News Update
July 10, 2015
USMARC Reveals New Across-breed EPD
The U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) in Clay Center, Neb., evaluates all levels of livestock production. Each year, the Center’s team of researchers releases updated adjustment factors for comparing performance EPDs across various beef breeds.
This type of research isn’t new. Larry Kuehn, USMARC geneticist, says the Center has been releasing across-breed EPD (AB-EPD) adjustments for 25 years. For the first time, adjustment factors are also presented for carcass weight.
“Commercial producers will now have a new tool to compare their animals [across breeds] for another economically relevant trait,” he says.
View the full interview on this week’s The Angus Report. For additional information, including the news release from USMARC announcing its 2015 AB-EPD adjustment factors, visit the newsroom at www.BIFconference.com.
Daily Livestock Report
Two weeks ago (June 29) the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced that it would change its regulations to allow importation of beef from certain areas in Brazil and Argentina. Yesterday, however, the House Appropriations Committee included an amendment in its FY2016 spending bill that instructed USDA to not allow imports of any Brazilian or Argentine beef until it had developed a comprehensive risk assessment and conducted site visits.
Brazil and Argentina have not shipped fresh beef to the United States for many years following an outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) more than a decade ago. But this has done little to reduce the volume of beef imported in the last couple of years, as record grinding beef prices and a strong U.S. dollar have made the U.S. a favored destination for those countries that have access.
Imports of Australian beef were sharply higher in 2014 and that trend has continued at least in the first six months of this year.
The Daily Livestock Report is reprinted with permission and is available online.
CSU Labs Authorized to Test for
Horse Virus as First Cases of 2015 Emerge
The state’s first vesicular stomatitis (VS) cases of 2015 have been detected in horses, and the Colorado State University (CSU) Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories have gained special certification to test for the highly contagious virus, which causes painful sores in animals’ mouths and forces mandatory quarantines.
Flies and midges are the main way the virus is spread; it is also spread through horse-to-horse contact and through indirect contact, as when tie-outs, trailers and grooming or feeding equipment used with an infected horse are later used with a healthy horse. CSU veterinarians join the state veterinarian’s office in urging horse owners to practice strict fly control and infection control while on the road at horse shows, fairs and rodeos to limit the spread of VS.
Horses on five properties in Montrose County, three in Delta County and one in Montezuma County have tested positive for VS this year and have been placed under quarantine, state officials announced July 9. The CSU labs are expected to provide a more timely response on local test results; historically, samples have been sent to a lab in Iowa.
For more information, please view the full CSU release online.
‘Farm to Consumer’ is Focus of Food Dialogues
Consumer concerns about the impact food production practices may have on their long-term health or the health of the planet abound. Increasingly, farmers, ranchers and the entire food chain are working to address these concerns by offering more information and answering questions, including rating systems and sharing stories about how a particular food product is sourced.
The Food Dialogues®: Minneapolis will bring together a panel of leaders in the food space, including food and retail executives, and farmers for a conversation about what more can be done to bridge the information gap between food production practices, consumer concerns on health and the environment and the choices that are being made when sourcing food products.
This event, scheduled for Aug. 11, will be moderated by Bloomberg agriculture policy journalist and Minnesota native Alan Bjerga.
“Farmers, ranchers and food executives have the ability to be even more connected to consumers than ever before,” said Gene Stoel, soybean grower and Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council board member. “Yet, more must and can be done. This Food Dialogue panel discussion will tackle tough questions related to food production — from GMO safety to animal welfare.”
For more information, please view the full release online.
Multi-State Cattle Conference set for July 28 in Lawton, Okla.
Green grass has replaced drought-stricken terrain, but only time will tell for how long, said Stan Bevers, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economist in Vernon.
Producers can hear from experts on how to best prepare and manage for greater operational efficiency during the upcoming Cattle Trails Wheat and Stocker Cattle Conference, set for July 28 at the Comanche County Coliseum, 920 S. Sheridan Road, Lawton, Okla.
AgriLife Extension and the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service will jointly host the conference from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration is $25 per person and includes educational materials, a noon meal and refreshments. Producers are encouraged to preregister by contacting their local AgriLife Extension county agent, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension county educator or the Southwest Oklahoma Area Extension office at 580-255-0546.
Bevers said commodity prices, weather and tight margins cause producers to stretch every dollar for the greatest efficiency. Determining ways to improve this efficiency will be the focus of the joint conference.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
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