News Update
February 23, 2016
Replacement Heifers
“You’ve got to know when to hold ’em and know when to fold ’em,” said Ron Lemenager, “and know when to run.”
Referencing lyrics from Kenny Rogers’ 1978 hit The Gambler, the Purdue University Extension beef specialist illustrated that cow-calf producers trying to decide what to do with replacement females may find it hard to know whether to hold or fold. Some might prefer to run away. In a presentation delivered at the 24th Range Beef Cow Symposium, Lemenager admitted that it’s hard for him to answer producers’ questions about how many heifers to keep and what replacement females are worth. There are no easy answers.
According to Lemenager, one of the biggest challenges to making herd expansion decisions is accurately estimating future prices, not on the average, but on the day an input is purchased or an output is sold. It would take a magic crystal ball to reveal what prices will be for the next eight to 10 years for all feed resources, feeder calves, cull cows, equipment replacement and interest rates.
To read more, access the complete Angus Media article online.
Vaccinate Horses Against Mosquito-borne Neurologic Diseases
Texas horse owners are urged to have their animals vaccinated to fend off the threat of West Nile virus and eastern equine encephalitis.
Terry Hensley, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service veterinarian and Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory assistant agency director in College Station, said horse owners can easily unintentionally overlook annual vaccinations.
“Some don’t realize the importance of vaccinations,” Hensley said. “We all get busy and sometimes simply forget to have them vaccinated, or some horse owners are looking to save a few dollars and fail to have it done. However, for these diseases there’s no cure. You can treat the symptoms, but there’s no cure. Mosquitoes are transmitting these diseases. You can be 10 miles from the nearest other horse, but it’s the mosquitoes that are moving it.”
Hensley advises horse owners to work with their veterinarians and vaccinate against the core diseases: West Nile virus, eastern equine encephalitis and western equine encephalitis. Hensley said the American Association of Equine Practitioners recommends vaccinating for these three diseases along with rabies and tetanus.
For more information, please view the complete news release.
BioZyme Hires Marketing and Communications Manager
BioZyme®, manufacturers of Amaferm®, VitaFerm®, Sure Champ® and other proprietary, natural supplements for cattle, swine, poultry and show livestock, recently hired Katie Vaz of Saint Joseph, Mo., as marketing and communications manager.
In her new position, Vaz is responsible for developing and implementing communications and marketing strategies that support BioZyme’s supplement division brands and overall objectives. She also travels to a variety of trade shows and events across the country and assists with managing BioZyme’s internship program.
Vaz has been involved in the agriculture industry from a young age, having grown up on her family’s dairy farms in Galt, Calif., and Roswell, N.M., and showing registered-Jerseys and -Holsteins. She is an active member of American Agri-Women and the 2015 American Royal Livestock Committee and continues to stay involved in the dairy industry by traveling to shows across the country with her family.
She has a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications with a minor in agricultural economics from Oklahoma State University.
For more information, please view the full BioZyme news release online.
K·Coe Isom & K-State Beef Sustainability Knowledge Summit
K·Coe Isom and Kansas State University’s (K-State’s) Beef Cattle Institute (BCI) are pleased to announce that registration for the beef sustainability knowledge summit is now open to the public. The summit is part of a K·Coe Isom series of facilitated partnerships called The Food Dialogues. Reserve your seat to the Summit online.
The summit (Twitter #SustainBeef2016) will provide a single place where the entire beef supply chain can gather and talk to each other about the key challenges facing the industry and learn from some amazing performers and researchers about how to tackle them.
#SustainBeef2016 will host a cross section of producers, companies, non-governmental organizations, academics and consultants. Panel topics include animal health and care, feedstock management, environmental stewardship and economic sustainability.
For more information, please view the full news release online.
Local Texas Ranching Event March 7
The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) will host a ranch gathering Monday, March 7, at the R.A. Brown Ranch in Throckmorton, Texas. Registration will begin at 5 p.m. followed by a complimentary beef dinner. The event is free and open to the public.
TSCRA Special Ranger Scott Williamson will provide a law enforcement update and offer ranchers information on how they can keep their livestock and equipment safe and secure. Additionally, TSCRA staff will update cattle raisers on important legislative issues.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
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