News Update
April 13, 2015
Tips for a Successful Breeding Season
A good reproductive strategy could significantly influence profitability in beef cattle herds. One advantage to using an estrus-synchronization program is tightening the breeding season window — calves are born earlier in the breeding season and have more time to gain before weaning. Another advantage is increased size uniformity in calves at weaning.
“Body condition score is a key factor. You want those cows to be about a five body condition score for proper reproductive success, and you want the heifers to be closer to a six,” advises Veterinarian Todd Bilby, Merck Animal Health technical services manager, when using an estrus-synchronization program.
Find other tips on this week’s The Angus Report.
Top Dollar Angus Sponsors a Drawing for
Free Semen from Top Angus Sires
Participating cattle producers will have the chance to win 10 straws of semen from the leading beef artificial insemination (AI) companies on these high beef value ($B) index Angus sires:
- ABS Global: Absolute, Complement, Counselor and Destination 630
- Accelerated Genetics: Powerhouse 2077b, Sensation and Index
- Cri-Genex: Full Power, Envision, Double Vision and Download
- Origen: Advance, Double Design, Hawkeye and Journey
- Select Sires: All In, Sunrise, Fortress and Uptown
Every bull offers a $B index higher than $100 (top 20% of the breed or higher), and they possess a wide range of other economically important traits. These sires can definitely produce premium-price-eligible Top Dollar Angus feeder calves that will move through the beef supply chain and create high qualification rates for the Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) brand.
One winner will be randomly selected and matched to each of the AI companies shown above. Winning producers will then select one bull of their choice from within that company’s list of eligible sires. Semen will be shipped to that company’s customer service representative located nearest to the winning producer. There will be five winners in all.
Zoetis will also provide each winner with 10 Eazi-breed™ CIDR® inserts for estrus synchronization and, for those with 75% or greater Angus-influenced cattle, 10 GeneMax® Advantage™ or GeneMax Focus™ DNA tests.
How do you participate? Simply go to the Top Dollar Angus website (www.topdollarangus.com), click on “2015 Semen/CIDR Drawing” and follow the simple instructions provided. By doing so, you will become registered for the drawing and could win 10 units of elite Angus semen and 10 Eazi-breed CIDRs. What a great way to jump-start the 2015 breeding season.
Learn more about Top Dollar Angus and sign up for this drawing right away. Eligible participants must be located in the continental United States or Hawaii. Offer is void where prohibited.
Registration deadline is April 30.
USCA Comments on USDA Announcement:
Expansion of Trade with Mexico
The United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) issued the following statement on the recent announcement by the USDA regarding current trade relations with Mexico and Peru. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that an agreement has been reached with the two countries that will allow greater access of U.S. beef and pork products to the region.
USCA President Danni Beer made the following statement:
“This announcement marks the first time in over a decade that U.S. beef producers will be allowed to export older cattle to Mexico. This will be effective immediately.
“On behalf of USCA, I would like to applaud and congratulate the efforts of the USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, Under Secretary Edward Avalos and the entire USDA trade staff. Their work has secured market access for U.S. cattle producers and will serve to promote U.S. beef. USDA is continually seeking to eliminate trade barriers to U.S. cattle and beef products and this announcement is a positive indicator for the success of future negotiations.
Mexico is an important market for U.S. cattle producers and one that we want to keep growing. While U.S. cattle producers are currently enjoying strong domestic markets, it is critical that similar market-access agreements continue to be pursued. USCA looks forward to working with USDA on future U.S. beef market access opportunities.”
Right to Farm Passes in Oklahoma Senate Committee;
Now Goes to Full Senate
Oklahoma House Joint Resolution (HJR) 1012 passed successfully through the Senate Rules Committee April 2 with a vote total of 8 to 4. Now, it will move on to the Senate, where if passed, would then be placed on the ballot for Oklahoma citizens to decide its fate in 2016.
HJR 1012, otherwise known as a Right to Farm, would amend Oklahoma’s Constitution to protect farming and ranching practices in the state. Additionally, it would also prohibit legislators from passing any laws that would hinder the advancement of farming and ranching unless it was a state interest.
Representative Scooter Park (R), who helped in passing the bill through the House, was present during the committee’s discussion on it. He reiterated the necessity of such an amendment to combat the harmful actions of federal agencies and special interest groups who want to put an end to certain agricultural practices.
“That will give us more of a voice to stand up against them. Not only together as farmers and ranchers, but through our state legislature.”
Access the complete news release for more details on the legislation.
Beef Cattle and Forage Crops Field Day Planned in SE Kansas
A little bit of trade show and a lot of science-based information is planned for Kansas State University’s (K-State) 2015 Beef Cattle and Forage Crops Field Day in Mound Valley, Kan., on Thursday, May 7.
The day begins with registration and complimentary morning refreshments from 8:30 to 9 a.m. at the Mound Valley Community Center, 505 Hickory. The program, sponsored by the K-State Southeast Agricultural Research Center, features presentations by K-State specialists, with topics including Johne’s Disease, forages for summer grazing, spring vs. fall calving on high-endophyte fescue pasture, fertilization of pasture for optimum production, and supplementation of grazing stocker cattle.
Participants can browse through displays by nearly 20 companies that serve the beef cattle and forage crops industries. Those companies will sponsor a lunch for all attendees.
An optional tour of K-State’s Mound Valley Unit will be offered after lunch, weather permitting.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
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