News Update
May 23, 2016
Using Reproductive Technology
More than half of registered-Angus calves recorded with the American Angus Association are produced using reproductive technologies like artificial insemination (AI) during breeding.
Chad Blair of Blair Bros. Angus Ranch says AI paired with an estrus synchronization plan works best for his South Dakota operation; however, there are several factors to consider given the producer’s individual cow herd goals and environments. Regardless of technique, he says, it’s important to keep the end product in mind.
“I think you have to figure out which technologies you’re willing to use on your ranch that will work for profitability and labor for yourself. Any of these technologies will work for you, as long as you have a goal in mind of what you want them to do,” Blair said. “We use a heat detect and then time breed protocol, but it helps us in not having to run so many cows through and breed at one time.”
Blair believes that by dividing the breeding between three different intervals, he can improve his conception rates.
Learn more about AI and Blair’s method 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.
Stats on Farm Labor
There were 703,000 workers hired directly by farm operators on the nation’s farms and ranches during the week of April 10-16, up 2% from the April 2015 reference week. Workers hired directly by farm operators numbered 582,000 during the week of January 10-16, up 6% from the January 2015 reference week.
Farm operators paid their hired workers an average wage of $12.75 per hour (hr.) during the April 2016 reference week, up 4% from the April 2015 reference week. Field workers received an average of $12.00 per hr., an increase of 6%. Livestock workers earned $12.01 per hr., up 4%. The field and livestock worker combined wage rate, at $12.00 per hr., was up 5% from the 2015 reference week. Hired laborers worked an average of 40.4 hr. during the April 2016 reference week, compared with 39.9 hr. worked during the April 2015 reference week.
Farm operators paid their hired workers an average wage of $12.83 per hr. during the January 2016 reference week, up 2% from the January 2015 reference week.
For more information, view the full report online.
National Council of Farmer Co-ops Supports TPP
The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) announced May 19 its support for the pending Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement and called on Congress to approve TPP before the end of the year.
“Exports continue to be an engine driving economic growth across America. For agriculture, the TPP offers tremendous opportunity to farmers and their co-ops to expand exports and generate additional economic activity across farm country,” said Chuck Conner, president and CEO of NCFC. “The agreement contains meaningful reductions in barriers erected by other countries to U.S. agricultural exports by lowering tariffs and working to ensure that sanitary and phytosanitary standards are based on science.”
Read more from the organization online.
Livestock Slaughter
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 3.98 billion pounds (lb.) in April, down 1% from the 4.02 billion lb. produced in April 2015.
Beef production, at 1.96 billion lb., was 2% above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.41 million head, up 1% from April 2015. The average live weight was up 10 lb. from the previous year, at 1,348 lb.
Veal production totaled 6 million lb., 10% below April a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 34,800 head, down 2% from April 2015. The average live weight was down 25 lb. from last year, at 293 lb.
Pork production totaled 2 billion lb., down 3% from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 9.37 million head, down 3% from April 2015. The average live weight was up 1 lb. from the previous year, at 285 pounds.
Accumulated beef production was up 4% from last year, veal was down 6%, pork was up slightly from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down 1%.
For more information, access the full report online.
Joplin Show-Me-Select Sale
Quality beef heifers showed price strength in the Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer sale May 20. The 291 bred heifers averaged $2,236 at Joplin Regional Stockyards. The sale high was $3,200 per head.
“There’s never been a larger spread in prices paid for heifers carrying AI (artificial insemination) sired calves compared to heifers with bull-sired pregnancies,” said Dave Patterson, University of Missouri (MU) Extension beef specialist. AI pregnancies brought $496 more.
The price spread was greater, $679, for Tier Two heifers. Those are daughters of superior AI sires, bred to proven Show-Me-Select-approved AI sires.
“In declining cattle markets, it’s clear buyers choose to pay more for high-quality heifers,” Patterson said.
The high average paid to a farm was $3,028 per head for Shiloh Land & Cattle Co., Darrel and Anita Franson, Mount Vernon.
For more information, access the news release online.
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