News Update

December 3, 2015

Missouri Couple Honored
for Historic Angus Herd

Fifty years ago, Roy and Karen Jones partnered with her parents, Ted and Jeanette Gilliam, to establish the Jones & Gilliam Angus herd. That marked the beginning of a lifelong commitment to raising registered-Angus cattle in southern Missouri’s rolling Ozark hills.

To recognize their dedication to the Angus breed, the American Angus Association is proud to name Jones & Gilliam Angus as a Historic Angus Herd. The award is presented to Angus breeders or immediate families who have been in continuous production of registered-Angus cattle for 50 years or more.

Although the partnership was discontinued in 1970, the Gilliam name was retained out of respect and appreciation for all the assistance the family had given the couple over the years. Knowing little about bloodlines when they first started breeding Angus cattle, the family focused on obtaining solid, well-shaped cows with good mothering ability.

The cost of the original herd — 20 cows and one bull — was $6,300. The foundation of the herd was purchased from Ollie Gallaher, Van Buren, Mo.; Glen T. Mooney, Ellington, Mo.; and Arthur Arnold & Son, Thayer, Mo. They started an artificial insemination (AI) program in 1982, with Karen doing all of the breeding.

To read more, view the full Angus news release online.

— Adapted from a release by Melinda Cordell, Angus Media.

Daily Livestock Report

There has not been much improvement in the value of byproducts (also known as drop credits) in recent weeks and this continues to negatively impact packer bids and consequently cattle and hog values.

Export demand accounts for a significant portion of high value byproduct sales and exports have been hit hard by the surge in the value of the U.S. dollar, as well as slow growth in a number of markets. Some analysts also have pointed to things such as fashion changes, which can impact demand for products such as leather.

Prices for some key byproducts rose sharply last year and likely forced end users to source alternatives. Now the industry is feeling the backlash from the shifts that were put in motion a year ago. The steer drop value at the end of November was reported at $10.90 per hundredweight (cwt.) on a live basis, down $5.5 per cwt. (34%) vs. the same time last year. This is the lowest steer byproduct value since September 2010. Out of this $10.9 per cwt., leather accounts for around $4.95 (45% of the total).

View the full report online.

— Adapted from a release by Paragon Economics and Steiner Consulting Group.

Online Tool for Landowners, Managers

A new online tool can help landowners and land managers better understand their land.

The Ag Site Assessment Tool, developed by University of Missouri (MU) Extension, integrates information from multiple sources into a report describing physical, cultural and environmental characteristics of a piece of land. The free Web-based tool is available at www.AgSite.missouri.edu.

MU Extension agricultural economist Ray Massey says the program is very simple and provides farmers with useful information.

“A farmer just has to locate and outline his field, click one button and get a report about their soils, their waters, how many people were living close by and many other things about that property,” Massey says.

The tool can help farmers determine if waters on their farms are subject to the federal Clean Water Rule. While it can give the first indication of a potential problem, Massey says, it is not a decision-making tool.

For more information, view the full release online.

— Adapted from a release by Jason Vance, University of Missouri Extension.

Thouny to lead TAG by ST’s Ontario sales

North America-based livestock genetics innovator TAG by ST has hired J.F. Thouny as Ontario sales manager to expand the company’s growing relationships with dairy producers across the province. Thouny brings to his new position a wealth of experience within the industry and proven success in delivering client results and producer satisfaction.

Born on a large Holstein dairy farm in Europe, Thouny was raised in the family business and contributed to its success through activities that included importing hundreds of embryos from North America and merchandising purebred animals to several European countries. More recently, Thouny was an expert dairy advisor for La Coop fédérée, the largest agri-food enterprise in Quebec. He worked primarily in Ontario, servicing customers’ needs and helping them achieve maximum success.

For more information, please view the full news release online.

— Adapted from a release by Jim Hiney, STgenetics.

Workshop Offers Beef Producers Insight into Harvesting

Understanding what consumers value and look for when purchasing meat can help livestock producers increase their profit potential and become more competitive in the cattle industry.

“The average livestock producer rarely follows the animals through harvest to the finished product,” said John Grimes, beef coordinator for Ohio State University (OSU) Extension and a member of the OSU Extension Beef Team.

“Understanding how Prime, Choice and Select cuts are determined and what goes into establishing value can help producers make more informed choices in their day-to-day management on their farm operations,” Grimes said.

To help bridge the knowledge gap, beef experts with the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences are offering a two-part Beef 509 series Feb. 20 and 27, designed to help producers take advantage of increasing consumer demand for high-quality beef products, as well as position themselves for continued long-term success, he said.

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

— Adapted from a release by Tracy Turner, Ohio State University Extension.

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