News Update
October 3, 2016
Next-generation Sequencing
Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the bane of feedlot managers and cow-calf producers alike. It is one of the most costly diseases plaguing the cattle business today, and it results in lost performance, decreased animal welfare and lost profits. Ben Hause, clinical assistant professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University (K-State), said there has been a widespread use of modified-live virus (MLV) vaccines for more than 20 years, but the incidence of the disease is actually increasing.
He noted many combinations of live or inactivated vaccines are used, including bovine viral diarrhea virus, bovine herpesvirus 1, parainfluenza virus 3, bovine respiratory syncytial virus, Mannheimia haemolytica, Histophilus somni, Pasteurella multocida and Mycoplasma bovis. However, BRD is incredibly complex in terms of factors relating to the host, environment and pathogen, making it difficult to even identify the source of the problem to combat it.
Hause spoke to attendees of the National Institute for Animal Agriculture conference’s bovine committee in Kansas City this April. He explained a new form of testing called next-generation sequencing (NGS), which is being researched to identify viruses in feedlot cattle.
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Bumper Crop to Cause Storage Issues
The USDA’s September crop production report estimates an 11% increase in corn production from 2015 and a 3% increase in soybean production. With decreased prices, more producers may turn to extended storage periods.
This year’s bumper crop will take longer to haul, dry and store than in past years, says University of Missouri Extension agricultural engineer, Charlie Ellis. Cash income from crop sales is expected to fall nearly 4% compared to 2015. Since 2012, corn receipts are forecast to fall nearly 38%.
Moisture-related issues may make storage even more challenging this year due to excessive rain and high dew points. Scattered cases of diplodia, corn ear rot, stalk rot and seed sprouting require the crop to be harvested and dried quickly.
Missouri University Extension offers guides and customized spreadsheets to assist producers in making smart storage decisions.
For more information, access the complete news release online.
Commercial at Heart, Registered Passion
At Galata, Mont., Bobcat Angus is an awfully long way from Wall Street. In fact, literally just a stone’s throw from the Canadian border, it is more than 2,000 miles west of the financial hub of the United States.
That distance didn’t soften the sting of Nov. 20, 2008, when the Dow Jones closed at its lowest point in more than 11 years, down 43% for the year.
“When the stock market crashed, the all-time low for the century was the week before our Monday sale,” says Bryan Ratzburg. “That was not a very fun day.”
Traders remember that fall well, but it’s equally etched in Ratzburg’s memory.
“From a banker’s standpoint, these guys with operating loans, they had the clamps on them,” he says. “There were a lot of droopy faces that Monday at our sale, I can tell you that much.”
That was just the third production sale for the relatively young but fast-growing Angus business, a partnership between Ratzburg and his wife, Cathy; his brother and sister-in-law, Ernie and Jayne Ratzburg; and John and Debi Goggins. Once Bobcat Angus survived that, the rancher says they felt pretty confident they could weather most any challenge.
It may help that the business was born of a friendship already built on teamwork.
Continue reading this Angus Media news article online.
NCBA Accepting Applications for Spring Internships
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the Public Lands Council’s (PLC) government affairs office in Washington, D.C., are now accepting applications for a 2017 spring public policy intern as well as a semester law clerk.
NCBA internships give college students the opportunity to work with staff on a range of issues that impact U.S. cattle producers. PLC works to solely represent cattle and sheep producers who use federal lands. The two organizations work hand-in-hand on many issues.
The public policy internship will work on issues including taxes, trade, environmental and food safety regulations. The summer law clerk will provide support to NCBA’s Environmental Counsel on issues and regulations that impact beef producers.
For more information or to apply, visit www.beefusa.org.
Lallemand Animal Nutrition Announces Scholarship Recipients
Lallemand Animal Nutrition selected five students pursuing degrees in agriculture as recipients of the 2016 Lallemand Forward Scholarship.
Yan Sun is the recipient of the doctoral scholarship, receiving $3,000. A Michigan State University doctoral candidate, Sun is researching the effects of dietary factors and the risk of milk fat depression. Stephanie Coombes is the recipient of the master’s degree scholarship, also receiving $3,000. Coombes is working on her master’s at Kansas State University studying communications and agricultural education.
The three undergraduate scholarship recipients will receive $2,500 each, and include Cole Hamilton, agronomy-plant science, Western Kentucky University; Andrew Klein, agricultural education, University of Illinois; and Conor McCabe, animal science, Cornell University.
For more information, visit www.lallemandanimalnutrition.com.
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