News Update
May 3, 2016
Angus Demand Strong
The Angus breed continues to set the pace for the beef cattle industry, bolstered by a growing demand for registered-Angus genetics. According to reports released by the American Angus Association, registered-Angus breeders nationwide saw a collective increase in the number of head sold during the first half of the fiscal year.
Despite an increasing marketplace, sale averages have remained strong for bulls and females, and premiums paid for Angus cattle have never been greater. Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) recently reported nearly $1 million in packer premiums paid each week in 2015.
“The Angus business is doing really well halfway through the year. Registrations on near record pace again, and mind you in 2015, we were at a record growth rate in terms of number of registrations with February and March at 20% growth vs. the months in 2015,” said Association CEO Allen Moczygemba. “If we continue at this current pace, we’ll register 342,000 head of cattle this year.”
Watch Moczgemba’s full interview on this week’s The Angus Report. You can also watch the program at 1:30 p.m. CST Saturday and 7:30 a.m. CST each Monday morning on RFD-TV.
Preventing Mycotic Abortions in Pregnant Cattle
Mycotic abortions, or fungal abortions, often occur sporadically in cattle. As producers evaluate the need to provide supplemental feeds to their cow herd, they should be aware of the causes of these often mysterious mycotic abortions, as well as how to diagnose them.
“In one week, we had three different abortion submissions from three different herds in Kansas. The diagnosis was definitive, and it was due to mold that infected the dam and then crossed over to the fetus,” said Gregg Hanzlicek, director of production animal field investigations for the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, speaking of a recent situation his team encountered.
While there are hundreds of molds, Hanzlicek said two are the most typical in cattle abortion cases: Aspergillus and Mucor. They are typically found throughout the environment, but they are especially common in cattle feed, hay and silage, and can be found in wet byproducts.
To continue reading, access the Angus Media article online.
Independent Cattle Ranchers Sue USDA
The Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF USA) filed suit May 2 against the USDA, alleging that the agency’s beef checkoff tax, which collected more than $80 million in FY 2015, is being unconstitutionally used to promote international beef, to the detriment of U.S. beef products and producers.
R-CALF USA, whose members are independent cattle producers across the United States, says that while its members must pay a $1 per-head tax to the checkoff program, funds from that tax are used to convince consumers that beef from R-CALF USA members’ cattle — raised domestically and in compliance with rigorous standards concerning safety, treatment and quality — is no different than beef produced under far less stringent procedures abroad.
For more information, view the complete news release online.
Expanded Animal Vaccine Opportunities
AgriLabs®, the largest U.S. animal health marketing and distribution business, announced that it has entered into the vaccine manufacturing business with a new USDA-licensed facility in Lincoln, Neb. AgriLabs has also acquired Lincoln-based Antelope Valley Bios and Benchmark Biolabs, and Benchmark’s ownership interest of VaxLiant®. With these moves, AgriLabs, along with its new business subsidiaries, now offers complete concept-to-commercialization services for vaccines used in swine, cattle, poultry and other species.
“By adding state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities to our U.S. marketing and sales operations, we can deliver more value to veterinarians and producers both domestically and worldwide,” said Steve Schram, AgriLabs chief executive officer, at a ribbon-cutting event that included several state and city officials.
For more information, view the AgriLabs news release online.
North Carolina Bull Tests Announced
The North Carolina Beef Cattle Improvement Program (BCIP) announces the Butner and Waynesville bull tests. The 112-day test at Butner is for bulls born Aug. 15-Nov. 15, 2015, and the 112-day test at Waynesville is for bulls born Aug. 15-Nov. 30, 2015.
Nominations are due for the Butner test by June 22 and by July 6 for Waynesville. Bulls for the Butner test are to be delivered to the test station in Bahama, N.C., by July 13 for a July 25-26 start. Delivery for the Waynesville bulls is scheduled for July 27, with the test beginning Aug. 8-9. Interim weights are to be collected Sept. 20 and Oct. 18 at Butner; and on Oct. 4 and Nov. 1 for Waynesville. Final weights will be taken Nov. 14-15 at Butner and Nov. 28-29 at Waynesville. Butner bulls are to be sold Dec. 16. The test sale for Waynesville bulls will be Jan. 7, 2017.
For more information on the Butner test contact Gary Gregory at 919-515-4027, fax: 919-515-6884 or gary_gregory@ncsu.edu; or Dean Askew, station manager, at 919-471-6872. For Waynesville information, contact Gary Gregory or Danny Hyatt, station manager, at 828-456-3943. Information is also available on the test website, www.cals.ncsu.edu/an_sci/extension/animal/bcip/Ahbcip.html.
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