News Update

March 28, 2016

Avoiding Health Risks

Every business deals with risk. The profitable business has the ability to deal with and minimize that risk. As producers introduce purchased cattle into their herds, it becomes very important to recognize what health risks are unavoidable, what risks are avoidable and what risks are manageable.

One issue that is often not considered until a problem arises in the buying and selling of cattle is the health aspects of the transaction. While every business deal involves some risk, including health risk, the level of risk is not the same for every transaction. Producers and their veterinarians have options to lessen the likelihood and/or extent of negative outcomes.

In general, the less health information that is available for a sale animal, the greater risk the purchaser is taking. In many situations, the seller does not possess specific information about the health of the cattle they are selling or know the potential negative outcomes that may occur when the purchased cattle are introduced into the buyer’s herd.

— Adapted from an article by Bob Larson, Kansas State University.

Cattle Health Issues: Your Opinion Needed

The USDA National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) will be conducting a beef industry cow-calf study in 2017. In order to craft the most informative survey possible, and to derive data that will be most beneficial to the cattle industry — please use the link below to answer a short 10-question survey which should take five minutes or less to complete.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Beef2017NAGen

The USDA initiated the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) in 1983 to collect, analyze and disseminate information on animal health, management, and productivity across the United States. The NAHMS team conducts national studies on the health and health management of United States’ domestic livestock and poultry populations.

— Adapted from a release by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

Livestock Slaughter

Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 3.90 billion pounds (lb.) in February, up 5% from the 3.73 billion lb. produced in February 2015.

Beef production, at 1.89 billion lb., was 7% above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.29 million head, up 5% from February 2015. The average live weight was up 17 lb. from the previous year, at 1,372 lb.

Veal production totaled 6.1 million lb., 3% below February a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 36,500 head, down 1% from February 2015. The average live weight was down 6 lb. from last year, at 287 lb..

Pork production totaled 2.00 billion lb., up 3% from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 9.43 million head, up 4% from February 2015. The average live weight was down 2 lb. from the previous year, at 283 lb.

Lamb and mutton production, at 12.5 million lb., was up 8% from February 2015. Sheep slaughter totaled 175,800 head, 7% above last year. The average live weight was 142 lb., up 1 lb. from February a year ago.

January to February 2016 commercial red meat production was 8.00 billion lb., up 2% from 2015.

Accumulated beef production was up 3% from last year, veal was down 2%, pork was up 1% from last year, and lamb and mutton production was up 2%.

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

— Adapted from a release by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Cattle Raisers Convention Educational Sessions

The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) 139th annual Cattle Raisers Convention, taking place April 8-10 at the Fort Worth Convention Center, will offer multiple “School for Successful Ranching” sessions for ranchers and anyone interested in learning more about the industry.

The convention will offer more than 28 informative classroom sessions designed to provide practical insights on topics from range management, animal health, nutrition, lease management, water and property rights, and more, all designed for beginning and advanced ranchers.

Additionally, the convention will host eight cattle handling and roping demonstrations to help improve ranchers’ cattle handling skills and eight sessions featuring expert speakers on water and surface property rights, eminent domain, market outlook, sustainability and more.

Anyone interested in attending the convention can register online at www.cattleraisersconvention.com or by phone at 800-242-7820.

— Adapted from a release by the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.

Cattleman’s Spring Clinic, April 7

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will conduct the “Cattleman’s Spring Clinic-Ranching with Drought in Mind” on April 7 in Lampasas. The clinic starts with registration at 8 a.m. The program runs from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. in the Lampasas County Farm Bureau Building, 1793 N. U.S. Highway 281.

Topics and speakers will include: Central Texas Weather Outlook, John Nielsen-Gammon, Texas A&M University state climatologist, College Station; Cattle Market Outlook and Updates, Bill Thompson, AgriLife Extension economist, San Angelo; Adding Value to Calves, Whitney Whitworth, consultant, Lyssy and Eckel Feeds, Llano; and Mineral Programs for Cow Herds, Jeff Prokop, Purina sales representative, Llano.

For more information, visit the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events.

— Adapted from a release by Steve Byrns, Texas AgriLife Communications.

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

Editor’s Note: The articles used within this site represent a mixture of copyrights. If you would like to reprint or repost an article, you must first request permission of Angus Productions Inc. (API) by contacting the editor at 816-383-5200; 3201 Frederick Ave., Saint Joseph, MO 64506. API claims copyright to this web site as presented. We welcome educational venues and cattlemen to link to this site as a service to their audience.