News Update
March 12, 2018
Angus Journal Restructures,
Seeks New Editor
This year already has brought many exciting changes to the Angus Journal, the most significant being the magazine redesign that debuted with the January edition, and the changes don’t stop there. The Angus Media editorial team is being restructured to allow for more focused attention on continuing the innovation started with the Angus Journal’s redesign and plans for continued development of other properties.
Shauna Hermel, current editor of the Angus Journal and Angus Beef Bulletin, will focus her sole attention to the upcoming redesign and development of the Angus Beef Bulletin. Angus Media has some aggressive goals for the Angus Beef Bulletin, and this decision will allow Hermel to spend her energy on meeting those goals and launching the new design.
This strategic move will allow the two teams to focus specifically on their respective magazines to ensure they both grow and flourish.
“We are very excited to open a new Angus Journal editor position and editorial team to bring in ideas to push our editorial content to the next level along with our new look,” said Rick Cozzitorto, Angus Media president.
Continue reading this Angus news release online.
USDA Decides Against Imposing Additional
Regulatory Requirements for Organic Producers
The USDA March 12 announced the decision to withdraw the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices (OLPP) final rule published on Jan. 19, 2017. The rule would have increased federal regulation of livestock and poultry for certified organic producers and handlers. The withdrawal becomes effective May 13, 2018.
Significant policy and legal issues were identified after the rule published in January 2017. After careful review and two rounds of public comment, USDA has determined that the rule exceeds the department’s statutory authority, and that the changes to the existing organic regulations could have a negative effect on voluntary participation in the National Organic Program, including real costs for producers and consumers.
“The existing robust organic livestock and poultry regulations are effective,” said USDA Marketing and Regulatory Program Undersecretary Greg Ibach. “The organic industry’s continued growth domestically and globally shows that consumers trust the current approach that balances consumer expectations and the needs of organic producers and handlers.”
According to USDA reports for 2017, the number of certified organic operations increased domestically by 7% and globally by 11%.
For more information, read the USDA news release online.
Calving Do’s and Don’ts
Veterinarian Bill Lias, Interstate Vet Clinic, Brandon, S.D., says he has seen a variety of ways to assist cows at calving through the years. Some have been improvements, while a few others he’d rather not see again.
The option of doing a C-section is something veterinarians and producers consider sooner. When encountering dystocia, it is important to thoroughly examine the cow to determine the cause of delay.
“As I’ve aged and gained experience, there are some things I do differently now, too. For instance, the option of doing a C-section is something veterinarians and producers today consider sooner,” he says. In the past, people tried harder and longer to get a calf out before resorting to surgery, and sometimes those calves didn’t survive and/or the cow was irreparably injured.
“As technology and surgical methods improved, C-sections today are fairly straightforward and routine,” he says. Cows have an excellent recovery rate and so do the calves if surgery is done early while the calf is still alive.
“Earlier in my career, some of the dystocias we dealt with were horrible wrestling matches,” Lias recalls.
Read this Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA article online.
Stretch Hay Supplies
As winter feeding season continues cow-calf operations face questionable hay supplies. Eric Bailey, University of Missouri (MU) beef nutritionist, gives the short answer: “Feed less, need less.”
In practice, that takes management decisions and exacting math.
The “need less” part means selling cows. That makes fewer mouths to feed. Selling some cows may be beneficial as it puts the stocking rate in synch with the carrying capacity of the farm.
If a cow isn’t carrying a calf, she shouldn’t still be in the herd, Bailey says. That makes pregnancy checks a useful starting point.
Cows with bad attitudes or poor production are also good candidates to send down the road. Again, it’s fewer mouths to feed.
“No cow should be given a second chance,” Bailey says. If she fails to conceive in your farming system, she’ll likely fail on retry. Keeping bad cows builds a mediocre herd.
In his MU Extension talks to farmers, the nutrition specialist goes beyond talking vitamins and minerals to offer management tips that cut costs. He urges dealing with big problems first.
Keep reading this Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA article online.
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