News Update
October 2, 2015
Angus Convention, Early $75 Registration Ends Today
If you are involved in the beef cattle business, then you won’t want to miss the 2015 Angus Means Business National Convention & Trade Show Nov. 3-5 in Overland Park, Kan. Sign up for the $75 early registration fee, which closes today, Oct. 2.
The premier event, hosted by the American Angus Association, will feature industry-leading educational sessions, inspiring keynote speakers and an expansive trade show filled with everything from animal health and nutrition companies to equipment dealers and manufacturers.
All attendees present on Tuesday, Nov. 3, will also be eligible to win a brand-new Cat® Skid Steer Loader, donated by Caterpillar.
Registration increases to $125 per person from Oct. 3 to Oct. 16. After that date, advance registration will be closed and guests may register onsite for $150 per person. Included in the registration fee is access to Angus University and all the educational sessions, a Sammy Kershaw concert on Wednesday, Nov. 4, the expansive trade show and three Certified Angus Beef® brand meals.
Visit angusconvention.com to register and book your hotel reservations today.
Managed Weaning
Weaning is one of the most stressful times for calves due to health challenges and dietary changes. By managing to minimize stress at this stage, you’ll also minimize shrink and give calves the best opportunity to meet their genetic potential for growth and carcass merit later.
Tailor a health program to your ranch goals by first visiting with your local veterinarian. Build that relationship as you review health plans and you’ll be ready when the veterinary feed directive goes into effect in January 2017. You will need to prove the veterinary-client-patient relationship then to obtain certain antibiotics.
You may have started preparing for weaning health at branding or prebreeding by vaccinating calves for clostridia (blackleg) and respiratory diseases. If not, consider vaccination three to four weeks prior to weaning, with booster shots at weaning. Preweaning vaccinations in late summer can be a challenge due to summer heat or distant working facilities, so keep that in mind when discussing options with your veterinarian.
For more information, please view the full Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA article.
Judge Rules in Favor of Science-Based Wild Horse Management
Livestock producers won a significant victory in court yesterday when a judge in Washington, D.C., soundly rejected unsupported claims that the United States Forest Service’s (USFS) wild horse management plan would threaten the long-term health and well-being of the wild horse population in the Modoc National Forest.
In 2014, the wild horse population in the Devils Garden wild horse territory of the Modoc National Forest was estimated at 400 to 700% overpopulated. The USFS plan would reduce horses to the Appropriate Management Level (AML) in the area and correct boundaries of the horses’ territory that currently incorrectly include private property and other inappropriate USFS land.
The reduced populations, livestock producers and USFS argue, would live up to the agency’s requirement to provide a “thriving natural ecological balance,” as described in the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971.
For more information, please view the full PLC release online.
Farmers Wonder How Low Calf Prices will Fall
Cattle producers have benefitted from high calf and feeder prices in the not too distant past. More recently, however, cattle markets appear to be weakening, and farmers are wondering just how low the prices could go.
“I don’t think many cattlemen and women are surprised that the cattle market has softened,” said Kenny Burdine, University of Kentucky (UK) College of Agriculture, Food and Environment livestock marketing specialist. “But, I do think that many have been surprised at how quickly things have changed and how much lower prices have gone. Calf markets usually reach seasonal lows in October or November.”
The U.S. beef herd continues to expand and Burdine said that plays a part in the current markets, although not a huge part. The growth in beef cow inventory hasn’t really had time to impact beef production yet. The cattle market is dealing with a growing supply of fed cattle and a significant increase in slaughter weights. These factors are working to increase beef production. At the same time, production of both pork and chicken has increased, which is applying additional pressure.
For more information, please view the full UK news release online.
Auburn University Releases Study on Pinkeye Spray for Livestock
Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine recently completed a study on Vetericyn Plus™ Pinkeye Spray. The study shows a significant reduction in pain scores, lesion size and no need for a withdrawal period for lactating cows.
According to the study, dairy calves receiving Vetericyn Plus Pinkeye Spray had an average 79.1% reduction in pain score by Day 2. This was a 60.8% greater reduction in pain than seen in the control group given saline. Lesion size was also reduced significantly. By Day 3, the lesion size was reduced by 85% compared to the control group.
Vetericyn Plus Pinkeye Spray contains no antibiotics. The Auburn University study found no measurable residues of Vetericyn Plus Pinkeye Spray in milk, serum, plasma, liver, muscle or fat which eliminates the need for withdrawal time for lactating cows and the need to trim edible tissues at slaughter of beef cattle.
For more information, please view the full news release online.
New Ammoniation Method Shown at MU Workshop
Learn a new way to ammoniate low-quality forages at the Winter Feeding Workshop, 1-4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22. University of Missouri (MU) Extension and the MU Forage Systems Research Center sponsor the event at the research farm in Linn County.
Most of Missouri’s 2015 hay crop was baled late in summer and expected to be of poor quality, says MU Extension agronomist Valerie Tate. Ammoniation improves hay’s nutrient value and digestibility.
Usually, anhydrous ammonia is piped into poor-quality hay bales that have been stacked in a pyramid and covered with a plastic tarp. FSRC superintendent Dave Davis suggests wrapping dry hay in plastic used to make baleage from high-moisture hay. Ammonia is piped into the line of wrapped bales. Tate says this keeps ammonia from seeping into the soil and being wasted.
Producers also will learn the value of testing hay quality, supplements and management. Other topics include grazing stockpiled forages and hay sampling and testing.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
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