices available to consumers today. A tour of Gibbet Hill Cattle Co., owned and operated by Paula Cruz, provided the channel influencers with a unique opportunity to see a modern-day working beef farm literally from pasture to plate. All the calves born on the farm are retained for finishing and are direct-marketed through the farm’s retail market, SpringDell Farm Market, located in the neighboring town of Littleton, Mass.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Merial Provides Educational Video About Parasite Control
A free online video is now available to help producers access up-to-date information on strategic parasite control and the impact it can have on their operations’ bottom line.
This video segment, “The bottom-line impact of improved parasite control,” explains why parasite control is one of the most important herd-management decisions producers make each season.
“Information is power, and we want producers to have current and reliable data to make the right parasite treatment decisions for their herd,” said Steve Vandeberg, director of endectocide marketing, Merial. “For example, many cattle producers deworm annually, but about half incorrectly assume that one treatment will be sufficient to protect their cattle for the full grazing season. It’s important to know all the facts.”
Longrange® (eprinomectin), launched by Merial in December 2012, provides the latest technology in parasite control that producers are looking for, while eliminating the need for multiple treatments per season. Its Theraphase™ formulation offers unique pharmacokinetics that allow Longrange to work for an extended period of time and then quickly leave the animal’s system. The short amount of time at sub-therapeutic concentrations helps ensure Longrange doesn’t select for resistance any more than other current dewormers.
The video is online at http://thelongrangelook.com/resources.php. Also available are testimonial videos of producers explaining how they incorporated Longrange into their operation and the success they’ve had.
South Dakota Stockgrowers to
Host Dinner Meeting in Edgemont
The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association invites area ranchers to enjoy a meal and speaker on Tuesday, Dec. 2, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Victory Café in Edgemont. This event is free and open to the public.
Guest speaker Tracy Hunt, a rancher, attorney and county commissioner from Newcastle will give a lively presentation regarding the “Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef.” Hunt and his wife, Donna, first began researching “sustainability” issues in the livestock industry over their concern with USDA’s proposed Animal ID systems and continue their personal work on these topics today. Hunt will share the facts of his research and his own conclusions about the implications of this international production model to the independent livestock industry.
Hunt has spent his life ranching in the Black Hills of Wyoming and South Dakota, and his family still operates Donna’s family ranch near Newcastle. Tracy and Donna Hunt have one son, Hans, 26, who has served as a representative in the Wyoming House of Representatives since 2011. He remains the youngest legislator ever seated in the Wyoming legislature.
For more information, please contact Mark Tubbs at 605-890-7633 or the SD Stockgrowers office at 605-342-0429.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
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