News Update

September 2, 2016

Angus Foundation
‘Championing a Cause’

During 36 years of unprecedented success, the Angus Foundation has championed the cause of youth, education and research for the advancement of the Angus breed. Each year, the Angus Foundation aims to provide additional opportunities and strengthen donor support for the organization’s programs and events.

The Angus Foundation will once again recognize supporters who have contributed $250 or more during the current fiscal year (Oct. 1, 2015-Sept. 30, 2016). The event will take place at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, at the Downtown Indianapolis Marriott, Indianapolis, Ind., in conjunction with the 2016 Angus Convention. For anyone interested in attending, there’s still time to submit a donation to the Angus Foundation.

The evening will kick off with a social from 6 to 7:30 p.m., followed by a dinner featuring the Certified Angus Beef^® brand.

Continue reading in the Angus news release online.

— Adapted from a release by Sarah Hill, Angus Media.

Guarding Against Pregnancy Loss

Veterinarians approach abortion management by focusing on two related activities: diagnosing the causes of abortion and preventing abortions from occurring. Cow herd abortions can occur either sporadically or in larger outbreaks. Sporadic abortion losses are considered to occur when less than 2% of the entire herd aborts and no group of cows — as described by age, pasture or other risk group — has greater losses than other groups.

When investigating sporadic abortion losses, it may not be justified to spend a great deal of resources to attempt to identify the causes; but, if a larger abortion outbreak is occurring, a thorough investigation to discover the factors that are contributing to the losses is necessary to identify changes in herd management to prevent similar outbreaks in future years.

Read more in the Angus Media news article online.

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

Legally Speaking

Brent Haden, principal with Haden & Haden law firm, was a recent guest on Angus Talk, a weekly radio program on Rural Radio, Channel 147. Tune in at 10 a.m. CST each Saturday morning on SiriusXM Radio.

Q: Brent, what are some of the most common legal disputes that livestock producers run into?
A: I see fence disputes on a regular basis. You can even get into fence problems on the edges within open-range country. Contract disputes are a problem. Even between producers on private treaty sales, you'll have a contract dispute over delivery or why didn't your bull get this cow bred … there’s all sorts of fights that come out of the production side of the business. As you get into both stocker yards and commercial feedlots, they have a lot of concentrated feeding. It's a heavily regulated business. There's all sorts of EPA disputes, Corps of Engineer disputes, water and air issues, and nuisances with neighbors that livestock producers must face.

Continue reading in the Angus Media news article online.

— Adapted from an article by Doug Medlock, Angus Media.

Michigan Bull Evaluation Program begins 29th year

The Michigan Cattlemen’s Association (MCA) has announced the opening of nominations for the 2016-2017 MCA/MSU Bull Evaluation Program (BEP).

This program is the region’s premier bull appraisal program and is a joint effort between the MCA, Michigan State University (MSU), and the Plank Farm. The program will begin with bull delivery on Oct. 7-8 and will conclude with the Annual Bull Evaluation Sale on March 18, 2017. Seedstock producers from across the region can nominate bulls through Sept. 1, 2016. More details about the the Bull Evaluation program including the calendar and nomination form can be found on the MIBulls website.

Each year, breeders consign their best junior and senior bulls to the Bull Evaluation program. Bulls that complete the program will have ultrasound data for ribeye area, external fat and percent intramuscular fat. To make the “sale cut” bulls must meet a minimum average daily gain of 2.8 pounds (lb.) and pass stringent evaluations for reproductive potential, disposition and structural soundness. expected progeny differences (EPDs) for growth, maternal and carcass traits on each bull will be published.

For more information, view the MSU news release online.

— Adapted from a release by Michigan State University Extension.

K-State Beef Stocker Field Day

The beef cattle outlook, parasite and fly control options, as well as technology applications for beef cattle operations are among topics planned for the 2016 Kansas State University (K-State) Beef Stocker Field Day on Thursday, Sept. 22.

The day is designed to provide the latest practical information for producers to aid decision making in the current dynamic beef industry environment.

The event starts with registration and coffee at 9:30 a.m. and the program at 10:15 a.m. A barbecue lunch is provided and the day ends with an evening social, the “Cutting Bull’s Lament 2016” at 5:30 p.m. A panel of producers talking about pasture burning issues and several other presentations are on the agenda.

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

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

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