News Update

December 22, 2015

I Am Angus Broadcasts Dec. 28

In an upcoming episode of I Am Angus®, the American Angus Association shares stories of the breed’s rich history and tradition.

On farms and ranches across the country, thousands of families greet each new day caring for Angus cattle. Working together, they make a living off the land and sustain a time-honored way of life in the agriculture business. Tune in at 7 p.m. CST (8 p.m. EST) Monday, Dec. 28, for the hour-long documentary on RFD-TV.

“We invite you to take a minute to pause this holiday season and reflect on the blessings of the ranch and the family we all hold dear,” says Eric Grant, Angus Media general manager. “Our upcoming episode introduces several multi-generational Angus farms and ranches and shares why they love being involved in raising cattle.”

I Am Angus is a program produced entirely by Angus Media, the marketing and communications arm of the American Angus Association, and presents the true heart of the cattle business — its people, and those who are committed to raising the best possible beef for consumers worldwide.

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

— Adapted from a release by Jena McRell, Angus Media.

Test Forages for Quality

All the rain received this spring in some areas was really appreciated and made for a good grazing season. In some cases it was a challenge to get hay in the bale without a lot of rain on it while in the windrow, and this reduces quality. Some producers waited for a “window of opportunity” to windrow and bale the hay. As forages mature, digestibility decreases because of the increase in fiber.

When designing diets using harvested feeds, many rations are balanced using average values, and these “book values” often result in over- or underfeeding certain nutrients. More economical and better balanced rations can be formulated using nutrient concentrations determined from feed analysis. In addition, nutrient “gaps” to meet the cow’s need can be more accurately determined and supplementation strategies developed.

There have been studies looking at the effects of rain on hay. Most of the studies are in reference to alfalfa. A study conducted recorded dry-matter losses as high as 22% when alfalfa hay was exposed to 1 inch of rain one day after being cut.

For more information, please view the full Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA article.

— Adapted from a release by Rick Rasby, University of Nebraska.

California Angus Association Officers Elected

The California Angus Association has elected new officers for 2016:
President: Brad Worthington
Vice president: Susan Perry
Secretary: J.J. Reinhardt
Treasurer: Betsy Cardoza
Directors include:
2014-2016
Brad Worthington
Jamie Traynham
Susan Perry
Hadley Pitts
2015-2017
Darrell Hansen
Matt Avila
Ric Schultz
Susan Levisay
2016-2018
Jeanene Dal Porto
Justin Schmidt
Bill Traylor
Jason Judge
The immediate past president is Darrell Hansen, while the current junior advisor is Amanda Leo.

— by Terry Cotton, American Angus Association.

McCarty to Lead Missouri Farmers Care

Missouri Farmers Care, an organization that represents the state’s farmers and ranchers, is pleased to announce Ashley McCarty of Kirksville, Mo., has accepted the position of executive director.

McCarty and her husband operate McCarty Cattle Co. on their family farm in Adair County. She is currently a district field manager for the Missouri Corn Growers Association, a board member for the Adair/Schuyler County Farm Bureau and an agricultural representative on the Missouri Clean Water Commission.

“Ashley McCarty has a solid record of achievement in agriculture,” said Alan Wessler, chairman of Missouri Farmers Care. “With her knowledge of both the livestock and row-crop sectors of agriculture, she will provide experienced leadership to the organization. Ashley is involved in numerous efforts to advance the interests of family farmers.”

McCarty is a graduate of the University of Missouri–Columbia with a bachelor’s degree in animal science. She has also served as an Extension council member and previously worked for the Missouri Department of Agriculture.

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

— Adapted from a release by Missouri Farmers Care.

K-State’s Winter Ranch Management Series
set for January and February

Volatility in cattle prices and the regulatory environment has motivated many producers to seek information on ways to improve their operation’s profit potential through better management and selection. With that in mind, the 2016 Kansas State University (K-State) Winter Ranch Management Seminar Series will focus on best management practices for beef producers.

The series, which includes five meetings throughout Kansas, will feature the “town-hall-style” two-way verbal exchange between Kansas’ cattle producers and K-State Research and Extension specialists. The Winter Ranch Management series will take place in January and early February.

The series has a history of being a successful stretch of meetings, said Bob Weaber, cow-calf specialist for K-State Research and Extension and one of the series presenters.

Weaber, along with other state, district and local extension staff, will take part in the series to help answer producers’ questions about the Food and Drug Administration’s new Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) and antimicrobial stewardship, tools for beef sire selection, the effect of branding on beef product consumer satisfaction, and vitamin and mineral supplementation for the beef herd.

The specialists will be prepared to answer a wide array of questions on beef cattle issues surrounding animal health, nutrition, management, genetics and reproduction, Weaber said, so producers should come to the meetings with their questions.

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

— Adapted from a release by Katie Allen, K-State Research and Extension.

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