News Update

July 28, 2015

Kansas Junior Leads By Example

The Angus breed recognized one of its youth leaders at the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) by presenting Esther McCabe, Elk City, Kan., with the 2015 Jim Baldridge Outstanding Leadership Award.

McCabe is currently a senior at Kansas State University and finished out her career with the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) at this year’s show in Tulsa, Okla. She was recognized with the honor during the NJAS closing ceremonies Friday, July 17, and will receive a $2,500 scholarship.

“Being a part of the National Junior Angus Association, and the Angus breed as a whole, has helped me to grow up,” McCabe says. “With all the different events within the junior association, you learn about the different aspects of the breed and how to stand up and talk with people about it.”

Each year, an outstanding NJAA member is recognized for contributions to Angus organizations, personal Angus accomplishments, and community involvement and achievements. In 2014, the award was titled the Jim Baldridge Outstanding Leadership Award, in memory of a lifetime of service to the Angus breed.

For more information, please view the full Angus release on the Association’s website.

— Adapted from a release by Sarah Harris, Angus Media.

More Land Designated to National Monuments

President Obama designated three more national monuments under the Antiquities Act. The Berryessa Snow Mountain in California, Waco Mammoth in Texas, and Basin and Range in Nevada together add more than 1 million acres to federal jurisdiction. With these designations, Obama will have used the Antiquities Act to establish or expand 19 national monuments, putting more than 260 million total acres of land and water under restrictive management during his presidency.

“The president is charging forward with expansive designations in an attempt to leave behind some type of legacy after his term ends, but what he will be known for is the mismanagement of natural resources, economic hardship in rural communities, and putting farmers and ranchers out of business,” says Brenda Richards, Public Lands Council (PLC) president and Idaho rancher. “He is replacing the people who do the best job of managing our natural resources with Washington, D.C., bureaucrats implementing one-size-fits-all management practices to land across the country.”

Under the 1906 Antiquities Act, the president has power to declare monument designations, which comes with added layers of bureaucracy and restrictive management provisions in the name of environmental protection.

Read the full Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA article online.

— Adapted from an article by the Public Lands Council.

Inspiring Youth, Beaver Dam Farm

Both lifelong Angus cattle breeders, Gordon and Robin Keys of Beaver Dam Farm, Middleburg, Va., are leaving a lasting impression on Angus youth in their home states of Maryland and Virginia, respectively. In 2015, the family established two scholarship endowment funds through the Angus Foundation to benefit junior members for many years to come.

To recognize their dedication to youth, the NJAA inducted Gordon and Robin into the Honorary Angus Foundation during the 2015 NJAS in Tulsa, Okla.

“It has truly been an honor to get acquainted with Gordon and Robin,” said Milford Jenkins, Angus Foundation president “I remember when Gordon mentioned he and his wife would like to make a major gift to the Angus Foundation. Through many conversations, they are leaving their legacy within the Angus breed and making a difference in the lives of Angus youth.”

Prior to establishing the scholarship funds, the couple had been dedicated donors to the Angus Foundation. Recently, they felt the need to have a more personal impact on junior Angus members in their home states and help support them in their dreams of higher education.

For more information, please view the full Angus release on the Association’s website.

— Adapted from a release by Carrie Horsley, Angus Foundation.

Assessing Transportation Stress

According to animal behaviorist and scientist Karen Schwartzkopf-Genswein, stress is a physiological response to real or perceived stressors — conditions or events that cause strain, tension, anxiety or pain. Transportation can include a number of stressors, including loading, unloading, commingling with unfamiliar cattle and delivery to an unfamiliar environment. Transportation may involve a period of restriction from feed and water and discomfort due to heat or cold. Cattle also expend energy maintaining their balance during transportation. The longer the ride, the more tiring it is.

“After 30 hours of transport, animals have lost all the moisture they can stand. I’m recommending that time in transport be limited to 26 hours,” said Schwartzkopf-Genswein, adding that the incidence of “downer” animals increases when time on a trailer exceeds 28 hours.

Schwartzkopf-Genswein, a researcher with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, talked about her efforts to better understand transportation stress during the Cattle Transportation Symposium hosted May 14-15 in Fort Collins, Colo. She called it unreasonable for anyone to expect animals to experience a completely stress-free life. However, animal welfare is affected when stress responses shift energy away from normal biological functions.

View the full Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA article online.

— Adapted from an article by Troy Smith, Angus Productions Inc.

Wild Pig Management Workshop Set for Aug. 18
in Palo Pinto County

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will conduct a Wild Pig Management Workshop for landowners and the general public from 7:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 18 at the AgriLife Extension office, 221 S. 5th Ave., Palo Pinto, Texas.

“Many landowners are well aware of the impact feral hogs have on agricultural production, water quality, habitat and native species,” said Josh Helcel, AgriLife Extension associate at Gatesville. “This workshop is unique because we’ve gathered some of the best wildlife professionals in Texas to share their tips and demonstrate emerging technologies to help us control wild pigs.”

Scott Mauney, AgriLife Extension agent for Palo Pinto County, said two Texas Wildlife Services representatives will speak. They are Randy Smith, district director and Adam Henry, damage control technician, both from the Fort Worth district. Smith will speak on drone technology and wild pig management, and Henry will show animal-and human-activated trapping systems and demonstrate how he snares wild pigs.

Individual preregistration is $10 due upon arrival. The fee includes lunch. Preregistration by Aug. 14 is requested. To register, call one of the AgriLife Extension offices of the participating counties: Palo Pinto, 940-659-1228; Parker County, 817-598-6198; or Jack County, 940-567-2132.

For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.

— Adapted from a release by Steve Byrns, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.

— Compiled by Paige Nelson, field editor, Angus Journal.